ArHi SS:A Thing called Marriage #1 *Complete* - Page 65

Though I wasn't satisfied how the last chapter turned out, I am glad that I managed to make some reader's understand Arnav's point of view. I don't expect all of you to relate to Arnav's reason for hating Khushi because it's a very sensitive issue that only those can understand, who have went through it. I went through it so I chose it to include in this story.

From now on, I will be dedicating each update to the reader who has won my heart with their sweet comments. This update is dedicated to 'Krishika209' for being the reader who had always been eager to read more of this story and left such sweet comments behind that I read them again and again whenever I can. She was the only reader who both scrapped and commented, requesting me to not stop writing.

Thank you Krishi 😃!!!

Next day warm sunshine seeped through the French windows falling straight on Arnav's face making him groan in protest. He turned his face away, slowly opening his eyes.

He moved his gaze in the room which stopped on Khushi. She was sleeping peacefully, her face resting on the heel of her hands and her lips puckered in an adorable pout.

For the first time, he didn't look at her as the girl whom his parents took care of and showered their love. He didn't look at her as the girl who was responsible for his parent's death, according to him.

He saw her as 'his wife'.

The girl, whom he married and promised to look after her happiness to his father.

Suddenly, the morning looked brighter to him. The guilt he always felt while misbehaving with Khushi, never let him live in peace. But today, it was different like his heart was trying to break through the darkness that he was surrounded with. He tried to get up, grimacing in pain clutching his left shoulder.

Turning his head sideways, he looked at his wound and found the dressing that the doctor had done, peeling off. Getting up quietly, he took out the first-aid box to dress his wound again by himself.

Khushi always had dealt with stubborn peoples. Be it about her Payal Jiji who even after her various attempts, refused to refer to Avinash and Aruna as Papa and Maa. She still didn't forget how much Payal had opposed her and Arnav's marriage.

Be it about Vishal who never backed off from flirting with her, even after her repeated warnings to stay away from her.

But her husband took the cake, being the most stubborn person she had met.

Khushi was sleeping peacefully lost in her dreams when she heard Arnav groaning in pain. Startled she opened her eyes to see him sitting on the recliner, trying to open the dressing of his wound. He was in white vest and black track pants. His shirt was lying abandoned on the recliner.

She was astonished to see herself on the bed contrary to past few days when she had taken refuge on the recliner. Since when Arnav Singh Raizada started being considerate?

"What the hell are you trying to do?" She said in a sleepy voice, rushing to his side at once. She grabbed his hand, stopping him.

Freeing his hand from her grip, he questioned "is it so difficult to see that I am changing the dressing of my wound?"

Rolling her eyes, she replied "I know but don't you think you need help in doing that?"

"I don't need anyone's help, okay." Arnav replied curtly. Walking back to the bed and sitting at the edge, Khushi replied "I can see that."

She looked away not having the courage to see how Arnav's face twisted in pain whenever he tried to undress his wound. He cannot change ever, she mused shaking her head at his stubbornness. In some way, she was always reminded of Avinash and Aruna whenever she saw Arnav. If he was a replica of his father, he had surely got his stubbornness from his mother. Her eyes misted remembering how much Aruna had tried to bring her out of shock when she devastated after losing her parents. She was pushing everything away from herself including her Payal Jiji, refusing to talk to her for weeks. Hadn't it been for Avinash and Aruna Raizada, she would have lost herself long ago.

Her life will always be indebted to them. No matter whatever she did, she won't be able to repay what they had done for her. Neither did she want to repay them. It will be an insult to all the attempts they had done to show her that she is their daughter now. It will be an insult to all the memories that she had in her heart of Avinash and Aruna Raizada as her parents.

If Shashi and Garima Gupta were her biological parents who always looked after her till their death, Avinash and Aruna Raizada were the gods who gave Khushi her life back.

And she would be damned if she left their only son like this- shattered and lonely.

"Aaah." She broke out of her thoughts, hearing Arnav shouting in pain again. Having witnessed enough of his drama, she stood and walked up to him looking determined. Arnav was trying to dab some antiseptic on cotton to apply on his wound, but wasn't able to do it. He looked up seeing her standing in front of him. Taking the antiseptic bottle from his hands, she plucked out some cotton and dabbed the liquid on it.

"You don't need to do all this." Arnav said, embarrassed. Smiling sweetly at him, Khushi pressed the cotton on his wound a little hard, making his grunt in pain again.

"DAMN IT. Is that how you dress a wound, woman?" Arnav yelled, closing his eyes in pain.

"Is this how I make a stubborn guy realize that he can't do anything on his own? Yes, Arnavji." Rephrasing the question, Khushi answered, her eyes focussed intently on wrapping the bandage around his wound now.

She is just as stubborn as you are, Arnav thought seeing Khushi dressing his wound, her scowling face showing her displeasure. Now how are they going to deal with each other's high headiness without killing each other? He wondered.

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"Good morning." Anjali wished everyone cheerfully, taking a seat. Arnav raised his eyebrow seeing his Di eating her breakfast while smiling.

"What happened Didi? You look happy." Khushi asked as Arnav watched their interaction, the same question rising in his mind.

"Woh nothing, Khushiji. It's just a good day. My leave got over today and I am going college again. Would you like to see the college where I teach?" Anjali offered happily.

"Sure." Khushi asked, bemused. Her gaze involuntarily went to Arnav, who looked as confused as her seeing the sudden chirpy behaviour of Anjali. They both weren't aware of how happy Anjali was, having finally done what she wanted to do since a long time.

Yes, Anjali loved her husband immensely but she wasn't blind to see how badly he treated her. And it was time for PAYBACK.

"I am so happy to see Arnav finally stopping his cheap tricks to make you leave Shantivan, Khushiji. He will come around soon." Anjali said on their way to her college, dressed in a simple white cotton kurta and leggings.

Smiling at her, Khushi asked, hesitating "Didi, why you always wear pale colors? Bright colors will look much better on you."

She regretted asking this question seeing how the smile wiped off Anjali's face. Her eyes took a distant look, rummaging through old pages of her life as she spoke softly "They betrayed me, Khushiji.

Bidding Anjali bye after seeing the college, Khushi was about to turn and leave in the car when something unusual caught her attention. She turned around scanning everything with narrowed eyes. Her eyes widened seeing a man pursuing Anjali as she hastily walked towards college.

He was in mid-thirties, dressed handsomely in a three-piece suit. It looked like he was trying to make Anjali understand something but she was refuting his every attempt of conversation. She was shocked when that man caught Anjali's wrist making her turn around and jerk her hand away from his before whispering something to him, looking furious.

Khushi was about to go there when Anjali rushed inside and that man left in a car sadly, before Khushi could reach him. Lost in thoughts, she made her way to the car. Who was that man? Is he the one who married Anjali Didi? What they were talking about?

She felt her head spinning with all the questions as the car went towards Shantivan. She was very curious to find answers to them. Above of all, she was genuinely worried for Anjali.

______________________________________

Arnav was in his cabin, gathering his stuff for the board meeting that he was about to attend in few minutes to discuss about the upcoming Delhi Fashion Week.

AR Designs was something he deeply cared for. It was not only his father's dream but his own as well. Since his childhood, he always dreamed about handling the company after his father and making Avinash proud with all his hard work and success.

The fact that Avinash was no more never left him demotivated about AR.

Four years. He had given four years of his life to AR, working hard day and night to take it to the heights that his father never imagined about. And these years were the best according to him when it comes to AR. AR was something he had revived after his father's sudden death and basked in the glory of it feeling that yes, there is something that he truly belong to him, only HIM.

He looked up frowning as his secretary barged in, without knocking before, panting and looking nervous.

"Aman, have you forgot to knock before entering in my cabin?" Arnav asked arrogantly.

"Sir, there is something you should know." Aman said hurriedly, following Arnav as they moved towards the conference room.

"What is it, Aman?" Arnav asked looking ahead, nodding as his employees greeted him on his way.

He felt Aman stuttering behind him. Looking curious, he turned to see Aman gulping looking scared, "Aman, what's the matter?"

His secretary didn't said anything and motioned him to enter inside the conference room, which he did cautiously.

"Aman, are you going to..." Arnav stopped in middle as his eyes fell on the chair which was occupied by someone. As the chair swirled, the person came in view. Dressed in a formal grey suit, Khushi was sitting there reading the brochure that AR has prepared for upcoming fashion week.

Sensing others presence, Khushi looked up keeping the brochure back on table. She smirked, taking in Arnav's shocked expressions and said "Hi, Arnavji."

I will update on Tuesday again. Please hit like button and comment.

Aditi.