#ipkknd ff

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

IPKKND SS: Madaari

Madaari - Puppeteer. Trickster. Magician. Conjurer. A street performer who entertains the public by training (torturing) animals to dance. 

Trigger Warning: none | Word Count: 2400+

Read Chapter 1

#Chapter 2

Shyam watched the Gupta family fret over Khushi. It was Devi Maiyya’s sign, he had to do away with Khushi Gupta and her family as soon as possible. The strings were too messy, and what if her memory recovered? 

He smiled at the paralyzed Shashi Gupta - so much for playing hero for his daughter. Shashi grumbled, tears and rage filling the old eyes but Shyam could only hide a laugh as Garima had to tend to wipe the drool away from Shashi’s face. 

That man was never going to be fine, Shyam made sure of it. 

The medicines they diligently fed Shashi were his path to a slow, natural, death.

After all he was Khushi’s father, he couldn’t condemn him to a painful death. 

Khushi’s heart hurt more than her head. A sharp pain. Arnav was here.

She woke up, looking around, barely remembering the ride to her home. Shyam had assisted her to her room, tucking her neatly and explaining the situation to her family. 

She slept even before she knew it. 

“He’s not here.” Khushi stiffened as Payal sat next to her, a fresh bandaid and antiseptic bottle in her hand. 

“Woh Jiji, I was looking for-” Payal shot Khushi a look, and for the grace of her sister she did not mention the name of the man Khushi was clearly looking for.

For someone who had read Khushi since childhood, Payal Gupta found it no mystery who was the love of her darling sister’s life.

It was definitely not Khushi’s fiancé. 

How had Khushi fallen for Arnav, it was beyond her. But Payal had said nothing, fearing that speaking about Khushi’s infatuation with Arnav would flame the fire Khushi’s heart.

So she feigned ignorance. 

The rest of the family barely paid heed to Khushi anyway, they never saw her spending hours learning sugar free sweets in the kitchen. They never heard her whisper words in English to herself.  They never realized how Khushi inserted Arnav Singh Raizada in every conversation. 

“If he cared, he would’ve been here,” Payal emphasized, blowing at the injury on Khushi’s head. Khushi turned away in shame, her secret caught in the open.

She flinched at the sting of the antiseptic.

“He’s engaged.” Payal now whispered, afraid that the Goddess might punish her sister for a mistake her young heart made. 

“It’s nothing like that,” Khushi denied the unsaid accusation. Payal could only smile sadly. 

“You will be perceived as the other woman, regardless of context,” Payal advised, fixing the bandaid on Khushi's forehead. 

“It’s nothing like that,” Khushi repeated, clenching her blanket.

“Khushi, one mistake cannot fix another.” Payal sighed. Her sister truly had the worst luck. Her options were either a doomed romance or a doomed marriage. 

A tear rolled down Khushi’s cheek. She loved Arnav. It was a fact that she understood at her worst. He, his feelings, meant the world for her. She had to tell everything to Payal.

For once, Khushi did not want to hold all the burdens in her heart. God knows Khushi needed Payal’s guidance and help now more than ever. 

“Jiji” Khushi froze as she saw the reflection on the window in front of her. 

Payal didn’t have to look up to know who had been standing all along.

Arnav Singh Raizada

— — —

Lavanya watched Arnav return home, face crumpled in anguish. When she had returned from visiting Khushi earlier in the day, she thought the anguish on her face was a result of the accident. 

But with the similar pain on Arnav’s face, she realized physical pain had little strength to heartache. 

Her engagement was over before it even began. 

It’s ironic that the closer she got to Arnav in societal recognition, the farther away he grew from her. 

“Everything will be fine,” Arnav stopped short in his tracks, staring at Lavanya intertwine her hand with his, compassion on her face. 

Will everything ever be fine? His world fell beneath his feet when he learned from Akash that Khushi was involved in an accident, and from the conversation between Payal and Khushi, his worst and best dreams came true. 

He must be sadistic to feel relief that Khushi was just as miserable in her engagement as he. 

The relief was just as strong as finding her safe and healthy. 

And to be honest, he was glad her fiancé was not around when he stopped by. He could hardly be trusted these days. 

Arnav looked at his own fiancee, and guilt settled in his heart. It was never about Lavanya, was it? 

One look at Khushi in her bed, wounded, and he realized that this was the only woman he’d ever feel so intensely for, regardless of the context. So what was he promising Lavanya? 

The life his mother lived? 

“La,” Lavanya teared up as Arnav took her name far more affectionately than he had over the past few months. She savored and feared as he gently cupped her face, a flicker of tears in his own eyes as well. 

Arnav felt a lump in his throat. It was a pity to realize he had been surrounded by the best of women despite being a terrible man. 

There was a time where if asked who he could’ve spent a lifetime with, it would be Lavanya Kashyap. 

“Arnav, please don’t,” Lavanya whispered. Let Arnav be guilty enough to at least give her a few days of affection before the doom she anticipated. For once he became the ASR she knew.

The one who took her to dates to the fanciest of restaurants, booking the cozy booths where he’d hear her endless frustrations of the press and terrible fashion trends with a barely there smile. 

The one who grumbled at every gift she gave him, but had them delicately stored in some corner of his office - be it a paper weight or a Mont Blanc pen. The one who’d often stop by her place for a cup of coffee and an hour of silence as they heard Jazz. The one who’d indulge her when she’d drag to him to dance with her in her quiet apartment, the radio fading as she’d undo his tie while he pulled down the zipper of her dress. 

“I am so sorry La,” He whispered, touching his forehead to hers. 

“Fuck, they were right.” Lavanya whispered, glad to finally utter an expletive in this house. No one thought they’d last. Most viewed her as Arnav’s latest arm candy - but hell he barely had the time to date and she had believed, so strongly, that what she and Arnav shared was beyond the rumors. 

Arnav looked at her in confusion, Lavanya smiled as a tear slipped through.

“The papers. They were right. Everyone was. And the problem is, I won’t be able to justify to anyone that I wasn’t a ‘phase’” Lavanya chuckled, being able to imagine the headlines. How wouldn’t she - marketing and PR was her speciality. 

“Fuck the papers. You were a lot more. You are a lot more. It’s precisely why I can’t do this anymore.” Arnav said, wishing for once that he could’ve loved her for her sake. 

“You love me La, you always have. I don’t know why, I don’t deserve it. You deserve far more, far better. And don’t mistake this as me making a choice for you. I’m just stating facts. And the thing is the only people who were right about this is, unfortunately, my family. Di knew I was doing this to prove Nani a point. I… fuck… La you can’t be a collateral damage to my feelings.” Arnav confessed, feeling the most defeated in his life. 

He had never wanted to be like his father. He had never wanted to hurt another woman.

But just like his father he hurt the first woman who had loved him. 

“I know. I know the minute you announced our engagement that you’re going to break up with me. I know you were proving a point” Arnav was surprised, just how much had Lavanya understood? 

“The only thing I didn’t realize is who you were proving it to,” Lavanya concluded, stepping away from him. 

“La,” Arnav sighed, “I never wanted to,”

“When are you going to tell her?” Lavanya cut him off, alarming him with her question,

Arnav closed his eyes in resignation, “there’s no her,”

“ASR, I’ve always respected you for being an honest man. Don’t change that.” Lavanya’s voice held rage for the first time. 

She understood breakups, she did not understand stupidity. Just how many people was Arnav willing to sacrifice as collateral damage just because he could not understand his feelings? Hell, in no universe would Lavanya want Khushi to become the next victim. 

“La, this is not the time. I cannot take you fixing my stuff when I’ve barely apologized.” Arnav stated, and he meant it. Khushi was not important right now. 

“Oh I’ll make you apologize, don’t worry about it. After all you broke Lavanya Kashyap’s heart and more than that, your family made me wear terrible clothes ninety percent of the time,” Lavanya cracked a pained smile.

Arnav let out a hollow laugh, and held her hand. 

“No, ASR, I am serious.” Lavanya pushed his hand aside, “You can’t keep sacrificing people left right and center because you can’t figure things out. You’re an adult, act like one. And don’t think about me because I will hold you accountable for how much you’ve hurt me. But right now, you’re against time. Because as far as I know her you can chase her after she’s married but she won’t break her marriage for you. She’s a good person ASR, a bit too good.” Lavanya said, fixing her face as the rest of the family set into the dining table. 

Lavanya was right, no matter what he and Khushi were at this point, he had to be honest to both women.

But above all, he needed to have a serious chat with his family not just about his breakup but about how they’ve been grooming La all along. Yes, he enabled them, but he had to ensure that this could not happen again. 

Wasn’t Payal having similar reservations to joining the Raizada family? Mami would give her worse than what Nani handed to Lavanya. 

Granted, Akash was going to have a tougher time convincing his mother for a wedding now that Arnav was not getting married - but it was high time his younger cousin fought his own battles as well. 

— — — 

The family looked at Arnav as he sat at the first table, his face reserve. Devyani rejoiced at Arnav pulling the chair for Lavanya, passing her a smile. Manorama clapped as she watched Lavanya, in her older clothes, settle at the table. Finally, modern clothes were back at Shantivan. 

Anjali, though, closed her eyes even before Arnav opened his mouth. 

This was not going to be good. 

— — — 

This was not good, Garima concluded. This had to be Devi Maiyya’s signal that this relationship was not meant to be. First Shashi had a paralytic stroke, now Khushi was nearly saved from the jaws of death, and all these happened right around the corner of Khushi and Shyam’s engagement.

As a mother her heart trembled. She could feel her dead sister bore holes into her back every time Madhumati forced Khushi to accept Shyam as a suitor. 

Garima had promised Khushi’s happiness to her dead sister. 

Why was Khushi’s happiness not aligning to the one man who could bring stability to her life? 

“Amma,” Garima broke from her chain of thoughts and assisted Khushi to the dining table. 

“Arrey, you should’ve just called for me!” Garima admonished Khushi, fixing a warm shawl around Khushi’s shoulders. Was it just her or had Khushi grown older over the past few days?

Shyam wheeled Shashi to the dining table and sat next to Madhumati. Payal sat by Khushi’s side, nodding gently to her. What were the sisters thinking? 

“I have something to tell you all.” Khushi said.

— — —

“What? Why?” Devyani cried, she had grown to love Miss Kashyap! Yes it took her time to understand that beneath the modernity she despised, was a heart of gold she had grown to love!

“Nani, I will say this for once and only once. Lavanya deserves a lot more than what I can give. I cannot subject her to what,” maa went though. Arnav broke off, the questions over the past half hour hitting his head. Anjali was hugging Lavanya, an angry ‘I told you so’ in her eyes. 

For the first time Anjali acknowledged she failed as a sister, that she had not stepped into her mother’s shoes at all. And she made no lack in conveying so to her brother. 

Arnav accepted all the blame. 

Perhaps Nani was right that day, he was closer to his father than he thought. 

— — — 

“Jiji told me something that has just set itself in my heart.” Khushi began, her eyes misting. 

“It is so important to look at who is with us when we’re going through our worst times. And with us, actively doing things to help us. That, is an indicator of a companion far more than any fantasy.” Khushi continued, her reality becoming clear as Shyam wiped the drool from Shashi’s mouth with the gentleness of a son. 

He was unfazed when Shashi spit up the food onto Shyam’s sleeve. There was not a single trace of disgust on his handsome face. How did she never see this? 

“Shyam ji,” Shyam looked at Khushi, stunned at the beauty of her soft smile, “I am so sorry.”

“Haye re Nandkisore!” Madhumati interrupted, fearing the worst. The girl couldn’t be thinking of breaking her engagement could she? 

“I am so sorry for not seeing you,” Khushi apologized, tears flowing as her smile grew wider, “you have been there. Always. When I needed rescuing from the goons, when I needed a job, when Buaji needed help in this house, when Babuji faced a stroke. Devi Maiyya has been constantly showing me the truth but I was just unable to see it.” Khushi wiped her tears and shot him the biggest smile she had.

“So yes, to answer the question you had posed on the night you decorated my house as if the stars had been here." Khushi reminisced the day he gave her jalebis and promised her companionship. How could she have been so blind?

"Yes, I will marry you. Not for the sake of my father. Not for the sake of the society. Not for the sake of Buaji. But for myself.” 

———————————————————

A/N: Yes, I am very evil. Enjoy :D

tagging: @shaonsim @zaphbeeblebrox @shiyaravi @chutkiandchotte @featheredclover @goals1024 @honeybellexox @darkchocolatestuff @charucoal @thedupattaknowswhatsup @bigfatreader @lostafpanda @exosexosekai @hi-this-is-permabanned @scorpio-smiles @noor1025 @minpdnim @laad-governess @barshifan @whateverworks21 @maansiloves @samuraisamsworld @dropsofserenity @myloveforstuff @leila1 @onadaanparindey @urwatueat @dimaagkadahi @ijustchangedmyname @australian-desi @muttonthings @eunoiabeyours @aye-masakalii  (updating this list - lemme know who wants to be added/deleted)

#jalebi writes #ipkknd #ipkknd ff #ipkknd: madaari #yes I am very evil #count this as what if everything went wrong

[laadgovernorandsankadevi]

OS: Khanak

can also be read here as well: wordpress

What once was, was no longer a secret. Arnav Singh Raizada’s eyes were reserved for his wife, and there wasn’t anything that would ever be distracting enough for him to not notice what was his Khushi thinking.

This fateful evening, the two were getting ready to attend a dinner thrown by one of the investors of AR. When he had first asked Khushi to start accompanying him to dinners, he had been skeptical of her fitting in with the snooty society that valued brands, and summers abroad over local cuisine and monsoon, but much to his surprise, Khushi was a favorite amongst the wives of the men he associated it for her animated responses to their absurd stories.

He was stuffing the neck scarf when Khushi finally stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a bright orange silk sari with sequins bordering the length of it. Her hair was partially dry with a towel wrapped at the ends with the overgrown bangs framing her face. His eyes automatically shifted to observe her movements while continuing to adjust his own clothes.

She moved frantically towards the vanity table he had been standing in front of to pull out blush and kajal. He was always surprised by how little make-up her skin required after moisturizing. How did she never get pimples? She carelessly threw the pink pigment on her cheeks while the towel hung over her shoulder.

Her eyes met his in the mirror, and she stood still for a moment. “Humein zada waqt nahi lage ga! pakka!” [I won’t take too long! Promise!]

Her hands moved towards the small brass holder with kajal, one that she pulled out the stick of with startling ease and slid in between her waterline and lid. He stepped back giving her more space and picked up his cologne before observing the flush on her face. She reached for a colored pencil to underline her eyes with before using the leftover blush on the brush to brush over her eyelids and using the liner to accentuate them further.

Her eyes now appeared more bright than before. He had fallen for her eyes, and every single time he looked at them, he couldn’t figure out whether he had adored them as much as they deserved to be.

She rushed to throw the towel off her hair and threw it over the bed. He let out a sigh and picked it up to place on the back of the recliner. Was it her, or did girls barely care where they threw things in haste to get ready? His eyes had moved away from her face for a second, and he missed the moment she put the jhumke on.

Her hand hovered about the vanity table for something else. What else did she need, he wondered. She looked perfect as is. But he was wrong. She bent slightly to open the drawer for something. He peeked in to see what it could be. He was pleasantly surprised.

She pulled out bangles. Yellow and orange, glass bangles that jingled the moment she placed the box on the table. Was it the one he thought it was? Her fingers ran through her hair to set them behind her before slowly moving to displace the bangles from the box to their rightful place but what she was unaware of, was that her husband had been standing back observing every single movement.

“Ruko.” [wait] he said, and her hands halted midair with a surprise.

“Kya hua?” [What happened?] she asked, confused

“May I?” His hands stretched out towards her while the other covered the box before them. She smiled, and her eyes twinkled.

His fingers slipped inside the box, and slowly took out a couple before moving towards her hand. Her fingers, ever so delicate rested in between his. Ever so gently, he slipped the glass bangles onto her wrist, listening to their khanak as they fell over one another.

“Yeh wohi hain na?” [they are those ones, aren’t they?] He asked.

“Aap ko yaad hai?” [You remember?]

“Kaise bhool sakta hoon.” [How can I forget] 

He continued slipping them in, letting the jingling echo in between them while meeting her eyes. The small smile refused to leave their faces. It felt like yesterday when he had found himself lurking around her to get a glimpse of whether she had accept his gift.

He had wanted then, when she had been asked to remove to dupatta from her hands; and now just as he slipped the last of the set onto her wrist for time to suspend itself with nothing but the echos of her bangles to ring in between. He stared at her adorned hands, and pulled them to his lips to kiss her wrists and fingers.

“You look beautiful!”

“kyun ke hum ne aap ki pasand ki chudiyaan pehni hain?” [because I am wearing your choice of bangles?] she teased.

He shook his head but then pulled her hand towards him. The bangles crashed against one another, and her eyes looked into his’ from merely an inch away. “Tumhe kya lagta hai?” [what do you think?] He asked.

She didn’t reply, but he saw the twinkle in her eyes. She broke away from his pull without answering, to fill her part, fix her hair, and spray the perfume he had gotten for her all while his eyes remained transfixed on her.

“Chalein?” she said once done. He nodded and walked over to pick up his phone while she picked up the small potli to slip onto her wrist.

The remainder of the night was engaging but not enough for Arnav Singh Raizada’s ears to not perk up at every jingling of his wife’s anklets and bangles. His eyes would momentarily lose sight of her every now and then, but her ornaments did their best to beckon him towards her.

If his eyes looked for hers at any given instance, then his ears listened for twinkling sounds that wrapped around all of her presence.

#SoundCloud #urkkgsr #ipkknd #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon fan fiction #ipkknd ff #arhi #arshi

[featheredclover]

Favourite IPKKND noncanon fanfics # 22

(1) False Impressions by Gargee & Bingala

(incomplete as of now, but worth reading)

(2) Salve by Anupama

An officer bogged down by his rough origins meets an unlikely accomplice

(3) The photographer by InvisibleSmile

(4) What's cooking by RTlicious

A culinary streak of the arshi magic! The author's expertise in cooking shines through each chapter~

(5) Red lighting by RTlicious

A cop and a prostitute meet for the night, but is there more to it than meets the eye?

(6) Maid in love! by RTlicious

A tale of pretence, tactics and love

(7) Bodyguard by RTlicious

The grey eyed stiff bodyguard must be distracted , and who better than KKG?

(8) Rogue agents by RTlicious

Parting ways are bittersweet, but rarely do they end up in a romp

(9) When I met you! by RTlicious

What happens when a series of confusion leads to an explosive love story?

(10) The learning curve by RTlicious

A parent teacher meeting turns into a ruckus, paving way for an endearing love story

#ipkknd #ipkknd non canon ffs #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta #arshi #arnav and khushi #this took way too long

[onadaanparindey]

queen was aware she got the BEST VIEW.

#something about khushi staring at his chest makes him hotter to me tbh #I MEAN I NEEDED HIM TO REMOVE THAT GODFORSAKEN SHIRT OF HIS MORE OFTEN #WE NEVER GOT A POOL SCENE FFS I AM SCREAMING #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta #ipkknd

[phati-sari]

Hi! Okay this is a long shot and idk if you even know anything about this lol, but I’m just going to shoot my shot. Okay so I watched IPKKND ages ago and recently discovered that it’s on Hulu so obvs I had to rewatch. Anyways watching it is making me want to reread all the old ffs I liked! Unfortunately, most of them were deleted from IF 😢, but one of my favs was Kushi from Maya Hill. I know she moved to her own website and I even read it earlier this year! I wanted to do ANOTHER reread but I can’t access the website anymore! It apparently doesn’t exist. The fic is still on IF but it’s stops at ch 81 but if memory serves it actually goes to like ch 118 or something. Do you know anything about the website issue?? I can’t find another way to contact Maya. If she took her work off I’m going to be DISTRAUGHT!!!!!!

I have no idea!

#anon ask #answered

[ridzmystique]

The euphoria I just experienced in the past 30 seconds! I saw your post for BTS songs for IPKKND! I WAS NOT READY FOR TWO OF MY BIGGEST OBSESSIONS TO COLLIDE LIKE THAT TODAY! And then I realised you are also the author of some of my fav ipkknd FF??!?!!??!

Hahaha. First of all, thank you for reading and liking my work. And yes, 2021 was finally the year I fell down the K-pop rabbit hole. I'm no longer actively in the IPK fandom but I do enjoy the occasional dips and that question was a nice little combo of two things I enjoy.

#asks #tisthefrenchiestfrenchfry #bts

[kaahaani]

Hello! Can you please pretty please write an ipkknd FF again?

I haven't thought about IPKKND in so long, so I don't know. My obsession with it is cyclical in nature, so perhaps one day I'll be obsessed again!

#ipkknd #answered #anonymous

[dimaagkadahi]

I wrote a thing after an eternity. Anyway, here’s an Ode to Khushi, courtesy of one Arnav Singh Raizada

——————————

She comes to my home like the monsoon wind

With the hope and life it brings

She passes by like a thunderstorm

To wash away my sins

She comes to my home like a starry night

That brightens up the sky

But no nightly lights can compare

To the twinkle in her eye

She comes to my home like fairy bells

A symphony in art

The magic of her tinkling laugh

Heals my wretched heart

She comes to my home like a calming balm

All suffering she seeks to ease

She graces us with her smiles and warmth

And brings peace to my house of peace

She comes to my home like a trusted friend,

Who knows me, not my disguise

Hand in hand and eye to eye

We set out to conquer the skies

~ fin ~

#ipkknd #ipkknd ff #arshi

[thatcollateraldamage]

this whole fuckinh sequence i swear takes me out every single time

ipkknd fanfic titled waves and particles written by rockbarbie on india forums.

#ipkknd #ipkknd ff #fan fiction #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #ipkknd crack #arnav and khushi

[rabba-ve]

Tu Safar Mera — COMPLETE!

Our fic is finally complete! Read the final chapter here on Wattpad!

To read form the start go here <3 <3 <3

#tu safar mera #chapter 17 #arshi #arshi ff #ipkknd #ipkknd ff #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta #kkgsr #by kkgsrkisanak #we wrote a thing #thanks for reading

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

ArShi OS: Chance

Warning: None | Word Count: 5681

Fear paralyzed her as her vision went blank. She blinked furiously, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Hands flailed in darkness,  feet unsteady.

The memory of her room wiped out the minute the whole house blacked out. Her heart beat furiously against her chest. Her throat tightened, as if she had swallowed broken glass. 

The last time the room was this dark, Shyam had stepped in to take advantage of her fear. He had walked in with a candle, hoping she’d be disoriented enough to let him come inside her room, or worse - hold her knowing she wouldn’t be able to put up a fight. 

God knows, if Nanhe hadn’t appeared on time-

Khushi collapsed, shutting her ears as another thunder blasted. 

Their headlights stopped working. The road ahead was pitch dark. Khushi clutched her teddy bear. Her father didn’t realize oil had spilled on the road. Her mother was screaming. A deafening crash. 

“Amma,” She cried, her body numb. 

THINK KHUSHI!

Khushi’s eyes snapped open. Arnav was out of town, so were the rest of the family. She forced her mind to focus on the facts. A house like Shantivan rarely loses power. It is not a coincidence that it had to happen the one time she was alone at home. 

More than the trauma of her parents’ death, it was reality that shook her bones. 

Shyam was back. 

The thought alone powered her to stand up and grab the first thing she could find. She screamed at the winds, screamed of her bravery, enough to let anyone know she was far from disoriented. Far from being taken advantage of. 

There was no reply apart from the howling winds and flickering lights. Cold sweat trickled down her temples. 

Perhaps it was just the thunder and her trauma. Nothing else. 

“Hey Devi Maiyya,” she whispered, soft relief washing over her. Before she could thank her stars, a shadow appeared. Panic seized Khushi. There was only one man who had cast a shadow in her room more than once.

Shyam Manohar Jha

Khushi screamed but her voice was stuck. Tears streamed down her cheeks but she couldn’t say a word nor move a limb. He had gripped her in broad daylight, there was no saying what he came for now.

Suddenly she was an eight years old child in the car, sure of her death. She was in a loop where no matter how much she blinked, she couldn’t see, couldn’t wake up.

Find Arnav

Blood flowed back into her body as she furiously searched for her phone. He’d save her. He always had. She should’ve gone with him. Stayed with him. At this point she didn’t even remember what they had fought about. She knocked the furniture over, unable to find her phone. 

Her ears twitched. She heard footsteps. 

No

She grabbed a pot and ran towards the exit. She had to leave this house - now! Her feet came to an abrupt halt when she saw a man standing in the living room, aware she’d been trying to make an escape.

Tears dried and her mouth struggled to speak. Her throat was parched, inhibiting her from speaking.

She let out a silent scream when lightning flashed. His face was as visible as day. 

Arnav 

She had heard stories of how the Lord Shiva had appeared as a saviour, untouched by the chaos surrounding him. Standing with a soft smile, unmoved by the thunder or darkness, Arnav appeared no less than the God himself. 

Somehow, this time too, he appeared just in time to save her. 

“Khushi?”

Khushi’s hands lost their strength. She didn’t need to put up a defence. She was safe. Relief burst through tears as she ran towards him. Her feet slipped and she fell down the stairs but she got up and ran again. Her forehead and arms burned from the fall but she ran despite it all. She reached out to him, her hoarse ‘Arnav’ steady on her lips like a prayer. 

Before she could fall again he grasped her arms and she pulled him into the tightest embrace and cried her heart out. Her wails were silent, for there were no tears and her throat choked her. Yet she heaved in his arms in relief. He was solid, this was not an imagination. The muscle and fabric under her fingertips was his alone. It was real.

She was saved. 

– – – 

Few men were as shrewd as Arnav Singh Raizada. He knew how to utilize one’s weakness for his profit. Perhaps that’s why it wasn’t a surprise when he ran a million dollar company by 26. Thus he never lost, nor were his intuitions and strategies ever proven wrong.

So when Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada challenged him that she would never come running into his arms - he knew she’d eat back her words by tonight. 

But when he saw her panic stricken face on the stairs, he lost his footing. Her eyes were bloodshot, face pale. Tears and makeup had streamed down her face and she almost appeared bloodless. He couldn’t move, unable to accept that he had caused her this.

Perhaps it was not real. Perhaps it was his guilty conscience berating him for using Khushi’s fear against her. 

It was not something husbands do.

So he blinked, hoping this apparition would disappear and his Khushi would come forth and smack him for teasing her. He could take her anger, but not fear. 

It was then he remembered why she feared darkness. Nausea overcame him. For every second Khushi approached him, he saw the magnitude of what he had done.  

He snapped out when Khushi fell down the stairs, slipping on the roses he had laid for her. He never thought she would run down the stairs. He thought she’d see the flowers and be appeased.

She loved roses, didn’t she? But she slipped again and before he could hold her she reached him. Her skin was cold yet she was sweating. Her lips were chapped, eyes frantic. 

She embraced him tight, and his breath was knocked out of his lungs. 

“A-Arnav-ji” She panted, her breathing erratic. His focus shifted to her, he gripped her tight, cradling her head in his arms. Khushi calm down, it’s me. He pressed his lips to her head and she hugged him tighter, her body quivering in fear.

They stood like that for a minute, her seeking comfort in his arms, him blocking out everything apart from Khushi in his arms. 

He would deal with consequences later. 

“Khushi,” Arnav hesitated, still rubbing his hand up and down her back, “I’m so sor-” Khushi’s body went lax. 

“Khushi?” Arnav broke the hug and her knees buckled. He tapped her cheek but she had passed out. And even then, her grip on his collar was tight.

– – –

The Raizadas stepped in and were first scandalized by the flowers on the floor. Did Arnav and Khushi have no sense-

Their accumulated anger broke as a pale Khushi lay on the sofa and Arnav ran around to get a doctor. Even Manorama, the one ready for a taunt, was stunned by how pale Khushi looked.

Like her life had been sucked out of her. Anjali kept quiet and was about to reach for Khushi when Akash went ahead and stopped Arnav’s maddening pace. 

“Bhai? Is Khushi-ji ok. Are you ok? What happened?” Akash held his older brother’s shoulders. 

“She’s not waking up. Give me your car keys. Mohan had this fucking great idea to take all the cars for maintenance. I’m not even getting a signal. I have to take her to the hospital.” Arnav panicked, throwing his bluetooth halfway across the room as his phone line didn’t connect. 

“Okay, bhai, calm down. You won’t be helping Khushi-ji like this.” Arnav closed his eyes shut, nodding at whatever Akash was saying.

Despite the confusion, Anjali’s heart ached for Khushi. Without consciousness, it appeared to Anjali how young Khushi truly was. But didn’t Shyam say how young Khushi was? Young to be tempted - her body rejected the idea before her mind could.

She knew this woman at the back of her hand. And with her so pale, Anjali doubted if Khushi could ever take advantage of anyone. 

That’s when a few bruises on Khushi’s arms caught her eye. Who gave this? 

“I’ll drive-” Arnav stated. 

“No Bhai, I’ll drive you both to the hospital. You stay with her, ok?” Akash advised. Mohan ran in the house, mumbling several apologies. Anjali briefly sprinkled water on Khushi but to no effect. 

“Chotte, Akash is saying the right thing. Let’s go to the hospital-” Anjali said.

“There’s no need for you all to come.” Payal interjected and grabbed Khushi’s hand from Anjali. Her frame shook in rage. Given all the treatment they had given to Khushi off late, Payal could not take another second of the Raizadas fawning over her. 

“Hello hi bye bye, what is-”

“Maa ji, it’s my sister. So you all don’t have to be worried. Jeth-ji and I will take her to the hospital. Mohan-ji will drive us there.” Nani was surprised at Payal’s tone. She was never the one to oppose anything anyone said - especially Anjali. 

“What are you saying Payal? Why wouldn’t I-”

“Akash ji, your sister and your house needs you more.” Anjali frowned, this was the first time she had heard Payal refer to her as Akash’s sister. 

“But if Khushi-ji needs anything-” Akash argued.

“You don’t have to worry about it Akash-ji. She is my sister. I have and can look after her.” Akash was stunned, he knew where this was coming from. But it was unfair to use an argument against him now. 

“Payal, main-”

He stopped when Arnav rushed by him and gingerly picked Khushi in his arms. That’s when Arnav saw Anjali and the rest of the family. 

“Di…” Arnav felt like he owed an explanation. 

“Chotte it’s ok, please take her to the hospital first.” Anjali smiled but Arnav shook his head.

“Di my meeting got canceled. That's why I came home early. Things have not been going ok so I thought of surprising Khushi and… and we would’ve met you all on the road but-”

“Chotte you don’t have to explain me anything. Your wife is unwell that is your first priority.” Anjali admonished. 

“No Di I need to because I know you hate Khushi and Mami just adds-” Arnav cut himself off. Fuck. He shouldn’t have said any of that. Without giving anyone else another glance he and Payal walked away. 

“Wah, Arnav bitwa comes home for romance and he has the audacity to blame me when Phati-Sari is the one who has him wrapped around her little fin-”

“Maa enough!” Akash thundered. “Di, please go to your room and take rest, okay?”

Anjali barely nodded and allowed Nani to accompany her room. Was she suffocating Chotte? Was everything wrong in the house stemming from her inability to accept the truth?

Is she ruining her brother’s marriage?  Was she happy to see Chotte and Khushi-ji break up because they broke up her and Shyam? 

Horrified at her own trail of thoughts she burst into tears and hugged Nani. Why did the truth seem so elusive? 

Akash closed the doors and stared at his mother in anger. Manorama had the presence of mind to look a little bit guilty. 

“Maa, you’re aware right that our marriages are fragile right now?” Akash asked.

“Yes but they are respon-”

“Oh yes, I hold them guilty for not telling us the truth on time. But nothing apart from that. I still love Payal and Bhai still loves Khushi-ji. I’ve seen how you treated them off late. It’s almost like them not telling us the truth justified this long standing hatred you have, haina?” Akash accused.

He had seen the way his mother had behaved the way it stifled both Payal and Khushi. They, of course, laughed off any of Manorama’s taunts but he knew it was not normal that he found his wife on the verge of being kicked out twice for something as small as a burnt dish or a pill. 

Arnav and Anjali had a lot on their plates. The mother who could help him with his marriage was too keen to see it breaking apart. Akash felt truly alone and abandoned.

It was as if no one was there to help him out with his issues. His anger for Shyam doubled. It was just an affair but he managed to make sure the news breaks the family to pieces. 

“Akash bitwa how dare you accuse your mother! Didn’t you see how they hid the truth so they could get married into this rich household? They ruined Anjali bitiya’s happiness. In fact I’ll be happy when those two get out of this house.” Manorama huffed. 

“Fine. I’ll leave Payal. In fact I’ll also ask Bhai to leave Khushi-ji. But all this will only happen when you leave Papa.” Akash watched his mother’s face shift from joy to terror. 

“A-Akash”

“You hate them for the same reason Dadi hated you. I regret the fact that you never opened your eyes maa. You love us, but you love status more. Here my relationship is on the rocks, things have continuously gone wrong between Bhai and Khushi-ji and as my mother you aren’t there to help me. No, I exist so you can get a great bahu and reclaim your status. I don’t know how to process the fact that you’re taking advantage of my relationship breaking apart.” Akash looked away, overwhelmed by tears.

Manorama stood shell shocked. If there was one person she had counted to never bring up her flaws, it was her son. He was her own.

“I don’t feel happy saying this Maa. I know you genuinely love us. But that’s lost. And now I’m lost in my family. You’re upset on Payal not telling anyone anything, right? So why didn’t you tell me that Bhai was kidnapped? NK bhai also didn’t say anything. Bhai, who trusts me with his company, didn’t tell me the truth about Shyam although he knew it for six months." Akash sighed.

"And now Di, who would understand what I would say without saying a word, refuses to listen to me when I beg her to move on and not trust Shyam. Papa is not here and my own mother is happy to see my marriage break with the only woman I ever loved. I am a stranger in my family and I don’t know who to blame.” Manorama remained quiet as Akash broke into tears. She couldn’t say a word. 

How could she? When she knew that she complained to Arnav about Khushi visiting Anjali or interfered with Payal trying to talk things out with Akash not only because she was genuinely upset but also that she saw it as a point for them to break off with the women she disapproved of. 

“Beta-” She tried to touch his arm.

“I’m sorry maa, I shouldn’t have spoken like that. Update me when Di feels better.” Akash walked away, the mask of calmness and maturity back in place.

For the first time Manorama realized that her son was not naive nor blind, he just tolerated more and loved enough to not interfere.  

– – – 

Payal pressed on her temples, her heart aching as she recollected how hurt Akash looked when she distanced herself from him. She knew he was genuinely worried about Khushi. Like the brother he is to her.

Yet, Payal couldn’t resist throwing back his words to him. 

And now that she did, she felt awful. An eye for an eye did make the world blind. 

She took a walk outside the hospital, desperately needing fresh air. Why is it when they were a step closer to patching things up, it fell through?

She knew she should call Akash, let him know that Khushi was stable but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her pride and self esteem were still hurt. 

She had suffered a lot in the past few days and she felt at this point her suffering was more than her crime. But she couldn’t blame Akash entirely. They were both angry and doing things they didn’t mean. 

The cool winds of Delhi chilled her. She rubbed her palms up and down her arms. She missed the man who was silently there for her. 

A jacket was extended to her. 

Payal turned and saw Akash standing, his eyes clouded in worry. 

“Akash-”

“Maa and Nani are with Di. She’s sleeping now. How’s Khushi ji?” He waited with bated breath as she took the jacket and wrapped it around her shoulder. 

“Thank you. She’s asleep. She had a panic attack.” Payal explained. Akash frowned, panic attacks and Khushi? 

“Khushi was in the car when her parents died. So she doesn’t do well with speeding cars and darkness. The last time this happened, Khushi was thirteen. Some of her friends thought it was nice to prank her and lock her up in a closet.  But I was there. I just wonder what would’ve happened if Jeth-ji hadn’t come in time. She would’ve gone through this by herself and-” Payal burst into tears.

Akash hugged her tight and she wrapped her arms around his wait. It had been so long since he had held her. 

He closed his eyes, he finally felt at home.

“I’m sorry Akash. I’ve failed you as a wife,” Akash opened his eyes, surprised at her comment, “I’ve failed this house as a bahu. And I think I have failed Khushi as a sister. I’ve failed everyone I’ve loved-”

Akash broke the hug and held her shoulders, he searched her lovely face for answers. 

“Payal, you’ve made a mistake and so have I. If one mistake fails you then there’s no one here who has never failed.” Payal nodded, wiping her tears with his handkerchief. 

“I’m happy though that Khushi and Jeth-ji have managed to go strong. I was afraid if we ever told him the truth then he would’ve blamed Khushi for everything. But rather he’s been protective of her. Even Khushi has never left his side.” Payal sighed. Akash looked at her, her own wish visible in her eyes.

That is what she wanted. Someone to never leave his side. 

And here he was, expecting her to walk by him without even saying that’s what he wanted. 

Payal was surprised when Akash took her in another hug, “I’ll never leave you Payal. We’ll fight, have arguments, but I swear I won’t stop working on this relationship.” Payal closed her eyes and breathed in relief. It was the first time since months she felt she truly held him in her arms. 

And now, in his arms, she had the strength to fight against anything. The battle for showing Di the truth and managing this house had only begun. 

– – – 

Arnav sat on the edge of the hospital bed, holding Khushi’s pale hand in his. Her cheeks were finally suffused with color. There was a small bump on her forehead and a bandaid on her arm from when she fell. With a trembling hand he pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. He had misused her fear. Only for his sake. 

Arnav looked away, unable to accept the truth that he was responsible for her state. He loved her, beyond any logical reasoning. But the fact that he led her to this hospital looked very little like love. 

No sorry was enough. No ‘I didn’t mean it’ was enough. Nothing was enough. 

Tears overwhelmed him, along with the realization that if Khushi got to know the truth and wanted to leave - he  had nothing to convince her otherwise. In a span of forty eight hours he had hurt her twice. Both times to a point of no recovery. 

He pressed a warm kiss on her knuckles, hoping against hope that it would say everything he couldn’t. 

Khushi stirred from her sleep and jerked up, Arnav rushed to hold her head but she pushed him away. She blinked hard and looked at him.

It is Arnav. 

Her shoulders sagged in relief and she extended her arms for a hug. Armav, too selfish to not give into a hug, wrapped his arms around her as she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. 

“Thank God it’s you.” She whispered, coughing as her parched throat protested. Arnav handed her a glass of water. Khushi frowned at his wordless actions. It was unlike him to be so quiet with her. 

“Arnav-ji, I’m fine. You don’t have to be so worried.” She smiled. What was she made of? Arnav looked away, lest she see his tears, and waited for her to be done with her glass of water. His hands were still trembling. She held his hands and kept it on her lap. 

“I’m genuinely fine. I… I’ve been through this before. But this time it was something else.” Khushi grew serious. Arnav panicked, waiting for answers. 

“Arnav-ji… I think Shyam is back.” Arnav froze and stared at her. 

“He has done this before.” Khushi trembled, gripping his hand until her knuckles turned white. 

“Did what?” Where was Shyam? How did he not see him! 

Khushi nodded and let go of his hands, brushing her thumb on the little nail impressions on his skin. Arnav cupped her cheek and insisted, “What did he do?”

Khushi had tried sleeping with her small lamp on. The memories of Arnav, the hut and the barely said words fresh in her mind. She twisted and turned in her bed, racking her brains to draw up a plan to rescue him. Suddenly, the lights went out. Khushi jerked up, alert and afraid. For a small moment she remembered how he had brought fireflies to ease her fears. And somehow he always dispelled her fears. 

And right then she heard footsteps and saw a shadow. Had Arnav freed himself? Is he secretly coming home? No! That sounded ludicrous - why wouldn’t they escape together if that was the case. 

To her horror, Shyam stood in front of her with a candle - attempting to cajole her fears. He walked closer, attempting a hug and touched her hand. 

“If Nanhe-ji hadn’t arrived in time,” Khushi shivered in disgust. Arnav shook with rage and stood up, itching to throw something against the wall and shatter it to pieces. All this while he had never thought what were the consequences of bringing Khushi in the same house as Shyam.

“Fuck!” He slammed his hand against the wall. 

“Arnav-ji!” Khushi shrieked. Arnav turned around, his anger diminishing at the worry in her eyes. He walked to her in two steps and held her face. 

“I swear I won’t leave you again Khushi. It’s all my fault. I should’ve listened to you-”

“Hey,” Khushi cupped his face, brushing her thumb against his stubble, “You’re here with me. You believe me. He can’t do anything to me. Despite him being there today he couldn’t even come in front of me only because you were there.” Arnav hung his head and clenched his fists. 

He sat on the bed and asked softly, “How are you sure he was there today?”

“Arnav-ji, I am pretty sure he has kept tabs on all of us. It is not coincidence that all the lights went out on a thunderous night where no one was at home. He knows my fear. I wouldn’t keep it above him to use it. And I saw a shadow of a man. Just like that night. Only one man can do such a disgusting thing. But thanks to Devi Maiyya you came here at the right time,” Khushi gave his hands a reassuring squeeze. 

Arnav couldn’t speak. His throat tightened as Khushi looked at him with her eyes full of hope and sincerity. Khushi frowned as she noted the guilt on his face. Oh, when will he stop feeling responsible for everything? 

“Arnav-ji, the mistake is mine. Easily we would’ve been touring the Taj Mahal and bickering about whether or not you’re my pati, but I had to be a wonder woman at home.” Khushi teased him.

Arnav covered his face with his hands, unable to take her reassurances. Khushi shifted towards him and removed his hands. She held his cheek and turned him to look at her. 

“Arnav-ji. Nothing happened. And you can’t feel guilty for an incident where you weren’t even there. And you should be happy. I did end up in your arms right? Which means that I have to accept that you’re my husband.” Khushi dramatically sighed and waited for him to smile.

Except he let out a shuddering breath and whispered sorry. 

“Arnav-ji, why are you apologizing? Is it about before? Then it’s ok… I know you didn’t mean it.” Khushi said. However Arnav couldn’t bear to look at her. She moved forward to hold his other cheek. 

“Arnav-ji, you’re behaving like you’re the one who switched off the lights,” Khushi chided. Arnav froze and looked at her, wide eyed. Khushi’s smile dropped, her hands leaving his face. In the few months of a difficult marriage with Arnav, Khushi had been forced to learn every single expression and body language. 

For a man who did things very differently than what he promised, it was his silence that gave her answers. When he had looked away right after Holi, declaring he didn’t remember anything, she realized he remembered everything.

When he had looked away, telling her their marriage was still a contract, she realized he was telling anything but the truth. 

She had assumed he wasn’t meeting her eyes because he felt guilty for not being there when Shyam was harassing her. For all the previous accusations. For being unaware what being married in this house meant. 

But Arnav was rarely a person to ruminate on the past, no matter how terrible his deeds were. He never shied from looking straight into someone’s eyes if there was a grain of truth.

And the only time he met her eyes, frightened, was when she joked that he had switched off the lights. 

Khushi’s chest tightened. A rock lodged itself in her heart. Her hands still hovered across the face as she searched his tormented face for answers. No, this couldn’t be her Arnav. 

“You didn’t reach home on time by coincidence. You… you did it?” She agonized, her hands falling to her sides. Arnav immediately grabbed her hands, “Khushi I didn’t know all of this would happen-”

“Why Arnav-ji?” Khushi snatched her hands away and buried her face in her palms. 

“Khushi, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know-”

“You didn’t know?” She snapped, “What did you not know? I told you what happened when I was eight. I literally fainted and developed a fever in Nainital because I was in a dark room. It happened in front of you! You know what happens Mr. Raizada.” Veins stood on her neck as she yelled at him. 

“Khushi I did not mean to hurt you-”

“Then what did you mean to do? What in the world did I do to deserve this? Who have I hurt in your family again? How have I hurt you?” Khushi demanded, angry tears threatening to spill. Arnav looked away and refilled her glass of water. 

“Look at me Mr. Raizada. You hate it when others look away while talking right, well that’s applicable to you too. Why did you do this?” Khushi stood up, wavering on her two feet. 

Arnav rushed to her and held her before she fell. Khushi struggled in his grip but he didn’t relent. 

“You’ll fall Khushi.” He warned. 

“I don't care. I just feel like an idiot for running straight into your arms-” Khushi stopped, her eyes widening in disbelief. 

You’ll come back to me. You’ll accept me as your husband. In fact you’ll run straight into my arms. 

“You did this for a challenge?” Khushi shuddered and swayed. Arnav put her back on the bed and she remained quiet. Arnav waited for her outpour. For her to hold him responsible and yell at him for being insensitive. He could only apologize after she punished him. 

Except Khushi sat quietly, tears streaming down her cheeks until they ran dry. 

“Say something,” He requested. 

“What should I say? I can’t say I hate you because I don’t. I can’t say I want to leave you because I know what the consequences of that are. I can’t say I’m heartbroken because you’ve heard that a thousand times and there’s been no difference. It’s just disappointing that you’re been cruel on things that needed no cruelty.” Khushi lamented, fidgeting with the band aid on her arm.

Their wedding, her accepting him as husband or a hug - all he ever needed to do was ask. Yet they’ve all been painted with brutality. 

Perhaps it is her fate, she couldn’t fault him entirely when destiny itself was written against her. 

“Khushi, how can I fix this?” Arnav asked. He was met by her mirthless chuckle.

“You cannot Arnav-ji. To hurt me once is an incident, twice is a mistake but the third time's a pattern.” Khushi rued, her face as pale as before, her eyes hollow. She had finally given up on this relationship because there was never a day where he wouldn’t hurt her. That fact alone broke her poor heart to pieces because there is no other man she could love as much.

Nor another man who could love her in return. In whatever bits and pieces she had received his love, it was filled with such intimacy and belonging that she had never had before. His love for his family was unparalleled. She just had the childish wish of being his family too. 

Arnav’s heart sank at her calm disposition. He saw hope and love diminish in her eyes. Even though he was sitting right next to her, the distance hadn’t been greater. He couldn’t breathe. 

When your loved one walks away from you, you will stop breathing. 

Clarity dawned on him and he grabbed her pale hands and Khushi balked. These were the eyes of a man determined and no good had resulted from it. 

“Khushi, I am very sorry for everything I’ve done and I am going to fix this.” He vowed. 

“Arnav-ji, please. The day I reciprocate you’re going to do something worse. And this time I won’t be able to survive it.” Khushi pleaded. 

“That won’t happen Khushi. I won’t promise anything, but I swear I’m not going to hurt you like this - ever.” Arnav stressed. Khushi looked away, there was no way she was going to look into his beautiful eyes when he said everything she had wanted to hear. 

“I know you won’t believe me. And that’s understandable given how I've been. But this time-” 

“This time what Arnav-ji? You’re not going to let me go? You’re going to make me accept that you’re my husband? You’ll tell my parents about our relationship?” Khushi cut in. How dare he make promises after violating her fears? How dare he treat her hurt as nothing? How dare he look like he loves her? 

Because love shouldn’t hurt so much. 

“This time I’ll prove that I’m a good husband.” Arnav solemnly vowed.

“What?”

“I realize there’s a fundamental logic lacking in the whole argument of me wanting you to accept me as husband.” Arnav perked up as if a light bulb had just flickered in his head, “It’s that I’m not husband material. Not by a mile away. So of course, this marriage is heading down a disastrous path. Therefore it’s done.”

“What is done?” Khushi was stunned. Either Arnav was suddenly drunk or he was possessed. By his smirk the latter half seemed likely. 

“The fact that I’ll be such a husband that you’ll grab the first person you see and declare yourself as Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.” Arnav proclaimed.

“Are you ok? Do I put a bed for you here?” Khushi touched his forehead, genuinely worried for his health. 

“I haven’t been better. I know what to do but before that I need to know two things from you.” Khushi bristled at his optimism and glared at him. 

“Ask, this seems a lot like another stupid challenge where you’ll do anything to have me-”

“-exactly Khushi. Why do you think I want to have you?” Arnav asked. He folded his arms as Khushi flustered. 

“What do you want to ask me?” Khushi changed the topic and fidgeted with her band aid. 

“Khushi, promise me you won’t ever hide anything from me. I need to know everything about Shyam. It does not matter if it hurts me, Di or anybody.” Arnav’s momentary smile was lost. Khushi led out a deep breath. Her role in ruining Anjali’s life by not telling the truth wasn’t lost on her. In an attempt to validate her intentions she had spread a wildfire with her secrecy. 

“I promise,” She whispered. Arnav nodded and kneeled by her bed, taking her hands once again into his. 

“Khushi, do you truly want to leave this marriage? Do you want something else from life? Because-” Khushi choked up and glared at him. 

“-you really need an answer for this Arnav-ji? Do you not know what I want?” Khushi’s question was answered by the briefest kiss on her forehead. Her eyes shut, savoring the feel of his lips on her forehead. She must be completely touch deprived at this point. 

“Then I’m sorry Khushi, for everything I have ever done. And I promise, I will fix things for you.” Arnav stood up and walked to the door, not before turning back and giving her a look with hope and longing. 

And like the fool in love she was, Khushi Kumari Gupta found herself giving him the last chance knowing things would turn just right.

--- --- ---

A/N: Inspired by a very famous hug scene that left a very bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Hope you all liked this.

JWB

tagging: @shaonsim @zaphbeeblebrox @shiyaravi @chutkiandchotte @featheredclover @goals1024 @honeybellexox @darkchocolatestuff @charucoal @thedupattaknowswhatsup @bigfatreader @lostafpanda @exosexosekai @hi-this-is-permabanned @scorpio-smiles @noor1025 @minpdnim @laad-governess @barshifan @whateverworks21 @maansiloves @samuraisamsworld @dropsofserenity @muttonthings @rae-blogging @charucoal @aye-masakalii (updating this list - lemme know who wants to be added/deleted)

#IPKKND #arshi #ipkknd ff #fanfic #jalebi writes

[laadgovernorandsankadevi]

Hi, hope you are doing well. I love your fanfictions and your take on the show....I know alot of people ask you this... but will you ever update footprint in the sand... I miss that story. Thanks

Hello,

I am doing alright. I will be updating Footprints on Sand soon. I do struggle with chronic disorders, and I have a pretty busy life as well. I also got COVID over the summer and recovering been quite rough.

Keeping myself alive, and reminding myself that I have free will is more of a priority than engaging with fandom spaces.

I absolutely miss doing the analysis posts and writing fanfics. I hope I am able to find myself back sooner than later. I'll be thankful to anyone who sticks around whenever the next update happens, however like I've stated multiple times before, I came back to IPKKND for myself and I started writing fics and doing episode analyses for myself.

I hope that's respected by the numerous messages and comments I've received. I promised to finish FOS and stick with that, but I cannot give you a specific timeline or updated schedule.

Thank you for checking in!

-LG&SD

#laadgovernorandsankadevi #laadgovernorandsankadevi answers #about ipkknd ff

[featheredclover]

Rangrasiya FF recs

Deviating from my usual ipkknd re-watch, I stumbled upon another spectacular work of Sanaya Irani and Ashish Sharma- 'Rangrasiya' . And of course, the fanfictions I found did the chemistry between the leads absolute justice! I think the Paro - Rudra universe will be enjoyed by my fellow ipkknd readers! So give it a try and let me know ❤️!!

(1) Major Saab's kiss by Sonia/ desisoapie

(2) Kaleidoscope by Sonia / desisoapie

(3) Labyrinth of love by Sonia / desisoapie

(4) The accidental romance by likitha

(5) Of understandings by chotidesi

(6) Blindfolded by chotidesi

(7) Peccatum: seven deadly sins by chotidesi

(8) Veritas: Paro by chotidesi

Veritas:Rudra by chotidesi

(9) Combust by chotidesi

(10) Mirrors by chotidesi

#rangrasiya #sanaya irani #ashish sharma #rudra #paro #fanfic rec #rr

[onadaanparindey]

drop in some cool arshi fic recs besties I’m lost 😩

#ipkknd #IPKKND fanfic #arshi ff #Arshi fanfictions

[phati-sari]

Arshi FF: Tere Bin - Chapter 8

Read from the beginning | Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Ranjha (listen while reading)

Khushi

“What was he doing here?”

Khushi answered without turning, her head resting on the window sill as she studied the moon. “I don’t know.”

It’d taken a long time to escape to the room she shared with her sister after they’d first stepped through the doors. First, Amma had asked about the hospital visit, making Khushi recite everything the Doctor Sahib had said while Bua-ji interrupted often to ask questions. Babu-ji had soon taken over, asking to see the paperwork Khushi had collected and asking a few questions of his own. Still full from the gol gappe, Khushi had nibbled on some puri under Jiji’s watchful gaze while the family considered the payment plan the clinic had laid out.

Luckily, no one had asked exactly how she’d gotten home.

“You were in his car, Khushi.” Jiji came to stand next to her, her tone coloured with disapproval.

“The auto broke down. He was driving past.”

“He, of all the people in Lucknow and Delhi, just happened to be driving by? At the exact moment your auto broke down?”

An odd defensiveness flared in her chest, words popping out of her mouth before she’d thought them through.

“What can I say, Jiji? My phone’s battery was dead, it was dark. He offered to drop me home.”

Jiji reached out to touch her shoulder. “Did he fight with you again?”

No, he bought me gol gappe.

“No more than usual,” Khushi tried to smile at her sister. “I’m fine. Really. He drove me home. That’s all.”

Though she looked unconvinced, Jiji stepped away with a nod to ready herself for bed. Khushi waited until she was alone to snatch her bag from where it hung on a hook. Her searching fingers found the business card he’d offered.

“Well, it’s just that you like arguing so much, and we argue so often … I think we should keep in touch.”

At the time, she’d been so startled that she’d simply taken the card and slid from the car without answering. Jiji, fortunately, had been too busy scowling at him through the windows to notice as she’d slipped it into her bag.

The card was thick, the surface almost velvety to the touch. It sported a bright red logo in the top corner and announced his name in crisp black letters — ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA. Khushi shook her head to clear the unbidden memory of correcting his name on hundreds of letters.

The writing on the card included a number she recognised for the reception desk at the head offices and an email address that his managers monitored. But he’d scrawled another number untidily along one side with a black pen.

His personal number, Khushi realised with a jolt.

It felt strangely intimate, though logic reminded her that she’d had the same number saved in her phone before he’d broken it on the storeroom floor.

Why is he still in Lucknow?

On the heels of this thought came another: Why should I care?!

Her mind was suddenly awhirl with memories — raised voices and shouted words, a fall from his window, the broken door to the storeroom. His airs about money and power. The terror of the guesthouse.

Khushi ripped the business card in half, her breath coming in rapid pants, and then tore it into even smaller pieces. Tears stung in her eyes. She scrunched the pieces into her palm as Jiji returned to the room.

“Make sure you wake up early tomorrow,” her sister draped her towel near the window. “We’re going to the temple.”

“Okay.”

Waiting until Jiji was occupied with something in the cupboard, Khushi returned the ruined card to her bag. In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face before studying her reflection. Her pulse was a chaotic drumbeat in her body, her thoughts a wild tangle. And underneath it all was something that thrilled and scared her at the same time, something that had followed her to Lucknow.

                                    #####

“Everything leads back to him,” Jiji had groaned, rolling on her side on the bed they shared. “Just go to sleep quietly.”

It had been a week since they’d returned to Lucknow, and Khushi had been comparing the price of potatoes between Lucknow and Delhi. Or at least, that was how the conversation had started. She couldn’t remember how they’d gotten to talking about that Laad Governor.

“You’re right Jiji. We’re in Lucknow now and we’ll soon forget that we ever went to Delhi. Or that we met such cruel, haughty people. Although … Anjali-ji had such sweetness in her. It’s a shame that we had to leave without saying goodbye to her. At least we met one nice person in Delhi. Oh … and Nani-ji. Maybe two nice people. And Aakash-ji, I suppose, though —”

“— Khushi! Are you going to count out every member of his family? Your mind is like a compass that’s always stuck on him!”

“And why wouldn’t it be?” Khushi had asked hotly. “He sent me there to do some meaningless task, knowing the place was about to collapse.”

“I know. You’ll never have to see him again, Khushi. You resigned from that awful job, you gave him an earful, and now you’re here and he’s there.”

The words should have elated her, but they only left her feeling strangely hollow.

                                    #####

That hollowness sat heavily inside her as Khushi joined her sister in their bed a few minutes later, sliding between the covers with a sigh.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jiji’s voice was soft in the dimness.

“Yes.”

“You barely ate dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

A short silence, in which Khushi’s mind unhelpfully replayed the way she’d fallen into his arms yet again.

Oh Devi Maiyya, couldn’t you find another place to make me slip? You mustn’t have liked the offering I left you this morning.

“I’m glad we came back to Babu-ji,” Jiji said softly. “I can’t imagine being away from home at a time like this.”

“The doctors said that as long as he rests properly and takes his medicines, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“He isn’t resting nearly enough, even with both of us at the shop.”

Khushi nodded her agreement, “He’s worried about the bills.”

“Bua-ji and Amma are talking about selling some jewellery. I thought I’d give them my bangles.”

“I have bangles we can sell too.”

It took a while for Jiji’s breathing to fall into the deep, slow rhythm of sleep. Khushi lay awake, her thoughts chasing each other in ever-tightening spirals.

The night of the photoshoot. The softness of her pallu as it slipped. The scorch of his gaze as it roved over her body and left her feeling singed. The electricity between them on Teej, every touch a bolt of lightning. The weight of him pressing into her in the storeroom.

She flushed, skin prickling and warmth blooming in secret places.

Stop it, Khushi. A handful of gol gappe is all it takes for you to forget his cruelty?

She turned onto her side with a huff. Sometimes it felt as though her life had been split into Before and After, as though falling at the fashion show had created an entirely new Khushi Kumari Gupta. A Khushi who was strangely compelled towards him, a Khushi who’d come dangerously close to swooning in his arms today. A Khushi who wanted something she had no name for.

“I didn’t know the situation at the guesthouse was that bad!”

“Do you really think I would’ve sent you there if I’d known? Is that what you think of me?”

For the first time, she allowed herself to entertain the idea that he hadn’t sent her there on purpose.

So what if he hadn’t? I was still trapped there for an entire day. He was wrong.

But the thought was impossible to dislodge now that it’d wormed into her mind. Having assumed he’d wanted to argue every time he’d approached her, she now considered whether he might have been trying to explain. She saw their interactions in a new light. The sweets, the cheque.

Did he feel guilty? Was he trying to say sorry?

She eventually fell into an uneasy sleep, tormented in her dreams by his eyes, his voice, the memory of his touch. She woke just before dawn, breathless and damp with sweat, the sheets tangled with her legs. Flinging them off, Khushi sat up in bed. Her sister made a questioning noise.

“Sleep, Jiji. It’s not time to wake up yet.”

A nameless storm raged in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She squeezed her eyes shut.

I should hate him.

A lurch in her tummy.

But I don’t.

Padding slowly over to her bag, she fished out the pieces of the business card one by one. There was a roll of tape amongst the paper and pens scattered on the table in the corner. Khushi glanced back at her sister as she sat. It took a few minutes to line up the jagged edges, to press the tape along them with trembling fingers until she could read his name again.

He’d set down a challenge. She wouldn’t back down.

    ********

Thanks for reading :) I know some of you may be disappointed with the level of introspection in this chapter and where I chose to end it. Tere Bin is Arnav’s story, one where he has to work out what he wants and how to get it while Khushi is in Lucknow. While I intend to dip into Khushi’s point of view where the story demands it (and I feel that her presence greatly improved Chapters 6 and 7), it will focus heavily on Arnav. I am not intentionally writing something to annoy or disappoint readers. I’m trying to do something very specific with this story, and like all experiments, I’m learning as I go :) 

#ipkknd #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #ff: tere bin #iwrotethis #arshi ff #arshi #ipkknd ff #mine

[arnavsinghraizada]

Obedience

Rated: M for MMmmmmm I shouldn’t have done this 

Word Count: 2558

working title: arnav is a dom and someone should say it (obviously this fic contains elements of dominance, some very light/gentle throat action, and like my god its... really heterosexual so if any of that is not your thing, this probably isnt)

Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada didn’t like being told what to do. Not in a general sense, at least. It chafed her free and independent spirit when people - Arnav - thought they could order her about and expect their dictates obeyed without question. It could potentially be argued that if she didn’t like being told what to do, she should’ve thought of that before she married a man notorious for telling everyone, including people he didn’t know, what to do. Although if that were the case, it could also be argued that the man in question should have thought twice before marrying a disobedient woman… twice. 

And while it irritated her beyond belief when he would storm into the house, into their bedroom, all ablaze with irritation from his workday, she also couldn’t deny that it did… something to her to watch him yank at his tie and tear at his cufflinks. A muscle in his jaw would be flexing, his hair beginning to escape its careful styling to hang forwards over his blazing eyes in a manner that could only be described as decidedly roguish. She would watch in silence while the cold tycoon was replaced by her fiery husband. It was strange. Anger had been such a defining aspect of their relationship, she wasn’t sure what it was about his anger within the walls of their bedroom, especially when it wasn’t directed at her, that made her want to be in his line of fire. It made her want to be burned to cinders by his fire. 

She needed help. She’d married Arnav, of course she needed help. 

She especially knew she needed it when she, who hated being told what to do, would feel an odd sort of thrill creep up her spine when he would fix her with a certain look. That shiver was often the precursor to each and every one of her bones turning into a puddle of mush, replaced by a liquid heat whenever he would draw near. He would stand behind her, so close that she could feel the heat from his chest burning through the back of her clothes, lean down so he could rub the rough stubble of his cheek against hers, smirking against her hypersensitive flesh when she’d shiver in response. It was embarrassing. He knew exactly what he was doing. And then he would have the audacity to put his arms around her, his hands wrapping around hers in a stilling grip, holding her captive in the cage of his embrace. Sometimes, she’d wonder whether he knew she felt like a doe trapped by an arrow when he did that, but when he’d press his body against hers and hold her wrists still against the counter so she couldn’t move, she had her answer. He knew exactly what he was doing. He’d told her once that he could totally disarm her, strip her of her every defense. He wasn’t wrong. He could strip her of more than her defenses, if she was being entirely candid. 

But she didn’t like being told what to do. Not when he would trace the shell of her ear with his lips, ignoring the fact that he had her cornered in the kitchen where anyone could walk in at any moment. Definitely not when she would try to ignore the dark heat unfurling in the pit of her stomach at the thought. She didn’t like being ordered about when he would tell her he wanted her upstairs immediately after dinner. 

“Don’t make me say it again,” he’d whisper into her ear, his arms tightening around her as he spoke. “If I have to come down here to get you, there’ll be consequences.” He’d accentuate his words by catching the lobe of her ear with his teeth in a sharp nip of warning and she’d barely manage to swallow her cry of surprise. 

Consequences. What the hell did that mean? And who exactly did he think he was, threatening her with consequences if she didn’t present herself to him in a timely fashion? She’d meant to tell him just that when he’d give her a final squeeze before he’d disappear into the living room, leaving her flushed and feeling as if every nerve in her body was on fire. 

He’d keep his eyes on her throughout dinner, tracking her every movement while she bustled around the table, serving everyone. She’d pretend she didn’t feel his fingers brushing over hers in a brazen gesture of ownership everytime she handed him something, pretending she didn’t feel his hand take up residence at the small of her back while she stood pouring somebody a glass of water. Eventually, his patience would run out, and he’d grab her wrist in a restricting grip again, tugging her towards the seat beside him. Immediately, the smiles and the teasing would begin. 

‘Oh Chote, you take such good care of Khushiji!’

‘Phati Sari lives a life of luxury, I see!’

She almost wished she could announce it there, that the only reason he was so concerned with making sure she ate quickly was because he had … nefarious intentions with her. But that would go against his instructions, not to mention embarrass everyone else, and she knew well that Arnav expected to be obeyed to a fault. Especially when it came to matters of the … bedroom. So she’d eaten in silence, nearly biting a chunk of her tongue off when his errant hand started a wayward journey up her thigh under the table. Casting a stern glance his way, she’d halted its progress dangerously close to its destination, closing her own fingers around his and squeezing in silent warning. Far from being cowed, he squeezed right back, grinning rakishly at her and tugging her hand towards his own lap instead. Helpless to resist, she could do nothing but fix him with a displeased stare as he deposited her hand on his thigh before he resumed eating his dinner like he hadn’t just tried to grope her at a table full of people and wasn’t now daring her to do the same. 

Fine. Maybe she would. She pictured her fingers trailing upwards, firmly grasping the length of him and squeezing. Not hard enough to have him be useless to her for the next few hours, but firmly enough to let him know she could be in charge too. She caught his gaze then, saw the challenge there and decided she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction today. Instead, she began to trail her fingers downwards, intending to return her hand to her own lap when he caught it and kept it trapped in his grasp. He made no move to return either of their hands to any risky areas, seeming content at that moment to simply grasp it in his own. She was suspicious. 

Jiji and Di volunteered to clean up after dinner, ensuring that Khushi had no excuse other than to watch her husband climb the stairs and cast a look of warning back at her before he disappeared into their room. Part of her balked at the thought of obeying his imperious summons, almost inviting the consequences he’d threatened her with earlier. The other half almost ached to follow him blindly and obey his every word. Her feet were moving before she even knew it. She was up the stairs and standing in the doorway of their room before she’d realized which half had won. He seemed to sense her gaze on him and turned to face her, his dark eyes taking in the sight of her poised at the door. 

“I said I wanted you inside.” Arnav said simply, crossing his arms across his chest, and the flex of the muscle against his sweater, which was really too tight, sent a thrill immediately down to her very core. 

“You said you wanted me upstairs,” she reminded him snidely, taking a tiny step backwards so she stood just outside of their door. “I’m upstairs. Technically, I haven��t disobeyed a word.” 

A grin spread across her face when his expression shifted to a stern look of displeasure. 

“You know what I mean-” 

“I’m afraid I don’t,” she interrupted on a breathless laugh, dancing backwards as he began to advance. “You’ll have to be more specific next time.” 

“Oh, I’ll be plenty specific in a minute,” he growled, and she felt her insides tighten in anticipation at the dark promise in his voice. 

“Don’t push me, Khushi,” he said softly, his hands braced on either side of the doorway, his eyes blazing in her direction with unspoken warnings. “I’ll come after you, and I’ll take what I want wherever I catch you.” 

She should have been scandalized by the threat. Instead, she felt hot and on-edge, eager to test whether he would make good on his warning. She took another wobbling step backwards, delighting in the primal noise that escaped him. Arnav lunged for her before she had a chance to make her escape, pinning her against the wall and aligning his body with hers so she could feel every muscular, hard inch. 

“When I tell you to do something, I expect it to be done.” He whispered against her ear, his hands giving her pinned wrists an admonishing squeeze. 

“You don’t tell me what to do.” She whispered the words that had bubbled beneath the surface of her lust all night, revelling in the expression that came over his face. In the way he shifted to scoop her into his arms and moved decidedly into the bedroom. 

Khushi gave a soft gasp of surprise as he tossed her onto the bed, shutting and locking the door behind him. She’d barely caught her breath when he pounced on her, settling his body possessively over hers. Her thighs instinctively fell open to cradle him and the masculine sound of approval he made was nearly her undoing. 

“I don’t tell you what to do?” Arnav breathed softly, his mouth hovering over hers, brushing against her lips, once, twice. His hands found their way up her body, pausing in their ascent to take stock of their favourite places, to trace their favourite curves, before one came to rest at the base of her throat, his fingers curling around the shape of her throat, massaging the soft skin there in a blatant gesture of dominance. His other hand dipped beneath her bodice to toy with her aching flesh, molding to the shape of her breast. 

She couldn’t find the words to respond, tossing her head in wordless protest, even as a desperate sound tore from her throat as she arched towards him. He pulled back, his eyes taking in the flush spreading its way across her face and chest. The raw intimacy in his gaze, the fact that they both knew that he knew from experience exactly how far the flush spread beneath her clothes brought a surge of raw heat to her aching centre that had her squirming beneath him. 

Arnav sat back and motioned for her to sit up with the crook of his finger. She obeyed, immediately regretting it when he smirked in response, yanking her against him. 

“Don’t I though? I don’t even have to tell you, you’re so eager to submit to me.” 

One hand tangled in her hair, angling her head back to bare her throat to him in a primal gesture of submission. The other reached around to yank at the fastenings to her shirt and when he snarled impatiently and the sound of tearing fabric reached her ears, Khushi couldn’t bring herself to be anything other than jelly in his arms. He was peeling the cloth away from her heated body, his mouth instantly devouring the skin he bared. She felt him nip at her throat, and she cried out even as he soothed the sting with his tongue. He pulled her pants off and she was sure they joined the scraps of her shirt somewhere on the floor of their bedroom. 

His hands braced on either side of her head as he bore down over her, fully clothed in contrast to her naked form that welcomed the cool air. Her body reacted to the fire in his regard and she pressed her thighs together in a desperate attempt to alleviate the ache between them. His eyes caught the movement and a low noise of pleasure came from him.

“Mine,” he growled against her skin, his mouth closing over her breast while his hand pushed between her thighs and stroked the slick heat there. A moan tore from her throat, his fingers and tongue building a wave within her that threatened to burst forth and destroy them both. 

“Say it,” he pressed, pushing a finger into where she ached for him the most and she nodded wordlessly, desperately, in response, threading her fingers through his dark hair and pulling his head back to her. 

“Give me the words, Khushi,” he growled, going still in the worst sort of torment. “Come on, baby, give them to me.” 

“Yours,” she cried out, reaching for him and gasping in pleasure when he folded himself into her waiting arms, resuming his ministrations. “All yours.”

He pressed his thumb against the centre of her, rubbing in a delicate circle that robbed her of her ability to breathe before he pushed down hard in a move that made the wave that had been hovering over her for so long come crashing down. She was dimly aware of the sound of his name on her lips, falling forth like the most ardent prayer repeated time and time again. 

He answered by pulling away long enough to rip his shirt off over his head and toss it aside, yanking at his sweatpants with the same desperation and returning to her body. They both moaned at the contact of their bare skin, and her fingers took the opportunity to leave his hair and explore the ripples of muscle that lined his chest and abdomen. An odd sort of satisfaction stole through her at the thought that this magnificent specimen of masculinity belonged to her. That she held his reins firmly in her hands. 

He shifted his body for a moment and, without a word, she spread her legs for him, allowing his hands to angle her hips for him. He made a sound of approval at her acquiescence that drove a thrill of heat through her before he lowered his body over hers again and kissed her. His body moved against hers and she threw her head back, digging her nails into his back and arching up to meet him, the wave of heat within her building again. Her moans melded with his as she wound herself around him, no longer sure of where she ended and where he began. 

And when she thought she simply couldn’t bear anymore, that he would take from her until she could give no more, he let her go over the edge again and joined her there. And when he gathered her up in his arms afterwards, holding her close, placing gentle kisses on her forehead, and stroking up and down her back, she found it within herself to admit one small thing. Maybe - just maybe - Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada didn’t mind being told what to do after all. 

#arshi #ipkknd #arshi ff #ipkknd ff #my writing #arshi os #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta