Khushi was folding clothes sitting on the recliner, When Arnav entered the room smiling at his wife

"Arnav... You returned from the office? When?" Khushi asked smiling back

"No... It's my ghost, I'm still in the office... Surrounded by files from all sides" Arnav said chuckling

"Very funny Arnav" Khushi said mock-glaring

"Acha... Leave all this, And come here... Sit with me, I want to ask you something" Arnav said pulling her with himself and making her sit on the bed

"Hmm... What's on your mind?" Khushi asked softly

"Khushi... Er, woh.. Khushi" Arnav stuttered

Khushi looked at him with a confused and concerned expression

"Arnav... What happened? Is everything okay??" Khushi asked concern written all over her face

Arnav smiled

"What have I done to deserve an angel like you Khushi? I'm a monster Khushi... I've always been a monster to you... Every time, Khushi every time you get hurt because of me... And you still worry for me? Why?" Arnav asked

"Of course I worry for you Arnav... I love you... If there's anything that's bothering you, It bothers me too" Khushi said

"After going through one month of hell because of me, How can you still love me? How can you forget and forgive me so easily?" Arnav asked

Khushi smiled

"So, What should I do Arnav? Should I hate you? Should I leave? What should I do?" Khushi asked curiously

"Yes! Yes Khushi... You should hate me, I've made you go through so much, I don't deserve anything but your hatred" Arnav said guiltily

Khushi cupped his face in her palms and kissed his forehead

"If you've made me go through hell, Then you've gone through the same hell with me Arnav, If I was in pain... You weren't enjoying either" Khushi told him matter-of-factly

"Every insult, Every badmouthing... Every torture you did to me was more painful for you, Than it ever could be to me. You think I didn't see that?" Khushi asked

Arnav looked at her astonished

"Why do you always forget Arnav, That you're not ASR when you're here inside this room, With me? Why do you always forget that you can keep nothing a secret, That I can peep through your soul, See through your pain?" Khushi asked

Arnav looked straight at her, Fighting tears

"See... You're doing that again, Trying not to show me your pain, Your vulnerability. Why can't you express yourself Arnav? Crying isn't a bad thing at all Arnav, Why don't you understand if you won't release it, The pain will eat you up?" Khushi said

Arnav hugged her tightly. "I still can't believe I have you Shona... I don't deserve you!" Arnav said

"Yes you do Arnav, Only you do. I know you took the wrong approach, I won't say the contract marriage thing was a piece of cake for me to digest, But then... Arnav we never signed the contract. I am your legally, Ritually and wholeheartedly wedded Wife and always will be" Khushi said

"I won't deny that... I never wanted that contract marriage thing... It just occurred to me, I regret the moment I thought so cheap of you! I mean... You have all the things someone imagines for a luxurious life, Why would you... Now that I think of it, I can't even justify myself. I mean what the f***k was I thinking" Arnav chuckled sarcastically

"Arnav..." Khushi sighed

"Arnav... I don't want you to feel guilty, Please stop demonizing yourself... Jab aapki koi galati nahi hai, Toh aapko sazaa kyu? When there's no fault of yours, Why to punish you?)" Khushi asked softly

"So... It's not my fault that I didn't trust you? It's not my fault that I punished you for something you didn't do? It's not my fault that in my insecurity, I didn't even think I was doing no good to myself or you?" Arnav asked

"Arnav... Remember that night? The worst night of my life, And no Arnav, I'm not scared anymore, And it's all because of you that I'm not scared... I know for a fact that no matter what happens, I'll never be alone, That I'll have you right beside me, Holding me together... I knew that you'll never let me fall apart. You're my strength Arnav, You stood beside me when I was going through the worst phase of my life... And I just wanted to be there when you were vulnerable, It's my choice that I stayed Arnav... We never signed a contract... I wasn't legally bound to you... I could leave anytime I wished, The thing is... That I never wished" Khushi said with a smile

Arnav had woken up abruptly, To a nightmare, He had never had such a dream for nearly 10 years. He painfully remembered the last time he had woken up to such a dream, It was 21:00 Hrs... Just the same time, He remembered. He had never fallen asleep before 12, Today... It was just a little over 8 when sleep caught up with him

Perks of being the workaholic that he was! He hadn't slept for more than two nights, He and Khushi were working on an assignment together, Even Khushi couldn't convince Arnav to give it a rest, And why not? AR had just hit the market... He'd have to work hard!! Though Khushi was the one with the responsibility of the market stats, And she told Arnav to take a chill pill, Arnav being as stubborn as he was, Never listened

But, Now he wasn't worried about a strategy or AR. All those things could wait! This was way more important than anything, A different kind of fear had gripped him, He was scared... After a good deal 10 years, Arnav was truly scared.. Scared to lose... His life... His happiness... His Khushi!

Arnav fished around for his phone in the cleanly kept but poorly managed room, Nonetheless... He found his phone on the nightstand, He dashed forward to grab his phone to dial Khushi.

Just then her phone buzzed flashing KHUSHi

He picked the Call

"Khushi... Kahaan ho aap? (Khushi where are you?)" Arnav asked urgently

Silence.

"Khushi... Aap theek ho na? Where are you? (Khushi... Are you Okau? Where are you?) Arnav asked again

"Ar... Arnav" He heard a whisper

Arnav panicked hearing her voice. She was sounding desperate... Helpless... Insecure... Scared

"Khushi... Please mujhe batao aap kahaan ho... Please shona... Please tell me where in Devimaiyya's name are you?" Arnav asked scared now

"Khushi Mam is in AR apartments" Said a new female voice Arnav didn't recognize

"Who are you?" Arnav asked

"Lavanya... Lavanya Kashyap, I'm a designer for AR, Sir... Please come soon..." Lavanya said

"What has happened?" Arnav asked

"I'll explain... Please come to AR apartment at Kashmiri Gate, Apartment Number 45" Lavanya said

"I'm... I'm coming, Please take care of Her" Arnav said desperately running out of his own apartment towards his car

Fifteen Minutes Later

Arnav dashed into the Apartment breathless

"Arnav Sir" Lavanya acknowledged

"Where's she?" Arnav asked breathless

Lavanya gestured to the room "She's not letting anyone... Touch her" La warned

Arnav stopped dead, "What do you... What do you mean?? What has happened??" Arnav asked

"Sir... Woh, Khushi Mam was outside AR, Waiting for the driver to get her car from the parking. With me... When we *Gulped Nervously* were surrounded by... Some men... They were flirting with her at first, She was ignoring them but... They... (Arnav nodded in understanding) They approached us, She pushed me away... She told me to go and call the police...And she fought them, A slap, here... A blow there... She tried protecting herself, But they greatly outnumbered her, Maybe they were drunk, They pounced on her... Together, I tried to come there... But she told me to stay away... The police came and took them away... I ran here picking her up... Bought her here with great difficulty... She's sitting inside, extremely scared, She hasn't let me touch her... She hasn't.. spoken. I tried... But" La finished in tears

Arnav listened patiently, At the end of the story... His jaws were clenched, Eyes bloodshot. His facial expressions reflected pure hatred and anger

this chapter... If it doesn't make any sense please spare me... I just want to show you the reason for her depression

If you find this a little out of place in the story line please spare me yet again!!

#Vinny