Arshi FF - Hearts Knit Together #4 [COMPLETE] EPILOGUE on Pg66 [24/07] - Page 12

NOTE

Hello amazing people,

Firstly, belated happy and prosperous Diwali to everyone of you. Hop you all had great fun and stayed safe.

Now, I know what you are thinking - Finally she is here! Promise karne ke baad bhi itna late. I can even understand if few of you are angrier than this. Itna subtle reaction to mera bhi nahi hota *hahahah*

But but but,

Aap logo ko khuli chhhut hai. Maine kaam hi aise kiye hai.

I don't know why but I am always running short of time. I sometimes wish to get myself arrested just like Ajay devgan did in the movie, Atithi tum kab jaaoge to get my story finished. Trajedic naa?

Anyways, I am finally back with an update which very sadly I have to say, is not what all of you must have expected. I cant break the suspense here but please do keep one thing in mind, after every night, there's a dawn!

Before proceeding to the update a huge THANKS to each of my reader who are patiently dealing with my laziness and continuing through this story. Your support and appreciation has always mattered to me a lot. Not simply as a writer but also as a freind and member of this virtual Arshi world of ours.

Also, quickie-thanky to few of those special people who are doing a fabulous job at keeping my spirits and moods always uplifted. You guys are my driving force, you nurture my zeal and help me deliver my best.

So thank you,

Sugar-pie (tuli_jayee), Asha di, cuddle-bear (sravs), Radhvi di, Nazzz16, megha1996, Chaverah_TFC, meera_beladiya, sriif, shalbi, YaSha0512, pup03, kharashelly, seeta_naips, Javeria3991, sk20145, star_fan1.

I really value your opinion and had particularly read your comments thrice and more - @Pravallika, Radhvi di, tuli_jayee, Chaverah_TFC, sriif, sk2045,

@Laavanya4u: thank you so much for your lovely words or appraisal and welcome to this ff. Oh btw, you might wanna if your wish came true.

@BarunFan1212, @sarunsashasingh, @Barunzforever: Welcome and thanks so much for reading my story right from the start and commenting.

Sorry If I missed any name.😕😕

Another thing, my darling cuddle bear had made me a birthday thread with loads of gifts, heart touching lines that made me cry so bad, coz I obviously wished she was infront of me so that I could squeeze the life out of her. Do have a look if you wish -Click here

@sravs: I am heading back to my home in a day or two and after that, the first thing I will do is respond to your message on my birthday thread. Its a Promise sweetu.

Now the update is all yours..

Novel - Hearts knit together

Chapter 30

His eyes misted everytime he glanced at her unconscious form slumped onto the bed as their family doctor attended to her health. Lack of fluid and extensive stress was what he had suggested as the probable cause of her unconsciousness. And Arnav knew the doctor was cent percent right. Because, tucked under that heavy duvet, with those deep creases lining her foreahead and trails of dried tears marking her pale cheeks, she was looking every bit of a person who was weighted down under heavy trauma.

So fragile that even a slight wind could mar her existence. So vulnerable that he had a sudden maddening urge to guzzle down all of her pain and clasp it to his own heart.

But instead, all he did was standing rooted by her bedside, clenching and unchlenching his fists as spasms of guilt enveloped his senses, mocking him for letting her hold herself responsible. The way she had collapsed infront of his very eyes was enough to prove his failure as a man who claimed to love her beyond sanity and more. She had first refused to share anything about the matter that was troubling her and if that wasn't enough, she had later gone ahead and apologized so profusely for something that wasn't even her mistake.

How can she feel so horrible about something that dint even matter? Had she really thought he won't understand? Did she consider him the kind of man who would feel offended if his girlfriend raises her voice at him? Did she actually think he valued his ego more than her?

He felt his mind going foggy with these kind of questions surfacing time and again but instead of shutting himself off against them, he let his entire focus hover around these very thoughts in a desperate quest to find out that missing peace of puzzle which could end his misery once and for all. If anything in her outburst and uncalled apology can give him atleast a slight clue of what might be wrong with her, he was ready to dive into it, given anytime, anywhere.

Because now he knew, any more moment of not-knowing-anything was going to kill him. He wanted to know why his chirpy and happy khushi was getting injected to so much of pain. His heart told him it was either Shyam or his Mom's doing becausing nobody else could bother her to this extent. About Shyam, he already had an assurance from the commissioner so that left him with only option- His mother.

Glancing up, he passed a brief look to her who was standing alongside his dad, her hands on his shoulder offering silent comfort. Her expressions depicted worry matching everyone else's in the room and when she met his eyes, she passed him an reassuring smile. He tried to smile back although failing miserably and was almost convinced of her innocence when suddenly, something clicked.

Wait, Mom tried to assure me... Room me baaki sab bhi toh hai, she is heedless to them which means, woh janti hai khushi ko lekar meri kya haalat hai. Does that mean unhe hamare bare me bhi pata hai?

He glanced again to check and this time found her poker faced almost as if the look was forced, which further confirmed his doubts and instantly rocketed his heartbeats. Oh no!

This couldn't be..

Who the bloody told her?

Damn it NO!

I know that look...

Unhe sab pata hai and obviously she must have said something to khushi. Tabhi toh..

He turned back to glance back at the love of his life, his eyes holding an ocean of pain as the overwhelming realization of her actual state finally dawned upon him. Wildly shaking his head, he backed himself up against the wall, feeling his knees buckle with the force of this awakening. An awakening that came too late!

Though, a little part of him still wanted to wait till he could have the confirmation of all the surgeance from his love who was now sleeping under the effect of strong sedatives, a rational part of him crushed it under the heavy weight of all the facts that were staring right on his face - Nobody was home today. That must have given her a perfect opportunity to harass my khushi. Or maybe, even this was duly planned. This explains her extreme ebullient behaviour of the past few days. She must have all these sorted out in her mind. And there I was, like a FOOL, thinking that was happenening coz she was seeing sense. Gawwwd!

He ran a frustrated hand through his hairs, trying to blink back his tears as feelings of extreme hurt and betrayal washed over him. But more than that, it was once again the same horrific reminder of his failure that was cutting a slade right through his heart, twisting it again and again to intensify the pain beyond tolerance. This insight was an acute reminder that mocked him again for his disability to connect the dots and set things right when it wasn't actually so late. Now he could easily comprehend the reason behind his restlessness all day. And also why that seemed to have increased just after he had spoken to his mother over the phone.

She had done it. Again!

She had tried to ruin his perfect world, to shatter it into million small pieces such that he won't be able to assemble it back no matter how long or how hard he tried. Because if khushi was gone or rather, he should say, forcibly removed from his life, he was as good as dead. A life without her was simply unimaginable and downright impossible.

Though he dint knew the amount of damage this entire ordeal, which he only had a slight estimation of, had done to his beloved khushi, he knew one thing for sure. Her agony, no matter how slight or intensified it was, it was not going to let him forgive himself, ever.

Because HE had let that happen. He had let his mom hurt her. He had vowed to not let history repeat itself and yet he was the one who had foolishly thought his mumma was changing. He had shown faith in her every deed, though his gut feelings had time and again warned him otherwise, especially since that weird discussion which they have'd after he was back from the trip. And now, it was only for his stupidity that khushi was paying the price.

But then, that does not have to mean he had totally lost the battle. Yes, Shalini had outminded him. And he had overestimated her to come around with time and his and his father's combined efforts. His mistakes, yeah! But he would be damned if he let mistakes cost him, his khushi.

~

She squirmed and twitched as the effect of anesthesia slowly wavered off. Her fogged up senses slowly but surely reawakened and what met her eye was a site of extreme delight. Unknowingly, her lips twitched a little as she watched the processing around her in great interest. Well, it wasn't something extraordinary. Just her cocooned in Arnav's warm embrace and him holding her real tight. Usual! But maybe this warmth after an eon of coldness was what making the experience a lot more blissful and rejuvenating.

And that served as the reminder to the cause of that coldness. Shalini's words, her accusations and lastly the ultimate threat, it all came tumbling back, making her freeze in her laying position. Luckily Arnav hadn't noticed for his fingers were still stroking her hairs in that ever so caring and loving manner, soothing her in ways she could never explain, while he continued to speak with his assistant on the phone.

It was this tenderness that brought a fresh set of tears to her eyes. Oh how she was going to miss all these! Their morning moments when he would wake her up flashing that devastatingly handsome smile of his came to her mind, and she realized how much she had always loved that gesture of him. She may have never admitted out in the open but it was that smile which has always held so much power over her. Maybe because that smile pronounced her significance in his world for the person he had become after he had welcomed her in his heart. That it was only with her that he behaved so carefree and happy and amazing, it appeased her insecure mind like no other.

And then there were other times when he would show her how it felt like to have won his love because for one, Arnav singh Raizada dint loved easily but once he did, he did it crazily. And passionately, she must add. He would shower you with his undivided attention; feel for you as though he would he would cease to exist if he ever stopped; understand you as though he is a dramaturge and you, his creation; love you with all his soul following no heeds or inhibitions; care for you as though you are the only one that matters.

His one glance would set your entire body on fire, his mere touch would melt you with intensity so raw and powerful, he would weave his magic on you, bit by bit clasping you beguilingly into his spell and all you could do is helplessly get drawn and pray to never waver apart.

It was these memories that would be tearing her apart every time she would reminiscue it from somewhere far away. They had already started calling out to her, infact begging her to not do this. To step back and let Arnav handle everything. That sooner or later, he was to know what had transpired today. And then, he may felt cheated from both the ends. He might as well, blame her since he had, for countless times now, unleashed his most vulnerable self and urged her to always stay by his side, no matter what and yet she was going to deny him that very thing he wanted the most - her presence in his life.

But if she shared, it would mean she valued herself more than their bond. That for her, clearing her image infront of Arnav was more important than fighting for their love. And she could never let anyone hold that impression about her, least of all the woman she always had considered like her mother. She maybe Shashi gupta's daughter in everything else but when it came to defending things that mattered the most to her, she wasn't a coward.

Yes, in a moment of weakness, she had also considered telling everything atleast to her Arvind uncle. Because she knew he would never let his princess suffer at the hands of his wife. That he would do whatever it takes to minimalize the damage on either sides.

But a promise is a promise! No matter how much her decision would hurt everyone, she will have to abide by her words which also included keeping mum about the entire matter. She had asked for one more night from Shalini but that was going to be it. She will be gone from his life before it became impossible to do so. She will leave him so that they could reunite again. So that no one could doubt their love ever again.

And so, she snuggled more into him, holding him tighter, trying to absorb the feel of him in her veins, to memorize his features from this close of proximity, to inculcate his warmth till the very core of her being. She had one night to live before she started dying a thousand deaths everyday and she was going to cherish it with her everything.

~

He felt her grip on him strengthening and he smiled gathering her closer, ending his call. His khushi's arms were magical. They had given him the much needed comfort to calmly think and plan things ahead. Now he no more grieved the opportunities lost. No more feared the future.

His shrewed mind had cooked up a new idea. If before he was trying to keep his mother's state of mind into consideration, he was least bothered about it now. Coz clearly she have'd acted as she wanted to. Now was his turn. His vendetta is now going to focus solely on securing khushi with himself, his mother and her insecurities be damned if needed. It was time to take the big step.

And that begins with marriage.

~

Same night, 4.00 am

She tried to be as discreet as possible, lest he woke up and rout her out of her will to take such a big step. Continous tears were streaming down her cheeks and she had to wipe them off thrice before she could bend down to plant brief yet firm kisses on his lips, forehead, cheeks and everywhere else she could manage, given how close she was to break down completely and forget all about her plans of leaving.

Holding her breath, she watched in gnawing horror as he twitched and later shifted on his place. She meekly waited for him to fall back asleep, for those frown lines to somehow disappear. It was as though he had sensed her agony and was subconsciously trying to exterminate it. His discomfort for her state bearing enough of a proof as to how connected their hearts were, she gulped hard, unclasping her sweaty palms before stroking his hairs and face just the way he had done, a few hours ago.

A major part of her prayed for him to get back to sleep, however their was this little portion, somewhere around the left region of her chest, heart or no heart, she wasn't sure anymore, that begged him not to do so and instead wake up to stop her from causing so much of destruction in both their lives.

But, fortunately or unfortunately, as soon as he had sensed her touch, he was sound asleep within moments and khushi knew there and then, her time was up. Now she could no more delay the inevitable. Broken sobs threatened to burst through her as she took her last fill of him before rushing out of the room as soon as her wobbly legs could manage.

Swallowing the big lump of pain down her throat, she muffled her sobs with one hand and clicked the door shut with the other before latching it firmly from the outside. Walking ahead, ruminating every small-big single moment associated with the mansion, sometimes blushing, sometimes smiling or giggling amidst the constant tears at the few particular ones, she atleast reached the porch and found Shalini with a driver waiting for her in the driveway.

Taking a deep breath, she bid her final goodbye and set out to deliver her promise, spoiling Arnav's plans even before it could get started.

***

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Simmi <3