Part 4
Going out at night had become their routine. It was fun and something they both enjoyed. They also learned new things about each other everyday.
One evening, Khushi was taking a nap, tired from waiting for Arnav.It was 8 PM. He was two hours later than usual.
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Arnav entered the house, his face drawn. He collapsed on the leather couch. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
Today was the day...
The day it had all happened...
The curse...
Arnav still remembered it like it had all happened only a few minutes ago. All that screaming.All that crying. All that blood. He shook his head. It hadn't been his fault. Why was he being punished for something he had not done...
"Ahh still suffering from the curse huh?" a feminine voice filled the empty air.Arnav snapped open his eyes and jerked to a stand.The female sitting on the other couch smiled at him casually "Relax. It's me"
Arnav nodded in acknowledgement and sat down "Lavanya" he greeted.
Lavanya leaned back into her seat and looked him over. She raised an eyebrow "You're still stuck" she stated "You should have heeded my advice"
"No" Arnav said firmly "I am not letting anyone die because of me"
She chuckled "It shouldn't be in your nature to be so self-sacrificing. You're not human" And then she winced "Actually I'm not sure what you are anymore"
Arnav shook his head and looked away. Suddenly his thoughts turned to Khushi. Where was she? He knew he was two hours late but surely she wouldn't have left...would she? Panic filled him.
Apparently Lavanya noticed because she asked "What's wrong? You look worried"
"Um nothing but you should leave now" Arnav got up "I've got some business to attend"
Arnav let his senses float and discovered she was asleep.Taking a nap, he presumed.
Lavanya got up too "You're lying" She widened her eyes "Oh my goodness" she breathed "You actually have a human in here"
"Stop reading my mind!" Arnav snapped.
Lavanya smirked "You're the one who left it open"
Arnav frowned "Leave"
Lavanya did the exact opposite.She walked around and looked around "I can't believe I didn't notice your new furniture.Shopping with the human, I presume"
"None of your business"
"Ahh she's a female" her eyes sparkled up "So you are trying to break the curse. You did heed my advice"
"No" Arnav shook his head "She'll be leaving soon"
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"You did heed my advice"
"No" Arnav shook his head "She'll be leaving soon"
Even though they hadn't said her name, Khushi knew they were talking about her. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She had come to really like Arnav and thought maybe the feelings were mutual. Khushi closed her eyes tightly, trying not to cry.
She took a deep breath and opened them. She looked at the woman with Arnav.Maybe she was his girlfriend.Maybe she could be his wife.They both did seem to be very comfortable with each other.
Khushi turned around and went back to her room.She packed whatever little things she had. She was leaving.
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"She could break your curse" Lavanya's voice grew louder.
Arnav covered her mouth with his hand "Shush.Khushi's sleeping"
Lavanya pushed his hand away "Khushi" she smiled "Even her name sounds perfect.She can break your curse"
"And what if she falls in love with me before I do? Then what?" Arnav countered back.
Lavanya frowned "Arnav-"
"Please Lavanya" he said "Let me handle this"
Lavanya sighed "Fine" she said "But come with me"
Lavanya grabbed Arnav's hand, turned, and they both disappeared.
They both reappeared in a grave.Three graves to be precise.
One belonged to Arpita Sangarah.One belonged to Sheetal Sangarah. One belonged to Arsh Sangarah.
Arnav clenched his jaw "Why did you bring me here?"
"To show you your fate" Lavanya said "Arpita's curse will reach you in only a matter of a few weeks.That human living with you could be the only way for you to survive and maybe even find a reason to be happy"
A few minutes passed by with only silence until Arnav finally broke it "I'm leaving" he said before turning and disappearing.
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When Khushi came downstairs, nobody was there. She sighed and continued dragging her suitcase behind her.
She pushed open the doors and went through the tall gates, not knowing exactly where she was going.
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When Arnav came home, he could sense something missing. Khushi's presence had recently been in the living room but for some reason it led to the doors and out the gates.Surely Khushi couldn't have left in the short time he'd gone with Lavanya.Why would she even leave?
Arnav searched the mansion thoroughly and even screamed her name only to be responded with echos. He suddenly wondered why it felt so lonely. Either way, he needed to go find Khushi and bring her back.
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Khushi hadn't gotten far from the mansion in only half an hour. However she was tired and cold and hungry and lonely. She suddenly wished she had brought the cat with her.
A hand suddenly grabbed her arm "There you are!" a familiar male voice growled.
Khushi's heart stilled.She turned around quickly hoping it wasn't him...but it was "Shyam" she whispered.
"Do you have any idea how long I have been searching for you" his face turned into a scary scowl "Oh I can't wait to take you home and show you your place"
"No!" Khushi shouted "Let me go!" she frantically looked around hoping for any helpful faces.
"Everybody's asleep.The whole town is" he pushed her against a wall and grabbed her face "You know what? I was just being too kind by deciding to give our relationship a name called marriage but what I really wanted from you was your goddamn body"
"No!" Khushi cried trying to push him away "Don't touch me! Leave me alone!"
Shyam twisted her arms behind her back and held them with one hand "I'm still going to marry you anyways" He continued as if she never spoke. "I can't have people marring my heir's name by calling him a bas***d" He used his other hand to stray down along her neck, heading for her chest.
Suddenly Shyam was pulled back and thrown down across the cement floor.Khushi immediately collapsed to the ground and watch as her rescuer beat Shyam up. Tears swelled in Khushi's eyes and dripped down her cheek.Once the rescuer seemed satisfied with Shyam's bruised and un-moving body, he finally turned to her.
Khushi looked up at him. The moonlight gave away his face "Arnav" she whispered, another tear falling down her cheek.
She got up and stumbled her way to him.Arnav caught her easily and held her in his arms gently but firmly as she sobbed "Hush" he said gently "I'm here now.I'm not going to let anyone hurt you or anything happen to you"
Khushi tightly clung to Arnav until a wave of sleep hit her.It all felt too suddenly. Her eyes closed and she fell.Only to be caught by him.
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Khushi needed her sleep, Arnav thought to himself. However he would talk to her tomorrow regarding why she left the mansion. He picked Khushi up carefully. He looked at Shyam.
Shyam needed to be dealt with. Even though he was pretty old, he still had his puny human heart working feverishly even after all those hits Arnav had given him.
Arnav looked at Khushi.Should he heed Lavanya's advice? It would be a win-win...that is unless Khushi suddenly fell in love with him and declared it.That wouldn't do.
Arnav sighed. He'd figure out everything tomorrow.
What he didn't notice were two old women watching him...
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Khushi slept through the whole night under Arnav's unmoving and watchful eyes. The next morning when she awoke, the cat was lying beside her, asleep.
Khushi looked around and recognized her bedroom in Arnav's mansion. She sighed. Arnav had found her and brought her back.
Confusion hit her. Why would he bring her back if he was planning for her to leave anyways? Shouldn't he have been happy that she was gone? No confrontation or messy work. Maybe he felt guilty, Khushi thought to herself. Tears pricked her eyes. Hurt flooded her. Why, she didnt know. Why was she becoming so emotionally attached to him? Was it because she had been isolated for so long? Khushi stuck with that theory. It seemed the most likely.
Khushi glanced at the time. It was 12 in the afternoon. She had slept for quite a while. Khushi looked around for her luggage.It was missing.
She got up and opened the closet. Ironically her clothes were all set in there as if never touched. The bag was at the bottom in the corner. Great, Khushi thought, now I have to pack again.
Yes. She was going to be leaving.
Again
But this time not alone, she thought to herself, glancing at Arnav. The cat, of course.
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It was 5 PM when Khushi was ready to leave. She gathered Arnav in her arms and picked up her bag.
Arnav meowed at her rather loudly and even lifted a paw to her face. Khushi shook her head "No" she said "He's the one who doesn't want me here so why should I stay?"
Arnav began struggling and meowing more loudly. Khushi, reluctantly, let him go. Arnav fell to his feet with grace and turned around. He sat down in front of her and looked up at her.
Khushi's lips trembled "You don't want to stay with me either?" she pressed her lips together "Fine" she said "I don't need you or that other Arnav"
Moving around the cat, Khushi made her way out the door. The cat had already wasted 10 minutes but not anymore. Arnav continued to meow at her as she walked to the gates. He finally quietened down once he realized she wasn't going to stop but he did silently follow her.Khushi didn't say anything.
Once she was back in the village, that's when she began getting nervous. Shyam was nowhere in sight. He was most likely in a hospital after the way Arnav had beat him.
But that's not what Khushi was nervous about. Nobody really settled into their homes before 7 at night and it was still under 6. Almost everybody was outside.
And they were all staring at her.
Khushi fidgeted with her hands and glanced at the cat still trailing behind her. Even he was noticing all the attention but at least he didn't look so worried.
From the corner of her eye, Khushi saw some people whisper to their neighbor and nod while gesturing to her and shaking their heads. An old woman sneered at her "You're disgusting"
Another woman, not as old, yelled "You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Everybody else nodded.
Khushi looked at them shocked "What?"
"What did you think? That we wouldn't figure anything out?" a man said.
"What are you talking about?" Khushi cried.
"We saw you last night with a man.He was carrying you to his home and we all know you're not married" another old woman said.
Khushi shook her head "I can explain"
"Explain what?" Another man said "That you've been sleeping around with a stranger? And that too without wedlock?"
"You're a disgrace to women!" a young woman yelled.
Tears rolled down Khushi's eyes "No" she whispered "It's nothing like that"
A big, warm hand slipped in hers "I'm the man you saw with her last night"
Khushi looked up, shocked to see Arnav. The human. What was he doing here?
Everybody looked at the two old women who scrunched their eyes at Arnav and then nodded "Yes" they said "It was him"
Arnav practically stared everyone down "Khushi is my fiance. We are about to get married"
The day was full of surprises, Khushi countered. She looked at Arnav, her eyes wide.
The villagers looked at each other "But it's still not right.You can't be staying together until you're married"
Arnav looked at Khushi's tear stricken face "Then we'll marry now" he said softly.
Khushi shook her head frantically "No Arnav! Don't do this. We both know you don't want this"
He frowned "I never said that"
Now Khushi was sure if Arnav gave her another surprise, she would just have a heart attack. The villagers, on the other hand, cheered. Arnav gently pulled her towards the nearby mandir. Khushi looked back for her cat but once again he had gone missing. She looked back at Arnav and tried to pull her hand from his but his hold was strong.
"I won't be forced on you Arnav" she whispered.
He looked at her for a second and shook his head "If I had felt that you were forced on me, I wouldn't have let you stay in the mansion for so long"
Khushi pondered over his words in her head. Arnav used that time to bring her up the stairs of the temple.The villagers followed them and gestured to the priest.
In short time Khushi became Arnav's wife.
Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada
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