Chapter 2: Rebuilding Trust

18 days ago

Shilpa

@HerFiction

The days that followed were a test for both Arnav and Khushi. Though she’d agreed to give him a chance, Khushi kept her distance, her heart still guarded against the man who had once left her behind without a second thought. Arnav, for his part, was determined to honor his word, to show her he could be the man she deserved.

Arnav found himself slipping into routines he hadn’t thought possible—visiting the small temple near her home each evening, praying for strength, for the patience to win her back. The staff at AR Designs could sense a change in him too; the once ruthless, brisk Arnav was now a quieter, more reflective man, often lost in his thoughts. He even surprised his sister Anjali, who caught him once staring blankly at a photo of Khushi on his phone. When Anjali asked, he simply gave her a small smile and walked away.

The Raizada family, meanwhile, hadn’t fully pieced together what had happened between him and Khushi, but their discontent was clear. Even Nani had turned noticeably cool toward him, often casting worried glances in his direction but refusing to pry.

One evening, as Arnav walked to the temple, he spotted Khushi there already. She sat on the temple steps, looking serene but distant, wrapped in a light pink shawl against the evening breeze. He hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but she noticed him and offered a nod of acknowledgment.

“Namaste, Khushi,” he said softly, unsure how to bridge the gap between them.

“Namaste, Arnavji.” Her tone was polite but reserved, a far cry from the warm way she used to greet him.

Arnav shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of his mistakes. “Do you… come here often?”

Khushi shrugged, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. “When I need peace, yes. The temple has a calming effect.”

Arnav nodded, looking at her, marveling at her strength. Despite all he’d put her through, she was still here, a pillar of resilience. He took a deep breath, hoping his words would reach her.

“Khushi… I wanted to tell you something,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. She looked at him, expression unreadable.

He fumbled with his words, trying to gather his thoughts. “These past few days, I… I’ve realized so many things about myself. About the person I became in trying to protect myself. I… let my own insecurities cloud my vision. I’ve been trying to change, Khushi. For you. For us.”

Her eyes softened for a brief moment before hardening again. “Words, Arnavji, are easily said. Actions are harder. I don’t know if I can believe you after everything that’s happened.”

Her honesty stung, but he nodded, accepting her response. He wasn’t about to argue; he had no right to ask for her trust.

“What can I do, Khushi? Tell me. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

For the first time since their separation, he saw a flicker of emotion cross her face. She looked away, her gaze fixated on a distant point. “Perhaps… you could start by making amends with my family.”

He blinked, taken aback. The Gupta family hadn’t looked him in the eye since he’d abandoned Khushi. The guilt he’d carried for leaving her was matched only by the shame he felt for dishonoring her family. He nodded solemnly, his resolve firm. “I’ll do that.”

---

The next day, he visited the Gupta house with an anxious heart, carrying flowers and sweets as a peace offering. When he knocked, Buaji opened the door, her face a mixture of shock and disapproval as she saw him standing there.

“Arnav Babua,” she said, her voice curt, arms crossed tightly across her chest. “What brings you here?”

Arnav took a deep breath. “Buaji, I… I came to apologize. I know I hurt your family, and I can’t express how deeply I regret it. I’m here to make things right, if you’ll let me.”

Buaji looked at him skeptically. “It’s easy to apologize, Babua, but what’s to say you won’t hurt Khushi again?”

Her question stung, but he met her gaze, his voice steady. “I won’t. I’ve made too many mistakes, and I’m here to make amends, no matter how long it takes.”

Buaji studied him for a long moment, then finally stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. Her expression softened slightly, though her guarded demeanor remained.

“Garima, Shashi,” she called, and soon Garima and Shashi joined them, both looking surprised yet wary. Arnav folded his hands in a gesture of respect and greeted them, then offered the flowers and sweets.

“Please… forgive me. I know I’ve wronged you all, and I won’t blame you if you can’t accept my apology. But I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure Khushi’s happiness.”

Garima’s eyes filled with tears, and Shashi, though unable to speak due to his stroke, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Arnav’s shoulder. There was an unspoken forgiveness in that touch, and Arnav felt a weight lift from his shoulders, though he knew there was still a long road ahead.

---

In the weeks that followed, Arnav’s commitment never wavered. He continued to show up at the temple, and though Khushi kept her distance, she couldn’t ignore the sincerity in his actions. Gradually, her wariness began to soften, and she allowed small conversations to bloom between them.

One evening, they sat side by side on the temple steps, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Silence hung between them, but it was no longer uncomfortable. After a while, Khushi spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Why did you not trust me, Arnavji?” she asked, pain flickering in her eyes. “All I ever wanted was to stand by you.”

Arnav looked down, his fingers tracing idle patterns on the stone. “I… I let my past, my insecurities, control me. I thought if I kept people at arm’s length, they couldn’t hurt me. But in trying to protect myself, I hurt the only person who truly cared for me.”

He turned to her, his gaze earnest, pleading. “Khushi, I don’t know if I deserve your forgiveness, but I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I’ve changed. You mean everything to me.”

She looked at him, her expression softening as his words sank in. For the first time, she saw the vulnerability in his eyes, the remorse that had been building within him. Slowly, she placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“I don’t want grand gestures, Arnavji. I just want honesty, trust, and… love. I don’t want to feel like I’m constantly defending myself.”

He nodded, his heart swelling with hope. “I understand, Khushi. I’ll never put you through that again. I want to build a life with you based on love and trust… if you’ll have me.”

A faint smile tugged at her lips. “One step at a time, Arnavji.”

In that moment, under the soft light of the setting sun, they shared a tentative, yet hopeful look. It was a beginning—not a grand gesture or an easy reconciliation, but the first steps of a journey they would walk together, slowly rebuilding the foundation of their love, brick by brick.

As they rose and walked back to the main road, side by side, the distance between them began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of closeness and trust. And though there would be challenges ahead, they both knew they were ready to face them—together.

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