Us again

18-A lover and his love

    Late night, Sheesh Mahal palace

   Khushi was standing on the terrace,watching the stars.  She didnot know how she became so attached to stars.  For her, stars were the solace she needed after a hectic day.  In the embrace of glittering sky, she felt home.  The peace she gotwatching the far away stars was something words cannot describe.
 
   
   She, the only daughter of Raichand family, was the apple of the eyes of her family.  Yet there was a member of family, Kalavati, who hated her. She shivered remembering the face of Kalavati. Kalavati was a terror Khushi had tried hard to overcome, but she was not completely successful..

   The words Arnav said during family discussion about Malliks made her remember Kalavati again.  She knew that Arnav avoided mentioning Kalavati because of her.  In fact she knew Kalavati was far more of a menance than Malliks..

  Khushi was feeling depressed. If not for her, Arnav could have clearly mentioned Kalavati and her actions to the family.  In fact the family seemed to avoid Kalavati completely due to her.. 

  Her eyes filled with tears.  She sniffled and let the pearls drop from her eyes thinking no one was there to notice it..

   However Arnav standing some distance away was feeling his heart breaking. Her tears were as though iron nails, piercing through his heart.  He so wanted to embrace his little treasure in his arms and hide her away.  Hecould very well remember himself being the solo reason of her tears.  After gaining another chance he had vowed to never let her shed another drop of tear.  Yet he is not a god.  He could not protect her from the demons.  He knew she needed to face this to grow stronger,yet his heart felt like being twisted with a knife. He wished he could take all her pains away and protect her from every harm.  His subconscious was telling him it was not his fault.  He had done best he could to protect her, his family, his brother.  He had stopped both Aksh and Khushi when they had met NK from befriending him.  The little ones of his never questioned him for stopping them.  Yet he had shown them the cctv footage of NK bullying some kids and beating them mercilessly. From then on the little ones had stopped looking friends outside.  They grew up with love,care and protection of Arnav, both direct and indirect. They,every Raizada and Raichand,had huge friend circles.  But nobody was given permission to enter their private life.  For them only Aman was a friend cum brother..

    Arnav walked towards Khushi, Khushi looked back surprised. When she saw it was her Arnav, more tears broke out and she ran to him and threw herself in his arms, her safe haven.  Arnav embraced her tightly like he was trying to mold her to himself.  He kissed her hairs on the top of her head.  Khushi's hicupps were breaking his heart.  He began to sooth his angel, slowly rubbing her back in circles, wishpering sweet nothings in her ears..

   After some minutes Khushi stopped hiccuping. When Arnav trued to break the embrace, she snuggled closer and put her head on his chest where his heart beats and sighed.  Arnav was reluctant too.  It was just, he was concerned about cold as it was way past midnight and both were standing on the open terrace in just their night suits.  And Khushi was wearing nothing inside her night suits. It was really a test for a man's self control..

     It was hard, but the great ASR controlled,afterall he had been practicing self control for some time now.  After few minutes he heard very cute snore of his angel and he smiled. Her love, trust on him was such a rare sight in modern world and his love.. What to say about His love??

  Gently picking up the sleeping angel who frowned cutely for being disturbed and snuggled closer to his chest, holding the lapel of his shirt,he princess carried her to her room.  Putting her on her bed, he removed her slippers, removed her hold on him, kissed her forehead,covered her with duvet.  After she peacefully slept he left for his room to rest..