I will win you Back ( Currently Being Rewritten)

Perplex

As he climbed down the stairs and started walking back to Gupta house, the anger was still visible in eyes. Avoiding any acquaintances, he rushed into the bedroom and clutched the desk's edge. His veins popping, eyes bloodshot, gritting teeth made him look like fury personified. Taking deep breaths to prevent himself from breaking everything in his line of vision, he closed his eyes only to see what he had earlier ignored.

Khushi's teary eyes and shocked expressions painted a distressing picture in his mind. And as he slowly welcomed light again, the cloud of anger slowly faded away as he felt his heart tearing apart with her pain. But before he could even think of the hurt she must have gone through, his mind replayed his words and once again everything blurred behind Anjali's smiling face.

Just as he felt his anger rising again, the ringing of his phone saved Shyam from another stretch of curses.

The tears were dried but the wounds still hurt. It had probably been close to an hour, but Khushi didn't notice. After Arnav's accusations, a thousand thoughts were floating in her mind.

She had thought about telling him the entire truth, but her conscience immediately retorted and she had to finally admit to herself that the man she loved with all her heart didn't have an ounce of trust in her.
All the moments from her sister's marriage flashed before her eyes right from him comforting her when her engagement broke to the instant when he destroyed her life by tying her in a sham of a marriage.
Wiping her face one more time to rid it of any signs of the tears, she got up and looked towards the sky. Sudden determination shining in her eyes, her lips whispered a small prayer to her best friend.

" Devi Mayiaan, ab sab aapke hathon mein hai, humme shakti dena, ki hum tab tak khud ko sambhal sake jab tak aap sach Arnavji ke saamne nahi lati. Hum par apni kripa banaye rakhna.( Mother Goddess, now everything is in your hands. Give me the strength to hold myself up till you bring the truth in front of Arnavji. Keep me in your care.)"

Wiping the one tear that somehow sneaked through, she made her decisions and headed back.

Reaching Gupta house, her eyes first came across her mother going through her father's medicines at the table.
It took every bit of resistance for her to not rush into the solace of her mother's arms. But when she saw her father, unable to control herself, she ran and kneeled down in front of him, keeping her head in his lap. She barely contained her sobs as he lightly patted her hair.
(* Note Shashi can now slowly move his neck and hands until the elbow joints, thanks to the physiotherapy)

" Ae Khushi, apbe babu ji ke paas baithan se kuchh nahi hoga. Bachogi nahi tum. Kaha thi Itne wakat se. Arnav babua ko kaam pe jaane se pehle tum unka mili bhi nahi. Ee sikhaye hai ka hum tumka?( Hey Khushi, there's no point in sitting with your father. You won't be saved. Where were you since so long. You didn't even send Arnav dear off. Is this what I've taught you?)"

Garima chided her daughter, lightly smacking her head.

The few minutes were all Khushi needed to plaster a fake smile over her face and gather herself.

" Amma, hum Di se hi baat kar rahe the. Humme lagta hai, ab humme aur Arnavji ko wapis Shantivan chale jana chahiye. Ek hafta hone ko aaya hai. Ghar par jiji sab kaam akele sambhal rahi hai, aur kaam ko lekar Arnavji ko bhi dikat jo rahi hai.( Mom, I was talking to Di only. I think we should go back to Shantivan now. One week is almost over. At home, Jiji is handling all the work alone, moreover Arnavji is also having issues with his work.)"

Garima's face morphed into a thoughtful expression as she went through everything Khushi said. finally heaving a sigh, she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder, preparing to let her go once more.

"Chal, phir tu saamaan bandh le, par phir khaana kha kar shyam ko nikalna.(OK, then pack all your stuff, but have lunch and go in the evening.)"

Khushi opened her mouth to retaliate when the familiar gush of air invaded her thoughts. As her heartbeats rose, she looked towards the door and her mother followed her eyes.  Garima was stunned seeing Arnav entering the house almost a moment later. As their eyes tied in a painful eyelock, she looked back at her daughter and then him again, stunned at their connection.

"Arre Babua, bahir kahe khade ho? Andar aajao.(Hey dear,why are you standing outside?Come inside.)"

Buaji's booming voice brought everyone back to their senses.

"Jiji khana lagado. Arnav Babua, aap bhi mooh hath dho lo.(Jiji, set the table. Arnav dear, you also freshen up.)"

Garima called out, with a sudden urge of fondness for the young man.

"Ji, Aunty.(Yes, Aunty(ma'am).)"

Arnav nodded and was about to go, when Khushi's next words made him stop.

"Nahi Amma, waha sab humaara intezaar kar rahe hai. Hum bas abhi hi nikaltein hai.(No mom, everyone is waiting for us there. We should take off now.)"

She was smiling as she explained to her mother taking the latter's hands in hers

Arnav looked at her perplexed, seeing her so calm, and eager to leave.

She turned to him and taking his arm, led him to the washroom. Handing him a towel, she pointed towards the sink as he kept looking at the smile on her face. Seeing him not responding to her, she shook her head and moved to the bedroom.

Arnav kept thinking of the smile on her face, as he washed his hands and face. there was something amiss in her expression, it didn't look..........normal.

Before he could ponder more, he heard her calling out to him, asking him to check the car.

As they packed and rounded up everything into the car, he kept looking at her for any reaction to their earlier conversion, finding none.and this made him angry, but even more so, troubled. 

Looking back at the house where he was treated like a prince, he folded his hands and took blessings from the three adults.

But before he could get up, he felt a weak hold on his wrist. Kneeling on one knee he looked at Shashi curiously while the three ladies saw the scene with similar expressions. Shashi stared at Khushi, and the latter came forward. Leaving Arnav's wrist, he took his daughters hand and placed it on Arnav's. Finally, looking into the young man's eyes, Shashi tried to request him to take care of his daughter by continuously looking from one to the other.
Garima, Buaji, Happy ji, and a few other neighbor's who had come to see the couple off, looked at the scene with small smiles.
No matter, how helpless, to a father, his daughter's security can do with no compromise.

Arnav and Khushi looked at there joined hands and then at each other, both knowing, this request was denied long back.

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Hey guys, last update, I wrote 'tomorrow' instead of 'on Sunday'. Sorry for the confusion, but this is how the story will progress. One update wednesday and one on Sunday.
Enjoy!!!
-daydreamerrhea