IPKKND FF - Where Happiness Lives Part 10 Pg 95! - Page 57

Previous Chapter 8 - Revolving Doors

Quick recap Arnav and Khushi are thinking about eachother and meet when Khushi goes to help Anjali for Aakash's birthday. He see's her again when she is decorating the poolside during the party and kisses her, telling her afterwards that it meant nothing. A few days later, Khushi doesn't turn up to the sangeet and Arnav goes to get her, apologising and telling her that the kiss didn't mean nothing. Shyam witnesses this and confronts Khushi later on during the sangeet when he watches as Arnav and Khushi get closer. The next day, Arnav meets Khushi when he goes to pick Anjali up from the mehendi at their house and Khushi acts strangely, Arnav thinks it is because she is unsure about them and so goes to see her after midnight. He doesn't manage to get his feelings out but feels better knowing he went to see her. He falls asleep thinking of her.

Chapter 9 - Heartlines

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waiB8mWOJOA&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

Thick silver threads, the colour of moonlight, ran diagonally along her, marking a barrier to her untouched yet bare skin. Beads, intricately woven between the wires against a soft white fabric covered her bodice, wrapping her slight frame in folds of willowy material. A thick french braid ran across the top of her hair, filled in with daisy flowers, holding up her tresses in a loosely curled bun atop her head.

She stood against whitewashed doors, worn out from age, disparity against her young beauty. She was smiling at him slightly, large honey eyes locked against his darker ones.

He wasn't sure if she was real or not, this had to be a dream. But could he imagine such beauty?

Her smile suddenly transformed into a pout, childlike and longing, before she let out a disparaging sigh, dropping to the ground, settling herself within the many folds of the dress beneath her. He couldn't help but smile at the image.

He had never loved someone so much.

She sighed loudly, playing lightly with the feather light material flowing from her waist, looking up at him, forcing him to register her annoyance.

He smiled "What is it Khushi?"

She tutted at him, like he should have known what was wrong instead of asking.

"Come here" she asked, using the allure of her eyes to draw him in.

He took a few small steps in her direction, looking down at her.

"Closer" she sulked.

He stood just over her, and she innocently patted at dress sprawled beneath her, indicating for him to sit down "Closer?" she asked.

Arnav hesitantly took a seat, pushing the fabric out of the way, settling himself on the hardwood floor. Before he had enough time to recompose himself she leaned forward, closing the gap between them in mere seconds, with lips placed only a few centimetres from his ears.

"Do you love me?" she breathed, smiling against his stubble.

He was left aghast, surprised to find her suddenly so close. The intoxicating flowery aura around her threatened to choke him in its sweetness, but it made him feel all warm inside.

"Khushi?" he exclaimed, surprised at her sudden proximity, pulling back from her.

He watched the narrow wires of silvery fluid across her pure skin, making it look angelic. It was like they were telling him what he couldn't reach, her pureness hidden behind a cage, he looked away, unable to bear the sight of her looking so beautiful.

He couldn't help but glance back in her direction, the need of having his vision filled with her overtaking every other decision he had made, to find that her perfect features had contorted into a frown. Sadness loomed around her eyes, and he watched wide eyed as a few large droplets of salinity brimmed over her lashes, carrying along with them a dark track of mascara, tarnishing her faultlessness.

"You don't love me?" she accused, as he quickly tried to rectify his mistake.

"No.. No Khushi..I mean.. Yes" he stammered, as her eyes remained stunned at his first word.

"So you do?" she said softly, voice ringing through the eerie silence, reflecting off the hard surfaces around them.

He could only nod, unable to find any better words.

She smiled briefly, before turning angry again, lifting her light arms up against his chest she shoved at him hard, causing him to topple over slightly at the completely unexpected force.

"Wha..?" he started.

"So then why won't you tell me?" she cried again "Why won't you open up to me? You love me, but don't you want me to love you back? Don't you want to spend time with me, laugh with me and cry with me? Don't you want to hold me in your arms, and make memories, memories that will last a lifetime? Don't you want a life with me? Don't you care enough? Does none of this even matter to you, does it make no difference!? Do you not want to give me your heart like I have given mine?" she took a deep breath in, choking from tears as he straightened up, horrified suddenly as he watched the dark tracks along her skin thicken "I can't breathe Arnav, I have given you my heart, all the way, you handed it back the first time, and you broke it the second time, and then when I put it away, telling myself I would lock it away, you came back and you stole it from me, without giving me anything in return"

"Khushi..I" Arnav started again, overwhelmed by everything she was saying. He watched her start to shake, the daisies in her hair now littered between her locks as parts of her bun began to fall away.

"I can't breathe Arnav" she said again, taking in heavy raspy breaths "You took my heart, I can't feel anything, I need something in return, I can't do this. Give it back Arnav, give me something back please, it hurts" she cried, clutching at her chest, letting out heart wrenching sobs mingled with her cries.

He reached out for her in an attempt to help ease her pain, but her skin scorched him and she pushed him away.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she whimpered, her irregular breathing becoming louder and louder through his ears like the beating of an incessant drum.

What had he done? Why had he marred her perfection? He had taken the image and ruined it all, torn it to pieces, and now he couldn't fix it. This needed to stop, someone needed to make her stop, or he wouldn't be able to bear it.

He woke up breathing in short irregular gasps mimicking the sound of what had been beating against his eardrums mere seconds ago.

"Khushi.." he whispered, thinking back to earlier in the night when he had gone to see her.

He sat against his headrest, thinking back to his dream. A dream, he thought, thank goodness. He watched the early morning light filtering through his window with a new resolve. The next time I see her, he decided, the next time I see her, I am going to tell her why it all makes a difference.

***

Khushi watched her sister clad in a bright yellow dress, the same tone as the Haldi against her skin. This was the last day she was with her sister, where she was the most important thing, she would be a married woman tomorrow.

A part of her life that she knew she would cherish forever for its innocence and carelessness was soon to come to an end. The thought of that left her feeling nostalgic and vacant, it was too soon, it was all much too soon. She wanted to stay like that with her sister forever, stay in those endless light moments of understanding and care, because they gave her a warmth so strong and so filling, that its absence would surely ruin her. She stood in the doorway to her room, silently watching Payal as a few tears found their way to her eyes, threatening to fall.

That would be her one day, spending her last days with the family she had grown up with. She wondered what it must be like to get married, to say goodbye to her Amma ji and Bauji, to say goodbye to the memory of her real parents, as they remained in the little star decorations above her bed. Goodbye to her Buaji and their crazy antics. She chuckled slightly, reminding herself to always look back at her life with fondness, and try to not let the sadness of losing it take over.

But why was it, that through the mind numbingly dull pain in her chest that told her she would have to say goodbye to the one person she had shared every smile and tear of her life with, she still found her mind wandering back to the night before when he had been waiting for her outside her house in the dark night.

How could she still be thinking about Arnav at a time like this?

Why was she still thinking about him at a time like this?

Why?

***

Shyams face contoured into a grimace watching his brother in law walk through the decorated house amongst people making arrangements for the function later that night. The glazed over look in his eyes told him all he needed to know, that he was thinking about Khushi. He knew that feeling well, he had often found himself doing the same.

He wore his usual black suit, crisp straight fabric running over his lean body, oozing a confidant aura. How he would like to throw everything back in his face, ever since he had gotten married to his sister, he had lived in this mans shadow. Arnav had everything, he controlled everything. Shyam had to put on a facade of emotions for the family to care, whereas Arnav got all the same, without having to make even the slightest efforts. He watched Arnav snap up hearing NK utter Khushi's name about something, and watching his reaction made Shyam angry.

I found her first, I claimed Khushi first, he thought furiously. Who did his Sale Sahaab think he was? No, he was not going take Khushi from him. He wouldn't let that happen. So what if it may take a while for him to make himself available to her, he sure as hell wouldn't let anyone else get to her in the meanwhile, especially not Arnav.

He would never let him have her, not if he had a say in the matter.

***

She looked at herself quickly in the mirror the next evening, taking in the sight of her long straight hair running down her back, fixing the second silver earring that matched the thick beaded border of her dark blue lehenga. She smiled at her reflection, he was going to be there, she thought, before running out towards her Buaji's calls. Today was her sisters wedding day, and he was going to be there.

***

Arnav watched her flutter around in her dark blue lehenga, yards of its soft fabric caressing her satin like skin, running along her as she moved, teasing him. This girl was perfection. Bright illuminating eyes, setting apart their honey glow from her delicate features, calling him in whenever he would look at her. He sent her a smirk, watching as she nervously shuffled under his gaze, reciprocating his smile, distracting herself with the crowd.

He cleared his throat as Aakash approached him.

"She looks beautiful doesn't she?" Aakash said, staring out towards his wife adorned in a deep red dress on her wedding day, looking shyly towards him.

Arnav nodded his head and whispered "Stunning" staring out at the figure that stood right next to the bride, shining just as brightly.

Aakash scowled, looking over at his usually stone hearted brother, surprised by his reaction "Sorry Bhai?" he asked, more confused than offended.

"She looks..." he started, when Aakash interrupted him.

"No, no it is okay Bhai, you don't have to tell me, I know .." he said awkwardly, before rushing away. He had said it as a statement, not an actual question. He shook his head as he walked towards Payal, his brothers words leaving his mind at the image of his bride.

Arnav snapped out of it as Aakash walked away, cringing as he thought of what it must of looked like. He wanted to tell Aakash that he had meant Khushi not Payal, but looking at his brother had him realising that Aakash had too much to think about tonight to ponder over this.

He watched her stand by her family and greet people as they arrived, leaning against a strong pillar with his arms confidently crossed before him, adorning her with his gaze like it was his right. He would watch her as much as he pleased. She caught him a few times, blushing profusely as he kept his eyes locked on hers, even when she caught him.

Khushi muttered furiously under her breath "Silly Laad Governer, what does he think of himself? Staring away like no one else is here, he can't just do that" dabbing off a bead of sweat from her forehead. It was like he was sending heat waves her way, everytime she looked at him staring back at her, she would almost feel the room heat up by a few degrees.

"That stupid grin! And all the stupid things he says, 'It can wait' " she mimicked his words to her the night before "Well, if it isn't that important and can wait, then why can't he just look awa.." she mumbled to herself, turning towards the white clothed table with drinks.

"What Khushi?" Buaji inquired.

"Titaliya, what are you blabbering away to yourself? People will think you are crazy" she said, swatting away at her niece as she walked away, shaking her head in disapproval.

Khushi scowled, her face setting in displeasure and annoyance as she yanked a glass of cool water from the table infront of her, downing it in a few large gulps, easing the heat away, calming her nerves, before she marched over towards him.

He unfolded his arms, features set in a determined state as she started talking before she was even within a few metres of him. He had told himself, he would do it the next time he saw her. This was it.

"What do you think you are doing? You can't just stand here and watch me like that.. What are you even staring at?" she said furiously, taking the steps towards him, fast approaching his steady form.

Just as she was about to stop he leaned forwards, taking a step towards her, holding her by her arms, rapidly turning her around the wall, away from every ones looks, locking her against the wall and his iron chest.

Her breath caught in surprise at being whisked off her feet. She took a moment to regain her breath, leaning against the wall behind her as the temperature just shot up again.

"Whh.." she began, standing still as stone.

"Shhh" he said enticingly, lifting his cool finger to her sweltering lips, quivering against his touch slowly, letting all his resignations dissolve in the sweltering air between them.

"How many times do I have to tell you not speak to me like that?" he asked softly, different from all the other times he had uttered the same words. He wasn't commanding it today, he was pleading, asking why she wouldn't just listen to him.

"And this ..." he said, running his hand down along her arm "is my house" he continued, brushing his fingers against the burning skin along her waist "I can do what I please, stare at whoever I want"

"No" she managed, not knowing how else to day she disagreed. Between his hands against her lips and waist, she was a prisoner. Collecting all the broken pieces of her sanity she shook her head, trying to get herself back down to earth, rubbing her gloss against his fingers in return.

He fought against the animal instinct in his mind that told him to devour the sweet creature standing before him as he looked at her shocked eyes. They stole his heart all over again. The dark blue of her dress under the yellow hazy lights made her look beautiful. The thick silver borders shining just as brightly as her eyes, setting a contrast against his black tuxedo.

Anjali walking past them in search of her husband caught a glimpse of Arnav towering over Khushi who looked up at him with just as much resignation, countering her brothers personality with equal measures of flare and ferocity. She smiled to herself before walking away, she was right, she had known her brother had felt something for Khushi. Feeling a little mischievous she cornered the corridor, slipping her hand slowly on the light switch, throwing the two frozen bodies into a sea of darkness. She giggled away, turning back towards the hall to continue looking for her husband.

Little did she know, he stood in the very shadows that she had just created, watching with a seething rage as Arnav and Khushi stared into eachothers souls.

Precap

"Meet me on the terrace in half an hour"

His words ran across her mind as she made her way up the steps, heart beating frantically against her chest, leaving her light headed and breathless. She nervously clutched at the fabric running along her length, careful to not trip over her own nervous feet as she remembered the look in his eyes when he had told her to meet him.

She pushed open the door, a small nervy smile playing away at her lips and then she saw him. A cold terrifying wave of dread hit her squarely in the chest, making her falter slightly as she looked on, at a man void of all emotion she had seen just minutes before.

Oooh, look, it is Hayley being EVIL and leaving you all confused 😈! Sorry about the awfully late updates, I bet you all have forgotten the story ! I am just not as motivated to write and I have been really very ill the past few days, so I'm afraid updates will be slow. I hope you will still read and enjoy the story though ! Please leave likes and comments😳 ! Love, Hayley x