Arshi FF:Love Me Forever #2 LINK TO# 3 pg 149 - Page 49

Chapter 20

He squinted his eyes and leaned his head on the head rest, he was having a splitting headache, he shut his eyes tightly and pressed his forehead hard. He heard the tinkling of her glass bangles and opened his eyes slowly to find her standing with a glass of lemon juice, he turned his neck to the other side, she placed the glass on the bedside table and sat next to him," arnav ji, we need to talk."

He kept looking at the other side, she knew it wouldn't be easy especially after the way she had ignored him in the last two days. She placed her palm on his cheek and turned him slowly so that he could face her, he looked at her sharply only for a moment which was enough for him to indicate how hurt he was then dropped his gaze.

" I know you had said that there would be no place for love in our relationship still I ended up loving you. And I don't regret that." She glanced at him to read his expressions, his lips were pursed and jaws clenched firmly, when he had warned her in the beginning then why did she fall for him? And on top of that she didn't even regret being in love with him?

" no matter how much you curb your emotions, if love has to happen it happens. It's not in your hands." She pressed her lips and continued," love can also not be forced. I can't force you to love me and you can't force me to not love you."

He glanced back at her, the old confident and outspoken khushi was back, she was right that she couldn't force him to love her but at the same time he didn't wish to see her hurt because of him, if he couldn't love her back he didn't want to break her heart too.

She thought back to the night when he had rejected her feelings, a glimpse of disappointment reflected in her eyes, nevertheless she was content that at least she had confessed them to him," arnav ji, when you said that you don't love me...it shattered me."

He knitted his brows, not in even his dreams had he imagined that she loved him and when she acknowledged the same in front of him, it came as a shock to him, he didn't want her to go through this painful heart break but he was helpless and to see her devastated made him miserable, he still felt horrible. She could see that he wasn't happy with the whole turn of events even she didn't wish to hold all this against him, after all she hadn't laid down the condition that he would love her back before she fell for him then why was she blaming him? He had always maintained that they both shared a beautiful and unique relationship which she interpreted as love, he never ever mentioned love to her even though his actions, his behavior carried that emotion but still what they had was much more valuable to her and she didn't desire to lose it for the sake of love," but now when I think back at your words I guess you were right. What we share is beautiful and precious. In the desire to have more I don't wish to lose we already have."

Her words sent a sense of relief to his heavy and guilty heart, he too didn't want to lose her friendship, her companionship for anything and hoped that things went back to normal like before, she picked up the lemon juice glass and offered him, he took it silently then parted his lips to speak for the first time," khushi... I'm sorry."

Tears welled up in her eyes and she shook her head, when she wasn't sorry to love him then why was he sorry for not doing the same? She got up and gave him a thin smile before telling," daadi ji, anjali di and payal will be home anytime. I'll just check in the kitchen if everything is in order." He nodded his head and sipped on to the juice to get rid of his hangover.

Once again the house began buzzing with the sounds of its members, payal was thrilled after completing her wedding shopping whereas anjali appeared a little relieved, daadi's reports showed slight improvement, she still needed lot of care and bed rest but daadi was a strong lady she didn't want her illness to affect payal's wedding and her happiness. She knew she didn't have much time but whatever was left she wanted it to spend with her family happily.

She noticed khushi going through payal's shopping with a smile on her face," khushi when will you start your shopping for the marriage?"

khushi raised her head from the sari which she watching and replied," daadi ji, I already have so many saris and jewelry. I don't think I'll be needing anything more."

Daadi knew she would never ask for anything, she glanced at arnav and ordered," chotte, today you'll take khushi to the market and that's final." He nodded his head while khushi protested," honestly daadi ji, I've everything."

Daadi raised her hand to silence her and said," after these wedding functions get over we will have your baby shower. Won't you be needing more saris then?" she blushed on hearing about her baby shower and lowered her head silently, his lips twisted slightly on seeing her getting shy.

In the evening they both went out for shopping, she agreed on buying a sari for herself only if he too bought something for himself, she didn't remember the last time he shopped for himself. She stepped out of the car and saw a person selling crushed ice (gola), she licked her lips then pulled on to his sleeve to stop him who as usual was walking ahead of her, he looked at her and lifted his head asking her why did she stop him, " arnav j, I want to have gola." He looked at the man selling crushed ice and shook his head in negation, it wasn't safe for her to have such unhygienic stuff. Her face dropped on seeing him refuse, she gazed around and saw a man selling golgappas, her eyes lightened up and she pointed towards the golgappas, he took a deep breath and wondered what was wrong with her, why was she asking for all unhealthy things," no gola no golgappa ..no gol gol stuff for you. Understood?" He stated firmly, she thought of emotional blackmailing, placed her hand on her stomach and made a puppy face before replying, " but golu is hungry." He glanced at her baby bump then at her and shook his head nope, she wrinkled her forehead and pouted," okay. Then can I have gol gol jalebis?" fine that wasn't a bad option, he told her to go to a boutique selling formal outfits till he got hot jalebis for her.

She moved her fingers through different saris hanging on the stand, red, blue, green, pink, multicolored, zari, silk, bandhej, she rested one hand on her waist and with the other one held her head, so many varieties, she was getting thoroughly confused as to which one to pick, all seemed so pretty. She took a deep breath and picked two saris one simple green sari with zari work done and other multicolored bandhej sari. She took both of them, placed one on each of her shoulder and stood before the mirror trying to decide which one to finally buy, although she wasn't fond of bright and gaudy dresses but thought that since they were in fashion so this time she might as well choose the multicolored sari when she heard a female voice from behind," the green one looks lovely on you."

Her head shot up and she looked through the mirror to find a lady with a dusky complexion, big black eyes, heavily decked up probably in her late twenties standing right behind her. She turned around in surprise and narrowed her eyes, she hadn't seen her before she thought when the lady once again pointed towards the green sari and said," I'm sorry if I'm intruding but really you should pick the green one."

Khushi smiled at her and nodded her head, she didn't need to apologize in fact she was glad that she was helping her out. Khushi kept the multicolored sari on one side, picked up the green sari, draped it around herself and looked at the mirror, the lady came close to her and kept her hand on khushi's shoulder smilingly and spoke," you're very pretty and simplicity has it's own beauty." Khushi pressed her lips and let out a faint smile, the lady was right, simplicity had its own hidden beauty. She folded the sari and kept it aside then opened her mouth to thank the lady," Thank you."

The lady shook her head in negation, there wasn't any need to thank her," are you buying it for some special occasion?"

khushi's eyes shone with excitement as she replied," yeah my sister in law is getting married so I came here to shop with my husband." The lady looked around for her husband she was pregnant and her husband had left her alone for shopping, what kind of an irresponsible husband was he?

Khushi noticed her wavering eyes and replied," he's gone nearby...and if you don't mind can you help me a little more?" the lady frowned at her with a smile, khushi took her to the gents section, she wished if the lady could help her out in selecting something nice for him as well.

Both of them went through various jodhpuri suits and sherwanis. She knew he would not wear a sherwani, he had already worn one on their wedding and she remembered how uncomfortable he was feeling, so only jodhpuri suits were left. They went through them carefully, she liked one in cream color, with a round neck and light embroidery done on the sleeves she knew he didn't like heavily worked stuff, happy with her choice she glanced at her new found helper who picked a blue kurta with a golden thread embroidery done on its wide collar.

Khushi showed her the one she had chosen and asked," how's this?" she too liked the cream one.

" it's nice but don't you think that its round collar might make your husband feel uneasy and uncomfortable?"

Khushi frowned, the lady had a point, if the outfit was even slightly uncomfortable he would never wear it, but then thought it would look great on him, she wished he too liked the one she had picked but nevertheless she was glad that she met her while shopping, " thanks once again you've been a great help. Bu the way I'm khushi" she smiled back and stuck her hand out to introduce herself," I'm La.." before she could tell her name her driver came and interrupted her," madam please hurry up. Sir is waiting." She nodded her head and handed over her shopping bags to the driver then turned to khushi and said," I'm sorry I'll have to rush but it was a pleasure meeting you." And hugged khushi warmly before leaving the boutique.

She sat on the stool waiting for him, at last he came with hot hot jalebis, she stood up at once on seeing him coming and asked him impatiently," what took you so long?" He gave her box of jalebis and replied," I asked the guy to make fresh ..." Without waiting for him to complete his reply she opened the box and began having it, he shook his head and looked around wondering had she selected anything or not?," did you select anything?" with her mouth full of jalebis she went and showed him the two saris asking for his choice, he rolled his eyes, he had no idea about what looked good on women he scratched his temple thinking which one to choose then pointed toward the green sari and said," this one is not too gaudy. It's simple but I guess it will look great on you."

She was a bit surprised that he too chose the one that the lady had selected and gave exactly the same reason for picking it up. So it was decided that the simple green zari sari she would go for, she then showed him the two jpdhpuri suits she had selected hoping for him to choose the one she had liked but once again he went for the blue kurta, a little disappointed she showed him the cream one once more and told him that it had such light embroidery which he liked, he nodded his head in agreement but still felt that the blue one had a better collar unlike the cream one in which he might feel suffocated," khushi it's collar is not very comfortable ." Her eyes grew wide on hearing his reasoning one more time the lady was right, she felt slightly dejected and jealous on realizing that a stranger knew more about his preferences than her.

He saw her sad face then picked up the cream one which she wanted him to wear, though it might cause him discomfort but he could bear it for her sake. She stopped him from buying that cream kurta, she didn't wish him to feel uneasy because of her. He paid the bills and went back to the car.

He stopped at the signal and began readjusting his rear view mirror when his gaze fell on a car parked at the corner of the road, the driver was replacing the punctured tyre when a lady came out of the car and began yelling at the driver for taking so long, he couldn't see her face properly, she was wearing glares but still she looked quite familiar. He knitted his brows , narrowed his eyes and thought "NO" she couldn't be, after so many years she couldn't come back, she had left him, his life this place long time back, she couldn't return.

Khushi lost in her thoughts was wondering why did she feel bad when he disapproved her choice? In the morning She had decided that henceforth she wouldn't impose her thoughts, her views and feelings on him. She needed to be strong and not fall in this emotional trap again after all one day he would physically detach her from himself but emotionally she had to begin doing so in order to save herself as much as possible from getting hurt in the future. She sighed deeply it wasn't easy, she had always followed her heart and to now let her mind rule her heart was going to be really difficult.

Her thoughts got disturbed by the honking of close by vehicles, she looked at him, the signal had turned green, she shook his hand holding the steering wheel and said," Arnav ji, let's go." he looked at the signal it had turned green, he pursed his lips and pressed the accelerator to resume driving.

He clenched his jaws and gritted his teeth, no , his past couldn't come back to haunt him, he must have seen someone else, he was sure about it or atleast wanted to believe that.

thanks for reading

Rose