ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi
Chapter 14
The moment Khushi opened her eyes, she felt as if she is living a dream.
The room was so much full of sunlight that it almost hurt to look around, she realized.
Blinking her eyes repeatedly to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness, she slowly sat up while stretching her body.
With her mouth open in a sleepy yawn, she looked around and noticed two things instantly. First, Arnav and Manyata were nowhere to be seen and second, this was the most beautiful room she had laid her eyes on.
With walls painted in a combination of velvet blue and pristine white, it held minimum furniture with a kind sized bed in middle, a small colorful study table at left which was clearly designed for Manyata and a big mahogany desk at the right side for Arnav. It held stacks of paper neatly kept and organized.
A walk-in-wardrobe was attached to it as well, she noted.
Arnav's room must be designed to allow the sunlight to filter inside with windows taking most of the space, Khushi thought taking in everything around her.
The room held so much energy and positive aura that Khushi couldn't help herself from looking around.
Trust Arnav Singh Raizada to make his room just like him!!! Energetic, full of hope and almost proud yet warm.
Turning her head, Khushi gasped staring at the French Windows which lead to a small, beautiful garden on the other side.
It looked so beautiful and serene that she couldn't help herself from getting up and walking towards it to take a closer look.
Keeping a hand on the glass, Khushi smiled looking at the flowers, plants. It hurt too much to even look at.
Because at the bottom of her heart, Khushi knew it is her dream home. Places never held any significance to her but Manyata Niwas has been the most beautiful, full of life house she ever had come across.
Shaking her head, she turned to get ready for the day when something else caught her eyes. Something that made her forget everything else she saw.
Because right in front of her was a wall painted in midnight blue which held the most priceless procession one can ever get hold of.
The wall was filled with pictures of Manyata from her birth to till now. A small, pink baby wrapped in a white towel, to an infant suckling milk from bottle, to a small girl taking her first steps to learning to ride bicycle, to running towards something. At the center, there was a picture of Manyata and Arnav where he was pointing at the camera while holding Manyata in his arms, laughing.
And in every single picture, Manyata was laughing without any care with so much happiness that happy tears filled her eyes.
Arnav loves Manyata so much, she realized. What it'll be like to be loved by such a person, she wondered before realizing what she was doing.
She was imagining Arnav in love with her.
"Great. Now you will dream about your children with him..." She muttered, chiding herself for even thinking like this.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Shaking her mind out of her almost insane thoughts, Khushi turned to look and froze.
Arnav was standing in front of her, dressed in a charcoal black suit.
Swallowing nervously, Khushi kept staring at him expectantly waiting for him to start talking, praying that he didn't hear anything.
"Woh, I was leaving for work. I just wanted to remind you about tonight's party." Arnav whispered, his eyes trailing on Khushi's body.
Khushi frowned and looked at the clock only to realize that she slept till late today, something she never did in last ten years.
"Where is Manyata? I am so sorry for sleeping till now. I always woke up early in the morning. I didn't know..." Khushi started talking in a single breath making Arnav smile and interrupt her in middle.
"I have already dropped Manyata to her school. And don't apologize for anything. Yesterday was a very hectic day for you, I know. You were tired and didn't wake up early, I think. And that's okay." Arnav assured making Khushi relax.
Tucking her hair behind her ear hesitantly, Khushi didn't say anything as Arnav continued "And I think that you should shift your stuff in this room. Manyata might want you to sleep with her every night so it'll be better if you keep your stuff here."
"I will do it today itself." Khushi agreed, looking up at him.
"Great. So I will see you tonight I guess. We need to leave around 8 so it'll better if Manyata sleeps a bit early tonight." Arnav replied, moving his hand to and fro.
"Okay, I will try to get her to sleep early." Khushi nodded. Arnav smiled in satisfaction before walking out as Khushi kept looking at his back.
Wondering why when Arnav mentioned anything about tonight's party, she felt giddy and shy as if she was going on her first date.
"So you slept with Khushi yesterday?" Shyam asked innocently, twirling the paper weight in his hands.
"I slept with Manyata and Khushi yesterday. Manyata wanted Khushi to sleep with us but when I said no, she started crying. So we had to agree." Arnav explained, trying his best to not show his emotions regarding the matter.
Well done Princess, Shyam cheered silently. Keeping the paper weight back on the table, he looked down and asked mischievously "Why am I feeling that you wanted the same?"
"Shyam..." Arnav said as if warning him.
"Oh come on yaar, admit it. You like her. Did you even realize that you were staring at her during dinner last night?" Shyam cried out, giving Arnav a wake-up look.
"I admit I was staring at her. I want to know her better, Shyam. She is a nice girl. I just don't want to do anything that might hurt her. I can't tell you how much relieved I am that she didn't take offence to sleeping with me and Manyata last night." Arnav admitted honestly.
"Hmm. So you care for her." Shyam declared, looking pleased at Arnav's revelation.
"Yes, I do." Arnav replied, hesitantly.
"You know that if we start liking someone, it doesn't make us weak Arnav. Khushi is a good person and is your wife as well. I don't think it should take so much effort to include her in your life." Shyam whispered, noting how Arnav was avoiding looking at him.
"You know my father, Shyam." Arnav retorted bitterly.
"I do and I also know that you are a much better person, Arnav. The fact that throughout your life, you hated politics and politicians, still you like someone who belongs from the same field speaks a lot about your feelings. Just because of your family, don't let her go. You need someone who can calm your mind and your restlessness. And trust me, Khushi is that person." Shyam elaborated softly as if he has been thinking about it a lot and felt everything he uttered.
"Any news about Vikrant?" Arnav asked suddenly. Shyam sighed looking annoyed. He knew that Arnav has changed the topic on purpose yet it was his duty to say everything to him. He knew that despite changing the topic like this, Arnav will think about it.
"He called your father yesterday. He is very angry I think." Shyam answered.
Raising his eyebrows, Arnav said thoughtfully "I think he is planning something. Tonight, he will do something in your party."
"Like what? I can cancel the party if you want." Shyam suggested instantly looking concerned.
Getting up from his chair, Arnav walked towards Shyam. Pushing his jacket back while keeping his hands on his waist, he replied confidently
"Don't do anything. I want to see what he can do."
"But Arnav..."
"Let it be Shyam. Just keep our men on alert. He wants to play the game and I will give him this opportunity. It's been a long time since someone challenged me." Arnav instructed, looking at ease.
"But what if he tried to harm you or Khushi?"
"He won't dare to be around Khushi if he wants to live. We have already warned him. He will try to harm me and you know I won't let it happen." Arnav assured him.
"But what are you going to do?"
"Just wait and watch." Arnav smirked.
Opposite to what his father has always presumed him to be, Arnav Singh Raizada had always been a very honest man. He was one of the few people who believed in goodness and justice. Even after being betrayed by his family, his beliefs were intact as well as his morals and his willingness to help others.
But that doesn't mean he never felt angry, sad or hurt. He is a human after all with a golden heart, sensed the pain of others always.
Not even missing a single bloody moment of it. Ever.
So when he got married to Khushi Gupta, he was very angry and hence he neglected the vibes of sadness emanating from her along with the fact that her eyes looked familiar to him.
But when his wife met him at Manyata Niwas, he recognized the pain in her eyes which pierced through his mask of indifference. He saw her shattered heart but still her soul was preserved like him.
And maybe that was the reason he allowed her to stay with him and Manyata. But whenever he saw her, he closely watched her, scrutinized her every emotion.
Because Khushi intrigued him like no other woman. Her never-to-die enthusiasm and spirit while helping others, was visible in her eyes.
And it fascinated him like nothing else. Just like her determined mind and her simplicity.
And after watching her closely for last 14 days, he realized that she had no interest in politics just like him.
Maybe whatever happened was for their good only. Agreed that his father has once again coerced him into doing something he never wanted to happen at first place but now, Arnav wanted this marriage for the rest of his life not just till the end of the upcoming elections.
Because Khushi, he realized, made Manyata happy. Poor girl always missed her mother but never said anything to him as she never wanted to hurt her Daddy.
And from what he had witnessed, Khushi played the role of a mother to the perfection. Since her arrival, she had taken the responsibility of making breakfast and lunch for Manyata, helping her in her studies and then playing with her every evening.
It wasn't like Khushi was taking over his responsibilities like he feared and warned her to stay away Manyata. Arnav always managed to steal few moments with Manyata while Khushi watched them with a smile. He still used to get her ready for school, read bed time stories to her and had the right to hold her close to his heart while sleeping.
He still is the person who woke Manyata every morning and who received her good morning kisses along with a tight hug which always started his and his daughter's day.
And he knew he will always be the person Manyata would love to look upon whenever she opened her eyes every morning.
But that doesn't mean Khushi didn't manage to make her place in Manyata's life while his daughter did the same in his wife's dull life.
How could he forget the day when he got home early and saw her running after Manyata in the garden, crying and laughing at the same time? The pain was there like always but it now held some traces of happiness and life in her eyes.
Arnav felt as if with Manyata, Khushi felt the need to actually living the moments of her life not just merely breathing through it.
Manyata made Khushi realize that yes, she has someone who really needs her love and care. And Khushi was now showering it all on her.
His daughter and Khushi were making a happy and content life together while including him in it. And how could Arnav ruin it?
When it has always been his dream at first place.
And last but not the least Khushi, he realized, brought peace in his life like no one else. Maybe Shyam was right when he said that he needed someone in his life to eliminate this restlessness and inner turmoil in him.
In last fourteen days, he felt less agitated even when Manyata wasn't around him. He had this strange, funny feeling in his heart whenever he saw Khushi and Manyata together, laughing.
He realized that even if one day he won't be there for Manyata, she still will have Khushi. Not that he ever want to go away from them.
And this realization soothed him a lot.
Anjali, he remembered, always said that whenever something makes you happy, just hold onto it tight and never let it go because life rarely gives you happiness and we should cherish every moment of it.
Arnav knew it very well that it was his chance at happiness. And he knew he doesn't want to let it go. So he started giving attention to Khushi realizing that his wife is a very attractive and beautiful woman as hell along with that precious heart of hers.
And he loved her laugh. When Khushi laughed, it totally changed the way she presented herself. Her laughter brought a naivety, innocence and joy on her face which was a rare sight to behold.
Last night, when he saw her sleeping so near and with her hand holding him with a longing in her eyes to be loved by someone for being the way she is, he felt this insane urge to hold her close.
He knew he wanted it all. For himself. For his daughter.
Maybe that's why Arnav bought a dress and a pendant for her when Shyam told him about the book launch. He knew that he wanted to give Khushi something. Something which will convey what he thinks about her.
Now he was nervously waiting for her to acknowledge the meaning behind his gifts.
As he buttoned his coat and looked at his reflection in the mirror for the last time, his lips tipped up slightly at the end.
Running his fingers through his hairs to make them look presentable, he walked out of his room knowing very well that it was time for them to leave for the party.
Arnav knew that to initiate a happy and good start for beautiful things in life, a person first need to take steps towards it.
As he stepped into the hall to wait for Khushi, he realized that he has done it. It didn't make him less proud of anything he ever did.
Infact he felt brave.
As he heard some noise and looked up, he realized that it was worth the effort. Realizing all the breath has left his body.
Such an enticing, enchanting and memorizing sight it was to behold, to his eyes.
Do let me know your opinions, okay. And yes, I have removed some people from my buddy list and I will delete further if you aren't responding to my pm and story...will update on wednesday with an important announcement
Aditi
Edited by uv-crazyfan - 11 years ago
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