IPKKND FF | Broken Strings (ON HOLD) - Page 44

Originally posted by: shay1990

^ LOOOL!! 😆

I'm hoping, if all goes to plan... that it will be up by tonight!

*fingers crossed* 😃

Originally posted by: shay1990

^ LOOOL!! 😆

I'm hoping, if all goes to plan... that it will be up by tonight!

*fingers crossed* 😃

Originally posted by: DropofDew

Avi you lil pest 😆

But keep it up! 😆

Shay!!! Update update update!

I'm keeping my fingers on the mousepad and my eyes peeled on your thread tonight! :P

Update update update! 😛

This chapter is dedicated to Pinks (DropofDew) because she introduced me to the title of this chapter <3... #Kukkad (just ritualising 😉)

Also, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who are following me throughout this story. And just know that each and every single one of your tremendous comments fully makes me smile and makes my day!

I LOVE YOU ALL!

🤗

16 year old Arnav Singh Raizada felt himself tremble with anger as he pinned a shaking Aman to the wall, snarling at him through bared teeth.

He refused to let him go, the image of Khushi stood sickened with humiliation, carved in to his eyes as his hold on him tightened.

"Nanav, stop... I'll deal with him. You better go see where Khushi is"

He turned around to see NK glaring at Aman, grabbing him in a headlock as Arnavs' hold on him loosened at the mention of his best friends' name.

Looking around the school hallway, he sought out her face amongst the throng of students currently surrounding them. Unable to see her anywhere, he ran straight for the entrance, jumping over the lowered wall as he dug out his phone, mumbling to himself discreetly, "f**k chemistry!"

He felt the anger course through him once more at the thought of how stupid and hurt she must be feeling right now. "f**king hell Aman! She's only 15 for gods' sake!" he exclaimed to himself as he mentally murdered him for the 10^th time that day.

Aman Mathur, 'gods' gift' had been successfully dating his best friend for a few weeks... Only for him to unwittingly disclose to everyone that he only wanted to rid her of her virgin status. Khushi and Arnav had no doubt been there to hear him gloating to his dumbass friends. She had slapped him right there and then before fleeing from the spot - covering her face as she weaved in and out of their classmates.

And now, he had to get to her as fast as possible. As brave as she was... he knew she needed him.

~

She was sitting on her bed when he finally got to her - right back up against the head board, her legs pulled up to her chest as the tears streamed down her face. He watched silently from the window, as he felt a wave of emotions rushing through him for the girl currently fighting to control her own.

At that very moment, Arnav Singh Raizada felt his heart clench at the sight in front of him. And in that moment, he vowed himself to never see it again; to always be there for her... To protect her.

Glad that her bedroom was on the bottom floor, he jumped over the ledge of her open window and slowly walked towards her, sitting down on the bed beside her as she sensed his presence and lifted her head up from her arms - staring at the wall in front whilst she spoke to him

"I don't even know why I'm so upset. I should have known! I really thought I had it figured... You know I don't usually put myself in situations like this"

Arnav felt a surge of compassion spill from him as he realised she was still trying to be strong; that she was blaming herself for this whole mess. He shook his head - he too staring at the wall in front of them as he tried to make her see sense.

"Sometimes our own judgment just isn't enough Khushi. Sometimes you're going to find yourself in situations you just can't handle on your own. But that's where I come in... You know you always have me"

She looked round at him, her eyes red and blood-shot as she took in his words, knowing that he was right. She knew full well that she'd always have him - And it made her feel at ease knowing that whenever she needed that extra little bit of help, he would always be there.. Just like he always was. She just looked at him in awe as he propped his legs up - his arms resting upon them.

"I'm always going to be there to protect you Khush"

He looked at her as her eyes asked him the question he knew she was too dignified to ask, bringing the words straight to his lips without a second thought.

"I Promise"

ooo

His empty words reverberated through his mind, making his stomach churn violently as they came crashing down in to the present moment in which he was forcing himself to look at Khushi's wounded state - forcing himself to look at what he had caused.

Arnav never thought he would have had to place himself in the situation he was currently in - never had he thought his life would come to this road. A road where he had to witness such brutality caused upon his best friend... his Khushi.

Sat up against his headboard, he nearly screamed in frustration as he realised he had broken his promise to her in so many ways... So many heart-breaking ways. She had never asked to be looked after; she had never even asked him to promise her - It was him. It was all him.

He was the one who had given her the assurance; promised her he would protect her and save her from any situation possible. And he had thrown all those promises in to the ocean after fishing out his own disgusting selfishness.

Arnav banged his head against the headboard, closing his eyes as his mind reverted back to the night before - when he thought his heart had literally stopped beating in that one moment... In that one moment that he had heard her tortured scream.

For those few minutes, Arnav had died several deaths just wondering where she was - his mind concocting vile images of a troubled Khushi as her screams had replayed over and over in his head. He had crumbled under the feelings coursing though his body just knowing that Khushi was in dire need of him; just knowing that this was his entire fault.

Those few minutes, had almost killed him.

But Khushi?

Khushi had no doubt gone through 6 years of this same worry. The same uneasiness, the same torture and the same heart-break. If he knew Khushi at all, he knew that she had probably spent every waking moment pleading for him to come back - praying that he was ok. And what had he done? Played with her emotions because he didn't want to be weak; because of his own pathetic selfish reasons he had broken Khushi's life in to scattered pieces. He had ruined the one person he cared about the most... Just so he could secure his own future; just so he could wallow in his self-pity.

6 whole years.

Arnav felt like shit. He felt the disgust for his own actions pour through him as Khushi's words echoed through his mind yet again, 'You really don't understand do you Arru?'

He felt the anguish claw through him as he finally understood; he felt it stab at his heart as he came to terms with the fact that it had taken Khushi's near death for him to see what he had actually caused. If his emotions could speak, they would tell you that in that moment... Arnav could safely say that he hated himself

He looked down at the petite figure next to him, sleeping soundly on her side - her hand clasped in the side of Arnavs' t-shirt, increasing her hold every now and then to reassure herself. He took that moment to fully appreciate just how beautiful she actually was. Khushi had always been different in his eyes - not obviously pretty, but she had something about her. But now? Now she was absolutely radiant, without even losing her essence - still void of any make-up, still his simplistic Khushi. Even laying next to him in the hoody he had managed to put her in the night before; even with her face covered in bruises and deep gashes... She looked as ethereal as ever.

A slight shift under the covers broke him out of his reverie as he heard her sigh unconsciously - moving closer to him as her eyes began to open.

~

A familiar warmth surrounded her as she awoke from her slumber, her eyes fluttering slightly in the brightness spilling through the window. But why were her curtains open? She shoved the unnecessary thoughts to the back of her mind as she nestled herself further in to the warmth - an odd prickle shooting down her back as she moved herself in to a more comfortable position.

She breathed deeply, a musky scent flowing though her airwaves - soothing her aura as she delved deeper in to the squashy surroundings. She let it travel throughout her, soaking her in calm waters as it transformed her troubled mind in to serenity. She had been so stressed out lately, and this feeling she was currently experiencing... It made her feel at home; it made her feel safe.

As she wandered around in the familiarity, her mind started to release images from the night before, the gradual realisation causing her heart to race uncomfortably as she came to a sickening halt at the bleak realism of those images. Her eyes shot open, gasping as she hurtled in to an upright position from under the covers - her breathing ragged and uneven as she caught sight of the man who she currently had her hand gripped on.

She hissed in pain, inadvertently aggravating the fresh scars running down to her chest, her eyes watering under the intensity as she sensed Arnav make a move to help her. Holding her hand up, she stopped him before he could touch her - shaking whilst she clenched her eyes in a bid to ease the searing sting flowing though her every wound, before looking back up at him.

'What the hell am I doing here?' She asked, somewhat frantically

Arnav was taken aback, guessing that last night she had inevitably needed him in her brutal state. He goaded himself for having the hope in the back of his mind that maybe she would have forgiven him... Of course she hadn't.

He watched as she struggled to untangle herself from the bed covers in a fluster - not even giving him the chance to explain himself.

'Khushi?'

She chose to disregard him - avoiding his searching eyes as she turned to the side to slowly lift herself off the bed, muttering to herself in a bid to block out his scorching gaze.

'Hey Devi Maiyya... Jiji must be so worried!' She croaked out, her voice still hoarse and broken from nearly being choked to her death.

Arnav couldn't take it anymore - She needed to know just how much he regretted everything. He needed her to know. He grabbed a hold of her arm lightly before she had a chance to move away and slid her back towards him as both of his hands clasped her face - urging her to look right at him; pleading her to comprehend just what he was trying to convey as he barely even whispered to her.

'I'm so sorry'

Khushi had no choice but to look right in to the sorrow-filled eyed of the man she loved with all of her heart. She could feel her hard-worn barriers melting away - her heart beating that little bit faster as the restrictions disintegrated within the atmosphere along with his words. She knew he found it hard to say exactly what he was feeling - it had always been like this. But he didn't need to with her, because she always knew just what he was trying to say by just looking at him.

And right now, Khushi saw the pain and anguish dripping from his eyes as they bore in to her own. His words weren't anything compared to what his eyes were telling her.

This is what she had been waiting for... For him to finally understand what he had done. She didn't want to get back at him, she didn't even want to make him feel guiltier then he already did... She just wanted him to know. And she could see so clearly now, that he did.

She closed her eyes momentarily, his gaze proving too much for her as she felt the lump at the back of her throat rise up. She felt her lips start to tremble, her control slipping away as a few tears slipped out from her sore eyes. She didn't know what to say; or what to even think.

So she brought her hands up to his, and squeezed them - a sad smile adorning her lips - feeling her tears clinging to them as she opened her mouth a little.

'I - I should go'

Arnav refused to let his gaze falter; he kept his eyes transfixed on her eyes as they looked up at him, quivering beneath the sheen of tears. Her soft voice glided in his ears -his heart pounding as he saw that faint smile reach her sullen features. He couldn't have felt happier in that moment.

It was a small step, and he wasn't going to push for more... Not any more.

Just then, a shrill voice cut through the silence around them, breaking the moment between them as it was followed by a loud crash and more shouting coming from downstairs. They both whipped there heads round to the door, before looking right at each other - confusion etched their faces. What was going on down there?

~

Payal Gupta was by no means a timid pushover as so many people thought. Just because she didn't say anything, it didn't mean she couldn't stand up for herself, or anyone else for that matter.

And right now, she felt an indescribable anger laced fear coursing through her as she knocked repeatedly on the door of the Raizada house - her determined face unwavering as she prepared herself to let go of her self control. She was slowly becoming all the more impatient as she increased the knocks - faster and louder as her thoughts rested on the text she had read that morning.

A text, from Arnav Singh Raizada, sent from Khushi's phone.

She had gotten home late last night and gone straight to sleep, figuring Khushi was already home and in bed - not wanting to disturb her. In the morning she had read the text claiming that Khushi was staying over at the Raizada's, and that she'd been in a little 'incident.' As the anger and fear spread through her, she had driven straight over to the Raizada house, inwardly cursing herself for not staying up that little bit longer to receive the text.

And now, as the door in front of her flung open, she looked straight in to the unfamiliar, annoyed face of Akash.

~

Akash was aggravated to say the least. He had barely gotten any sleep last night, and now, at 7 o'clock in the morning, some maniac was trying to break down the door.

'Someone's going to die today,' he thought with intent as he dragged a hand down his face in exasperation - tripping slightly over the corner of the rug as he reached the front door. He swung it open, only for his disgruntled features to disintegrate in to a slight fright as he came face to face with a pair of blazing eyes of an apparent seething woman.

He stood there for a while, taking in her odd presence... He was so confused. Who was this woman? And why did she look so angry?

He didn't have to wait very long as she shoved him out the way and marched straight in to the house, her eyes searching every corner whilst she called out.

'Khushi?! Khushi kahan ho tum?'

Akash, breaking out of his stupor as he shut the door, was about to motion to her to stop shouting before Anjali and Nani woke up, but he was too late. By this point, Anjali had walked in to the front room, rubbing her eyes as she came forward to see what all the commotion was about.

'Akash what's going o- Payal? Aap yahaan?'

Akash watched in bewilderment once again as Anjali stood like a deer in headlights, her discomfort increasing by the second under the accusing stares of Payal. Now he understood. She was Khushi's sister.

Upon realisation however, Akash cowered away slightly as Anjali had inadvertently disclosed a very vital piece of information to Payal - His name.

She swivelled round to face him - pacing towards him with the fire still blazing in her eyes. Even though he shouldn't have, Akash still took a moment to appreciate the fiery beauty currently inching closer towards him. She had a simple elegance to her in the midst of all her anger. But he realised he was probably treading in to dangerous territory as he watched her come to a halt in front of him - a look so menacing etched upon her face he almost stumbled back a little.

'Oh... So you're Akash?'

Akash gulped audibly, nodding his head at her whilst trying to prevent the girlish squeak from coming out of his mouth as she carried on further.

'How dare you take advantage of her?'

Payal was more then seething by this point. Khushi had mentioned that she was working under Arnavs' cousin, Akash - and she figured he was the reason for her late nights at the office.

'This is your entire fault! Making her work late and putting her in these kind of situations'

She didn't stop there - disregarding Akashs' new found annoyance as she kept probing him with reproachful glares and assertions.

'Where is she huh? Khushi hahan hai?'

Akash Singh Raizada could safely say he had never seen such a feisty woman in all of his life. Who did she think she was? How dare she walk in to their house and accuse him left right and centre? Khushi was his friend, and he didn't like anyone accusing him of ill-treatment... Even if that someone was her sister.

'Ey! Shut up for a second woman and listen to me before shouting the odds...You don't even know what happened!'

Payal scoffed at his audacity, squaring up to him as she jabbed a finger to his broad chest.

'I don't need to know! But I know for a fact it obviously has something to do with you and that f**king cousin of yours!'

Akash had had enough. Sister or no sister, she needed to be put in her place.

'Look jus-'

Before he could say anything further however, Khushi and Arnav appeared at the top of the stairs - Khushi holding on to Arnavs arm for support as she struggled to walk down the stairs in order to pacify her raging sister.

'Hey Devi Maiyya I think she's about to throttle him' she said to Arnav hysterically as she let go of his arm and wobbled down the rest of the steps on unhinged legs. By this point, Payal had caught sight of her little sister and gasped in shock seeing the state of her as she ran forward to help her down

'Khushi? Hey Bhagwan what happened?!'

~

Arnav watched silently from the top of the stairs as the scene played out in front of him. Watching as Payal fussed over Khushi; as she shook her head at the story unfolding. He could just about make out Anjali and Akash try to comfort Payal as she raved to them all.

But all he saw was Khushi... Who was now looking right back up at him - overlooking Payal's thorough checks as she winced every now and then from the inspecting touches. It was like the whole room was in fast forward, but all they could see was each other in the midst of it all. He could sense it everywhere... Everything had changed. But whether this was a good thing, only time would tell.

With that final deliberation, Arnav figured he may as well face the music and head down himself, reaching them just as Payal grabbed khushi's hand.

'Come on Khushi, let's go home. Amma and Babuji aren't at home so there won't be any awkward questions'

Arnav couldn't let her go without apologising; he needed to explain to Payal that it was his fault and not Akashs'

'Payal wait... Let me just-'

'Let you just what Arnav?!'

Arnav opened his mouth to say something, but Payal failed to acknowledge this.

'You've done more then enough... That I can clearly see. Aur kuch baaki hai kya?!'

Arnav was at a loss once again... What could he even say to her? There was no explanation. He deserved everything Payal was saying - She was right after all.

'Thank you so much for saving her, but just stay away from her from now on...'

She turned towards Akash and gave him an appalled glare before warning him as well

'...Both of you!'

And with that, she tightened her hold on Khushi's hand and made a move to head out of the house as she addressed all the members of the household without so much as a second glance.

'Goodbye!'

Before Payal had the chance to drag Khushi away however, Arnav took the opportunity to look upon her with such sincerity it nearly broke her. He looked right at her and spoke only to her - His voice barely audible amidst all the chaos. But Khushi heard him crystal clear.

'I'm sorry Khush'

As she felt herself being dragged away, she kept her head turned towards him, his words, although whispered, ringing in her ears as she stumbled a little under Payals' directive leading. She almost ran in to his arms as he hurtled forward to prevent her from falling if need be.

But she just couldn't forgive him just yet.

So she just smiled at him, her eyes still glazed over with unshed tears - Silently pleading for him to be patient as she walked through the doors of the Raizada house.

'Wait for me Arnav'

ooo

Hope you all liked it guys!! 😃

Shay X