Arshi FF - Hearts Knit Together #2 - Page 16

That night during dinner,

"When you are hungry, even stones are yummiest for you" teased Akash earning a mouth-full snort from his younger bro.

Arvind: offo, stop it both of you and (turning towards Khushi) Khushi bete, what's wrong? tum thik se khana kyu nahi kha rahi ho? (why are you not eating properly?)

Khushi who was hitherto struggling to eat, making uneasy attempts yet failing quite visibly, raised her head feeling everyone's stanch gaze upon her. Akash bit his tongue realizing the big blooper he made. Obviously she dint want the family members to worry over her unnecessarily but then, atleast he was well aware of her haalat'. He could have managed an excuse and somehow let her have her dinner in her room. Damn you akash, kaha fhasa diya bechari ko..

Khushi: (passing a cautious look to her probing spectators, she spoke stuttering with her words) k..kuch nahi uncle, kuch bhi to nahi hua hai. (nothing's wrong uncle)

Muttering profanities under his breath and getting empathetic, Akash was about to try speaking something in her defense when Khushi misunderstood his intentions and gestured him with her eyes to remain zipped up.

Arnav, who was noticing the little nonverbal exchange between those two couldn't help peeking at her side to have a glance at her hands, his heart feeling heavy with utmost guilt. That exact moment, he felt her eyes flicker on him for a split second before diverging apart and his world felt tumbling down the aisle as though a high speed tornado had just rendered a foliage barren. The intensity of raw emotions that reflected in in those hazel pair of amazing orbs got his nerves shaking when he witnessed a tinge of betrayal, accusation, hurt, disbelief and mostly reek of pain in them.

Arnav's dazed stance, however, went unnoticed by the people on the table as they concentrated on Nk's mirthful remark.

Nk: Khushi agar tumhaare khaane ka man nahi kar raha hai to koi baat nahi (Khushi, if you don't want to eat then that's ok), I will finish it on your behalf. You see, I am ever so ready to lend a hand aur tumhe toh mai dukhi dekh hi nahi sakta. Anything for you princess. (He bowed his head and grinned, winking at his dad who only shook his head at his dramatics)

Despite her mood, Khushi smiled but she failed to notice someone's lifted up spirits just at the vision of her spellbinding smile.

After dinner, while everyone dispersed in their rooms, Khushi decide to help the servants clean up. She was in no mood to surround herself with her hazy thoughts in the creepy concavity of her room.

As she began carrying the dishware back to the kitchen, she accidently touched one particularly warm bowl and gasped feeling agonizing pain rise upon her highly enflamed fingers. Wincing and yelping, she was about to drop the bowl when she felt warm hands engulfing hers, steadying the bowl and later extracting it from her hands, keeping it on the adjacent table.

She stared unblinking as the same warmth engulfed her fingers yet again and the man she had tenaciously vowed to maintain a distance from, gently began blowing on her aching fingers, his eyes full of concern and an emotion she dint dare decipher. He caressed her burns and kept on the blowing softly, careful enough to not hurt her with his tight grip.

"Khushi..." he breathed onto her face, letting her emerge out of the trance she had succumbed herself to.

"Hun!" she blinked once, let her eyes rove over his, reading the worry etched all over him. Holding her gaze, he bent down and placed soft lingering kisses on her fingers, not missing even a tiny spot to his nurture. Shudders went down both their bodies, at the first contact of his lips on her highly sensitive skin. She closed her eyes, inhaling long and deep, feeling her heart beats accelerates to an impossibly large value, her pain long forgotten substituted by a sensations she never knew her body was ever capable of generating.

Arnav too had lost himself in the beauty of the moment, fulfilling his long buried heartfelt desire to watch her uninterrupted, to kiss her senselessly all over, to love her till she forget everything. He had willingly removed the closely crocheted guards of his heart to lease the Arnav in him to let her feel worthy of his love, care and attention. He repeatedly kissed her fingers and palms to show her how much he cares, how much she mattered and how guilty he was for making her go through so much of pain. But his moment of joy was short lived. His fantasy wasn't even close to getting fulfilled when he was bluntly shaken out of it by her withdrawal.

As for Khushi, she was reeling in his love but the moment she closed her eyes, all the terrible memories of his ruthless behaviour and snide remarks flashed before her eyes, and she painfully bolted the doors to her heart, not letting him in, lest he break it again. Holding back her tears with difficulty, she drew her hands back and without meeting his eyes, turned to go but he wasn't allowing it. Although her repulsion was an aching reminder of the crescendos of their nameless relation, he would be damned if he let her cry again. So he held her wrist and slightly tugged her back to him, supporting her entire weight in his arms.

Startled hazel eyes met a hooded pair of molten orbs and the world faded once again as they lost themselves in each other. Words were not needed when eyes conversed brilliantly. Promises were not needed when actions were an enough assurance. Confessions were not needed when their hearts had already proclaimed their true feelings.

Trailing a fiery path down her arms, Arnav held her by his waist and guided her to the couch in the living room, his gazed fixedly on her and ONLY her. Settling her down, he kneeled before her and extracted an ointment from his trouser pocket before gently applying it all over her marks. Tears pooled in her eyes as she realized his intent completely for the first time.

So he had actually bothered to make sure that she applied the ointment before heading to bed? So he himself brought it with him? So his presence in the dining area wasn't a co-incidence but deliberate and willing? So whatever she gauged in his eyes only seconds before was r..real? so he actually wanted to show her that he cares? So this feeling was m..mutual?

As two souls silently traversed the path of self-realization, another two souls looked down upon them with their jaws touching the floor!

EXTENSION

The next day afternoon,

Khushi stayed detached in her room all through the morning skipping morning meals and most importantly avoiding any other encounter with that ambiguous masquerading man. After last night, she was in short of wisdom and time.

Wisdom because she had no idea what the hell was going on with her and Time to understand the vicissitudes of her heart. True, she had fallen for him, long ago but yesterday night she got to realize the depths of her feelings. One soothing glance from him and all her dejectedness vanished. One loving caress over her swollen fingers and all her pain got shooed away. One adoring kiss and she melted like a puddle in his arms. His passionate assaults led to tremors running all over her entire little frame bringing out her deep rooted desires up to the surface.

Is this how one is supposed to feel while in love? Is that why she forgive him not needing his words when his actions spoke of his redemption?

That moment was theirs and she allowed her heart to cherish it with every fibre of her being for once not bothering about the consequences. Her heart did wonder about reciprocation but she let that thought take the back seat, deeply engrossed in her cloistered moment of joy. She couldn't think straight when he held her ever so possessively but now she had all the time of the world to ponder, deduce and analyse. She knew, loving someone and expecting him to love you back are notions miles apart. But last night, she did saw herself in those molten chocolaty orbs. What was that? The flicker of love in his eyes, was it actually for her? He made her feel so special, was it only a generosity or anything more?

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach to any conclusion. She couldn't be certain about anything, especially when he hadn't verbalized himself. Yes, she could forgive him, understanding his unspoken words staring him right in the eye to decipher how exactly he feels but when it was about THEM, she wanted him to speak out his heart. He was in a turmoil, maybe having second thoughts even and until he had assured himself, he couldn't proceed. And she decided to wait.

~

Arvind came home for lunch and so did his younger sons. The elder one, as always, was out in his escapades. On the dining table, Arvind did asked about Khushi but this time both Akash and Nk were prepared, they handled the situation brilliantly.

After finishing the meal, Arvind saw his wife settling in the lounge and browsing through plenty of photographs of some beautiful high class girls and he instantly knew why.

Arvind: (With his temper barely in check he asked her, only to be met with disappointment) Shalini yeh sab kya hai?

Shalini: Are Arvind dekhiye na, supriyaji ne ek marriage bureau se consult kiya tha, they only provided these photographs along with the girls' bio-data. (Are Arvind watch this, Supriya consulted with a marriage bureau and they provide with this photographs and girls' bio-data)

He glanced at his mom who was passing him a helpless stare but Shalini was heedless to everything. Her excitement to hunt down a lovely sophisticated girl with a strong family background knew no bounds.

Arvind: (frowning he sat by her side and took her palms in his) Shalini why don't you understand, in sab se...

Shalini: why don't YOU understand Arvind, ab bas bohot ho chuka. (She shrugged off his hands) We have waited enough, haven't we? Besides, we can't drag Akash's marriage forever. He just won't agree until Arnav is married so I am doing what a mother should.

Arvind: Arnav don't want to get married dammit! Tumhe itni si baat samajh nahi aati, uska peecha chod kyu nahi deti tum? (you don't understand this little thing, wyy cant you leave him alone?)

Shalini: isme samajhne waali kya baat hai? (Whats there to understand in this?) He asked for a few years and I GAVE HIM. I don't see any reason for him denying for it now Arvind.

Arvind : Stop playing with his feelings Shalini, Just because he listen to you doesn't mean you control his life.

Shalini: I am his MOTHER, mai uska bura nahi chaahungi. aapko yeh samajh kyu nahi aata Arvind, why? (I am his MOTHER, I wont want anything bad for him. Why cant you understand this little thing Arvind, why?)

Arvind: because this is not your motherly instincts god dammit, yeh tumhaari zidd hai. Sar pe sawaar kar liya hai tumne is junoon ko and now you cant give up (This is your obstinacy. You are getting carried away because of your stubbornness, so much that now you cant give up).

He helplessly slumped down his shoulders and whispered the last line before storming out of the mansion, "Sambhal jao Shalini, leave your inhibitions or one day you will regret everything."

Khushi locked herself in her room, trying hard to divert her mind yet the commotion in the Drawing room easily reached her. She could listen to everything they spoke after all they were talking so loud, occasionally screaming at one another, completely engrossed in their never ending, rancorous argument. She had millions of questions buzzing around in her head and was in a desperate need for their answers but the point in concern was, who will answer them?

As many time she heard "Arnav" in their arguments, her belief got stronger and stronger. Arvind uncle and Shalini aunty were very much in love couple but they fought ruthlessly whenever the matter concerned HIM. Something about him always triggered their fights and now with dread meandering around her heart, she knew what is was. Arnav dint wanted to get married. Why? She had no idea.

After a while, Akash and Nk knocked at her door and entered only to find her lost in her own thoughts. Waving his hands infront of her, Nk successfully brought her out from her dazed state earning a soul-searching look full of queries and confusion. Both of them understood what that look meant. They knew she wanted them to understand her unspoken plea and clear all her doubts.

Akash and Nk sighed. It was time to tell her about their bhai's past. The reason behind him acting so ruthless, arrogant and mean when in actuality, he was anything but that. She deserves to know after all, she was family now.

Yesterday night was still very fresh in their memory. How could they forget the taming of their stony hearted bhai? He, who was never civil let alone cordial with any girl since that fateful time, was looking at Khushi with so much of affection, it brought his brothers down to their knees in a positive disclosure. He, who blasted off anyone and everyone who tried to walk out upon him, dint reacted when Khushi did the same. Instead, he gently cajoled her to stay with him, all the while conversing with his eyes.

And that intimacy! Gosh, they could never forget the look in his eyes when he gazed at her. The tender kisses, the passionate hold, the possessive grasp, the indescribable emotion everything screamed out just one thing - Khushi was special! She was affecting him, mending him, changing him, all for the better and they would be damned if they let anyone deny their bhai, this second chance to love and heal.

Akash: Khushi, bhai ke zindagi me ek ladki thi, Maya. A Simple yet beautiful girl from middle class family. She was a scholarship-holder, academically a very bright student. She studied in the same class as bhai and like all other girls, she used to like him. I don't know much but shayad, college projects, events ke wajah se, they became friends and gradually, more than that. (I don't know much but maybe during college projects and other events, they became friends and gradually, more than that) One day, she gathered all her courage and confessed to him that she loved him and Bhai accepted her.

Akash paused to gauge her reaction. He knew, it was going to be painful. Yesterday night exposed not only their bhai's but khushi's feelings as well. The sparks were flying equally from both the ends and it was wrong on their side to crush her hopes by linking their bhai's name with another woman. But revealing the past was equally important. If not for them, then for Khushi inorder for her to understand the real Arnav Singh Raizada.

From the corner of his eyes, he watched Nk and a look of acknowledgement passed between them as they caught on khushi's surprized yet majorly not-that-badly-affected stance.

Akash: Even after the confession, they decided to wait till college ended before proceeding with their relationship.

Nk: Actually Khushi, bhai pehle mama papa ko bataana chahte the. Un dino, bhai ke liye ladkiyo ki talash vaise bhi chal rahi thi (actually Khushi, bhai first wanted to speak to Mama papa. Those days, already the hunt for a suitable girl for him was going on) and he was pretty sure that they wont object to his choice.

Akash: Maya ne apne parents ko already bata diya tha and they had willingly accepted him in the family. Encouraged from this, bhai spoke about maya to dad and was pleasantly stunned when Dad also agreed. Sab kuch thik chal raha tha (everything was going fantastic), we thought bhai got the green signal and now there was no looking behind. Bhai was so happy and all of us were super happy. The thought of bhai's marriage was making us so ecstatic. But kaash hame pata hota, our happiness was so short lived.

Nk: Bhai ne jab mom se baat ki, she dint reacted the way she was expected to. Unhone oppose to nahi kiya but then she dint accepted her also. She asked bhai to leave her alone for a while, speaking not a word more than that. Dad was pretty sure she would come around and bhai also dint pondered much but..

Khushi: then? (The way Nk nervously trailed off, she knew something very big was about to get revealed.)

Akash: The next day, without notifying anyone of us, Mom discretely went over to Maya's house, collecting her address from college authorities. Without even a slightest gesture or cordiality, she right away started insulting her and her family. She humiliated them for trapping a rich boy in their web. She applauded them for their cheap desperate plannings but at the same time, she assured them that it was not going to work here. She questioned Maya's integrity, deprecated her character, spoke ill things about her values.

But that wasn't it Khushi. itna kuch kehne ke baad bhi she wasn't done. She threatened them to stay away from his son or else they would face the worst.

Nk: woh log toot gae Khushi, apni beti ke khilaaf itne ghatiya ilzaam sun ne ke baad, puri tarah se bikhar gae. Aur Mom ka last threat bhi unhe acha se yaad tha. (They broke down Khushi, after listening such horrible things about their daughter, they completely shattered apart. And Mom's last threat was very much alive in their memory too)

Like every other concerned parents, they made up their mind and wasted no time to act upon their final decision. For days, Maya dint contacted bhai. Their house was locked too and no one knew their whereabouts.

We kept wondering ke kya hua hai but we got our answers only after two weeks. The day before her marriage, Maya came to bhai to bid her farewell, to break all her ties with him, to end whatever it was between them. That was the day bhai got to know ke unke saath kya hua hai.

Akash: Or rather we should say, Mom ne unke saath kya kiya hai.(what mom did with him) And you know Khushi, bhai DINT believed her. unhe laga Maya jhoot keh rahi hai. (he thought Maya was lying) He directly came charging to mom and asked her to deny whatever bull-shit Maya was speaking. Magar Mom kya kehti, she had nothing to deny.

Nk: Stunned beyond prospect, bhai was rendered speechless. He couldn't believe mom kisi ke saath aisa behave kar sakti hai. Dad bhi bohot upset the.(Dad was very upset too) He fought with her, asking for explanations. If she was objecting, she could have spoken her hearts out. Why was the need to behave so indecently? Pata nahi mom ne kya kaha, Dad ne kya suna aur bhai ko kya bataya gaya. (we don't know what mom said, what dad heard and what was told to bhai) All we know is that few days later, bhai left for U.S. and since then he is no longer the same bhai we once knew.

***

so guys, this was the MYSTERY!! finally revealed, whoosh!!!!!!!!!! I am hell nervous and waiting for your reactions. but one major request, please please please dont judge anything at this moment even if you feel something like, "kyaaa???? yeh tha past?" or "what the!! bas itna sa..."

😆😆😆.

The whole past is yet to be revealed, i have given it here in bits that too by a third person pov. I really hope, i haven't disappointed anyone here but still if you dint liked it, feel free to throw anything your heart desires (just try and avoid chappals, alright). My trip was amazing and i had great fun plus incredible experience. the results arent out yet and i am nervous for that too...love you all, will come up with OMB next (as time permits)

Chapter 16 - Click here

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with loads of love,