Hey,

Sham, hope you see this. Guys this is a short story (hopefully, for all those that wanted me to write one - will continue over the days)

She walked out muttering to herself, I have to do this, I can't let him have his way. I would rather kill myself then have him kill me. But dying is hard; would it not be easy to just swallow the tablets? But just say they did not work "I might just end up vomiting it all out, hey devi maiya, you listening, these things are really tough to do". Well, what if I go and just jump off the roof? But can I really do it? Would it hurt too much? But is there any point on continuing knowing that everyone...no no, I mean knowing Arnav will try and kill me first?"

Khushi moved around in the room, her moves jerky, her fear evident, she didn't know what to do, but she realised this was the only way to be free of it all. Finally mustering the courage she made her way to the roof top, she walked along, wobbling slightly, heart pumping. "Oh God, this is so hard how can I do this? She gulped down a breath. I have to do it. But it's so hot, should I wait for a little while? That way it won't be so hot and I won't roast down there. Oh Khushi stop being such a wimp, if you're going to do it, get it over and done with, so saying she started to make her way to the end of the roof top.

"Khushi!!!!!!" on hearing Arnav call her, she started to swing side to side on the edge of the roof top, looking down her heart shot down to her feet, traffic was flowing and she might just fall right down.

"Khushi, you idiot, what the hell do you think you are doing" screamed Arnav at her, he was scared to death, he had known there was something wrong with her, she had been behaving so oddly for the past few days. God, if she fell, he might as well just die on the spot. "Khushi back off from the edge, what are you doing?" He went running frantically from the other side, from here he had seen her swaying on the rooftop.

"I'm about to dance...what does it look like I am doing?" she replied sarcastically. "I'm doing what you want!". She exclaimed "What's the problem now?"

"What I want? When did I say I wanted you to go on the roof and do whatever you're trying to do?" he asked quizzically as he made his way closer to her.

"you....you keep away, I know...I know what you want to do, I won't let you, I can live with doing it myself, keep away" she stammered.

"Khushi are you out of your mind?" Arnav said all the while thinking of a way to get to her, he had his hands fisted, and it felt like he would just thinking in a second. He had to keep her talking. "You know I always thought you were mad, I never realised you were outright crazy" he smirked, while trying to swallow through a dry throat.

"Huh, you always thought there was something wrong with me, what's new?" She said getting angry.

"Actually, before I just thought you didn't have brains, now I know you don't" she argued back.

"yeah your the might ASR, who but you could have brains?" she said getting furious.

"I am, yeah, have I not always said so?" he had come up close to her, grabbing her from the waist he swung her down angrily.

He shook her hard and fast "What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you not realise what would have happened to me if anything happened to you? I never knew you could be so selfish, you're so hell bent on showing your innocent that....hold on, just hold on, you are not committing suicide because of him?" by the time Arnav finished the last sentence, he was burning with fury.

Because of whom?, Khushi stood confused and lost "What are you talking about Arnav ji?

He pushed her back angrily "Don't act smart, you know who I am talking about, why are you pretending to be ignorant?" he said

"Ignorant? Do you ever actually bother to explain to someone what you're saying or do you just assume the other person understands what ever rubbish you blurt out? And me being selfish is the last thing you should worry about, it's your selfishness that dragged me to the temple! I'm fed up of it all, I'm fed of trying to understand you" she shouted.

"You think it's that easy? You can do what you want then that's it poof it's all gone and you can be the shy little girl again? I know your disgusting intentions Khushi, don't think this act of yours will work with me!" he said pushing her away.

"Just tell me what I have done, I am tired of running these circles, if you're not man enough to tell me, stop taking these digs at me" she screamed.

Grabbing her shoulders he brought her forward again, shaking her and said "do you want to know why I hate you? Do you want to know why I have this bitterness for you?"

"Yes!" she screamed.

Vibrating with fury he said "because I saw you and Shyam together on your sister's wedding day, on the roof. Never in my life would I have imagined you to be like that, I finally started believing that there could be someone as innocent and pure as you, but then I realised your worse than a......" but stopped himself.

Khushi stood shocked to the core, she tried to speak but was having a hard time forming words, he had got everything wrong, after everything they had been through, he still didn't seem to understand. She shook her head to clear the fog that was trying to overtake her mind. Mustering up the courage she said "Arnav ji, please listen to me, I wanted to tell you, you have everything wrong, Me and Shyam...."

Arnav cut her off, "Don't try and explain to me Khushi, you and your filthy mouth, you have always been malicious, but to actually go for someone else's husband? You roped me in as well, where ever the card falls hey" he said with contempt.

Losing control Khushi pushed him with her full force, hitting him with fisted hands "HOW DARE YOU!!! You have no right to judge my character! Why do you always assume you know what is right? I am trying to explain to you that this is the guy that I was getting married to, why can't you..."

He pushed her against the wall, she felt her elbow strike against it, but through the red haze of anger, she felt no pain, she only felt anger and injustice of it all. But gradually the anger began to faze, she could see he was in pain and that he wasn't thinking. She had to make him understand, it was her fault for not telling him, this mess should never have happened. Her thoughts went to the past.

*flashback*

Arnav lifted her up into his arms and in front of everyone her brought her down the stairs, from their he took her home....in the room she started to have a go at him "What about my feelings? What about my needs? Why is it always about you? Have you ever thought about how your words, you actions hurt me?" Arnav getting angry grabbed her shoulders, digging his fingers into them "WHAT ABOUT THE HURT YOU CAUSED ME?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Huh...what did I do to you? What pain have I given you? Tell me how I hurt you" she said shocked and confused.

*End of flashback*

how he would suddenly change, and she knew part of the reason had been her. She had to make him see sense.

"Arnav ji, please listen to me, Buaji wanted me to get engaged to..." but he cut off.

"I don't want to hear what you have to say" he said

"please you have to let me explain, you don't know how I met him, just listen to me once" she said moving forward.

Arnav in anger pushed her back, so that she fell to the floor, eye eyes rounded with shock. He felt remorse, but he blocked it off, he would not let her get to him.

"DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD BELIEVE THE FILTH THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH" he yelled, then quietening down he said "I know exactly the type of girl you are, anything you say is a lie".

Khushi felt as if something was slowly being taken away from her body, the pain was immense, but she felt, she felt the gradual breaking away of the child that had been in. The one that had believed in foolish dreams, the one that had dared to believe in fairytales, in a prince charming. She stood looking at this man, one she had unwillingly given her heart to, could he be so heartless? So cruel? Yes he could. She had done so much had been accused of so much, how many times had she proved him wrong? Yet he still was hell bent on believing that she could lie to him. She could never be his, and she finally realised that. He had no trust or faith in her, he hadn't seen her love, and he hadn't questioned the feelings she had for him, instead that one moment had become etched in his mind and had taken over everything she had done to prove him wrong. It had never been about Shyam, it was his lack of trust and faith that had brought them to these crossroads. Her thoughts rocketed back through a series of events

*Flashbacks consecutively*

"this marriage is only for 6 months....if you want your sister's marriage to be safe you have to marry me....you will not have the respect of a wife, you are only my wife in front of the world.....you are selfish and greedy....I wish I could tell everyone your dirty deeds and your dirty thinking......"

He chucked the necklace and clothes she got as gifts on the floor "is this what you did all that for, you wanted to win everyone's heart, you wanted to look good in front of everyone so that no one would suspect you?"

In her maternal home "Get out of the room before I do something I will regret".

*end of flashbacks*

She got up from the floor, looking at him through dispassionate eyes, she couldn't feel anything anymore, she wished she had taken that final step and jumped, it would have been so much easier then what she was facing now. He had turned his back to her and was still ranting on

"Never would I have believed anyone would fall so low, to think that my heart had actually began to mellow towards...." so saying he turned around to realise he was talking to empty air.

He looked around, where had she gone, she had been here a minute ago, suddenly mouth, dry heart thudding he raced to the edge of the roof to look down. His head span in giddy circles from relief, she hadn't jumped. The next minute he was fuming, how dare she walk off as he was talking to her. Who did she think she was? Did she not realise that she was talking to Arnav Singh Raizada? She had broken all bounds today, he was absolutely disgusted by her. He couldn't believe this was the girl that he had thought himself to be falling in love with, he was glad he had not made any foolish decisions an d had come to realise the truth before it was too late.

He strode into their bedroom, ripping the curtains around the bed down. Her and her stupid fairytales, she sickened him. He threw everything on the table to the floor, angry at himself and at her. There was a knock on the door, at the same time he saw something sparkle on the floor, he reached down to pick it up. The bracelet glimmered and he remembered.

*flashback*

"Congratulations Khushi Kumari gupta on your..." Arnav's words were cut off with the phone ringing. He looked at the phone as if it had come between them, and looked at her with accusing eyes.

Khushi kept her eyes downcast as she answered the phone "yes Shyam ji...I am just leaving from here, I should be home quickly, ok"

Arnav turned towards her, eyes full of pain "what happened? Everyone seems so happy with your wedding and you..." he walked up to her "looking at you it seems like you just found out that the guy is not rich".

She looked up at him, eyes full of hurt and despair.

*end of flashback*

Arnav had his hand fisted, as he opened the door, he looked blankly at Garima and back at the bracelet, he was sent back to another day.

*flash back*

Arnav saw Khushi coming through the door and remembered his sisters words, "khushi does not look happy, its like there is something wrong" he saw her walk up to Lavannya and Di.

He heard Lavannya exclaim "oh so your fianc gave you this?" Arnav took a look, it was a bracelet and he burnt with jealousy.............later he saw her coming with the bracelet dropping on the floor. He came up to her and had his foot right near it when she bent down quickly to pick it up.

"Next time tell your fianc not to get you such a cheap gift" he said maliciously.

*end flashback*

"Arnav, son, are you ok?" asked Garima, Arnav looked at her blankly. He couldn't put his thoughts together. What about the hug? How could he be wrong about what he saw? He saw them both in each other's arms, he remembered her saying to leave Anjali, he wasn't wrong, how could he be?

"Arnav son, is there something wrong between you and Khushi, since the two of you have been in the house, we can all but feel the tension. I know you don't want to call me mum, I Have no problems with that, but you can tell me what is wrong, I am here for you as well, you are like a son to me" she said.

"Aunty....how do I ask you....?" he began hesitantly.

"well, until you ask I won't know what is wrong, so how will I help you?" she asked.

"Aunty, what is the link to Shyam?" as he asked he saw the colour drain from her face, and he thought he might have made the biggest mistake of his life.

What is my life except incomplete without you? This heart that beats, it's your name imprinted on it, if you asked for my life it would be given to you in a second.

Khushi jerked awake, face pale she looked around. She had been dreaming again, she was sweating and her heartbeat was rapid. The same dream again, it always started off as it had happened and then took a detour, it was her hopes that kept getting in the way. Because he knew the truth, he knew everything about her and Shyam. but she was still having difficulties believing that Arnav had not believed her, she shouldn't have been surprised, but the hope was there that he would realise she was innocent. She still remembered his words that day, the fateful day when he had dragged her out of the car onto the roadside, breaking the picture just as he had broken her heart into a thousand pieces.

She breathed a sigh of relief, at least Garima was ok, she did not know what had happened, it had just been a bad dream. She really wished that the dreams would stop occurring, they were draining her.

He had left days ago, so much had happened. Her face was pale, as she sat, leaning against the bed frame, her breath heaving. She couldn't take the pain anymore, what had her life turned into.

She thought back to the day he had grabbed her by the shoulders and told her that he knew the truth, she had been in shock, her heart had fallen to her feet. Could he really not see she was honest? Her mind went racing back to the fateful day's events.

*flashbacks*

How long did it take for you to make that up? You know I would have believed you.....your family is so nice and have such have such values, so why are you like this.....you say your parents are stars.....how can you meet their eyes......I don't believe you Khushi.......

At the airport he looked at her angry "somewhere, I was hoping you were innocent but you are not" so saying he let go of her hand, it felt like he was taking his life with her......

End of flashbacks

She had stood there, hoping he would come back but he had not. Instead, by the time she got back, the papers had disappeared. She had been given the papers to be signed by Arnav, and in return Shyam would tell the truth to Arnav, tell him that she, Khushi Kumari Gupta was innocent. She knew somewhere deep in her heart he had not come to the airport deliberately, he had wanted Arnav ji to have gone.

When she had looked, the papers she had hidden in the pot had also disappeared. She knew he had them, she was positive her instincts were not wrong. She just had to find out, so far he had managed to throw her off by covering up.

But he wasn't her only problem, Arnav Ji refused to answer the phone, and that text he had sent, it did not sit right with her, there was something really wrong with the whole scene.

She shut her eyes

*flash back*

he held her as he swung her out and back in again, dipping her to the floor and up, they stood their lost in their eyes, each remembering the times they had spent with each other, each trying to read the other's eyes

*end of flashback*

She awoke with a startle, she had dozed off again, she hadn't slept peacefully in 3 days, and they had not heard from Arnav since his flight had landed the day before. Her heart was always yearning for Arnav ji, she was worried sick, and now the family was getting worried as well, with Anjali always on edge, she wanted her chote back. Khushi did not know what to do, where could he be? Surely he could not be this callous as not to attend anyone's calls? She knew everyone thought that he had shut himself away because of his mother, but why would he not have phoned to say he reached safely? She knew for a fact that the text message was strange, why would he have sent her a text when he had never done so before, instead he had always shouted down the phone, if nothing else.

Oh Devi Maiyan, I cannot concentrate on anything, my heart is not focusing on anything, I cannot do this, even breathing has become a mission for me. She got up on weary legs to go to the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face, looking in the mirror, she could see she looked fatigued. She could not go on like this, she had to work out what was happening and try to find a solution.

she came out of the room and went downstairs to make breakfast for everyone. After clearing up the dishes she walked around the house thinking about things when the phone rang. She answered the call.

"Hello" she said into the receiver.

"Hi Madam,, we are calling from the London office, is Mr Arnav Singh Raizada there?" asked the person on the other side.

"Huh...sorry...why?" she asked

"Well, madam, he has not turned up here, and he was meant to have arrived yesterday" replied the receptionist.

Khushi's hand shook slightly, "But he should have been there a few hours back.

"Yes, this is why I am calling, because he has not arrived, can you please let me know if you have further information" said the person.

"yes, ok" she said and disconnected the phone.

She stood frozen next to the phone, where was Arnav ji? Was he safe? Did he even get on the plane? She ran to Anjali's room and stopped half way, no, she would not panic Anjali ji she was aleady expecting, how could she put these silly pressures on her? She would ask Akash ji to find out from the airport when the flight had landed, maybe there had been delays.

She went to Akash's room, Payal was clearing up, Payal looked up from what she was doing "Khushi are you alright? Why are you so worried?"

"Jiji, where is Akash jiju? Please tell me quickly" said Khushi

"Akash ji has gone to the office" said Payal "But tell me what is wrong?"

"Jiji, I will talk to you in a little while, first I have to go do something". Khushi rushed off and tired Akash on the phone over and over again, giving up she found the number for the Airport and rang them. "Hi can you please tell me if the following flight has landed?".

The receptionist on the other end told her to hold, finally Khushi got her answer "Sorry madam, Arnav Singh Raizada never boarded the flight....hello Madam?"

The phone had cluttered to the floor, Khushi’s back was to the wall, Arnav Ji had not boarded the plane, so where had he gone? What had happened to him? She had known something was wrong, she had felt him calling her. Where was he, she ran, banging into the table and hurting herself, ignoring the pain she ran calling out to everyone.

The family gathered in the room and at the same time Akash entered the house as well.

“Khushi, what is wrong why are you so panicked for?” asked Nani

“Nani, Arnav Ji did not board the plane he is not in London” saying so, the tears began to fall.

“Don’t be ridiculous, the airport people must have made a mistake” said Anjali.

“No” said Akash

Everyone turned to look towards him.

“there has been no mistake, nobody knows where bro is, I have been trying to find out since morning, it seems he never left Delhi”. Replied Akash.

Anjali’s face went pale and she swayed, Shyam caught her in time “Careful Anjali ji, you will hurt yourself” he helped her to the Sofa, all the while smiling, how could he have been so lucky? He had gained some more days, but where had his brother in law disappear to? maybe he was going to be alone to mark his mother’s birthday. Who cared, in this upheaval he had so much to gain, what was more, he could now have the stupid fool finished off even before he entered the house. Anjali would now be a piece of cake for him.

Khushi’s heart was filled with terror, just say something had happened to him? But no that was not possible.

“Jiju, how can he have not boarded the plane? Where could he go? Oh no, what if he had a hypo? He might have fainted somewhere and nobody knew anything, we have to go to the airport” she said dashing for the stairs.

“Khushi, if he fainted at the airport someone would have found him by now” said Akash quietly.

She stopped halfway up the stairs, heart sinking, she looked back eyes pained. “So then where did he go?”.

“I don’t know, I will have to contact the police, I can’t understand why bro has not told anyone where he is going, this is not like him. He would not worry Anjali di like this” said Akash.

2 days passed without any information on where Arnav could be, the police had searched for him throughout Delhi but no one knew anything. Khushi had her suspicions, but there was nothing she could do. Her suspicions stemmed from the text message she had received, Arnav Ji would never have texted her, that meant that someone had him somewhere, these thoughts were driving her mad. She wondered if he was ok, whether he was hurt and if someone had kidnapped him, why? And what had they done to him? She was too scared to say anything to anyone just in case she was wrong, poor Anjali ji had just about been stopped from fasting for her brother’s safety. Instead Khushi had stood in front of Devi maiyan and promised to fast everyday until he did not come back. she had lost weight, and she was already paper thin. She had even fainted on one occasion, but she had sworn Payal to secrecy, she did not want anyone to worry, and she refused to stop fasting until he came back.

In the mean time she had been keeping a vigilant eye on Shyam. She knew he had the documents, and she constantly wondered whether he also had Arnav ji. The only thing that bothered her was, if he knew where Arnav ji was, then what would he do with him? She had to find out what was in those documents in order to get to the bottom of this mess.

But how would she do so, its not like she could get any information from his room, he was definitely up to something.

“Laxmi, what is it? Why are you pulling on my kameez for?” she asked the goat, then realising her collar was missing she started to hunt for it. She ended up near the terrace and heard Shyam talking to somebody.

“Listen, God knows what will happen there, but lets get this mess sorted and ensure that when he gets back he never gets past the doors, I want him gone, otherwise what is the use of all my hard work? No....I can deal with her, it is not that hard, she is a fool at best, so I can get rid of her in minutes”. Shyam said menacingly.

Khushi quickly backed away with a racing heart, she had known he was up to something, she had to now work out what, she was sure he was talking of Arnav and Anjali, which meant that he wanted to get rid of them. Oh no! Now what would she do? She could not even warn Arnav ji, where was he? Shyam could not....no, he couldn’t because he didn’t want him coming back in the house.

Khushi knew it was Anjali’s scan today, but she could not risk going to Anjali, as she might spill the beans so Khushi went to Nani.

“Nani, Anjali is meant to be going for the scan today on her own, don’t you think Shyam ji should go with her? She is already really distressed.” Said Khushi.

“Don’t worry child, I will talk to Shyam and ensure that he goes with her” replied Nani.

Khushi saw Shyam walking by and said loudly “Well Nani I am going to buaji’s today, I need to distract myself, thinking of Arnav ji is driving me crazy and I need to be able to think about something else before I completely lose it”.

“Of course you can go, but do come back tonight if you can” said Nani.

“ji nani ji” so saying, Khushi left the house, picking up her bag on the way. Rather than actually go to Buaji’s, she hid behind the bushes and waited for nearly and hour, and finally she got what she wanted.

She saw Shyam helping Anjali along the pathway and into the car, once they had driven away, she stood there for another half a hour, she didn’t want any risks of anyone finding out. She quietly let herself into the house and made a dash to Anjali’s room. She prayed no one had seen her, as then Shyam would know what she was up to. Her nerves were jittering as she searched for any clue as to what was going on. She looked around for nearly an hour and found nothing, she felt absolutely crap and disheartened. As she was about to walk out, she saw his jacket hanging, and wondered whether he would have left anything in such an obvious place. She went and searched the pockets, and finally found the folded papers, opening them quickly she scanned through them. He world tilted, so this is what he had been up to all this time, he wanted the money, the house. Oh crap, she should not have let Anjali go with Shyam, had she just made the task easier on him? Just say he tried to do something to her?

*Flashback *

I thought maybe I could fulfil the emptiness Arnav had left behind smirked Shyam. But oh, what emptiness when there is nothing between the two of you”.

*end of flash back*

She heard the car coming back and ran out along with the papers and hid behind the bush, breathing heavily she stood there as Shyam and Anjali walked back.

“I’m sorry Shyam ji, I didn’t realise that my appointment was not today” said Anjali.

“Don’t worry Anjali it doesn’t matter, I got to spend time with you, Anjali, I have a surprise for you tonight, it will be just you and me, everyone else will be out, I want us to have a romantic dinner with you”. Said Shyam smiling.

“Oh yes, how sweet of you, these are the things that I love about you, sometimes I think you are such a bore, but then you do these lovely things that steal my heart away” said Anjali smiling sweetly.

Khushi knew that something was seriously wrong, but she had no idea how to go about finding out. She didn’t want Anjali going on the roof with Shyam, but how would she stop it?

Hours had passed, Shyam had managed to get the table set he was hell bent on ensuring that Anjali would not get through the day today, they were near a cliff, and it was a windy day, he had managed to get a cd player as well, everything was perfect, he had Anjali in the car blindfolded. She was such an idiot, the smallest things made her happy, unfortunately she did not realise that today it would be the end for her and the baby. The Papers were home, once he had everything in his name Khushi would beg to be his. Oh this was so much fun, his life would be perfect, because he would have everything the way he wanted it. He went up to Anjali and helped her out.

“darling, I cannot tell you how special you are to me, this lunch is to apoligse for all the things I have done to you, all the ways I have and will behave towards you”. Said Shyam.

“Shyam ji, why do you say that, I care for you, you are my world” she said smiling up at him.

He led her to the candle lit table, it was the least he could do before he finally killed her. They spent 2 hours talking about general stuff, he was passing time, he knew he had to make it so that she wasn’t even aware of it, he really didn’t want to cause her too much pain, she was silly and an unnecessary part of his life, it didn’t mean he had to make her death difficult.

He used the remote to bring up a romantic track, holding up his hand he asked her for a dance, giving her pretty as the sunshine smile she put her hand in his and went to him. He swayed gently with her, taking his time, he finally brought her to the edge of the cliff and gently pushed her over.

“Anjali!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” screamed Khushi as she dashed for her in the background she thought she Arnav screaming Di, but how could he be here? She tried to grab onto Anjali’s hand just as she toppled over, Anjali held onto the sides of the cliff by her finger tips.

“Khushi....khu...” shook Anjali’s voice, eyes filled with tears, “khushi you won’t be able to save me”

“No di, I won’t let you die, she tried to pull Anjali up and felt someone helping her, her anger built “how dare.....” and was shocked to see Arnav sitting right next to her and he helped bring his sister up. What was Arnav doing here? He was meant to be missing.

“Arnav ji, where did you come from?” asked Khushi.

“Khushi, we shall talk later, help me get di up” replied Arnav.

The both heaved her up, Arnav was wracked with guilt, he knew he had made a huge mistake, yet he could not stop shaking at the thought of losing his sister. He looked up at Khushi, he knew how wrong he had been, he had to talk to her, but he needed to deal with his sister first. Arnav began to help his sister to the car.

In the meantime, Khushi stood shocked to the core, what had just happened? Where had Arnav just come from?

"You know, he never trusted you, I could have made your life perfect, but you still think of him only. If only you had been one minute late, things would have been perfect, but how was I to know that sale saab was around?" said Shyam to her.

"What are you going on about? Do you think I believe anything you say? You disgusting person, you just tried to murder your own wife, and she doesn't even know it yet, but trust me, in a few minutes she will know all your dirty deeds". Shouted Khushi at him.

"Yeah, well who cares Khushi, I wanted the money, I have it now, what difference does it make to me that she is alive or not? I just wanted to get rid of all the loose ends". He said smirking.

"Oh really, you think things are so simple? Those papers are no longer with you, I found them this evening, you won't be getting anything" she said laughing in his face.

"Khushi, you better tell me where the papers are" he said threateningly.

"No! You think I am stupid, I won't let you hurt them, ever" she said angrily.

"you still don't get it do you? He just set you up because he doesn't believe you, and you still want to protect him? Your a fool, don't worry, I'll find the papers myself" he heard the police sirens in the background and began to run, there was no way he would get caught. He could not go back to RM, the truth would be known to everyone soon and he would get caught out there.

Khushi stood, eyes glazed over with shock, she had never loved the way she loved Arnav, she had tried her best by him and even that had fallen short. She squeezed her eyes shut; she was the edge of the cliff the wind was blowing. She had never loved so wildly, so outrageously so brutally, but she had. Her relationship with him had been worse than the winds blowing now, she could hear the thunder in the background. Her feelings, she had treasured them, even after all the accusations he had hurled at her, she had forgiven him. The feelings were still there, bright, vivid. She had tried to understand him, in many ways had admired him for what he was, he had a heart, but he had found it hard to show. But he still was not able to trust her, she didn't even know he loved her. He had made her worry, he had made her have sleepless nights, she had thought something bad had happened to him, all the while he had been testing her, it all made sense. That's why he had reached here on time. The sky above had become a dark blue, it wasn't too dark, but everything seemed black all of a sudden, why did she find it so hard to accept the truth? The fact that he found her characterless, that he could not even bare to look at her, why had devi maiya decided to give her a glimpse of how life could be? How she could have her prince charming, if it was never meant to be? She looked down the cliff into the raging sea, how easy it would be to plunge, she shook her head, if he couldn't be bothered about her, why should she kill herself?

She barely noticed the rumble, trembling Khushi took a small step back, what was it? The ground seemed to jitter beneath her feet, blank for a moment she stared down at the sea, watched the pebbles skip down the cliff, then the noise filled her ears, she saw the earth vibrate and she knew, she tried to turn away from the edge, but the ground rolled hard and fast, unbalancing her, she tried to grab for something but the wave of earth took its toll raising her above and over the cliff into a whole different world.

Arnav helped his sister into the car, she looked up at him, "why did Shyam do that? How could he? He is my husband? Chote I don't understand" she said choking on her tears. Her heart had broken today, her husband had betrayed her and left nothing. How could she believe that he had just tried to kill her? How could she have been slapped by fate this way?

Arnav held onto his sister's hand, he battled his own guilt and explained everything to his sister, Anjali sat mute, tears streaming down. She had loved a monster, she had spent the better part of 3 years loving and caring for him, doing pooja for him, fasting for him and he, he had tried to harm her brother, to kill her. She looked back at her brother. Her eyes were filled with pain, she wanted to hate Khushi for coming into his life, but she knew that Khushi was not the reason for this mess, Chote had explained that Khushi had herself been a victim.

Arnav sat crouched down in front of his sister, he told her how he had found out the truth. He had spoken to Garima who had told him everything yesterday.

*flashback*

Garima stood shocked, had she just heard her son-in-law properly? Had he just asked about Shyam, his brother in law, hers hands enterwined together, she could feel the trickle of sweat down her back, Oh God how did she handle this, had Khushi managed to tell him? Why did she have to do it in the Gupta house? That silly girl always managed to open her mouth at the wrong time. How should she handle this now? Maybe it would be best to get...no, she had to deal with this herself, both of her daughters lives were at stake.

"Son, how did you find out? Khushi must have told you. We tried our best to stop...." but Arnav cut her off, he already felt a sharp pain in his heart at the realisation that he had been a complete fool.

"Please, aunty just tell me the truth, I don't want lies, I just want to know how it all happened" he pleaded.

So Garima began by telling him how they had, had so much trouble in Lucknow due to the video realise and how Khushi had been surrounded by goons and Shyam had saved her. Khushi, to get away from the fiasco had come to delhi with her sister. Shyam had followed them here and had become a PG in their house, over time he had manipulated them all into believing he was unmarried and that he was thinking of them. They had never realised that he had eyes on Khushi. On the day Khushi found out she had come home distressed, that day she had been at Anjali's, she had gone to tell her the truth but Anjali's manglesutre had come off and she had refrained from saying anything, she had not wanted to cause any of them pain.

*end of flashback*

Anjali sat muted, tears falling, her husband had betrayed her, she had always felt something was missing in their relationship, she had never realised that things were this bad. She had been lost in her own world, whilst her husband had been trying to take Khushi away from her brother and trying to kill them off as well, how could she have been so blind? A couple of sweet words and she trusted him like no other. How would she bear this pain? This agony?

SHE WOULD, she rested her hand on her stomach, she would be strong for her baby, she would ensure that she never let this baby get affected by that disgusting man she had called her husband. She sat huddled against the rock, shaking and forlorn.

Arnav got up again, he was frustrated, he should have spoken to Khushi yesterday, but he had wanted to wait and see what Shyam would do, then, this morning when he had come to speak to her, he had overheard Shyam telling Anjali that he would be taking her out, he had known that something was wrong, so rather than go to Khushi, he had decided to deal with this first. But now he bitterly regretted, what must she think of him? She had not come back, this meant that she knew that he had faked his disappearance. He knew she had been worried sick about him, he just realised it too late. He had never known that a heart could shatter so badly, his had. He had not believed her, she had all but begged him and he had pushed her away. He should have been there for her, instead he had turned away from her. He had called her characterless, his hands fisted, he wanted to plummet himself, he had accused and accused, refusing to listen. Just once, all he had to do was listen to her once. But no, he had known the truth, he had dragged her to the Mandhir, thinking nothing of her feelings. He had caused her grief after grief, and even when he told her the reason for his misbehaviour, he had refused to listen to her. He now realised how stupid he had been. If only, just for one minute he had stopped to think, things would not be the way they were now. He remembered holy, how she had looked so innocent and fresh

*flashback*

"Arnav ji, you still have not answered why that happens" she said, drowsy from the bhang."

Arnav replied huskily I will tell you why it happens, when you are near me, then along with your heartbeat even my heart beat increases, our heartbeats unite, what I feel you, what you feel becomes one"

*end of flashback*

It was never Shyam, he had been such a fool, all those looks, those feeling had been for him. What a big mistake he had made, he remembered how in the Gupta house he had felt closer to her, he should have realised his Khushi was pure. Would she forgive him? How could she after he had been such a idiot about the whole thing, he deserved to be punished, she deserved to be loved by him, he could not bear the thought of how much he had hurt her. Arnav firmed his lips, he would ensure that she forgave him, he would love her so much that she would forget everything he had ever done to her. She had to still be here somewhere, it worth calling out to her just in case she was.

"Khushi.....Khushi!...." he shouted, had she gone home?

"Khushi!....." Arnav stopped his call to Khushi midway, the ground beneath his feet shuddered, he felt the earthquake.

"damn it! he thought, quickly he pulled his sister out of the car, and just that minute the glass of the car windows flew, Anjali shook badly, Arnav dragged her and sheltered her under the tree against some rocks, the roar was deafening as he fought to keep himself and his sister sheltered, and at that moment one thought pierced through him. Khushi. Oh God, Khushi. What if she had not gone home?

His eyes frantically searched for Khushi, he couldn't see her anywhere, "KHUSHI!!!!" shouted Arnav.

"Chote, she might have gone home......." began Anjali.

But Arnav was past hearing her, he got up and stumbled forward, fighting to get to her while the earth tried to heave him back, he raced forward, being knocked flat he clawed his way up again "KHUSHI!" he screamed, clawing his way through the earthquake, he continued to call her name, unable to hear his own voice over the thunderous sounds.

The stretch of earth, the bombardment, lasted no more than two minutes and suddenly everything was still, unnaturally still, there was no sound, no movement, just quietness as he reached the cliffs.

She had gone home he chanted to himself, she had gone home, she was angry with him, he had hurt her so much so she had left in anger, he would shake her senseless when he saw her, how dare she scare him like this, but when he looked over the cliff and saw her, he buckled under his own weight. On a ledge fifteen feet below, inches away from oblivion, she lay white as death, blood pouring from a wound on her head. One of her arms was flung out so that her hand dangled over a rock into empty space where she could have been.

He didn't and would never remember the climb down to her, the sharp bites of rock as they sliced through his hands, the pebbles made his feet slip as he shouted her name out again with rocks viciously tearing into his clothes and flesh.

He was blind with terror and instinct had him reaching her faster than he would have otherwise, one single misstep could have had him disappear into thin air, sweat dripped over his eyes, skidding along his spine, he thought, no he was sure she was dead. He finally reached her and fell on his knees next to her

"Khushi...Khushi please...." when he reached her he fought back on the panic and fear and placed one trembling finger against the pulse in her throat, and he felt it, the flutter of a heartbeat.

"okay...okay....Khushi" he whispered, trembling, he brushed the hair from her cheeks, like he always did "it's alright, you will be alright", he wanted to drag her against him, to rock her to him until the sickness in his stomach passed, until he was sure she was ok, but he knew better then to move her. Her eyes were closed, she was bleeding, she could have concussion, broken bones and internal injuries. Thinking of it all, he had to close his eyes shut tight, he couldn't get his breath, he had to force the air in and out and in that moment he remembered the heer ranjha scene.

*flash back*

"its the worse day of his life for Ranjha and the best day of your life, my death"

*end flashback*

"Khushi, you can't leave me" he whispered as he made himself check her slowly and gently, he lifted her pupils, he moved his hands gently over her head, gritted against the pain as her blood smeared his fingers, tears forced themselves out, he had done this to her, not believing her, he had caused her this. Her hand, it looked fractured, it would hurt like hell when she awoke. Why wasn't she opening her eyes?

"Khushi, please open your eyes he pleaded holding her hand, he heard the ambulance raching to them, his sister must have called them, he had completely forgotten. He thought back to the time when she had gone missing and he had seen the ambulance and thought she was in it, the pain cut across his heart, fast and sharp. He got another series of flashbacks, her feeding him jalebies when he was unwell, Khushi,waiting for him when he was not home on time, Khushi staying awake all throughout tthe night because he was unwell and the time when he had, had the curtain rail hit him, she had been worried that it was hurting, now here she was, silent as death. His Khushi.

They loaded her into the ambulance, but Arnav refused to let go of her hand, he clutched it in his, Di had come up behind him and put a hand to his shoulder.

"Arnav she will be ok" said Anjali.

"Di....what have I done?" he whispered as both him and his sister sat in the ambulance.

Anajali did not know what she should say to her brother, he had finally found his happiness, and because of her husband he had possibly lost that.

Arnav sat next to her, holding her hand "khushi, Khushi! Get up, Khushi open your eyes just once and see me, I cannot live without you, without you, Arnav Singh Raizada is nothing without Khushi, please wake up, Khushi I left you, I was convincing my heart that you were wrong, I was convincing my heart that it doesn't make a difference to me, but you know that I cannot live without you....Khushi, when I said to you, whenever I did something, whenever I said something, forget it all, forget my harsh words, forget my stupidity, please Khushi just come back. I was wrong I am telling you, I will tell you in front of the whole world how wrong I was, please Khushi wake up. You asked me then, and so many times after, but I refused to answer why it mattered. I should have told you, my ego would not let, Khushi I love you, can you hear me Khushi? I LOVE YOU, without you I am bereft, there is no me, Khushi please come back, don't give me such a massive punishment" he said broken hearted, his voice, seeped with grief, his eyes shining with tears.

They had taken her in nearly 3 hours ago, all he saw was them racing in and out. He was frustrated and angry, everyone had arrived, but he could not care less. He thought back

*flashback"

"I hate you Khushi Kumari Gupta.....this is what you deserve.......you are dirty and cheap....I hate you, yet I have to see your face everyday, I am stuck in this temporary marriage with you.....I know about Shyam and your affair....."

*end of flashback*

The thoughts kept swimming in his head. He had hurt her so much, what would he do now? What the hell was taking them so long?

The doctor came out, he rushed to him "Khushi".

The Doctor looked at him, "are you her husband?"

Arnav replied "yes". The doctor then took him to a separate room. Arnav, was starting to feel light headed, this was not good, if everything was ok this would not be happening.

"your wife has suffered from multiple wounds, she has a fractured hand, a twisted arm, her spine is damaged, although it's not too bad we should be able to fix that. Her head is concussed and she does have some serious injuries, but luckily nothing life threatening and nothing that won't heal...." so saying the doctor stopped.

"What?" said Arnav jumping up, "I can all but hear a but....what is wrong with her?" he shouted.

"Well, Mr Arnav Singh Raizada, your wife is in a coma, but the problem is, it's not a coma due to the injuries, it seems more like she doesn't want to come back out of it". Said the doctor. Arnav was left speechless.

Days passed turning into weeks, he begged, pleaded cajoled and prayed to devi maiyan but Khushi would not wake up. He stood in front of Devi Maiya

"she always believed in you, and I always went against believing in you, today I have accepted my defeat, please bring her back to me, I cannot live without her, seeing her lying there like that, her face marked by bruises, I cannot tolerate it. It's been over a month and she has not moved, please, I beg you, help me. She is my life, without her, you might as well take my breath." He continued to stand there in front of Khushi's Devi maiyan, staring at her. He then walked away.

It was night, like every night since Khushi had been admitted, he sat next to her holding onto her hand tightly, afraid to let go, just in case she disappeared. He watched her sleeping, she looked at peace, he had never been one to give her any peace, instead he had done his best to make her life a living hell. He continued to look at her until he finally fell asleep.

The sun was bursting through the windows early in the morning, Khushi shifted in the bed, her muscles seemed to ache, there was not a single bit of her that did not hurt. Her hand felt caged in so she tried to pull it free.

Arnav felt the jerk and jumped up from sleep, Khushi's hand was moving in his, he leaned over to her "Khushi, Khushi can you hear me?"

Khushi struggled to come out from the slumber that seemed to once again want to pull her under, she blinked her eyes and saw Arnav before her, her Arnav, her prince charming, why was he so worried? As she became fully awake, she started to remember, and so remembering she pulled her hand away from Arnav's. Arnav rushed to inform the nurses who went to call one of the doctors.

Arnav in his joy did not see the shift in emotions, the hardening of eyes, all he was aware of was the relief, everyday his heart would fill with terror that she would not recover and here she was whole and his. He moved forward to touch her and saw her jerk away.

"Don't you dare Arnav Singh Raizada, I have nothing to say to you" said Khushi angrily

"Khuhsi, what's wrong..." he stopped from completing the sentence, she remembered everything. He had to explain to her, he had to make her understand, he could not stand to see her hatred.

"Khushi I am so sorry...." but was cut off by her

"no Mr Arnav Singh Raizada, I don't want your apology, it means nothing to me now. I was worried sick for you and all this time you had been hiding away to test me." She said in rage.

"khuhsi listen to me...." began Arnav only to be stopped again.

"I don't want to hear anything..." Khushi started to say and saw Arnav getting angry, he moved forward "listen Khushi Kumari Gupta...." as he once again began he saw her wince in pain as she tried to shift away from him. Guilt racked him, she was here because of his stupidity and now he was having a go at her because she would not listen to him, when would he learn?

He moved forward to brush her hair away with his hand and saw her shut her eyes. He knew she still had feelings for him, he would have to work harder. He moved to cup her face the doctor came in.

The doctor did his standard checks and asked Arnav to step outside, "Mr Arnav Singh Raizada, your wife is very lucky to be alive, she has been through a traumatic experience, take good care of her, do not let her stress and it possible that over time things get better. Her arm will take another two months to heal, she will have some trouble walking, but once again, she will get better over time, she has been very lucky".

"No doctor, I am the one that is lucky, I could have lost her, now I will ensure nothing ever so much as touches her, I will take care of her like I should have been" said Arnav. "is it ok to take her home?"

"No, we need to keep her under observation for the next 48 hours". Replied the doctor. Arnav nodded in agreement and left, phoning home to update the family on Khushi's progress. He stood outside her room, legs weak from relief, she would be alright. He knew she was angry, but he would not discuss anything with her yet. Di would be here in a little while. He saw Khushi fussing with the hospital nightie, he continued to look at her for a little while and then left.

Later on in the evening, Khushi's room resembled a miniature garden, she pink roses, freesias and lilies decorating the room and right next to her bed were 2 dozen red roses, beautifully set, she had held it in her uninjured arm and buried her nose in the bouquet, taking in the smell. God they were so stunning and her favourite flowers as well, surely Jiji must have got them. She saw the tag and opened it, it read: "kui ke fadak patda hai".

Fuming she put them aside, did he really think that getting her a bunch of really gorgeous flowers would make everything ok? He had lied to her, he had made her worry and he had made her cry, she would not be able to forgive him so easily. She looked back at the flowers and paused, no, she would not weaken and turned her face away once again.

Anjali had been standing near the window, she monitored Khushi's behaviour and smiled a little, Arnav had really become the romantic here, he would pursue as ASR until he didn't have what he wanted, in this case the love of his life. She didn't know what to say to her bhabhi, she was embarrassed by the situation that she was in, her husband hand caused havoc in this poor girl's life, if she hadn't been in love with her brother the repercussions would have been great, even now she feared that Khushi would never be able to forgive her brother.

She walked up to Khushi, she saw her shift and stiffen. "please Khushi, don't be embarrassed, it was not your fault and I know you were trying to protect me, maybe if I had not been hell bent on putting my husband on the same pedestal as God I would have seen his bad side, but I was always grateful to him from saving me at a very horrible time in my life. Whatever happened, I will take it to have been a good thing, I'm going to start afresh and be strong, not weak like before, now I have a child to think of".

Khushi gave a small smile "Di, I never thought that you were weak, you were just lost in love. You tend to forgive the tiniest mistakes and the biggest mistakes for the one you love, not realising that they might be eating away at your identity."

Anjali sat down and gripped Khushi's uninjured hand "Khushi, whatever Chote did, he was thinking of me, and I know that was not right, he should have listened to you, but still he loves you so much, you need to forgive him".

Khushi looked at Anjali "forgive him Di? Have I not done that continuously over time? Whenever he hurt me, his every loving word would erase that, but then the hurt got worse and worse, Di he threatened me into marriage and I complied for my sisters sake, he accused me of being cheap, he refused to listen to me, yet I compromised, he was missing and I was dying, I put it all aside, but he, he had been lying, testing me and my love. I don't have any place for him in my life, he might be in my heart, but I'll take him out" she said taking her hand away from Anjali and wiping the lone tear that had dropped.

Anjali looked at her, she knew that Khushi might think she could forget Chote, but it would not happen, her Chote would have to struggle in love to win her back, but Khushi could not ever break the thread that bound them together.

Anjali got up to leave "I'm going to go home and rest, this baby is 5 months along, you have been in a Coma for over a month, I want to just let you know one thing, Chote never left you alone even for one moment, he was by your side every single second just in case you awoke, maybe you could consider that along with everything else".

Anjali walked out of the room to see Chote standing there, she saw the sheen of tears in his eyes as he tried to avoid her gaze. She cupped his cheek "It will take time, if you made a mistake you have to bear the consequences, she gave you everything and you gave nothing but pain in return".

Arnav looked at his Di with pain filled eyes "I never knew it would hurt this much" so saying he turned away. Anjali stood for a few more seconds before quietly walking away.