Buaji sat next to Arnav whilst Babu-ji, Khushi and Garima were sitting across them in the confinement of the small, yet comforting living room.
Garima cupped her tea with her hands, seizing the warmth the mug had to offer, smiling softly at Arnav she asked, "How is everyone, bitwa? Nani, Anjali bitya, Shyam babua...?" The coldness attached to that name had begun to spread down his back, he looked down.
Khushi looked at Arnav and clearly saw his unwillingness to answer the question, she cleared her throat, forcing her Amma to look at her, giving Arnav the space he needed. "Well, it seemed he had not changed, Amma, he's no longer part of the family..."
Babuji nodded slowly, closing his eyes, as if he knew it.
Garima sighed. "It's a shame..." she stated quietly.
Buaji looked at Arnav, "I did not think he would ever change. After everything he has done, even to our Sanka Devi."
This made him look up.
"He made it as if he was not married and cunningly got himself engaged to her... We would not know what would have happened if we did not find out the truth." Buaji continued.
"One thing we can say for sure is that we thank God that she is married to you. She was at least protected." Garima pitched in, giving him a thankful smile.
Was she really protected with me? Arnav thought, his eyebrows pulling together, his heartbeat taking off as if petrified for the immense regret about to invade his body.
A second later he was whirled back to all the times he had seen Shyaam and Khushi suspiciously together...on the terrace, at the fancy dress competition and he was sure there had been more times... he had thought, imagined, that something was going on between them, only to find out that Khushi was completely innocent. Hence, there must be a guilty person, Shyaam, who had terrorized Khushi in front of him and he didn't do anything, not one thing.
Khushi.
He then remember the day he was about to express his love to her, make his very world complete. That day when he saw Shyaam's hand tightly on khushi's arms. How she had put her hand over his.
She must have been trying to get him off.
Whilst her future husband stood there.
And he did not do anything.
He had not protected her.
He had just let her suffer Shyaam's abuse, and what was worse is that he had stuck her in the same house with that snake.
Arnav gulped, trying to force the lump out of his threat, but to no avail.
*************************************************
The city's traffic seemed to blur around him as the pieces began to painfully fall in place, that time Khushi had cried into his shoulder, upset about her fianc, clearly she had found out the reality of Shyaam he had probably done something to her, harmed her. And Arnav hadn't done anything, nothing, the emptiness and useless feeling reflecting off that word encasing his mind.
Then what he done?
He had callously demanded her to marry him, added salt to the wounds. She had cried right in front of him, sobbing, beseeching him to not to force her into the binding contract, and in return he had kept up his cold appearance in front of her.
They entered the room, silence still lingering. It was apparent to Khushi something was on his mind as she closed the doors behind them.
Turning around to face him, she smiled slightly, put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "What's bothering you, Arnav-ji?"
He looked at her then, making her gasp slightly to see that there were tears in his. She dropped her hand to grab his, squeezing them tightly.
Waiting.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking.
She looked up at him incredulously. "Sorry?" She repeated. "Why are you sorry?"
He took a step back, losing the warmth of her hands, "I'm sorry I didn't protect you. I'm sorry I did not do my duty as a husband."
She took a step forward towards, "Arnav-ji..."
"No, Khushi," he said his voice shaking. "I didn't. That slimeball has touched you. And I did not do anything. I let him. I-" Arnav swallowed, tears now leaking out of his eyes.
Khushi raised a hand to his cheek, forcing him to look at her, "you listen here Mr Raizaida, you are the world's best husband," she said fiercely. "I am lucky to have you. Please, forget everything to do with Shyaam-ji. Leave him in the past. Where he belongs." She said, her voice softer.
"I can't Khushi. I shouldn't even be with you. There is no way I deserve you, Khushi. You're better off with someone better."
Now it was her eyes that were forming tears, her hands dropped to her side, and she looked at him. "You think I should go?" she asked in a small voice. "You think we shouldn't be together?"
Insane as it sounded, she started to panic. Did he no longer want her? What would she do without him?
"No, Khushi-"he realised how she had taken his words. "No, of course I want us together. But-"
"Then don't you dare say otherwise, Arnav!" she said almost shouting .
It was as if he was running away from her, distancing himself from her.
"I can't live without you, Arnav-ji," she gulped, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I won't," she sobbed.
At this moment in time, he took a step forward, gently pulling her to him. Her sobs rose when one of his arms wound around her waist, his other hand in her hair.
"I'm here," he hushed her. She slowly grew quiet.
Her hands tightened on his shoulders, her head leaning on his chest.
"You were, are and always will be my knight in shining armour," she said, her eyes closed, completely content.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead and said, "and you are the most important thing in my life, Khushi. The most important."
She looked up at him, stretching up on her tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek, "I love you, Arnav-ji"
He smiled at that. "I love you more."
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