ArShi SS: BREATHE || NTL - page 153 :) - Page 32

CHAPTER 5

A few days later:

13 days. It had been 13 days and 2 weeks almost to be precise since the object of her thoughts had been away on the business trip leaving her mood all cranky and sour from past few days. And to add to it, she wasn't feeling good at all. She could feel her health deteriorating. Arnav had stopped calling her. Not that she minded it, he must not be having time and maybe he didn't want to worry her unnecessarily. "Aah!" groaned heavily as she raised her head up from the pillow, her muscles pained as if she had been beaten badly all through the night. Her eye lids felt weighed, little tears pricked the side of her eyes as she tried to open them but all her attempts went futile for a few seconds. She wailed but just the feeble voices passed through her vocal cords, her mind on haze but just one name on her mind... "Arnav.." she sobbed harder as she saw the same name flashing on the screen of her phone. Her hand crept on the sheets to answer the call but the mobile was abruptly held up. She raised her gaze and saw Anjali, Nani, Manorama, Akash and NK standing with mixed expressions. She couldn't even wonder what that was about.

It was a bright noon to which he had opened his eyes feeling fresh to go office once again. With the toothbrush stuffed inside his mouth, he decided to call Khushi hurriedly as he got ready.

"Hello Arnav"

"Di? Khushi kahan hai?"

"I'm totally fine Arnav. Don't worry about me."

"Di please! Tell me where's Khushi?"

"She is tired."

"Tired? Why?"

"We went to shopping yesterday and she got so tired. She's sleeping. Don't worry as soon as she's up I'll make her call you." She cut the call hurriedly sporting a hint of smile in her voice before turning grave facing rest of the family who wore similar expressions.

"Tell us now. Why did you do this Khushi?"

"Did what?"

"You just wanted money, didn't you? You trapped Arnav for the same reason!" Nani said as a matter of fact, not questioning her but stating as if she knew it all.

"I was always skeptical about this relationship Sasuma. Didn't i tell you on the same day she first stepped in this house to be careful. She may not be so innocent as she seems to be."

"Mom please. It maybe a misunderstanding. Khushi bhabi cannot do such a thing. Instead, I'm sure it's a misunderstanding!" Akash tried to reason it with his family. He didn't know how could his family doubt on an innocent soul.

"Would someone tell me why am i being blamed? What have i done?" Khushi asked helplessly lying on the sofa haphazardly in between the other family members for that she had no energy to get up.

"Shut up Akash. We don't want a drug addict in this house. We have no idea from how many years was she using Arnav. Who knows in what activities is she involved, she already is an orphan. There is no one to ask her anything!" Manorama threw a pretty disgusted look at her addressing the other members.

"D..drugss.?" Her breathe hitched as she gasped soundlessly.

"Why do you act like you don't know what are drugs?"

"Mami I.."

"Don't! You don't deserve to live here. Get out." She spat with a venomous voice whilst Nani cried silently.

"Maa what are you doing? You have no idea what you are saying please calm down.."

"Calm down my foot Akash. You are NOT going to help her did you hear that?" She gave him a furious gaze.

"Auntyji ple..please. I am n.not a drug addict.." everyone was left astounded as a slap echoed through the air with Khushi cupping her cheek and Mami's eyes spitting fire.

"Mom!" NK raised his voice. "Step back NK." She threatened. "You are a kid, stay in your limits."

"And you! Pack your bags and leave from here." Nani sobbed harder. She had no idea what she could do to avoid this situation. Her heart cried for the child who laid helpless on the sofa, she knew there was no fault of hers but thats what her heart told her. The proofs were enough to hold her on the point and blame her.

Anjali stood clueless to the situation while Akash and NK gave a silent look at each other.

She took a hold of her arm howling her up making her moan with pain.

"Look at her, look at her face" she forcefully held up her chin making her drowsy eyes meet up hers. Akash came furiously only to take Khushi in his arms. "She is the girl Arnav loves mom, how can you not trust his choice?"

"I don't trust anything about this girl, just look at her. She's drunk too. Her real face had to unveil someday, she wouldn't have dreamt it would be this soon."

"Mom please! No! I won't let this happen. I am taking her to her room and no one will follow me!" He picked Khushi in his arms taking her to the room.

"Mom you should have not done that!" NK said as he faced her after Akash disappeared from sight.

"Mami did right Akash. She is not worth it. We really dont know in how many such activities is she indulged in. We cannot risk Arnav's life."

"Di you too?"

"Its for Arnav's betterment Akash. So what if he didn't grew up with us most of the time? He's our brother and if we wont think about him then who will?" Anjali said as a matter of fact.

"Everyone is tired. Please go to your rooms." Mami announced giving a look to NK. She marched upstairs to her room leaving everyone baffled.

______________________

Her throat grew sour as she coughed without a break in between, her lungs felt constricted. Tears rolled down her cheeks unconsciously as she tried to raise herself up from the road beside a muddy ground she had fallen onto after she was kicked out by Mami in the middle of the night without anyone's knowledge.

She had walked aimlessly not knowing about her activities and hence ended up falling down.

Dragging herself to lean on the nearest tree bark under the bare sky, she breathed deeply in the fresh air.

A fractured sigh left her throat when her body ached. There were several marks on her arms indicating that she had been injected for quite a while now, she noticed through a watery vision.

"Arnavv.." sobs racked through her body. "Come back Arnav..please..ajao" she nearly wailed.

The reality seemed foggy the more she thought about it. The behavior of the family wasn't an issue now, it was why did they think she was a drug addict.

Her face scrunched as her body relented to certain reactions taking place inside before she succumbed to the darkness and fell back on the muddy ground beneath her.

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After 3 days:

"Congratulations ASR this deal goes to your company. Another big feather to your hat. Honestly I wanted your company to be the one too and i was glad when your PA gave us a call to conduct this meeting as soon as possible." Clark said with a gentle smile of happiness but failed to notice his the other person stiffen.

"Thankyou Mr Clark, i couldn't be happier too. Meet you soon next month." With a gentle hand shake, he left the building altogether.

'I was glad when your PA gave us a call to conduct this meeting as soon as possible'

The verse rung in his head multiple times bringing his mind to the overdrive to think. He walked steadily to the parking area with each and every type crossing his mind.

'Why did Aman prepone the meeting and did he really think that i wouldn't come to know about it? What am i thinking? What is happening?' He threaded his hand through the thick strands of his hair.

"F..." he swore banging his fist on the car beside him.

"Khushi.. why is she not calling me? Why the hell is she avoiding me? She cannot become so busy with the family she just met 2 weeks ago! I NEED to know dammit! Something is wrong." He clenched his teeth together walking to his car when he saw a reflection of white in the side mirror or a car.

"Aman?" His eyebrows knotted in confusion. "But he left in the noon, what is he doing in the car parking?" There was something fishy, he was sure upon his head on this, but he couldn't pin point a finger at anything solid. Everything seemed scattered, hazy!

"Yes Anju please don't worry. Just think about our baby right now. I assure you, Arnav will be nowhere near to India even in near future.." and he gasped.

'Aman..baby..Anju..who's this Anju?' He thought ducking behind the car walking to his. He was not going to let someone dance upon his head and let them carry out their shitty missions on the expense of his love, never!

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"Aman, I'm going to rest for a while now. Don't bother me unnecessarily. I feel like I've been up for ages!" He muttered on his phone as he shut the door of the car after traveling from his office to a building in front of him. "Make sure you arrange all the paper work for tomorrow's meeting. That's an important one, i cannot afford to lose it at any cost."

"You dont have to worry about that sir!" Cutting the call, he reached to the lady on the counter.

"A ticket to India!"

"I'm coming Khushi, I'm coming!" He closed his eyes feeling her non-existent hands cupping his cheek while the black of his closed eyes flashed a serene smile.

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So that's about it for today, special mention to WanieA, Lechuarshi, anjs, mayabhi and suji5 for guessing around the bushes 👏 Your guesses are almost correct!

The mystery is yet to unfold about who is doing what to Khushi, where is she and why and how is Aman involved. It will all be revealed in the next update, till then Ciao.

Check out the New SS: ArShi SS: Seduction

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ArShi SS: Love is in the Air