Precap: LOVE ME NOT - Chapter 3

Arnav Singh Raizada


The creak of the door opening could practically rouse the entire Raizada mansion from slumber.

"What the hell, Aman," I murmur as quietly as possible as he nudges the main door ajar.

"I didn't mean to," he whispers back. "And don't worry, your sleeping beauty won't stir even if you blast the Dolby stereo next to her. She's passed out, not merely dozed off."

I grit my teeth at his deliberate teasing, stealing a glance at the woman in my arms. My wife. Khushi.

She clings to my shirt, while I cradle her as though she were a fragile doll I must shield from the outside world.

Hari Prakash enters the living room, rubbing his eyes, only for them to widen at the sight of Aman and me returning home late at night, with a woman in my arms. Clearly, he hasn't recognized her.

"What?" I scowl at him. “Biwi hai meri!”

Precap: LOVE ME NOT - Chapter 2

KHUSHI GUPTA

The graduation ceremony was absolutely wonderful, and already I find myself longing for the camaraderie of my friends and the familiar halls of college. There's a certain nostalgia in knowing I won't be waking up tomorrow to attend classes, catch up with friends, engage in group studies, and partake in the cultural events that defined our college experience. All those moments will be dearly missed. However, amidst this wave of nostalgia, I'm eagerly looking forward to the private party my classmates are throwing tomorrow to commemorate our graduation. As I contemplate what to wear and the logistics of getting there—whether I'll be picked up or if I'll have to gather my friends Payal, Lavanya, and Pam along the way—I can't help but anticipate the festivities that await. I haven't discussed it with Dad yet, but I'm certain he won't object; he never has before. As I sit in the car, drained from today's excitement, I suddenly realize we're not headed towards the Gupta mansion as expected. Instead, the car veers towards the route leading to the Raizada Mansion.

“Mom?” I turn to my mother. “Where are we going?”

Mom smiles sweetly at me.

“To your real home, Khushi. Where else? Now that Arnav is back from Manhattan and—”

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 19

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

“Is Dhruv okay, Doctor?” I ask curiously as the Dr Patel comes out of Dhruv’s bedroom.

“Yes, he is fine now. He needs rest though. It was a mild panic attack. Something must have triggered his mind which led him to this attack.”

I sigh, turning to Khushi who is heading to Dhruv’s bedroom with vegetable soup. She looks sad, and worried just like everyone else in the family is.

“But Doctor, will this happen again?” Di asks in a panic.

“Maybe. He met with an accident in Greece, right? Maybe that and his absence in the family, loneliness and solitude must have been the triggering point of this attack. So, I suggest, just don’t let him be alone. And please keep him happy. Medicines will work only if he is happy and surrounded by the family. Any stress or situations against his liking can worsen his state. We’ll do some more tests in the coming week to see how soon we can get him rid of such panic attacks in future.”

THE WAIT - Precap for Chapter 14

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


I storm to Dhruv, who is standing at the window looking out. The moment I reach near him, I grab his shoulder and turn him around to face me.

“What did you say to Khushi?” I scowl.

Dhruv doesn’t speak a word but the grin on his face says it all.

“You think this is a joke, Dhruv? Whatever you said to her, has made her hole up in her room. She is unwilling to even let me inside or talk to me.”

“Really?” Dhruv laughs sarcastically. “I’m glad she is finally seeing your truth then.”

I clench my jaw. This time I cross my limits of decency in talking and grabbing Dhruv’s collar, I pin him to the wall behind.

“What. Did. You. Tell. To. My. Wife?” Fury laces in my tone.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 13

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


“Di, what happened? Why do you sound so uneasy.” I ask Di on the phone, pushing my breakfast plate away. “Is everything okay there?”

Di had come to Shantivan yesterday for her Pag Phera like Khushi had come here in Gupta Mansion. Today, Shyam Jeejaji was supposed to pick her up by late afternoon but her sudden call on my phone demanding me to come back home soon was scaring me.

“Chotte..” she gasps.. “Just come home. Right now. Get Shyam, and his parents too. Come soon.”

“I’ll bring them but what happened. Tell me something.” I demand to know, rising up from my chair. Khushi and her parents are equally confused what’s the sudden urgency that Di wants us all to reach Shantivan as soon as possible.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 12

KHUSHI SINGH RAIZADA


I wake up with a start as Arnav barges into my bedroom. Why is he here so early in the morning? He was supposed to come in the afternoon to take me from my parents’ house. He looks utterly confused and helpless until his eyes meet mine. I get off the bed and I’m about to question him about his presence and his problem, when he reaches me and wraps me in his arms. His breath is ragged as he almost lifts me up to him and hugs me tight. His heart is pounding, his hold on me strong and protective.

“Arn…”

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 11

KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

“I said I’m not hungry.” Arnav keeps flipping the pages of the file before him without even looking at me.

Fine! I knew he wouldn’t be an easy husband ever. I turn around and lock the door of his study room and then march inside. Arnav realizes I’ve locked us up here but he doesn’t take his gaze off the papers. I keep the bowl of Kheer on his desk and then whirl his chair to force him face me. He looks a bit startled by my actions but I don’t care.

“It’s not about you hunger but the family’s traditions, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. Your newly wedded wife made this kheer for everyone and if her husband doesn’t taste it, there is no point doing all of this. We vowed to understand each other and stand by each other in times of happiness and sorrow. So just a day after taking those auspicious marriage vows you can’t hold me responsible for something I just said in the heat of the moment. Something which I didn’t mean the way you perceived it. So..” I pull the bowl near him and then exhale. “Please have the kheer when you have time or rather when you are hungry.”

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 10

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


“Nani where is Khushi?” I ask a bit annoyed. I haven’t seen after morning breakfast.

“Why?” Nani chuckles.

“What do you mean why, Nani?” I snap. “It’s been a day just since we married and except her husband she has time for everyone in the family. Where is she?”

I don’t care if Nani thinks I am desperate for my wife. So be it. Nani laughs hysterically at my reasoning.

“Manorama..” Nani turns to Maami. “Is he the same man who showed so much disinterest in marrying Khushi at first?”

I roll my eyes.

“Haan Sasuma, he is the same man. Today Arnav bitwa proved that marriage changes a man completely and in favor of his wife.”

They both laugh again and that’s it. I lose my patience.

“I’m asking you for the last time. Where is Khushi?”

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 9

KHUSHI SINGH RAIZADA

I stare at myself blankly in the mirror reflection. The Sindoor on my forehead, the veil covering my head, the Mangalsutra shining around my neck and the bridal lehnga which I’ve still adorned on my body are screaming at me to accept the reality and bury the remains of my past with Dhruv so deep in some corner of my lonely heart where even I cannot reach again even if I want to. Arnav is my lawfully wedded husband and I’ve vowed to be his dutiful wife in every sense.

I shut my eyes to erase every other thought and just focus on the present.. my reality.. that I am Arnav Singh Raizada’s wife and no matter what my past was, I would not drag its shadow in my future. When I open my eyes again and look in the mirror, my heart skips a beat seeing Arnav in the room already. He is leaning against the door frame, in his maroon sherwani with his arms crossed on his chest. This is it.. The beginning of a new phase in my life, the end of the previous chapter. Will I be able to handle such a drastic change? Will I ever give Arnav what he truly deserves from his wife? From me? Will I be able to keep the promise I gave him? With all these thoughts clouding in my head I fail to realize when Arnav reaches behind me and stands close. It is only when his breath fans my nape, I’m on a high alert. Our eyes meet in the mirror reflection.. His gaze steady on my face, as if reading the commotion of my heart. To avoid showing off my turmoil, I start taking off my earrings.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 8

Khushi Gupta

I stare blankly at the red veil placed on the Puja thali which Anjali is circling around me. She applies a small tika (dot) of vermillion on my forehead and showers rice grains on my head. Nani then hands me over a small decorated basket of sweets, dry fruits, flowers, jewelry, some cash inside the shagun envelopes and Lord Ganesh Idol.

“Khushi bitiya, welcome to our family,” she says, helping me place it on my lap. Everyone claps around me while I try not to look panicked.

“Chotte, come here,” Anjali calls out for Arnav who so far had been standing with my father a little aloof from us.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 7

I rarely got nervous but today after being congratulated by almost everyone from my family and the Guptas, was enough to churn my stomach.

“Chotte, now you can’t deny that you are not interested in this alliance. Khushi herself has admitted and given her approval for this marriage alliance before everyone. And none of us has missed noticing how your gaze always holds Khushi’s whenever you two are in the same room,” Di giggles.

I’m about to retort when Garima aunty reaches me and cups my face.

“Khushi is so lucky to get a life partner like you. I know she can blindly trust you, Arnav. She has made the right decision this time.” Aunty kisses my forehead whereas Shashi Uncle pats my back as he joins her.

“This calls for a celebration. I’m opening the most expensive red wine tonight. What say, Shyam?” Uncle exclaims.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 6

FLASHBACK - LONDON

I was looking for Dhruv when I spotted her. She was holding the golden eye mask in her hand, looking around, trying to gel in the party, but still waiting for someone. Was she here with Dhruv? I decided to immediately retreat and turned around when I heard her voice.


“Dhruv…”

Shit! I realized she saw me and took me as Dhruv. Unwilling to let her reach me, I tried walking to the exit but within a few seconds, Khushi reached me and grabbed my arm.

“Dhruv, where the hell are you going?” she shouted annoyed at me and turned me around.

My heart skipped a beat coming face to face with the woman I liked.. loved too.. and could never have.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 3

KHUSHI GUPTA


I always knew Arnav Singh Raizada had an attitude as high as a mountain. Shyam tosses his head between me and Arnav as I keep glaring at the latter, the silence in the room stretching, and the tension between us increasing tenfold.

“I… I think you should listen to her once,” Shyam tries to take my side.

I don’t know if I really see him doing this or if is it my hallucination but for a brief second, Arnav’s gaze drifts down to my lips, before meeting my eyes again. And this time, he doesn’t deny my offer.

“Okay,” he gives the faintest nod as if a slightly better than that could have sprained his neck.

Shyam exhales in relief that we are on the same page and is about to leave us alone when I interrupt.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 2

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


It’s been 15 minutes since we are in the same room, a few meters away from each other but she’s never looked at me once. It bruises my ego like hell. I keep rolling the paperweight over my desk, letting Shyam finish his presentation on the Hong Kong client with me. It’s just three of us in my office cabin. AR Fashion is a worldwide brand of apparel, accessories and beauty products. Gupta Industries have partnered with us for a decade and Shyam is not just the best CEO of that company, but a gentleman of a kind who even once didn’t bring our personal problems into our professional life. At least, so far, ever since I denied marrying his sister Khushi, which was a week ago.

“So? What do you think?” Shyam asks, bringing my attention back to his laptop screen. “Looks like a great deal to me,” he adds.

I’m clueless if I should agree with it, because in his fifteen minutes long speech, I couldn’t focus for even 15 seconds. All of my attention was on Khushi who was glued to the huge floor-to-ceiling glass window of my cabin, looking outside. In a soft pink Anarkali dress, with her hair cascading over her shoulders, and her arms crossed at the front, as if she is lost in some deep thoughts, how could I resist not trying to read her inner turmoil? She’s here for a reason otherwise knowing her brother Shyam had to meet me on their way back home from shopping, she wouldn’t join him here otherwise.

The Wait - Precap for Chapter 1

Khushi POV

I sit next to my father, smiling at the Raizada family, not knowing why suddenly they are all so keenly noticing me.

“Shashiji, we will be more than honoured to go ahead with your proposal,” the matriarch of the Raizada family, Devyani, whom everyone calls ‘Naniji’ replies.

“Proposal?” I turn to my father who takes me in his embrace.

“That’s the surprise I was talking about. Your marriage.”

My heart skips a beat.

“My… my what?”

Mumma who is on my left, strokes my back lovingly.

“Your dad has proposed your marriage to Anjali’s brother, Arnav Singh Raizada, Khushi,” she exclaims.

I can’t believe he did this.

“And the Raizadas are happy with the proposal,” Dad adds.

Precap for Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 42

Khushi's POV

“Khushi wait,” Sheetal calls me from behind. I don’t turn around nor I wait to hear her out. Arnav gives me a glance as I clutch his arm tight before continuing to walk towards the exit. He knows I am disinterested in speaking to Sheetal. I came here for her mother, not the woman who betrayed my friendship.

The moment we reach the door, Sheetal blocks my way out.

“Just listen to me once. Please.” She pleads.

“I don’t know you,” I snap. “Just leave my way.”

“Khushi, I am sorry,” she sobs blocking my way again as I try to reach for the door.

I cling to Arnav’s arm again not even wanting to look at her.

“I did this only to get my father back to me and my mother, Khushi. I’d no other intention. I failed to realize he was never interested in any one of us. All he desired was power and money which he got by staying as your guardian all these years.”

Sheetal wipes her tears.

Precap for Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 41

Khushi’s POV


Seeing Arnav standing under the shower with his clothes on, doing nothing but looking down remorsefully and in utter pain and guilt, I can’t help myself from reaching him. The moment I open the door of the shower cubicle, he raises his eyes and looks at me.

“Give me some time, Khushi..” he urges, his voice heavy with pain. “Just leave me alone for some time..”

“No,” I deny, getting under the shower with him. He looks at me dejected when I cup his face in between my palms. “I didn’t take the marriage vows today to leave you alone to sulk, Arnav.”

Tears flood his eyes.

“We can’t change our past, but we can change our future and it begins with you and me together. Facing all odds and challenges of life together, Arnav.”

Precap of Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 40

Arnav's POV

“When Di told me about her four-week pregnancy, I was hell annoyed but only because I wanted to see Di happy, we decided mutually to speak to her boyfriend and his family about it and get them married to the soonest.”


I nod. That was the only option any family would think of in such situations.

“But then..” He exhales.

I see the lines of rage on his forehead which Arnav tries to soothe down by rubbing his palms over his face.

“When we met that family, they didn’t give us any warm welcome despite being equally responsible of Di’s state.”

“Why?” I choke unable to connect the dots.

Precap for Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 39

Arnav’s POV

I wake up at the feel of her lips on my neck. Opening my dozy eyes, I look at the woman in my arms who is equally sleepy because its not morning yet. There is still enough darkness outside and in the bedroom, where me and Khushi are sleeping cozily. But looks like my wife woke up in the middle of the night and is hormonally driven for some intimacy. I don't let her realize I am awake and shut my eyes to let her continue the sensual assault to my body. She tugs at my T-shirt before raising her face and kissing my jaw, just close enough for me to feel the brush of her lips across mine. Ummm!! My resolve to pretend being sleepy fails that very moment and I cup her face angling to my lips and claim her mouth. Khushi mumbles something in between the kiss as the hard planes of my body grinds against her curves. It’s been too long. Too long that I tasted her, had her the way I needed. God, I need to keep a control on myself if she doesn't want more tonight. We break away to breathe. She’s practically panting whereas I am still lost in admiring her face.

Precap - Rabba Ishq Na Hove - Season 3 - Part 38

Precap


“No you don't understand, Arnav. Everyone I trusted has stabbed me. My father, my best friend, everyone. I hate them all.”

“I know you do and I know how much it hurts you, Khushi. Come here…”

I push him away when he tries to get closer.

“Leave me alone, Arnav. You knew all of this and yet you never confronted me before. Just go away. I don't want you near me right now.”

“Okay,” he still comes closer again, stretching his arms to hold me. “Okay, I am sorry. Come here.”

Before I can think of going away, Arnav grips my arms and pulls me for a hug. He keeps stroking my back and kissing my head, giving me the comfort I need at the moment. I really want to feel loved and not betrayed. But I guess thats life. You need to stop expecting from people and start living for yourself.