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Happy 9th Anniversary of IPKKND....

I thought I will update "withered with hurt" next part, as it was ready... But then I don't want to make my readers sad and shedding tears on this day.. So, after coming from my work, I updated this chapter for you all.. hope it fulfil your expectations..

And for the first time, NOT proof read... please ignore mistakes

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31 ~ Because I Love You Dammit ~

Morning 11 a.m.

R.M.

Guestroom...

"AR... I am here.. Where are you all?"

As if hearing the voice Arnav's face lit up and he smile widely... taking Khushi's hand firmly in his grip he started towards the living room..

" Where are you taking me Mr Ray?" Khushi asked watching ARNAV'S sudden behaviour.

" To clear your all misunderstanding .." Arnav said and before Khushi could understand, she found herself descending the stair case with Arnav holding her hands in a tight grip.

Khushi was totally confused watching Arnav's act. Why he is pretending? When the truth of his and Liza's engagement is already came out open then why he is hell bend to holding on to her? Is he trying to hurt her more ? But why? And the sweet talk, the way he was calling her Mrs Ray and all..

Khushi was actually very confused.. Her anger, hurt and pain was subsided by the confusion which is increasing with every passing second. She looked at their entwined hands, the way Arnav is holding her hands, shows extreme possessiveness..

"This laad governor, behaving like a pregnant woman.." unknowingly a small smile adorned in Khushi's face with the worried thought.

" AR.... oh.. finally I came.. The traffic of Delhi, I tell you.." Those loud words breaks Khushi's reverie..

Khushi then looks at her surrounding and got shocked. She is presently standing beside Arnav in the living room. Where a handsome , young man was standing in front of them and smiling.

" Welcome.." Arnav smiled looking at the man and before Khushi could sense anything, she was engulfed in a bear hug by the stranger..

" Oh.. God.. Finally I have met you.. Khushi .. I was so eager to meet the woman who stole our AR.." Before the man could rant some more, Khushi felt someone freed her from his tight hug..

Khushi looked at his side and her eyes became wide seeing Arnav is breathing like a dragon.. his whole aura was screaming extreme possessiveness. Before Khushi's confused brain and puzzled mind could proceed any further, she heard Arnav speaking..

"She is your Bhabi.. Don't call her by name.. Call her Khushi Bhabi, you moron." Arnav gritted his teeth while talking making Khushi more puzzle.

What is going on?

" Oh.. Come on AR, take a chill pill.. Don't behave like a grumpy old grandfather.. I know she is my Bhabi.. so what if I call her by her name?" The man in question counter attack making Arnav clenched his jaw..

" Will you lose all your teeth and broke your jaw today itself proving that you are indeed a grumpy old man?" The man said making Khushi chuckle while Arnav almost shouted,

" Nik... I will punch you if you again call Khushi by name..." Arnav was about to walk forward towards a chuckling Nik but someone run towards Nik like a lightning speed and hugged him tightly..

Khushi's face become perfect "O" shape when not only Nik hugged the woman back but soon she kissed loudly on his cheek.

Khushi jolted from her stupefied phase when Arnav's whispered, "Meet Nikhil Aroa, Liza's would be fiancée. They are getting engaged day after tomorrow.."

Sensing their surrounding soon Liza and Nik, broke the hug and came forward.. Liza finally introduced the man with Khushi, " Khushi, he is my love, Nikhil Arora.."

Khushi was just too shocked.. All along she had a misconception and what about those pictures and the news then? But she could not ponder much as the other family members comes to the living room soon, as they welcome Nikhil in grand way.. Soon, Nikhil was accompanied towards his room by Liza , but before going from there, Liza side hugged Khushi and whispered,

" Your husband is an Idiot.. please Don't stay angry at him.." with that both Liza and Nikil left towards their room along with the other family members, soon they have to join at lunch...

Khushi was totally dumbfounded with the turn of the event. She slowly turn towards her side only to met with Arnav's chocolate orbs which was intently looking at her...His eyes had few questions but a hint of hurt and pain too..

" I want to talk with you" Both Khushi and Arnav said simultaneously.

" You tell first.." again at the same time.

" Not here, somewhere alone." Arnav said immediately before Khushi could protest. Khushi wanted to deny deliberately but seeing the desperation in those brown eyes, she nodded. And before she could regain her senses, Khushi found herself sitting in the passenger sit of Arnav's SUV and soon the car left the Ray premises.

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In the car..

" I said stop the car.." Khushi said irritatingly after coming out from the shock.

No reply..

" Mr Ray, stop the damn car.. What are you taking me?" Khushi said aloud..

" I am kidnapping you.." Arnav said not for once glancing at Khushi..

" WHAT THE !!!" Khushi could not hold but uttered those words which she had become so familiar with..

" Hei.. This is my line.. But you can say this as you are my wife.." Arnav said which suddenly makes Khushi furious.

" Your wife? Huh.. Mr Ray.. When you consider, then I am your wife, when you feel I am no one, then I am just a contracted wife.. Right? Now tell me, you are telling everyone that I am your wife nowadays because the engagement is going on here and you have to hold on your reputation, is it? " Khushi said looking at Arnav who suddenly looked back at her..

Khushi expected Arnav will lash out but she never expected the hurt and pained expression on his face.. It tore her apart..

Before Khushi could say anything, Arnav whispered softly, " You are right in your place Khushi.. as usual.. I am wrong.. But one matter is sure Khushi, I have consider you as my wife always.. When I said it aloud or when I deliberately ignored it .."

" Why ?" Khushi whispered while her eyes pooled with tears..

" To hurt you.. So that you can hate me.. So that eventually you can leave me.." Arnav whispered.

" What?? You wanted me to leave you?" Khushi said while tears were rolling down from her eyes.. " I get it.. .. So.. I will.. will go Mr Ray.. fulfilling your wish.. Tell me, when you want that, Now or after the engagement?" Khushi said failing miserably to hide the hurt in her voice.

There was a perfect silence.

After few minutes passed by but Khushi did not get any response so she raised her head and looked at Arnav's side, only to be surprised that the driver seat is vacant. Then only Khushi realized that the car has stopped in front of a huge garden. Khushi was about to come out of the car, before that, her side of the door open and Arnav extend his hand to hold her..

Khushi refused instantly but came out from the car.

" Where are we at present?" Khushi looked at her surroundings and was mesmerised seeing the greenery.

" Come, lets entered and talk." Arnav slowly guided her towards the huge gate which was covered with beautiful climbers. Khushi looked at the surrounding and for few moments she just forgot everything and drawn into the beautify of nature..

" It's my mother's garden" Khushi heard Arnav's husky voice full of emotions and feel overwhelmed that Arnav had brought her here, at the place where his mother's memory is spread all over..

Taking slow steps Khushi entered in the garden besides Arnav. The garden area is a huge one full of variety of trees, flowers, creepers, climbers and so on.. besides, the delightful smells that waft through the air, the sound of birds and the tinkling of wind chimes truly makes the area as a mix of fragrance that is brought alive by the sounds of nature and enhanced with colors only mother nature herself can create..

" Wind chimes?" Khushi could not hold her curiosity..

" Yes, there is a very small cottage inside, come.." and before she could understand, Khushi found herself being almost dragged by Arnav towards a rose garden. Khushi then only realised that Arnav was holding her hands, infact their hands are entwined..

For how long, who knows..But for this moment Khushi wants to explore these beautiful area..

There are varieties of roses including almost all the possible colours.. the rose garden is surrounded by some other flowers, like jasmine, tulip, night queen.. maximum are of white flowers.. "The view of so colourful and exotic" Khushi mumbled to herself but it was enough for Arnav to listened..

" Yes, this is the only place, where I used to get my solace.. this place always make me remember the wonderful moments I spend with my mother.. after her death I used to come here and after Anjali's death and the accident, I had spend many nights in this cottage just to forget the nightmare..." Arnav said while caressing a red rose, his voice became heavy with emotions while his eyes became moist..

Khushi felt very bad at that moment.. Arnav truly lost his everything, his family.. Though Arunoday is alive, but there is very rare chance that they would ever reconcile..

Trying to change the topic, Khushi suddenly asked, " I am not getting one thing, why you bring me here, in your mother's garden?"

" Because this is the only place where I never pretended.. where I never have to wear the AR mask.. I can be Arnav here, My mother's Chotey.." Arnav said and then looked straight towards Khushi in her eyes making Khushi's heartbeats faster..

" I still did not understand you.." Khushi whispered while the cool breeze was slowly cooling her burning heart and the mesmerizing brown orbs are hypnotizing her in his web..

" Because I want to confess everything.. For the last 6 months whatever happened between us and for last few weeks , everything.." Arnav said while taking few steps towards Khushi and Khushi steps backwards until her back pressed with a tree but tears were rolling down from her eyes..

" Why? Why now?" Khushi whispered suddenly all the memories of last few weeks came back rushing towards her..

"Because I don't want a "what if" in my life in future.. I don't want to think after 50 years that what if, I had confessed you about the truth and let you take the decision of our future? I just don't want to take any chances anymore.. The brutal revelation of my life taught me a good lesson Khushi... Life is too small to make mistakes after mistakes.. I don't want to became another Arunoday Mallik someday.. So, that's why we are here.." Arnav said while holding Khushi's forearm softly.

" I still did not understand you Arnav..What mistake and what truth? When everything will be finished within few days, then what you want to confess now?" Khushi said the last line in low tone while she almost chocked remembering that she has to leave Arnav and Advay within few days and that to forever...

" Everything will finished within few days? Is it? Is that you think or you want this? Itna easy hai tumhare liye mujhe chodke jana( is it that easy for you to leave me?)" Arnav asked while tears were brimming in his eyes but Khushi got angry hearing the accusation..

" Don't you dare to turn the table and play the victim card here? It was you who deliberately ignored me for weeks, it was you who clearly bring the contract between us again and again, it was you who pushed me away from you, it was you who bring that nany and separated me from my Adu, It was you who shows me dreams and later forced me to forgot that dreams by showing the harsh reality... It was always , you , you and you... Now when I had accepted my ill fate, why do you here? Why are you hell bend to make me confuse once again? Why are you doing this to me Arnav? What wrong I ever did to you?" Khushi yelled while tears were continuously flowing from her eyes but the hurt and anger was clearly visible in her hazel orbs..

" I am sorry to hurt you jaan.. But I was in pain too.. infact I was in my worse Khushi.. Those days was my worst nightmare.." Arnav tried to make Khushi understand his point who was not at all looking at his face.

Arnav forcefully make Khushhi look at him. Khushi's eyes were red with unshed tears which make Arnav's heart to bleed..

" I am sorry.." Saying so Arnav just pulled Khushi towards her, while mumbled numerous sorry.. " I can not let you go, I will never let you go away from me, Not now, not ever.." Arnav whispered in between his numerous sorry..

" why now? Why you are telling Sorry? After deliberately pushing me away? Why?" Khushi suddenly pushed hard Arnav while yelled unable to handle Arnav's bipolar behaviour anymore..

But Khushi's heart stops the next moment Arnav yelled in equal rage of her, "Because, I love you dammit.. I love you Khushi Arnav Ray.. I had loved you, I love you and I will always love you, till my last breath..."

Time stopped for a moment...

There was a pin drop silence engulf the surroundings..

Only...

Along with the cool breeze, chirping birds and sound of wind chime, the sound of two rapid hearts were audible which were beating in synchronize, They depict the insight of two yearning souls, who finally took their first steps together towards their destiny...

To be contd.....

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Author Note:

During the time of pandemic, fighting in and out, I am trying to divert my mind by penning down.. So, I have started a new Short story based on Sheetal Track named "Withered with Hurt".. Please share your opinion about the story..

Hope everything get well soon and I can come back with a steady schedule.. but until then.. Please, keep patience with the update...

Once again...

It's my earnest request please, follow the safety measures..Help yourself and help the nation..

Be safe...keep everybody safe...Stay at home..

Pray for all...Our unity can help us to overcome the situation...

Regarding the update, Expecting your response ....

Love and regards...

Your story teller

Mamree

06.06.2020