Chapter 23
Arnav’s POV
Di landed today morning in New York and now is at her home with Shyam. She’s already spoken to me and Maa over phone and I realize she has so many queries for me that won’t be sorted until she meets me face to face and we talk in private. So, that’s why I have invited Di and Shyam for dinner tonight at the penthouse. Of course, I don’t want to bother Khushi or Maa with the cooking so the meals are pre ordered. Yet, Maa insisted on making Di’s favorite ladoos herself and Khushi helped her with it. I think this was the first time Khushi made Ladoos because they were all shapeless until Maa gave them a proper shape again. It was a treat to watch Maa and Khushi laugh over it, while I silently admired the two bonding from the kitchen door.
Last night, I had opened up my heart and feelings towards Khushi and though she had challenged me she didn’t love me back even now, I knew she would love me soon enough because this time until she does, I am not going to leave chasing her. So now that I had already confessed my feelings for her, it was easy to flirt with my wife though I know she wouldn’t relent or give in that easily.
“Arnav, they are here,” Maa says as she hears the door bell at night. I follow Maa to the door and we welcome Di and Shyam together inside. Maa breaks down seeing Di after so many months and vice versa and soon me and Shyam intervene to get them to the living room so that they can continue this relaxing on the couch. Di is stunned to see Maa’s progress and since Shyam has already told her who is behind it, Di is even more anxious to meet Khushi who has been hiding herself in the kitchen so far.
“Where is Khushi?” Di asks turning to me and I am about to reply when Maa does it on my behalf.
“She is in the kitchen getting everything ready. You must meet Khushi, Anju… she is such a sweetheart. Let me get her out.”
Di puts a weak smile as Maa leaves to get Khushi.
“So… you and Khushi are together now?” Di inquires.
“Very much,” I nod without breaking her eye lock.
She looks neutral but I know she has a few doubts.
“Is she aware of what happened with-”
“No..” I interrupt, swallowing painfully. “I haven’t told her everything but I intend to. She has been learning a new thing about her father’s deeds every day and it’s taking a toll on her mind. I don’t want to overstress her but I will open up to her slowly. She was never at fault, Di.”
“Nor I considered her to be. I know whatever happened she has no hand in it but it was always you who dragged Khushi into this revenge, Chotte. I had told you initially too but you were so full of rage that you didn’t pay heed to all of our advices.”
I nod.
“I’m mending my mistakes now.”
She presses my arm gently.
“It’s never too late. But this time you need a lot of patience to make her believe that you are never going to hurt her again, Chotte. And most importantly, you’ll have to make her fall in love with you. And even if she doesn't-”
“She will” I cut off her statement. “She will love me back one day, Di. I know she will.”
Di sighs in disappointment.
“Shed that big fat ego of yours first. Only because you want something, you can’t expect the other person to do the same.”
“No, I know that. Nor will I repeat that mistake of wanting Khushi to love me back the way I love her. But I am confident she’ll love me back some day, even if it’s the day I am on my deathbed.”
“Chotte??” Di snaps. “You never talk like that.”
I shrug. Yes, I never talk like that but I mean it. I want Khushi to love me truly once, even if it’s the last breath I take with her.
*****************
Khushi’s POV
They are here!! Anjali and Shyam. I don’t know what lies ahead from here because I am still in dark about the reason why this family hated me so much. Of course, my father did something bad to them but I wish I knew it all. Last night Arnav confronted that he wants me back in his life. That he still loves me and even challenged me that he’ll make me fall in love with him. What he doesn't know is that, he had fell in love with a silly woman who had no goal, no direction and no aim in life. The woman I am now is not that same one any longer. I exactly know what I want, whom I want and under no circumstance, I am letting Arnav please me by his charm.
“Khushi, what are you doing here? Anjali has come and I want to introduce you to her. Come.” Maa drags me from the kitchen where I had been organizing everything as Anjali and Shyam are invited for dinner at tonight. I don’t have a problem to face Anjali nor do I care if she hates me for something she thinks I did to her even unintentionally, but I just don’t feel very comfortable to be a part of this meet and greet.
As soon as I come out, I see Arnav sitting with his sister and Shyam on the couch. They all look at me and before Maa can introduce, surprisingly Arnav does it.
“That’s my wife, Di.. Khushi Singh Raizada.”
Never thought Arnav would take any pride in introducing me to anyone, especially to people of his family. Even Anjali looks a bit surprised that Arnav did so but then she puts a smile on her face as Maa and I advance towards the living room. Maa recalls she had to get the Ladoos she had made for her daughter and rushes back in the kitchen to get it. I am about to take the couch opposite to Shyam, Anjali and away from Arnav too when he grabs my wrist and pulls me to sit beside him. I glare at his actions but he puts a sweet smile and then turns to his sister.
“Khushi is behind Maa’s health progress. She has taken good care of her in our absence,” he adds.
“I don’t need your certificate to boast my character before your sister, Arnav.” I snap.
Arnav’s expressions sour at my remark.
“I am not boasting but telling her the fact. And besides, he gently leans on to my ear to whisper. “Biwi ho tum meri… haq hai mera” (You are wife… and its my right to give you the credit for your good work.)
I catch my breath as his remark heats my body.
“Wrong. I am just a woman whom you tricked into this marriage for your revenge.”
“I am correcting my past.” His voice is crisp, as if he means it.
“Guess what?” I lean towards his ear this time. “I don’t care anymore.” I whisper.
“Umm… Maa is here.” Shyam reminds us and I fake a smile on my face, swallowing all my anger.
“Anjali, she is Khushi. Isn’t she pretty?” Maa introduces me again.
“Yes, she is.”
Anjali’s soft reply makes me believe she doesn't exactly hate me. Well, that’s a news!!
“Khushi is pursuing her modelling career here,” Maa adds.
“I have heard,” Anjali nods.
“I have heard a lot about you too from Shyam,” I finally make a direct conversation with Anjali. “He was missing you a lot.”
Shyam pouts when Anjali looks at him.
“I missed him too..” she replies and then their fingers entwine with each other and their gazes lock.
It’s evident. The two are in so much love with each other. A sudden pang of jealousy hits my heart. I don’t think I am looking for Love in my life and yet, I want someone whom I can rely on blindly, who can love me with my goodness and flaws. The one whom I can trust with my heart and body with. The one whose touch connects directly to my soul. I swallow remorsefully looking away from Anjali-shyam only to realize I have been holding Arnav’s hand while I was lost in my own world. Arnav is staring at me with a weak smile laced on his lips. Why did I hold his hand? I was thinking about true love and I don’t think what Arnav did to me was ever one of that kind. I quickly leave his arm and get up.
“The dinner is ready, I’ll set it on the table.”
“I’ll help you.” He says, rising up along with me.
“No thanks. I can manage.”
“I would still help you even if you can manage.”
Before I can retort, Arnav is off to the kitchen. I see Maa smiling at me as if she is loving this side of her son and because I want to retain that smile forever, I just go with the flow and follow Arnav to the kitchen.
He is busy taking the serving bowls to the dining table.
“Why are you doing this?” I snap at him.
He keeps the bowls on the table and returns to take the plates. I block his way.
“Why are you doing this, Arnav? I told you didn’t I, last night? That no matter what, you have no chance to win me ever again.”
“You said… I heard… I am still trying..” He smirks. “You have a problem with that?”
“Yes, I have.”
I cross my arms.
“Didn’t feel like when you held my hand out there when you were lost admiring the love between Di and Shyam.”
“That was a mistake” I blurt.
“Keep doing that mistake then..” he grins. “This is the first time you touched me again by your will Khushi.. even if it wasn’t what you wanted. You don’t want to give me a chance, don’t.. But your subconscious self wants you to, and the day you will listen to it, I’ll bring the heaven down for you… I promise..”
I am speechless. Spellbound too by his strong words. Arnav has never been this vocal of his feelings. Now that he is, it even renders me speechless.
“You… you have lost your mind.” That’s all I say before walking away from him and getting back to my work. The kind of Arnav I had seen so far was either the shy and submissive Arnav whom I dominated six years ago and the one who later tricked me into this marriage and gave me immense pain by throwing hurtful words back at me in the name of revenge. The kind he was behaving these days was new to me and I really had no clue how to handle one like him.
To be Continued.
NEXT PART
Don't miss grabbing this Hidden Marriage Romance of Vansh Kapoor and Vidhi Gupta. You'll love them. The book is already a Bestseller on Amazon and has 230+ ratings/reviews.
BOOK LINK - https://amzn.to/3zB8WEi
Vansh Kapoor
My best friend, Taani, assigned me the responsibility to help her find a suitable groom for her sister, Vidhi. I would have gladly done so if Vidhi hadn’t been my runaway bride, who didn't even acknowledge our marriage bond for 24 hours before fleeing from my life. Now she is right under my nose, letting her sister hunt marriage alliances for her, and the worst part is, I can’t even claim her as rightfully mine.
Vidhi Gupta
Vansh Kapoor, the man I ran away from five years ago on our first night after marriage, was a childhood friend of my elder sister who was now looking for prospective grooms for me. Vansh was dragged into this responsibility as Taani trusted him more than anyone else in the world. I may have had a reason to marry him in the past, but I’d no excuses to hold on to that relationship anymore. Especially not when I knew the selfish reason why he had married me in the first place.
Some Marriages are made in Heaven.
Some Marriages are meant to be Hidden.
Never thought I would meet you again out of the Blue.
With my heart begging to spend the rest of my life with You.
A Standalone Contemporary Hidden Marriage Romance.
________________________________________________________________
Don't miss grabbing this Hidden Marriage Romance of Vansh Kapoor and Vidhi Gupta. You'll love them. The book is already a Bestseller on Amazon and has 230+ ratings/reviews.
BOOK LINK - https://amzn.to/3zB8WEi
Vansh Kapoor
My best friend, Taani, assigned me the responsibility to help her find a suitable groom for her sister, Vidhi. I would have gladly done so if Vidhi hadn’t been my runaway bride, who didn't even acknowledge our marriage bond for 24 hours before fleeing from my life. Now she is right under my nose, letting her sister hunt marriage alliances for her, and the worst part is, I can’t even claim her as rightfully mine.
Vidhi Gupta
Vansh Kapoor, the man I ran away from five years ago on our first night after marriage, was a childhood friend of my elder sister who was now looking for prospective grooms for me. Vansh was dragged into this responsibility as Taani trusted him more than anyone else in the world. I may have had a reason to marry him in the past, but I’d no excuses to hold on to that relationship anymore. Especially not when I knew the selfish reason why he had married me in the first place.
Some Marriages are made in Heaven.
Some Marriages are meant to be Hidden.
Never thought I would meet you again out of the Blue.
With my heart begging to spend the rest of my life with You.
A Standalone Contemporary Hidden Marriage Romance.
First to comment! This was just lovely. Subconscience always makes true feelings known. While Arnav is in the path of mending the relationship there seem to be a lot of mystery that is still hidden from Kushi. Hope one by one layers are peeled away and the relationship starts budding between them. Cannot wait for this to happen. ❤️ Fiddy
ReplyDeleteAwesome Update. Anjali finally arrived. Arnav is admiring Khushi. He looks quite determined to get Khushi's love back and his flirty side is too good. Arnav very maturely dealt with Anjali and accepted that Khushi don't have any fault. Anjali also think the same. Arnav is so supportive of Khushi. His and Anjali's conversation was nice. Arnav is too mending his ways. Liked the way Anjali want Arnav to make Khushi fall for him. Arnav is longing for Khushi's love. Hope Arnav reveal what Shashi Gupta did. Khushi has became very mature and won't give in that easily. Arnav has to try hard. Arnav introduced Khushi as his wife and behaving romantically . He also praised Khushi. Khushi is still very strong. Felt bad for Khushi when should saw Anjali and Shyam's bonding and their love. Khushi hold Arnav's hand. Khushi may not forgive Arnav that easily but he must keep trying. Arnav has really changed. Khushi will realize that one day and Arnav will also win her heart with his new version. Thanks for the amazing Update😍😍
ReplyDeleteHow.... How complicated and absurd it is that there is a person who wants to wronged an innocent..people warns him/her but he/she don't care..went ahead with its vengeance..damages the innocent..give immense unjustified pain..than regret..admits and accepts the warnings were right..apologies..and forgiven..... How fair it is? This circle! Whats the point of all this circle if in the end he/she is gonna have his/her reward and desires fulfilled? What about the innocent? What was its fault? Why the innocents are used and made scapegoats of such people's blind rage and hatred? Who gave them rights to use those innocents for quenching their dirty thirst for blood? Why the innocents are exploited? This circle keep going on and on because in the end the wrongdoer gets benefit only and cruelty on the innocent keep happening. Its so disturbing and sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The innocents deserve to be happy without the person who gave her pain in her life. 👍 Arshi won't be united in this fiction until I make sure his repentance is justified.
DeleteKhushi was so right that she isn't the same khushi she was 6 years ago with whom arnav was in so called love with. The changes are drastic and alot new to know, understand and loves.
ReplyDeleteDidn't liked the way Khushi held arnav hands at that time. I felt it was an insult to khushi. It shows how weak a woman can get. I also thinks, before all these gestures we need to know how and when she got feelings for arnav coz till she didn't get anything good enough from him to think about it forget considering it and loving it. She clearly wasn't in love with him in the past and talking about present, She just got enormous humiliations, pain, misery and insults from him. So why would or how could one would love his/her culprit? Isn't problematic!!!
Arnav better learn the definition of love and stop claiming his feelings for khushi as love coz he had been a beast to her and we can't be a beast to our love. His claim of love is making whatever he had done to khushi more disastrous and unforgivable. May be if he stops the "love" thing, the entire situation can be looked in a different and considering way. But with love! A big NO.
Khushi is innocent? nice joke
DeleteYou can laugh how much you want thn.
Delete@anonymous August 7, 2022 at 8:55 PM... I never used the word innocent btw. Neither talked about it and clearly there is no mention of specifically khushi being innocent. You should check your eyes before cleaning your brain full of negativity and hatred.
Deletesubconsciously you have feeling for him but yet to realize it.
ReplyDeleteI love this side of Arnav.....
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the secret is that forced arnav to be so cruel to khushi who obviously know nothing
ReplyDeleteAwesome fabulous update dear
ReplyDeleteGuys is it just me or has this story become very boring? It was very promising in the beginning and now every word, sentence seems forced and bland.
ReplyDeleteIt's just because writer always make arnav's characters like this 1st he do sins and then repent and make khushi's character forgive him easily he always chose chesy and flirting trick and that makes story a boring after some chapter
DeleteWriter always shows her love attractions toward arnavs character
Deletein all her stories and i think this personal crush or likes ,attractions came between her stories and that's why in some of stories of her after chapter 30- 35 story gose boring.
And i also appreciate her work always but sometimes it happens. She should work on this .
She is the very good arshi fiction writer
l really appreciate her work
I dont want to insult the writer it just my opinion that's all and of course its her blog she can do whatever she want but i just want to say that i am also a big fan of arshi and i am very thankful of writer because of her only i never lose my craze on my forever lovely couple 💑 these story of your quench our thirst to imagine them together in are minds because we cannot see them on tv or anywhere. Thats all.
I read all her stories they are all good but in some of her stories I think she makes arnav's character very fantastic and passionate but she didn't work on khushi's character much like arnav's . in some of her story she make female lead very imotionaly and mentaly weak she give up in arnav's dimand very easily and that is the point story lose the interest
DeleteThanks all the "Annoymous" for your inputs. I will consider them to make the stories better.
DeleteI don't like arnav's attitude towards khushi he is like i can do anything whatever and whenever i want if i want to take revenge i take revenge . He thinks only his wishes matter what he wants and when he wants . 1st i want make her life miserable and then he realizes his mistake i want her back in my life .. this is so frustrating 😤
ReplyDeleteGood thing anjali stance is clear now. Its good to know she wasn't the part of the revenge. Now have to see her part in arshi's lives. Need more of khushi's professional life plz.
ReplyDeleteNice update.I like that Arnav realizes his mistakes. Arnav doesn't have to be a kind, innocent, romantic lover in every story. People are different. There are people with different types of characters. Everyone has both good and bad. I like Gray character s. Not in real life but in stories. I don't think this story is boring at all.
ReplyDeleteAnjali not blaming khushi. Arnav is all set to woo Khushi and try all possible ways to win khushi. Arnav introduced khushi as his wife to his sister, to whom he said he don't have any feelings. Anjali can see good progress in her mother.
ReplyDeleteLike arnav mentioned khushi subconscious mind want arnav but the way arnav treat khushi and insult her during the initial days of their marriage left a fear and scar to khushi until they are fade khushi can't accept arnav.
Waiting for the next update dear.....
Awesome thank you written… amo
ReplyDeleteNice update but a short one.
ReplyDeleteI'm a really big fan of Madhu and her fictions since 2012 but nowadays I find them dragged and short and like they are being penned just for the sake of it continuing.
I mean no offence to the author just giving my review. I understand these fictions are not charged and are a part of an author's hobby and good heart to let us read them all these years without any hurdles and free of any charges.
But being a dedicated and old reader I expect consistency in the stories in terms of regular and longer updates atleast.
I understand that you're now a professional full time writer but I think being such old readers of your fictions we need a little more Justice then we're getting.
And incase it's pretty hard for you to manage both than I'd rather opt out to continue reading them.
No offense once again.
Yes the updates are short these days and also inconsistent because I am a full time writer now and it's no less than running a self business, handling too many calls with editors, proofreaders, cover designers, authors from the circle and also looking into the readers demands on getting the books published sooner. And all this is apart from the drafting of those books and also making posts to promote them. So yes, my free updates on this blog has taken a backseat but i am not quitting it. This place is my second virtual home and my craze for Arshi is unwavering. If my old and new readers here on this blog can still support me, i will be relieved and honoured and thankful. 🙏
DeleteNice update. Glad that Anjali doesn't hate Khushi. I see that Arnav is very confident on making Khushi fall for him, but he should just go with the flow. It's not necessary that love has to be reciprocated always and if Khushi is not able to love him then he just needs to accept it. But yes, he definitely needs to make it up to Khushi for the way he treated her during their marriage. Waiting for the next update!
ReplyDelete