Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Four

Arnav had arrived at the Gupta's just as they were serving dinner and he was in the middle of attempting to convince Buaji that he would come back later as he didn't want to impose.
"Hai Re Nand Kishore! Arre Bitua, humka nahi sunna! Tum yaha aye ho toh khakar jaane ke paare." Buaji said and he looked to Khushi for an appeal of help, she knew how awkward he felt in these situations. Khushi smiled and touched her Bua's shoulders, Buaji turned to her and Khushi smiled and inclined her head so to make her Buaji understand she would handle this. Madhumati looked at the two and shook her head. "Tik hai Sanka Devi, tum hi inko samjado. Yeh dono mujhe paghal kardenge." Madumati muttered the latter to herself as she went to go place the food on the table. Arnav was stood outside in the doorway, Khushi smiled to herself as she noted he'd gotten out of work early today to see her. Usually he would be home in the late evening, it had only just hit half five, someone was missing her.
"Aap kahna nahi kayenge?" Khushi asked sweetly and Arnav looked up at her.
"Khushi, I can go home and eat, then come back. I don't want to cause any fuss." Arnav said and Khushi pouted.
"Kya fuss, shuss? Bhaas ek aur plate table phar toh baath katham. Aap bhi na, choti si baath ko itna badhate hai, ki poochiya math!" Khushi said in an exaggerated manner.
"Khushi, I don't know-" Arnav began.
"Mere liye nahi rukoge?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side and looked at him with a heartbreakingly longing face. Arnav hated himself, he knew exactly what she was doing, she knew she had the upper-hand at the moment and she was using it to the max. What he hated more was how he was letting her. He didn't want to make her angry or upset to prove a point about how he was always right. To be honest, right now he did just want to spend time with her. He sighed and nodded, Khushi smiled as she grabbed his hand and led him to the table. She began to pour in food for him when he grabbed her hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked and Khushi looked confused.
"Khana padosrhi hoon, aur kya?" She said and Arnav got up, took the container of Dahl out of her hand and sat her down.
"Khushi you shouldn't be doing this." He said simply and her Bua took the container from Arnav.
"Wohi toh Bitua! Humhe unne samja samjakar takhgaye abh toh!" Buaji said as she and Garima poured the food in for everyone else, Khushi pouted and Arnav sat down. It wasn't like she was an invalid she was just pregnant. She shook her head and dug into the food.

After they'd finished eating, Khushi made up the excuse that she wanted to ask Arnav a question about the book she was reading, even though they were married Buaji was very old-fashioned and refused to let them be alone unless necessary. Khushi shut the door and Arnav sat on the bed, smiling over the photo beside her bed. Khushi stood in front of him and put her hands on her hips.
"Toh batiye, aaj kaise humari yaad ayi thi? I'm so immature I don't understand why you'd want to see me anyway." Khushi said, reminding him of his earlier insult to her, Arnav smirked, she still hadn't forgotten that. He grabbed her hips and pulled her closer to him.
"I was only joking Khushi, you should learn to relax, itna serious maath bano." He chided her and Khushi raised an eyebrow.
"Yeh aap kya kare?" Khushi asked, not in an offended or disapproving way but in a light and curious manner. Arnav raised his eyebrows back and winked at her. "Ucha, aggar yeh baath hai toh phir jaiye. Hum sharif log hai aur aisi harkatein nahi karte." She said with mock reproach and Arnav pulled himself up and snaked his arms around her waist.
"Kya baath hai, aaj we're being very concious of sharam and all even though you were the one to make up the excuse and bring me to you're bedroom...irada kya hai?" Arnav said as he gently pulled Khushi closer to himself so that there was no space between their bodies. Khushi looked up at him, seeing the reflection of hunger in his eyes that must have been in hers. There was still a difference though, Khushi's eyes were mixed with a slight fear and worry whereas Arnav's were confident and rebellious. She raised her hand and stroked his face, her soft hands felt so soothing against the rough stubble on Arnav's face. He raised his hand to hers and took it into his own. He kissed it lightly and Khushi closed her eyes at the action. She was still afraid, she wasn't sure if he understood how much it had hurt her when he let her go. She didn't know if he realised how deeply her trust had been broken. She couldn't help but love him because she had loved him unconditionally, regardless of how he treated her and she couldn't change that. But trust. Trust was a hard thing to gain especially once lost and Khushi was not sure if she could trust Arnav just yet. She began to slide her hand away and pull herself away when Arnav reached out for her pallu and grabbed it, she turned feeling a sense of deja-vu. This scenario was echoing the day of the mehendi when they had first kissed and as much as Khushi craved to be close to Arnav in that way again she knew her heart was not yet strong enough for that.

"Arnav." Khushi said her voice full of pain as she held onto her shoulder to stop her pallu from slipping. "...please." She said shaking her head. Arnav looked at her and felt confused, what was he doing that was so wrong? He loved her, she was his wife, they were married, they were having a child...he didn't miss the physical side to their relationship, well he did a bit but that wasn't the central focus. He missed Khushi, he missed talking to her, seeing her, spending time with her, waking up to her and just well all of it. Her pagalpaan, bachpana and cheeky loving nature. Khushi could see the pain in his eyes and felt bad, he dropped her pallu, all signs of mischief wiped from their faces. Khushi awkwardly readjusted her saree and there was just silence filling the room. "I should go." Arnav said blankly, not looking at Khushi in the eye. He turned to leave when he felt her arms cling round his chest, her head nuzzled into his back and her hands dug into his chest. She weeped softly as she clung to him from behind. Arnav couldn't keep up with her, the mood swings had hit this one bad, he thought to himself. He tried to turn around to see her face but she wouldn't let him.
"I love you, I do...I just...I can't trust you yet. It hurts me Arnav." She cried softly and Arnav listened intently to her words. "You don't understand, har din jabse hum dono ne saath chorne ki phaisla kiya tah, har din mera dil rotha tah. I didn't understand, aggar tumhe mujshe pyar tah toh phir kyun chora? Maine phir socha ki shahid tumhe mujshe khabi pyar kiya nahi...Aur phir tum vapaas aye mere paas, aur yeh sabh kuch kare hoon. Mere kuch bhi samaj main nahi arra. Mujhe waqt chahiye Arnav..." She said still crying, still clinging to him and still as confused as ever. Arnav took his hands and pulled her clawing hands away from him, so that he could turn to face her. He wiped away her tears and took her into a warm and strong embrace.
"Khushi, I know you need time and I know it will take a while for you to trust me. But believe me, no one will ever be able to doubt how much I love you...I only let you walk away because that's what I thought you wanted. I believed truly that you deserved better than me and after everything that happened that night, I thought you'd realised that. The second I realised you didn't think that I wanted to take you back, but I knew too much had happened to expect you to forgive me straight away." He admitted, Khushi lifted her head up to look at him with shock. He really thought that? He thought he didn't deserve her? The man who talked about status and wealth as though they were the most important things in the world assumed he didn't deserve her. How could he even think that? The man who had spent months trying to prove how superior he was to her now was admitting that he feared that she was too good for him? "I love you Khushi. More than I could ever say because I can't seem to ever say it enough or be as convincing as I need to be because you still seem to doubt me...you take all the time you need. Just remember all the pain you felt, I felt it too." He said as he pulled himself away from her. He looked at her with an agonizingly pained look, the intensity of which reached the pit of Khushi and made it hard for her to even look at him and then he left. Leaving Khushi with a heavy heart and a horrible loneliness.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Three

Arnav had been so frustrated when he had gotten home, okay Khushi put up a picture of an actor, big deal right? It wouldn't have been had she not rubbed in the fact that she wanted their child to be like him. "Oh great Khushi thanks. God forbid our child be anything like me. That would just be the end of the world, wouldn't it?" He argued with himself. Even as the day went on his anger didn't cool. Everyone returned in the evening, he could hear their laughter from his room which was making him even angrier. Of course, Arnav was sure they must have all had so much fun with Khushi Bhabi, probably laughed about him walking out, making more stupid "Laad Governor, Raakshas" jokes. Arnav clenched his jaw and went outside to the poolside to spend some quality time with the one thing that soothed him, his garden. He watered his plants and began to enjoy the solidarity and peace he found out here. He could do what he wanted here, act how he wanted, say what he wanted and no one would talk back to him. It was bliss.
"Chotte." Anjali called and Arnav frowned, bliss never lasted long did it? "Can you go drop this off at Khushi Bhabi's I forgot to give it to her." Di said, Arnav turned to see a baby book in hand and he scowled.
"No." He said simply and turned his head back to his garden.
"Arre Babba, itna gussa! Please Chotte I'm so tired and Khushi Bhabi will need this at some point. Abhi ki abhi jaon aur chutki mein vapaas aon. Simple." Anjali said and Arnav groaned.
"Di!" He whined.
"Arre, yeh kya baat hui? Pehle toh tum bekaraar teh usse milne aur abh... Khushi Bhabi neh humhe bataya tah ki kya hua. She was only having some fun, aur tum, kitne pathar dil insaan hoon." Anjali speculated and Arnav rolled his eyes. He walked over to Di and grabbed the book.
"Stop being so over-dramatic Di. I'll give it and come back. I wont stay there long, nor will I talk to her. Happy?" He asked and she smiled, ruffled his hair and walked away.
"Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada." He said whilst looking at the book. "You really are a piece of work." She made the mistake, she was rude and she told his sister on him and made him look like the bad guy. She should write a book. "Nautanki kahi ki." He said, with a small wry grin. Khushi was in her room, she placed all the bears in her cupboard, she was halfway through the first box of Jalebis and she had tied the tagha on herself earlier. Now she just needed to find the right place for Arnav's gift.
"Deewar peh, yah toh yahaan?" She said contemplating moving her hero's photo elsewhere if not removing it all together. She lifted the photo of Salman Khan up. "Apne humhe bohut sari problems diye thi aaj, jaante hoon? Arnav ko gussa kiya, aur woh bhi jab unho ne itna pyaara sah tofa diya. Aur maine apki ki khatir kitne bakwaas kehe diya. Usse toh bura hi lagenga na." Khushi said to the photo.

Arnav was standing by her door listening to her having this exchange, not wanting to interrupt, knowing she would never say any of this in front of him.
"Hum jaante hai ki woh perfect nahi. Bohut zyada gussa karta, mujhe khabi khabi rolata, jalebia nahi kaata, lekin phir bhi...hameshaa mere hi bharon main sochda...." Khushi said and felt a pang in her heart as the guilt increased. Arnav was outside near to breaking point, he wanted to go in there and take her home then and there and never let her out of his sight. But he controlled himself.
"Hum yeh saab kyun kehre? I'm still mad at him for what he did. What kind of man lets the apparent love of his life walk out on him? Chi!" She said aloud and this is why Arnav had stopped himself, she would come back to him when she was ready not when he wanted. It had to be on her times this time. Khushi lifted up the picture of Salman Khan and put it in her wardrobe.
"Tik hai Laad governor aap jeetgaye, mere Bholu! Tum aaj se humare bedside table peh rehenga, khush?" She asked her photo but was shocked when she heard a reply.
"Extremely." Arnav said and she turned to the direction of the sound and saw him stood there. "Aap?" She asked, Arnav noted how this time her tone wasn't accusing, nor was it followed by get out, she was just surprised. Whether she liked this surprise or not, he was about to find out.
"Hah main, why do you usually expect other men to turn up in your house in the middle of the night?" He asked, knowing full well the answer to that question was no. But he just loved teasing her, Khushi became nervous, he could tell as she was close to tearing her dupatta up.
"Nahi woh, aap pehle bohut gusa teh...isilye humne socha....ki...tum kuch din ki liye..." Khushi tried to verbalise her thoughts but the incessant beating of her heart made it hard for her to concentrate and the way he was looking at her did not help.
"Kuch din ki liye kya? Tera saath chorega? Tumse baath nahi karoga?" He asked and Khushi nodded, not looking into his eyes. He walked up towards her, throwing the book on the bed, not that Khushi noticed the book, she just noticed him, how close he was, how good he smelt and how heartbreaking it was not to be in his arms. He brushed his hands against her arms, his touch sending jolts of electricity through her body.
"Khushi." He said huskily, sending another pang into Khushi's heart. "I made the mistake of letting you go once, I'm not a big enough fool to do it again." He said and Khushi looked up into his eyes to try and decipher if he was being honest. His eyes burned with an earnest intensity that made Khushi's heart soar. She smiled up at him but Arnav knew that she'd need more time. He couldn't expect her to be over it in a few days. Before they could start a fight he decided to leave. He removed his hands from her arms and stepped away.
"Err Di wanted me to give you that pregnancy book." He said pointing to it on the bed and Khushi nodded. Arnav began to walk out the room awkwardly when he reached the door he turned back to look at Khushi. "I'll call you tomorrow." He said, testing the water, if she was willing to move on she wouldn't complain but if she was still going to hold a grudge for longer than he expected she would most definitely kick up a fuss. Khushi smiled and nodded, Arnav hid his smile and ducked out of the Gupta house not wanting anything to ruin this.

Khushi woke up the next day quite late, she'd started the pregnancy book last night and had freaked herself out. She loved kids and babies, but being pregnant, giving birth to them and looking after them seemed to be a lot more intense than she had expected. She'd be getting mood swings, she already had the sickness, her feet could swell up, as well as her legs, she would get pains all over her body, she would start lactating- Khushi didn't even fully grasp what that was and had to look it up! Then the Labour process, oh god, how would she handle that? Khushi was beginning to feel slightly in over her head, she finished getting ready when her phone went off.
"Hello." Khushi said, her tone reflecting her worry.
"Hi, Khushi kya hua? Have you been sick again?" He asked and Khushi shook her head.
"Nahin, woh, I started that pregnancy book last night." She replied to Arnav who made a sound of approval. "Main sochri thi khi kyun nah tum iss bache ko janam deh aur main bhaas ghar main rehe, tik hai?" She asked and Arnav made a face on his end.
"What? Khushi." He warned.
"It seems so horrible Arnav, so much illness and pain and...main mothi hojaogi!" She said and Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Really, we're about to have a baby and you're concerned because you're going to gain weight." Arnav said whilst thinking how unbelievable she was being.
"We? I don't believe you have to push a baby out, do you?" She shot back and Arnav suppressed a laugh, she needed comforting not taunting.
"Jaan." He said softly. "I will be there every step of the way even if you don't want me to. Every time you're ill or in pain I will be there for you. Every ache and pain and I wont care if you get fat either." He said.
"Shukriya, I'm so glad that you're still willing to love me when I'm fat from having you're child!" She said sarcastically and Arnav rolled his eyes, he hadn't meant it that way.
"And, when you go into that delivery room I will be there with you and when you hold our baby in your arms for the first time, I'm sure you'll realise how worth while all this is." He said and Khushi became thoughtful.
"Aap itne samajdaar kabse hua?" She asked.
"I was always mature and wise, you were just too immature to notice." He said cockily and Khushi gasped.
"Tum, tum..!Tum khabi nahi sudroge!" She said and cut the phone. Arnav grinned knowing she wasn't serious, these kind of exchanges always happened between the two, sometimes their silly fights helped their love to grow, it was one of the things he loved about Khushi. Nothing was easy with her, she had a fiery temperment too, but she only really let it out with him too. Arnav smiled to himself as Akash walked into his office.
"Kya baat hai Bhai, you look very happy." Akash speculated and Arnav looked up at him.
"Woh kuch nahi. Akash can you let Di know I'll be home late today, I'm going to go see you're Bhabi after work today for a little...quality time." He said with a grin.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Two

Arnav went home from Khushi's planning to get some work done but when he went in there appeared to be a circus going on in his home.
"What the-?!" Arnav said as he saw everyone in the living room, wrapping paper everywhere, mithaiyaan ki dhabiyaan and jalebis stacked high. Anjali looked up and smiled at her brother.
"Arre Chotte tum agaye? Good, we were all just getting some presents for Khushiji, after everything that's happened we should really celebrate this good news." She said with a bittersweet smile, Anjali had ballooned up recently she was no longer able to discreetly hide her bump as she was around 5 and a half months pregnant. She had her hands on the bump and Arnav grimaced slightly.
"Di, she's Khushi Bhabi to you and don't you think this is all a bit much?" Arnav asked, he knew Khushi would be thrilled by it, but she didn't deserve it quite yet, maybe when she came home they could celebrate but as of yet the War was not won...
"Nahi toh, Payal started making Jalebia saying she would give them to Khushi, I thought why not get some mithaai too, then when we went shopping we saw these cute bears for the baby, sweet na? Then I thought Khushi would need a pregnancy book, I would give her mine but you've stolen it so I bought her one and then I went to the Mandhir and got her a special tagha like the one Naniji got me, it'll protect Khushij- I mean Khushi Bhabi and the baby." Anjali gushed and Arnav stood there processing this.
"Di yeh saab Madam ki head mein jayaga. I don't think its a good idea. I want her to come back, not because we bought her off with gifts." He said.
"Arnav! Its not about buying her with gifts, its a happy occassion aur hum saab ka maan karra tah khi kuch masti karo aur gifts kharidlo. Akkhir hum pehle bhaar Bua baanewale. Aur aap...I just wanted to let Khushi Bhabi know how happy we are even if she's not 100% happy with us." She said her bubbly attitude had come down and Arnav regretted what he'd said.
"Okay Di, we'll go over tomorrow and you can all see you're precious Khushi Bhabi." Arnav said rolling his eyes, when suddenly Arnav heard a sound that made his skin crawl.
"Hey Nanav!" NK said and Arnav clenched his teeth. "Massi told me about everything, jab maine patta chala ki tumne Khushiji ki saath shaadi kiya toh maine tabhi faisla kiya ki main vapaas aoga. But kya kare? I was having issues with my Visa and when I told Massi I could come she told me now you're going to be a Dad. Kya baath hai Nanav bhai, aap toh bhare chupphe rustaam niklaye." NK said as he nudged Arnav playfully who looked blankly at him. Payal and Akash were in hysterics whereas the rest of the family tried to keep their composure.
"Yeah, thanks. Whatever, I'm going upstairs, aap saabh tayaar rahiye kaal." He warned, giving one more look of dissaproval at NK he made his way upstairs.

Arnav got up extra early that day from anticipation, he felt a strange kind of nervousness over the idea of seeing Khushi nowadays. It was like before they got married, in fact very similar to the day of the wedding when he had made an excuse to go to Khushi's just to see her. He was back to that again, it was a setback but still he appreciated the feeling. A small smile played on his lips when he recalled how she'd fed the cow the plates by accident as she'd been to busy staring at him. "Pagal." He said aloud as he came back from the memory. He went downstairs to see Payal getting everything ready, there were atleast ten presents, two mitaiyaan boxes, one jalebi box, one set (from Naniji), one set (surprisingly from Mami), four teddy bears wrapped up and a small box with the Thaga from the Mandhir in it. Payal was telling HP to put them in the car when it dawned on Arnav he'd been the only one not to buy Khushi something, apparently that idiot NK had helped pick out the teddies along with Akash. That didn't sit too well with Arnav.
"Payal." Arnav called and Payal turned with a smile.
"Yes Bhai." She said.
"Erm, I was thinking, you know everyone got something for Khushi and you know I'm her husband...it doesn't look nice...so maybe I should, I don't know, get her something?" He asked Payal who tried to hide her smile, she nodded. "What do you think? There was a set I saw a while back I think she might like." Payal shook her head and Arnav frowned. "What then?" He asked.
"Bhai you know Khushi, yes she likes sparkly things but more than anything else she loves romantic gestures, kuch dil se karo woh zyaada ucha rehega." Payal said and Arnav mulled over this. Then it clicked.
"Payal would you be willing to give me a hand with something? I think I know what I'm going to do for you're pagal behen." He said with a grin, Payal looked confused but nodded anyway. Khushi was in the middle of digesting her fourth parotha of the morning.
"Sanka Devi todha dheere se." Buaji warned but Khushi only smiled and stuffed more into her mouth. The doorbell rang and her Bua shouted for her to get it as she was in the kitchen. Khushi wiped her hands and her mouth and went to the door, when she opened it she was pleasantly surprised.
"Arre, Nanheji aap?" She asked as she saw NK at the door with an armful of presents. He unsteadly made his way in and dumped the presents on the table and turned.
"Oh Khushiji-whoops I mean Khushi Bhabi, Bidaii ho!" He said and Khushi shook her head.
"Badaii not Bidaii. Aur Badaii kis khushi mein?" She asked as she became curious.
"Kyunki aap bhi ek Mama baanewali hoon." Anjali answered her question as she entered with a small box in her hands.
"Arre Di aap?" Khushi gushed and she went to go hug her when she stopped herself as she saw how big Di had gotten. She slowed down and gently embraced her, they pulled away and Anjali pinched Khushi's cheek and handed her the box. "Yeh aapki liye, Devi Maiyaan ki khaas tagha hai, yeh tumhare aur humare nahi sadasiya ki raksha karega." Anjali explained, Khushi nodded and placed it on the table carefully. Mami, Mama and Naniji followed handing her sets, Khushi took their blessings and told them they shouldn't have but they insisted.

Akash Jiju followed with a handful of wrapped objects that looked like teddy bears to Khushi.
"For my pyari Bhabi, a few pyare teddy's to go with NK Bhai's." He said as he placed them on the table. Khushi smiled and hugged Akash.
"Thank you Jiju." She said.
"Arre, thank you kiss baath ki hum Chacha hai aur Massar bhi, humara pharz baanta." He joked and everyone laughed. "Speaking of which, honewali Massi bhi hai saath main." He said as he pointed to Payal. Khushi squealed unable to contain her excitement, she hadn't seen Payal in a long time, she'd spoken to her over the phone but she'd missed her sister. Payal practically ran up to Khushi and smacked her playfully on the arm.
"Yeh bhi kohi tarika hota hai. Tumne mujhe ek phone bhi nahi kiya jabse tumhe yeh khush khabari mile." She said and Khushi pouted. "Ucha tik hai, yeh lehlo, Jalebia aur saath main apke maan pasaand mithaii. Humhe ek sweet sa bacha chaiyen, bilkul aap ki tarha." She said and Khushi smiled as she took the boxes. She placed them on the table, when she felt a strange sensation in her stomach.
"Oh no." She managed, before she covered her mouth and headed straight for the bathroom. Arnav walked in happily with his present in hand to find Khushi gone.
"What the-?" He'd witnessed all the happy reunions from outside as he was parking up, where had she gone?
"Bhai Khushi Bhabi must have guessed you were coming." Akash joked and Arnav looked at him confused. "She's gone to the bathroom, woh kya kehte, morning sickness." Akash explained and Arnav frowned as Akash's cheap joke.
"Very funny Akash, I'm going to go check on Khushi." He said as everyone else laughed, he placed his present on the table. He passed Buaji, Umma and Bauji on the way and received blessings before they went to go receive the Raizada's. Arnav went into Khushi's room, the bathroom was unlocked and he could hear her retching from outside. He took a deep breath and went in. He pulled Khushi's hair back and smoothed his hand across her back. Khushi's contiuned being sick for a few minutes. She pulled the chain and Arnav got up, grabbing a small glass from her room and filling it with water. He went back in to find Khushi washing her face, she looked up at him with surprise. He held up the water and she took it sheepishly. She took a sip, swigged it around her mouth and then spat it into the sink. Arnav looked disgusted as his wife repeated the action. She drank the rest of it and handed it back to him and she made her way into her room.

Arnav grabbed her arm. "Don't I get a hello, or even a thank you?" He asked. She rolled her eyes and turned freeing her hands she joined them.
"Namaste. Khush?" She asked and went to leave the room when he swurved in front of her and blocked her way. "Arnav, hatiya mera mood nahi hai yeh chuhe bilee ke khel khelne ki liye." She complained but Arnav became distracted by something else.
"What the hell is that?" He asked pointing to the frame on Khushi's bed side table. Khushi turned following her husband's gaze, when she saw the object of his disdain she smiled.
"Oh voh, voh toh tazveer hai." She said with a grin.
"Khushi I know its a picture. Why the hell have you got a framed picture of Salman Khan on your bedside table?" He asked feeling angry.
"Honestly Arnav you say I don't know anything about pregnancy. People say that whatever an expecting mother sees her baby sees and the baby takes on traits of the people she sees most. Isilye maine mera hero ka photo bedtable peh lagvaya. Ucha hai heh nah?" She asked, knowing that at this moment Arnav would have been hatching plans on how to get rid of her photo and cursing Salman Khan at the same time.
"Whatever." He said and walked out. Khushi followed until they reached the living room and Arnav kept walking.
"Arre Chotte tum kaha jaare?" Di asked, Arnav looked angrily at her.
"Di I have some work I need to take care of. I'll see you all at home." He turned to look at Khushi and then walked out. Khushi simply made a face and went to go take her presents in her room. Payal came and helped her. When in their old room Payal confronted Khushi.
"What did you say to Bhai?" She asked and Khushi made a face.
"Jiji can we not talk about it? He got in a mood because I put up Salman Khan's photo. He's so jealous. Uff!" She groaned, Payal looked and then frowned.
"Tum nahi samjoge." Payal said and Khushi became confused, Payal passed Khushi a small present that was wrapped in silver shiny wrapping paper. It had a little card. Khushi lifted it and read it.


For my dearest wife, 
thank you for making me the world's 
happiest man. Tum sach mein meri
Khushi hoon. 


Arnav.  


Khushi felt slightly guilty just from the card but comforted herself knowing this present was probably a bag or a new saree or some new jewellery that he got his assistant to buy, the card was probably written by Aman too. She tore it open and tears welled in Khushi's eyes. It was a photo, not just any photo it was the two of them. It was an enlarged version of the family photo they'd taken on the day of the Haldi after the Havaan except he'd got it so that it was just the two of them, Khushi smiled as she saw the look of exasperation on Arnav's face in the photo as Khushi had forced her chooriyaan in his face. The frame was silver and covered in stars. On the back there was an engraving.

So that our baby can see how happy Mama and Pappa are. 
The stars are so you can always speak to you're Umma and 
Bauji. Here's to our fresh start full of love and happiness. 


Khushi was stunned, he'd put so much thought into this, no wonder he got angry about that stupid photo, he probably assumed she wouldn't care about his present.
"Main kitne bewakoof hoon." Khushi complained. "Yeh Arnav neh likha taa?" Khushi asked Payal.
"Maine unki todhi si madaath khi lekin jazbaat aur idea unka tah." Payal said and Khushi began to tear up. She held the frame close to her heart.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty One

Khushi had eaten heartily that night, after her Jalebi-fest she ate a full dinner that could have fed three people but she was making up for like a week's worth of sickness, maybe it was morning sickness. Khushi didn't know a lot about pregnancy, she decided she'd have to buy one of those books and read up on it, like the "What to expect when you're expecting books." She'd have to go to town for that and get a rickshaw, the idea of making so much effort made her sleepy and so she went to her bed. It felt odd lying there alone, she was so used to nuzzling up to Arnav and using him as a pillow that now her bed felt cold and unfamiliar, just plain odd. She tossed and turned and tried to shake away the thoughts of Arnav but it was pretty difficult to do that considering inside her was a new little Raizada. "And Gupta." She said aloud, trying to argue with him even when he wasn't here. "Hai Devi Maiyaan." Khushi groaned and she eventually fell into a hazy sleep. Khushi woke up to the familiar sound of her phone which she'd placed on the pillow next to her, "Chaal Maiyaan ke Bhaavan Bhaavan." It chanted insessentley, she whacked her hand against the bed until she felt the object and she answered it putting it to her ear.
"Hello." Khushi groaned into her phone.
"Good afternoon Jaan, tum abhi bhi sorhi hoon?" Arnav asked and Khushi smiled at the sound of his voice.
"Kya kare, bohut achi neend ayee si bohut din ke baad." Khushi said smiling, her eyes still shut, she was still halfway between conciousness and unconsciousness. Arnav was shocked she was talking to him but decided to just go with it.
"Ucha. What were you dreaming about? Was it me?" He asked, Khushi began to laugh, when she realised who she was talking to. She sat up sharply and looked at her phone to check she hadn't dreamt this, she hoped this was some horrible nightmare, she hadn't really just given Arnav the time of day, right? "Hello, Khushi, can you hear me? Hello?" The phone murmured and Khushi groaned.
"Dekhiye tumne meri neend ko disturb kiya. Aap ko kohi kaam nahi, baas mujhe taang karta hai. Tum na, ek kaam karo, mera number delete karo kyunki mujhe kohi diljasbhi nahi hai tumshe baat karne mein. Aur ha I didn't dream about you, I dreamt about Jalebis! Namaste!" She said as she hung up the phone. Laad Governor bhi! Khushi thought to herself, he was trying to creep his way back into her heart, well we'll see how he does that when she's not talking to him or seeing him. Khushi got up and went to get her stuff together for her shower, she could hear her phone going off as she grabbed a towel and as she mulled over what to wear. She knew it was him and his anger was probably at an unmistakable high but she didn't care, actually she rather enjoyed it and grinned at the idea of him getting angry in his office, he's probably thrown his phone across the room, hopefully he didn't hit anyone. Khushi decided against a saree, "Agar woh Laad Governor phir se aya aur mujhe choone ki koshish ki toh phir garbar hojayege." Khushi said aloud as she recalled how he'd put his hand against her stomach and later kissed it. No today she'd wear a salwar kameez, that way she wouldn't be able to feel his touch as badly if he tried anything, which he would.

Arnav had lost his patience within twenty minutes. "That's it! Bachpana ki limit bhi hothi hai!" He shouted as he grabbed his jacket.
"Sir aap kaha jaare?" Aman asked and Arnav gave him a black look.
"I'm the boss here, meh jaab chahein jaasakta and I don't need to clarify that with you, is that clear?" He said and Aman nodded. Arnav had reached his limit now, Khushi wasn't answering her phone, all he wanted to do is check in with her, she's so bloody accident prone, he didn't trust her and so she left him no choice but to go check on her himself. Arnav broke almost every traffic law during his drive to Khushi's he was in no mood to get stuck in a traffic jam. He parked up outside of the house and knocked on the door. Khushi's Bua answered.
"Arre Babua, tum yahaan?" She asked and Arnav folded his hands together. "Jeete rehein." She said as she made room for him to enter.
"Khushi hai Buaji?" He asked hurriedly, normally he would try to make small talk but he was in no mood today.
"Woh kamare mein hain, patta nahi kya kari hai. Main bulaon?" Buaji offered but Arnav shook his head.
"Nahi, main khud jaata hoon." He said, ignoring the look of worry on Madhumati's face, they were still married, Arnav was counting this as a visit to her maternal home and that's it. If he wanted to visit her he could, if he needed to speak to her alone he could. He barged into her room shutting the doors behind him, locking them. He turned and was immediately disturbed by the image in front of his eyes.
"What the-" Arnav began as he saw his wife wrestling to pull down her dress past her midrif. Khushi was tugging on it but it just wouldn't go. Khushi turned to see him and fumed immediately.
"Aap yahaan kya kare hai? Nikaljaye, I'm getting dressed." Khushi said thankful her bottom half (the salwar) was already on.
"Woh toh dikahi dera hai." Arnav said with the slightest twitch of a smile playing on his lips.
"Toh jao naa! Besharam kahi ke." Khushi muttered as she went back to tugging on the dress. Arnav walked towards her.
"Oh come on Khushi I've seen more than this already and how is it besharami if we're married?" He asked and Khushi became more angry.
"Shut up! Yeh kameez fit kyun nahi horhi, uchi kassi toh thi?" Khushi wondered and Arnav sighed.
"Khushi when was the last time you wore this?" He asked.
"Shaadi se pehle, shahid sangeet ke rehersals peh." Khushi said, smiling as she recollected the memory of the sangeet as a whole.
"So that was a few months ago, you're going to experience weight gain and you're hips are bound to widen during pregnancy. Toh yeh sari tailor made kapre joh tumne shaadi se pehle bana deti tumhe abb fit nahi hoge." Arnav said and Khushi gawked, she hadn't thought of that, she'd been shimmying around in her room for the past half an hour trying to get it to fit.
"Aap ko yeh saab kaise pata?" She asked trying to change the subject from her naivety about pregnancy.
"Maine Di ki pregnancy kitaab borrow kita kaal raat, neend nahi arri thi toh maine socha khi-" Arnav was explaining when Khushi interrupted.
"Kya?!"

"Yeah." Arnav said simply, Khushi was shocked, he read a book about pregnancy, did he even...what? "Khushi its not so shocking lots of guys do it and besides you don't seem to be doing anything right now for my princess so I have to pick up the slack." He complained and Khushi boiled at the use of princess again.
"Maine tumshe kaha tah naa, yeh abhi bhi patta nahi hai ki yeh bacha ladka hai yah ladki hai. Aur tum kohi bhagwaan nahi joh bhas mere bache khi bhaagya decide karli joh tum samjo khi wohi hai. You don't know what my baby will be like." Khushi speculated.
"Our." Arnav interrupted.
"Hah, hah, tik hai, abb jao, mujhe change karna hai." Khushi said as she pulled out a light, plain royal blue saree that had previously been to big for her from the wardrobe.
"Bathroom waha hai Khushi, aur main toh yehi intazaar karoga." He said as he sat back leisurely on the bed. Khushi groaned and marched into the bathroom. She came out hoping he may have gone but no he was sat there still.
"Aapko kohi kaam hai yah nahi? Pehle jab hum ghar phar teh toh aap din raath uss laptop ki bachi ke saath thi. I could never get you away from it. Aur abb jab tumhare paas saara din hai kaam ki liye toh tum yahaan chala aya?" Khushi questioned and Arnav flashed a look of anger briefly.
"Yes Khushi I actually have a lot of work. Lekin maine sab kuch chorke yahaan aya because I needed to know how you were. You were the one who ignored my calls without hearing what I wanted to say, even though you know I hate that and its not like you're at home so I can call Payal or Di to ask them. How do I know you're okay and you're being looked after well enough?" He asked, a mix of anger and concern was clear on his face, Khushi's resolve began to falter but she strengthened it.
"Aapko kya lagta ki meri parivaar mere dekhbaal nahi karsakte?" She asked and Arnav groaned and cupped her face.
"I'm not saying that Khushi, its just Buaji and Umma need to take care of Bauji and when you get here you get caught up in that too so tell me who is looking after my Jaan and my princess?" He asked, his eyes shining earnestly, it made Khushi's heart ache. It was this bholapaan that she loved most about him. She wriggled out of his grip and turned away from him so that he could only see the back of her.
"Hum tik hai, aap jaasakte." She said bluntly and Arnav sighed. He walked towards her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his head into her neck. Khushi sighed slightly at this, but then bit her tongue and closed her eyes. She froze for a minute letting her guard down, she'd missed his embrace, she could feel his breath on her neck, the slow rise and fall of his chest and the fast rate of his heart beat against her back. "You could come with me you know?" He asked and that snapped Khushi out of it, she tore herself from his arms, she went to the door unlocking it and opening it to hint to Arnav to leave. Arnav sighed heavily, put on his jacket and went to leave, he looked at Khushi one last time, she wouldn't make eye-contact with him.
"This isn't over yet Khushi, this is only day one, you'll be back. You'll see." He said with an air of arrogance that forced Khushi to look at him with shock. He got what he'd wanted, eye-contact, he smiled as he exited claiming that as his first victory in getting Khushi back. She shut her door and locked it feeling angry with herself. "This isn't over yet Khushi, this is only day one, you'll be back. You'll see." Khushi mimicked, "Baara ayaa!" She said angrily.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty

Arnav could hardly contain himself, that's why she'd been throwing up, having fevers and fainting. They were having a baby. He couldn't fathom it, he was going to have a baby with the woman he loved, this moment was perfect...but there was one thing missing. Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. Anjali and Payal both began grinning incredulously, Payal was going to be a Massi and Anjali a Bua.
"Main abhi Khushi ko phone karti hoon." Payal said as she grabbed her phone.
"NO! Payal don't, I want to tell her." Arnav said, grinning at the idea of how happy she'll be but she'll become embarresed because of Arnav being  there and her cheeks will blush that perfect red.
"But Bhai how? You two aren't even talking." Payal said and again Arnav grinned to himself.
"Oh my dear Payal, don't you worry about that, I wasn't going to let Khushi walk out of my life that easily but now she's definately not going anywhere fast. You wait and watch what Arnav Singh Raizada does." He said as he folded his arms over his chest happily.
Khushi paced across her room furiously, earlier the phone had rang and Buaji informed her Arnav was coming over.
"Aanne de uss laad governor ko! Aggar maine usse chun chun ke badlaa nahi liye toh mera naam bhi Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Rai-" She stopped herself as she realised what she had said and she covered her mouth. "Hai Devi Maiyaa yeh maine kya kehe diya?" Khushi said as she lightly tapped her head for making such a stupid mistake, she wasn't that person anymore, she was just Khushi Kumari Gupta, nothing more nothing less.
"Kyun aapne joh kaha, such kaha." A voice said from the doorway of her room. Chills ran down Khushi's back, she knew that voice all to well but she felt longing instead of anger. She felt the need to run to him, into his arms, she wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time. Why was he doing this to her?
"Nahi, that is in the past, now I am just Khushi Kumari Gupta once again. Which brings me to my first question what are you doing here? Humari kismaat aaj kaisi chamki ki the great "ASR" came to my home?" She asked angrily, turning to him with wild accusing eyes, sarcasm heavy in her voice. He looked at her, she looked tired, dark circles under her eyes, her eyes themselves were red raw and her body seemed weak and frail. She needs to be taking better care of herself. He cleared his throat.
"Technically you are still my wife, we haven't legally divorced." Arnav pointed out to her. Khushi looked at him, he looked tired from his eyes but there was a glow to his face. He seemed more cheerful than she'd hoped he'd be, of course it was clear now, he'd come here to get her to sign divorce papers.
"Ha! Toh phir leyaon na tumhare divorce papers, humhe bhi kohi shok nahi tumhare patni banne mein!" Khushi said angrily as she spotted a large brown envelope in Arnav's hands.

Arnav sighed heavily, this girl would be the death of him, he began to advance towards her and Khushi took cautious and confused steps backwards. Arnav halted when he reached the desk in her room, he put the envelope down and raised his hands in surrender.
"I'm not here to divorce you Khushi, these are your blood test results." Arnav said, Khushi raised her head and looked at the envelope and spotted the logo.
"Hah, toh kissi nokhar ki saath pejdethe! Tum yahaan kyun ayein?" Khushi said angrily, it had been a week since they'd separated, not one phone call, not one attempt to see or speak to her and now here he was in the flesh. Something was up.
"I wanted to give you the good news myself." Arnav said with a small smile playing on his lips.
"What am I dying? Aap yahaan meri maatham mananne aaya?" Khushi asked sarcastically unaware of how hurt Arnav felt by her accusation but he reminded himself that pregnant women tend to have mood swings and Khushi on a good day has ridiculous mood swings.
"Nahin Jaan." He said as he swept some hair from her face and she froze at him calling her Jaan and then was paralysed by his touch. Why did his most simple of actions cause a frenzy to stir inside her? Khushi pushed his hand away and swerved around him to the bed and began to fold some clothes on the bed, anything to not look into those big brown eyes.
"Then what do you want to tell me?" She asked. He took a deep breath, patience Raizada, its all about the patience, he reminded himself. He walked up behind her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders causing Khushi to take a sharp breath. "Khushi." He said huskily into her ear and Khushi's grip on the folded clothes tightened. "The report came back and said your are pregnant." Arnav whispered happily into her ear, Khushi dropped the clothes in shock, Arnav smiled assuming it was the same happy shock he'd received. "Aap Maa baanewali hoon aur main...Pappa." He said still in a euphoric state over this. Khushi however felt like her world had come crashing down, no, no, no, no, no! How could this be happening? She was pregnant with a child whose father had practically kicked her out a week ago. No, this cannot be happening. She tore herself out of his grip and Arnav looked in shock at her.
"Khushi?-" Arnav began but Khushi put her hand up signalling he should stop.
"Bhaas Mr. Raizada! Bhaas! Yeh kya hui? Jab chaha humara saath chordiya aur jab chaha toh phir humhe phir se patni ka durja diya? Shukriya lekin humhein nahi chaiye tumhari chartiy. Don't do me the favour of trying to be my great and wonderful husband now. I don' need you and my baby will not need you." She said and Arnav stared at her with pain and shock resonating through him. How was she saying this to him? His Khushi would never say that.
"Khushi don't be silly, I never meant to hurt you, I just-" Arnav began to explain but Khushi interrupted him.
"STOP! Just stop it, okay? I don't need more lies in my life! "I love you Khushi, I'll always be there Khushi, you're mine for seven lifetimes Khushi!" I was the pagal one for believing you! I forgot humari toh sirf contract wali shaadi si. You did protect me while we were married but aab jab Shyam jail main hai toh Khushi ka kya kaam, na?" She said accusingly, tears streamed down her face as her cheeks flushed red with anger. Arnav knew he shouldn't get her angry considering her state, he'd been the angry one for long enough, considering she was his mrs. she had equal rights to be as angry as he had been. Maybe this was karma.
"Khushi, I only gave you the option to leave, I was trying to do what's best for you. I loved you, love you and always will love you. Believe it or not that's your choice but you can't run away from me. Wherever you go you'll find me." He said as he moved towards her and touched her stomach, she was wearing a sheer saree so he was practically touching her skin. Khushi froze at his touch and was confused by his words. Did he not want her to go? Then why didn't he stop her?

"Guarantee kya hai? Who knows, maybe after you've had you're fill of being a Pappa for a few months you tell me I can leave again?" Khushi asked as she removed his hand from her stomach. Arnav sighed, she was too angry to listen to anything now.
"Tik hai Khushi, if that's how you want to play it then fine. Main bhi aapka pathi hoon. If I don't have you back in the Raizada house in a week then my name is not Arnav Singh Raizada." He challenged her and he took in her face one last time before he made a start to leave when Khushi called.
"Waise toh tumhara asli naam Malik hai, toh aap harijaoge." Khushi said as she recalled that night when they had first spent the night together when he divulged his past to her. Arnav clenched his jaw.
"You know what I mean Khushi, one day you'll understand what I did." He said as he left the house. Khushi sighed deeply, she felt tired and weary now. She sat down on the bed when her family came in and congratulated her. Khushi smiled at them all.
"Lekin, titaliya tumne bubua ki saath lotke ghar kyun nahi gaye?" Buaji asked and Khushi looked up at her.
"Buaji yehi mera ghar hai. Aap log please mere saath bhez maath khariye. Mera dimaak waise bhi patha jaara hai." She said as she raised her hands to her head and they nodded deciding to leave this conversation for later, Garima took some Kohl from her eye and warded Khushi from any nazars. Khushi smiled and lay down. She heard the door shut and took a deep breath and that's when she took it in. She was pregnant. There was a small being growing insider her, connected to her every breath, her blood ran through it and it was a little her and a little Arnav growing. She smiled at that.
"Aap ladka hoon ya ladki?" She asked aloud as she touched her stomach. "Main chahthi hoon ki ladka hoon, lekin apke uss khadoos Pappa pe maath jaana. Don't be a serious angry person like him, todha maasti karne wala ho, meri jaisa." She said happily. She may be angry at Arnav but he was the father of her child, she wasn't ready to forgive him but she had to acknowledge his relevance to her child at least. Khushi rolled her eyes at the idea of how happy he must be, he probably wants a boy just like him. "Yuck." She said aloud and decided her child would be like her and closed her eyes deciding to get some rest since she hadn't been able to sleep in so long.

Khushi woke up to a familiar fragrance wafting through the house. She sniffed repeatedly to ensure she wasn't just imagining it. She sat up sharply and smiled, clasping her hands.
"JALEBIS!" She said excitedly and ran towards the kitchen. She arrived there and her smile was gone instantly. "TUM PHIR AGAYE?!" Khushi shouted at Arnav who stood before her with a plate of Jalebis, his shirt covered in Jalebi mixture, had he come here and made them? Oh God, they smelled good. Arnav smiled as he saw Khushi look heartbroken at his Jalebis, he saw her lick her lips slightly only to bite it afterwards.
"Buaji told me you haven't been eating properly and I don't want you to starve my future princess so I came over and made the one thing I knew you'd eat happy or sad, hungry or not." He said confidently and Khushi raised her finger to him.
"What do you mean starve your princess?" She asked questioningly. Arnav simply looked up at her with confusion.
"Khushi obviously you're my Jaan so naturally our daughter needs a pet name too, she'll be my princess." He said casually and this made Khushi's blood boil.
"WHAT THE-?" She said and then covered her mouth and regretting saying it immediately. Arnav sniggered at this. "Listen, yeh bacha mera hai okay? Also yeh ladka hoga tumhara koi princess nahi." She said angrily at him Khushi had always wanted a little boy and then a girl. Arnav groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Come on Khushi obviously the baby isn't just yours I had a little something to do with it." He said with a wink and Khushi gawked at him. Was he for real? "Okay, it'll be whatever you want but if its going to be healthy you've got to eat." He said and Khushi looked at the Jalebis, they did look good and she was hungry. But she wouldn't eat it while he was here.
"Mujhe nahi kahna." She said stubbornly and Arnav knew from the longing in her eyes that it wouldn't take long for her to cave but for her sake so she could save face he decided to leave.
"Tik hai, math kao. I'm going home. Waise if you want you can come with me any time you want." He said and Khushi simply stared at him. "You're choice." He said, he grabbed his keys off of the counter, after placing the Jalebis onto the counter and he began making his way out and stopped when he reached where Khushi was standing. "Goodbye Khushi." He said with a slight nod and she turned her head away from him and he smiled, fine if she was going to be like that. He bent down and placed a kiss on her stomach.
"Bye Princess, try not to bother Mamma too much, I know you'd rather be at home with Pappa, Bua, Badi Nani, Badi Mami, Bade Mama, Chacha and Chahci-" Arnav was about to continue when Khushi corrected him.
"Payal will be a Massi." She said looking down at him angrily.
"Right Massi, but kya kare you're Mamma is very stubborn lekin main bhi aapka baap hoon." He said this as he stood up and met eyes with Khushi. Khushi turned her face from him, unimpressed and he quickly placed a peck on her cheek. Khushi turned angrily but Arnav had already began to half jog out of the kitchen. Khushi grimaced, wiped her cheek and attacked the Jalebis.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Nine

Khushi zipped up her bag as she did so memories of their marriage flooded through her mind, the way he had taken her hand so assuredly, how he had lead her to believe that everything would be okay, how he made her believe he loved her and cared for her and now they were separating. She couldn't help but remember the unspoken promises they made as they made their rounds in the Mandhir and how easily he was breaking them now. If just once he would tell her to stay she would but he was silent in the corner. She pulled her bag onto the ground and realised this is how Lavanya must have felt when Arnav and she broke up. Maybe this was a habit of his, a game and Khushi merely just another pawn in Arnav Singh Raizada's master plan. She pulled her bag to the ground and hurriedly brushed away some tears, she was not going to cry, not this time, she was going to be strong. Arnav on the other hand was conveying no emotion simply because he was at a loss, he loved her and people always said you let the ones you love go free and if its real they will come back to you but why would Khushi ever want to come back to the house that held such horrifying memories. He wanted to shout, to take her bag and throw it across the room, ensnare her in his arms and tell her she couldn't go anywhere. But he stayed quiet, what right did he have to stop her when she was making this choice? He didn't have any rights, for the first time in a long time he felt helpless. Khushi started towards the door when she felt his hand on her own, she turned looking at him accusingly. He took the bag from her hand.
"I'll drop you." He said and Khushi looked in awe at him. That's all he had to say. Really? After the past few months they spent together that's all she got from him. Unbelievable.

"Iske kohi zuroorath nahi, meh khud jaa saakti hoon." She said bitterly and it stung Arnav to hear her talk so curtly, he knew she was upset he had just hoped she would be less judgemental towards Arnav after all she was the one who was leaving, she didn't need to make it harder for him.
"Khushi don't argue, just let me do this." He said with a tone of authority and Khushi felt like she didn't have the energy to fight with him, she was drained emotionally and physically. Arnav went ahead and Khushi followed, she stood by as he explained how their marriage was just a pretence to help bring to light Shyam's truth and how now Khushi was to go back home. Khushi looked at how shocked and hurt everyone seemed by this. Naniji walked up to Khushi.
"Kya tum yehi chathi hoon bitiya?" She asked and Khushi nodded meekly, she couldn't admit otherwise when the man she loved had said she could leave. Naniji looked away dejectedly and moved away from the pair unable to fathom a logical argument. They all bid Khushi tearful goodbyes, especially Payal and Anjali, Anjali who felt immensely guilty for having unintentionally played with this poor girl's life. Khushi finished saying goodbye and made her way towards the front door, Arnav kept pace with her, their every movement synchronised. She halted by the door and took in what had been "their home" one last time and then made her way into the car. 

The two silently made their way to Khushi's Buaji's home, Khushi becoming more angry with Arnav and Arnav more upset with Khushi. By the time they reached the house, Khushi didn't wait for Arnav to tell her to "get out" or what he was intending to do which was get her bag out and help her out. Instead she got herself out and her bag, Arnav unbuckled his belt and got out of the car. Khushi was going towards the house when she walked past him.
"Khushi..." Arnav said and raised his hand to reach out to her, but she did not look back, nor did she acknowledge him. Instead she ran into the house, shutting the doors, blocking him out. Payal had rang ahead to warn her family members of what had happened. Khushi took one look at her family members, her eyes lingering over her father, remembering how Shyam was responsible for his state and she broke down. She ran to her old room, locking the door. She flung herself onto the bed and cried to her heart's content. She didn't want to be strong any more, she didn't want to fight and she had nothing left to fight for. Khushi had finally given up. Arnav drove back to Shantivaan in a strange state, he couldn't understand her. He had given her the choice, she could have said no, why was she so angry with him? He wasn't the one abandoning her and giving up. If anything more than ever he wanted to be by her side, he wanted to hold her in his arms and remind her everything was going to be okay now. But she chose to leave and he was respecting that, he just wish he could let all his feelings go too. All he could think of was her sad eyes, the pain in her voice and the way her hands slipped his grip when he reached out for her. He parked the car and slammed his fist against it. "God dammit." He said in barely a whisper, he was so angry but so hurt he couldn't even find the right emotion to feel. He rested his head against the wheel and let some hot tears slip down his face. Khushi was gone...A few days went by and Arnav had silently tried to get on with his life. But it was too hard, his room felt to big, his bed too bare, his closet to spacious and his life too empty. He caved and went to go see Payal. "How is she?" He asked, he'd asked this everyday hoping for a different response to the one he got.

"Not good Bhai, she's still locked up in her room. She hardly eats and when she does she ends up being sick. She cries all the time but refuses to try to speak to you. I don't know what's happened to her Bhai." Payal said, tears forming in her eyes as she recalled how frail Khushi looked. That idiot, Arnav thought, she'd just been so unwell and now she was doing this. Was she trying to punish him? Because it was working. "Bhai I don't understand, you both love each other. Toh phir yeh saab kyun?" She asked and Arnav sighed deeply, he was beginning to wonder the same. Why was Khushi doing this.
"I don't know Payal. I gave her the choice to leave and she took it. I thought she wouldn't but the first chance she got she bolted and now she's punishing herself and me along with her." Arnav said angrily. Anjali chimed in at this point.
"But what exactly did you say to Khushiji? I want your exact wording." Anjali said knowing how poor her brother was with conversing.
"I said she could leave now if she wanted." Arnav said shrugging not seeing how he phrased it would make any difference. 

"You absolute duffer!" Anjali said aloud, shocked at her brother's stupidity. "You said she could leave now, you never explained to her that she had the option to stay. Bechari, she was so scared that night, she wasn't in the right frame of mind and you..." Anjali was absolutely appalled.  

Khushi sat on her bed reliving the painful moments they had spent together in her mind, she hated him. She hated him unlike any other person she had known in her life. No one had caused her this much pain after giving her so much love. She hated him. She hated the fact that she still thought about him, she hated that every time she tried to eat she worried if he had eaten, she hated how she still worried about him and his medications when she herself was ill. She wanted to forget, pretend it never happened but how could she? He was her one and only as stupid as it sounded. But Khushi believed love and marriage happened only once and he was her once. But now, that was over... 

"Di you know I didn't mean it like that!" Arnav said angrily. 

"I know but how could she, poor girl she probably has gone and thought the worst and now she's beating herself up about it. After everything we've put her through! Chotte you should have been more careful." Anjali said feeling disgusted at the memory of what her ex-husband had put Khushi through.
"Okay what should I do then?" He asked unsure of what he should do.
"Arre go tell her how you feel, placate her and make her realise you love her!" Anjali said as though it were the most obvious answer on earth.
"But she knows I love her." Arnav said and Payal took the wheel on this one.
"Bhai, Khushi is very naive she probably thinks it was all fake and that you just did it for Di, she's also very dramatic so whatever you're going to do its going to need to be big. Especially to make up for how upset she is." Payal warned and Arnav began to think, big, big, big.
"Okay what about flowers, or jewellery or erm...I don't know!" Arnav said frustrated as he saw Anjali and Payal shake their heads at all of his suggestions. HP came in with a brown envelope.
"What?!" Arnav asked impatiently and HP walked over to him handing the envelope to him.
"Courier aya hain, Khushi Bhabi ki liye." He said and then walked out. Arnav sighed and looked at it, it had the hospital logo on it, it was her blood test results. Arnav didn't care if they weren't together at this moment, he had worried about her for a lengthly amount of time and had a right to know. He tore open the envelope.
"Chotte yeh aap-" Anjali began but was silenced as she saw Arnav's face turn into shock. Payal grabbed Anjali's hand as she began to worry.
"Kya hai Bhai?" Payal asked worried, she spotted on the torn envelope the Hospital's logo and now began to worry there was something wrong with Khushi that was more serious than heartache. 

"Di...Payal..." Arnav began but he was at a loss for words.
"Bholo, Chotte bholo, kya hua hai Khushiji ko?" Anjali asked, she too now panicked for her. 

"Main Pappa baanewala hoon." He said with a huge grin whereas the two women simply gawked. "Khushi's pregnant." Arnav said with tears of happiness brimming over.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Eight

Khushi tried to steady her trembling hands as she stared defiantly into Shyam's black eyes. He balled his hands into fists and strode forward, Khushi began to back away.
"Dekhiye, paas maat ao! Acha nahi hoga, mein kara hi hoon!" Khushi warned in a trembling voice, she wanted to be defiant and shout courageously but she couldn't, panic and fear had ebbed its way across her whole body. She had managed to say everything to Shyam this morning because she knew Arnav was upstairs, Di was around as were Jiji, Jijaji, Mamaji, Mamiji and Naniji. As of now there was no one, Khushi had foolishly given the servants the night off also. It was truly just her and the man whom she despised most. He cornered her by the stairs, slamming his arms against the wall, laying his palms flat on them blocking Khushi in. She looked around herself for a way out but found herself dumbstruck. Shyam smiled as he saw her eyes widen with shock. He watched as her breathing quickened, causing her body to quiver.
"Ab kya karogi Khushi? Arnav and you're pyaare family members aren't here to protect you." He said in a sickeningly sweet voice. Khushi had to stop herself from retching, it was the affect he had on her. How could one man be so cheap, so disgusting...so evil? Khushi looked away from him and he pulled her face back to look at hers. He tilted his head as he took in every facet of her. Her eyes, her lips, her flushed cheeks and then his eyes came across something he didn't like. Shyam freed one of his hands, grasped her mangulsutra and ripped it from neck. Khushi gasped aloud as she saw the black beads fall to the floor. She immediatley went to the ground to pick the small beads up, wiping away tears of shock and anger as she did so. This was such an inauspicious sign and considering she was near Shyam it could not be ignored. Shyam smiled as he watched Khushi flail on the ground trying to regroup these small beads. He began to tut, taunting Khushi.
"Yeh kya hua Khushi? Aapki shaadi itne kamzor thi? Bohut bhoora chalo aab hamare paas aon, hum abhi bhi tayaar hai." He said mockingly, holding his arms open. Khushi stood up and before she could think of whether it was a good idea or not Khushi made a run for it. Her legs weren't fast enough though, Shyam caught her and forcefully pushed her to the ground. Khushi felt a searing pain radiate across her body as she hit the ground, particularly in her legs. She attempted to compose herself and stand up but she fell to the ground again. She must have bruised a bone or sprained something because she couldn't get up. She began to slide away from him trying desperately not to cry in front of him as she knew that would only encourage him.

Shyam leant down and pulled Khushi's dupatta away and Khushi immediatley raised her hands to cover herself. "Yaad hain Khushi, it was me who had returned this to you from those evil men in Lucknow? I had saved you that day and you never even thought twice about giving yourself to someone else despite everything I'd done for us." He said as he screwed up the dupatta and threw it away. Khushi trembled at his words, too scared to speak up. He turned and bent down towards her raising his hand to wipe away her tears.
"Yeh kya Khushi, aap rori hoon?" He said softly but then he changed to angry again quickly as the bright red  sindoor caught Shyam's predatorial eye. He wiped it away violently, smearing red across Khushi's forehead.
"Aapne toh mere barein mein socha tak nahi jaab tumne yeh kadam uttaya tah." Shyam said as he shook her violently and Khushi bit her lips to suppress her cries. He held on tightly to Khushi.
"I did so much for you Khushi and it wasn't enough. I found you in Lucknow, then in Delhi, I moved into that small hole of a house to be close to you, I made the effort to get along with your family even your father and when he came to know of Rani Sahiba I put him in his state to protect you from the hurt he wished to cause you by telling you the truth." Shyam said feeling admirable about his actions. Khushi looked up in shock at Shyam, Babuji? Her Babuji was in a wheelchair, unable to speak or walk because of...Shyam? She felt sick. "Then when you broke off our engagement I tried to break my marriage but once again you didn't understand, I couldn't just divorce Anjali, I wouldn't get any money and how would I provide for you without her money? So I arranged her car accident lekin uski toh kismaat uchi thi joh bachgaye. Then if I tried anything else people would have become suspicious." Shaym said all this seeming logical to him, Khushi couldn't even comprehend what he was saying, was what he did to her father not enough that he tried to kill such a sweet and loving woman like Di?
"So then I thought I could deal with Rani Sahiba later once I got rid of her knight in shining armour, Arnav." He said and Khushi's heart stopped. "I arranged the accident." Shyam admitted bowing his head at that but then shaking Khushi to convince her of his innocence. "But I never meant to hurt you, it was just supposed to be Arnav, I never wanted to hurt you. Everything I've done Khushi was for you and its STILL NOT ENOUGH!" He shouted at her and she trembled more. "Lekin aab bohut hogaya, aaj raath tum meri hogi. Baas!" He said as he began to lean towards her. Khushi's gut retched and she more forcefully pulled away from him and struggled against his grip. Her breathing was extremely fast as the panic rose, He smiled and pulled his hand towards her face and pulled it closer to his. Shyam felt content once he had done this it would all be over, all would be right in the world. Shyam closed his eyes ready to experience what he'd been waiting so long for when he felt a searing pain against his jaw which sent him crashing against the ground. Khushi looked up to see Arnav and behind him the whole family who were comforting a very angry and upset Anjali. Khushi didn't know where to look, her state at that moment and everything Shyam had said, did they know? They must know why else would Anjali be so upset?

Arnav however was not upset, he was angry, angry he let this happen. He heard the snake's admission to stalking Khushi, to him hurting Khushi's Babuji, him hurting Di, him trying to kill Arnav but Khushi being the one who suffered. He heard it all, he knew something was wrong when Khushi didn't answer his phone a few minutes after they left, he was calling because someone at the party knew a doctor who could help Khushi's Babuji but he couldn't remember all the details of his illness, he rang Khushi and when she didn't pick up he left immediatley and the whole family followed. They entered the house just as Shyam was beginning to admit to his crimes, Akash called the Police immediately and used his phone to record Shyam's confession. The Police were on their way but from the state Khushi and Di were in, Arnav was in no mood to play nice. He grabbed Shyam and began to beat him mercilessly his rage completely unleashed today. He thought of every tear, every injury and every difficulty Di and Khushi had faced because of this man. He recalled how Shyam nearly got away with raping his wife and he couldn't handle it. Akash ran up to Arnav and stopped him as the Police came in and ushered Shyam out. Shyam was in a comatose state and unable to respond to what was going on but Anjali made no defence on his part. She wanted a divorce, she wanted nothing to do with this man, she would have her baby and raise it lovingly in this house with her family far away from that man. Arnav calmed down and turned to see Khushi on the floor. Her dupatta was strewn on the floor a few feet from her, her sindoor smeared across her forehead, her kajol smeared from her tears, her magulsutra was broken and the beads scattered across the floor. This was the state she was in now. Arnav recalled that night he went to the Mandhir and prayed for Khushi to become well again and the promise he made rang clear in his ears. " I promise you that if you make her well again I will do right by her. I will never hurt her or upset her. I will put her need above mine always." Right now she needed stabilty, she had needed protection and he hadn't given it to her and she needed to be happy...was he really the one who could give her all that. Payal lifted her sister up from the ground, both crying and they went to go get her cleaned up. Arnav had a lot of thinking to do now. Khushi and he loved each other, but they had married on the agreement that they were to bring out Shyam's truth only and then they would go back to their lives. Shyam was now exposed so where did that leave them? They were happy for a time but Arnav couldn't help but recall all the fights, harsh words and hurt they had caused each other over the space of their relationship from the first time he'd seen her. He also realised it was he who caused most of the hurt...Khushi deserved better. 


Khushi came out of the bathroom after showering, she washed away any traces Shyam had had on her life and now wanted to start afresh. She sat down at her vanity table and was about to put her sindoor in her parting when Arnav's voice stopped her. 
"You know, you can leave now if you want." He said and Khushi's hand froze as she took in his words. Her hands shook and the sindoor fell from her fingertips as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. "The deal was I would protect you from Shyam and we would expose him to Di. That's done now, so you can leave any time you want." He said and Khushi held back her tears. Was that it? Was that what this was to him? A deal? She knew at first it seemed like that but after all they'd shared. After all they'd been through. She gave him...everything. Now this was his polite way of saying "get out". Khushi composed herself, she wasn't going to break this time. If this was what he wanted then so be it. She went to the wardrobe, got out a suitcase and began packing her belongings. Arnav watched helplessly as he saw her throw in her sarees, suits, dresses, shoes, jewellery...everything into a black bag. He had decided to give her the decision to leave or not. He had hoped she'd chose not, but who could blame her for wanting to leave after everything? But he had hoped that despite everything, she'd want to stay...maybe this was it for the two of them. 


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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Seven

Khushi saw Akash leave her room and decided to try and placate her Bholu, after all if he was angry it was because he cared, he had a funny way of showing it but that's what made him Arnav. She leant against the frame of their bedroom door as she saw him furiously typing away on his laptop. She cleared her throat loudly. Arnav looked up and acknowledged Khushi's presence with a grimace and then went back to typing. Khushi gawked at this, uski itne himaat. She was here taking the first step in making up after their fight and he, laad governor khabi nahi suderenga, Khushi thought to herself. She cleared her throat once more but Arnav ignored her. This time Khushi walked up to him with her hands on her hips and cleared her throat once more with such might her throat actually began to hurt. Arnav looked up lazily.
"Khushi you should have some pani if your throat is hurting. Yahaan mera saar na kao, kuch dawaii kao." He said smugly.
"Mera gala aab teek hai, shukriya Raizada saab apne humein toh itne toh importance dee humse baath ki." Khushi said with a slight grin and Arnav moaned, she wasn't going to let him get anything done until he'd made up with her.
"Kya chati hoon?" Arnav asked bluntly.
"Hai! Toda pyaar se baat kiya toh karo. Jaise filmo mein karte phir toh tum hero zyaada aur villain kum lagenga." Khushi said as she tried to hide her smirk.
"What do you mean by that? Do I look like some kind of villain to you?" Arnav asked standing up after slamming his laptop, Khushi jumped from the sudden movement.
"Nahi, I was just saying you'd be more like a hero if you talked sweetly and softly to me. Like Akash jiju does with Jiji." Khushi said whilst smiling as she recalled how sweet those two love-birds were.
"Aap kya chati hoon? Main har waqt tumhe halke se pukaro, Khushiji." Arnav said with a mock shyness as he imitated Akash. "Phir tum mujshe kahoge, Arnavji, phir main kahoga, Khushiji etc etc and we'd end up spending all day going ji ji. Just like your pyare Jiju and Jiji." Arnav said and Khushi pouted.
"Aap meri Jiji ka mazaaq urare hoon?" She asked offended moving closer to him pointing her finger at his face.
"No, I'm making fun of my brother, thank you!" Arnav said as he pulled her hand away from his face. They were very close at this moment and very angry. When it occurred to both of them that they couldn't recall what they were angry about.

"Arnav, I'm sorry." Khushi said, she knew there was only one way to end this. Arnav looked at her trying to hide a grin, she was his wife after all, he knew how difficult it was for her to say that. He cupped her face.
"Oh Khushiji, there's no need to get upset about it. Besides you look very ugly when you frown." He said jokingly and Khushi's brow furrowed further as she whacked Arnav on the chest.
"Don't call me Khushiji and you just called me ugly!" Khushi squeeled as she tried to pull away from him, but Arnav grabbed her wrist and pulled her back towards him with force. Her chest collided with his and he snared his arms tightly around her waist.
"Kyun, you wanted me to talk to you lovingly and I was, Khushiji." He said purposefully trying to irritate her, so he could appreciate her scrunched up brow for a little longer. Khushi was trying to wriggle out of his grip but it was too strong.
"Stop saying "ji" after my name, I don't like it. Anyway calling me ugly isn't loving." Khushi said as she looked away from Arnav, her long tresses created a barrier between their faces. Arnav raised one of his hands and gently pushed her hair back.
"Khushi." He said huskily and Khushi could feel her insides melt, she looked up at him, unwillingly, with eyes full of desire. "Tum haar waqt aachi lagti hoon. But I don't like it when you're upset and angry, its my job to handle all that stuff, you Mrs. Raizada are meant to be happy, am I not right, Khushi?" He said adding extra emphasis to her name and she smiled and nodded. He cupped her face once more and bought it closer to his own and gently kissed Khushi. Khushi responded happily by wrapping her arms around his neck as Arnav moved his hands lower to enfold around her waist. He pulled her closer towards him and they both began to kiss each other more feverishly. Arnav was about to throw his jacket on the floor when he stopped suddenlt turning still.
"Chott neeche ajao kahna tayaar hai!" Anjali bellowed and Arnav let out a deep groan.
"Di ko issi waqt kahne ki liye bhulana tah!" Arnav said more to himself than Khushi, but she overheard and giggled.She kissed him lightly on the lips and then pushed him away.
"Ab toh tumhe intazaar karna parega." She said as she ran out of the room giggling. Arnav began to chase after her but then remembered he wasn't five. He composed himself and made his way downstairs.

Arnav made his way to his seat next to Khushi who was sat at the table with a very smug look on her face. Arnav hid his smile as he sat down next to her and began to pour in his food.
"Payalji, zara sabji pass karo." Akash said to Payal, who nodded and passed it to him. Arnav and Khushi looked at each other and began to laugh hysterically. Everyone turned to them with confusion.
"Arre chotte, humhein bhi batao kya hai hasaane wali chees. Its got to be good if it made you laugh!" Anjali speculated. Arnav took some deep breaths and then responded after slightly composing himself.
"Nahin Di, aisa kuch nahi, I just remembered something I said to Khushi upstairs." He said and Anjali stopped herself from smiling.
"Okay chotte, I catch your drift we don't need to know what you and Bhabi talk about in your bedroom." Anjali teased and Khushi blushed. After a few more sniggers at the table everyone began to eat. Khushi eagerly piled parotah upon parotah on her plate but when she tore some off to eat it she suddenly felt nauseous. She ignored it and began to eat. But halfway through her second parotah Khushi couldn't control herself and ran towards the bathroom covering her mouth. Arnav noticed this and quickly cleaned his hands and followed his wife. He reached the bathroom where he saw Khushi retching her guts out over the toilet. The sight was not pretty but he could only sympathise with her. He went towards her and pulled her hair back and stroked her back trying not to grimace at the awful sounds Khushi was making at that moment. After a few minutes Khushi was done. Arnav helped her up to the sink where she rinsed out her mouth and washed her face.
"Hari Prakash! Paani leyaon!" Arnav bellowed as Khushi patted her face dry with a towel. Arnav took the water off HP and raised it to Khushi's mouth, Khushi drank about half of it and then pulled away. Arnav understood she was done and placed it back on the tray and HP left.
"Tumhe ho kya gaya Khushi?" Arnav asked concerned as he stroked her flushed cheeks.
"Kuch nahi Arnav, woh humne obviously zyada kaliya. I was laughing so hard before and then I ate so much when my stomach was hurting from laughter so this was my punishment." Khushi said lightly and Arnav frowned.
"Tum bhi na Khushi. You need to learn to eat according to need and stop eating with your eyes. Jaha bhi khana dekhti hoon utake zaara kaha jati hoon!" Arnav complained, Khushi was about to frown but she knew he was right.
"Acha babba, tum sahi aur hum galaat. Tum jaon naa, tum khalon, I'm going upstairs to lie down." Khushi said.

Later that day it was turning to the evening and everyone was getting ready to go out to the Verma's daughter's engagement party. Khushi sat on her bed as she saw Arnav pull on his jacket and spray his cologne. He looked around confused and she spotted his tie on the bed next to her, it was a deep blue which bought a little colour to his sleek black suit. She got up and pulled him close as she began to tie his tie.
"Jaante hoon, aaj toh saab ladkia tumhein line maroge." Khushi said slightly glumly. She knew this would happen, he was Arnav Singh Raizada married or not women would try their luck. Especially considering his wife would be at home because she was ill.
"Tum kahaon toh hum yahaan rukte. Vaise bhi, I hate these parties, always so dull and everyone's so fake. I'd rather much be here with you." He said. Khushi half smiled as she finished tying his tie.
"Nahi na, ucha nahi lagenga. Woh toh iss ghar ki purani dost hai. If you don't go they'll be offended." Khushi said trying to be the mature one. Of course she'd prefer him to stay with her, the two of them alone in the house...nothing sounded better to Khushi. But she knew he had responsibilities to uphold and it wouldn't be fair to be selfish. Arnav wanted to stay because he wanted to keep an eye on Khushi, she'd been so unwell recently. His maan really didn't feel like leaving her.
"I'll call you every half an hour to check up on you." He said and Khushi nodded.
"Make sure you answer." He said and she nodded.
"Charge your phone now so it doesn't run out of battery." He warned her and she nodded once more.
"I'll try and get home as early as possible." He said and Khushi moaned.
"Arre tum jaon tab na! You can't come back unless you leave, now go!" She said as she pushed him out of the doors. Arnav smiled as he made his way to the car, everyone would be out tonight so that's why he'd been so nagging about Khushi, he couldn't help it, he didn't want to lose her again. The Raizada's left the mansion and Khushi made her way downstairs with a copy of "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun" in hand ready to start her evening. She had put the DVD in when a sound stopped her in her tracks. The front door had just shut, Khushi bet it was Arnav who would have decided to stay now. Khushi turned with a smile which soon fell as she saw Shyam standing in the hallway, in the empty house with just the two of them there.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Six

The family had finished the aarti by the time Arnav came downstairs, it was true that he had bowed in front of God when it came to Khushi however this was not something he intended to make a regular occurance in his life. Khushi took the taal and raised it before him and he looked at her questioningly. Khushi widened her eyes and looked from him to the taal and back to him again.
"Aarti." She said and he simply looked more perplexed.
"Yeah, Khushi I know what it is." He said and she frowned.
"Toh loon nah!" Khushi said angrily and Arnav understood what she meant, he sighed and waved his hands around the little diya on the taal and then waved his hands over his head.
"Happy?" He asked in an exasperated tone.
"Extatic!" She replied with a grin as she went to give everyone else the aarti. Arnav grinned to himslef as he watched her hop away merrily. She was completely unaware of how precarious a situation she and he were in. Arnav had taken no immediate action against Shyam because he didn't know how to. How was he supposed to catch this man out? He was so precise with every detail, he never let anyone cotton onto his secret adultrous life until he had an unfortunate slip of the tongue in front of Arnav. That's all he needed, one mistake, one time when he didn't cover his tracks and Arnav would have him. Akash saw the worried look on his brother's face and walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Bhai." Akash said bringing Arnav's attention back to his surroundings rather than Shyam, Arnav looked up at Akash. "Di was telling me that Shyam stormed out of the house before the pooja, apparently he had some, "work" to attend to." Akash said and Arnav could see how distraught his sister was from here. "I think something happened between him and Bhabi." Akash speculated after his conversation with Anjali. Arnav nodded and looked at Khushi again. He should have seen it. Her smile was too wide, her eyes gave an unnatural warmness and she was messing with the pallu of her saree. Of course something happened with Shyam, why else would she be acting in such a forced manner. After the family had dispersed to their respective rooms Khushi decided to make her way to see Payal and catch up when Arnav suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her into the kitchen. Khushi looked at him with shock, what did he have planned now?
"Arnav, choriye humara haath, humein kaam hai." Khushi said as she tried to release her wrist from his grip.
"Khushi don't lie to me." He said simply.

Khushi looked at him blankly and Arnav shook his head slightly breathing long, concentrated breaths. Khushi noticed this and realised he was either angry, stressed or both.
"Did Shyam say anything to you today?" Arnav asked and Khushi began to panic, she didn't want to think of her exchange with that man. She genuinely wished she could forget him, forget all the pain, sadness and stress he'd caused in her life. But everywhere she went he was there and when he wasn't there in person people said things that reminded her of him.
"Arnav mujhe iss baath par discussion nahi karna. I have a headache please." She said and she tried to shake him off but he didn't let go.
"Khushi..." Arnav said as he looked at her with painfully longing eyes, she knew he needed to know this after all it wasn't just Khushi who was in Shyam's destructive path there was Di too. She took a deep breath and began to explain how he had cornered her in the Mandhir and tried to talk to her and how she had flatly rejected him. This shocked Arnav, he knew Khushi was bold but it took real bravery to say all that in the face of a psyco like Shyam.
"Mujhe daar lagra, kahi woh kuch...karna jaye." Khushi said her eyes welled up at the idea of anymore pain in her life. Arnav immediatley wrapped her in his arms and soothed her.
"Hey, come on Khushi. You know jab takh main hoon, I wont let anything happen to you." He said as he stroked her hair, he pulled away and brushed the tears off her face. When he saw a flicker in her eyes from worry to relief to confusion. He felt her body go slack in his hands and her eyes closed as she slipped into darkness. Arnav caught her and lifted her into his arms.
"KHUSHI!" He shouted trying to wake her up but she was out of it. Arnav shouted to the entire household as he lay her down on a lounger in the living room. Payal hurriedly rang the doctor as Arnav held tightly onto her hand and stroked her face. The Doctor took a while to get there by which point Khushi had regained concioussness.
"Arre, I've said I'm fine haven't I? Uff iss saab ki kya zuroorath hai?" Khushi complained and Arnav glared at her.
"Oh yeah right, two minutes ago you were unresponsive and now you're fine. Yeah like I'm going to believe that." He said and looked away from her to the Doctor. The Doctor simply stated what he had previous times, that it appeared to be a one time occurance and Khushi should try to take care of herself more and stay away from stressful situations and he left. Arnav stood with his arms crossed.
"I think we need a new Doctor." He said and everyone gawped at him.
"Chotte yeh Doctor humare khandani doctor hai, yeh poore sheher ki best doctor hai." Naniji said.
"Then why does Khushi keep getting ill?" Arnav challenged and Khushi exhaled deeply.
"I don't know maybe its because my pathi makes a mountain out of a molehill about everything!" Khushi complained and Anjali hid a snigger. Arnav clenched his jaw.
"Fine! Whatever I have work. Akash come with me." He said and they both headed up to Arnav's room.
"So much anger in one man, its actually unbelievable." Khushi said in awe.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Five

Khushi woke up early that morning as she knew it was her first day where she could do anything she wanted. She could get up and get ready without Payal, walk downstairs without Arnav shouting at her before hand telling her, "not to exhaust herself", she could walk wherever she fancied without someone telling her to go upstairs and rest. Khushi felt happy that now everything would go back to normal. She sat up and clipped her hair up, she went to the wardrobe and picked out a bright yellow saree and smiled to herself as she went to go get ready. By the time she got out of the shower Arnav was beginning to wake up, he groaned, frowned and then reached across the bed trying to embrace Khushi but instead he received handfuls of their duvet.
"What the-" Arnav moaned, even in his sleep Khushi couldn't believe him sometimes. He rubbed his eyes and sat up as he saw Khushi stood before him grinning, she was running a towel through her wet hair and droplets fell onto her yellow saree. Arnav smiled, he'd missed seeing his wife up and about, even if she thought he had some stupid conspiracy theory to keep her bedridden the rest of her life. He got up and walked over to her putting his hands on her shoulders. Khushi looked up at him smiling.
"Aaj aap kuch nahi kehsakte. I'm completely healthy and the Doctor gave my fever the all clear. So in the words of our favourite Mamiji, hello, hi, bye, bye Arnav. I have a lot to do today!" She said as she wriggled out of his arms. Arnav grabbed her wrist and pulled her back towards him close to his body.
"Itne jaldi kyun Mrs. Raizada? Abhi toh kuch waqt baki hai aarti se pehle, if you know what I mean?" Arnav said with a devilish grin. Khushi's eyes widened in shock and she tried to push her husband away.
"Aap bhi nah! Chi! Kaisi baatein karte." Khushi said as her cheeks blushed blood red. Arnav ran his fingers across her blush line.
"Kyun kuch galaat kaha maine? Patni ho tum meri, aur I believe this is all allowed between husband and wife varna bache kaha se aathe?" Arnav teased Khushi and she looked up at him shocked.
"Baache aur aap! HA!" Khushi said as she errupted into laughter and Arnav looked back at her bemused. He hadn't meant that they should have children he just meant that that's how they made their entry into the world but he was offended by Khushi's enjoyment at the idea that Arnav was bad with kids.
"Kyun, what's wrong with me and kids?" Arnav asked and Khushi had to force herself not to laugh.
"Aapko yaad nahi, kanyaon ki pooja mein? I had to hide all the kids just because Di was afraid your mood may go off!" Khushi said.

Arnav recalled this event and felt slightly angry, she had him there, he couldn't deny it.
"Hah toh, I could be very good with kids in the future. Just when I have work to do I don't want screaming, loud, crying children running around me." Arnav said with genuine distaste.
"Not all children cry all the time, maybe you did as a child. Lekin bohut saare baache pyaare hotein, nanehse, cutese aur pyaarese hotein. Uske chotte chotte haath, aak, naak, perh aur uske chotte chotte kaparein. Sabh kuch kitna sweetsa hai, don't you think?" Khushi asked and Arnav grimaced.
"Khushi you need a doll not a child. Tumhe aandaza bhi hai ki baache ko sambalna kitne baari baath hothi hai. I mean you have so many responsibilities with their health, education and all the other necessary needs. They are a big investment both with time and money." Arnav said and Khushi pulled away in shock.
"You think of kids as an investment?!" Khushi asked unable to fathom it.
"Logically yes-" Arnav began.
"Hai Devi Maiyaan, mein kya karu iss bholu naath ke saath!" Khushi said as she raised her hand to her forehead. Arnav shook his head.
"Whatever lets leave that discussion for another day, I'm going to go get ready, you go do your aarti and whatever." Arnav said dismissively and Khushi smiled to herself thinking of how he would never change. Khushi went downstairs and began to get things ready for the aarti when Shyam appeared behind her.
"Khushiji-" He began when Khushi simply got up and began to walk away. He grabbed her arms forcefully. "Nahi app aisa nahi karsakti! Do you even understand what I've been going through these past few months? Ever since you married him- then you had an accident and now-. Now you don't even want to talk to me. What have I done? Maine kaun sa paap kiya joh tum mere saath aisa bhartav karhi hoon?" Shyam asked Khushi. Khushi forced his hands off of her.
"Paap? Tum Mandhir mein hothe mujhse poochre ki kaun sa paap kiya? Tumhe yaad nahi voh vaade, voh kasame, voh phere jo tumne Di ke saath liye teh?" Khushi asked Shyam but he only looked away in response to her words. "No you don't do you. But I remember every single moment of my marriage to my husband, every vow, every promise and every single round we took in the Mandhir together. I love him. I do not love you. I never loved you. If anyone has the right to touch me, to look at me and to be concerned for me its Arnav not you! You mean nothing to me!" Khushi said to Shyam in a rage, she'd had enough of him. Things had settled down in her life and she did not want him to interfere anymore. Shyam looked like he was about to break down, he had already been on edge but Khushi had just pushed him off the deep end. He raised his hands to grab her once again when Anjali walked into the Mandhir.
"Arre kya hua? Tum dono tik hai?" Anjali asked as she saw the look of severity on both their faces.
"Kuch nahi Di, Jijaji was just asking how I am and I told him. Aaiye aarti shuroo karte." Khushi responded and then turned her back on Shyam and moved farther into the Mandhir, Anjali smiled and looked at Shyam.
"Chaliye." Anjali said as she went to wrap her arm around his but Shyam pulled his away.
"Aap jaayein, mujhe kaam hain." He said and then stormed out of the house.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Twenty Four

Shyam sat in his room frustrated Khushi had been back from the hospital for two weeks now. Arnav was with her all the time and when or if he wasn't Payal was and neither of them let him near her. Khushi's recovery was going well so if she was downstairs one day, Shyam had to be upstairs and he was most certainly not allowed in their room. It was as though Arnav had her caged, he had no way in, he didn't even know how she was. It was maddening, all day he listened to Anjali chirp on about her cravings, morning sickness and how wonderful an experience this was  and what a blessing this child was. But for Shyam a child was like a curse, he knew Khushi would never accept him now, she loved him, she had to but this, this was too much, even he knew that. It was all Anjali and Arnav's fault. Had they not interfered Khushi would be Mrs. Shyam Manohar Jha by now instead of Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. Anjali had begun to discuss a nursery with Shyam. 
"Vaisa, humara ghar khab tayaar hoga?" Anjali asked Shyam, it was logical for them to move out of Shantivan by now. After all how long could they live in her maternal home? Then they needed room for the baby. Anjali had decided they needed to move out. 
"I don't know." Shyam said gruffly and Anjali grimaced. Shyam had very little to say recently, he was always so quiet and uninterested. That was at least until she mentioned Khushiji and her recovery. Maybe he was just stressed about who had been doing all this. After all Anjali herself had been the victim of an arranged accident and the police had suggested it was a repeat offender. Anjali knew it must have bothered her husband but as of late he just had a cold demeanour which Anjali disliked, she prayed for strength but found it futile in the face of his obvious boredom. Khushi was sat impatiently on the bed as the doctor checked her blood pressure. She felt fine now, she could walk largely on her own, she got ready in the morning by herself and she didn't feel confused or disorientated anymore. Yes there was a fogginess every now and then but the doctor said that was to be expected after what Khushi had been through. But no Arnav was not satisfied to say she was okay until the Doctor had checked her out. 
"Well Mr.Raizada Khushi appears to have made a very strong recovery. I see no reason why I need to visit so regularly now. Maybe once every month or so, just to ensure she keeps this up and there aren't any other problems." The Doctor said as he packed away his belongings. 
"So you admit it then." Arnav said blankly and both the Doctor and Khushi were confused. 
"Admit what?" The Doctor asked. 
"That there could be problems later, ones that you can't spot now." Arnav said his brow furrowed and his face serious. Khushi wanted to strangle him. 
"Well yes, but there is no way of telling now if Khushi has any of these. From her most recent check-ups everything is in good shape." The Doctor said.


Arnav was not convinced and the Doctor could see this.
"Look Mr. Raizada I understand your apprehension but as of now there is little I can do to help your wife, she is perfectly healthy. If she has any problems feel free to contact me but I need to see to other patients who need my help." The Doctor said and Khushi agreed shaking her head. She knew in herself that she was healthy. Arnav reluctantly shook his head, he had been unsettled by Dr. Kothari's phone call two weeks ago. He still had no word from him and that worried him more. Their family physician Dr. Malhotra showed himself out and although Arnav knew he was more than qualified and was an excellent physician he just worried. Why was it taking so long to get back to them with Khushi's blood-work results? Khushi nudged Arnav and he snapped out of his thoughts.
"Khushi." He said in a warning tone, he was in no mood to play poke the lion with a stick. 
"Woh saab kya tah?" She asked and Arnav rolled his eyes. "Nahi tell me. Kya aap chaate hai ki main yuhi hameshaa aise hi bed peh lethi rahoon aur kuch na karo. I'll become fat if I do that!" Khushi complained trying to lighten her husband's obviously dark mood. 
"Khushi its not funny, I just want to make sure you are okay. There's nothing wrong in that." He said closing his eyes and lying down on the bed turning the other way. He was tired, it had been a long day and he just wanted to sleep but Khushi was not okay with that. 
"Ucha, toh tumne kehe diya toh baath katham? I don't think so Arnav! You were interrogating that poor man just because he said I was healthy. What is your problem?" She asked irritated, she wasn't even sure why, she just suddenly felt a build up of emotion she couldn't quite understand or control.
"What the-? Khushi why are you so mad, I'm only asking for you!" Arnav said as he sat up sharply. 
"Why do you think I can't take care of myself?" Khushi asked challengingly. "I did it for my entire life without you and I was still in one piece when you found me." Khushi said and Arnav scoffed. 
"Hardly, how many times did I catch you when you were falling over or fainting. You weren't exactly in the best condition, now were you?" He asked and Khushi's mouth fell open. 
"I...I....I...Main tumse BAATH NAHI KARNA CHATHI HOON!" She said and turned over quickly away from Arnav, pulling the blanket over her head. Arnav sighed, he didn't feel in the mood to placate Khushi and he really didn't have the energy, he didn't understand her erratic moods lately. Maybe it was because she wasn't up and about as much recently, but she had been cranky. Maybe it was good the doctor gave her the all clear. 
"Its a shame he can't cure pagalpaan." Arnav muttered as he turned over and went to sleep also, Khushi heard his comment but knew acknowledging it would mean talking and she was not talking to him right now. 


Arnav woke up in the morning to see Khushi still asleep, he knew she needed to get up now or else she'd miss the aarti. He gently tapped her to try to wake her up, "Khushi get up or you'll be late for the aarti." Arnav said but she didn't wake up. He shook her and she didn't respond. He checked her forehead which was burning and quickly rang up the doctor. The Doctor arrived promptly and managed to coax Khushi back to conciousness and prescribed her some pills to bring down the fever. 
"Its just a fever Mr. Raizada, nothing to worry about. Waisa, Payal was telling me that when Khushi is upset or stressed she tends to get these fevers. So maybe something triggered it. Anyway she should be alright in a little bit." The Doctor said to Arnav who nodded in response and remembered their slight argument last night. It wasn't really worth it now Arnav thought about it. It wasn't worth fighting with her if this was the result, his heart had been racing from the minute he realised she was ill, he couldn't deal with the idea of losing Khushi again. He walked into their room and sat on the bed. Khushi turned her face the other way, still angry with him.
"...I'm sorry." Arnav said as he looked the other way also.
"Kya? Kya aapne kaha? Mujhe sunah nahi diya." Khushi said and Arnav groaned.
"You heard me." He simply said, he was not in the habit of repeating himself and he was not about to make it into a habit. Khushi smiled slightly.
"Tik hai, atleast you accepted you're wrong, I must be doing something right." She said with a big grin on her face. Arnav shook his head and enveloped Khushi into his arms. 


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