Chapter 21 : Last Night
Arnav woke up with a severe headache. He got up and sat in bed holding his head. 'Where is Khushi?' Even as he thought about Khushi he remembered the events that took place last night. He looked at the other side of the bed, which was empty. Khushi hadn't slept next to him last night. He recalled how he had stormed off from dinner last night.
Flashback
"I am leaving," he had said at the end of the huge scene they had created. "Arnav wai--"No Khushi! No more waiting, no more anything! Only speak to me when you have finally made up your mind." he said harshly. It hurt Khushi, he could see it in her eyes but he wasn't in his senses. He couldn't control himself all the frustration he had kept within him for so long was pouring out. His bottled up emotions were over flowing and all his insecurities came out as anger. Some things had to be said. "Arnav I am so--"No you are not! Don't give me your bullshit!" Arnav yelled. Everyone stared in awe. Arnav Singh Raizada out of control? Khushi had been in tears and had sat by Arnav the entire way home where he didn't let her say a word. Arnav had walked into his room and locked her out.
*
Arnav shook off the memory and went to the washroom to wash his face. Last time he had forgiven her but this time he just didn't know what to do. She hadn't sinned. She had just danced with Shyam. He had all the right to be jealous but had he over reacted? Arnav couldn't make up his mind. He was in no mood to talk to her. He had only one person to apologize to for everything he had said, Anita. He had said some awful things to her too. He wanted to go to office, he wanted to escape.
Flashback
When Khushi had seen Arnav drink so much she came back immediately. She was by his side saying, "Stop Arnav, you've drank too much!" Arnav ignored her plea and had another shot. "Enough." Khushi said taking away the glass in front of him. "Stop it Khushi! Who do you think you are?" Arnav growled. "I am your wife Arnav." "Oh My God? Really? You are? I didn't know that. Oh wait, how would I? You spend most of your time with that man!" he said pointing right at Shyam. "ASR!" Anita rose in defence. "Arnav please," Khushi pleaded him to stop. Most of the eyes had turned their way. Many had recognized him. It was the ASR. "Mrs. Shyam Oberoi," Arnav said removing Khushi's hands from his suit. "You should keep a check on your insane husband!" Arnav openly said. "ASR what are you saying," Anita said looking at Shyam. "I am saying the truth and you would know that if he actually told you anything! Shyam Oberoi is a cheat and a disgusting man who, even after knowing that Khushi is married, is trying to--"ARNAV!" Shyam roared. "WHAT?" Arnav said moving towards him like he would just beat him up. The restaurant manager realizing what a big scene it was going to be asked them to go out of the place and sort it out. "I am going anyway!" Arnav said stomping out. Everyone followed behind him.
"Arnav wait," Rohan called out. Arnav stopped. "What were you saying back there?" Anita questioned, "Shyam isn't like that!" "What the-- are you blind? Can't you see?" he screamed at her. "He is using you to get to my wife and my wife doesn't see that either or she sees it and likes it!" Arnav blurted. "Arnav you have had a lot to drink," Anita said not willing to accept that Shyam could do something like that. She really trusted Shyam. It was a big blow for her. "Anita I didn't know you are such a coward. Your to be husband is a fraud and he is cheating on you and he will never marry you!" Arnav yelled.
*
Arnav pressed his hand to his head. He didn't know how he would face Khushi. This was going to be really difficult. He loved her so much and she just ruined everything. They were on such great terms and after yesterday he didn't even know if they could work things out. "It was just a dance," he tried to tell himself. "I think I over reacted. I hate it when she gets close to Shyam but why? Why would she do--
'Oh Shit!' Arnav realized, 'Shit Shit Shit.'
Flashback
When Sanjana tried to stop Arnav from insulting Anita he turned and said, "And you!" he roared, "Call yourself Khushi's best friend and yet, yet you couldn't even once tell her that you were inviting Shyam? Do you know the first thing she said when she saw him was LETS LEAVE! You are not Khushi's friend. None of you'll are!" He shouted at everyone.
"Arnav!" Khushi called out from behind. "Why are you behaving this way? What happened?" Khushi cried. "What happened? Really? So next time Shyam touches you I shouldn't have a problem. Next time you voluntarily go dance with him I shouldn't have a problem and even though I love you, I love you so so much, I should never have a problem with what you do! Is that what you want?" Arnav spat. Khushi was shocked by the sudden confession. "Did you just-- do you-- I mean Ar--"Cut the crap Khushi! I have always thought that I should give you a chance but how does it matter, you two are just perfect together. I really wish Buaji hadn't forced you to marry me atleast you would have spared MY LIFE!" Arnav screamed slapping his hands together. Khushi couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Arnav, I--"I am always quiet. I never tell you no for anything doesn't mean I don't care. I love you DAMMIT!" he said holding her by the shoulders. "I have been waiting to say those three words but now I guess it doesn't matter. You just want to dance with Shyam, go ahead." He said pushing her towards him. Arnav moved towards the car. "Arnav wait!" Khushi said again. "You can't drive, I won't let you!" Khushi said. "I am leaving." He said after the huge scene they had created.
*
On the other hand, Shyam had to face consequences. "When did you plan on telling me?" Anita fired. "Annie listen to me!" Shyam tried to explain. "Get lost before I kick you out myself. I loved you. I did everything for you and this is how you reciprocate to all the love and affection by openly cheating on me? With someone else's wife?" Anita roared. She was furious. She had locked Shyam out of the house last night and the poor man had to sleep in his car. "Try and understand,--" What should I understand? You told me you were over that girl and that you wanted to move on! You can leave you son of a b*tch. Never show me your face again, I had to hear such horrible things because of you last night. I can't believe I trusted you." Anita screamed. She couldn't bear it. This was outright betrayal and cheating. She hadn't been able to breathe when Arnav had told her that Shyam was still in love with Khushi. Anita was flabbergasted. She had fallen for someone who was a psychopath and who had no idea about right and wrong? How could she ever be happy with him? How could she ever trust him? Anita wanted to fall apart and cry but she couldn't. She had to be strong, that's who she was. She was independent and strong and didn't need a man to define her. She knew what she was capable of, and looking after herself was one of those things. "Are you going to get out or should I call security?" "Fine!" Shyam retorted. "I will leave. You can just forget I existed." He yelled. "What do you expect me to say? I love Khushi. I have always loved her and I don't think I will ever be able to get over her! I can't. I have tried but I can't. Now she has shut me out and so have you, who I really cared for. I am alone. I have always been alone. BUT NOT ANYMORE. I am not going to be alone anymore. NO way!" Shyam scowled. He didn't know what he was saying but he just had to say it and get it all out. "People always leaves. I am not going to stay alone anymore. I am becoming crazier everyday. I am losing it and I have no one I can talk to because people always leave me!" He painfully said. Anita was standing strong. "Get OUT" she repeated. She couldn't see him like this but she couldn't accept him after what he had done. This just wasn't the man she had fallen in love with.
Shyam stormed out of her house. He didn't have anything. He was once again empty-handed out on the streets, alone. He had to do something. He sat in a park nearby remembering his last dance with Khushi.
Flashback
"Just like old times," Shyam said as Khushi tried not to look at him. She didn't want to break Shyam's engagement so she decided to just go with it, that's what Arnav would have done. She was happy and she had moved on because she had Arnav. Maybe Shyam could have Anita. Maybe he could live a happy life too. Maybe this can all turn out to be good. "Nothing is like old times Shyam. And why doesn't Anita know about us?" Khushi asked. "She knows that I was madly in love with a girl, she doesn't know its you. And what's the point?" "I would have agreed with you if you were moving on Shyam but you clearly aren't. Anita is so nice to you, why are you doing this to her?" Khushi questioned. "I am so nice to you Khushi, why are you doing this to me?" "I am not doing any of this for you or to you. I am just doing this to give you another shot at life. I don't want that Anita comes to know the truth from me. Go home and tell her. Live your life and stay away from mine. This is my last effort to make your life better just because I really cared for you at one point in my life and I want to respect that. Do not make me regret it and please don't make it so hard," Khushi said painfully. "You are making this hard. Do you know how hard it is to breathe when he holds you? Do you know how hard it is when you compliment him?" Shyam argued. "He is my husband! And how dare you!!" Khushi exclaimed. "I am your love." He said calmly. "Shyam Oberoi, I want you to get ONE THING straight, to your heart, mind or wherever you can register it, I DON'T love you. I don't think I ever did. So go away. If you have ever loved me even a little, then please stay away from me. Stay away from our life and live your life. Don't interfere in ours." Khushi ordered. Shyam's hold on Khushi loosened. He stared at her in awe. 'Did she just say that?' he thought. 'She said that if I loved her I should stay away from her?' Shyam was in shock. Why was this happening to him? He couldn't understand but he knew what he had to do. Khushi looked at Arnav, she really cared for him, she really wanted him to be happy. She thanked Buaji everyday for making the decision for her because if it was left on her, she would have made a huge mistake.
*
Khushi's tears had dried up by morning. She was still sitting outside their room against the door waiting for Arnav to open it. She was just thinking about all the mistakes she's made in life and then remembered her fight with Pavini.
FlashBack
"Pavini!" Khushi stopped her as they all headed out. "Why on earth would you call Shyam today? Are you insane?" Khushi screamed. "Khushi, what the hell is happening? I don't understand! You told me you and Shyam had moved on!" "You could have mentioned it to me!!" She argued. "Khushi it was all so last minute and we are here only for two days. Rohan wanted to meet Shyam and so we just clubbed the dinner. I thought it would be weird but this is so serious! Why didn't you tell us anything?" Pavini asked. "I--I thought-- I really thought Shyam would get over it but he wasn't. He hadn't even told his fiance about us! I just didn't want to break his relationship again!" she said. "I think at the moment you should go to ASR. He is very disturbed." "He isn't usually like this. I don't know what's happening!" Khushi cried.
*
'I ruined everything, I had it all. We were in our happy place and I ruined it all. That one dance just ruined it all. Why did I have to go dance with Shyam? I could have told him to tell Anita the truth some other time, why couldn't I think about Arnav that time? Why couldn't I think about my happiness? I shouldn't have danced. I wish I would have just said no and told Anita the truth myself. Arnav must be feeling so bad now. He must have remembered everything that happened last night. And his headache. He must be having a hangover. He will want a pill when he gets up but he wouldn't let me in. Arnav had finally said that he loved me, he had expressed his feelings but--' Her thoughts were interrupted by the click of a lock.
Arnav opened the door. Khushi got up immediately. 'She slept outside the room?' Arnav gasped. 'I shouldn't have been so harsh on her. I didn't even ask her why she did it. I think it was the work and the frustration and everything clubbed together. She must be feeling so awful right now.' He still thought of Khushi first, he still put her before himself, that spoke so much about his character. When he is normal, when he is in his right mind, he will always love and respect Khushi, no matter what. He knew that. He just hoped that Khushi could forgive him.
"Arnav," She said weakly. "I am so sorry," her voice breaking down. "I didn't want to hurt you," she hiccupped. Khushi was so scared after Arnav's outburst last night. She didn't know if they could ever go back to the way they were. She didn't love Shyam. She didn't even care anymore. She was just trying to be nice. She didn't know he still wouldn't get it. Khushi was just trying to do good and she ended up hurting Arnav. Arnav, on the other hand, didn't know what to say so he listened. He could feel his insides twist as he heard her broken voice. "Please Arnav talk to me," she pleaded. "I can't do this anymore. I shouldn't have danced with Shyam. It was wrong, but-- but I just did. I was stupid. I shouldn't have." She said painfully. She was so flustered. She could see pain reflecting off his eyes as well. She could still hear those words echoing in her ear, 'I LOVE YOU DAMMIT' That was her last hope, she was clutching at the last straws. She just wanted to hug Arnav tightly. "Atleast say something," she begged. "Khushi I--I don't know why I said all that." He said. "You had full right to. I shouldn't have--"You should have and you did the right thing. I am wrong. I am sorry. Please don't hate me." She said hugging him. She held on to him like never before. She knew she couldn't live without Arnav anymore. She couldn't even imagine her life without him. She was Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. She was Arnav's wife. That was enough for her. She didn't need anything else. She was already the luckiest person on this planet.
Arnav too became a little teary and held onto Khushi. "I think," he gulped, "I think I over reacted." He admitted holding on to his Khushi. He still couldn't absorb everything she just said. Khushi was so broken. Arnav had never seen her so broken before. He had seen her ill, he had seen her cry over Shyam, he had seen her upset but never so broken. He could feel her pain in him and he hated himself for acting the way he did last night. He had been way to harsh on her and lately it had been her making all the efforts to improve their relationship. It was that moment when he realized that she had changed. She had evolved and she cared about him.
"Arnav," she said again, "I don't love Shyam, I don't even care about him anymore. Believe me, I just--"I do. I am sorry too." He said trying to calm her down, but Khushi wasn't even close to being done. "No, you have no reason to be sorry. I am the one that's been wrong, not you. You have always thought of me before yourself and I have always thought about me, and my pain, and my guilt and never about your pain..." she said sobbing heavily on his shoulder. "No," Arnav said calmly. "You are not selfish at all. You still wanted to do good, didn't you? You always think about others. You are really nice." "You were so hurt last night. You were so upset last night. I know you say you didn't mean it but I know you did. This was all that you kept bottled up within you and now finally its out in the open Arn--"Shhh" Arnav said stroking her hair. Khushi was still clutching onto him and he was hugging her back. He knew it wasn't easy for her. They stood there for a really long time until Khushi stopped crying while Arnav kept stroking her hair trying to calm her down. They didn't need many words, they just needed each other. Khushi had her flaws and Arnav had his. What mattered at the end was that both of them were sorry and both regretted what they did. "Khushi, it's okay. It wasn't your fault." He said. "It was. It was my fault and I accept it." She said calmly. "Both our faults." Arnav said. Khushi withdrew and said, "You always do this Arnav. You never let me take the blame. You don't always have to protect me. I need to fall so I can stand stronger." She said. "You are strong. You make me strong Khushi." He said. "And you are my strength." She whispered. "So are we okay?" she asked. "If you promise not to dance with him again!" Arnav muttered. "I won't. I won't dance with anyone but you." She said hugging him again. They didn't need to confess their feelings. It was all out in the open. They just knew it. "I think we both just didn't make the right choices last night." Arnav said hugging her back.
________________________________________
This is be far the most descriptive chapter I have written and it is kind of important. Please read and then if you have anymore issues on Khushi's character then fire away. I hope I haven't disappointed you! 😊
The only thing I want you to remember is that I am trying to put in human qualities in all my characters. They will make mistakes which will be because of poor judgement or because of drinking too much or whatever but the character comes in when they try and amend those mistakes. That's when you understand character not when they are making the mistake. That's when you get the wrong character.😳 I hope I make sense in what I've tried to explain.
Waiting for some review.
Love,
Manjari.
[This season is heading for a big climax. The Tender conferences start from the next update. Everything will go so fast and then a climax to the season. So I just 3-4 chapters maximum in this season!]
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