I Found You, Almost! -Thread Two- *NTL PG1 & 134 - Page 43

Chapter 14 (B)

Kaash main tumse nafrat kar paati

Emptying the bottle, Khushi downed the last glass of wine. She watched the flicker of flames consuming the fireplace with a new vigor. Her insides clench as she leaned against the plush leather, her head felt heavier with every passing minute.

This was not her not the Khushi she knew; mourning over a man who never gave a damn about her existence. Who claimed to be in love with her but always did the opposite to hurt her. What kind of love was that? She would never understand him.

"Pick your favorite

Shade of black

You would best

Prepare a speech

Say something funny

Say something sweet

But don't say

That you loved me"

Nothing helped, not even the wine to let that heaviness off her chest. She could not cry, she could not function as she watched the lights in his room. Yes, his room, yes she would just address that room as his from now on, she never belonged there, not in his bedroom, not in his heart and from tonight not in his life. The faster she accepted it the better it is for her sanity.

"Because we are best friends, and we make family!"

She was reminded of his words when they had a huge fight and made up almost immediately.

"I got 4 tickets to this amusement park. Two for Aman and Avni and two for us, you are coming right?"

Khushi squeezed shut her eyes as memories from their entwined past hit her hard with its intensity. He was always there for her, during their schooling together. He always made sure she was doing all right, he was always there to help her with academics as well as other stuffs.

He was fond of her and she never had the slightest of hint that he was into her. she always thought they were great buddies, and made a great pair during those concerts and competitions at school. Nothing more? He never shared his feelings to her, what was she supposed to do, how was she supposed to know?

After finishing high school, everything changed. She met Shaun, the hot and happening guy of their college while Arnav distanced himself from her. Its like he no more cared what she did or whom she went out with, until that evening when he was at her house and Shaun came to pick her for their date.

She still remembered the rage that had overtook him that evening, and infuriating him further, Shaun had kissed her fully on her lips. She realized it now, when she picked up all those missing pieces and placed them together.

He was in love with her, but never had the guts to confess or was he too proud to admit that he had fallen for her?

Did she neglect the obvious? On the other hand, was she desperate to fall in love with Shaun that she never spared a glance at Arnav?

***

Arnav could not get any sleep as he turned and tossed on the bed, the very same bed that Khushi thought was sacred until few hours ago. Everything was ruined she was not ready to listen to him and if she ever did, what was he supposed to tell her? As why he did, what he did.

His phone buzzes announcing an email from his aids. He quickly switched on the laptop and opened the marked mail.

It was indeed Shaun at the Hotel that night. His eyes stared at the CCTV footage and few photographs clicked by Simon. He was everywhere, wherever he and Khushi was that night. Even the karaoke studio where Khushi had put on a show of her singing skills; Arnav looked at the sly smile plastered on Shaun's face as he sat on one of those round tables in the corner of the studio, obviously watching Khushi.

Arnav's jaw clenched as his eyes caught the sight of Shaun standing next to the elevator of the floor he had booked for him and Khushi that time. Simon was right, he had booked the suite right next to theirs, for his convenience;

This whole mess points out that Shaun and Khushi were still in touch with each other, while she claims to be in love with him. He threw the laptop onto the floor and kicked the small desk into one of those corners. He opens the French doors and steps out of the room to get some fresh air. The room felt suffocating to him and his thoughts scared him.

His eyes met hers across the pool; she was standing under the tree, wrapped in a beige shawl. He steps backwards while she kept staring into his eyes. There was pain and a longing. He could not decide whether to go to her or just retreat from there.

"Go and get some sleep Arnav. I don't want your mother to be complaining about your health, since its my responsibility to take care of you.."

She gathers herself and walks away. She turns one last time and closes the door. He stood there watching her every move as she drew the curtains and settled on the bed. Her fingers fumbled with the switches and the lights were been off.

He felt his insides clench. What was happening? Why could not he trust her? It is possible that Shaun was there for some other purpose. She seemed nonchalant when she talked, did not she? It was like she have accepted the fate and embraced the truth that her husband has cheated on her with his secretary. To her eyes, it was the ugly truth.

But, where does he stand? What was his gain in all this fuss?

"I'm still breathing

But, we've been

Dead for a while

This sickness has no cure

We are going down for sure

Already lost our grip

Best abandon ship"

***

"I wish I was your first kiss. Never mind, it does not matter anymore."

Khushi closed her eyes as she sat in the middle of the couch, her eyes directly staring into her husband's eyes, who sat across her on the couch next to her father!

Their families had finally arrived together. Anjana and Jagjit had accompanied Ratna to Boston. They were happy and content to find Arnav and Khushi doing great, and very much in love as they thought.

They both were such good and talented actors. They had put on a great show of being in love with each other, the unconditional types and happy ever after.

Khushi thought he was been mastered in this department as he kept holding her hands in intervals to make an impact while she was too apprehensive about his constant touches.

She could not bear it. She could not figure what his act was doing to her. His touch burned her skin as well as her insides. She could never know what was wrong with her heart lately. She hated him, did not she? Then, why was she enjoying the feeling of sitting next to him? Why was his calloused palm feeling comforting to her? Why was his every move and touch having a different effect on her? Maybe she had always craved for this, craved for his attention, care, and love.

Her traitorous heart was losing this battle of pretense. He seemed unaffected as he carried on with his little act of being the most amazing husband and lover one could see. By the end of the day, her heart was a mess.

In addition, the stark realization hits her that it will take everything in her to get over this man and his charms. She wished it were different between them. She wished for once and for all, they were really in love.

After the eventful dinner, everyone had left for their rooms leaving Arnav and Khushi sitting at the couches, all alone. She felt suffocated; the silence was unbearable as he enjoyed the dessert she made.

"Khushi, this is really good you know!"

He smiled placing the bowl back into the tray.

"No one's around, so, you are free to not to pretend!"

She blurts out and leaves the place taking the tray inside the kitchen. She felt his ragged breathing behind her as she puts the bowls inside the sink and turn around.

"I was not pretending!"

He barks in a menacing tone and steps away from her side.

"You are such a great actor; I fail to find the differences between your pretense and genuineness."

He turns around and grabs her shoulders. Pinning her against the counter he stares into her deep eyes and then at her lips.

"Trust me; I could never match your acting skills! You are a far better actor when it comes to pretending something and making the people believe..You are natural!"

Khushi closes her eyes as his breathing fans her lips. Her hand roughly clutches the edge of the counter while he leans against her body, pressing his entire form onto hers. This was not right! Her mind chided when she placed her free hand onto his chest and pushed him away.

"Stay away from me and do not touch me. I hate it when you do it!"

With that said, she runs away from there, leaving him standing in the same position.

***

When Arnav returned home in the wee hours of night, he found Khushi still awake, sitting on the lounge chair, a book lying flat on her lap, abandoned. She looks up at him, her eyes accusing and hard.

"Looks like you had a great time with her. Why couldn't you try and keep it in your pants until your mother is here?"

He stared at her in disbelief. And she continued..

"I know it's none of my business, it's your personal choices and needs. However, as long as your mother is here with us, I suggest you keep your dirty secrets away from her. I do not want her to leave this place with a broken heart when she already dealing so many things in life. Out of all the people you must know what's right and wrong to do in her presence."

He gave her a long steady look and pulled the chair next to the lounger.

"Yes, its none of your business. It should not concern you if I cannot keep it in my pants, do you understand? I do not have to prove anything to you whether I was out with someone or I had a great time with them. Its sickening to know that you have such great assumptions about me lately!"

"Oh! Pardon me; you did not leave me with any other choice. Your act with Lavanya Kashyap has left a huge impact on me."

"At least I was open with what I was doing. Not like you, sneaky and going behind my back. Was Shaun any good in bed? Seems like he wasn't, that's why you chose me?"

"Do not drag Shaun into this. He is no longer in my life and it should not concern you if he is good or bad in bed."

"Don't tell me you guys never had..you know what I mean?!"

"We never had sex, is not that you wanted to find out?"

No wonder he was still desperately following her around. Arnav thought walking away from her. She sat on the lounge chair, her face buried in her palms.

"If you are planning to get laid please have some patience and do whatever you want after Maa leaves. I swear I would not stop you!"

She turns around her eyes red and burning with rage.

"You have lost that right to stop me from doing anything, do you understand? Unfortunately, things do not work like that for me, I would never bring anyone to my house or marriage bed to hurt the very person I claim to love! That's not me, neither my culture"

"Its all for the better

That we end this here

Lets close this chapter

Say one last prayer

But don't say

That you loved me"

***

Ratna stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes seemed lifeless and her skin was breaking out. She regretted the very move of coming to US, to Arnav and Khushi. She was happier in India at least she never would have known the bitter secrets about their marriage life.

Where did she go wrong with this decision? Arnav loved her, did not he? And Khushi shared mutual feelings too.

She had woken up to the sound of the main door opening in the middle of the night.

She knew it must be Arnav getting home after his long drive in the night. She was used to his routines but what about Khushi, she was yet to get used to his get away!!

When will this boy learn? She thought smiling as she climbed the stairs to have a chat with him. She will make sure he never leaves his wife in the middle of the night no matter what.

She was about to reach out to him when he opened their bedroom door and stepped inside. Ratna noticed a furious Khushi on the lounger and she knew, things were not pretty good between them as they claimed or showed during the day.

What followed inside the room almost knocked the whole air out of Ratna's lungs. She was apprehensive as how to stop these two from fighting, it was not a right time to enter their room and if she did they will find that she was been eavesdropping their conversation.

She carried herself back into her room, her heart heavier than all those years. She made a terrible mistake by tying them together. What might have happened? Who is Shaun? And Lavanya, was not she Arnav's secretary?

She has to have to make everything all right between them. They are not supposed to be end up like this.

***


Song: I am still breathing

Artist: Katy Perry

Album: One of the boys

***

A/N

To everyone who were asking about ASR's behavior in this FF.

To be honest, this ASR/ARNAV is way too different from IPK. I dont know how efficiently I have portrayed him so far, but one thing is sure that this Arnav is way too difficult to write.

This is my very first attempt on angst so, please please please forgive me for these novice attempts.

I hope you like this part.

The flashbacks are going to end in next 2 chapters or so.

Thanks a lot for your constant support and feedback on this story. This is not my forte and IFYA is one of the most challenging stories I have ever tried. I hope you understand and spare me lol.

For PMs add _FriedPMs_

Love

J