ARSHI FF: COLOUR ME IN LOVE : PART 50 11/10/19 PG.82 - Page 30

Payal is a strong willed girl. She did the right thing for a time being.

great update. Loved payal here

I am so happy to see khushi' sisters standing up for her and taking up responsibilities. Arnav's attitude has cost him a lot but it has also paved way to make him a better person too.

Very emotional update. Esp when payal was explaining to akash.

Starting to read the story again...

Few things question:
When does Arnav first meet Khushi..,the second chapter or first...it mentions garden...was it when he was having hots for Dia...

Why does he get engaged to Dia first if he wants Khushi..,,cud not get it...for me A's character here is not redeemable any more...his first priority is still Arnav which does not sit with me...

Glad P walked out on A

Please do not tell me just A's apology worked and K will be all fine again...he still needs to suffer...a lot of lessons to learn...

Loved it! In between travel so will comment in detail later

Arnav is just incredible nw he has caused a rift btwn Akash n Payal...really dnt blame Payal for leaving Akash cos for some insane reason he always stand by Arnav after every wrong he does. Glad Khushi can trust Arnav's family n nly right dey are furious cos of wat he did. Good to see Khushi responding...hope she recovers soon!! n Arnav, I tink its a little to late to regret da damage he has done.

PART 35:

TWO DAYS LATER...

He'd been working from home since the first meeting with Dr. Nishita and Khushi, needing to go back to work as he had left most things outstanding at the office. Akash was coping as best he could, but there was a lot to be done, what with the stress of Payal having not returned since she left to Chandigarh. Understandably, even Ajay and Dia has railed and cursed him for his actions, but in the end, when he explained the circumstances, Ajay had somewhat understood, Dia not so much. Two days ago, Ajay had asked him if it was okay for Dia who had returned with Payal from Chandigarh the previous day, to visit Khushi. He thought it was still too soon, or perhaps he was being selfish knowing that in a day or two, he would have to let Payal come and take her.

Lightening flashed outside, and he looked up at the window to see storm clouds had gathered outside, even as dusk was settling all over the city. Immediately, his mind went back to that cursed day in Chandigarh. It all seemed so stupid now, what he had done. In the hours it took to get to Chandigarh, he realized he could have calmed himself down and had a rethink, but he was juiced up on raging hormones and frustration. He could have chosen a different route other than trying to punish her into being his wife.

Khushi, he thought suddenly, would she be able to get through this storm without having some sort of episode? He knew Anjali was her primary caregiver, so perhaps he would have to talk to her about it. He opened the door to see they were all seated down to dinner. Remembering what the Doctor had said, he schooled his expression into one of nonchalance and walked over to the table and took his usual place at the head. He noticed everyone looking at him in apprehension, seeing as Khushi was seated to his right.

She didn't react as she normally would, shrinking away from him in apprehension. Rather it was everyone else whose eyes kept swinging between them, waiting for a reaction. He calmly spooned a portion of rice into his plate. Lifting the sauted vegetables, he spooned a generous helping unto his plate, before ladling a portion of the lamb curry on the side.

All done, he grabbed his fork and dug in, not saying a word to anyone. He'd taken several helpings before realizing Khushi wasn't eating. Her plate was full as Anjali had dished out her meal before he arrived at the table.

"Khushi, are you okay? he asked softly.

"Arnav, I don't think...

He held up his hand to silence Anjali, "Khushi? he asked again, not waiting for anyone else's interruption, "Surely you're not angry with the food?

She seemed to frown a little at that, then pushed to her feet and stalked away, heading back to the Study from which he had come, surprising even him.

"Now look what you've done, Dadi began, "You didn't have to...

"Dadi, enough, he said finally, fixing her with a stern gaze, "I've had enough of all of you treating me like a leper, for something I did to none of you but that woman. If I owe anyone an explanation, it's only to her. So while I appreciate all your help and concern, please stay out of my relationship with my wife.

Taken aback by his directness, Dadi opened and closed her mouth, but no sound came out. She looked to Shyam for help but he shrugged, not wanting to get involved.

"Suman, he called the closest maid, "Please get a tray and bring my food to the study.

So saying, he pushed himself to his feet, sent a general glare of warning in everyone's direction before heading to the Study to join Khushi. He found her by the window, watching the rose bushes bend as the heavy winds forced them in all kinds of directions. He saw her shake involuntarily and knew exactly where her subconscious mind must be, and made the decision to close the blinds. He went around her to shut the blinds.

He turned around to face her, watching her small frame shake slightly. Rather than focus son that, he took another route, "Khushi, I don't know why you're upset, but can you please eat a little? You need to keep up your strength.

Suman rapped on the door, and opened to enter with the tray carrying his food and a huge pitcher of lemon water. She dropped it on the table and quickly exited.

"Will you eat with me? he asked, coming to stand exactly behind her. "I've been eating alone for the last week and...it's truly unbearable.

He watched as she turned her head to look over her shoulder, her eyes down cast. Going out on a limb, he held his hand out to her, not saying anything else. He waited, as she seemed to be thinking it over. Thunder rumbled in the sky and instinctively, she turned and sliding past his outstretched hand, grabbed him around his waist, tremors going through her small frame.

"Calm down baby, he said, instinctively wrapping his hands around her, gently rubbing her back as she whimpered in his arms.

Intimacy addict that he was, he savored the feel of her in his arms, knowing that for the first time in almost five and a half months, she came to him herself.

"Shhh, calm down. It's only wind, he whispered to her, "...and a little thunder. Just breathe...it'll pass. You're okay.

He wasn't sure how long they stood there, but she suddenly started to move away from him and he let her withdraw from him but kept her in his embrace.

"Khushi, the food is getting cold. Will you eat with me? he asked her, trying to lift her chin with his finger, but she jerked her head away, keeping her eyes downcast, "Come on my love, he coaxed her, "I'm very hungry, and I won't be able to eat knowing you haven't eaten. Help me please?

She seemed to be considering it, then slowly extricated herself from his embrace and went to sit on the chair in front of his desk, in front of the tray of food. He smiled at her action. Yes, his wife was still very much the same. He went to sit beside her in the adjacent chair. Taking the fork, he spooned some rice and veggies and held it a breath away from her mouth as he had seen Anjali do many times over the last few days. Watching the movement of emotions, slight as they were, gauging her reaction. He waited until she cracked her mouth open a bit and he slipped the spoon inside. She chewed slowly. He waited till she was done, to feed her another spoon but she looked away.

"Khushi, you need to... he tried following her mouth with the spoon but she wouldn't allow him feed her again. He frowned, before realizing what she meant, "Acha baba, I'll eat too. He spooned a generous amount into his mouth and chewed happily, "See? I ate. Now you eat.

Just like that, they continued to eat, though the food had become lukewarm and bordering on cold but he had to admit, this was the best meal he'd eaten in a long, long time. He realized what his mother meant when she used to say the best meal she had ever eaten was any meal she ate with his father. Yes, he understood a lot of things in this moment. He held the glass to her mouth. She drank slowly until the cup was almost empty.

"Lo, you didn't even leave any for me, he teased her gently, finishing off the glass of water. Turning to face her, he took her hands, trying to look into her lowered face, "Thank you Kumari. You gave me the best gift anyone has ever given me today.

She shifted uncomfortably, and removed her hands from his gentle hold, scooting away from him and turning her body ever so slightly away from him as she focused on the shiny polish of the armrest of the chair. Arnav frowned, wondering at her sudden behavior.

"Did I say something wrong? he asked, scooting closer to her, "I'm sorry if I... he paused when he saw the color staining her cheeks, "Are you...blushing Kumari?

She stood to her feet and walked toward the door, stopping just before it. Starting to play with the edge of her dupatta. He smiled fully now, understanding her body language. She was shy. He stood and went to her.

"My dear, I know as it is I shouldn't be making any demands of you, but if you will... He paused, unable to resist as he reached out and placing a hand on her shoulder, turned her round to face him, "have breakfast with me tomorrow, you would make me the happiest man on earth. He watched her almost rip the edge of her dupatta, and taking her hands, he extricated them from the piece of cloth and held fast when she tried to pull away. He asked softly, imploringly, "So will you?

While he waited for some expression to flit across her expressive face or some movement of her body to decipher what her answer was, there was a rap on the door, and it immediately opened to admit an anxious looking Anjali, she stopped in her tracks on seeing the intimate act before her. Again Khushi tried to extricate her hands from Arnav and he wouldn't let her, shooting daggers at Anjali for interrupting them.

"Do you need something Di? he asked sternly.

"I'm...I'm sorry but it's time for her bath,' she said, looking curiously from one to the other, as Arnav finally let her go.

Khushi literally almost ran to Anjali, her face aflame as a small smile tugged at Arnav's lips watching her go. He saw Anjali's surprised look as it spied the empty plate on the table, before she led Khushi away. Yes, he knew she would be wondering what he had said or done to make her eat without a fuss, but that was none of their business. He hoped she would join him tomorrow... he really hoped.

...

He must have fallen asleep on the couch in the Study, because he was awakened by the thunderous boom overhead that rattled the window panes. Damn. The rains were torrential as they beat down mercilessly on everything within the city indiscriminately. He stretched as another ominous flash of lightening rent the sky and as if in response, the power went out seconds before a loud crack announced the thunder's answer to the lightening with the accompanying boom.

He sat up immediately as a thought dawned on him. Khushi! He jumped up and tore out of the Study, racing upstairs to his room, fumbling with his phone as he went. Just as he was getting to the door, he was able to turn on the flashlight on his phone. He opened the door without knocking, as he didn't even think anyone could hear over the howling winds and heavy downpour. He beamed the light straight at bed and found it empty. His heart stopped beating as panic almost overtook him. He dashed to the bathroom and threw the door open, beaming the lights in every direction, even at the shower stall but he was nowhere to be found. He came back into the room and searched everywhere but still couldn't find her. He was on his way out to go search the whole house when someone barreled into him, knocking him down to the bed. He umphed as the wind was momentarily knocked out of him. Before he could react further, the gentle smell of coconuts and jasmine assailed his senses and the curtain of her hair that covered his face let him know exactly who it was... Khushi.

Oh thank heavens, he thought, as his hands involuntarily went around her, holding her terribly shaking frame close. She was fine.

"Khushi...darling...where were you? he asked trying to brush her hair away from her face but she burrowed her face deeper into his chest, refusing to let up as her arms squeezed tight around his middle.

The sudden dampness on his shirt let him know she was crying. He did the only thing he knew had calmed her in the past, though in retrospect, he realized she only calmed down so he wouldn't get into it with her sister or his best friend. He gathered her into his arms and cradled her much like a baby, scooting toward the headboard so he could lean against it while he carried her in his lap. He gently rocked her even as she clutched his shirt for dear life.

"I'm here now darling, he whispered in her ear, "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you ever again. It's just the rains okay? Nothing will happen...

The rains showed no mercy and kept going strong for at least another hour. Thinking fast, he had gone online and found some soothing music that could play for long stretches of time and in spite of the noise of the rains and thunder, played it as loud as the phone would allow to soothe his anxious and scared wife. Anything to help settle her nerves. He knew this would happen if it rained, and thank God he had awakened when he did. She might have gotten worse by morning, he thought, as a small thunder rumble shook the doors and windows again. He clutched him harder, doing her best to disappear into his skin. He held her close, letting her head rest on his chest and willing her to hear his steady heartbeat and be calmed by it. He gently rubbed her back in a soothing manner, all the while talking softly to her.

He didn't know how long they must have sat there, but they must have fallen asleep at some point because when he opened his eyes, the rain had slowed to a gentle pitter patter outside with occasional flashes of lightening. The only light in the room still came from his phone, but it was bright enough to illuminate the whole room. The music had stopped playing and he looked down to see Khushi was sleeping peacefully in his arms. He decided to lay her down. Maneuvering ever so gently, he threw back the blanket and scooting to the middle, slowly deposited a sleeping Khushi on the bed. He brushed her hair away from her face, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she slept.

Satisfied she wouldn't wake, he made to leave but then she whimpered in her sleep, stopping him from getting off the bed. Making a decision, he arranged the blanket around her, and making sure to keep distance between them, he lay down next to her. That way when she woke up, she wouldn't be scared to find she was alone with him.

He would protect her...as he always had...

TBC...

Me first!!!!

You have always portrayed khushi very strong now I can't seem to connect with this weak khushi. What has Arnav turned her into?

You have a fine story going on here.