SS: Poolside Prayer - Part 2

Part 2

Arnav caught up with Khushi before she could get the door open, he grabbed her wrist and pushed her back against the door with their hands behind her back.

'Who are you marrying Khushi? Tell me! Who is it?'
Khushi didn't answer his question but concentrated on trying to release her hand from his grasp.

Arnav squeezed her wrist harder, 'answer me Khushi! Who is he? I won't let you do this!'

'Oh you mean you can get married but I can't? You can ask questions and expect an answer but I can't?' Khushi tried to push him away from her with her free hand but Arnav grabbed that one also holding it in between their shoulders.

'Khushi! Answer me damn it! Are you in love with him?'

'Why should I answer you when you won't answer me? Why did you have my payal? Why did you try to... Why do you come so close to me if you want me to leave you alone?'

Arnav held on to Khushi while she still struggled trying to get out is his grasp but the door behind her that she was pressed against made freeing her hand even more difficult.

'You don't want to see my face so let me leave! Let me go!'

Arnav only stared into Khushi's eyes trying to find the answers to his questions.

'Please! You're hurting me,' she was crying now although she'd barely noticed the pain in her wrists compared to the pain in her chest.

Arnav released some of the pressure on Khushi's wrists and closed his eyes to her tears, 'hurting you? I'm hurting you? And what about what you're doing to me Khushi? Every time you cry, every time I see your tears, they hurt me. You hurt me!'

'Then let me go! You won't have to see my face, you won't have to see my tears, just let me go!'

'I...I can't. I can't let you go.' He kept his eyes closed but he released her wrists. Arnav felt the gentle feathery touch of her fingers wipe away the tear that had escaped the confines of his closed eyes but he didn't open them in case he found that he had imagined her touch.

'Congratulations on your engagement Arnavji,' Khushi voice was barely above a whisper as she opened the door behind her.

'You too,' he spoke hoarsely as he closed the door behind her and leant his head against it.