Hello all u lovely readers 🙋

Thank u so much for voting & commenting on the previous update. Love you all 😘😘

Now here's the next part. Enjoy 😃

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Both were enveloped in each other's arms, basking in the warmth of their proximity. Not wanting to let go the other.

But where Khushi was happy thinking that she got her love back, Arnav was just wanting to savor this last moment of togetherness.

Arnav's hands were busy caressing her back & inhaling her jasmine fragrance satiating his lungs to last for a life time.

Suddenly Khushi remembered all his accusations & she pushed him off of her in the next second.

"How dare you Arnavji? How could you? How could you even utter those vile words to me?" She pushed against his chest with all her strength.

"No matter what your intentions were!! Didn't you once think of me before spitting such disgust for me over the phone?" She slammed her palms against his hard muscles. Her eyes pool of love & hurt.

Arnav caught hold of her delicate wrists, stopping the barrage of her complains. She tried to wriggle out of his grip but in vain. Her eyes revealed her love & anguish. He could see that sense of betrayal had cut her to the core.

The pain of loosing him was sharper then the pain of his harsh words. He couldn't bear to see her anguish & pulled her back into his arms. She tried to free herself from his strong hold but her attempt turned futile & she clung to him exhausted.

"Khushi, I know I have hurt you with my words but I had no other option. How could I marry you when I know your amma is responsible for my mamma's death? How could I keep you happy when my & di's childhood & happiness was ruined by your amma?" He told her, still holding her in his embrace.

" How could I betray my mother's love & make a mockery of her death by bringing you in her house Khushi?"

Khushi pulled herself back & looked into his eyes with her hurt ones.

He hissed seeing the hurt flash through her eyes. He knows his words are cutting her within but he has to do it.
But he can make it a little less hurtful.

"Besides that, what about you Khushi? What if after marriage my love for you turns in disgust & I again become cruel & terrible with you & make you go through the same hell all over again?" He tried his best to explain his turmoil.

Tears filled her eyes & poured down her cheeks.

Understanding his concern, she moved forward killing the distance between them. Holding his hand tried to explain him.

"No Arnavji, it won't happen again. I know my Arnavji. You are not the same rude, arrogant & ruthless ASR anymore. You have changed Arnavji. Our love has changed you." She tried to put some sense in his thick head.

He let out a dry chuckle, removing his hands from hers, moved back creating distance again.

" No Khushi, you think you know me but the truth is nobody knows me better then myself & I know I can never forget & forgive your amma. But that doesn't mean I punish you for her sin. I have already done that crime once with you, I won't repeat the same mistake. But I won't be able to give you what you deserve & you definitely don't deserve my hatred Khushi." His voice was low but steady.

" Khushi when it comes to hating someone, nobody can beat ASR in it & when it comes to endure the hatred nobody can beat you in that Khushi. After all we have experienced both. You have borne worse Khushi which you didn't deserved at all. I can't make you go through same which I know is very much likely to happen if you stay in front of me 24/7 Khushi." He said. His voice laden with hurt & pain.

Khushi sensed his sorrow & rushed to him. Cupping his face she tried to explain her point.

"No Arnavji, it won't happen again. It's just that the sudden revelation has scared you. But give it sometime & everything will fall back into places just like it happened in the past. If it doesn't then I will make it alright with my love Arnavji & then there won't be any room for hatred."

She gazed into his brown orbs with her tear filled eyes, trying to find a hint of hope to latch onto. But saw none & it shattered her more.

He had never been able to stand the sight of her crying but almost always he had been the reason behind her tears. He pulled her hands down from his face & wrenched himself away.

"No Khushi, I can't take chances. Not when I am sure about the outcome. You would be stuck in a terrible marriage with no space to maneuver. You deserve someone who can reciprocate your love not the one who would push you in the pool of sorrows. Khushi we are better off of each other. Better we end it over here."

He turned his face away from hers, shut his eyes tight. It hurt, stinging his soul like a thousand glass shards.

" It's over Khushi, it's over." Saying this he turned one last time to see tears falling in a silent stream from her eyes, which corroded his heart more.

He took a long breath to control his own tears, turned around & walked away feeling angry, guilty & very alone.

Khushi saw him going away from her & swallowed a melon size lump struggling with her emotions.

'No, he can't go. They belong to each other. He can't leave her & go. He could throw away their life together for his self created, stupid, baseless notions but she can't. She tried everything to make him understand but nothing worked so now buaji's Sankadevi has to come into action.'

"Is this your final decision Arnavji?" She shouted from behind him to which he stopped in his tracks but didn't turn. Only nodded his head in affirmation.

"OK then, it's time for me too to take the final decision or rather say final action."

Hearing this his senses got alert & he turned around in jiffy.

"What do you mean Khushi?" He asked with a frown of incomprehension on his face.

"You can't live with me & I can't live without you Arnavji. So I am left with only one option." She replied sighing inwardly.

"Khushi!!" He protested. But before he could register her words, she took out a bottle from her cloth bag, opened the cap & drained the whole content down her throat.

Arnav's eyes widened in horror & he saw her falling on the ground with wobbling feet.

"KHUSHIII" He ran towards her & secured her in his arms before she fell down. He sat down slowly with her head in his lap. Her eyes were dizzy & breathing uneven.

He was patting her cheeks. His heart beating rapidly with fear of loosing her.

"Khushi, Khushi." He was calling her but her eyes were drooping.

"No Khushi no. Open your eyes dammit. This is not funny. You can't do this to me. No, nothing will happen to you. I will take you to the hospital." & he was about to pick her in his arms but Khushi stopped him.

"No Arnavji, now nothing can be done. You said that it's over, now it's really over Arnavji." She was saying with constricted throat. Words coming out with great difficulty.

She cupped his cheek with her palm & kissed the other cheek ever so lovingly.

" I.. I love y....you Arn..... Arnavji & can't live wit... without you, but I can d...die without you. Good... Goodbye Arnavji." Her hand fell back & she closed her eyes.

"Khushiiii. No, no, no. This can't happen Khushi. Don't do this to me. Please Khushi. Come back to me. I can't live without you." He was crying hugging her with his face buried in the crook of her neck.

"Whatever I did, it was for you Khushi. You didn't deserve me & I couldn't tell you the truth either. It would have devastated you within Khushi. Please forgive me. I am sorry. So so sorry. Please come back Khushi." He was crying his heart out.

"Then tell me the truth Arnavji."

Arnav's eyes widened hearing her voice. He raised his head & saw at her face. Her eyes were open & breathing normal.

He cupped her face & a bright smile broke on his face seeing her alive.

"Khushi, you are OK. You are fine. Nothing happened to you. I am so happy."

He couldn't control his happiness & showered her face with kisses whispering "I love you. I love you." unknowingly with every kiss.

Khushi couldn't help but smile hearing his confession again & again. Seeing her smile realization dawned upon him. He stared suspiciously at her face.

"Khushi you are alright!! " He asked.

She nodded her head with a smile in reply.

"Then what was THAT?" He asked in a stern voice.

"What THAT?" She asked back. Acting all innocent.

"That thing you consumed from the bottle. I thought it was poison." He inquired. His eyes narrowed forbiddingly. His nostrils flaring.

"Oh that. That was not any poison Arnavji." She replied still laying in his embrace.

"Then what was that? " He waited for her answer with ill-contained patience.

"That was the left over sugar syrup from my sweet sweet jalebis." She explained with a fond smile.

He drew in a shocked breath. His fists & jaw clenched tight. He stood in a jiffy making her fall on the ground completely.

She followed suit & stood infront of him.

He couldn't control his fury & grabbed her hard by her shoulders & shouted on top of his voice. "So all this was an act Khushi. You tried to fool me. How could you? Do you have any idea, what I went through seeing you lying like that? I thought I lost you dammit. Didn't you think once of me before pulling that stupid stunt?" His tone harsh & dangerous.

" Why should I? Why should I think of you?" She shouted back with equal fury. "You ended everything between us. Why do you care, what happens to me?"

He gulped through constricted throat & turned away.

" I want to know the real reason Arnavji. What are you hiding from me? Which is related to me & is very devastating?" She turned him around harshly.

" Don't you try to deny. You yourself said a while back that I won't be able to bear the truth. So it means there is something. Tell me Arnavji, what is it?"

He showed no reaction. Now neither can he deny nor can he tell her.

Khushi's anger was increasing every second with his silence & she was running out of patience.

She grabbed his shirt lapels demanding answers, shaking him vigorously.

"Tell me Arnavji. What is it that is keeping you away from me? What is it that you can't marry me? Tell me or I will turn that foolish stunt into reality & this time it would be real poison Arnavji." She said in a no nonsense tone. Her eyes spitting fire.

His shocked chocolate orbs stared his hazel ones with fear.

" Don't give me that look. I mean it Arnavji. I swear on our love, I will kill myself if you don't tell me the truth. Tell me, why are you pushing me away from you? Why can't we be together? Why can't you marry me Arnavji? Why? Tell me why?"

"BECAUSE I AM THE SON OF YOUR PARENTS MURDERER."

To be continued.....

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So guys, how was it?

The main reason is revealed.

Next update would be a complete blast from the past.

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Waiting for your precious feedback.

Thanks.
Love - Kavita 😘