Behind That Smile: ArHi FF [completed] (Page 4)

In the days that followed Arnav, came home late at night and left early in the mornings. Around their family they acted like a normal happy couple and no one realized that behind that smile was a vast pool of hurt. Every day khushi tried to prove herself to Arnav and every day Arnav brushed her aside as if she was a problem he could do without. Piece by piece khushi felt her confidence ebbing away. Perhaps that was the worst part about loving some one who didn't love you, that every day you ended up hoping that things would turn out to be different.

Khushi fastened her earrings and looked at herself. She hoped arnav would be home early today. Anjali had thrown a small party for her and arnav which she couldn't give after the wedding due to babuji's health. Now babuji was recovering and even though he still couldn't speak, the prognosis were good. Her family were still angry with her for marrying Arnav and she was not allowed to visit babuji because buaji thought it would upset him as he wanted khushi to marry shyam. Only jiji spoke to her when no one was around  but even jiji didn't know the truth.

Anjali saw khushi lost in thought. She looked angelic. Anjali knew there was something wrong between her and chote. It was there on their faces when they thought no one was looking. But they were married now and they had to sort the problems out themselves.

"khushi? I have a perfect necklace to go with this dress. Come in my room."

Khushi walked with anjali to her room. She looked at the photo of shyam and anjali pinned on the wall. If only she had entered this room when she had been working, then may be she would have told Arnav about shyam and arnav would have trusted her and may be even fallen in l'

No there is no point hoping for something that would never happen. Khushi sighed.

Anjali saw her sad face and said " khushi every marriage goes through bad times. I know chote can be difficult but he loves you and believe in god every thing will be fine."

Khushi smiled. "Nothing that serious anjaliji. Im fine"

Anjali prayed to god that these too people she loved would find the same happiness she had found with her husband. Thinking of him she smiled. 'If it wasn't for his absences her shyamji was the best husband in the whole world'

As khushi walked down the stairs, unaware of how beautiful she looked, scanning the room searching for just one person- who had suddenly become the centre of her universe.

Arnav looked at the women who was his wife. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It wud have been a cliche to say this but she looked like the moon. Serene and beautiful yet distant. And like gazing wistfully at the moon he looked at her knowing in that moment that she was all he ever wanted and all he could never have..

He led her around introducing her to the guests. Like always they kept the smile plastered on their faces. As anjali invited the couples to dance, he danced with some of  the guests and then Lavanya came, much to nani's disapproval and he danced with her for a long time. He could feel khushi's eyes on them. He tried not to care but suddenly from the corner of his eye he saw a young man claim khushi to dance. As he put his hand on khushi's waist, arnav swallowed down the bout of jealousy that threatened to choke him.

As the next song started he tapped on the mans back and said icily "Can I cut in?"
and the next moment khushi was in his arms where she belonged. For a while he just held her close as they swayed with the music. Unconsciously he buried his face in her hair and inhaled her scent. And he wondered why after all what she had done, did his heart remember this one woman whose skin always clung the smell of roses.

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Khushi felt as if she was dreaming. As Arnav held on tightly to her for the first time she felt as though he needed her, loved her even. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. This moment wouldn't last. But he held on even more tighter. She felt as though all her life she was waiting for this one moment. A moment she knew would always remain in her memory. A memory she would cling on to wen they would drift apart and she hoped that this memory would come back to him too, and he would smile the smile she  had fallen in love with, when he looked back and remembered...

Realizing that the music had long ended and every one was looking they broke apart. Her eyes met lavanya's and she flinched at the pain she saw in them. As the last guests departed, Arnav had turned into that cold stranger again as if that moment had never happened.

He entered the room when khushi was making his bed. Khushi felt his eyes on her. But she kept her own eyes lowered. Not because she was scared of finding something in his eyes, but she was scared of what he might read in her own'..

CHAPTER 4