FF: Your Love Means Everything THREAD 1 BLOG LINK - Page 2

CHAPTER THREE

The smell of jalebi's was gently wafting from Gupta kitchen. They all looked at each other. Payal sighed.

" Main dekthi hoon" ( I'll go and see) she said turning to her family.

"Kya hua Khushi, phirse pareshaan hai kya?" (What happened Khushi, are you worried about something?) She placed a hand on Khushi's shoulder. Her younger sister was covered in jalebi batter and wisps of her hair were escaping from the loose bun on her head. In one hand was a freshly made jalebi she was munching on and in her other hand was the ladle. Most people would cry or would talk about their problems but she would make Jalebi. She loved her younger sister very much but sometimes she did wonder whether perhaps she was completely normal.

"Nai jiji, bas tabiyat kharab thi toh socha ke Jalebi banake khush ho jaon gi" (No Di, I just thought since I was feeling unwell making Jalebi would make me feel happy) Khushi plastered a fake smile on her face. Payal knew that it was best that she let Khushi sort out her problems with the help of her Devi Maiya and her Jalebi. She would come and talk to her when she was ready. Payal nodded and left Khushi to it.

" Hey Devi Maiya, yeh humme kya hora hai? Unke paas atey hi…hum hosh aur hawaaz koh beht the hai. Kabhi woh itne burre hote hai aur phir ek pal main itne naram. Main unka samna kaise karoon gi? Aur Arnavji ne hummare sath aise kyun….Arnavji? Hummara matlab hai woh Laad Governer" (Oh Devi Maiya, what is happening to me? When ever I am near him I lose all my senses. Sometimes he is so horrible and then other times he is so gentle and soft. How will I face him? And Arnav ji why did he do …Arnav ji? I mean that Laad Governer.) She huffed and then gently touched her still tingling lips. She smiled softly.

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A few hours earlier…

Chaahat ke cheete hai, khaare bhi meethe hai

She was struggling with the dupatta and the wind. She was tangled in among it.

Main kya se kya ho gayi

His legs automatically started taking him toward her.

Zara-zara fitrat badalne laga dil mera

He inched closer and closer and reached his hand out.

Zara-zara kismat se ladne laga dil mera

His hand covered hers and removed the dupatta that was billowing in the wind. And they came face to face. And time stood still.

Main pareshaan pareshan pareshan pareshaan

Aatishein woh kahaan

Main pareshaan pareshaan pareshaan pareshaan

Ranjishein hain dhuaan haa..ho..

I was listening to this instrumental while writing this part. You can if you want…I thinks it suits it quite well. Its called Romeo and Juliet by Alexandre Desplat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDSuEYO6-gl

The song ended. All they could hear was their own breathing. Well his breathing at least. Khushi had just forgotten to breath. There was a soft breeze playing with the stands of hair on her face. Her eyes were searching his and for the first time Arnav Singh Raizada really looked at Khushi Kumari Gupta. She was breath taking. From the specs of gold in her eye to the pink hue gracing her cheeks. Her skin was ivory and her hair was dancing across her face. He gently removed the hair and tucked it behind her ear; the tips of his fingers brushed her face. She closed her eyes and there was a sharp intake of breath from Arnav.

He felt his body come alive from her touch…as if there was a dull hum of electricity in his entire being. Had she any idea how tantalizing he looked like this? Her hair open, eyes closed and soft full lips slightly parted. His fingers lingered just behind her ear and then he cupped her face with his hands and closed his eyes. Very slowly he brought his own lips to hers. They just brushed…nothing more. Just touching.

He leaned his forehead against hers. And that is how they stayed. Time passed; neither knew how long. Her hands on his chest over his heart. He heard her sigh and they opened their eyes. She was looking straight through him in that moment; past all of the barriers that he created and searching for answer to an unspoken question. An answer he himself did not have and for the first time in his life Arnav Singh Raizada was terrified. And so…he ran.

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HE RAN. What the hell was wrong with him? He had kissed girls before…infact he had done a lot more than that. He smirked. Then why had he run. He wasn't a teenage boy anymore and she was nothing special.

"Arggh…Damn it" He had just cut himself on one the thorns in the rose bush. He sucked on his thumb and rolled his eyes. Even his plants knew when he was lying. Arnav donned his gardening gloves and began preparing the potting mix for the new seeds that he had bought. Why was she invading his every thought. He could still smell her berry shampoo and began to imagine what it would be like to nuzzle his face against her luscious hair. A soft smile played on his lips. NO! He was not going to entertain these thoughts. She was just some middle class, social climbing NOBODY.

He had managed to keep everyone out for this long…he wasn't going to let that change now. She wanted something from him…that was it. Everyone wanted something from him; she was trying to seduce him. His inner conscience was screaming out that infact he had gone to her, he had kissed her and that he knew those big honey eyes were just not capable of lying. "Whatever…"

Anjali had been observing her brother for the past few minutes. She watched emotions dance across his face; confusion, frustration, nostalgia, warmth, happiness and then finally coming to rest on his default mode of anger. She sighed. When was ever going to be able to get it through to him that keeping it all inside him wasn't healthy.

"Arrey chote…dhyan se" (Careful brother)

Arnav looked up and realized that he was close to drowning his plants. He groaned in frustration and threw down the watering can. Anjali took his hand and took him to the room where she sat him down on the recliner.

"Usse ladke ayyo ho kya?" (Did you have a fight with her ? )

" Main Khushi se kyun ladoonga?" (Why would I fight with Khushi?)

" Arre hum to lavanya ki baat kar rahe the. Khushi kaun hai?" (I was talking about Lavanya…who is this Khushi?)

She was teasing him.

" Koi nahi Di, kuch kaam tha?" ( No one Di , did you want something?)

Anjali tugged his nose and placed her hand on his cheek. " Happy Birthday Chote, tum bhool gaye na?" (Happpy Birthday little one, you forgot didn't you?) He had forgotten. He remembered her kiss again, a small smile tugged at his lips. It had to be one of the most gratifying gifts he had ever received.

"Thanks Di"

" Yeh tummare liye hai. Maa ne kaha tha ke jab tum 27 saal ke ho jao ge to main yeha tumme de doon." (This is for you. Mum said to give it to you when you turned 27)

" Is me kya hai Di?" (What's in here Di?)

" Khol ke pata laga lo. Humme bhi nahi pata" (Open it and find out. Even I don't know)

What could his mother possibly have written to him? He became nervous. He had always wondered if his mother was proud of the man he had become. What if he had disappointed her? The letter lay in his shaking hands and he looked at his Di with moist eyes. He opened the letter….

TBC….I know, try not to hate me but comment and I will upload as fast as I can. If you want to be PM'ed please buddy me. PLEASE COMMENT AND LIKE. I need to know people are reading.

Seriously guys...no opinions?😕

TRI - MAKE IT MORE IMAGINATIVE AND INNOVATIVE

Its gud i lyk it...devolop more of a background maybe? Like a secret of sum sort? Jus my opinion lolz

Thankyou guys for the input :) I really appreciate your commenting. I have been trying to develop my writing style in the first few chapters and just build the characters. Hopefully in the next chapter through the letter I can reveal a bit mire of the background to the story and where the story is going to be headed. 😃 I will try update soon and make it a bit longer.

sorry fr the late comment...

CHAPTER FOUR

Khushi had comeback from her evening stroll. She had needed to clear her mind and she had done just that in the company of Happy ji talking about the latest Indian Idol contestant favourites. They were arguing about who was the best singer and Khushi was determined to argue black and blue that Rani Seth the youngest contestant was the best.

" Khushi, don't mind but since you're pretty much tone deaf your opinion is moot." Happy ji jested

Khushi smiled. She indeed was a terrible singer. But so what'just because one could not cook doesn't mean that they couldn't enjoy eating food right? She was about to enter her house when she heard hushed voices inside. Buaji, Bauji and Amma were discussing their financial troubles. She hesitated outside the door and held her breath.

" It is decided 'we will return to Lucknow. I need to gather as much money as I can if we want to save our business and Lucknow is the only place to do it. Tell the girls Garima ji. We should leave with in the week." Bauji had his hands in his head

" Don't worry it will all work out you will see" Garima put a hand on his shoulder.

Khushi couldn't bear to see her Bauji like this. Bauji was a man of 5ft 9 inches but he always stood tall. When she was younger Khushi thought that he had to be the tallest man in the world. He would carry on his shoulders through fair grounds and she felt as if she could see the whole world from up there. She remembered his tickly moustache against her cheek when he would kiss her and then her complaining every time that it hurt. They would smile at each other knowing that he would keep on tickling her with his moustache and she would keep complaining. He understood her in a way that her Amma and buaji hadn't; not that they loved her any less. He would always encourage her to do what her heart told her was right and never saw her any less than a boy.

Yet today she didn't see Bauji her hero' she saw an old and weary man. She noticed the wrinkles, the greying hair and his mouth set tight with grim determination. But more than this today he seemed for the first time defeated. This was the man because of whom she was the girl standing here today.

She knew what she had to do. She swallowed her pride and hailed an auto.

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His hands were shaking. He looked up at his Di and she understood. She left him to read the letter himself. He felt sick to the stomach and had an overwhelming desire to just rip the letter into tiny shreds. Arnav took a deep breath and began to read.

My Chote,

If you are reading this letter then it means that for some reason or another I am not in your life and for this I apologise. I know you must have so many questions, so much anger and I wish I could wipe it all away. But you must be a young man now and I'm afraid my embrace will not be enough to take away your heart ache and so I write to you in an attempt to explain myself.

The letter in front of him began to get splotchy and Arnav realized that for the first time in fourteen years he was crying. Silent tears cascaded down the crevices of his face on to the paper " Maa, what I wouldn't give for you to hold me just once more'" It was her handwriting'the ink was faded. God knows how long ago she had written this. He could still smell her on the paper. She would always smell like the summer; cool breezes and the promise of something better to come.

Before the explanations start'tell me Arnav'have you still got your temper? Does it sit on that little nose of yours? Don't tell me you have become soft with your old age my baacha.

He could just imagine her laughing at him and pulling on his nose. Teasing him as if he was still that five year old Arnav. She used to tell him that he was ancient royalty stuck in the body of a young boy.

I want you to know that whatever happened to me was not your fault. I was unwell for a long time Arnav'.you know me I was never a strong minded woman. Sometimes I worry that the same your sister has the same countenance. I do not want my fate to become hers. You always kept me going my little warrior. I would hold you in my arms and my pain would temporarily subside. But it always came back. Where ever I am or whatever happened Arnav; I want you to know that you were and always will be my pride and joy. You are a better person than I could ever be.

This was torture he was sure of it. He felt as if someone was taking a knife to him and ever so slowly twisting it in and out of him. The pain of his lifetime that he had suppressed was drowning him. Today the flood gates had been opened.

He was on his knees gasping for air as his body shook. He ran to the bathroom and vomited. His body was having such a visceral reaction that he couldn't bring himself to read any further. He looked at himself in the mirror; he was a shadow of the man that people had come to fear. He couldn't see ASR for miles'. today he saw his maa's chote. Scared, confused, alone and in desperate need for her embrace.

He gathered his courage and read on.

I have been a selfish mother and so selfishly I must ask you one more thing today. Do you remember the palaces that you would go to play in as a young boy? Then you must also remember Rani Jyoti ? Did you ever wonder why you were there so often? Everytime I would break down she would take you and your Di to protect you from me. I could never thank her enough' she saved you from my self-destruction. She never judged me and assured me that one-day I would be able to repay her kindness. Very soon after she provided me the opportunity.

Their family was the last left in the line of influential Lucknow Royalty and for reasons not privy to me her family was in danger. She asked me to make sure that her daughter was always safe. I did not understand but I accepted. A few days later the entire Royal family had been slaughtered but I found young Khushi hiding in a secret passage in the palace. I took her to the hospital and doctor's told me she had no recollection of her life or any events. She had gone into shock. I hid her away with a small loving family in Dehli; the Gupta's. I told them that once the world had forgotten about her I would be back for her. I never told them her real story but I knew they would love her as their own.

The world always wondered what happened to the lost princess. Her life is still in danger Arnav and I made a promise a long time ago. She must never find out who she was Arnav. I need you to fulfill this promise for me. Protect her. Marry her Arnav and bring my bahu home. Maybe this way there will be someone who can take care of you for once. Think of it as my last wish chote.

Her name is Khushi Kumari Gupta. Bring my bahu home chote'bring her home.

Maa

For the second time that night Arnav hurled the contents of his stomach.

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Khushi rang the bell of the Raizada mansion impatiently. God this place was huge. The door was opened by a beautiful young woman in a Sari

"Namaste. My name is Khushi Kumari Gupta. I work at AR. I am here to see Mr. Raizada. Is he home?" Khushi blurted.

Anjali observed her with amusement. Perhaps this was the Khushi that Chote was talking about?

" Chote is at home. Come in"

"Ji nahi hum Sir se milne aye hai. Chote se nahi." Khushi said wondering if she had not made that clear the first time.

Anjali giggled and slapped her head. "I call your Sir chote. My name is Anjali, Arnav's older sister. Come in."

Khushi hesitated at the door; Hey Devi Maiiya 'she couldn't remember which foot to put forward.

"It's the right one.."

She smiled at Anjali. She seemed nice'then why the Laad Governer'well the Laad Goverener?

"Nani this is Khushi ji. She works with Chote."

"Namaste Nani ji" said Khushi.

Nani was all of a sudden filled with a feeling of familiarity and warmth. Her eyes became moist.

"You look exactly like your mother." whispered Nani.

"Ji?"

Nani brushed it off as nothing put her hand on Khushi's cheek lovingly and walked off to the kitchen. Devyani shuddered. It couldn't be her after all these years could it? Surely not. She ignored the feeling.

Anjali watched this exchange curiously. Khushi was left very bewildered.

" He's by the pool" Anjali pointed out the way.

Khushi took a deep breath and went to negotiate her contract. She arrived at the poolside to the most curious sight. LG was sitting by the pool clutching what seemed to be a letter. He felt her presence and turned around.

Their eyes connected and she could see he had been crying. His chocolate eyes were blood shot and his hair all askew. To anyone else he wouldn't have seemed so frightening except that looking at him now, like this'.Khushi had never been more afraid in her life. Something was very wrong. He looked like a lost boy. She sat next to him and forgot all about her contract.

They never spoke. They just sat together. He needed her company in silence. For a girl who had a larger vocabulary than any ordinary individual she shared this silence with him very comfortably and for that he was grateful. He felt complete after a long time..he had needed his mother to tell him that it wasn't his fault. He knew it'but he just needed her to say it. Today he had been set free.

It was as if in a matter of a second he had made up his mind about the whole thing. He was going to marry Khushi Kumari Gupta whether she liked it or not. He was going to fulfill maa's last promise. He just needed time' but her contract expired at the end of the week.

And as if by some miracle'

"I need to talk to you about extending my contract'"

Arnav closed his eyes and smiled. He sent a silent thanks to his mother.

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i thought the chapter was really nice 😛 continue soon 👏

Thankyou so much...I'm glad you enjoyed it.

i absolutely loved this update as well. Emotional turmoil was beautifully written 😊