"Unfortunately, you were, Khushi. But you were also my salvation. The one to make me realize that there is something more important than ego, than money and fame. You showed me what being human was," he said, looking straight into her eyes but not through her screen of sarcasm.
"I don't deserve to be tortured like I was, just to be the salvation of someone, Mr.Raizada. I am not a doll to be exploited for the upliftment of some flawed human. I am a human, I have emotions, I have desires, dreams and designations. I would not like anyone to use me as an instrument to become human as you said, unless of course, they are my near and dear," she spat, spewing fire like Arnav had never seen.
"I am sorry, Khushi. I really am. I have been waiting for years to make up for my mistake. Will you give me a chance to? Even if you don't, don't punish yourself or your near and dear ones. Payal was missing you so much, don't punish her for my mistakes," he pleaded, his fist clenched to control the emotional turmoil which was overpowering him as he learned of the agony of his love.
The mention of Payal mellowed Khushi down. She wondered that if she had not known Payal, would she be facing the same situation? She brushed away the thought thinking that if Payal was not there in her life, the initial few years of her life would have been so lonely considering how Payal and Shyam had been her only friends in childhood.
"I want to meet her. I mean, Payal," she said, eying Arnav with a look that screamed if he would dare to stop her from doing so.
"Whenever you want, Khushi. I can escort you myself if you are fine with it," he offered, not sure if she would want it or not.
"Please," she said, rising from her seat, all professionalism set aside for the moment as she noted that her working hours had ended and she could act in a way she deemed fit. She could not quite remember the route to Shantivan and even if she did, she was mentally too taxed to drive. She realized that she trusted him just enough to drive her safely to meet her friend.
Arnav was surprised but did not let that surprise hinder his reaction time. He jumped to his feet and opened the door for Khushi.
"Don't act like a gentleman, Mr.Raizada. Because you have proven on more than one occasion that you aren't," she drawled as she opened the back seat door and rejecting his advance towards her in a firm action.
He could not bring himself to utter anything because he knew that truer words have not been spoken. He was solely responsible for Khushi's behavior towards him. Determined to change her views about him, he went on to take the driver seat.
"No arguments, ASR? Nothing like 'do I look like a driver to you that you went and sat behind'?" she questioned sarcastically as she reminded him of his past self.
He looked at her through the mirror, accepting her glare with humility.
"It's just Arnav for you, love. And for you, I am ready to be a slave, let alone a driver," he said, meaning every bit of what he had said.
Khushi immediately looked aside with an irritated look marring her features.
They might not be partners in their journey but they surely were stuck together by the destiny.
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Shantivan,
Khushi tried to ignore the surroundings of Shantivan which reminded her of the day she had arrived as his bride, was almost forced and was broken beyond identity. The mere sight of Payal proved to be just the distraction she needed then.
Payal was taken a back to see her childhood friend all of a sudden but began walking to her in the longest strides she could manage.
"PAYAL!" she almost shouted as she took her sister-like friend into a tight embrace. It has been eight long years since she had been enveloped in such affectionate warmth and her embrace makes her feel home. She was her best friend since she had known the world, the one because of whom her name was joined with Arnav Singh Raizada's.
"I am so sorry, Khushi. Just for my sake and Akash's sake, you did such a big sacrifice. I am sorry. I was not able to do anything for you," sobbed Payal, who finally got a channel to vent her guilt.
"It was not your mistake, Payal. I know you would have done the same if you were in my place. You were just an puppet in someone's hands," consoled Khushi, her gaze going towards Arnav, who could not meet her eyes.
She pulled out of the embrace and wiped Payal's tears. Over the years of experience as a therapist she had grown to be more immune to the tears of others tears but she knew that if Payal continued to cry for longer in front of her, her experience would be thrown out of the window and she really did not want to showcase her vulnerable side in front of Arnav. It was bad enough that she had a panic attack in front of him.
"Forget all that, Payal! Let's not ruin our mood over something which was not the fault of either of us! How are you? How is your married life? How is Jiju?" she questioned, trying to change the topic to something which, she thought, would make Payal happy.
"You are here after years and you think I will make you stand near the threshold and talk! No ways, let's go inside and talk," said Payal, making the familiar fear in Khushi come back. The last time she had been there, Arnav and Akash's room were on the same floor and she didn't want to be anywhere close to that room, lest her nightmares come back.
"Um, Payal, can we sit somewhere in the ground floor itself and talk?" she offered, hoping that Payal gets the cue.
While Payal considered it as a choice, it was Arnav who had got the cue. He realized that she wanted to avoid the floor in which he resided, considering the fact that it held only the darker memories of her life.
"Sure, let's go to the garden!" said Payal, as she guided Khushi towards the garden. It brought upon huge relief to Khushi as the mere feeling of being surrounded by the walls of Shantivan was making her claustrophobic.
Will Arnav be successful in erasing her pain with his own?
Edited by -Slytherclaw- - 7 years ago
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
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