[Last Chapter] ArHi FF: Accused | Thread 5 | Ch 47 Pg 104 Dec 7 - Page 53

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Abandoned

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Chapter 46: I got you

Khushi woke up with a jerk, vague sounds of gunshots and a gripping fear clenching her even as the nightmare quickly faded.

"Bad dream?"

Arnav asked, making her turn around. Yeah, it was a dream. Or was it? So much had happened to her. To them. So much pain, so much suffering, so much loss.

She nodded slightly then simply turned her face into Arnav's chest and lie down. It seemed like early hours of the morning, but Khushi wasn't ready to face the day just yet.

Arnav cuddled her closer. He had been up for an hour, having woken up with similar unnamed feelings of pain and fear. He was tired, and also relieved that they were all alive and home and together, yet there had been too much trauma too recently for sleep. Was this trial that seemed to be their life ever going to end?

Arnav stroked Khushi's back for several minutes until he felt her breathing return to normal.

"Khushi"

"Hmm" she murmured, her eyes still shut, her face still buried inside Arnav's chest.

"Don't be scared."

"Okay."

"I am with you."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I know."

"You love me."

"More than you can imagine."

That made Arnav smile. He gently kissed Khushi's head and rocked her, shutting his eyes.

"Sleep for some time. Everything will be fine now. Nothing will go wrong anymore. We will be together always - a happy family."

Will we? Khushi couldn't help wondering, but didn't voice it out. Was the universe going to ever let them be happy?

*********

It was almost 1130 AM when they were all settling down for breakfast, but no one seemed to care. Both Khushi and Arnav had remnants of the previous day's events on their bodies, but the more relevant thing today was the smiles they wore as Payal chattered incessantly about school and other stuff she'd been up to while Khushi and Arnav were in London. Even HP kaka seemed to have finally relaxed, convinced that the physical injuries would heal, and that happiness had come to stay for Arnav after a long time.

In short, for this little family, if their world had moved a few too many times in recent days, you couldn't tell.

"I don't want to go back to hostel today. You guys just came back and you're both still unwell!" Payal moaned as they neared the end of breakfast.

"Payal, we talked about this. You can't miss so many classes."

"I don't care. Anyway our mid term break starts soon. I will only miss two days, and I promise I will catch up. But I'm not going back, not when both of you are injured."

"Payal, we are fine." Khushi tried to reason.

"No you're not. You don't love me anyway, both of you. You never think about me, always sending me away from you. Have you thought - what if someone had happened to either of you on the airport?"

"Heyy" Arnav enveloped Payal in a comforting hug even as she sobbed. "Nothing happened. We love you."

"Then don't send me back."

"Okay" Arnav accepted.

"But Arnav?" Khushi tried to reason, but clearly Arnav and Payal had teamed up by now, so there was no chance.

"See di, you don't love me, but jijs does. I am not going anywhere." Payal teased.

"But what are you going to do here."

"Wedding shopping of course! Let's all go. You'll take us right, Arnav jijs?"

"Payal - what's wrong with you. Nobody is going shopping. Can't you see how much Arnav is hurt!"

"I am fine Khushi." Arnav smiled.

"No you're not. And enough is enough Payal. You're not a child, throwing tantrums. You don't want to go to school, fine, go to your room and study." Khushi scolded, and like always, her sister's anger was enough to temper Payal down, who made a face before walking to her room. Arnav didn't intervene between the sisters, but the anxiety on Khushi's face worried him a bit. Was she still worried about Payal's safety? Or was it something else?

"What happened? Why are you getting angry at Payal?" Arnav softly asked Khushi, holding her hand a few minutes later.

"I am not angry, but she's getting so demanding."

"She's a kid, Khushi. Tell me, what's really bothering you?"

"Nothing" Khushi muttered, shaking her head, then asked. "Arnav, are you okay? I mean...are you happy?"

Arnav took Khushi's hands in his and squeezed them to reassure. "I have you, I have your love. I have everything I need. I told you right - everything will be fine. Stop worrying. I got you."

"CEO of Raizada Industries, Arnav Singh Raizada, was among those caught in the cross-fire yesterday at Mumbai airport with known gangster Sultan dada. Three people, including Sultan dada, were killed in an open-fire..."

News on the living room TV caught their attention, making them walk closer.

"...We are told that Mr Raizada had arrived from London along with a female companion, when he was caught in the crossfire as Sultan dada, who was being chased by the police, ran towards the airport arrivals area. He took Mr. Raizada and the lady hostage and attempted to flee the premises, but in the chaotic tussle was himself killed. Both Mr. Raizada and the lady escaped Sultan's shots, and eventually caught one shot from the lady. Although the police maintain this was a clear self-defense case against a known criminal for whom they had shoot-at-sight orders and no charged will be filed against Mr. Raizada's friend who actually shot the gangster, her identity is still being concealed from the media. Sources, though, tell her that this lady has been sighted multiple times in London with Mr Raizada. It is speculated that she is a model, but so far we have not found any more details. Some say that she was also seen here in India with him a few months earlier, and she is possibly his girlfriend. Our viewers would remember that Mr Raizada only recently went through a messy divorce with model and actress Sheetal Raizada. Could this lady Khushi be the reason Sheetal divorced Arnav Raizada? Is this a secret affair? How many years has this been going on right under everyone's noses. Because as you can see from our footage, they do seem to be quite close. This is not a professional relationship for sure. What do you think? We believe..."

"What crap!" Arnav muttered as he shut the TV. "Instead of reporting about Sultan's crimes, they are speculating. These media folks have no..." he was mumbling, when he saw a pale Khushi still staring towards the TV. Tears were streaming through her eyes.

"Khushi...Khushi...hey...what happened? Why are you crying? Shhh...These..." he tried to console but Khushi suddenly broke down, covering her face with her palms. With some difficulty, he pulled her palms away and wiped her tears. It pained him to see her so disturbed.

"Khushi. Don't worry. Look at me, don't you trust me. This news means nothing. In 24 hours they will be on to a new story. Relax. Sultan is dead, and we're both here."

"Everyone will know now."

"Know what?" Arnav asked, but Khushi mumbled in her state of trance

"I should have never stepped outside the home. I can't be seen with you. I.."

"Khushi...Khushi...what nonsense are you talking about? Look at me. Look at me Khushi."

"Arnav, I don't want to lose you." Khushi hugged Arnav tight.

"And you won't. I'm right here. Look at me, we're together and no one can take you away from me." Arnav tried his best to reassure, cupping Khushi's face with his palms. He understood Khushi's overreaction, he could sense how vulnerable and scared she felt. "Khushi, you're mine, got it? And when we get married..."

"No!" Khushi suddenly sprung back, away from Arnav.

"What? You don't want to marry me..." Arnav quizzed.

"No...yes...I mean...Arnav...we can't get married. What will everyone say? Mamiji, and society...no...This marriage can't happen..."

"What can't happen?" Payal walked in the room preventing Arnav from responding to Khushi who quickly wiped her tears. Arnav was perplexed and a little angry but he didn't want to have this discussion in front of Payal.

"Nothing. I'm feeling a little unwell. I am going to rest for some time."

"OK didi, come I'll walk with you to the room."

"No it's fine." Khushi snapped, her inner struggles bubbling. She had this sudden urge to escape from everything.

"Let her rest, Payal. Come." Arnav led Payal out, but his eyes were on Khushi. He knew he needed to talk to her, but couldn't understand how. But he had to do something; there was no way he was going to let both of them spend the rest of their lives in shame and fear.

******

Later that night, Arnav walked into the room to find Khushi lying on her bad, staring at the ceiling. She had the same strained pensiveness on her face that she had had all day.

"Khushi" he softly said her name as he walked in, and she immediately sat up. An instinctive smile came on her face as she saw him and tried to wipe her anxiety of her face, but Arnav had seen it.

"Did you have your medicine?" she asked.

"You only gave it to me half an hour back at dinner."

"Oh yeah...right...if it's paining, the doctor said you can have an analgesic. I'll get it." She said standing up.

"Khushi...sit down. It's not paining anywhere. Will you quit worrying?" he gently coaxed as he made her sit on the bed, and then kneeled down in front of her himself.

"Now, I have something to give you."

"What?" Khushi asked, but the answer was in front of her before she even finished the question. It was the ring he had chosen for her a long time ago, one that should be on her finger already.

"Khushi Gupta, you found me at the worst moment of my life, and in the blink of an eye made my life more beautiful than it has ever been. I love you Khushi, more than anything in the world itself, and I will not let anything separate us any more, ever, not even death, if you give me the permission." Khushi stared at the ring in silence, transfixed, too afraid to look at the passion in Arnav's eyes. Passion that she could feel nonetheless. Passion that ignited a similar strain inside her and leaked from her eyes. Arnav wiped those tears gently as he held Khushi's hand. He was about to make her wear the ring, when Khushi stopped him with her other hand.

"Arnav, you don't understand..."

"What don't I understand?"

"Arnav, don't get me wrong. I love you. So much that, so much that...perhaps the only greater love in this world is the way you love me, because no matter what nobody could match that, everything you've done for someone like me. I don't want to spend a second without you. But marriage...you don't understand. We cannot be married."

"And why is that Khushi?" He calmly asked. This was the conversation he knew they had needed to have for a long time.

"Because...because...I'm not worth..."

"Khushi! Don't you..."

"Arnav, I know you love me, so you don't see me that way, but the world...for the world...I am a fallen woman. There is a stain on my life that cannot be wished away, and by associating with me that will inevitably ruin your life as well. I don't want anyone to disrespect you, I don't want you to lose your family..."

"Khushi, I don't care about what Mamiji thinks, if that's what you mean. If after knowing you, understanding you and loving you, she can behave like that, then she doesn't matter to me. Your purity, your worth is clear to me, the world doesn't matter"

"But it matters Arnav. Even after knowing me so well, Mamiji, who loves you so much like a mother, cannot accept me, we cannot expect anyone to understand."

"Look Khushi telling her was my fault - I accept. I am sorry. But..."

Khushi stood up and cut him off before he could complete.

"Arnav, it's not you. It's me. It is who I am. A woman who was abused and sold. We can't change the facts. We can't hide them forever. Sooner or later, someday someone would find out. And then it would destroy everything. Think about it - would everyone say. Your family. Your employees, your business partners, the media...everyone who respects you. They will laugh at you. Because of me I cannot see you lose everything. You cannot fight it Arnav. And I don't have the energy to. I can't marry you."

"Khushi."

"Arnav please."

"So what do you want? You want to leave me because you're afraid of the world." He pulled her so she turned to face him and stepped closer.

"No. It's not that. Arnav." She cupped his face. "I love you Arnav. I want you. But I also can't let you harm yourself, or spend your whole life in fear. What if we get married and one day it all comes out and you regret it?"

"It won't happen, Khushi. Trust me...don't you trust me."

"I do...but..."

"But what? You want to stay away from me your whole life! You want to choose fear over trust?" Arnav asked, angry by now at Khushi's irrational argument. His temper was getting the better of him, having tried everything and yet being unable to convince Khushi.

"No...I don't know. I don't have the answers." Khushi whimpered, making Arnav even more angry. Why was she so hell bent on choosing misery when happiness was right in front of them.

"But you won't trust me and you won't marry me?" he asked again. When Khushi remained silent, he turned and walked out of the room. She called his name but he was frustrated and needed the space. Even after fighting all the enemies in the world, it felt like they were going to lose anyway, to the demons within.

****

Morning came, and for a while Khushi feared the worst. She'd woken up alone and the sheer unlikeability of that itself had ruined the day as far as she was concerned. Somewhere in her sleep she'd imagined, it seemed now, that Arnav had laid by her side and snuggled upto her. But he wasn't here now and she was reminded of her argument with Arnav the previous night. Khushi's heart sank. Arnav was mad at her and he had full right to be. Khushi shut her eyes. Everything felt familiar in the horrible sort of way as the taste of that absolute misery she'd felt only days ago when Arnav was angry and slipping away from her reignited in her mouth. Had she done that yet again? After everything, had she succeeded in once again making the same mistake she'd made several times over, and pushed Arnav away from her?

You want to choose fear over trust!

Arnav was right. She was giving in to fear. Even though it seemed so legitimate and frightening, was it any better than the misery she was trading in. Arnav's happy face from the previous night when he was confessing his love for her flashed before her eyes followed by the memory of Arnav leaving the room. Was she so afraid that it was really worth losing Arnav forever?

Stuck by that realization, she opened her eyes and turned towards the side table where the ring was still lying. The ring that signified Arnav's immense faith and love in her. Perhaps his faith was enough to fight over her fear. Perhaps it was enough for the both of them.

She extended her hand to pick up the ring, but just then Arnav entered the room, and she withdrew. Contrary to her expectation though, he looked happy, as if nothing had happened.

"Good morning beautiful!" there was an energy in Arnav's voice that suddenly lifted the room.

"Morning Arnav. Listen I'm s.."

"Come on get up. Get dressed. We are going out." He said, pulling her up from the bed.

"Out? But where?"

"Khushi, give me a yes or no answer. Nothing else just yes or no. Do you love me?"

"Yes" she said without any hesitation. Arnav smiled and asked his second question.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then get ready. The nurse is here too, to change your dressing. I will send her up alongwith some new clothes. See you at breakfast!" Arnav said, gave Khushi a peck on her cheek, and left the room before she had the chance to say anything else.

******

"At least now tell me where we are going?" Khushi asked as the car sped off.

"You'll find out."

"I didn't even see Payal."

"Payal will meet us there. Have some patience Khushi Kumari Gupta." That shut her up, but not her questions. The instructions had come fast and insistent - wear this sari, eat breakfast quickly, take medicines, leave your phone, walk fast - but no real answers had come.

Before she knew it, Khushi was walking in stride with Arnav as they entered the headquarters of Raizada industries. She froze a little as all of Arnav's employees noticed them, but Arnav simply tightened his grip on Khushi's head and increased his pace as he led her to the main conference hall.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen" he spoke on the mike, bringing the roomful of people into rapt attention. Still holding Khushi's hand, he turned slightly towards her. As their eyes met, he smiled, squeezed her hand and whispered, "I got you."

Welcome back dear superb update... So they r in a press conference arnev is going for his declaration

Welcome back teekay
Good to have u back

Awesome update

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Hope all is well
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Welcome back dear