Sorry for the delay. I was in a writer's block.

****************

Khushi ran into the terrace to take her clothes spread for drying. She hoped that Arnav doesn't get to know her entering his room without his knowledge. She clenched her phone in fear and started to take her clothes. She lean on the edge of the terrace to take her cloth which fell on the near by tree because of the wind. She lean to much and lost her balance. She screamed in horror and caught hold of the terrace steel railing as her mobile shattered into pieces.

*************

Arnav heard her screaming and run towards the terrace from where the voice is coming. As soon as he reached there, he saw her hanging on the steel railing. Without thinking anything, he rushed to help her. He gave her hand to her. As he placed his hand on her hand, the sunlight started to burn his skin making it turn into brown colour. He lowered his head, prevent the sunlight hitting on his face as he pulled her single handed without much efforts. Khushi noticed the brown colour spreading on his hand as he pulled her. She looked at his face which seems normal. She show a small patches of his forehead skin and left ear turning into brown colour which made her look at the sunlight hitting on them. 

As soon as he placed her on the floor he moved away from the sunlight turning around without facing her. He looked at his hands getting into normal and he realised the damage he have done by this act. When he saw her like that all he had in his mind was to save her. He don't care about anything at that moment. 

Khushi stood there speechless as she watched the skin on the back of his neck getting back into normal from the brownish shade. She couldn't control herself from asking the question which came to the tip of her tongue.

"What happened to your skin?" She questioned and he knows that she has seen his skin changing its colour. He closed his eyes and turned around to face her.

"Nothing happens to my skin. I don't know what you are talking about." He said and went down. Khushi followed him and they reached the hall.

"Arnavji, I have seen your skin getting burnt. You have to tell me what you are hiding from me." She questioned him.

"I'm not hiding anything from you Khushi." He said without meeting her eyes.

"No, you are hiding something from me. Arnavji, you have to tell me what's it?" She compelled and he lost his control.

"I don't have to tell you anything. This is my house and defied my rules. You should have stayed in your limits Khushi. Why the hell did you went to my room?" He shouted at her.

"I didn't went to your room." She retorted back angrily.

"Yes, you did. You went to my room."

"You can't accuse me for something I haven't done. How can you say that I went to your room?"

"Because I smelled you there dammit." He yelled making her eyes go wide open.

"What?" She asked not getting what he meant. For her it's hard to understand when he said that he smelled her presence in the room.

"Nothing Khushi. If you want to stay in this house, then be in your limits. I don't give you any right to question me like this and I'm not obligated to answer you anything." Saying this he walked to his room and closed the door leaving her alone in the room.

Khushi looked at the closed door as tears spilled from her eyes. She walked towards her room and cried her heart out. 

*******

Arnav stood in front of the mirror looking at his reflection. He transformed into his vampire form and stared at his scary side which he hates the most. That side which is capable of separating Khushi from him. He wanted to shout at him and scream for being like this. He transformed back into his human form and opened the room. He glanced at her closed door and heard her crying and muffling. He closed his eyes and mumbled a sorry. He went to the hilltop to unleash his frustration towards himself. 

"WHY??? WHY AM I LIKE THIS? WHY CAN'T I BE A NORMAL HUMAN THAN THIS SCARY MONSTER?" He questioned himself as he knelt down on the floor. A lone teardrop rolled down from his eyes as he thought about her. All these years he had been alone and now he can't imagine being alone. He liked having her company. He liked how she made his house a home. He felt suffocated with the mere thought of not having her in his life. 

"Will she stay back if I tell her the truth?" He asked himself.

"Today or tomorrow, she have to go away from her life. You are not the one for her." He chided himself.

Arnav came home after a few hours and went to her room to rectify the damage he has done. He knocked on her door and waited for her to open. He felt something was wrong when she didn't open the room. He opened the room and saw the empty room with her clothes and devimaiyya.

"Khushi" He called her in a panic and went to the kitchen and upstairs. His heart is not ready to accept the fact that she has left the home.

"Khushi." He roamed around the house and found a note near the TV.

Arnavji,

Thanks for letting me stay in your house for all these months. You were a true friend to me, may be much more than that. I don't know what you are hiding from me, but for me trust is the most important thing between people. I sorry that I couldn't be worthy of your trust. It's better to part away than making it worse. I will always our friendship. You hold a special place in my heart and I hope devimaiyya keep you safe.

I have placed a gold bracelet in the drawer. Please accept it as my rent.

Thanks for everything.

Khushi

Arnav felt suffocated while reading the note. He needed her and he needed to find her. It was already 7 in the evening  and he went outside. 

'Where can I find her?' He asked himself as he started the car. Arnav decided to go to the temple which is her place of solace. He kept trying her phone which was switched off. 

'Why is her mobile switched off now?' He screamed in anger as he increased the speed.

**********

Khushi wiped her tears as she sat inside the rickshaw. She couldn't stop thinking about him and the moments they spend together. Khushi sensed the rickshaw driver stopped the vehicle a few kilometres ahead of her destination.

"What happened bhaiyya?" Khushi asked the rickshaw wala who get up from his seat.

"I think the tyre got punctured." He said checking the back tyre of the rickshaw.

"Will it take time to fix it?" Khushi asked him.

"Yeah, it will take sometime." He replied as he started to take the things out. Khushi decided to walk the remaining distance and settled the payment of the rickshaw guy.

She started to walk while holding her luggage in that cold climate. She is totally drained, both emotionally and physically. Her steps started to get unsteady and soon she collapsed on the road with her luggage beside her.

*********** 

Arnav drove near the temple and found the rickshaw guy replacing the tyre. It's already started to rain and he stopped the car besides him. Arnav showed him the picture of Khushi to know if he have seen her not. The rickshaw guy told him that she walked towards the direction of the temple. Arnav started the car and soon he saw someone lying on the road. His heart started to beat heavily as he opened the door and reached near her.

"Khushi" He kneel down to her and patted her cheeks.

"Khushi, Are you okay?" He asked her again seeing her drenched in water.

"Arnavji." He heard a faint voice coming from her mouth and he hugged her close, securing her in his arms. He lifted her and placed her in the car. He drove the car to his home. He tried to call her but he didn't get any response from her. He touched her forehead and felt it burning. He lifted her and made her lie on the bed.

Arnav checked her temperature and gave her an injection to bring down her fever. Now he is left with the most difficult task and that's changing her wet clothes. He opened her bag hoping to find some fresh pairs of clothes, but it all got wet in the rain. He went to his room and came back with his long t-shirt. 

Arnav looked at her innocent face and strokes her cheek lovingly. He realised that it's hard for him to live without her and he has to take a decision about it. He closed his eyes and sat next to her. He made her lean close to his chest.

"I'm sorry Khushi, I have to do this." Saying this he pull down the zip of her salwar top revealing her back to his eyes. He took hold of the bra hook and unhooked it. After that he made her lie on the bed, and raised her top a little to find the knot of her pants. Without touching her, he untied the knot. He covered her with a blanket and stood in front of her.

"I just hope that you won't take me wrong." saying this he pulled her salwar top which is under the blanket. He took of her bra and moved his hands under the blanket to reach near her pants. He hooked his fingers into her pants and panties, slowly pulling it down. He took a towel and wipe the excess water without harming her privacy. Her lifted her with the blanket on her body and placed her on the other side of the bed which is dry.

He made her wear the t shirt and covered her with a new blanket. He sat next to her and took hold of her hand in his hand. He placed a kiss on her knuckles and left her hand. This time without any hesitation he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Please don't hate me when you know my truth." He whispered, knowing that he has to reveal his identity to her no matter what happens. For all night he sat next to her, taking care of her.

*********

Next day

Khushi woke up from her sleep and looked around. At first she didn't get where she is and slowly she realised that she is in his house.

'How did I end up here?' She questioned herself and felt her bare legs rubbing each other. 

"What happened to my clothes? Why I'm in this t-shirt?" She muttered and sit on the bed while pulling the blanket up to her chest.

Arnav who is in the kitchen heard her sound and rushed towards the room.

"Khushi, are you okay?" He asked her.

"How did I end up here? Who changed my dress?" Khushi asked him.

"You fainted on the road and I brought you here. I changed your dress. Trust me Khushi, I hadn't seen anything. I changed your dress while you were under the blanket and it was need for you health. I didn't take advan…"

"I trust you Arnavji, I can understand. Can you give me my dress?" 

"I have laid down your dress for drying, they got wet in the rain."

"Ohh, thanks for your help. Hmm, I will leave once my dress get dried." She talked so formally with him. Even though they were in the same room, he felt that they are far away from each other.

"You need to take a rest."

"It's okay, I can survive this." She gave him the cold shoulder.

"Khushi, please consider your health."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you showing your fake concern to me? Why are you making it hard for me? Tell me why?" Khushi asked as her eyes started to tear up.

"Let me go Arnavji,that's better for both of us." She pleads him.

"Khushi, we can talk about it later. You should take some rest." He tried to convince her.

"Why are you treating me like this when you don't trust me enough to tell me about your problem? It's hurt knowing that I'm having feeling for a person whom I don't even know fully. I feel suffocated by being here." Khushi said harshly. Arnav can see the pain and agony in her voice. 

"I can understand you Khushi. You are weak and need some rest. Our friendship means a lot to me. Please give me a few days, we can sort it out." He told her in desperation. 

"Arnavji, I can't…."

"Please Khushi." She couldn't reject his plea and nodded her head. Arnav went to the kitchen and returned with her breakfast.

"Here, have your breakfast and medicines." He said placing it on the table next to her bed.

"Thanks. Hmm, did any of my dress got dried?" She asked him.

"No, within a couple of hours it will be dried." H let her know and moved out of the room knowing how uncomfortable she is now.

Khushi looked at the closed door and took the breakfast. Due to the medicine she fell asleep for the next few hours. 

When Khushi woke up around noon, she found few of her dress neatly folded and placed on the shelf. Khushi took a pair of dress and worn it. She went to the kitchen and saw him arranging the lunch.

"When did you wake up Khushi?" Arnav asked when he saw her standing on the door step.

"Just now."

"Are you feeling better?" 

"I'm good." He didn't like the way she answered his questions, it was like she is talking to a stranger.

"Hmm, I have prepared our lunch. Do you want to have it here or in your room?" He asked hoping that she will agree to have food with him.

"I will use the dining table now." She said opposite to him and they started to have the food silently. Earlier, they used to talk a lot when they used to have food. There were times when she used to refill his plate with food. Arnav took a glance at her as she continues to have the food without paying attention to him. For the past four months, he loved the time they spend with each other while having food. It was always a joyful affair, with them discussing and sharing random things. Now her silence is killing him. 

"Hmm, Khushi I have night shift today."

"I'm okay now, so no problem." She replied.

"You can call me at anytime." 

"My phone got broken." 

"Use the landline then." He doesn't want to leave her alone in this situation but he doesn't have any other options. 

Once she finished her meal, she went back to her room and laid down on the bed. Tears started to follow from her eyes as she remembered his remorseful face. It was hard for her to keep silence while being with him. She loves that man without expecting it to be returned, but when she found all that she felt like she doesn't know him at all. Later that evening Arnav left for duty and Khushi thought about everything that happened in these two days. She decided to do what is best for both of them.

**************

Next day

Arnav returned home around noon and saw her waiting for him in the hall with her luggage besides her. 

"Khushi, are you leaving again?" He asked as soon as he saw the luggage. She walked towards him and stood in front of him.

"Yes I'm leaving, but before that I want to say something to you." Arnav looked at her not knowing what she is going to say.

"First of all, I'm sorry for my behaviour. I shouldn't have compelled you or intrude your privacy. It's my fault. The thing is I'm a small town girl and I take relationships way too serious without considering what the other person wants. I should have known that everyone is not like me." Her eyes started to get misty and she tried her best to put a smile on her face. 

"I tangled my feelings into it and messed up everything. When I was with you, I totally forgot the fact that you are not me. You are everything I'm not and I tried to put everything in my point of view. That's why it hurts me when I came to know that I don't know you at all. Now I knew that, it's the way you perceive friendship and I don't have any right to force my concept into your life. You were a great friend to me Arnavji and I will always be grateful for that. I'm not leaving because I'm angry at you. I'm leaving because I don't want to lose your friendship. If I live here, my small town thinking will create a lot of problems to us, so it's better to stay somewhere else than here." Khushi completed her sentence and wiped her tears. She gave him a teary smile and turned around to take her luggage. That's when she felt a tug on her hand.

Khushi found his cold hand holding her hand, stopping her.

"It's not your fault Khushi." Arnav told her.

"You are not at all wrong. I did hide a lot of things from you because I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?" She asked him. 

"Come with me, I will show you." Saying this he took her to the terrace.

"Why are we here?" Khushi asked him.

"I know that one day I have to take this risk. It's a fifty-fifty chance and I hope that it turns out to be the one I want." He told her and started to unbutton his shirt.

"What are you doing Arnavji?" Khushi asked not understanding why he is removing the shirt. He stood there bare chested. It's the first time, Khushi is seeing him like that. He is huge and muscular.

"This is the thing I hide from you." Saying this he stepped on to the sunlight. As soon as the sunlight hits his skin, it started to burn his skin. Arnav clenched his teeth together to overcome the pain. Khushi stood there watching his face and torso turning into brown colour.

"Stop it Arnavji." Khushi screamed seeing the way he suppressed his pain. Arnav moved away from the sunlight and kneel down on the floor. Khushi watched his skin returning back to normal. 

"Isn't this scary?" He asked in a feeble voice.

"What happened just now?"

"I'm different Khushi. That's why this happened." He said trying to get up. Khushi moved forward and helped him.

"Are you okay Arnavji?" She asked him.

"I will be, don't worry." He started to button his shirt and took her inside the house.

"Khushi I'm different and I was afraid that you will get terrified if you knew that." He said as soon as they reached the hall. Right now there are two questions are dangling in front of Khushi and she decided to pop the questions at him.

"Why do you have blood in your basement?" She asked him. Arnav know that this question is inevitable and decided to answer that honestly. He doesn't have anything to hide from her now.

"I feed on that." He said without looking at her as he doesn't want to see her reaction. Khushi got shocked to hear that from him. 

"You drink that?" She asked him again.

"Yes, when I don't have enough food I have to rely on that." He told her the truth.

"Is that human blood?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, never. It's animal blood." He replied instantly. Khushi connected the dots and she got the full picture of the scenario. Now it's the time to ask the crucial question.

"How old are you?" She asked him.

"34" Arnav replied.

"I meant your actual age?" She made her question clear and Arnav know that it's the chance he has to take.

"75" As soon as he replied that he heard her taking a sharp breathe. Khushi took two steps backward and stared at him from head to toe.

"You are a…" Khushi doesn't want it to be true and prayed that it's all a nightmare.

"I'm a half human." He said looking at the nervous Khushi in front of him.

"And?"

"A half vampire." He completed her sentence and averts his eyes from her.

"Half vampire…" Khushi whispered which is loud enough for him to hear.

"This is the truth Khushi. I didn't tell you because I don't want to lose you." 

"Why?" She asked him.

"Because you means everything to me. In my 75 years of life, I have never felt alive until you came into my life. I need you in my life, but I know that I'm not worthy enough to be in your life." Arnav completed his sentence and looked at her face. He saw her looking at him with nervousness and confusion. Khushi met his eyes for a moment and walked towards her room. She entered her room and closed the door properly. She kneel on the floor, as she burst into tears.

***********

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Sorry, If you don't like this chapter.

Happy Navratri

Precap