Part 13
Khushi ran towards her room shutting the doors and leaning on it. Tears overflowing through her cheeks.. She controlled her spontaneous tears and thought deeply..
"Was it the way Arnav brutally kissed her painful? Was it the disappointment of ruining a proper confession painful? Was it the way he confessed his feelings without waiting for an answer painful? Or was the way she slapped him painful? Ever since Arnav came into her life she had felt unnecessary to cry. He was there to cheer her up, to support her and to love her the way her father used to love. He kissed me brutally dammit! He is such a beast when is angry.."
Other side of her heart argues to her.. "It was you who provoked him just to enjoy and get the pleasure of teasing him on how he gets angry. He got angry and you have to bear the punishment. It was mere selfishness on your part. Did you think what would have gone through his mind when you had uttered those words? You knew his love, concern and possessiveness then why this test of love? Cant u trust him and his love? He has done so much for you. He married you only to rescue you from the clutches of Eddie and save you and your company. Any man would have taken advantage of this situation and played with your life. He is your legally wedded husband. He has rights to touch you but he didn't even make any such attempt from his side. Only the anger in him outpoured all his feelings for you that was in a wrong time and wrong way.. So the blame should not be narrowed down to him."
Yes.. I slapped him. I slapped the beast in him not my Arnav. I was the one who wanted to tease him and provoked him to get angry. But I wasn't expecting such an act for his anger to get appeased. Do you mean he wont know what he does when he is angry? He should calm down his nerves.. Everytime he does or says something haste in anger and he should understand those create wounds in other's heart which cant be erased so easily. He should come out of this layer of anger. I know only I can reduce the anger from him. If my touch can reduce his irritation why cant my slap change him.. I will change him. He will feel bad now ' Hey devimayya.. It should not pain for him please. I didn't mean to slap him so hard.. I slapped his anger, his ego, the beast in him.. Hope he will understand that soon. I have to somehow convince him. He had seen enough for marrying me. First his fight with his di, now this humiliation. I have to talk to him first. If he had made her life clear then its her duty to make things clear in his life."
Arnav opened his eyes after Khushi had left. He turned around to move to his room and closed his door.He ran to his couch and sat with the head bend down closing his fists with anger.
ASR : "DAMMIT what did she do? Who is she to slap me? I am the ASR.. I was the one who helped her in her difficult times. I married her Dammit for the sake of helping her. She was the one who provoked me. Didn't she know that I have some feelings for her? She also has that same idiotic feelings then why this reaction? This is more of selfishness.. This is why we shouldn't believe in women. They all are same..They follow you and shower love till you fall for them. After their job is done, they just throw the relationship in the nasty dustbin. Selfishness to the core!"
Arnav: "Just stop.. You are talking as if you know everything about women. Think twice.. It was your mistake of kissing her brutally. True she provoked your anger. Why cant you control your anger and tell her the reason. She would have expected a friendly behavior from your side and it was you who turned everything upside down because of that damn EGO and anger. You didn't try to misbehave all these days but the way you took advantage of her by kissing proved it wrong. You did misbehave with her. She resisted and she wasn't strong enough physically and she had to bear the burnt of the successful emission of your anger and irritation. You love her, you cant live without her. But does she know that? Does she know that the feelings which you show is genuine and it is pure love? You married her legally for commitment and not with mutual understanding and her permission to live together in life. Did she ever say a no to your decisions? She always trusted you. And isn't this a breach of that trust..Taking advantage over her giving a name of her responsibility towards her. You should have given her time and space. First apologise to her and behave like a friend.If she has such feelings she would surely confess to you. Now you have already blurted out she would surely give a thought and reveal her true emotions to you. Till then shut your damn ego and feelings and behave normal."
Arnav got a clearer picture of what he had done and what he should do now.. Like always when it matter to Khushi Arnav wins over ASR.One momentary ASR had to cost him a slap.He thought of reserving himself till she opens out her feelings.
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Dhruv was playing with Pari on the drawing room while Anjali had gone out with Shyam for some shopping. Mamiji was too emotional as she was watching her favourite serial. Mamaji couldn't tolerate her emotional drama and was working on his file as if escaping from her crying. Naniji was busy in pickle preparation.
Nani : "Manorama, where is Khushi bitiya? I didn't see her from the morning.."
Manorama ( crying): "OMG, she is going to get killed.."
Nani :"What ? Hold ur tongue.."
Manorama: (pointing at the tv screen ) "No sasuma.. This girl is being tortured by her mother in law.. and now she is going to get killed by her own husband.."
Nani : "Rubbish .. I was asking you about Khushi.."
Manorama : "Khushi? Whose bahu is that"
Manohar: "Amma, ignore her.. She cant hear anything beyond the TV actor's dialogs. Better we don't ask her. I also didn't see Khushi today. You seem to be more caring towards her than your grandsons.."
Dhruv: "Yea.. Daadi is showing our share of affection to her totally now."
Nani: "Why? Are u guys jealous? She is very nice, very matured girl. I love her a lot. She has no one for her now. We should support her and love her. I wish she stay here itself"
Nani had Dhruv in mind while saying this. All this was heard by Khushi who was coming downstairs and was happy to hear Nani's words. She too wished the same. Mamaji got an urgent call and left there. Khushi came down and sat near nani.. Her eyes were filled up..
Nani: "Khushi bitiya what happened? Why are you crying"
Khushi hugged her as if releasing all her worries regarding Arnav and her life. She wanted to be a part of this family soon as she couldn't even think of getting separated from them. Nani thought she was reminded about her father.She consoled her and made her rest on her lap to get some sleep. Dhruv was watching the real emotion as well as the real emotion paralelly.His mothers reel and Khushi's real... He smiled at Pari who inturn giggled at him. Suddenly his phone rang. The mobile screen displayed the name "Shraddha'" His heart beats started to pace up, his naughty smile faded away. He wasn't sure of what is going to happen now.. With courage he attended the call. Shraddha called him to a restaurant in the evening as she wanted to discuss something. Dhruv agreed but was still confused on what that discussion would be.
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London:
Eddie came to know that Khushi was not in London. The intrusion of Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada into office matters got him more curious. He tried to get more info about the new project which has the clients from India. He also heard about the new venture of ASR starting with Khushi in the next year. All these baffled him. But he could get only half information from some of the staff as most of them were very loyal to Khushi. Arnav's manager could trace all these information about Eddie's knowledge on Khushi's matters. It was Arnav who had arranged some staff to give Eddie about these information pretending to be his spy. This was purely to make Eddie take his next step where by he could find ways to put him behind bars.
Manager: "ASR, I am sure Eddie is not the only one involved in this.Eddie was Mr.Gupta's friend and he cheated him to conquer all those property but he had a group behind him in this mission."
Arnav: "Yea.. I know. We have to find the whole loop. Let us wait for the proper reason to trap him.. Anyways watch his moves carefully. We can get a clue soon. Advertise more about our new venture as coming soon. I will check with Khushi to inform her manager about this soon."
Arnav kept the call but the thought to talking to Khushi even for official matters made him crazy. How will he face her? Will she talk to him.. The question remains unanswered for him until he approach her with an apology.
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Shraddha was looking at her cup of "hot turned cold" coffee thinking on how to start the conversation. Dhruv staring at her fingers which was drawing patterns around her coffee mug and forgetting that he also had a coffee at his end and it has also turned cold. Her beauty was always giving him a mesmerizing effect. His thoughts came to a stop when she looked up to meet his eyes which were adamantly not moving its gaze from her hands.
Shraddha "Dhruv.. I have thought much... I might have mistaken you but you cant call me at fault. The situation which I had to face and the disappointment made me go mad..."
Dhruv : "Hey I don't blame you at all. If I were in your position I would have acted like that. Its quite natural. After all I was not worth of that trust at that time.Its just that we needed time to understand and hear out what exactly happened. I thought I had to tell u all those otherwise it would prick my heart forever. Its was upto you to believe or not believe my words.Trust me now Shraddha right from the day you entered my life I changed myself ! I cant even think about any other girl even in dreams. The reason is because of the love and care you showed on me for the past three years. I have spent many sleepless nights thinking on how to convince you but was hesitant to come before you as I cant bear ur face turning sad seeing me. I wished if something happened in a way to bring you closer to me but never in my dreams had I thought my family would choose you for my bhai as his partner. I was truly shattered Shraddha. I wanted to tell you the truth not to prove myself correct and thereby stopping this marriage but to make you understand that my love was never eyewash."
Shraddha was moved by his words. She couldn't tolerate more.
Shraddha "What did u think of me? I too love you so much Dhruv.When I was about to confess my love to you I happened to see that filthy scene which made my life hell. I was hell furious at you but I couldn't forget you. Can u think of the pain I had to go through when my parents forced me to marry your brother? Just think if that engagement had happened what would have been our state of mind?"
Dhruv felt happy and excited hearing the open heart confession from his lover cum "just missed becoming bhabi". He thanked his bhai at heart for such a wonderful decision he took on extending the engagement. He couldn't resist himself.He took Shraddha's hands in his made her stand in front of him bend on his knees as an act of proposing.
Dhruv "I Dhruv Raizada hereby confess to you that I truly love you from the bottom of my heart. I assure you that I will keep you happy till the end of my life. Will you marry me?"
Shraddha was happy beyond words but was perplexed..
Shraddha "Dhruv but what will happen if our family know about this? What will your brother think of you? It would be like we were cheating them all these days na.."
Dhruv "Madam ' what did you think of me? I know how to convince my family.. Don't worry about my bhai. He would be the first person to arrange for our marriage. He has double benefit on this. One he would get escaped from my di's constant pestering on marrying you and another he would see his little brother happily married and settled. He would never compromise on mine and Akash's happiness. "
Shraddha " Really . that's very nice."
Dhruv " Excuse me Madam how long are you planning to make me stand on my knee? I haven't got any punishment even in my school days dear'
Shraddha ( laughing) :"You owe this Mr. Dhruv for making me cry all these days. Anyways to your question I need some time to answer because I think your brother is best looking than you I need to think twice before selecting between you two"
She laughed and ran away making Dhruv chase her through the whole restaurant. The spectators were watching this love birds running around like kids amusing them said:
"Iss pagaal pyaar ko kya naam doon?"
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Arnav was working on his laptop at night in his room. He was urging to meet Khushi and talk to her as they haven't met each other after that incident. He stood up but again sat down .Something in him troubling him to move further. Atlast he couldn't tolerate himself stood up to move towards Khushi's room. But when he opened the door Khushi was standing outside with the same confused eyes and the "I cant tolerate more" expression.
Arnav gulping down his sadness "Khushi, come in.." He moved way for her to get in.
Khushi came inside with slow steps concentrating on the floor as her eyes embarrassed to meet the chocolate brown eyes. His eyes would easily detect from her eyes as if both had some radar fit into their eyes to detect their feelings. She turned to see him looking at the same floor which was just plain white tiles without patterns.
Khushi : "Arnav' I'"
Arnav:" I am sorry Khushi.. I was a bit hyper that day.."
Khushi : "NO.. but..I wanted to ask'"
Arnav : "Let me finish Khushi.."
He walked near the pool side and she followed him like a puppy wanting to hear his reactions.
Arnav :" I am sorry for such a brutal act. I was not in my normal senses. I got really provoked by your words when you blamed of taking you as granted in the name of responsibility. I should have known my limits that I am just a husband in papers not in real. I shouldn't have thrusted my likes and dislikes on you like that. I don't know why I got angry at you for behaving like that to Dhruv as you were not at fault in any way. Sorry for such a dirty and cheap act. I will never show that sort of over power of male chauvinism on you. You are free to stay in this house till you wish. This is your family and I promise that our friendship and your relationship with all the members of this family won't terminate even after the contract gets terminated."
Khushi's eyes filled with tears and she just felt like someone stabbing her heart. She was here to make him understand that she was against only to the beast in him and not the Arnav she loves more. She wasn't given a chance to apologise and by the time he had finished his words she felt like fainting. He has misunderstood her. Its her duty to make him understand her point of view.
Instead of crying and lamenting she took the challenge with courage to win her husband's heart and become the bahu of this house soon as she cant waste more time without living with him as his wife. She needed him more than him. She didn't care it was her selfishness or not. Only aim was to win his heart and share her life with him till the end.
Arnav: "I had a talk with my manager in London. Eddie seems to know about your stay here. He would surely chart out some plans to take the next step since I have joined in the new venture.Let him come with the new plan so that we can trap him and put him behind bars. I have asked my manager to advertise about the new venture. If you think ok, you advise your manager to advertise so that the arrangements and project planning can kickstart next year."
Khushi "Okay Mr. Raizada. I will inform my manager to do so." She smiled at him for his stubbornness of not meeting her eyes turning his face from her not able to look at her angel face as it would weaken him.
Khushi "And as for our marriage, we still have ample time to complete one year for termination. (Smirking) I would like to tell you that I won't be so easy to handle as you think from now on. And please don't even think of showing ur superiority complex to me..Since you have decided to handle professionally I would also follow the same So my legally wedded husband I m leaving now..take care Bye Goodnight."
Khushi ( thinking) " Professional.. Just see the professionalism of a "wife" from tomorrow my dear husband!"
She left him whose eyes were still looking at the image of moon in the pool water but his heart reminding her face instead of the moon.
Dhruv stumbled hearing the whole conversation of his bhai and his new friend Khushi when he came to talk to his bhai about his and Shraddha's relationship
"Legally wedded husband?????" His eyes popped out of his socket hearing those words. He ran from there to Akash's room to tell him about this "happy hot flash unexpected shocking confusing unbelievable" news.
To be continued..
Edited by harhem - 12 years ago
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