Arshi TS : Undone [COMPLETED] (28/10)

Arnav stared at her dishevel state. Her eyes were swollen, tired, as if been crying from days. He cheeks looked pale, the rosy glow missing. The loose strand from her braid was sticking to her neck and cheek. He tore his gaze from her and looked at the AC in his cabin. The temperature was low. Then why was she sweating? He again looked at her, this time his eyes scanning her cloth. Was she wearing the same dress from yesterday? That knowledge raised a sudden panic in him.

"What is wrong with you?" He kept the file he was holding on the desk and asked her.

"I..I want to talk to you ..." Her voice shook terribly, elevating his panic more.

"I know, that's what my secretary told me. Take the chair."

She walked and sat on the chair.

"What is that you want to talk to me, and what is wrong with you?"

"I..I need money ... 5 lac ...I ..I will repay you ..I will work for free, don't pay me my salary...Anyhow I will repay you, but for now I want the money, please ..." she lifted her pleading dry eyes at him.

Arnav clenched his fist and tore his gaze from her. He don't like pitying people, it makes his feel weak. He is anything but weak.

Khushi Kumari Gupta. His employee of six months. From last six months, he enters his office to see her face first thing in the morning. Cheerfully sitting at her desk and doing her assigned work. Always passing him a sweet smile, which is never reciprocated" but one is showered at him daily, nonetheless. Her sweet enchanting smile never leaves her lips. His body hardened at that thought. Every time he sees her lips moving, all he wants to do is, pull her to him and hold her petite form against him, devouring her sweet mouth. She has been haunting his dreams from months now. She has become an enchantress of his life, a temptation he can't have.

"Please?"

Her tear filled voice broke his reverie and he looked at her. Her eyes were no longer dry now, tears have taken residence there.

"For what?" he asked plainly. He knew his voice was harsh and devoid of any emotion.

"For operation..." she lowered her eyes as tears poured down her cheeks. "For my babu ji's operation."

"Hmm?" he rested his elbow on the desk and leaned in. "What makes you feel I will give you the money? Do you think I am a charity person?" he asked, a deal instantly brewing in his head. This is his chance to have her even without letting her know he wants her.

"No ..no charity..." she shook her head. "I don't want that." She lifted her pained eyes at him.

And something twisted in his heart, too sharp.

"I am ready to work for free..Don't pay me ... I will just work...But I want the money ...You are my only hope ...please .. I love my babu ji ...I don't want to lose him ...I.." she gasped as his fist landed on his mahogany desk. Her fear filled eyes lifted at him.

"Stop with the crying business, will you?" he hissed. "People get ill, people die. What's so earth-shattering in that? " his eyes ragged at her. He wasn't comfortable with her tears. Her tears were doing something to him, infuriating the only emotion he was famous for.

"I know ..." she swallowed a sob and nodded her head. "But I don't want to lose him. I have a chance. I want to save him ...please help me.."

"What if I give you the money and you fly away with your babu ji? Why should I suffer the loss?"

"No no " she shook his head. "I will never do that. I will work for you, all my life. I promise" she said desperately.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Trust me please ...I never lie ... Devi Maiya ki kasam" more tears poured down her cheeks.

God! He clenched his fist. All he wanted to do was, take her in his arms and shush her like a baby. But he has something better in his mind. Giving a last thought to the plan cooked in his head, he started. "I don't trust you"he looked in her frightened eyes, frightened with the thought of losing her babu ji. "But I am ready to give you the money if "he paused, looking at her waiting face. "If you marry me" he dropped the bomb.

Khushi gasped. "Marry ..ma..rry you?..N..o ...I won't"

"Why? Look, this is the only way I will lend you the money. Marry me and take the money. That's it" he said and leaned back, relaxed.

Her teary eyes stared at him, determination shining in his eyes. He will not be swayed by anything. Suppressing the sob, she lowered her eyes and nodded her head.

And thus they got married.

Khushi sat in the bathroom , her knees drawn to her chest. Resting her chin on her folded knees, she stared into oblivion. It's been a year they were married. As promised, he paid for her babu ji's operation. And within a week, they were married. She wasn't happy with the marriage. This is not how she had planned to get married. But when do things go as planned? But from childhood she was taught to make better of whatever was thrown at her. And so she did. She tried to look at it as a real marriage, and forget that it was some deal. That she has taken money to become his wife. Wife? The word echoed in her head, leaving a throbbing pain in its wake. The way he treats her makes her feel anything but a wife.

She sighed and closed her eyes, too tired to even cry. What good will crying do? If her tears held the power to do things alright, everything would have been fine long back. But nothing is right. She rested her cheek on her knees and looked at the white floor, where a pregnancy sticks lay, indicating she is pregnant.

Now she was pregnant. Despite of herself, a tear rolled down her cheek, her vision blurry. They have made a baby. Every night he pulls her in his arms, whispering how he loves holding her, how beautiful she is, how he loves touching her, kissing her. His sweet whisper makes her forget whole day's ignorance, and she finds herself believing his every word. His touch sets her on fire, his every kiss whisks life into her body. And she forgets everything, everything but the man in her arms. She forgets that he goes back to being someone who doesn't want to breathe the same air as her. Who doesn't look at her, doesn't talk to her. It's like the man she sleep every night is someone else. The man at night needs her, wants her, it almost feels like he ...he loves her. But as soon as morning rays fall on earth, he transforms into someone else. As if they have never shared a night together. As if he is not the same man who had held her satiated body against his, as if her life depended on it.

She closed her eyes as more tears spilled out. She is tired of going into bed with him every night, hoping next morning won't be the same, hoping the loving and affectionate man will stay, Next morning she will see the man who had made love to her, not the man who refuses to even look at her. But it never happens.Every morning he walks away from her, leaving an unbearable ache in her chest

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Arnav closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. Two things happened at the same time. A wave of sudden pain hit his chest, and Khushi's hurt eyes flashed in front of his closed eyelids. He struggled to breathe through the sudden pain. It's been a year, and slowly slowly he had seen her drifting away. Day by day the smile fading from her lips. He don't want her to know how much she means to him. With the intensity he wants her, needs her, it scares him. He had seen his Father telling his mother how much he loves her, how much she means to him. And what did it get him? Hurt! Pain! Betrayal! It had cost him his life. More than the pain and hurt, it's the helplessness he dreads. The helplessness he use to see in his Father's eyes. He is not up for that.

He opened his eyes and looked at the frame on his desk. It has his wedding picture. Despite of their marriage being anything like a normal marriage, her lips had curled into a shy smile. Her cheeks glowing red as the photographer asked them to stand closer. He leaned forward and picked the frame. His fingers caressed her cheek. She is beautiful. Beautiful and loving. It warms his heart every time he looks at her. He stared in her eyes, hope so palpable in those deep brown eyes. The hope which he had seen fading as days passed.

He closed his eyes again. And this time an image of her satiated body resting in his arms flashed in front of him. She was so loving, so giving, selfless, giving him everything he asks for. And he, like a selfish bas***d, takes it. Takes it all.

Could he compare this woman to his mother? No! The answer was immediate. One year with her, and he knows she is nothing like his mother. When a heart bared to her, she will tend it, cherish it, love it. But will never take it for granted. He knows that. But still, scared to the bones, he, like a fierce warrior, guards his heart from her. But what good is it doing to both of them? She is hurt, and he can't see her hurt. It hurts him, too. Why to subject her to this misery when he has already lost his heart to her? It's better to bury the demons of past and give a chance to future. A future with his Khushi. A sudden image sprang in front of him"They lay there under thousands of twinkling stars, her sweet smile warming his heart as he stares down at her. Her dark cloudy hair laid spread on her pillow, her flushed face urging him to act on his desire. Her brown eyes shining mischievous at him, and still shyness burning her cheek. - An image of a happy couple, a content couple.

His fingers holding the frame trembled at that thought. A future with the woman he loves, wants, needs at every step of his life. He wants this. He wants a future, forgetting all about his past. And he knows Khushi can help him. Just like every night. As soon as he holds her in his arm, her soft satiny skin against him, he remembers only her. Only the love he has in his heart, only the love he so desperately wants to give her. And he gives her. In that moment, he bares his heart and soul and lays it at her feet.

But as soon as he wakes up, the rational part of his mind dominates him. Telling him all the risks of loving someone, and worst, letting them know how much he loves them. And then like a coward, he bolts out as soon as he can, leaving her hurt.

But not anymore. Bringing the picture close to his face, he kissed her cheek. Today he is going to tell her how much she means to him, how much he loves her, needs her in his life. He will tell her everything, without holding back anything.

Arnav smiled at the bouquet in his hand. Roses. Khushi loves roses. He knows that. Too eager to see her sweet face, he strode inside the house. Dumping his belongings on the living room couch, he all but ran up the stairs. Not caring to knock, and non wanting to make any noise of his presence, he slowly opened the door ajar, and stopped dead in his track.

"Hume yaha nahi rehna , Babu ji ...Hume apne saath le chaliye"

Her heart-wrenching sobs reached his ears, making it difficult to draw the next breath. She clung to her Babu ji as if her life depends on him.

"Khushi, first stop crying please. Listen to me. Tell me what happened." Shashi Gupta tried to pull her away to look at her, but she held him tight.

"He doesn't love me, babu ji ...He doesn't ..he" her cheeks burned with shame, but she needs to tell him all. She wants to go away. She can't take it anymore. Not now when she has a child to take care of. "I feel like... like he has bought me ... I am just paying him back by ..by .." she broke into another sob.

"Shh ...Khushi, stop crying. I will take you with me ... stop crying, sweetheart." Shashi Gupta hugged his daughter. And for the life of him, he couldn't understand what was wrong. He had seen the way Arnav looks at Khushi, his eyes full of love and tenderness. He cares for her. So what went wrong?

"Stop crying now. It isn't good for your health" He pulled her away from the hug and heard a noise from behind. He turned his head to look at Arnav, who stood there, looking pale like a ghost. He looked at Khushi, her eyes wide in shock. He cupped her cheek and made her look at him. "Khushi, I will leave you both alone.." Khushi started to protest, but he shook his head. "No, listen to me. I will leave you both alone. Talk it out And if you still want to leave, then I will take you with me. I promise." Not waiting for her reply, he kissed her forehead and stood off the bed.

Shashi Gupta stopped in front of Arnav. "I know you love her." he said, and saw the hurt in his eyes replaced by surprise. "I don't know what's wrong, but fix it before it's too late, Arnav." And with that he left the room, leaving both of them alone.

Arnav picked the bouquet from the floor, where it had fallen, and dragged his lifeless body towards the bed. Sitting in front of her, he extended the flowers to her. "Don't leave me.."

A fresh batch of tears rolled down her cheeks. It wasn't an order, it was a plea. She just stared at him, not knowing what to do or say.

"I heard you...I.." he took her hand in his. "I am sorry if I made you feel that way, that wasn't my intention.."

"They why?"

The pain in her voice hurt him. He lifted his eyes to look at her.

"I know whatever I am going to tell you isn't an excuse for the way I treated you, but ...but I want to tell you this ... I hope you can forgive me and give me a chance ... My ..my mother wasn't a good wife, neither a good mother. Still my father loved her. But all she gave him was pain and hurt. I have seen him in pain, helpless, just because he loved a woman. I never wanted that for myself.. That scares me ... I was scared, Khushi...I feel the same emotions for you which I use to see in my Father's eyes for my mother. It scared me." Leaving her hand, he cupped her cheek. "But know I know you are not like my mother, never were. It was always my fear. I am sorry for that. Every morning I left you, I know you were hurt, and so was I. But I let it continue, thinking I am shielding myself from bigger heartbreaks. But not anymore. Now I have decided to not let my past dominate my present and future. I ..I love you , Khushi ... I do ..If...if you still want to leave me, then I understand ...but not to never return, Khushi ...Hurt me like I have hurt you, but done leave me for good.. Please ..Are you leaving me, Khushi?" His haunted eyes looked into her teary ones.

With a sob, she launched herself in his arms. "Every morning you wake up and leave me. You run away from me as fast as you can. I thought you hate me. You can't tolerate to see my face."

"God! Khushi , that's not true. I told you my reasons. That's not true." He hugged her fiercely.

"You made me feel that way ... you.."

"I am sorry ..very sorry ..Just give me a chance , khushi I will spend every second of my life showing how much I love you. How much you mean to me."

Khushi rubbed her wet face on his shirt's sleeve and pulled away. She looked down, her face all red. "I want to tell you something ...no ,I want to show you something" she stood off the bed and ran into the bathroom.

Arnav looked at her puzzled as she came out of the bathroom, her right hand behind her back. She came and again sat in front of him. "Want to show you something.." she said and pulled her hand from behind her. "This..."

Arnav looked at the stick forwarded towards him, confused. "What is this?"

"This ..this is pregnancy stick.."

Arnav just stared at her, too shock to say anything. "What? Are you ... are you pregnant, Khushi..?" he all but stammered.

Khushi nodded her head, her head lowered. Not hearing anything for him, despair filled her heart at once. But soon warmth enveloped her. A low sob left her body. She lifted her hand and hugged him back. "You are happy, aren't you? You will love the baby?"

"Yes. ...Yes, Khushi , I am happy ..You can't imagine how happy I am .. I will love you and the baby my whole life... I love you.." he pulled away from the hug and smiled at her, happiness evident in his eyes. "No more fear, no more running ..." He promised.

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Arnav held her close to his thudding heart and kissed her forehead. "I love you. .." he whispered in his hair.



Khushi smiled and snuggled more into his warm chest. "I love you, too"

"I know. ." He pulled away from her and looked at her loving face. Her dark hair spread against a white pillow, her eyes shining with world of love, her lips thoroughly loved. Presenting a perfect picture of a temptress. Probing on his elbow, he caught the sheet covering her and tried to pull it away, but she held it.

"Arnav ji" she protested.

Arnav chuckled and laid his head back on his pillow. "Just like the dream" Arnav whispered as he stared at the stars.

"What dream?" Khushi asked. But before she can get her answer, they heard a soft cry.




Arnav put the trouser hurriedly and went towards the crib. He saw his little baby scrunching her little red nose in annoyance. He chuckled and picked his precious in his arms. "Hungry, baby?" He nuzzled her cheek and settled beside Khushi. Keeping his daughter beside Khushi, he laid beside them and probed on his elbow. He saw his daughter latch forward, her cheeks moving rapidly as she filled her empty stomach. Mesmerized by the beautiful scene in front of him, he held the back of her tiny head. "She is so beautiful, Khushi" he looked at her. "And you are amazing"

Khushi smiled. "You are amazing, too"

Arnav's phone rang. He picked it up. "Yes Hari prakash? ...OK..." disconnecting the call, he looked at Khushi. "Electricity is back. Do you want to go downstairs? " he asked.

Khushi shook her head. She was enjoying the cool breeze and the sky full of stars.

Arnav smiled. He looked at his daughter clued to Khushi's chest. "This is better than the dream" he said as he caressed his daughter's soft hair.

Khushi sighed."which dream, Arnav ji?" This is the second time he had mentioned the word dream.

He shook his head and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Every day was like a dream, one better than the other. And he was so glad he had bared his heart to her. The love she has showered on him at a mere glimpse of his bared heart had undone him, to never fear anything ever.

This was an OS, but got too long, so broke it in 2 parts+ Epilogue! Hope you all liked it! I will start updating my stories from this week. Sorry for making you all wait for so long :)

This TS is dedicated to my friend Auru(AdorableDevil) because she asked me to dedicate something to her 😆...and also coz she is one real real real sweet friend.