Safe in Your Arms: Unyielding love

Chapter 1

"Khushi, I love you. I have loved you from the moment I met you in Lucknow."

Those words, the very ones Khushi had longed to hear from the man she loved, now felt like a cruel mockery. She had imagined countless times a fairy-tale proposal under the canopy of stars, her heart filled with joy and love. But as she stood there on the terrace, surrounded by the twinkling lights of the night, the arms that held her filled her with nothing but repugnance. The hands clutching her made her skin crawl; the proximity of the man repulsed her.

"Leave me," she choked out, her voice trembling with disgust. "I said, leave me, Shyamji." Khushi struggled to free herself, her body recoiling from his touch.

But Shyam's grip only tightened as he pleaded, "No, Khushi. I love you. I don't love Anjali. I married her just for the money. I can do anything for you. Just say yes to me."

Khushi gathered every ounce of her strength and shoved him away. "If you don't love Anjali, why don't you just leave her? Divorce her."

A manic gleam appeared in Shyam's eyes, a twisted smirk curling his lips. "I will, Khushi," he declared with unsettling determination. "I will do anything for you. Just wait a few days. There will be no Anjali in my life for you to deny me anymore." With those chilling words, Shyam turned and left, his mind already plotting his next move to claim Khushi as his own.

Khushi stood there, her body trembling as the gravity of the situation sank in. The encounter with Shyam had left her feeling drained, violated even. The memory of his lustful gaze, his possessive touch, made her feel dirty, soiled. She began to rub her hands on her arms, desperately trying to erase the sensation of his touch. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, the filth he had left behind seemed to cling to her skin.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and heavy sobs wracked her body as she slumped to her knees. The bile rose in her throat, but she forced it down, unwilling to give in to the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her. She felt utterly alone, trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape.

Slowly, Khushi steadied herself, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Shyam's direct approach had crossed a line she never thought he'd dare to cross. She had held on to the hope that he would mend his ways, that he would focus on his wife and their marriage. But now she saw the truth—she was nothing more than an obsession to him. His relentless pursuit, the way his eyes with lust followed her every move in Shantivan, filled her with a terror she could barely contain.

She had tried so hard to keep the truth hidden, to protect the Raizada family from the reality of their beloved son-in-law's true nature. But now, she questioned whether she had made the right choice. How much longer could she endure this? How much longer before she broke under the pressure? Oh, how she wished she could tell someone, anyone, about the horrors she was facing. She yearned for the comforting embrace of her amma, for the reassurance that everything would be okay. But each time she tried to broach the subject with her family, they reminded her of Payal's marriage, of the promise she had made to them. And so, she swallowed her pain, forced herself to endure it for just a little longer. She furiously tried to swipe away her tears. If someone from the Raizada family found out, her sister's wedding would be at risk once more, and Khushi knew her family would never forgive her for that.

Taking a long, unsteady breath, Khushi decided to keep her silence for one more night. Just a few more hours. She had to stay strong, for Payal's sake.

With a heavy heart, she stood and turned to return to her sister, to be there for her on her big day. But as she moved toward the terrace door, her steps faltered. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach as she saw him—Arnav Singh Raizada, standing there, watching her.

His eyes were red, his fists clenched at his sides, and the expression on his face was one of cold, controlled fury. The mask of the ruthless, heartless, and arrogant ASR had returned, and the sight of it filled Khushi with dread. The charming, flirtatious Arnav who had been slowly winning her heart over the past few days was nowhere to be seen.

"A... Arnav..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Arnav's eyes bore into hers, a storm of emotions swirling behind them, but his face remained impassive. He was a man who had built walls around his heart, and in this moment, those walls seemed impenetrable. He said nothing, his silence more terrifying than any words could have been.

Khushi's heart pounded in her chest as she watched him turn and march back down the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the quiet night. The tears she had just held back, again spilled over, and she choked down the sob that threatened to escape her throat.

In those few seconds, everything they had begun to build between them seemed to crumble. Khushi could see it in his eyes—the trust they had started to form, the tentative steps toward something more, all of it was now in jeopardy. She feared that the unforgiving ASR would return, that the man who had once been a monster to her would erase any trace of the gentler, more caring Arnav she had glimpsed.

She stood there, rooted to the spot, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She had hoped for understanding, for support, but all she felt now was the cold sting of rejection and the overwhelming fear that she had lost him for good.

She ran behind him, her heart pounding in her chest as she called out desperately, "Arnavji, listen... just once, please." Her voice trembled with fear and hope as she followed him, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

Khushi stood panting at the threshold of Arnav's room, watching as he slumped into his recliner, his head buried in his palms. The sight of him so defeated, so unlike the strong, commanding man she knew, sent a wave of panic through her.

She gulped, uncertain of what to do next. She had always been able to read him, to understand the man beneath the tough exterior. But now, as she looked at his hunched yet rigid figure, she felt lost. The Arnav she had encountered in those first few meetings—the ruthless ASR who had terrified her—seemed to be back, and she feared that she couldn't handle him now, not when her heart was so fragile.

Hesitantly, she took a step into the room, every fiber of her being on edge, terrified that he could unleash his inner beast at any moment.

"Close the door, will you?" His voice, tired yet cold, cut through the silence, making her shiver. The command slowed her thoughts, leaving her fumbling with her fingers, unsure of how to proceed.

"I said, close the door, Khushi," Arnav growled, his voice laced with impatience.

She jumped, startled by the harshness in his tone, and hurriedly closed the door behind her. The sound of it clicking shut felt final, like she was sealing herself in the room with the beast that might destroy her. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched him, her heart aching at the sight of his hunched form.

After what felt like an eternity, Arnav slowly looked up from where he was sitting. His eyes, red and filled with pain, locked onto hers, and the look in them pierced her soul. They accused her of betrayal, and the weight of that accusation was unbearable.

"So, tell me, Khushi, since when has it been going on? You and Shyam?" His voice was flat, emotionless, as if he were asking about something trivial.

Khushi swallowed, her throat dry and tight with fear. "Ar... Arnavji... it's not... not what you think," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to form the words.

"Don't." Arnav's voice rumbled with barely contained fury. "Don't even think about lying to me, Khushi." He stood, his fists clenched at his sides, his body radiating anger. "I witnessed everything."

The sudden intensity in his voice made Khushi shudder, and the tears continued to flow, blurring her vision. "Please, Arnavji, listen to me just once. It's not... I... I..."

"It's not what, Khushi?" He snapped, his eyes burning with accusation. "Is it not that Shyam is cheating on my sister with you? Is it not that he's betraying my family?"

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