"Khushi!?"
Payal's voice echoed
throughout the kitchen…
Khushi began to
panic, but soon felt Arnav pull her closer…"You're safe with
me...remember?"
Taking a deep
breath, she relaxed…
Arnav quickly spun
their bodies and shielded them behind the nearby wall…
"Khushi?"
Payal called out once again…
Arnav simply stared
down into her eyes, holding her…
Payal's mobile
started to ring and she set the plate she was holding down into the bench with
a click…
"Hello?"
"Payal? It's
me…"
"Akash...Hi…"
Khushi hadn't heard
a word, but was lost in Arnav's eyes…
Arnav however,
pulled Khushi closer, and felt his blood start to boil…
"Why have you
called?"
"I...I was
wondering if you were still coming to see me tomorrow afternoon?"
Payal smiled softly…
Her husband's voice
still managed to send her memories back to better times…
"Yes...I will
be...so...I will see you tomorrow...okay?"
Arnav's emotions
were leaping …
His jaw clenched as
Payal spoke with Akash…
But his heart
swelled as his wife blinked slowly in his embrace…
When Payal walked
back out, Arnav lowered his lips to hers…
"I should go
back out and help…"
"Mmmhmm…"
Khushi started to
squirm, and Arnav loosened his hold on her…
"I'll let you
go and help...but Khushi...I'm not far away…"
……….
The day dragged on,
and finally the evening sun began to set…
Khushi and Payal had
smiled and chatted as they helped clear up …
Anjali was
constantly smiling, loving the new friends and freedom in her life…
Arnav was being
hounded by NK when he returned from dinner with his friends…
"Nanav! How did
the day go? You know...with babies everywhere!?"
Arnav held back a
grin and growled…"that's basically what it was...babies everywhere…"
"Thank God I
wasn't here! I mean, I love Di's baby…" Nk smiled and blew a kiss in the
direction of the baby's room…"But when there are too many...I mean…
basically…"
The rest of his
sentence faded out, as Arnav watched Khushi slowly appear from the kitchen and
walk up stairs…
He tried to get a
clear view of her face, and once he did, he saw her sadness…
Even though NK was
still midspeech, Arnav muttered out…"Goodnight NK…" and took off
after Khushi…
Shutting the doors
quietly behind him, he watched her as she finished dressing for bed...
He couldn't hold
himself back from crossing the room to stand behind her and envelop her body in
his arms, kissing the nape of her neck tenderly…
"Are you
okay?"
Being wrapped in his
embrace still shot sparks of fear inside her, but Khushi closed her eyes and relaxed against
him…."Yes…"
"You know I can
read your body language Khushi…" he whispered as his left hand began to
slide up her stomach…
Khushi's body
tingled…
But instead of
touching her breasts, he moved his hand to her heart…"Khushi, I know you
still have moments when you are afraid…"
Her eyes darted from
left to right…"uh...I...I still get nervous and…"
"Afraid of
me…"
With a pulse that
was now racing, she tried to deny it once more…
"...n...no...I'm…"
"Khushi…"
his lips brushed over the line of her neck…"...even now you're scared to
tell me?"
Arnav felt angst as
her heartbeat sped up once again…
"I love you...I
will continue to show you every day...but please...I only ask one thing of
you…"
Turning to face him
slightly, Khushi brought her eyes to his…
"Your heart is
racing, even though I'm holding you...You tremble even though I am with
you…"
"I...I'm
sor-"
"No…" he
shook his head…"you are not at fault...I just want to ask you to try, once
again, to trust me...to not be afraid of me...I worked so hard to make you feel
safe, to make you feel loved... I am still devastated…"
Khushi's eyes were
fogging up as she spoke…"I try...everyday...to not let fear overtake
me...I look at you and...and…"
"Tell
me...please...talk to me…"
She paused, and
Arnav quickly turned her in his arms and lifted her, carrying her to the bed…
Pulling the covers
up over her, he propped himself up on his elbow and lay beside her…
Waiting.
"I look at you
and I feel everything...I feel fear, anger, hate...but then all those feelings
disappear...You hold me and I feel safe...you look at me and I feel
happiness...you make love to me and I feel love…"
Arnav wanted to cry,
to scream, to howl…
"I don't want
to fear you...or to feel anger and hate towards you...but those are the
feelings that surface first…"
Her voice broke and
she cried quietly…
Arnav moved closer
and rested his hand on her abdomen…
Both knew, that even
though their recovery from this trauma had progressed greatly, that there was
so much more...more to let go of…
"I asked Jiji
about Jijaji...I feel so sad that her marriage has had to suffer...all because
of...I just…"
Arnav tried to calm
her…"Shhhh...Khushi, Payal is a strong woman...like you...and I know she
is handling things in her own life…"
"But so much of
what I went through was for...for her…"
Instantly he felt a
sinking feeling in his gut…
That WAS the threat
he had made when he forced Khushi to marry him…
"I'm...Khushi,
I'm so sorry...you know I would never…"
Her hand slid up and
rested on his, "I know Arnavji...but I don't want her to be unhappy...She
loves Akash…"
Arnav stiffened at
the mention of his brother's name.
"Khushi, take
things one day at a time...remember what the doctor said...don't take on the
burdens of tomorrow…"
Blinking her tears
away, Arnav leaned down to kiss her…
Before moving back,
he whispered against her lips…"Come here...let me hold you…"
……
Khushi had fallen
asleep…
They had remained
quiet, not willing to break the fragile moment…
She had
instinctively sought out the heat of his body in her sleep, and curled up
against him tight…
It made his very
soul ache…
He wrapped his body
possessively around hers and buried his face in her lose hair to inhale her
scent, hoping the gentle lull of her heartbeat would send him to sleep…
But a scream of soul
destroying terror suddenly raged through the silence and shot a knife through
his heart…
"Arnavji!"
Arnav's heart
thudded as he heard Khushi's frightened screams..
He bolted upright
and pulled her closer…"Shhhhh, Khushi, shhhh...I have you...shhhh…"
Khushi's pulse was
racing as hot, stinging tears dripped down her face…
She instantly fell
into his embrace and buried her face in his shoulder as loud sobs began to rack
her body…
"Khushi...Khushi!"
he tried to get her attention, tried to hold her face to look in her eyes, but
she clawed at him with urgency…
"Nightmare…"
she managed to gasp out…"I...I am...scared…"
"I have
you...in my arms...and nothing will hurt your when you are with me!"
She shuddered
violently as the memories of Shyam reared up again in her vision…
Lurching and
twitching, she moaned…"...the...the pain...it hurts...so much…His
hands...on...on me...so much...hate...and..."
Arnav swept in and
delivered a fierce possessive kiss to her parted lips as his hand was still
pressed to her racing heart...
Arnav swallowed hard
when she finally looked up in his eyes...
"I am going to
take away this pain from you Khushi…" his words were slow, deliberate,
drenched in agony…
A startled gasp flew
from her lips as he forced her back down onto the sheets and seized hold of
both of her wrists to pin them above her head…
"Arnavji…?"
"Tell me! I NEED to help you! I...I feel so...so bloody helpless! How...How
can I ease this pain!? I am yours to command Khushi! All of me...is
yours...Tell me how to help you/! I love you!"
Her eyes fell closed
as she shuddered…"...that...exactly that...I want to feel your love
...love me...please…"
Gripping her hands
with one hand, he tugged at his sweatpants and pulled aside hers…
Arnav lowered his
head to cover her lips with his own as he slowly pushed himself inside her
tight heat…
He stared down into
her wide eyes as he buried his hard flesh inside her, loving the low moan of
ecstasy that flew from her lips…
He loved her…
Wholly and
Completely…
But still, deep in
her eyes was that crippling pain…
And that was
breaking the heart he never knew he had until she came into his life…
……………….
7am.
Khushi's
eyelids flickered as the sunlight filled the room…
Looking
to the side, she was instantly graced with her husband's sleeping face…
Their
night had started out rough, but after her nightmare, the way their bodies
intertwined, things had suddenly turned serene...
She
smiled softly…"...so handsome…"
The
minute she spoke, she saw the corners of his lips twitch…
Khushi
said…"...you're awake aren't you…?"
Arnav
opened his eyes, gazing long and hard into hers…"...so beautiful…"
Her body
flushed with heat…
His hand
lifted and he gently ran his fingers down her cheek…"How are you this
morning?"
Khushi
took a deep breath and let out a sigh…"I'm wonderful...how could I be
anything but wonderful after last night…"
Arnav
slid closer…"but...you had a…"
"I
think I had 3…"
His
eyebrow quirked…"3?...3 what?...ohhhhh…"
Khushi
smiled as he recollected their passion...
“I like
you this way, Khushi—soft and feminine...”
“...well...I’m
a woman, Arnavji . . .”
“A fact
that never fails to escape my notice.”
Smiling,
he lifted a hand and cupped her flushed cheek.
Just as
she was about to shy away, he hauled her so hard against his chest, her breath
whooshed out.
"We're
not done yet…"
The glint
in his eyes sent a spark of excitement through her body…
Slowly
she put her arms around his neck.
Pulling
his head down, she traced his lips with her tongue.
He
waited, simmering from the heat of her nearness and from the heat of the
morning sun.
"I
have to help with breakfast…" she whispered…
But the
instant she moved, he took her mouth fiercely, savagely.
His
tongue slipped between her parted lips and plundered without mercy.
The
passion he’d sensed in her erupted.
Small
love sounds escaped her lips, and she pressed herself so close, their bodies
seemed to mold together…
Arnav was
possessed with need and brought his body up over hers, holding her tight...
"Arnavji…"
she whimpered as he lowered his mouth to her exposed breast…"I...I have to
go and…"
When she
tried to push him away, he captured both her wrists in the vice-like grip of
one of his hands and pinned her arms over her head.
A tiny
whimper welled up from her chest as he closed his lips over the tip her breast.
Tracing
his tongue around her nipple, he flicked at it and asked softly, “What makes
you think that I would let you go anywhere right now…?”
Khushi
drew in a sharp breath at his exquisite torment and smiled as she struggled to
free herself.
Her veins surged
with emotion.
“I love you so damn
much.”
He pulled her closer
and she arched her neck for his tender kisses.
His hands roamed her
body with a sweet, thorough slowness that buried all thought or decision and
left only sensation.
When his touch
roamed back to her breasts, their mouths met in a series of hot, hungry kisses
that—like all else between them at the moment—soon
slowed into
something softer, sweeter.
As he kissed her
slowly, he slid himself warmly inside her body...
“Oh...my...yes...” she breathed
as he filled her.
He moved slowly over
her...letting his body sink deeper with every penetration…
Keeping his thrusts
deep and slow, he looked intently at her face…"Whenever you are
afraid...run to me...whenever you feel angry...run to me...I
promise...PROMISE...that I will be there for you…"
His words aroused
her, tightening her
already beaded nipples.
“Come for me,” he
said ...
He moved harder
inside her and sensed it building, the glorious release.
Her inner muscles
softly began to squeeze his flesh and he groaned…
"I feel
everything that your body tells me...I know you, and I love you...fully and
completely...forever and ever…"
And then it
happened, like a sweet explosion, her body shattering into pieces, each of them
filling with so much pleasure that they were forced to split again and again,
like a tiny atom bomb going off inside her.
He was in awe at the
strength of her climax … and began thrusting faster …
And as her body
contracted around his, his own body exploded...
She clung to him
when the sensations ebbed, clung to him...because he was the one safe, dependable, loving part
of a world gone mad.
Running his hand
over her damp hair, he kissed her gently…
"Arnavji...you...you
make me feel brand new every single time you touch me...your love breathes
energy and life into me…"
She could say no
more…she could only clutch at him like a lifeline as he held her tight and
whispered in her ear…"Damn, I love you…"
"You do?"
she asked quietly…
Regripping her
wrists, he yanked them above her…"You have to ask!? Khushi I swear
that…"
His words faded as
he saw the smile on her face…
"You...are...impossible
Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada…"
"I know...you
have told me that before…"
She tried to pull
her arms away, but he lifted an eye brow and shook his head…"Not
yet…"
"Can I ask you
something?"
Arnav smiled fully, his heart feeling ecstatic at her wilingness to talk…"You know you can ask my anything…"
"Before
everything happened with...you know…and our misunderstand--"
"Yeah…I
know..." he ground out…
"...well...why
did you dislike me so?"
Arnav
softened…"Ah...well…" he lent down and kissed the tip of her red
nose…"You made me fall in love with you instantly...and that was something
I wasn't ready for…"
Khushi bit her
lip…"I thought it was all the embarrassing, stupid things I did…"
Holding her wrists
with one hand, he brought one hand down to caress her face…"Not at all...I
always found those things...strangely attractive…"
Moving her cheek
closer into his hand, she closed her eyes…"So...I didn't ruin to much for
you? I mean, your life became so complicated when I came along…"
Finally releasing
her hands, he framed her face and held her still…"My life...would have
been way more fucked up if you hadn't come into it…"
"But you...you
made me do so much…"
Arnav sighed…"I
know...I burdened you more than I should have...only because I liked you more
than I should have…"
Bringing her arms
down, she gently gripped his biceps…"If I had known you liked me, I
wouldn't have been so scared of you…"
He lowered his lips
to hers, kissing her softly…"I was an idiot...all I wanted was power, and
money…"
Khushi wrinkled her
nose up…"Hey! Don't call my husband and idiot…"
Arnav
laughed…"They say you can't put a
price on love...I am glad...because the amount that I love you, is way more
than I could ever afford...even with all the money in the world…"
A bright pink blush
began to spread over her and his heart skipped a beat…"Khushi, I know I've
made many, many mistakes...but saying 'I Love You' to you...was not one of
them…"
………………..
The phone began
trilling…
Anjali looked up
nervously as she held her sleeping daughter in her arms…
Nani rushed to
answer the phone…
"Hello?"
she said quietly…
"Nani?"
Anjali's eyes met
Nani's and she nodded, letting her know that the baby was still sleeping…
"Akash Bitwa?
Is that you?"
"Yes...How
are...are you?"
Nani's expression
softened…"I am alright...a bit tired...I have been helping Anjali with
baby Ruwi…"
"Payal showed
me some pictures on her phone...the baby is beautiful…"
An uncomfortable
silence stretched between them…
Finally Nani spoke,
"I shall call Payal to the phone...take care okay…"
Akash was about to
reply, but heard the phone set down onto the table…
He gulped, fearing
to reveal what he had called for…
"Akash?" Payal exclaimed
as she answered the phone..
"Hello Payal…"
She took a moment, then
continued…"Do we have to cancel our meeting today?"
"No...no...I was calling about
something else…"
Slight concern began to spread over
her..."What's wrong? Has something happened?"
He cleared his throat…"When
you come and see me today...um…I'll...I'll be…"
Payal's heart was starting to
race…"What? Tell me!"
"I've been granted early
parole...I come home today…"
Payal was thankful that she had taken the cordless
phone…
Because she fell back in shock against the couch…
"Payal?"
A million thoughts ran through her head…
She had no idea what to feel…
"Uh...I'm...I'm here...I...today? I mean,
today?!"
"I will still have to report to my parole officer
twice a week...but hopefully, we can try to start living normally again? I
really truly want to be with you...and be better for you…"
Payal's heart clenched…
At one time, all she had ever wanted was to be happy
with her husband…
But now…
"Akash...I…"
A loud bell started ringing in the background…
"Payal, I have to go...I haven't spoken with
Bhai, but I am hoping to right all wrongs I have done...my parole officer will
accompany us back here to talk with him…"
Payal nodded, but couldn't bring herself to speak…
"Payal, I love you…"
And the call ended.
………………..
Meanwhile…
Still Upstairs...in another little world of their
own...
Khushi and Arnav
were still huddled up in their room…
"Ok Mr.
Raizada...I need food…" and with that, she rolled out of bed and stood up,
pulling on one of his shirts...
Instantly shooting
to his feet, he marched towards her,
grabbed her from behind, slid his arms tightly around her, and pulled
her firmly against him…
He heard Khushi's
gasp of shock and lowered his lips down onto her neck…
Her skin broke out
in goosebumps as she felt his tongue rasp along her pulse…
"Arnavji...I…"
"When will you
stop calling me Arnavji and just call me Arnav?"
With nerves sparking
currents into her blood, she shivered trying to turn in his arms…
His arm tightened
round her waist holding her still…"Don't move…"
She whimpered
slightly and tried to appeal to him…"Arnavji…"
"Arnav…"
Arnav growled…
"I...I
will...I'll try and… and call you…"
Her sentence was cut
short as he spun her around and backed her up to the wall, letting his body
crush into hers…
Whispering against
her temple, he said…"You can practice by calling me that when I'm buried
inside you…"
Khushi flushed at
the memories of his body as it speared inside hers…
Her gaze dropped and
her eyes focused on his lips…
The memory of all
the places where his lips had been made the heat in her face deepen…
His arms moved down
her hips and pulled her knees up around his waist, baring her sex to his entry…
Repositioning an arm
around her, he pulled down the front of his sweatpants and held his hard flesh
at her core…
"Arnavji...I...I…"
His eyes zoned in on
hers with a glare so fierce it rendered her silent as he groweld…"Arnav…"
Khushi heard his
voice, soft and casual, but his eyes weren't casual, they were lethal...
She wasn't sure who
moved first, but before she could take her next breath, he slammed his mouth
against hers…
Khushi groaned and
opened for him…
