Arshi FF: Destined To Love #2 LINK TO#3 Pg151 - Page 49

Chapter 26

He watched her intently as she sat on the long couch nibbling on her food. For the first time he saw her struggling with her dinner plate. She was trying hard to swallow but nothing was going inside instead she was intending to throw up something that was rotten within her for a long time. Lost in her thoughts she gazed at the flames, the power had still not resumed however he'd managed to make some fire with whatever kindle that was available. The hall was warm and cozy but she could hardly feel the warmth within her.

" how long were you married ?" his husky voice startled her thoughts. As far as he could understand, there was a lot that she had silently suffered and buried inside her but tonight she wished to free herself from that burden.

She glanced at him and paused for a moment before answering," around six months ." The exact number of days she spent as a married woman, she couldn't recall as all the days were the same, though married for six months but to her it seemed more than a life time.

" I was never a wife for him..just a commodity that he used and abused every night ." Her face creased in disgust as she thought back that they were a married couple, he didn't have to force himself on her every night. Closing her eyes she could see blood everywhere, her hair disheveled, her lips split and swollen, her cheeks bruised and her head pounding after being smashed by him against the wall. A chill ran down her spine as those moments replayed in her mind.

His face scrunched in fury, she had suffered far more than him and tonight in this dim light he could see the scars in her eyes, they were clearly visible. Silent tears ran down her cheeks and he had a strong urge to go up to her and wipe them like before but he felt that now was not the right time, there was still something more that was troubling her.

" then why did he leave you?" If her husband lusted over her body so much and derived immense pleasure in torturing her then why did he left her in the brothel.

She smirked at him, it was really simple, when he had got enough of her he sold her off," he'd bought me out of money then later again sold me off for money ." She clearly remembered the day he'd forced her into prostitution, he'd smiled at her evilly and bowed solicitously with a look of cruel amusement.

" he'd bought me for seven thousand ..so every holy marital vow was for one thousand, right ?" she looked at him for reassurance as though asking him that she had calculated correctly, her husband had bought the seven pure vows of a marriage for a meager seven thousand rupees , it wasn't a bad deal at all!

" and afterwards he sold me for seventy thousand ." Even though he was a cop but he had a good business sense after investing seven thousand in her he later on sold her for seventy thousand, it was profitable to the fullest. With the back of her hand she roughly wiped off her tears, he wasn't worth her tears...she hated him like she hated no one before him.

There was complete silence around as none of them spoke further, there was nothing more left to be said from both the sides. Tonight she'd shared the darkest phase of her life with him and no words of solace from him could dispel that darkness from her past. Words were meaningless and worthless compared to what she'd suffered. His mind was clouded up with her revelations of her husband, who was the lowest of animals and the cruelest of beasts. His nostrils flared up in anger as he thought how brutally he must have treated her. He was aware that she'd gone through hell but to this extent, he had never imagined in the wildest of his dreams.

He glanced at her, she'd kept the plate on the table and placed her head on the arm of the couch. He slowly went up to her ensuring not to disturb her sleep, then lifted her head carefully and placed a small cushion underneath. He brought her blanket from the room and went down on his knees to cover her properly. He once again wished he could have reached out to her or been there to help but...sadly he couldn't.

Laying down, he stared at her from the opposite couch, he was unable to get his eyes off her and couldn't stop himself from admiring her courage and spirit. She was truly a brave woman and he was glad that she came into his life!

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The early morning rays filtered the area, she rubbed her drowsy eyes and stretched herself. Opening her dark pools she was pleasantly surprised to see him sleeping on the couch across, she blinked slowly to ensure whether it was a dream or not. A smile tugged the corners of her lips on seeing this beautiful sight. She felt she could watch him the whole day sleeping so peacefully and snuggled under the blanket when she realized that she'd not brought the blanket out...so last night he wrapped her up! A sense of warmth spread through her entire being. She didn't know for how long without stirring she continued to marvel at him, admitting her admiration for him when her hungry stomach grumbled and her baby started kicking her. She'd not eaten properly at night and now the baby was craving to be fed. Sighing deeply she pushed of the blanket and got up to take a shower and eat something.

She silently buttered the toasted breads as her mind went back to the events of the night. How distressed and suffocating she was feeling by bottling up those awful memories within her, as though they were not letting her breathe and live...and then he came over to help her chuck out all that was killing her. Although she still wasn't able to figure out why exactly those emotions had overwhelmed her so much that she couldn't stop herself from pouring her heart out to him but now in the end she felt relieved and glad that there was someone who could understand clearly what she felt. There was no sign of sympathy or pity in his eyes for her, instead the pain that was streaming down her eyes was reflecting in his as well.

Combing his fingers through his wet hair he stood at the edge of the dining table and saw her deeply engrossed in her thoughts, thankfully today she appeared a lot better. He pulled out the chair to sit when its creaking noise broke her terrain of thoughts. She lifted her lashes and gave him a weak smile while serving him the buttered toasts. Even though they hadn't shared a breakfast for months still she remembered what he had. The thought made him feel nice. She poured him his hot coffee then sat to have toasts along with her glass of milk. Munching silently on the toast, trying not to make much noise she realized that she'd forgotten something. Coming back from the kitchen she placed two ladoos on her plate and began having them with milk. He noticed that she didn't make any face while having them, perhaps she'd gotten used to having milk with ladoos. But what impressed him was that even though shalini was not around she still didn't fail to follow her daily diet routine. She'd definitely grown more responsible towards the baby.

There was silence in the room as arnav quietly browsed through the newspaper while sipping on the coffee. Her plate was empty and now her tummy was full, with nothing more to do she looked up in his direction, his face was hidden behind the papers but it didn't matter to her.

After going through a horrible marriage and an equally devastating profession she'd vowed to herself that she wouldn't allow any man to enter her life ever, there would be no husband, no lover and no children in her life. She wanted nothing more from her life except her freedom from her profession thus when shalini came up with this deal she pounced on it without thinking twice...but now things had changed along with the circumstances and so had her feelings. She smiled as she caressed her belly and thought of him while admitting to herself that now she wanted more from her life! However she wondered, would she ever get what she desired.

He suddenly poked his head out of the newspaper and startled her for the second time in the day before asking," want to go out in the evening ?" she nodded her head in a daze, there was no point in staying in this house alone and boring themselves to death, so going out in the evening was a perfect idea that she couldn't think of refusing.

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The evening was cool and pleasant, it hadn't rained the whole day but the effect of last night's rain could still be felt. Everything around seemed washed out and clean. Soft breeze was blowing as both of them walked through the narrow lanes. For the first time strolling down he didn't care about the people around, it was different, nobody knew who he was and he was glad that he could be himself for sometime shrugging off the reputation of 'ASR' from his shoulders. No one bothered to give him a second look or fold hands before him to greet him. He didn't remember when was the last time he had walked so freely and openly. He inhaled the pure and fresh air that rejuvenated him. It was as though the spirits of his soul had leaked out slowly in the past few years and he hadn't noticed. He glanced at her with softened expressions and thanked her inwardly for reviving the old forgotten arnav.

It was Sunday and the crowd was pouring in slowly and steadily making the lanes all the more congested. If that wasn't enough there were tourists riding on ponies, he shook his head and wondered what's the fun in riding through crowded lanes. People were coming from both the directions as he walked a step behind her to ensure that she didn't get pushed from the back, then casually came from behind and started walking on her right so that she was more close to the side railings on the left and he could block the crowd on the right side. She noticed how with hands deposited in his pockets he was attempting to protect her from the traffic without making anything obvious. That's what she loved about him, he cared deeply but still made everything look so normal and casual. It was an essence of power he exuded and quiet strength at the same time mixed with something gentle.

In the past few months she did come out but not much, shalini mostly preferred to keep her indoors, her visits were limited to the nearby market and temple, thus there was a lot that she had still not explored.

Like a child she was excited to visit new places. On the roadside she spotted a man selling roasted corns, her mouth became watery at once and she tugged arnav's arm before pointing towards the corns. They stopped in front of the man who was sitting on the rocks and roasting the corns. She immediately selected two corns but arnav refused , he didn't wish to have it, she rolled her eyes before instructing the man to add extra salt and squeeze more lemon on her corn. She couldn't wait to dig her teeth into the corn. After paying him they began walking again, in between she offered him to have a bite but he shook his head. Maybe she had already tasted the corn and that's why he was not having it, whatever the reason might be, she brushed it aside and concentrated on what was in her hand. She was too busy in her eating that she failed to notice what he was pointing at. She looked up to him and blushed on seeing him tap his lower lip. She lowered her head shyly. A second later he said," you have something stuck there." Her head shot up and she brushed her fingers over her lips and caught a piece of corn stuck at the corner of her mouth. How stupid of her to think otherwise, she slapped herself mentally, why would he ever make such a cheap gesture...khushi control your wavering heart and mind, she told herself.

As they strolled further, the crowd began to filter and he was glad to see that. She threw the finished corn in a dustbin and cleaned her mouth with the edge of her sari. On their way they came across the famous shiv temple. Her feet halted on their own and he found her gazing towards the idol of lord shiv. After what happened the previous night, he knew that deep within she strongly desired to visit a temple but was not allowing herself to give into what her heart wanted.

" let's go in." he said softly, hoping she might free herself from her past and say yes but she nodded her head in negation and said," maybe some other time ". Her relation with Him was more like a parent child relationship , where the child trusted the parents blindly and assumed that no harm would ever come its way as long as the parent was by its side. She was hurt, pained and angry with Him for not being able to protect her. Only He knew when she would forgive, forget and embrace Him.

" you must be tired , we'll take a rickshaw ." They had walked quite a bit and could always a take a rickshaw but she smiled and said," I'm fine ."

After going a little ahead they saw a beautiful lake where people were happily boating. This time he didn't ask her, instead took her to the banks of the lake, she would definitely enjoy boating around. A rower approached them for boating but arnav refused and said he would row the boat himself. She was slightly taken aback by his idea but didn't complain. He paid the rower handsomely for his boat who readily agreed and said that his friend on the other side would get the boat back if they wished to hop on a rickshaw later on.

Arnav climbed on the boat first and held his hand out for her, she was a little scared but when she looked into his eyes, she knew he would never let her fall, she placed left hand on her stomach as though holding the baby securely then without hesitating she gave him her right hand. He sat in the boat facing her after ensuring that she was sitting comfortably and then picked up the oars blades to propel the boat forward. She admired him closely as he pushed the blades against the water with so much of ease. He was surely a very strong man! With every stroke the blades made a sound against the water that was so soothing to the ears. She lowered herself carefully to play with the water then splashed some on him. He turned his head immediately and she thought maybe he got angry. She waited to study his expressions, he wasn't mad but not amused either. She bit the inside of her cheek and sat quietly admiring the view around, she shouldn't mess with him. As they rowed further she spotted a breathtaking waterfall and squealed in excitement," arnav ji..look." It was indeed beautiful but more than that her smile took his heart away, he was happy to see her happy! The Sun hadn't set in, he could see it behind her, it had a deep orange color to it and she looked all the more pretty with it in the backdrop.

After sometime they reached the banks, she thought he must have got tired but he wasn't. Getting off the boat he once again gave her his hand, this time he was more careful, the boat was shaking but she managed without losing her balance. With the waterfall running behind, the lake flowing smoothly and the sun beginning to dip slightly...the whole view was absolutely breathtaking. Both of them were looking around with admiration when a photographer came up to them to click their picture. They could see tourists, mainly couples posing around but...could they also get clicked together? arnav being a shy and introvert man never felt comfortable before the camera hence refused straightaway but the photographer was relentless and started his blabbering to convince him," sir you both look so wonderful together ...and this place is amazing ...a photo will help you capture this beautiful moment ..it won't take more than 2 minutes ..see even madam is smiling ..she too wishes the same ."

Indeed khushi was smiling but she couldn't help it seeing the way he was getting hassled by the photographer who was chatting nonstop. arnav let out a frustrated sigh, he wouldn't leave them without taking a picture.

" okay fine." he told the photographer after giving in to his request that was more like a demand.

khushi felt her heart flutter as she stood close to him to get clicked. She had never imagined that one day they would be together in one frame, was this a dream? No, it wasn't and the picture would always remind her of this wonderful evening spent with him.

" come closer ." The photographer told them after looking through his lens. They glanced at each other, she dropped her gaze as they stepped closer. Her heart was pacing rapidly and color was now beginning to rise to her cheeks with his close proximity.

" sir keep your hand on madam's shoulder ."

Now khushi was giggling , she didn't have to look up at him, she knew instead of wrapping his arm around her shoulder he must be glaring hard at the photographer and desiring to strangle his neck. If looks could kill then by now the photographer would have definitely died.

Without uttering another word, he silently clicked their picture, poor guy didn't even ask them to smile. arnav was still annoyed as he paid him but when he saw the photograph his anger melted , they surely made a beautiful couple and he smiled inwardly.

khushi too grinned seeing it and said," after we return home you give it to me ..i'll keep it with me." He nodded his head in agreement and kept it in his wallet.

He gazed around to see if there was something more to be viewed, there was a sun set point some distance away but before that his eyes stopped on a tea stall where piping hot pakoras were being fried. He felt that she had not eaten something substantial ever since they had come out and she needed to be fed regularly, there was still time for sun set, thus after grabbing a few pakoras they could visit the sun set point.

" let's go and eat something ." He nudged her slowly and took her to the tea stall. Just at the mere sight of the snack, she felt the baby kicking her, she shook her head...naughty, always hungry!

They sat on wooden benches facing each other, a small boy working there came with a wet cloth and cleaned the table before them and asked quickly, " what should I get you ?"

" two plates aloo , gobi pakode..and don't forget ..." before abhi could finish placing the order, khushi intervened," keep it spicy ." He glared at her, she couldn't eat spicy food, yet she was ordering the boy to make it more spicy? He corrected her through pursed lips and said," no chillies. Understood "

She furrowed her brows, he liked his dishes to be spicy then why wasn't he having? He ignored her furrowed expression and went on to order," and yeah two teas."

She looked at him in surprise, she didn't remember the last time shalini allowed her to have tea and now he was ordering one for her. He read her mind and shrugged his shoulders before saying," it's okay to have tea once in a while ." She noticed a tight smile playing on his lips, oh he looks so wonderful when smiling.

As soon as the plates were served, she waited until he picked up a pakoda and then without glancing anywhere, she simply attacked her plate. The pakodas were too hot but she didn't care, she was chewing and swallowing one after the other. Its then that she realized how badly she was starving! Thank goodness he brought her here. Barely fifteen minutes had passed and she'd finished off her plate. He was amused to see her like this and more than relishing on the snack he enjoyed watching her eat. He was not even half way through his plate when she gazed at him after wiping her mouth with the back of her hand...she couldn't admit but she was quite embarrassed at her appetite and to make things worse, he was grinning at her. Some time back she had told herself that she loved his smile but now she wished to change her opinion. Without meeting his teasing gaze she picked up her tea cup and began sipping on to it. At first she couldn't stop herself from making that slurping sound but then later on realizing that he was with her, she had it in a more dignified manner.

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They both stood at the sun set point and gazed at the sun. It was slowly going down the horizon. Everything was almost still like them and the effect of the light made the scene look like one in a painting. The waves of the lake below also seemed to have changed their color to a dull mixture of yellow and orange. The water was sparkling like diamonds in the light. They both turned and looked at each other wondering, could life be so simple, uncomplicated yet at the same time beautiful. Today they'd spent some wonderful moments together, something they'd always wished for but never got an opportunity to pursue their desires. Their dreams were not big or extraordinary, they were simple just like them yet life until now failed to fulfill them. With warmth glowing in their eyes, both gazed at the other silently.

" want to go back ?" he asked softly. It was getting dark and the wind was also picking up making the surroundings cold but she didn't have the heart to go back. It was all so beautiful and peaceful and she wished to hold on to this moment for as long as she could.

" no, let's stay here for sometime ." She suggested and he agreed , even he was enjoying this time and pulled her arm gesturing her to sit down and not exert herself.

They both sat down on the ground it was muddy but it didn't matter to any of them. Her eyes were fixed on the setting sun as a serene smile adorned her lips. The pleasant breeze, the smell of salty water mixed with sand and the sound of waves crashing against each other completed the scene of a perfect sunset but his eyes were glued on her. She appeared so beautiful under this warm light. His eyes dropped on her baby bump and he smiled, perhaps the glow of pregnancy was also reflecting on her face. Whatever maybe the reason, but he was totally mesmerized.

She might have come into his life just to spend a night with him, some close moments but unaware that ultimately she would become his life. The effect of those moments where they connected both emotionally and physically would be ever lasting, that she would end up capturing his heart...was something he had never thought.

He had tried his best to shun her away and continue to live in isolation but she didn't let that happen. He had to open the door to his heart for her. Not for her sake but for his own, his heart wished to spend time with her, talk to her, she was so warm and so open and so easy to talk to, he felt as though they had known each other for years. Her words forcefully brought him out of the darkness and showed him that life wasn't that bad and so wasn't he. Life had become suffocating until she came and now his relieved heart was falling for her.

She felt his gaze on herself and turned to look at him. They exchanged a long slow smile and the sun disappeared behind a hill in a burst of flame. He dropped his lashes and began playing with small stones, tossing in the air and then catching them with one hand.

They come from different worlds and she had never imagined that their paths would ever cross like this but now she was glad that they did and she only hoped that they walked together in life as far as they could. She couldn't think of a life without him and there could never ever be someone like him in her life. The realization moistened her eyes.

In the past few months he had shared his innermost feelings with her, something that he had not done before with anybody else. The sincerity and pain in her eyes assured him that she was the only who could understand and feel his grief. And last night even she had bared her heart to him, although he didn't say anything but his mere presence comforted her, as though finally someone was there with whom she could share her past with...someone who was not judgmental or felt sorry for her, instead cringed at what she'd experienced in life. She glanced at him and thought even though today they were silent, verbally had nothing to exchange, still this silence was golden. This moment was precious. He gazed at her as she smiled through her tears, words were no longer needed to convey their feelings.

His intense gaze bored into hers and she felt herself held by his magnetic gaze. Without a word, without a sound, without even touching her, he was drawing her slowly to him. And she knew she should resist, but she found she couldn't. She didn't even know where the pull she felt came from. It was almost like being ever so slowly drawn by something so pure and magical. Her heart was racing rapidly, she gulped the lump formed inside her throat and dropped her lashes nervously.

She coiled the end of her sari around her finger while thinking about her overriding feelings. Oblivious to where her heart was heading for once she wished to follow it blindly. She bit her lower lip still pondering over her changing emotions when she heard him let out an audible sigh. She raised her head and saw him rubbing his left eye, while tossing the stones, some sand accidently flew in his eye. She at once held his face and told him not to rub his eye, then opening it with the help of her thumbs she slowly blew into his eye until he blinked his eye indicating that he was fine. Her furrowed brows creased out automatically. And this time he felt like drowning in her eyes, the eyes that always managed to accommodate his pain, the eyes that twinkled seeing him smile, the eyes that saddened every time they parted, the eyes that were warm, innocent and affectionate and the eyes that had held his heart captive.

Her lips trembled a weak smile as she picked up a lash dropped under his eye and asked him to make a wish. He smiled at her innocence and shook his head, he didn't believe in all this but she did, instead of him, she placed the eye lash on the back of her hand, closed her eyes and made a secret wish...decorating his desires, his dreams in her eyes. He simply watched her silently, everything was all so perfect at the moment that he couldn't think of wishing for more. The moments that they shared together were more beautiful than even the dreams that he had ever dreamed.

She blew the eye lash away and opened her eyes slowly, he was still staring back at her as if waiting to search in her eyes for some answered questions that were haunting him. What they shared was different yet very special, it was definitely more than just plain concern, it was something more but what he couldn't put his finger on or maybe he could but still wished to see it in her eyes. His probing eyes wanted to reassure that this time it was not one sided and she too felt something strongly for him. There was confusion and uncertainty around their relationship still they couldn't deny that whatever it was, it warmed up their empty and lonely hearts. His gaze was making her jittery and she broke this intense eye lock that they were sharing.

The sun had finally set in, it was getting darker and cooler, the waterfall across them fell in all its glory and splendor. Suddenly she shivered slightly, she turned her neck and found him wrapping his coat around her. She hadn't realized when she had begun rubbing her arms to keep herself warm. A shy smile crept her lips and for the second time in the evening she felt color rising to her cheeks because of his closeness.

It had been a long time since they were sitting there, although she still didn't wish to go back but they had to. Reluctantly she stood up along with him to leave but lost her balance. Like always his strong arms were there to catch her, with one arm around her waist and the other one holding her by her shoulders. It took her a moment to steady herself and when he brought his hand back that was placed around her waist he felt some movement near her belly. He looked at her curiously and she simply smiled...the baby had kicked! He still couldn't figure out what it was but he had definitely felt something. Pressing her lips together she hesitantly lifted his hand and placed it on her baby bump. A second later the baby kicked again and his eyes grew wide in surprise. He threw her a questioning look and she blinked her eyes in response...yes he was thinking and feeling right.

Tears of absolute bliss filled his eyes as a quivering smile danced on his lips. His baby was breathing, growing inside her, something he only knew but today he could even feel it. The sheer joy was beyond expression and he looked at her with nothing but affection and gratitude. This journey was not at all easy for them especially him but she made it easy for him.

She was glad she didn't tell him about baby's movement on the phone otherwise she would have missed out on seeing him this unbelievably happy! Her damp eyes were smiling back at him, relishing this beautiful moment with him when all of a sudden he took her by surprise by taking her in his arms. He closed his moistened eyes, he just needed to feel her there and not say anything to her. The tears that were standing on the edges of her eyes now fell down like a cascade as she slowly brought her hands up to embrace him back.

Thanks for reading

Rose