Rain was falling, along with multiple colored leaves...
Strange weather... it couldn't make up its mind on what to do.
Another mind not sure what to do was also flittering along...
A newcomer to this side of town, looking for a place to work...
She was in such a hurry to leave her house that she forgotten to bring an umbrella and was now getting steadily drenched in the rain...
In the back of her mind, she could hear her sister saying..."You don't think ahead Khushi!"
*Flashback*
"Jiji, If I work for a small while, then we will have the exact amount of money we need to start out business! Just think! We can make jalebi all day! And we'll reel in a handsome man who will be a perfect husband for you..."
Payal smiled..."And you..."
"No. No Jiji. I had my love...I won't accept another..."
Payal hugged Khushi tight..."Khushi, that was years ago...and you don't even remember..."
"I remember the love...that I remember vividly...and I won't cheat on that..."
*End of flashback*
Khushi was nearing a tall building...
AR Designs...
Seeking employees.
"At least I'm early...I can dry off somewhere..." she muttered to herself...
...
A man, full of fury, took long strides along the sidewalk...
Another day of filling his life with work...
Since the accident, he had immersed himself in creating success.
To this day, he still heard the screams of a woman...
The woman he had loved...
Anjali had told him of Khushi...of their friendship, their relationship, their love...
But that was now dead.
And from the pain that he felt in his heart, even from NOT remembering her, he knew that what they had must have been the most precious feeling in the world...
And he swore, he'd never let anyone close to him again...
Never again would he let himself feel.
*Flashback*
"Chote, please...you need to move on..."
ASR stood tall..."No Di, I have moved on to create a life for myself and you. I'm not going to fall for anyone. Ever again..."
Anjali held his hand..."Chote, what you had with Khushi...it was special, but you can't be alone...you can't let..."
Arnav turned to face her..."I hear her, Di! I hear her screaming...Why couldn't I help her!? Why!?"
Anjali teared up..."Chote, I'm so sorry..."
*end of flashback*
Years had passed and Arnav still shuddered from the sounds he heard...
Years had passed and Khushi still felt her heart covered with the love of merely a memory...
Their thoughts were so immersed in their past that they didn't see where they were walking...
As Khushi rounded a corner, and as Arnav tried to block the rain with his umbrella, they ran headlong into each other...
The black sheen from the umbrella flew up, unveiling the screen that had been between them...
Khushi, blinded by the rain, saw nothing as she fell backwards screaming...
Arnav heard her distorted scream...
The sounded crashed down hard into his heart...
His quick reflexes kicked in...
He reached out in urgency...needing to catch her...the scream...needing to help...
Steadying them both, Arnav held her close...
He ran his hands along her back, his heart demanding to feel her body ...
Suddenly, despising his attitude, his touch froze as his hold on her loosened...
Khushi's subconscious was enveloped in protection...
Tangible protection...
For years, the feeling of love had lived inside her, and now...now she felt the heat of familiar hands around her, calming her...
When she felt his grip loosen, she withdrew slightly to look up into the eyes of the man who saved her...
The feeling of safety soon began to wane...
His eyes, smoking and full of anger, met hers...
They didn't move.
They both held their breath for what seemed like hours in just a few short seconds...
A rumble of thunder sounded.
But nothing could be louder than the thundering of their hearts...
The sky above them was the color of slate, prickly and heavy with electricity, and the air held the threat of an impending torrential downpour.
The grim sky began to overshadow them...
Grasping her shoulders, Arnav disappeared as ASR surfaced...his heart turned to stone as he set her away from him...
Although her eyes drew him in, he turned from her, and stormed into his building.
Khushi stood in the rain feeling dumbfounded...
As the man disappeared, her heart felt a sharp twinge of sorrow...
She tried to shake it off, but the sadness remained...
"No...No Khushi..." her eyes slammed shut...she held her heart, pressing her fingers tightly to her skin..."No...I can't lose the love...No..."
Arnav restlessly paced inside his office...
Hate began to permeate his countenance...
What he expected to feel was overwhelming relief, but more than anything, he wanted to make sure that girl was safe...
That alone infuriated him.
"NO." He thought firmly...
But her scream was now overlapping the one from his memory...
"How dare she..." he said through clenched teeth...
The haunting screams from the past began to fade...
His eyes widened, his heart sped up..."No...No that was all I had left...No..."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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