Are you sure you want to report this content?
Two people,unknowingly bound by a sacred bond in the past but bond of hatred in the present. Bound by the dark past, a past which they want to forget, the sacred bond remained long forgotten.
Meet Arnav Singh Raizada, the biggest business tycoon of India who can have everything and anything but not what he needs the most, Love.
Bereft from the love of parents, he became ruthless and emotionless.
Bereft from the true love of friends, he fell in love with solitude.
Bereft from the the selfless love, he forgot the value of love.
Will he ever find love in his life?
Meet Khushi Kumari Gupta, the second name of life who never stops loving anyone and creating happiness around her.
Pampered by everyone, she realized the luxuries of life.
Loved by everyone, she enjoyed the shelter of love.
Surrounded by friends, she never realized the profoundness of solitude.
Will she ever understand the solitude in love?
When people so different meet and take vows forcibly to stand by each other throughout their life time, what will be the equation?
" Be it nether or heaven I will make her come back to me!"
Though he had promised his Di, that he will make his so-called childhood wife come back to me, he knew it was very difficult for anyone to do that.
But wasn't he Arnav Singh Raizada, for whom nothing is impossible. Now it had become a matter of honor to him rather than a matter of his interest towards his long lost wife.
" How did I become so insensible?" thought Arnav, as flashes of his conversation with Anjali came back to him mind, bringing back the tears to his eyes.
--FLASHBACK--
Arnav Singh Raizada, the self-made man, the biggest business tycoon of India who was recently listed in the top 5 billionaires of the world, was today helpless and restless.
But it the restlessness was not for him, it was for his Di, who chose to never marry in her life, just to take care of her brother.
She was struggling with death after facing a major accident.
Arnav's eyes which long back forgot how to cry were now shedding silent tears of blood. His eyes clouded with tears and love of a brother, were eagerly awaiting the doctor to come out of the operation theatre.
The doctor had come out after a long wait and Arnav pounced on him, without caring for the professional etiquette.
" Doctor, how is my Di?" asked Arnav, in cracking voice, as he was scared what he was to be hearing as the answer.
" Ms.Raizada, is better now, ASR! But we can't say anything as a lot of internal damage has been done and only love seems to be healer now, if not the time!" said the Doctor, shaken with the love of a brother.
" I want the best treatment for Di. And any mistake from your end, mean that you are FIRED." warned Arnav Singh Raizada.
" Nothing is in our hands, ASR! Now it is in hands of God!" said the doctor, who was very much frightened with this dark love.
" And I don't believe in God! So that excuse is not gonna work with me! I want to see Di and as you know I don't like to hear a 'no'." said ASR.
" Yes, of course but after she gains consciousness" said doctor, carefully choosing his words before speaking to the walking and talking devil, right in front of them.
------
After some time,
Arnav was now allowed to go in as Anjali had gained her consciousness but no one dared to utter the general instructions they were supposed to, to the great ASR.
Arnav barged into the room and ran to the bed where his Di was lying lifelessly.
He took her hands in his and faintly said,
" How are you feeling right now, Di?"
" How can I not be fine when I have a brother like you? But I seriously lost the hope that I will see you before dying!" said Anjali with a faint smile on her face, which was due to happiness that her brother who was no less than her son, was the sight infront of her eyes.
" Nothing will happen to you, Di! I promise!" said Arnav, hurriedly.
" One who is born should die, CHotte! It is the law of nature. So don't make promises you can't keep!" said Anjali, like a mother.
" Di, don't speak of death!" roared Arnav as he very much hated the topic of death.
" If not today then tomorrow, death is inevitable, Chotte!! Promise me that you will fulfill our Maa's last wish at any cost!" asked a tearful Anjali.
" Just name it, Di!" said Arnav, who was under emotional stress, right now.
" Bring back my Bhabhi, Chotte!" said Anjali, earning surprised looks from Arnav.
" Yes, Chotte! You are committed to a girl and I want to see you both together, before I might die!" said Anjali, shedding tears.
That would have been a shock to every person who would have been in Arnav's position but to a person to whom the word 'Commitment' didn't exist in dictionary, it was too hard to digest.
" Are you kidding me, Di?" asked Arnav, as it was the only thing which came to his mind as his Di was hell bent on making him get married.
" Why would I do that, atleast in this situation?" asked Anjali, raising her eyebrow just like her brother.
" Because you always do that."
" But not now, Chotte! Now are you fulfilling your promise, Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada?" asked Anjali, who had tired tone but still had enthusiasm in this topic, which had touched Arnav.
"Have I ever backed off from my promise made to you, Di? Be it nether or heaven I will make her come back to me!" vowed Arnav Singh Raizada.
--FLASHBACK ENDS--
United by fate, separated by destiny, will Anjali make these soulmates unite?'
------
Miles Away,
"Arre Payal, I want to visit, India. But my parents are so reluctant to let me go to India in this summer!" said Khushi Gupta, the second name of life who made everyone around her smile and love. But she was unaware of the dark past due to which Shashi and Garima Gupta, her parents were reluctant to send her to India.
" Whatever happens, KG! We will visit India this time and also we have my cousin Lavanya, there, So there is no reason to worry. And about convincing aunty and uncle, leave it to me." assured Payal Malhotra, best friend of Khushi since she came to United States of America.
" I am sure that revisiting my motherland this time would surely change my life." exclaimed Khushi.
What Khushi didn't know was, that truly her life will change with this one trip.
Will destiny unite them or distance them further?
---
Marriage.
How could he even ask a girl he had kidnapped to marry him? Was this guy in front of him, really out of his mind?
"Mister, mind your words. I am Shashi Gupta's daughter and you can't force me to do anything, I don't want to do" said Khushi, in a courage-filled voice which had surely managed to irk Arnav further.
Arnav took long strides towards Khushi and held her shoulder in a steel grip, which made her stand up on her toes.
"Ms. Khushi Gupta and soon-to-be Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada, mind your language!!! I am your-to-be husband!" said Arnav while gritting his teeth in fury.
" I don't care whoever you are, Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada or whatever. I am leaving from here right now!" saying this Khushi pushed him with all the strength she had in her and was about to leave when Arnav pulled her by her waist and pinned her down to the wall.
" You better do as I say! Or else I know several ways on how to get you on the right track" said Arnav with a loud and dangerous voice which had managed to scare Khushi again.
She gave a 'I-don't-care-look' and tried to push him away. But her efforts went futile in the case of freeing herself from him but they didn't go in vain as Arnav got infuriated by this, all over again.
" So you will not listen to me in this way. Not a worry, darling. I have many ways to make you listen to me." said Arnab, before moving dangerously close to Khushi and unzipping her kurta, which made Khushi shiver in fear.
" If you don't want to change in to the bridal attire, then I will help you there." said Arnav in a dangerously low voice, which made the darkness around Khushi, even more scarier for her.
He was about to pull out her kurta when he heard her low voice.
" Okay I will marry you but please don't do this!"said Khushi pleadingly.
" You have exactly 10 mins if you don't come then I will barge inside the room!!" saying this Arnav left her with a victorious smirk and left the room for the Pooja.
-----------
After 10 minutes,
Khushi came down in a red wedding lehenga for a day which every girl waited for throughout her childhood. But this was the last day of her life in the true sense,as she would never be the Khushi, she used to be.
Not just the surname but also her life would be turned upside down. She felt like she was betraying her parents by doing this but she was left with no other option. It was the only way left to save her dignity from this monster infront of her,
She went down to the Mandap with a heavy heart and sat down beside Arnav, who was dressed up in wedding sherwani and was smirking at his victory.
Soon the pheras, Manglayadharan and Sindhoor dharan was done and they were announced to be husband and wife for the next 7 births by the priest.
The reason behind all the rituals of a marriage suddenly seemed to vague.
The Seven Rounds around the Fire seemed to be the rounds taken around the corpse during a funeral.
The Mangalyadharan, seemed to be a death sentence to her, and the darkness of the beads seemed to be the monster in him.
The Sindoor Dharan, was the moment she wished that it should be the last moment of her life. She felt as if the red color of the vermillion was taken from the blood of her heart.
Khushi was crying badly as she was unable to accept the new fact of her life, in which she was supposed to be the wife of a monster, with whom forget 7 births, even 7 minutes was a hell.
------------
Arnav came out from the mandap to drag Khushi along him and proceeded towards their room for their Suhaag Raat.
Khushi decided that it was heights of forcing from Arnav now, and she released herself from his grip and asked,
" Why did you marry me, dammit? You want to bed with me, right? How cheap?" said Khushi, while crying and hitting Arnav, which made him hold her arms and pin them behind her back.
" To bed with you, I didn't even had to marry you. And since you started the topic, so let us proceed towards our next ritual."
" Shut up , Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada!! You cannot force me to do anything and everything! You have no right to do this to me!" said Khushi, while trying to free herself by kicking him.
" Shut up,Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada. I am your husband and I have all the rights in this world to do anything with you." said Arnav Singh Raizada, while tightening the grip on her arms and bringing her even more close to him.
" And I don't consider you as my husband. You mean nothing to me." said Khushi, angrily.
" Don't worry, sweetheart! Tonight you will have to accept me as your husband!" said Arnav in a husky and dangerous voice.
" No way!"
Arnav lifted her petite frame in his arms which made her get extremely frightened and she let out a scream before she passed out in his arms.
Arnav was shocked and also realized the cruelty he was showing to Khushi. He started patting her cheeks and called out her name several times but she didn't even show any sign of life in her.
Now he was getting scared.
What if Khushi lost the point of life after what he had done to her?
He immediately took her to the room, placed her on the bed and went out of the room feeling extremely angry about his deeds till now.
He thought he will go for a long drive which would calm him nerves down but a thought struck his mind.
What if it was a plan of Khushi to escape from him?
Hence, he came back to the room which was decorated for his Suhaag Raat.
-------------
After 30 minutes,
Khushi woke up with her head feeling heavy and her palm over it to support it.
She realized that she was in his room and on the bed, and the reality struck her hard.
She turned around looking for him and saw him standing near the poolside.
She was angry now and she started hitting him on the chest which made him feeling startled and he lost the balance. He held Khushi by her waist and both fell in the pool.
------
" You are not going anywhere, Khushi. I have promised my Di that you will stay with me and I will fulfill my promise at any cost." said Arnav, moving close to Khushi not caring that her ex-fiance and father are watching this.
" You can't stop me, Mr.Raizada. I am not your slave but that doesn't mean I am coming with you, Dad. I will stay with Payal and Lavanya." said Khushi while making her way towards the door, while Arnav held her hand in a vice like grip and pulled her back.
" When I say something, I mean it, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada. You better not mess up with me or I know how to make your family's life, a living hell. And even if you from here, I know how to get you back and mind you, I will make your condition unidentifiable if you move away from here." whispered Arnav, dangerously in her ears.
Khushi was shivering due to the violent streaks in his voice and the sincerity in his voice make her feel that this person in front of her will not hesitate to turn his sayings in to reality.
Seeing Khushi frozen in her place, Arnav moved away from her and addressed Shashi and Karan,
" You both can leave from here. After all uninvited guests are not entertained in my house. But I am courteous enough to not drag you out because I know better ways than that."
" Then try them, Raizada!" challenged Karan.
" Do you want Khushi to suffer in my hands? Anyways you will be thrown out if you don't leave from here. But after I throw you out, your Khushi will see the dark side of me." said Arnav, smirking evilly.
Shashi and Karan were shocked. They knew Khushi can stand up to herself and if they anger Arnav, the consequences might not be sweet for anyone there. So they decided they will leave for now, to plan how to bring Khushi out of this hell.
Shashi was moving ahead silently but as Khushi saw him coming towards her, she immediately moved back. Shashi's heart twitched seeing his daughter ignoring him.
Karan was extremely furious about the inhumane behavior of Arnav, but he decided to get a grip on it for his Khushi, whom he couldn't see in pain.
As soon as Karan and Shashi left, Khushi ran into one of the rooms and shut herself inside. Arnav knew she needed time, before she meets one more important person, who wanted her in his life.
-----------
Afternoon,
Arnav was thinking about his feelings for Khushi. He knew he was hurting her very badly in the process of gaining her but he was unable to bear the pain of separation from her.
The first time, destiny separated them as children. But now he was Arnav Singh Raizada, who wrote his own destiny and also wrote the destinies of those around him. He was determined that he will not let Khushi go away from him.
But he was unaware that his feelings were not of love, but intense obsession which one could name as dark love. And dark love could only give pain, not solace.
He rose up from his study and looked down to see that Khushi was out of the room, searching for something to drink and eat. After all she hadn't eaten anything from the past 24 hours.
Taking it as an opportunity, Arnav took three steps at a time to reach her as fast as he can. Khushi heard some footsteps approaching her and hence she rooted herself to the spot she was standing on.
" Get ready. We have to meet Di." said Arnav, nonchalantly.
" And what if I don't come along with you?" asked Khushi, dauntlessly which came to Arnav as a shock.
" I can very well forcibly lift you, seat you in the car and drive you to Shantivan." said Arnav, in calm tone which irked Khushi to the core.
" Do whatever you want!" said Khushi, and tried moving from there but it was of no avail. She was forcibly picked up from the floor by her husband and he started walking towards the car while taking extra long strides. Khushi started struggling and hitting him, but Arnav remained unaffected by it.
" Stop swimming in air. I am not letting you down. So do whatever you wish to." said Arnav, glaring at her from the corner of his eyes. Khushi felt like crying but in the time she spent alone, she decided that she will not shed even one tear for this monster, because he doesn't deserve her precious tears.
Arnav opened the door before seating her inside and strapping the seat belt. He shut the door and started driving. The journey was going to be extra long as no one really wanted to speak.
---------
Shantivan,
" Here Di. I fulfilled my promise. Now before you fire questions at me, let me go and get fresh." said Arnav, clearly escaping the situation before Anjali asks questions about Khushi coming back so soon.
On the other hand, Khushi was looking at the house not meeting Anjali eye-to-eye but now since Arnav was going to freshen up see will have to speak to her and she knew what she will say.
" So Pari, I am so happy that you are back, fulfilling my parents' wishes. I hope you are having a happy life with Arnav?" playfully teased Anjali, unaware that happy married life was an alien word for Khushi, at the moment.
" He says that he brought me here on your wishes. Did you tell him to kidnap a girl and marry her forcibly?" questioned Khushi, while Anjali was shocked to hear Khushi's side of the story.
" Pari.." uttered Anjali weakly but she was cut inbetween by a furious Khushi.
" You call me Pari, and break my wings? Anjaliji, your brother has been trying to force me since he married me forcibly, do you know that? He is inhumane. He is hell bent on making me live in a hell everyday. Even after knowing this you think I am having happy married life, then I pity on your blind sisterly love, Anjaliji." said Khushi strongly melting Anjali's heart.
But they both were unaware that there was one more person who was hearing to this conversation, who was getting angrier by every word enunciated by Khushi.
" Khushi Ji, I have not become so blind too. If you don't want to stay here then you will not. I will speak to Chotte, but for now you go and relax. You must be really tired. And leave everything to me." assured Anjali.
Khushi was really happy that at least someone would actually try to free her from Arnav. And this person had some chance of succeeding as it was on her wishes that she is here. She felt that Arnav would not go against his sister's wishes to be with her.
On the other hand, Anjali was really upset with the steps taken by her CHotte to fulfill her wishes. She would have never asked for that if she knew what he would do.
She prayed to Devi Maiyya to give Khushi the strength to stay as she is, till she convinces Chotte.
Khushi went inside the room closest to the living room and shut it inside. But as soon as she turned around she found herself harshly pinned against the wall, by a furious Arnav.
----
" Aah..." moaned Khushi in pain as a vice like grip developed on her waist as Arnav held her against the door firmly.
"You are hurting me!" said Khushi in a hoarse whisper as she winced in pain.
" And you? You can hurt anyone for your profit, Khushi Gupta Singh Raizada?What were you saying in front of Di?" asked Arnav, in a dangerous voice.
" I was asked for my opinion." said Khushi, in a fake confident voice because she didn't want to bend in front of him anytime.
" You were asked? And you placed your opinion in a extremely NICE way, didn't you?" asked Arnav sarcastically before drawing Khushi extremely close to him by pulled her by her upper arms.
" You killed my parents, destroyed my childhood, broke my heart but still my heart says something and my mind explains something else." said Arnav, through gritted teeth, which was scaring Khushi to the core.
She had not anticipated this to happen. And hence she was going numb after hearing his side.
She broke his heart?
When?
He hates her, doesn't he? Then how can I break his heart, pondered Khushi.
" But you know what, my mind always triumphs and it says that you are nothing but a fake person just like your family. Your family played with my family's feelings and destroyed it and you are no different!" shouted Arnav, which his anger was making him forget sanity and logic.
He was unable to think about the whole situation from an unbiased point of view. It is always from a son's, a brother's or a lover's points of view that he is observing this situation and it is certainly not helping him.
He was unable to realize that Khushi was being a victim in his hands and was certainly not a culprit for his condition.
" For every goddamn thing your family wanted a price, isn't it? Now for that they will have to pay a huge price, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada." warned Arnav, in a scarily low voice.
" Arnav..." tried saying Khushi, who wanted to calm him down first before telling him, her side of the story but it only seemed to provoke him further.
Arnav pushed her onto the bed and leaned dangerously close to her.
" Is there something you and your family didn't try to price? No, that's because your heart, your soul and your mind, everything is black." said Arnav, while gritting his teeth.
The molten brown eyes which were now throwing daggers on her were scaring her. His anger was scaling to new heights as no words seemed to form from Khushi's mouth.
" When everything which belongs to you is impure then even your body should be impure, isn't it? My touch disgusts you and makes you feel impure right? Get used to it, because I am not going to leave you till I destroy you." roared Arnav.
Khushi was shedding innumerable tears as every word of his, painfully echoed in her heart. It was breaking her down completely from inside and now she was unable to even speak or push him.
" And don't even try to complain to Di or you will never be able to complain in your life. SAMJHI TUM?" barked Arnav, loudly which this time reached to Anjali's ears.
Anjali came running towards the room and banged the door while asking,
" What happened? Open the door, Chotte!"
Arnav was brought back to earth from his seventh sky of anger by Anjali's voice. He pushed Khushi on the bed, making her fall on her face and went to open the door.
" Yes, Di?" asked Arnav, while raising his eyebrows.
" Is Khushi inside?" asked Anjali, suspiciously even though she was sure that Arnav was shouting on Khushi. But she wanted Arnav to confess about it.
" Yes, Di." answered Arnav, in a nonchalant tone while anger was trying to make its way out, all over again seeing his Di still concerned for his wife.
" Were you shouting on her?" asked Anjali, without adding Chotte to it, which Arnav had noticed and realized that his Di was angry on him.
"Yes, Di." answered Arnav again in just two words, which this time got on the wrong side of his sister.
" Explain." ordered Anjali, with a stern face while trying to look inside to see how was Khushi as her path was blocked by Arnav.
Khushi, on the other hand, had buried her face inside the mattress as tears were today flowing without any bounds.
How can anyone be so cruel?
How can anyone behave so harshly with a girl?
How am I the reason of his parents death when I didn't even meet them?
The questions in her mind were so many that she didn't even hear Arnav and Anjali talking or rather shouting.
" She is my wife and I believe I have that right to shout on her, Di." said Arnav without any kind of hesitation, while Anjali had seen Khushi's trembling form, which signed her that she was ill treated badly.
Anjali held Arnav's hand and dragged him to the hall, while Arnav followed her quietly without struggling.
" Wife? Yes, she is your forced bride. How could you even force her to marry you, just because I asked you to bring back her to her Sasuraal?" shouted Anjali.
As a girl, she had understood what Khushi was undergoing due to inhumane actions from her brother. And she wanted to help her now as her stay here shouldn't be at the cost of her happiness.
" Yes, Di. I forced her to marry me because you asked me for bringing her back. I am mistreating her because I hate her.
I hate her for being the cause of death of our parents.
I hate her for being the cause your pain and our destroyed childhood.
I hate for breaking my heart and making me heartless.
I hate her so much that I don't regret what I did, or doing or will do." said Arnav, in a firm voice but just as he completed his words he felt a tight pain stinging his cheek. He held his cheek to control the pain and looked at his Di who was fuming in anger.
" I am ashamed to call you as my brother. You are no longer my Chotte, Mr.Raizada. He is dead for me.You are all grown up now and you are THE Arnav Singh Raizada. But remember I am Anjali Singh Raizada and I will not let you torture an innocent soul in the name of revenge." vowed the angry sister of Arnav Singh Raizada, Anjali Singh Raizada.
------
" Fine, Di. It seems that you don't want me and Khushi to stay here. As you wish. We are going back." said Arnav with finality in his tone.
Anjali was shocked at the heartlessness of her brother.
How could he think of hurting a soul as innocent as Khushi?
How can he name Khushi as the culprit for the wrongs they had to face?
If she was a culprit, then she was culprit of herself, as if she hadn't come to India it would have been much more difficult to kidnap her.
" Arnav Singh Raizada, you know what you are speaking right?" shouted Anjali, as the dam of control broke to vent immense anger stored in her.
" Yes, Di. I know what I am saying and what I am going to do." said Arnav, before making his way towards the room in which Khushi was there. His pace and the length of his strides was so much that Anjali, who was running behind him couldn't catch up to him.
" Arnav stop there! You can't do this!" shouted Anjali from behind but Arnav cared a damn about it.
He opened the door with a bang to see Khushi lying lifeless on the bed, without any signs of life or happiness. It hurt him to see her like that but the hatred which was over powering him was not letting him think about anything wise.
He held her by her wrist and dragged her along with him. Khushi was following him blindly as she didn't have any more strength to protest against him as she knew what ever she does would prove to be futile.
Anjali was still running behind him and this time she thought of emotionally blackmailing him,
" If you love me then you will not go from here."
Arnav stopped mid-way but didn't turn around.
" I love you more than anyone else, Di! All this started due to my love for you but it will not end because of them same. Sorry but I can't give you what you are asking for." said Arnav, in a deep nonchalant voice which had broken both Anjali's heart and hope.
Anjali broke down and fell on her knees crying at her destiny which made her ask something which cost someone their life and dignity.
------------
Car,
The sun had set, and the darkness took over, just as the sun in Khushi's life had set as Arnav entered it again.All the way back, Khushi was very quiet and it seemed to Arnav if she didn't even blink her eyes.
What if she went numb?
" Khushi, you okay?" asked Arnav, finally as his curiosity took the best of him.
" Okay? How can I be okay when you are beside me, Mr.Raizada?" asked Khushi, disgusted that Arnav asked a question as bad as that.
Almost immediately the car was pulled to a halt.
" You are not okay with me, right? Get out, right now!" shouted Arnav, as he was very angry that everyone was finding faults in him rather than understanding his point of view.
Well, his point of view was so biased that no one could think on the same lines.
Khushi silently yet firmly got out of the car as she badly wanted to be alone, away from the beasts of her life and haunting darknesses where no ray of light or hope can be found.
Arnav drove off immediately not caring that it was night and the place was nearly secluded. After all, when in anger Arnav SIngh Raizada's mind never worked.
Khushi dropped down on the road, while the tears, long controlled starting rolling down her cheeks, mixing with the tears of god falling from the heaven. She was brought down to such a point of life, where the very soothing rains she loved to get wet in, were now burning her skin and soul.
Truly, love, hatred and pain change a person so much that we find no relation between the former self and the latter self.
----------------
Parking,
As he pulled the car to a halt, he realized what he did. He left his wife in a secluded area and it was raining cats and dogs.
Sometimes he didn't understand what he felt for Khushi. He cared for her more than himself but never thinks a second before hurting her. What should he name these feelings?
He reversed back the car, hoping that nothing bad had occurred to Khushi and drove at high speed breaking many rules on the way.
As he travelled some distance, he saw a lifeless body on the road, which was of a young woman. His heart skipped a beat, if it was his Khushi.
Indeed, it was Khushi who had fainted due to lack of energy and fever which came due to the rain.
Arnav jumped out of his car and rushed to Khushi immediately. He placed her head in his lap and patted her cheeks not-so-gently while saying,
" Khushi! Open your eyes, dammit!"
Arnav felt his very life slipping out of his hand, as he saw Khushi lifeless in his arms. He no longer felt the ground beneath him. He picked her up in his arms and asked her again,
" Open your eyes, Khushi!"
But she was not going to listen to him this time atleast. And the night was still young.
-------
-------------------
Raizada Farm House,
Arnav quickly brought Khushi in to their room and laid her on the recliner. He saw that she was trembling due to the extremely wet clothing she was wearing and something hinted to him that he had to change her clothes. After all, he had no other option.
If he called his Di, she would only make a huge drama out of this but she wouldn't do anything worthwhile and he couldn't call any of his female staff because almost all the roads were in a bad condition due to heavy rain.
And then he decided. He would change Khushi's clothes but wouldn't let himself shed the self-control in him.
He slowly yet steadily pulled away the end of the sari, resting on her shoulders and removed the blouse with the same fervor.He was working with almost closed eyes as he knew that it would prove to be a challenge for him if he dared to fully open his eyes. But her mere touch of the uncovered skin was enough for him to get startled and lose a fraction of his self-control.
He unbuttoned her upper garments which made her squirm in between his muscular and strong arms and seeing that, Arnav's eyes dilated with passion and desire.
To make it even more difficult for Arnav, Khushi unknowingly let out a sensual moan in between. He made her wear a top which he took out from the wardrobe, before he started changing.
He knew that next step is gonna be very difficult for him as after that it would surely prove to be a challenge to his self-control. He closed his eyes and pulled out the skirt in one go and immediately replaced it with tights without taking much time.
He picked her up carefully from the recliner, laid her on the bed and when he was about to go he was pulled back by a tug on his collar which made him fall on Khushi completely.
Self-control seemed go out of the window as their lips were almost touching and the moonlight was reflecting on her pale skin which had red shades similar to that of blushing on the cheek bone, which was making him go restless.
Suddenly, he realized that her body had gone extremely cold and as much knowledge he had in biology, he knew that it could prove fatal to a person if the temperature drops too low.
He moved away from her after painfully removing the grip on his collar and picked up his phone from the side table to call the doctor.
" Hello ASR. How may I help you?" asked the doctor, who immediately picked up the call seeing it was from ASR.
" Actually my wife, who had become wet in the rain tonight, is growing immensely cold. How can I increase the temperature of her body? I already changed the clothing." asked Arnav, while increasing the temperatures on the room heaters and closing the windows.
" ASR, increase the temperatures in the surroundings and rub her palms to increase the body heat." said the doctor, as he was embarrassed to say the first thing which came to his mind.
Arnav moved to her and tried rubbing her palms but found that it was going further low.
" Doctor, her body temperature is dropping down continuously!" shouted Arnav impatiently, still trying to give her warmth by rubbing her palms.
" ASR, I think it is not going to work this way! And continuous dropping of temperature can prove to be fatal for your wife's life. Since, there is no way I can reach there in this heavy rain and give her injection, you will have to warm her up. You know what I mean, right?" asked Doctor, while mentally praying that Khushi gets well soon.
Arnav was on a dead end. When she was conscious, he forced himself upon her but now when he was supposed to warm her up when he is unconscious he was unable to even touch her.
But the silent love in his heart won today and he decided that he would do this for Khushi's life and his own life which was dependent on Khushi.
The Arnav Singh Raizada who never apologized had apologized twice that night.He took the courage and proceeded towards the king size bed on which Khushi was senselessly lying while opening his shirt buttons. He was guilty of what he did previously to her but now he has to work hard to reverse it and win Khushi's heart. He hovered on top of Khushi after covering her with a heavy blanket. He started started placing butterfly kisses on Khushi's swan like neck softly and started biting it slowly making her get a bit aware of her surroundings.
He slid his hand under the top to rub her to make her get warmer. He went down and kissed her exposed sensual cleavage and left his love bites there. Even as he continued his work, he was trying to compose himself.
Seeing, nothing work according to his wishes, he captured her lips in to a passionate kiss which had only love and concern in it. After two or three minutes of no response, finally he felt Khushi responding and sweating. He understood his work was done here and he had to stop now but the situation was so complicated for him that he was turned on and it required too much of self control to stop at this stage where Khushi was half-naked and he was completely aroused. But he had to do one more sacrifice for her that night which he willingly did. When he tried to go but Khushi's hand didn't let him go. And he thought of staying back as she might need anything at night and he hugged her from behind giving her some warmth and went in to sleep after a mentally tiring night, which asked for everything he held dear.
--------
Next Morning,
Khushi struggled to move from her place as she found a vice like grip around her waist and weight on her lower region. As she opened her eyes, and saw the reason she was shocked to see that she was sleeping in her husband's arms and her clothing was not the same as last night.
The large mirror placed beside the bed, gave her view of her reddened body which was the result of her husband's love. But soon her eyes turned red due to immense rage rising in her.
She pushed Arnav away from her and Arnav woke suddenly as the push came as a jerk to him. Khushi stood up, after rising from the bed and shouted on him,
" How dare you do this to me? How can you change my clothes and take advantage of my unconscious state? I never knew you were so spineless, Mr.Raizada"
" Khushi, I did it only for you. Doctor said that it will prove fatal if the body temperature doesn't rise and I was left with only this option." said Arnav, coming closer to her while she jerked him away.
" I would have preferred to die rather than taking your help, Mr.Raizada. And also you hate me right? How would it matter whether I live or die?" asked Khushi, dauntlessly as she felt dirty after the previous night's events.
How can she even speak about her death in front of him? Of course it would matter him. An immense rage builded up in him and he gripped her upper arms tightly while bringing her close to himself.
"It would matter because I LOVE YOU DAMMIT!" shouted on the top of his voice, while Khushi stood shocked and astounded in her arms.
He loved her?
He hated her right?
Her head started spinning at the revelation which had the potential to change her life forever.
" What did you say, Mr. Raizada? YOU LOVE ME? Do you even know the meaning of love? To separate a daughter from her family is not love!
To separate two people bound in an engagement is not love!
Forcing yourself on a girl in the name of marriage is CERTAINLY NOT LOVE!
Forcing a girl to break all her relations to fulfill a promise is DEFINITELY NOT LOVE!
Tell me Arnav Singh Raizada, how can I believe that you LOVE me? For me, the word LOVE doesn't exist in your dictionary nor will it ever!" spat out Khushi, in anger scaling new heights.
Will Khushi ever understand Arnav?
----
As the rays of light penetrated into the dark room, light of realization started clearing the clouds of confusion in his mind. Arnav stumbled back by a few steps and fell back on his bed.
All the taunts, all the tortures he inflicted on Khushi came in front of eyes, making him close his eyes. But how could he turn away from a sight, etched in the canvas of his mind.
"No, that's because your heart, your soul and your mind, everything is black."
It was not Khushi who possessed a dark personality, it was he, THE Arnav Singh Raizada, who had emanated dark aura.
It was not Khushi whose mind was full of darkness, it was his eyes which were blinded to not notice the innocence in Khushi, which he now destroyed.
It was not Khushi whose heart was dark, because it clearly bled every time he taunted her or used her for his revenge.
He was truly a fool to not realize that Khushi was not the culprit because she was clearly the victim to his atrocious deeds. But it is better late than never.
ASR finally realized and he sincerely wanted to earn forgiveness from the lady, whom he had fallen deeply for, the lady whom he had hurt beyond any repair and the lady, who stole the heart of a heartless person. And once ASR takes a decision, there is no going back on it.
Winning or losing was a different question altogether but he was surely going to try his best, because now his life solely depended on her.
------------------------------------------
After noon,
" Om Prakash, can you get me the orange color file from ASR's desk?" asked Aman, as he was in the farmhouse to get a file which Arnav forgot owing to immense stress he was going through.
"Oh Hello, Mr.Mathur. Glad to see you again. If I am not wrong then you are person who kidnapped me at the not-so good orders of your boss, isn't it?" asked Khushi, sarcastically as she had seen Aman during the forced marriage too.
"I am sorry to go against you Ma'am, but I would like to say that ASR was compelled to do that. But his intentions were never wrong." said Aman, who knew the soft person behind the mask of ASR.
" Don't support you boss blindly, Mr.Mathur. You don't know what a girl goes through when she is married forcibly and a stranger forces himself on her." said Khushi, defensively.
" ASR was not like this before, Ma'am. It is just because of you and your family that he changed so much for his betterment and for his sister." said Aman, in defense of his boss whom he knew was deeply and madly in love with Khushi.
" So now you are accusing me and my family to defend your boss. Interesting, Mr.Mathur. How low can you both stoop to show that you are correct when every thing in this world says that you are at fault." said Khushi, while stressing on the last few words to present her point effectively.
" You are the one who doesn't the truth, Ma'am. You never got the opportunity to get to the truth. Your family was so guilty of its acts that it hid the biggest truth of your life from you, scared that you will hate them. Do you know that they are the reason behind ASR's parents death? Do you know that your parents and ASR's parents were best friends and business partners? You don't, Ma'am because your family had effectively hid this truth by leaving India and manipulating your young mind." sighed Aman, because he knew that Khushi needs to know the truth.
" What? You know what you are saying right?" stormed Khushi, angrily.
" Yes, Ma'am. I very well know what I am speaking, thank you. Your parents arranged your marriage with ASR to take their business relationship and friendship to a new level. And they even got you both married leaving aside the Indian Judiciary and IPC. But once they saw that their company was facing losses, your parents left the country without a notice and unable to bear the taunts from the society and the business loss, ASR's parents committed suicide, leaving behind ASR and Anjali Ma'am. ASR and Anjali Ma'am faced a lot in their lives at a very tender age and they survived on the insurance money with no one as the support system.
Still you feel that ASR's anger is not justified, then I cannot help it, Ma'am. Thank You." said Aman, while leaving behind a shocked Khushi, who couldn't believe the extent of inhumanity and selfishness exhibited by her own family.
Suddenly Arnav's actions did not seem to be as low, as heinous as they seemed a few minutes ago. Suddenly his anger seemed justified to her. But her mind still hated him for using her a pawn in the revenge game, she was never even part of. His revenge should be with her parents not with her, irrespective of the relationship they shared in the past unconsciously.
Khushi collapsed on the floor owing to the gravity and the intensity of the situation, due to which her knees gave away.
Suddenly a vaguely familiar shout reverberated in her ears as it echoed in the confines of the large Raizada Farmhouse. It didn't take her long to realize that the owner of the voice was none other than her ex-fiance, Karan Singhania who was now seen rushing to her with immense concern spread across his face.
" Khushi, come with me. This is the right time to escape from here. That Raizada is busy in a meeting he cannot escape and the security is loose as they rushed to Shantivan." said Karan, while pulling her up, making her stand on her feet again.
On the other hand, Khushi could only feel his lips moving but the words formed due to that movement went unheard by her, as she was still in the state of shock and consternation due to the latest happenings and revelations.
Will Khushi go along with Karan, leaving behind Arnav yet again?
Khushi decided that her rightful place was where her heart was beating right now. Though the relationship started off in a bad way, the destination of this relationship was not a dead end for sure. And Khushi decided that she will give a chance to this relationship, with a clear mind.
" Karan, I don't want to come along with you." Khushi said nonchalantly and monotonously asserting her seriousness in this matter, while Karan was shocked after hearing Khushi refusing to escape from the hell, according to him.
" What are you saying this? Don't be scared with the stupid threats of that evil Raizada. We will not let anything happen to you." Karan assured but the words fell on deaf ears as Khushi chose to stick to her decision.
" He is not evil, Karan. Mom and Dad, destroyed his and his sister's childhood which made him become what he is today. If he is at fault today, then it is because of Mom's and Dad's fault years back. In fact what Mom and Dad did was not a mistake, it was a sin, a break of firm trust, a break of a relationship and a disrespect to the words 'friendship' and 'relationship'" Khushi voiced out her opinion which made Karan turn serious and say,
" You changed your sides listening to that Raizada, Khushi? You went against your parents for him?" Karan tried emotional blackmail but it was of no avail.
" It is not the matter of sides, Karan. It is the matter of right or wrong. What my parents did was definitely wrong and no amount of explanations can rectify it. And try this emotional blackmail somewhere else, Karan." Khushi remarked sternly showing Karan that she was serious in her talks.
" You are going to regret doing this Khushi. In the very near future." Karan warned her before leaving Raizada Farmhouse then and there as he felt insulted by Khushi's stern words.
Khushi, on the other hand, collapsed down to the floor and stayed there, for what seemed like ages, as she was unable to feel anything or think anything. It was like, one thought changed her everything, for ever.
Tears rolled down her cheeks reminiscing the misdeeds committed by her parents, and the revenge which Arnav took from her. The tears were silent but the heart beats were extremely loud due to the restlessness she was facing right then.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. She raised her hand slowly to wipe out the tears which were continuously flowing from her eyes and stood up. Her legs dragged her almost lifeless body to the isolated Puja Room, and her hands pulled out a small golden box, embedded with small stones.
She nervously opened it to see the red colored powder, which adorns the partition of every married woman while reminiscing the way, Arnav made her wear the vermillion. As she continued to stare at the box with pain-filled eyes, her mind was unable to fathom, what feeling was more prevalent.
The hatred which she has, or maybe had for Arnav?
Or the empathy she was feeling for Arnav?
Or the helplessness of being nothing but a mere pawn in the revenge game?
Her heartbeats were slow and steady but her breaths were heavy, just as her head and heart.
While Arnav's hatred was intolerable, Khushi somehow felt that even his love was as deep, as true, as intense as his hatred. After all, no one can hate you more than a person who loved you.
His care, his concern and his love starting overpowering her thoughts. She took a pinch of vermillion and raised her hand to fill her partition with it. Her eyes shut themselves in the anticipation of some peace, some solace which was found but with the touch of someone, or rather a grip of someone on her hand.
Khushi opened her eyes with a start to see Arnav holding her hand, preventing her from filling her partition with it. A questioning look, involuntarily developed on her face to which Arnav's words gave soulful answers.
" You don't need to this, Khushi. I never realized the value of this red colored powder in a woman's life till today. I didn't realize the effect it can have in girl's life till I saw the pain clouded in your eyes while wearing this. Now this vermillion will adorn your partition only when you wish and will be of the person's name, whom you choose. I can only hope that the name is my mine." said Arnav, with misted eyes as his tears threatened to fall down but his love has over-powered everything else this time.
Khushi on the other hand was caught in dilemma. The person whom he hated has changed. The person who could force her to any extents was letting her go. What more was required to prove his love?
Suddenly Khushi wanted to forgive him, for all the deeds he committed because a clap was not formed with one hand, and the mistake was here from her parents side too. But they chose to not realize their folly and Arnav realized it and was trying his level best to correct it.
Arnav's own eyes were betraying him, and unable to show his pain to Khushi, he turned away from her. Khushi stared intently at Arnav with respect and admiration. She was not in love for sure. But surely she can respect the person, who changed himself for his love and who is ready to sacrifice his everything including his own love for the sake of LOVE.
Arnav got a grip on himself and turned around to face Khushi once again. He held her by her shoulders but unlike the previous times, this time his touch had certain gentleness and affection in it. Maybe even his touch wanted her to realize his love for her.
" I am really sorry for what happened in between us. I understand that the mistake was mine. You were never the culprit of my parents' death and my lost childhood. In fact you were a victim of my heinous deeds. Khushi, I really love you a lot. But my love for you is not selfish like you believe and I will not force it on your like in the past. I don't know why you wanted to fill you partition but please don't burden me more, by doing it for me.
Whatever happened in our childhood was because of our parents.
What ever happened in this one month was because of my stupid vengeance.After all you took my heart along with you to the US, Khushi.
But the acceptance of this marriage will surely be because of our hearts. My heart will want this, and will wait for your yes till the eternity but don't take any decision for me, a person who destroyed your life by playing with it. Because the decision this time, is completely in your hands, Khushi. Believe me, whatever your decision is, I will accept it wholeheartedly. It is my promise, Arnav Singh Raizada's promise to you." Arnav promised Khushi, making her get overwhelmed with his love for her.
What will be Khushi's decision? Is this the new beginning of their relationship or the end?
-----
Arnav turned away from Khushi after expressing the words which his heart wanted to say. He was about to ascend the stairs when suddenly a gentle grip developed on his hand, and it didn't take long for him to realize that it was his love stopping him.
With slow movements Arnav turned around to glance at Khushi, whose eyes were misted but with happiness unlike the pain which clouded her eyes, and came down as the tears of anguish.
Khushi suddenly enveloped Arnav in tight embrace of hers, while it took Arnav by shock. For Arnav it was one of those dreams which always haunted him after he tortured Khushi in the name of a silly revenge.
Khushi pulled out from the embrace, which was not reciprocated by Arnav due to the shock which Khushi gave him. For him, it was a dream once again but it was the time when dreams met the reality.
When true love blooms, eyes speak the language of love more than mouth and silences express more than words ever can.
Khushi forwarded the stone-studded intricately carved out box of vermillion placed in her hand towards Arnav, whose eyes were tracing her shivering form with eyes misted with love and remorse.
" Make me yours again, by filling my partition, Arnav." Khushi's gazes voiced out to Arnav, while Arnav's eyes only asked questions.
He took the lid of the box from her other hand to close it, but refusal was what he got. Khushi nodded in negative, while her body language and her respect filled eyes, pleaded him to make her his, forever with her acquiescence this time.
Thousands of emotions were resulting thousands of colors in Arnav's eyes. There was pain that he hurt her, there was guilt that he used her for the revenge game. Then there was anger whose victim he himself was. But above all these emotions, there was just love which he had for her and which Khushi started feeling for him not a long time back.
Arnav's eyes still asked her questions but a certain determination on her face made him give in to her demands. The windows to his heart were still open towards only her, waiting for the refusal which never came. His hand slowly yet steadily reached up to the vermillion-filled box and took a pinch of vermillion.
Tadeva lagnam sudinam tadeva, tarabalam chandrabalam tadeva
vidyabalam daivabalam tadeva, lakshmipateh teghriyugam smarami
Red was no longer the sign of pain or of anger but now it was the color of their love, their feelings which run deeper than their blood and those emotions which will keep them alive.
As Arnav filled her partition, marking her as his with his love and affection, a genuine smile adorned her lips after what seemed like ages. Arnav had been the cause of her tears for 1 month but now she knew that he will be the sole reason of her smiles for a lifetime.
-----------------------------------
Gupta Mansion, India
" Uncle, Khushi is falling for that stupid Raizada's threats. I am sure that Khushi would never agree to be there by her own will." Karan said as raw possessiveness took over him, being a very possessive guy.
" What do you expect Karan Beta? Raizadas are not the ones to be trusted. If their work is not done, they are ready to go on the crooked way too. And who knows them better than me, a person whom they betrayed?" Shashi said as the memories of the dark past brought wincing pain to his heart.
" Uncle, we need to rescue Khushi by hook or by crook from there. God knows what tortures that Devil is inflicting on my Khushi." Karan said who was actually concerned for Khushi, and never thought anything bad for her.
" Rescuing her can happen only when we get the Arnav Singh Raizada away from our path or else the fear of him torturing her or us will prevent her from taking help from others." said Shashi, while sipping the stringent and intoxicating wine from his glass after intently staring at it.
" But how will we do that Uncle? I mean Arnav Singh Raizada is the biggest business tycoon of India and he has the tightest security measures, which are next to impossible to be cracked." explained Karan, who had done his R&D about Arnav before reaching India.
" Leave that to me, Beta. Soon Arnav Singh Raizada will become a history to payback what he has done to my daughter." vowed Shashi Gupta, while gulping down the champagne.
----------------------------------------------
Arnav's Farm House,
" You have no idea, how happy I am, Khushi! I am feeling as if I won the entire world and I am feeling as if even if I die at this moment I will not be sad." said Arnav to which Khushi gasped and stopped him by placing her slender and artistically crafted fingers on his lips.
Arnav held the same fingers resting on his lips and placed a butterfly kiss on them, while eying at Khushi with desire. Who said that desire was not a part of their love?
One look of Arnav's and Khushi's insides somersaulted and butterflies and what not fluttered in her stomach. An alien feeling took over her but whatever it was, it was pleasurable and memorable for her.
Seeing the hindrance visible on Khushi's face, Arnav held both her hands in his own and spoke with love,
" I am ready to wait for you for eternity Khushi. So if you are not comfortable with anything, please let me know. I have caused enough pain for you to last for this lifetime, now I only want to see happiness glistening in your eyes, due to me."
Overwhelmed by Arnav's words, Khushi hid herself in his arms by hugging him tightly while this time, Arnav reciprocated the hug with a rare smile gracing his lips, completing their first hug of love.
Arnav caressed her hair with fondness and placed a gentle kiss on her hairs, as she smiled at her destiny which was intertwined with him, unknown of the storm that was going to shatter their lives again.
What were Shashi and Karan planning? Will they succeed in their plans?
Will Arnav and Khushi's love story end before Khushi's 'I Love You'?
---
----------------------------------
Infinity Mall,
Crowds of people surrounding them but all they could see was each other. From a person who was destroyed in his dark love to a person whose life depended on his love, Khushi was surprised with her own destiny which united her with Arnav, who loved her beyond anything.
Ever since the much wanted confession took place in between them, Arnav was pestering Khushi to come out with him because he regretted the fact that they had never enjoyed the courtship period which was termed to be the most memorable period in a couple's life.
Arnav pulled Khushi along with himself into one of the big hotels over there which was completely booked for Arnav and Khushi, allowing them some privacy which Arnav felt was, very much required.
But Khushi all of a sudden felt someone observing them and when she turned around she saw a waiter staring at them and as soon as he saw Khushi watching him, he turned around and went off hurriedly.
He looked vaguely similar to her but she couldn't identify him properly as he had covered himself with a mask and immediately turned away from her.
" Arnav..." muttered Khushi still looking at the retreating figure of the waiter.
" Arre Khushi, you are still standing? Sit down." said Arnav, while making her sit down while pushing her down on the seat by her shoulders.
Arnav stood up and turned to speak to the manager whom he had sensed to be behind him. As Arnav was talking to him about what all dishes he want, Khushi noticed the manager signing to someone with his eyes and looked down to see that he made a thumbs up sign which made Khushi look in the direction as the manager was looking at to find a person aiming at Arnav with a gun in his hand.
Wave of shock resonated throughout her body as she sensed the person whom she started falling for in danger, but her instincts made her shout her lungs out but it was already late, as in the attempt of pulling him away, the bullet hit her on the chest, while sheltered the heart crying out for him.
" ARNAV!!"
Khushi shrill and panic filled voice evoked fear in Arnav's heart as he turned around to see Khushi drenched in her own blood, due to a bullet that hit her on the chest. Involuntarily his eyes traveled in all the directions to see who the culprit was as he patted her cheeks continuously to make her get up.
" Khushi, get up, dammit! This is not at all funny! You better wake up now or I will never talk to you." said Arnav as he patted her cheeks without stopping as his brain stopped functioning.
Doctor, he needs to call a doctor, decided Arnav as he dug out his phone to call for an ambulance.
Though it was Khushi who was hurt, it was his life which he felt was going to leave the body.
Arnav who couldn't hear or sense anything except for the heaving breaths of Khushi suddenly felt someone close to him. Instinctively, he brought Khushi closer to him as if protecting her from the possible threat. Arnav looked up while formulating a plan to escape in his mind, if it was the person who shot Khushi. But much to his surprise it was Karan Singhania standing beside him while looking at Khushi with tear filled eyes.
Apparently Karan Singhania was there to take away Khushi along with him once his men shot Arnav Singh Raizada but the whole situation had turned upside down much to their bad luck.
Seeing Karan beside him, made Arnav's guts churn with distaste that he tried to kill a person whom he claimed to love. Arnav rose up with Khushi in his arms and started walking to the entrance because the ambulance would reach there soon or if it doesn't reach by the time he goes down with Khushi, he would drive her to the hospital. That was Arnav's plan.
Karan had seen love in Khushi's eyes when she placed herself in front of the bullet while trying to pull Arnav away from it. And that minute his redemption began for trying to hurt a person whom the person he loved, loved so much that she didn't care about her own life.
As Arnav took quick and firm steps, Karan stood rooted to the spot while digging out to call to Shashi Gupta, the mastermind behind this whole fiasco.
" Hello Uncle..."
------------------------------------------------------------------
Leela Vati Hospital
"Mr.Raizada, your wife's condition is really critical. We cannot say anything now. Till she doesn't regain her consciousness, we cannot make any firm decision on this case. But we will try our best, Mr Raizada." assured the doctor, who had checked on Khushi, whose breathing had become shallow.
" You are supposed to be the best doctor in this hospital, dammit! Then why are you saying all this? Go, do something and save her!!" shouted Arnav, whose heart bled in pain by seeing Khushi with oxygen mask and machines around her through the glass window on the door.
" Calm down, Mr.Raizada. I assure you that Mrs.Raizada will be perfectly fine as before. Now if you can excuse me, I will look into the case further." The doctor excused himself as the nurse came up with the scan reports to him while Arnav stood rooted to the spot.
How can anyone's parents be so ruthless that they would want to kill their daughter's husband, the husband which they themselves chose when it was not even the age to get married?
He closed his eyes shut to let the threatening tears flow out of them, hoping that the pain in his eyes reduces but as soon as he opened them, he found the person he started to hate the most, Shashi Gupta, his supposed father-in-law and the person who ruined his childhood and his wife's ex-fiance, Karan Singhania, the person who was there on the spot but didn't care to come to Khushi's help.
The levels of anger increased in his body as his blood started boiling in raw fury. How dare they come here to meet Khushi when they themselves were the masterminds behind it?
" What brings you here Mr.Gupta and Mr.Singhania? Was there any revenge left that you wanted to take from me? And great timing I must say. I am in vulnerable state, and possibly I will not even try to protect myself. My guards are not here or neither anyone who can protect me. But most of all, my wife is not here to protect me again from you both. Time sense, I must say." Arnav spat out controlling the anger which he was sure would not stay in control for long.
" No, Arnav Beta. I am not here to harm my son-in-law. I am here to ask for his apologies." Shashi Gupta muttered with his eyes lowered and hands joined asking for forgiveness.
Was this even genuine or another plan by Shashi to trap Arnav?
---
" And you think I will believe you Mr.Gupta? I am not that stupid, because anyone who has proper frame of mind will not be able to trust you after witnessing the extent you can stoop. You may as weel leave now because I don't want my Khushi to be stressed out by seeing you, once she wakes up." Arnav ordered as he turned out not even waiting for the reply he would get from Shashi.
" My daughter may not see YOU after she wakes up, dear son-in-law!" Shashi exclaimed through his gritted teeth and before Arnav could think of an answer to that and react, the sound of bullet being fired and a man yelping in deep pain, fell on his ears.
Arnav instantaneously turned around to see Karan who was smiling at him in a rather painful manner, while his eyes noticed blood pooled near his feet, due to the wound caused by the bullet which hit him. It didn't take long before Arnav realized what exactly happened in the few seconds. Shashi had come to the hospital to kill him directly but Karan took the bullet to save him. But why did he do it?
With the sound of bullet being fired, the security personnel rushed in to catch a running Shashi who was running to save himself after he saw Karan taking the bullet instead of Arnav. With the number of witnesses and proofs against him, Shashi Gupta had no way to escape now for sure. But Arnav knew it was not the time to waste his thoughts on a criminal but it was time to save a person so deeply in love.
" DOCTORS! GET THE DAMN STRETCHER!" Arnav shouted his lungs out while he looked at Karan with a softened gaze which had just respect and admiration in his eyes as he supported his falling frame with his muscular hands.
" Why did you do this Karan? Why did you take the bullet on my behalf?" questioned Arnav, as Karan looked at him with the same smile which was adorning his face ever since he was it.
" How could I not take it Arnav? I had promised Khushi that I will always protect her and her happiness and her happiness lies with you, within you. Even if I die while fulfilling a promise made to my Khushi, I will not feel any regret." Karan breathlessly whispered as Arnav's breaths hitched thinking of the possible consequences of him losing his breath. But much to his relief, the stretcher had arrived along with the emergency team, while he promised Karan, " Nothing will happen to you or Khushi, Karan. This is my promise to you."
As the stretcher took a turn, and got away from Arnav's sight he felt immense guilt filling in him for thinking that Karan was a bad guy, who wanted to use Khushi. He was guilty that he was snatching Karan's love from him, and he could also see how genuine Karan's love was for Khushi.
Maybe he did wrong by marrying Khushi again, but this time with force. After all, if he didn't marry Khushi forcibly, Khushi or Karan wouldn't have been in hospital, struggling between life and death after taking a bullet each for him and probably Khushi would have been more happy with her family, her parents and a fiance who loved and valued her more than his own life.
As he was lost in his thoughts, he felt someone calling him which had effectively broken his reverie of thoughts. As he looked up, he saw a worried doctor looking at him with sympathy floating in his eyes.
" Mr.Raizada, this is about Mrs.Raizada's health. Her health is deteriorating constantly and it is better if you and meet her. Because now only prayers and love can save her and bring her consciousness back, without which we cannot confirm anything about her health." The doctor explained in a low voice while Arnav's world crashing down. Why was destiny so harsh to separate all his loved ones from him, to take them away to the chamber of death?
The doctor left Arnav in a shock, because he could understand that Arnav was taken with shock and needed sometime to digest the hard reality. Arnav regained his strength and composure, for his Khushi.
With trembling hands, he opened the door of the room where Khushi was laid after proving the extent of her love for Arnav. He moved to her, making as less sound as possible to not disturb her and also because of the fact that all his strength both mental and physical had drained. He stood beside the bed, when Khushi laid wrapped in everything white, wrenching his heart as his eyes burned with pain and the soul got scarred with love.
" I am with you, Khushi. Nothing will happen to you, Khushi. You will be alright, baby. You will be able to scold me like you always do." Arnav muttered while resting his throbbing forehead against Khushi's cold one, as she was constantly loosing her temperature indicating Khushi's dropping health.
Arnav started placing a trail of kisses while tracing her jawline with his rough lips, as he continued rubbing her palms in between his.
" If you want to punish me then do it dammit! But don't leave me. Because sans you, Arnav Singh Raizada has no life. Come back even if it is to punish me Khushi. Come back..." Arnav whispered against her lips, before he claimed them in a passionate kiss, in hope to raise her dropping temperature and in an anticipation of a response.
Love does things, which are termed as miracles in the medical sciences. A firm yet soft moan was let out by Khushi's lips into Arnav's lips which made tears of happiness form in his eyes, which dropped on Khushi's eyes as he rested his forehead against hers.
As Khushi's eyes opened slowly and weakly, the sight which she beheld erased all her pain to give her just happiness. And just one sentence escaped her mouth,
" I love you, Arnav..."
The faint, breathless hoarse whisper which left her lips, dallied storms in his heart while the tears of happiness flowed from his eyes as if he had won the entire world. As Khushi's hands moved up to hold Arnav's strong arms, warmth of their love had started to spread in their bodies. They were stuck in an ecstatic web of feelings as every other feeling in this world seemed vague to them.
" I love you too, Khushi. I love you so damn much. Don't you dare do something as stupid as this. You are my life Khushi. Without you, I cannot imagine myself for even a second." Arnav whispered against her lips, as tears or ecstasy escaped from their eyes as the pain left from their lives.
A exquisitely beautiful and genuine smile adorned their lips, as they brought together the broken pieces of themselves by taking each other in an embrace of love.
But deep inside Arnav was guilty of his actions in the past. Will this guilt separate these lovers once again? Or will Khushi stop him?
---
------------------------------------------------------
After 2 Weeks,
Those two weeks seemed like ages for Arnav as he waited and prayed for his wife to get well soon even if it is to scold him and leave him in a ocean of anguish. There was guilt, there was pain, there was anticipation but there was love which overpowered every other emotion.
To see his wife finally at his home, almost brought tears of happiness to his eyes to see his wife all hale and healthy. May be that was what true love was all about. When a person's pain wrenches your heart more than your own pain and their one smile erases all yours sorrows and agonies, and fills up your heart with satisfaction, understand that you have been a victim of true love.
After the most wanted confession, Arnav felt himself losing the grip over his self-control but the guilt which possessed him seemed to make the grip tighter. And Khushi, being his true soulmate could understand that there was something odd about Arnav's behavior towards her.
As Arnav supported Khushi and made her walk into the room which was decorated for Khushi's welcome, tears rolled out of Khushi's eyes as pride filled her heart.
" What was the need of all this Arnav? I know that you were more stressed than I was and still you thought of making this. How much more do you intend to make me fall for you?" Khushi teased him about the small things which he does for her to make her feel immensely special and all the more in love with him.
" Shouldn't I be the one who should be questioning you about this? You have already drowned me in the ocean of your love and you are still making fall for you every time I lay my eyes on you. Not that I am complaining but this is not done." Arnav was trying to be more cheesy and more fun-loving ever since the confession at the hospital after realizing that Khushi was a typical Bollywood Fanatic who loved cheesy stuff and comedy. Arnav cupped Khushi's angelic face in his palms and placed a warm kiss of assurance on her forehead as Khushi's eyes closed to lose herself in the moment.
The grip over the self-control began slipping away once again as Khushi's hand held his hands which were holding her head. As he pulled himself away from her and looked at Khushi whose eyes were closed and a pretty shade of red ran on her cheeks sensing his intense gaze lingering on her.
A shy Khushi turned away from him, when Arnav held her by her forearms and pulled her to him while Khushi's back pressed against his muscular torso evoking sinful desires. He pushed away the hair which hid her skin from his bedroom eyes and placed it all on her right shoulder as he placed butterfly kisses all over her left shoulder and traced his path to her jawline as a sensuous moan escaped from Khushi's lips while her eyes were closed as she lost herself in the moment of love, passion and desire.
As Arnav's breaths tantalized her senses, Arnav expertly threw away the veil which covered her as he bit her earlobe showing an example of his heightened desires for her.
He held her by her shoulders and turned her to face him while Khushi's breath paced as she put tomatoes to shame. Arnav once again cupped her face but not to place a kiss on her forehead but to capture her lips in a frenzy and passionate kiss. It felt as if she would melt by the way he was eyeing at her and her lips. As their breaths fanned their faces and the temperature of the room was being heated up, Arnav's guilt came in play as he pulled out from the warm embrace controlling his inciting desires for his FORCED BRIDE.
Arnav's sudden actions evoked a sense of shock in Khushi, who still couldn't understand the reason behind his actions. But as soon as their eyes met and Khushi felt the layer of guilt clouding the pools filled desire, Khushi realized from where his actions were coming.
" Is this how much you love me Arnav? If you want to feel guilty for something, then feel guilty for destroying my romantic mood and disturbing my passion. Arnav, even if it to destroy me, love me. Even if it is to kill, don't leave me like this. Because without you, this Khushi doesn't have any reason to live or an identity. I love you and I know that you can never hurt me, Arnav. I trust you more than myself. So please don't go back on your actions and hurt me. Mujhe Hamesha Ke Liye Apna Bana Do, Arnav. Please..."
Khushi's words were like a balm to his scars of guilt and fuel to the fire of passion lit in the pools of his eyes.
" Are you sure, Khushi?" Arnav wanted to listen to her love-filled once again to reconfirm himself which Khushi gladly did.
" I have never been more sure in my life, Arnav." Khushi answered without any kind of hesitance in her eyes or thought in her mind, making Arnav's eyes swell with the fiery hot tears of happiness which burned and soothed him at the same time.
Arnav scooped Khushi in his arms while locking his own eyes with hers, as if capturing these moments forever in his memory so that he could relive these moments throughout his life.
There was unknown commotion in his mind which turned turbulent owing to the bewitching sight of his wife in the moonlight, who asked for nothing but except for him. With love-filled eyes, passion-filled actions, desire-filled steps Arnav placed Khushi on the bed as delicately as if she was a glass doll who would break if not handled properly.
Khushi was nervous but she knew that everything would be perfect, as perfect they were together and as perfect as the phrase which their names together make, " Khushi Ka Arnav' or " Ocean of Happiness".
The night was still young and the drowning in the ocean of passion, ecstasy and happiness was still remaining.
---
Bheege hont tere, pyaasa dil mera
Lage abrr sa haan mujhe tan tera
Jamke barsa de mujhpar ghataayein
Tuhi meri pyaas tu hi mera jaa
Kabhi mere saath koyi raat gujaar
Tujhe subah tak main karu pyaar ha
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
As Arnav eyed at Khushi's tantalizing form which lay in front of him, as it reflected the light of full-moon which had escaped to look at the surreal beauty named Khushi, who had shut her eyes in coyness as she surrendered completely to the love and affection of her husband.
Arnav placed tiny butterfly kisses all over her face, as her fingers played with his shirt buttons, as she tried to unbutton them in an inexperienced manner.
Arnav placed long kisses of love over her eyes as he mouthed huskily,
" Look at me, Khushi!"
Khushi's eyes slowly opened to find a beautiful image, painted with love in the eyes which were staring back at them. What would you call it if even your reflection changes to that of someone whom you love? Love or something beyond a definition?
His dilated eyes drank the enchanting beauty of hers and the love which floated in her eyes.
Saansein aanch teri, tan aag tera
Chhine nind meri lute chain mera
Kaala jaadu karein lambe baal tere
Aankhein jhil teri ?? laal tere
Kabhi mere saath koyi raat gujaar
Tujhe subah tak main karu pyaar oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
There were tears in both their eyes. But they were not the tears of anguish or distress like in the past, they were the tears of happiness, of bliss and of ecstasy that now filled their life.
The hot staggering breaths of Khushi were fanning Arnav's face, as dipped down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead which would put a thousand lip-locks to shame. Because that kiss was not that of passion, of desire or of lust. It was just pure love, which was truly lethal and dangerous for it existed in the most purest and truest form. After all, love was just like alcohol. It would leave you intoxicated, lost and addicted to it, only to destroy you one day.
But it is something no one wants a cure from. Just as love.
Arnav moved towards his right, to gently bite Khushi's earlobe as he took out her earring with his sensuous and hot mouth, while Khushi's cheeks went ablaze due to the passionate ministrations of her husband. Her left earring also soon laid forgotten by both while both were soon covered by the veil, which once used to cover Khushi's bosoms from the bedroom eyes of her husband.
Oh oh oh, oh ho oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Aankhein keh rahi, jo na ham kahe
Use sun le tu jo na lab kahe
Tu na soye aaj, main na sou aaj
Tujhe dekhu aaj, tujhamein khou aaj
Kabhi mere saath koyi raat gujaar
Tujhe subah tak main karu pyaar
Arnav held the zipper of her kurta to remove that piece of clothing which was serving as an obstacle for him from appreciating the natural beauty which his wife was.
Khushi held his hand, in nervousness while her action hinted him towards her coyness. He held the hand with his other hand as he freed its grip on his hand holding Khushi's zipper and placed a tiny butterfly kiss on it while Khushi's eyes closed on alien feelings clouding her mind.
" Mujhe Haq Hai, Khushi."
In one go Arnav pulled the zipper down and soon the kurta was lying on the floor with no one caring for it. As Arnav's bedroom eyes traced the scar left by the bullet on her angelic and soft bosoms, love flooded in his eyes which soon spilled tears out of them.
" Why, Khushi? Why did you take the bullet for me?" Arnav's voice cracked and was shaky due to emotional turmoil which was affecting him seeing the mark on her body which can never be removed.
" Waada Kiya Tha, Nibhaana To Padhega Hi Na, Arnav." Khushi sensed the confusion which clouded Arnav's eyes which were glistened with both tears and the moonlight lingering on his face, " The seven vows we had taken unconsciously when we were mere children, Arnav. One of them states that we both will protect each other no matter what and I just did what I promised that I will do."
Words after that would seemed cursed. Because there were no words which would express their love for each other. But their eyes, their eyes expressed the deepest feelings of their hearts in a language that they knew and understood perfectly. The language of love, the most beautiful and sacred of all the languages.
Arnav placed a long, lingering and soothing kiss on her scar, which was completely healed by then, while Khushi threw her head back while waves of pleasure engulfed her completely.
The clothes soon lay discarded on the floor, while Khushi tried to cover herself from her husband with her hands. It was not shyness that was influencing her actions, it was the intense gaze of her husband which was making her go nervous.
" May I?"
Probably it was this change in his that made her fall in love with him. A person who had not thought before taking away the single piece of cloth on her body, was now asking her permission to kiss her.
" Tumhein Haq Hai, Arnav."
And Khushi buried her face in his chest, as emotions took a toll over her. Arnav cupped her face with his one hand, while his other hand encircled her waist. He lifted her face as he started placing kisses all over her face, so that no inch of her face feels jealous of the other.
He gently turned Khushi to place himself over Khushi, as he captured her lips in a frenzy and passionate kiss, which made her go breathless as he went breathless by her reciprocation. As they parted for breath, Arnav went southwards to worship her swan-like neck and collarbone, which was soon covered with the marks of his love, while his hair was ruthlessly pulled by Khushi as she lost herself completely in the ocean of passion.
No single inch of her body remained unloved by him, as pulled himself away from him to take the final step in their passionate love-making to take their relationship to the next level.
" I am sorry, Khushi. This will hurt you." Arnav warned her in breathy tone, while Khushi looked at him with her eyes wet with tears of love.
" If your love hurts Arnav, then I am ready to be hurt every single second of my life." Khushi's answer made his heart flutter with happiness and love.
With one single thrust, they had become one while the warm blood of hers greeted him at the entrance of her womanhood. As gasps of pain escaped her mouth, Arnav stilled himself inside her while capturing her lips in gentle kiss after whispering sweet-nothings in her ears.
But soon the gasps of pain, turned into the moans of immense pleasure and groans of intense love.
And finally, after giving a trial by fire they had found their night of love and passion to become one forever, in every way possible.
---
A phone ring had broken Khushi's sleep being a light sleeper. She quickly wrapped a dupatta which laid on the floor around herself after she had come out of Arnav's tight grip with great difficulty. She picked up the call after walking to the balcony to not disturb Arnav, and spoke into the receiver,
" Hello."
" Khushi Bitiya..." An affectionate voice which was familiar to her reached her ears, while disgust took over her.
" Why did you call me now, Mrs. Gupta? Was there any danger left that you and your husband wanted us to face?" Khushi questioned sarcastically while her tone was emotionless and cold.
" Khushi Bitiya, I am extremely sorry for what Shashi Ji had done, but believe me he would have never done that if he had seen the extent of your love for each other. Now all I can do is bless your Jodi to be celebrated just the like the Jodi of Radha and Shyam." Garima sobbed while Khushi could not speak to her as she was scared the curses would come out of her mouth with the emotional turmoil she was facing.
She just disconnected the phone and deleted the log reconrd of the phone because she didn't want Arnav to be worried about her being harmed again, as she eyed her sleeping husband with a loving smile playing on her lips.
-----------------------------------------
Shantivan
" You might have forgiven Arnav, Pari. But I am not forgiving him. He has let his sister down." Anjali was not ready to get convinced even after Arnav trying for 1 full hour to get her convinced.
" But Di, I am sure everyone makes mistakes. But only few realize their mistake and even lesser number of people feel remorseful of it and try to correct them. And Arnav is genuinely guilty for what he did, Di. Doesn't he deserve a second chance for that goodness?" Khushi explained with a smile while Arnav's heart filled with warmth and pride seeing his wife supporting him.
" Haan Theek Hai Theek Hai. No need to praise your husband so much. If he does a mistake, he only needs to correct it na. Why should you praise him so much?" Anjali questioned while Khushi shied away at her words.
" I know right Anjali Ji! This friend of ours found Jeeja Ji and has completely forgotten her childhood friends."
As Lavanya's voice fell on Khushi's ears, a 1000-watt smile lit up on her face much to Arnav's joy.
" Lavanya? You here?" Khushi ran to Lavanya and hugged her tightly while she faked being angry and didn't reciprocate the hug, which made Khushi pull back from the embrace.
" What did you think, just because you forgot us, Jeeja Ji will also forget us? At least you found yourself a Jeeju who cares for his Saalis. He invited me thinking that you would be missing me but someone is busy with her husband and singing his praises here." Lavanya teased openly while slight crimson color adorned her cheeks gracefully, while Anjali pressed her lips together to control her laughter and Arnav's lips had stretched out to one side forming his signature smirk.
" Wow, Ms.Khushi Gupta sorry Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada is blushing here after flushing her friends out of her life. Great thing indeed." Sarcasm dripped in Lavanya's tone while everyone realized how much she was hurt at Khushi not even contacting her.
" Don't you dare accuse my wife, Saali Sahiba. There is absolutely no fault of hers in this. If anyone is to blame, and anyone is the culprit here then it is surely just me. It was never Khushi, who was to be blamed." Arnav circled his arm over Khushi's shoulders as he looked at her with love and remorse.
" Chotte and Pari, do we need to close our eyes? I mean just in case, if Chotte's mood turns into that of romance, we can close our eyes to give you the much required privacy." Anjali spoke as she walked near the couple to stand beside Lavanya, looking at the embarrassed couple with love.
" Aap Bhi Di?" Arnav questioned in a shocked tone.
" Of course. We both are sisters and we have right to tease you both. Kyun Lavanya Ji?"
" Absolutely Di. I am sure I will be promoted in less than an year looking at these both so obviously after promotion I will need to act in a dignified manner so I will be able to tease. So let me complete my share of teasing, who knows I might get the promotion news the next week itself?" Lavanya joked while Khushi's cheeks turned completely red and a mild blush adorned even Arnav's cheeks.
" I just hope that your Jodi would remain just like this for ever and ever. May god bless this couple with all the happiness of my share too." Anjali hoped while tears filled in her eyes with affection and love.
-----------------------------------------------
After 6 months,
There was festivity in the air as the sound of drums being played for the Sangeet of Anjali and Karan resonated in the Raizada Mansion. Though Karan was younger than Anjali by 1 year, Anjali had found her soul mate in Karan. Now that her Chotte's life was settled and he was happily married, Anjali took the freedom to fall in love with the person who was Khushi's ex-fiance and had loved her to an extent that he didn't think before taking the bullet to save Khushi's love.
Khushi had taken the responsibility of taking care of Karan as he was recovering and that was the time Anjali had fallen in love with Karan while it was reciprocated with equal intensity from Karan's side. Breaking the social norms which neither have a reason nor a logic, Karan and Anjali decided to get married while Khushi and Arnav were more than happy to hear the news.
" Di, actually me and Khushi have something to say." Arnav spoke a weak voice, not knowing how to say what he wanted to while Khushi didn't even want to speak as she kept looking elsewhere.
" From when did you start taking my permission to tell me things, Chotte. What is it?" Anjali asked in a affectionate tone as she displayed all her teeth as she spoke while smiling.
" Actually you have two new relationships joining right now, Di. One is you are getting married and..." Arnav paused unable to bring himself to say it.
" And?" Karan questioned curiously as he looked at Khushi's face, not even facing any of them much to his surprise as the Khushi he knew was extremely bold.
" And you are going to be a Bua. Khushi is pregnant." Arnav said in one go, while Karan and Anjali sprung to their feet unable to take the fact at once.
" Pari Is.."
" Pregnant?" Karan completed Anjali's statement while Arnav and Khushi nodded innocently while Karan and Anjali broke out in laughter.
"So Lavanya Ji was perfectly right. We all are promoted in less than an year's time. Maan Gaye, Chotte Aur Pari, Aapka Pyaar Tho Bohot Strong Hai. Congratulations and thanks for giving this wonderful news and much required promotion for all of us." Anjali hugged both of them while Karan too followed her gesture, after all Arnav was no longer jealous of his and Khushi's relationship after seeing how pure it actually was.
Love and joy were once again restored in the house of the Raizadas, and this time there was no force which could either separate Arnav and Khushi or could snatch the happiness which the Raizadas were rightfully entitled to.
----
17029 Launches
Part of the Modern Romance collection
Published on January 06, 2016
(4)
Characters left :
Category
You can edit published STORIES
Are you sure you want to delete this opinion?
Are you sure you want to delete this reply?
Are you sure you want to report this content?
This content has been reported as inappropriate. Our team will look into it ASAP. Thank You!
By signing up you agree to Launchora's Terms & Policies.