Main tera dushman, dushman tu mera Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Khushi stomped her feet when Arnav forced her to go inside their father's office.

"Arnav, I am really scared!" she muttered.

"Relax and take a deep breathe. He is not going to eat you...You just go in and show him your designs, and come out. I promise, he won't judge you..."

She shook her head, and was literally panting in fear.

"What if he didn't like my designs?"

He held her by her shoulders.

"Khushi!" he softly said. "I said relax. Do not expect anything. Good or bad. Second thing remember, do not be scared of failing. But I am telling you, I loved these designs of yours. They are fantastic. Dad will love them too."

"What if he didn't?" she asked, finding hard to have a grip on her furious nerves. Arnav hugged her when nothing else worked. She hugged him back tightly.

"Arnav, please don't go anywhere..."
He assured her he will stay outside and wait for her.

After giving herself much courage she pulled away from a hug and a decided to go inside Mr. Raizada's office. Arnav blew kiss at her. "You will be fine!" he muttered.

"Papa, may I come in?!"
"Khushi," Mr. Raizada said excitedly, "please my child, come on in..."
She gently closed the door behind and went inside the cabin. Mr. Raizada got up his seat.
"Good afternoon, papa!"
She went around the table and gave him the hug.
"Good afternoon, my dear. Please have a seat!"
Khushi nervously took a seat on the opposite side of her father-in-law's desk.
"So, tell me, how are you doing?"
"Papa, to tell you the truth I  am scared..."

He laughed a throaty laugh.

"Scared of me?"
"I don't know!" she answered.
He laughed again.
"Papa, here are the designs," she handed him the yellow envelope. "Inside it I have enclosed few sketches..."
"Perfect, my child. I can't wait to see them..." he said, as he was already going to open it.
"Papa, please can you open it after I go?"
"Why, my child?"
"Because I am afraid if you will like them or not..."

He had already decided to open the envelope that too in front of her.
"Don't doubt yourself, my child."

Smile from his face vanished all together when he pulled out her designs.

Khushi's legs were fidgety. She couldn't breathe that much she was scared. She wasn't even looking at his face once he had her designs out.

All she wanted to do was to run out of the office to Arnav. At one moment she was chewing her nails. Somewhere after hearing all praises from Arnav she had little self confidence, but now it was app fading away. It would not be wrong if she believed it totally died.

"Are you sure these are your designs?" he asked.

Khushi's heart skipped a beat...

"Y-yes...Papa!" she stammered. She thought her brain might explode and heart would jump out of her chest.

"You know what, Khushi, bitiya...When you are stepping in a real world you should have your work up to the mark...If not, most of the companies won't even care taking you!"

Khushi gulped down the one big lump down her throat. She failed, she knew it. She knew her father will not like her stupid designs. And she knew Arnav was just trying to give her fake hopes. She was good for nothing, she knew it, she thought. Her father was right, she cannot just walk in such a big company in front of the owner, show them a stupid work of her and expect herself to be chosen as a worker.

"I am sorry, papa!" she said, and had tears in her eyes. She immediately wiped them.

"Next time I will make sure I get some good work!" she said.

Mr. Raizada was shaking his head. "Dear, why are you crying? I didn't even complete my sentence yet..."

She looked up at him...

"It's okay, papa. I know I need lot to improve."

"Improve? You are fantastic..."

"I know..." she said, but immediately popped her head up at him questioningly.

"Yes, my dear, that's the spirit. You are fantastic. I loved your designs. They are perfect...I am really stunned that my daughter is a fresh pack of a talent...And before I say this, I want you to give this Kleenex box to you..."

She took it from his hands but wondered what he was planning on to say to her...

"After your graduation, would you like to do your internship at our company? It will be a great honour for us," he said.

Khushi's eyes stuck out, heart jumped to her throat, her nerves were over excited.

"You have lot of time to decide, if you want to work with us..."

"Y-yes! I will!" she said, without thinking. Her voice hardly came out of her throat.

"Okay, so...My company is eagerly waiting for a great person like you to work with..."

"T-thank you, papa!" she couldn't talk normally.

"I am very excited to work with you, my child!"

She shook her hand with him formally and rushed out of his cabin.

Mr. Raizada grinned at her back...

As soon as she got out of the cabin and saw Arnav waiting for him, she hugged him. Arnav got worried when he heard her cries. "Khushi, baby, what's wrong?"

Her heart was beating furiously, he could feel it against his chest. He rubbed her back to calm her.

"Arnav, papa liked my designs and he wants me to do his internship at this office after my graduation!" words came out her mouth with several pauses. He face palmed. Here he was worried thinking his father didn't like her designs. Even though he knew he would have loved them, you never know...He didn't pull away from the until she did...
"Wasn't I telling you, that he will like your work?"
He felt nod of her head...Her legs were still shaking, he could feel her body was trembling too as if she was cold...
She pulled away from a hug when her heart and mind had stopped being furious and her body was relaxed.
"Arnav, if you hadn't been here, I would have seriously died..."
"No, you wouldn't have. I know you are strong...Now would you like to eat something..."
She nodded. "But, Arnav, can we go home and eat?"
"Sure, as you say!"

Khushi took a deep breath and walked out of the office, feeling much more confident. She could feel herself free of more burden. And she was ever so ready to step out in the real world and face it. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she was ready. She had her start up kick.

"Arnav, today, I will cook food that mom taught me..."
"Woah, really? To tell you the truth I am really hungry then..." he said giving a small kiss on her cheek as they both left the office and made their way towards the parking lot.

They both sat in their car, Khushi fell back in her seat and closed her eyes. Arnav was going to start the engine of the car but stopped and watch her as she was trying to have a word with herself. He kept his arm on the steering wheel and leered at her. As if it was the only work he had, to look at her face. Khushi opened her eyes and knew he would be looking at her.

"All looks like a dream, Arnav..."
"This is what happens when you start living, learn to love yourself, and stop thinking what others think of you...and stop worrying about future and work in present..."

"But it does matter what you think of me, Arnav," she said in a broken voice. "It does matter to me a great deal, what I am for you..."

He took his arm from the steering wheel and unfastened his seat belt. He pulled his hand at the back of her head through her hair.

"You mean everything to me, Khushi. You are perfect for me just the way you are..."

She leant in and wanted him to kiss her. He didn't mind it, he moved forward, and placed his lips softly on hers. This time she let him lead her. She arched her head to have a proper access to his lips, he bit her lower lip, that made her heart do a flip, needs grew just like a demand of drinks one after the other even though it is bitter. But this one got no bitterness to it.

Their tongues fought for the possession and when they could no longer breathe they pulled back a bit, saw in each other's eyes. And then they both fell back in their seats.

Her lower lip was bleeding, he didn't know he had bit her that hard. Before he could even think to wipe it away with his finger, he pulled her towards himself once again and sucked the blood.

"Sorry, did that hurt?!"

She shook her head. "It didn't!"

***
After reaching home Arnav had gone to his room to change, and Khushi went to the kitchen to prepare food. There were not many things that she had learnt to cook but she had little idea about cooking now. One thing she didn't realise that whatever her mother-in-law taught her she grasped really easily.

She quickly washed the rice and put it in a pan with measured water in it. And then she quickly cut the vegetables of her and Arnav's liking. She just wanted to cook food before Arnav had come back. She was so excited to share her first cooking with him and wished it all goes well. She didn't want to disappoint him, just because she didn't have her breakfast, he didn't have eaten his breakfast either.

"Wow, it smells so good! What's cooking? Rice?" he said, walking in the kitchen.

"Yes!" she said. "I am sorry that's the only simple thing I have learnt to cook so far..."

"So what?" he said and stood beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"What are your plans for a new year?" she asked.

"Oh new year, I am quite booked. There are parties at the club. Even venues are all full..."

"Oh!"

"Yes!"

He opened the lid of the rice pan and give its content a little stir..."Khushi, it looks really yummy..." He said and simmer down the heat."can't wait to eat it!"

"I hope it tastes yummy as well!"

"What you want to do on a new year eve?" he asked.

"Just want to spend that time with you..." she said.

"You got all my time, baby!"

"Arnav, if I ask you something, would you mind?"

"Uh...I guess it depends what is it..."
"It's quite personal..."
"Go ahead and ask..."
"It's actually about Anjali di!"

Arnav looked away from her momentarily and unwrapped his arm around her waist. Khushi looked at him in a fear thinking that she must have hurt him. But he pulled his arm back around her waist.
"I am sorry if I hurt you..." she said.
He shook his head...
"Anjali di, married to a person whom she loved. At first our family was against their marriage. But in front of Anjali di's wish, dad and mom and elders in the house, agreed and they both got married six years ago. God knows after a year of marriage what happened in between them...Di doesn't like to talk about it...We hardly know what happened between them. Who was at fault and whom not..."
"And Shyam jiju?"
"Shyam jiju...It has been four years since I have met him...After their divorce never saw him."
Khushi noticed, he wasn't mad at him. There was no much talk in the media either about their relationship, if there was any then she had hardly focused on it. As far as she remembered Shyam had gone to the same university as theirs. He was quite an intelligent student. He had his name on the honour roll list in an 2004 badge."

"Arnav, I hope I didn't upset you..."
"No, baby, you didn't, being the part of this house you deserve to know all this. But make sure you don't talk of this in front of di. She is quite sensitive about all this!"

"I won't, Arnav!" she promised.
"Okay, so rice are ready, let's eat." he said and helped her grab a plate for themselves. She served and meanwhile he filled a glass of water.

"Khushi, when are your classes starting?"

"Next week on jan 6!" she answered.
"Not far!"
"I know."

They both sat. She filled the spoon of a rice and feed him. "How is it?"

"Awesome!" he amused. "It's really tasty. Here you taste it as well!"

Khushi doubted until she tasted herself. Everything was to the point perfect. Nothing less or more. "You are a chef, Khushi!...You know what, you are a fast learner! And you know what else work?"

"What?"

"This is the first time I am eating something made by my wife!"

She giggled.

To just see that look on his face and get that appreciation, Khushi could have done everything. She had emotionally attached herself to him and even a little thing he liked, disliked mattered to her.

It has always been about you, Mr. Raizada Chapter 14

It has always been about me, really! Chapter 14

Arnav asks his guest to come in, hearing a knock on the door. Sunaina walks in. He welcomes her and asks her to have a seat. "You called, Mr. Raizada?" she asks and grabs a seat on the opposite side of him. "How is Hazel doing?"

"Hazel is good. But, just to let you know, Ms. Fernandez, we are talking business here. Yesterday, I talked to your father, and I would like him to handle this deal with me..." he said, unafraid to get his message across.

Colour from her face drains. Her lips parts to say something but then they shut almost immediately. She was surprise as why he all of sudden he did not want to work with her. She smiles nervously.

"Mr. Raizada, I think we already talked about it. I did say, we shall be working together," she said, in fear. 

"I know, but it's a company's rule to work directly to the owner when it comes to making decisions..."

She stares at him, as she straightaway knew, it wasn't him speaking.

"I am the only daughter of my father, and I am pretty sure I am the boss as well. This project is solely mine."

Arnav rolls the paper holder in his hand as he looks back at her.

"Also, why all sudden this decision? Mr. Raizada, this is extremely unprofessional of you...I wasn't expecting from you this at all!"

"Ms. Fernandez, this is my decision, I decide whom I want to work with..."

"Mr. Raizada,  if I am not involved in this project you are loosing millions..."

He let go of the paper holder, and leans forward on a chair with his arms crossed on the table in front of him. "I have lost most valuables then that, Ms. Fernandez..."

Sunaina gave it a thought and she believed it was because of Khushi. She just have told him her intentions. Good for her, she thought.

"You didn't have any problem working with me until yesterday...Why I feel it has more to do with your wife's insecurities?"

"You are getting personal, there is no reason to bring in my wife in it..."

"You started it first," she said. "She must have told you I am after you, or something like that..."

"How do you know?" he instantly asked.

 Dead silence followed when Sunaina took her time to come up with a reason in her head to tell him to his question, and he waited for the response. 

"I didn't mention anything such t to you..."

"I don't think I need to, Mr. Raizada. Your wife has always been insecure. I am pretty sure you know this..." she looked back in his eyes, unafraid.

"Ms. Fernandez, you are no one to point fingers at my wife..."

"Sure I am not, Mr. Raizada. And tell me, how many girls you would actually turn out to work with, just because your wife is insecure. She doesn't love you, neither she trusts you, the only thing is she wants you. Sooner you get this, easier it will be for you. I know about you, way more than I should. And let me tell you it is not because I want you. I have a very loving person in my life, that's Aditiya. And it's really fine if you don't want to work with me. I don't want to work with you either, not anymore atleast. I am never judgemental, but your wife is stupid!"

"Ms. Fernandez!" he said in a loud voice, and stood up from his chair.

"Do not raise your voice, Mr. Raizada, even I can do so..." she shouted back, however, controlled her anger immediately. "Anyhow, good luck with your wife, and as far as to terminate the contract is concerned, instead of you, I do it...And guess what, I will pay you every penny," She says, looking straight in his eyes. His anger not at all affecting her.

"Good bye; and before leaving all I want to do is, warn you, and your darling wife. Ask her to be extra careful, because she is just ruining her life by hiding secrets..."

Arnav looked at her as if she knew something she didn't know.

"What are you talking about?"

His voice cooled down.

"Ask your innocent wife..."

"About what?"

"Something that she is hiding from you for the past five years..."

"Stop making me guess these riddles, Ms. Fernandez, and tell me what you are talking about?"

"I am not making anything easier for you, since you have insulted me...Good bye!"

More than creating havoc in Khushi's life, she had created hell in Arnav's mind.

"Khushi, was hiding something from me?" he thought. "But what?"

"Ms. Fernandez, please wait!" he almost pleaded.

Even though she was pissed off, she stopped and didn't know why?

"What?" she asked.

"What is it, that you know Khushi is hiding?" he asked.

Since he had been asking much more patiently, she decided to tell him somewhat...And after all she had to fulfil her motive as well...

"Mr. Raizada, ask your wife which letter did your first wife, Lavanya wrote to her. Or ask what does she actually knows about Lavanya? She claims la was her best friend, had she ever mentioned it you about her? And did you read the letter? If you have, do you even know it was written by La, or not? And if you get the answer to these questions, do tell me who is actually desperate to get you. Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, you had not been loyal to Lavanya either by choosing the second woman in your life either. Me being the part of life of such a person? Is not possible," she says, and without another word, she walks straight out of his office. Door shuts with a loud bang as if storm was finally in their lives and Arnav found himself trapped in it.

He stood stunned for few minutes, he didn't even know what he heard was actual or otherwise? What did she really mean? First, was there no letter? Because yes, he never read it. Secondly, this thought actually never came into his mind that why didn't he know about Khushi? Why la never mentioned it to him about Khushi?"

He didn't know how he should react, he tried to understand, and summed everything and came to the conclusion that there was no letter written and Khushi is not at all La's friend. It was her lies.

This was too much for him. Everything around him, starts revolving, the sickening sensations inside him returns, as if every single of it was going to kill him slowly and gradually.

He pulls his antidepressant out of his office desk drawer and gulp it down his throat with a glass of water. And crashes in his seat, completely out of breath.

For few seconds his mind totally shut.

First he did not at all want to go home, he knew that the molten lava that was boggling inside was full of disasterous flames and it was going to harm everything possible and the most important his relationship with Khushi, if by any chance what Sunaina told him was true.

His world already had been upside down but it was slowly returning, however, now only to return to its usual place, upside down. Back then he had suppressed all his anger knowing he was at fault and was still trying everything that it took to make this relationship flourish of his with Khushi.

He was blaming himself for everything, whether it was hurting everyone in his family, Khushi herself, or every situation that followed. But not anymore. Why he was being on a forgiving end, he questioned himself. It was not that he was doing a favour on anyone but himself and to the worst, he did not even want

to do favours, not even to himself.

Their relationship again stood at the place where it had ended three years ago. 

He somewhere also knew that his family members had been supporting her, they were the one to say that she was La's friend, and they were the only one who told him about the promises that seemed faked to him. It could be more of their plan to hook Khushi with him, then Khushi's own plan to do all this. This only killed his soul and kindness to bring out the brutle side of his that was not at all good if anyone had to face it.

He was right to himself that he had let everyone to hurt him, if by any chance he had thought and respected himself enough, nobody had ever dared to take advantage of him.

He did not know if he should call them a family anymore, he was said every hurtful words possible by them, he tried not to be affected, intially, but now it seemed they were never his. 

He never liked to be this negative, at first place he did not want to think of all this, but he was forced to. He was forced to keep every positive thought away from his mind.

His child. Hazel. Thought of her never escaped his mind, he felt more like her, she like him had nothing to feel but a fear that what she has now was going to be taken from her. He wished he had not given every right to the person who was going to prove every existence of good to a big question to bring in a child in their already messed up a relationship. Should he be quite for her? He thought. For her?

Because after these many defeats in a relationship they shared, nothing was going to be "Always about us!" after the mistakes he and others did, and in all this why that innocent soul was going to be punished? 

However, one thing he did learn from Khushi itself was not to react without knowing the actual truth, and that somewhere helped him calm himself. He hoped,  Khushi did have better reasons to tell him. What it was, did he have right to know? May be the truth that she was hiding was worst then hiding all these truths from him. 

And another question, that he failed to ask Sunaina  was. how did she knew so much about Khushi or about Lavanya and him? Does it matter, because she was just a stranger. May be not! The way she was calling Lavanya, La, it seemed she knew lavanya very well...

Does he keep silence and let things go just the way things were going? As far as patience and the fire inside him was concerned, he was ready to handle it. He did not know how long his patience was going to survive, but he decided he would and today, he was actually not going home. The only way for him to avoid his emotions and stuggle alone just the way he had always been.

Why he would do so?

The utmost reason, his daughter. Second, he was actually in love with Khushi, he did not know anyone was going to take place of her ever, despite of all the odds she did. He would not have left her alone and his child knowing they were the part of his life. He will know the truth one day, and he promised he would try to keep silent till then. If all his efforts went down the drain he promised then his daughter was not going to live in a false hope that her parents loved each other.

***

 Every day, he wished someone in the house will break his or her silence to tell him what they were all hiding from him. But they never said anything in  the past five years, why would they now?

Everyday was becoming a struggle for him. A week passed, two week passed, and then a month that for him was a year. He was trying hard to be quite. 

After a heated talk at the office with Sunaina he never heard from her later. He tried to contact her, her father and even Aditiya, from their side as well he was turned down.

Today, he almost asked Khushi, but he was stopped, yet again.

He saw his rose pink cheeks, her eyes denying to look up at him, and a hospital file in her hands.

His heart picked up the race against his body as he knew somewhat, what was coming.

"Before you say anything, I have to tell you, Arnav..." she said in a low shy tone, and she raised on her toes.

"You are going to be a father once again!" she said in his ear.

His world came to an abrupt stop. He wasn't happy, neither sad. 

She hugged him and he stood as a statue with no emotion. It was not just Hazel, but this new addition in their world for whom he had to stay quite for...

***

Sangam Chapter 9

Gupta's and Arnav along with Aman, and Lavanya were waiting for ved ji to tell if Khushi  was fine. There was an atmosphere of tension. But one person was not ready to leave any stone unturned to prove Arnav wrong.  Rudra.

"This is all because of you," he huffed.

"Situation is not to blame because of whom this happened, it is to pray for Khushi's well being!" Bhua ji taunted.

Rudra looked away in anger. "But she is fighting for her life because of him..."

"I do not believe so," she retorted. "It is because of you," she said without any regret. "She did not want to get married to you. Unfortunately, she had to take such a step."

"Could you please both stop arguing?" Mr. Gupta said, in a grief tone. "If you cannot, you may leave!"

Rudra's jaws tightened in anger, and he did leave. Bhua ji was thankful he left.

"I think you all should go home,  me and jiji are here," Mr. Gupta said. "If there will be any need, we shall call you!"

"Babu ji, how would you both manage alone here. We are not leaving you or Khushi alone?"

"Please do not worry, I am here as well!" Arnav chimed in. Soham looked at his father, there was a sense of approval from his side too. Even though soham did not want to.

 "Baba, we all will stay back here, and what shall we say the guests, anyway."

"You do not have to, just go back and attend them, marriage will happen today."

Everyone looked at him in shock.

Whatever happened in the past hour, had dented his image in front of his relatives and villagers, more than anything, his pride.

In front of his daughter's stubborness, he failed. This was something, he was not expecting from his own daughter.

What does not a parent do for their kids? They sacrifice their own needs to fulfill their children wants.

He was surprised, today nothing else mattered for his daughter, but a person who was not even in her life for more than few days, compares to years she had spent with him.

 Choosing a life partner of your choice is not wrong, but she really did not wait for anything, she did not trust her father enough. This is what, it hurt him. May be before he had let this happen or tried to test her, he himself had apologised from Rudra's father that he cannot give his daughter to them.

But he still did. He knew she was going to eat those pills that his sister gave her, he changed it to nothing but a mere medicines that were not going to hurt her at all. Now she was sleeping, he knew his daughter was fine. Then why did he do it at first place. Why did he actually let her eat those pills thinking? There were reasons. As an outcome of this situation, he knew what really Khushi meant for Rudra...He knew as a father he kept no more importance in her life as he used to...He knew, Arnav was best for him...But above all, he thought his daughter would not do anything to hurt herself. There he felt, his daughter was grown up, she could decisions for herself.

He felt empty from within. Entirely. His daughter was his pride and somewhere his pride was shattered. He fell on the chair.

"Sir!" Arnav said, and ran over to him. "Are you okay?" he asked, and held him by his shoulders. Mr. Gupta's sons stopped when Arnav was already up to help their father. Mr. Gupta kept hand on his hand on his shoulder and nodded in an assurance. "I am fine, Son."

"Should I get water for you? Aman, please get a glass of water..."
 Mr. Gupta shook his head. "I am really okay. Do not worry!"

In the past 23 years, he indulged himself so much in his family that he forget about his own feelings, but today. Today, it came all down to him with an overwhelmed force. He realised that the void in his life, without his wife was no one going to fill. Not his kids, not his daughter-in-laws, not his sister. Although, bhua ji had been his support system ever since the loss of his wife.

To some point Arnav tried to understand what he was going through. It was hard for him to keep himself in a place of a father, but he understood the pain and emotions as a human. If tomorrow, his daughter was going to give her life for a person, who all of sudden meant more than him, he would feel the same, what Mr. Gupta as a father was.

He sat in his knees. He started off. "I understand, Sir, what you are going through at a moment. What Khushi did was not at all appropriate, she should not have done anything of this sought, but that she did swayed in emotions. I would not blame her but myself, I should have made an effort to be here as soon as possible. Sir, please forgive me and Khushi, for hurting you. We two have really put you down, you can punish us in anyway, we would not mind."

Bhuaji had tears in her eyes, she was too feeling the guilt that she even asked Khushi to take such a step. She was so angry at that time, she forgot what would he as a father would go through. Even though motive was not wrong, but step. Even if it involved no harm to life, but values and sentiments.

***
"Khushi, how are you? May I know why did you take such a step?" he asked.
She smiled. "I promised that I will wait only for you!"
"Like this?"
She did not answer him, she looked around, and saw every member of her family had come to see her, but her father. "Where is babu ji?"
"He is at home, titliya, he had to go for some work," her bhua ji answered.

Her words did not go well with her emotions.
Then everything came down to her without anybody telling her the reason behind his absence.

"You have put him down, Khushi!" Her mind yelled to her. Loud enough to deafen her and made her feel sick.

"I want to see him," she said.

***
For the first time, she felt ashamed to even go in front of him.
"Babu ji?" she said. Her anklets tinkled, it did not sound cheerful, but sad.

She saw his hands making a vague quick try to wipe off the tears that he was now shedding in front of his wife's photo. Khushi's heart lacerated more in guilt.

"Khushi, what are you doing here? You need to be in the hospital taking rest," he said, turning around to face , in a loud cheerful voice, filled with concern.

"Let us go," he said.
Khushi stopped him, and herself knelt on her knees, and held her ears. "I am sorry, babu ji," she said, and burst into tears. "I am sorry for what I did in a haste!"

He was quite. She understood his silence. She had not given him any reason to say anything. She knew, after giving hurt a mere sorry does not fix everything, but she tried to lift off the weight of her shoulder.. "Babu ji, please forgive me, I forgot the values that you always taught me. I was so blind that I was only thinking about myself, even though I had no bad intentions of such! Please consider this as my last mistake and forgive me, please, babu ji!"

He saw a shadow outside the room." Come on in, Arnav," he said. Khushi looked up at him. Arnav wondered how did he knew he was outside. He walked inside the room.

Khushi got up the floor on her feet.

"Would you like to marry my daughter?" he asked.

Khushi looked at him in surprise. "Sir, I promise I will always keep your daughter happy."

"Can you marry her now? Right now? Without any ifs and buts?"

He nodded happily in a yes.

"Today, I give my daughter to you," he said.

In front of the guests and the whole village Mr. Gupta married off his daughter. May be yes, one day a daughter is meant to become someone else's.

Khushi all of sudden was feeling as if she was detached from her family. She no longer had any ties with every single membeer of her family. Her Anjali bhabi had tears of happiness in her eyes. She was not attached to her other three sister-in-laws, but they loved her as their sister. She wondered why she could not create a bond that she shares with Anjali with other three. Maybe she considered her a mother than a sister-in law.

Her marriage with Arnav was something she wanted, now it was happening, she had taken seven vows with him, he put mangalsutra in her neck and vermillion in her head. She was his. Completely. Then why did it feel as if...she was short of words.

In a crowd of hundred happy faces, there was one face on which no sign of happiness existed, her father's. Would she be forgiven for this act done in denial, or she would be able to forgive herself? She thought.

***

Note:

I hope you enjoyed the update...There are three or four updates more for this SS, then it is done, I want to keep it short! Without streching it unnecssarily.

THANK YOU FOR READING IT!

OS: Precious little heart

He helped her finding the best shot. Slightly bending down with her, he tucked his left hand under her left hand, and right hand on top of her right hand. 

Guiding how to create an open hand bridge and closed hand bridge. 
"Now try it yourself," Arnav said to Lavanaya.
"Yes, sure, why not?!"
"That's right, Lavanya," he said as she created the open hand bridge perfectly.
Arnav was teaching Lavanya, pool, but for the whole time his attention was at his wife Khushi.
Khushi was trying to be unaffected by all his actions, but Arnav exactly knew what was going on in her mind.
Simply looking into her eyes that reflected all her feelings. Her eyes filled with jealousy, furrowed forehead, blood must have been boiling he thought. 
"How could Arnavji could do this to me?" khushi thought..."Right in front of his wife he is flirting (not really was just try to make khushi jealous) with Lavanya" (Arnav's best friend who has come from London to Mumbai for a business deal and to meet Raiazada's. She stayed at RM for a night when Nani insisted her and then Lavanya decided to hung around for one more day and Arnav agreed to it.)
For last couple of days Khushi was so busy because payal was at hospital for her delievery. Khushi was the one who was looking after the house. And then with the puja arrangements which was kept to welcome Payal and her new born baby Alya. Arnav did understand her, but his point was if she could give all her time to the family, she should give him time too. When Arnav tried to spend some quality time with her she blurted out fiercely " Do you even have anything else then just having s** . I think you have married for that only!" without even thinking the consequences of her words will have on him...But she was extremely sorry for what she said out of her mind... However, Arnav was really mad by the fact that his wife had time for everyone else but not him and top of that what she thinks of him. It hurt him.
"Yay," lavanya jumped in an excitement when she finally able to sink the ball and hugged Arnav.
"Wow, ASR you are the best instructor, thank you so much!"
"My pleasure," he said to her, but smiling impishly at Khushi.
To tease khushi further he was about to kiss lavanya's hand when khushi threw the cue stick on the floor loud enough to distract him...
"Oops sorry!" khushi said giving him the sarcastic smile.
Arnav in return gave her fake fumed face look, but laughed inwardly.
Knowing that shot has been exactly at the right place.
"Hey, let's go guys and have something to eat. I am really hungry."
"Me too, let's go to our favourite restaurant to eat, Lavanya,"Arnav said responding.
The word "OUR" instantly grabbed Khushi's attention and that surely made her blood boil.
"You mean China House?"Lavanaya said flabbergasted.
Arnav nodded his head.
Lavanya continued "Oh God, Khushi you know whenever I come to Mumbai me and Arnav never miss to go to China House it is our favourite place and their Chinese food oh my sweet lord. It is the best," Khushi gave her a "say a cheese smile." 
Arnav chuckled, but soon bit his lip to keep from laughing.

~At the Restaurant~
Lavanya was having great time eating her favourite "chinese sausages, claypot rice, and not to forget chilli crab with fried buns. Arnav ordered dry-fried green beans, fried rice and vegetables, fried vegetarian Crab Meat for himself and khushi. Arnav knew that its Khushi's favourite.
That did not go unnoticed by khushi and her bad mood was replaced with a   smile. "Arnav ji, thank you!"
But he did not pay much attention. And got back to talk to Lavanaya. That clearly showed that he was still mad at her.
"Oh God, I just love it" Lavanya moaned eating her favourite chilli crab.
"Then why don't you have little bit more?," Arnav said putting chilli crab in her plate.
But Lavanya stopped him by holding his hand..." No no ASR I am really full now. I don't think I would be able to consume the one that is already in my plate, but I surely loved it."

Khushi shoot a glance at him then at her and her hand on his...She didn't know how much she was controlling herself. More than she loves Arnav, now she was feeling like throwing something at him for making her jealous. Even though she knew that he is just pretending, but she couldn't afford that her Arnav talking to his so called "best friend."
After having lunch they went for shopping, watched movie and at 6:30PM they were finally home.

@Raizada Mansion

~ In the living Area~
Lavanya was telling everyone about how three of them spent their day together. With an excitement and occasionally touching Arnav's arm who was sitting beside her and that pierced Khushi's heart. Everything was replaying in her mind. That how Arnav listened to every demand of Lavanaya and did the way as she said. Unable to take it anymore she decided to go from there.
"Anjali di I go and prepare for a dinner."
"Let's go khushi I help you!" Payal said.
"That is okay Jiji you take care of Alya (payash's daughter). HP ji will help me!"
"Do let me know if you need help!"
"Sure Jiji."
~In the kitchen~ 
Khushi was preparing dinner, but her mind was continuously thinking about Arnav.
She was battling with her own thoughts. Her angelic voice was telling her to go to Arnav and apologize, but her devil voice totally contradict her angelic voice. 
"I have to apologize to Arnav ji...But Why should I huh? He should be. After all he was flirting with Lavanya...But khushi you were also at fault you talked to him rudely, but I have already so many times...Okay one more time try it!"
In the end she decided that she will apologize. So she finished up everything as fast as possible.
After preparing dinner Khushi looked around in the living area everybody was sitting there, but Arnav. She goes to their room to look for him.
Arnav was in the room catching up with the work that he missed for the whole day.
Khushi walks in.
Arnav did hear the footsteps and knew that Khushi was standing right in front of him without moving his glance toward her. And kept his focus on his work.
"Arnavji?"
"Hmm!" he murmured looking up from a computer screen at her for a second then again back to the computer screen.
"I want to talk to you!"
"Not now khushi...I am busy. Can't we just talk later?"
Before khushi say anything else she rushed to the washroom as she felt nauseated.
"Khu...khushi??" Arnav immediately got up from his chair and followed her. 
Khushi was throwing up in the toilet and in a hurry he went close to her...He held her hair back that were coming in her way while she puked.
"Khushi what happened to you? Are you alright?"Arnav asked rubbing her back to soothe her
coughing, her face all red, beads of sweat covered her face. Unable to stand properly she turned towards him.
Arnav was now really concerned by reviewing Khushi's troubled health. Without looking straight at him she embraced him in a tight hug.
"I...am...sorry... Arnav ji...I...am...really sorry," she said sobbing in between each and every word. "I didn't say...that to hurt you... Arnav...ji...Really! I did not...Believe me Arnav...ji"
"Sshh Khushi," Arnav said cuddling her his own eyes weld up.
"No Arnav ji...I can tolerate everything but...you not talking to me...No Arnav ji...I just can't... I will Die," khushi wailed. 
The word die was enough to shatter his heart into million pieces. He cursed himself for forcing her to say that...
"No, khushi please don't say that...I should be sorry. I was doing everything deliberately. I was just too mad, but I should not have taken that too seriously," Arnav said in agony.
"I am sorry Arnavji!" Khushi said lifting her head up now to look right into his eyes.
"That is okay Khushi. Now you don't have to be sorry about. I think, I really overreacted!"
Her lips curved into a smile, she was relieved. "I love you Arnavji I really do." And her sobs subsided a bit.
"I love you too Khushi!"
A smile that crept on Khushi's lips slowly diminished. Her head started spinning. Before she could figure out what's happening to her she lost her balance.
"Khushi what happen? Khushi!" Arnav asked as he got hold of her before she fall.
"Akaash, Nani, Mammi, Anjali Di?" Arnav yelled.
"Aahhh Arnavji," Khushi moaned in pain and clutched her aching stomach.
"Khushi just relax I call the Doctor," Khushi heard Arnav saying but all of sudden everything blacked out in front of her eyes and she collapsed. Arnav strongly held in his arms.
"Khushi!... Hey khushi please open your eyes," he begged.
He picked her up in his arms and took out of the washroom and gently laid her on the bed...
Everyone came running into the room hearing Arnav's shouts. Seeing khushi lying on the bed unconscious and Arnav continuously begging her to open her eyes, they all got panicked.
Arnav had sprinkled water on her face, but there no response from her.
"What happen bhai?" Alarmed Akaash asked.
"Call the damn doctor now fast," Arnav commanded.
"Yes, bhai!" Akaash quickly dialled the doctors number and asked her to come ASAP.
"What has happened to khushi Bitiya?" Concerned Nani asked with tears in her eyes.
"I don't know Nani!" he answered timidly.
"Chote just relax Doctor will be here any moment," Anjali said to calm Arnav.
In a few minutes doctor walked in.
"Doctor plz just see what has happened to my khushi!"
"Mr. Raizada let me check!...Can you please all go outside?"
Everyone leaves, but Arnav insists to stay right now he just did not want to leave khushi alone.
Doctor did her check up and gave her the injection.
Arnav's already panicked form gets even worse when he looks at the doctor's serious face.
"Doctor is khushi fine?...What has happened to her? Why did she all of sudden had bad cramps and fainted."
"Mr. Raizada just relax!... She is absolutely fine now. Her blood pressure had had dropped. And in this situation its normal. I have given her injection she will be fine soon."
"In this situation?" Arnav asked.
"Yes, Mr. Raizada Khushi is 2 months pregnant. This was the reason that she had sudden cramps and fainted. "
"Huhh? What? Pregnant? Father? Me?" Arnav muttered to himself totally bewildered. He did not even know, what to say. What to do? What to say? He had no idea what he himself was mumbling.
So he just calmed and gathered himself abit and asked doctor again "Are you serious Doctor? Is it true that Khushi is pregnant?"
"Yes," doctor replied with a smile on her face.
That was it Arnav's panicked heart filled totally with happiness. He was shocked, but really happy.
"Oh God really I am going to be a father...Thank you so much Doctor... Thank you so much," he whispered looking at Khushi.
"No Problem! But Mr. Raizada, I have to point out this to you, you have to be extra careful with her. Don't let her take too much stress, she needs complete bed rest at least for a day and also bring her tomorrow to the hospital for a checkup."
"Yes Doctor!" all he could say and in one long step he settled himself close to Khushi.
Everyone come rushing. But were slightly confused looking at happy Arnav sitting very next to khushi. Her hand in his.
"Chote what has happened to khushi is she?"
"Di I am so happy...Di...I am going to be a father, Khushi is pregnant."
Everyone present in the room overjoyed, and finally everyone took a sigh of relief.
"Congratulations Chote!" that's all happy Anjali able to say just like Arnav she too was lost of words.
"Di Doctor has asked to let her take a rest."
"Yes, Chote we should let her rest now!"
Nani, Anjali, Mami, Payal, Lavanya congratulated Arnav and left the room to let khushi have some rest.
Before leaving Akaash gave Arnav a quick hug and wished him "Congratulations bhai. Now you too gonna be a father!"
Arnav got little shy but came back to ASR mode.
"Thank you Akaash!"
And then Akaash leaves too. Arnav closed the door immediately behind and quickly rushed to sit beside khushi.
He was feeling angry at himself for treating Khushi really badly and ignoring whenever she tried to talked to him, just to make her guilty and jealous. Tears had welled up in his eyes. He held her hand tightly and kissed it.
"I am sorry Khushi! I should not have done that...But I promise that I will keep you and our baby ( Arnav said placing his hand on her tummy) safe and happy.
"Please baby ask your mommy to get up plz! Ask her to get to up. I want to talk to her!" he requested.
"Ar...Arnav ji!" Khushi said alarmed.
Arnav hearing her voice quickly straightened up to face her completely.
"Khushi are you okay? How are you feeling now ?"
"I am alright Arnavji. I don't know what happened to me all of sudden!"
"Don't worry jaan you are fine. In fact, you are absolutely fine." Unable to resist himself he breaks the good news to her. "You are Pregnant Khushi."
Khushi was bewildered. Shocked hearing that. She froze for a moment. Impulsively, her hand touched her tummy to feel the little life that has taken birth inside her.
"Am I going to be a mother and you father?" she barely able to mumble.
"Yes, Khushi," Arnav nodded. "I just can't tell you how happy I am... I love you Khushi... I love you."
"I love you too Arnavji!"
"It's the perfect moment of my life Khushi and thank you for the precious little gift." And he hug her tightly!
Slowly khushi pull from the hug. Her arms still around his neck.
Their eyes locked.
Khushi was the first one to break the stare. Her eyes moved down to his lips and then back to his eyes.
Arnav ran his hand on her face...
What khushi next did was totally unexpected...With her hands around his neck she pulled Arnav's face towards her... Until there was no distance between them.
Their lips locked.
Arnav eyes flutter opened in surprise. Since, it was the very first time khushi made her first move. As he closed his eyes, khushi felt his smile against her lips...
As kiss grew more passionate and wilder, Khushi ran her hands in his soft, jet black hair...
They kissed as their life dependent on it...They didn't even pulled away from the kiss for a breath as their mouths on each other were the source of oxygen...
They themselves didn't know how long they had been kissing each other. Few minutes felt like ages but magical and full of dream.
All of sudden, there was no response from khushi...
Arnav fluttered open his eyes. His heart pounded harder than ever.
But felt a relief as he saw khushi dozed off in his hands. Her breathing was calm and a small smile had crept on her face.
He smiled seeing her beautiful, innocent angelic face. And laid her gently back on the bed. He leaned in and give a small peck on her lip. And was about to get up the bed but he was stopped as Khushi had hold his hand.
"Khushi," he said turning around but she was sleeping.
In a half sleepy voice she mumbled - "I love you Arnavji...I..."
"Love you too... Khushi,"'Arnav completed the sentence.
Releasing his hand for a bit he pulled cover on top her and laid beside her... His hand on her tummy.
"I could see your beautiful face forever khushi and never get tired of it. Thank you once again for this little gift!"
Then a minutes later he too dozed off.

Bonded just for a favour?! Conclusion part 5

CONCLUSION PART 8


PART X

Arnav came home entirely broken, he was so distracted, disturbed, shattered from inside that he had no energy to even drive.

He had to fetch the taxi. The house felt like a graveyard. With Khushi, every colour, every positive emotion, had faded away.

He had wished he would open the door and his Khushi will be waiting for him, just like she used too.

But no this time she wasn't. Arnav felt the house will eat him away, he never had thought that Khushi will leave him.

He never had thought that she didn't love him.

He spent almost 1 and a half year with her and now all of sudden she was gone.

He let out a growl of complete pain.
In true sense, he had lost everything. His family, his sexy, his Khushi and now there was no point of living.

He was tired enough of pretending that he was happy and living his life to full extent...He was tired of being so strong, but not any more he could.

He let himself to be weak. He fell on his knees.

His heart still wishing she will be back...

If not today, then tomorrow, may be a week later, a month, or after a year when she will know she herself can't live without him.

He will wait until his last breath, he sat on the floor, his back laid against the sofa and his head stooped down in defeat.

But a moment later, he felt his heart skip a beat...His every sense revived...

A smile that had mirrored nothing, but pure happiness, and endless joy.

He heard the tinkling of Khushi's anklets and the door opened.

There she stood, his angel. She was back.

A pain masked on her tired face, tears flowing.

But his smile faded when he thought it was just his imagination.

He again sat back, dreams shattered again.

Even though he could hear her anklets tinkling even more, in fact she was coming towards him as the door behind her slammed shut.

And he shut his ear, to block the sound, he was getting frustrated, tears never stopped running down his eyes.

"Please stop thinking of her she isn't here!" he pleaded himself when he thought he will go insane.

"What if I am actually here!?" he heard her saying in a shaky voice.

"What if your Khushi is back!?" she further added.

"No," he was still shaking his head. Because he was confident that it was his imagination.

She put her hand on his arm, as she sat down, "Arnav."

This time Arnav did look at her, in shock.

"Your Khushi is here with you!" she said. "For forever!"

"And this is not your imagination," she said as she pinched him to bring him to the reality.

His very part of the heart believed but his mind was still in denial.

Khushi made him stood up. "I love you Arnav!" she said if that made him believe.

Arnav bit his tongue and realized it wasn't his imagination.

His Khushi was back.

"Ahhh!" he breathed harsher.

As one breath came one after the other he knew he was living.

The very presence of her meant he was alive, his heart was rejuvenated.

Then anger masked his smile. He walked away and fell on the sofa crying.

Khushi quickly went to him and knelt on her knees.

"I am sorry Arnav," she muttered. "I am really sorry...I knew you loved me. I knew you were going to admit your love for me, but I had talked about leaving you!"

"You did it one purpose!" he said heatedly. "You knew I loved you, you hurt me on purpose. What are you doing here!? Why didn't you just leave me alone dying here!?" he could hardly speak.

"Because of me!" someone said that made Arnav turned around his head.

"She did everything because of me!" Lavanya said.

"You!?" he asked confused.

"Yes, because I have said her! I asked her to move away between me and you."

"La you knew that I don't love you!"

"Yes, I didn't," she said. "The day you had gone to Canada for a day to your conference I had come here to meet Khushi."

"I knew that you and Khushi were married. I forced Khushi to be the one step aside. But in this 6 months I realized you actually love Khushi. Whenever you were with me I could only see love for Khushi."

"And today, when I realized you can't be mine...And your love is only for Khushi how could I have done one more mistake and have let Khushi go away from you life!? I had realized that Khushi loved you so much that for your happiness she could do anything."

Arnav looked at her questioning.

"Yes, Arnav I made her believe that you are only happy with me. And for me she sacrificed her own love."

"I told her that you are only doing her a favour. I told her that you are a burden on you!"

"But I wouldn't have done that. I wanted you, but you need each other!"

"If possible, please forgive me!" she said in guilt and left.

________________________________

PART Y (Make me yours!) MATURE CONTENT AHEAD
Now, Arnav couldn't believe that it was all a big joke played with their lives by Lavanya.

He looked angrily at Khushi. "How could you just believe that I loved her!?"

"I am sorry...you could give me any kind of punishment," she muttered.

"Any!?"

"Yes, you may slap me if you want! You can hit me..."

"Sssh!" he said as he kept his finger on her lips. He could never think of hitting her or any other women. Although, he was mad at La, but he couldn't have came forward and slapped her. But one thing she wouldn't get is forgiveness.

"I love you Khushi!" he said and hugged her.

Kissing her hair, her whole face, her neck, over and over and over again. He couldn't put his happiness into words, but just express through his actions.

Khushi had completely surrendered herself to him. "Make me yours Arnav please for forever that no one could snatch me from you and you from me!" she muttered.

There were no words to explain this moment in particular too.

Her one phrase had changed their relationship for good, and for forever.
He had pinned her to the wall, kissing her, drinking her tears away, and there was no stopping today, no stepping back.

He had his life and he knew what to do with it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and Khushi let her whole weight on him, let him give her support.

He picked her in arms as she was breathless.

A music of love started.
There were no borders, no limits when they had chosen to be with each other.

With the trust that they would not leave each other alone in any circumstance.


Arnav pushed the door with his leg as he didn't dare to look anywhere, but Khushi. Whose face was flushed and glowing at the same under his heated gaze, but she too was looking at his greyish eyes.

Stars twinkled in the night sky as a moon in the arms of night, Khushi was in Arnav's arms.

He laid her so gently on the bed as he was going to hurt her if he will be harsh in anyway.

He laid on top of her and kissed her. Moans danced on Khushi's lips. She couldn't define how his lips crashed on her lips, that she felt it was so soft, she didn't expect gentleness from him, after a year of pure pain.


Khushi was breathless and so was Arnav, but it was just the beginning. He took her clothes one by one off her body and his own until there was no layer that separated them.

Without him Khushi was incomplete. This is what she had come to know after she had thought of going away from him.

If Lavanya hadn't come there and stopped her at the airport and told that Arnav couldn't live without her, god knows what had happened. Right away she couldn't wait, but run back to her Arnav.

Arnav moved south as he kissed her neck. He bit with his teeth hardly, to satisfy himself with the dry moans that escaped her throat.

Then taking her full round breasts in his hands, and moulding them, pinching the taut n**ples, sending electric currents up her spine, a heat shooting from her stomach to her s*x.

He took his good time sucking each of her bosoms.

Khushi writhed, wriggled, arched her back, to allow full access to her assets only added to the passion.

Coming down to her stomach, kissing it in a same passion as he had her breasts.

There was a need that they never needed before, but today, right now. With the growth of time, he couldn't stop himself and to be little harsh. He bit her stomach muscles, whereas his fingers rolled her n**ples between his finger. And sucked the red area only to form a hickeys.

He could tell Khushi was enjoying it, and he was proud...

Finally, reaching even more south, to his final destination, he found her heated core.

He growled and Khushi shuddered as he knelt on his knees and leaned to suck all the juices off her until dry.

Khushi felt she was in heavens, her thighs opened for him, she didn't knew the feeling that was so new to her, ever existed in her. And was proud that it was only Arnav who was meant to give all she had needed.

She couldn't believe she would ever had let anyone this close, but she took proud in it, that it was Arnav.

She couldn't say anything, but encourage him, begging for more, when she was at verge of orgasm, she pleaded him to be inside her.

He obeyed her and plunged inside her.

"It will hurt, but I will make sure it doesn't," he mumbled soothly.

She merely able to nod when her eyes were tightly shut, and he was going inside her. Her breath stuck in her throat.

Slowly and gradually, her mouth opened as he went deeper and deeper.

"Relax yourself, feel me inside you, ignore the pain, open your focus on me," he told her when he felt her muscles clenched around her.

She let her body loose, looked into his eyes, listening to the rhythm of his and her own heart that was in sync.

"Aahh!" She screamed do loudly when the tissue inside her ruptured.

The pain was unbearable, as someone has hit her with hammer, tears flowed down her eyes, but quickly it dissolve in the pool of pleasure.

He felt a pool of lubricant around his member. Khushi was surprised to find that his p**is roomed itself inside herself so perfectly.

But there were was no time to think, he increased the pace as he slide in and out.

"Please don't stop!" his heart palpitated as it swell in happiness. And he could only fulfill her needs.

"Come with me Khushi!" he growled before he stopped all the moments for 30 seconds and then ejacuated his sperms deep inside her womb with the speed of light.

"Arnav!" Khushi breathed harder as her body melted in the aftermath of countless orgasms. Her head dug in the pillow. He held her by waist and continued to slide in and out.

Until, she couldn't breath, her screams of pleasure didn't became an exhausted moans.

When they were exhausted after their pure love making, Arnav fell on her, Khushi welcomed all his weight on top on her. As they laid, linked together. 

_________________________________PART Z (A fresh start.)

2 month later...

"Arnav what are you still doing in the washroom!?" Khushi yelled.

"What the Khushi I am doing my work!" he answered back.

Khushi giggled. "Common everyone is waiting for us at the mansion. We have to get ready!"

"Just a moment! I am almost done!" he said as he flushed the toilet.

"Just look at the room...Arnav even kids aren't that messy than you are! What your dirty socks are doing on the bed and shoes on the study table!?"

"Mrs. Raizada calm down. I will clean it..."

"But you tell me what is your shoe doing on the study table!?"

"I was reading it..."

"What!? I mean I was polishing it..."

"Arnav you were sitting in the washroom reading newspaper!"

"Yes, I was," he said as he came out of the washroom. "Otherwise, I couldn't have gotten time!"

"Arnav aap bhi na!" (Arnav you!) she said as she turned around to leave.

Arnav held her by her hand and swirled her around. Her head spun as she felt light headed. But it seemed to be okay the moment she stood still in her husband's arm and Arnav didn't seem to notice it either.

"Arnav this not a time to romance let me go. I have to get ready mom, dad, dadi are waiting!"

"Thank you Khushi!" he said. "Thank you for bringing my family together...Thank you for returning me my family!"

"Isn't it my family too!?" she said.

"I am sorry. Our family," he corrected himself.

"It's okay!" she said as she brushed his hair to the right.

"I told you, once they will sought out their differences and start respecting them, everything will turn out to be good!"

"But you did make them realize my importance too."

"Arnav they are your mom and dad. Just like we kids sometimes don't show it, but we will still them...parents do the same...They don't need to show the love it is obvious that they love us!"

"Remember when you met with a minor accident a month ago and how they came rushing to the hospital!?"
He nodded.

"That clearly showed how much they loved you which was definitely beyond descriptions!"

"And they also accepted us and our marriage," he added.

"Yes," She said and nodded. And Arnav pulled her into a tight hug.

"You go and get ready...I call Anjali di and ask her when she will be at RM!"

"Okay!" she said smiling. She walked to her closet to get her lehnga...when her head again spun and due to the lost of balance she knocked the glass oval shaped vase that was kept on the long wooden table and it fell on the floor.

"Arnav!" she called faintly, but it wasn't loud enough that he could listen her when he was talking on phone and T.V. volume was high enough to muffle the sound of the vase that hardly made sound as it fell on a rug and her calls.

She sat on the bed, for a while, and drank water that was already kept on the table.

To her relief she felt better.

"Khushi, please come here for a while, I am not getting the music CD that you took out of the car."

"Coming!" she said as she stood up, but this time she only collapsed on the floor.

"Khushi!" Arnav called again. "Are you in the washroom!?" he still didn't get her answer. He came to the room and literally rushed as he fell to her side.

He stood and laid her on the bed. He rubbed her palms and soles. And quickly checked her pulse and the heartbeat and the B.P.

He chuckled all heartedly when he found out that his Khushi was pregnant.

        ~~~THE END~~~ 
_________________________________

Bonded just for a favour?! Chapter 4

PART 7
PART R (BROKEN)

After Khushi's mom death, Khushi had been really sick. She was admitted to the hospital over a week.

No one else with her, except
Arnav, who too had lost his mother, had completely taken care of her.

Also, for a week they couldn't carry out a funeral. When after a week, Khushi could barely stand forbid her mother last goodbye.

There was an aura of grey all around. Their lives had drastically changed. Because of Khushi's illness, Arnav had kept himself strong. Although, he himself was too shaken up with his sexy's death. Anyhow, someone had to be strong enough and Arnav chose to volunteer, even if it meant total heartache.

Slowly he had shoved all the pain in the corner of his heart and took care of Khushi. Who at present seemed to be affected to an extent she had lost the urge to live anymore.

She would sit in the corner of her room, hours staring outside the window. Cities lights illuminating the dark nights, but her own world a dark place, where her own shadow seemed to isolate her. She had no track of time.

She didn't care to eat, even if she was hungry, most of the times. Arnav had to plead her to eat. For quite sometime, he had taken day off or would finish his work early.

Several times, he had tried to convince her to go with him outside, just to divert her mind, but she would just ignore.

This was worrying Arnav the most. She had lost 8 to 10 pounds of her body weight. Her health reports weren't appealing at all.

Dozen times she had collapsed due to the weakness. Her mother was the only desire and looked like after her there was no desire left anymore.

At nights, she would stay awake, staring at the skies.

Sometimes, looking at the pictures of her mom. But she shed no tears anymore as she was deprived of them.

Her mom was a woman so lively, so enthusiastic, so energetic that she was never ever bothered even when she knew she had no more than 6 months, but not even that. "Everyone one day has to die, than why not today!" she had told her in the last hour.

"Please don't say so ma!" she pleaded. "Your handsome will never like that...I have called him, he is busy but once he will check his phone, he will come rushing to you!"

"No," her mom said breathing difficulty. "Don't call him, he isn't strong enough to see me going. I have spent two precious hour with him," she said.

"I will be back!" she said. "May be as your son or daughter!" she laughed.

Khushi giggled at her thought.

"Take care of him, of yourself! I love both of you! May you both love together forever!" was her last words said to her.

She was guilty, that she couldn't tell her mom it was just a drama.

PART S (Always by your side)
A weeks passed by, there was no change in Khushi.

Arnav couldn't tolerate it anymore. He couldn't see her breaking every moment of her life.

He held Khushi's arms, little tightly, because his soft way to make her understand wasn't of any good use.

"Khushi you know how much you are hurting sexy by living this suffocating life!?" he said little heatedly too.

"You don't care, Arnav she wasn't your mom!" she said. She knew she was being rude, but this time on purpose.

She wanted to remove any concerns he had for her. Because her life was nothing, but a boat without a sailor. And she thought she was a headache for him. With her he was just ruining his life.

Her words did indeed hurt him, but he knew where Khushi was coming from.

"She wasn't your mom, that's why you can't see the pain!" she repeated as she kept the stone on her heart, trying to heighten the anger towards herself, but it only did was pulled himself more to her.

Then she felt his hand slipping down her arms, but only to cup her face.

"Khushi, I know you are hurt. Look I want you to move on. We can't live in the past. I promised sexy that I will never let you feel alone, after her death. I know wherever she is, she watching us, and I won't be able to bear to see her soul getting hurt."

Fresh tears slipped down Khushi's eyes as he spoke. "She had lived in pain, for years...She didn't deserve this life full of pain...With her death she was actually released from the pain. And now do you want even her soul to suffer!!?" he asked.

Khushi immediately hugged him. Arnav welcomed her very gesture and hugged her back. She needed it.

"Arnav she never shared her pain with me. She never did!" sobs raked her body. "She never told me how much physical, emotional and mental pain she was going through!" she sobbed even harder.

"I miss her, Arnav. But you are right she needed it! She was fighting with her life, bed ridden."

Arnav couldn't help rubbing her back to soothe her.

Finally, the tears that she had been holding back, came gushing down her eyes. Arnav let her cry as long as she wanted, but he promised that it would be the last time.

Hours went by, they were still in each other's arms. And didn't once mind.

Khushi had told him about her childhood. She told him that after her father's death her mom had given the love of both mom and dad. Arnav was relieved that she was quite normal, if not completely.

He listened to her, responding whenever he thought he had too and he should.

They both sat by the window, Arnav had tucked her closer, and he was glad Khushi didn't mind.

In fact, she felt never this good. Knowing the one thing that there is someone who was there to take care of her, by her side.

Arnav had wrapped his arms around her waist and she had her back leaned against his chest. His heart beat against her back. She could feel it beating normal at times, and the other little faster.

He cuddled her close enough to provide provide her warmth.

And it was nearly, 2:00 AM and Khushi had long slept her head burried in his neck, her hot breath tickling his skin.

He couldn't stop himself looking at her. After month and a half, she had slept peacefully.

He slowly tucked his arms under her waist and her legs, as he carefully picked her in his arms, and took her to the room.

Gently laying her on the bed and covering her with a blanket, he dimmed the light of the room, before placing a deep kiss on her forehead.
A small smile tucked on the side of his lips.

It was hard to believe, but even after so long he had smiled, even though it was hardly there.

His heart had picked up the race against his chest...And he officially admitted to himself that he loved her. And wanted to make her his own, not for a year, or two or ten or twenty, but for forever. He didn't know when and how!?

May be the very first day he had seen her at the hospital.

He turned around to leave when Khushi stopped him, as she held his hand.

PART T (Can I kiss you!?)

"Please don't leave me!" her voice was pleading that made his heart jump in excitement and pain at the same time.

"I am always with you!" he said walking one step back. He sat with her. And she only gave him enough room moving to the other side of the bed. He half laid to her side, but maintaing a respectful distance between them.

He looked at her sleepy state, "close your eyes!" he murmured ever so softly, that Khushi couldn't store the warmth and the concern behind the words.

Then he was doing that she expected from him, he leaned in. "Can I kiss you!?" he demanded.

She couldn't deny and only welcomed him. His heart gushed with joy and he placed his lips on hers.

There was nothing physical in the kiss, just a promising kiss that," Khushi even if your shadow leaves you I will never ever!"

Arnav was relieved when he knew he wasn't scaring her, he was believing him. And yes, she was. She was apologizing for not believing him, and blaming him.

When she slowly snaked her long, thin fingers in his hair, only to keep him from pulling away from the kiss.

Kiss lasted longer than two minutes...And it was welcomed by both of them in their full senses...They were both mature enough to keep their feelings in check.

Somewhere, in their head they thought, may be they should give their contract marriage a chance.

"Go to sleep, doll! I am here right next to you!" he mumbled tucking the strand of her hair at the back of her ear and floating in his sweetly muttered words she drifted to sleep.

Holding his arm in his hands, as she felt safe, free of worries. The void that was created after Khushi's mom death was being filled by Arnav, or may be he was already in her heart.

_________________________________
Another week passed away, Khushi was getting better. Arnav was successful in bringing smile on her face. And sometimes, she laughed her heart out. When one day, Arnav dressed into a Charlie Chaplin look. Khushi had decorated his face with her lipstick. And Arnav did not mind at all, he had painted Khushi's face too, with big kitten moustache. Truly, the colour in their lives were returning back.

Nowadays, they were even sleep in the same room, together in the same bed, trusting each other.

This was Khushi's way to apologize. They once laid together. Tears formed in her eyes. Arnav leaned on his elbow in concern. Before, he could ask her what happened, Khushi spoke as she sat up and held her ears.

"I am sorry Arnav for not believing you!" she said in guilt.

"Really did you do anything such!?" he asked so casually as really didn't anything happened.

He laid her back on the bed before brushing her tears away, with his knuckles.

"Let's just not talk about past! And if you are still concerned I was hurt, than the answer is yes, I was, just a little!" he said adding his tint of childish nature. "But it's alright. Because we are still together," he had said and Khushi could only look at him, in his eyes.

"Did mom ever complimented your beautiful grey eyes!" she said.

"Yes, she did. That's why I love them even more!" he told her.
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PART U (HIS TURMOIL)

Then slowly he saw her closing her eyes, and drifting to sleep, wrapped blanket tightly around herself. He couldn't resist running his hand in her hair and she seemed to liking it. Arnav could tell the way body almost relax, she wasn't at all clenching on blanket as she was afraid or missing her mother.

There was something in her that attracted him towards her, surely it was not just one thing, but he wasn't sure if Khushi has the same feelings for him.

He could read people mind, but her mind was hard to. Because she had lot more different things going in her mind at a time, that could be easily interfere in understanding how she feels for him.

But like sexy would say, "You are budhu!" in a mocking way.

"If she doesn't love you why she would let you to kiss her, cuddle in your arms, why would she get startled when you aren't around her!? Why would she impatiently wait for you when you will come from work!? Can't you just see on her face!? Remember when your hand got hurt, how worried she was!? Why would she care about your little things, let it be your socks, or do you have your wallet, your car keys always in your hand before you forget them at home. Why would every day she would stop by your office during the lunch hour to check if you ate or not, not to forget your breakfast...She gets up early even before you and prepare healthy breakfast for you...And dinner has something very special made almost every day, that also your favourite...She is aware of every little thing of you, what irritates you, what you are fond of, your likes, dislikes, name it what she doesn't," his subconscious mind spoke.

"And please don't tell me, it's just a favour after what you did for her or that you are just filling the void in her life, because that's not even a good reason when you were a part of her life already."

"Then why she isn't telling she loves me!?" Somewhere sat a question in his mind.

"Of course, you are a guy and you should proceed first, crazy!" even his mind has screamed back.

"What if she doesn't and if I will propose her, she will only hate me and distanced away from me."

"You are really foolish! If she had too she has left the day her mom died!" his soul taunted. "Be a man! A man is never scared of anything!"

"But I am, because I just don't want to hurt her!" a tear formed at the corner of his eyes. "I don't want to hurt!"

I know you more than you know yourself I know off you, and I should encourage you go and propose her...I tell you she will the most happiest person!"

"Happiest I don't know, if she really wants to live with me...And I hope she just doesn't kick my a*s!" he said.

"Don't worry she could murder you I am sure..."

"What the!?" he growled and Khushi beside him shuddered in fear.

Arnav quickly patted her shoulder and head and eased her back to peaceful slumber.

"Don't scream Mr. Raizada!" his mind said. "Listen to me first than growl...What I meant was if you didn't propose her and just let her go she will surely kiss your a** that is too eager to get a kick not to forget she will murder you!"

"Okay, I think I should go to sleep!" he said yawning.

"Yes, yes, of course! If you can take an eye off the angel in front of your eyes than you should really go to sleep!" his mind said.

Arnav blushed and smiled. He indeed was in love with her and heneeded her in his life, because already he had taken all her worries and even if she would say yes or no, he will make sure he always take care of her.

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PART V (GOING AWAY)

After gathering the courage nearly after 7 days Arnav finally decided to tell Khushi that he loves her.

He took her to the beach, after a little dinner.

"Khushi I want to say something!" he said.

"Even I have too!" she said. Looked like she herself was having hard time to speak her mind.

"No, me first, because with the great difficulty I have gathered courage to..."

"Arnav mine is little important..." she said.

"Is everything okay!? You feeling fine!? We can go home and talk!" he said concerned.

She nodded.

When they entered the home Arnav's heart picked up the race.

"What you have to say Khushi!?" he asked his heart was drowning.

"Arnav I think it's a high time we should go in our directions. I know it's a quick decision. But I think we should..." she couldn't complete her sentence.

"I have signed the divorce papers! In just few days you will be free!"

Arnav stood like pillar, his body felt a hard blow that he couldn't revive himself from, may be never ever. A blow that damaged his heart, broke his heart into pieces, even if he tried to gather them together he want be able to.

"Arnav I will go back to India! I don't think I should really live here anymore!"

After Arnav had convinced his heart that Khushi wanted to live with him, he let all the fears flew away. But he didn't know they would come back in this way...

He didn't know that Khushi never ever had a feeling for him.

Today, even his subconscious mind wasn't saying anything.

"Sign the divorce papers!" she said as she didn't care at all.
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PART W (Last Kiss!?)

Another month flew by, there were no major changes in Arnav Khushi's life after the storm that had swept all the happiness away from Arnav's life and only left back was sadness.

Divorce papers were signed and already filled. Arnav had no option left other than signing them. And after another 6 months passed and it was a time for Khushi's to leave.

This time Arnav didn't have ask if he can kiss her for last time because Khushi had already rose on her feet to meet his height and captured his lips.

Arnav closed his eyes in pain and tear slipped his eyes. His tears mingling with hers.

This time it was a passionate one. It was clear that they both weren't ready to separate from each other.

Separating both of them was like ripping off the hearts from their bodies and later they were nothing, but lifeless.

"Bye Arnav!" she said. Arnav felt the pain in her words, but he was just letting her go. Because if she is meant for him, she will be back to him.

If not they were just not meant to be together.

Khushi had her back against him, she didn't even look at him, even though Arnav silently prayed that she turn around, but she had continued to walk away, until she had disappeared in the distance.

***
He waited until he could hear the announcement of Khushi's flight taken off.

However, in reality he was just waiting for her and, but she hadn't returned and she was gone for...

Forever!

Leaving his heart lifeless.