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" Yes " Sheetal said, her eyes filling with tears. "Yes, Arnav is Aarav's father, he is the one, I keep karvachauth fasts for every year" "but this should not make any difference in your and Arnav's life...I didn't want to tell you...you made me...now is this going to help any of us...tell me?,Sheetal shouted breaking down..
Khushi walked slowly to her room while different, painful and unwelcome thoughts hammered her mind. Memories from the past flashed in front of her like lightening.
As Khushi winced with pain and tears ran down her cheeks,Arnav relaxed his hands and shouted," Why , Khushi, WHY...why has it become so difficult for you to believe in me..to TRUST me?"
As Arnav's lips continued their onslaught driven by a tempest of anger and hurt, mixed with passion...Khushi felt stirrings of cold fear in her heart...
After Khushi left, Arnav remained sitting on the bed, head in hands. "I had promised myself, I would never hurt my Khushi again...and now this...what came over me..why did I react like that?.
Arnav's heart ached when he saw Khushi sitting there crying silently and biting her lip to stop herself from sobbing...
Khushi sat in Arnav's lap with Arnav's arms tightly around her. As Arnav kissed her on her forehead and said "I'm sorry Khushi...for being so rough with you..please forgive me". Khushi looked at his moist, caramel colored eyes and suddenly all the pent up emotions, worries, anxieties and insecurities from the past 2 weeks found a release and she threw her arms around Arnav, bursting in tears...
Khushi walked over to the dresser and picked up the ripped up copy of DNA report lying next to her bangles..
As Khushi stood there listening to her, she felt her whole world was crashing around her...her legs felt weak, her mouth dry but she felt she had to ask Sheetal this...she had to listen to her conscience..
"Sheetal ji, when you came to know that you were pregnant with Ar...Arnavji's child, why didn't you tell him about it"
" because he didn't believe in marriage, he just believed in physical relationships based on mutual consent and because I ...I ..loved him so much...I just went along..."Sheetal paused.
"I never thought about the future...I know it was a big mistake...but I didn't want to force Arnav to marry me by telling him about my pregnancy...or to end my pregnancy either"
Sheetal walked over to Khushi and held her gently by both shoulders, "Don't judge me ,Khushi...I just loved Arnav so much that I was willing to put my whole life at stake, just to spend a few moments with him...but now I don't want anything from Arnav...I never wanted you or Arnav to know...I knew you had got a DNA test done...I'm sorry I picked this out of your room dustbin...I didn't want anyone to know..."
She handed the partially ripped report to Khushi, " Burn it Khushi...don't let anyone else see it"
Khushi glanced at the report and when she saw the word "positive", her heart shattered in a million pieces.
As Khushi walked out of Sheetal's room, Sheetal stood there staring at her with a triumphant expression on her face.
"Not bad, Sheetal ", she thought. " that was an Oscar winning performance"
Arnav was sitting in his recliner waiting impatiently for Khushi...Khushi in red never fails to cast a spell on him.., he thought smiling. " How endearing she had looked peering at him through the sieve"
Lisa walking up to Arnav and purring, "Arnie, is it you or your perfume that I can never let go of!". Lavanya's jealousy upon seeing Lisa...Lavanya and Arnav hugging in office...Lavanya running a finger down Arnav's cheek suggestively...Lavanya telling her about living in...
Khushi flinched and closed her eyes...but memories and thoughts continued their onslaught unabated...She heard Arnav say," There was nothing like this between us...we just dated for a while"
Khushi entered the room quietly without looking at Arnav and went to stand in front of the mirror to take her jewelry off. As she was taking her bangles off, she felt Arnav's arms around her..
"Why did you keep me waiting for so long" Arnav said huskily rubbing his cheek against hers as their eyes met in the mirror.
Khushi stared at his eyes in the mirror steadily and then removing his hands turned around to face him.., " I am tired, I want to sleep" she said shortly.
As she started to move towards the bathroom, Arnav grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.He looked at her eyes searchingly and asked, "What's wrong?"
Suddenly Khushi was consumed with red, hot rage...using both her hands, she pushed him back forcefully and said, " YOU...YOU are what's wrong...,YOU lied when you said you never had any kind of physical relationship with Sheetal...YOU lied to me when you said there was no chance that Aarav could be your son..."
His face dark with anger, Arnav grabbed her by her arms forcefully making her wince," What kind of craziness is this...and don't you ever dare talk to me like this"
Khushi pushed him back again, " I will talk to you as I like...Liars like you don't deserve any respect"
His face flushing with extreme anger, Arnav grabbed both her arms and pushed her back forcefully pinning her against the wall, " SHUT UP" he said with his jaws clenched..
Bursting in tears, Khushi said, " No I won't shut up...Aarav is your son and you said that you never had that kind of relationship with Sheetal"
Digging his fingers mercilessly in Khushi's arms, Arnav said with clenched jaw, " I've said it before and I will say it just one more time...there is no chance, not even 1%, that Aarav could be my son"
As Khushi removed his hands and turned to go crying silently...Arnav put one arm around her waist and pulled her against him roughly. With his face only inches away from her and his eyes glinting dangerously, Arnav said softly" I asked you something..." "ANSWER ME DAMMIT"
Khushi's anger came rushing back. With her eyes flashing and making her look breathtakingly beautiful, she said" The DNA test was POSITIVE"
Arnav looked surprised for a minute but then he tightened his hold on Khushi's waist and said in measured tones, " I DON'T give a damn about that blasted DNA report ...all I know is that I'm no wizard...I can NOT make a girl pregnant without having s** with her"
As Khushi struggled to remove his fingers from her waist..they both lost balance and fell on the bed..As Khushi struggled to get up, Arnav held both her wrists and pinned them over her head.
His face dark and flushed with anger, Arnav continued to hold her wrists tightly and whispered in a cold voice, "May be I need to refresh your memory on how babies are made"
Devoid of all tenderness, Arnav swooped down to claim her lips...roughly...
The beast had taken over...
Khushi had never seen Arnav like this..she could feel the ruthlessness running through his body...her throat felt constricted with tears of heartbreak , her delicate wrists were crushed by the vice like grip of his large hands and she lay there trembling completely overpowered by Arnav.
Arnav came back to his senses suddenly when he felt his wife's delicate frame trembling under his weight...
As Arnav raised his head , he was aghast to see the fear and helplessness in Khushi's eyes...Cold remorse smote at his heart when he saw Khushi's bruised wrists...
He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly in silent self reproach..
He cupped his wife's face and said in a voice broken with emotion," Forgive me Khushi...I don't know what came over me..."
Khushi turned her face away, her lips trembling. She refused to look at him.
"Please leave me alone...please" she said with tears running down her face.
She got up from the bed and walked out of the room shutting the door after her.
After Khushi left, Arnav remained sitting on the bed, head in hands. "I had promised myself, I would never hurt my Khushi again...and now this...what came over me..why did I react like that?.
Memory of her trembling body, her tear filled eyes, the bruises on her wrists came back to him and his heart went out to her...
At that moment, Arnav forgot about everything, he forgot about his own hurt and pain at Khushi's lack of trust in him, he forgot about Aarav, Sheetal, even the DNA report...all he remembered was that Khushi was hurt and had tears in her eyes because of him...and this thought stabbed his heart like a dagger..
He opened the door and went down looking for Khushi.
Khushi had gone downstairs and was sitting with mamiji and Di, who were watching the movie "Devdas" on TV. Khushi's mind was numb with pain after what had happened upstairs and she wanted to avoid being alone with Arnav..
Seeing her sitting next to mamiji, Arnav came straight to her and sat down beside her.
Khushi didn't even look at him..
Seeing her sitting there with a pinched face , pretending to watch TV made Arnav want to sweep her in his lap and kiss all her pain, all her tears away.
Armav took hold of her right hand and after caressing her bruised wrist, gently raised it up to his lips to kiss it tenderly..
When Khushi didn't react, he put his right arm around her shoulder and bending his head whispered "sorry" in her ear.
Mamiji, who was keeping an eye on all the activities going on next to her nudged Anjali and whispered loudly, "laagat hai dono lovebirds mein phir kauno jhagra hua hai"
Anjali sighed and then addressing Arnav said," Chhote, Khushiji has not had her dinner yet and she had fasted the whole day too"
"Our first Karvachauth" Arnav thought, closing his eyes in self reproach..
Stroking her shoulder softly, Arnav said, " Come have dinner, Khushi"
Without taking her eyes off the movie, Khushi said in a cold, unemotional voice, "I 'll eat after the movie"
Arnav got up and returned moments later, with a plate in hand. Unperturbed by the glances he was getting, Arnav sat next to his wife again and holding a spoon in front of her lips said," I'll feed you while you watch the movie"
To avoid creating a scene in front of Di and Mamiji, Khushi opened her mouth reluctantly.
As Arnav fed her, the song," Bairi piya..." started playing in the movie and suddenly tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Putting the plate away, he put his arm around her and drew her close to him...
Anjali got up and pretending to yawn said," I've already watched this movie so many times, I'm going to bed..."
Mamiji got up too but a lot less gracefully," Yahan to koi aur hi movie chalat hai" she muttered , rolling her eyes before going to her room too..
Arnav cradled her head against him and holding her hand kissed it over and over again, saying sorry..
As Khushi lifted her head up and started wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Arnav took his handkerchief out and wiped first her eyes and then her nose..but Khushi still didn't look at him.
Removing his hand from around her, she got up and went to the kitchen with Arnav following her..
As Khushi finished drinking a glass of water, Arnav took it from her hand and put it on the counter..then putting his hands around her waist, he lifted her up easily like a child and made her sit on the counter.
With one hand on either side of her and his face really close, he whispered gently, "Khushi...look at me..."
When Khushi continued to look down, he cupped her face gently with both hands and turned it towards him... but Khushi quickly closed her eyes.
Arnav stared at her face intently, taking in her innocence, her delicate bone structure, the silky softness...then he noticed the swelling of her lips and his heart felt a stab of remorse..
He bent down and showered her face, her closed eyes and lips with gentle, healing, loving kisses..
As fresh tears started escaping from her closed eyes, Arnav took out a diamond bracelet from his pocket and put it on her bruised wrist...
"Your Karvachauth gift" Arnav said kissing her wrist.
Just then, Nani walked inside the kitchen to get water and hearing her, Khushi jumped down from the counter. She winced in pain as her ankle twisted..
" Ka kar rahe ho tum log kitchen mein itni raat ma" Nani said suppressing a smile as she walked out..
"Khushi..are you okay? Arnav asked as Khushi tried to walk and winced...
He ignored her "I'm fine" and lifted her up on the counter again saying, "Let me see.."
He held her foot in one hand and with the other lifted the hem of her sari up..as he gently felt and massaged her ankle, their eyes met finally .. Khushi kept staring at him trying to read his eyes and her forgiving heart melted easily at what she saw there.. Guilt, genuine concern and lots of love...
Arnav carried her to their room and sat down in the recliner, cuddling her like a baby in his lap.
"Arnavji, I can't take it anymore...I can't bear it when you lie to me, I can't bear it knowing that you and Sh Sheetaji l have a child together..why didn't you tell me the truth about you and Sheetal ji...I wouldn't have minded Arnavji as it was before we met...you and Aarav are so similiar...everybody says that he is like your son...but why did you lie to me, Arnavji..why?" Khushi rambled on incoherently in between sobs..
"I thought I was thinking too much...I tried not to think about it...but Sheetal ji keeps Karwachauth fasts for you...and and the DNA report was positive..."Khushi said breaking in fresh tears..
Arnav just sat there hugging her and stroking her hair but he didn't interrupt her. He wanted her to bring out everything that was in her heart...
Her lower lip trembling, Khushi cupped his face with both hands and said, " Why is it Arnavji that even when you are the one causing me pain, I can find comfort only in your arms?"
Arnav buried his face in Khushi's hair and in a voice, overcome with emotion said, " because I never mean to hurt you..Khushi...whenever I hurt you, it hurts me so much more..."
Raising his head, he continued, " Khushi, I don't know how the DNA report was positive...I don't know who Aarav's father is...I don't know why Sheetal fasts for me...but one thing I do know...I never had s** with Sheetal...and no, I have never been drunk in my whole life..so Aarav is NOT my son..."
Looking deep in her eyes, Arnav continued, " Look in my eyes Khushi, and you will get all your answers"
They looked at each other soul searchingly for a while then Khushi cupped his face tenderly and kissed him lightly on his lips. " I'm sorry..."She said, giving him a teary smile. She was at peace, having found all her answers.
Arnav smiled back and flicked her nose, " Show me the DNA report"
Arnav came to stand beside her and took the report from her hands..
" So you picked it up from the dustbin to read it..." "That's ok...I'm not blaming you.." Arnav added quickly with a smile. "I would have probably done the same "
"Or worse " he added as an after thought...remembering Khushi's tear stained face through the airport glass doors...
" No I did not pick it...Sheetalji did...she said I should burn it so no one could see it"
" How very thoughtful of her.." Arnav said coldly, his eyes glinting dangerously.. "What else did Sheetal say to you.."
As Arnav stood listening to all the lies Sheetal had the temerity of feeding his naive, innocent wife...and in their own home...his face got dark with anger...
More than anything, he was angry because someone had the audacity to suppose that they could play mind games with his, Arnav Singh Raizada's wife and get away with it..
Clenching the report in one hand, he rushed to Sheetal's room with Khushi following him..
"Can't it wait till morning, Aarav must be sleeping.." Khushi said her heart going out to Aarav.
"No, it can not wait" said Arnav, shortly.
Arnav knocked at Sheetal's door and when Sheetal came to the door, Arnav said shortly, "Come downstairs Sheetal, I have to talk to you"
When Sheetal came down looking nervous, Arnav walked over to her and looking into her eyes piercingly asked, " So what's your game"
" So Khushi told you...there's no game Arnav...you know you are Aarav's father...stop fooling your wife with your lies...look at the DNA report"
" You and I both know very well that we never slept together...so obviously Aarav can not be my son" said Arnav in cold measured tone.
"Now the DNA report..." Arnav said softly, pausing.
" You know Sheetal I have researched quite a lot on DNA tests...
Want to know why..?"
"Every day in India, there are quite a few greedy, cheap, unscrupulous women like you getting their eyes on the wealth of rich, successful men like me...filing paternity suits...that are often settled out of court...to avoid bad publicity by these men"
"Coming back to the DNA report...there are only two possibilities...one, that it's a forged copy...I can easily find that out tomorrow...and two, that Aarav's father is someone who is closely related to me...it won't take long to find that out either"
" And don't for a moment think that I'm going to offer you any money to stop you from your evil yet foolish designs..."
" Arnav Singh Raizada is not scared of bad publicity...if you want to play dirty , I'm game for it...the only regret I'll have is that Aarav will have to go through all this all because of a mother, who uses her child as a pawn in her dirty games" Arnav finished, his lips curling in distaste..
" You had planned on making Khushi leave me...my wife's lack of trust in me would have really helped your case in court...am I right?
As Sheetal stood there speechless, planning her next move...Arnav continued, " So please pack you bags and leave by morning...it's only because of Aarav that I'm not getting them thrown out now..."
Then Arnav took Khushi's hand and turned to go...
"Wait Arnav!" Sheetal said
When Arnav turned around, Sheetal said in a poisonous tone, " See you in court soon"
His eyes flashing, Arnav said in a dangerously soft voice, " I'm so looking forward to it.."
Sheetal didn't even wait for the morning, she left immediately dragging a sleepy Aarav with her..
Arnav and Khushi's heart went out to him..
Khushi stood in front of the mirror again taking her jewelry off, Arnav hugged her from behind..
"Are you worried about the court case..the publicity...". Khushi asked him worriedly.
Kissing her neck, Arnav said, " As long as you are with me, I don't have any reason to worry about anything.."
With her heart pounding, Khushi started taking her earring off..
"Let me do it" Arnav said.
After Arnav removed both her earrings, he nibbled at her earlobes leisurely, making her breathe with difficulty. Then he removed her Tika and her necklace and carrying her started walking to the bed..
Her heart beating erratically and her breath uneven, Khushi asked, " You must be missing Aarav, you had become really fond of him.."
Arnav lay her on the bed and took a while removing the pins that held her pallu to finally move it out of his way..Then after removing her silver waist chain, he looked at her with his eyes smouldering and said , " I do miss having a son like him, but we can easily fix that..."
Feeling his lips on her waist, Khushi smiled blushing...
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