SS: Unspoken part 13
Arnav walked around to the front of the house to find Vijay standing just within the gate with his hands fisted at his sides. "What do you want?" Arnav asked and Vijay exploded at him.
"You're a goddamn hypocrite!" He yelled and Arnav clenched his jaw with his own hands turning into fists. "What did you just say?"
"That's what you are! Arnav Singh Raizada is going against his own word! You said no outsiders, period, and now here you are allowing some random girl to stay here!" He continued shouting his words even louder and Avni and Adi stood by the doorway while Khushi peeped her head from the corner of the house. Her heartbeat was accelerating, as she didn't want this to turn into such a big fight all because of her.
"Your wife's case was different. She's a Sadas-" Arnav was abruptly cut off.
"Do NOT utter that word. It is no different! In fact, it's even worse! Are you aware of what people are saying about her? They think you're keeping her as your wh**e!" He shouted and in the next second Arnav was towering over him, with his eyes so wide and dangerous, he looked like he could easily kill anyone who came his way - starting with Vijay. "Watch your mouth and tell everyone else that too. No one speaks like that about me or about anyone else in my family. Your problem with Khushi staying here is not a concern to me. This is my land and I choose who gets to stay here!"
Vijay suddenly broke into a conniving grin. "What is it that is keeping you so attached to her? Are the rumors true? Is she really your wh-" Before he could finish his sentence, Arnav's bulldozer-like fist hit him right in the face making him stumble back and blink away the blackness that was appearing before him.
He lifted his eyes to Arnav with his lips curling in rage before he charged towards him and grabbed him from his collar before he gave him a good punch too. People started to gather around the house and everyone gasped with each punch that wouldn't seem to stop. Khushi was silently crying in the corner while Avni was shouting and telling them to stop. Adi ran over and pushed at Vijay. He kicked him a few times in the shin until he got his attention. "Aditya!" Vijay roared and gave him a threatening look before Arnav grabbed his jaw tightly and turned it towards him. "Do not speak his name and don't ever look at him like that! Do you understand?" He asked with an incredibly vehement tone with blood trickling down from his lips and nose.
Arnav pushed him away and they stood there staring at each other. Avni walked down the steps and stood next to her son as she glared hard at Vijay. When he turned his eyes to her, she suddenly slapped him hard across the cheek. "I'm disgusted with myself to ever have thought that you're a good person, and I pity your father to have a son like you. Never show your face around here again. Go!"
Vijay turned on his heals and walked away with his bloody face but everyone else remained standing. "What are you all standing around for? Leave!" Arnav yelled at the top of his lungs and everyone immediately dispersed. He looked at his mother who simply shook her head at him before grabbing Adi's arm and heading inside. She was always going to defend her son, but that didn't mean that she agreed with what he did.
Arnav turned to go home when he saw Khushi standing in the corner - her face wet with tears. She began walking towards him as he wiped the wiped the blood with his hand but only to smear it more on his face. He lifted his hand to wipe more but she grabbed his arm and shook her head. She held on to his elbow and guided him to his room. He sat down on his bed and stared blankly outside the window as she left to get some things. She came back and sat next to him on the bed. She wiped the bloodstains away with a wet cloth then applied antiseptic to the cuts. He didn't flinch but he felt the stinging pain. When she finished she lowered her hand and stared at him with a frown and fresh tears filling her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered and looked away when her tears finally spilled out.
"Why are you crying?" He asked but she shook her head as she bit down on her bottom lip to save it from quivering. Her throat burned as she just wanted to get it all out but she was trying to hold it in as much as possible. "Vijay is just lying anyways. No one thinks such stupid things," he said that made Khushi finally look back at him. She wanted to tell him but figured it was best to just let it go.
"Maybe they do," was all she said and he gave her a questioning look. "Why do you say that?"
She shrugged her shoulders and took out another cotton ball out to dry the blood that continued to spill out of his lip when Arnav grabbed her wrist. "Answer me, Khushi. Why do you say that?"
She pulled her hand away and looked down before lifting her gaze back to his. "A couple guys at the market harassed me today. They said that you're keeping me for your own pleasure."
He looked away and she saw his jaw tighten. His breaths became shorter and his anger was clearly boiling. He grabbed the container that held the first aid and threw it hard against the wall. Khushi stiffened in her spot. He was going to explode all over again.
He got up and she got up after him as she grabbed onto his arm. "I didn't tell you for you to go after them! You asked a question and I answered you. Please don't go!" She begged as she tugged on his arm. "Khushi!" Arnav yelled as he bore his pungent stare on her.
"Arnav!" She retorted then froze in the moment, just like he did. His hard expression softened as he tried to take in the sweet melody in which she called his name - no matter the fact that she was angry. He continued to stare even when she looked down but her hand was still holding onto his arm. It slowly slid down until it reached the top if his palm. She was about to let her hand fall to her side when he curled his fingers around hers and pulled her forward. "I'm doing this for you," he said in a low voice and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as she tried to speak.
"If you're doing it for me, then you'll stay back," she said as she looked up in his chestnut brown eyes. Still holding on to her hand, he pulled her even closer until she was standing just a few inches from him. "I'm sorry people are thinking such disgusting things," he said and she but on the inside of her lip before speaking her next words. "I don't care what others think - as long as you don't think badly of me."
He looked down and touched her bracelet with his thumb. "I wouldn't ever."
He continued to gaze down at the bracelet. He had bought it for her not just to be nice, but to mark her as his in some way. And in that moment, he didn't care if his thoughts were proper or not, he wanted her to be his forever. He raised his eyes and found her staring at him this time. He felt something soft push against his chest. He looked down to see her small hand putting some pressure there. "Go eat."
He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What?"
Her lips curled up in the corners. "Your mother is calling you - go eat."
He softly chuckled as he slowly shook his head. He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't even hear his mother's voice. He felt a little pressure against his chest again as Khushi tried to move him out of his spot. He let go of her soft little hand and bobbed his head towards the door at her. "Let's go," he said and waited for her to walk ahead before following after her.
*
"You look terrible," Akash stated as he pulled up a chair at the dining table to talk to Arnav who rolled his eyes at his friend's remark. His lip had significantly swelled and his nose hurt to the touch. "I'm sure you already know what happened," he said because he knew word spread that quickly.
"Do you think I'm being hypocritical?" Arnav asked because he needed an honest answer and Akash would be the only one to tell him. He pursed his lips and shrugged his shoulders. "I think the only reason why you're okay with letting her stay is because you like her," said Akash making Arnav quickly shake his head.
"I said she could stay from the first day she explained her problem to me - I didn't like her then."
"But you do like her now," Akash said as a matter of fact. Arnav fell silent for a few seconds, as he didn't know what to say. Akash chuckled at his expression. "It's not a crime - relax."
"But there is one truth to all of this," Arnav started and Akash was intently listening to him. "That rule I made years ago was because of what Vijay did. Khushi is from Bhadra, and to be honest, that doesn't bother me. I said no outsiders at the time because people take advantage of stuff like that. I mean, others could have lied about where they are from just to get in."
"You still need to get the council's vote," Akash pointed out and Arnav nodded his head in accordance. "They're coming soon and I need to make sure that what I say will sway them when they make a decision."
"What if they don't let her?" He asked, pursing his lips in worry.
Arnav remained silent again as he didn't know what to say. If four out of the six members - including himself - voted against it, then that would create problems that he wouldn't know how to fix. He let out a shaky sigh then shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I'll do whatever I have to, to keep her here."
*
When Akash left for the night, Arnav went to the living room and found Adi slumping against Khushi's shoulder in sleep. He tried to pick him up but his hands wrapped around Khushi's arm. She tried to pry his fingers off but he started fussing in his sleep. Arnav sighed in annoyance and Khushi noticed this. "Let me take him," she said and he let her do so. Adi kept his head on her shoulder as she walked towards Avni's room with Arnav behind her to open the door.
She placed him down on the bed and stroked his head before pulling the sheet on him. She turned around and bumped right into Arnav. "Oops, sorry," she whispered. She started moving her upper body back when he extended his hand towards her. He cupped her head and brought his mouth close to her ear. Her eyes widened and her breaths came short for being the closest she ever was to him.
"Thank you for caring for me earlier," he spoke softly and purposefully stroked his stubble against her smooth cheek, making her breathing hitch. "You're welcome," she mumbled and was surprised to see him flash her a smirk.
She couldn't understand his new behavior towards her when he took her hand and had her walk next to him until they got to the hallway where he let it go. He let her walk first as she always did now then took the seat between her and his mother - who wasn't making any eye contact with him.
He took her hand and kissed the back of it then rested his head against hers. "I'm sorry," he said and a tear fell from her eye. "Badmash," she said, slapping his arm as he smiled and hugged her sideways, meanwhile adding a kiss on her forehead. She broke into a giggle as she rubbed the part of his arm that she'd just slapped.
Khushi was all smiles as she saw the beautiful mother-child moment in front of her. Her cheeks turned into a constant shade of red and her hands were growing clammy as Arnav sat properly and his side of the body was touching hers. He looked down at her while she innocently looked up. "You're so tiny - like a mouse," he said and she snorted a laugh before playfully hitting his arm as he teasingly smirked.
Arnav's big figure was already taking over Avni's view of Khushi so Khushi didn't hesitate to curl her fingers around the hollow of his elbow and leave it there. Arnav didn't say anything but they shared an eye lock that spoke volumes, as they both knew nothing would ever be the same for them again.
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Hello all you lovely people! Was the ending surprising or what?! hehe. I felt all giddy just writing it. lol
Vijay is not our friend. He's definitely a foe but he might turn around 😉 and won't be saying more than that.
To kbtr, you were wondering why Arnav and Khushi never walk side by side. If you noticed, in the begging he made her walk behind him so for him to allow her to walk first, it's actually in respect of her. Also don't forget that this is set in the past so for her to walk in front of such a big man in the village, it's really a big deal.Hope that helps! 😃
Ok, there's a serious matter I have to address here. That is...you guys are incredibly awesome! It actually makes me sentimental to see that for the first time, one of my stories have passed 50 pages. thank you so much. *tears of joy*
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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