Hey friends I am back with the quick update as I promised...

Thanks for voting & commenting in the previous update....

Now here's the update.... Enjoy 😃

But not done the proofreading. So please ignore the typos if any.

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Khushi composed herself with Arnav's silent support.

Her wide innocent eyes then looked into the molten depths of his eyes, urging him to continue.

Caressing her hair, tucking the loose tendrils behind her ear, he again held her hands in a firm grip & continued...

"After knowing about my father's treachery & facing humiliation from the same man's mother, your maasi couldn't stay back in Lucknow. She told everything to her father-your nanaji. The elderly man was not able to see his daughter Shattered so they decided to leave Lucknow & come & stay with you & your parents at your home in Kanpur."

" On the other hand chacha's threats were increasing day by day & your maasi had vanished in thin air which increased my father's frustration. Di's marriage date was also nearing & he didn't wanted to risk her marriage so he hired more men to find your maasi & finally they succeeded. Now they were waiting for a perfect opportunity to do what they were hired for & they got the chance."

Khushi didn't know what was about to come so she waited with bated breath.

" Your family along with your maasi & Nanaji were about to attend a wedding in your father's relation. Your papa had hired a car for your nanaji's comfort. The goons came to know about this arrangement & they informed my father about the same & that pathetic man ordered them to go ahead with the plan & kill your whole family so that no traces were left behind to raise their head against him in future."

Khushi was stunned. Scared to her wits. Her eyes releasing the downpour.

Arnav choked. But continued...

" My father's men were ready with their plan. But your Devi Maiyya had some other plans. The day you all were about to go, you were down with heavy fever the previous night which increased the following morning. You were not in the condition to travel. But as it was your father's very close relative's wedding, your Nana insisted your parents to attend it whereas he & your maasi would stay back with you. Reluctantly your parents agreed. But the goons were not aware with the change in arrangement & they were waiting for your car to arrive at their decided spot"

Arnav paused & gazed in her eyes. His jaw set & his eyes full of concern as he could see in her eyes which had inkling of what could have happened.

He breathed deep before continuing...

"Your parents set out in the hired car. The goons were already present half way & as soon as your parent's car was in sight. They executed their plan & it succeeded in no time. It was a massive hit. The car turned into a mess of iron & steel."

Arnav was unable to continue further seeing the gut - wrenching shock on her face. He tightened his hold on her. They sat in shocked silence until Khushi herself broke it.

" Then what happened Arnavji? " She wanted to know the rest of devastation too.

Unwillingly Arnav continued...

"The goons were overconfident of their plan succeeding so they went away from there without confirming."

"In a way it was good, otherwise they would have understood their folly & you, your Nana & your maasi would have been in danger again."

"The police was informed about the accident by a few local people. Police did their investigation & then collected you parents dea.... He gulped hard deadbodies. They found your parents identity from your father's ID card in his wallet. They took their deadbodies for post mortem."

Khushi was sitting still, looking straight into his eyes. Her breathing was fast & uneven. Her lips were quivering. Controlling herself she gestured him to continue nodding her head.

Arnav gulped wetting his parched throat & continued....

" Your maasi had taken you to the hospital for treatment after your parents left. You were then sleeping under the effects of medicine in your room when the police arrived to your house with your parents deadbodies. Your nanaji & maasi were beyond shattered to see their deadbodies. You were sick & too small to understand the devastation. All the rites were done by your nanaji. But the elderly soul couldn't endure the loss of his daughter & son in law at this age & within few days he too left you & your maasi alone in this cruel world."

It was more then enough for Khushi to endure & the dam broke. She started sobbing & soon the sobs turned into loud wails. Her body heaved under the force of her wails.

Arnav's insides churned, not able to see the devastation on her face. He pulled her into his embrace as tight & close as humanely possible. Not stopping his own tears from flowing.

After what felt like eternity Khushi's wails lessen into sobs. Arnav pulled back & took out his hanky from his pocket & wiped her tear streaken face.

Seeing her bit composed, he quickly got up, ran to his car, fetched the bottle of water from his car & came back to her at the same speed.

Taking his seat besides her, he opened the cap of the bottle & held it to her mouth. She took a few sips. He replaced the cap & kept the bottle aside.

He didn't want to continue further but still there was much left she deserves to know.

So again clasping her hands into his, he looked into her now red swollen eyes asking for permission to continue further. Composing herself she blinked her eyes to him in permission.

"My father was relieved after knowing about his plan's success. My chacha was running out of patience as my father was not relenting to his demands. So finally, on the day of di's marriage he cornered my father & gave a final threat of revealing his illicit affair infront of the guests & di's in laws which would be enough to break her marriage."

Arnav closed his eyes tight remembering that fateful day. His di's happy face in her bridal attire flashing infront of his eyes.

" Arnavji!!" Khushi whispered softly.

He opened his eyes & nodded his head indicating he is okay.

" My overconfident father bounced back on my chacha as he was in illusion of playing safe. He blurted everything infront of my chacha, praising himself for taking control over the situation, unknown to the figure standing outside the room hearing his disgusting deeds from his own mouth. It was none other then his wife."

"My mamma Khushi, my mamma. She had heard everything. The man she had loved the most, had dedicated 19 years of her life to him & that same man didn't take 19 minutes to destroy everything."

"That very moment the mother in her took a back seat & she was only a wife who had been betrayed by the man she loved & trusted to death. Whom she worshipped once was now an epitome of infidelity & betrayel. "

"The pain was unbearable to her & it made her weak to the point that she decided to end her life without a thought of her children crossing her mind."

He paused & drew in a long breath to control his tears.

"Then she ran up to their room followed by my father shouting her name & begging her to listen to him once. But he was late & a loud echo of gunshot was heard. All the guests & rest of the family along with di & me were horrified hearing the gun shot & my father's shouts. We too ran upstairs but before we reached to their room we heard another gunshot & we rushed but were left stunned with the scene infront of our eyes. Too shocked to react. My parents deadbodies were lying in the pool of blood."

Arnav's voice was shaking, his eyes distant as if witnessing the same horrified scene.

Khushi tightened the hold of their entwined fingers. He breathed deep & then continued with his past tale.

" Chacha left the secret behind my parents suicide, floating amongst the rest of the family, the guests & di's in laws & they backed out from the marriage & left Sheesh Mahal with their guests that instant."

"But that was not all Khushi. After the funeral rites, when we came back my & di's clothes, books & toys were scattered in the premise. Our chacha had threw us out stating that our father has written all his property in his name & he was the sole owner of everything along with Sheesh Mahal & he didn't want to keep us with him."

Khushi frowned in bewilderment & Arnav understood her unasked question.

" My father's lawyer had joined hands with my chacha as he would also get his fair share. He manipulated & falsified my father's will according to chacha's instructions. We were too small to understand chacha's treachery or to raise our voice & claim our rights."

"That's when Nani & mama took us with them. Then after, my terrible journey from my mamma's chhote to cold & lonely Arnav to rude, shrewd, arrogant & ruthless ASR started, in whose arms you fell in Sheesh Mahal."

Arnav's voice was coming low as he was exhausted, mentally & physically both.

Khushi pulled him in her embrace, caressing his back over his waist coat. Her eyes filled with empathetic tears for him. The warmth of her soft body providing him strength.

Arnav then slowly pulled back from her & clasped her hands tight as if his life depended on it.

"Khushi, I thought that my wastrel father ruined only my & di's life by snatching away our mother. But the real disaster he caused was to you by taking away the chance from you of living a happy life with your parents and.... and your.... He was finding this the hardest till now.

She had nothing left in her imagination to loose more then she already had then what could it possibly be that Arnavji is finding so hard to utter. She thought.

"Arnavji, my what??" She asked scared of the answer.

He clutched their hands tighter. She looked down towards their clasped hands which was paining a little due to his tight grip.

"A happy life with your parents & sibling." He completed in a whisper.

She snapped at him. Her eyes wide open in shock.

"Sib... Sibling." was only she could whisper.

Arnav nodded his head.

"Yes Khushi. Your mother was two months pregnant with your sibling when she... she d... died."

Khushi gasped loudly, pulling her hand from his & covering it to her mouth.

She felt as if somebody had pulled the ground beneath her.

Her horrified eyes filled with tears, which poured down her cheeks in a never ending flow.

Her body trembled in paroxysm of pain & grief.

Arnav's insides churned, not able to see the devastation on her face. His eyes mirroring her pain & sorrow. He pulled her in the protection of his arms, as tight & close as humanly possible. Letting her cry her heart out.

To be continued....

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So guys, here ends the painful past of Arshi.

How did you find it?

Do vote 🌟 & comment if you like it.....

A/N

Friends, wanna inform you that now I will be able to update both my stories after Diwali only. As I am going to my native for Diwali & won't get time to draft.

Also wanted to inform that I am planning on a new ff on Arshi. Which I will be starting after Diwali only. But I am going to post the prologue within a few hours. So have a look & let me know about your views on the same.

Thanks.
Love - Kavita 😘😘