Horizons of Love✓

Part 4

Arnav while dressing up for office, looked at himself in the brand new mirror of the dressing table. Money can buy him a new mirror but what about love? He thought wistfully.He observed his face for some time. Has he grown thin or his stubble had grown thick and shady. He needs to shave. He needs to sleep more. His looks screamed his tragic life. ASR had an image to maintain. He won't let people pity his tired,sunken eyes, depressed face. He won't let himself wither away into nothingness for that heartless, wicked woman. I m not dying without her. I ll survive. She means nothing to him. It was a good payback to leave her at altar. She and her family deserved it. Infact more for all they had done to Raizadas. 

He wanted to shout at his family when they glanced at him in pity. He doesn't need sympathy. Who the hell told them he was grieving? He was happy,very happy to be free man now. Period. Bloody dumb people chose the wrong side. He would wait for the day when they will regret. Regret for not taking his side. He could sense their hostile behavior no matter how much everyone tried to normalize things. And where the hell was that rat who perpetually leeched on his sister. He seemed to hide a lot behind his sister these days. One day he will get hold of him and run his SUV over him again and again.   

Arnav reached for his cufflinks when his eyes fell on mangalsutra (a necklace worn by a Hindu woman to signify that she is married) kept on dressing table. HP while taking his sherwani(male attire with long shirt and slacks) for laundry had given it to him. Arnav had wanted to slap him at his silently accusing eyes and morose face but restraining himself coldly told him to keep it on dressing table. The nerve of him! Had been serving him for years but sided with that bewitching woman. He picked up  mangalsutra and sindoor(vermilion) and angrily shoved them both in his locker.Her face flashing before him. How beautiful she looked, adorned in them. His wife! (It was rich coming from a man who didn't believe in all these things.) Couldn't she value how much he had changed for her. He did every damn ritual to see the smile on her face.Memories of their pre-wedding functions flashed before him. How stupid he was to dance for that pretentious woman, proposing her on his knees. She must have had a great laugh at his foolishness. Their poolside kiss, teri- meri dance on Payash sangeet, how he made rose-path to surprise her and many more memories flooded in. He leaned against the cupboard and wiped his tears helplessly.  

Kitni baatein yaad aati hain
Tasveerein si ban jaati hain
Main kaise inhein bhooloon...
Dil ko kyaa samjhaaoon

Kyun poori ho na paayee daastaan
Kaise aayee hain aisi dooriyaan...

He composed himself after sometime and then left for office. His schedule has become monotonous like earlier. Equation with Akash was fragile but not bitter. None of them broached the sensitive topic. Arnav didn't want his brother on the other side of the river. They both wanted to avoid this issue for as long as possible. Office staff had no idea of broken marriage. He hadn't invited anyone for re-wedding and all his relatives too had left by the time he had reached the venue. Arnav fiercely guarded his privacy and thus kept a tight leash on media through his PR. Nothing about his personal life had ever come into media.His personal life was not for entertainment section like Bollywood stars. He was a thorough businessman using media for AR. Whatever was out there, was always approved or circulated by his team. Like the Sheesh Mahal video.

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Anjali and Nani were supportive of Payal, they appreciated how she stood for her family in this hour of need.They helped her with whatever they could. They were reluctant to conclude everything based on a photograph.They constantly enquired after Khushi from Payal and wanted to visit her. Payal requested them to wait for some days. Understanding that it was difficult time for Guptas, Nani decided to wait for some time before asking Garima, her side of story. She didn't believe in any of the things Arnav has accused Khushi of, for he himself had confided in her after his kidnapping and cleared Khushi's name.