Arnav felt the scalding heat rise within his chest every time he stole a glance. Hatred, he chided. Pure hatred for her caustic spirit. He repeated it to himself as he tried to coax himself to sleep, the glint of those hazel eyes the last thought before exhaustion overcame him.
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Khushi woke in a gloomy temperament the next morning, disappointed about her penultimate day in the big city. She convinced herself not to dampen her spirits, and make the best of this time as she had promised herself she would do. Forcing a smile to her lips, she bounded out of bed and scampered to get ready, knowing fully well that Arnav would be expecting her downstairs by 8:00
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When Khushi stepped onto board the crowded subway, she was startled to see that they were not headed in the usual direction of the library. A small frown spread across her face, for the newly avid reader had truly been looking forward to completing the next edition of the Harry Potter series.
'No Khushi, No. No frustration', she whispered to herself. This definitely called for a new adventure and a different experience, something to cherish in the coming months of despair. She keenly grinned to herself as crowds of people pushed themselves on and off the train cars. Hesitantly, she turned to take a glimpse of her perpetually irritated husband, not surprised to see him immersed on his phone with the infamous Bluetooth attached to his ear. She shook her head and giggled silently, the inquisitive glance he passed going disregarded.
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Coney Island was like a dream world. One like the princess Cinderella would reside in. Khushi nearly started clapping as she saw the expanse of the warm sand and the ocean, gasped as she saw the enormous, thrilling roller coasters and rides. She followed Arnav soundlessly as he walked onto the beach, copying him as he removed his sandals and yelping in pain as her bare feet touched the scalding sand. He didn't turn to check if she was all right, walking farther towards the ocean and settling into his folding seat to read his book and watch the crashing waves.
Arnav did turn around eventually, to toss Khushi a used, hotel towel to sit on, but he was surprised to see that she wasn't behind him. Panic set in. Unfamiliar and foreign. He impatiently scanned the expanse of the beach searching for the bright pink skirt she was wearing, only to suck in his breath as he saw her testing the ocean enthusiastically. She was exquisite in every sense, and for once, thoughts of her goodness ran through his mind.
Thoughts of her innocence.
Arnav watched as his wife continued into the ocean water, testing how deep she could go before the waves alarmed her. The other bikini clad swimmers watched in confusion, as the waves would wash against Khushi's ankles, and she would scream and run back to the dry shore, only to go retreat to the testing waters once again. The wind whipped her long, loose hair around her ruddy face, her nose turning pink from the chill of the ocean and the sound of her laughter tinkling in the air as she threw her head back in laughter.
What had he done back in Delhi? He had stripped Khushi of her very spirit. He forced the thoughts of his sister to occupy his fickle mind, and he focused once again on the hatred he felt for her. How he'd make her pay.
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The day in Coney Island gave birth to feelings Arnav had concealed deep within and forgotten. The scalding heat he felt in his chest turned to pleasurable warmth as he saw Khushi licking her fingers free of sticky cotton candy. The constant frown turned to a small chuckle as he saw her screaming on the giant roller coaster she timidly decided to ride. The indifference turned to annoyance as the young security guard kindly offered her a tissue when she vomited after a peculiarly nauseating ride. The loathing turned to something else as she rested her tired head on his shoulder on the subway.
He didn't want to discover that something else. But that night, as he rested on his pillow for the night, something told him that perhaps, just perhaps, he didn't truly hate her. He blocked the muddled commotion to the best of his ability, reassuring himself that only a day of this nonsense was left.
Hatred would overcome all else and he would manage to ruin Khushi... just as he had planned.
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CHAPTER TEN: B E L L E
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DUN. DUN. DUN.
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