Posted:
Chapter 33
Web Of Darkness
He was intense.
A drug.
And I couldn't get enough,
no matter how much of him
I consumed.
He was potent and powerful
and he ruined me.
And I yearned to ruin.
I kept going back for more.
I swear if I were to rip
myself open,
It wouldn't be blood
that poured out of me.
It would be him.
~In fairytales there is always a prince charming and a bad guy. In real life prince charming is the bad guy.~Web Of Darkness
He was intense.
A drug.
And I couldn't get enough,
no matter how much of him
I consumed.
He was potent and powerful
and he ruined me.
And I yearned to ruin.
I kept going back for more.
I swear if I were to rip
myself open,
It wouldn't be blood
that poured out of me.
It would be him.
A sliver of light entered the dark room, throwing a long shadow across the floor of the person entering the room. Wincing, Arnav opened his burning eyes, to find the silhouette of Khushi standing in the doorway. He couldn't see her face, in the darkness, so he had no idea what she was feeling at the moment.
"Arnav, her voice was just a whisper of breath as she moved towards him, leaning against the wall, one leg spread before him, while an arm was propped over the raised knee of the other one, a flaming cigarette held in one hand.
Arnav put out a hand to shield his eyes from the piercing sunrays, cursing as they hit his retinas...
"What do you want?, he knew his voice sounded cruel, but he had no wish to meet anyone lest a nagging Khushi. He crushed the glowing tip of cigarette on the floor, ran a hand across his glistening face, wiping away the evidence of grief, then got up from the floor to stand by the window...
"Hiding away your guilt, Arnav?, her voice was completely without inflection. "It won't go away...you know, she moved to stand near him. "This darkness...is not enough to hide it, she whispered glumly more to herself than him, sweeping aside the curtains to let the light enter the room...
"Leave me alone Khushi...I am in no mood to fight with you, he said tiredly, rubbing at his temples. Taking out another cigarette from his side pocket, he put it between his lips, his hands running through all of his pockets, searching for the lighter...
"Here, he froze, seeing the flame rising from the lighter held in her hand, illuminating the beauty of her amber eyes. She had picked it up from the side table, where he had placed it first when he had come inside the room to mourn...
Her eyes had a lifeless quality in them, barren and desolate they returned his searching gaze emptily, as he moved his mouth closer towards the flickering flame...
She didn't put off the lighter, after he lit his cigarette, but remained still, like an unmoving statue, the flame dancing a tango over her pale face. Without moving his gaze from her face, he took the lighter from her limp hands and put it inside his pocket...
"Khushi, he murmured, waving a hand infront of her face to break her stupor, but she didn't blink and her hands remained outstretched, in the same pose when she was holding the lighter...
"Khushi, he called, a little strongly this time, causing her to blink and give a doleful smile. "You need a shave, she said, then as if in a trance she lifted a hand to touch the bristles forming over his cheeks. A tear leaked from the corner of her eye, but she paid no heed to it, as she caressed the beard growing along his jaw line...
Arnav clenched his jaw, beginning to hate her passiveness, he was rather she yelled and cursed him, beat at his chest or threw something at him. Clamping a hand over her fingers, he held them against his cheek. "You shave it then, he asked challengingly, hoping she would refuse. "Okay, her subdued answer surprised him into dropping her hand quickly, as if he had touched a live wire...
For the next fifteen minutes, she submerged herself completely in the task of shaving his beard. As she went to move away from him, he dragged a hand through his hair, faking a wince. "My hair are sticky...I think they need shampooing, cocking his head aside he threw a glance at her bland face, hoping that she would protest or refuse angrily, but incredulously she pointed towards the bathtub, asking him to lean his head into it...
He did as she had asked, all the time looking at her emotionless face through narrowed skeptical eyes. During the whole task, not a single word emerged from her tightly sealed lips. After she had finished washing his hair, she went down like an automaton, drying them with a towel...
"Why are you doing this princess...what is your motive?, the situation becoming unbearable for him, he clamped his fingers around her wrists, holding them in place above his head. "Washing your hair?...there is no motive, she looked blankly back at him. "I don't believe it, there must be something...maybe some hidden motive, he asked, one brow raised cynically. "No there is nothing...and I should be the one asking you that, she tugged at her hands, but he refused to let them go. "What?, he frowned.
Taking a deep breath, she fixed him with an agonized stare, "Why didn't you let me see my mother when she was taking her last breath?. Removing his grip from her wrists, he stood up from his perch. "I am not accountable to answer that...better not ask me again, he warned harshly. Then dragging the towel out of her limp hands, he set to dry his hair by himself...
"Why not?...are you going to kill me if I dared ask again...like you let my mother die without seeing me, she was no more passive, as she faced him squarely, staring fearlessly into his eyes. He shook his head, rolling his eyes heavenwards as if saying, God help me, then without answering her query, he pushed her out of his way and headed out of the bathroom into his room...
"You should kill me...lest I stab you in the back, she mocked bitterly, following him outside. "I am not going to answer your stupid queries princess...now get out of my room...you are getting on my nerves, he snapped, pulling out a fresh pair of shirt and trousers from his wardrobe...
"If you are not going to kill me then I will do it myself...not only I will get out of this room but I will get out of your life as well, her voice had a warning quality to it. He shrugged ignoring her threat and continued rummaging in his wardrobe, except when the sudden silence from her side roused his hackles in an unexpected way...
Turning on his heels like lightning, he lunged at her and wrenched his shaving razor out of her grasp, throwing it violently across the room. It hit the wall with a sharp ping and landed on the carpeted wall with a low thud...
"You stupid bitch...what were you going to do...take your own life, holding her arms in a vise like grip, he hauled her towards him. He couldn't get the image of her putting the razor on her wrists out of his mind, so he shook her until her teeth began to rattle...
"Yes...I am tired of you...tired of this life...it's my choice...my right...and I chose to end it, she hissed, her eyes sparkling with anger...
"Says who, he twisted her arms behind her back, jerking her closer. "You can't die without my permission Khushi Kumari Gupta...I don't give you that right, he hissed menacingly into her face. Then gripping her cheek with one hand, he squeezed it until her mouth formed an O', her eyes showing a combination of anger and pain...
"You are to live until I say otherwise...this life of yours is mine to do with as I please...and when I'll feel that I've had enough fun...I promise that I'll kill you with my own hands, he whispered darkly into her face, eyes glowing with a diabolical light...
"I am not your toy Arnav Singh Raizada, her hands tugged at his fingers, trying to prise them away from her face but in vain...
"What are you then my wife...my mistress...oh...now I remember there is another title for you...my wh**e?, he taunted, tapping a finger over his cheek in fake concentration...
The purring monster, suddenly raised its ugly head inside Khushi, her senses screaming with venomous hatred she raised a hand and slapped him across his face with all of her might. He rocked on his heels, head snapping aside, a red welt forming across his cheek. Her blow had all the pent-up fury of a woman scorned...
"You..., he raised a hand threateningly in the air, his eyes shooting daggers at her. "What?...bitch?...wh**e?...not going to call me names again...why not hit me...beat me if you want?, she hissed, bitterly, a ball of salty tears forming in her throat, but damn her if she was going to cry infront of him...
"Get out of here Khushi...just go, he looked into her bitter face for a moment before, shaking his head in exasperation. "Just get out of my sight, turning away from her, he waved a hand in dismissal...
Blinded by her tears, Khushi blundered outside at once, stumbling along the corridor she headed towards her own room...
Once she had closed the door of her room behind her, she groped for the wall to support her shaking legs, then somehow lurched towards the bed, throwing herself face down on the bedcovers...
Grabbing a white pillow, she put her face into it and cried, her screams muffling against the snowy covers...
"I am going for a business dinner tonight...so don't wait for me...just eat your dinner and then go to sleep, Arnav announced casually, checking his bow tie in the mirror. Having spent all afternoon crying while locked up in her bedroom, she was feeling much better in the evening. She had been feeling a little guilty on slapping him this afternoon and hoping to make amends to him, she had stopped by his room, to call him downstairs for dinner...
But seeing him wearing his tuxedo, she had frozen on the threshold, her hand which she had raised to knock on the door was still suspended in mid-air...
He must have noticed her presence, because he announced at once about his dinner plans. His back still turned towards her, he sprayed a generous amount of perfume over his body, tapped a little of it over his neck, fixed his bowtie then turning towards her, he threw a fleeting glance over her pale face...
"You didn't tell me about this business dinner, she asked slowly, her eyes moving hungrily over his face, taking in the beauty of his sharp and smooth jawline, winged eyebrows, aquiline nose, the deep furrows bracketing the sides of his mouth and the glowing eyes...
Topaz eyes, the eyes of a tiger, waking from deep slumber, filled with sleep yet alert and cautious, mesmerizing their prey...
Her sixth sense warned her that he was going on a hunt...but who was the prey?...
"I had no reason to...you were mourning the loss of your mother and I didn't want to disturb you...but don't worry I am taking Sam with me...she had attended many business parties with me and she very well know how to be a perfect host...one courteous lady she is, he spoke casually, but why she had an in linking that his words were meant as a jibe for her rather than a normal praise for Sam's abilities...
Because she suddenly felt a certain kind of burning in the pit of her stomach, her throat felt raw as if she had breathed in caustic fumes...
Lifting his dinner jacket from the back of the dressing chair, he threw it over his shoulder and without giving her a backward glance, strode out of the room...
"He didn't even say goodnight, she whispered to herself, looking at his broad retreating back, her eyes wide with hurt...
"Why didn't you bring Khushi with you?, Sam asked admonishingly, looking regal and resplendent in a couture red gown. Her hair was swept back from her face in a sleek bun, letting two curls escape from the confinement, giving her a sophisticated yet at the same time a softer look. "Did someone tell you that you look ravishing today, Samantha Yadav?, he winked, completely ignoring her query.
"Yeah, I know almost every man in the party had told me that...you men are all the same, she rolled her eyes in mock exasperation...
"Some might be really good...at heart...you know, he said smiled widely. "Nah, only you are, she joked good-naturedly. "Me...nope I am one of the baddies, he smiled wolfishly. "Ohhh...so you better steer clear off me...shooo...off you go, she pushed at his shoulder in mock anger...
Arnav threw her a narrowed glance from the corner of his eye, then they both burst into laughter...
"On a serious note, Arnav, why didn't you bring Khushi along with you, she might have felt better after coming here, Samantha asked again, heading with him towards the buffet table...
"She irritates me enough as it is at home, why do I need to bring her here and spoil my whole night, he jerked his head irritably. "On the other hand her mood wasn't good, I thought it better to leave her alone", he argued seeing Sam cocking her head aside unconvincingly...
"I don't think so that's the case Arnav...you know that your arguments are very weak, the reason that you didn't bring her with you is that you are possessive about her, you are afraid that if any man dared praised or complimented her beauty you would punch the living daylights out of him...and you don't want to start a gossip because of that", she explained knowingly.
For a moment Arnav looked disbelieveingly at Sam than throwing back his head he roared with laughter. "That is one hell of a cock and bull story that you've thrown my way Sam...but it's time you curb your romantic imagination babe, because this is sure not the case with me".
"It's time you start believing this story Arnav...because the truth is just coming your way to bite you", Sam pointed her eyebrows towards the entrance of the hall, her eyes dancing with suppressed mirth...
Arnav's laughter died down in his throat, as soon as he noticed a smiling Khushi, floating merrily towards him on a cloud of black silk...
She was encased in a sheath of black silk, which curved and hugged every part of her body, leaving nothing to imagination. Carrying a silver clutch and wearing a pair of silver outrageous yet at the same time funky snake-shaped earrings which brushed her naked shoulders, she swayed towards him, her silver heeled sandals making a cluttering sound on the polished floor.
Amidst the off-shouldered and lace-sleeved gown her neck rose like a swan, enhancing her smooth alabaster skin, her naked shoulders and her round angelic face. Her hazel eyes which were accentuated by smoky eyed makeup glowed golden under the chandelier lights, giving them a predatory quality...
White teeth gleamed beneath pink glistening lips, locating Arnav amongst the crowd she threw a smile in his direction...
Her light brown hair swept neatly away from her brow in side twists, were left loose at the back, falling almost to her hips in massive curls, with every step she took towards him, they bounced, giving them a profound vitality. The silk of her dress slithered across her body, like the skin of a snake, causing him to suck in a distressed breath...
"What the hell?", he closed his mouth with a snap...
She certainly looked like a walking medusa, ethereal, mesmerizing yet equally dangerous, bewitching every man in the hall. They stared at her awestruck, while some boys gawked at her. Women began straightening imaginary creases from their dresses and touching their hair nervously. Some threw her envious glances while others looked at her with venom in their eyes, their spouses staring at her with lust-filled eyes...
"How in the name of God she came to be here?, he hissed through clenched teeth, throwing a suspicious glance at Sam, who raised both of her hands, shaking her head in negation. His answer came to him in the form of Ramlal, who entered the room behind Khushi, looking like a lost puppy...
When his gaze zeroed in on Arnav he signalled in her direction, indicating his helplessness in the situation...
Reaching by his side Khushi pouted,"Hello darling. Than completely ignoring Sam who was standing beside him, she leaned in to kiss his cheek, her aim landing on his ear as he jerked his head aside. Sam hid her smile, giving a deliberate cough instead...
"Behave...if you don't want to cause a scandal, he hissed, catching her arm in a viselike grip. "But I do want to cause a scandal babe, she replied, pulling her arm away from his hold, her eyes sparkling maliciously.
"You wish, he smiled infuriatingly, while his eyes glittered with murderous intent. Leaning towards him so low, that her bodice gaped and he could clearly view the white slopes of her breasts, she whispered in a scintillating tone, "Oh I wish it babe...if the situation demands, I can do more than that. His jaw clenched so tightly that the bone structure of his face could be shone clearly through the skin...
"Bring it on then sweetheart...let's see what can you do...but remember one thing clearly...everything has it's consequences and before this night ends you'll get your fair share of retribution, he warned coldly...
Ramlal and Sam who were watching the heated conversation, their eyes moving two and fro between them, exchanged an amused glance together...
"Considered it on handsome, she stretched her lips in a challenging smile, then before he could give her a proper reply, she flicked back her loose curls, and giving a titillating laughter sailed past him...
"Dance with me Sam, grimly, he held a hand towards Samantha. Noticing his eyes still fixed on Khushi's retreating back, she shook her head sadly. "It's not me with whom you want to dance Arnav. "Bullshit...I am going to dance with you, he put emphasis on going. "Clever of you Arnav, neither denying nor accepting the fact that it's only her that you want, she mocked. "Just do as I am saying Sam...don't ask questions that I've got no wish to answer, he said curtly. Knowing that arguing with him won't bear her any fruit, she sighed in resignation and placed a hand over his...
Khushi had already joined the fray of dancing couples, her partner a boy of about twenty who was looking at her adoringly as she lead the dance on the floor. As Arnav twirled Sam on the dance floor, Khushi began dancing exuberantly. Her partner nearly lost his balance and bumped into Arnav, causing him to almost drop Sam on the floor...
"Oops...sorry, she batted her eyelashes innocently, as Arnav threw her a filthy gaze...
"Sorry, her partner said, shuffling his feet nervously, his ears red with embarrassment. "Take care young man, she is a very exuberant dancer, the way she leads people to dance many are not able to keep up with her, his tone cynical, Arnav patted the boy's shoulder almost sympathetically. "I...I...will, the boy stuttered, blinking his eyes owlishly...
"Don't tell him about your experience babe...otherwise he will think you were not able to keep up with me, winking at Arnav, she gave a girlish giggle. He cocked his head aside, lips twisting in a scornful smile. "Do you really believe that princess?...care to dance with me?, he said, one brow raised mockingly...
Sam frowned at them, wrinkles of worry lining her forehead. The challenge, issued normally by Arnav had a hint of something deep hidden inside it. He was no longer teasing, or humoring Khushi, but his expression belied something else...
It rang alarmingly that the usually polished surface of his topaz eyes was dull, almost dead. Something dark and macabre, lingered beneath the surface of his otherwise relaxed manner.
She had seen that same expression on his face on numerous occasions when he would tease the enemy, play with them, creating the illusion of peace and when they would step forward into his territory he would close in on them, like the ultimate venus fly trap, crushing their very essence...
Her sixth sense warned her about the possible outcome of the dangerous game, that Arnav had begun playing with Khushi, but she was helpless to stop it..."No Arnav, she whispered, shaking her head in negation, a helpless look on her face...
P.S: DO LIKE AND COMMENT DEARIES IF YOU LIKED THE LATEST UPDATE! 😛😳
CID
34