Chapter 1 - the heart knows
they say, time is a
constant reminder of what we have gained over the years, or might have
lost, but what do you do when it reminded you of the monotonous life you
have been stuck in . What if you can't move against or come to terms?
how does one live such a life, where all you could do was breathe but
just for the sake of living, smile but just for the sake of the
strangers, be in love but just for the eyes of others, within the four
white washed walls, they were as equivalent to two mere strangers who
walk by each other and don't even recall each others existence.
Yes
that was Khushi Gupta, now Khushi Raizada's, life. Oh, how she cringed
whenever the realization of being connected to the one man whose
existence she regretted coming across. But that was beside's the point,
now she was stuck in this marriage to the egotistic heartless Arnav
Singh Raizada, know as ASR for many. How did one even begin to describe
this man, he was an enigma within enigma itself - his turbulent moods
were just one of the hundred things khushi could list that went beyond
her understanding, and she was a reasonable girl when it came to
understanding a person.
But here was this man, a man who was her
husband and in the past 10 months of living with him, she was still
incapable of understanding him or was she just not trying hard? One
could blame her, you know the saying, it takes two to tango -
well she was not the perfect wife either. She tried hard not to be,
because the truth was she didn't want to be. Yes, she wanted an escape
from this marriage, even though the odds were against her, she wished
and prayed for a miracle. If a god was out there listening to her
pleads,she was sure one day she would be freed of this marriage.
Marriage? the word itself sounded like some bad joke to khushi, a girl
who dreamed of a life with husband and kids now lamented herself for
ever wishing she'd get married. Maybe because this marriage was not the
marriage she'd dreamed of? Like every other girl out there, she wanted a
loving husband and beautiful house by the seaside, where every morning
she would walk out to the terrace and spread her arms wide with glee
whilst the man she loved would wrap his arms around her and wish her
good morning. And her kids, her angels would run up and tangle
themselves on her legs, prompting the whereabouts of breakfast.Yes now
that was a marriage a commitment, a bond of a lifetime.
noise
sparked her thoughts, but she still blissfully sway in her perfect
dream.That was the life she wanted, needed, why couldn't she get her
happily ever after ...
''KHUSHIIII'' his voice echoed off
the walls of their room, shivers ran through her body as she jolted out
of her thoughts and looked into those glittering eyes for a second
before they were replaced with hatred and angst, where were the
emotions? why did he seem like he held all of the worlds pain in one
second and the other, he seemed to repress her existence.
injured
fairy, yes thats how she had seemed to him the moment he had walked
into their room. Afar in her own dream world, battling her thoughts,
emotions which were swirling within her, and his want to fix her
increased as much as he tried to restrain it. it was a dangerous field
when the person on the other side was khushi. She was easily finding her
way into his locked away vaults and he had no defense against her. But he was no old player, he knew the
game inside out and wasn't helpless to fall for that one moment of
weakness. He knew there was much more to a women, and their was
definitely more to Khushi, his wife. She may have seemed broken for a
moment but he had lived with her long enough to know she wasn't weak and
neither was she injured in anyway. Instead she was a fighter, she might
have been forced into this marriage but she was clear about her path and
that it lead no where to him.
steering clear of the thoughts
relating to khushi, he loosened his tie''what the hell is wrong with
you?'' he growled throwing his briefcase on the bed, '' do you know you
left the front door open''
forcing her anger back, khushi got
up'' maybe i was waiting for someone'' she flicked a grin before turning
away and heading towards the bed '' whats the big deal? there are guards
outside!''
before she could take a plow herself on the big
comfy bed, she was being held by the arm and pulled against his hard
chest, '' you listen to me,and you listen good''
cocking her
chin, she challenged with her eyes, well he was not one to back down and
starred right back into those big brown eyes '' this is my house!''
''did i say it was m...''
''don't''
he silenced her before she could continue'' khushi I'm tolerating you
it does not mean i will let you do whatever you want''
struggling
within his grip, khushi smiled '' well its always romantic to know a
husband is tolerating his wife'' pausing she shuffled her gaze towards
the wall before sighing '' don't worry honey, I'm tolerating you also''
''and
you will till your last breath'' he pushed her away and running his hand
through his hair, headed out of the room mumbling words to himself,
which to khushi sounded like his usual rant, the what the's, dammit's, how dare she?, i hate her -even without realizing it she had grown accustomed to his puzzling behavior.
He
swiftly walked down the spiral stairs and settled himself on the couch,
what was he going to do? ten months and she was still adamant. He had to win, she had to leave his life, there was just
no place for a women in his life, there couldn't be. It was all planned
out, the marriage was a ploy and he had been certain at one point she
would leave, but she hadn't. And it was starting to worry him, was he
actually growing accustomed to her? Was his hate for her becoming a
lifeline for him? No, this women needed to leave, he had to do whatever
it took. Khushi had to leave, there was just no making sense of her -
she rebelled, fought, hated yet she stayed.
when he had agreed to
marry her as his darling sister's wish, he had reasoned out the
possibilities that she would stay. And now she was, what was he to do?
hearing
those soft whispers of footsteps on the stairs, arnav closed his eyes
and clenched his fist. whenever she was around his well placed thoughts
went flying everywhere, and that was not good in his dictionary. Khushi
was a dangerous women to his being, yet he found himself propelling in
her direction. Why?
''there's dinner on the table'' she spoke loud enough for him to hear, '' should i warm it?''
'''no
i ate'' getting up, his phone rang, he found himself grinning in a
split second. Maybe there was a way after all? it was devious thought,
but it was bound to work. right?
''Tina, how are you?'' he asked
out aloud hoping would hear, '' tonight? no of course i'm not doing
anything, lets meet up'' pausing he struck a glance at the clock'' 10 is
fine'' satisfied with his plan, arnav hung up the phone turning to
khushi but found her nowhere.
''oh darling'' khushi called out
from the stairs, arnav looked up and anger spit from his eyes, '' enjoy
yourself with Tina'' after giving a flying kiss khushi head upstairs.
damn
this women! catching himself before he threw his phone on to the floor,
arnav regained his control. He walked to the front door and thought of
smashing the door loudly but realized it would only giver her the
satisfaction that she had actually messed with his mind. Shaking his
head, arnav closed the door lightly and headed towards his car.
snuggling
inside the cover, khushi smiled with pride. Arnav had thought she would
be jealous, infact she was happy, rather someone else than her. But was
she really happy? Yes, of course, she was right. She had to be, her
being depended on hating Arnav. Could anyone love a man who proclaimed
his hatred of her being and his angst in which she would burn in after
marriage. Of course she couldn't, and she had every right. She might
have agreed to this marriage but could never come to terms with arnav
being her husband. It was just that thought, it was just so repulsive
but it was true against everything, she was still his wife.
It
was an ungrateful night when she took him to be her life partner. Khushi
could still very well remember that day so clearly, the rush, the
anger, the betrayal, the nervousness...and now there was nothingness.
Khushi
hadn't realized when she dozed off, but when she turned to the other
side she found arnav beside her sleeping soundly. A satisfied smile
played on her lips unknown to her, as her eyes lids dropped slowly slowly ...at the end
of the day he still came back to her.
Khushi might have been
unknown but her heart was already grown fond of this beast of a husband,
his existence completed her. When would she realize that ...only time
would tell?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Her
eyes fluttered open just as soon as he entered the washroom, it was a
normal routine for the duo. Arnav would wake up first and than khushi,
than arnav would leave and khushi would follow. Life had become so use
to and old that they really didn't expect something out of the ordinary
or maybe rather they had come to understand even through hatred they
held for each other.
an hour later khushi was buttering her toast
rapidly whilst repeating to the maid about the dinner party tonight and
how she could have the day off. A day off was what khushi needed from
this life. Ignoring the useless thoughts, she grabbed her purse and
joined arnav on the passenger seat, and without uttering a word he drove
away.
Arnav first dropped her to her office and than headed for
his own,Khushi starred off as he drove away. It was something she did
everyday. Maybe one day she could be the one walking away?
useless khushi, stop dreaming!
her own reflection taunted her, shattering away any hope for a brighter
future. She stomped into her office and slouched on the chair turning
around she faced the window. The whole mumbai could be seen from her
window, okay not whole but part of it. People were scattered
everywhere,life was everywhere, oh how she envied those strangers.
hearing
the knock khushi spun 190 degrees and smiled gesturing the person to
enter, '' Anju di '' squealing khushi ran to anjali's side and pulled
her into a hug '' what are you doing here? wait forget that, how are
you? how is Jai jeeju? How is the whole family?''
''hmm lets see i
came to surprise you and I'm fine, so is jai, and the whole family
also they miss you and arnav'' hearing arnav's name khushi frowned but
fixed it before anjali could see.
''i miss them also'' separating
from anjali, '' i wish i could go and visit them'' groaning at her own
self-pity khushi sat down alongside anjali.
''don't you want to know about my surprise?'' anjali asked hoping to lift khushi's spirits.
''not
if you have a 100 people willing to stampede all over me'' catching
anjali's horrified expression, khushi smiled trying to rectify her
words, '' i'm sorry i'm being rude'' looking away khushi walked over to
her desk, '' whats your big surprise?''
anjali held up a envelope, '' guess?''
''tickets to see Don 2?'' khushi giggled...
''no its a little bigger than that''
''okay
tickets to some play arnav likes'' pausing she flicked a glance at
anjali'' anju di not to be rude but how did arnav end up liking
something like the theater? he seems to display one emotion and thats
anger as if the whole world is against him...''
anjali smiled '' sometimes we hide ourselves because we fear that if we left our true selves out we won't be accepted''
puzzled khushi raised a eyebrow'' what does ASR fear, except maybe his di?''
laughing
anjali shook her head'' if you have to ask, you don't deserve to know''
avoiding the topic anjali placed the envelope in khushi's hand, '' you
both leave on the 20th thats two weeks from now''
''leave? where?''
''honeymoon'' anjali gleamed.
No,
No, if you didn't think about it , it wouldn't happen.Khushi closed her
eyes and thought of happy things; her parents, her college days, her
friends...anything except for that husband of hers, but he seemed to
make his way into her thoughts anyhow.
so its really happening?
she said to herself sadly, while her gaze lingered on the envelope. She
was really going to have to spend a week locked in a room with her
husband, where some women would have obviously been happy, Khushi was
ruing the bitter day Arnav Singh Raizada entered her life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''khushi
are you ready?'' he knocked on the door once again hoping she would
open the door, but he heard no response, '' KHUSHI! OPEN THE DOOR'' he
said loudly and authoritatively figuring it might do the trick but still
all he heard was silence
He was yet again about to pound on the door, when he saw the maid handed him a letter,
went out with friends, sorry can't make your friends dinner tonight
the
paper crumbled in his as he closed his fist in anger, she was not
making it easy. Something had to be done, she had to go. But how, how
did one get rid of Khushi. His hatred didn't work nor did anything else
he tried.
Sitting by the seaside, Khushi let the wind play with
her hair, as she grimaced about her life. A sad sigh released from her
and she shuddered when a drop of water struck her cheek, sliding down
slowly while khushi did nothing except maybe ignore it. The droplet
somewhat reminded her of Arnav, he was stuck to her and in a way slowly
slowly affecting her. The affects might have not been so huge but she
could feel herself wonder, how did she end up here? Her path was not meant to meet with arnav yet it had.
hours passed just sitting along the rocks lost in her
thoughts, that when her phone rang she stood up abruptly ready to smack
any idiot who tried to get free of her. She smiled in the absurd and
flicked open her cellphone '' yes this is Mrs. Raizada''
Pre - cap - Best laid Plans.
Edited by InvisibleSmile - 11 years ago
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