Hello everyone!!! Thank you so much for the comments and likes of the last chapter! They were the most number of likes after the first chapter😳 Thank you so much everyone for your support. And I apologise for the delay, hope the length of the chapter makes up for it😳 Without any further ado, here goes:
Before you read the chapter, the last one ended in the present time where Purvi is crying for Arjun to come back. Initially she was remembering what happened 6 months back, but she came back to the present (after the whole sari scene) when she was called, then she cried calling out to Arjun. After that:
CHAPTER 7:BITTERSWEET
Archana was worried for her darling daughter. Purvi had no interest in living, she barely smiled and when she did, it never reached her eyes, she did not take care of herself at all, she was like a living corpse in one sense and a machine in another considering she worked all day long and did everything she was told yet did not do anything for herself.
She missed Arjun a lot. She had become robotic after he left. She worked at the office all day long, barely eating; missing most of her meals unless forced by the elders, she overworked herself and then went home late at night and went to sleep with Arjun's photo clutched tightly to her heart. The beautiful bright colours from her life faded away and life became dull for her. She had no interest in anything but her belief was firm that he will come back. He will come back for her, for his love, for their love.
Archana saw the turmoil her daughter was in. And she understood it very well. She tried talking to Purvi, explaining to her that he is not going to come back but to no avail. She refused to believe. She had firm belief that he will return, her love will make him come back to her. Archana called Purvi a few times but got no response, so she walked to Purvi's room. She had actually come to visit Purvi after inquiring of her health from DK. He complained that she barely ate or did the things she used to love anymore. She had immersed herself in the office work. Although she was forced to eat, she would never complete her food. As she entered the room, she saw her darling daughter sitting on the bed and a frame clutched so tightly in her hand as though her life depended on it. She did not need to see the frame to know whose photo it will contain; it must be Arjun's.
Archana looked at the state of the room and realised it was a very beautiful room with photos of Arjun and Purvi all around, that contained memories of their happy times. Memories, only memories. Her gaze then fell on Purvi who was sobbing, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes teared seeing the apple of her eyes in such a state. She composed herself to go and talk to Purvi.
"Purvi," Archana called her but still no reply.
Even after calling her a few more times, she received no response. So she went to her and sat next to her. Archana held her by her shoulders and that is when Purvi saw her mother.
"Aai!" She cried and hugged her tightly.
She cried in her mother's warm and loving embrace. "Aai, please tell Arjun to come back nah. I don't know why he is not listening to me. Please Aai, please tell him. I am sure he will listen to you. I know he is playing a joke on me. Wait till he comes back, I won't spare him! Aai please tell him nah!"
Seeing Purvi that way, Archana's eyes shed tears. How could she see her daughter that way, suffering so much, yet not able to help? How? And why?
"Purvi dear, he is not going to come back! Why don't you agree? It has been 3 months dear, 3 months since he left! He is not coming back."
"No Aai, don't say that. I know he will come back. My Arjun will come back to me! He will! I know he is just playing a prank and he will come back!"
"Purvi," Archana tried to calm her down. "Purvi what have you done to yourself?!" Archana cried.
"Ok, let us do this, why don't you come home with me. Manav, Teju and everyone else are there, waiting for you. Han. Let us go today; you come back a few days later."
"No, Aai. What if Arjun comes back? And I won't be there to see him? No Aai, I have to be here when he comes and I have to scold him as well for playing this horrible prank on me!" Purvi refused again, like she had in the last 3 months. Archana and Manav tried convincing Purvi to go to their house at least for a few days, but every time Purvi would refuse. Her daughter had changed and she could not do anything. She was adamant on staying in the Kirloskar mansion and in hers and Arjun's room. Archana could not force her anymore.
To change the topic she asked Purvi whether she had eaten or not. Purvi declined which led to Archana trying to convince her. Finally Purvi agreed when Archana told her that if she wants to see Arjun and fight with him when he comes back, she will have to eat. Archana fed Purvi herself with tears in her eyes thinking how her daughter's life changed drastically. After making Purvi eat, Archana convinced her to sleep on her (Archana's) laps while she (Archana) sang a lullaby to her. Purvi lied on the bed with her head on Archana's laps, she did not let go of the photo frame even for a minute and she held it close to her heart. Archana patted her daughter on the head and sang the lullaby so that Purvi could go to sleep. Purvi finally drifted off to sleep. Archana continued patting on her head for a while after which she carefully moved and put a pillow under Purvi's head, put the blanket/ duvet over her, kissed her on the forehead and sat beside her on the bed. After a while she too drifted off to sleep.
FLASHBACK
She came down for breakfast all ready slightly nervous as she had to make breakfast for DK and Arjun. It was not that she had not cooked before; she had, ample of times but she had to for the first time, cook for her husband and father-in-law. She had cooked for Arjun before during the days he used to live in the chawl, but this was different. She greeted DK while Arjun stood there giving her a cheeky smile and he winked at her. With naughtiness in his eyes and a cute smile on his face he signalled to her about whatever happened earlier in the morning, teasing her while she felt embarrassed, she was not going to show him that hence she shrugged him off.
Arjun let her be for a while but he was already plotting revenge in his mind for both the instances (the morning one where he almost kissed her and now where she ignored him.) Purvi was in the kitchen making dough for the puris to be eaten with kheer (rice pudding) when she felt his breath on her neck. Her breath got stuck in her throat. She tried asking him to leave once she gained composure, "Arjun, please leave, I have to make the puris for breakfast, see I am already late. Please."
But he paid no heed. His hands snaked around her waist; he pulled her closer knowing she could not do anything as her hands were full of paste of flour and water. He went closer to her and whispered in her ear, "So Mrs. Kirloskar, you were having fun laughing in the morning weren't you? What can you do now sweetheart?"
Her heartbeat got rapid due to the nearness, chills ran down her spine. His hands roamed around her waist while he started kissing her on her neck, ear, and head. How could she work when her husband was intoxicating her?!
"Arjun, please leave, I have work to do, you can take your revenge later. Please, let me work for now, we are already late for breakfast and what will dad (DK) think, that his daughter-in-law is lazy, a late sleeper and all that, please."
"How am I stopping you from doing your work? I haven't even held your hands honey, you continue making your puris while let me do my work." He murmured while continuing to kiss her.
She could not continue at all after hearing him. "Arjun please..."
"Do you need help honey, let me help you," saying that his hands reach hers to help her make the dough, when she spots the bag of flour. Having a smirk on her face and a glint of naughtiness in her eyes, she reached for the flour, dipped her hand in it, turned around and smeared it all over Arjun's face.
He was taken aback, not at all expecting what had just happened. The look of shock on his face made her burst out laughing while he had a pout on his face. He could not even take revenge without her spoiling it. He reached for the flour but she ducked in time.
"Purvi, is the breakfast ready? Manav and Archana will be coming soon to pick you up for the grah pravesh."
Purvi gave an angry look at Arjun which said, "see all because of you!"
Arjun decided to leave before she said anything to him with a pout on his face. They both laughed at each other's reactions when they were out of sight.
Purvi got back to rolling the dough and managed to serve the breakfast on time. DK and Arjun loved the food and blessed her with gifts (shagun) as it was her first cooking in the house. DK gave her a family heirloom while Arjun gave her a beautiful diamond ring. Soon after Archana and Manav came to pick up Purvi. It is supposed to be the girl's brother who goes to pick up the newlywed sister from her in-laws but due to the tension in the family, ArMaan went to pick her.Purvi went to collect her stuff and get ready to leave and Arjun followed her after a while.
"Purvi, I got you something, for the shagun." He said as he entered the room. Purvi was facing the mirror checking her appearance and packing some of her items in her hand bag.
"But Arjun you already gave me the ring nah."
He went behind her and placed something around her neck. Feeling something cold on her neck, Purvi looked to see a locket adorning it. She opened it to find a picture of her and Arjun's where he is back hugging her. She smiles with tears in her eyes and he looks at him from the mirror. They have an eye lock of a few seconds before she turned to hug him. He always knew what to give her and when to give it.
"How did you know I would love this more than the ring? And how comes you did not give this to me outside?"
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead as a reply. He knew her well and understood her emotions and how she found happiness in the smallest of the things. He knew that she would be happy with him if he had to live in a small house with barely any food, she would be happy with whatever little they had and that is what he loved about her; her simplicity, her reasons for her smile, her smile, her laughter, her innocence, her nature, fighting for the good, her concern for her family and EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.
Her hug tightened as she felt tears roll down her cheeks, soon he felt his shirt slightly wet. He turned to look at her and saw her tears.
"Hey, why are you crying baby? What happened?"
She looked up at him and in to his eyes as she said, "how did I get so lucky?"
"We both did." He replied looking at her intently. And she smiled at him.
"Purvi," Archana called out to her.
"Coming Aai," she replied.
She turned to look at Arjun who had a cute pout on his face. "I will miss you. Come soon."
She stood on her tip toes and gave him a kiss on his cheeks. "I love you," she whispered to him.
He was pleasantly surprised and held her hand as she tried running away. He pulled her closer, bent down and kissed her on her lips. The kiss was full of love, passion, and intensity. It was a kiss of conveying their love for each other and passing a message on how much they will miss each other. He pulled her closer; his hands were tight around her waist while hers were around his neck.
None wanted to part, but "Purvi where are you dear, we are getting late."
As they pulled apart, she felt shy and looked down while he smiled at her, "have fun and miss me baby. "
She smiled at him and he kissed her forehead. "I love you too," he whispered.
They both went downstairs together, holding hands.
Thank you for reading😳
Hope you guys like it, I have no idea what I have written😆 Really!
Please hit the like button and please comment guys, it really means a lot!!!
Have a good day all😃
Edit: And thank you Mansi😃 Guys if you like the first part of the chapter, it's because after she read it I posted it😳
Next Chapter, Pg 29: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/pavitra-rishta/3901765/arvi-ss-jaane-kyun-note-page-32
Edited by PrincessAshVik - 10 years ago
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