Chapter Fifty Two

Arnav came walking through door, loosening his tie as he spoke on the phone.

"A deal is a deal Mr. Mathews, I'd expect you of all people to understand that."

Arnav entered the kitchen and saw Khushi and Shyam sitting around the island in the stools.

"I don't care for your excuses; either you're in or you're out," and Arnav hung up on the man.

"Hey," Khushi smiled softly.

"Hey...."

Arnav stepped around to Khushi and wrapped his arm around her waist. Shyam's eyes fell to that, watching the man hold his baby sister protectively, even as he laid a kiss atop of her head.

"You remember Shyam, my brother."

Shyam stood up and held his hand out. "Hi."

"Hi," Arnav responded curtly.

The men shook hands and Khushi could feel the tension.

"Will you two cut it out," she frowned. "Keep your male egos down."

The two men looked at Khushi as they released their hands.

"Oh yeah, I can feel it."

Shyam rolled his eyes. "You're my sister, you should be used to this."

"Yeah well I kind of didn't have to worry about that for the past few years," Khushi muttered.

No one said anything for a moment until Shyam broke the silence with a sigh.

"Well I should get going."

"Already," Khushi pouted slightly.

"Stay for dinner," Arnav said.

"No, that's alright. I've actually got to take care of something."

As Khushi stood up, she eyed her brother carefully. "What kind of something?"

Shyam tried to frown, but the smile was evident. "Mind your own business baby sis, or do I still need to speak in IM with you?"

Khushi frowned. "Shut up," and Shyam chuckled.

"I'll talk to you later. Arnav," he nodded.

"Shyam," he responded.

Khushi followed Shyam out and when they called the elevator, Shyam turned to her.

"Khushi-"

"I know, I know."

Shyam frowned. "But will you?"

Khushi looked down at her hands. "I'll try." Because I have to.

"I hope you do."

The elevator arrived and Shyam stepped in. "Text me."

"I will," Khushi promised.

The elevator doors closed and took Shyam away. Khushi turned back to the doors and took a deep breath. After the emotional roller coaster ride she was on earlier in the day, she was afraid what the evening would bring.

I have to tell him, I really do, but how? How do I tell him who I once was? What I did and how I....?

With another deep breath, Khushi entered the penthouse, making the worry go off of her face. She rejoined Arnav in the kitchen and headed to the fridge.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah. What was Shyam doing here?"

Khushi pulled out what she needed to make Arnav a sandwich. "I invited him."

Arnav was shocked. "You did?"

"Yeah. Arnav I told you, my brother's... well my brother. He never did me any wrong."

Arnav nodded in understanding. "But your parents did."

Khushi nodded even though it wasn't a question. She finished preparing a turkey sandwich for Arnav and placed it in front of him.

"Aren't you hungry," he asked.

"Not really."

"Uh huh...."

Khushi helped Arnav remove his suit jacket and she sat down beside Arnav as he sat down. Arnav bit into his sandwich and watched Khushi. She was off in her own mind, toying with one of the buttons on his suit. He was about to ask her if something had happened when his phone pinged. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he saw that it was Rose Anne.

The ping brought Khushi back to reality. "What is it?"

"The renovations will be as scheduled. So we should leave-"

"Arnav-"

"The day after tomorrow-"

"Arnav-"

"So pack your bags-"

"Arnav-"

"Preferably for warm weather."

"Arnav-"

"I'll call my secretary and have him prepare the jet."

"But-"

"You've got your passport right?"

Khushi frowned. "I'm not going."

This time Arnav scowled.

"Arnav, we've been over this. Look, I've got places to apply to and emails to get back to so I can schedule an interview. So-"

"Forget about that. You're going away with me-"

"Arnav I can't just do that."

"Actually, you can."

"Arnav, for the love of-! I'm not going, and I mean it. I've got to work if I wanna feed myself-"

"That's nonsense!"

"How is that nonsense?"

"Because I take care of you. I help you, I provide for you, you don't need to work ever again!"

"And you've done enough! Now it's time for me to take care of myself. I've been doing it for years Arnav, I can take care of myself. Besides, who am I to get that kind of luxury?"

Arnav just looked at her. One moment he was sitting down, the next he was up on his feet, hauling Khushi over his shoulder with a spank.

"What the f-?"

Arnav began to walk out of the kitchen and went into the private elevator.

"Put me down," Khushi wiggled.

Arnav didn't release her and walked out of the elevator and into the bedroom. He dropped her onto the bed and straddled her, holding her hands in his.

"Arnav-"

"When I let you go, you will pack your bags and get ready of anything you need for when we're gone."

"But-"

"If you do not do it yourself, I will tie you up and get you on that jet, and buy you a whole new wardrobe."

"That's insane!"

"So pack your bags," he smiled and pulled back, releasing her.

Khushi just looked at him as he went around to put his phone on charge. She sat up and scowled at him, but Arnav ignored her and pulled his MacBook from its sleeve, and sat on the bed to do some work. Khushi continued to scowl at him, but he continued to ignore her.

"I don't see you packing," he finally said.

"I won't."

"Angel...."

Khushi gaped at him. "Don't you angel me!"

With a huff, Khushi got up and stomped out of the room.

"You better be going into the closet from the other side," she heard Arnav say.

Khushi muttered and grumbled, and headed for the stairs instead. However just as she reached them, she was whipped around and was once again hauled over Arnav's shoulder.

Khushi groaned loudly and gripped his waist. "You're so annoying!"

Arnav responded with a spank.

"Hey!"

"The only one being annoying is you. Can't you just do as you're being told?"

"No," she replied stubbornly.

Arnav entered the dressing room from the other side and placed Khushi down. "Start packing."

"Arnav-"

"Khushi for the love of-!" Arnav turned away and took a deep breath. "Angel, you will start packing, right now, or so help me, I really will tie you up and take you away right now."

Khushi gaped at him. "You wouldn't."

Arnav simply looked at her, his expression challenging her. Of course Khushi knew that he would and his look reminded her of that.

Khushi's shoulders slumped. "But I don't want to," she replied with a small voice, looking down.

Arnav sighed heavily. "Fine," and he walked out.

"Arnav-"

Arnav walked out of the room and went back into the bedroom. He picked up his MacBook and phone, then walked out.

Khushi followed behind. "Arnav-"

But Arnav continued to walk away and went down the stairs. At first, Khushi just watched him descend down the stairs, then felt a little pang in her chest, which then began to bloom with fear.

"Arnav!"

Khushi began to go down the stairs as well, following after him. However Arnav was farther ahead at the speed he was walking in. As Khushi followed him through the penthouse, she reached the foyer, missing Arnav slightly as he disappeared into the elevator.

For a moment Khushi stood still, her eyes wide and the fear visible in them. She stood there silently and just stared at the elevator doors. She didn't know how long she stood there - seconds, minutes. Time no longer mattered to her.

Etta came walking by with a duster in her hand, when she saw Khushi standing with the door ajar. "Khushi?"

Khushi didn't respond, so she went over to her and placed her hand on Khushi's shoulder. Khushi flinched back to reality and looked at her. Not saying a word, the poor girl walked away and went back upstairs into his bedroom. She sat on the bed, her legs huddled to her body as she rested her chin on it.

Why am I feeling such fear? I know he's only angry because I won't go away with him but why am I so scared?

You know why, a dark and eerie voice replied. He's going to leave you just like that when he finds out what you did to-

Khushi covered her ears to mute out the voice. It stopped and when she thought it was done, it began to chuckle.

Do you think that by blocking out my voice, you can avoid the inevitable?  He calls you his angel, pulling him away from the darkness he was once engulfed by. Little does he know that you are engulfed by darkness as well.

Please stop-!

No Khushi, I won't. How long will you deny to yourself that you are, as a matter of fact, no angel. That you live a lie. That the person you try to be isn't who you really are, but a m-

Don't! Just don't....

The eerie voice began to chuckle again, turning into a sinister laugh. Khushi covered her ears once more but the laughing didn't stop. It continued on, drowning Khushi in it.

*~*

"Khushi..."

Khushi's eyes shot open and she found herself in the middle of nowhere, or so she thought in the beginning.

"Khushi..."

Khushi whipped around, looking across the vast field.

"Khushi..."

What am I doing here, Khushi wondered, taking in the familiar place.

"Khushi..."

That voice... oh my gosh!

"Khushi..."

Khushi began to run, aimlessly. Her mind told her to run and her body simply responded, expelling her thoughts. Soon the environment around her changed, taking her into a hallway filled with lockers.

What the-? What am I-?

The sound of laughter echoed and Khushi turned to the source of it.

Oh no.

Khushi began to run away, wanting to get as far away from the scene as quick as possible. She ran as fast as she could, when the scene changed once more, causing her to stop. It was dark of night and she was in the middle of the road.

Khushi felt her body go cold. No, no, oh please, no, get me out of here!

"Khushi..."

Khushi whipped around to the voice and turned around, but there was no one else there.

"Khushi..."

"Who's there," she cried. "Why won't you show yourself?! Who's there," she screamed as tears poured down her cheeks.

"Khushi..."

"Show yourself! Show yourself!!!"

"Khushi..."

Khushi covered her ears, but the voice continued to call out her name, echoing even as she sobbed and screamed, begging for it to stop as she dropped to her knees.

"Stop," she screamed, as her body began to curl up.

"Khushi?"

Khushi looked up. This voice was different.

"Khushi."

Khushi looked up and saw Arnav. Relief began to flood in and she let go of her ears. Arnav simply looked at her as she slowly stood up.

"Arnav," she whispered, a small smile coming to her lips from the relief she felt.

However it was only there for a short moment because Arnav began to walk away.

"Arnav?"

Khushi tried to walk towards him, but her feet wouldn't move. She looked down at her feet and tried to lift them up, but she couldn't. It was as if her legs were made of lead and she couldn't lift it.

"Arnav!"

Khushi tugged at her feet to try to free herself, but she couldn't. 

"Arnav! Arnav please- Arnav!"

Arnav didn't turn back and continued to walk away, his figure growing smaller and smaller.

"Arnav! Come back! Come back! Arnav-"

"Khushi!"

Khushi's eyes shot open, returning her to reality. It was dark, the twinkling city lights peeking through the windows. Her body was covered with sweat and something heavy. At first she couldn't tell what, until it's warmth and familiarity synced through.

"Khushi-?"

Khushi turned in Arnav's hold and buried her face in Arnav's chest as her feelings overwhelmed her and she began to sob.

"Hush, I'm here angel, I'm here," Arnav soothed. "I'm right here, I'm right here."

Khushi continued to cry, gripping onto Arnav's t-shirt.

"Khushi, I'm right here. It's okay, I'm right here, I'm right next to you."

Khushi's body shook, still overwhelmed by her nightmare.

Arnav kissed the top of her head and held her to him. "I'm right here Khushi, I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever."

His words comforted Khushi and she slightly pulled back so that she could see his face. Arnav wiped away her tears with his thumb and kissed her forehead.

"I'm right here angel."

"Why did you leave me," Khushi whispered.

"I didn't mean to walk out on you like that, I just... I was worried about losing my cool and... and hurting you like last time," he replied, looking down.

Khushi clasped his cheek in her hand and pulled him to her, kissing him desperately. "Don't you ever leave me like that again. If you do, you'll break me-"

"Hush, angel, I won't."

"Promise me-"

"I promise."

They sealed it with a kiss, turning it into more as Khushi pulled his body over hers. She needed him now more than ever and she needed to be loved. She needed to forget that horrible dream, or rather nightmare. She wanted to forget it ever happened in the first place and wanted to lose herself to Arnav. She wanted the remnants of the nightmare out of her mind and to fill it with Arnav only. She wanted to forget the past, focus on the present, and have a future with the one man she would ever love.