Here we are guys the last chapter, its been amazing writing for you..thank you all for being such loyal readers. Hope you enjoy this one and I will keep you all posted about any new ff's that I start, suggestions all welcome.
Jagruti
Chapter 10
Arnav cupping Khushis right cheek in his hand, looks straight into her eyes which dot around for a second or two.
"Aise nahin hoga tum jaanti ho kyun khushi ? kyun ke ab sirf tumare pyaar ka saval nahin hai khushi...mera pyaar bhi judgaya hai tumare saath ("That's not going to happen, you know why khushi? because its not just the love you have for me but the love I have for you too." ) Khushi not expecting that response at all, her eyes cupped in tears she looks up at him with the upmost love in her eyes and surprise for his words. "I love you too khushi, I've fallen in love with your innocence, your devotion, with your love, with you Khushi." Khushi seeing his eyes begin to film in tears too, there was a certain glow of affection and smile that lingered on his lips that was contagious. Wrapping her hands around his figure, Khushi finds comfort within his posture, hearing her cry into his attire ever so silently, Arnav comforts Khushi as she cries away her sorrows. Arnav stood with Khushi in his arms and Khushi found comfort in him, from the fragrance of his aftershave to the warmth of his fingers that stroked her back, he was their for her in a way he had never been.
Khushis soft weeping having gone silent the comfort between the two of them was something valuable, not wanting to disturb her Arnav keeps his hold on Khushi yet they disturbed by a third person Garima who was looking to call them to the dinner table is left overwhelmed at the sight, wordlessly responding to Garima Arnav reassures that they would be down in a moment.
No later than a few minutes Khushi who felt much more light hearted now takes a seat next to Arnav at the dinner table after the odd eye lock or two of Arnav asking Khushi how she is feeling her slight smile and nod puts Arnavs concern to rest.
6pm at Gupta house agreeing to stay for a while after dinner, leave only once they have rested a while and freshened up, Khushi walks into what was once her bedroom having showered only to realize after a second or two that she had walked into him partially dressed and this wasn't the first time. Arnav who is looking through a drawer of medicines for something to ease his muscular pain turns around with sound of the door being pushed to an open and is confronted by Khushi, wrapped in a small white towel which only manages to cover the middle of her figure, her hair wet through this wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Seeing Khushi..drop her eyes with threat Arnav sees the same hesitancy and fear occupy her even now. Even though he was no long that man and she knew that she knew of it she still seemed to be scared. Maaf kardijyey.. "I'm sorry, hame pata nahin tha aap..woh..." (I didn't know you were..) Her tone of voice a little unsure.. Khushi fails to look at him even having been asked to"Look at me Khushi.." "Meri taraf dekhon khushi."(Look at me Khushi..look at me..) There was softness to his tone which got a little insistent and led to Khushi finally looking up at him. Meri ankhon mein ghussa dekhayi deta hai? ("Do you see anger when you look into my eyes? ")
All she saw in those eyes of his was warmth which reminded her that things had really changed now. Nodding a silent no...Khushi feels his eyes upon her even though she deferred from looking into his for long. She was hardly stood before him in the most decent of attire. Khushi feeling his fingertips move away a stray strand of hair away from her face, with instinct looking look up at him for a moment..Khushi watches the way in which his eyes trail down khushis neck..and notice the semi health love marks on the crux...it wasn't the first time Arnav had seen those scars on her .scars he had given her in the name of love. Her eyes drawn to the floor Khushi was too timid, too much of a traditionalist to talk of having such scars. Her eyes lowered even now his eyes taking to an regret for the way he was responsible for her state even now ..Khushi feels him walk a step or two back to the wooden chest drawer pick up a tube of medicine and walk towards her, stop at a proximity apply some cream to his finger tips..
She never expected anything of the sort from him and her tone and expression indicated that well. "Is ki koi sarurat nahin hai aap..yey... -- " ("Theres no need for that.") Arnav disagreeing his words spoken in an affectionate kind of manner.
"Agar tum mera itna khyal rakh sakti ho khushi then the least I can do is help heal the scars I've given you."
Khushi feeling his finger tips draw to her neck line, the warmth of his fingers, the cool feel of the medication...the increase in Khushis heartbeat apparent..Arnav having applied the cream looks up to Khushi admires the virtue those eyes of hers carry before him even now.. happening to catch sight of another such mark on Khushis back visible in the mirror she was standing in front of Arnav voices attention is drawn to Khushis back and...the many other scars that were hidden from him. "Turn around.."
Khushi a little unsure of what he was asking her for..her eyes a little questioning and wary. Ji..? but looking into this eyes and reassured by the comfort in them.. Khushi turns around to face the mirror whilst Arnav steps closer behind her moves her wet hair slightly away from her shoulder...feeling Khushis shoulders clench at his touch on one of her scars, her closed squinted eyes in the mirror reflection told him of her discomfort. Drawing closer to her shoulder, Khushi feels the him gently blow air upon her back easing the stinging sensation. Growing Goosebumps at the sense of proximity of his lips to her skin Khushi still in anticipation can't help but think about how she had missed his intimacy, his touch his feel..as cold and unloving it may have been once for her it was the closest she ever was to her husband. Arnav watching Khushis expression ease in the mirror, drawn to her figure in an aim to kiss away her pain places his lips genty upon Khushis scar.
Khushi feeling his lips upon her skin feels something very different, something pure, something real, his proximity. What was become a trail of his lips on her skin was much more affectionate, loving, and genuine than ever before. She could sense his attempt to heal her scars with his love and she allowed him to.
...
As Arnav and Khushi walk hand in hand out of Gupta house, Arnav takes the driver seat..his eyes checking on Khushi in the mirrors now and again there was an calm content on her face now that made him happy.
Being eveing journey the roads calm, dark, a cool breeze coming from the window side Arnav looked to Khushi in the passenger seat and saw her writing something in diary but she seemed at ease and he was too.
In one such glance towards her
Blind to a car that is coming towards them Arnav swerves the car sharply in attempt to avoid a collision but fails.
...
A few hours later in city hospital, as Khushi stands at the end of Arnavs hospital bed she finds herself in the same spot she was a few weeks back. Not a scratch to on her Arnav had been the one injured the most.
Fiddling nervously with her journal to hand, praying for the best Khushi recalls Arnavs promise of never going back to the man he was before, the way he had reassured her that his love for her would never let that happen Khushi recalls his words over and over again. Feeling Anjalis hand over her shoulder, Khushis nevous eyes look towards Anjali for comfort. "Sab kuch theekh hojayega Khushiji aap fikar mat kijyey." ("Don't worry khushiji everything will be better soon. ") Khushis eyes were filled with fear, anxiousness, feelings that no one could even begin to understand no one.
Unsure of what her fate would be once Arnav regains his consciousness, Khushi in a mind state of her own walks out of the room, past the likes of naani and aakash who are stood in the corridor for some time to herself.
...
Meanwhile back Arnavs hospital room, Anjali notices movement in Arnavs posture, beads of sweat forming on his forehead and a general state of discomfort on his expression like he was reacting to something whilst being unconscious. Worried, Anjali calls for a doctor.
...
The family surrounding his bedside Khushi is the last the enter the room when the doctor announces that it was likely for Arnav to regain his conscious any moment now, his heart beat had strengthened. Khushi standing at the end of the bed, a little more at a distance behind the rest of the family her heart beat increases as she watches him lay their unconscious.
Watching him open his eyes slowly..look around the room Khushis heart was an questionable state. The doctor being the closest to Arnav.. he is the first person Arnav seeing after looking around the room. Doctor: "Welcome back Mr Raizada.." Ab aap ko kaisa lag raha? ("How are you feeling Mr Raizada?) Arnav nodding his head a little as if to say he was okay looks around the room to see various faces and then looks back at the doctor.
"Doctor wheres my..wife..wheres Khushi?" Khushi overwhelmed at his reaction.. feels a sigh of relief. Doctor reassuring Arnav with a smile "Mrs Raizada yehi hai..dont worry", Arnav watches his family part way a little from around him so he could see Khushi who was stood behind them. Her eyes cupped with tears yet carrying a glow of relief at seeing him conscious again Arnav was well aware of what he had put Khushi through in the past few hours but he himself was relieved to see her.
...
A little later as Khushi stands at the door of Arnavs hospital room, she didn't want to interrupt what looked like an heartfelt conversation between Anjali and Arnav. Anjali was sat by arnavs side..his hand in hers. Arnav noticing Khushi stood at the entrance of the room. "Khushi.."
Anjali..getting up from her seat at Arnavs bedside passing a comforting smile to khushi stood at a distance, before leaving the room she touches upon the side of Arnavs face in a gesture of care for him. They had talked about the past and felt at peace with one another, there was nothing more Anjali could ask for her brother his happiness and health and all three of those things were on the verge of fulfilment. Walking towards Khushi Anjali cups Khushi's face with a reassuring expression before leaving them alone. Arnav watches Khushi walk towards his bedside silently , taking a seat beside him..kushis eyes are filled to the brim with tears as she tries to speak to him in a muffled sadness "Aap..."
"Shush Khushi.. I'm fine.." Taking her hand in his Arnavs eyes intent on comforting her. "Meine kaha tha naa khushi.. woh hadza phir se nahin hoga..tumara pyaar joe hai mere saath". ("I said that incident wouldn't happen again, not when your love is with me". )
Khushi nodding a silent yes still in tears notices a kind of loss on Arnav's face. She could sense that there was something more he wanted to say to her and put her right hand over his in a similar gesture. Getting his attention through her touch over his hand she watched his sore eyes turn to her. His words a genuine confession, "Jab mein behosh tha Khushi tab atit ka woh har pal mere saamne aa kadha, har woh hadsa..har woh pal ..har ek baat.." ("When I lay unconscious, all those incidents of the past, everything flashed before my eyes Khushi.")
"I'm sorry khushi.. maafi toe meine phele bhi kayi baar maangi hai tumse lekin aaj Khushi.. I'm.." ("I've tried to apologise many a time before Khushi but today I ..")
Stopping him from apologising yet again Khushi drew her hand over his mouth stopping him from finishing. ..his remorse his hurt was more than enough for her nodding in a disprovable to his words "Nahin.." ("Don't..".) Arnav saw nothing but love in those eyes of hers ..drawing himself a little closer to Khushi cupping Khushis face in his hand he slowly rubs away those tears of her that were begging to make way down her expression, drawing towards her a little more Arnav places a kiss on her forehead.
...
"aahmmmum hhmm" "An pretentious cough interrupting the moment, both Khushi and Arnav part from one another slightly to see Aaakash and Anjali stood at the entrance of the room. -"Ghar chale??"
Arnav and Khushi wanting nothing more than that look at one another affectionately before agreeing with a smile.
..
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