Khushi, as she reminisced the events of the day, she realized that Arnav must have had known about her meeting with Saxena even before she informed. Ofcourse he had to, for all the safety checks he keeps on me. A small smile played on her face as she murmured within herself. But tonight is the biggest and the best night in her life, for what he did without raising a question. Knowing him, it was very clearer to her that the decision to stop himself from stopping her must not have been easy.
Serving innocent and unfortunate women had become the most passionate decision of her life and the fact that he got involved without invading her space, without hurting her ego, meant a lot to her and also made her realize that his care for her had not gotten any less even after the separation. And she couldnt have asked for a better man to take her side tonight, protecting her and allowing her to protect other women.
Although she felt elated with the astounding realization, she couldnt ignore the fact that he is being very submissive lately, relenting to anything and everything she does these days, which is not the character she was fond of. With each passing day, she could clearly make out the pain in his eyes which started tormenting her unable to comfort him.
But just like olden days, with his one simple gesture, he healed her in turn, masking his own tremors and buried the entire bitterness he once seeded in her, better late than never. The moment was like a much needed breath of air, as she couldn't help fall in love with him again this night. He snatched her already stolen heart one more time, proving that she can never be wrong about him, proving that no matter what life throws at them, whether they stay apart in a feet distance or states away, they can never stop loving each other.
As if the euphonious chorus of nightly waves conveyed her inner thoughts to him, his brawny fingers caressed her cheek pushing the loose strand behind her ear. Breaking her every resolve to stay away from him physically, she ended up allowing him to touch her as he looked at her fondly.
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Arnav as he remembered the events, a shiver ran down his spine and looked to his side to find Khushi drawing her knees up and resting her chin gently swaying to the sides lost in her own thoughts with no definite aim in mind.
Before he knew it, he raised his hand to push the lone curly strand behind her ear. The sudden warmth of his fingers made her turn her face and she dreamily rested her cheek on her knee, twinkling her eyes at him. She neither moved away nor encouraged him as she watched him utmost attentively.
There was this moment of silence poured out of them profusely, one contemplating to touch, while the other inwardly joyed in the warmth of the rough fingers.
Incessantly battling with the images of her scars and the brutal drag of her pride into the thorny bed, he couldnt hold onto his resolve to give her space. Unable to suppress his own need to feel her, to find solace in her touch, he gently tugged her elbow to free her arm that was locked underneath her knee fold. As she willingly let it loose, he traced his fingers from her forearm to her palm. She devotedly slipped her palm into his, looking into his eyes that spoke volumes about his pain, the reason behind his torment hard to decipher by her which is not the first time in their relation. But his eyes were fixed on her hand, amused at the the way she molded hers into his beyond perfection.
It was a pause of their life, and had nothing to do with lyrical sound of waves or shrill chirping of crickets or restless traffic honks at distant. Their hearts wept knowing how long had they waited to hold each other hands like that without being anything said, or argued. The fierce feeling of exhilaration conquered all other feelings, as he grasped her palm securely and the way she pressed the soft pads of her fingers firmly into his skin, silently assuring him the comfort he had been yenning from ages of their separation.
Holding her one hand in his, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders, he leaned down resting his head on her already slouched shoulders. With the first contact of his days' old stubble on her shoulder blade, tears streamed down in her eyes feeling his defeat. Her heart trembled sensing the tremors of pain his heart tried to convey her. An excruciating lump formed in her throat, unable to say a word, or see him like that, she turned her face away to the other side, hiding her tears.
This was not my man..Her heart whispered out in tears in desperation to see him in his old form as ASR.
Without a word being said, without a tear being shown, Arnav's arm that wrapped around her shoulders reached for her sullen eyes to wipe her tears, both remaining stilled in the same position. Neither he forced her to turn, nor she wished to show her pain to him, a mutual agreement they silently signed for at that moment.
They had no idea how long they had sat like that with no questions asked and no answers expected. But for the painful silence he maintained from the moment they left hotel, Khushi realized she needed to clear out the air leaving no room for assumptions.
She turned her face towards him, and she closed her eyes as his frontal hair caressed her cheeks. Would you believe me if I say this was my last assignment? Her soft voice grabbed his attention as he sat up straight.
There was a moment of surprise in his eyes followed by an elated smile that didnt quite reached his lips but she was sure he was content with the decision. But his joy short lived hearing her next words, I didnt wanted to put baby's life in danger, so I tho..
Again Baby was the reason..not him...the fact he slowly started getting used to. And what about your life? He questioned brusquely.
She had no answer as she looked at him meaningfully.
It was frightening to stand other side of the door worrying about you. What if I was a b..
Life doesnt stop with ifs and buts, does it? Of all people we should know it better. I stopped thinking about the outcomes, in case you havent realized it yet.
You are right, I havent. I have no business to think through what you want to do except to expect that you are safe and happy at the end of the day. Enlighten me Khushi if I am doing anything wrong here.
I wish I could find anything you have done wrong tonight. As you expected, I am safe and happy the way it all ended, matter of fact better than I imagined. That brought huge joy on his face. So lets not worry ourselves thinking about ifs and buts.
I want you to know that nothing and noone is more important than you to me. So please dont tell me not to worry about the possible mishappenings.
Am I more important than your baby? She asked tentatively, stealing his utmost attention.
He looked at her quite surprised and replied firmly, Yes, You have and will always come first before anything and anyone.
Then why are you distancing yourself from me? How far are you planning to stretch this distance? She asked a bit angrily taking her hand away from him.
I..I dont know wh.what you are saying? Why will I stay aloof from you? He counter questioned pulling his trousers up his ankle a bit and crossing his legs at his knees.
That is exactly what I am asking you. Why? Dont give me stupid reason as my conditions. Forget about fighting, you are not even actively questioning me anything. Why is this sudden change? I have been noticing this change in you from the night Adi died.
He turned a bit disoriented hearing Adi's name. Quickly gathering himself, It has nothing to do with Adi's death. And we are not talking about him. He snapped.
It has everything to do with Adi. How long are you planning to hide?
Arnav looked up in shock. You know it?
Ofcourse I know it. You think I will not know if you dont tell me. You thought I will be blind not to see things around me. If I could stay in your house after all that happened, you must have known by now that I use brain of my own without anybody marring it.
Khu..
Payal confirmed all my doubts.
Arnav looked flustered. What exactly are you talking about?
Dont tell me you dont know anything about me not knowing it. I am sure Payal would have leaked it to you.
Khushi stop questioning me for my questions. Just answer me, what do you know? Arnav asked in an impatient tone.
I know that it was Adi who blackmailed Payal. I know it from the first day I met him on holi.
Arnav's eyes rounded in shock. He scooted towards Khushi, taking her hands into his. I am not following you. Tell me everything.
Shortly after you left to HYD on that day, Me, Aman, Anjali, and Karan started playing. It was going fine up until we had to take few min break. I was retreating to game when I heard Adi asking Karan to bully some woman and pass snide remarks. I didnt know at the time that he was targeting me, but I wanted to wait and see who that woman was going to be, so that I could warn her. We resumed our game when suddenly Karan picked up derisive comments against me, which is when I realized Adi was targeting me for reasons unknown to me. I didnt had any proof to justify my actions with Adi and so Karan had to face my wrath and indirectly it was a warning to Adi from my end. I didn't even know who he was then.
Khushi sat up straight stretching her back feeling tinge of tiredness and pain.
Lets talk at home. Get up. As reluctant as he was to stop the conversation but her feeble condition screamed for attention he could not ignore.
No I want to stay here for sometime.
We will come back again tomorrow. For now lets go, You are too fragile at the moment. Arnav stood up giving his hand to her.
I said I want to be here for sometime. She snapped stubbornly, her mood swings playing major role.
Sighing in defeat, he settled down behind her, pulling her backward to sit between his legs, forcing her to lean against his chest. You want to stay then this is how you should sit. Otherwise, we should be heading home. His dominating demeanour slowly making its way to Khushi.
Taking deep breath of relief, she leaned back with generous smile on her lips, her head resting against his collarbone.
Comfortable? he asked tilting his head to get a glimpse of her face. It felt celestial holding her so close after ages.
She tilted her head and looked up to meet his eyes and said in soft whisper, As much I would like to say that I dont need this comfort, I couldnt have wished for anything more and wonderful.
Lacing his fingers into hers, he smiled at her feeling content that she is finally coming around to her usual self.
Turning her head to the waves, she continued, So what was I saying?
You slapped Karan to teach Adi lesson.
Yeah! So, I didnt even know who he was then. I started observing him the entire party, but he acted very normal and at one point I doubted myself if he even was the man I heard plotting. Almost by the end, when he came to meet Nani, she introduced him as the Raizada and I knew instantly that he had to be the one who blackmailed Payal.
How did you come up with that?
Obviously, before Marriage, Payal said you were not the Raizada who threatened her. So being only other male Raizada, it had to be him. She shifted her head in the crook of his neck to more comfortable position as she continued. I was almost about to lash out on him, but I wanted to check with Payal and moreover learning the strong bond between Anjali, him and Nani, I realized why you tried to keep the matter under the wraps and away from me. You thought I would create a scene, didnt you? She looked up at him, to find him shell-shocked at the new version of the story. You thought I would break Nani's and Anjali's heart exposing Adi?
That was just smallest part of my reasons to keep you away from the facts. I didnt want you to be in trouble especially after witnessing the way you pounced on me with media.
Both smiled remembering the day that changed their lives.
So I kept quiet, didnt say a word, if I remember correctly, I think I wasnt comfortable confronting him as I didnt had much against him. I tried to get the confirmation from Payal. But she cut me off by saying, I need to let her live in peace without pondering over that subject. She said I brought so much trouble to myself mistaking you as the one behind her photographs, she didnt want any more disturbance in our lives. Khushi looked down fidgeting with the stole thats wrapped around her shoulders.
Arnav could discern that Payal's words affected her, when all she was trying to do is to protect her baby sister. You shouldnt give too much importance to her words. She was under duress by me and I am sure she didnt mean it any malicious way.
Oh I am sure. She looked up again, to meet his tender eyes filled with amaze. I realized that day that you are pathetic at justifying your actions in words..
Her playful sarcastic comment after many days brought grin on his lips as he shrugged in embarrassment.
I told the same thing to Anjali and asked her to see through things. I am glad it worked out between you two.
He nodded acknowledging her.
But it kills me that I couldnt teach him a lesson. He probably was the first and only man who got away from me for his deeds.
His blood shivered cold in fear wondering what if Khushi comes to know everything about Adi and blames Arnav for not giving her the chance to fight that leech for what he did to her. But her next statement answered his mental anguish.
But I am glad, Payal later told me how you warned him when he tried to misbehave with her in our marriage. I wonder why I didnt see him in our marriage..She pursed her lips doing some serious thinking.
Because I kicked him out after he tried to cross Payal's path.
Oh, I am glad you did. She uttered with genuine smile. So obliging to Payal, I was convinced with my decision to keep mum after thinking how Payal was back to her usual normal, how you made everything back to how it had been, peaceful as if nothing ill ever happened. Did you know Adi was on my hitlist of men who tortured women?
He looked surprised and nodded No.
Why arent you using your words much today?
Umm, I think I am just little under shock. You continue, I am listening. His eyes burning in anger, which she didnt fail to notice.
I tried to meet him couple of times, but he seemed to be too smart and changed his schedule often. I think he was always one step ahead of me.
I would have been savagely upset with you, had you met him. He blurted out what he felt ever since he heard how dangerously she played her new profession. Before she could say anything, he snapped, his concern reflecting in his tone, What were you thinking Khushi? He was bloody brother-in-law and you were trying to play escort to him? What the hell were you thinking?
She sat up straight pushing him away in anger. I would have done the same thing even if it was my own brother. Does relation really matter or the purpose of it? I cant believe you are thinking like that. She tried to scoot away from him, when he caught her elbow and pulled her back.
She struggled to move away, when he wrapped his arm around her stomach and pulled her closer to his chest.
Chodiye! I dont want to sit near you. He instantly took his arms off giving her freedom to do as she pleases.
She scowled at him but without moving farther, she settled back against his chest mentally noting his meekly obedient attitude, which slowly started riling her up.
Taking her hand again into his, he whispered, You know me, I am concerned about you, tell me was my thinking inappropriate?
She had no answer as she knew Arnav was right in his place. He is more than right, for the way he is patiently accepting everything without a question. I guess it doesnt matter anymore, its in the past. Arnav tried to change the topic to ease her.
You are right, He is past and I am glad he is no more and whoever it was, gave him better punishment, serves him right for playing with women's lives. He dont deserve to be human and I am happy that he got noone to even mourn for him. I swear if he was alive, I would have killed him one day after the gruesome history I came to know about him!
A huge sense of relief engulfed Arnav finding solace in her words. Lacing his fingers into hers, he wrapped their joined hands around her waist, and hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulders.
Khushi tilted her head and said, I am sorry, I know he is your brother, Sorry if I am being too harsh speaking about him like that in front of you...
Khushi tried to sound reasonable.
Shh...never say that again!
Khushi tried to concentrate on what she was saying but the new tingling sensation in her tummy made her realize what they had been missing for these couple of months, their passion for each other that they buried under these blanket of problems.
Forcing herself to strike more plausible conversation, she revealed the last bit of details, When I spoke to Payal after a week of his death, she openly admitted that it was Adi who was behind everything.
Lifting his head from her shoulder, he tilted her chin to face him, I didnt know he was behind Karan's fiasco. You should have told me that you knew all this, Khushi, I would have made sure he never came in front of you.
But dont you think I was capable of handling that being Mrs. ASR! She gleed proudly forgetting every other bitter moments of her present life, totally living in the moment casually discussing family problems with him.
He creased his forehead in confusion to which she replied understanding his need to hear the details.
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Part 2 Scroll Down
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