SS : The Gunshot (FINALE)

Frightened to move.

Terrified to leave her side.

Arnav stayed with Khushi.

Never taking his eyes off his wife...

Cursing every time he even blinked...

"You are my love...and my life...my one and only...and i will be right here when you wake up..."

He leaned in to kiss her almost every 10 minutes...

The warmth of her lips sent surges of warmth to his heart...

Arnav spoke to her constantly...

His mind kept flashing back to all the hurtful things he'd ever done to her...

Each time one came to mind, he would immediately apologize to her...

He had done so much...so much to hurt her...using her all that time...giving that scumbag unlimited access to lurk around her...

"Well from now things change...Di has the whole family...and you...my love...you have me...and I, Arnav Singh Raizada will never let anything or anyone hurt you again..."

.......

More than 24 hours had passed...

Family had been in and out to see her...

Doctors were still astounded as to how she had survived...

Her wound was improving...her vital organs were healing...

Arnav had fallen asleep a few times and woke up furious with himself...

He leaned in to kiss her lips...his lips lingered on hers...

He was about to pull back when he felt her lips twitch beneath his...

He brushed his mouth against hers again...he could feel her mouth trembling...

He withdrew praying that as soon as he opened his eyes...he would see hers...

He opened his eyes...his heart shook with anticipation as he saw her eyes flickering...

He held held her face, caressing her skin...

And seconds later, Arnav's soul came back to life...

Khushi opened her eyes and the first thing they both saw...was each other...

Arnav's heart detonated with rapture...his eyes burst forth with light...He  caressed her face exceedingly gently...He broke forth in a whisper..."Khushi...I....I...Khushi..."

She looked at Arnav ...her voice raspy and barely audible..."wh...where...where have i been?"

He smiled and held her hand to his lips kissing her desperately..."I...i don't know...but i'm so damn glad you're back..."

..........

1 year later...

Arnav finished early  at the office and went to  the Gupta house to pick up his wife...

He practically sped there...eager to see Khushi...

When he arrived her saw her through the window talking with Babuji...his recovery had progressed so much that he could now hold a conversation...

Khushi saw Arnav through the window...They both smiled at each other for a brief second before Arnav raced into the house ...

She stood up seeing him run...her husband...running to her...she hurried to the doors...

Not wasting a single second they embraced each other...

"My God, i missed you..."

"You saw me this morning Arnavji..."

"That was hours ago..."

He held the back of her head and kissed her softly...

They both spent some time talking with Khushi's family ...

Finally  saying their goodbyes...they walked to the car...

Arnav had  been treating Khushi like a breakable piece of porcelain...He held her hand , he opened her door, he basically lifted her into the car...

Leaning over to buckle her seat belt...he heard her say, "Arnavji???" 

Still looming over her, he looked up into her eyes...his hand rose up to caress her face..."mmmm?"

"You know you don't have to do everything little thing for me...I am quite well...i have recovered from the..."
 

He stopped her with a firm kiss and whispered against her lips..."NO...no...don't say it...please..."

Arnav moved closer and let his open mouth explore hers...no pressure, no urgency...just a leasurely, luxurious kiss full of love and  promise...

...............

They arrived at their home...

As they walked through the doors, an exquisite, wide-eyed toddler bounced towards them...

Khushi raced to her little niece and lifted her up in her arms, swinging her around saying how much she missed her...

"I miss ooo too" She would always reply...

"Khushi!!" Arnav quickly took baby Khushi from his wife..."no lifting! Please!"

"Arnavji...I'm FINE...really..." Khushi looked at her namesake and smiled mischievously..."then again...maybe i shouldn't lift her...she's becoming sooooo heavy after eating all those Jalebi we made earlier!"

Both girls giggled and Arnav felt his heart almost combust with joy...

Anjali walked in, "Chote! Khushiji! you're home! Finally! Khushi and Khushi have been annoying everyone in the house with their constant..."

"no no Amma!! Don't tell him!!" her tiny arms were flailing around as Arnav held her...

"we have to show them don't we!" Khushi said happily...

Both Khushi's ran out to another room and not even 5 minutes later they returned...

They stood in the middle of the room...

Anjali started the music..."Chote...this is their favourite at the moment..."

As the music started...Arnav's eyes filled to the brim with happy tears...

His little niece had her silky black hair done up in a ponytail...a gorgeous headband on her head...

His wife wore the exact same outfit that she wore on the night of Payal and Akash's Sangeet...

He stared at them in awe...smiling through his tears as he watched his niece and his wife dance crazily to "Ek Do Teen"...

Anjali walked over to Arnav and he put his arm around her...

"look Di...Look how happy she is..."

"which one?" Anjali said laughing...

His eyes were glued to his dancing wife...her smiling face...her beautiful wispy hair...her smooth movements...

When the song finished...Khushi and baby Khushi ran up to him...they were completely puffed....."did woo like??"

Arnav lifted his niece Khushi..."Like it? It was beautiful...perfect...i LOVED it..."

"Both times..." he added...wrapping his arm around his wife...

Khushi smiled brightly at her uncle..."I love woo!"

"I love you Khushi..." he said kissing her nose...

As the three of them hugged... leaned in close to his wife..."I love you Khushi..." and his lips touched hers...

SS : The Gunshot Part 5 (NOT the ending)

"Khushi" Arnav whispered...

"She...She's beautiful...she's perfect..." tears endlessly flowed from his eyes...

Anjali wept for her brother..."Chote...?"

He looked at his Di..."she's amazing...so tiny...so...so..." he quickly passed her back to Anjali...

The second he let go of the baby girl, she started crying...

Anjali smiled..."it seems she wants to be with you..."

Arnav smiled through his tears, taking the baby back into his arms...

She settled instantly...

"Di...I...Khushi...I...how am i going to..."

Anjali looked up at Arnav...his face overwrought with pain and sorrow..."pray...Khushiji once told me that love is as powerful as life...hold onto the love you both had"

My Love. . . Her love. . .

My Life. . . Her life. . .

He heard Khushi's  words... "don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it ..."

Dhak Dhak Dhak Dhak...he felt it...his heart started beating again...louder than before...almost painfully...he felt a surge of breath pump through him...

That very second, Baby Khushi started to cry...He looked down at the precious baby...

He passed her back to Anjali, and the baby settled...

"that's strange...what's the matter baby..??? Shhh....are you trying to tell us something???"

Arnav felt electricity shoot through his veins...

His heart beat wildly...

His thoughts were practically screaming at him now...each phrase overlapping the other...

"love is as powerful as life..."

"don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it..."

"love is as powerful as life..."

"don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it..."

"love is as powerful as life..."

"don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it..."

He gripped his head hearing the words start to jumble together till he heard this...

"DON'T BE AFRAID...LOVE IS POWERFUL...LIFE IS POWERFUL...FEEL IT...WANT IT...LOVE GIVES LIFE..."

He bolted from the room...

He ran to the emergency ward...

"Where's my wife...!!!?? Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada...Where is she????"

The lady searched the system...she looked sadly at the very distressed husband before her...

"Please go down to the end of the hall...there is a door to your left...she's being ...taken care of...in there...I'm sorry sir..."

Arnav didn't hear a word she said...he ran to the room he was told she was in...

His heart leaped and twisted seeing her again...white...lifeless...

"Sir...please, we are just finalizing her body...we removed the bullet...but there is nothing we can..."

"Leave me alone with her." Arnav commanded.

The doctors just left quietly, leaving Arnav with Khushi...

Arnav walked to her...

He took her hand...and placed it on his heart...

"Khushi...you feel this?...this is LOVE...this is LIFE..." he put his other hand on her heart..."feel it! Want it! I believe love is powerful enough to give life....I'm NOT ready to let you go...i'm not GOING to let you go!" His body shook with emotion...his heart continued to beat against her hand...

Arnav instinctively leaned in and pressed a firm kiss on her lips....

The second his lips touched hers he felt an electric current shoot through their joined lips...the force of the jolt was so extreme that his body flinched in pain...

But the pain was instantly forgotten...

Because what he felt next set fire to his soul...

He felt soft breath gently blowing on his cheeks...

His lips unlocked from hers...

He looked at her face in shock, fear, anticipation and hope...

Khushi's cheeks were turning pink...

It WAS her breath on his face...he felt her hand warming under his...

"K...Kh...Khushi?" his voice trembled...

"oh..oh my God..." his eyes were erupting with tears...

"OH MY GOD KHUSHI!!!!???" he was afraid that he was dreaming...his whole body shook...

He pressed his hand harder to her chest...and that's when he felt it...he could hear his own heart beating in his ears...and he could feel her heart beating in unison...

Stunned, terrified and elated, he quickly fumbled to press the emergency call button and soon doctors burst into the room...

They couldn't believe what they saw...they stood motionless...in complete amazement...The head surgeon hurried to check for a pulse...

"I...I don't...I don't understand...I...how..."

Arnav didn't take his eyes off Khushi...he just yelled, "WHAT!? You don't understand what!?"

"She has come back to life..."

Arnav heart exploded with complete euphoria..."she...she has...oh my God...oh my God..." his lips flew back onto hers in a quick gentle kiss...he looked up at the doctors..."Is she...Is she? Is she in pain!? Is she going to make it? Someone give me some answers!"

The doctors were still bewildered at the sudden turn of events...

"Quickly. We need to move her to intensive care..."

Doctors and nurses flooded the room...Arnav held firmly to Khushi's hand, not leaving her side for a second...

Once they attached a ventilator to her, and set up a heart monitor, they began their tests...

Arnav sat beside Khushi....

"Khushi...live sweetheart...my love for you is so strong ...hold on to it...take strength from me..."

The doctors approached Arnav...

"Mr. Raizada, we have no way to explain it, but your wife is very much alive...we are still unable to determine how she came back..."

Arnav, still holding her hand to his heart, knew exactly how she came back..."Love is as powerful as life..."

"we won't know how her mental state is until she wakes....but her brain activity is very promising...I don't know what you two have...but it's strong enough to defeat death...we will be back to check on her every 15 minutes..."

Arnav was now left alone with Khushi...

HIS khushi...

SS : The Gunshot Part 5 (ending)

"Khushi" Arnav whispered...

"She...She's beautiful...she's perfect..." tears endlessly flowed from his eyes...

Anjali wept for her brother..."Chote...?"

He looked at his Di..."she's amazing...so tiny...so...so..." overcome with grief, he quickly passed her back to Anjali...

The second he let go of the baby girl, she started crying...

Anjali smiled..."it seems she wants to be with you......"

Arnav smiled through his tears, taking the baby back into his arms...

Baby Khushi settled instantly...

"Di...I..." his heart was suffocating with anguish..."Khushi...my Khushi...I...how am i going to..."

Anjali looked up at Arnav...his face overwrought with pain and sorrow..."Khushiji once told me that love is as powerful as life...hold onto the love you both had"

My Love. . . Her love. . .

My Life. . . Her life. . .

He heard Khushi's  words... "don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it ..."

Dhak Dhak Dhak Dhak...he felt it...his heart started beating again...louder than before...almost painfully...he felt a surge of breath pump through him...

He looked down at Khushi sleeping in his arms...

He knew no one, NO ONE would ever replace his wife...but he also knew that nothing could ever destroy the strength of their love...

He looked at the family that now surrounded him...

Khushi's voice was still echoing in his mind..."Arnavji...you need...need to be Arnav Singh Raizada...the...the man who takes...takes care of his...his family... don't...don't  turn your back on them...they...they  have been your life...do for them what...what  you want to do for me...promise ...promise me that you will always continue to put family first...that's what i love...love most about you... "

As much as he wanted his own life to end...he promised the woman who held his heart that he would take care of their family...

"I failed you when you were alive...I damn well won't fail you know...I will live out my promise to you my love until the day i die..."

..........

1 year later...

Arnav finished at the office and went to visit Garima, Buaji and Babuji...

Babuji was recovering so much, that he was able to have conversations with family now...

Arnav had gone to visit the Guptas every day after work without fail...

Garima and Buaji welcomed him warmly everytime...

After a lengthy visit, he would return home anxious to see his niece...

As he walked through the doors he would see an exquisite, wide-eyed toddler bounce towards him...

He lifted her up in his arms and swung her around saying how much he'd missed her...

"I miss ooo too" She would always reply...

Anjali walked in, "Chote, you're home! Finally! Khushi has been talking about you all day...had found a new obsession...dancing!!!"

"Really!!! You have to show me!" Arnav said happily...

Khushi wiggled out of her uncles arms and ran to Anjali to whisper something...

"Chote...this is her favourite at the moment..."

As the music started...Arnav's eyes filled with tears...His little niece had her silky black hair done up in a ponytail...a gorgeous headband on her head...

He watched her in awe...smiling through his tears as he watched his niece dance crazily to "Ek Do Teen"...

Anjali saw her brother's heart breaking in front of her eyes...
 

She walked to stop the song, but Arnav stopped her..."no Di...Look how happy she is...leave it playing..."

His mind flashed back to his wife dancing...her smiling face...her beautiful wispy hair...her smooth movements...

When the song finished...Khushi bounded up to him...she was completely puffed...she saw Arnav's tears and said softly..."you didn't like??"

Arnav knelt down in front of Khushi..."Like it? It was beautiful...perfect...i LOVED it..."

"Both times..." he quietly added...

Khushi smiled brightly at Arnav..."I love woo!"

"I love you Khushi..."

As they hugged...he closed his eyes thinking of his wife..."I love you Khushi..."

SS : The Gunshot Part 4

We've lost her...

Arnav's face went white with horror..."No...no...Khushi...KHUSHI!!!!!!!"

The ambulance had just arrived at the hospital...

Arnav's heart was shattered...

He yanked the oxygen mask off her and pulled her up against him...His screams echoing through the air...he held her tightly ...

"WHY NOW!!!!! I BEGGED YOU NOT TO LEAVE ME! AND NOW...NOW I'VE LOST YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! "

The ambulance doors few open...

Akash stood outside the hospital...his heart clenched at the site in front of him...Anjali had called him and Nani to the hospital, because all the trauma had triggered contractions and sent her into labour...Nani had hurried in to see Anjali, and Akash stayed outside waiting...

Arnav was unaware of anything other than Khushi...

How could that be the end? They never had a beginning...

He looked up at the paramedics...his eyes were swollen and filled with sorrow..."pl...plleaseee...please there must be...must be somthing you can do...this...this can't be it..."

They said nothing...they just shook their heads...

Arnav's howl of despair frightened even himself...he roared with anguish...

He held Khushi face in his hands...not even 10 minutes ago she had been alive...and now...now she was ...

Arnav couldn't even bring himself to think it...

He smiled desparingly through his bitter moans..."I love you...I love you...I love you..." his tears pelted down on her bloodied face...

"Sir...sir we have to take her out now..."

Arnav felt numb...he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips...their very first kiss...and he whispered..."I love you...Mrs. Raizada...the one and only EVER Mrs. Raizada..."

They wheeled her away...Arnav held her hand until he finally had to let go...

He was left sitting in the ambulance...

Akash walked up to him...

"Bhai...I'm so so sorry..."

Arnav fell back against the ambulance wall...His soul was refusing to go on...he was willing himself to die...His head pounding...His heart in pure panic...

He shook his head..."no...NO....she can't be...she CAN'T be!!!!!!"

He lunged forward...he needed to get to Khushi ...

Akash grabbed Arnav saying..."Stop...please...i'm sorry...there's nothing more that can be done...she's gone Bhai..."

Arnav's hollered in complete and utter pain..."NO!!!!! She CAN'T be gone....NO!!!!!!!!!"

Akash held onto Arnav as he began to cry bitterly ...his arms clung to Akash ...his heart felt like it was filling with poison...he couldn't breathe...

Akash let him grieve...

"Bhai...i'm here because Di is having her baby...now..."

Arnav's mind echoed Khushi's voice..."don't...don't  turn your back on your family...they...they  have been your life...do for them what...what  you want to do for me...promise ...promise me that you will always continue to put family first...that's what i love...love most about you ..."

His felt like he was going to die with the amount of grief he felt...but he promised Khushi...

"where is Di...take me to her..."

Akash just nodded quietly...Arnav heard nothing as he followed Akash...He only heard Khushi's voice...over and over and over...

He followed Akash into a room...

A baby's cry broke through his trance...

He looked at his Di...

He looked at her baby...

Arnav walked slowly to them...

Anjali stretched out her arms to hug her brother...tears filled her eyes..."I'm so so sorry Chote...I'm so sorry..."

They cried together...holding onto each other weeping for their losses...

He looked back into Anjali's eyes...

"it's a girl...chote..." Arnav looked down at the newborn baby...she was beautiful...thick black hair...big bright eyes...

He looked at Anjali..."can...can I hold her? Please..." His eyes flowing constantly with tears...

Anjali smiled and nodded...she passed the sleeping baby to her brother...

Arnav burst into tears all over again...He held the baby girl gently against his chest...

"ww....wwhaat are you calling her...?"

Anjali looked up at Arnav..."I decided on a name weeks ago...her name is...Khushi..."

SS : The Gunshot Part 3

Arnav stared in terror ...

He saw her Gunshot wound...

He saw blood oozing out...

He saw her face contorted with pain...

His voice came out raspy and choked..."Khushi...No...No...Khushi stay with me..."

Arnav quickly turned, "DI! GET THAT BLOODY AMBULANCE HER FASTER! KHUSHI HAS BEEN SHOT!"

Anjali's face turned white with shock, "What!? KHUSHI!?  I...I'll call again!"

Khushi let out a low pitched scream...

"Khushi..." tears filling his eyes..."Khushi...please...please just keep breathing...i'm sorry, i'm sorry i didn't believe you...Khushi..."

Her eyes opened slightly..."A...Arnavji..." her voice was gasping and pained...

Arnav shook his head..." Shhhh....Khushi, you're going to be okay...i will make sure of it..."

"pl...please...take care...care of ...Jiji..."

"Khushi Stop it!"

"and...and don't..." she hissed in pain..." don't let anyone hurt...hurt Anjaliji...we...we both did this for her..."

"Khushi!!! Enough!!!!!  You're NOT dying! Do you hear me!"

He stopped yelling the second she tensed up and shrieked in pain...

"Khushi...oh God....please hold on...please..."

Her eyes met Arnav's..."look...look  after yourself...be ..be the caring, loving Arnavji i know you  truly...truly  are..."

Arnav heart was shattering..."Khushi...pl...please stop..."

"I...I don't regret... a...a  single moment of our time...time together..."

"I REGRET EVERYTHING I DID! Khushi! I'm here now...i can't be too late...i need you... I won't let anything happen to you..."

Khushi tried to say something but her pain was increasing...

Arnav was putting  pressure on her wound trying to stop the blood flow....

He felt his heart stab every time she would cry out...he looked over at Shyam who lay there unconscious...Khushi's blood was covering him...

Arnav heard the sirens  ...

Police and Emergency services were  on their way...

Anjali called out to Arnav..."They are coming! I can see them!"

Arnav listened to nothing other than Khushi's breathing...

His eyes were locked onto her face...her beautiful face, now marked with blood...

She started to gasp...

"Khushi!?"

Her lungs straining to inhale...

"DI! Get them here NOW!"

"They're coming in right now Chote!"

The doors burst open as paramedics flew to Khushi's side...

Police were talking to Anjali, and cuffing Shyam...

Arnav coudln't let go of Khushi...the emergency crew saw his distressed state and tried to assess her where she lay...

"blood loss high...blood pressure dropping...transfusion..."

Arnav finally had to let her go as they put her on a stretcher and attached an oxygen mask to her...

Arnav  followed closely holding onto her hand...

"KHUSHI!!!!!!! NO!!! WHY DID YOU DO IT KHUSHI!!!!!!!! THE GUN JUST WENT OFF!!!! I DIDN'T DO IT!!!!!!NO!!!!!! KHUSHI!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!"

Arnav swung around to see Shyam trying to break free from the hold of the police...

Arnav determination surfaced...he strode towards Shyam... his body powerful, and his footsteps as soundless as a predator preparing to strike...

The two men faced each other.

"Don't think that jail will keep you safe from my revenge..."  looking at the police..."get him out of my sight..."

Arnav turned and ran to the ambulance and jumped in next to Khushi...The paramedics were desperately trying to stop her bleeding...

"What's going on...is she going to be ok?! TELL ME!"

The doors slammed shut.

The ambulance sped off...

One of the team faced Arnav..."your wife has taken a bullet to the stomach. This kind of puncture is fatal...and will kill within 15 minutes...i'm sorry, but there is nothing more we can do...it's already been too long...she will bleed out on the way to the hospital...i'm so sorry...but it's best you talk to her now before she loses consciousness..."

Arnav furiously grabbed the man's shirt..."WHAT! YOU WILL SAVE HER! YOU HEAR ME! YOU HAVE TO!" tears were spilling over choking arnav's voice...his body shook with trauma..."Please...please do something..."

The man knew how devestated he was..."sir...please go and talk to her..."

Arnav looked over at Khushi...he slid over beside her...

Her eyes were almost lifeless...her skin white and clammy...

"Arnavji..."

Arnav swallowed back his tears and leaned in..."Khushi...I trusted you...you asked me to trust you once more...if you die i'll never trust you again! You hold on till we're at the hospital! Please!"

He saw her smile faintly...

"I ...I love you ...I'm sorry i didn't tell...tell  you sooner..."

Arnav couldn't hold back his sobs..."Khushi...I have always loved you...always...ALWAYS...don't you dare give up...i need you..."

"no Arnavji...you need...need to be Arnav Singh Raizada...the...the man who takes...takes care of his...his family..."

"Khushi..." tears breaking his speech..."i'm nothing without you...nothing...i...i can't..."

"Yes you can my love...you protect them...you...you care for them...i know...i know you will..."

He lifted her hand to his lips kissing fervently..."no...i don't want them...i want you...i should have protected you...i should have loved you...i should have cared for you...and i WILL you will make it through this, Do you hear me!?!"

Khushi used all her strength to tighten her grip on Arnav's hand...His eyes locked onto hers again...

"don't...don't  turn your back on them...they...they  have been your life...do for them what...what  you want to do for me...promise ...promise me that you will always continue to put family first...that's what i love...love most about you..."

"Khushi...." he could no longer stifle the sobs that racked his voice..."Khushi YOU are my life... Don't leave me...don't go...I have only ever felt true love with you...you...you have to hold on..."

Khushi could feel her breath slipping away from her....

"Ar..Arn...Arnavji...promise me....don't...don't  be afraid to love...to feel it...to want it...don't be afraid to...to love again... Promise me..."

His eyes promised her as his head shook with denial...

"I love you Khushi...don't leave me...i'm begging you don't leave me..."

"I love you...always..."

And with that, she lost reach of her breath and slowly slipped away...