SS: Keeping Khushi Thread 2: Part 22 in Th 3 - Page 46

Part 18

"Khushi...?", his voice was thin with shock. "What..what are you doing?"

"It is better that you see the scars before than after.", she said quietly, her face expressionless.

"Khushi!"

She was on the second button.

"Khushi, don't." He caught hold of her hand to stop her.

"Let me.", she requested evenly.

"Khushi, I don't care how bad the scars look." He managed to get the words out through a throat choked with tears.

"I do.", she replied. "If you don't see me now, and we get married, and then you find it difficult to bear them, then..."

"Khushi!", he protested.

"I don't think I could bear to see disgust in your eyes, Arnavji...", she said softly, her eyes slightly misted with tears.

"Khushi!" He kissed the hand he was holding. "Never, Khushi. Never."

"I don't want you to regret your decision later."

"I won't."

"Arnavji, these scars are mine. I don't have a choice, I have to live with them. But you have a choice. You don't have to bear my punishment along with me." Her eyes were direct.

"Khushi, believe me when I say that the scars don't matter to me.", he begged in his husky voice. "Please..."

"I will. Once you have seen them. Atleast some of them..."

"Khushi!", he looked at her, helpless in the face of her determination not to cheat him.

She slipped her hand out of his gentle hold. Her fingers went to the third button, slipping it out of its hole.

He looked into her eyes.

She undid the fourth button, the fifth... Their eyes were locked.

Khushi moved the ends of the blouse apart. Her eyes lowered to the skin she had bared for his view, inviting him. His eyes followed hers.

Her creamy skin was criss-crossed with burn scars. He stood silent, looking at her.

"My whole body... There are scars all over.", she whispered, eyes lowered, scared to look at his face.

Finally, he said, "Khushi, why did you lie to me?"

Astonished, doe-like eyes met his. "Lie? I don't lie to anyone."

(Sanjanashaika, thanx!)

"You said there are ugly scars. They are not ugly."

She stared at him.

"When I look at them, Khushi, all I can feel is gratitude. That you are alive to show me the scars."

Khushi was made speechless by the quiet conviction behind his words.

"They are not scars, Khushi. They are badges of honour, of courage, of survival..." He cupped Khushi's face in his palms. "I can't hate them, Khushi. I can only love them, because they mean that you are alive, with me."

He bent his head and kissed the scars, starting with the ones at the base of her neck. He took his time, pressing his warm lips softly to each scar, not letting any of them feel unloved. Khushi gasped at the unexpected and arousing touch of his lips.

(Naddiya26, thanx!)

"I told you not to show me the scars, Khushi. Ab bhugto.", came his husky drawl.

He kissed every inch of skin revealed by the partially open blouse, stopping only when his lips were blocked by her undergarments.

"Now will you marry me, Khushi?", he asked.

Part 19: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3248201/ss-keeping-khushi-thread-2-part-22-in-th-3?pn=91