The actual track is driving me crazy. I don't hate it, I don't love, I am just so aaarghhh. why am I whining?
Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 4
Arnav lay in his bed, staring in the dark. A week had passed since Khushi left him. He had thought of giving her a break for a bit but in that time they didnt speak once.
Their separation was slowly poisoning them.
He thought back to that night, when Sheetal spoke her heart out.
Aarav was not his kid.
Not...made a world's difference.
He blinked in the darkness as the sound of someone knocking on his door reached his ears.
"Arnav?" Anjali walked in.
"Di? Come in"
"Cant sleep?" she asked sitting next to him on the bed.
"Mhmm" he mumbled.
"Its over you know"
"Yes"
"It was a close call..."
"Yes"
"She knew something was up, didnt she?"
"Yes"
"We probably added more to her suspicion by keep comparing you and Aarav..."
"Who wouldnt?" he hoarsely answered.
"Yes but being a woman, I should have been a little senstive to her"
They sat in silence, the lights still off.
"You know Arnav, most women get into insecurity and jealousy complex. Its just the way we are. There is always a fear of losing their loved one. I did not, ever, for even a second doubt Shyam, and he ended up playing such a big game on me. These kind of incidents happen in lives, its the harsh reality. At the back of their heads, they do have a nagging thought saying the incident can occur with them. Every wife needs to know how, where, what her husband is. They need constant words of love and assurance."
"What about trust di? I told her but even then she didnt trust me"
"She does trust you chotte. She was more scared of having that trust break. She didnt blame you then or now. She was hurt and confused. If today Aarav had been your kid, both your lives would have changed. In a relationship, a woman has to deal with a little more than a man. Why dont you put yourself in her shoes?"
Arnav rolled over to his side, putting his head on Anjali's lap and taking in comfort.
"Both of you are equally at fault. I didnt mean to sound like I am on her side...neither am I on yours for that matter."
"She asked me and I told her it was past, but she didnt let go"
"She did try to but how could she succeed with them under the same roof"
"Yeah she was the one who brought them in"
"Yeah but so did we all. It was general courtesy. I am pretty sure she didnt tell you what she was feelng...did she?"
"No, she didnt"
"And why Arnav could you not figure it out?"
"Di we are married. There is no one and there cant be anyone other than her. How could she think otherwise?"
"Did you tell her?"
"Yes" he hissed frustrated.
"There is no point in ruining your days and nights. You cant just sit and wait for her to come back. She is expecting you to come get her."
"I love her di"
"I know and sometimes even if you are not entirely at fault, you still have to take the first step toward fixing or even apologizing" she ruffled his hair.
~~~
An hour later...
"I am not supposed to be doing this" she hissed in a whisper.
"Oh shush, dont forget youre my cousin's wife"
"Dont shush me jaitji"
Arnav looked at her amused before smirking a stop me smirk.
"Why are you even here? Its been a week, you have exceeded your stay bahu"
Payal ignored him, narrowing her eyes at his back.
He stepped inside the Gupta house and went straight to Khushi's room, while Payal locked up behind him and went to bunk with buaji.
She was lying on the bed staring at her stars hanging from above.
Hearing the lock click in, she brought her eyes down and saw him. Slowly she got off the bed and walked upto him.
"A-arn-"
"Sshh dont talk. You need to hear me out first" he took few steps close to her.
Taking her hands in his, he lightly caressed her knuckles with his thumb.
"Khushi, when I was in college, I was away from home, away from di, nani and mami. I had no shadow of an adult over me. I was alone. My needs then were to study and get the hell out of school to hit the real world, so I could support my family and the other need was my physical need. Young boys are already high on hormones. I used to date back then, quite a bit. And yes some of those relationships have been close, very close, but you need to believe me when I say none of them actually meant anything. You know how I was before you came into my life. I didn't know you existed, I didn't know I would be given such a blessed life and a person to share it with. I was a selfish man then. I did get intimate with girls...for selfish needs. I don't think I need to apologize for my past Khushi. But for you I will. Please Khushi forg-"
"I think you're done speaking" Khushi tightened her hands around his, cutting him off.
"No, don't apologize Arnav. I understand where you come from. Yes its so different and wrong for me but I can accept it. Who you are today is because of what you were then. I love this man, who right now is in front me...my man" she her voice turned into a whisper.
"Khushi for what happened with Sheetal and everything I am sorry. Really, very sorry. It made me so mad that after all we have been through together for not believing in each other, you were so persistent with your questions. It made me feel like you were doubting me, our trust and our love...even after I told you its history"
"I tried to ignore my thoughts but I couldn't. They consumed me, I started dreaming and hallucinating about you, her and Aarav" she cried.
"He is not mine" he assured her.
"I know"
"On top of that you sent me out of the room to talk to her alone. That sent me over the edge..."
"You were already jealous, I didnt need anything extra to make you go crazy, I had to talk about our past...but honestly Khushi there was no need to be jealous, from the beginning" he held her face in his hands.
"Yes I was, very. I cant bare the thought of losing you Arnav and that kept haunting me"
"You won't. I'm yours. I can't live without you and you know it"
"Neither can I" she hugged him.
Wrapping his arms around her, he slowly sunk to the floor, taking her with him.
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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