OS: Relief after pain?

Tears rolled down Arnav's cheeks, the pain in his heart spreading over his chest, after everything that they had been through there was now, probably the greatest, barrier that separated them. He placed his hands in his head, pulling himself into darkness, letting himself know that surely thereis no light to this dark nightmare.

"If I let go of your hand, I won't hold it again," his words suddenly echoed through his mind, sending a wave of panic running through him. The thought of him not being with her, began the shaking and once more he was visited by a storm of their cherished memories.

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The grey whirls that danced around the fire were making Khushi's vision blurred for a split second when she was brought back to the wedding location with a jolt. "Khushi?" Payal called, her eyes conveying her worry.

It was as if Khushi had woken up from a bad nightmare, only to find herself living the dark dream, her lips began to quiver as her heart tried to overpower her mind, "he's coming, isn't he Jiji?"Khushi began to nod, as if to encourage Payal, just one confirmation, one little hint that he was not leaving her forever would somehow stop the feeling of her very world slipping from her fingers. Payal just sat there, biting on her lip, her face a picture of anguish as she could see her little sister crumbling before her eyes.

"Khushi...listen to me..." Payal began, only to have Khushi cover her ears.

"He's coming, Jiji!" She cried, not wanting to think about the impossibility of living without him. Her vision blurred again, making her panic, he can't leave her...what will she do without him? The smoke was beginning to make there way through her lungs, blocking her freedom to breathe probably, she took a deep breathe, only to retch it back out again, she didn't want to breathe without him.

"Khushi! Khushi!" She heard Payal's voice from afar as she dropped into a dark, dense tunnel.

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"Khushi?" Another voice called for her, "Khushi, PLEASE!"

That voice, his voice.

Here eyes sprang open, not allowing herself to be reeled into happiness until her eyes had seen him.

There he was, his eyes filled with tears, matching hers.

"Arnav-ji," she cried, covering her hand with her mouth, her chest letting out stabs of pain mixed with panicked sounds coming from her throat. "Khushi..." Arnav whispered taking her in, tightening his arms around her.

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"Khushi! Khushi!" There was Payal's voice again. It was all just a dream, he hadn't really been there. Khushi lay there, he eyes closed, the last thread of hope had been cut, as her heart had been ripped out her chest. He wasn't going to come. Payal promted her up, gently pulling her up. "Khushi, open your eyes," Payal said, her hand brushing the hair out of Khushi's face. Khushi slowly opened her eyes, she was sitting in front of an extinguished fire, they had put it out, knowing it was the cause of Khushi's blackout.

A sign. There would be no wedding.

Khushi felt the tears well up again, he would no longer be there to wipe them away. She again closed her eyes to feel his touch on her cheek.

"Sorry I'm late," he whispered in her ear.

Khushi gasped, and froze at the sight in front of her.

He was kneeling in front of her, his hand suspended in midair, touching her cheek, their eyes paralyzing each other. Khushi's tears brought out his, as she said, "you're really here?" She trembled.

He nodded, his throat tightening, blinking away furiously at the tears. "I'm here," he rasped, wiping away the tears that were now showering down Khushi's cheeks, only to be overpower by his own at the prospect of losing her, once again, forever.

Khushi wiped away his tears, bringing her head to his, their nose touching ever-so slightly. Minutes passed like seconds, as they both leaned against each other, comforting one another.

"We should get on with this, shouldn't we?" Arnav half-laughed as he looked at his watch which read 12:30AM.

"Arnav-ji..." Khushi said, hesitantly. She took in a deep breath, her mother was the reason for his mother not being in this world, how could he...

"No, Khushi." Arnav said, cutting her off. "I want us to get married first, then we'll talk about all this," he placed a finger gently under her chin, raising her head up so she could look at him "but no matter what, me and you..."

"Always," she confirmed, a smile spreading over her lips and to his, as they stood to complete the last rituals that bound them as one.