[COMPLETED]ArShi SS: Humsafar/ Last Part PG 127 (22/08) - Page 50

Part 8

The orange sky stared back at her as she stood near the window, looking up at the evening sky. She felt so different. Everything felt new. Like she was in some deep sleep, beholding a different world, and now she is awake, feeling and looking at the world which is new to her. She felt new. Not the Khushi who blabbered the first thing that touched her tongue, but a quieter one. Not the Khushi whose eyes expressed everything, but a more secretive one. Not the Khushi who use to bare herself for everyone, but a scared one. It felt like her former self is hiding in some abyss, and an imposter had taken her place. An imposter who is nothing like the girl she was.

She turned around to look at the saree lying on the bed. Arnav ji had sent her this saree in this morning, asking her to be ready in the evening. That day seeing him weak, she had said yes to whatever he wants to do. Because now she don't know what to do.

Moving forward , she went and sat on the bed. Picking the saree, she touched the silky texture of it. She don't know where she will reach by doing all this, but she wants to try. She wants to try for the man who daily comes and pleads to her to come back to him.

Taking the saree, she entered the washroom.

Hundreds of people buzzed around her. The heavy aroma of junk food floating in the air, the night wind making the atmosphere cold. She turned her dubious gaze at him.

"I thought you would enjoy here more rather in some 5 star hotel" Arnav said to her as he took her hand in his. "So what would you like to have?" Arnav asked, his eyes scanning the different stalls lined up at both sides of road.

Khushi remained quiet, just taking in the surrounding. This is not the place Arnav Singh Raizada would like to spend even a second of his life. But here he stood with her, in a place he would describe filled with middle class people, unhygienic food and irritating noise.

"Khushi, gol gappe?" He asked, a smile on his lips.

Khushi wasn't sure how to react. If she had been the same girl 7 months back, she would have leapt at the offer, hugging the life out of him. But now the image of her cheerfully expecting the offer felt so out of character to her own eyes.

Arnav's line of thought was no different from hers. He wanted to see the Khushi whose eyes had danced with happiness when he had brought gol gappas to apologize to her. Why he does something for her only when he wants to rectify his mistake? The question brought the same pain and guilt in which he is living from last 7 months. He has wronged her in so many ways that now she no longer expects anything from him, she no longer trusts him.

Swallowing the pain, he squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

"Khushi, I thought you will enjoy here more. But if you want to go somewhere else, then we can go.."

"No..I ..I like the place .." khushi answered hurriedly, not wanting to ruin the evening for him.

"Let's go then..." he smiled.

"Ji.."

They made their way to the gol gappa stall at the farthest corner.

Arnav looked at khushi as they stood basking in the moon light, the fresh chilly air caressing their body. He looked ahead at the vast greenery spread everywhere. After their dinner, he had brought her here at the hilltop, hoping that she will like it. He looked at her. She was looking up at the sky, staring at the twinkling stars.

"Khushi, you enjoyed the evening?" Arnav asked.

Khushi nodded her head, not knowing what else to say.

Arnav stared at her, wanting her to start the conversation, speak something, do something, which can atleast give him a glimpse of the Khushi he had fallen in love with. But nothing of that sort happened. She just continued looking up, staring at the stars.

"Looking for your Amma Babu ji?" Arnav started.

Khushi looked at him as she heard him ask.

She slowly nodded her head. "Ji..."

"Why? Aren't you enjoying my company?" He smiled, trying to make his question sound somewhat close to a quip, but it didn't came out like intended.

Khushi stared at him for few seconds before replying to him.

And in that few seconds Arnav got her answer.

"I don't know ..." She sat on the grass, leaning against the car.

Arnav followed her.

"I feel like my heart has stopped feeling and thinking...It's my mind who thinks now , and I don't like it... I want to feel, I want to think from my heart... But my heart refuses my every plea .. It ...It ..." she kept her hand on her heart, her voice coming out thick with pain and helplessness. "It ...It just keeps me alive, without talking to me , without making me feel it's existence... It suffocates me ..It makes me feel someone I never was ... Someone I never wanted to be ...Today when you came to pick me .." she hiccuped, trying to swallow the tears. She don't want to cry. "...the first think that came to my mind was, you could stop the car somewhere in the deserted place and tell me to get out. And then would leave me their alone...I never felt that way before ...I use to feel so happy at seeing you outside my house ...I use to feel so happy while climbing in your car, thinking you will shout at me, glare at me but still would care enough to lean and secure my seatbelt...It will irritate you, but still you will slow down the speed for me ... But today all I felt was scared... I don't want to feel like this ... But I did... I love you , I only want to feel happy at seeing you , but ..but I can't ...something has happened to me, and I am not liking it ... I know you would never do something intentionally to hurt me ...but still I am scared ...I am scared to ..to... "

"You are scared to trust me ..."

Khushi lifted her red eyes to look at him. She nodded her head, the held tears now flowing down her cheeks. "I am scared...very scared ..." She threw herself in his arms.. "I don't want to behave this way with you ...I want to become the girl you are searching in me ...But its not in my hand ... I am scared that one day you will get tired and go away , I am scared that one day will give up on me and leave me ... I...I.. " she sobbed in earnest.

"Shh.." he hugged her close. He tried to swallow the big lump in his throat. "I...I will never stop trying, Khushi ... I will try till I get my Khushi back ... You can take all your life Khushi, but still you will find me beside you ...Where can I go? ... Nobody even wants your Laad Governor except you ...You can be sure of that ..."

Khushi giggled through her tears.

And Arnav felt his heart burst with happiness. He kissed her hair.

" I love you, Khushi ...I love you , and I will never stop trying ...You don't have to be scared of anything .." he pulled away from the hug and cupped her face. "I know everything will be alright soon ... .. I will make everything alright ... I promise khushi ..." He pecked her lips. "Your pinky promise , will not break. "

Khushi nodded her head and hugged him again, hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

Arnav pulled her on his lap and leaned against the car, holding her close to his heart.

They sat there in the soothing silence, just content at listening to eachother's heart beat.

Finally updated! So sorry for the wait! Hope you all liked it!