Accepting Reality ✔️

Part 21 - Closer

Arnav and Khushi were surrounded by the quiet aftermath of the broken mirror and the remnants of the perfume bottle.

Arnav: "Khushi are you okay? Did you get hurt from the glass?" he asked as he inspected her body for newer cuts and scrapes.

Arnav: "Khushi, please, talk to me. I'm here for you. I need to know what's going on in your mind."

He still got no response.

Arnav: "Khushi, I know you're hurting. I know you're not ready to talk, but I need you to know that I'm here. I want to help you, but I can't do that if you don't let me in."

Finally, Khushi turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment. The vulnerability in her gaze was enough to shatter Arnav's composure.

Arnav (whispering): "Please"

Khushi (weeping terribly): "I can't believe how much I've changed. I don't even recognise myself in the mirror anymore. I can't see that fun-loving, bubbly girl from Lucknow. All I see is a devastated woman from Delhi. This world has ruined me, people took their revenge and left me a weakling. My husband... he hates me, and society will laugh at me now, look at my condition. It would have been better if I had died. Why did you save me, Arnav? Why? Even after everything I did with you, you saved me. I have been nothing but a bitch to you, I tried to take advantage of you at every step. I don't know how I forgot, what all you did for me. This is my punishment I guess, I deserve it for cheating you at every step."

Arnav gently cupped her face, his touch was both tender and reassuring.

Arnav: "Who told you that your husband hates you? You really think I could hate you, Khushi? I was angry with you for playing me, yes, but I can never hate you. I was shocked that someone was devilish enough to play the great ASR, but you did it. And you're the strongest person I know. You broke me, Khushi. So, what are you scared off? That piece of shit, Sahil? Don't think I'm going to leave him easily. He touched my wife, I'm going to make sure he pays for it. I'll torture him and kill him. These scars he gave you, I'll make sure he gets double, triple, the number of marks on his body. That's my promise to you. And you don't have to worry about anything else, of course I will save you Khushi, every single time, no matter what happens, I will always save you my baby."

Khushi's tears continued to flow, but her grip on Arnav tightened. "Arnav, you don't hate me?"

Arnav: "Of course not, my baby. We've been at each other's throats, I agree, but only we have the right to do that. No one else has the right to treat us like shit. We'll get through this, I promise you. I'm here for you, whatever you need. Don't ever think that I hate you. I'm here, come lay down and stop crying, please."

Khushi clung to him, her sobs slowly subsiding. "Don't leave me, Arnav."

Arnav: "I won't, Khushi. I'm here, always"

Khushi: "Always?"

Arnav: "Always," he replied firmly.

Arnav gently guided her to another room, away from the turmoil of their bedroom. He prepared her medications and began carefully applying them to the marks on her body, his movements were slow and deliberate. Each touch was filled with care and compassion as he worked to soothe her physical wounds. Khushi began speaking again,

Khushi (softly): "I am sorry Arnav, for everything I did to you. The things I did, I don't think an apology will fix anything but still consider this a start, I am very sorry. If you can please consider forgiving me, I am so sorry... so sorry.."

Arnav: "You did nothing to me Khushi and I am not saying this because of the situation we are in right now. I have been thinking about it for quite sometime now."