ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage#3 *Complete* - Page 23

Well I have a lot of things to say before I update next chapter, some things which have overwhelmed me.

1.After the last update which I did around 1-2 am on 25th, I received a pm from prha' next day early morning when I was on my way to college. It was a 2-3 line message nothing big but it brought tears in my eyes really. My father was driving the car and I was trying to not cry in front of him. Those 2-3 lines touched my heart so much that I can't tell you all. I was over the moon, thinking oh my god am I capable of doing this through my story? Thank you prha for sending that pm and making it the most memorable moment of my writing life!!

2.Most of you are thinking that I am taking a break because I am fed up of reader's silence. Well it's one of the reasons but the most important reason is I have run out of story ideas which can be stretched till 6-7 parts. Right now, two concepts are running in my mind and both are the stories which needs at least 3-4 months so that I can fully explore them. After ATCM, honestly I doubt I will be able to take the usual silence of readers and I would rather not start a story than leaving a story incomplete, which I haven't done till now ever.

3.I know you all think what is wrong with her, why can't she just be happy with the response she is getting. I will tell you why. ATCM is special to me. Only I know how hard I have worked on this story to make it as good as I can. Every update is typed by me with a hope that yes, this might break some reader's silence but every time I failed. I always had a hard time, believing on my abilities and this failure again and again has broken my self-confidence totally. I don't want anyone's pity but neither do I want your silence as well.

This update is dedicated to jg12, mpuhan and shilpi28march for reading my story and commenting on it whenever they can, which sets them apart from silent readers making them special readers to me. Thank you !!!!

A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 26

Since childhood, Arnav Singh Raizada has a habit of getting over-possessed about people he considered as his family. Anyone trying to harm them was destroyed and wholly hated by him, without even letting them know about it, such was the power of Arnav Singh Raizada.

He believed on playing it fair and true to everyone be it his enemy or his family.

After his marriage, many things and facts changed in his mind making him a better person than he already was. For one, he knew that he didn't hate his wife.

He knew that she has started being more to him than just the object of the promise that he has done to his dying father. The walls he had built around his heart to shield himself from any hurt, pain and strangers were crumbling down whenever he was around Khushi.

Second, he hasn't forgotten what Shyam told him. Why Khushi was bearing everything just to be with him? It doesn't make any sense unless she really cares for him and want to put everything back in his life. And that pleased his sore, lonely heart to the point of almost hauling Khushi in his arms, kissing the daylight out of her.

Third, he knew that he already has treaded into the dangerous territory of desire, pleasure and love. The past four years were spent by him in only fulfilling his responsibilities as a son, a brother and a man protecting someone he hated. He took the reins of AR in his hand taking it to the new heights of success, looked after his sister who has lost everything in her life just like him and meeting agencies so that he can assure safety of the girl who destroyed his family, as he believed back then.

But it all was changing. A simple kiss initiated with the intention of comforting the same girl he hated 2 months ago, had taken him to door of forbidden territory, desire.

The desire of loving the same girl who now is his wife, as her husband. He wanted to be selfish for once, thinking beyond his responsibilities.

But he didn't. He never wished to jeopardise their chance of building a strong base to their relationship just by hurrying everything, just because he desired her.

He wanted to know her, to be with her just like a true companion before claiming his rights on her as her husband.

So he waited.

Taking baby steps in their relationship with each passing day, marvelling at the way Khushi smiled at him whenever their eyes met or the way she casually put her arm around him whenever she talked to him, the way she looked at ease around him unlike his scared employees.

But there was one problem -Latika Handa. The model he had hired for his little act of not being loyal to his wife and for the showstopper of his fashion show. God, what was he thinking when he thought that Latika will be perfect for it?

The girl, clearly know nothing about AR and its working ways. If she had, she wouldn't have dared to miss the rehearsals. He was furious. Dead furious.

And the way he witnessed her talking rudely to his wife was the last nail in the coffin. He wanted to throw her out of AR the very instant, determined to never let her achieve any success in her career ever.

But he knew better than to do the same. Because Arnav Singh Raizada never played dirty with anyone. He believed in playing a fair game with full honesty.

Until the very next day, he saw Latika pushing Khushi away from the ramp.

A relief surged through his body slowly the moment he managed to catch her in his arms, panting as he had run his way to save her from falling down aware of her closed eyes, her face scrunched in anticipation of a very hard and painful fall.

He was going to let her get hurt over his dead body. She was too precious, priceless to even bear a scratch on her soft, milky and untouched skin.

He noted how she kept waiting for the fall, not realizing that she has landed in his arms safely. He kept staring, running his eyes over her body frantically making sure that she is alright.

"Khushi!!!"

Her eyes sprang open the moment his voice reached to her ear, a cheerful-relieved smile making way to her lips as their eyes met "Arnavji!!!"

He nodded down at her, assuring her that he is here now. Khushi blinked her eyes softly, hiding her face in his chest telling her worried heart that it's alright now, inhaling his musky, spicy scent which soothed her hyper valeting nerves.

Arnav stood there, holding her in his arms quietly. Just then his worried, caring side took a backseat pushing his monster-like temperament to the front.

His hold tightened on his wife, his eyes flew to the terrified, scared face of Latika Handa. His threatening gaze ran through her eyes, letting her know that he knew what has happened.

And that was enough to make her tremble like a fallen leaf.

"Aahh, Arnavji..."

Khushi cried out the moment Arnav tried to make her stand on her feet again, making him crouch down and touch her feet which Khushi was trying to not let down on the floor, his temper vanishing into thin air.

She bit her lips trying to not howl in pain again the moment Arnav's fingers touched the spot which was hurting like hell. She gripped his shoulder, bent a bit forward as a lone tear trickled down her rosy cheek.

Making Arnav look up at her in concern. The tears he saw in her eyes fuelled his anger further. He stood up, picking her in his arms again and gently making her sit on the chair nearby.

He looked at her and whispered "Just wait for a moment."

He turned around, jaw clenched and hands fisted at the sides. ASR was in front of everyone. His blank eyes fixed on Latika instantly as his mouth twisted in disgust and anger.

He took few steps forward, looking angry enough to hit Latika if given a chance, making her jump back. He closed his eyes, trying to tame down the anger bubbling inside him.

"AMAN!!!!"

Everyone who till now was watching the drama unfolding between them in silence, jumped as the very foundation of AR shook the moment ASR shouted, roaring like a lion. Khushi who till now was checking her feet, jerked her head up her eyes widening seeing how angry Arnav looked.

A terrified and apprehensive Aman hurried towards him, standing by his side in a blink "Yes ASR?"

"I want her termination letter in my hands. 5 minutes. " Arnav thundered, noting with satisfaction how Latika's eyes widened as she realized the only opportunity she had ever got was gone, now.

"ASR, you cannot fire me. I haven't done anything neither have I violated any rules of our contract." Latika immediately tried to control the damage she had committed till now. Shit, in her frustration of teaching Khushi a lesson she forgot that she is the wife of Arnav Singh Raizada.

She backed down immediately as Arnav stormed towards her, his body shaking in rage. Pointing his finger at her, Arnav roared "You should be glad that you are still alive after what you did. BE QUIET."

"AMAN!!!"

Aman appeared to his side at once, handing him a paper looking relieved of the fact that he managed to type the termination letter quickly.

Not giving it a glance down, Arnav quickly signed it and threw it on Latika's face "You are fired !!!"

"ASR, I repeat you cannot..." Latika insisted, looking desperate.

"The HELL I cannot. You just pushed my wife, the girl I have been protecting from any pain, trouble since years and you said that I cannot fire you. Sue me in the court if you want but you are going out." Arnav spat bitterly, cowering over her in outrage.

As Latika kept standing there not moving an inch looking too mortified to do that, all hell broke loose as Arnav thundered "GET OUT I SAID!!!"

Whimpering a bit, Latika burst into tears of shame before hurrying out of there making everyone follow her movement. Arnav turned to Khushi at once who shook her head as if she didn't wanted this to happen.

Ignoring it, Arnav walked towards her and scooped her in his arms again before carrying her up, towards his cabin. He didn't care how every employee looked up in shock the moment he went past them, their jaws dropped open in shock.

He obviously didn't care how Khushi kept trying to put herself down from his arms looking embarrassed. Tightening his arm around her thigh and her back at her attempts, Arnav strode straight to his cabin.

Realizing that he has grown over-possessive about her. Not that he mind it a bit. He liked it.

_____________________________________________________

"I am home."

Shyam shouted entering in the house carrying few bags in his hand. He looked up the moment he heard Anjali walking down the stairs to him and said cheerfully "I thought we could have lunch together since you took an off from college today. I brought your favourite Chinese cuisine from the restaurant we always preferred whenever we went out."

He laid the food in two plates, waiting for Anjali to join him but she didn't. He frowned, looking up only to realise that Anjali has dropped down to her knees, clutching the banister with all the strength left in her.

"Anjali!!!" He ran towards her, holding her shoulders in concern. He patted her face, looking at her half-closed eyes in desperation. He didn't have any idea what has happened to her suddenly.

"My bag...pills...please..." Anjali mumbled, pointing at the simple leather bag lying on the couch of the living room.

Shyam half-jumped, half-ran to the couch and opened the bag, rummaging through it. His hand clasped around a small bottle, small circular white pills filling it.

He was taken aback when he read the description on it. Hypertension?

_______________________________________________________

"Arnavji, I am fine."

"..."

"Arnavji, you are gripping the pen like you are going to break it into half."

"..."

"Arnavji, it's not even a sprain. It's fine now that you have pressed ice against my ankle."

"..."

"Wow Arnavji, I didn't know that you are expert at this too..."

Finally looking up from the file in his hands, Arnav glanced at the couch that Khushi was occupying and asked irritably "What are you talking about?"

"You can read the file while holding it upside-down, I didn't know that." Khushi teased, her smile widening as Arnav looked down confusedly before realizing his mistake. He closed the file with a snap, since now it was no use of pretending that he was reading it.

He shot her a glare the moment Khushi giggled, hiding her smile with her palm. He knew what she was doing by trying to coax him into talking to her. But he was in no mood of letting everything go just like that, still seething in anger.

"Okay I am feeling hungry after talking so much. I am ordering some lunch for both of us." Khushi declared leaning towards the coffee table, picking up the intercom from there.

"I am not hungry." Arnav said quietly, not looking up at her.

"Of course you aren't." Khushi agreed immediately, still dialling the number of some restaurant. Arnav didn't say anything as she ordered some food and then stared at him making him conscious.

"Arnavji"

He looked up to see Khushi staring at him, her palms cupping her face as she rested her elbows on her thighs, legs folded underneath. She looked so cute while looking at him in some sort of admiration.

"It's okay. I am fine." Khushi whispered quietly, pouting a bit as she saw Arnav roll his eyes in disbelief. Gripping the couch, she tried to stand up making Arnav rush to her side at once leaving everything else behind at once including his anger.

Khushi smiled as Arnav wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her before Khushi cupped his stubbly cheek.

Arnav looked down at her upturned face when Khushi hugged him tightly, pressing her lips on his making Arnav freeze.

I have realized that many readers are rather conscious of leaving a comment. Well you can pm me if you want or you have any doubt that is, I may take time in replying but I will definitely reply.

Aditi.