Rise of the Devil - Part 28

 

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Chapter 28



Khushi’s POV



Devil watches me as I adjust the pile of pillows on bed, to create a partition between us.


“Is that still necessary?” he darkly asks earning a blush on my face which the poor man cannot see though, as it’s my back facing him. Once I restore the pillows properly, I turn to him.

“Absolutely.” I nod.


He bites the insides of his cheek and I can clearly see that he is not satisfied. I don’t add anything more to my reply and try to walk past him to lock the door when Arnav holds my hand.

“What are you afraid of?”

“You” I clutch his night shirt, looking right in his eyes.

He gazes at me with an intense confusion.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I belong to you, Devil. By heart, soul and body, there is no doubt in that. But there is still a lot between us unsaid.. unfelt and that’s mostly from your side. I don’t know anything about you. I trust you with all I got but I need to know more to actually cross that line between us.”


He knows what I am talking about. Devil killed his father. Why? Where was he all these years? Why did he choose this profession? Why the pretense of being the King of the Devils? When will all this be over? I wanted answers to all of them.


His arm which had rested on my lower back so far now reaches my nape. His rough fingers curl around my nape as he draws my face closer to his.


“All of what I have hidden from you is the dark side of me, Khushi. I don’t want to stain this thing between us. I don’t want to scare you with things you possibly can never imagine me doing. I suggest you give up digging about me and accept me for what I am today.. before you..”


It hurts.! To know he has hidden some deep dark secrets about his life but the pain on his face at the moment is soul wrenching.

“I stand by my resolve.” I murmur, unwilling to stop showing interest in his past life. However bad it is, I have every right to know if he wants me to be his in all sense.


He clenches his jaw and his grip on my nape loosens. Only when I think he is going to shut me off by leaving the room, he surprises by carrying me in his arms. I don’t stop him or fight back but allow him to take me to bed. He lays me on the fluffy bed and doesn’t get off me for another minute. Devil stares at my face as if waiting for me to change my mind.. waiting for me to submit… and god knows I want to but I swallow those thoughts and smile back.


“Good night Devil.”


It takes me enormous will power to say that and he boldly accepts.


“Until you change your mind Khushi,” he replies. “Until you accept me blindly without trying to know my past. Good night.”


He has high hopes but he doesn’t know me if that’s so. When I decide something, I don’t change my mind that easily. I never do! He shuts the lamps and gets back to his side of the bed. I don’t get sleep for long while he dozes off almost instantly. Pushing one pillow away, I stare at his handsome devilish face recalling what he told me a while ago. Is his past that bad? Even if he confronts me all that, will I ever be able to see him in the same light as I do now? I don’t know. With all these thoughts running in the back of my mind, I shut my eyes to sleep.


******************


Arnav’s POV

I wake up alone on the bed, with Khushi nowhere in the room. It kind of worries me at first but then I am sure she isn’t going anywhere again. She is here to stay.. both… in my home and in my life. I take a quick shower and come down only to find Khushi alone in the Kitchen, holding an egg in her hand, and waiting to break it. I realize she is afraid it will break in her palms and wants to avoid that.


“How did Devil break it?” Khushi speaks to herself and I watch all her antics as she uses a spoon to break the egg and when that’s unsuccessful, she picks a Belan. Khushi is about to hit it with a force when I hold her hand.

“Don’t” I snatch the egg from her. “go and sit. I will do this.”

“No thanks”

She snatches the egg back from me.

“I have to learn. It’s bad to expect you doing all this while I sit and watch.”


Her thoughts please me.


“Then allow me to teach you.” I move behind her and hold her hand. We together hit the egg cover on the kitchen marble slab, gentle enough to ensure it doesn’t break completely and then I help her empty the egg white and yolk in the container. She looks happy and excited.

“Wow” she smiles turning around. “You make it look so simple. I always adored your teaching skills, you know.”

“But you are not an attentive student.” I reply. “Which reminds me, I have to still train you on self-defense.”


Khushi frowns.

“Self-defense? But why do I need to learn it when I have you to protect me?”


My fingers graze her cheeks, lazily while our eyes meet.

“What if a day comes when I am not there to protect you?”


Khushi’s eyes cloud with fresh tears. She pushes my hand away angrily.

“You again ruined my mood Devil. I so hate you for this..”


She is about to walk away when I grab her arms and pull her to me. She struggles to let her go but I don’t.. I take her in my embrace and whilst she punches her fists on my back, soon enough, her body relaxes and she gives into the hug.. We stay like that for a while.


“I am showing you the reality Khushi.” I add. “I am in one dangerous mission and I can never assure how many times I can save myself from my enemies. But one thing I promise..” I pull her away and cup her face. “Until I am alive, no one can harm you.”


Lifting her hand to my chin, she presses a kiss on my lips. Why have our kisses always been so emotional? I realize that every time we have kissed it is because of an emotional moment. Am I really making Khushi cry a lot by showing her the real picture?


***************


Khushi’s POV


My heart hammers against my ribs as Devil lifts me and makes me sit on the marble slab without breaking our kiss. I can’t believe despite hating his emotional words, I am still kissing him. Even the thought of he not being a part of my life anymore hurts me and breaks my heart. I don’t want that day to come in my life ever. I want to be the one to die before him and from now onwards this will always be my wish to God. I want Devil to live longer than me…


The sound of Mala at the main door breaks our kiss. But Arnav doesn’t move away yet, neither he puts me down. In fact when Mala stops at the kitchen door, he turns to her and asks her to give us few minutes. It surely makes me blush when I see Mala running away feeling totally embarrassed.


“So?” Arnav meets my eyes. “When should we begin your training on self-defense?”


I sigh displeased by the idea behind this training but since that will allow me more time with Arnav, I decide to agree.


“From Tomorrow. We have Aman coming for dinner today. So.”


As if he had forgotten Aman’s arrival, Arnav pulls away from me and drops a quick message to someone. I watch his fingers move fast on the phone keypad. Wow!! This man has really got skills in every field. He puts his phone back in the pocket.


“Aman is on way. He should be here by evening. I will ask the Chefs to cook, don’t bother about it.”

“I wasn’t cooking at all today. I don’t want Aman to think what kind of woman you married who doesn’t even know to cook eggs.”


Arnav and I then realize we haven’t made the breakfast yet. I get down and start beating the eggs.

“Take Mala’s help. I have to make a few calls.”

“Okay,” I flash my lashes at him with a smile making him smile back at me but then we walks out. I am sure his work is more important than another round of kiss with his wife.


****************


Arnav’s POV


It’s evening when my guards inform about Aman’s arrival. I ask them to escort him to the Villa where I am happily waiting to welcome him. In five minutes, Aman is at my door and we hug each other.


“Great to see you after 9 months..” I mention and Aman bursts out laughing.

“9 months exactly? Were you counting?”


I roll my eyes at his silly jokes.


“Shut up Aman and come on in.”

I drag him in the living room.

“This place is nice.” Aman mentions.


Aman has never been to Chandra Mahal before. We have always ensured to meet at other locations and that too secretly. This is our first open meet and I have to be cautious.


“Does anyone know where you are?” I ask.

“No. I showed fake tickets to Chandigarh and said I am going to meet a friend there.. All evidences are taken care of to support my lie. Don’t worry.”


I nod and get seated on the couch.


“Where is my Bhabhi?” he asks. “I am so eager to meet her.”


So am I. To be honest, Khushi has really outdid the arrangements today. I told her what Aman likes to eat and she has asked the chefs to cook everything accordingly. She also has baked cupcakes which I didn’t know she was so good at making. The aroma was so good that I wanted to taste one but she didn’t let me savor it and rushed to change her dress.


“She is equally eager to meet you. But..” I reply. “Don’t tell her anything which she is not needed for her to know.”


Aman watches me sternly.

“You mean about out boring mission?” He grins.

“About our risky mission” I snap turning to the stairs as I see a movement and there she is.. my wife Khushi Singh Raizada… my Queen… getting down in a red Anarkali dress. Once again, her attire has surprised me. I never thought she will wear a traditional outfit for meeting my friend. I rise to my feet first and then in that same haze, walk to her. I am very sure she can read it in my eyes, the feelings that have newly sprouted from my body. If only she had accepted me without showing interest in digging my past. If only!!!


“Am I looking good?” Khushi whispers reaching me, while fiddling with the Dupatta.


I don’t think I can frame words to tell her how she is looking tonight. So, I don’t even try. Just holding her hand, I lead her to the living room.


“That’s Aman” I introduce.

“Of course, I saw him yesterday on video call. I Know him now.” She replies giving him a gentle hug. Aman watches me to see my jealous face. Obviously, my wife likes to greet people nicely but even a formal hug like that to anyone else apart from me, is enough to tickle my body. “I am so glad you could make it here tonight, Aman.”


“Same here Bhabhi.” He replies. “I hope you don’t mind me calling you Bhabhi.”

“No, that’s great. It feels like I have an extended in laws family too.”

“You do have one” Aman blurts and then he looks at me. “She met Uncle and Aunty?”


I nod.

“She met Maama and Maami at Nainital.”

“And the rest?” Aman queries further.

“Rest?” Khushi turns to me quizzically and I am speechless. Well!! I didn’t tell her anything about my family yet. “You have more people in your family?”


I swallow painfully but nod in agreement.


“A few, yeah.”


My reply doesn’t go well with her and I can read it on her face. She is unhappy that I hid it but when would I tell her? I was supposed to send her off to Denmark. So, I never shared about my extended family with Khushi.


“Please be comfortable Aman. I will get some snacks and coffee meanwhile.” Khushi says like a good host and turns to leave.

“I will have tea.” I say but she doesn’t even wait. I have upset her again!! Damn!! It’s high time I mend her mood but with Aman here, that has to wait.


To be Continued.

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