ARHI SS : Trapped-Thread 1 - Page 53

When she finally woke up, she was still held close to the rock like chest of her husband. Bewildered she looked up and he was looking down at her.

A faint smile touched his lips, Finally you are awake. I was beginning to think, my body is going to become completely paralyzed, he said.

She blushed furiously and got up immediately, You---you should have just left, she said, unable to meet his eyes.

And leave you with your nightmares? No way, he said, trying to get the blood circulation back into his stiff arms and chest through a series of small exercise moves.

She looked at him with mixed emotions. Why was he so nice one minute and so mean the next? He had put himself through pain, to make sure she slept peacefully.

And yet, his indifference and anger was the cause of all her pain. If only he spoke to her, treated her with a little warmth, she wouldnt be such a mess---Memories of the previous night came rushing back and she shuddered.

Again, she felt dirty and she closed her eyes to shut out the vision of the drunken man leaning down to kiss her.

She began to tremble as cold fear gripped her all over again. She tried not to show it and started sweating, while trying to bite her lips to stop herself from crying out loud.

She just sat on the bed motionless, while the fear continued to create havoc on her mind.

Suddenly she felt herself enveloped in strong arms.

Shhh. Its ok. They wont come near you. No one will. I promise. Its ok. You are safe, Arnav said, rocking her back and forth.

Slowly, she began to relax and the fear receded. The feel of her drunk attackers hands on her skin and face faded as it as replaced by Arnavs warm touch on her arms and then her cheeks.

The memory of the drunken breath of her attacker faded as Arnav bent down to whisper soothing words in her ears.

Her tremors subsided and she leaned weakly into his strong frame. Why was everything so perfect when she was in his arms? Why did it feel so right? Why was all her happiness tied to this strange, complex man, whom she still loved with all her being?

She did not want this. She had been fighting her love for him from the day he rejected her. She had been trying to move on.

She had almost convinced herself Rohan was the man for her, though she had never liked him. She had hated it, when Rohan so much as laid his hand on her. This had led to innumerable unpleasant moments between them.

Why the hell do you act like a touch me not plant? We are engaged and will be married soon. I have a right to sample what I am going to bring home, Rohan had said, trying to grab her for a kiss.

She had pushed him with all her might, Lets get married and I will give you those rights. You wont get it even a day before, she had said.

Yet Rohan had never stopped lusting after her, trying to touch her when she passed things to him, trying to use the permission of either of her parents to take her to secluded spots and grab her.

But always Khushi had resisted and almost been violent in pushing him away. They had fought and argued about this many times, even in the short 1-month courtship.

Khushi had felt guilty afterwards. Rohan was as normal as any guy, wanting to kiss his fiance. It was not his problem that she could not think of anyone else touching her or kissing her.

It was not his problem that each time Rohan came close to her, a pair of caramel colored eyes and sensuous lips came to her mind---Arnavs.

She had tried hard to fight the memory, tried to like Rohan. But she had failed miserably. Rohans touch made her skin crawl and she had always pushed him away. She liked nothing about him. Yet she could not call off the wedding. Her father would trace it back to her love for Arnav and perhaps trouble Arnav. So, she had endured the courtship and [repared herself for the wedding.

Today, as she rested in her husbands arms, she wondered if her instincts always knew Arnav was the man for her? She wondered if destiny had not intervened, what kind of a wife she would have been to Rohit?

Wanting to forget the horrible thoughts of what might have happened if she had married Rohit, she tightened her hold on Arnav.

But just as soon as she did it, she realized, she did not have the rights to touch him. She pulled back and said, I will go and freshen up.

In the bath, she scrubbed hard as if to get the imprints of the man from her skin. She hated her fair skin, she hated her looks. The man for whom she wanted to be beautiful did not even look at her, while the others just lusted after her. What was the use of all her looks? She hated herself. She was the cause of all problems for everyone. Anger at herself and anguish made her scrub her skin till it turned red and sore. It pained, it ached, but it was still better than the pain inside her.

She had been inside so long. He had freshened and come back from the other bath and she was still not out. He began to get worried. He knew she was very distraught about yesterday. The trauma of the marriage and everything which had happened with him and her parents had hurt her more. They had all been cruel to her, in their own way.

Even if she deserved it, he knew she was a mere girl. When he received no response from inside he got more worried and knocked the door.

It was only after a while, she opened the door. When he saw her he was shocked. Her skin had red scratch marks all over.

Khushi. Are you mad? What have you done to yourself? Why are you trying to destroy yourself? he asked, anguished despite himself.

'Because I feel dirty. I feel the touch of that man. I want to feel ugly, she said.

'Are you crazy? You are beautiful Khushi and no one can take that away from you. Not even yourself. I wont let you do this to yourself, he said and scooped her into his arms.

Quickly grabbing some antiseptic lotion he gently rubbed it on her red, blotched arms and cheeks. As the lotion singed her skin, she cried out in pain. Instinctively he bent down and kissed her burning cheeks and arms.

He scooped her in his arms and lay her down in the bed and whispered in her ears 'You are beautiful---dont you ever think otherwise. And I want you to realize today how beautiful you are', he said and claimed her lips---