FF: Arnav and Khushi On their way to Happily ever after
Chapter 6
Anjali had gone all numb, she couldn't hear anything around her, she could see her brother's tortured face and the tears rolling down his cheeks and his wife holding on to him, crying too. Her mind was racing'
So it was a sign' the mangle sutra really was a sign' the hatred, it was not hormones it was all a warning'for my own good, my protection' He really was a monster' all these times; he used me'For money? He had no feelings for me' and he did Khushiji and her family wrong' they all kept it from me so I won't get hurt.
Flashbacks, she remembered every single time; like on their anniversary Shyam had left as soon as he heard Khushiji was attending, how she Anjali had cried that he did not love her and Khushiji had told her that true love doesn't require gifts and appearances it requires trust and faith. Poor Khushiji how hurt she was when she found out her fianc was my husband' she came to tell me when my mangle sutra broke' she was so hurt herself and she didn't tell me because I'd get hurt' and chotay'she remembered the pained look on Arnav's face when he wanted to talk to her and she fainted and then woke up to tell him she was pregnant, how he'd hugged her and how he'd cried in her lap and kept a close eye on her.
She now understood why Arnav, her Chotay had married Khushiji in such a hurry, how he and Khushiji had suffered just to keep her happy. She remembered how each time when she caught her husband sneaking in Chotay's room he'd made a clever excuse and she believed him'I trusted him' I loved him, I gave him everything and he'How could he'.
She couldn't take it anymore. Tears stated dripping out of her eye, rolling down her cheeks, she stood up and walked over to where Khushi and Arnav stood. Arnav looked so hurt; he was crying. Anjali hugged him and he hugged her back like a child. 'De I'm so sorry!' he cried.
'Nahi chotay' please' she said wiping the tears off his cheeks and kissed his forehead.
She could not see them cry for her, because she had hated Shyam from quite a while now, and only now she knew it was not hormones. She then came closer to Khushi and extended an arm to touch Khushi's chin in a loving gesture then said 'Mery lia Chotay or aap se zaida koi nahi hai'' then she hugged Khushi, she hugged her back exactly like her chotay did.
Then she turned around to Payal and nodded in an approving way and left the room. She could not stay there, she had to go. She had to thank Devi Maiya for keeping her safe and sound and for blessing her with so much caring family. It had taken every ounce of her strength, to listen to the betrayal of the love of her life and to calm chotay and Khushiji afterwards, but she knew she had to do it or Arnav might end up getting hurt again.
And he wasn't the only one capable of making sacrifices.
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Shyam knew the layout of the Raizada mansion quite well. It had helped him sneak out often enough; today it would help him get in. All he needed were a few minutes with the cars.
He'd once thought the only person standing between him and his Khushiji was Rani Sahiba; he realized now that he couldn't ever forget Arnav. It had cost him dearly once, he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
So, he would do what he did best: sneak attack. Oh sure, some might think he was a manipulating bas***d; that didn't make him any less smart.
His plan to kill Rani Sahiba and remove her from his life once and for all had almost succeeded. This time, he would capture two birds with a single stone. And when either Rani Sahiba or Arnav used the cars, they'd be headed straight for disaster.
Smiling to himself, Shyam got to work.
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Khushi was still reeling from the emotions the revelations had aroused. She felt sad for Anjaliji and Arnavji, angry at Shyamji for betraying them all but mostly, she felt relief. That everything was finally out in the open. Well, almost everything. With unspoken understanding between them, she and Arnavji had mentioned nothing of Shyamji's attempt to rape her. Anjaliji had looked shocked enough as it was and it wasn't like they needed anything else to add on Shyamji's crime list.
She hadn't realized how much keeping everything to herself had been straining her but now, she felt strangely light. It didn't automatically cure all her problems but it did make everything easier to bear; she'd finally understood today what had pushed Arnavji into marrying her.
She thought she also understood why he hadn't told her: he'd suspected her of conspiring with Shyam. She didn't know if it made her angry or not but that would be dealt with later. Right now, she needed to go comfort him; nobody deserved that much pain or guilt and she'd seen both on Arnavji's ravaged countenance.
He'd gone upstairs, likely to lock himself in his room and wrack himself on every perceived mistake he'd made. She wanted to be there to tell him that nobody was perfect, that anyone could've made the same mistakes. She wanted him know she'd be there.
Somehow, she didn't think her Laad Governor had a lot of people tell him that; in fact, the only person he allowed himself to care for was De and she cared back for him. And now, De was going to need her own privacy, so she couldn't be there for him'
The thought of Arnavji lost and guilt-wracked was more than she could bear. It hurt her as surely as if she herself was suffering the pain.
Payal hugged her, holding her tightly, silently telling her that she understood her pain. That was what family did. And right now, she was Arnavji's family'
She hugged Payal back, letting her tears flow freely. 'Bss Jiji, ab sb theek ho jai ga' tm dekhna''
'Hmain pta hai Khushi,' Payal replied, her voice tear-thickened, 'bs ab tu rona band kar dy.'
She smiled and pulled back; Payal touched her chin in that loving gesture of hers. Her eyes turned somber as she glanced upstairs. 'Khushi''
'Jiji tm preshan na ho, hm ja rha hain.Tm bs De ka khyal rkhna.' Payal nodded, giving her a gentle push towards the stairs. 'Ja!'
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The door wasn't locked, which surprised Khushi very much. Arnavji was a loathe letting people see his feelings and he was so vulnerable right now' Khushi felt somewhat giddy at the trust he'd shown her. She went inside, gently closing the door behind her.
Arnavji was beside the French windows, staring at the poolside, his face drenched in tears and his throat working furiously. He looked so lost and forlorn; Khushi's heart went out to him.
As if he sensed her he turned and met her eyes. Never had she seen him look so miserable before.
She'd dreamed of exacting revenge on him often enough, had perhaps given him as good as she'd got, annoying him to no end in the process. But she'd never truly meant to undo him. And this was what had happened now: Arnav Singh Raizada had become undone.
'Khushi'' his voice was hoarse and so low, she could barely hear it. His jaw worked and suddenly she didn't want to hear him say that.
He was so proud; this had to be killing him.
She went to him, placing her fingers on his lips to shush him. He gently grabbed her hand, pushing it away.
Undeterred, she cupped his cheek. He leaned into the touch, eyes closing even as new tears fell.
She led him to the bed, pulling him down to sit beside her. He didn't; instead, he kneeled beside her, placing his head in her lap, even as his arms banded about her waist. She stroked his head, his hair and traced her fingers over his tears, gently wiping them off. He held her tighter as the intensity of his sobs strengthened until he was fairly shaking with their force.
Words came tumbling out, though she could barely understand what he said; some of it was because he spoke in English and though she was well versed in the Arnav-speak (What the', Shut up! Etc) it wasn't her strong suit. Mostly, though, it was because he couldn't get much out except for raw sobs.
She didn't know exactly how long they remained like that but it was as hassling for her as it was for him. Her own tears fell as if in synchrony with his until finally, it was all over and their eyes simply stopped producing tears.
Arnavji lifted his face, his reddened eyes meeting hers. Suddenly, despite all the emotional chaos running through her, she felt herself drawn into his gaze; a gaze that had always been honest. The one aspect of their relationship that had never changed: whenever their eyes met, everything else faded into nothingness.
*Rabba Ve*
She felt herself drowning into his eyes and suddenly, she was all too aware of him. Aware of the way tears still clung to his lashes, so close she could count every single one of them; aware of how his arms were wrapped about her waist, his face mere inches from hers'
Her heart in her throat *DHAK DHAK, DHAK DHAK*, she leaned forward, not sure what she could do but unable to remain static. He leaned in as well; his eyes suddenly bright and filled with some nameless emotion.
She didn't realize what was happening except that it was so completely profound, so their '
A huge explosion rocked the ground.
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Edited by Mariam.Ejaz - 13 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
29