The Wait - Chapter 27

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CHAPTER 27

KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

Next Day

As I am alone in the kitchen, my thoughts drift to two days ago when Arnav shared his concerns with me. He believes that it's high time to confront Dhruv about his behavior and the way he's playing with his life and the emotions of those who love him. Arnav had a heart-to-heart conversation with Akash too, revealing the extent of Dhruv's misguided actions.

Akash was appalled to learn that Dhruv had blatantly rejected Lavanya's employment at AR Group, despite knowing her feelings for him. It was a clear sign that Dhruv was more focused on his quest to break Arnav and me apart than on the people who genuinely cared for him. Arnav also confided in Akash about our past, my affair with Dhruv, and its bitter end. Arnav also shared about him having feelings for me much before Dhruv’s proposal and the ones that never truly faded.

After discovering that Dhruv had faked his own accident and death in Greece, Akash was furious. He vowed to do whatever it took to help their brother find his way back. That's why Akash pretended to be so interested in Lavanya suddenly, offering to help her settle into her new apartment. The entire act was aimed to get Dhruv's attention on Lavanya and divert his fixation on separating Arnav and me.

I've been passively avoiding Dhruv ever since he returned from Greece, and the revelation about his fake death drama has only strengthened my resolve now. He may be my husband's twin, but his obsession with breaking our bond has soured our friendship. I refuse to treat him as anything other than a distant acquaintance until he reevaluates his choices and mends his ways.

I’m preparing lunch when Nani approaches me to check my availability.

“Khushi, we're going to an event this evening with some distant relatives. Would you like to come along?”

I pause, stirring the pot on the stove, considering her invitation.

“Nani, I would have loved to, but Arnav and I are leaving for Scotland the day after tomorrow, and I haven't packed anything yet. In fact, I was planning to start packing today. But if you want me to come, I can manage.”

“No, it's all right, dear.” Nani smiles gently. “Arnav isn't coming either; he has some work to take care of. Besides, someone should be at home to welcome him when he returns. You know how he hates eating alone, especially at home. So, I suggest you stay back and continue packing for your honeymoon. We'll attend the event and be back late tonight.”

I agree with Nani's sensible suggestion. She asks me not to bother about the cooking right now and instead get back to my room and rest a bit. I promise her to go and rest after the curry is done. Nani agrees and leaves.

I take a few minutes to finish making the curry, and turn to leave the kitchen when Dhruv unexpectedly appears in my path, blocking my way. I step back, startled, finding myself back in the kitchen.

"Why have you been ignoring me for the past two days?" Dhruv inquires. His eyes search for mine, and there's a mixture of frustration and concern in his voice. "You're not even looking at me."

Anger flares within me, and I can't hold it in any longer. I'd kept it bottled up for too long. After knowing that Dhruv never met with an accident in Greece and had faked his death all the time, only to teach Arnav and me a lesson, for what he saw happening between us in the club, I cannot even stand him before me.

"I don't want to speak to you. Just move out of my way." I retort.

He remains steadfast, a determined look in his eyes.

"No, I won't move until you tell me what's wrong. What else has Arnav said against me that you've stopped talking to me?"

My temper flares, and I finally let it all out.

"I'm not angry with you because of what Arnav has told me. Why do you always blame others for your own mistakes? I'm furious with your lies and how you're handling your life and making decisions right now."

My voice is strong, reflecting the intensity of my emotions. Dhruv stares at me, stunned by my outburst. Fury boils within me, and I can't stop myself from lashing out. I point a trembling finger at Dhruv, my voice sharp and laden with anger.

"Do you even realize how much you're hurting the people who love you? Who care for you?"

He stands there, glaring at me, his expression intense.

My voice trembles with rage as I continue. "You broke Lavanya's heart."

He clenches his jaw, his expression shifting slightly. "I didn't ask her to leave the house. It was her decision. She left."

I take a step closer, confronting him directly.

"And you let her leave, just like that? The woman you called your friend, you let her go, Dhruv? You don't feel anything for the women who care for you, do you? The way women have placed their hearts at your feet, but you don't mind trampling on them and moving ahead. You did the same with me when I asked you for a proper commitment. And now, when you think Lavanya wants the same, you're shrugging it off. What a man you've become! I hope Lavanya doesn't waste her time on you and moves on, unlike I did. I wasted eight months believing that the man I loved was dead, only to discover that he faked his death out of sheer ego. Because he saw me with his twin brother in a compromising situation."

Dhruv is visibly shocked that I've learned the truth. I keep pushing, my emotions surging out.

"Isn't it true, Dhruv? You could play with all of our feelings, with your own family's emotions, but you couldn't muster the courage to face the reality that you despised seeing us together?"

My breath is heavy, and I wait for his response, my eyes locked onto his, challenging him to explain himself.

When he doesn’t respond my anger ignites like wildfire as I yell at him again, unable to stop myself.

"Why were you even punishing us for? When you saw us kissing that day, I was already your ex. You had broken up with me, Dhruv. I didn't want our relationship to end, it was you who ended it. I was still there in the club because I was grieving for you. And yes, I mistook Arnav to be you that night. Arnav too was wrong who didn’t try it hard to convince me that night that it was him and not you, as I thought. That whole situation was wrong, I understand. But then why did you have to do this? Fake death? Seriously Dhruv? Why did you inflict that pain on me?"

Dhruv's jaw clenches, and he mutters, "You won't understand why I did this. Yes, I ended our relationship long before I saw you with Arnav, but it still hurt. I was a fool to run away and fake my death. I should have stayed and confronted you. But I won't make that mistake again. Enough of me chasing you in hiding."

He points an accusing finger at me, delivering an ultimatum.

"Don't go to Scotland with Arnav. If you do, I'll let the entire family know that you were my ex and that I should have been the one you married, not Arnav."

I'm stunned, almost unable to process his blackmail. He doesn't even allow me to argue. His voice hardens as he continues, "And if you decide to reveal the truth about my fake accident news to the family, I don't care anymore. I'm tired of worrying about what everyone thinks. They've never cared about me; all they care about is Arnav. So, why should I bother anymore?"

With that, he storms out of the kitchen, leaving me in a state of shock and confusion, my mind spinning with the ultimatum he's just delivered.

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

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

I step into my cabin, feeling utterly exhausted after that lengthy meeting. Aman, my ever-dedicated assistant, is quick to notice my return and wears a sly grin as I slump into my chair.

"What?" I question Aman, bemused by his sudden amusement.

Aman's smile only widens. "All set for your honeymoon, Boss?"

A genuine smile crosses my lips this time. I'm incredibly excited to escape with Khushi for nearly ten days, free from the constraints of family and the dramas involving my twin, Dhruv.

"Marriage suits you, Boss," Aman remarks with a hint of sincerity.

I lean back in my chair and let out a contented sigh. "Marriage with Khushi suits me."

Aman nods in agreement. He then briefs me about the schedule here in my absence for the next ten days. Aman ensures that everything at the office will be well taken care of in my absence, with my uncle Manohar and cousin Akash on standby. He reminds me that if anything demands my attention, I'll be informed. With his parting words, Aman exits my office.

I decide to complete a few pending tasks before I can head home when my phone rings. It's my elder sister, Anjali. I pick up promptly.

"Hey, di," I greet her. "How's the event going?"

I recall that both the Raizada and Gupta families are attending an event hosted by a distant relative of ours. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend due to an important UK client conference.

“The event is going well, but it would have been even more enjoyable if Khushi were here." Di responds.

I'm perplexed. "She's not with the family? I mean she didn't attend the event?"

Di chuckles and playfully teases me, "As if you didn't know. She declined the invitation because she needed to pack for your honeymoon."

I am taken aback. I indeed knew we have to pack, but I wasn't aware that Khushi had stayed back at Shantivan. This revelation leads to another thought that suddenly concerns me.

"What about Dhruv?" I inquire, clearing my throat. "I hope he's enjoying the event. It's been a while since he's seen that family."

Di’s response shocks me. "He also found a reason not to attend."

An unsettling feeling overcomes me. If Khushi isn't at the event and Dhruv isn't either, it's possible they're together somewhere. Khushi is alone at Shantivan, and a sense of foreboding takes hold. I don’t want Dhruv to bother her. Without further ado, I decide to call Khushi to check on her well-being. However, she doesn't answer, and a strange sense of anxiety washes over me.

I urgently grab my car keys and leave the office. I continue to call Khushi's number incessantly as my worry intensifies, an inexplicable foreboding urging me on.

KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

Tears and frustration blur my vision as I pace relentlessly in the bedroom. The room, which was supposed to be brimming with excitement as I pack for our honeymoon, is now a battleground of mixed emotions.

Dhruv's ultimatum is like a heavy stone lodged in my chest, making it hard to breathe. He has blackmailed me, and the weight of that threat, combined with the anger at his audacity, weighs me down. How can Dhruv even threaten me like that? Of exposing our affair before the family? My mind whirls with the dilemma of choosing between Dhruv's potential revelation and Arnav’s happiness. He cannot decide if I get to go out with my husband or not. I’ll not let him snatch my happiness anymore.

I keep glancing at the clock. Arnav must have left the office to come back home. He had an important conference today, and I didn't want to disrupt him with this troubling news. My plan was to discuss it once he got back from work.

But since its night already and Arnav hasn’t returned yet, I decide it's time to call him, check in, and possibly share my turmoil. Because I cannot take it anymore. Wiping my tears, I search for my phone, realizing that I haven't checked it for hours. I look for it and finally find the phone perched on the bedside table.

Grabbing it, I notice four missed calls from Arnav, causing my anxiety to spike further. How didn’t I not hear these calls? My phone is on silent. Shit! I'm about to dial Arnav back when the lights throughout the house abruptly goes off. And simultaneously, my phone gives its last dying sigh and powers down. What the hell!

"The phone had to run out of battery right at this moment?" I mutter to myself, frustration boiling over. I can't even begin to express my irritation at the timing.

With bated breath, I wait for the automatic generators to kick in. But as time passes in complete darkness, I start to grow uneasy. Something isn't right. The hum of the generators doesn't reverberate through the house as it should.

I take a deep breath and steel myself. There's no choice; I need to investigate. Leaning my phone against the table, I muster my courage to leave the room and venture into the inky blackness that has overtaken the house.

The darkness wraps around me, my heart racing as I step cautiously down the staircase. Confusion gives way to surprise as I notice a trail of red rose petals, elegantly laid out in a pathway, leading from the stairs to the center of the living room. The dim, gentle glow of light from the room's center teases the edges of my vision. As I make my way further, I see a breathtaking sight—a big heart meticulously crafted with the same rose petals.

My heart leaps with joy; my earlier unease replaced by a warm, hopeful smile. Arnav must have returned, and I'm certain that all this romantic display is his creation, his way of making up for his absence.

Walking slowly along the rose-paved path, my anticipation grows. As I reach the heart, my eyes are immediately drawn to the message written within its lovingly designed confines. It says, ‘I'm sorry.’ My eyebrows furrow, confusion lacing my features. Sorry? What does Arnav have to apologize for?

Before I can call out for him, a figure emerges from the shadows, and my breath catches as Dhruv steps into view. He's dressed in his casual attire, a sight I'd grown so accustomed to when we were dating each other in London. His smile maybe charming, but it makes my heart flutter with shock. What is he doing here?

And then my world comes crashing down as I realize that it's not Arnav, but Dhruv who orchestrated this entire romantic setting.

My anger flares, and I step back, shooting a furious look his way.

"You did all of this?"

Dhruv stands a few feet from me, his expression having a tinge of satisfaction.

"Yes, I did. You've always loved roses, so I thought it would be the best way to apologize for my behavior this morning."

I'm stunned. It takes a moment to process what he's saying, the absurdity of the situation dawning on me.

He moves closer to me and shakes his head.

"I don't know what happens to me, Khushi. I can't seem to control myself when I think of you and Arnav together. That's why I threatened you this morning. If you don't give up the idea of going to Scotland with him, I'll have no choice but to reveal our past to the family. I'm so sorry."

My patience wears thin as he continues to speak.

“Please just tell me you have cancelled the idea of honeymoon.”

His hopeful gaze pleads with me, and I can no longer contain my frustration.

"No, I haven't," I snap, my anger flaring.

Fury courses through me as I stare into Dhruv's eyes, my own filled with a mix of anger, disappointment, and a smidge of lingering pain.

"Why should I not go with Arnav?" I continue, my voice trembling with a mix of emotions. "He's my husband, Dhruv, and he makes me happy. He's the man who made me realize what true love is. How many times do I have to tell you that everything between us is over? You ended it. You made the choice. Honestly, I'm grateful you did because eventually, I would have, too. I doubt that, with your current attitude and mindset, my feelings for you could have lasted much longer."

His fingers encircle my arms like a vice, and he tugs me closer, attempting to pull me into his embrace. His grip tightens, fingers digging into my skin as he pulls me closer, searching my eyes as if trying to find a way to convince me.

"Don't say that," he pleads, his voice intense. "These words aren't yours. Arnav has manipulated you. He's that kind of person, always wanting what I have, always taking what I want in life."

Dhruv's hands cradle my face, his touch both tender and possessive. "Khushi, I love you. Please don't do this to me."

My anger boils over, and I shove him away, the anger in my voice clear as I yell, "No, you don't love me, Dhruv! If you ever did, even for a second, if you ever truly loved me, you would never have blackmailed me this morning. You threatened to expose our past to the family. That's not love."

Dhruv glares back at me, his eyes reflecting a complex mixture of emotions – anger, frustration, and maybe even a tinge of realization.

“Okay, look,” he finally sighs. “I’m sorry for whatever happened. Give me one chance again. I’m ready to be the man you would like me to be. I’m ready to change Khushi. Please.”

As I stand there, a tempest of emotions swirling within me, I continue to let my feelings spill out, my voice a mixture of anger and disappointment. Dhruv, once so central to my life, now appears a stranger, and not a pleasant one.

"Change? And you? I don't think so, Dhruv," I assert, my words dripping with bitterness. "Because people who truly love someone change for them if needed. But you don't love me, nor are you repenting for anything. Had I not married Arnav in your absence, you probably wouldn't even have returned here. I believe you came back because you can't stand to see me becoming your brother's wife. You never wanted me to be yours, and now you don't want me to be Arnav's either. It's good that you've shown me your true face."

I pause for a moment, trying to control the emotional storm within me. "When I, along with the rest of the family, thought you were dead, I used to cry for you," I continue, my voice breaking. "There was a sense of longing in my heart because I felt something had been left unresolved between us due to your sudden disappearance. I vowed that I would wait for you until the end of me. I was a fool to decide that I would spend the rest of my life with your memories if I couldn't have you. Then, life led me to marry Arnav, and you returned. But now, after seeing the real you, I wonder how I could ever fall in love with you in the first place."

My eyes meet Dhruv's, cold and unyielding. "How did I misunderstand a man like you?" I continue, my voice rising. "How could I have mistaken love in the eyes of a man who doesn't even know what true love is? Forget love; you're not even worthy of being my friend anymore, Dhruv. You've lost that place in my heart as well. The man standing before me today, that's your reality. This dark, vindictive figure that you've become. You're leaving nothing but bitter memories for me to despise."

Dhruv stands there in silence, grappling with the enormity of what I just unleashed upon him. He thought this romantic gesture might mend our fraying connection, but instead, it has only widened the chasm between us. His face reflects the realization that he may have lost me forever, and that hurts more deeply than anything he's ever experienced.

To be Continued.

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