[COMPLETED]Arshi FF :: Junoon#2 Link to Thread 3 on PG 1 - Page 21

Part 15

Arnav saw Khushi coming out of the bathroom in a peach color saree, looking like a freshly bloomed versilia peach rose. She moved towards the dressing table, sliding the glass bangles on her wrist. Arnav leaned back against the headboard looking at her as she brushed her dark hair. It's been 6 months since they got married, living in the same house, in the same room, but the wall she had build around her is still intact, not allowing him to pull her back to him. He had never seen her laughing wholeheartedly after Aryan's week long stay. She use to smile with him, talk with him, laugh with him, but as he left, she was back to her cocoon. She never talks with him, unless he asks her something. But now she had adapted the surrounding. She gets out of the room, help the cooks in preparing the meals, and he had often seen her trolling in the poolside. She is trying to forget her past, he can see that, but still she is denying to acknowledge his presence , she is denying to recognize his love which he is trying so hard to show her. It's like she don't want to allow anyone in her world"just she and her baby.

Her baby!

Arnav's gaze shifted to her swollen belly . Her baby... Rudra and her baby. He reminded himself. Swallowing hard, he wrenched his gaze away from her, something instantly churning inside his chest. How hard he tries to forget about that baby, but like hounds of hell, the thought of the baby always plagues him and refuses to leave him. He don't know how things will improve between them when this baby is always there to remind him of his past. This baby is holding both of them to their past. Khushi is refusing to acknowledge him and his love because she has her baby, and is content with her baby. And he is unable to forget everything seeing the crux of his horrible past daily in front of him.

He closed his eyes and leaned back his head.

His eyes jerk open as he heard the chiming of her bangles near him. He stood off the bed and came near Khushi.

"Khushi you need anything?" he asked as he saw her fidgeting with the end of her saree and her eyes roaming everywhere but him.

"Ji ...woh ... woh hume mandir jaana hai ..." Khushi said, hesitant.

Arnav stared at her, letting her words sink in. This has to be the longest sentence she had addressed to him in the past few months. His eyes lingered on her dear face, her cheeks turning little pink under his scruinity and then her two hazel eyes lifted to look at him, expecting the answer.

"Ofcourse ..." he bent down to extract his car keys from the bed side table. "Come ..." He forwarded his hand as he again stood in front of her. Seeing her not lifting her hand, he himself took her hand in his, making her gaze lift at him. "Come..." he gave a small tug at her hand.

Khushi again dropped her gaze and followed him as he took her hand in his and made his way out of the room.

...

The car came to a stop in front of the temple. Coming out of the car, he walked across and opened the door for Khushi. His other hand reached for her hand, pulling her on her two feet.

"I want to buy few things ..." Khushi said, little hesitant as Arnav started towards the temple.

Arnav looked at her and nodded his head.

Khushi walked towards the stalls lined up, Arnav followed her. Khushi collected the things she needed and handed it to the vendor.

Placing all the things in a small basket, the vendor forwarded the basket towards Khushi. Not giving a chance to Khushi, Arnav took the basket for her and paid the vendor.

"Chalein?" Arnav asked.

Khushi lowered her gaze and started towards the temple.

...

Taking the basket from Arnav, Khushi handed it to the Priest and joined her hands in prayer.

Arnav looked at her closed eyes, praying to her deity. Her pink petals moving slightly. His gaze shifted to her belly , and he knew for whom the prayers were sent---- it's only her baby who can make her talk to him, and it's her baby who had made her ask him to take her to this temple.

He closed his eyes, his hands lifting in prayer, only one wish escaping his lips.

Khushi took the prashad from the Priest and turned to leave, only to wince in pain.

Arnav was beside her in no time, holding her hand in his, concern marking his face.

"Khushi, what happened? Are you ok?" his other hand went around her waist, keeping her align to him.

"I am fine..." Khushi said softly and tried to put her weight on her leg but again winced in pain. She was avoiding this from morning, but now after standing still for a while had increased the pain.

Arnav looked down at her leg.

"What happened? Is your leg hurt?" Arnav asked.

Khushi, left with no choice, wordlessly lifted her saree little, baring her swollen feet.

Arnav's eyes snapped at Khushi, his eyes reflecting his anger.

"You should have told me, Khushi.." he gritted his teeth. "You walked up all the stairs on this swollen feet.."

Khushi averted her eyes from his accusing one. She don't want to share anything with him, not even her pain. There's no way she is going to let him in her little world that she is trying so hard to weave"without him.

Khushi was jerked out of her reverie as she felt herself lifted off her feet. Her eyes lifted to meet his hard one, his jaw clenched.

"Sometimes I don't know how to deal with you. If you don't want to talk to me, or you don't want me to be near you, it's fine, but this behavior is NOT acceptable. When you are in pain, you MUST tell me. Do you get me Khushi?" Arnav asked in a firm tone as he started towards a bench.

"I asked , do you get me, Khushi?" Arnav repeated again as he made her sit on the bench and knelt in front of her. At not getting any reply from her , he clenched his jaw. Ignoring her protest, he took her foot in his hand, examining it. "How did this happen?" Mixture of concern and anger reflected his molten eyes. Keeping her feet back on the ground, he stood on his knees, hovering over her. "I asked you something, Khushi. SPEAK." His thunderous whisper sent a chill down her spine.

"It...it's normal..." Khushi replied.

"Normal? This swollen feet is normal? Not telling me about this is normal? Climbing the stairs in this condition is normal? What the hell is normal dammit!"

"I want to go home.." Khushi said in a small voice, ignoring his all questions.

"Home..." he stood on his feet. "Home...right ... We will go back home ... " his fist clenching and unclenching, trying to control the rage that was slowly building inside him. He looked at her. "You know what Khushi?" He bent down and caught her arms. "You always pray to your Devi Maiya, right? You pray for your baby, right?" he asked, his intimidating eyes boring holes in her frame. "Instead of praying for your baby, you should ask your Devi Maiya to take away the monster of your life, you think me to be. That will make everyone's life easier, won't it? After all you always ask your Devi Maiya to protect your baby from me, don't you? You think I will harm your baby. So it will be easy if you directly ask Her to cut out me from your life. I am unable to do that, I am unable to convince myself to leave you, so tell Her to do the needful. Ask Her, Khushi." Arnav kept his gaze on her face, his breath irregular, along with her. "Do it. Why are you quiet now? Close your eyes and pray, Khushi. Do it!" catching her hand he made her join her hands. "Do it."

Khushi swallowed the lump in her throat and kept her eyes down. He was right, she prays for her baby, for his safety. But she can never wish what he was asking her to.

"You can't?" he acted surprised. Resting her hand on her lap, he stood straight. "It's ok. I will do that on your behalf."

Khushi's eyes jerked up at him. "NO!" She stood up, wincing in the process. "Please.." she cried. "Don't do that.." a shuddering breath left her body and she reached him and caught his wrist. "Please...don't do that.."

"Why? Just wish death for me. Everything will be fine then. You will no longer be afraid for your baby, you will be happy, and most importantly, I will be out of your life. Just do it and everything will be fine.."

Khushi lowered her misted eyes and shook her head, exhausted.

"Don't do it, please ... "

"Then stop thinking that I will hurt your baby, Khushi. STOP IT. I just want you to be happy and feel safe with me, not jerk at every sound." Arnav closed his eyes to compose himself, his hands lifting to rest against her cheek. "Please... please forget everything ... Please... For your sake, please ... let it go, Khushi.. it's been 6 months and you are still ignoring me.. I just can't take it .. don't do this ... don't , Khushi ..." Arnav pulled her in his arms, resting his forehead against her. "Please..."

"This ..." Khushi swallowed the lump. "This was the same temple you promised to get me back in your life. See your wish is fulfilled. I am in your life, this is what you wanted, right?"

Arnav moved back and stared at her.

"Khushi, I ..I never wished ..."

"It doesn't matter. What matters is your wish came true. How' doesn't matters.." Khushi whispered back, tears taking their route.

"I..." Arnav wanted to say something, something in his defense, but felt tongue tied. "Can't you forget this, Khushi... I had never wished bad for Ru...dra ... I swear on you, Khushi.. I just wanted you back..."

"And you got.." Khushi gently pushed his hand away and turned, walking towards the car.

Arnav just stood there, looking at her as she went and sat in the car. It felt like he was loosing her all over again. He don't want that, he cannot live without her. How is he going to survive with this version of Khushi? What should he do to change her behavior? What should he do to change her perspective? He don't want to loose her again, he don't want that! He will do anything to win her back. Anything! Even if it means changing himself completely, he will do that too!

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