SS-Love in Delhi University#3: EPILOGUE-Pg77 - Page 13

The sun had just begun to set and the air around were filled with chirpings of birds going back home after a day's work. Arnav closed the door of his apartment. The satisfaction of the day lingered on his face like a subtle smile; it was a pretty eventful day. He kept the keys on the wooden polished key hanger beside the door, opened his jacket, vest and tie, kept them on the chair, unbuttoned the top and plopped down on the couch. With his hand behind his head on the armrest of the couch, he reflected back on last few day's events.

He was glad that Payal and Akash were finally together. After a lot of figuring out and working outs, their family had agreed. He was glad Navika Aunty, Akash's mother was so understanding and tactful when she dealt with Khushi and Payal's father. Navika Aunty and his mother were best friends from childhood. Ever since Arnav's mother past away, he found a reflection of her in Navika. Today, as he saw the lady strive for his son's happiness, he wondered if his mother were in the same place, would she have taken this sensitive issue in such mature way? He knew it was a futile question as there was no way of learning the answer but it's human for such questions to crop up in one's mind.

Their Buaji, as always, was a bit too overwhelming but she was only looking out for her two covetable nieces, he guessed. And then there was Khushi. He could see she was guilty of acting so rashly with him over the phone and tried not to meet his eyes but he often caught her stealing glimpses of him from the corner where she stood. That was adorable, making him smile a little more, unintentionally. As the train of thoughts changed, he diverted his attention to Akash. He had to give some credit to Akash as he had the patience to cut through all the walls Payal had built around her. Arnav knew it was hard as he always saw a part of him in Payal and she, surely, was no easy nut to crack. Thinking of Payal, his thoughts unwillingly steered back to where it had started.

Whatever had happened to Payal, Arnav held himself responsible for it. As those thoughts came back to him, his smile turned grim. All the negatives thoughts had escaped his mind. Akash, Payal, Khushi, their families had filled his mind but until now. The ghosts came back to haunt him now that he was alone.

Natasha played with Payal to get back at him and the very idea of it made Arnav nauseous. "Calls herself a woman" he sputtered bitterly. Even though he had taken his revenge, the bitterness remained. Last few days were rushed and gushed as he and his attorney worked out papers which allowed him to take over whatever he had left for Malik. The screeching phone call from Natasha, accusing him of usurping his husband's assets, left him vengeful. He knew those accusations held no bases and he remained unperturbed throughout the conversation but now thinking of it, just one thing that she said had really got to him. That one thing gnawed him away as that screaming voice of the lady pounded his head. "You're just as bad as your father! Attacking from the back!" the words reverberated in the walls of his mind.

He clasped his temple and curled into the couch, trying to drown the screams. Those words had got to him with a jab. Was she right? Was it wrong for him to attack from the back? Was it even attacking from the back? Questions clouded his mind. Was he like his father? The question made him writhe. His mother's face flashed before his eyes. The last time he had seen her. Malik had killed her. Was he really Malik's son? The room had started to darken as the sun faded out. He lay there on the couch, limp, without turning on the lights as darkness started to get to him. He had no idea how things got so ugly inside him and he tried to fight of the demon but those words stabbed him fresh, every time it played in his ears. He closed his eyes, hoping for it to subside. He lay there for what seemed like hours but the pain showed no sign to cease. He pressed in his eyes closer but then suddenly a little brightness hit his closed eyes.

He immediately turned and sat up at the change of environment and what he saw gave his heart what he was looking for so long: Peace. As he drunk in the sight, his heart calmed. Khushi stood there as she turned on lamp, springing it back to life from the dark. She stood with a big smile, her face illuminated from the light that escaped the lampshade, making her glow in the way. She was wearing her usual yellow and red churidaar and her hair was half tied up with soft bangs on her forehead. She looked spectacular. Her red lips looked luscious under the reflecting light but it was her smile that stole his breath away.

After all the happy events of the day, Khushi couldn't help but meet her desire to meet her love. She had seen him smile at her as stole glances of him. She knew she was forgiven. She came to meet him at the first chance she got. It had been long since they were alone. Work and her exams and then this mishap had kept them apart for too long. Good thing she had his apartment keys with her. She wanted to surprise him. She quietly tiptoed in with the agenda of surprising him but got herself surprised when she found everything dark. "Was he not back yet?" she wondered and was turning back when her eyes fell on his huddled body on the couch. "Aww.. He must've been tired" she gushed. She quietly walked up and turned on his favourite lamp, the one with black and grey intricate pattern lampshade. She saw him wake up with a jerk and she waited for the surprise to sink in with a big smile but faltered when she saw his eyes; they were red.

"Khushi!" he barely whispered. His face was pale and drained and his eyes were puffy. She immediately rushed up to him and bent down on her knees to cup his face. "Kya hua?" (What's wrong?) she urged gently but got no reply. Instead, he just took her hands and kissed her fingertips. She could see his bottle green shirt was loose and crushed, the top button undone. His hair was a mess and he was looking at her with lovelorn eyes. She knew she had to let him be for now. He'll tell her in his own accord.

Mesmerized in her beauty, Arnav thought back his life. His life was like what just happened. It was cold and dark until Khushi came in with her bright smile and lit up his world for good. He was going to let nothing hurt her, he promised. In the gleaming lights, he trailed his lips down to her palms and softly kissed them. He moved further down one hand, his lips trailing over those bangles he had got her once upon a time, over to her elbow. He gently tugged her wrists, making her come up and guide her up to his lap. Her hands went around her neck as he locked her in around her waist. Arnav gently leaned in and softly touch her plump lips with his firm ones. Khushi's eyes fluttered close.

He gently brushed the locks on her forehead away and tucked them behind her ears. Taking in a long breath, he deepened their kiss. Khushi pulled herself in closer against his body. "I love you, Khushi. I love you more than anything else in the world" he whispered into her ear and returned back to their kiss. Khushi's fingers twined around Arnav's hair as their mouths opened to welcome one another. Breaking away for a second, Khushi quietly slipped her "I love you too" in his ears and resumed their game.

Arnav's one hand trailed up her back and into her hair while the other secured her waist. His fingers ringed them around her flowing cascade and delicately pulled her head back, exposing her long pale neck to him. His lips went down from the corner of mouth, down her chin to the warm neck, leaving a wet trail behind. He gently nipped, suckled, lapped her skin along the way. The dupatta which came in the way was removed and kept aside for the evening.

He moved around on her bare skin, her shoulders, her collarbone while his hand untangled from her hair and traced her torso. All was well until those words came back to him out of the blue, making him shudder and lean back, breaking their trance. Khushi's eyes flew open and she saw Arnav's eyes pained. "I'm sorry" he murmured, not meeting her eyes. Concerned, Khushi got down from his lap and sat beside him on the black couch. She saw fiddling with his thumbs, with his elbows on his thighs and his breathing was uneven. She took up the dupatta from the armrest and put it around her neck and moved in so that she was now facing him.

She took her face in his palms and made him face her. She looked on straight while Arnav hesitated. She waited for him to speak and then, he finally did. "Natasha" he let out, barely let. Khushi's eyes grew wide as she learnt about the sole accusation out of all of them which had knifed into Arnav's heart. "Arnav Ji, aisa kuch nehi hain! Apne wohi wapas liya hai jo apka hain. Apne mehnat se itne uchai tak pohche hai, unke tarah nehi. Ap mein aur Malik mein kuch ek nehi hain! Natasha bus apko neecha dikhana chahte hain. Unhe pata hai ki woh har chuki hai isliye ye sab kaha unhone. Ap aise hausle nehi kho sakte! Kal aap apne industry par take over karenge. Apko apka AR Designs wapas milega" she concluded, her eyes shining with confidence and love for him.

(Arnav Ji, it's nothing like that! You just took back what is rightfully yours! You've worked so hard to reach where you are, unlike Malik. He was the one who usurped you! Not the other way round! YOU ARE NOTHING LIKE HIM! You're my world! Natasha just wanted to put you down with words. That's the only thing she has, now that she has lost everything to you. You can't lose hope now. You're getting back your industry tomorrow. You're getting back AR designs tomorrow!)

Arnav clung on to every word she said like a child. He searched her eyes for doubts but found none. They stark clear like the night sky outside. His Khushi, even though a child sometimes, knows exactly what to say to put his heart to rest. The corners of his lips lifted into a small smile. "AR Designs?" he asked amused as Khushi ended her monologue. "Haan. Naam toh badalna padega, na?" she said pouting a little, cutely. (We have to change name, now don't we?)

"AR designs? Too one sided a name. We were all in this together. We'll merge with Analk anyway" he passed it off. Smiling, Khushi took his hands in hers and said "Humay pata tha ap yehi kahange!" cheerfully. (We knew you were going to say this)

"Hum?" he asked, even more amused now. (We?)

"Haan, hum! Akash Ji aur main! Hum dono ne milke ye naam socha hai! Ap mana nehi ka sakte!" she informed and added a cute angry glare at the last bit. (Yes, we! Akash Ji and I. We both came up with this name!)

"Khushi!" he laughed out her name before he elbow locked her head and rubbed his knuckles on her hair. "Ahh! Lagta hain!" (Ah! That hurts) she screamed jovially and joined in his playful kiss and it was before long that they leaned back on the couch, making it more intense and passionate than their last time.

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Payal flopped back on her pillow and watched the shining full moon smiling down at her. She had just gotten off the phone with Akash Ji, her Prince Charming. At the sound of Khushi's gentle snore, she turned back and smiled at her little sister.

Life had shown her bitter days but she had now emerged out of them all. She closed her eyes in happiness. The announcement of her marriage with Akash filled her mind. It was a good day. Good day? That was like the understatement of the year. It was the happiest day in her life. She remembered Khushi's face as they were told that their weddings will happen together. She seemed so excited. "Yes, this is real. This is happening" she repeated for the umpteenth and the last time in her mind before she turned around to hug her sleeping sister and drifted off into a good night's sleep.

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Chapter 22: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/75785966

No, they did not have S*x. They just made out😊

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Ignore Typos.. Too lazy to proofread

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