Arshi FF: Fighting Fate (TVK 2) Thread 3 - COMPLETED - Page 10

Fighting Fate

CHAPTER 9

Meeshali, you are such a darling and I love the excitement you show in your feedback. This chapter is dedicated to you sweetheart. I am posting this update ahead of schedule, for everyone who celebrate Eid...Enjoy life, Stay blessed...

***************************************************************************

I am not always strong...and YOU know that YOU are my weakness...

Probably, he must be punching numbers to every lawyer to kick me out. Khushi thought gleefully preparing herself dinner remembering today's encounter. One of the promises she made to herself when she decided to come to this place was that she is not going to let his sharp tongue affect her. Because she knew it hurts him even more to say those words than to make her listen.

Cleaning the mess in the kitchen, she walked over to the street side window to see if Arnav had come home. Time clocked 9PM yet there was no sign of him, where once he used to be home by 7 no matter how busy he was. She waited several hours before she panicked and dialed Nani but Nani was cool and calm like her usual.

Dont worry beta. He developed this habit of lone time by shore. He probably should be back after midnight.

Nani its already 1AM here. I am worried.

He comes home around 3. You sleep. He will be fine. But if you wish, I will ask Aman to arrange for someone to take you to him.

Nahi Nani. Thats not necessary. He had too much with me today. I need to give him some space to think through things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arnav had no idea where to look for Khushi. Knowing her simplistic approach to life, he flew through the dark streets to check the modestly priced apartments but there was no way for him to find from the outer appearance of each building and its units. One part of him assured that she will fine as she's been living in the city for 2 weeks now but sensitive part of him worried remembering the flashes of their ill-fated night. Lack of harmony in thoughts threw him off balance as he struggled to keep up his composure to assure himself that she is fine.

The thought of her 2 week stay made him realize that he had never shared his whereabouts to any media and only people who knew were Aman, Anjali, and Nani. Instantly, he found himself stopping his bike under a dimly-lit street light dialing Aman.

Really? Bhabhi is there? I hav

Cut the crap Aman. How did she come to know that I am here, if it wasnt you to shed some light on her.

Arnie. sach mein...I dont know...Aman tried to stifle his mischievous grin at the other end.

I will deal with that part later. Tell me where she is. Arnav tried to keep his raging nerves calm.

Bro, I am telling truth, I dont know where she is. I have no idea that she is in that country.

Aman, I need to make sure she is not alone and her family is with her. I need to know if she is living in safest part of the town. I am asking you one last time.

I really dont know Arnie. I dont even know that she is living there until you told me. Aman sincerely replied at one side feeling bad to put his buddy through the anguish. You need to do this yourself Arnie. You need to find her to realize you cant push her away now. Its too late to play the games buddy. Aman thought to himself keeping mum about it.

Arnav helplessly exasperated and vented out at Aman. What the hell is wrong with her, shifting to another country, living all alone knowing nobody and working for me...Workin...An illuminating realization struck his mind and he ended the call only to make one to Hicks.

Hicks, if I come there I swear I will slap the sleep out of you. Sit up and think where she is staying.

ASR, I dont know, it must be listed on her hiring papers. She said she is living farther south end of the town.

What the hell are you managing them? Cant you keep track of where your assistants live?

Oh, I didnt know I have to know their addresses by heart. I will do that first thing in the morning.

Let me tell you what you need to do first thing in the morning. Drop in your resignation letter at my desk...

ASR?

The call ended without giving any chance to Hicks to defend himself and his sleep for the rest of the night was brutally abused while Arnav jumped the traffic lights to reach his restaurant.

Disarming security alarm in the the restaurant, he strode into his office stopping at his desk as his eyes caught on a note stuck to his laptop bag.

If your bike is done barking through the sleeping streets searching for me, you may come home to find me living right next door to your house...

Living next door? What th...His words scattered into thin air as his eyes caught her more words and continued to read,

Done saying What the? Now read carefully, being a responsible Mrs. ASR, I will be sending the same note to your cell phone if I dont find you at home by 12 midnight tonight.

Cell phone? Arnav fidgeted in his pocket and took out his cell phone to check the same. He indeed got the same message word to word, which he failed to notice earlier as his phone was on silence and he was busy sulking by the waters.

He opened her next SMS which read, I am sure you must have ignored my SMS too, which is probably why you havent returned home wandering on the streets. Come home, I am very sleepy, cant keep up for long...

He paced across his room length wondering with gritted teeth which next door is she referring to, because there are no houses in 2 mile radius as his house is built away from the city. Then the empty portion flashed in his mind as he remembered Aman's decision on renting the place.

I have rented my house for few months as I am sure we will not make a visit for another year..

Dammit Aman! You need to be screwed leisurely! Arnav stomping his feet, stormed out of the restaurant to give her peace of his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Khushi sat in her balcony resting her chin on the parapet, her eyes glued to the moon lit streets anticipating his return. Her thoughts took her back to the moment he held her elbow and dragged her out. The touch she had been longing for the years became too frightful and unsavory as she remembered. But then she couldnt decipher if she was feeling repugnant or if it was his vile temper.

It was very certain that there was no tenderness in his touch she was used to. His words, his stare, his touch everything is filled with so much anger that it nearly shook her grounds today. But then as she gave deeper thought she realized that, it is not the only thing that is changed in him. A man who is very principled at his habits seemed to be no where near the perfection. To start of, his sleeping habits are completely messed up. She had known him as early to bed early to rise but from what she heard from Anjali, he had turned out to be late to bed early to rise sleeping only for a couple of hours and it is proved right tonight. How much has he changed?

She questioned herself and before she could go ponder deep into it, She sighed heavily thanking her stars as she heard the rumbling noise of his bike approaching. She stood up clamping her palms to the parapet, looking nervous about the impending storm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arnav slowed down as his eyes fell on her sitting in the balcony with her face resting on the wall. For an instant all his anger whooshed away with the first thought that came to his mind. She came across as the loner sitting all by herself in the unknown world around her. That visage marked by solitude unsettled his heart. Parking his bike, he chinned up looking at her sternly.

Khushi lifted her palm and waved like princess with a glee.. HI...

Arnav fisted his palms rolling his eyes, Neeche aao...[Come down]

Kyun? Today's finger-wagging quota is done. Save it for tomorrow.

Kh..He mentally chided himself for about to take her name. Do not irritate me. Come down...

If you insist you can scold me from there. But I am not coming down. You will eat me up.

His eyes scowled at her shooting daggers and his jaw tightened taming his violent temper.

Realizing she has no escape from the dreadful moment, You need to maintain 3 feet distance.

Wh..

OK..OK..OK...I am coming...Dont What The me! She ran down before he could throw his bike at her.

Khushi stood few feet away fidgeting with her fingers, staring hesitantly at him, as he stood breathing rage ready to pounce on his prey any moment. And as expected he hit her hard exploding his volcano of words.

Have you gone insane living all by yourself, away from the city? Did you coffin your brain in your heels by any chance? What the hell are you trying to prove here? Arnav scolded her, his concern firing up as heated storm.

First tell me, if we should communicate at personal level or professional level?

He frowned in fury, wordless, his fists balled in odd attitude.

Khushi understanding his foul mood, toned down her voice and spoke in almost a whisper taking professional route to be on safer side, SIR..

F*ck the SIR word...Khushi shrieked in fright as he blasted her. What are you doing here for last 2 weeks? And the stupid contract, You think you can come up with bunch of clauses and tie my hands to do anyt...

Khushi politely cut him off. I do not need contracts to prove my abilities nor to accomplish what I wanted to. If I am the one who specifically asked Hicks not to use the contract against any non-professional issues, why would I misuse it for personal reasons. I added those clauses as it became my obsessive compulsive habit to safeguard my profession. She spoke calmly with utmost composure not giving into his lacerating mind.

Arnav turned away raking his fingers in his hair, controlling the tremendous pain thats pouring out of his as spleen.

I am not here to hurt you. She whispered her honest confession with her eyes dropped to his fists, understanding his inner battle of emotions.

I dont care what your bloody intentions are, nor am I interested in your pointless explanations. He yapped pointing his finger at her face.

You do! You very well do! She said softly standing strong on her argument to make him explode everything he suppressed all these years.

Do I really look like I care? If you are floating in some unknown fantasy wonderland, let me tell you truth, I dont give a damn to anything related to you, your name or your people. I am getting irritated to breathe the same air you are breathing for the obvious reasons you have created once upon a time. His breath hitched in his throat as he ended those words. Hurting her was not his intention but thats the only way he knew to share his pain, his loss.

Mirth instantly disappeared from her eyes as they rounded in shock, and her lips pursed to stop the quiver of sadness as he continued,

I dont care what you do, where you stay. Stop stepping on my d*ck and stay out of my sight because I HAVE HAD ENOUUUGH. He yelled crouching at her violently.

Khushi stood unflinched and took a deep sigh to gather her thoughts & she looked down to their feet. She raised her eyes to him and folded her hands at her chest, Are you sure I am the one crossing the line?

Arnav narrowed his eyes questioningly.

I didnt step on your d*ck. You are the one who crossed the line into my portion.

Arnav looked at his feet and retreated putting distance between them in grit as she continued.

And I am sure you must have asked this question to yourself zillion times tonight if I am doing OK. I am fine. And now that you are staying close, I am going to be more than fine. She said in nonchalant tone.

Arnav stood flabbergasted, He had always known her as fighter but there is something very unusual in this Khushi. She is much more calm, composed and to an extent he found her very lethal. Giving him a flashy smile, she turned her feet to her house. After few steps she stopped and spoke as an afterthought locking to his eyes meaningfully, Staying out of sight is now next to impossible, because you are right you have had enough of this bachelor time. Coming to the irritation part, I cant change the air around us but I can suggest you to place some ice cubes on your nostrils.. They are flaring too much with heated irritation. Tying her hair into bun, she slipped into her house and locked it while he stood rooted to the ground shocked and surprised.

He retreated his steps slowly to his house remembering the vivid expressions of torment shown on her face. It hurt him even more because she acted very different from her usual without venting it out. Her composed attitude confused him wondering what to make out of it. The conflict of emotions frustrated him and irked him even further leaving no choice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Morning, Arnav buttoning his shirt yelled into the phone, If you were before my eyes, I swear I would have put you into my restaurant mill breaking you into pieces.

Arn..

Shut Up. I didnt ask you to speak yet. What the hell is wrong with everyone and specially You? You know the history and how could you let her stay here for 2 weeks, not knowing anyone here. Itna hee shauk tha tou, Why the f*** you werent here to take care of her.

Yaar, I wanted to but she insisted she will manage alone.

You really impressed me with your loyality Aman. So why dont you do something more for her. She is coming to India next flight. Take her to where she belongs.

Arnie, listen. She wants to give a shot. Try it out for once.

I am not a food item you try and dump if you dont like it. Moreover, once trashed cannot be brought back inside home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Biting into a toast smeared with pesto sauce, Khushi hurriedly dumped her cell phone into her handbag checking the wall clock that chimed 9. It takes her approximately one hour to reach her work, 30mins by walk & 30mins by shared transportation. When Aman showed interest to arrange for car, She refused as she loved walking by the platform shops checking out local artifacts and moreover it gave her new pleasure and time to think about the man she loved in a whole different way.

Khushi jerked with the shrill ring in the door bell. Tucking the bread between her lips, dusting her hands she opened the door to the most unexpected person, Her husband.

Dressed in white cargo shorts, and steel grey shirt rolled upto his sleeves, He stood in all his majesty wearing his brown shades perfectly bridging on his eyes. Khushi's eyes rounded and her mouth wide opened in shock allowing the bread to sneak out coyly.

Before she realized it, the half-eaten bread slice came back to her hung in the air. Subconsciously she cocked her eyebrows up to see what's holding the bread and found him scowling at her impatiently waiting for her to grab it.

She snatched it instantly without giving him chance to boss her. The next moment, Arnav barged inside while Khushi followed him hurriedly, Are you going to give me ride to work?

Arnav looked around and surprised not finding her son or Buaji. He turned around and questioned taking his shades off of his face, Are you alone? Where is YOUR family?

Bas, its just me here, alone!

Arnav cocked his eyebrow and curved his lips into a mocking laugh hearing the word alone. What an irony? Does she even know the meaning of it? Disregarding her statement, Where is your bed room?

Upstairs. Kyun..Before she could question he already made his way up to the room while Khushi tried to match his speed.

Next few moments, He force-opened the suitcase, dumped all her clothes, cosmetics and everything he could find as hers into the suitcase.

Are you sending me away? Her question sounded nothing worse than a thorn piercing into his heart. But he didnt budge and he said, Bring your shoes and dump them in.

Khushi stared at him for a moment before she obliged to his command. Quietly placing all her shoes in the large suitcase, She stepped aside as he shut it with a bang and carried it to the lower level.

Khushi walked behind him to find taxi waiting outside their home. Khushi realized what he decided to do with her but she remained quiet not putting up any fight. The luggage is loaded, and he opened the door and stared at her sternly.

Khushi without saying a word, got inside while he closed the door soon after. Taking an envelope off his back pocket, he handed it to Khushi saying, Flight in 2 hours to Mumbai..Hope not to see you again...

No matter how badly his simple yet brusque words painfully lunged into her heart, Khushi smiled and took the tickets from his hand, replying, I am not quite sure about not seeing you part because as always, what you say, what you think, and what you do, dont really go well together. She smiled pointing the ticket to him which has her name as Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada.

I think you are under great delusion that I am fondly inclined to tagging my name to yours. Thats the name you carry in your passport for your information. And thats the ONLY reason.

She smiled slyly saying, Believed! Her confidence irked him more because truth is what she predicted and not what he stated.

Stepping back a feet, he tapped on the car to move while his eyes glued to hers. One asking to give a chance and other replying there are no chances left.

Good Bye! She said softly her eyes speaking volumes. History repeated that moment as he could read her unshed tears hidden behind those words.

He turned away thinking about her determination and he is not an ignorant fool not to understand why she is putting so much effort to get through him but is he ready? Is his anger subsided? Has his insecurities of she leaving him again thrown out the window? NO is the answer and will remain same until he is shown bright side of it. But if she had plans to return why the hell she left me at the first place? The moment of distance shook him nervously and a glimpse of Khushi sitting on the hospital bed crying on his chest holding him tightly flashed before his eyes. He pinned soft pads of his palms to his temples frustrated with the nagging pain in his heart. One part of him screamed to stop her while one stubbornly rooted to the ground not wanting another heartbreak.

After few feet, Khushi stopped the car to get down as per her plan. His decision ends at sending her which she greatly obliged to the T. What happens after that will be her ultimate decision. She watched his slightly slouched back, head rolled to face the sky, his palms pressing to his temples. She could feel the distress and great agony he successfully hid from the world. They will be fool if they both obliges to what he is forcing her to do. She has come back to live with him and she will not let anyone or anything ruin her decision.

With grit determination, she walked few steps until she was audible enough to him. You didnt tell me if I need to pay for the tickets.

While Khushi expected a roll of eyes or an angry meltdown or even few soul-stabbing cuss words, she saw the softness of his love emoting on his face as he turned in her direction. The longing to be touched and held has screamed shamelessly with the way he stood in his utmost calm demeanor with his hands in his pockets, with a subtle inclination of his head staring at her questioningly. No matter how hard he tried to change the story of his heart, the torment he had gone through a moment ago didnt fail to display itself on his face.

Her grip over her handbag tightened as her heart started to break witnessing a flash of mellow-down in him; She panicked imagining him comforting her, wondering if she will be able to survive that moment opening up the volumes of her life unknown to him.

While she suffered in herself covertly, he couldnt help but notice a huge swallow that moved down her throat. He lifted his lashes to meet hers, and their hearts constricted sharing the vulnerable moment of pain secretly.

Khushi at once turned to the other side unable to see the flicker of pain that he is trying so hard to bury in himself. Her chest heaved up with a deep breath and she found herself walking back to him. While he straightened himself rudely staring at her, She softly spoke,

I forgot to ask you something. She dug her hands into her handbag and took her passport out and opened it while he looked at her questioningly.

I was wondering what happens if I tear this page. She tore her passport before he could stop her.

What the F? Stop!

She stepped back tearing one more page, another, another..while he tried to reach her.

Will they allow me to go away from you now? She tore pages one by one and threw it at his feet as he tried to reach for her hands.

Are you out of your mind? Arnav screamed at the top of his voice.

She smiled replying, I was but not any more. There was momentary pause in him as he realized what she meant. He was about to retreat in thoughts when his eyes fell on the passport page she was about to attack...

KHUSHIII Stooop! He snatched the passport and saved the Visa while Khushi's heart danced in joy. She couldnt hear anything he was swearing, as her life came to abrupt halt hearing her name on his lips after 3 years. Sudden shriek in his voice jerked her as she looked at him baffled.

Have you gone mad? Where on earth you buried your brain? This is your bloody visa, god dammit KHU...

He stopped abruptly as he raised his head to find her grinning ear to ear.

God dammit KHUSHI...Poora toh karo...She finished his incomplete statement, whispering playfully and was about to break into tears when she looked away collecting the torn pages from the road, hiding her misery.

He stared at the road shocked with himself wondering how easily he uttered her name today breaking all his resolves, forgetting all his anger. He looked at her perplexed as she tried hard to hide her face away from him. Just as he was about to peek to her side suspiciously, she turned to him taking a deep sniffle due to fit crying.

Taking the passport from him, with a glint of mischief playing in her eyes, she spoke dramatically, Thank you for arranging the car to my work, you saved me from a Fire! I personally try not to be late to work but I am more afraid of my boss who is quite kadoos and his lover whose name is Anger always dances on his nose. I dont want to irk any of them! Bye, See you later!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Chapter is MahaaUpdate...Check the space for Teaser on Wednesday..

Originally posted by: Arshi.Sugi.IPK

Congratz on new thread superb teaser