Arohi's glanced at Arjun who sat across from her at the breakfast table. He had been even more quiet then usual this morning. And after their amazing day and night yesterday she had expected him to be anything but quiet and aloof towards her. When she woke up from the best sleep she'd had in months she had expected to find him still in bed with her. She was even thinking they would have breakfast on their little patio, just the two of them. But he'd already been dressed and out of the cabin. And then when she saw him at breakfast he'd barely spoken two words to her and when she mentioned how wonderful last night had been, he'd gotten a pained expression on his face and had stayed silent. She felt a lump form in her throat thinking about how special last night had been for her but it was clearly evident in the way he was acting that the same was not true for Arjun. "Arohi, can you please pass the cream." Lara said making Arohi's head snap up. Nodding she handed Lara the cream and caught the questioning look in her friends eyes. Forcing a smile on her face, Arohi tried to pretend that all was well. But she should have known that Lara rarely missed a thing. After breakfast Lara quickly pulled Arohi to the side. "What's wrong?" she asked, coming quickly to the point. "Wrong?" "Nothing is wrong Lara." "Everything is great." Arohi replied, forcing that fake smile into place and thanking god when Jai came to call Lara because it was time for Zara's feeding. Lara gave her a suspicious look but hurried after Jai. Not for the first time Arohi found herself wondering what her baby would have been like. How would it feel to be the most important person in someone's life? How would it feel to be loved unconditionally, to be relied on, and needed...and wanted. How would it feel to have someone in your life that would always want you there. If she had her baby today maybe things would have been different between Arjun and her too. Maybe he wouldn't push her away, maybe he would think their relationship was worth salvaging. She knew she was wallowing in self pity but she figured she'd earned it. As she stepped into their cabin she saw Arjun standing infront of his duffel bag, throwing clothes in. "What are you doing?" she asked, a confused look on her face. He couldn't possibly be leaving. "I need to get back home." "Things have come up at the office that I need to take care of." he replied, not meeting his eye. Arohi felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach. And just like that what she'd considered beautiful and special, what she considered the beginning of the rest of their lives..just like that... it suddenly felt dirty and wrong. Arjun sneaking away like some kind of one night stand. "I don't see Jai leaving his family early because he has to get back to work." she said quietly. Well I'm not Jai." he replied zipping up his duffel bag. "No, you could never be Jai." she bit out. "Jai isn't a coward." she added vehemently. Arjun's head snapped up and his eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not a coward Arohi." he said briskly. "Yes you are, and I know now nothing I do or say or feel will change that." she replied bitterly. "Arohi, this is not about you, I have work..." he began but was cut off by Arohi's sharp "STOP IT!" "Stop always hiding behind your work, or your parents relationship." "Your parents at this point in their lives are working so hard in their relationship and you who should have learned from their mistakes, you aren't willing to do anything but push me away." "Last night the way we made love, the tenderness and love...you made me feel precious." "Or so I thought" But today in the light of day you've just made me feel like a one night stand that you're sneaking away from." Arohi said, wiping swiftly at the tears she couldn't seem to hold back. "You're my wife Arohi, not a one night stand." "And I'm not leaving because of last night." he said. "Yeah, your wife." "I think you need to make up your mind about that...if you want a wife or not." "Because to me it doesn't seem like it." "You might say you love me but why do I feel like a dirty little secret right now?" "Why do I feel like yesterday mattered to me much more then it mattered to you...that for you it was just boredom or lust." she asked. "Arohi, I have told you before, what I feel for you isn't lust and it damn sure has never been boredom." "I love you, I don't know why you need me to keep convincing you of that." he asked in frustrated voice. "You should ask yourself that question Arjun...why do I need you to convince me that you do in fact love me." she said softly. Arjun ran a frustrated ran through his hair and said "It's not you Arohi." "I'm telling you it's not...it's me, I'm confused..and last night wasn't some dirty little secret for me...I...it was something important." he replied softly. "And so you're confused so like always you're going to push me away?" she asked. "When are you actually going to trust me and let me in." she asked. And there it was, Arjun thought to himself. Let her in, he'd let her in more then any other person. But he knew she'd want more, that's what he'd been waiting for. "There are some things that I need to figure out myself." he replied. "Well after almost a year and a half of marriage if you haven't figured it out I don't know if you ever will." she said softly, sinking down onto the bed as what she'd said sunk in. Arjun stared in silence at her. "I'm tired of waiting for you Arjun." she finally said. "What does that mean?" Arjun asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "It means that I'm giving up." "I don't have the energy for this anymore." she replied in a broken voice. "What?" "All this because I didn't wake you up with kisses this morning and write a sonnet for you about how beautiful and fulfilling our love making was." he said meanly. Arohi closed her eyes trying to hold back tears. "I didn't need a sonnet Arjun, I just needed a smile or a look." "Something that showed we are on the same wave length." "Instead I can see that we're as far from understanding each other as one could ever be." she replied. Arjun clenched his hands into fists. "I have given you everything Arohi, i have no more to give." he replied. Arohi brushed at her tears, staring out the window and seeing nothing. finally speaking she said " I guess that's our problem then, you have no more to give and I want more from you." "Neither one of us can be happy with that arrangement" she replied. "So what's your solution, are you going to run off to Chandigarh again?" he snapped. Arohi paused and then met his tormented gaze. "I don't know what I'm going to do Arjun, I just don't know." she answered in a broken voice. Their gaze still locked on each other. Arjun opened his mouth to say something but stopped as they heard a knock at the door. Arohi quickly wiped away her tears and moved to the bathroom shutting the door behind her. Hearing another knock Arjun forced himself to move to the door to answer it.
"Romit just told me your leaving?" Jai asked in surprise. "Yeah, something has come up at work." Arjun replied, not meeting Jai's eye. "Bull sh*t!" Jai snapped. "You're running away because yesterday you felt yourself getting too close to Arohi again." We all saw it but I should have known you'd be too scared to accept it." "The way you were acting yesterday I thought maybe you'd finally realized things and you and Arohi were finally moving on in your marriage but I should have known better!" Jai said with disgust. "Jai, I've told you before, stay out of my marriage." "You don't know what the hell you're talking about." Arjun snapped. "I know exactly what I'm talking about and I hope Arohi has realized what I have, I hope she's realized that you're never going to change and that in reality this tough guy persona of yours is just a cover up." "Under it you're a coward!" Jai snapped. Before Arjun could respond Arohi opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing the stormy looks on both Jai and Arjun's faces she spoke softly. "Jai, it's okay, I understand Arjun has to get back to his work." Jai gave Arjun a glare which Arjun returned. "I'm thinking I'm going to go back too." Arohi added. "Why?" Arjun asked in surprise. "Because I think I've had enough fun to last me for a while." she replied softly. Arjun ignored the look of disgust Jai threw Arjun and instead said. "No, you're not coming back yet." "You came to spend time with your friends and so you should." Barely keeping her composure Arohi turned to Jai. "Jai, could you excuse us for a moment please." Jai glanced at Arjun and then giving a short nod turned on his heal and walked out of the cabin. Arohi paused for a moment and then when she did look at Arjun she said "Is there a reason you don't want me coming home?" "Have you decided something...should I be looking for another home?" she bit out. Arjun's eyes widened in shock, which swiftly turned to anger. "That's your home, and you know that." he snapped sharply. "I don't know anything anymore." she replied softly. Arjun closed his eyes for a moment, to clear his head. "Arohi, I told you yesterday, it's not you, it's me and I'm trying." Arohi looked away so he couldn't see the tears that glistened in her eyes. If only that was true Arjun she thought to herself. Not only was he lieing to her but he was lieing to himself. He was pushing her further away she could feel it, and after yesterday's closeness she just couldn't fathom starting at square one again.
Arjun watched Arohi as she packed up her things. He felt like a world class jerk. She'd been so happy yesterday, and today he didn't think he'd ever seen her so sad. And he was the reason for the sadness and the pain in her life. He was trying to let go of his insecurities, atleast he'd admitted to himself he had them...that was a start damnit! But he needed time, he needed to figure this out, he needed time and maybe some space. The thought of being away from Arohi made his chest tighten in pain, he pushed the thought away. He would get back home and sort this out, but not now. He didn't want to do this right now. Seeing that Arohi was done packing Arjun made a move to grab her bag. "I'll put our stuff in the car, I'm sure you want to say bye to your friends." he said. "No, my stuff can go in my car, I'm driving back in my car." Arohi replied. "Why would you do that?" Ajrun questioned with a frown. "Jai or one of the others can drive your car back tomorrow, you're coming with me." he added. "NO!" she snapped forcefully. And then taking a deep breath she repeated herself in a softer voice..."No, I need to be by myself right now." Arjun opened his mouth to argue but from the stubborn tilt of her chin he knew there was no winning this battle. "Fine, do what you want, BUT I'm going to drive behind you the whole way back and I want you to make sure you stay in my sights the whole time." he replied gruffly. Arohi gave a quick nod and then quickly left the cabin to tell her friends of her decision. She knew they wouldn't be happy but right now she just couldn't bring herself to care. What that said about her state of mind she didn't want to even think about.
Arjun's eyes were on the vehicle infront of him. They'd been driving for 2 and half hours and had finally reached the the City limit's. Soon they'd be home, where he knew Arohi would want answers and reasons for why he was making everything so difficult. The problem was that he didn't know if he had any answers for her, and the reasons were too disturbing even for him to understand. Hearing his phone ring, he shook his head to clear it and then answered it. Hearing his assistant's voice he listened to her list off some questions for him. He answered, shifting his gaze off the car infront of him. "Yes, Lily you tell Mr. Rai that he can talk to the accounting department about the money still owed." he was saying when he heard a sound that he didn't think he would ever forget. It was the sharp skidding of tires and then metal against metal. And even though he knew logically it wasn't possible...he heard Arohi's scream. His car came to a skidding stop, his call forgotten as he stumbled out of his car and ran to Arohi's. Smoke was billowing out of the engine. It was as if everything had gone to slow motion. He knew he was moving because he reached Arohi and managed to wrench open the door. But was that his voice yelling her name, yelling for her to open her eyes as he tried to as gently as possible get her out of the vehicle. Her face was covered with blotches of blood, her eyes closed and her face way too pale. He didn't see the guy from the other car being helped out of his vehicle. He didn't see the crowd around him until helping hands started reaching out to his Arohi. "No, no one touch her!" he snapped hysterically, as he with shaking hands called for an ambulance and then with cold dread checked her pulse. She had a pulse! "Arohi, baby you have to open your eyes." he heard himself pleading as he started to perform CPR. But after each attempt his pleading got harsher. "You need to get up Arohi right now damnit!" "I will not stand for this!" he choked out holding her against him. The ambulance in all reality was there in just a few minutes but to Arjun it felt like hours. Hours in which his Arohi lost more blood, and seemed to drift further away from him. The paramedics pushed him out of the way but he wasn't going anywhere. "I'm her husband damnit!" he snapped as the paramedics lifted her onto a gurney and into the ambulance. "You can follow us in your car." they said to him but he shook his head and shoved his way on to the ambulance. He wasn't leaving her for a second. She needed to know that he was right here, and that he wouldn't let anything happen to her ever. "Arohi, baby." he said from the other side as he clutched her cold hand. "Come on please open your eyes." "It's me, I'm sorry baby." "I'm sorry." he managed pressing his lips against her hand. "You have to be okay." he whispered, his voice heavy with unshed tears. She was so still, so quiet. He never wanted to see her like this. His Arohi wasn't like this, she was animated, and strong and so full of life. Not like this Arohi...this Arohi who looked lifeless.
They reached the hospital in record time where Arohi was quickly wheeled into the Emergency room. Doctors and nurses already rushing to help her. As Arjun rushed forward he was pulled back. "Sir, you have to stay back, let us do our job." a nurse said to him. Arjun forced himself to move away and take a seat. Bent over, his hands clutching his head Arjun tried to tell himself everything was okay. She was going to be just fine. There was no other bloody option. She had to be fine...more then fine she had to be perfect just the way she was a few hours ago before he as usual ruined things for them and forced her to take the decision to come back to Mumbai. Right now she should have been sitting by the lake. Laughing, playing volleyball. Not fighting for her life. Closing his eyes he forced himself to breathe. He loved her to much to lose her now. "I'm sorry Arohi, I'm sorry." he whispered, tears glistening in his eyes. Getting up he paced the length of the hallway, bargaining with god that he would do anything ,give anything if only he could make Arohi okay. Ignoring his phone's beeps the first time around he finally answered the second time around. "Arjun," his mom's voice said on the other end. Arjun stopped pacing, leaning his head against the wall he briefly closed his eyes. A broken plea came out of him. "Mom?" he said. "Arjun, what's wrong?" "What is it?" his mom asked anxiously. "Are you okay?" she asked. Arjun forced himself to speak and tell her what had happened. "We're on our way...and sweetheart everything is going to be okay." his mom said in a strong confident yet soothing voice. He hung up with out a word and fell back into a chair. Staring wordlessly at the wall. His life with Arohi flashing over and over infront of his face. His life before her barely even a memory now. Barely even worth remembering because truth be told it wasn't until he met Arohi did he actually start living. It wasn't until he fell in love with her did he actually realize he had a heart, that beat like everyone else. He was nothing without her and now just hours later he couldn't understand why he'd ever doubted anything about him and Arohi, about their marriage, about their love. "Arjun." he heard. He felt his mom's comforting arms go around him as she sat down next to him. His dad's hand settling on his shoulder. "She's not going anywhere but home with us." he heard his dad say from next to him. Arjun closed his eyes and pushed back his tears. Taking solace in the two people he'd never counted on, but right now couldn't think about being without.
"Mr. Singhania." had Arjun's head snapping up. They'd been waiting for a grueling hour, to some it might not be long but to him it was an eternity. An eternity of picturing the "end of that happily ever after "he had always thought would occur. But now if need be he would move heaven and earth to make sure it didn't, that it couldn't. "How's my wife?" he quickly asked. "She's conscious and we think she'll be fine." "She's has quite a concussion and she's fractured her arm, we've run x-rays and will soon know how major the break is." That will take some time to heal but other then that she seems to be fine" "We will ofcourse keep her overnight for observation." the dr. answered. "She's fine!" Arjun burst out with a laugh. His eyes wet with tears which he quickly wiped away. "When can I see her?" he asked feeling his mom's arm go around him for support. Hearing his dad's happy laugh next to his ear. "She's still very disoriented so we don't want her disturbed too much, but right now her arm is still being set, after that you can see her." the Dr answered. Arjun's face felt like it would split from the grin that spread across it. His Arohi was going to be just fine. Just fine. he repeated to himself. He could barely sit still as he waited to see her and then found himself running down the hall when he finally did get the permission he was waiting for. She lay against the white sheet, her face still so pale, her eyes puffy. An IV going into one arm and a sling on her other arm for the moment. "Arjun." she said seeing his face. Arjun sat down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "How are you feeling?" he asked, taking his hand in hers and bringing it to his lips. "A little woozy, the pain killers they've got me on make me sleepy." she answered. Arjun nodded and couldn't stop staring at her. She was here with him and she was going to be fine. "Arjun," she said with a yawn and then a wince as she moved her arm. "Is the other person alright?" "He or she didn't get hurt did they?" she asked, a worried frown on her face. Arjun moved his hand up to caress her face, not being able to keep himself from touching her over and over again. "He's fine, just some cuts and bruises." Arjun replied. Earlier a nurse had supplied him with that information as Arjun waited for news about Arohi. And he'd felt selfish anger that why wasn't it Arohi that was leaving with just some cuts and bruises. Another yawn had Arohi's eyes closing. "Don't leave Arjun." were her last words before she drifted off to sleep. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'm not going anywhere." he replied softly, his throat constricting with emotion as he brushed a kiss against her forehead. And true to his word he didn't leave her side. The next day when she was released from the hospital wearing a cast, Arohi could tell Arjun was upset. He usually hid those kind of emotions behind an angry facade so the way he was barking orders at his staff as he talked to them on the phone and told them he wouldn't be back at the office for a few days had her wincing. As he settled her in his car and pulled out of his parking spot, Arohi spoke. "You know I'm fine, you should go ahead and go into the office." Arjun shook his head, his eyes on the road. "No, I can work from home." he replied. Arohi paused and then said "Look Arjun I can see you're angry about missing work to stay with me, so seriously just go in." "I'm fine and mom and dad are home if I need anything." Arjun's head whipped around so quickly as he stared at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asked with a frown. Arohi bit her lip and turned to look out her window. "You've been angry all morning, I know this is an inconvenience for you so I'm just telling you that I can take care of myself." she said softly. The next thing she heard was the squeal of tires as Arjun swerved to the side of the road. Arohi's scream filled the car as yesterday's accident flashed infront of her eyes. " Baby it's okay, you're fine." Arjun said worriedly as he put his arm around her protectively. Arohi's face was covered with her hands and she concentrated on breathing. "You're fine, I promise I won't let anything happen to you again." Arjun was saying against her hair. Arohi gave a short nod and forced herself to calm down, slowly uncovering her face. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "No, I'm sorry." he replied, tiling her chin up so he could look into her eyes. "I'm not angry because I have to stay with you...I want to stay with you." "I'm angry because...because I know how much pain you're in because of your arm, I'm angry because you're wearing a cast, I'm angry because you should still be at the cabin and not in this situation." "And silently to himself he added and I'm angry at myself for putting not only out marriage at risk, but your life. Arohi stared as his face. Pain evident in his eyes. And then she watched as he slowly pulled out on to the road again. His one hand holding hers tightly in his.
The next few weeks Arohi found everyone coddling her. Her arm was healing quickly and she was no longer taking pain killers and everyone from her family to her friends took turns spending time with her. "I'm not dieing." she had joked one day when Arjun was in the room and she didn't miss the tightening of his spine or the stormy look on his face. He had been treating her like she was made out of glass. Monitoring her progress, making sure all her needs were met, helping her bathe and dress. feeding her, the list was endless and even when she said she could have his mom help her he would decline and in his gruff voice tell her "No, I can do it." His gentleness and attentiveness was sometimes her undoing because his every action screamed how much he loved and cared for her, but because of their history she was so scared to believe in that love. He had changed though, there was no missing it. The biggest shock had been the change in his relationship with his parents. It wasn't like they were one big happy family now, BUT something was definitely different. He didn't snap and get angry over everything concerning his parents, she'd even seen him smile a few times at the dinner table over something his mom or dad said. They had a long way to go, but there was definite progress and she didn't know how this miracle occurred but it did. As the weeks progressed and Arohi started to get more self sufficient Arjun returned to work. But he was always home on time and during the day she would get several phone calls from him making sure she was okay. She noticed worry lines around his mouth when she tried to do something to quickly. "Arohi, be careful...and..."let me help you." were common phrases from his mouth. She also didn't miss the fact that even though he took care of her every need, physically he never tried to come near her and the most he ever did was hold her hand or kiss her forehead. This was an Arjun she was so unfamiliar with and all she wanted was to talk to him and find out what was going on in his head. But every time she brought up the topic of what happened at the cabin or even the accident he was quick to change the subject or make up an excuse as to why he couldn't talk right now. She was getting tired of this.
The day she had her cast taken off, Arjun accompanied her to the doctor's office. He seemed tense as he watched it come off and asked the doctor several questions. The doctor reassured them that she seemed to have healed well and to just take it easy returning to old activities. Arjun seemed to take his last words very seriously. "Arohi, I want you to take it easy and still do very little." he said as they pulled up infront of the house. "I'm fine Arjun." she chided. "If I don't use the arm how will I get strength back in it." she asked "I just want you to be careful, and if anything hurts you need to tell me." he said sternly. Arohi muttered something under her breath and shook her head as she walked into the house and up the stairs. Arjun frowned after her and moved up the stairs, shutting the door behind him as he walked into their room. "What's wrong?" Arjun asked, his brows furrowed. Arohi waited and took a deep breath and then another. "You know what's wrong Arjun." she said. "What's wrong is the way you treat me like I'm a little child!" "I'm a grown woman and I know what's good for me and not good for me." she snapped. Arjun stared at her in surprise then his lips tightened in anger. "Is it so wrong to be worried for your health and safety?" he asked. "You know I'm not talking about my arm!" she snapped suddenly. "I'm talking about how for weeks and weeks you've been avoiding me." she added. "Avoiding?" "I'm with you umpteen hours of the day." he replied, completely exasperated. "I'm not talking physically." "I'm talking about what happened between us before the accident...and what is still happening between us." she said, suddenly feeling a lump form in her throat. "Arohi, why don't you get better and then we'll talk about that." Arjun replied. "BETTER?! "I am better...I've been better for weeks...just talk to me Arjun." "Just tell me what are you thinking because I honestly can't continue like this." "I find myself loving you more and more every day and along with that love I feel resentment towards you for making me love you when we both know you have the ability to easily break my heart." "I'm tired of being confused and wary and I just think that maybe we should stop doing this." she said sadly. "Arohi," Arjun began. But Arohi quickly interrupted. "I know you wanted some time on your own to figure things out but you didn't take it because of my accident." "Arohi." Arjun interrupted again, but Arohi was going full steam ahead now. "I think maybe you should take it now." she said in a small voice. "AROHI!" Arjun barked and then pulled her around to face him. "Will you listen to me please." he said in gruff voice, and then in a softer one he added "I don't need any time, what I need to do is apologize for what a jack a*s and not to mention coward I've been." Arohi's mouth fell open at his admission and she watched as he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards a chair. Helping her down he grabbed another chair and sat down facing her. "I thought I was confused when all I really was, was afraid...afraid to let myself be completely loved by you." "I've always held a part of myself back because I'm ashamed to admit it but I wasn't completely sold on this "happily and forever." "But I was dead wrong." "There is happily and forever and I've been living it...without realizing it." "And "When you were in the accident I realized very quickly that, that could all be taken away from me...and suddenly I couldn't breathe." "I couldn't imagine how dark and lonely my life would be without you...a life not worth living." "You're much more then I will ever deserve but I'm grabbing on to you and not letting go Arohi." "Because you're mine, and I love you with everything in me and I need you Arohi, I need you to be my wife and my friend and my partner and the mother of my children." "I need you to yell at me and tell me when I'm being an idiot and I need you to stand beside me through everything life brings our way." Arohi who'd been staring at him with tears rolling down her face finally spoke. "What if you lose faith in us again?" she asked. "I won't, because "US" is the most important thing to me." "And now I know marriage isn't something you're good at from day one...it's something you work on every day of your life." "I will fight for us and I can understand if you're not ready to forgive me...I've been an a*s but all I ask is that you give me a chance to prove to you that I'm as invested in this marriage as you are." "That I love you as much as you love me and that I won't let you down again." A smile spread across Arohi's lips as she stared at him in almost awe. She couldn't believe that her Arjun was laying out his heart for her. "You are going to need to prove yourself Arjun, you're going to need to spend the next 50 plus years proving your love to me." "Are you up for the challenge?" she asked as she got up and pulled him up too." Arjun grinned. "I think I can manage that." he said. "Good, you can start off by giving me a proper kiss." she said as she moved into his arms. "You're the boss." he replied as his lips moved to hers for a soft tender kiss. Arohi melted into him, kissing him back and pouring all the love she had for him. Arjun groaned against her lips and then pulling back from the kiss he gathered her tightly in her arms. "We've lost so much time, and I want us to start making it up starting with a honeymoon." Arjun said against her hair. Arohi pulled back her mouth dropping open in shock again. "Honeymoon?" she repeated in shock and then pressed a hand against Arjun's forehead. "Are you feeling okay?' she asked. Arjun rolled his eyes and smiled. "Yes, you missed out on a lot of things because of me." "That's changing right now." "You decide where you want to go and I'll let Jai know he's going to be on his own for a while." Arjun answered. Arohi squealed d in happiness and hugged him tight. "So we could go to Europe, travel all over for as long as we want?" she questioned. Ajrun winced and replied. "Maybe not as long as you want, but how about 3 weeks." he replied. "3 weeks!" "Just you and me!" "I'll take it!" she said happily hugging him again. Arjun smiled and as he hugged her back, that feeling of tension that had gripped him for so long slowly drifting away. A huge weight lifted off his shoulders because he might not know exactly what his future held but he did know that it was going to be spent with the most amazing woman.
2 weeks later
Arjun double checked that he had their passports and other travel documents. Him and Arohi would be leaving for their very delayed honeymoon in just over 2 hours and Arohi's excitement had become contagious. "Arjun," he heard. Turning around at the sound of his dad's voice he gave a small smile. "You needed something dad?" Their relationship since the accident had come a long way. They weren't by any means a regular loving father and son giving each other hugs and pats on the back and going and watching ball games together. But there was an understanding there now that had never been there before. Arjun had seen his parents relationship grow stronger in front of him. He'd also felt their immense love for him. They had been a great support to him and Arohi after the accident and in doing so Arjun for the first time in a long time had a set of parents to rely on. It might have taken some time for them to get there but get there they did. "I was just going to say have a good trip and take care of yourself and Arohi." his dad said. At one time Arjun would have snapped back at that statement but now he acknowledged it and answered with " Thanks, we will." "I also wanted to say son that I and your mom, well we're very proud of you and Arohi." "You two have weathered storms very early in your marriage and instead of letting them destroy everything, you've fought and come out stronger." "And I know I'm the last person who should be giving you advice but all I want to say is learn from mine and your mom's mistakes, god knows we made a lot of them and you kids suffered the most from it." "And you have to know we didn't want to hurt you it's just that we were so centered on our own hurt that we couldn't see beyond it." "It's no excuse and we will live with our regrets." "Just talk to each other and more importantly listen to each other and forgive each other." his dad said softly. Arjun stared at his dad and maybe for the first time he actually saw a man behind the dad. A man who struggled and made mistakes and was trying to right them. "Thanks dad, I'll remember that." Arjun answered and then surprised his dad by holding out his hand for a hand shake. Arjun's dad looked at Arjun's outstretched hand and took a step towards him and gave him a tentative embrace. But his father was taken completely by surprise when Arjun tightened the grip and hugged his dad back. Arjun pulled away quickly but didn't miss the tears in his dad's eyes. "I know you'll be gone by the time Arohi and I come back from our honeymoon, but you and mom should come back soon to visit us." Arjun said softly. His dad nodded not being able to speak, a wobbly smile on his lips in answer.
Their honeymoon was everything they had imagined it to be and more. Traveling through Venice, Florence and Rome they lingered in coffee shops, spent hours in museums and galleries. wandered through nooks and crannies of the famous city's. Shopped for knick knacks and souvenirs and made love for hours. It was a honeymoon that they would remember for the rest of their lives but through the next two years that wasn't the only trip they took. Arjun had once promised her New York and he kept his promise and took her their twice because one time is not enough to fully appreciate a city like New York. They traveled to parts of India, to the UK and made trips to Chicago, Washington, Montreal, Vancouver and California. If Arjun was going on a business trip he'd want Arohi with him and she was only too happy to come. There life in Mumbai was full of friends, and visits from family and ofcourse of time with each other. Arjun's work still took a lot of his time but he'd learned to delegate more responsibility and he made a point of being home on time in the evenings so he could spend them with Arohi. They spent time doing all the things they loved, Arjun would drag Arohi out for runs and for hikes. Arohi would take Arjun to gallery openings and even ice skating. Together they explored new and old places, restaurants they'd never been to together or took long walks on beaches with Sweetoo running ahead of them. The two years were magical. Their relationship stronger then they could ever imagine. That didn't mean they didn't argue and disagree they understood that was a natural part of a loving relationship. They just didn't hold on to any of those arguments, letting go and concentrating on their love for each other.
Arjun rubbed his eyes and yawned as he dropped the file he'd been reading on to his desk. Glancing at his watch he made his way out of his study. Arohi was probably fast asleep he thought to himself as he climbed the stairs up their room. Nowadays he liked to leave his work at work, so that he could spend his evenings with Arohi. But this particular project had needed some extra looking after, hence the late night. He smiled as he glanced at his phone remembering the text message from his brother Vicky. It seemed that Vicky who had permanently shifted to Singapore, had fallen in love. Arjun rolled his eyes and smiled remembering the last time he'd received a message like that from Vicky, over 5 years ago only that time he'd added that he was getting married. And Arjun would be foreber grateful to Vicky for running away from his wedding so that Arjun could step in and marry Arohi. The woman he now loved more then anything in the world. As he gently opened the door as to not wake Arohi up he was surprised to see the room blanketed in a soft light. Shutting the door softly behind him, his eyes fell to the centre of the bed. Arohi lay in the middle of the bed, a soft glow surrounding her. She wore an almost sheer white bra and panties. Her long hair falling in waves around her. A smile playing on her lips as she stared back at him. Arjun stood frozen, staring at the beautiful sexy woman infront of him. Arohi felt herself blush as she continued to feel Arjun's smoldering gaze on her. Even after all these years her heart rate still accelerated at his one look of desire. Arjun watched as Arohi bit her bottom lip, a sure fire sign she was getting nervous. Her hand reaching out to pull the duvet up to cover herself, had him quickly moving towards the bed. "Oh no you don't." he said in a husky voice as he pulled the duvet from her hands and shoved it to the ground. Pulling off his own t-shirt he threw it to the ground. His knuckles brushed across her cheek and Arohi closed her eyes at his touch. "I love this." he said softly as his finger gently traced over the lacy strap of her bra. He moved closer taking her mouth for a kiss that had her clinging to him. Her hands moving over his back as she arched against him. His lips tracing a path along her jaw. Arohi brought his face back up to hers and kissed him, moaning as he deepened the kiss and his hands moved over her body. Their clothes came off quickly after that and as Arjun moved over her, Arohi in her haze of passion whispered. "Arjun, give me a baby." His head snapped up to look at her, His eyes searching hers. Arohi nodded, a smile on her face. Arjun's head dipped and his lips met hers for a deep kiss. Wanting more then anything to give her what she wanted...what he wanted.
Later Arohi lay curled in Arjun's arms, half dozing. A lazy, satisfied smile playing on her lips. Arjun pressed a soft kiss against her forehead and asked "You're sure you're ready baby?" Arohi lifted her head to look at him. She knew Arjun didn't want her to feel any pressure to have a child yet. But last week when they had attended Zara's birthday party, Arohi felt that familiar pinch in her heart at seeing Arjun playing with Zara. It definitely wasn't the first time she'd felt that pinch. She knew she wanted a child of her own, but after what happened with her last pregnancy she couldn't help but be scared. But for some reason that day, seeing Arjun and Zara together...that fear disappeared and what replaced it was an overwhelming feeling of this time everything would be okay. And in her heart she just knew it would be. Taking Arjun's hand and pressing it against her abdomen she replied softy "I'm sure." Arjun pulled her closer against him. "It might not have happened this time, I don't want you to get your hopes up...it could take a few months..." he began, but Arohi squeezed his hand. "I know." she said softly. Gently letting him know that he didn't need to worry about her...that she herself wasn't worried. "I love you." he said a few moments later as Arohi was just drifting off to sleep. "I love you too." she replied back, a happy smile on her face as she fell asleep.
A year later
"Papa's little angel let's be quiet for your mama and let her sleep in." Arjun whispered to his beautiful 2 month old baby girl as he picked her up from her bassinet and carried her to the rocking chair. A bottle in his hand to feed his hungry little girl. His little Khushi who had her mom's lips and smile, and her dad's eyes and already his stubbornness. "That's better huh?" he said with a smile as he watched her greedily take the nipple into her mouth. His eyes moving over to the bed where his Arohi lay fast asleep. His girls. An overwhelming emotion filled him as he looked from his wife to his daughter. How the hell did he get so damn lucky! But lucky he did get. Looking down at his precious little girl, her eyes already starting to close as her tummy filled. He couldn't believe that she was here and she was his. She'd had his love the second he found out Arohi was pregnant but once he saw her...well right then she'd taken his heart too. And the first time she'd wrapped her little hand around his finger with such trust. He'd felt tears fill his eyes and right then he'd vowed to be the best father he could possibly be. Seeing that Khushi had fallen asleep he pressed a soft kiss against her forehead, breathing in her sweet baby smell. "I love you baby girl." he said softly as he laid her back into her bassinet. Love, a word he used to fear and now used so freely and often. He loved his life and as his gaze moved to where Arohi was still sound asleep he looked at the reason that he was so happy, and so content and couldn't help but smile. As if sensing he was looking at her, Arohi's eyes fluttered open. "Khushi." was the first word out of her mouth as she looked over at the sleeping baby in the bassinet. "Go back to sleep, she's fine." Arjun replied as he got back into bed next to Arohi and pulled her close to him. Arohi burrowed closer and as Arjun's eyes closed and he drifted back to sleep, a contented smile touched his lips. Pyar tho Hona Hi Tha, but in this story he got a hell of a lot more then just love, and he wouldn't have changed a single moment of it.
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Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha
FanfictionI'm just POSTING this story here... I don't own it... it's written by IF user @salmankh1 (Raman di). Arjun hates the idea of marriage or love but loves his li'l brother beyond limits, so when he says that he was getting married to his girl friend, h...
