Three's a Crowd *Last Part P15* - Page 9

okay... Kya boloun ab?

Ugh! Arnav! GET AWAY! In fact, get the hell
of here, 'cause I don't wanna see your face
right now!

NK!!! Come into my arms, baby!!!! *gives NK
a bone crushing hug* You are such a wonderful
person, you that?

Arnav? Listening at the door, aren't you? Well,
great! Learn something from NK! *pulls her
toungue at the arrogant douchebag*

Thank you, NK, for understanding Khushi in
every single way possible! In the way her
husband failed to. *glares meanly at the kaala
mongoose*

And Arnav? Are you crying? Aww...my poor
baby... NOT!!!! Your tears mean NAH-THING
to me, okay? Crying and repentant or not,
Khushi forgives you or not, I am NOT forgiving!
So not!!!

Aww, NK *sobs a bit* I wish you'd just take
her away... I just can't... *sobs a bit more
and hugs NK*

*Psst! I am soo not letting go of NK!!!*

Okay, so, Heleej- SORRY!!! 😆 So, Helee [!!!]
I take it there'll be more? 'Cause I mean Arnav
has to apologise, right? I am waiting!!!!

IMPATIENTLY!!!!

P.S. Don't make Khushi too easy! I'll secretly
forgive the eejit but he had to try VERY hard,
he had to EARN it!!!!

P.P.S Did I mention This is fantastic? No? Well,
it sooo IS!!!

P.P.P.S. I LOVE YOU!!!!! *teletubbies-wala
biiig huuug*

P.P.P.P.S. You didn't reply to my PM!!!! I have
asked you a VERY CRUCIAL question in it! 😆

Part 2 — Arnav's desire for Khushi more often than not tends to blind him to her emotions, and thanks to her love and desire for him, she allows her body to convey her feelings, hoping he would understand her and her fears. However, his unacknowledged guilt and resulting anger then take over, making him unwilling to listen to reason or to talk things through, resulting in further heartache for Khushi!

Their foreplay was very sensuous. What a guy, the moment he sees the shirt he wonders who she dressed up for! Now if that isn't a suspicious mind what is… and then he has the cheek to fly into a temper because he thinks she doesn't trust him! This was the best time for him to ask her if anything was wrong and to allay her fears, but he let the passion reign! If he missed her as he claims why didn't make time for her? For reasons I can't understand, she stiffens when I say this. I ignore it and blame it on her shy nature, and bend down to her inviting neck… Arnav has a real knack for ignoring any unpleasantness he doesn't care to see… no wonder he is so pro-Di all the time! The only silver lining is that he is man enough not to force himself on her when he knows she's hurting emotionally. What a pass, when a hitherto ebullient girl has been reduced to an under-confident parody of herself, where each and every word said by another gives rise to more insecurities! She knew that she had to tell him something at least. He deserved to know what was bothering her. It affected him too, didn't it? He would understand. And honesty in a relationship was important. How could she blame her husband of being distant if she herself hid behind a facade of happiness? She took a deep breath and looked at him as he buttoned up his shirt for her… the way she tries to shore up her faltering courage, and not to blame him for the impasse they are at, is heart-breaking because her fears about his unpredictable reaction turn out to be justified. "I can't see you cry. Your tears pierce my soul." Very ironical words, given that he's usually the cause of her tears, and this time too is no exception! Each and every word uttered by him makes her think less of herself: Your antics made ME the laughing stock of my staff!!" He regretted the words as soon as he said them, knowing well that Khushi would feel highly insulted. But what the hell, it was the truth. And she wanted to know the truth, right? She should hear the truth, but the same doesn't apply to him, does it? If Khushi speaks the truth, then it's an accusation against him, in his eyes! Love doesn't work at your convenience Mr. Raizada. The spunk that you talk of, your harsh words eroded it till it disappeared… the anguished cry of a broken heart! Where are you, Devi Maiyya? Can't you see my pain? Help me!!! Thank god She heard her desperate plea and sent an angel in the form of NK to knock some sense into Arnav!

Part 3a — Arnav, conveniently, forgot his own words. His mind blocked them out as unnecessary details, and required words. He justified his own actions to himself, though he forgot what he had said… that has always been his problem… he only knows how to aggravate things because his ego won't let him do otherwise. Loved how NK took charge of things, leaving Arnav speechless… thanks to his happy-go-lucky attitude, everyone takes NK to be an emotional and cerebral lightweight, but he is the most sound of the lot! Maybe it was the pitiful cry for help that Khushi had barely whispered… so Arnav's subconscious heard her, did it?! NK stood with his hands crossed over his chest… the man in front of him was closed- for all purposes, he was unapproachable. Hostility was pouring off his stance in tiny waves- not enough to warrant trouble, but just enough… a beautiful explanation of NK's body language and reined in anger. Of course, Arnav being Arnav, he never looked at that. All he saw was his annoying cousin trying to pull off something new. Yes, he had gotten over his initial surprise. He was already regretting coming to this place… he really has blinkers on… I have my doubts about his shrewd intellect and business acumen! "It's about Khushi…" Arnav cut him off, "What is it? She has already ruined my mood today, what more do you wish to add?" It's always about Arnav with him, isn't it? This doesn't show any care or concern for Khushi or her emotional insecurities… and this is the guy who claims to love her!

"I love Khushi." Not the best start to a sensible conversation, but at least that shocked Arnav into listening to him. She knows how to take care of the people she loves, to the point where she excludes her own needs while serving others' wants… NK has almost instinctively pinpointed Khushi's essence, which has eluded Arnav despite his much vaunted love for her! Quite a risky move on NK's part to challenge Arnav, but it paid off… being driven to the edge made Arnav admit that he loves Khushi, giving NK the opening he needed… Arnav clocks NK on the jaw for equating his love for Khushi with his dalliance with Sheetal and Lavanya, and also admitting to loving Khushi but Khushi is supposed to take his word that Sheetal means nothing to him when his actions say otherwise… bah, double-standards! Arnav's earlier "My WIFE… MY Wife!" lends credence to NK's very pertinent question: Or was she just another ego-conquest for you? The plain unvarnished truth as revealed by NK finally got through to Arnav… thank god for small mercies! "Every time someone praised the 'couple' you made with Sheetal, she broke some more. Your harsh words in the past- about her class, her social status, her language- everything! Your words had already left gaping wounds. Now, before they had healed properly, they were scratched open again. By none other than YOU and YOUR family." Very powerful words and images! Suddenly, the shirt and stockings Khushi had worn earlier that afternoon flashed in Arnav's mind. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the painful proofs of her effort to win his attention… and there he was thinking it had been a move to seduce him, to add spice to their foreplay! "You always said you hate your father. What is the difference between the two of you? In essence, you are the same. You both took the women who loved you for granted, you both justified your actions by calling THEM weak spirited. Your father lost his wife. I am pretty sure you will, too, if this goes on." Pretty powerful words again that place mirror of his inadequacies, as a husband and as a human being, before Arnav! He decided to give HIS love, the love of HER life… Very poignant, but quite selfless of NK to do so... even if he acknowledges that Khushi will never be truly happy with him! Seeing a broken ASR-Arnav plead for help to win back Khushi was a soothing balm to my soul! NK has proven to be a true guardian angel to both Khushi and Arnav! Kudos to you for delineating his character and strength of soul so beautifully… his love for Khushi is truly unconditional! Loved his warning, "Consider this a warning, though. If you hurt her one more time, I will not care for the fact that we are family. I will take her away from you without batting an eyelash." I wouldn't fault NK in those circumstances, either. NK laughed at the turn of events, "Shocked, eh? You really are clueless. And pathetically so." Agree with him a 100%! Arnav and Anjali are peas in a pod! Loved NK's quip about not even Lakshmi sparing Arnav a bleat in his current state. Given what Arnav has reduced Khushi to, he really needs to show and voice his love for her! And the story wouldn't be complete without involving Aman… Arnav's road to redemption has been paved by NK, but looks like Arnav can't move a muscle without his ever-present — if not in body at least in voice / soul — Aman! If he would have seen NK then, he would have noticed the upturned face gazing at the sky- slightly smiling. The tear that was running down his right cheek would have told a different story altogether. NK whispered softly, "Nand Kishore Sharma! Well done!" Quite a bittersweet conclusion!

Eagerly waiting to 'see' how Arnav redeems himself and reclaims his love!