Arnav stepped out of the SUV, slamming the door shut behind him, his face almost manic in appearance as he kept his raging eyes planted on Shyams hideous face. "What the hell are you doing here?! You son of a bitch!" He hissed, taking a few more deadly steps towards him.
"What saale saheb? You thought I'd leave so easily did you? How could I let you and your pathetic sister win," he snarled, taking a step towards Arnav but Arnav was on him within seconds, his hands around Shyams colllar, his fiery brown eyes boring into him.
"How dare you?!" He gritted through his dare.
"Oh I can!" Shyam retorted, seemingly unaffected, "because Arnav, I have the love of the woman that you so blindly yearn for," Shyams features contorted menacingly as he watched the colour drain from Arnavs face, his fingers around Shyams collar slowly loosening their grip. Arnav glared incredulously, feeling as if he had just been hit by lightening, his whole world shaking in front of his eyes. "That's right Arnav, the only person that you love and she doesn't even love you back?" He cackled, "oh what a shame," his voice was mocking as Arnav suddenly let go, his fists clenched, taking a step back. He felt too helpless, torn, not sure what to believe anymore. "Does it hurt Arnav? To hear that the woman you have fallen head over heels for doesn't love you back?" He jeered, "oh and you think you are so smart, but what a pity," Shyam mocked as he took another step towards Arnav, holding himself inches away from him, and his molten brown eyes came upto clash with his, his jaw clenched in anger. The sudden urge to throttle Shyam right there suddenly clouding his mind. He maintained his gaze, his nostrils flaring, "oh is that right? And that's why Khushi got married to me?" He questioned, his voice controlled and to the point as he watched Shyams face.
Shyam wavered for a second, his eyes flitting to his whereabouts. What? His Khushiji had gotten married to this idiot?! He stepped back a little, taking in this new change of events. Shit! Had she gone off and ruined it all? Love birds! They were blind and never let plans unfold properly! But he wouldn't let them win like that! How dare they?! His mind traveled through every distant place and plan, calculating a new plan of action. What could he do now? Then all of a sudden looked to Arnav again, meeting his blazing gaze once more. His composure resurfacing. "Well well saale saheb looks like your little love bird is even more faster that I thought." Arnav glared back questioningly, astounded. What the hell was he going on about? "Oh I see Arnav, you still haven't caught on. Well let me explain," he stated calmly, bringing his palms together and rubbing them against each other. Then he started walking around Arnav, as Arnavs penetrating gaze followed. "You see Arnav, this was our plan all along. Why do you think she suddenly came back to you? All of those years she had gone without trying to make contact and suddenly she turns up all out of the blue? Didn't you feel that was strange?" He continued, walking in a circle, as Arnav turned round to watch him, his gaze cold and pained, as Shyam hoped that his plan worked, talking through the few things he had found out through Buaji and his own research. "It's just as well that you are equally as idiotic as your sister because you didn't catch onto our game. Arnav clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, "get to the point Shyam!" He growled. Shyam stopped suddenly, turning around to face him once more, "the point is Arnav," he spoke slowly, measuring his words, "Khushi is a changed woman, she is now in love with me! And all we needed from you and your sister was money. Khushis marriage to you was our plan all along," he stated as Arnavs eyes widened in shock and he stepped back, as if the Earth had given way underneath him. "And you followed our plan like a lost puppy!" He continued whilst Arnav looked on dumbfounded. He felt as if his will to live was gradually slipping through his fingers, he'd opened up to her, let her in, waited for her, would foresake anything for her but she was playing a game? Arnav felt his whole body go numb, the impact of words, of feelings too strong for him to withhold but he would not give in! A lot of things had changed over the years and his armour was now stronger, on that fateful day he had vowed to protect his sister forever and he would continue doing so, even if it meant hurting the woman he had fallen so hopelessly for.
Shyam watched patiently, letting his words hit Arnav one by one, watching his every emotion as it flickered through his face, but his reaction was too late, the sudden deadliness that over took Arnavs face being interpreted a bit too late. Shyam attempted to jump bag as Arnav pounced on him, his jaw taunt, his eyes the colour of rusty metal. "I'm afraid you don't understand Shyam Manohar Jha," he spoke through gritted teeth, his every word controlled and emphasised, "You do not make the decisions here!" His hands tightened around Shyams collar once more, his fingers nearly digging into the sides of his neck, "I make them!" Shyam tried to look away, Arnavs gaze too threatening, too devoid of emotions, almost inhumane in appearance, but the grip of his hands were tighter as he pulled Shyam closer, his nostrils flaring, his harsh ragged breath on Shyams face, "it's a pity you take me for a child Shyam! Playing a childs game! Did you really think that I was not aware?" Arnav questioned, a dark smirk spreading across his lips, turning Shyams words around, the confusion, the heart break, his pain all scurrying off to the corners of his mind as it streamed through his own plan of action. "And in the midst of all of your games, doesn't it feel like you've somehow lost?" Arnav questioned, mocking a worried face, "because from where I can see your brother-in-law has found out about your low deeds and your lover is now his wedded wife." Shyams eyes widened in shock as Arnav abruptly let go, shoving him away then appraised him with a look of dark humour, then pity, "somehow I fail to see how you've succeeded in your plan Shyam," he continued, flipping the scenario to his advantage, as he began to pace around Shyam, in the same manner Shyam had done only minutes before. "Because you see Shyam," he stopped abruptly to face him yet again, manically glaring at Shyam, "she now legally belongs to me, which means you cannot lay a finger on her." He took another threatening step towards Shyam, his gaze trained and steady as chipped rusty metal spheres bore into bewildered ebony black ones. "So I suggest you keep away from Shantivan, my wife, my sister and anyone else that may be related to me, because Shyam," Shyam took another step back as Arnav took another towards him, his gaze cold and unnerving, only to be grabbed by the collar again, "you know what I'm capable of," Shyam felt his muscles refuse to respond as Arnav grabbed his chin, his fingers digging into Shyams flesh, "so take your shit and get out of my house!" He exclaimed, yanking him buy the chin and shoving him to the side. Shyam stumbled away, struggling to break his imminent fall. "Security!" Arnav bellowed, taking a step towards Shyam as he now lay on the ground, "I want this man out of this premises right now!"
****
Khushi opened her eyes slowly, the bright rays of the early morning sun piercing through the large glass french doors. Her head felt heavy and throbbed, she put her hand to her temple, massaging it and that's when it all hit her, the events of the previous day. She sat up immediately, wiping away at now dried trails of tears, as she looked around the room. She was lying on his bed, her fingers immediately traveled to the other side which was empty, wiping over the fabric of the unruffled sheet. And then to the almost alien object that now hung around her neck and fresh tears gathered in her eyes once more.
It seems all of these words couldn't be further from the truth
How did I get here? What did I do?
He walked in suddenly to take in her fragile form, as her chest heaved at the effort of her tears and he felt the pain scorch through him like rubbing salt over a wound. He scrunched his eyes shut for a second, controlling his own breaking heart. Those tears weren't for him, they were for another man, another man who she now loved. He wished he had never met her, that this sodden saga had never unleashed itself upon his life.
Your eyes, telling me lies
And making me find myself
While you have your agenda, a life to pursue
So please,
Let me be free from you.
And please, let me be free
I can face the truth.
She felt his presence in the room and turning around her hazel orbs clashed with caramel spheres caught in a storm of fire and she felt her breath hitch in her throat. But he quickly broke his gaze and looked away, clenching his fists at his side.
She still affected him on a level that he would never be able to understand. The raw gash of a love he had once embraced, of hidden burdens he had only opened up to her about still eating away at him. Her soft hazel eyes, that could be almost golden in the bright light, how he had wanted to loose himself in the depths of them. And now how it had all come crashing down, how she had taken it all away.
I'm blind to all of your colors
That used to be rainbow then
My eyes, where did they go to?
Why disappear?
It's hard to be all alone
I never got through your disguise
I guess I'll just go, and face all my fear
He took a deep breath in, attempting to calm his raging emotions. He took the clothes his sister had given him and threw them on the bed, still refusing to look towards her. "Wear that! And come down in five minutes!" He barked, then turning on his heels stormed out, before words could escape her. She picked up the lehenga, the soft material of it slipping through her fingers as more sobs, loud and agonizing, racked through her body.
He slammed the door shut behind him, leaning against the glass of it as he slowly slid to the floor. He wanted to hate her, to seek revenge, to make her pay for all that she had done. But somewhere deep inside he knew he couldn't, for it was impossible to hate someone whom his heart loved so deeply. For the matters of the mind did not affect his heart and the fact that it had plunged head first into a desire that was too strong even for hate to subside.
Put down your world
Just for one night
Pick me again
So please,
Let me be free from you
And please, let me be free
I can face the truth
Lyrics credit: Pretend by Secondhand Serenade
So ya know what to do ;)
Do comment
And buddy for PMs!
Blog: https://unpredictablelovebyp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/chapter-22-let-it-burn.html
Anupamaa
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