Part 4
Flashback
"No" Arnav said firmly "I don't love Khushi"
"Are you sure?" the king asked.
Arnav hesitated but nodded "Love doesn't exist.It is just what humans say to each other to be together"
The King nodded "You have made your decision.Now the both of you shall be punished"
"Don't punish Khushi" Arnav said protectively "It's not her fault"
"She could be with your child.It could cause a huge scandal in Hell and Heaven.Nobody will take me seriously if I let her live" he explained.
Arnav stared at his father shocked "What do you mean if you let her live?"
The King waved out his question "Now for your punishment Arnav.I am taking away your demon side and powers.You will live on earth as an immortal human.You will get your powers back the day you become King.The day I die"
"What about Khushi?" Arnav demanded.
The King ignored him and looked at Shyam "I believe you know what to do" Shyam nodded.The King turned to Arnav "Goodbye Arnav"
Before Arnav could do anything,the King disappeared.Arnav suddenly felt weak.Shyam smirked at Arnav.He grabbed Khushi and pulled her away from Arnav "Leave her Shyam!" Arnav commanded.
Shyam chuckled "Now you are just a pesky little human Arnav.You can't stop me but I'll let you watch" He pushed Khushi to the ground.Khushi hissed in pain when her knee scraped against the ground drawing out a little blood.Arnav tried to run up to her but his feet were literally glued to the ground.Shyam laughed "Remember.I am the one with the powers here" Shyam pushed Khushi flat against the ground and took out a dagger "Oh how I love my job" he smirked "Too bad I couldn't get to you before Arnav did" Shyam raised the dagger and brought it down fast,stabbing it into Khushi's stomach.
Khushi gasped in pain and then screamed.Arnav froze and felt his heart drop down to his stomach "SHYAM YOU bas***d! LEAVE HER OR I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS!"
"Fine but just after this" Shyam pulled the dagger out of Khushi,making her body jerk.He slammed it back into her,a small distance from the first stab.Shyam smirked at Arnav and disappeared.His spell on Arnav went with him.
Arnav rushed to Khushi and laid her head on his lap "Khushi! It's going to be okay! Nothing's going to happen to you" Khushi gasped breathing heavily.Blood stained her clothes and skin.Arnav put his hand against Khushi's first wound.She closed her eyes and hissed in pain.Arnav panicked and took his hand away.His hand was now covered with her blood.Arnav closed his eyes tightly as he wrapped his bright red hand around the dagger and pulled it out.
Khushi loudly gasped in pain and looked at Arnav tearfully "You..You d-don't lo-love me"
A tear slipped from Arnav's eyes " I do.I do love you" he barely whispered "I am so sorry for realizing it this late"
Flashback Ends
"Ever heard of the phrase : You don't know what you have until you lose it.That's exactly how I felt.I hadn't realized how important Khushi was to me until I lost her.I remember exactly how I felt.I knew I had to leave her at some point but I didn't expect it to be so painful.My heart felt like it was being torn apart.I felt suffocated as if I had no reason to live when I realized she wasn't going to make it alive.She wasn't strong enough" he stared at Payal with tears in his slightly red eyes "I feel jealous of you and Akash and how perfectly happy you are with each other.How your lives are so perfect.This is one of the reasons I rarely come over.Whenever I see you and Akash together I always think how it could have been me and Khushi in your places.It could have been me and Khushi together looking forward to the future.To be together.To have our own family and so much more"
Payal bit her lip trying to not to cry with Arnav.She was supposed to be the strong one here.Arnav and Akash were right.Arnav and Khushi's love story was a tragic one "Arnav" Payal said softly laying her hand on top of his.
"I was such a fool to lose her" he sobbed.
"Wait.That means you never knew if she was ever pregnant"
Arnav sighed looking up at the ceiling "She wasn't because when she died only one soul came out of her.Not two"
Flashback
"Khushi" Arnav whispered.He gently patted her cheeks.Khushi didn't open her eyes.Arnav lifted her by the shoulders and shaked her "Khushi.Wake up.You can't do this to me"
Arnav opened her lifeless eyes using her fingers.Light shone and a bright white soul flew out "She's a bright one" Shyam commented.
"YOU bas***d!" Arnav roared getting up on his feet "YOU KILLED HER"
Shyam shrugged "So? Anyways I have come to pick up her soul"
"You can't! An angel from Heaven is supposed to pick her up" Arnav stood in front of Khushi's soul as if to protect her.
"Out of my way" Shyam pushed Arnav hard making him fall to the ground.He was still weak from trying to adapt to his new human body.Shyam trapped Khushi's soul in a crystal ball.He smiled at Arnav "Bye"
"No" Arnav tried to stop him but Shyam disappeared.Arnav closed his eyes tightly "I am so sorry Khushi.I failed to protect you"
Arnav turned towards her lifeless body and picked it up.
Flashback Ends
"Khushi always did love the green environment.I put her body in a coffin and buried her in my garden.Whenever I miss her I dig up her coffin and just stared at her bones.I try to imagine her with her skin and flesh and how she always fit do perfectly between my arms" Arnav sighed and looked at Payal "You always ask why I live in the forest and never step out right? It's because that's where Khushi and I spent most of our time.The memories are still there alive even though she isn't.It's what keeps me sane"
"So you told her"
Arnav and Payal turned towards the door way where Akash stood with grocery bags on the floor.Arnav looked down at the ground "Yeah"
Akash looked at Payal "You know when I first found Arnav I thought he was insane.He didn't eat or sleep.He always stayed there in the middle of the forest until dark and then went home.He just stood there staring at the ground.It was about a month later when he actually reacted and that too when I was about to step into his garden"
Payal looked at Arnav sorrowfully "You still love her don't you"
Arnav stood up and looked away.Akash answered for him "Of course.That's why he always go and pick flowers and berries for her in hope of her return"
Arnav grunted in response "I am not hungry.I am going home"
"Wait" Payal stopped him "Arnav can you please show me where she died"
"Remembrance Park" he muttered.
"Arnav please"
"Whatever"
******************************************
It was midnight.Arnav had brought Payal and Akash to the park and exact spot where she had died.
"Happy?" he grumbled with his eyes closed.
"Why are your eyes closed" Payal asked.
"I just don't want to remember.It's been 10 years but the pain is still raw and fresh"
"Oh is it?"
Arnav snapped open his eyes at the faintly familiar voice.No.It couldn't be.He turned around.Shyam.There he stood just like ten years ago.It was as if everything was being rewinded and replayed.Except Khushi wasn't here.
Payal gasped when she looked at Arnav "Arnav" she tugged on his arm "The iris and pupil of your eyes have turned red"
"What"
"She's right" Shyam said "Father has died in war.I hope you know what that means"
"I am king of Hell" Arnav realized.Now that Arnav knew,he realized he felt much stronger.Much more powerful.
"My dear brother.I have come to make a deal with you"
Arnav glared at Shyam "I don't want to make any deals with you.You killed Khushi and had me stripped from my power.You knew that would be the outcome if you told father.I want my revenge"
"For what? Getting rid of your demon side or killing that girl you seduced"
"Khushi" Arnav said through gritted teeth "Her name was Khushi.I loved her and you killed her.I know most of it was my fault but I just want to take out my anger and you are the perfect target"
"Just listen to what I have to say and then decide"
Akash looked at Arnav "Just listen to him.Then do what you want"
Shyam smiled when he saw Arnav loosen up slightly and stare at him "Here's my deal.I want you to make me King"
"And what makes you think I will" Arnav snapped.
"Because I believe I have something you still value" he took out a crystal ball with bright light shining from it "I hope you still remember her"
"Khushi" Arnav immediately recognized and took a step forward.He glared at Shyam "What have you done to her?"
Shyam looked at Arnav confused "She is still as pure as she was the day I took her.I didn't even touch her"
"She should have been taken to Heaven and already been in another lifetime"
"I guess you could say I tampered with a few things and made sure they didn't realize they were a soul less"
Arnav gritted her teeth "Give her to me!"
"Make me King and I will otherwise forget it"
Arnav swallowed.If he agreed to make Shyam King,he would get to keep Khushi but Shyam would have the power to kill anyone,including them and would break the peace between Hell and Heaven.
If he declined to make Shyam King then that would mean Shyam would keep Khushi with him and do whatever he wants to her soul.He didn't know how he would rule Hell peacefully while knowing Khushi's soul was still out there in Shyam's hands and the possible torture he could be inflicting up on her.
Shyam smirked at Arnav's dilemma "What's it going to be Arnav? Your first love and the reason you spent 10 years in mourning or Hell,the kingdom you never really wanted to rule"
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