The Controlling Lover (ON HOLD)

Chapter Thirty

It was late into the night, almost 3 AM. Arnav had gone to bed at 11:30 after showering, and since then, Arnav couldn't fall asleep. His eyes were wide open, not an ounce of sleep in them. He just couldn't sleep. All Arnav could think of was Khushi - he was worried. He tried to convince himself that she was fine, but he couldn't accept it - he was just too worried about her.

Unable to sleep, Arnav got up and went out of his room. He headed downstairs to the middle floor and went to the library. Walking over to his desk, Arnav opened up the top drawer and got out a set of keys. They were the master keys and Arnav could open every single door with it.

Arnav headed across the conference room to Khushi's door. Finding the key to her room, he inserted the key and turned it. Quietly, he carefully opened the door. Inside, it was dark, lights from the skyscrapers peeking in through the windows. Khushi was asleep on her bed, wrapped in the sheets she had ran away in earlier. Arnav quietly walked over to her and carefully sat beside her, making sure to not wake her. Arnav reached out and brushed Khushi's hair aside and then cupped her face. He noticed the dry tear stains on her face and felt his heart clench, understanding that she had cried herself to sleep.

Arnav clenched his fists. Getting up, he went to the bathroom and found a small washcloth. He went over to the sink to wet it with warm water and then went back to Khushi. Carefully, he wiped her face clean, making sure she didn't wake up. As he cleaned her up, he couldn't help but to gaze at her.

She used to be a very chirpy person, always bubbly and out-going. And now... now she's nothing like that... she's been hollowed out... because of me....

Arnav placed the washcloth on the bedside table and then used the hem of his navy blue t-shirt to dry her face. He noticed that her face was pale. Not deathly pale, but pale. There was absolutely no glow to her whatsoever. The blush on her cheeks had disappeared as well.

"This is all my fault," Arnav whispered aloud. "If you had never come into my life- if I had never come into your life, then this never would've happened. If I hadn't gone around and increased my interest in you, then none of this would've happened."

Khushi shifted and turned, resting her cheek on his hand, as she reached out and held his arm.

Arnav felt his heart twist and it hurt him. He remembered the times they had spent together and realized something big. Something very big, and something she didn't and needed to know.

"I've fooled you Khushi," he whispered. "I displayed myself completely wrong. I made you think... I've tricked you Khushi," he said, turning to her with pain in his eyes. "The man that you fell in love with... that's not me. I'm not... I'm not the man you think I am or who I showed you. I'm cruel. I'm harsh. I'm cold. I'm not the man you think I am. I'm much more different that - the complete opposite."

Khushi snuggled into his hand, making Arnav sigh.

"It's so much more easier to talk to you asleep. This way I can just let it out." He caressed her hair. "If you only understood who I really am - then you'd never love me. You wouldn't have fallen in love with me in the first place. Instead, you would've ran, and maybe, just maybe, that might've been the better thing to do, rather than you being here with me and suffering."

Arnav bent down and kissed Khushi's forehead. Khushi let out a sigh and snuggled again. Arnav carefully removed his hand and got up. When he was at the door, he looked back at her one more time, and then left, shutting the door behind him.

Once the door shut, Khushi opened her eyes. Tears formed in her eyes and came flowing down. She slowly sat up, holding onto the sheets, and cried. Everything Arnav had just said, she had heard.