ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #4 Next thread link @page 1 - Page 63

About the inspiration behind the story:

You all know I have written many stories. But then why this story was my dream? What is so special about it?

Even before I started writing stories for ArHi, I had this idea in my mind. The basic idea of writing a story with political background, focusing on each and every events and its effect on a particular famous yet estranged family fascinated me. I wondered how it'll be to imagine every person and write from their point of view throughout the story. And the most attractive point was the lead pair for this story, who will also be the link to every people in the story, i.e. they will be the responsible for uniting the family.

Yeh Saali Zindagi started with Arnav and Khushi's marriage when they didn't even know each other and everyone around was them was misunderstood by the other. Everyone had a history they never got over with.

But look at the last chapter, now the family is already on its way of being reunited with Arnav and Khushi falling in love with each other and everyone clearing misunderstandings and grudges held against each other, with a baby girl receiving the love she deserves (every kid deserves a loving family).

And the most highlighting point is it happened when the games of politics got more nasty and deadly.

Even though I still think it didn't turn out as good as I imagined in my mind, I still feel great when you all tell me your opinions. I know I am not updating regularly and I know I never reply to my readers on time but you all still held on to it.

So thank you everyone. Please keep this up for a bit more. The story is reaching its end soon.

For being patient readers, I think you all deserve a reward. It's more like the scenes I wanted to add in last chapter but I couldn't, considering the included ones were more important.

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Bonus Scenes (From Chapter 30)

"So there is nothing you can do?"

Vikrant growled, looking down at his lawyer haughtily. His mind raced with the possibilities of tormenting this-pathetic-excuse of a lawyer in front of him and forcing him to work harder.

Freezing in the act of writing down all the arguments he could present in the court, Sahil Awasthi looked up with his eyes widened in fear and horror.

Swallowing with difficulty, he rushed "Mr Chaudhary, I am doing everything I can do. Since you and I already know that you had kidnapped and raped that girl, it's not easy to get you out of this case. Considering that prosecutor has already enough evidences against you, it's very difficult to prove you innocent. Please try to understand my situation."

Vikrant stood up, towering over him in anger and frustration, hissing in warning "I am not paying you for making stupid excuses. I am paying you to win the case. Besides, I don't have the girl with me anymore."

"Then where is she?" Sahil questioned for the hundredth time, knowing the answer very well.

Throwing his hands in the air, Vikrant yelled in exasperation "I DON'T KNOW!!!"

Sahil paled, pressing against the back of his chair in fear, trying to hide from him. Clutching the notebook in his hands tightly, he replied in a small voice "We could have used her to prove you innocent. But since she has disappeared, I need more days to prepare for the case."

Opening his mouth, Vikrant was about to retort back when something clicked in his mind. He froze, his eyes shining with wicked enthusiasm.

Snapping his fingers, he looked down at his lawyer "That's it!!!"

"WHAT??" Sahil squeaked, looking around for an escape as Vikant looked down at him wickedly, knowing very well that something bad is going to happen. He stood up quickly.

Grinning dangerously at him, Vikrant replied "You don't need to prepare the arguments. What you need to do is file an application in the court, stating that your client is very ill and cannot be present in the court. You will request to delay the date of the hearing by two-three weeks. This is what you need to do. You need to delay the date of the hearing till the elections happen. Once I win, I will pressurize the system to close it."

Taken aback, Sahil replied with hesitation "But sir, for that kind of delay, you will have to be seriously ill. And the Raizada's will do everything to hurry the verdict of this case."

Vikrant shrugged carelessly "I will get admit in a hospital tomorrow then. The medical reports submitted by the doctors about how badly I need treatment will seal the deal."

"What about the Raizada's?"

Vikrant laughed, the voice dark and full of evil promises, turning the blood cold in Sahil's veins "They won't even know what's going to hit them."

Sahil shuddered, knowing that the situation has just taken a bloody turn. The man in front of him is going to create havoc now.

"Is that all?"

Anuj asked, crouching in his bed as he signed some papers and looked up at his wife, feeling tired. Shaking her head, Divya smiled, gathering the papers and instructing the hovering nurse nearby to take them to the doctor.

Watching as the nurse hurried out of the room, Divya turned to him, looking concerned "You must rest now, Anuj. We can go home tomorrow. There is no need to hurry from here."

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Anuj stood up slowly, wincing as his body protested, pain slamming into his senses. Gritting his teeth, he hissed "No. We need to go home. There is so much to do."

"That can wait till you recover." His wife argued, clasping her hands together tightly. Her eyes widened as he tried to shrug out of the hospital gown, hissing in pain at every moment.

Crossing the distance between them, she hovered, watching as he took out a long white kurta she had packed for him and tried to put it on.

Cursing under her breath, Divya took the final step, clutching the cloth in her hands and helping him in getting dressed. She fussed and frowned, determined to not let him feel uncomfortable.

Fastening the button on the front, she exclaimed in a smug tone "There. It's done."

Smiling affectionately, she looked up, meeting her husband's intense gaze at once. She blinked, trying to decipher the unfathomable expressions swirling in his eyes.

Feeling conscious, she took a step back, letting her hands fall to her side from his chest. Turning away, she fidgeted with his medicines, aware of her husband's eyes on her.

She stiffened, hearing as he cleared his throat loudly "Thank you."

Divya smiled.

The feeling of hopelessness is a disease, which overpowers every positive thought and emotion inside your body, turning everything bitter and bleak.

It makes a person weak enough to accept defeat.

Nursing a glass of scotch in his hands, Shyam stared at the picture in his hands, tracing the familiar smile with his fingers.

He knew he could just admire her from far but couldn't ever be the recipient of her love.

He will always long for her.

He will keep feeling lonely, searching for love and acceptance.

Every sip of his drink left him feeling bitter, making every negative thought swirl and sizzle, burning him with its intensity.

Downing the rest of it, Shyam burrowed further into the chair, resting his head against the back. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes, concentrating on his emotions.

He remembered his best friend telling him how much Anjali loves him.

He remembered watching her, supporting her and laughing with her. He remembered the affection in her eyes whenever she looked at him, with something else in there as well.

Something he couldn't fathom until now.

It was love.

Even though it should have made him happy but Shyam Jha felt frustrated and angry. He felt so out of control right now that he wished to just confront her and shake her until she confesses everything.

Anjali Raizada once again made him lose the thread of sanity. Like always.

He always thought that she never loved him but after knowing that she felt the same way about him like he did left him heart broken.

By holding her feelings back, she made him feel unworthy of everything. He couldn't remember a single moment when he didn't wonder what to do to make Anjali love him back.

They wasted 8 years just like that. Because of her fears and apprehensions. If she could have just told him, he would have fought everyone for their love.

But she didn't.

Gripping his hairs tightly in his fist, Shyam bent forward, putting his head between his knees and struggled, trying to suppress everything.

An inhuman shout tore from his throat, full of pain and suffering, doing exactly what Anjali Raizada did to his life and heart.

Tearing him apart.

Falling on his knees, Shyam stared at the picture in his hands, his eyes cold and hard. Cursing loudly, he tore it into pieces, his lips pinched in anger.

Throwing them on the floor, he whispered, looking determined "I will never forgive you, Anjali. NEVER."

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 31-A

10^th August 2014

Falling.

She was falling once again, trying to scream but it felt trapped in her throat, making her teeth clench.

She fell on the floor loudly, pain coursing through her body.

Forcing her eyes wide open, she tried to focus on her surroundings, trying to find anyone for help but all she heard in the dark were screams of pain.

Someone was hurting. Badly. Begging for help.

But it wasn't her.

She frowned, patting her hands on the ground to find a clue or something, anything which might help her in getting out from here.

A hand grabbed her wrist, digging nails in her skin painfully. She whimpered, trying to break free when everything turned bright suddenly.

Too bright.

Blood.

Everything was red. It was everywhere around her. Scaring her. Tormenting her.

Her eyes found a battered, bruised body lying in front of her, bleeding hand clutching her wrist. She gasped, recognizing the body as her head turned up.

Lavanya begged in a broken voice, on the verge of dying "Khushi, help."

She struggled, looking around, begging for help but nothing happened. Frozen, she watched the life drain out of her friend's eyes.

Her hands shook, drenched in blood. She cried out in frustration, trying to run away from there but her feet stuck, making her fall.

Falling.

She was falling once again.

"What the hell?"

Arnav grumbled, opening his eyes as someone started ringing the doorbell insistently. Sparing a glance at the clock, he sat up, alarmed to find it past midnight only.

Throwing the covers back, he stood up, turning his gaze on the two sleeping figures in the bed. He smiled watching Manyata snore, her lips moving soundlessly as she mumbled something to herself, clutching her favorite toy in her hands.

Frowning, he watched Khushi's face turning pale, her body shaking now and then. She looked troubled, curled in a ball as if to save herself from any damage being inflicted on her.

She looked so fragile.

Shaking his head, Arnav moved out of the room, trying not to think anything. Not that it was easy to stop words popping in his mind.

Truth was, he acknowledged, his wife was drifting away from them slowly since past two weeks, choosing to not share any of her thoughts and worries with him.

She still loved Manyata like her daughter and always made sure to spend time with him, exchanging words and laughs.

But it wasn't her. Not exactly.

He found her deep in thoughts many times each day, looking depressed but whenever he asked about it, she just skirted around the topic nervously, trying to divert his mind from it.

Even though it frustrated him to no end, he still obliged her wish to not question her. But his patience was wearing out.

Soon, he'll have to ask her to tell him everything.

Because the way things were going between them, it would be no surprise if they lost the relationship of mutual trust, like and respect they had managed to create.

And he won't let that happen. Ever.

Because even though Arnav wasn't sure about his feelings for her, he knew that sooner or later, everything will be damn clear.

He had already accepted that he wanted to love her, possess and rule her heart just what he wanted from her as well.

Soon. They were going to talk soon.

Sighing deeply, Arnav walked forward, knowing very well that his security detail won't allow anyone to enter he hadn't approved of.

Yawning soundly, he pulled the door open, his eyes widening as they zeroed on a very solemn Aman Mathur standing in front of him.

He froze.

Arcing an eyebrow at him in question, Aman stood still, waiting for him to say something.

Snapping out of his stupor, Arnav cursed, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. Gesturing for him to enter, he waited for him to stroll inside, watching as he dragged a small suitcase inside with him before slamming the door shut.

He turned to him, looking at him in suspicion "Okay, out with it, Aman."

Aman glanced at him, too innocently "Excuse me?"

Arnav growled, his nostrils flaring in anger, pointing his index finger at him in accusation "You know what exactly is wrong with my wife. With you walking in here past midnight, it must be something to do with that. So tell me."

They glowered at each other, an uncomfortable silence stretching between them.

Shuffling his legs, Aman looked down, quizzing in bewilderment "You don't remember the date, do you?"

Arnav frowned, his eyes turning bleak at once. His expressions turned thoughtful, mulling over his words as Aman waited patiently.

The moment everything clicked into place, Arnav cursed, pressing a hand against his mouth to muffle his scream, closing his eyes in shame.

Lowering his fist, he whispered "It's Lavanya's death anniversary."

Staring back at him in understanding, Aman nodded, speaking hesitantly "Yes it is. Maybe Khushi felt too ashamed to tell you but today is the day when she turns into a scared, helpless girl every year. Lavanya's memories haunt her day and night, pulling her in so deep that you might see her awake, but she is not. She couldn't act on her own atleast today. Someone must look after her, take care of her. Kavya and I did the same for past 7 years. So here I am, ready to look after her this year as well."

Eying the bag in his hands, Arnav spoke, feeling sorrow wiping everything else from his mind "What's that for?"

Looking down, Aman exclaimed "Oh that. Every year, we travel to Allahabad and organize a barsi pooja at the banks of Triveni Sangam, offering our prayers so that Lavanya's soul could rest in peace. It's what your wife wants on her best friend's death anniversary. It must be done before sunrise, so we need to leave now. I must wake her up."

He turned, about to move forward when Arnav's words rang in his ears "I will take her there this year."

Aman spluttered, turning back to him at once "What?"

Meeting his eyes, Arnav repeated his words adamantly, looking determined "I will take her there this year."

As his words settled in his mind, Aman smiled, looking at him in approval.

"So what do I need to know?" Arnav enquired after changing into a white kurta and black jeans, packing his bag for the trip.

Settled comfortably in his chair, Aman shrugged, regarding him cautiously "Just that whenever you want Khushi to do something, you must speak close to her ear and never let her go. You must keep supporting her otherwise she will fall down quickly. Kavya used to change her cloth and help her when she was here but this year, you must do everything."

"What about flight tickets?" Arnav shot back, quickly typing a message to let everyone know that he was going out of Delhi.

Aman smirked "Oh I knew you will insist on going with her. So I booked tickets for you two. The return flight is scheduled to depart during afternoon. So you both will be back here around evening. Okay?"

Arnav nodded, looking satisfied with his answers. Wearing his watch, he turned towards his bedroom when a thought crossed his mind, making him stop. Cursing loudly, he muttered "God, I forgot about Manyata. We can't leave her behind."

"Don't worry about her. I will look after her until you both return. You are willing to do so much for Khushi, it's the least I can do for your daughter. Besides, I love kids." Aman assured, raising his hands with a genuine smile on his lips.

Raising his eyebrows, Arnav snapped "Khushi is my wife. I would have done anything for her."

"I know." Aman said quietly, cringing at his wrong choice of words for the answer. Giving him an apologetic smile, he explained "I am just glad that you are there for her. She deserves it more than anyone else."

Arnav relaxed visibly, nodding his head at his reply. Sparing a glance at his watch, he announced "We must leave soon."

"I will be waiting when you both get back." Aman settled back in his chair, shifting his attention to the phone in his hands already.

Arnav left quietly.

The walls surrounded her, trapping her as she struggled to get out. Beating her hands against it, she fought stubbornly as blood started filling the closed area.

Drenching her. Trapping her.

She froze, unable to move at all. She felt drugged, barely managing to keep her mind sane as her body turned numb.

She heard a familiar voice, filled with warmth and love but she couldn't understand what it was saying. She felt detached, separated from her body as someone shook it insistently, trying to wake her.

She watched her body stir, opening her eyes half.

Emotionlessly, she watched her body being picked in the arms of someone familiar. She knew this body, voice and masculine warmth.

She knew this man.

As he took her to the bathroom, she watched their reflection in the mirror opposite the shower stall, catching a glimpse of a handsome, chiseled face filled with compassion and sadness, staring down at her half lidded eyes.

She blinked, recognizing him at once. Her husband.

She was in Arnav's arms. The man she loves.

The ice surrounding her thawed a bit, making her mind work slowly. Instructing her mind to cooperate with her body, she tried to say something. But she couldn't.

She watched as he supported her body to stand still, quickly changed her outfit, averting his eyes as he took off her clothes and made her wear a simple pristine white choodidar salwar. She wanted to smile at him for being so considerate but she couldn't.

She kept watching as they returned back to the bedroom with Arnav putting her down in a chair once again and turning to a small sleeping figure in the bed.

She blinked, watching him wake the girl slowly. Manyata, her daughter.

Forcing her eyes to open fully, she registered her daughter stir slowly, opening her sleepy eyes at once. Staring as they talked to each other, she tried to sit straight once her daughter turned to look at her.

As Manyata climbed out of the bed, she sat straight struggling very much. She stared, her mind registering the words that her daughter whispered in her ear "Come back soon, Mumma. Love you."

Her daughter hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek before returning to bed. She smiled, her daughter's love warming her frozen heart.

As the last ounce of strength in her body dissolved, her eyes shifted to her husband, meeting his intense gaze.

She fainted, her eyes falling shut after that.

Things after that whirled in her mind, not registering what was happening but she knew that she was going somewhere. She remembered nodding her head, even speaking a word or two before settling down in a seat beside her husband but everything was rushed like pages of a book.

Feeling as if she was sleeping for a decade, she opened her eyes as her nostrils sniffed the fresh, calm air and religious mantras rang in her ears.

Her eyes encountered a wide expanse of water in front of her, her bared feet buried in the sand. It was a familiar sight.

Triveni sangam. She knew this place.

Startled, she sat straight, running her gaze around. A holy fire was lit in front of her with the priest chanting mantras and submitting flowers to it along with ghee.

The fire burned fiercer than ever.

A strong hand clasped her frozen palm, supporting her. Turning her gaze sideways, she glimpsed at her husband's ashen face, concentrating wholly on the fire.

As the priest motioned his hand forward, he raised their entwined hand, grabbing some flowers and throwing it in the fire.

Her body jerked in surprise as she remembered. It was Lavanya's barsi pooja. Her best friend.

Suddenly everything felt normal, making her senses come alive.

Shame engulfed her as she closed her eyes suddenly brimming with tears and her shoulders drooped in defeat.

A gentle squeeze on her shoulder by her husband assured her, making her sit straight. She focused on the pooja at once.

And stared at the burning fire, flaming guilt inside her heart as much as it could.

"No. Let me do it."

Khushi murmured, raising her hand as Arnav moved to hold her. Holding the small bowl made of leaves in her trembling hands, filled with flowers and a lit diya, she moved ahead.

As her feet first came in contact with the cold water of the river, she shivered but forged ahead, bracing herself.

She kept walking down till she was half submerged in the water. Touching the bowl to her forehead, she murmured softly "I hope you have found peace, Lav."

Dropping it on the surface, her hands moved the water, encouraging the bowl to move ahead. She stared as it went along with waves, the lit diya twinkling in the icy blue water as a hope to her heart.

Bending her knees, she rotated around the spot fully before taking a dip in the water repeating the process for two times more, drenching her open hairs in the holy water.

As the droplets of water trickled down her face, she clasped her hands in front and prayed "Please god, forgive me for my sins. Let my best friend rest in peace."

And then she started crying, resting her face on top of her clasped hands.

"Thank you for coming with me."

Startled, Arnav looked up as Khushi whispered, his eyes focusing on her sad face, resting on top of her folded hands and knees as they both sat on the cemented steps at the bank of the rivers.

The falling rays of the rising sun made her look so young and pure.

"You don't need to thank me for it, Khushi. I want to be there for you at every point of our life." Arnav murmured, resting his hand on her shoulder in assurance.

Shaking her head, Khushi smiled sadly "No, I really mean it. This is the first time I remember doing this. It surprises me that for seven years, I have been coming here still I cannot remember anything."

"It is understandable that your mind doesn't want to remember the things that cause you utter pain and grief." Arnav replied, his finger brushing her hairs away from her forehead.

"It's not pain, Arnav. It's guilt of being responsible for your best friend's death. I thought that this year, it might be different but nothing has changed. I can't let go of it." Khushi revealed, her face showing her vulnerability.

Forcing his hand away, Arnav turned to look at the river like her as he replied "I understand, Khushi. It eats at you until it wipes every hope from your heart and body."

Taken aback, Khushi turned to look at him in surprise, her gaze questioning.

Meeting her eyes, Arnav smiled sadly "As a kid, I was my father's dearest son. He spoiled me very much, telling me how much power the Raizada name yields. I basked in it, taking everything in pride and arrogance. I was a rebel student, threatening teachers and engaging in fights every day. My father encouraged everything whole heartedly. But then everything changed..."

"What happened?" Khushi asked apprehensively.

Shrugging nonchalantly, Arnav continued "I fought with a guy in my class and broke his legs. He was on sports scholarship. He was the stsar player of our school's football team. He never recovered fully and his scholarship was snatched away from him. His family couldn't afford to pay his fee so he had to leave school along with his favorite sport. When I got to know about it, I begged my father to help him and made him pay his fees."

Khushi smiled gently "You did good."

Shaking his head, Arnav replied fiercely, "No I didn't. You know when he came back, he limped his way toward my seat and thanked me profusely for helping him like I was the good guy. I couldn't meet his eyes. I felt so guilty and dirty. I felt unworthy of everything. Even now, guilt eats at my conscience for ruining his life. I don't think I would ever get over it."

Grabbing his hand, she looked at him in sympathy "Thank you for telling me about it."

Lacing their fingers together, Arnav stared at her with brooding intensity "I didn't tell you about it so that you can sympathize with me. I want to tell you that you are not alone. We all have our sins and mistake to repent about. I am here for you."

About Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, it is the "confluence" of three rivers- Ganga, Yamuna , Saraswati. Sangama is the Sanskrit word for confluence. The point of confluence is a sacred place for Hindus. A bath here is said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.

At my grandparent's death anniversary, my family did organize a pooja there for the peace of their souls. So everything I mentioned is true.

Hope you all like the update,

Aditi

Awesome update..but feeling bad for Khushi...hope she recovers soon from her grief ...n move on

Its too much 4 khushi ... Arnav always their 4 her to help her to come out it... Emotionally update... U wrote it beautifully...

it was so heart wrenching...just like the chapter when Khushi narrates that incident to Arnav...i had tears in my eyes for LA...and could picture how lifeless Khushi must be...thats how beautifully you wrote it...

nice update
Manyata is with Aman and his wife
what vikrant is planning?
is he trying to harm Manyata?

Awesome update

Arshi came to Triveni sangam

N Manyata is alone with Aman
I feel something bad will happen??

Vikrant will harm Manyata or kidnap her??

Plz continue soon

very nice and emotional update:)

After reading this update, for sometime I thought and hoped that I have not hurt anyone intentionally or unintentionally in my life.