FF-Kambhakt IshqPart2(Note page 147)Dec21 - Page 94

Part 24

"Thank you, this should be fine." Arohi said, thanking Mrs. Discusso her new landlady. "You're welcome Arohi, please let me know if you need anything." Arohi nodded and watched the woman leave, shutting the door behind her. Looking around her new surroundings, she saw a small bed in the middle of the room, next to it a small table, chair and lamp, on the other side a dresser and in the corner a small bathroom. Sparse, but she didn't need much. Walking to the window she stared outside at the little town infront of her. A draft coming from the window chilled her. She wasn't used to such cold weather, but what did she expect...this was Shimla after all. With a sigh she moved away from the window and walked to her little suitcase. She hadn't brought much, she didn't need much. This was just a stop for a few months until she was able to make some money and then she was planning on leaving this country all together. There were too many memories that she couldn't run away from here. Everywhere she looked, even here, she saw his face. On billboards, on magazines, on the TV...he was everywhere. Pulling out the one picture she did bring of the two of them together she ran a finger softly over his smile. He had a wonderful smile...mischievous, and sweet...and sexy all at the same time. How was that even possible...but with Arjun anything was possible. With him she had believed that she too could be happy. She too could have a family that loved her and...wanted her. But she'd been wrong. Hearing Ishaan Bhai talking to Arjun about what her break down was doing to Arjun had been a wake up call for her. She had no right to drag him into her pain. She didn't want this for him. She couldn't escape it, but she didn't want him to be pulled into it too. But it was inevitable that if he stayed with her, it would happen. Already he was putting his life on hold for her. His career which was so important to him had taken a back seat because of her and she didn't want that. And then there was the pity. Anjali, Arjun's mom, his brother, Sunny...and sometimes she even saw it in Arjun's eyes. Once again she was the outsider. Everyone else standing inside looking at her like she was the odd one out again. She couldn't take those looks anymore...she knew no one did it to hurt her. But hurt it did nevertheless. Leaving him had been the hardest thing she ever done and writing that note had just about killed her. But she needed to protect him. He might not understand it now and she knew he would be angry and hurt, but it was the right thing to do..she needed to protect him from her. He'd already been through so much after his sister died, she didn't want him to have to suffer through even more pain because of her.

She'd chosen Shimla for two reasons, one because the chances of anyone finding her here were slim to none and secondly she had an old college friend who had moved here and was the editor of the local paper. They'd still kept in touch and when she'd emailed him about a job he had readily agreed. The Shimla news was a small paper, with a handful of staff who all seemed friendly enough. But Arohi didn't need nor want friends. Mostly keeping to herself she quickly developed a routine of going to work, and then grabbing some dinner and going straight back to her little room where most nights her dinner would be left untouched and she would end up sobbing herself to sleep. The couple of times her coworkers had tried to make an effort to welcome her into their group she had declined. She just wanted to be left alone, save enough money and then get out of here. It was on her 5th day in her new workplace that Lisa, one of her coworkers approached her. "I was working on an article for our entertainment section but Ajit Sir now needs me to finish something else." "He's asked me to pass this on to you." Handing over a file to Arohi she said. "It's an article that you need to write about super star Arjun Singhania and his new movie." "Something about his new fianc and a wedding date would be good too." she added. Arohi froze and then finally forced herself to speak. "I, I need to interview him?" she asked, willing herself to stay calm. "No, he's not available for interviews right now but his manager Sunny Malhotra will give you some information." "You should be able to write something with that." Lisa replied. Arohi nodded. She couldn't get away even if she tried she thought to herself! And there was no way she could call Sunny. What was she supposed to do now?! Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. Why couldn't she just make a clean break? Why did she need a constant reminder of what she'd lost and never have again! Packing up her things she left the office, walking and remembering. Arjun and her at the beach the first time she was in Chandigarh. How he'd looked in her eyes and held her hand. Arjun and her in the little abandoned house after his car had broken down. How he'd opened up to her. Arjun and her the night he'd proposed and then made love to her. Silent tears slipped down her face as she remembered and mourned. She didn't deserve him she kept repeating to herself but that didn't stop her from wanting him. From needing him..from loving him. Wiping at her tears she willed them to stop. "How much are you going to cry Arohi?" she asked herself bitterly. "You're pathetic!" she told herself in anger. Slowly she made her way to her place, forgetting dinner altogether. Quietly taking the steps up to her room, she fumbled in the dark with her keys. Walking into the room she dropped her keys and her bag on the floor. Reaching for the light switch she saw the power was gone. This was a normal occurrence and she shouldn't be surprised but she did find it ironic that her life had literally been thrown into darkness in more ways then one. Slowly walking to the table she fumbled for her candles and lighter. Swearing as the candle slipped from her hands. Finally getting the candle lit she set it on the table and gasped.

"Who are you?" she whispered, starting to back away from the figure who sat on a chair by the window. A cap covering his head. Just as Arohi turned towards the door she heard "Forgotten me already?!" Arohi turned back slowly. Her heart beating a mile a minute. Her eyes met his dark angry ones, and she felt herself stumble backwards on to her bed. Arjun got up slowly. "Surprised to see me?" he asked, walking to her. Arohi sat up quickly. "Did you really think that Arjun Singhania couldn't find you?!" "Did you really think you could just disappear and I wouldn't find you?!" he snapped. "Arjun, what are you doing here?" You shouldn't be here." she said softly. And the next thing she knew she was being hauled up, and against him. "I shouldn't be here..you're right I shouldn't be here and neither the hell should you!" he said furiously. "Of all the stupid and crazy things...you think that you're going to leave me some stupid note..and I'm going to just let you go on that!" "HELL NO!" "Next time you write a page full of lies make sure your dried tears aren't on it!" he snapped. Arohi felt a lump form in her throat. "They weren't lies Arjun...I..I meant it." "We're not right for each other." she began. Arjun's lips crushing against hers. And just as quickly as he kissed her, he pushed her away. Staring at her with his eyes flashing in anger as the lights came back on. "I am so angry at you Arohi." he said stalking away. "I can't believe you just decided to throw away everything we had all over something stupid that ass Rudra said to you!" "Arjun..." Arohi began. "NO!" "Today I'm going to speak and you're going to listen." "First of all don't you ever do something like this again!" "Do you know how worried I was...you in your state disappearing on me!" "Especially after you just tried killing yourself days earlier!" "How could you do that to me Arohi?" "No, don't answer that...it's pretty apparent to me how you did it!" "You walked out thinking that's it." "I'm going to go live somewhere far away from everyone that loves me." I'm going to leave Arjun because he loves me too much, he cares about me too much and I don't deserve that!" "I deserve to be alone and miserable." "I don't deserve happiness." Arohi bit back a sob as tears streamed down her face. "I"m right aren't I Arohi?!" "You're doing everything to punish yourself." "You are punishing yourself for what your mother's rapist did to her." he said softly. Arohi turned around, her whole body shaking with her sobs. Arjun's arm wrapped around her from behind. "What you don't understand is that you're not a reminder of the rape Arohi." "You're the reason that your mom was probably able to move on." "Your face doesn't remind her of her rapist, it reminds her of good coming out of evil. "Sure you have that man's blood running through you, but you also have your mom's." "That means something." "Why can't you see any of that Arohi?" Why do you feel that you need to atone for someone else's mistakes?!" he asked in a broken voice. "There's no one sweeter, kinder and more loving then my Arohi." "Why would someone like you feel that you're a mistake?" "You can't be...it's not possible." he said against her hair. "Your mom never thought of you as a mistake, if she had she wouldn't have had you." "If you don't believe anything, atleast believe that." Arohi sobbing turned around and threw her arms around Arjun. Arjun squeezed her tightly against him, lifting her off the ground, hugging her so tightly. "I missed you so much baby." he said against her neck. "I, I missed you too." "So much Arjun, I love you so much." she cried. "I love you too baby!" "I could never let you ago." "That letter... when I read that letter...I was so furious and then I was worried about you but one thing I never doubted was that you loved me or could really have a better life without me." "I know that's not true." "As for me being better off without you, that's not possible." "I can't be without you." "I tried it remember, and that was even before I had realized how in love with you I was." "I remember how empty my life was." "So no matter what you're never going to be rid of me." he promised. Arohi pressed her face against his chest. "I'm sorry for leaving Arjun, but I don't want to drag you through all this." "I heard you and Ishaan bhai talking...your family is wonderful I don't want them resenting me for tainting your life with my problems too." she said tearfully. Arjun pulled away and cupping her hands in his face he forced her to look at him. "Arohi, you're a part of that family now too." "My mom isn't as worried about me as she is about you." "Even after you left the first words out of her mouth were "Arjun go find her." "She knows you're in pain and she knows that I'm strong enough to handle it for both of us until you're strong enough to deal with it yourself." "The conversation with Ishaan bhai I don't think you heard all of it because if you had you would have heard me telling him that my relationship with you is the same as his with bhabhi." "I will always stand by you like he stands by bhabhi." "What happened with my sister was hard, was brutal." "But she died...you didn't... and I won't let you either Arohi." he said determinedly. Arohi nodded. "What if I can never move on from this?" she asked softly. "What if this overwhelming feeling of dread and pain never leaves me?" she asked. "We'll deal with it." "It won't be easy but we'll deal with it." he said. Arohi nodded. "What if..." she began. Arjun put a finger to her lips. "What if I was going through something like this?" "Let's say it was reversed and it was me in this situation...would you leave me?" he asked. "Never." she whispered. "And I would never wish this on you." "NEVER!" she said forcefully. "That's not the point, the point is you would stand by me." "Help me through this." "So why would you expect differently from me?" "Why do you think your love is stronger then mine?" he asked. "I don't Arjun, I know how much you love me." "You've been there for me through every thing." "Even when I tried to push you away you were right there to hold me." "I guess I just felt like I didn't deserve it." she whispered. "Well you're wrong!" he snapped. "You're going to be my wife one day, the mother of my children!" "The woman I'm going to live my whole life with, a long life, the woman I'm going to grow old with." "You deserve to be happy...we deserve to be happy!" he said softly leaning down and giving her a tender kiss.

"I'm sorry for leaving, for putting you through all this." she whispered as he held her. "I'm sorry for what's going to happen next..." she began. "Don't be sorry...we'll just take it on day at a time." he said with a smile. "One day at a time but no more rash crazy decisions without talking to me." "These last 4 days were brutal being away from you." he said. "How did you find me anyways?' she asked. Arjun raised a brow. "I'm Arjun Singhania." he replied, as if that answered everything. Arohi looked up at him and gave her first genuine smile in a long time. "Yes, you are." she said hugging him. "Pack your things Arohi we're going home." he said pulling away. "I can't just leave like that Arjun." "I have a job now, I'm even supposed to be writing my first article ironically on you of all people." she said. "Me?" "So we need to spend another day here?" he asked. Arohi frowned. "Probably a couple of days, I can't write it over night." "You go back and I'll come in a few days.' she promised. "Yeah right!" Arjun said shaking his head. "I'm not leaving without you..you've got one day and then I'm due back on set." "Start writing!" he ordered. Arohi stared at him in shock. "Arjun, I promise no more running." "I'll come back." she said. Arjun shook his head and sat down on the chair pulling her into his lap. "Oh I know you'll come back." "I'm just not leaving you." he said. "I haven't been to Shimla since I was a little kid." "I think we should do some sight seeing." he said nuzzling her neck. "Or we could just spend the day in bed...I'd prefer that actually." he said in a husky voice. Arohi shook her head and gave a small smile. He was still as incorrigible as ever. Hearing loud voices outside Arohi stood up. "What's happening out there?" she said, walking over to the window. Suddenly Arjun heard her gasp. "Oh my gosh!' she squeaked. Arjun got up and came to stand behind her and gave an exasperated sigh. "I was hoping they would wait until the morning, he said turning and walking to the door. "Where are you going?" Arohi asked. "Where else but to say hi to my fans." he replied with a smile. Opening the door to loud cheers and whistles stood 100's of young and old alike hoping to catch a glimpse of Arjun Singhania. Arohi should have known that Arjun's whereabouts couldn't and wouldn't be hidden for long. He didn't stay out too long, after waving hi and signing a few autographs he was back. Arohi had gathered her things together knowing that she couldn't stay here now and before she knew it she was being ushered to the awaiting car by Arjun's security. "I didn't want all this to happen.' she said looking out the window. "Everything became so big, I just thought I'd disappear." "I didn't think you'd come looking for me." "Weren't you mad?" she asked. "ofcourse I was mad, I was livid." "But I know you love me, I have no doubt in my mind that you love me." "Running away was your way of self preservation and punishment." "Weird to use both together but you hate being a burden on people, which you haven't been but in your mind that's what you feel, so leaving was a your way to escape from that. And punishment, because in some convoluted way you don't think you should be happy." "Wrong again!" "You know I think I missed my calling in life, I should have been a psychiatrist." he said with a big smile. Arohi laid on her head on his shoulder. "Dr. Signhania, but think about it you wouldn't have all the screaming girls chasing after you." she replied. "You're right, a PHD is no where near as fun as being a movie star." "For one thing I would have missed out on hot journalists lying there where into my home to get an interview." he replied looking down at Arohi. A sigh came from his lips as he saw that she was fast asleep. Teasing her was his way to make her smile, his way to try to bring her back to him. He was going to try his best to make sure she was surrounded by people that loved her, making her realize how much she had to live for and how important she was to so many people. Pressing a kiss on the top of her head , he let her sleep.

Their stay in Shimla was short but sweet. Arohi did finish her article and Arjun met with some fans, promoting his movie while he was there. They didn't sight see but just being together again was more then enough for them.

The next 3 weeks things seemed to be getting better. Arohi had started going for counselling which was helping her a great deal to come to terms with everything that had happened and how she was reacting. Every day she looked a little better, seemed to smile a little more and even went out on her own. When they had returned home Arohi had made Arjun promise to stop taking time off from his movies because of her. She had promised she wouldn't do anything crazy. He was hesitant at first but his gut told him that Arohi would be okay. That she now understood she didn't need to go through this by herself, that he was there to help her. They spent lots and lots of time just talking. About the past, about the present and about the future. Arjun didn't want to pressure her about setting a wedding date but he did hope it was soon. When Arohi had mentioned moving back to her place he was adamant about her staying with him. She'd argued half heartedly knowing in her heart that she didn't want to leave either. Arjun was her sanity, her voice of reason. When she found herself sinking back into depression he was there to tease her back, or sometimes just hold her as she cried. He never told her "Just get over it already!" or "How much longer are you going to obsess over this?" No, he just let her take her time and heal slowly from the blow Rudra Ahluwalia had given her. Almost every day Arohi would look into his face and think how did I get so lucky. Slowly she was learning that sometimes god gave you problems to deal with..huge problems, but with it he also gave you strength. Strength to go on, strength to persevere and more forward. And her god had given her Arjun as her strength. Some days when her depression would weigh her down, making it hard even to crawl out of bed he was there as the reason to pull herself together. To put each foot infront of the other and to move forward.

Arjun let out a irritated breath as he saw a familiar name flash across his phone. Suman. "What does she want now?" he said to himself out loud. He'd been ignoring her calls for the last week. He didn't care if he was being selfish, all he cared about was not having any more of "these people" hurt his Arohi. Where was Suman after everything had happened? And why was she calling now? He'd had Arohi's number changed after everything had happened because he didn't want that Rudra contacting her and harassing her again. Next time Suman called he was going to give her a piece of his mind! Shaking his head he noticed a text come in on his phone. Frowning when he saw it was from Suman. He'd deleted other ones without reading them but something made him finally read this one.

"Arjun I know you're angry and you have every right to be but please just this once listen to what I have to say." "My mom needs to talk to Arohi di, it's so important." "All I can tell you is that everything di was told about her birth...it was a LIE!" "My mom was never raped!" "Please Arjun, if you don't contact me today I'm flying to Mumbai on the next flight in and I won't leave until I can speak to her!"

Arjun stared at the text. His eyes widening in shock. Lies...everything was a lie? But he couldn't trust anyone in that family. They could just be setting Arohi up for even more heart break and pain. She was just starting to get better, this could put her back even more. Raking a frustrated hand through his hair he swore. Staring at his phone for a long time he finally dialled Suman's number.

Okay there's the next part. Hopefully things are a little more clear now. They will become even more clear in the next few chapters. take care and will be updating PTHHT next.