Her Unexpected Husband- 22

He looked at her with shock filled eyes. His hand already flung up and wiping his aching cheeks. The ache is still raw and he looked at her as if he's just out of his hangover.

Ever slowly his brain rewound the memory and the words he spoke came back to him like a knife, stabbing the soft tissues of his heart. He gulped the lump on his throat and lifted his guilty eyes at her.

“Khu…”

“Shut up. How can you say that Haan? How the hell that words come out of your mouth? What did you say? I want kisses, I want hugs and I want…”

He launched himself forward and closed her mouth with his palm “Don't say that, please. I’m sorry.” He whispered ashamedly.

But Khushi shoved his hand away “If my needs are disgusting then what about YOU? What all the things you had done with me from the time of our marriage is also disgusting right? Are you behind me for lust then?”

He vehemently shook his head in denial. Tears clouded his eyes and the strong words Khushi spoke was choking down his throat. And he can't even imagine the impact of his words on her. She's just trying to support him dammit. How can he question that in a disgusting way? She's his wife for god sake.

Khushi furiously wiped her tears and marched forward to grab his shirt collar “Your thoughts are sick Arnavji. Now I think I shouldn't have woven dreams about having a fairy tale life when you've such low thoughts about me.”

He hiccupped and his tears blurred the vision yet he cupped her cheeks and kept his forehead against hers “You're absolutely right. I've such cheap thoughts. I… I don't know… what come over me and made me speak those words. But that was not from heart Khushi. You've to trust me on this.” He hiccupped again.

And their tears mingled soaking each other fabrics. Both noses are running heavily giving competition to the tears.

“Do… Do you really think I can speak like these from the heart?” He stuttered with his words, swallowing his overflowing emotions.

Khushi just cried silently hearing his hiccups. It's just 24 hours that she had declared to her Maasi that he gave her wings to fly but he himself sucked her soul by his words.

He sniffed tightening his hold “Slap me till you satisfy but please don't cry. It pains.”

“Even it pains here.” She gestured her heart pushing him away. “Tell me, can you take back your words if I slap you? Or Can you erase that from my memory? Tell me Arnavji… No wife should hear such words from her husband. NO ONE.” She cried hiding her face on her palms.

His head sagged in guilt and his body trembled with the intensity of blunder he had done. His fingers curled up and formed a fist, urging to hit his stupid brain and damage his arrogant tongue.

Eventually, Khushi collected herself knowing, crying doesn't gonna bring any solution. Wiping away the tears without a trace, she lifted his chin up and spoke with determination. He made her strong to face the odds but when he, himself standing against her, she cannot back down. That's not what he prepared her for.

“Where were you staying at nights? Tell me, who'll leave his newly wedded wife and stay away from her? Either you don't like me or You’re keeping someone behind my back living two lives.”

“Khushi.” He felt the pain. The pain of getting wrongly accused. Though Khushi accusations are somewhat different from what he accused her, he was tormented and can relate to her hurt. He can never ever, even think of betraying her in his dreams, the same way Khushi can never ever think of troubling him.

He cupped her cheeks with his trembling palms, turning her face to him “I agree, I’m at fault. I know no amount of sorry will be enough. But it's my inability that spoke those words. I… don't know how to handle everything. I'm messed up… I'm such a… stupid and irresponsible guy. I'm an idiot. I'm such a dumb head that I had no idea how people around me think of me. And I… lashed at you my frustration. People say it right, anger blinds the person. I'll tell you EVERYTHING. But please keep in mind that I can never give your place to anyone. There's no other girl who has the right to travel beside me with my whole life. It was & Will always you. I'm again saying, It's my fault. Please don't cry. I'll set everything right. But Will you help me with this? I… am feeling disgusted at myself… I…”

She gulped seeing a myriad of emotions on his face. There was a pain on his voice reflecting his inner turmoil and guilt. There was a desperation to make her believe his words. There was a self-loathing showing him how ashamed he is for his behaviour. There was a hope that she’ll help him.

“Khushi. Please say something.” He murmured stroking her cheek muscles with his thumb.

She glared pushing his hands away and her eyes accidentally crossed with confused Meera who’s staring at them from her room. Her mind worked at light speed. If she expresses their distance in front of Meera, then there’re a lot of chances for her to get corrupted. She’s not bound to hear their fights and gets disturbed. Already she seems to have some differences with him. Let alone she add one more. Quickly she hid her expressions and palmed his cheeks “It’s ok Arnavji. You no need to repeat sorry for coming late. I'm happy that you’re staying here today.”

Arnav who has his back to Meera, stood bewildered with the change of air. He couldn’t comprehend Khushi's behaviour.

‘Am I dreaming?’ He thought inwardly and looked down at her. Throwing a smile at his way, she strode to their room.

‘What happened? Am I hallucinating Khushi's smile? Why will she behave normally after my accusation? What should I do now?’ He mused seeing her retreating figure and shook his head as if discarding his thoughts ‘Bullshit. What life is this? I should be happy travelling with Khushi enjoying our earlier days of marriage. But what am I doing now?’

Taking slow measured steps, Arnav slowly entered their room and closed the door without creating noise. Assembling his scattered courage, he dares to look at what is she doing and got shocked in return. There she was standing in front of the open wardrobe, murmuring something and throwing away the neatly ironed, folded shirts of his. He took a close step towards her and quietly settled himself behind her.

“Stupid. Idiot. How can he say that? Is this a way to speak to his wife? For whom he’s stocking his stupid kisses and hugs that he’s lashing out accusing me? His brain probably went on vacation. Can’t he say politely if he doesn’t want to share his problem? Who asked him to marry me? Did I ask?...”

She kept on cursing him and for each curse, she crumpled the neatly ironed shirt and threw it away showing her frustration as if he’s standing in front of her. He silently laughed at her way of quarrel and all his weight lifted off from his heart. He knows his wife is naive and innocent and it’s he who’s stupid. She’s proving again.

He quietly stretched his hand and took his shirts from the upper self and extended it in front of her.  

Khushi who has been in her own cursing world got startled by sudden interruption and turned back only to notice him. With a rigid face, she scoffed “What?”

“I’m just helping you Khushi. Your hands will not reach the upper shelf. See how untidy these shirts look? Is it enough or shall I get you more?” He asked innocently giving his few ironed shirts.

She gave him a dirty look knowing what he is trying to. Throwing away the remaining shirts, she moved towards the bed and took the pillow and mat.

Arnav reached her in haste & held her hand “Khushi there’s no need for you to sleep on the floor. You didn’t do any wrong. It’s me who should bear the punishment.” He declared guiltily.

“When did I say I’m gonna sleep on the floor? Why should I bear the punishment for your mistake? I’m taking this for you Arnavji.” She said shocking him to another level. She threw the pillow and mat on his face and occupied the bed diagonally in such a way that he couldn’t settle himself beside her.

Truth to be told, Arnav never expected bold fights and punishments from her. He knew she’s beyond hurt by his words and he’s also ashamed of it. But bearing her indifference is killing him and showing the mirror. She has also been hurt the same way by his indifference. He gave a poor look to Khushi & the floor. Never in his life, he has faced a situation where he has to compromise on his comfort zone. But today, only because of his stupid tongue he’s in trouble. His father is absolutely right, he’s facing the same fate as the mobile which faced her wrath yesterday. He stood clueless and decided to put a full stop to this tonight no matter what.

“Khushi. Hear me once please…” He pleaded from his place expecting some reaction.

She didn’t budge and laid unmoved on her place.

“Khushi…”

“Khushi…”

“Khushi…”

She closed her eyes tightly not giving damn to his pleading calls giving him his own medicine to taste. Truth to be told, she’s not happy with the way their married life took a drastic turn. She doesn’t like an inch of his behaviour. It pained like death seeing her fairy tale crumbling down just like that. But is it possible to have a fairy tale life? Who better than she knows that life often throws lemons at us and it’s one’s intellect that makes lemonade with lemon. Is she going to make lemonade? Or Keep it as a lemon and lament over her disrupted life?

NEXT PART