ArShi SS : 'Kusi' Link to Thread 2 on PG 1 - Page 64

Oh I'm in love with this kusi!!!
Simply superb!!!
Outstanding!!!
Marvellous!!!
I simply don't know wt else to tell!!!
Plz do continue
Post asp
Eagerly waiting for d nxt parts!!!

amazing story

wow he is slow in making her understand but wat is his age dnt u think he is little bit 2 mature for her and 22 old for her... and if she like IT ten i think its time for him 2 move slowly and show slowly abt it 2 her...

wonderful updates. read all 7 parts n a go. loving this handsome duke aka Arnav and innocent Duchess aka Khushi. nice bonding between Akash- Khushi- Maria. And specially loving d magics too. waiting for next part eagerly.

love this beautiful, innocent Kusi... and loving caring handsome Duke Arnav

arnav is such a loving and caring husband...loved it...i was actually wondering that why you are not updating but today morning i tried to search and found that you already updated...but it was me who missed it...thanks for the lovely update and please do continue regularly

Pls update pls pls pls updateee!!

Waiting for the next update

Part 8

Arnav moved back and stared at her dear face. Sleeping peacefully in the confines of his arms with the same trust a kid has on her mother. It's been only nine months she has entered his life, but it feels like she was always been there, beside him, cooing in her soft voice, asking her naive questions, staring at him with the world of trust and love shinning in her eyes, holding him tight as they sleep, demanding magic like a brat.

He chuckled and looked down again as she snuggled more on his chest. Catching a fluttering strand, he tucked it behind her ear, her smooth skin like silk against his. In the past nine months, he had seen her evolution from a timid and scared kid to a courageous and confident girl. She had taken her time to open up, but had, none the less. His palace has become her world now. She roams around freely, chatting around with the servants, knowing them more, letting them know more about her. Now she even remembers his noblemen by their name. The quick learner she is, in the span of nine months, she has learned everything the confines of his palace have offered her. She has found a best friend in Akash and Maria, friends who take care of her like their dearest thing.

Everything looks perfect, beautiful, alluring. But he knows better than to give in such alluring future. His past has taught him to never trust the future, may how beautiful and near it seems. His hold on his wife tightened. But for once he wants to believe in the beautiful future he sees with her. He just wants to close his eyes and believe nothing can go wrong now. But then, the past events that are buried in some corner of his mind come to life again and start haunting him like some dreadful ghost.

Laying her back on the bed, he kissed her forehead and stood off the bed. He was about to open the door to his room when his eyes fell on Kusi's dressing table. Walking towards the dressing table, he picked her dolls. He traced its fine fabric with the tip of his finger. How much she loves her dolls. Talks with them like they are her friends, shares everything with them.

" I don't know what to do... I just want to forget everything and let go of my past. ..but it's not in my hand. ..I am helpless... I just wish nothing goes wrong now " he looked at Khushi. " Wish that she stays beside me as long as I am alive. " In the span of nine months she has become more dear and special to him than he could admit to himself. He tries to show and make himself believe that she doesn't affects him in any way, but he knows that's just a facade, which slips away as soon as he sees her in front of him.

He kept the dolls in its place. How much he tries and wants, but he knows his treacherous heart has once again found someone to depend on. This chit of a girl, with her soft voice and tiny feet had entered his life and has taken a part of his heart, and dare he admit, the part he can't do without.

"Maria jiji, do you think I am a child?" Khushi asked as they sat on the grass in the backyard.

Maria laughed. "No...Who said that to you? You are not a child" She completed, still laughing.

"You are laughing at me...you too think I am child..." She furrowed her brows, annoyed with her Jiji.

"No ..." Maria bit her lips to stop the giggle. "You are not a child, but a fully grown up woman."

Khushi looked at her dubiously. "Really?...Then why does everyone treats me like a child? ..woh bhi, Akash bhaiya, and you too"

Shifting closer to her, Maria took her in her arms. "Does that bother you? " Maria asked softly while running her fingers in Khushi's silk tresses.

"Yes ...It does" How will Devi Maiya grant her wish to become a Mother if everyone will treat her like a child. Nani-Maa had told after a girl marries and becomes a woman, she is granted a baby.

"Well, that's because you are the youngest here , that's it..Nothing to make you feel inferior, Khushe"

"I will be 17 soon .." she moved back and smiled.

"Yes .." Maria grinned. "I know...next week it's your birthday ..I know."

Khushi grinned back.

"But still you will be the youngest.." Maria quipped.

Khushi's grin converted into a pout.

Maria laughed and again pulled her in a tight hug. "But you will be 17 , right? ...It sounds good, right?"

Khushi's smiled again and nodded her head.

"Maria, your father is calling you"

Maria turned back to see Jennifer standing behind her, with her same usual expressionless face. Maria stood up, followed by Khushi.

"Thank you for informing." Maria gave a small smile and took Khushi's hand in hers.

"Leave her here, I will drop her to her chamber..You go and meet you Father"

Maria hesitated and looked at Khushi, who was staring at Jennifer. She was not unaware of Jennifer's relationship with her Duke. And by Khushi's curious gaze at Jennifer, she can make out Khushe has no idea who Jennifer Mathews is.

"I am not going to eat her Maria, you can leave her with me."

Maria nodded reluctantly. She had no good excuse to deny Jennifer.

"Khushe, she will drop you to your room. I will see you tomorrow. Take care." She kissed her cheek and left.

Jennifer saw Maria leaving. Once out of vicinity, she moved towards her duchess.

"I am Jennifer Mathews, Mr. Mathews's daughter." she introduced herself, her eyes busy scrutinizing Khuhsi from head to toe.

"Namaste, I am Khushi" She smiled softly. She knows Mr. Mathews. He is a kind man.

"Who doesn't know their duchess's name?" Jennifer's voice came out dry.

"I know the way to my room .. But I like company.." Khushi smiled sunny.

Jennifer's eyebrow lifted at her duchess's cheerful voice and sunny smile.

"Well, I don't ... I prefer seclusion, alone with the people I like " Jennifer said, and saw her duchess's smile faltering a bit. "Shall we move?"

Khushi nodded her head. But this particular company was not giving her any good vibe.

"So you don't like when everyone treats you like a child?" Jennifer asked after few minutes of walking.

Startled by her sudden question, Khushi looked at Jennifer. "Woh ..Hum ...I was telling to Maria Jiji ..."

"That you don't like to be treated like a child..So you should do something to make them believe otherwise, shouldn't you? "

Khushi's step halted, her curious gaze at Jennifer. "What?"

"Like ..." making a thoughtful face, she pretended to look around, and then rested her eyes at the stable in front of them. "Like riding a horse ...you know how to ride a horse?" she looked at Khushi.

Khushi looked at the stable. She knows. She had done that few times, but only on the horses she had known from years and befriended.

"Yes ..but ..."

"Great then, let's get changed into something comfortable.."

"But ..."

"No but ...just ride a horse, and then I will tell everyone how good you were. And no one will treat you like a kid after that, they will believe you are all grown up woman."

The offer was tempting. Just a horse ride to make everyone believe she is not a child. To show them she is all grown up woman.

"Ok but ..."

Jennifer took her hand. "Let's get changed then "She pulled her.

After some time, khushi found herself standing at the same place she was pulled from. But not in the ghaghra choli she was wearing then. Now she stood here, with something similar to what her husband wears.

Jennifer looked at her duchess and smirked. They have changed into a shirt, and breeches with a long boot, and she can see how uncomfortable her Duchess was in this never before worn cloth.

"Ready?" Jennifer asked, and not giving her duchess a chance to say, she pulled her once again and took her towards the stable.

Arnav was seated on a chair in his study room with all the work paper scattered in front of his desk when he heard some commotion. Frowning at the unusual noise, he stood up from the chair and moved towards the window, which gives him a perfect view of his vast backyard. His eyes strained at the wooden fence boundary stretched in a circle. And to his complete horror, he saw Akash come running from nowhere and jump inside the timing track, shouting wildly. And his breath left his body without a warning as he heard what Akash was shouting, making him dizzy. "Kusi..." he whispered, short of breathe, and before he knew, his legs were carrying him out of his study.

"Khushi!!" Akash ran behind the galloping horse, his heart thudding against his ribcage. "Khushi!!! Hold him tight!!! ..Don't lose your grip!!" Akash shouted.

With her eyes blurry with tears, Khushi lay flat on horse's back, her hands tight around his neck. "Please ...please slow ...slow ...I am scared...please ...please ..." Khushi whispered near the horse's ear in her tear-filled voice. "Please .."

Terror filled his body as he saw the horse not turning to take another round, but run straight towards the fence. He ran fast with his heart in his mouth.

Khushi kept whispering, her eyes closed in fear. And then with a sudden jerk, she felt herself flying. She closed her eyes shut for whatever horrible was coming next. But the horrible thing she was waiting for never came as she felt something warm and live beneath her. She lifted her head and opened her misted eyes slowly to collide with a pair of sky blue eyes. "Aka..sh Bhai..ya ..." breaking into uncontrollable sobs, she hugged him with all her might.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he pushed themselves up and stood up. Pulling her away, he looked at her trembling and sobbing form. "What the hell were you doing on that wild horse, Khushi!! What are you wearing? Who gave you this?!" Akash blasted. What if he had not reached in time to catch her? They would have lost her!

Khushi sobbed more. Scared, and embarrassed to share the reason behind doing this, she tried to bury her face in his chest.

Akash sighed and tried to pull her back, but she held his collar tight. "I am asking something, Khushi. ANSWER!!"

She flinched at his tone and sobbed more.

Akash shook his head and picked her in his arms, his own hands trembling. He don't remember being this scared in his entire life. As he neared the fence, he saw his brother standing there, white like a ghost. Akash closed his eyes. This shouldn't have happened. He can almost feel the past demons building a wall around his brother, and soon it will swallow him. He moved forward and kept Khushi on her feet. "Bhai, she is fine ..." catching his arms, he hugged him. "Fine , ..not even a cut on her body ...she is perfectly fine ... " He soothed his hand on his back. "Say something ... "

Khushi stood there, head hung down, sobbing. She can feel his gaze on her. She can hear her Akash Bhaiya asking him to say something, but she heard nothing from him. As it became unbearable for her to stand there, she moved forward, and stood in front of her husband.

Akash moved back as he saw Khushi stand beside him.

"Maaf ...maaf kar dijiye ...I am sorry ... very sorry ..." with big tears leaving her eyes and mixing in the mud, she took her husband's cold hand in hers. "Sorry ... Kuch boliye ... say something ..."

Her heart ached and more sobs left her mouth as she felt him pull his hand away, and without saying a word, he turned and left, leaving her sobbing and wreck.

Hope you all liked it! PMs Later .

@Rishaal, I forgot to answer your query last time, anyways. Arnav calls Khushi , Kusi not coz he is unable to pronounce 'sh' , but because the word Khushi is new to him, he had never heard such name in his entire life, and he just dont know how to rightly pronounce it. He is familiar with his brother's name from childhood, hence he gets 'Akash' correctly.

Res