ARSHI SS: In Love With Dosa Boy (PART 6...8/8) - Page 9

Khushi tried to gasp for help as she watched the black tuxedo absorbing into the darkness, but the monster's stubborn lips would not detach from hers and her desperate cries for help were throttled mercilessly. She bit his lips, hard, and finally Shyam screamed in pain and released her. She attempted to scurry off the picnic table, only to be slapped vigorously across the face and flung onto the wet grass. Shyam lifted her by her shoulders roughly, digging one hand into her skin and using the other to arch her by pulling her knotted hair, beginning his ministrations once again on her bruised neck, now slightly bloody due to his deep teeth marks.

Act fast. Khushi. Act.

She regained control over her brain, and with as much power she could muster, she flung her knee as hard as she could towards his groin. He left her immediately and withered to the ground screaming in pain, looking up only to catch a glimpse of a girl in tattered red, running into the woods, out of his reach.

~~~~~~

It was Arnav. I know it was Arnav.

Khushi didn't know whether to laugh or cry upon discovering that Arnav had indeed come to fetch her. A part of her was ecstatic that he had chosen to believe her, but her mind reminded her that his hopes would be crushed as the image of what happened in the park would betray him.

Shyam.

That monster. Khushi could not stop her incessant tears from flowing. Never had she felt so used, so completely beaten. She wandered through the thickness of the woods, unable to register where to go and what to do. She wanted to go home and sink into the warmth of her safe bedroom, but her heart told her she needed to find the comfort of only one man.

Arnav.

She had to explain herself. He had to believe her. And she knew where he was.

~~~~~~

She stumbled towards the common greens, walking towards the patch in which she had observed him in for weeks, where she had started to lose her heart to him. This was his sanctuary. And sure enough, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she was able to make out a crouched figure sitting on the familiar bench, head buried in hands and body slightly trembling. Her heart sank as she heard his muffled sobs and she cursed Shyam for being the reason behind his precious tears. She sat alongside him quietly, and lightly placed her hands on his knee. He flinched at her touch, but had already sensed her presence long before. Khushi started hesitantly, "Arnav...".

"Khushi. I'm sorry. Please. please. please. Don't pity me and come back here. I was stupid for thinking I can take you to the dance. I know you belong with someone like Shyam. Please don't feel bad. Go live your night."

The words poured out of Arnav's heart, but he refused to look up and meet her eyes. He's disgusted by me. Khushi felt something shatter within, the sharp remnants piercing her. And once again, she started crying. This time, uncontrollably. Because Arnav's pain had the ability to hurt her more than her own. She was blinded by her incessant tears, and her cries even drowned out the music being blasted from the school auditorium. Arnav looked up from his hands, terrified to see Khushi weeping in this state. He felt a desperation boil within him, a desperation to rid her of the pain from which she was suffering. The desperation won over his ache, his misery immediately forgotten at witnessing hers.

He put a light hand on her shoulder, to which she flinched away, terrified, and looked up startlingly into his eyes. Time stopped and all that mattered was the immense pool of love in her kohl rimmed hazel depths. He was drowning. And all he knew at that instant was that she wasn't lying. She had feelings for him. He felt his heart expand and blood surge through his veins. A smile pulled at the corners of his lips, and when Khushi threw her soft body against his own, he knew he had found heaven on earth. Her arms. His sanctuary. He wrapped his own arms around her, scared a delicate angel like her would break in his hold. The smell of sandalwood with something sweet and exclusively Khushi took over his senses, and all he could feel was her. Her love. He was home.

And Khushi. She could not be happier than she felt at this moment. She knew Arnav had finally read and trusted the love in her eyes. And she knew because she recognized a distinct shift in him. The courage and satisfaction with which he held her was enough. The confidence with which he claimed her was enough. His love was enough. The contacts he had worn, the light stubble he had grown, the hair he had cut and gelled did not matter. All that mattered was his embrace and what she had seen in his honey brown eyes.

~~~~~~~~~

It was only when they pulled apart did Arnav see the state of Khushi's distress. Her tattered clothes, her smudged makeup, bruises along her arms. Shyam. Red began to cloud his vision and Arnav felt an anger so potent, he felt as if it could burn the world down into ashes. How dare that monster touch his angel. How dare he place his filthy hands on his angel's body. HIS. Arnav's hand tensed into a tight fist and he jerked up from the bench, prepared to rip the monster to shreds. But as he walked forward, he was pulled back by a small hand and met once again with Khushi's eyes.

"Arnav, no. He's not worth it. Please."

Seeing Khushi plead set cold water on Arnav's raging fire, and he instantly sat back down with her. Extreme guilt gnawed at him as he realized that he had walked away from her when she had needed him most. He had cried at his own fate when she was being mercilessly tortured. Of its own accord, his hand tightened around hers in a vice like grip.

"Khushi, I'm sorry. I sho--"

She placed a finger on his lips.

"Arnav. Make it up to me by being mine. Bas. That's all I want. No sorrys. No apologies. Just... just you."

And suddenly, Arnav stood up, and let his arm out to her.

"Prom night isn't over Khushi. Join me for a dance?"

Khushi felt wings emerge and carry her to the unknown heights of happiness. Her dream had come true. Her wonderful, charming, nerdy but beautiful prince charming had arrived to rescue her at last. She grinned widely, blushed at Arnav's small sigh in response, and accepted his extended hand. Wrapped in each other's embrace, they swayed gently to the music blasting from the auditorium, the moonlight and the soft grass beneath their feet enough to seal their eutopia.

Barf giri ho vaadi mein

Aur hansi teri goonje

Un mein lipti simti hui

Vaat kare, dhuaan nikle

Garm garm ujla dhuaan

narm narm ujhla dhuaan