About the note I posted earlier, I just want to say that I didn't intend to be this harsh. If you all must know, I am down with cold all thanks to Delhi's winter and I am very edgy nowadays because of it. My family is considering me invisible already because they know now I will be rude and will be sorry for it once I am alright.
Still I don't intend to start a new story in future. However I will be updating both my SS whenever I get time because I care for those who comment. I won't leave them in lurch because as a reader, I know how it feels like.
This update is dedicated to amus5, vaishuu and GoGreen for following this SS without receiving any notification from me. Thank you for sticking to the story till now and hope to see you till the end of this SS !!!!!
@amus5: I love your comments dear. In just 2-3 lines, you manage to capture the essence of the update. I am honored to have you as my reader!!!
@tvmania: saw your comment dear. Thank you for understanding a writer's point of view.
ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage
Chapter 24
Arnav didn't know what was happening. What he just knew that he was kissing Khushi with all his might, pouring all his unknown feelings in it.
He just wanted to make her feel better but a part of his heart was waiting for her to respond. Then he felt it.
Her lips moving over his. Khushi was kissing him back.
Smiling victoriously against her mouth, Arnav caressed her lips with his, softly and slowly. In response, Khushi moved closer and kept a hand on his stubbly cheek making him pull her closer.
Tucking the loose strands behind her ear, he trailed his fingers on her cheeks and pecked her lips once before moving back reluctantly.
As they looked at each other, breathless, Arnav tugged her closer. Khushi was about to say something when putting his finger against her now-thoroughly-kissed lips, Arnav shushed her down, "Don't say anything, Khushi. If you really loved my parents, then you should know that for them, looking back at the past is useless because we can't change it. For them, just forget everything. Forget everything that had happened four years ago and don't even think about it again. We should let it go."
Shaking her head in denial, Khushi moved his finger away from her mouth and was about to say something when Arnav whispered again softly "Please..."
Unable to refuse his request, Khushi looked around not knowing what to say. What he was asking was an impossible task for her but he wasn't asking this for himself but for her own sake, right?
Feeling grateful, she looked up and nodded with tears pooling in her eyes. Her life didn't look that dull to her now. Of course the guilt was there in her heart, but loneliness wasn't.
Like every other girl, she dreamt of being special to someone. Of having someone by her side. That dream wasn't a dream anymore.
It is a reality, she concluded as Arnav smiled at her before hugging her in an assuring manner.
____________________________________________________
"Didi have you packed everything?"
Anjali looked up from her breakfast quickly "Shyam said that I don't need to do it. He has arranged everything for me already."
Khushi nodded and smiled before turning to Devyani, discussing how happy she is for Anjali. Anjali however was looking down and was lost in thoughts.
She looked up as Arnav kept his hand over her on the table and nodded at her the moment she met his eyes. Feeling relieved, Anjali simply smiled at her brother.
Why was she even worried when her brother was there, like always?
She jerked her head towards the front door as the doorbell rang, before getting up and walking towards it excitedly. Arnav, Khushi and Devyani turned in their seats to look at her.
Closing her eyes and exhaling deeply once, she opened the door and looked up to see Shyam smiling down at her.
"Hi."
"Hurt her once again and I swear I will kill you, Shyam." Arnav hissed in a low voice, keeping a smile intact on his lips.
They both were now standing outside Shantivan as Anjali was saying bye to Khushi and Devyani tearfully.
Shyam smiled, not moving his gaze from his wife "With pleasure, Arnav. I will take care of her. You don't need to remind me."
"It would be better if I don't remind you this again in future. I am serious, Shyam. The only reason I am letting you take Di away is that she still love you a lot despite of everything you did." Arnav mocked him once again, turning his back to others and glaring at him.
"Oh please, you know I am not scared of you Arnav. The only reason I want to be with her is I love her just like she loves me." Shyam replied coolly unfazed of the looks that Arnav was giving him right now.
Pausing for a moment, Shyam continued "You won't understand it. Because still, you don't know what you really want in your life."
"Oh really? And you know that?" Quirking an eyebrow up, Arnav questioned sarcastically.
Smiling at him, Shyam nodded "Have you ever wondered that why Khushi is with you, even after how badly you treated her?"
Arnav's eyes widened as he stared at Shyam looking speechless. He really didn't know how Shyam knew this neither he had any answer to it.
Shyam chuckled, observing Arnav's taken aback state. He moved forward and pointed to Arnav's heart "For a change, think from your heart Arnav. The answer is right in front of you. Only you and Khushi haven't realized it yet."
Quickly glancing at Khushi who now was laughing with Anjali, Arnav looked away and shrugged casually ignoring the warm feeling in his heart.
Muttering a whatever' under his breath, he moved towards Anjali and hugged her, "Call me if you need anything, Di."
"Don't worry Arnav. I will be fine." Patting his back in an assuring manner, Anjali whispered. Arnav, Khushi and Devyani looked on as Anjali went towards Shyam.
As Shyam opened the door of the car for her, Anjali sat in and looked out to wave her hand at everyone. Arnav kept staring as the car went away, sighing in concern.
Hoping that his Di gets the happiness she wished for always, now.
________________________________________________________
As the car stopped, Anjali looked out to see the house she had decorated with her own hands after their marriage. It was Shyam's gift to her after their marriage.
She turned her head to look at Shyam, surprised. She had thought that they will be going to live in a different house since Shyam had to sell this one 2 years ago.
"I bought it back once I had the money. I couldn't let it go." Shyam answered the unspoken question that was visible in Anjali's eyes.
Trying hard to not smile, Anjali looked away.
As she pushed the door open and walked inside, she was surprised to see the house decorated the way she had left it.
The walls were painted in white and midnight blue just the way she liked. The colourful paintings hanging around, the furniture- everything looked so vibrant, colourful and full of life like she preferred. Everything screamed of her touch.
Colors. How much she has distanced herself from them and from everything that used to make her happy.
Feeling a lump forming in her throat, Anjali moved upstairs to their room without needing any help from anyone.
It was like she had left from here yesterday only. She remembered everything.
Entering inside their room, Anjali looked up feeling tears forming in her eyes. Because right in front her eyes, was the larger-than-life portrait of her and Shyam, occupying the whole wall.
It was of the day they got married. She was so lost in looking at everything that she didn't realize when Shyam entered in the room.
Everything was rushing back to her now.
How she used to wake up early every morning only to be pulled back by Shyam. How despite having servants in the house, she used to do everything on her own. How Shyam never forgot to bring her favourite roses whenever he used to come home early. How they used to find happiness in small things of life.
In a daze, she walked to the closet. Sliding the door open, she saw the colourful sarees kept to the left while Shyam's clothes were occupying the right side of the closet.
She laughed remembering how she used to fight with Shyam whenever he used to keep his clothes carelessly, wiping the tear that has managed to escape from her eye.
Anjali froze as she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to look at Shyam. She saw a similar pain in his eyes as if he knew what she was thinking.
With a sob, she bridged the distance between them and hugged him tightly, mourning over everything that they have lost.
Encircling his hands around her waist, Shyam kept running his fingers through her hairs letting her cry her heart out.
___________________________________________________
"Where is she, Aman?"
Khushi bellowed feeling irritated. With a quick glance at her watch, she continued "She is an hour late. Did you really inform her about the trial?"
Wiping the beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Aman answered nervously "Yes Mam, I did."
Pacing to and fro, Khushi looked ahead half-heartedly. Her eyes barely focussed on the models walking on the ramp, clad in the different trousseaus to be showcased in the upcoming fashion show which was scheduled to happen in less than 4 days.
Everything was happening according to her schedule. Having received the dresses few days back, Khushi now was overlooking the everyday practice of the ramp-walk.
Every dress that Khushi had chosen was different to the other- in texture, design, hand work and overall appearance which made her relax a bit. The models that Khushi shortlisted for the show were par at their work, carrying the outfit with the right amount of confidence and elegance.
Except the showstopper, Latika Handa. The very same model that Arnav has hired months ago. The girl with whom the media has romantically linked him.
Though Khushi knew that it was all an act planned by Arnav during the early days of their marriage, she wasn't much approved of her.
Because she has refused to show up at the practice till now, making excuses, testing Khushi's patience.
Today being one of the last practices of the ramp walk, Khushi has asked Aman to inform Latika about the same. But she hadn't arrived till now making Khushi lose her calm.
"Mam, she is here." Aman whispered to Khushi, who now was talking to the choreographers after the end of the practice.
Halting in the middle of the conversation, Khushi turned her head to look at the petite figure walking towards them, dressed in a short wine colored dress barely covering her body.
Raising her eyebrows as the girl took off her sunglasses and looked arrogantly at her, Khushi waited for her to say something.
"Hi, I am Latika. You look familiar. Have we met before?" Looking disinterested, she whispered bringing her hand forward.
Ignoring her outstretched hand, Khushi spoke curtly "I suppose Aman had told you that the trial was supposed to happen two hours ago. It ended just few minutes back"
"Yeah, I know. But it doesn't matter. I am here now. We can start again." Latika spoke, her fingers moving to type something on her phone looking unaffected.
Without waiting for any answer, she walked ahead. Gritting her teeth in anger, Khushi spoke loudly "No it won't happen again just because you came late Latika."
"I am sorry. I don't think you know who I am. I am the showstopper. You are no one to dictate terms to the model that ASR has hired himself." Latika replied rudely, raising her voice.
Giving her a sickly sweet smile, Khushi replied "this is where you are wrong, Latika. ASR won't object if I hired some other model in your place. This is my show and you will do what I want you to do unless you want me to fire you."
"Who the hell are you to talk to me like this? You are just an employee. Be in your limits." Latika spat out in anger.
"She has every right to talk to you like that. She is Khushi Singh Raizada."
Turning their heads to the direction of the voice, Khushi smiled after seeing Arnav there while Latika panicked, looking first at Arnav and then at Khushi.
Damn it, she swore under her breath not missing how Arnav was glaring at her, looking very angry.
Edited by uv-crazyfan - 11 years ago
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