OS: Learning to Believe

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OS: Learning to Believe

'Get in the car!'

'A... Arnavji... you...?'

'Khushi, shut up and get in the car.'

When she still didn't move Arnav stormed over and pulled her up by her elbow. He then dragged Khushi towards the car and pushed her into the passenger seat.

He slammed the door shut and rested his elbows on the roof of the car, with his head buried in hands. He breathed heavily as his heart calmed down and the relief at finding her overwhelmed him.

Once he had collected himself he went around to the driver's seat, sat inside and began driving again. He refused to look at Khushi and tried to block out the sounds of her sobbing besides him. They had reached Highcourt Road when it got too much and Arnav slammed his foot on the brakes. He felt her tense up next to him, but was in no mood to be kind to Khushi. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel and groaned in exasperation.

'You promised! You promised you would never leave me! Two days! It's been two days since you made that promise Khushi and you already broke it!'

'But Arnavji... my Amma and... your Mom... Arnavji... you... Dadiji said...' She was struggling to talk in between sobs and Arnav clenched his fists together to stop himself reaching out to her.

'I don't care what Dadi said! All I care about is the fact that I came down for our wedding and you weren't there!'

She reached out to touch him then, her hands grasping at his shoulder, her warmth seeping through his Shervani. 'Arnavji please... I didn't... I just love you so much and I couldn't bear for you to look at me with hatred in your eyes. I thought you wouldn't...'

He looked at her now, her small face lined with tears, large eyes pleading with him and that beautiful mouth, those soft downy lips trembling in pain. The hollow feeling that had been in his since Akash had told him Khushi had gone had now been filled but with simply more pain. 'Do you have such little faith in me Khushi? I know I've done unspeakable things to you in the past but haven't I proved to you how much I love you?'

He took her hands in his, raising the palms to his lips and kissing each in turn. 'This colour, it means nothing Khushi. If you want to see how much I love you, rip out my heart and see the colour of my blood. Only then will you know just how much you hurt me. Because that's what you did tonight Khushi. When you left me... when you leave you take my heart with you.'

'Arnavji, I'm so sorry!' Khushi hugged him across the car, soaking his Shervani with tears and streaks of make-up. 'I just couldn't believe... I told you didn't I? I'm not used to so much happiness, I was waiting for something to go wrong and tonight when... when Dadiji said the wedding was cancelled I...'

'Shhh, Khushi. Please stop crying now, you know it hurts me. I... I just needed some time to think about everything. That's why I was late. But I would never never leave you, you have to believe me. No matter what happens in the future, I am never going to disappoint you again. Please say you trust me.'

Khushi nodded, tears still streaming down her face. 'I promise as well... and this time I mean it. I will never leave you again Arnavji. I'm so sorry, please forgive me.'

'You promise?'

Khushi nodded again before she lifted her face to his and pulled him down to meet her. As they kissed she could taste the salty tears that they'd both shed and promised herself that from now on she would trust not only Arnavji but herself and her first instincts which had screamed and shouted at her that Arnavji would come if she would only wait.