FF: 3 Years Later -(ArHi) Thread1 - Page 67

they are opening up..

sorry for the late reply but had a dance practice to go to. needless to say i boogied till i could boogie no more!

i can't wait to know of arnav's past and this sheesh mahal secret :-)

Interesting... Please update soon

nyc update..!!!

Just read this while taking a break here at the office and I must look like such a fool b/c I had a smile on my face thinking that Khushi is going back to Lucknow w/ her smokin' hot husband, to visit the people that basically told her to go away and not come back. ASR is going to be awful to them and I'm going to LOVE it...hahahaa

This is awesome!! UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME!! 👏
The introduction to the characters was brilliant!!
The descriptions, the scenes, the twists, the love, the lust, the fury, the envy, the craving - everything PERFECT!!

I read all the chapters in 2 days!! And believe me, the respite was torturous. I kept turning it all over in my head. OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I wasn't into FFs until now. Then...I came across this.

FABULOUS JOB HOH. 👍🏼

P.S. - Thanks a lottt for the pm. I can't imagine now, missing such a wonderful thing as this.
Waiting for your next pm now. Can't wait to see how this unravels!!

CHAPTER 5 - PART 5

A week later they stood at the entrance of Sheesh Mahal, where the exceptionally courteous General Manager, had just finished introducing her to the hotel's Public Relations Executive, and Front Office Manager, both of whom she was much to her surprise told would escort her to their room, while "If it is alright with you Madam, I might have a few minutes with your husband to discuss some hotel matters?" Requested the General Manager diffidently. A little baffled, she nodded politely, then shook hands with him once again before allowing a very attractive woman, not much older than she was, to lead her a few steps away, where she stopped before five people, who stood in a line facing them. "A few of the people who run the various departments within the hotel, Mrs. Raizada" said the PR woman, "You may call them directly should you require anything, if you find for some reason that you cannot contact me." She said before rapidly introducing her to the group, all of whom stepped forward in turn to shake her hand, some actually bowing at the waist, causing her to blush furiously in embarrassment. Sneaking a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw only a bell boy load their two travel cases onto a trolley and begin to roll it away. "…Who is our Head of Security." She heard the woman say, and turned back in time to see a stocky man with a vaguely familiar face step forward, and offer her his hand, his eyes downcast. With her natural inclination to put people at ease, she smiled encouragingly, automatically extending her hand "It's a pleasure" she said softly, then felt the smile freeze on her face, as his eyes finally connected with hers. Stunned, she almost snatched her hand out of his when she felt his grip on her hand tighten reassuringly "Mrs. Raizada" He said kindly, "I hope your visit to Sheesh Mahal this time, is more to your expectations than it was the last." He dropped her hand, taking a small step back, "And, you have my personal assurance," He added, a slight twinkle appearing in his eyes "That the hotel's entire security staff is here to protect you." He said, stressing on the last two words, causing her to choke back a startled laugh, but thankful for his gesture, and knowing he was as much in an awkward position as she was, she smiled appreciatively at him, before allowing herself to be led away.

She hesitated, biting her lip, unsure whether to get into bed, or attempt a conversation with him. It had been almost an hour since they'd returned to their room after dinner with the hotel's General Manager, and his is charming wife. She'd spent an intriguing hour before that on a tour of the whole hotel, with the PR rep, Sheila, before being escorted to their room again, where she'd showered and dressed for dinner. He'd been cordial throughout the meal with his staff, and perfectly normal with her, yet she had the vague impression that he was not himself. 'Not that I blame him' she thought sympathetically, looking out to the balcony where he'd been alternating between standing and gazing across the gardens, or sitting on the plush divan set just outside the heavy oak doors. Deciding to check one last time if he was OK, she padded silently to the door leading out, and peeked round it, stopping short when she saw him reclining back, his eyes closed. Not wanting to intrude, she started to turn away, careful so as not to disturb him. "Stay." He said quietly, eyes still shut. "One minute" she whispered, then went inside, dragged the comforter off the bed, and went back out, settling herself between his long legs, and resting back against his chest, drawing the heavy quilt over them both, up to her chin. "So, you really lived here huh?" She asked a minute later, snuggling back, bringing her still wrapped and tender wrist up to rest on the arm which had encircled her waist. "I did" he said, his voice sounding quieter, tired. She turned slightly, looking up into his face, his eyes were still closed, faint lines etched around them, his brow furrowed with fatigue. Feeling a rush of concern, mingled with guilt, she turned back, staring out across the vast grounds, realizing how difficult coming back to his family home must be for him. In her excitement, and part anxiety over seeing her family again, she'd almost forgotten that this was the place his worst memories had their roots, his parents' death, his mother's illness. And, she didn't know how to address it with him, how to offer help, understanding, anything she could to ease some of that pain he carried with him every day. Frustrated, she started to say something, then stopped, shifting slightly, deciding against it, annoyed with herself for not finding the right words. "You're an idiot!" she muttered furiously under her breath. "Excuse me?" His voice suddenly cut across the silence, incredulous. "Not you" She laughed, "I meant me." – "And, now that we've established you're an idiot, what's on your mind?" He asked, sounding amused. "I wanted to know.." She said hesitantly, "What was on your mind." There was silence, and she waited as it seemed to stretch on endlessly for seconds, then longer. Suddenly feeling a little dejected, she started to sit up, mumbling that she should get to bed, but felt his arm tighten slightly around her. "It's OK if you don't want to tell me" She said, keeping her voice light, trying to lift his arm off her, which didn't seem to move an inch. "Then why are you leaving?" She heard him ask, his lips lightly brushing against her ear. "Because with you everything is pointless!" She said abruptly, turning and glaring at him, then seeing an answering spark of amusement in his eyes, just as his lips captured hers in a kiss which wiped out every protest from her mind. Minutes later, which seemed like hours, and gathering every ounce of will power she possessed, she pulled away, wanting him to know, needing it "I'm sorry this is all so difficult for you." She said, gently caressing his jaw. "I was being unfair, and not at all helpful… And, I want to help you, but I don't know how." She whispered. "Then, forget about our contract." He said immediately, his eyes suddenly turning serious. "Forget all the reasons you believe led us to this marriage." She stared at him, toying with the feeling that he was distracting her, then dismissed it instantly because there was a different kind of seriousness in the way he'd said it. "And, then what?" She asked, hesitant, unsure where this was leading. "We have a relationship." He said quietly "Without deals, or expectations, and any of that." It was out on the table, she knew that. He'd played a big hand, and in one swift move dismissed everything else as irrelevant, while making it clear that the past could not be touched, if there was no present. And, with a vague feeling of unease, and fear, she also realized that there would almost certainly be no more offers like this again, that there was a virtual finality to the request. "And, then what?" She asked again, annoyed at herself for her uncertainty, her need for assurance. "And, then we'll see where it goes." He said. – "We'll see where it goes." She thought sleepily, more than an hour later, still out under the stars, nestling closer to his side under the comforter. And, surprisingly pleased with herself for agreeing, sated, and almost looking forward to the next day, and the days to come, she fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

He was furious, she could tell, and had been building towards it from the moment he'd stepped inside her parents' home earlier that day, yet he'd said nothing. They'd left the hotel soon after breakfast, after a bell boy had helped her load a car with the few gifts she'd thought of bringing them, he'd noticed, but made no comment, driving her there with the odd bit of conversation, allowing her time to gather her thoughts, prepare herself. She'd entered the house first, barely making it over the threshold before the litanies had begun.' Three years had obviously been too long for Bua to keep her thoughts to herself' she'd thought to herself, her long ago learned and perfected reflex to mentally girt her teeth and smile, taking over while she listened to rants about her contribution to the family's woes. Her mother had been tearful, but not forthcoming with much as was usual for her, no welcome, no 'How have you been?' And, for some odd reason, this time it stung more than it had ever before, but with anger, not sadness. They knew about her marriage of course, from Payal, but she hadn't been prepared for the reaction to the man they'd long known, and mostly loathed, she hadn't been prepared for their sickening, and embarrassing gratitude towards him, for marrying her. And, not knowing how to deal with it, humiliated beyond belief, she'd desperately asked for her father, and after being directed rather offhandedly to him, she'd fled towards that reunion. Later, after a gut wrenching half hour with the only person in that family who'd ever cared about her, she'd come back out, almost recoiling from the tension she'd sensed in the room, and had moved almost instinctively towards her husband, hesitant to converse anymore with the two elder women of her family, and surprised to realize that she really had nothing to say to them. They'd left then, with her in a sudden but rare show of defiance towards them, letting them know she would be back to visit her father, and him without so much as a goodbye or a backward glance.

Now she stood at the large doors leading out to the balcony, watching the setting sun, a deep feeling of nostalgia and sadness filling her, and loss… She'd lost so much in such a short time. 'No' she corrected herself silently, 'I never had much to lose to begin with.' Her eyes filled with tears, as memories of her once idyllic childhood flashed in her mind, distant memories, faded because she'd been too young then, when her parents had been alive, for such a short time. Turning, intending to crawl into bed and just sleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil of her day, her tears threatening to burst free if she continued with these thoughts, she stopped short suddenly as powerful arms wrapped around her, a warm and secure body offered her comfort, and a strong yet gentle voice told her she was loved.