ArShi SS: Forced Marriage ~Chapter12 Page 128 THREAD2 LINK PG1 - Page 32

Hey,

A massive thank you for the comments. I'm glad that you've liked Rahul's character. I had a message also about not mentioning some topics when it comes to children's presence in my last update.

Chapter Seven:

Part A: Cold Touches...affectionate Feelings

Arnav tried his best to stick to Rahul's advise, not that he had not that before, yet he doubted that his thoughts were helping him, them. Actually he had changed a lot for her. He forgot his pride and arrogance when it came to her. He was a little relived though knowing that all the new couples face complications at the beginning of their marriage, and he was not an exception. All the relationships have their ups and downs, have their best times and worst ones. Yes theirs had the worst always, but he had not left a stone unturned to fix everything between them. He had never lost any hope in the future of their relationship which would be promising as he imagined it, he had never lost any hope in his feelings for her for how strong they are.

The next days, Arnav gave Khushi an extra attention hoping it would help to ease the situation they were in though nothing seemed to change yet. Khushi had been occupied with her study; she accepted the scholarship, and made sure to study with Payal to get a company. She visited Payal and stayed at the latter's place for the whole day. The last time Arnav had a meal with Khushi alone was two weeks ago though they are newly-wedded. He was trying the best he could to free himself from his busy crowded schedule, but she did not seem to give him a little chance nor the relationship they ought to share.

At office, he had been thinking of a way to get closer to her, make her talk with him. The solution for him was to gift her a book, a novel in particular. He left the office few hours after that, not tolerating for the evening to come, to buy her a book. He ended up buying the whole seri9es of The Twilight knowing very well how famous the saga is nowadays among the youths. He also bought other books for some famous writers. When he reached home, he found Khushi busy surfing some papers.

"Hi," He approached her to give her the bag that contained the books while recalling that night when they once had a civil conversation over The Merchant of Venice.

"I've bought this for you," Arnav said stretching his hand to give Khushi the bag he had. Khushi looked at him momentarily before diverting her gaze towards the bag. She was not going to say no; she did not want to spare anything for him as it was enough, for her, to be deprived from her freedom, and now she wouldn't deprive herself from anything. She took it from him and accidentally her hand brushed over his, but she pulled the bag quickly stopping the momentary physical contact. Mindful of his gaze on her, Khushi opened it to be taken by surprise. Her eyes were widened, and her mouth hanged up open at the view. He actually bought the books she wished to have, but could not afford. She muttered a low thanks to him which he could barely hear as his mind was occupied recalling the past minute when she touched his hand as the spot was tingling him, and the cute expression her face plastered seeing the books. He sighed before asking, "Do you like them?"

"I actually love them! I've always wished to have them, but couldn't. I don't know how to thank..." Khushi halted realizing that she was taking by excitement which was a normal reaction after all one cannot forget his/her habits easily, and Khushi had always been of this kind...lively, bubbly, speaks excitedly of the things she loves.

Arnav could notice the change of Khushi's facial features and the look of her eyes..she looked regretting what she said, and he knew that. He wished that she meant to act like that around him, but he knew she did not. How can she be when her heart has hatred for him?

"I'll have a quick shower then join you downstairs for dinner. By the way, there's no need to thank me. It's my duty to fulfill your wishes, I'm your husband." Arnav stressed on the last sentence emphasizing that he have duties towards her as per rights.

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Arnav woke up at Dawn to have some water as he was thirsty. He got up to have some from the jug on the coffee table. As he got back to the bed under his blanket, the view in front of him mesmerized him; Khushi was sleeping on the other end of the bed peacefully. She looked like an angel as the moonshine reflected on her face. A strand of hair disturbed her a the atmosphere was cool. Slowly and cautiously not to wake her up, he moved closer towards her removing them. He stared at her face...at her lashes...her little nose...her rosy lips...her naturally-red cheeks with a cute blush. Unconsciously, he moved closer to her that his breath washed over her face mingling with hers.

Khushi turned in her sleep to the other side giving Arnav her back. He stared at the dori of her kameez which was undone. He felt a tingle at the pit of his stomach as he stared more at her, he gulped the lump in his throat with difficulty.

Arnav woke up at seven o'clock feeling a weight on his chest. He opened his eyes to be welcomed by one of his mornings if not the best as Khushi was sleeping on his chest. He closed his eyes cherishing the moment, and stayed still not making any slight movement. He arched to touch her, caress her, hug her as she was in his arms, but he threw desire at the back of his mind. As she breathed shallowly- because she was asleep- his heartbeats were thudding very fast with hers and his chest moved in sync with hers. All of a sudden, his eyes widened thinking of Khushi's reaction to such scene because Arnav was the one who had moved to her side. He had not realized when the sleepiness got over him and he fell asleep.

Khushi got up to see that Arnav was not on the bed. 'Was she dreaming that he was next to her? How can that be? She does not fantasize anything about him, right?!'

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Part B: His Outburst

After few days, Khushi started preparing for her university. She spent all the day and night alone in the room not joining the family. Many times, Arnav heard his Mami talking about Khushi and complaining that she does not help with the house chores. It had hurt him a lot; because his own people were talking in a bad manner about her, and his wife did not respect them enough. Yet he could not think low of Khushi...the girl he had fallen for...the girl whom he saw months ago spreading happiness around her and helping others. 'How can she be the same girl? Why was she acting like that? Does she hate him to this extent?' The questions haunted him that his mind felt like exploding.

As her university started, Khushi neglected everything at RM even more than any time before. She started speaking with Anjali just once each week, and greeting Nani then sitting with her for some minutes. When Arnav comes, he would find her either reading a book, sketching or sleeping on a book. He would wake her up so that she sleep on the bed comfortably.

"Would you come with me for dinner tonight, Khushi?" Arnav asked Khushi two days ago, but she refused giving excuses regarding her studies.

"Nani, Mami and Di are going out for shopping today. You can go with them." He suggested yesterday and again she refused to join them.

"...and that Khushi, what does she think of herself? Princess Diana? Or queen Elizabeth? Even they are not arrogant like her." Arnav heard Manorama commenting on Khushi as he returned from work. "Is she above us that she does not come to sit with us?" Arnav could stand that, but he could not blame his Mami for that.

"I know but she is studying..." Nani wanted to justify that Khushi had a study to take care of when Mami interrupted her, "Don't start defending her again, sasuma! She..." Mami halted as she heard a sound of footsteps getting nearer. Arnav greeted them, and asked about dinner to which Nani said that they had had it, but Khushi had not. Arnav's blood pressure got high as he felt his sugar level goes low. He rushed to his room to find Khushi standing by the French door of the poolside.

"I got your message loud and clear." Khushi turned to see him surprised to hear Arnav talking like that. His jaw clinched, his muscles stiffened and his eyes spoke of a deadly anger. "I got it! You don't accept me as your husband. You don't accept this family as yours. You don't f*cking respect this relationship...in fact you hate me." His voice was getting higher with each sentence, but her pronounced the last one in a broken voice. "You ignored me, fine! You don't recognize my presence, fine! You don't eat with me, talk to me, behave with me as a wife, yet I could tolerate that quietly hoping that someday you will change that notion you have about me," Arnav muttered pointing his index at her. "but I cannot stand that...I cannot hear people talking badly about my wife without being able to defend her. Actually I cannot defend you." He looked in a total despair.

"I don't know why I have feelings for you!... maybe I've already fallen for you..." he halted for sometime sighing and running a hand through his hair as he felt helplessness got over him. He was shattered into pieces . He walked to rest his body in the near wall punching his fist at his sides. His knuckles were going white with the process before turning to be red due to the pressure. "You are not the Khushi I've seen month ago...I've liked her not you..she was adorable, lovely, helpful...unlike you." He whispered, but his voice sounded clear as silence was ruling the place.

"I don't know what Nani has seen in you to defend you! You're lucky to have a woman like her in your life though you don't deserve that...in fact nothing at all."

He sat on the recliner looking defeated. Tiredness masked his face that he looked years older than what he was. The Arnav Singh Raizaada was known to be handsome, stylish, dashing and young, but at the moment he was not like as the situation was not easy for him at all.

"What have I done to you that you despise me like this?...What have I done to you to get such hatred? Why did you agree to marry me if you don't want me? Why did not you reject the proposal? It would have been easier for...it would have hurt less than what you are doing now..." He asked every question with a strong force as there was a lump at the back of his throat.

He was hurt.

He was shattered.

He was broken into pieces...by the girl whom he thought would comfort him, support him and make him happy...whom he had seen in his dreams.

"I've tried my best to understand you, communicate with you. I sought for a relationship with you while you never cared. Tumhe koi farakh nahi padtha hai Khushi...koi farkh nahi padtha." He shook his head hoping that the truth was different, but he knew very well that everything was real.

"Fine, I won't disturb you anymore," Arnav said moving to his cupboard to get a blanket for himself.

For the first time he decided not to share anything with her starting from the bed as he laid on the recliner after taking off his coat, tie and shoes without caring to change into the night clothes as nothing matter to him any more...as he could not feel anything at the moment. He was blank.

Khushi's eyes were narrowed as she stood motionless listening to his every word, following his every movement. She did not digest the situation at all as she wondered what made him act so. She had been with him for around two months, but she had never experienced such a situation..him being angry, speaking in that tone. She stared at him as he was lying on the recliner realizing that the coming would not be the same as before...everything was going to change, but the question was whether she wanted that change or not.

Next Update: Khushi's Thoughts. You will get to know Khushi more! Get ready.

Drop in your thoughts about the update. I'd love to read them and try to reply too.

Shaimaa,

:)

Awesome update. beautifully written. Feeling bad for arnav. hope khushi realises her mistake soon