Heal Me

Through The Dark (13)

Khushi whimpered looking at him who was looking completely shattered like he is reliving that memory, right in front of him. She clutched his arm to stop him but he continued speaking "I was shouting, crying while holding my mother in my arms with my father kneeling beside me when I heard him whisper 'I am really sorry but I can't live with this shame and guilt' before I heard another gunshot and turned to look at my father's head falling back to floor. I screamed in horror and everyone came rushing inside the room."

_______________________

"The groom side left, cancelling the marriage instead of supporting the girl they claimed to love as their daughter, not just daughter-in-law." Arnav chuckles "From there started my journey to realize that no body actually cares, people around us pretend to love and support till we are happy and safe but the moment hard time befalls they leave you alone. I was sitting with Di in her room after returning back from giving fire to our parents unknown to another unexpected betrayal coming in our way."

Khushi looked at him in horror as if asking 'there is more' and her hold on Arnav tightened some more. "My grandmother was admitted in hospital due to shock and we were thrown out from our own house by our Uncle." Khushi was now crying bitterly and was going to interrupt him from continuing further but stopped in time. Like he himself said, he won't ever want to go through that memory lane again and she wants him to share this burden of pain, he is hiding. "Di and I cried, begged him to not do this with us, to let us stay. We told him, we don't want anything but he didn't listen and threw us on the roads. We were roaming around the roads all night as predatory eyes continued to follow us. Few men tried to misbehave with Di, I tried to fought with them but I was also a child. I hit one of them on head with the help of log and ran with Di and instead of meeting our grandmother next day, we managed to get in the train to Delhi and came to Nani and Mama ji."

"Nani and Mama was shocked to find us on their doorstep in messed up condition and when we told them everything, it left them more shocked and angry. They were still mourning over their daughter's and sister's demise and they got another shock, still Mama ji and Mami ji took us under their wings. Nani, Mama ji and Mami tried their best to give us parent's love. They loved us like their own, Mami never differentiated between her sons and us and Di actually mingled with everyone soon enough but I, everything happened pushed me to grow overnight. The prankster and naughty Arnav Malik died and a much mature, angry, and heartless Arnav Singh Raizada was born. Truth is, after whatever our Uncle did, I wasn't expecting my Mama and Mami to support us orphans either but still we tried as they were our last hope and I will be forever indebted to them for taking us under their wings, for bearing my tantrums, for supporting Di and for helping me achieve whatever I have achieved today."

"Arnav ji!" Khushi cried and Arnav finally looked up at her before he found himself in her arms and crying the tears he was holding from last 14 years, trying to act strong and brave for everyone. Today she realize why acted so rude and indifferent. Why he doubted her every step. He was just trying to be cautious. He was trying to protect himself and his family from any type of pain. His rudeness and anger was just a façade, behind which still lives that heartbroken and betrayed boy of 14 years.

Arnav was now sitting their quietly with Khushi beside him as they continued to look at the stars above them. "So, now do you understand that I never supported you out of pity? It was never some sympathy for a alone and helpless girl. That day when your aunt threw you out and your sister's effort to support you turned futile. I was rather imagining the day when were standing in front of our own house, begging to have some mercy but no one cared."

Arnav stands up with a sigh "I know we didn't meet on right foot. I know I have always acted rashly around you but I have always regretted that later. I used to be so confused that why do you effect me so much? Why suddenly my defensive mode turns alert around you? Why do I want to push you away from me so desperately? But now I think I do understand why."

Khushi looked at him confusingly as she also stands up and walked closer to him, Arnav also turns to look at her and smiled sadly. "Our lives are connected with this mutual thread of pain. We both are orphans who can understand the pain of that cursed word. Now we are standing on a point where both you and my sister is betrayed by same man. The man who have spoiled both your lives in different ways. Now you're also going through the same pain when your own people betrays you and leave you alone in this cruel world."

Khushi was crying soundly now as Arnav completed and looked down. Arnav walks closer and after a hesitant moment, his hands moved itself and before he knew his thumb touched her cheek, just beneath her eyes and rubbed the tears away. Khushi gasped as her whimpering stopped and her head shot up to look at him. Their eyes continued to look into each other, trying to understand the depth of pain they have been hiding behind their strong attitude.

"Never think of doing something like you did again, Khushi. You can't even imagine the horror I was feeling by finding you in that state, by just thinking if something could have happened to you that night. I have seen my mother in that pool of blood once and you can't imagine the impact of that sight on me. I am not trying to protect you or support you out of pity but because somewhere I see myself and Di when I saw you there alone like a lifeless person and you Aunt hurling accuses at you. You are not a burden to me or this family." Arnav tried to clarify and Khushi nodded like an obedient child.

"And also, stop using that childish mind of yours too much. I don't know what made you think that I was angry because of what will others think about me or my family. I have told this many time before and I am telling this again, Arnav Singh Raizada don't give a f**k to what others think. This society is biased, it works according to their own preferences." Khushi nodded with a small smile and Arnav also reciprocated before Khushi started leaving but something made her stop and she turned to look at Arnav who was already looking at her.

_______________________

"You're right, Arnav ji. There is this thread of pain which connects us in this weird twisted way of destiny. I am glad that you choose to share your pain with me today. I am happy that I somehow could be the person with whom you can share this burden of pain which you have been hiding inside you from so many years." Khushi gulped as Arnav also looked away to hide his emotions but Khushi managed to to smile and continue "I promise. I would take any such cowardly step in my life again." Arnav smiled at her which gave her courage to speak further.

"But will you promise me something?" Arnav frowned but asked her to continue "I want both of us to promise that from now on if we have any problem or any pain, we will share with each other. Doesn't matter how far we are, where we are but we'll always stay in touch and know that there's person out there with whom we can share anything without being judged, without being pitied. We'll have this assurance that we don't have to walk through that darkness alone, that there's someone who will always support us to walk through this dark." Khushi speaks bravely, trying to hide her fear of rejection behind that confident smile.

Arnav continued to look at her stunned, for a man like him who is now used to fight his all battles alone and hide his pain effortlessly, just the thought of this tempting offer seems foreign. "I know that may be whatever I am speaking, you won't like but just think about it. Till now you and I have fought our battles alone, have walked through this darkness alone but now destiny is giving us a chance to have a friend by our side and walk through the darkness of any situation in our way."

Khushi turned to leave after few moments when he didn't reply but stopped feeling her a grip on her wrist. She turned to look at Arnav whose focus was on their hands before he look up at her and smiled "Though it will take me sometime to get used with this deal but I think I like the idea of it. We can walk through the dark together and help to heal each other's wounds." Khushi smiled which soon turned into a chuckle "That's good but seriously Arnav ji, Deal?" and they both laughed this time.

To be continued....................

Next Update after 350+ votes.....

Thank you