ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #3, Link to next thread @pg1 - Page 17

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 22

"You were so wrong."

Arnav murmured accompanying the words with a bitter laugh. His heart ached with shame. How could he do this?

How could he hate the man he worshipped always, for the last six years? How could he not understand the helplessness behind his bhai's actions?

How could he mistake him as a selfish man when he has always been the most selfless person he ever had the chance to know about?

His hands shook, gripping the steering wheel tightly. His eyes brimmed with tears he refused to shed, not wanting to get off that heavy feeling in his heart.

Not now. Not ever.

Six years ago, when Akash had refused to leave Anuj Niwas along with him and Anjali, he mistook the way he avoided meeting their eyes as his ultimate betrayal. He now knew what it was.

It was Akash Raizada's way to not succumb to let them see what he was doing for them. Everything he did was for Arnav and Anjali, the siblings he wasn't even related to through blood.

Arnav closed his eyes, remembering every word and insult he had thrown his bhai's way during the span of six years. He remembered Akash accepting everything with a smile, not even trying to contradict Arnav for once even when his eyes held pain and hurt.

Akash Raizada has gone through so much to save him from his own father.

Shyam told him so many times to not hate his brother but he never heard him, not even when his best friend looked sure of everything he said. Of course, he was sure because he was in touch with Akash.

His bhai did so much for him without letting him know anything about it and he hated him. How could he?

How could he do this without letting Arnav know that he was sacrificing so much for him?

Banging his hands against the steering wheel, he howled in outrage and pain. His bhai didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve sacrificing his life for someone who didn't even know how to appreciate his undying devotion to him.

His bhai deserve so much better. Much better than him.

He felt dirty. Cheated. Unworthy.

He was just like his father, delusional enough to see what he wanted to. A shallow person, who never thought beyond his life and his happiness.

He was pathetic just like his father.

Shaking his head, he tried to stretch his trembling lips in a smile. Because it was the only way he knew to deal with the emotions raging inside him. With self-loathing clenching his heart in a tight fist.

Stopping the car in front of the club, he spared a glance outside before leaning ahead to rest his forehead on the steering wheel.

He sighed rubbing his hands over his face, fighting his emotions. Something he did always, whenever he deemed to find the time inappropriate to think over the matters troubling him.

Tonight, he is supposed to watch out for his wife. It wasn't the time to sit back and lick his wounds. Just like there had never been ever.

Arnav smiled bitterly, recognizing the fact that his thoughts and feelings weren't worthy enough to be considered in his own life. He didn't have a life.

Putting a cap on his head, he walked out of the car and jogged toward the entrance of the club. Throwing money on the bouncers at the steps leading inside the club, he ran inside.

Switching back to his laidback demeanor, he stopped just inside the door and looked around. Khushi was supposed to be in a disguise. Running his eyes through the private booths, he stilled momentarily realizing that Vikrant had already arrived and was scanning the crowd like him, probably looking for a girl who he can take back to bed tonight. As much as his fingers itched to strangle him, he tugged on his hat hiding his face beneath it.

He checked the people sitting around the bar before scanning the dancing crowd in front of him, grinding their hips on the R & B music pulsing through the walls. The flashlights around turned everything fuzzy and confusing for him. Everyone was half hidden in darkness not that anyone seems to mind it.

He hated night clubs. He had never liked being in shadows. He was accustomed of seeing things clear so that he can categorize them in black and white or good and bad to be precise.

Just then his eyes landed on a girl dancing at the farthest end of the dance floor, looking blissfully lost in the music. It was too dark to see what she was wearing from distance. Her head was tipped back with her eyes closed and her hands were raised in a twirl before she moved her body sexily actually dancing than grinding her hips.

Many guys around were eying her slyly trying to move in closer while the girls looked at her enviously. But whenever anyone moved closer, she would open her eyes enough to glower at them and scare them away.

Once again, she opened her eyes to glare at someone. Arnav sucked in a breath, cursing under his breath simultaneously.

Those eyes. He couldn't ever forget those eyes, full of pain and suffering. But they were glittering alive with enjoyment tonight for a change. It was his wife.

Shaking his head, he stalked toward her. A smile tugged at his lips at the thought of spending some time with her, acting like a stranger. He could use some pretense to forget the reality for few moments.

Once again neglecting the fact that his heart ached.

"Good enough to eat? Seriously Arnav?" Watching her eyes widen in disbelief, Arnav almost smiled.

When he was pushing his way through the throng of people unapologetically, he saw a totally different shade of his wife's mysterious character.

She looked young and carefree like she didn't give a damn to anything happening around her. She looked almost happy.

Almost.

And as much as he'd not wanted to disturb her, he was dying to be a part of the bubble of happiness that his wife has somehow managed to create around her despite being just like him. Scarred.

He wanted to live in the moment with her. At the moment, he didn't know whether he will be able to create his own happily ever after. He didn't know whether his marriage will manage to come through the complicated woven webs of politics, unscathed.

But he did know one thing. Khushi is the one for him. At least his father did one good thing in his life.

He didn't know why but he wanted to just touch her. Kiss her.

"Seriously, Khushi. Here let me show you." Leaning down, he watched her breath getting caught in her throat detecting the desire in his eyes. He stopped just a breath away from her lips momentarily.

As much as he wanted to kiss her, he'd not wanted to scare her. Neither had he wanted to kiss her against her will.

But when she closed her eyes and parted her lips in anticipation, he knew she wanted this kiss too. Titling her head up, she looked so inviting and innocent.

Groaning in defeat, he captured her lips hungrily. Closing his eyes, he gently drew her closer caressing her lips, worshipping and cherishing her.

Never been romantic at heart, Arnav was surprised when his hands cupped her face tenderly not breaking the kiss. He smiled realizing that his wife was kissing him back enthusiastically. The intimate moment between them wasn't hot and full of desire at all.

It was sweet and memorable, a symbol of acceptance of the connection between them.

The more their lips moved over each other, their heart accepted the ultimate truth. Even though, their marriage was forced but their relationship wasn't.

They were meant for each other as life partners.

New York,

Pressing the button to the stop the voicemail, she stood still. Closing her eyes, she tried to remain calm and composed. After hearing what Arnav has said, she knew that the wait was over.

She knew that it was time to head back home, which meant she no longer need to hide here. The moment to extract revenge from those who had crushed her heart has finally arrived.

But then why she was feeling not-so-great about it?

Why after planning everything for 6 years, she still just want to stay here, hiding and pretending that she is alright?

But she knew she won't. Her brother has done everything for her and it was her turn to pay him back, by going back and taking the reins of her life back from him and letting him free from his responsibilities. He won't agree about it but she will make him do it.

Besides, there were things her brother didn't know about. Things she has started to plan the perfect revenge on her pathetic excuse of a husband.

She wanted to best him in his own game even if it meant getting her hands dirty.

And she will. Even at the cost of going back to that hell where people mocked the only thing she cared about, love. How could she let go of the fact that her own family cheated her on the worst way possible? They had hurt her so much.

So much that she had no longer wanted to live and would have died if not for the baby in her womb back then. Her own husband was so cruel to her that she had to give up on her daughter.

They snatched everything she loved from her, mercilessly.

Well, it was time for a nice payback. Wasn't it?

By the moment she would be done with her husband and her father, they will cry for mercy from her but they won't be forgiven.

Justice must be served.

And Anjali Raizada will make sure of it. Smirking wickedly, she picked up her phone and dialed a number. When she heard a voice answering the call, she ordered "Set things rolling. I am coming back."

Disconnecting the call without waiting for the reply, she stared out of the window in the apartment she was staying for the past 6 years.

She will miss this place. But important things were waiting for her.

Snapping her eyes back to the phone, she once again dialed a number. The moment she stuck the phone against her ear and heard the ring going off, she could feel the anticipating building up in her heart.

After all, she was going to talk to her brother at last and give him the news he always waited for.

Arnav was in heaven.

When Arnav was studying and later teaching in NYU while trying to write his debut novel, he never had enough time to be in a steady relationship.

He went on a lot of dates but things never progressed much and he always opted out of every relationship after few dates, not bothering to invest his feelings and emotions in it.

The bottom line of it was- he realized that not one of the women he dated will ever be able to understand his pain and his suffering despite belonging from the most reputed family in India.

And all he wanted from a relationship was to feel a connection and take solace from it. A bonding he never managed to find.

Six years later when he wasn't looking for anything like this, he was forced to marry Khushi. A woman who surprised him at every step.

And as much he wanted to stay away from her, he was drawn to the pain in her eyes and everything tragic that has happened in her life.

He found himself liking this woman and helped her whenever he can.

Against his will, he found his heart connecting with her pain and emotions. Despite not knowing everything about him, he was surprised when he realized that she understands him and trusts him. Her presence in his life soothed him and helped him in trusting her with everything in his life.

His daughter loved her. Everything about their relationship was going right but still Arnav was skeptical.

But not anymore. The moment he kissed her, he knew just then that he won't be able to feel what he has with Khushi with any other woman.

Like he thought earlier, they were meant for each other.

Crushing her in his arms, he kissed her hungrily not wanting to let her go ever. He chuckled running his tongue across her parting lips before sliding in, realizing that he will do anything to keep her.

Anything to be with the woman kissing him eagerly without any inhibitions, her hands running over his shirt lightly before trailing up and grabbing his hairs.

He wasn't aware of his surrounding and neither was she. They were simply lost in each other.

As they stepped back to gulp some much needed air, his phone started buzzing making him frown. Taking it out, he glanced at the screen and froze recognizing the number.

"Everything okay, Arnav?" Khushi asked looking dazed, gasping.

"I need to take this call." He answered suddenly tense, drawing Khushi in his arms once again before dragging her away from the crowd. Stopping just beside the back door of the club, he asked her to stay there before walking out.

Pressing the button to take the call, he whispered "Anjali?"

"Arnav, how are you?" A familiar voice asked slowly, full of apprehension.

"I am good. Did you get my message?" He croaked faintly, overwhelmed at finally getting to talk to his sister after such a long time. He glanced back, watching as Khushi talked to Aman looking giddy with happiness.

"I did. I am coming back, Arnav." Inhaling sharply, he stood still feeling tears forming in his eyes. How much had he wanted to hear those words from such a long time? How much had he wanted her to come back and live with him so that he can look after her?

How much had he wished to see her? How much had he waited for her to call him one day and announce about coming back?

And finally the moment was here. He felt victorious. Smiling ear to ear, he turned to share the news with Khushi when everything crashed around him.

Watching Khushi pointing a gun at him, looking cold and determined, he felt numb.

He watched as she pressed the trigger slowly, ready to shoot him.

Okay, I know it's not my best but I am under a lot of pressure and can barely manage to type the update. Thankfully I will update once more this week and will reply to every pm too. Sorry for keeping you all waiting and yes the story finally starts now,

Aditi

Khushi!!!!

I am Numb

update again soon pls..

u stopped at d wrong place

pls update soon

Why would khushi want to shoot him is something I can't believe

Omg wat a point to end