ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage#2 *Complete* - Page 15

Beautiful chapter and nice teaser...thanks for the PM

THANKS:

This update is dedicated to

- pearl.b: for following this story religiously and always giving your response to every update, without receiving any notification from me. Your comments always make me happy. Thank you dear 😳

-tvmania: for always asking questions that made me glad that chalo atleast this reader is reading the story with full concentration, not missing any clue, never asking me for pm about updates. Thank you for your comments dear and reading this story!!!!!

One of your comment is my favorite 😳😃

Originally posted by: tvmania

I don't know how many twists you think for every update, I don't understand how you bring out some twist or the other in each update. its just amazing that you keep Ur readers in tows :)

-amey.ipkknd: What can i say about you other than you are the only ArHi reader that adores my story so much. You made me relive the time when a reader was totally crazy about my story, of course it was on some other couple. Dear your comment always leave me like this ☺️

I wanna say my heartfelt 'thank you' to you all three. I planned this dedication weeks ago knowing how important this chapter is gonna be. Thank you🤗 !!

ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 15

There were only few moments in life that made Arnav feel helpless like it isn't in his hands to do anything at all.

The moments he hated the most.

Because truth to be told, Arnav Singh Raizada always preferred to be in control. Power and the ability to change his fate- defined him as Arnav Singh Raizada.

But even a person like him was clueless about what to do in few situations.

And currently it was one of those situations.

Khushi Singh Raizada has always been the most unpredictable girl he had ever met. Today, nothing mind you nothing went according to what he had thought while starting his day.

First, Khushi fainted and now she woke up after screaming and writhing in her sleep. If that wasn't enough, she hugged him tightly when he asked her if she is okay, crying while clutching him like her favourite toy.

But he knew, somewhere in his heart that he is worried for her. Okay only a bit worried.

He didn't know what he was supposed to say to make her calm down. Nonetheless, stroking her hairs in an assuring manner, he whispered soothingly "Sshhh, calm down Khushi."

Rocking her back and forth, he let her cry all her heart out holding her closer to his body. Finally when she calmed down a bit, he offered her a glass of water which she took readily.

"Are you okay?" Words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself, his concerned gaze fixed on her.

Khushi nodded her head slowly and got up quietly when Arnav asked to have her dinner. Occupying a chair of the dining table, Khushi kept eating her dinner silently while Arnav who sat opposite to her kept stealing glances at her, from time to time.

Anjali who came down to ask about Khushi, left after making sure that she is alright though she didn't failed to notice the change in Arnav and Khushi's relation.

She smiled knowing that things are improving between them.

Her silence, her lowered gaze worried him to no end.

It wasn't the first time he was worried for her. To keep the promise he had made to his father, he had always kept a check on Khushi, making sure that she is alright.

But this time, it was something more than that.

But what it was exactly, he couldn't figure out.

When they got back to their room, Arnav couldn't stop himself from saying "Khushi is there anything wrong? Is something worrying you? What exactly made you faint?"

Khushi who was walking around the bed, halted in her steps after hearing Arnav's question. Taking a few moments, she turned towards him slowly not looking in his eyes at all.

"It's nothing, Arnavji."

Arnav closed his eyes, aware that Khushi wasn't ready to tell him what's worrying her. He nodded not trusting his voice when Khushi whispered "Arnavji??"

He glanced at her again, looking curious. Wriggling her fingers, Khushi asked hesitating a bit "Can you please sit with me for few minutes?"

"Of course." Arnav smiled a bit, walking towards her and sat on the bed, patting the space next to him gesturing her to sit down.

Smiling gratefully at him, Khushi sat looking down at her hands finding solace in his company. She knew that he didn't have any idea what scared her the most.

The feeling of uncertainty, death and pain which had clouded her mind while being locked inside a car's trunk four years back after seeing her Maa and Papa in blood was back with a vengeance making her doubt everything she had in her life right now.

They sat there as Khushi mulled over the past while Arnav wondered what was going on in her mind. When he was getting sure that she is not going to tell him anything, he heard her whisper "Can I ask you a question?"

He looked at her uncertainly before answering "Yes."

"Do you think that we can make this marriage work?" Khushi blurted her question in a breath, closing her eyes, apprehensive of his reaction.

When she didn't hear him saying anything for few minutes, she opened her eyes to see him staring at her amusedly though she noticed how serious his eyes looked.

She saw him open his mouth to say something before closing it and looking away. She looked expectedly when he turned to her again but again he looked away. Then she heard him stutter, struggling to find words to answer her question "Khushi, I...think...I...mean..."

She kept her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently encouraging him to continue.

Arnav sighed before he answered in a dead-pan voice "You are making efforts Khushi, but I don't think that I am trying hard. I am not sure about my own efforts and abilities to make this marriage work."

"I don't think so Arnavji. You are making efforts. Earlier, you never talked to me without fighting and hurling accuses at me, now we are working together and we don't fight anymore. Can't you see that?" Khushi tried to comfort him but Arnav didn't turn to look back at her.

"Arnavji?"

Arnav closed his eyes as Khushi spoke in a strong, confident voice refusing to break apart. He didn't had the courage to look in her eyes, when he heard something he wasn't expecting.

"Do you know what exactly made me not walk out of this marriage, Arnavji?"

Arnav turned and looked up, suddenly feeling curious and was startled to find Khushi smiling at him, sadly.

"That you hated me." Khushi answered observing how Arnav's eyes widened at her answer and his body froze.

He sputtered in shock "What?"

Khushi nodded before getting up and walking to the French window and looking out. She was sharing one of her deepest secret with him for the first time and there was no way she could do it while looking in his eyes, afraid of what she will see in them.

"You know whenever I meet anyone, they like me because I am beautiful. No one even cared to look beyond my beauty. No one bothered to know the real me."

She exhaled, looking all tired and worn out and turned to face him. To make him believe, she knew that whatever she was going to say, she needed to say it while meeting his gaze.

"I always knew that you hated me. But somewhere I was apprehensive that this hate might melt and may turn into lust when you will see me, when you will see my beauty. I was wrong. You hated me more if not less after that. Then I knew that if you will ever like me, it will be because you will like me as a person not for the beautiful girl that I am. And I am willing to wait for that moment."

She walked and stood in front of him. Beaming at him, she said "Thank you Arnavji for not lusting after me. I have seen enough to be object of anyone's lust now."

To say Arnav was speechless would be an understatement; it appeared like words failed him. His brain was unable to think anything. Khushi's reason to have faith in this marriage was unique just like her. If he had any doubt in his mind about this marriage, it didn't exist now.

Now he too was determined to make this marriage work.

Not for his father's words. Not for his dead parent's happiness.

But, for himself and Khushi.

He was too lost in his thoughts to see Khushi now sitting beside him. His trance broke when Khushi asked a question to him, hesitating a bit "Is it okay if we both sleep on bed?"

Snapping his head up, he looked at her with his eyes full of shock. His mind when back to the night when he had refused to let her sleep on bed, saying that he won't share a bed with her.

Now when he reassessed the moment, he didn't like a bit what he did back then.

Making a girl sleep on a recliner is not a good thing, isn't it? He frowned a bit and looked back at Khushi to see her looking up at him expectantly.

Her eyes held a fear of rejection along with hope.

Hope of being accepted by him in his life.

And just like that, he found himself nodding to receive a grateful smile in return from her. Lying on the bed to the opposite sides maintaining as much distance as they can, they both closed their eyes.

"Can I hold your hand?" Snapping his eyes open, Arnav turned his head to look at Khushi a bit taken aback. He was apprehensive of what he should say when he remembered how she had fainted earlier.

She is scared, he knew.

Dropping all his inhibitions, he went ahead and held her hand turning towards her. He kept watching as Khushi's eyes lingered on their intertwined hand for a moment before drooping shut in sleep.

She looked calm and relaxed, unlike earlier he noted before drifting to sleep.

That night, two lonely souls found solace in each other's company.

_______________________________________________________

"I am happy to see that you and Arnav are trying to make your marriage work, Khushi. I always wanted my brother to move ahead in his life." Anjali said, smiling.

Khushi who was sitting beside her in the car, looked up surprised and smiled "I know Didi."

"And I am really grateful to you for that." Anjali held her hand and squeezed it gently. Getting out of the car, Anjali waved at Khushi and watched the car going away before walking towards the college.

She halted in her step when she looked up and saw Shyam standing there, staring at her continuously. She stared back at him bravely and walked away from him.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her forearm pulling her back and when she looked up, she saw Shyam staring at her, determined.

Looking determined to end this hide-and-seek game today.

"So as it is a Bridal Couture week, I think we should divide this show in 2 sections- western wedding gowns and Indian wedding dresses. While showcasing western wedding gowns and dresses, we should use a mix of ivory-blue as background setback and for showcasing Indian wedding dresses, we should use a mix of pale yellow-red as background. So What do you think?" Khushi asked, explaining everything.

"Hmm sounds okay. What about the show stopper dress?" Arnav asked, scanning through all the pictures that Khushi had assembled together.

"I am working on it." Khushi replied with a teasing smile, which meant only one thing that she was planning something very big.

"Okay. I will ask Aman to assist you in case you find it difficult to manage everything on your own."

"Do you doubt my abilities?" Khushi asked her eyes narrowed.

"I didn't say that." Arnav's lips twitched, the corner of his eyes crinkling with humour.

In a huff, Khushi stood up and gathered everything before saying "Just wait and watch, Mr Raizada. Peoples will talk about this show for months."

"I am waiting for it patiently, Mrs Raizada." Arnav replied, with a teasing smile.

The underlined sentences are important so keep them in mind 😉

Okay I have changed my story line a bit, working on changes today. After reading that many readers don't want this SS to end soon, I think I know what I am going to do.

Here is what I am going to do, I am making few changes but the ending will remain the way I imagined as always. I will cover every aspect of this story and when I will find that there is nothing left in story to focus on, I will end this SS. Is it okay?

Coming up soon will be Khushi's past in next few updates.

Please hit like button and do comment

Aditi

p.s @PixieFlame, I hope your mock exam went well dear 😊

loved it.

loved it 😊

awesome update dear...

Beautiful Update Dear!!! Loved it!!!

nice update
finally trying to work out the marriage
thanks for pm

I could try to look for clues in the underlined sections, but unfortunately no time!