12. Tujhe Bhula Diya - IPK anniversary June'24

5 days ago

manjiri

@m4manju

This one is for two special occasions, IPK's 13th anniversary and birthday gift for AdventuresintheToyla. Wish you many happy returns of the day dear. Have a wonderful day and year ahead with tons of happiness. ♥

Happy anniversary of our beloved, precious show 'Iss pyar ko kya naam doon' and our Rabba Ve couple Arnav-Khushi!💞

--*--

It was quite late at night. Khushi was standing alone on that deserted road, cursing her stupidity. Her family had cautioned her not to go alone at this time, but she wanted to buy something special for her sister. After all, it was her sister's wedding the next day and Khushi wanted to gift her something as special as she was to her.

The car she was travelling in had broken down and the driver went to look for some help from a nearby garage leaving her alone. Her cell phone battery was down too leaving her with no other option than to keep waiting for either the driver to come back or find some rikshaw or taxi home.

That was when a white colored SUV approached her, slowed down and stopped just in front of her. Even before the windows were rolled down, she knew who it was. It was him, the person she didn't know how to face.

"Baitho, tumhe ghar drop kar deta haoon (Sit, I will drop you home)." He said.

She tried to calm her heart which was beating erratically after finding out he had come here as her savior. Not for the first time though.

But she couldn't take his offer. "Nahi, hum thik hai (I am fine). Mohan ji must be coming with some help."

"Don't argue Khushi, it's very late at night. It's not safe for you to stand here on this road. Let me take you home, please." He said, pleadingly.

Sighing, Khushi opened the door and took her seat beside him. He waited until she put on her seat belt, making her flustered under his gaze and fumble to fix the belt. He sensed her nervousness and reached out to help her. As he leaned near her to pull the seatbelt across her torso, his woody scent filled her senses making her unconsciously close her eyes. How can someone's mere presence around her make her feel so warm and protected?

The clicking sound of the belt being fixed made her open her eyes and she automatically looked at his hand which was now moving towards the steering wheel.

And that was when she noticed that piece of jewelry on his finger that made her come out of dream world to reality. To their reality.

"Will she be attending the wedding tomorrow?" Khushi asked.

Arnav knew who she was asking about. But he still asked. "Who?"

Khushi hated to utter that word, but he had left her no choice. So, trying to keep her dislike away from her voice, she said, "Your wife."

Arnav held the steering wheel more strongly than needed. Khushi had been asking him this for a while now. He couldn't run away anymore. So, he answered, "Yes."

And then the rest of the car ride was spent in a tensed silence.

Kaali kaali khaali raaton se, Hone lagi hai dosti
Khoya khoya in raahon mein, Ab mera kuch bhi nahi
Har pal har lamha, Main kaise sehta hoon
Har pal har lamha, Main khud se yeh kehta rehta hoon
Tujhe bhula diya oh, Tujhe bhula diya oh
Tujhe bhula diya oh
Phir kyun teri yaadon ne
Mujhe rula diya oh Mujhe rula diya

--*--

Khushi had a perfect life, a loving elder sister Anjali, a caring cousin brother Aakash and sister-in-law Payal, a loving grandmother, and a doting uncle-aunt. She was the apple of their eye! A rich heiress to the large empire! She just needed to snap her fingers and all the joys of the world would be lying at her feet! Yet, she was not entirely happy.

Because there was still something that she could not have.

There was something that was forbidden to her.

Sure, she had love of her entire family, the extended family, her friends, and a huge fan following of her family's, yet she wished she had love of someone else too... love of a man. A man who had stolen her heart and still held it captive. A man who was so close to her yet so far. A man who was off limits. Because Arnav was the man, she was not supposed to be having feelings for.

Because Arnav was already married! Because Khushi Singh Raizada loved Arnav who belonged to someone else.

.

.

Anjali was beaming with joy. Today was the day when she was getting married, to a really good man. Vikrant Sharma was a true gentleman who had once again made her believe in existence of good men.

And moreover, she was happy because Khushi was happy today. At least that's what she wanted to believe.

But Arnav's presence had threatened all this.

Anjali was annoyed to see him entering the Raizada mansion on her wedding day. She was about to oust him out when Aakash came there and stopped her, telling it was him who invited Arnav.

"Why did you call him here, Akash? He doesn't deserve to come back; he doesn't deserve another chance." Anjali spoke out of anger and protectiveness over khushi.

Ever since she had got to know about her being the reason Arnav had forcefully married khushi in a contract marriage, she had held herself guilty over it and her previous affections for her chote were now turned to her new-found sister, Khushi! And Arnav was one part of khushi's past that Anjali didn't want to return!

.

.

Arnav overheard their conversation and felt his heart constrict in pain. Once upon a time, this was his family, his Di, his brother. Yet today they all were strangers to him so much so that even his presence was unwelcome here.

And why not? They had clearly disowned him 3 years ago, telling him to stay away from them. Stay away from Khushi.

And still here he was today. Making his presence felt for the rarest time in 3 years, after being discreet about it until now.

He unconsciously twirled the wedding ring on his hand, trying to gain some strength from it, strength from the bond that ring represented, the love that he had for the woman who was his wife.

.

.

Khushi stood rooted to her spot. Seeing him affectionately caress his wedding ring had acted like a salt to her wounded heart, a reminder that he couldn't be hers.

Despite her di's directions to stay away from Arnav, Khushi had found herself unable to do so. Especially when he was in front of her today which used to be very rare. She had been observing him from distance, her legs taking her to his direction on their volition, her eyes following him on its own!

But his one simple act had once again given her heartbreak.

Times like these made her miss her parents.

She didn't quite remember them.

But then again, she didn't even remember her own life until 3 years ago. Her childhood, her youth all memories were wiped from her brain.

When she opened her eyes in that hospital, 3 years ago, she couldn't even remember her own name!

And that was when she had seen him for the first time. And he had taken her name as if it was a sacred prayer!

"Khushi." He had whispered. With utmost devotion.

Soon after, her entire family was there, and he had been pushed behind.

A few hours later, when they all introduced themselves to her, she had hoped he was someone special to her.

But to her disappointment, he just shared their surname. That's all.

Arnav was their distant relative, that's all she knew. That is why they both shared the same surname, Singh Raizada. But he lived in London, presumably with his wife and when in Delhi, he stayed in an apartment a few blocks away from her palatial house, shantivan.

She had no reason to think he had any feelings for her, given how fiercely committed he seemed to his wife. She had rarely seen her; she knew her name was Lavanya. But Lavanya was never seen with him. Even when in Delhi, arnav lived alone. In some of those days, her nani would call him home for dinner. Even during those times, he held a perfect gentlemanly behavior with her. Every time he visited, she couldn't stop her heart from yearning for his one glance, his one acknowledgement, even if it was a simple hello, or asking about her health.

Her health. Yes. another big reason for worry for her and her family. After her accident 3 years ago, she needed constant medical attention. She hated it all. But her Anjali di and her nani wouldn't let her avoid taking medicines and her akash bhai and payal Bhabhi would religiously accompany her to the hospital. Sometimes, even arnav would accompany them and the tender look he carried when he spoke to doctors about her health melted her heart. If only, she could rightfully own his care!

He spoke about his wife very rarely but every time he did, his eyes shone with utter devotion and love. And that made khushi back off even strongly. She hated herself for even thinking about him romantically when he was so in love with his wife and heck, even married!

--*--

It was time for the bride to be brought in. Dressed in a gorgeous pink colored lehenga with a delicately embroidered red dupatta, Khushi walked by Anjali's side who herself looked beautiful in a red colored bridal attire. On the other side, Aakash was walking, holding Anjali's hand.

Khushi's eyes sought Arnav on their own and found his eyes already focused on her...

Banno re banno meri, Chali sasural ko
Akhiyon mein pani de gayi
Dua mein meethi gud dhaani le gayi

(My darling daughter Is leaving for her in-law's house
She gave tears in our eyes
And took grained jaggery as a blessing)

Arnav sighed as he watched khushi look at him with longing as she and Aakash brought Anjali in the mandap.

Khushi blinked her eyes to control her tears as she watched Arnav stand at a distance, perhaps waiting for his wife. She silently begged him to come to her and tell her that what she was feeling wasn't wrong, that he had no wife but only loved her.

However, nothing of that sorts happened, and he stood at the same place.

Re kabira maan jaa Re faqeera yun na jaa
Aaja tujhko pukaare teri parchaiyan
Re kabira maan jaa Re faqeera yun na jaa
Kaisa tu hai nirmohi kaisa harjaiyan

(O kabira believe me O saint don't leave like this
Come your shadows are calling you back
O kabira believe me O saint don't leave like this
You're so ruthless and unfaithful)

Arnav tore his gaze away from her face with difficulty. No matter what her eyes said, he couldn't go near her; he couldn't hold her hand and tell her he reciprocated each and every fragile and deep feeling of hers. He couldn't go near his family. Heck, his own sister, his Di was getting married today and he was standing many feet away, like a distant guest.

He chuckled mirthlessly at his fate!

Everything was well in his life 3 years ago, he had been happiest when he realized he was madly in love with khushi, but then his one hasty decision to forcefully marry her thinking worst of her cost him his life and her love! He had believed his evil brother-in-law shyam's story that khushi was in an affair with him and thus arnav married her forcefully. He knew he had inflicted intense mental torture on her, but he didn't budge.

And then, as he told her one day why he married her she came clear with her side of the story. He didn't believe her still. Even when his brain screamed at him to do so. He was in denial.

And thus, leaving her alone he decided to go away, to London, paying no heed to her pleas.

God probably decided enough was enough and thus he was made to see shyam's true face when shyam kidnapped him. The harsh truth came as a huge blow of an iron rod on his face! She was right, shyam was lying about her having any relation with him. But it was too late.

She still didn't give up and came to save him.

And while saving him, shyam pushed her off the cliff!

Arnav almost murdered shyam in rage, beating the life out of him until police came and took shyam away. Eventually Shyam was sentenced to a lifelong jail term!

But arnav's sentence was given by khushi's devi maiyya.

And it was that she forgot him!

That's right!

His khushi lost her memories and forgot his existence!

He scoffed at his ill fate.

He was shocked when doctors told him she had temporary amnesia which has no treatment as such. She could get her memory back in days, weeks, months or probably never.

Then he decided to give her his everything, his life, his family, his surname heck even his whole life! And her family and his entire family only welcomed that decision. Especially after hearing what all he had done to khushi and how she had been in this state because of him.

Anjali had broken all the ties with him. And asked him to stay away from Khushi.

And he had obliged.

Only for Khushi.

Teri yaadon mein likhe joh Lafz dete hai sunai
Beete lamhe poochte hai Kyun hue aaise juda khuda
Khuda mila joh yeh faasla hai Khuda tera hi yeh faisla hai
Khuda hona tha woh ho gaya Joh tune tha likha

She was told she was Khushi Singh Raizada, youngest daughter of the family and anjali's youngest sibling. His entire family, which now was hers, treated her like a princess. And he was happy knowing that at least she was getting the love she deserved.

Albeit her eyes that would look at him, demanding him to give her his love too. Which he could not. Not because he didn't have it for her, he had an ocean of love for her, but because she deserved better!

He was not unaware that she held some affection for him.

Such was his khushi. She loved everyone with an unblemished heart. He was the unlucky one who had it all and lost it!

When she had asked Anjali about his marital status, she told him he was married and when she confronted him, he had to lie about Lavanya. He couldn't tell her about her being his only love, that khushi was his one and only wife! Doctors had warned that any such news would put intense pressure on her brain. Besides, remembering him would only give more pain than anything, it was not like he had given her any happy moments worth recalling.

But in times like this, he wished he could tell her that he was only hers. That she didn't need to feel insecure about any other woman. That he loved her, and he regretted every single moment that caused her pain due to him.

But he had to wait for that day. And he was ready to wait forever.

--*--

A/N – Yup, that's the end. When I began thinking about this story, it was supposed to be just that, a scandalous story of a girl having feelings for a man she is not supposed to because he was married. But then again the moral side of my heart and my ever aware conscious made me write something that would justify her feelings thus Arnav being her husband and her being unaware of it. Hopefully, she will get back her memories one day or manage to know that Arnav is only hers and maybe, then they can be together again. And knowing arnav and khushi's promise of a humesha(forever), I think they will be together sooner or later :)