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....

Dark Paradise Chapter Four

The Raizada's had returned home, Naniji and Mamiji went to their respective rooms to lie down, Akash and Arnav were discussing pending work, Anjali had gone upstairs to check on Shyam although it should be him checking up on her considering she was pregnant and Payal and Khushi were about to settle in the living room when Arnav turned around, "Err, Khushi zaraa ek cup coffee banado mere liye, meh upper humare room mein hoga." Arnav said to Khushi who nodded and headed to the kitchen. She began to make his coffee when she realised he said "humare room" not "my room", that made her smile. Payal came into the kitchen also and slapped Khushi on the back playfully.
"Ow, Jiji!" Khushi groaned rubbing her back.
"Toh, tum Ummaji se kya baat kari thi?" Payal asked and Khushi moaned again, at this rate she'd be making jalebis all night!
"Woh kuch nahi Jiji, aap choriye woh baat na!" Khushi complained.
"Nay bataon humme, yah toh aap apne hak jatari hoon kyunki aab aap humari jetani jo bangaye!" Payal joked. Khushi exhaled. Arnav was upstairs working on his laptop when he checked his watch, he asked Khushi for a coffee five minutes ago, what was taking her so long? He saw Hari Prakash walking past his door,
"Hari Prakash!" Arnav called and HP entered.
"Ji Arnav saab."
"Woh erm, Khushiji kaha hain?" He asked, HP smiled.
"Bhabi toh neeche rasoi mein hain Payal Bhabi ki saath." HP answered, Bhabi? He smiled at that, he liked the fact that Khushi had a new persona to all since she'd become Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada, he shook his head and began to make his way downstairs to see where his coffee had gone to.

Khushi had been avoiding Payal's question when finally she caved, "Umma aur meh uske barein mein baath karein teh." Khushi said moving her hands frantically to try to explain to her Jiji through signals hoping she'd understand.
"Kya, kiske barein mein?" Payal asked confused, obviously Khushi's efforts were in vain. Arnav had reached the entrance to the Kitchen when he saw the two sisters talking in hushed tones and couldn't help but eavesdrop. He hovered out of their sight allowing them to continue.
"Uff ho Jiji! Samja karo, uske barein mein, joh shaadi ki baad..." Khushi said again signalling with her hands. Payal simply became more confused.
"Kya, Khushi yeh saab kya hai! Mujhe toh bilkul samaj mein nahi aara hein! Umma ne tumse kya kaha tah saaf saaf batiyen!" Payal said getting annoyed. Oh so they were talking about Khushi's chat earlier, Arnav realised. His interest rose.
"Hum toh koshish kare baar tum tumhari samaj mein nay aari!" Khushi exhaled deeply and looked around to check that no one was around, she couldn't see anyone and so she decided to say it. "Jiji Umma mujse Suhaag raat ki barein mein baat kari thi!" Khushi said and Payal began to laugh and Khushi frowned.
"Pagal, yeh kohi sharmane hoi baat hai, Umma neh humse bhi woh baat ki thi...Kya aapne aur Arnavji neh...?" Payal wondered.
"NAHIN JIJI!" Khushi said a bit too loudly. "Actually baat thi ki saab parivaar mein naraaz teh isilye humne who nahin khi." Khushi lied, they didn't have sex because they were not really in it for the love, well maybe but that wasn't the main priority, it was showing Anjaliji Shyam's true identity.
"Urre toh phir Umma neh tik kiya. Uggar kaal raat tumne nahi karli toh phir aaj raat toh karni paregi." Payal said, Khushi gasped.
"Kya...mein...aur...Arnavji?" Khushi grimaced, thinking back to how close they'd been earlier when he'd been interrogating her. It made her uncomfortable but excited she felt alive around him, they were married but she didn't even know how he felt. No, no she can't do that, no way!

Arnav smirked and walked back upstairs, toh yeh baat thi. Arnav had to stop himself from laughing, Khushi Kumari Gupta was worried that Arnav was after her virtue. Well this would make things more entertaining, everyone teased him about the whole suhaag raat earlier, in private Arnav will tease Khushi about it. He sat down and started working when a few moments later Khushi walked in, her hands shaking from nerves. Arnav stopped himself from smiling as she placed the coffee next to him.
"Thanks." He said looking at her, she avoided looking into his eyes and he knew exactly why, Khushi attempted to speed walk out of there when he stopped her, "Khushi!" He called and she turned frozen where she was. He stood up and walked towards her circling her, looking her up and down, slowly so to make her more nervous. She began pulling at her pallu and trying to cover herself with it.
"Aaj raath ko kuch kaas pehno." He said and sat back down, Khushi froze.
"K-kyun?" She asked feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughter house.
"Humari shaadi hui hai Khushi, aur kaal raath humari pehli raath kuch adhoore seh thi, na?" He asked knowing she wouldn't be able to argue back. She stood there gawmless feeling nervous, butterflies were fluttering uncontrollably in her stomach. Aab kya karein Khushi? She thought to herself.
"Tum jaa sakti Khushi." He said and she nodded walking away with the fear of god in here. God knows what will happen tonight! She thought to herself as Arnav continued to smirk as he watched a nerve ridden Khushi leave their room.

Read other parts to this here.