Folks,
A big thank you to all those who have commented and liked my first FF! It means a lot ' I finished chapter 10 ' it's a magnificent feeling!
The next chapter, is a short and hopefully impactful one on their would-have-been 'suhaag raat' that sets the groundwork for the future'. Hope you like it!
-----------------------------------------------
Part XI
He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The ice-cold shower had done little to calm his nerves. A few feet away, snuggled under his quilt was the woman his heart and soul had desired this morning' and now she was his wedded wife. So what if it was only for six months? They were still married.
But was she 'his to take'?
The recliner was not meant for a long night, a snooze or a power-nap maybe. It had been a crazy day and crazier evening it had been, he yearned for the soft comfort of his king-size bed. And the gorgeous specimen of woman kind lying in it, covered in his tee-shirt and his quilt was making that yearning unbearable! So what stopped him from going over and sleeping on the other side?
Khushi was tired but her nerves were on edge. The gravity of what they had done was just beginning to sink in. She couldn't forget what Arnav had insinuated in front of his family' when she'd tried to confront him earlier, he'd deftly silenced her with a mind blowing kiss' and his statement'. "You're mine" ' he laid claim on her like he owned her, and in a way, he did. She would be lying to herself if she claimed otherwise. Since that Diwali evening, the sparks between them had grown brighter, more intense' and while her brain told her all this was wrong, at heart, it felt right.
She was scared to even turn, and pretended to fast asleep, fearing that any movement from her might disturb him. After all, he'd offered her his bed ' he needn't have. Actually, that's the least he could have done' he just forced you into a six-month marriage that's fake' he claimed he'd never consider you his wife' said a small voice inside her head. Why then did he stake claim on you, and even say so? another voice piped in.
"Oh-ho' chup ho jaao tum dono," she muttered trying to clear her head of the voices.
(Oh ho'. zip it, the two of you)
"Khushi?" Arnav called out softly' he heard her mumbling, wasn't sure if it was in her sleep. Maybe, she was having a bad dream' after all tonight had been crazy for her as well. Crazy it had been but she deserves every bit of it' she asked for it! a stern voice reminded him. But she's scared of the dark and' anyway, he was now responsible for her' he couldn't have the family thinking something was out of place! Oh' why don't you just go to her, man' you know you want to' a voice in his head teased him, as he battled between wanting to check on her. "Khushi'. tum theek ho?" he called out again, when he didn't get a response.
Khushi froze when she heard Arnav's voice. Hei Devi Maiyya' yeh maine kya kar diya? Ab woh yahan aa jaayenge'
(Oh Devi Maiyya, what did I do? Now, he'll come over')
She heard his soft footsteps on the carpet as he made his way to her side of the bed. Psyched out of her mind, she shut her eyes tight and tried to calm her breathing, but unsuccessfully. She clutched the quilt in her nervousness'
Arnav flicked on a dim night lamp by the bed. He sat by the edge, and leaned over Khushi' by the looks of it, she was having a bad dream. Her breathing was ragged, her eyes closed and her hands clenched. He should have left the light on'
He decided not to wake her up, but maybe patting her gently would reassure and comfort her?
He caressed her forehead gently, pushing away her hair and tucking it behind her ears. His hand traced the line of her jaw' damn! He was getting carried away again!
He stopped himself consciously; patting her shoulder would be the safest bet' he couldn't believe he was worried about something as inane' why did he even care?!
"Shaayad burra sapna dekha hoga," he murmured.
(Must've had a bad dream)
He gently patted her shoulder, his fingers touching her collarbone every other second. He could feel the wild thumping of her heart under his palm, when his hand accidentally moved lower. Damn ' you're no longer a hot-blooded teenager with raging hormones' get a hold on yourself!
Khushi was unnerved by his gentleness' it confused the hell out of her! Who was the real Arnav Singh Raizada? The man who had disdainfully applied sindoor on her maang and pronounced her his wife after blackmailing her or the man who'd kissed her senseless and was now gently comforting her.
So many unsolved puzzles, mysteries ' hei Devi Maiyya' what a mess this was, how she had managed to get herself entangled so badly! She'd have to talk to him tomorrow and get to the bottom of this. She sighed.
Mistaking it to be a sign of her finally relaxing, Arnav moved away but not before he smoothed the quilt over her.
He trudged back to the recliner, stifling a yawn. He needed a good night's rest' if today was bad, tomorrow would be worse!
He tried to sleep but a muddle of thoughts tormented him.
Her betrayal of him, Shyam's betrayal of Di' their betrayal of the trust his family' then there was Di's pregnancy' So, he'd done the first thing that came to his mind' move Khushi out of the triangle, or rather changed the very facet of the situation. Now, Di wasn't the only person hindering Khushi and Shyam, he was! But would that change the game? Would Shyam stop loving Khushi? Would she stop'. Damn! He couldn't even get himself to think it' yet, those words rang in his mind' her asking him to leave Di!
He looked at the reclining figure of the woman, the only woman other than his Ma and Di, that he'd nearly come to love. But why was Khushi with Shyam? Didn't she realize the harm she was causing his Di, the one person that had stood by her apart from his Nani? Something didn't make sense' He'd have to get to the bottom of this. He sighed.
---------------------------------------------------
PLEASE LIKE, COMMENT or even PM!!
It takes me a couple of hours to write the chapter, and one more just to send out PMs ' it hurts when people don't acknowledge!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Index:
Part I: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2793839&PID=53266234�
Part II: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53288436
Part III: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53327898
Part IV: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53368855
Part V: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53391292
Part VI: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2793839&TPN=27�
Part VII: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53459224
Part VIII: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2793839&PID=53551223�
Part IX: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/53704076
Part X: https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2793839&PID=53843232�
Part XI: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/54117303�
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My other work:
And it's payback time (ArHi on same team FF)
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2753098&PID=52377401�
Tum theek ho na? (2-part SS)
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2758856&PID=52566862�
And then he shut the door (OS)
https://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2749279&PID=52266803�
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
330