Contract Commitment ▪︎ARSHI▪︎

•Thirteen•

Stretching a hand out across ice cold sheets, Arnav turned onto his chest so his face could nestle into the pillow that still smelt of her. Clenching the duvet in his fist, he released a growl that sounded eerily like her name.

Her cries for more had swallowed him whole, it was like he'd only been living half a life until she'd stumbled into him, running on empty till she said his name and now he was full.

It was odd really, how his desire for her had fuelled him in a way nothing else ever had. He wanted her, he got her then suddenly he lost her and just like that nothing was ever the same again and goddammit he missed the familiarity.

Turning back onto his back, he threw an arm over his head and huffed aloud. There was far too much to think about, far too much to worry about and not enough time to do anything about it.

Even if there was, even if he could do something- what would he do? Drive around town till he saw her smile shining on the streets? Stick up posters with her beautiful face and her name hyphenated to his as if ever joined in matrimony? No. He couldn't.

Wouldn't.

Running a hand tiredly down his face, he groaned, "Khushi, Khushi, Khushi, where did we go so wrong?" Eyeing the picture on the mantlepiece, his eyes scrunched shut.

Seeing her walk away from him and straight out the door into the unknown had been nothing but a kick to the gut, but he hadn't stopped her. He couldn't. Arnav had vowed never to stand in her way if she ever left, all he could do now was hope she'd come back and if she didn't...

Well.

Then he'd just have to live with it. As Sade Zabala said; "Kill the part of you that believes you can't survive without someone else" and if that's what he had to do to carry on, then he would do it! God, he'd do anything if it meant seeing her happy.

Even if seeing her happy meant seeing her with someone who wasn't him.

XXX

"Arnav" she spoke into the silence, her tongue caressing his name as his arms had always caressed her. "It feels dark tonight" a thick gulp took her breath away causing it to burn her chest as it polluted her lungs.

Turning her torso in a manner of turning away from the pain consuming her, Khushi covered her arms with shaking hands she wished were his and looked out at the blank sky.

She knew that now wasn't the time to dwell, that now was the time to begin fixing the mistakes she'd made because then and only then could she return to the safe haven they called home, but Lord it was difficult, near impossible if she was being honest. How could she distract herself from her husband long enough to begin unpicking the mess she'd made?

Eyeing the phone on the table, she shoved her tongue into her cheek. It was a start she supposed, perhaps not enough, perhaps nothing ever would be, but she couldn't think like that or she'd lose her mind. "You know Murphy's Law?"

"That you can never run out of things that can go wrong? Yes, I'm aware of it" Nav's voice crackled through the speaker.

"Well, I'm trying to ensure more things go right and it never will if I work as your Lawyer" turning her head toward the phone, she sighed loudly. "I can suggest some Lawyers, good ones, great ones, ones that are better than me but-".

"But none of them will be you" he interrupted. "It is my legal right to choose my Lawyer and I choose you".

"And it is my legal right to respectfully decline" she grit out angrily. "Look," she pinched the brim of her nose, "You coming to my office already caused an argument between my husband and I and I don't wish to argue over you again, you are my past and he is my present and that-".

"But I am trying to be your future" he butt in once again. "You don't love him, Khushi, any fool can tell you that, even that buffoon Danny, I mean can he really make you happy? Ever considered what happens when he falls in love with someone else? You end up on your ass, he isn't going to pick you up and he certainly won't pick you over her!"

"And that is all that matters" she finished, cutting the phone off as she did. The next second it was hurling across the room, smashing into two pieces in a way that mirrored her heart as she stood in a room that wasn't hers and wasn't his.

"Uh" Danny looked around, eyes wide. "I made you a hot drink, but I can come back?"

"Oh hush" she admonished, kissing his cheek as she took the cup. Sitting on the edge of the bed, her lip trembled around the rim as she sipped the cocoa hoping it would distract her from the tears she wished to spill.

"I'm assuming from your ever so cheerful smile that things went well?" He asked dryly.

"He called you a buffoon" she smirked.

"Never been called that before" he chuckled, "He's just sad that I'm gay and I still have a better chance with you than he does".

At that she burst out into a raucous laugh "You're not wrong there" nudging his arm, her head shook at his antics.

"But the man that does actually stand a chance with you" taking the mug from her hand, he smiled reassuringly, "What are you going to do about him?"

"Urghhh" she yelled, throwing herself back onto the bed dramatically. "You had to ask, didn't you?"

"I wouldn't be your best friend if I didn't". Crossing a leg over his knee, Danny grabbed her hand comfortingly. "You can stay here as long as you want, you know that".

"Why do I feel like there's a but coming?" Khushi rolled her eyes in mock annoyance at his all telling smile.

"But" he enunciated. "Running won't fix this, what you both need to do is talk, you can fuck him till the sun goes down and fuck him again till the sun sets but it won't change the fact that he wants to make love to you".

"Must you be so vulgar?" She admonished, hand smacking his hip as she sat up.

Scoffing, he shoved her hand away. "I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that two people with as much chemistry as you two and with a connection like you two have can have sex and not fall in love, I also don't understand how you can't see that the man's already madly in love with you".

At his words, her eyes popped open "Excuse me?"

"He could have any woman, he's rich, attractive, smart and kind, many would kill to be in your position yet he asked you? Come onnn! The man said he wants your heart, flirts, get jealous and looks at you like you put the stars in the sky".

"He's just a possesive person".

"Over what he sees as his" he eyed her pointedly, "The thing he doesn't seem to realise is that you've been his since the day you said yes".

Scrunching her brows, a frown formed on her face.

"And yet here you are, sat at your secretary's house when you could be in bed with him".

"Come on Danny, you know you're more than a secretary to me" Khushi wrapped an arm around his and placed her cheek on his shoulder.

"And I know you're just finding excuses to continue this conversation so you don't have to do the thing you don't want to do" his brows wiggled playfully.

"And what's that?" She looked up, eyes glossy and smile sad.

"GO TO SPECSAVERS BECAUSE YOU CLEARLY CAN'T SEE AT ALL" he yelled only to be knocked back by a pillow to the jaw the moment the words left his mouth. "Oh" his mouth fell open in shock. Pulling himself onto his knees, he scowled "You're going to pay for that".

Moving away before he could lunge at her, she giggled into her hand. "Yes, but later, right now I have to go".

"If the situation wasn't so dire I would put up a fight, but I need my beauty sleep" gesturing to his body, he flicked his hand over his shoulder, "Perfection doesn't come so easy" he yawned.

Looking down at her ring, she smiled softly "No, but some people make it look easy".