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Okay guys... this is the first time im writing an SS.. Please DO read it once.. It does start abruptly, but i have a completely different plot cooked up in my mind... this is inspired from the current track, but does not really rely on it much... Please read it and leave your comments!!!!
The marriage hall had been silent for quite some time now. The 'muhrat' had long been left behind as the groom never showed up on time. The guests left, muttering and speaking in hushed undertones among themselves, none of them daring to look back. The bride sat near the still-burning fire motionlessly. Not a sound escaped her lips. She never even blinked. She just kept staring and staring at the fire. Her family left her alone after a while, preferring to stay away from her as she dealt with the blow in her own way.
The Guptas and the Raizadas huddled together in one corner of the room, not talking much, each absorbed in their own thoughts. When suddenly he came. Everybody looked up as Arnav Singh Raizada descended down the stairs, into the room which had been decorated with so much love and happiness by all the members of his family.
"Chhote!" Anjali cried, and ran forward. The rest of the family followed her. She caught hold of him by his shoulders and shook him. "Why? What excuse do you have today, Chhote? Last time you didn't bother to answer us, but this time it won't do! YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHY YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR YOUR OWN MARRIAGE!" she screamed hysterically.
Akash put a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Di, please" he said "this isn't your chhote anymore. This is Arnav Singh Raizada standing in front of you. The one who doesn't care about anybody's emotions or feelings. Doesn't bother to tell them anything, never cares to explain". Akash looked accusingly at his elder brother. He'd been so happy to see his bhai back. He'd missed him for so many years, but in the past few days, it looked like the person whom he proudly called his bhai, his best friend, was coming back. Arnav smiled more often, cracked jokes, spent time with the family. But that dream had been shattered into a million pieces tonight.
Arnav ignored everyone. He didn't hear a single word anyone said. His eyes were fixed on the lone figure, sitting by the now dying fire, unmoving. She hadn't looked up when he entered. She hadn't come running to him like everyone else had. It was as if she wasn't here at all. Arnav walked towards her, brushing away the hands that started to hold him back, demanding an explanation first. He wasn't answerable to anyone, but her. All that mattered right now, was her.
"Khushi?" he said softly, coming to a stop beside her. He got no response. She sat as if she was carved out of stone. He choked back tears as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Khushi look at me".
Still no response.
"Just once, khushi. Please look at me" he begged, now taking both her hands in his. He couldn't bear to see her like this. Every passing second made him feel as him she was slipping out of his reach, farther and farther away. He desparately tried to hold on to her, trying to explain, trying to tell her exactly what had gone wrong. He knew he'd hurt her, so much, that even if he begged for her forgiveness for the rest of his six lives, it wouldn't be enough. After all the promises he'd made, after all the memorable times they'd spent together, he had snatched away the light from her world and pushed her into an abyss of darkness and sorrow. Nothing he said could've repaired what he had broken. But he was going to try.He was going to try till he broke through.
"Khushi, trust me. I swear i didn't mean to leave you. I would've come khushi. Look at me. Im here. Im in front of you" he said, jerking her towards him. He shook her vigorously when she didn't respond.
"Please just listen to me once, Khushi. After all that i said, after all the promises i made, how could you doubt even for ONE second that i would leave you? Don't you know how much I love you?" Arnav said, his voice choked with tears. Why wasn't she responding? Why wouldn't she answer him? A pair of blank, expressionless eyes gazed back at him, not following anything he said. He could see it in her eyes that he wasn't breaking through. Nothing he said made sense to her anymore.
"Talk to me, dammit! Khushi" he cried helplessly. "Look at me, Khushi. Hear me out. Snap out of this Khushi! Im here, right in front of you!" Arnav screamed, as his family looked on. He silently pleaded them to help him, to make her listen to him. But nobody came forward. He was all alone this time.
Unknown to them all, one person shook with uncontrollable anger. NO. This couldn't be happening, he thought. After all he'd done to stop this, Arnav could NOT take khushi back. He would not let this happening. Khushi was his. And if she couldn't belong to him, she couldn't belong to anyone.
Every last bit of sanity disappeared as vengeance took over the calculating mind of Shyam Manohar Jha completely. He did not care about Rani Sahiba anymore. He didn't need the money. All he knew now, was that he would not let Khushi go away from him. He would not let her get married again.
He whipped out the gun he kept hidden all the time, from his back pocket, pointed it towards the cieling and fired. Every head turned towards him, mirroring identical expressions of shock and disbelief, as his mask melted away in front of everyone, unveiling his true, evil nature.
Shyam pointed the gun towards Khushi. "Release her" he told Arnav. Arnav pushed khushi behind him, and turned to face his enemy, blocking khushi completely from Shyam's view.
"Never" he said, his voice deadly. "Im never going to let you harm her. Kill me. But you're not laying a finger on her".
"Shyamji?" came a small, quivering voice from somewhere beside Shyam. Anjali slowly made her way towards him. This couldn't get any better, he thought with a smile. The perfect scapegoat. And she'd walked right into his trap. "Shyamji, what are you- aaahh!"
Shyam grabbed her and yanked her towards him, pointing the gun to her head. "I am so lucky to have such a loving wife like you, Rani sahiba, he said, laughing coldly. "You made this so much more easier". He fastened his grip around her neck, almost choking her. "Now," he said, looking at Arnav. "Release Khushi, or your sister dies. And nobody else is to move a muscle", he warned "one silly move and i kill her. Immediately".
"What do you want?" came Arnav's voice, shaking with rage. He had never felt this helpless in his entire life. He was at the point of loosing two people he loved more than anything else in the world and he could do nothing about it.
"Simple" came the reply "release khushi and you get back your sister. And they both live. Protect Khushi and your sister dies in front of your eyes". Shyam laughed cruelly, seeing the desperation on Arnav's face. "You have no idea how long i've waited for this moment, Arnav singh raizada. Come on. Beg me to let your sister go. Beg me to kill you and spare them both. BEG ME!" he roared.
Arnav came forward. He could do anything, anything to protect Khushi and if it meant sacrificing his life for her, he would
do it. Without a second thought, he would do it.
"Kill me" he begged the snake, who had tightened his grip on Anjali. "Kill me, but please let them go. You hate me. I am the one you seek revenge from. So kill me. But don't harm them. I beg you."
Shyam sneered. "Yes. yes you're right. I should kill you. You're the one who took away everything i had. You took away my money, my pride, my home and MY khushiji. YOU are the one i should kill!" he shouted and threw anjali onto the floor. His gun now pointed squarely at Arnav's chest.
Suddenly, those eyes blinked. Her lips formed an inaudible word. The light returned to her eyes as she raised her head to look at the man she loved. The man who now stood at gunpoint. The one who had promised not to leave her side even for a second, was now deserting her. Forever.
Her hands lifted up her choli as Shyam's finger tightened on the trigger. Her feet automatically made their way towards her lover. She ran, like she had to catch a train. A train which was almost out of the station, and skidded to a halt in front of him, at the same time when the sound of one single gunshot echoed around Arnav's whole existance. Her body jerked forward, into his arms as she fell. Blood spurted from her back.
"KHUSHI!!" was the last scream she heard. And then she smiled, content that he'd called out to her, before she missed that one last train.
ok.. so how was it??? i plan to continue soon, but it all depends on how u guys respond... PLEASE don't forget to hit the like button and leave your comments... it feels really nice to read what you guys write!!! anybody who wants a pm, please buddy me!😊
p.s- i know there are quite a few loose ends here... but since this is the first part, i won't be revealing everything now... 😛
Part 8: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3207725/ss-holding-on-to-emptiness-part-10-on-page-64
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