Story of the Decade | Chapter 13 by Bhavisweet03 | Pg 51 - Page 32

Just started reading this... You guys are amazing at story telling... Each chapter giving me a mini heart attack and tears... Can’t wait to see what happens next with Khushi finding out about Arnav’s fears and when Arnav finds out about Shyam. Also, really like how Payal is portrayed - her relationship with Arnav and how sceptical she is of Shyam.

Loved how all writers are coming together for this story.

Simply beautiful!

Shyam will always be the bad guy :D

Love how Arnav kept his promise to Khushi. I Hope, both can support and heal each other.

waiting for the next part.

Wow! What a chapter! Your hard work can be seen in the amount of detailing each scene has and the way you have addressed every character and given some background on them ⭐️.

Starting with Payal, she is similar to Arnav in many ways and I liked her characterization that has been created by all the authors so far. You have shown us a glimpse of her relationship with Akash and Arnav while also letting us know what she thinks about Anjali and Shyam.

With Payal and Arnav around, one can be assured that Khushi and Anjali will find the required support. Payal has a past too and I'm intrigued to know what it is.

I feel that Akash is the life of their home. His innocent ways and optimistic nature acts as a balm for both Arnav and Payal. He supports both of them in his own silent way without making a big show of it. This is so much in tune with Akash's character in the show (initially).

Poor Anjali! I had thought that the doctor might catch on to something and that was why Shyam was afraid of calling upon a doc. But, although the doctor has diagnosed Hyperemesis and assured them that it won't cause much of a problem, I'm still worried for Anjali.

Glad that Arnav managed to avert the Nainital trip and make them both stay put in Delhi.

And not only that... he followed up on what he had told Khushi and reached Nainital,, snowstorm not withstanding 😃. The subtle hints of Khushi's face lighting up with happiness upon seeing him, doing little things for him like bringing his tea, preparing his breakfast tray, lighting up the fireplace, etc... all this makes me think that Khushi is the one who is going to fall first. As it is, she is unused to kindness and being treated like a human.. so all this care, support and protection means a lot to her. But, the feeling of being indebted to him will stop her from expressing her love or acting upon it.

Anyway, that's a thing for later... right now, I'm glad to see that Khushi has stared adjusting to her new home and schedule. I hope she finds a new family and friends here... something that she has been deprived of till date.

You have ended the chapter on a cliffhanger and like everyone, I'm curious to know what is going to happen further. Also, Arnav and Khushi are together on a weekend in Nainital during a snowstorm... le's see what happens there 😉.

Once again, let me compliment you for a very well written chapter and apologies for being so late at reading it.

Love,

Stuti

Originally posted by: sen.s

Loving this story. Each chapter brings a new angle. And the writing is superb too. Please let me know how we can get notice of the updates for this. It’s fantastic

We send out PMs although it's a little irregular and may not be sent for every chapter. All those who comment on the story are automatically added to the PM list and I'll add you too.

In any case, the story follows a schedule of one chapter every Sunday. So you can check this thread on Sunday night or Monday morning to make sure you don't miss out on any updates 😊.

Love,

Stuti

Chapter 5, 6

I have just finished reading chapter 5 and 6. Soon I will read next chapters.

But I must say beautifully written. Kudos to Aparna and Pinnkiswan 👏 How beautifully you have described Nainital. I can feel the Beauty of the nature in your writing.🤗

New character Neema. It's really nice to see someone is there for Arnav with whom he can share all the things even he feels comfort with her. And finally Khushi revealed Shyam's name. But still Arnav is confused that only name is same. What will happen when he would come to know that not only name but person also same ?

At the same time shyam is also having a doubt that Khushi must be there. He is very cunning fellow.😡

But yes I loved the part when khushi ASR went for walking.❤️ finally they started to know each other. How he becomes protective about Khushi. That's really nice.😊

Soon I am gonna read remaining chapters. Already excited for it.

Thank you will check every Sunday

A vote of thanks for readers!

Thank you wonderful people for your generous words on the last chapter. Thank you for reading the chapter and taking the time to share your thoughts. If not for you, I would never have had the courage to write and share anything at all. Each one of your comments and especially the detailed, inquisitive reviews on the chapter made me feel like I have done something right by the story.

As to your questions on the chapter, I’m sure it will be answered in subsequent chapters by subsequent writers. I’m as much in the dark and very curious as you all are to know what will happen next. This element of surprise is definitely interesting.

Once again, a biiig thank you. Thank you for reading and helping me grow as a writer.

Chapter 10

"Ratnaa... Open the door Ratna... Just hear me out once!"

He could hear his father's screams along with his repeated thumps on the door. The sounds faded into a distant buzz as his eyes stayed unblinkingly stuck on the figure in the room. He could see the frenzied movements of his mother as she dragged out a can of kerosene and nearly toppled over as she tried to lift and pour it over her.

He could hear loud cracking sounds as his father tried to break the sturdy wooden door, but try as he might, he couldn't get himself to move away from the window even as he saw his mother reaching for a matchbox. It was when she finally struck the match alight that he managed to gather his wits and shout out

"Maaaaa..."

(Mom!)

Arnav woke up with a start to find himself in a dark room. He could feel two hands trying to help him sit up but he roughly pushed them away. The images of burning figures slowly dissolved into a familiar face in front of his eyes as he finally realized where was and in whose company.

This time, as Neema kept a tentative hand on his shoulder, he didn't push her away. Taking it as a positive sign, she came closer to him and handed a glass of water which he lapped up like a parched man. She took the glass from him and sat it on the bedside table, keeping her movements slow and purposeful as she knew he would need a few moments to gather his bearings.

Slowly, Arnav's breathing came back to normal and he remembered what had provoked this nightmare. His gaze turned to the now doused fireplace but he could clearly remember the flames that had been merrily crackling there not long ago. Neema followed his gaze and understanding his line of thoughts, she quietly filled him in on what had occurred.

----------

Khushi had been pacing around her room since the past half an hour but her restlessness refused to abate. She had barely managed to serve the breakfast before retiring to her room. She had turned down multiple pleas by Rahim kaka and others who had insisted that she join them for breakfast. It wasn't like she wanted to starve herself, in fact, she was very grateful for every morsel of food she got as she knew very well what starvation felt like. But after seeing Arnav like that, her appetite had taken a permanent leave while worry, guilt, anxiety and various other emotions quarreled to gain prominence within her.

She had no clue what exactly happened, but the way Niharika had ran to Arnav's room after hearing about the fireplace, Khushi had understood that she had done something she shouldn't have. She had also rushed behind Niharika but came to a stop outside his room. Niharika had knocked once and on finding the door unlocked, she had opened it and ran inside to see Arnav lying on the floor by the bathroom door.

Seeing Khushi frozen at the doorstep, Niharika had called out to her. Niharika's shout had broken the haze around her as Khushi immediately jumped into action. She brought a jug of water from the bedside table to Niharika who dipped her fingers into it and gently splashed a few droplets on Arnav's face. It hadn't helped but Niharika had further instructed Khushi to empty the jug into the fireplace.

Without asking any questions, Khushi had done as told. By then, Niharika's shouts had gathered a few other people who had helped in lifting Arnav up and shifting him to the bed. Khushi hazily remembered standing in a corner as Niharika, Rahim kaka and others fussed around the room and Arnav, trying to warm him up with blankets and shuttering the windows to ensure that the cold drift from outside wouldn't venture inside. Taking the snowstorm into account, Niharika had ruled out calling a doctor, knowing that no one would drive out in such a weather. Eventually, they had decided to wait for a while and see if Arnav gained consciousness by himself.

It had been nearly an hour since then and Khushi's uneasiness kept on increasing till she could take it no more. Without any care for etiquettes, she burst into Arnav's room only to come to a standstill on seeing the surprised faces of Arnav and Niharika turn towards her.

"You're awake?!" She exclaimed, the relief making itself evident in her voice.

Arnav exchanged a look with Neema before turning to Khushi and nodding a yes. He noticed her relief morphing into embarrassment now as she realized how boisterous her entry had been.

"I... I thought... I mean.. the doctor may not come here in this weather.. but we could take him there. Vo... Arnav ji ki car toh hai hi" (After all... Arnav's car is there)

While Khushi's explanation had been directed towards Niharika, Arnav could feel the corner of his lips curving up at her fumbling words, the underlying concern not being missed.

"That won't be required. I'm okay now."

Arnav tried to reassure both Khushi and Neema. While Khushi didn't seem much comforted by his words, Neema nodded and stood up from the bed. She stood there for a moment, adjusting the blankets around him again before glancing at Khushi who was shifting from one leg to another by the doorstep.

"I'll go and get some hot tea and breakfast for Arnav. Meanwhile, you can stay here and give Arnav some company."

Khushi looked up startled at Neema's words. Before she could gather her wits and offer to bring up the breakfast instead, Neema had already slid past her and out of the room.

Khushi turned to Arnav, suddenly feeling a lot more nervous than she had been a few moments ago. All this while, worry and guilt had swarmed her mind. But now as she looked at him sitting on the bed and waiting for her to speak, a different kind of anxiety filled her up.

Although Khushi would never ever compare Arnav to Shyam, she couldn't deny the truth that her mistake, although committed unknowingly, had caused Arnav much harm. He had the right to be angry with her, but Khushi was unsure of what his anger would result in. With Shyam, she had understood over time that every mistake of hers was going to be punished with beatings - either with a belt or a stick, and eventually he would have his way with her. And although she had dreaded it every time, she had somehow grown used to it. She would switch off her mind and try to think about something totally different while he went about it, and that had helped her cope with the pain and trauma all these years.

But today, she hoped against hope that Arnav wouldn't do anything so drastic... not because she wouldn't be able take it physically, but more so for her mental peace. She had started trusting Arnav and Niharika, started hoping for a better life here, and she didn't want her nascent dreams to shatter so soon. She had no where else to go and honestly, she wondered if she would have the courage to escape again if required.

"Khushi...?" Arnav's tentative call broke her out of her reverie. She launched into an immediate explanation

"I... I'm really very sorry. I have no idea what exactly I did that caused you to faint, but I understand it was my fault. I... I'm willing to compensate for that if I can in some way, just... just don't punish me. I'll... I'll do whatever work is to be done here... I can cook, clean, do household chores... and anything else you will ask me to do.... but... but don't tell me to leave... please. I honestly had no clue that my actions would result into this, you've to believe me!"

By the time Khushi ended her frenzied monologue, Arnav has hastily stood up from his bed and made his way to her. But just as he was about to hold her arm, she jumped back startled at seeing him so close. Realizing that she wouldn't appreciate his touch at the moment, he stayed where he was and put up both his hands in the air with palms facing outwards, trying to indicate that he meant no harm to her.

"Khushi, no one is blaming you for the incident. We all understand that you were unaware and didn't do anything purposefully. So you can rest assured, no one is going to ask you to leave from here. Coming to punishments, this is not a school and you won't be asked to stand outside the classroom for making mistakes here."

Arnav tried to inject some humor in his voice at the last line, hoping that it would be enough to reassure the terrified girl.

Khushi looked at him wide eyed, wondering if she was finally turning delusional. Had she heard him right?? School? Standing outside the classroom? What was this man talking about?!

Arnav couldn't help the smile that stole up his face.

"Yes, I'm from Earth. I'm not an alien with 3 eyes and an antenna on my head, so you can stop looking at me like that."

The mention of aliens bewildered her further before she realized what he was talking about and hastily shifted her staring gaze away from him. An embarrassed giggle escaped her mouth as she looked up from beneath her lashes to see Arnav starting to chuckle as well.

Niharika, who had been climbing the stairs with a tray filled with breakfast for two, stopped short at the sight that greeted her eyes. Although she had known Arnav since many years and seen him in his various moods, she couldn't remember the last time she saw him like this. As she looked at Arnav and Khushi laughing together wholeheartedly, she knew in that moment that these two broken people would help each other heal and be complete again.

----------

Bas abhi ke liye itna hi 😆 (That's all for now)

The chapter is slightly short but I thought this was a good moment to end it with. It's been a while since I wrote fiction, but discussing scenes and character backgrounds with Aboli is still so natural. Our friendship began with storytelling and that remains our strongest link till date ❤️. We have discussed multiple storylines... some of which never found their way to paper / screen. But today, I suddenly have the urge to go back and continue writing WLAFC from where it remains paused. Who knows, we might do it soon 😉.

Not to forget, a Thank you is due for Just-do-it as well... for helping me out by suggesting various scenarios on how to continue the story and for reviewing it before I posted here ⭐️. {Don't forget to read her Vote of Thanks above.}

Ab chapter se jyada lambi author's note ho jayegi so I'll stop here 🤣. (The author's note is becoming longer than the chapter so I'll stop here.)

Waiting to read your views 😳.

Love,

Stuti

The chapter was beautifully written but mujhe aur padhni thi. You could have written the breakfast part!

Except that I’m greedy for more, I loved what you’ve written here. Khushi doesn’t know anything yet and yet she knows that she has done something she shouldn’t have. Maybe she will ask about it to Arnav or Neema when she’s out of the guilt she’s feeling right now. Her sense of self-preservation also may not have let her think past the consequences of what she has done rather than thinking about the reason for it.

I liked how she didn’t wait around to apologize. Apologizing is not easy and especially not for people in her situation, who have undergone so much with their smallest of smallest mistakes seeing worse punishments. It would require much strength to do that. Our girl has it. It was deeply affecting to read that she was actually expecting to be punished as if it’s the most natural thing.

And I loved, loved their moment. It was beautiful reading about how Arnav knew and understood her need to be reassured and didn’t waste time giving her the same. What’s more, he was even laughing with her. Arnav Singh Raizada seems to be a whole new person in front of this girl and Neema has already caught up on it.

P.S: Thank you for the vote of thanks to me. But honestly, what I did is nothing compared to how sweetly you answered by bombardment of questions just a week ago.

Wow, this is such an amazing story

Loved the update

Awwww they’re laughing together