Th2(ArHi FF):Arranged Marriage Link Thread 3 added - Page 73

Khushi closed the door and sighed out loud, the tiredness creeping up on her again. Stifling a yawn, she turned around to eat the food laid out on the tray when she saw the letter folded on the bed.

"Here is something that was left from Ma for chote's wife. So I pass this on to you, now"

Flipping it open, her eyes skimmed over it, the excitement dying from her face as Khushi read the paper, craving to know more, but feeling like she knew it all.

Humare Chote ki Bahu,

Waise toh hum yeh kangan aap ko khud he pehna ne waale hain. Par aap ko ek raaz ke baat batani hain, isiliye yeh likh rahein hain.

Dhayaan rakhiyega. Aur saawdhaan rahiyega, humare chote ki naak pe bohut saara gussa rehta hain, aur dil mein bohut saara pyaar. Gussa bardaasht karna aur pyaar soot sameth lautana.

My Chote's wife,

Even though I am going to give you these bangles with my own hands, I wanted to tell you a little secret, which is why I am writing this letter.

Be careful, and heed caution. My Chote has a lot of anger and pride, but a lot of love to share in his heart. Please bear his anger, and return his love as he shares it with you.

Khushi took out the bangles that were enclosed in the letter and her fingers felt the gold, the stones nad the little designs in the bangle, which weaved around to form an elegant yet a stunning design that Khushi felt her breath hitch as she stared in wonder at them. She kept the letter on her lap, and held the bangles in both her hands, contemplating putting them on.

"I will never accept you as my wife"

His words rang through her mind, and she closed her eyes painfully, her grip on the bangles tightening. She placed the bangles on the bed, deciding to give them back to Arnav, before she picked up the letter again and read through it again.

Khushi fingered the piece of paper as she finished reading the letter, a heaviness settled in her heart. She looked at the plain gold ring on her finger, and thought back to the engagement day which had been a quiet affair between both the families, hardly any joy present on either of the members, the joyful atmosphere which should have taken over all the members was replaced with a sense of loss, sadness and hurried behavior. Hardly anyone had been present, even Shyamji had been unable to come as he had been away on a business trip. The only people she recalled from the day had been herself, Arnav, Anjali di, Nani and her family.

She wiped a tear from under her eye as she stared at the paper for a few moments longer. Heaving a deep sigh, she got up from the bed and went towards the cupboard where her clothes were neatly kept and stacked. Opening a door, she took out a small box where she kept some of her treasured belongings. Opening it she stared all the items, each of which had a certain memory attached to them. Be it the first time she had received a flower from a boy, or the first time her father had got her payals which she had worn around the house, the chiming of them driving everyone mad. She had refused to take them off, and had finally relented when she had grown old, and the anklet too small to fit her ankles. She ran her fingers over all the items in the box, and then carefully placed the letter in there. It was the first reminder to her of Arnav's mother, of their marriage, and the disastrous anger she had born the brunt of for the past 2 weeks of their marriage.

She gently closed the lid, and placed the box back in her cupboard.

********

She heard the door click open, and Khushi barely spared him a glance as she heard him step inside the room. This was the first time Khushi hadn't pretended to be asleep, and he halted at the door for a few minutes taken aback at finding her sitting on the couch, watching the television on low volume.

He didn't say anything however, and put his laptop bag on the desk and draped his coat over the chair. Opening the cupboard, he took out his night clothes, and then stepped into the bathroom to get changed. It was only when the bathroom door was closed did Khushi realize that her body had been stiff with tension, and she released a breath she hadn't known she had been holding. Looking back at the TV, Khushi's half mind was half mind was concentrating on the running water, waiting for him to finish. As the running water stopped, Khushi closed the TV, and the slipped into her made-up bed on the couch, pulling the quilt up to her chin. Her eyes were, however wide open, as she waited for Arnav to step in the room.

As Arnav stepped in the room, a wet towel in his hand, that he threw on the recliner, Arnav stepped towards the bed, and stood still. Khushi could see that his back was facing hers, and his body was complete stiff with tension as though he was pondering about something

Khushi frowned as she saw him shut off the lights in the room, and darkness engulfed the room once again. Khushi snapped her eyes shut, as she felt her breathing increase involuntarily. She could feel the tightness starting in her chest as the fear slowly started making its way to her stomach, slowly freezing her insides.

She opened her eyes, and darkness was all around, she gasped as she saw that it was pitch dark, no source of light - nothing.

Suddenly a bright yellow light broke through the darkness, and Khushi's eyes quickly adjusted to the change in light, her head snapping up to see Arnav standing beside the bedside lamp which was now switched on.

Her eyes widened as she saw him stiffly glance her way, to make sure she could see the light, before he sat on the bed, pulled up the blanket over his body, and turned on his side, closing his eyes, blocking out Khushi.

She stared at the light for a few minutes, her eyes flickering between Arnav's sleeping, still form, to the light that was illuminating the room, making Khushi feel at ease.

And for the first time in many nights, Khushi slept a peaceful night's sleep.

3 weeks had passed since Khushi Singh Raizada had come into the Raizada parivaar as a daughter-in-law to the family, and a wife to Arnav. Everyone who had known of the circumstances under which they had been married, had been praying to all Gods above to make the marriage last. They had prayed for both their happiness and safety.

Arnav Singh Raizada knew that his family had accepted Khushi. At first he had been indifferent to it, at first he had not cared what she did, whom she interacted with, whether she stayed or left, whether she cried or smiled. For him, she was nothing. For him, she was someone who had been forced into his life, an unwelcome guest.

However he had seen the change in his sister. He had seen that the person who had mostly spent her free time in front of the God idols, now used most of that time chatting to Khushi as though she was a long lost friend, he noticed that his Nani who used to spend a lot of the time in her room, doing prayers, or sitting on the bed, going through photographs for old memories, now sat downstairs to interact more with the family members, he saw as his mami also sometimes came out of the room, to sit with the family, a makeup brush in one hand, as she dabbed the blush to her cheeks.

He noticed as his jeejaji seemed to spend more time at home, whenever he could, and there was more laughter and happiness around. He noticed that Khushi seemed to be the reason for most of that happiness and laughter.

And even though he hated himself to admit it ' he could not deny that Khushi had indeed brought along a lot of happiness into the previously dull, and strict family of the Raizada.

Arnav sighed as he closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the recliner. Arnav Singh Raizada, a man who always made his own destiny, a man who always wrote his own future, who made it to the top on his own efforts, who did not believe in God, did not believe in love, did not believe in emotions ' had suddenly had a major decision completely taken away from his hands. He had been forced to marry Khushi. Khushi had not been planned into his life, and Arnav had found himself to be helpless at finding another person living with him, in his room, sharing his personal space.

He had hated the mere sight of her. She had got everything she could possibly wish for ' money. But he had been stuck with an uneducated, middle-class girl, who had married him just for his money. After all wasn't that what every middle-class girl's dream was? To snag a rich man? His father's history proved this.

Yet, as he looked out the window and noticed her feeding Laxmi some food, Arnav had to close his eyes and calm his emotions. The hate was there, but it wasn't as strong as before. The disgust was there, but it wasn't as strong as before. The pain was there, but it wasn't as strong as before.

There was another new fresh emotions that were emerging in him, scaring Arnav, and he wanted to push her away so he would not feel those emotions. These strange emotions were confusing him, and suddenly Arnav found himself to be helpless again. He did not do well when he was helpless, he liked being in control of every situation, of every emotion, but as he looked at Khushi again, and saw her smiling and talking to the goat, he had an uneasy sinking of realization, that he could be physically attracted to the middle-class girl. And just that was enough to send Arnav into a sprawling burst of rage.

********

Khushi jumped out of her skin as she heard the pool door open with a bang. She looked up from her kneeling position to see Arnav glaring at her, his mouth twisted into a scowl, his jaw clenched. She slowly got up, and looked at him confused.

"Get. Out" He hissed at her, and Khush flinched at the coldness with which he spoke those words,

"What?" She asked, hesitantly.

"I said. Get. Out" He said through clenched teeth, and saw with satisfaction as confusion and hurt displayed on her face.

"I-"

"I don't want to hear anything. I want you out of my life, NOW!" He screamed, and Khushi jumped back at his outburst. He turned around to go back inside, when her voice halted him in his tracks,

"No." She said, her voice firm and steely.

He looked straight ahead, his hands fisting up at the sides, the anger reaching new heights. He heard her walking up to him, her heels sandals slapping against the tiled floor, as she put a hand on his shoulder, and turned him around, the warmth gone from her eyes, determination and anger flashing through.

"I am not going anywhere" She snapped at him, and as he opened his mouth to retort, she cut him off, "I-"

Arnav moved away from the door and marched up to her, grabbing her by the shoulders and bringing her closer to him, his harsh breath washing over her face as his mouth pulled up into a snarl and he glared at her, "Do not talk back to me"

Khushi stared back at him, her arms starting to ache under his tight grip, and she tried moving her arm to ease the tension. Tears stung her eyes as she looked into his caramel ones, seeing hate being reflected back to her, and she swallowed hard, the lump in her throat thickening, making her take in a shuddering breath. As a tear slipped past her eye, Khushi felt his grip tighten briefly before he released her and stepped back, raking a hand through his hair and exhaling heavily.

Khushi took in deep, steady breaths, trying to keep her anger from spiraling out of control, and she closed her eyes trying to gather her courage as her hand shook by her sides, her heart hammering against her chest, her palms sweaty, and her chin trembling from the fear and hurt she felt bubbling inside of her.

She opened her eyes, seeing the tensed back of Arnav and closed her hands into a fist, wanting to lash out, wanting him to feel the same pain she felt. She closed her eyes again, and grabbed handfuls of her suit, trying to release the pain.

She opened her eyes again and saw as he took a step towards the door, her eyes following his every move. It was only when he was at the door, and the pain her arms reduced down into a dull throb did she speak up,

"I won't" She whispered quietly, though she knew he had heard her. She took in a deep breath, trying to keep the tremble away from her voice, "I won't keep quiet. I will talk. I...I won't take it" She promised out loud, her chest heaving as the emotions started blurring her eyes the tears clinging onto her lashes, as she blinked her eyes quickly, feeling them escape and slip down her cheeks, leaving a trail of salty water behind. She brought up her hand and roughly wiped them away.

He stood next to the door, and she knew he was waiting for her to continue. She took a step forward, a small step, the fear still holding her back, but the pain, the determination and anger forcing her to make her point clear, "I am married to you, whether you like it or not" Her voice quivered.

"I don't" He bit out, "I hate it. I hate being married to you, I hate being forced to share the same room, the same space with you. I hate seeing your face every day and night. I wish things would go back to how they used to be, how they were before you came into my life. I wish I had never met you. I wish our grandfathers did not know each other-"

"Aap ko kya lagta hain? I don't wish for the same?" She asked, her voice raising in pitch, as she questioned him, her eyes wide, her mouth pulled down into a frown as she stared back at him glaring at her.

"I know you don't. Why would you wish that? You got the riches, the name, the fame" He bit out, his hands clenching up at his sides, "I know girls like you-"

"Girls like me?"

"Only after wealth, after money, willing to do anything for it, destroy families, destroy lives.."

Khushi took in a deep breath, his insult pinching at her heart,

"You think I am after your money" She said quietly, "You believe that I would do anything for it?

Arnav remained silent, his lips thinning into a line, as his nostrils flared in anger,

Khushi glared back at him, as she got her answer through his eyes. She picked up the bits of grass that had fallen to the floor, and smoothed out her suit and stepped to the side, to walk into the room and escape his company.

"What?" He mocked, "No excuse? No retort? No explanation?"

She wanted to shout, to hit, to scream, but she controlled her urge and took in another deep breath, her pulse racing with anger, her lips trembling slightly, as she stepped into the room, and stepped out of the door.

Away from him.

********

Arnav closed his eyes, and exhaled heavily, pulling his arm back and banging it against the door in frustration.