Chapter One
Arnav Singh Raizada was a man who ruled his destiny, at least he thought so. That was until the storm called Khushi Kumari Gupta hit him in the face. There was nothing usual about their relationship. Unusual first meeting, unusual hatred, unusual love and then again, unusual hatred. Never before had two lovers possibly convinced themselves that they hated each other. Completely, irreversibly, irrevocably.
In the veil of this hatred was a love so deep that it touched their souls. It hurt them to hurt each other and yet they never let go of any opportunity of doing exactly that - hurt each other..
And today was no different. The very thought that Khushi might be out to harm herself had constricted his heart. He had looked everywhere, but the crazy woman had decided to hide herself from him. After trying to reach her, call her for the hundredth time, he threw up his hands in desperation.
Just then, a pebble hit him bang on the head. He looked up in the direction from which it came..and lo! ..there she was!
A momentary relief flooded him to see she was alright ... momentary.. because as soon as he realised where she was, he sprinted as if there was no tomorrow. carefully perched upon the terrace wall... eyes shut...nervously trying to put her foot forward.. trying to jump off..
He didn't realise when he reached the terrace and bellowed - "Khushi!"
She turned around.. Her eyes wide.. clearly she was not expecting him to come there.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What are you doing here? You..you... you go away.. Let me die in peace."
"What the .. Why on earth do you want to die?"
"I know everything. You were anyways going to kill me. I heard you talking to Lavanya ji...you want to get rid of me. You love her but you married me only because there is some issue with your Kundali(horoscope)"
"Kundali? What nonsense? You know I don't believe in all that. And who said I love Lavanya.. I don't love her.. I guess I never did.. "
"You are lying"
"No. I'm not"
"Then tell me why you married me"
Silence...
"See, you have nothing to say. I know the truth. I don't want to give you the satisfaction of killing me. If I have to leave the world, I'll leave it on my own terms.."
"Khushi, stop !"
There was a different look in her eyes today. Arnav could not tell exactly what that was. Was it pain? He should have been rejoicing to see her in pain. But her pain was making him feel suffocated.
"Jaate jaate humein aapse koi shikva nahin hai.. Par ek baar aap humse keh kar to dekhte.. Phir bina koi sawaal kiye hum aapke raaste se hat jaate..aapne humse yeh baat kyun chhupayi?.. Aur Lavanya ji .. humein to laga tha woh humaari dost hain.unhone bhi humse yeh baat chhupayi.. Ab jab aap dono ek doosre se pyar karte hain .. to phir hum kaun hote hain aap dono ke beech mein..."
(I don't have any hard feelings .. but you could have told me. I would have willingly stepped aside. I thought Lavanya was my friend.. Even she lied to me. You both love each other.. And I dont want to come in between.)
"Aap unse pyar karte hain aur hum..."
(You love her.. And I..)
She paused and looked up, her tears threatening to spill over.
Why did she stop ? He could not understand why it was important for him to hear her out. Why was there suddenly the need to know whom she loved? He hated her, didn't he? Then, why? What was that accusing look in her eyes? He hadn't loved Lavanya.. Never.. He had only loved...her. Finally the fear of losing her forever made him accept this fact to his own mind, to his own heart. But what had she done? She had two timed him and gone ahead and had an affair with his much married jijaji. Or had she? If she loved Shyam, why is she trying to commit suicide? Why is the thought that he loved Lavanya tormenting her? Why did she leave him her stars? Her most prized possession. It symbolised her parents. It was almost sacred for her. Was there a chance he had misunderstood her? Did she love...him? Is that why the realisation that he love Lavanya drove her to this? His mind was asking questions at billion by the second.
He came out of his reverie and saw that she was just on the edge. One step and she would be...
"Khushi, watch out !"
Just as Khushi turned to look back, she lost her balance and then all he could hear was a loud scream. It was the scream of a 14 year old boy who could not save his mother from committing suicide. But he will save her. He lunged forward, trying to get hold of her..but all he could manage was a brush of hands. She was falling down. As if the wind was taking its time carrying her feather-weight body to the ground.
She had fallen with a thud. There was a pool of blood all around her. Arnav froze where he was. Arnav Singh Raizada was helpless. He did not know what to do. Her scream was battering his ears. For the second time in his life, Arnav Singh Raizada had failed to save a loved one.
Chapter 2 (sneak peak) coming next Friday
"Aapke bachane se humein girna zyada pasand hai"
"Bhul gaya tha main .. girna to tumhari fitrat mein hai"
...
She opened her eyes slowly..
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
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