ARIYA FF StrawHouse //NOTE PG 34// - Page 15

nice

read in one shot

do continue soon

get well soon

Chapter 13

"There was no part of him that was not broken, that had not healed wrong, and there was no part of him that was not stronger for having been broken."

- Leigh Bardugo.

He was this close. She was this close. One wrong step and one of them could've been dead by now. Arjun sighed as he patiently waited for the girl in his lap to wake up. His heart had refused to function for a minute when he saw the gun at her forehead. It was pure instinct he had put the knife on his wrist. He couldn't live in a world without her. He was nothing without her. Riya completed Arjun.

As he sat running his hand in her hair, he realises how much they've come to mean to each other. She was his peace, one look at her and life began to hurt him a little less. When Arjun had discovered his dead wife's secrets, the pain seemed to amplify in her absence. He'd often catch himself thinking of her. When the night stretched too far long and his sleep turned into a horror movie he'd so often seen, he'd instantly whip out his phone and gaze at her pictures. The very sight of her eased into a peaceful slumber.

He hadn't failed to realise how much he affected her too. He recalls how she'd screamed the building down when he had made the incision on his palm. He also remembers how she'd cling onto him when he'd try to comfort her.

He was broken out of his chain of thoughts when he felt her turn in her sleep. Immediately he ran his hand over her face, cupping her cheeks and kissed her forehead.

Riya woke up to his touch. As soon as her brain comprehends what went down sometime ago she sits up with a jerk, his hand flying away from her face. She turns to him, pushing her hair behind her ears. Her eyes stung as she stares at the man in front of her. His eyes puffy, the unsaid pain quite evident on his face. She looks at him, tears welling up in her eyes again and she crashed into his chest.

Arjun's arms immediately went around her as she sobs away. He could feel his own tears running down his cheeks. He kisses her hair. Oh how he wished he could freeze time. Momentarily he imagines a world with no pain for either of them, just happiness. In that moment Arjun promises himself one thing - he'd do anything to realise that dream.

A while later, Riya pulls apart. "I'm sorry" she whispers.

Arjun takes note of her puffy eyes and the ever present tear tracks. He wipes her tears and kisses her forehead. Beneath his lips, Riya relishes in his touch. There was something about it that put her inconsistent heart at ease. He was always there for her, even when he pretended she didn't mean anything to him. He was her safe place, somewhere she could hide, away from the troubles of the world and he'd hold her in as if shielding her from everything.

As Arjun separates a little, he decides it was time.Time for her to realise how precious she is. Time for her to know how much she meant to him, how much he loved her.

Staring into her soul penetrating eyes, he whispers, "I love you."

In that moment, Riya felt everything slip away, the pain, the fatigue the hopelessness. Nothing could stop the tears stream down now.

He smiles and continues "I love you. So much that the very thought of you brings me peace I never knew I'd ever see. So much that this broken heart of mine is ready to risk everything and hand myself over to you. So much that this universe shrinks under your presence. So much that I've begun to believe in chance. So much that I've begun to look forward to a new day. So much that I'm willing to get up every day just to see your face. "

By now Riya had melted in the depth of his words. He loves her! Every doubt, every misconception about his behaviour lay long forgotten.

She sniffs away her tears as she confesses," I love You! Always have! ".

Arjun couldn't help but smile, his eyes glistening with tears of joy. He'd always known she loved him. But something in him had burst open when he heard her voice her love for him. Happiness.

He holds her hands between his and kisses her palms," Meri Jaan Ho tum. You're my life now Riya."

Riya's head spiralled away still reeling from the effect of his words. As she holds his hands, she was not prepared for the rough patch on his palm.

As she recalls what had happened sometime ago, Guilt fills her mind as she ran her fingers over the rough and broken two inch worth of his skin. He hurt himself to stop her!

As if wanting to escape a repeating bad dream she apologizes to him continously . "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I.."

Her string of apologises stopped when she felt his lips on hers. It made her dizzy, this feeling of eunoia. She felt complete. She holds back her tears as Arjun separates from her. She felt the loss in an instant.

"There's no need to be sorry for something that's not your fault." he says. "Marr toh waise bhi Jaata Riya agar tumhe kuch hojata toh!"

To put her heart at ease, Arjun removes his wristwatch to reveal a tattoo underneath it. Riya's gasped as she realised what it was. A one to one copy of the red clip. Her red clip. As she ran her trembling fingers over it, he says," You're in my soul now Riya. With every heartbeat, I feel you in me. Nothing can separate us now."

Wiping away her tears for the hundredth time, he continues, " I promise you everything is going to okay. I promise. Whatever has happened is not your fault. You've saved us Riya. Everyone knows the situation was slipping away that day at the dam. You saved us Riya. I'll fish out this guy and end this chapter once and for all. You don't deserve this pain. No one does. One day you'll be free of this pain. I promise. Don't give up on me, please."

__________________________

Chotu watched on as Girish boarded a bus to one of the most dingiest places in the city. He indicated the taxi driver to follow the bus, not once taking his eyes of it.

As Girish gets off the public transport bus, he reaches a narrow lane, all the while looking about him. Positive no one had been watching him he enters the lane. He reaches for the pice of paper in his hand. An address was written on it, in an untidy chicken scrawl. His eyes scan the untidy buildings, watching out for a particular red door with 0701 on it.

Upon finding it, he knocks on the door. Three sharp knocks. Followed by ringing the bell twice.

The door swings open and he enters the house.

Time to meet Kartal.

_____________

As she sat sipping her cup of hot chai Arjun had made for her, Riya felt a little better. She sat near the window, feeling the gust of the wind on her face. The clouds hung low, it was going to rain. She tried to pull herself together constantly telling herself she was not at fault. Arjun was out in the conference room probably planing their next course of action.

This was the second time Arjun had begged her to stay. She recalls that unfateful day at the hospital when Arjun had pleaded the same thing. "Please Riya. Don't give up on me. Please."

She couldn't give up.

Not Now. Not Ever.

If not for herself, then for him.

She'd stay alive only for him.

________________________________

Back in the conference room, Arjun felt the onset of a headache. He hadn't slept well for the past few days and the situation with Riya wasn't helping either.

Shree had been tracking Girish ever since Chotu had began his trail. The tiny red dot on the screen refused to move. It had been there for almost three hours now. Sighing he looks up to ask his boss what to do next. He was taken aback by the hint of tiredness on the ACP's face. Feeling sorry for him and the girl in his cabin, Shree was about to suggest him to take a break when the door opened and Chotu marched in.

Everyone tensed up at his arrival. He looks around and finally says, " The Head Of Operations is in the building."

Yash smirked as he says, "Time to put things into place."

A/N : A shorter update this time. I'm not feeling well for the past few days. It's the weather. Let's hope I put up a massive update next time. Let me know how you're liking the story so far. Also anyone else who needs the pms, like this post and I'll add you to my list. Hope everyone is staying safe!

Firstly get well soon..

It's quite interesting story day by day ...loving it😊❤️😍

loved it superb update soon

Hey! I would like to welcome you for writing stories on the forum.

Sorry about the fact that I discovered this story just now.

Truth to be told I just love this concept and your way of writing.

Your thought process inspires me..

I loved the fact how arjun and yash till now supported riya especially arjun.

Loved the way how you explained the hunt by kartal as well as for him.

The confession was simple yet powerful.

Please do consider me for pms.

Whoa whoa whoa

As Arjun separates a little, he decides it was time.Time for her to realise how precious she is. Time for her to know how much she meant to him, how much he loved her

^^^ these lines ❤️ and also that meri jaan ho tum, reminded me a ss bitterberry wrote ages ago. Jun used to say that to Ri. And wow, he made a tattoo of her clip? How sweet is that. I wonder when he fell for her so deeply. Also what secret of roshni he was thinking about?

Take care of yourself first. Update to ata rahega.

Interesting awesome update

Love it

Continue soon

Thanks for pm

Finally some positive news..... Bas ek baar ye kartal mar jaye....

awesome

ariya confessed

now the villain must be finished

get well soon

stay safe

Awesome update

loved it so much!!!

Riya comes back to her rationality once she is awake

He confesses... yay!

Arjun literally pours out his feelings for her

and that tattoo oh god! I must say that was a really unique one

aha so Girish has gone to meet Kartal

I hope Chotu figured that part out

Looks like it is time for some action

Kartal will probably be begging for death after Arjun is done with him

take care!