ArHi SS: Quiet places (Read warning) [Completed] - Page 12

very different ... learning a lot from here... im glad i came across this..

I'm loving this story as its giving me/will give me something vital to dwell upon and learn as well. I can empathize with khushi as its something totally new and unheard of for her. She's from a traditional background where things are done only with the perspectives of the society being kept in mind. But arnav should also think whether khushi is getting any pleasure from the new arrangement of bondage. Coz' he's the one on whom bondage is inflicted upon, so he's the one who's more eager to get pleasure in this. I wanna see how you take this further.

WOW!! beautiful update...the story is getting interesting...😊

Oh god!

Consent is irrelevant without information, ergo - informed consent. Did Khushi consent? Yes. Was she informed? Yes. As best as she could, aided by Arnav. It is natural to consent with information in the beginning and have reservations later on. Because I believe comprehension is at its best when it is followed by experience and followed by introspective reflection. Why should I be surprised that Khushi was dismayed when she saw those red welts on Arnav's wrists? How can she contend with the 'pain' she inflicted on him in the name of pleasure? [I am not sure if SHE derived pleasure.. I do know from the story that HE did. However, this may be irrelevant here.] To me, her reaction is consistent with all that she has said and done thus far.. an adventurous spirit but within the confines of what she has always known. Subjacence is new to her.. Now she is roiled in her own clutches of prejudice' - that cloak of morality sweeping on her after the fact. So, informed consent is not a static check mark on a questionnaire, but an ongoing dialog with all things "moral." She has to struggle with her own sense of flaws which came with the so-called "power" in his subjacence..

So what happens with Arnav? Yes, "he is angered at his own subtle dominance over her even when he was plaintively asking her to take reins".. But then, he did express his need in no uncertain terms - "I need you to be there with me and for me. I need, no, I want you to be that person who will do all those things to me and for me." He has had the luxury of "sitting with this" as Buddhists say.. with his flaws, needs, prejudices.. But she hasn't. Is he wise enough to give her the time and space to truly comprehend her consent? Will he be able to support her percolation of moral crystals alongside free acts of desire, sensuality and sex? That would be the adult thing to do.. :)

So what' you ask? Well... this is a marriage, a relationship that is in process. Change is the inevitable constant here.. What do you have in mind for us dear author? Cannot wait for the next chapter..

Originally posted by: AquaSandhya

Having said that, I would like to tell Arnav that both the partners need to find a common ground while experimenting. If one is uncomfortable, it comes through. He should have sensed it because the slightest of hesitation gives one away. Khushi is doing it for him and my personal opinion is that it will not work in the long run. The pleasure when mutual makes it worthwhile. Otherwise it is a punishment that one partner is bearing silently.

He is finding pleasure in the act. Has he thought of ways to pleasure her? Why should he be the only one relishing it? I guess he believed she was enjoying it too. I can imagine how guilty he must be feeling right now for not seeing the seriousness of the situation.

I am looking forward to see how you will solve this dilemma. After all sex is as important to couples as love.

Chasing pleasure isn't in question at all. She isn't uncomfortable in any sense with the act but the implication of liking it. Its a huge difference.

What she is facing is a moral dilemma. It's like salivating on a dessert during a fast. Or even sneaking in a piece of barfi when one is supposed to be on strict fast of holy water for an entire day. The person not only cheats on fast but also enjoys the sweet. Here the moral dilemma is in the enjoyment rather than breaking the rule. That craving shouldn't exist. That moment of weakness to giving into breaking the rule shouldn't exist. As it has happened, does it make the person non-pious? Does it make the person not worthy of God?

Its pretty much same analogy with Khushi too. Arnav did explain everything to Khushi. For what its worth Khushi did agree to the arrangement. Should he have explained in more detail? Maybe. Should she have thought for more than 2 seconds before accepting his proposal filled with pretty words? Maybe.

They have collectively made a decision and now they have to go through the consequences.

Originally posted by: cineraria

And it all backfired.

For Arnav, save the few hours of his quiet place, it isn't pragmatic to give up on the control he practices. He cannot simply afford to, he may rely on his employees for the tasks he assigns them to carry out, but at the end of the day, he is the boss, he is the man held responsible and accountable and hence he has to be the one in control.

But he isn't a power hungry man, he's not a willful power wielder, it seems that all that he does isn't really out of choice but necessity and he yearns for the only escape he sees which is by giving her the reigns of the hours they spend together. To just not be the one in control. But alas, even while doing so, much to his chagrin did he realize that the control was still in his hands.

That what Khushi is doing is not her choice or even in her comfort zone, but she's only trying to meet his expectations and what he had asked of her.

Ergo he still is the one dominating.

It has been her choice. Always. He asks, she accepts. He cannot do mind reading to see if she really means it. If he is being open and honest, its best if she is too. Especially when the entire thing is based on trust. He belatedly thinks if by asking her has made her to do something she didn't want to. Is it really the case? It could be that Khushi realized after few runs that what she is doing isn't right. She has taken reins before and enjoyed it - as implied in second chapter. This isn't necessarily their first time but it is first time they have redefined their boundaries which as Arnav says, she accepted to.

Oh and regarding the moral implications of the Act. I don't know whom should I side with, what is morality in first place? Is it what the society decides for an individual or it is what an individual decides for him/her self?

I feel if they are both consenting, the question of morality doesn't really arise and if Khushi is not comfortable with the arrangement, Arnav won't be the one forcing her.

PS: The idea of tying hands is really creepy. Whether immoral or not, it is creepy.

That's the thing, isn't? You call it creepy or weird while for a person like Arnav, its different. Its not about being immoral or weird but its about preferences. Khushi doesn't know what it all means but imagine if she reads about it and finds these exact words "weird" and "creepy". Without complete knowledge, it influences her initial decision and what she then instinctively accepted as normal. She now thinks that its wrong to have such a preference.

Unknowingly to us, the things we read and people we interact with have influence on us and our opinions. We reformulate our arguments with new set of data and change the way we perceive things. Khushi's new knowledge has led her to doubt her decision and provoke questions on morality.

Originally posted by: vgedin

I feel for both of them, what a quandary they have found themselves in. I don't think there exists a middle ground. The only thing that is possible is introspection to determine what moral and immoral mean to each of them - how far are they willing to push themselves and what are the compromises they are ready to make?

Also - this is my fav line in the update: He is angered at his own subtle dominance over her even when he was plaintively asking her to take reins. *clap clap clap* 👏 It was an irony I almost missed - thank you for pointing it out.

Its interesting the way you imply morality is subjective. Isn't it possible that morality is often evolving with societal changes and that it's often misunderstood or misrepresented or people haven't caught up with it? BDSM was classified as a mental deviance and illness till 70s. Now its an accepted lifestyle. So there is that.

This subtle dominance exists in all sorts of relationships. Between boss-subordinate, teacher-student and even a "normal" husband-wife. It even exists between two best friends.
Irony, yea :-)

Originally posted by: manusmithcl

Love your approach...As long as the couple are on the same page it's okay . But here I feel Khushi is in some way persuaded to do things which she is not comfortable with. Eager to see how you are gonna take this story...waiting ...

In what way is she persuaded?? I am sorry if you got that impression from my writing. It was never intended to be so. She has given her full consent to Arnav.