Arhi SS: WITHERED!! Thread#2- New Thread Link pg 1

You called me a rose

This is wrt Khushi's perspective. She is the rose and the one to call her that is Arnav.

Protecting me with your thorns

Khushi is mistaken about Arnav and grossly so. She will know this when Arnav ceases to protect her.

But I knew I was the thorn

She says in the update that she is the one who can't love him back.

You withered.

Arnav might walk away from her.

And I still prick

She will be left heartbroken and vulnerable.

N, if this update was not layered, I dont know what is. By far, this has been one of your best penned updates since the time I have started reading your stories and fallen in love with them.

Why? Because you will show us one side of the mirror and leave the rest for us to judge. So while we would be seeing things from one protagonists POV, the other one would pass away as innocent.

I mean, ArHi have divergent notions about each other. Khushi wants separation and Arnav wants to hold onto her. Is it possible that the circumstances will force Arnav to walk away while Khushi would anticipate his return, or a reunion with him?

I smell a operation though. Sadly, what is love without pain. And like you said, Payal can be a deterrent, I feel Aman will be one too.

Coming to Aman, boy, he is a creep. I felt nauseous while reading about Arnav's past and Khushi is well, just his new wife.

As for Manohar, I am withholding my views for the same.

And, I still love Arnav with all my heart

Congratulations for Thread number 2 N.🥳👏

That was a nice quote from Subrata Sinha Roy. We need to apply it when we make our speculations in future.👍🏼

Will read the chapter and post comments later.

Cheers......

Unres❤️

Congratulations N for the New Thread

I agree, when you had given us the prologues to select,, I hadnt picked up Withered as the favoured one because i did not know what you were capable of writing. After completion of Wedded and being with WA and WRY, slowly it has sunk into me and probably into others that most innocuous looking prologue can turn into such a wonderful story. Makes me wonder how you manage to weave such exquisite stories. We are all very honoured and thankful for getting the opportunity of reading the story (rather your manuscript) before being published.

May you continue to weave lovely stories for your happiness and for all of us too. May God give you good health and all the success in life. God Bless

We are finally on chapter 2 now. After a lot of guesses and theories, let us read Arnav’s POV as promised by you.

From the chapter it appears that Arnav married Khushi immediately upon her acceptance of the proposal. Was he worried about giving time to Khushi lest she has second thoughts? Looks like Khushi fell headlong into the relationship based on Manohar’s suggestion. To what extent she finds that she has done the right thing remains to be seen.
She did not get time to understand Arnav and decide about her feelings about him prior to marriage. For Khushi each day is like learning something new about her husband. She has come into this marriage with some pre-conceived notions about Arnav gathered from the public image that he had presented. She knows Arnav is a very handsome eligible bachelor, heir to the Kapoors, a budding political leader in the making. All this does not matter to Khushi for she wants to know the Arnav who is hiding behind this façade of glamour and wealth. She wants to know his real character and not what he projects before the world.
Khushi’s musings make sense- If Aman is really Arnav’s good friend, then why did he not dissuade him from joining politics?
Though she has been aware about Arnav’s transgressions in the past, when faced with th woman who was involved with him prior to marriage, it is difficult for her to fathom the way in which Arnav has been toying with women in the past for just physical gratification. Given a choice, She must never have chosen Arnav (whom she knows very little about now) as her possible suitor.

Congratulations for Thread 2 🤗

You totally deserve it.

Withered is one of the best stories I have read on Arhi, all thanks to you ❤️

Me

Hi N,

Many Congratulations on thread 2 🥳

This is a sneak peek we got and a definite perspective changer one!

My Thoughts:

AMAN MEHRA:

When I read about Aman Mehra, the word ‘stuck by him’ caught my eyes and I thought Aman is going to be like the trademark – Aman from the show and like Akash in WA but yeah looks like not so positive one (Not concluded yet;)) –

Aman, an ex-best friend turned enemy to Arnav?!

Reasons:

Arnav and Aman had been best friends since school times that Aman had met Arnav’s parents and what about Aman’s parents too.

Aman had motivated Arnav to join PSP whereas Aman was just an able supported (why didn’t he join?) – If Aman says he is just being the best friend standing by Arnav then why is letting Arnav super-headed by an unworthy man like Shyam? What’s Aman take about PSP? Any relation between Aman and Shyam?

Aman does not talk about Arnav to Khushi like usually how a friend talks to his friend’s wife (especially in their first meet) –

I agree there is no formal acknowledgements and praises happen between friends but we refrain from showing that to a third person right ? Like Aman sees Khushi first time, he does not have to talk too-good, so high of Arnav but at the same time why does Aman have to talk about Arnav in a ill-way so much that anyone other than Arnav can tell that AMAN IS TRYING TO MESS WITH HER MIND! (I might be quick to judge this, but I feel strongly he gave a bad impression of himself as Arnav’s friend)

If Aman was truly the best friend and well-wisher to Arnav, would have prevented Arnav from joining Politics or atleast not encouraging him in joining politics. Inturn looks like Aman messes up Arnav’s mind!!

Moreover that remark on Sheetal was totally intentional and Further another statement about woman who supposedly entertained Arnav privately – I wonder which wife would like such things to be discussed or would take it easy and it did what it is suppose to do to Khushi, right?

I might be quick to judge Aman as ‘not a best-friend’ as he claims to be but Aman’s actions make me really suspicious of him not being Arnav’ best friend but also something else!

Arnav being playful about Aman’s remarks also show that Arnav trusts Aman!

In all, I feel Aman plays a major role in Arnav life so far that Aman is around Arnav in whatever he does!

Is Aman the one who advised or ill-advised Arnav about Manohar that he stands by Arnav in all wrong steps and why the work partnership was dissolved?! Is Aman using Arnav by all means financially, professionally and personally?!

KHUSHI:

I have nothing new to say but add on to:

She is completely on the darker side about Arnav and Arnav’s love – Though she had not given much thought about Arnav if not fall for Arnav in their first sight, what made her concede to Arnav’s proposal for marriage, just Manohar??

Khushi thinks and still thinks that Arnav is a casanova and prefer women whom he had past relationships over a virgin like her!! Is she insecured about herself? As she thinks herself to be just beautiful and anything beyond is only in the eyes of Arnav!

If she acknowledges Arnav loving her then what does she fear? Arnav staying in Love with her throughout or thinks he will fall out of love with her!!

Does She feel bad about lieing to Arnav about her happy about marriage? or Is it Khushi’s insecurities talking ??

ARNAV, The man who stole the show:

Though Khushi attracted Arnav in their first meet but when he came to know about Khushi as Shashi’s daughter, Arnav felt instant protectiveness over her to protect her from the cruel world of politics.

He acknowledges Shashi as Manohar’s friend as well Confidante at the same time, he is aware of Shashi trusting and supporting his mother – Looks like someone told Arnav these stories – which provokes questions, When did Aarti Kapoor die? What was Arnav’s age at that time (though I feel he must be very young that his custody was granted to his step-father)? Who told Arnav about the past??

Oh my, I loved Arnav when he shuts Aman mouth when he went over-board knowing well about his wife! But his declaration of ‘Married Man’ and ‘Happily Married Man’ Waah Waahhhh – What a man! What a husband!!

I’m glad that Arnav found Khushi resentment over the marriage and clarified it too. Arnav has no secrets about his present life and has no reasons to share his past life as of yet!!

Real Mystery:

1. The death of Aarti Kapoor or reason behind her death, which according to Arnav is his dearest Step-Father! We need to wait to know Manohar’s POV – Though I feel Manohar was involved (like his action or non-action ) that lead to her death and seen by Arnav or not seen by Arnav !!

2. Looks like Manohar Kapoor and Aarti Kappor got separated over a misunderstanding may be when Shashi trusted and supported Aarti Kapoor over Manohar which makes Arnav hates Manohar!

3. Was Arnav made an unwanted child when his custody was given to Manohar that his step-family (Payal’s mother) resented him and denied his right to Manohar?! – Also I see the connect between Arnav and Payal as ‘feeling Unwanted’, Arnav protects her from his step-family (from her own family) Arnav cares for her like nobody cared for him!!

4. Was Aarti Kapoor not well off in terms of money as Manohar or his wife – Arnav wants to rob off Manohar which shows money was a reason for th einjustice done to Aarti Kapoor and Arnav that he wants Manohar to lose all his money!!

5. I think Payal Mother – Manohar’s wife plays a major role in Arnav’s hatred over Manohar (I’m guessing this from possibilities of Arnav being made unwanted during his stay with Manohar after his mother’s death)

My understandings:

1. Khushi has absolutely no idea about 1) Arnav, 2) his character and 3) what he thinks about her and 4) his love for her – Her husband is her anchor (secret anchor) she is in great surprise when she realizes her mistake in NOT TRYING TO understand him/ his love sooner.

2. Khushi has conceded to the marriage not by force/ compel from Arnav infact she is not even aware of how Arnav had been a secret lover to get her. What made her concede to the marriage – Was it just feeling indebtedness to Manohar or something more??

3. Arnav absolutely hates his step-father to the extent that he goes to all length to embarass his step-father and doesn’t give him the satisfaction of acceptance Manohar craves for – His actions proves his harbour feelings against his step-father.

4. Arnav offers all of his love to Khushi and Khushi doesn’t just want his love or care he showers on her so she wants UNDERSTANDING & ACCEPTANCE from him?

5. Arnav thinks Khushi to be like his mother who is pure, innocent and a total misfit to his world (which become after his mother death) and I wonder does he know anything about Shashi’s death?

MY WILD GUESSES –

1. Khushi’s secret is something to do with her father’s death – is it just the mystery behind his death or something connected to Aarti Kapoor’s death too?!

2. Manohar or someone from his family (his wife/second wife) is in Politics or better say in PSP and that is exactly why Arnav joined PSP – to get recognized as ‘Mano’s step-son’ in Politics – Arnav wants to embarass Manohar in the party?!

3. Khushi entered this relationship foreseeing the separation? If yes, her motive is to find the mystery behind her father’s death and through Arnav or through PSP?!

4. Final – Is someone from PSP involved in both Aarti Kapoor and Shashi’s death – Might be silly to come up with this but couldn’t refrain from sharing it *hides face*

5. Khushi had conceded to marriage without much thoughts about Arnav and now can’t control abiding over his care and love further thinks that his care and love is not actual love but his well-practiced behaviours with his past relations..

This clearly shows she has a picture painted inside her heart and believes the painting to be something without understanding it from the artist’s eyes!!

P.S. I feel I am missing something, isn’t it??

I knew I was late☹ but at least on page 1☺

Congrats on the new thread N! 🤗🥳

Commented on the blog. Will be back with more comments tomorrow. It's way past my bedtime