Ringing the bell for once, he stood outside the door patiently with his hands shoved inside his pants pockets and worried eyes glued to the floor. The distress lines etched on his extensive forehead and dark circles under chocolate brown orbs were hinting about the lately-spent sleepless nights and tiring days. Along with drawniness, one with a closer look could see the barely visible anger, hatred and hurt behind the thin sheen of tears. He clearly looked broken and worn-out.

"Arnav bitwa?"

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that, even the sound of door opening didn't snap him to real world. It was the soft and humane voice which actually drew his attention. Arnav looked up to find Garima Aunty standing by the door looking back at him with watery eyes.

"Aunty!"

"Bitwa, y-ou came? I tho--thought that you will also aba--abandon us lik--"

"No Aunty!" Arnav spoke almost immediately, interjecting the weary woman in between. "I would never ever do it. Heck, I can never ever do it. My life resides in her. How can you think that I will leave her or you guys alone?" He choked.

Garima sniffed and wiped away her eyes with the corner of her veil. "I am sorry bitwa. It's just that you didn't come to hospital neither to our house, that's why I thought.." She trailed off not knowing what else to say. "Anyways, come inside please."

Arnav nodded and stepped inside the house. Garima followed him, coming inside and closing the door behind but not before hearing some snickers and watching mocking glances of the neighbors. It wasn't new though. She and her daughter were facing them since last one week or so. Sighing tiredly, she ignored them and closed the door but before that, a callous remark fell in her ears which was clearly heard by Arnav too.

"Looks like that slut's another buyer is here! He looks very rich though. Just like Garima-ji and her whore of a daughter would have desired. Hey dude, do let me know how she tastes. Maybe I will give her a chance too." It was a filthy looking man who had shouted these words laughing pathetically.

Gritting his teeth hardly, Arnav turned around and stormed towards the door to move out when Garima came in front of him, halting his steps and hurriedly shut the door. With tearful eyes, she shook her head at him, pleading him to not go out.

"Aunty, let me go. That bastard needs a lesson. How dare he bad-mouth my Khushi?" Arnav snarled, glaring at the now-closed door with ferocious eyes. His eyes were red, dripping with fury. His hands were enclosed in a tight fist, turning his knuckles white.

"No bitwa, please no. Let them be. The more you will retaliate, the most they will bark. I don't want my daughter's character to be tarnished more."

Arnav tried to protest. "But Aunty--"

"Bitwa please." Garima interrupted him. "I know these people more than you. They will continue to waff until they don't get another topic. We can't stop them. I am facing this since last one week. Hum marnay waly ka hath to pakar sakty hain lykn bolny walay ki zuban ko nhi rok sakty.(We can hold the hand of the hitter but can't put a lock on the tongue of a speaker.) They won't stop by your anger. Let them do what they are doing. Don't react. Please. If not for anyone than for Khushi's sake." Garima pleaded.

Sighing loudly, Arnav nodded his head reluctantly and sat down on the single sofa. Throwing his head in hands, he rubbed his eyes roughly trying to block the stream of tears which was on the verge of leaking.

"I wish I was there. I wish I could have protected her. I wish I was in India. She didn't deserve this Aunty. My Khushi didn't deserve all this shit. How can a motherfucker hurt an angel like her? I feel like killing myself whenever I imagine what my Khushi would have gone through. How can this happen to her? Why her Devi Maiya didn't protect her?" He cried.

Garima put a fist of her hand on her mouth, trying to push back the sobs which were gathering up in her throat. What could she answer Arnav when these were the exact same questions which she had been asking from herself since last week.

Last week! The most horrifying phase of her life which she had spent, hanging between life and death. Those seven days, which she had spent beside her dying hysteric daughter and facing people's sarcastic questions and gazes. She had no one to look upon or seek help from. The only support that she and her daughter had, Arnav, was out of the country to Germany. She couldn't contact with him because there were no communication means available in the place he was due to excessive cold and severe snow fall.

Two days after the dreadful night when Khushi had gone missing, Garima had lost all her hopes. The most cadaverous thoughts had her brain engulfed with. The neighbors, whom she had always looked up as their well wishers had turned their backs. Few of them had gone ahead accusing Khushi to ran away from the house herself with her lover. They didn't even care about the broken mother who was living a nightmare and dying a slow death with every passing second.

It was the third day finally, when police had informed about Khushi. She had been found in the outskirts of Delhi. Brutally beaten, heartlessly tortured and animalistically raped. The nerves on her hands were slashed with a blade repeatedly and her body was badly injured and sored. At the time, when police part had discovered her, she was on the verge of dying, with her pulse dropping low with every passing second.

Garima Gupta kicked in the minute she got all these details from the doctor. She was shaken visibly. With numb brain, quivering hands and cold body, she had sit outside the closed doors of ICU, where the doctors were trying their level best to save Khushi, not knowing what to do or say. She was tongue tied. Never in her wildest of dreams, she had imagined something as cruel as this, happening to her innocent Khushi.

Finally, after a lot of efforts, the medical board had succeeded. Khushi was saved but the moment she had become conscious, she had gone bersekly hysteric. Crying, screaming and thrashing around. She couldn't accept the reality. She was becoming crazy and uncontrollable. Her attempt of suicide was the last piece of thread. Doctors started giving her sedatives to keep her calm.

It was the most horrifying time period for Garima. She didn't know what to do? Either to console her destroyed daughter or pray for her death so she would get rid of this harsh reality.

"Aunty?" Arnav called out for her, not getting any response.

"It wasn't your fault bitwa. It was written in my daughter's fate. You, me, her or anyone else couldn't have changed it. This accident was bound to happen." Garima said a low voice.

Heaving a loud sigh, she wiped her eyes and stood up from the chair. "Anyways, you sit here. I will bring something for you to eat."

"No Aunty wait." Arnav stopped her. "I..I don't want anything. I just want to see Khushi."

Garima nodded her head. "She is in the room."

Arnav stood up from the sofa and started walking towards the room when s thought crossed his mind and he stopped. Turning around, he looked at Garima with apologetic eyes and came near her to hold her old hands in his.

"I am really sorry Aunty. I really am. I wish I was here at that time. I wish I hadn't gone out for that fucking meeting. Maybe, maybe we had saved Khushi. Maybe, my Khushi hadn't gone through all this. I am very sorry for not being able to present here when both of you needed me the most. I am so sorry. You had called me your son and Khushi had thought of me as her everything and I failed both of you. I failed to protect my Khushi when I had vowed to always guard her. I am a total failure aunty. Please forgive me. Please!" Arnav begged, with tears continuously running down his cheeks.

Garima gasped looking at his bowed head and teary downcast eyes. Shaking her head frantically, she immediately moved forward and cupped his face in her hands.

"No bitwa. Don't say this. Never ever think like this again. You aren't at fault. In fact no one is. The only person who should be blamed here is that man who rap--"

"That bastard doesn't deserve to be called a man aunty." Arnav growled. "He isn't a man. He is a coward, an impotent. A shame on mankind. I swear on my Khushi Aunty, I am going to find that abject and punish him. I will avenge my Khushi. I won't leave him that easily. I will make his life so painful that he will beg for death but he won't get it. That's my promise to you. Arnav Singh Raizada's promise and this world knows, ASR never back off from his words." His voice was determined. As solid as mountains.

Garima stood there quietly with flowing eyes. Her daughter was so lucky to have this man in her life. That bastard, who had ruined her Khushi's life was also a man and her Arnav bitwa was also a man but even than, there was huge lot of difference between the two.

One had depraved Khushi mercilessly and the other one was all set to cure her with all his being and love. Because, just like, all five fingers of a hand aren't same, in the same way all the men aren't same either.

Arnav looked at Garima with valiant eyes. "I need nothing but your support Aunty and I promise, I will heal my Khushi. I will bring her back to life. The beautiful smile which that moron had snatched from her, I will bring it back."

And with that, Arnav turned around and marched towards Khushi's room with strong steps leaving a crying yet happy mother behind.

*****************

The door creaked open and Arnav stepped inside quietly, only to be welcomed by suffocating silence which had the whole place wrapped with it. The curtains were drawned, blocking the way of sunlight, making the room dark. In the middle, a small bed was placed with crumpled sheets and tweaked quilt.

Arnav looked around to find Khushi, sitting on the floor in the corner of the room, with her knees pulled up to her chest and head bowed down on them. Her body was shaking slowly, giving away of her silent cries. Her dupatta(veil) was wrapped around her small body tightly, as if she was protecting herself from hungry eyes. Low sobs were echoing in the room, making Arnav feel like as if someone was punching him in the gut.

His heart was aching, throbbing too painfully against his rib cage. It felt too tightened, making it difficult for him to respire. It felt like someone was squeezing his beating organ roughly. The sight in front of him left him broken and speechless. His throat had parched vexingly, as if it was pricked by sharp needless. It was equally to death for him, to see his Khushi in this condition. Never in his wildest dreams, he had thought that one day he will be standing in front of her like this, silently, not knowing what to say and where to start? It was unbearable for him. Seeing his ever-so-lively and bubbly Khushi in this condition, where she was resembling a dead body. Tears welled up in his eyes, waiting at the threshold to spill. Everything had become so difficult suddenly. Not only difficult, but agonising and distressful too.

Mustering up all the courage of the world, Arnav walked towards Khushi with slow steps and crouched down in front of her. Biting his lower lip hardly, he attempted to detrude his boiling emotions which were on the verge of erupting like a lava, any moment.

No, he couldn't cry. He couldn't let his emotions took over him. He had to stay strong. He had to make his Khushi stand up again. He had to bought her back to life. He had to heal her. He had to make her forget that black night. He had to bring his old Khushi back!

Raising his hand slowly, Arnav put it on Khushi's head. "Khu--"

"NO! Please don't do this. Please stay away!" Khushi screamed suddenly, jerking his hand away, sinking back into the wall even more. Her body started shaking vigorously and face had turned pale with so much fear.

"Khushi lis--"

"No, no, no. Please leave me. Please don't do this. For Devi Maiya's sake. Don't touch me. Please!!" She begged, crying hysterically, thrashing her head and hands frantically, not allowing Arnav to reach for her.

"Khushi it's me Arn--"

"NO! No!! Don't come near. Don't destroy me! Please!! Amma!!! Please save me. Amma!! Arnav-ji!! Please save me!!" She wailed loudly, pushing herself back as much as possible, curling into ball.

Arnav felt his heart sinking. He didn't know what to do. His Khushi, who could sense his presence even before he enters the place, wasn't recognizing his touch. She was scared shit-less, even refusing to open his eyes and acknowledge him.

Not having any other option, Arnav lunged forward and pulled her in his arms, making Khushi let out a earth shattering scream in fear.

"Sshh baby, relax. It's me Khushi, it's me! Your Arnav-ji. Relax! It's over baby, it's over. I am here for you. I will never leave you alone. Relax!" He muttered in her ears softly, dropping loving kisses on her head now and then trying to calm her down

"No please leave. Please!" Khushi still protested, hitting his chest with her small fists.

"It's me Khushi, your Arnav-ji. No one else. Don't be scared. It's over now. Relax. I will never leave you alone. I love you, so so much."

Pulling her on his lap, he started rocking her like a baby. Khushi, finally recognizing his voice and presence, gave up on her fights. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his torso tightly, hiding her face in his chest.

"Arnav-ji!" She sobbed.

"Relax baby, relax!" Arnav continued to soothe her.

"He..he.."

"No need Khushi! No need! Don't remember anything. Just feel me. Nothing else matters. Just us! Only us! I love you. Everything will be fine!" Arnav cooed softly, wiping his eyes simultaneously.

"You...you have come!? You are really here!?"

"Yes Khushi. I am here and I will always be. I will make everything better. I promise. I love you."

His shirt was getting wet with her continuous tears bit Arnav didn't give a fuck about it. All he wanted right now was to make Khushi calm and than talk with her. Help her to forget that night. Help her to walk out of this trauma.

Pinioning his shirt at the back tightly, Khushi pushed herself more into his body. "Why...why didn't you...come earlier? I called.. for you... a lot! I screamed.. for you to come...and save me. You didn't....come. You left...me alone."

Arnav shut his eyes tightly. The pain in his chest had intensified. "Sorry. I am really sorry. I should have come. I shouldn't have left you alone here in between so many wolves and monsters. I shouldn't have gone to Germany. Sorry baby! Really sorry."

"He...he fuc--ked me..hard. He to--tore my clothes. I begged..him to stop but he...didn't. He said you...will...enjoy it. Arnav-ji!! He destroyed me."

Arnav closed his hand in a fist, restraining himself to hot something hard. The anger in his body reaching a notch higher. That bastard, once he gets his hands on him, he will make sure to make his life hell. He will torture that moron so much that he, himself will beg for death. He would make sure to cut his hands and legs and throw him on a street. He will make his pathetic life an admonitory for all those rapists who think that they can escape easily after destroying a life. He will avenge his Khushi. He will get justice for her.

"Why did this.. happened to me? I never...hurt anybody. I was always..kind to others than why... Why Devi Maiya let this happen to me? What was my fault? Why everyone...thinks that I...am the one to be blamed? Why are they...calling me with bad names? I didn't do any wrong. Than why me??"

"No Khushi, you aren't at fault baby. Those who thinks so are pathetic excuse of human beings. Don't listen to them. The one who is the real culprit is that bastard and I swear on my life, I will make him get his deserved punishment. I won't let him roam around freely. I promise Khushi." Arnav said in a determined voice, kissing her hairs lovingly.

Raising her head up from his chest, Khushi looked at him with hollow eyes, which were swamping back in the sockets. Her face had turned so pale and dark circles could be seen under her eyes. The ever smiling lips were dry like Autumn leaves. Hazel orbs, which always used to shine with mischievousness and love were looking dead. She was looking so so thin, a sick of ages.

Arnav looked back at her with love and pure love shining in his eyes. Upon meeting her gaze, he smiled a little at her but it vanished the next second, as he witnessed the changing demeanor of Khushi. Her eyes looked distant all of a sudden and her body had stiffened. She was looking at him strangely.

"Khushi wh--" Arnav started speaking but was cut short as suddenly Khushi pushed him away and get out of his hold.

Standing at a distance from him, she asked him coldly. "What are you doing here? Why have you come here? Nothing is left now. Everything is destroyed. I am no more a pure girl. I am tainted now. You just go away from here and don't ever come back."

Arnav was flabbergasted for a moment before it was replaced by hurt and anger, as Khushi's cutting words settled in his brain. Marching towards her, he yanked her in his arms and glared at her sharply.

"What the hell did you say about yourself?" He chewed on his word.

Gulping the newly formed lump in her throat, Khushi but her lip to stop the traitor tears. "Whatever I said is absolutely true. I am no more the naive Khushi that I was. I am touched, used by ano--"

"ENOUGH" Arnav roared suddenly, stopping her in between. "Don't you ever, ever dare utter these disgusting words about yourself. You are absolutely wrong. Nothing is changed or can change ever. You were, are and will be my same innocent and pure Khushi. I have always loved you and I will continue to love you in the future too. Whatever happened, I don't give a fuck about it and neither you are responsible for it. No girl in the world is at fault for getting raped. The one who is the real culprit are those fucking bastards, who make innocent girls the target of their lust. I don't care about whatever the world says Khushi. For me, you are still as pure as the moonlight and as innocent as a new born. Nothing and I repeat it, nothing, can decrease my love for you. I will always be the same Arnav-ji whom you had fallen in love with because as I said before, for me, you are the same Khushi whom I had fallen in love with."

Khushi looked at the man in front of her, crying silently. She looked so torn, so vulnerable, so weak at that moment. Tears were falling down from her eyes uncontrollably. Helplessness, grief, pain, sense of betrayal from the people around, the thought of getting ruined, every single emotion was visible in her doe-like eyes. The orbs, which once used to glimmer with love and happiness, were as bare as of a dead man.

"Arnav-ji..." She choked on her words.

Arnav pulled her in a comforting hug. "Sshhh, relax baby. It's over now. Everything will be fine. I will make it alright for you. Trust me, don't cry. It's hurts my heart to see my Khushi like this."

"I...I can't forget..it. Believe me, I want to but..." She hiccupped in his chest, fisting his shirt tightly. "I feel...like he...he would... come again and..."

"No Khushi. Never! I won't let anyone to hurt you ever again. I swear on my dead mother baby, I will protect you for all my life. But, you have forget everything too. I know my Khushi is very strong. She won't give up!!" Arnav mumbled in her hairs.

Khushi shook her head, crying bitterly. "No...I am not..strong. If I was...I would..have protected.. myself from him.. I am weak... really weak.."

"No you aren't baby. You are strong, very strong. You have the power to heal yourself and you need to know that. Sometimes, we think that we are helpless but in actual, we aren't. We always have the power of our minds. It's you, who will decide what to think and what not. Just forget everything baby, considering it a a nightmare. Calm and consciously use your might."

"But...it's difficult.... whenever I close my... eyes...that night...that..." The tears didn't let her finish her sentence, words got stuck in her throat.

Pulling her body more into his, Arnav sat down on the bed and settled Khushi on his lap. Stroking her hairs softly, he kissed them now and then.

"I know Khushi, I know it's difficult but you have to try and forget, right. I promise you, that I will always be by your side. I won't leave you alone ever. If you will be scared, I will be your shadow and hide you in my arms. If you would want to cry, I will be your shoulder. If you would feel sad, I will make you smile. I will always be there for you. Believe me! Just try and forget everything. For every step that you will take in your life, just remember I will always be right behind you."

Khushi cries intensified with his every word. Arnav didn't stop her though. He let her cry because it was needed. She needed to let all the malice out of her heart. He just tightened his hold around her, rocking her back and fro like a baby and dropping kisses on her head.

"I..I don't deserve you Arnav-ji... I am already touched--"

"No one in this whole world deserves me, except you Khushi."

"But...what will...people say?"

"I don't give a damn about others Khushi. All that matters to me is you and only you Khushi. And always remember one thing, we can't stop dogs from barking coz they have nothing else to do except barking on the passerby. People will hurt you Khushi, but I will heal you. They will humiliate you, I will magnify you. They will judge you, I will justify you. People will hate you, but I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!"

"Arnav-ji, you...you.."

"Yes Khushi, me! Only and only Me. Erase every negative thought from your mind baby. Don't let them impure your thoughts and heart. Just remember one thing. Your Arnav-ji will always be beside you, holding your hand in his. I can't promise to fix all your problems but I promise that you won't have to face them alone."

"I...I.. don't know..I don't want...to destroy your... life too." Still, the fear and insecurities were screaming in Khushi's words.

Raising her head from his chest, Arnav cupped her face in his large hands and kissed her forehead. "You are an angel Khushi. Innocent, pure, and inerrant. You are a rose baby, let me be your thorns to protect you and always be with you. In your dark days, just turn around and you will find me behind you. I will be there, and maybe I won't have any more light to give than what you already have, but I will take your hand and we will find the light together. I love you Khushi, more than my life, more than any other thing in this world. Let me in. Let me heal you. Don't push me away from yourself."

Closing her eyes, Khushi nodded her head meekly and rested her head against his chest. Smiling endearingly, Arnav crushed her in his chest and closed his eyes, finally feeling at peace.

Few minutes passed in silence which was a comfortable one now. But it was broken with Khushi's voice.

"He..he touched me everywhere. He kissed...my lips...he reached to the places where even you haven't--"

Gritting his teeth hardly, Arnav flipped them a little so that now Khushi was lying on the bed and he was lying on top of her. Gazing into her eyes intently, Arnav spoke in a low voice.

"I will make you forget his every touch. You won't remember anything else than me. I promise you that Khushi. All I need is just your agreement. I love you."

Raising her hands, Khushi wrapped them around his neck and nodded her head.

"Make me forget. Scratch the traces of his touch from my body. Kiss me, make love to me. Make me remind over and over again, than I am only and only yours. I love you too Arnav-ji. I trust you." Her voice came out low.

And that was all Arnav needed. He crushed his lips on her, taking her into a soft, soothing, assuring and loving kiss. He kissed her slowly, taking all the time of the world. He had a long way to go, he knew it. It would take hell lot of days to make Khushi forget that traumatized accident, he knew this too. But Arnav Singh Raizada had a very strong faith in himself and his love which he felt for the small girl in his arms.

He had vowed to himself that he will dislodge that black night from her memory lane. And all she would remember is, his love, care, their togetherness, trust, companionship, oneness of their souls and present night!

*****************

Phewwww!! Done!!

Hope you guys like it 😊

Don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts about this shot. This time, I am really really very desperately looking forward to your response.

Never in this one and a half years of my writing career, I had felt so nervous like I am feeling right now. I really don't know how this shot has come out. I really don't if you guys like it or not. I hope it wasn't a crap😲