Arnav smiled at Khushi when she opened the door. He pushed the flowers towards her "For you my dear"
Arnav took a step inside and closed the door, not that Khushi minded. He turned towards her and held her hands gently "I just wanted to make sure one thing Khushi" he looked at her, a concerned look full of love and devotion evident on his face "You're happy to do this? You actually want to get married to me? You're happy to be with me? You actually want to spend the rest of your life with me? You actually want me as your life partner? Yo-"
Khushi pressed her lips against his. That immediately shut him up. She slid her hands up his cream sherwani and let them get lost in his hair. Oh how she loved his hair. He knew she liked it when he let it grow just a little bit longer than usual and had done so especially for their wedding day.
The female voice broke them apart. Khushi looked at Arnav under her lashes "Does that answer your questions?" she whispered.
A smile spread on his handsome face. He leaned in and gave her another kiss that didn't last so long however since the throat clearing seemed to be getting worse.
Khushi's grin faded. She looked at him concerned "Arnav? Are you okay?" she touched his cheek worried "Your eyes...They've turned red"
"I am king of Hell" he repeated almost in a whisper.
"So you are" came that awfully familiar voice.
Arnav swore loudly and turned around "What the hell are you doing here?"
Shyam chuckled "Nice to see you too brother"
Khushi frowned "Brother?" she looked at her to-be-husband "What's going on Arnav? I thought you didn't have a family"
"Khushi I can explain-"
Shyam began laughing hysterically, bringing everybody's attention back to him "Oh Arnav you really do never learn from your mistakes. Didn't you tell her the same sob story years ago?" he pretended to think about it, placing a finger on his chin and tapping it "I think it was about 25 years ago or around that time right? So? Are you going to tell her you never loved her again?" he shrugged and smirked "Her body will of course be fresh after all these yea-"
Arnav wrapped his hands around Shyam's neck "You f**king bas***d!"
Akash and Payal grabbed Arnav and struggled to remove him from Shyam "Arnav calm down" Akash said.
Khushi tugged on Arnav's shoulder "Arnav stop"
Of course only she had to power to control him. Arnav gritted his teeth and gripped Shyam a second longer wishing he'd just choke and die right there and then. With a curse Arnav pushed him away.
Shyam huffed and smirked casually rolling his shoulder "Oh Arnav you were such a fool" he sat down on the sofa and crossed his leg over his knee "For this girl you were willing to spend the rest of your forever down here but not once did you think about your homeland. Oh forget homeland, you didn't even think about your brother" he tsked "You knew very well that NK was way too young to lead Hell but you made him take it up anyways" he gritted his teeth "And made me rot on Earth"
Arnav grabbed Shyam by the lapels of his leather jacket and pulled him up harshly "Where is NK? Why am I king and why the hell have your powers returned?"
Shyam shoved him away "He's dead Arnav. He died leading his first war. All because of you" he pointed his index finger at Arnav "If you hadn't been so stubborn on staying here with your mistress we would have still had a brother"
"Just shut up Shyam" Arnav said harshly "And don't you dare say anything against Khushi"
"Oh? So you're telling me this chit of a girl is more important than your brother?"
"Shyam you-"
"What's going on?" Khushi interrupted confused "NK? Hell?" she looked at Arnav "Arnav? What's going on here?"
Arnav looked at her oh so innocent confused face. Why did this always happen to them? Was it really his fault? That he never tells Khushi his true identity? But how could he tell her and expect her to not run away?
He hesitantly cupped her cheeks "Khushi you know I love you right?" When she nodded he continued "Khushi...I have kept a huge secret from you" he swallowed "I...I'm not exactly what you think I am"
"What?" Khushi said more confused than ever "What do you mean?"
"I'm...I'm not exactly a human" he closed his eyes tightly "I'm...a demon"
"What kind of joke is this Arnav?" Khushi said obviously upset "You shouldn't even be kidding about this kind of stuff, especially on our wedding day"
"I'm serious Khushi" he pursed his lips and let his hands fall from her face. He took a step back "Why do you think I never entered a temple with you? Prayed with you? It's all holy. It will burn me.Even in human form I can't stay in temples for too long"
"Oh yeah? Then show me your real demon side" she challenged.
Payal held Khushi's shoulder "That's not a good idea Khushi"
Khushi shrugged her hand away "No. I want to see this so called demon"
Shyam let out a chuckle "You heard the lady"
Arnav glared at Shyam "Stay.Out of this" he looked at Khushi "Please Khushi ask me of anything but that"
"Fine. Then take me to Hell" she said stubbornly.
"Khushi please" he pleaded "Try to understand"
"How about you make your decision" Shyam interrupted coming to stand between Arnav and Khushi and facing Arnav.
"Will you bloody stop coming in between us?" Arnav said frustrated.
"I only need your word" Shyam said simply "That same word that made NK become king. Then you can continue with your human"
"Not in your wildest dreams" Arnav snarled.
"Oh? So you're going to be king?" Shyam challenged "And what about her?"
Arnav's gaze fell on Khushi. Oh how beautiful she looked in her bridal wear. Those dreams they had weaved together. A perfect family...
Maybe it really wasn't mean to be. Maybe he had just been pushing his luck.
Arnav closed his eyes tightly capturing Khushi's image in his mind. Her dreams would haunt him forever but he would happily live with them.He took a deep breath and looked at Shyam hard "I will take NK's place. I will be the next king of Hell"
A strong hot power enveloped him like a blanket.Arnav groaned in acknowledgement. He looked at Shyam. He wanted nothing more than to kill his brother but he knew the angels wouldn't take that well. Endless trials of their court, questioning him...He knew what they would think.
A demon heartless enough to kill his own brother will not hesitate to break the truce
That could lead to a horrible war
"I'm taking back your powers.You will continue to live on Earth but on the very opposite end of where Khushi is" he took a step towards Shyam "I won't let you get close to her"
Shyam laughed hysterically "I'll destroy everything! Including h-"
He vanished before he could say another word. Arnav closed his eyes tightly and sighed. He opened and looked at Khushi. He walked up to her "I love you Khushi" a tear slipped down his cheek "But I'm so sorry.We can never be together"
"Arnav please. You can't leave me! It's our wedding day!" she cried "I love you.I'm ready to go anywhere with you"
He shook his head and held her hands "I can't Khushi. I can't ask you of such a sacrifice.Hell..." he swallowed "You won't be able to bear it. You're too innocent...too pure"
Arnav let go of her and turned around. Khushi pulled on his shoulder making him turn around and hugged him "No Arnav you can't do this" her face was drenched in tears. Her nose that cute blush of red. She looked up at him "What about all those dreams you promised to fulfill? Are they so easy for you to forget?"
Arnav cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears "I'm not worth these tears my love" he whispered to her so delicately "Khushi trust me. If there was anything I could do to stay with you here, I would. Life without you is unbearable" he leaned his head against hers "But Khushi I have to go. Or else nobody will ever be safe. In fact I'm not too sure what would happen but whatever it is won't be good. I have to go...to keep you safe"
Arnav looked into her eyes for a quick brief second before her eyes began flickering "Arnav?" she whispered confused, blinking rapidly.
Arnav watched as her eyes began closing but before they shut completely, he whispered "I love you Khushi. Now and forever"
Khushi reached out for him but weakness took over her. She fainted and he caught her. Arnav picked her up and set her on the big black settee, making sure her arms weren't hanging off the edges.
Payal approached him first "Arnav?" she called out to him hesitantly.
She knew he was a great guy but she had only known him for the period that he was just another human and powerless but now... Now he was the King of Hell. A huge upgrade. She knew he wouldn't really change but his newly attained powers still freaked her out a bit.
Payal placed her hand on Arnav's shoulder "What are you going to do now?" she asked softly.
He gave a sardonic laugh "Go back to my fate. What I was destined for. I'm going back to Hell to rule my new kingdom"
"But what about Khushi?" Akash asked as he came up behind them.
Arnav looked at her with a loving and tender expression "I can't" he whispered brokenly "I can't take her to a place like Hell. She wouldn't last a day. She's too innocent. I can't be so selfish"
"So that's it? You're just going to leave her?" Payal said upset "What are we going to even tell her?"
"Nothing" Arnav replied "She won't ask anything"
"So you're telling me that she won't ask about anything regarding her boyfriend of years and almost husband" Payal cried.
"Exactly" he said stiffly. He closed his eyes and looked up "Fierce! Come!"
Heat flooded the room in an instant. Sweat broke through Akash's and Payal's skin whereas Arnav seemed unaffected. A huge flame dashed into the room. If you looked at it closely you would realize it was a dog with fire as fur. He stopped gracefully a feet feet away from Arnav. The dog looked up at him and took a few steps towards him, raising his head high up.
Arnav smiled and patted his head "I missed you boy"
Fierce barked and wagged his tag so vigorously Payal was afraid he just might light something on fire. Arnav looked at Khushi. Fierce followed his gaze and walked towards her. He stopped just a foot away and barked again, looking at Arnav.
Arnav sighed "You'll be staying with Khushi. I need you to guard her, protect her. I know Shyam will come back but I can't always keep an eye out for Khushi. I trust you Fierce. I know you'll keep her safe"
Fierce barked. Slowly it seemed as if his fire was fading away. In it's place replaced dark red fur. Fierce shook himself before walking around Khushi and sitting next to her on the settee.
Payal looked at the dog in awe. He looked so normal. Almost like a red golden retriever. Just a slight shade darker. She looked at Arnav who was still staring at Khushi with his gloomy eyes. She was suddenly reminded of when Arnav used to blame himself for Khushi's death. Oh why was their story so complicated?
"Take care of her" Arnav whispered, not taking his eyes off her. A tear slipped down his eye but he didn't bother wipe it.
He took a step back and closed his eyes. Just like that he disappeared...
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