ARSHI FF: PAYBACK ~ THREAD 3 ~ Part 19 (12/03) - Page 32

Part 17

Khushi: Thats what is bothering me. He has invited people who are close to me, including my ex fiancee Karan. How can he do that ? How does he want me to react seeing Karan there ? I was engaged to him Di and we really were happily planning our future after marriage. If this payback wouldnt have come in between I would have been Karan's wife today. How am I supposed to face that man whom I ditched because of my family reasons.

Anjali could understand her situation and wished to help her but she was blank at the moment seeing her Chotte listening all this standing at the door. She could see an anger mixed with guilt expressions on his face and all she wanted is that he sorts this invitation matter of Karan with Khushi himself. She left the room giving Arnav some serious looks gesturing to handle the situation.

Khushi saw him there and turned herself away from his eyes collecting the Sarees which were lying on the bed. He locked the door and came inside holding the same saree she had picked up from the bed.

Khushi: Leave it

She commanded

Arnav: I managed to speak to Mr Gupta today and he said he will be coming for tomorrow's party to see his daughter.

Even if she was not in a mood, a smile crept her red lips knowing this.

Arnav: And I had no such intention to hurt you at this stage of pregnancy. My only concern was you should have everyone around you whom you were close to before me. If you think Karan's presence here will screw your mood, I will ask him not to.

Khushi: If this is what your intention was Mr Raizada, then you have no idea how much you hurt me in the process of making me smile.

SHe slowly walked away from him taking the Sarees in her hand and kept them in the cupboard. She closed it and turned only to find him holding a gift box before her.

Arnav: I want you to wear this tomorrow for the party.

Khushi was shocked that he even decided what she needs to wear.

Khushi: How did you think I will wear it Mr Raizada?

Arnav: Just like you wear your clothes everyday Mrs Khushi Singh Raizada. But on special occassions like this if you need my help, I am happy to assist you dressing up.

She felt cold with his comment. He so shamelessly said he wont mind helping her putting this dress. SHe turned her gaze but he extended the the box towards her again.

Arnav: I am not giving you an Option Khushi. Just take it.

Khushi snatched the box from him .

Khushi: I never had an option from the start Mr Raizada. How can I deny now?

She kept the box in the cupboard without even opening it and then felt a small pain in her tummy.

Khsuhi: Oucchh. He's kicking.

She tried to balance herself and he quickly held her in his arms.

Arnav: He? You checked the gender ?

Khushi sighed coming out of his grip

Khushi: I was asked if I am interested in knowing. But I denied. I want it to remain a surprise for me.

Arnav : For US Khushi.

They looked in each other's eyes and he picked her in his arms taking her to the bed. He always did that whenever he could and she had no idea why? When she can walk herself why did he pick her? The moment he laid her down on bed and started covering her with sheets she asked him this

Khushi: Why do you carry me to bed all the time? I can walk.

Arnav: I am doing this for the baby. Whenever I carry you, I feel i am carrying my baby too.

Khushi smiled sarcastically as he sat next to her checking which medicines she had to take.

Khushi: You will become the worlds best Father Mr Raizada, no matter how worst you are in handling other relationships.

Arnav: Was that a praise or a taunt?

Khushi : As you wish to consider Mr Raizada.

He passed the medicines for her to intake. She gulped them down with water handing the glass back to him. She was then going to sleep properly when he caught her hand making her Stop.

Arnav: My mother never wanted to have a second child. When Di was born, Maa had to face many complications and hence she never wanted to go for a second. But in few years she came to know she is pregnant again. She wished to abort that Child. She wished to Abort ME.

He gulped the lump of tears formed in his throat as he revealed her about his past. She was quietly listening to him.

Arnav: Paapa denied and thus she re-considered this decision. To her luck everything went smooth, I was born and they finally had a complete family. But in few years paapa died, I was hardly 8 by then and I never got the love of my father after that. It was only Maa and Di. You have no idea what importance a father has in the life of his Son Khushi. He means everything to him. When he grows, he wishes to be like his Dad, he admires his dad . And I always missed this phase of my life. I grew up with the Love of my Di , Maa and Nani but always missed the guidance of a father who advises his son which path is right and which is not.

He got up from the bed and turned around.

Arnav: Before Prachi, I never had any girl in my life. She was the first one whom I thought knows me in and out. But she was influenced by your father. And when she was carrying my Child in her womb, she aborted it without even knowing if I will accept it and her or not. It was like history was repeating. Like my mother wished to abort me, my girl friend wished to abort my child. Infact she even did it and that turned my behaviour towards everyone. I promised to get things back which was mine. The rest all you know already.

Khushi's eyes were moist with his confession but she had no words to soothe his pain. He wiped the corner of his eyes and then turned the lamps off.

Arnav: I kept you awake for long. You should sleep. Good night.

He walked out of the room leaving her alone. This was the first time he actually had shared his past with her. He himself didnt know why he told her all that which he didnt even share with Prachi till date.? She pulled the sheets on her and closed her eyes but all the time she could only remember his face and his moist eyes.

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Morning

Finishing her bath, she came down slowly holding her stomach as she could feel the baby inside her also very active today. The baby was kicking her many times but softly. It was her birthday today and probably even her baby was wishing her since morning. She saw Arnav and the entire family sitting down and as soon as they saw her coming, Anjali helped her come to the Dinning Table. Nani, Anjali everyone wished her on her birthday. She wanted to take the blessings but they didnt allow her to bend down. She was been fed with sweets she liked, the breakfast was made as per her likes and Nani and Anjali even gifted her. Arnav was only sitting and eating his breakfast as he was in a hurry. They made her sit beside Arnav who turned to see her finishing his breakfast. She thought he was going to wish her.

Arnav: The party is at 07:00pm and I will be here before that. Your father's flight is reaching on time today evening and I will send a Vehicle for picking him up.

Khushi: Paapa will stay here?

Arnav: Yes. I have already arranged everything for his stay in our house.

She was very happy though she didnt show it much to him. He got up and picked the suit for leaving to work.

Arnav: And yes, dont forget to wear the dress I gifted. Bye.

He left without wishing her and she was not surprised. How can she expect him to do so? It was her birthday not the baby's and all he did was only for the baby right then why will he wish her? None of them from the family knew whether Arnav wished Khushi or not.

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Evening

It was a Black Anarkali. BLACK? WHy BLACK? And then she realised it will make her look slim even if she was 5 months pregnant. Mr Raizada owned a Fashion House and hence she can never question his choice. It would be always the best. But the Dori at her back was not much comfortable for her to tie extending her arms behind . She was feeling stress on her stomach while doing it. She was trying hard to supress that pain when suddenly his fingers touched her arms and she looked in the mirror to see him. His eyes were fixed to her Dori to tie it and she could move her arms away not hurting her stomach. There was complete silence in the room and all he could hear was her heavy breathes when his fingers touched her back in the process of tieing the dori. He had never thought Khushi would be looking so beautiful in this dress which he gifted her for tonight. He finished doing that and then started unbuttoning his shirt to change. She fixed her gaze on the dressing table to pick and wear her earings.

Arnav: How was your Day ?

Khushi: Hmm Okay,

Arnav: Just Okay ? I thought Di and Nani will do something special for you, didnt they ?

Khushi turned back.

Khushi: Everyone did Mr Raizada but someone who organised so much for me, didnt even wish me a Happy birthday. What kind of treatment is this ?

Arnav stopped searching his clothes from the cupboard and looked at her.

Arnav: You expected me to wish ?

Khushi: Why not? You doing this to keep me and in turn the baby happy right? Then why cant I expect a simple Happy birthday wish from you? Is it too much to ask for?

Arnav passed a wide Smirk seeing her angered face.

Arnav: Now I understand why people say Wife's are never satisfied. You do everything for them and yet they wont mind complaining on a single fault of yours.

He was teasing her and testing her patience level probably. She had no intentions of spoiling her mood.

Khushi: Fine. If you so adamant in not wishing me, I too dont need it anymore.

She went to the Poolside to collect her Hair clip which was lying on the table. Picking it up she turned back towards the room to leave downstairs when she was blocked by him purposely. She tried taking the other side to go past him but he blocked her there too confusing her. In no time she realised his shirt was hanging on his shoulders for namesake. It was unbuttoned and she never liked to see him so much exposed before her due to some reasons. Seeing her eyes rolling everywhere not to look at him straight, he realised what must be affecting her. The wind blew gently moving her hair strand on her forehead tickling her skin which she tried to put away but before she could, he used his fingers to tuck that strand behind her ear. Their eyes met and he finally opened his lips to wish her.

Arnav: Happy Birthday Khushi.

His husky tone ignited her hormone level and all the anger that she showered on him was cooling down. She felt like hearing this wish from him forever.. ever and ever.. He advanced towards her and she kept moving back. THis was new for Arnav too. He always knew he had some form of attraction for this girl since the time they had met. Her ferocious behaviour, her patience in handling things, her thoughts, her concern for his family, everything was successful in drawing him towards her. But he always reasoned this attraction to be only because of his child growing inside her.

Her back softly hit the wall at the Poolside as he approached looking in her eyes. She didnt know what significance this moment would have in their lives because this was not Love which was attracting them to each other. It was a spur of moment which will erase in sometime. She found his hands advancing her face and her chest started heaving. His palms touched her cheeks and she anxiously stared at his lips as he drew closer. His breathes fanned her face but his eyes fixed to the target, her lips. She closed her eyes clutching his shirt which was hanging loose on his shoulder unbuttoned. She never knew that one birthday wish from him would turn out to be so different. His lips touched hers taking in her lower lip and sucking it gently. She felt shivers in her whole body like never before. He was very gentle and this being her first kiss , that too with a man who was her contracted husband whom she hated for spoling her life, continued being cold and numb. His hand left her cheeks as he found her quite stable than before and he slid them down towards her stomach where their baby was resting and probably even witnessing this kiss of its parents. He felt the baby kicking the walls of her stomach gently and he soothed that portion with his palms showering his love on both the mother and baby not breaking the most needed kiss he was currently sharing with his wife.

Her mind was giving her regular alarms of pushing him back. How can she kiss this man and get pleasure when he was responsible for all the odds she was facing today but her hormonal levels were not letting her understand anything. The Shirt she was clutching in her fist was sliding down. She rubbed her palms on his toned muscles and then his hardened chest. Both were drawing pleasures out of this first unexpected kiss. His hand reached her grown moulds which he cupped in his palms giving them a gentle massage. All this was done without breaking the kiss even for a second. None of them had any intention to let it go and come back to the real world.

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