Even Stars Burn: Chapter Four (Long overdue I know)

Hi all, I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. I have my personal reasons why I didn't update, I had an overload of work and felt any update wouldn't be to my usual standard and I didn't want to dissapoint everyone. I am sorry for that and hope you will continue to support and read my work. Thanks for your patience, now....let's get back to the FF :) 


Khushi chewed on the inside of her mouth, her hand was itching to grab the pallu of her saree and whirl it around in her hands. But she knew he'd identify that action and realise she was upset and she didn't want him to have that satisfaction. If she had the batter and the fryer she could make a mountain out of jalebis and throw them over Arnav's head. The way he shamelessly surrounded himself with those half-naked models. Did he not feel any remorse, did he really have no respect for her? The grin he gave her answered her questions.
"Chee." Khushi said.
"Apne kuch kaha Bhabi?" Akash asked, Khushi looked up smiled and shook her head. What could be wrong except the fact that she was married to a pig?
"Main abhi aayi." She said and she excused herself. She saw there was a garden area, she walked through the french doors and as she did so she wiped a tear away. The cool air hit her and she breathed it in gladly. She needed it. She felt a-light with rage and pain. She had left him. But that didn't mean she didn't love him. The fact she did made her hate herself. How could she love such a thing? To love something that will never love you with the respect and intensity you deserve, well its a shame on love. Maybe it wasn't love at all.
"Yahaan akeli khari kya kharri hai?" An all too familiar voice said. She refused to turn, seeing his face would tip Khushi over the edge at this point in time.
"Dekhiya, mujhe kohi tamaasha nahin chahiye. Main baas. Abhi nikhalrahi thi, mujhe ghar jaana hai. Aur waisa bhi, tum yahaan kyun ayein, apni kohi time-pass ki saath waqt guzaariye na? Humara haal kyun poochre ho?" She asked, venom spewing from her voice, to mask the pain she felt cripple her heart.
"Oh come on Khushi, biwi ho tum meri. Aapka haal nahin poochonga toh phir kiska poochonga?" He said, she could hear the smile in his voice and she couldn't help herself. She turned-

And blew Arnav's breath away, even with rage in her eyes she was a vision in red.
"Dekhiye, tum humara paati ho toh phir kuch hi dinno ki liye. Uske baad tum aur main, hum dono iss choote rishte se azaad. Lekin! Tab tak, tab tak Mr. Raizada aapko iss rishte ki izzat karna padenga." She said and Arnav rolled his eyes. Really, she'd gone back to that? After all they'd been through? Arnav felt his blood boil.
"Oh really? Jaise tumne kiya? Tell me Khushi how many wives that respect their husbands leave their home to live with their parents? Bolo, abh chup kyun hai, come on, bolo na, tell me DAMMIT!" He said as he grabbed her wrists and shook her. Those doe like eyes looked up at him and he instantly regretted it.
"Main shuru main sahi thi." Khushi said.
"What?" Arnav asked baffled.
"Aap pyaar kar hi nahin sakte, aap pyaar ki kaabil hi nahin, tum toh sirf aukaad dikhana aur haq jaatana aata hai. Aggar tum such main mujhe pyaar karte, toh aap-" The tears streamed down Khushi's face, Arnav raised a hand to wipe him, the apology ready on his lips.
"Chodiye, tumhe bataana main kya faida? Tumne mujhe khabi samja, meri nazaariya se khabi dekha? Agar dekha hota toh tum khabi mujhe shaadi hi nahin khi hothi!" Khushi said with a cold laugh.
"What does that mean?" He asked.
"It means Mr. Raizada, aggar ek bhar, tumne mujhe khabi bhi samja, you would have never thought I would have an affair and with your brother-in-law of all people. But you thought that and for your sister you married me. Tumne mujhe galaat teheraiya, aur khabi mujhse saach bolne ka mauka hi nahin diya. You want respect?  You don't get respect by demanding it, your actions should make people respect you. Lekin afsaus ki baat hai, itna bade aadmi hokhe tumhari soch bilkul choti hai. Mera pyaar toh dhur baat hai, aur meri chaapal bhi tumhari izaat nahin karti." She said and before he had a chance to even defend himself she ran away. Arnav began to run after her but as he ran inside, he was dragged to his seat as his fashion show had began. Where once at a fashion show their love story began, could it be possible that today, here, when Arnav loved Khushi, their love story would end?


Khushi made it home, just about. She locked her doors and collapsed onto her bed and cried all those tears she had held back and let out the pain she'd been holding in. How could he be so cruel? Khushi could see the bruises on her wrists and was haunted by Arnav Singh Raizada the monster. When she'd fallen in love with Arnav Singh Raizada the man. Was it possible that she'd made him up? In love she'd been blinded and only now she could see his reality? Maybe this divorce was for the best....

Even Stars Burn: Chapter Three

Khushi paced around her room, waiting, thinking, trying not to go insane. She wished so badly that Arnav had not visited her that night because since he had, he was all that plagued her thoughts. It had been a week since his visit and yet she could still feel her heartbeat pick up whenever she thought of him. He'd come with huge proclamations and promises but what had happened? Nothing, he did not call, he did not visit, he didn't even seem to care whether she was alive or dead...it pained Khushi more than she wished to admit. Why? Why was it that if she was here in turmoil and pain that he could so easily go on with his life? Why was it that he could make her life into nothing less than a living hell and he could go on leading his privileged life? Khushi was working herself into a state. Payal would come to visit her regularly and although Khushi didn't ask she always informed her about Arnav. Apparently he was very busy with meetings and models, he was burying himself in work...more like distracting himself with women. Khushi couldn't believe that at one time she had actually love-...it didn't matter any more though did it? Her eyes stung as unwanted tears began to stream down her cheek. She quickly wiped them away. This was not a time to feel sorry for herself, this is what she wanted. She wanted him to give up. To let her be....but was she really not worth fighting for? Was everything they had not worth it? To give up so easily....it made Khushi second-guess whether what they had was real or not? Was she just another name on a list? She had thought she was more than that....

Arnav was in the office, pretending to work...truthfully he didn't have the concentration or the energy for any of this but he needed the façade to evoke something from Khushi. He knew that if he smothered her in attention, flattery and gifts she would only accuse him of flaunting his money. So he decided instead to deprive her, starve her of love. It was what she was doing to him, he would not bend to her immature whims, if she cared, she would come to him. He knew she wouldn't come back to the Raizada home, but she'd find a way of getting to him.

Khushi was busy re-arranging her bedroom for the hundredth time, anything to keep herself busy, anything to stop herself from thinking about him. That's when her eyes fell on today's paper. Her eyes widened and her mouth was wide open, she lifted it, digested the knowledge and then tore up the paper. She barged into her room, opened the wardrobe and found a red lace saree, she'd bought it when she and Arnav were together and she'd been saving it for a special time, an anniversary, birthday or just a special time shared together. Instead she would use it tonight.

There was a slight chill in the breeze tonight, Arnav decided to keep his suit jacket on as he walked towards the hotel. He walked into the banquet hall and began to talk to dignitaries and established business men such as himself, when his eyes caught sight of something. At first he thought it was his mind playing tricks, the sleep deprivation had finally got to him. But he was wrong, he knew that face, he knew those eyes, he knew that girl.
"Khushi." The word escaped his lips without his intention to do so. Her hair was out, her eyes smoky and her saree hung from her petite frame in a way that only Arnav felt he could and should appreciate fully. Arnav couldn't believe it had worked, he had made sure that in all the papers it clearly stated that he was holding an exclusive party to show off the "AR Fall Line" however he never anticipated that she would actually come...hoped yes, but the fact that she was here...

Khushi was walking around the room, smiling, laughing and talking to anyone that would engage with her. She had managed to swindle an invitation from Payal on the pretence that she meant to make up with Arnav tonight, but she had no intention of doing so. She had spotted Arnav from the corner of her eyes and regretted coming here immediately  She'd forgotten the effect he had on her, her heartbeat picked up, her thoughts began to jumble around in her mind, she felt all those feelings flood back to her which she had intended to bury deep within. She was fully aware that their contract marriage was due to expire soon but while they were still married there was no way she would allow him to be unfaithful to her, he owed her that much. In the papers they insinuated that there was a model whom he had a special interest in and Khushi was here to put a stop to that, that was all. She had no interest in his deep brown eyes, or that coy look he would give her when they would talk about romantic things and she didn't care that he looked especially dashing today in his crisp black suit. No, Khushi was just here to ensure that he did not further insult the joke of a marriage between the two of them.

Arnav couldn't believe that she had fallen for the bait, really, was she so sceptical and insecure of their love that she truly believed he could so easily replace her. Khushi really was pagal if she believed that? Well, let the games begin...

Even Stars Burn: Prologue

The whole Raizada family were gathered in the living room, it was the evening after Khushi's birthday. Arnav had attempted to placate Khushi but he had realised that again and again his sister was purposefully getting in the way. Arnav knew he had to tread lightly in this situation, after all this was a matter that involved his sister and his wife, he didn't want to hurt either, but most definitely one was clearly in the wrong. Khushi was stood next to Payal, who was holding her and NK was close to the two sisters, feeling that they needed someone in their corner. Khushi had tears running down her face, first Shyam had attacked her and now Di...it was too much.
"Chotte! Apko zara si bhi andazza hai ki mere dil peh kya bheetri hai! Aap sabh ko bhas Khushiji nazaar atta hai, mujhe aur mera gum nahin? Aapko yeh nazaar atta hai ki Khushiji udaas hai, lekin apko meri udaasi ka koi parva nahin? Aap toh badhi badhi batein kartein teh ki main hoon sabse important, duniya jayein jahaan jaana chahein lekin meri Di mere saath rehein, aisi baatein kartein teh na aap?!" Anjali screamed, the rage that had been brewing in her since Shyam had been thrown out the house was finally unleashed and it would leave an explosion in Arnav and Khushi's relationship.
"Di..." Arnav began.
"NO! NAHIN! AAP MUJHE DI MAAT BULAH! Di paata hai ki kya hothi hai? Behen hothi hai, main apki badi behen hoon, aur tumhara bhai hone ki naatein responsibilities hain. Sabse important responsibility yeh hain, ki meri aur meri khushiaan ki raksha karo. LEKIN TUM! Tum ho ki meri kushiaan iss ghar se bahar nikaldia, jaise koi kachara hai!" Anjali cried, Arnav reached out for his sister, to touch her arm, reassure her that he was still there for her. "NAHIN! Chotte abh tumhe faisla karna padega! Abh yahaan Khushiji rahongi ya mein!" Anjali said, her words seemed to echo through the house, leaving a heavy weight on Arnav. Had she really just demanded he choose between his wife and his sister? What kind of ultimatum is that? This was extreme especially for Anjali. Arnav couldn't seem to find a voice, he didn't have the words, the eloquence, the tact to deal with this situation. How could he?

"Di...I...I...I ca-" Arnav had started.
"No." It seemed only as loud as a whisper, but Khushi's voice was heard by all, Anjali and Arnav turned to Khushi who had previously been stood, sobbing quietly, a meek and mild character in this argument. Khushi looked up, her eyes wild and defiant.
"No. I've had enough." Khushi said as she freed herself from her sister's embrace.
"Khushi what are you say-" Arnav said, Khushi raised her hand, silencing him.
"No more, I cannot handle anymore. You all think the worst of me, you never give me a chance to defend myself, even if I did none of you would believe me. You take it turn by turn to belittle and degrade me, but I, I carry on, I smile, I try to make the best out of a bad situation...but not anymore." Khushi said and Arnav looked confused and shocked at her.
"Khushi, what do you mean?" Arnav asked, as he stepped towards her, he had his arm out, he meant to hold her but she stepped away.
"I mean, I'm making this decision a lot easier for you. Congratulations Di. You win. I'm leaving. I hope you'll all be happy now." Khushi said.

Read other parts to this here.