Living Without You: 3: Link to Thread 4 (Part 41) - Page 2

Part 36

The next day was a revelation for Arnav. Neighbours started pouring in to Gomti Sadan to help out in the preparations for the sagai. They helped Akash and Mamaji ready everything for the havan, decorate the house with baskets and baskets of flowers and long strings of lights etc. Babuji watched men, women, and kids of the neighbourhood pitch in, and sighed in relief. Women pored over the gifts and clothes that Buaji and Amma had purchased for Arnav and the Raizadas, and made final touches to the space set aside for a cook and his two helpers assigned the task of preparing dinner for the guests invited to the sagai.

Sitting at the cash counter of the sweet shop, Arnav watched the men & women of the area walk in and out of the house, carrying huge vessels and ladles, mats, carpets, chairs and tables, cots etc from one place to the other. When the crowd at the shop thinned, he went inside and asked Buaji if she needed help. She kissed his forehead, poured him a glass of cool water, and made him sit down.

"Bitwaa, this is for you."

Amma and Buaji gave him a new set of kurta-dhoti for the sagai.

"You will look like a rajkumar in this, Nandkisore!", Buaji said.

Arnav laughed. The Raizadas looked at each other at the sound of his laughter, astonished to see him so happy, so relaxed, so at home, so loved...

Naniji, Mami, Payal, & Anjali handed over to Amma a white, red, & green lehenga for Khushi.

"The colours will look wonderful on Khushi Bitiyaa!", said Naniji. "I hope she likes it."

"She will love it. Because she loves all of you!", replied Amma. The Raizada ladies smiled, thanking God for their luck in getting Khushi as their bahu.

Khushi sat in her kitchen on a low stool, frantically making sweets. If only she had a hundred arms, He Devi Maiyya!, she sighed. And then laughed. She would look ridiculous with a hundred arms. Arnavji would... Arnavji would laugh. The smile remained on her face as she kneaded and rolled, stirred and fried...

Dinner was a hurried affair, the tired hordes pigging on tehri, roti, and sabzi.

As she helped the other ladies to clear up, Amma gave her a bunch of keys and asked her to go to the safe room and bring her mother's jewellery box down. Khushi took the keys and went up the stairs. She crossed Arnavji's room, then hers, and then went up another small flight of stairs leading to the terrace. Near the door to the terrace was the safe room. Using one key in the bunch, she opened the hefty lock and entered the room.

The room had big, tall cabinets, all locked up. This was the room in which Babuji stored documents related to the house and shop, the certificates & old notebooks and answer scripts of his daughters, photos of their departed ancestors, money, silver utensils and pooja thalis, and jewellery.

Her mother's jewellery was stored in a long box, kept high up in the third wooden cabinet with glass windows. She unlocked the cabinet and set aside the bunch of keys and locks on a central table. She dragged a steady ladder and placed it against the open cabinet. She smiled. Babuji had ordered the ladder to be made after she, aged eleven, had fallen from an unsteady one while peeking into the cabinets.

She got on to it and took down the heavy jewellery box. She placed it down on a lower rack so that she could reach it from the ground. As she was about to descend from the ladder, she felt his presence behind her. He closed in on her, standing with his face pressed against her shoulder blades and his arms on the ladder at her two sides.

"Khushi...", his voice rumbled. "How many times have I asked you not to climb ladders? What if something had happened to you? Tumhe lag jaati to?"

She said, her voice quivering. "The ladder is safe. I won't fall."

He slid his hands to her waist. She drew in a sharp breath. Each time he touched her... it was so difficult to breathe...to stop herself from falling...to keep her legs steady... One day, her heart would break through her rib cage and run away, unable to bear the torture of his touch...

"Arnavji, chodiye...", she cried, frantic.

His fingers played a music she couldn't hear on her waist, thankfully covered by her suit. He helped her down the ladder, her front to his front.

He buried his face in the fall of her hair..., and softly kissed her cheek as she reached ground level.

She moaned. He moved his parted lips to her neck. She jumped, trying to take her melting body far away from the fire.

He looked at Khushi, standing a couple of feet away from him, chest heaving as though she had just finished a marathon.

"What happened to you, Khushi?", he asked innocently. "Why are you breathing so fast?"

"Stay away from me, Arnavji!"

He quirked his eyebrow. "What did I do?"

"Everything. Why did you have to...", she paused, knowing that she was getting in too deep.

He took a step closer. "Why did I have to...?"

She took a step backwards. "...to... to touch me?"

"Did my touch hurt you, Khushi?", he asked, all care and concern.

"Haan...", she was fooled into responding. "It hurts."

"Where does it hurt, Khushi?", he asked softly, moving closer while she was distracted.

She placed her hand on her heart. "Here."

"Oh!" A kind Arnav extended his hand to touch her heart and soothe it, but Khushi took a step back, barely escaping his touch.

"I can't breathe when you touch me. I can't even walk straight. I am like a housefly that had fallen into a vat of bhang..."

His lips quivered.

"Don't laugh!", she warned him of consequences dire.

He straightened his lips. He was about to ask her for a detailed report on the many effects of his touch, when both of them heard Amma calling Khushi, asking her to bring the box down as Naniji wanted to see her jewels.

He helped her lock up, his eyes lingering on her innocent face and luscious form with eyes reflecting his love and need for her.

He warned her, "You still should not have used that ladder Khushi. Had you fallen..."

"I would never have fallen from that ladder. You see, Babuji made it specially for me."

Arnav asked a silent question.

"When we were young, Babuji had forbidden Jiji and me from entering this room. He was scared that we would fall from the ladder. He used to lock the cabinets and the room, but one day, when I was eleven, I took the keys and unlocked the door. Poor Jiji! She came running after me, asking me not to enter the room. I didn't listen to her. I couldn't open the cabinets, but I dragged the ladder to the glass window and climbed it to peek in. I fell & hurt my leg."

"Did Babuji scold you?"

"No. Amma scolded me because she was very worried. And Jiji too, because she hadn't stopped me."

"And Babuji?"

"He went out immediately to order a new, steady ladder that would never topple whatever happened."

Arnav laughed out aloud.

Part 37:

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3001953/living-without-you-3-link-to-thread-4-part-41

Part 35

The fine hairs near her ear fluttered in the gentle breeze that his naughty whisper produced. Her hands holding the packet trembled.

"Aren't you going to open it?", he asked, looking deep into her eyes.

"Yes...", she quavered.

Her shaking fingers untied the bow, and removed the tasteful wrapping paper.

Inside was revealed a jewellery box. She looked at him. He was smiling, but his eyes held an anxious look. She pushed away the paper, and placing the box on her lap, opened it.

Inside were two rings.

"Our engagement rings.", he said. "I bought them in Delhi...in August...when I came to Buaji's house to propose to you..."

She looked at him, moved beyond words. He must have had so much faith in his love for her...her love for him... He must have believed that she would agree to marry him one day.

She looked at the box, and took out a star-shaped diamond ring. She absently placed the box beside her on the seat, her attention fully caught by the mesmerising beauty of the ring. So beautiful. He must have asked for a star-shaped one, specially for her because he wanted her to have her stars with her always, during day and night all their lives. He was making up for having thrown away the stars she had left him in her will. Tears filled her eyes. A finger touched the star gently. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Khushi... Khushi, don't cry... Please don't cry..." His arms went around her slender shoulders, trying to comfort her. "If you don't like it, we can buy something else. It doesn't matter. I... I just..."

She buried her face at the base of his neck, exposed by the 'V' of his shirt. She whispered, her tender lips brushing against the highly sensitised skin, "I don't like it. I love it."

"Khushi..."

She could feel the long sigh of relief that raised and lowered his chest.

"Shukriya. For giving me my star..."

He cupped her face, and looked deep in to her tear-filled eyes.

"I promise, Khushi. You will never be alone again. I will be with you every day and every night. I will always protect you, Khushi..."

"I know. And I will always protect you...", she mumbled, tears making her words indistinct. "You will always have a home in me." Her fingers clutched at his shirt, holding him close to her. "I will never let you go.", she promised. She hugged him with all the strength in her puny arms.

"Who will dare to touch me when I have my lioness to protect me?", he whispered, his lips making love to her ear. "My sherni..."

(Shruti_P, Found you!! And thank u!)

She trembled, and curled closer into him.

"Let me put the ring on you, Khushi..."

She moved a few inches away from him, reluctantly, and extended her left hand. He cradled her hand in his big one, and gently slid the ring on to the fourth finger with the nas that links it directly to the heart. It was a perfect fit. He turned her hand in this and that direction to admire the burst of fire on her finger.

Khushi turned to look at the remaining items in the box that she had abandoned on the seat.

An engagement ring for men, with a line of gold running along it, and a single diamond placed in the centre. She took it out of the box, kissed the solitary diamond, and placed it on his finger.

They sat silent for a long time, holding hands. Then he said softly,

"You...you are the only light in my life, Khushi..."

She looked at the ring on his hand. She nodded, comprehending his meaning perfectly.

"Khushi...", he turned around eagerly. "Remove your nosepin."

"Uuhh?"

"Remove it, Khushi."

She slowly unscrewed the ordinary nosepin that she had purchased for a few rupees at a roadside store.

He reached in to the box, and came out with a star-shaped diamond nosepin. He unscrewed it, and gently pushed the stem into the pierced area of her nose. She screwed it tightly.

He admired her nosepin, holding her chin in his hand, and turning her head to the left and right. He loved the way the diamonds glittered on her.

They removed the rings and returned them to the box. They would be able to wear it only after the sagai on the 4^th, the day after tomorrow.

They drove home in the dark. She helped him lock up, and both of them climbed the stairs to their floor, holding hands. He accompanied her to her room, and standing outside her door, wished her a good night's sleep. She smiled in to his eyes. He kissed her nose ring, pressed her hands, and saw her into her room. He then went to his room, placed the box of rings carefully in his bag, and got in to bed, a sweet smile on his sinfully delicious lips.

Part 39

Vimala Maasi swept out of the room, a struggling Antara in her arms, leaving behind a pregnant silence. Arnav looked intently at Khushi who stood staring at him with her mouth open. He walked to her, covering the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps, enjoying her disconcerted look. He stopped close to her, and shut her tempting mouth with a finger beneath her chin.

"Is she right?", he asked, as innocent as a baby.

"Kya, Kaun...?", she asked, all flustered.

"Vimala Maasi."

Khushi blushed. "How do I know?", she asked, and tried to run away.

He caught her arm, practice having made him perfect. He inspected her cheek for any stray teeth marks, and found it smooth and creamy as usual, just pink in colour. He ran his fingers down the cheek to her chin.

She broke free of him and ran down the steps to the courtyard.

The guests finally left, and the family gathered in the courtyard. The cooks were gathering their utensils and stoves to leave. Munna and Krishna had gone to bed. The ladies and gents lolled in chairs and cots, pleasantly tired.

Arnav said, "Nani, Babuji, Buaji, Mamaji..., many of the guests were sorry that they had to miss Payal's and Akash's wedding."

"Haan, Bitwaa. But what can we do, Nandkisore? It was in Delhi."

"Their wedding...", he cleared his throat. "...Their wedding was spoilt by me. They couldn't even enjoy the games after the wedding. And I am sure Payal missed having her friends there."

The family remained silent, uncomfortable.

Khushi alone smiled at Arnav, guessing what was coming.

"Maybe we can have both weddings together. Payal and Akash can marry once more. With us."

There was perfect silence for a moment.

Then Khushi said, "Please, Naniji, Babuji, Amma, Buaji, Mamaji, Mamiji..., please..."

The courtyard exploded with sound, loud laughter and conversation filling it. It was decided that Payal & Akash would have their Lucknow wedding along with Arnav & Khushi. Mami couldn't believe her ears.

"I can inbite my brothers, sisters, nephews, their wives, my chachas, chachis, mamas, maamis, even my uncle's cousin's wife's sister and family. Happy Beddings! Two for the praij of one!"

Arnav changed into his casual clothes, and got ready for bed. The whole house was silent. There was a knock on the door. He opened it to find Amma and Buaji outside.

"What happened? Is everything alright?", he asked, concerned.

"Haan, Bitwaa. There is nothing to worry about.", Amma set his heart at ease.

"We just wanted to talk to you about something, Nandkisore! Oo kaa he, Babua, we were thinking...", she looked at Garima. "...We were thinking that after the wedding, when all the others go back to Delhi,... if you don't mind, only if you don't mind,... you can leave Anjali Bitiyaa with us..."

Arnav looked at them, pale, uncertain.

Garima rushed to explain. "Oo kaa he, Bitwaa, she seems much happier here. No one knows of her pain, and she can start a new life. The people who meet her don't know of her past. And she loves going to the temple, helping in the kitchen, spending time with the neighbours..." She took hold of his hand.

"Babua, she is young. She has a long life ahead of her. We can't let her waste it just because one rascal cheated her. She deserves to be happy. There should be more to her life than staying at home and praying while you and Akash have families and a life. It is a sin, a shame.", said Buaji.

"Haan, Bitwaa. Jiji is perfectly right."

"Babua..", Buaji placed her hand on his shoulder. "We had an aunt who was widowed at the age of 18, thirteen months after her wedding. She had no children. She died at the age of seventy. She spent everyday between the ages of 70 and 18 looking after her brothers' children and slogging in the kitchen. Her life was limited to the kitchen and the pooja room. What a waste of life, Nandkisore! It shouldn't happen to our Anjali Bitiyaa." Her eyes filled with tears.

"Bitwaa, please leave her here. Khushi's father has a cousin who runs a school and orphanage nearby. If we ask him, he will definitely involve Bitiyaa in the work. She will get to spend some time with the children. It will lighten her mind and give her a purpose in life. He will be coming tomorrow to meet all of you as he couldn't come today for the sagai. He is a widower, and is helped by his son, Anand. Both of them will be here tomorrow."

"Haan, Babua. Talk to them. See if you like them. If you like them, we can send Bitiyaa there to work with the children. If you don't, we will find another place for her. It doesn't matter. But leave her here, Bitwaa. Don't take her back to Delhi."

"Damadji, for us, Anjali Bitiyaa is just like our Payaliyaa or Khushi. We will take good care of her. And at least because she is here, you will all come regularly to see us...", Garima added. Buaji nodded her head.

Arnav lowered his eyes to hide the moisture filling them. He threw his arms around the two ladies, and hugged them close. He had often told Khushi that she didn't have to do everything by herself. He hadn't known that this was applicable to him too.

"You meet them tomorrow, and then talk it over with Anjali Bitiyaa & Nani...", suggested the ladies.

He nodded.

Arnav drifted off to sleep after a long time. His mind had lingered on the terrible events of the past few months, not letting him rest. Finally, towards dawn, he closed his eyes.

Dreams came to him like thieves in the night, unlocking the doors to his memories. He saw himself and Khushi in the hut, on the run from the kidnappers.

It was raining heavily. He sat on the hay, scantily clad in a white vest and ragged trousers, stealing glances at her shadow on the wall as she dressed behind the cloth screen that he had made for her. She tied the dori of her blouse, and adjusted the pallu of her saree. He swallowed. There was just a piece of cloth between him and her. He stood up, summoning the remnants of his overused stores of restraint and self-control. She would be out of there any moment, and would catch him savouring her shadow. He hastened to lower the flame of the lantern.

He saw her slide the screen along the rope through the corner of his eyes. He looked up, and stood fascinated by the picture she made. The white sari, her red, almost-not-there blouse, her unbound hair fluttering in the breeze, the sari revealing the tempting curve of her waist, her fingers trying to tame the fringe of hair that was falling in to her eyes, the knowledge in her eyes that he found her beautiful, captivatingly, astoundingly beautiful, the realisation in her eyes that he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath...

Her eyes slid away from him, to look at the hay on the floor. Her fingers clutched the pallu at her shoulder nervously, trying to make it cover more of her body from his laser-sharp eyes. He took one step after the other towards her, ducking under the clothesline to get to her. With each step that he took towards her, she took one away from him. She hit the wall, and stood, looking flustered and shy. Her chest rose and fell irregularly, her breath came in spurts, her eyes seemed to search for a way out, and her fingers clutched at the folds of her sari at her sides. She tried to duck to her right, but he placed his hand on the wall by her and blocked her move. Her eyes darted towards his, and she tried to turn to her left to make her escape. His hand slammed against the wall to her left, again blocking her.

She looked at him, helpless, nervous, the pulse in her throat fluttering like a bird caught in a net, curiosity warring with fear of the unknown in her eyes...

He raised his fingers to her face, and caressed the strands of hair touching her face. The storm raged without and within him. Months of sleeping with her in the same room without laying a finger on her... Months of having the person he most desired in front of his eyes, but not being able to have her... His self control was shot.

He lowered his face to capture her parted, moist lips with his. She darted away. His arm caught hers, and he pulled her in to his hold. She panted, weak with desire, her limbs trembling with the effort to keep standing. She looked at him, begging for immediate support.

He lifted her into his arms, and carried her to their bed of hay. He lay her down carefully, leaning over her. He lowered his face to hers, determined to taste the lips that had been killing him for the past 1 year and more, fuelling his torrid dreams, making him weak in the knees...

(Illyria, thanx!)

She turned away in the hay, revealing the bounty of her more-than-half-naked back to him. The dori tempted him beyond resistance. His fingers, clutching her shoulder, moved lazily down her back, making their way slowly but surely to the dori. She trembled like a blade of grass in strong wind, her choppy breath moving the muscles of her back, her tender skin trembling at his slow but sure touch. He kissed her nape, and every inch of her back, holding her down on the hay with his hand. She shook, she moaned her pleasure, her fingers grasped the hay like a lifeline...

His fingers played with the knot of the dori, and slowly pulled it free. The two edges fell apart. Arnav held her by her shoulder, and turned her to face him. Her hands clutched the pallu and the poor remains of her blouse to her chest. He focused on her lips. They looked redder than usual, as though she had bit them in an agony of pleasure. He lowered his lips to hers, gently touching their fullness. She gasped and parted her lips. He dived in, tasting her with his tongue. His fingers slid the pallu from her shoulder.

"Arnavji! Arnavji!"

Rudely awakened from his dream, Arnav sat up in his bed, staring at a thrilled Khushi standing near his bed, the phone in her hand.

She was talking nineteen to a dozen. But he couldn't hear her. He was still in the most cosy shack on earth, kissing the most beautiful girl on earth, the rain pounding at the windows...

"Arnavji! Get up! Get up, please! Guess what happened. Nanheji phuned just now. He is coming here on the 9^th for our Sangeet. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Err...Y..yes..."

He pulled the covers closer to his chest.

Part 40:

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3001953/living-without-you-3-link-to-thread-4-part-41

Smita, you really ought to get this printed ! Its so beautifully written, so neatly etched out ! And the emotions just leap out of the screen and hold your heart.,,I am speechless at the beauty of your storyline. And how well you've tied up all the strings to make this sooo completely heartwarming,

Hey Smita...exams are over and see what i am doing...the first thing i did after logging on is check ur thread. Update soon dear...

what a cliffhanger... The place u left off in ur last update...i was left with...and and and...God Smiita!!!! i actually exclaimed this. Dont torture us poor addicted souls of ur FF in such a way. I have my first internship in a week's time...i wont be able to concentrate with that ending hanging in the fringes of my mind along with seeing the precap of the upcoming Monday. Mujhe pe rahen kaho yaar.



~edited~


Me first!!!! me first!!!! me first!!!!!! For the first time, i didnt realise that u were updating... Good for me.


"I enjoyed playing with you. We should do this more often.", he whispered in her ear.

Arnav could be so mischievous when he wants to be so. All he had needed in his life was to know and acknowledge what was in his heart and after doing so, he has become so doubly irresistible. A simple game, but so sensuous in its play. His desire and Khushi's naivety are such a pair, one igniting the other.

Am sorry to know that u wont be PMing now, but well i understand it must be tough to PM so many ppl...then i will take to stalking ur thread... "dubta ka na karte", i really dont have a choice, as i said i am so addicted to ur writing. Keep on going.

What is wrong with girls these days? Age no bar, height no bar! All of them are after my Arnavji!,

Originally posted by: smitar

Laxmi said, "Meeeh!"

R u updating

*edited*
So I technically become d 1st one to comment...
Yipppweee
*jumping wid joy*

Wot a fab update...

Not only his lips, his eyes his nose,his smile even his hair r sinful enuf to make any sanyasin give up...no, throw her vows...

Loved it...

update soon!! waiting!😉