Safe in Your Arms: Unyielding love

Chapter 3

"Marry me." The words were not a question but a command, his tone unwavering, leaving no room for doubt. "Today."

A shiver ran down Khushi's spine, the gravity of his request settling over her like a heavy blanket. Her hands, which had been cupping his face, slowly retreated back to his lap. Her eyes widened in shock as she tried to comprehend what he had just asked of her. She searched his face, desperate to find a trace of the man she loved, but all she saw was a cold, unreadable expression.

"Arnav ji?" she whispered, her voice barely audible as she tried to make sense of the situation.

"I said, marry me. Today," he repeated, his gaze never wavering from hers. The silence between them was charged, each trying to decipher the other's thoughts, but finding only a maze of confusion and uncertainty. "Tell me Khushi, Will You?"

Khushi's heart pounded wildly in her chest, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. This was not how she had imagined this moment, not in her wildest dreams. She had envisioned a playful, tender Arnav, teasing her with a smile, not this distant, cold ASR. Yet, beneath his stern exterior, she knew there was a man with a heart of gold. He had always protected her, even when she didn't realize it, and now, despite everything, he was asking her to trust him with her life.

Guilt gnawed at her insides as she looked into his eyes, holding on to his question. She had always prided herself on understanding love, on valuing the sanctity of marriage. Yet here was Arnav, a man who had once dismissed the very concept of love, now asking her to marry him. She had underestimated him, judged him harshly, and now, she realized just how deeply he cared for her. He hadn't asked for explanations, hadn't questioned her integrity. He had trusted her, despite her giving him every reason not to.

She had thought she knew what love was—those fluttering butterflies, the pounding heart, the violins playing in the background. But now she understood that love was something deeper. It was trust, loyalty, and standing by someone even when the world crumbled around them. Arnav had shown her that, time and again, in his own way. And today, his unwavering faith in her was the greatest testament to his love.

Though he hadn't professed his love for her, he had trusted her and respected her in the biggest turmoil of their life. She didn't deserve this man, but she was too selfish to let him go. She couldn't imagine a life without him, and here he was, offering her a chance to be by his side forever. Her heart ached with the weight of her emotions, but she knew what she had to do.

Swallowing hard, Khushi nodded slowly, her voice trembling as she answered, "I will."

Arnav's shoulders seemed to relax, a brief flicker of relief passing through his eyes before his mask of indifference returned. "You should freshen up and get ready," he instructed, his tone still firm, though his hands lingered on hers for a moment longer.

"Arnav ji?" she asked, confusion clouding her mind as she tried to process everything that had just happened. Her face was streaked with tears, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

Arnav gently pulled his hands from hers, cupping her face tenderly as he wiped away her tears. There was a softness in his touch that contradicted the coldness of his words, and for a brief moment, she saw a glimpse of the man she loved.

He stood, bringing her up with him, his presence commanding as always. "Get ready to attend your sister's wedding, Khushi, and meet me afterward outside the mansion. I'll be waiting for you," he said, his voice neutral, giving nothing away.

Khushi was too stunned to argue, her mind reeling from the turn of events. She slowly walked out of the room, her feet moving on autopilot as she joined her sister on her big day. But her thoughts were elsewhere, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation.