3 | ArHi FF: Resistance | COMPLETE | PAGE 74 | UPDATED 2/6 - Page 7

Loved the update
If only people knew how much england would have changed down the years
Wonder how they will deal with the news of NK ones it hits them

Awesome update.

I read all at one go. This is the first story that I ready that was linked to Indian independence. What a story, and the way you have articulated this was beyond works.

Loved the update!!

Khushi moved about their room, relieved that Arnav wasn't there to hover over her. She snorted wryly, satisfaction filling her as she finally took the time to clean the room as she pleased.

He hadn't let her do anything over the last couple of weeks, determined to keep her off her feet. Whenever he found her doing anything but relaxing, she was immediately banished to a chair as he would take over the task, growling at her to be more careful.

Her heart swelled at the thought, a smile teasing at the edge of her lips. She let out a small sigh of happiness, carefully folding over the collar of his shirt as she slipped it onto the hanger, knowing how much it irritated him when it was twisted. She inhaled, the scent of him comforting and familiar.

Warmth unfurled within her, her cheeks growing hot. She touched the stiff fabric of the cuffs, knowing the way they would disappear as he rolled them up to reveal his forearms. the way the shirt would roll up his forearms. She closed her eyes, recalling her fingers playing with the top button, her palms pressed flat against his chest.

The memory was far too strong, brought forth too many feelings she had pushed away determinedly.

She had been trying to ignore them, pushing them to the darkest corners of her mind, tucking them away in a box. But as all boxes inevitably did, it had peeked open, turning the key achingly slowly, allowing just enough light through to not scare her into slamming it shut.

Her heartbeat picked up when he walked into the room, unfailingly searching her out. She woke up to his arm thrown across her waist, making her uncomfortably hot, but she never wanted to move, nestling further into his grasp, letting herself sleep for just five minutes more. He had cared for her, remained stubbornly by her side and somehow, he had turned the key just a little bit more.

It was the sacred intimacy of dawn and dusk, the space that was so distinctively...

There was a pause in her thoughts. She glanced around the room, suddenly realizing that it was no longer just his room.

She could see the little trinkets, the bobby pins on the dresser and the little golden vat of sindoor. There were saris hanging between suits, rows of glass bangles between his belts. She could smell the whiff of lavender mixed in with the scent of his aftershave, his glasses resting next to her stack of books.

The space that was so distinctively theirs.

The realization made her stop, a surprising sense of contentment sweeping over her. She was stunned by how quickly the transformation had happened. The room she had inhabited for five years had ceased to become anything but a housing for her books that were increasingly being pulled from there to settle here.

She reached down to pick up a stray piece of paper that had fallen on the floor, shaking her head.

For his controlling nature, his desk was oddly disorganized.

She was about to set it down when the postmark caught her eye, the stamp sending a chill through her veins.

It was unmistakably British.

She stared at the letter blankly, closing her eyes tightly. Her chest constricted, an unwelcome reminder of the wall that still existed between them, despite all the ones that had crumbled.

They would never agree on this.

The wall was impenetrable, too tall to climb over and too hard to break through. Trying to climb it would only make them tumble down, leaving them with scratched nails and bleeding cuts, bruises that never seemed to fade completely away.

But her heart still raced at the memory of their shared laughter from that morning, the lingering taste of his lips against hers.

She felt the slight sting of tears, clumping her lashes together. Longing made her fingers curl, fervently wishing that there was a secret door to break through that wall.

They would never agree.

Her heart was heavy with longing, her stomach sinking.

She had to get away, distance herself before she let herself get too close.

But she somehow knew that it was already too late for that.

*********

She stood at the foot of the bed, her arms full with blankets. She stared down at them, a whirling mesh of memories playing in her mind.

"Khushi, you are going to take this."

"I will not! I'm feeling perfectly-"

She broke off on a hacking cough, and Arnav was immediately at her side, rubbing her back gently as he offered her the water. He handed her the pill and she didn't even think as she slipped it into her mouth along with the water, sinking back against the pillow in exhaustion.

She slowly opened her eyes, feeling his penetrating gaze on her. Scowling, she crossed her arms over her chest, looking away from the raised eyebrows.

"Would you like to try finishing that statement?"

He asked, making her want to wipe the condescending smirk off his face. She moved to snap at him but her voice dissolved into another round of coughs, her throat aching with the disturbance.

She felt his cool hand gently rest on her cheek as she leaned back, her eyes closing of their own will. With great effort, she opened them, meeting his worried gaze.

She followed his movements as he adjusted the pillows around her, tucking the blankets underneath. Her heart brimmed with tenderness for him, warmth stealing over her.

Her eyes sagged as she leaned into the pillows, her head lolling to the side.

"Fine, you were right."

She murmured hoarsely. A smile pulled at her lips as she heard his chuckle, her eyes closing just as his lips gently touched her forehead.

"I'm always right."

She glanced over at his silhouette, outlined by the bright light glowing in front him as he scratched away busily on his writing pad. The noise had become familiar, the strokes of his pen a soothing rhythm.

A smile crossed her face as she watched him, her gaze falling on the thoughtful curve of his lips. Her heart raced, fondly recalling his deep throated, husky laughter from that morning. She shivered, the memory of their kiss still making her lips tingle with warmth.

He fell out of Khushi's focus, her gaze shifting to the window in front of him. She stared out of it, a dread creeping up.

She was better now. Would he want her to sleep away from him?

She didn't have to think, knowing he would be furious if she stepped out of the bedroom towards the pool. She held the blankets more tightly to her chest, staring outside at the poolside where she had slept that first night.

It seemed cold and lonely, the shimmering waters that were usually inviting dark, save for the faint reflection of the sliver of a moon.

The letter. She had to... she had to do this, distance herself. They would never work.

The image of the postage stamp lurked in her mind, the British mark clearly visible. Her fingers tightened around the blankets, her mind warring with itself.

Why was this so hard? Why couldn't she just leave?

Arnav heard Khushi's soft footsteps in the room behind him as he worked at his desk, his fingers immediately tightening around the pen.

His fingers itched to reach out and touch her, to make sure she was okay. He couldn't push away the nagging fear that she would collapse in front of him again, her face pale as sweat beaded on her skin. He forced himself to take a deep breath, knowing she would give him that exasperated glare that sparkled with mild amusement, indulging him.

The thought brought a smile to his face, reminding him of her laughter this morning. The mischievous smiles that had all but disappeared were slowly creeping back in. He would seek them out, trying to tease them out of her whenever she could, relishing them like little pieces of chocolate that melted on his tongue.

He recalled the shy blush on her face after she had leaned up and kissed him again. The memory made his pulse skip a beat, and he winced when he felt the press of the metal on the pen digging into his skin.

He loosened his grip on the pen, finding his hand covered in ink. Cursing, he got up to clean his hands, only to find Khushi behind him, her hands full with the thick blankets.

She stared at him like a deer caught escaping from a hunter, and he immediately knew what she was planning to do. She fidgeted with her hands, unable to meet his gaze. She saw the confusion in his furrowed brows as to why she was doing this, giving way to hurt.

He thought something had changed. He knew it had.

Khushi resisted the urge to look at him, feeling his hurt gaze on her. She clutched the blankets to herself, the heavy weight just barely contained by her arms.

She knew when she looked at him, her resolve would break. But she found her gaze drawn to him, guilty hazel eyes meeting questioning, hurting caramel.

His gaze was inscrutable, his eyes growing distant as he stared at her. She looked away.

She didn't like it.

Her mind played back the moment from the morning. She could visualize the softness around his eyes, as he looked down at her, his husky laughter in her ears.

She looked back down at the blankets in her arms, before glancing up at him.

He read the silent question in her eyes as she struggled with herself, searching his face. He kept himself carefully indifferent, wanting to give her the choice. His body felt stiff, his nerves on edge as he watched her trying to decide.

"I'll just put these away."

He saw the nervousness as she steadily met his gaze, playing with her fingers. She saw the faint smile pull at his lips as he walked over to the other side of the bed. She took in a deep breath, biting her lip as she felt herself smile in return.

*********

There was a note at the foot of the bed saying he had gone out with Papa to the doctor's house.

She smiled softly, fingering the note in his scratchy handwriting.

She found her gaze automatically drawn to the spot at the sink where he would usually be, shaving. She felt a pang, missing his presence as she unwound her hair from the towel.

The door clicked just as she pinched the sindoor between her fingers, drawing it through her parting. She looked up in the mirror, catching his gaze in the reflection as he paused at the door. Her cheeks warmed, but she couldn't draw herself away from his gaze. His eyes lingered on her, savoring the familiar sight of her in the morning.

She could hear him moving about behind her, distinctly aware of his presence. Her heart raced, and she snuck a glance at him, watching in the mirror as he shuffled through papers on his desk.

Her eyes fell on his fingers, and she hastily looked away as the memory of those fingers burning a path across her skin made its way to the front of her mind. She surreptitiously looked back at him, only to meet his burning gaze.

Her eyes widened, and she dropped her gaze to focus on the shimmering bangles that lined her wrists.

She felt him approaching her, and her breath quickened as he came to stand perilously close to her. She could see their reflection in the mirror, and she drew a sharp breath when he reached around her as if to pull her into him.

He drew back when he grabbed the pen resting on the edge of the dresser, watching as disappointment flitted across her face. He paused, his hand purposefully brushing her waist as he took a step back, the left side of his mouth quirking up at the way she bit back the smile.

"Khushi."

He said softly. She found her gaze drawn to him, pulled by the tenderness in his voice. She felt his hand on her shoulder, and drew a deep breath, cursing mentally when it came out as unsteady as her heartbeat.

His hand moved from her shoulder to her neck, and she shivered when he threaded his fingers through her hair. Her eyes closed, leaning into his feathery touch as his fingers curled underneath her chin.

She searched for his lips, sighing in bliss when they finally found hers. His hands were warm to the cool, morning air, tilting her face to his as he deepened it, leaning her slowly back towards the bed.

He pulled away, smiling ruefully. Her lips pursed into a displeased pout as he pulled away. He wrapped his finger around a curl, letting it bounce back to her forehead and dropping a lingering kiss there.

They sat down at the table for breakfast an hour later, sitting next to each other. She picked up the plate of aloo parathas

Arnav glanced across the room as Khushi sat in a corner, chewing on her lower lip. He would have thought she was gravely confused if he hadn't known, the skin of her forehead crinkled as she scanned the page.

She looked up from her book, meeting his eyes. Her cheeks suffused with pink, her lips drawing up into a hint of a smile. His heart picked up its pace, straining against his ribcage as it leaked with warmth.

They tore their eyes away from each other with great difficulty, secretive smiles on their faces as they looked back at their respective books.

Ashok shared a glance with his wife, going back to his paper with a smile. The tension had eased from Sakshi's face, relieved at the shy warmth she had witnessed.

They would be okay.

*********

They worked in comfortable silence, glancing at each other subtly as matching, private smiles creeped up their faces. There was a newness about their relationship, no longer marred by uncertainty.

Their silences were filled with comfort, touch becoming quietly familiar. She sought out his hands, reveling in the way their fingers brushed, the way he would place a hand on her wrist to still her, or sometimes reach out and push a stray curl behind her ear.

She slipped into the bed beside him, grabbing her book off of the side table. She lost herself in the world of Jane Austen, her eyes flying across the page, devouring the words.

"You do know that Jane Austen is a British author?"

She heard his amused question. She stilled, anticipating the anger.

But instead, she only felt a slight annoyance accompanied by a wry smile. The argument was endearing, almost... lighthearted.

Why wasn't she more upset? Why didn't it make her angry?

She felt his gaze on her, and turned to look at him, silencing the questions nagging at her mind. She scowled, glaring at him.

"It is a classic. And just because I like reading books by British authors, it does not mean that I want to move there immediately."

He tilted his head, his face completely serious despite the twitch of laughter behind his straight mouth.

"Really? You don't dream of a Darcy sweeping you off your feet?"

He drawled, fixing her with an unnerving gaze.

"I did. But then I married you."

She expected the words to be laced with venom and resentment, but found that they were instead teasing, tinged with fondness. She felt unsettled by recognition of the emotion that seemed to be seeping through her despite her efforts.

Stiffening, she determinedly turned back to her book, immersing herself. She could feel Arnav looking over at her from time to time, smiling fondly at the way her fingers followed her words on the page, her facial expression changing dramatically with the story. He would shake his head with a smile, and then turn back to his papers.

She tried to ignore it, but she could feel the tingling that insistently crept up every time he snuck a glance at her. Distractedly, she looked over at the clock, her eyes widening at the time. She shut her book, placing it on the table before moving back.

She glanced over at his profile. Her gaze followed the trail of his glasses to his sharp nose, lingering on his lips. He pressed the tip of his pen to his lips, his eyes scanning the page rapidly as he wrote.

She leaned forward, touching the hinge of his glasses, unable to stop herself. He turned to look at her curiously, drawing a sharp breath when she slowly removed them from his face, gently adjusting them as they caught on the sides of his ears.

His eyes followed her hand as she placed them on the side table, her eyes never leaving his face. He closed his eyes as her hand feathered along his eyebrow, caressing the scar before trailing her fingers down his cheek.

She seemed to be memorizing his features, soaking in the scratchy texture of his cheek, the folds beside his eyes. Her thumb hovered above his lips, and she looked up at him through hooded eyes.

He waited for her, struggling to rein himself in.

(continued in next post)

*********MATURE CONTENT WARNING**********

She slowly leaned in, pressing her lips to his. He held himself still as his body screamed for him to roll her over, to cover her skin with kisses. Her lips were warm as they caressed his, her tongue brushing against his lower lip, drawing a groan.

His fist clenched, trying to ignore the way his pants felt tight, straining for release.

But he couldn't, or he wouldn't be able to stop himself.

She pulled back, her brow furrowing in confusion, clearly assuming that he didn't want her to continue. He saw the hurt in her eyes and immediately reached out, stopping her from turning away.

"Do you want this?"

He asked hoarsely, scanning her face. He didn't hide the need in his voice, his urgency warning her, wanting her to be prepared. She hesitated, uncertain of voicing it. He tilted her chin up to look at him, urging her to meet his gaze.

"Khushi?"

She lowered her lashes, a blush filling her cheeks as she nodded slowly, smiling tentatively. He let out a sigh, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear as he dipped his head down to rub his nose against hers, leaning his forehead against hers. She leaned into his breathing in his scent.

He parted her lips with his tongue, feeling her shiver of pleasure as his hands ran through her hair. Her hands reached for him, pulling him closer. He didn't restrain his groan when her tongue met his.

She wasn't sure when her hands finally undid that top button, pushing his shirt off of his shoulders, running her fingers tentatively over the warm skin and the taut muscles.

She bit the inside of her cheek, but it didn't stop the satisfied smile. He raised an eyebrow, and she shook her head, enjoying her little secret.

Her hand hovered over his bare shoulders, and she looked up at him. He nodded, and she let her hand touch him, her heart thudding.

Her exploring hands swept over his heated skin, her curious gaze fixed on his face. She reveled in the way his eyes closed tightly. Her thumb just barely brushed against his nipple, and he let out a hoarse gasp, her name a strangled cry on his lips.

"Khushi."

Marveled, she did it again, mimicking the way his fingers had tweaked her own.

He stopped her, looking at her through clouded eyes. She looked up at him nervously, worried she had done something wrong.

Gently, he guided her hand down, further down until it brushed against the strained fabric beneath his waist. Her hand jumped back, and he placed his hand on her wrist, leaning back to study her face.

"Do you want this, Khushi?"

It would be a Herculean effort for him to stop now.

But she only had to say the word, and he would stop.

Khushi shook her head, squeezing his hand reassuringly. She reached forward, stilling uncertainly above him.

Her eyes widened as he moved her fingers on the hardened ridge, her fingers intrinsically reaching for more. His hands fell from hers when she cupped him more fully, completely breathless as his fingers bunched up the sheets.

"Is this... okay?"

He nodded shakily. Her gaze remained trained on his face, her actions growing bolder as he reacted. He saw her satisfaction at giving him pleasure, and couldn't resist leaning forward.

She closed the distance between them, and he pulled her into his lap, his hands sliding underneath her pallu and fanning out across her skin. He roughly caressed her breasts, his lips insistently pushing against hers as she pushed back, pressing their centers closer together. His name was a throaty whisper, feeling the heat of his hands through the thin fabric of her blouse.

"Arnav."

His fingers swiftly undid the pin holding her pallu in place, and she held it to herself with her hand, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. They stared at each other for a moment.

Her trusting gaze gave him his answer, her eyes holding the faith he needed.

He slowly pulled it away from her, unraveling the sari slowly, fisting the cloth in his fingers. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply as the cloth dropped to the floor. His fingers tugged at the hooks holding her blouse shut, letting it fall away.

"Arnav."

She breathed, her voice fading as his lips closed on a straining peak. She gasped, her hands sliding into his hair as she pulled him closer. He fused his lips with hers again, leaving them both breathless when he pulled back.

He could see the faint markings of the ink from his hands, swirling on her pale skin. She looked down to where he was looking, her cheeks turning bright pink as she realized she was bared to his gaze.

"You're beautiful."

He said thickly, his finger tracing the ink pattern against her waist, before fingering the edge of her petticoat. He looked back up at her, and she nodded jerkily.

He sensed her nervousness in the way her eyes drifted, and he slid his fingers through hers, squeezing gently. He simply held her for a moment, feeling her slowly relax as he took her lips in a languid kiss.

He undid the tie of her petticoat, sliding it slowly down her legs, brushing his fingers against the soft skin. He discarded his own clothes, hiding the smile at her averted gaze.

He moved slowly, kissing her face, her shoulders, and moving back up to her lips. He struggled for self control, wanting her to be comfortable. He slid a finger into her, softly whispering to her when she tried to move away.

She pulled him up to kiss him deeply, the slick heat of their bodies making the air thick. She could feel the sprinkling of hair on his chest against her skin as he slowly rolled her beneath him.

He settled himself over her, kissing her softly, his length pressing against her. Her hips arched, aching for the pressure against her. She did it again, watching in awe when his eyes fluttered shut, his hand slipping slightly.

He felt her heat, the warmth making him crave more. He gently pushed her legs further apart, murmuring reassurances as she flinched. He could see the nervousness, feel the apprehension in her stiff body as he pressed himself closer. Her body relaxed at his words, allowing him in deeper.

A sharp cry of pain escaped her lips, her eyes watering at the piercing sting. His heart clenched, his mind warring with his body as a jolt of pure pleasure shot through him. He forced himself to pause.

He began to move slowly, rocking his hips against hers. He could see her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes still clenched shut in pain. He moved carefully, her face contorting into a grimace as she bit down on her lip.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm-"

She pressed her lips to his, forcing him to stop apologizing as she lifted her hips to meet him. He could tell that she was still in pain, ignoring it to try and reciprocate for him. A small sob escaped her lips, but she cut off his apology once again, urging him forward.

His mind was clouded with the increasing pressure, the throbbing ache just moments from being alleviated. He thrust one more time, stilling as he finally achieved release, a powerful burst of pleasure seeping through him. He was breathing heavily, their bodies pressed together. He held her close, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck.

Slowly, he pulled out of her, noticing her restraining the signs of her pain. He watched her out of the corner of her eye, noting the way she curled up into herself, not allowing him to see her expression. He reached out and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

He could almost hear her thinking, her face reflecting confusion.

She wasn't sure whether it was supposed to feel that way, but she didn't want to ask.

He felt the guilt weigh down on him, that he had achieved pleasure while she hurt. He could feel the heat of her skin, the shadow of her body against his.

Leaning over, he kissed her shoulder. She turned around to face him in surprise, and he captured her lips in a deep kiss, winding his tongue with hers. She responded immediately, relishing the familiarity of it. He held her close, trying to make up for the pain he had inadvertently caused.

His hand cupped her breast, grazing the peak before sliding down to her stomach. She instantly stiffened, pulling away from him. He stopped, taking in her downcast eyes, her fingers twisting nervously. He lifted her chin, kissing her again, urging her to respond.

He touched every inch of her skin, sweeping down her back to her legs, caressing it with unprecedented tenderness. He was careful to avoid that spot, kissing her breasts and trailing his mouth down to her navel, grazing his teeth against the skin at her hip.

He pressed his lips to hers, brushing her hair out of her face when he pulled away. She held his gaze, allowing herself to revel in it. She smiled at him, tracing his lips with her fingers.

She tensed when his palm pressed against the aching nub, shying away. He held her in place, rubbing circles on her hip as he kissed her, reassuring her. She relaxed slowly, and he slid his palm down, teasing her entrance with the tip of his finger.

He murmured thickly in her ear, slowly sliding his fingers between her wet folds, her legs pressing against his arm. Her hands tugged at his hair, pulling him up to crush her lips against his as her hips rocked forward into his hand.

"Arnav, main-"

She bit down hard on her lip, her entire body trembling with the force of her peak. Her head fell back against the pillows, his name uttered breathlessly as she gasped. He could see the awe on her face, the discovery of this newfound pleasure.

But he was amazed by the satisfaction he felt from her pleasure, the intensity of the desire to give her more shocking him. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, mesmerized by the way her expressions were so unguarded, allowing him in.

Pink stained her cheeks under his reverent gaze, and she nestled her head against his chest, not wanting to meet his eyes. She felt the echo of his laughter and smiled. She curled into his body wanting to feel his skin against her own. Her hands reached for his, sliding her fingers between his and locking them together, her fingers filling the empty spaces.

He looked down at her, taking her lips in a slow kiss as they held each other close. She slid down against him, her hair draped over his body. Her eyes were drowsy, her eyelids fluttering shut as the heat from his body relaxed her sore muscles.

He heard her husky murmur as she drifted off into sleep, her voice thick as she nestled closer to him.

"Hum... hum aapse..."

"Jaanta hoon, Khushi."

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder as she fell into a deep sleep, her body cocooned against his.

**********

Note: And that's where I'll leave you for today! Please let me know what you think with a like or a comment- I would love to know your thoughts on this one.

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Love always,

Choti.

naughty girl...😉😆 I m speech less...Bolu to kya bolu...😳

Just when I was thinking winter was not going to leave us this year, you made us skip spring and took us straight to summer with your hot hot hot update😉

It seems like the room has become their home now and you my dear, have found the most elegant words to convey on how they are becoming one. She may have not found the secret door yet, but looks like she has found her window to look through and look on the other side.

The sleeping outside, the glances at the table, the book reading - I really like the way you are using similar situations as before but bringing out the contrast of feelings emanating this time. I don't think anyone can say it any better - "There was a newness about their relationship, no longer marred by uncertainty."

Now that they are sure of their love and sure of their care for each other, I am looking forward to see their understanding for each other. Love and care maybe enough for a patient but a marriage needs understanding too. Really, crossing my fingers on where you are going to take it from here.