Unspoken love

Chapter 52

Arnav woke up before Khushi once again. he barely slept as he kept checking her again and again almost twice in an hour. He checked her once again before getting up from the bed and satisfied that she was fine he went to the washroom for his morning rituals but once he was out he saw Khushi struggling to get up and he hurried towards her and made her sit.

"Good morning." he said to start the conversation.

"Good morning." she replied.

Not knowing what to say next he stood their looking at her. Why is building a normal conversation with her is hard for him?

"I have missed my college." She told him.

"Don't worry...I have call your friend and she gave me all your assignments and project works." He told her but her eyes snapped open as all the heaviness in her eyes disappeared with his words.

"When...I mean why?" she yelled-cum-asked.

"Yesterday and I did for you...I am not the one in college." He shrugged answering casually.

"But it wasn't required." She told him not wanting him to talk to her friend who was practically oogling at him.

"Khushi...you are just exaggerating...what's the big deal in this?" he asked her smiling.

"You won't understand." She muttered under her breathe.

"Maybe I can if you'll try." He said and before she could react there was a knock on the door and he opened the door to see his Di standing with their breakfast.

"Di? Why did you came up with this? You could have send someone." He said letting his sister in.

"I wanted to meet Khushiji...and nobody knows when you'll put restrictions." She teased him.

"She needed rest." He said defensively.

"Khushiji...we were disturbing you?" she asked her and she shook her head.

"As if she'll say yes DI." He said with a huff.

"Okay listen, today I am taking Khushiji to the temple, I had asked devi maiyya for her well being and now when she is back I have to go with her to than devi maiyya." She told him.

"DI is it important..." she said with irritation.

"Today itself?" he asked again.

"Ofcourse Chotte..." she emphasized.

"Don't worry I'll take care of her in your absence." She assured him.

"I'll be coming too." His words made two pair of eyes look at him as if they had seen a ghost.

"What?" he asked growing uncomfortable with the sudden gaze.

"Didn't you hear, we are going to the temple?" His Di asked him.

"I know." He said feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Khuhsiji...what you did to him...he never came to a temple before." She asked in disbelief and Khushi didn't know how to react. Why was he doing this?

"When we have to leave?" he asked changing the subject.

"Around 5." She told him and he nodded making a mental note.

"But it should end whatever you have to do within an hour." He warned.

"Okay...okay..." Anjali told him and helped Khushi in using the washroom. once she left and they were alone, she called him.

"Arnavji...?"

"Hmm..."

"You don't have to do this." she told him.

"What?" he asked unknowingly.

"Coming to the temple...helping me...and all..." She said nervously.

"But you need me." he said unable to understand what she meant.

"It's only going to hurt us in the end." she said and now he realized what she meant and he looked away from her almost immediately. he know what he was doing and indeed it is going to hurt them both but he couldn't refrain himself from doing all this.

The deeper part of him which has accepted that it's love and had agreed to love her from afar wouldn't let her leave alone especially in a condition when she needs him.

"Don't stand any longer than a minute, and anytime...and I strictly mean ANYTIME you feel uneasy just tell me...okay...we will leave." He repeated nth time on the way to temple.

"Okay..."

"And if..."

"And if you feel suffocated or anything just call me..I'll take you home Khushi." Khushi completed for Arnav.

"Good." he smiled at focused back on the road. they both reached the temple on time where he stood by her side helping her in everything and as expected by Arnav his Di's puja took way to longer than expected and he started growing restless. He had asked Khushi several times if she wanted to leave but everytime she would deny. She just came back yesterday from the hospital and here she is, busy in a puja. When an hour completed he lost his cool and decided she had enough.

"Di I am taking Khushi back." he declared.

"But Chotte.."

"Di if she continues to sit here for another minute than I am sure she'll be sick again and neither of us want that to happen." He told her Anjali looked at Khuhsi who looked slightly tired.

"Okay...fine." she allowed him. he instantly reached for Khushi and hold her by her arm.

"We are going...come." he whispered in her ear.

"What? But-..."

"It doesn't matter Khushi...just come..." he said and they both drove back to their house.

And indeed he was right. The ride back home she spent in sleeping and when they reached home she didn't even had the strength to change.

"Khushi...are you comfortable in this?" he asked looking at her suit.

"Ummm...Di is not here." she told him nervously.

"I can help you." the words escaped faster than his brain could progress and although he regretted saying it he pretended to be confident about what he said but her eyes opened wide in horror at his statement.

"I won't see anything." He said in his defensive for her reaction.

"I am okay." She said and laid on the bed covering herself up with the duvet.

"Khushi...you are not at all comfortable in this...let me help." he offered once again and she looked at him, unsure what to say. Indeed she was uncomfortable in her clothes and was feeling quite suffocated in them.

"You wont look at anything?" she asked and a small smile was threatening to appear on his lips but he suppressed it.

"No..." he answered.

"Okay..." she said in a very low voice. he took her in the washroom and switching of the lights he handed her his clothes.

"What is this?" she asked.

"They are lose...I know you are not comfortable in your suits and you have recently been through a surgery...so where this." he told her.

The lights were of and his back was facing him. her nervousness was evident from her actions as he her hands were shivering which was taking more time than required.

He took his T-shirt back from her and although it was completely dark he unzipped her kurta and she shivered.

As his finger made contact with her bare back, she could feel goosebumps rising on her entire body. She was paralyzed in that moment. She didn't even realize when he lifted her arms up and slide down his long T-shirt on her. although he didn't wanted to touch her but when his fingers made contact with her bare back he felt the heat under his touch but this wasn't the moment to lose himself. Once he was done, he turned her to look at him. she was looking down bu he cupped her face and made her look up.

"We are done." he said softly and ith that he lifted her up in his arm and bought her out of the washroom making her lay on the bed. he don't know why but his T-shirt looked perfect on her. the sense of mine' crawled up on his chest.

He covered her with the duvet and laid down beside her. they didn't talked after that, just let the darkness consume them.

**************

Days were fading away very quickly and when these days converted into months hey didn't even realized. They had grown very accustomed to each other. Arnav's attempt were evident in his action but Khushi was holding herself back. they were in their room getting ready for their work when a small knock on their door made Coco bark, as if ordering them to open the door and not to disturb him again. well he was like prince and was treated in the sam way.

Khushi oned the door and their stood Anjali, Shyam and Akash but they were not alone, they had a huge cake in their hand.

"Happy 5^th month anniversary Khushiji..." She chimed and let herself in. Khushi didn't realize she was blocking her way until she found the three of them in her room.

"Happy anniversary Chotte..." she hugged her brother who looked at Khushi who standing roated on the door.

"Di...what is all this?" he asked in confusion.

"Bhai you forgot?" AKash asked and he simpley shrugged.

"Well, this is not a good sign." Shaym interjected.

"It has seen 5 months Chotte when Khushiji came into your life...how you can forget this day." She scolded him and he looked at Khsuhi once again. has the time really passed so quickly?

3 more moths...!!!

A voice at the back of his head reminded him but he ignored it. he doesn't want to think about it.

"Di...I just..."

"DI he was a bit busy...and I am too way to busy with my college." She interjected trying to give a valid reason for this. she exactly remembered this day but she didn't wanted to bring it up.

"You both act as if it's not 5^th month, 50^th ear of your marriage..." Anjali scolded them.

"Come let's cut the cake." She told them and gingerly they walked towards the cake and cut it together. a happy couple act was back and they fed ach other the little portion. Khushi exactly remembered what happened last time when they cut the cake. He kissed her and later claimed it to be a mistake which broke her heart in thousand pieces. a lone drop of tear filled in her eyes not sure how long she ca survive in this pretend game and looked awy immediately. Arnav exactly know what she was thinking and couldn't help himself and feel guilty.

He kissed her that day because he wanted to. He should have noticed the signs earlier but he kept ignoring them. unsure of his feelings, he went and kiss Lavanya just to fight his inner turmoil and later claimed the kiss which he shared with Khsuhi as a mistake. He knew had hurt her that day and was acting insane but he didn't hand any idea of what he was doing.

As he saw Khsuhi trying to hide herself as she busied herself in feeding Coco the cake he took the opportunity and fed a small portion to his sister.

"That was min...and what about the baby." She asked him and he smiled. all this is happening for the baby which was now showing his presence with a hug bump. He fed his sister one big slice of the cake."I have booked a table for you both for a dinner." She told them and Khushi turned to look at Arnav to make some excuse but instead he said something which totally surprised her.

"Okay...we will go."

"But I have an early class tomorrow." She said.

"We will be back on time...don't worry." He told her.

"B-But..."

"Khushi it's okay and by the way I know you schedule..." he reminded her that he knows that she doesn't have any class so early.

"Khushiji...don't worry...you wont be late." Akash said and she nodded in defeat. Once everyone left she got the time ask the question she wanted to ask from long.

"Why you agreed for the dinner?"

"Khushi its just a dinner...why are you being like this." he said.

"Arnavji...I don't...leave it." she huffed unable to explain him anything.

"Khushi I know what you feel...but it will be a change for you...even though it's just for a night...Just for a night can we forget everything and live a little." he explained her and she looked at him in his eyes.

"Only 3 more months Arnavji..." she said softly biting her lower lip and he looked away. he doesn't want to know what will happen after these 3 months but one thing he knows he cant stop himself from loving her.

Later the same night he came home early, and they went out for dinner. They were trying to behave normal, like a happy couple, like a real happy couple celebrating their anniversary but most of the time only silence filled their table. he placed order for the main course for them and tried to build occasion conversations.

"Hey Arnav..." a voice interrupted their dinner and he looked at the source, not feeling happy at all.

"LAvayna?" he said more like a question. She approached them pulling a chair out sat beside Arnav.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her not feeling very happy with her presence.

"What a one does in a restuarnt Arnav...ofcourse I am here for a dinner." She answered him and soon a chair was pulled out beside Khsuhi and Sahil slided in.

"Hello everyone." He said and gave a smile to KHsuhi.

"How are you now, I have heard you had a surgery?" he asked Khushi.

"Better." She answered him with a polite smile. the two unwanted guest just officially ruined his dinner and the time which he wanted to spend with his wife. He looked t Khsuhi who had developed a new interest in playing with a fork in her plate and he felt very bad for landing her in this situation. He reached for her hand under the table as LAvanya kept ranting.

"Khushi I have heard you are going post graduation?" she asked her and Khushi nodded.

"That's good you want to make yourself independent before the divorce." She said with a smile which even a blind could say wasn't genuine.

"What's wrong in that...every girl should be independent and shouldn't rely on any man in her life." Sahil interrupted for Khushi and Arnav felt a kick in his gut when someone spoke for his wife.

"Right Khushi?" he asked and she smiled widely.

"BY the way, we have planned to get married as soon as this marriage ends. See he gave me this ring too." She showed Khushi her ring and although she smiled to show politeness but from inside she was weeping. The feeling of claustrophobia was hitting her and she sipped some water.

Arnav was looking staright at her, wishing he could console her but he couldn't. he had thought that this dinner will be a step to erase the wall between them but it was getting worse.

"Khushi...do you have a boyfriend?" Lavanya asked and she coughed out the water she had sipped and as Arnav was about to stand up he saw Sahil hand rubbing his wife's back.

"Are you okay?" he asked and Khuhsi nodded.

"LAvanya...stop it." Arnav warned her in a low voice.

"LAvanya...are we playing 20 questions...it's a simple dinner...stop your rapid fire." Sahil told her feeling bad for the girl sitting beside him whom his sister was targeting.

"N-No..i don't'" Khushi replied for her question.

"Aww...that's very sad...but don't wporry...I and Arnav will look for a perfect match for you." she chimed and Arnav could comprehend what was she talking about. It was moment he was stuck in between two girls and he couldn't even run away.

"I don't think that will be required." Khushi said and Arnav looked at her. the firs thought which came in his mind was-

Is she interested in someone?

"Why? Your one failed marriage isn't a valid reason." Lavanya asked.

"I don't think I will be re-marrying anytime soon." Khusi said feeling the pain. She doesn't want to give her any reasons for not remarrying. The truth was she doesn't want to go all through this again.

One sided love...

For her love happened once and she accidently fell in love with a husband who loved someone else...marrying again is not in her list but sure enough she'll go far away where she doesn't have to see his love again. she tried to hate him but she couldn't so she decided to love him silently from afar. Watching your true love happy, is love for her and as long as he is happy with lavanya, she is okay.

"That' not fair...isnt it Artnav?" Lavanya said.

"Enough Lavaya..." he warned for the last time.

"Why Arnav, you'll marry me after divorce...what about Khushi? She cant live alone all her life...she needs someone who loves her...with whom she'll have her family with." she said and that was the moment he lost his cool.

The thought of Khushi with someone else just riled him up further. Family? The images of Khushi being intimate flashed in his mind and he just couldn't understand what was happening to him. it feel like hitting something but he couldnt. If only person she can live and have family with is only him'.

"Get up Khushi." He stood up abruptly and extended his hand to take her.

"What happened Arnav?" Lavanya asked but he ignored her.

"I said get up Khuhsi." He repeated this time a bit loud threatening voice and she stood up nervously. Grabbing her hand roughly, he walked out with her in long strides not caring about what people around will say. He just needs to be out of her and need to wipe those images in his head.

To be continued.

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