" I respect you for what you are, Arnav. I admire you for your kindness and passion towards work. But please don't think that I am in need of sympathy from people around me, I still have not grown so weak. You don't need to do this for me, Arnav." Khushi turned around her heels to hide her inner turmoil from him, while Arnav gently held her wrist stopping her from moving efficiently.

" You don't need sympathy from me, Khushi. But I certainly need it from you. Sympathize with me, because your thoughts haunt me day and night. Sympathize with me, for my soul craves for you, my heart beats for you and my mind pines for you. Sympathize with me, because if you leave me, I will surely live but I will not have a life or a existence."

For a person, who had been craving for love ever since the childhood, it was overwhelming to be on the receiving end of the love for the first time and that love being so pure and so genuine. Khushi knew that Arnav was an extremely dedicated person, who had trusted her, understood her and respected her beyond her own imagination.

" And if you ever want to take a test of my love, I am always ready Khushi. But don't test my love by leaving my life because I am scared that I will not be able ever pass that test because you can never leave my life. Physically, maybe you can but mentally your thoughts will never leave me." Khushi turned around to face Arnav, while his eyes were filled with tears and purity of honesty and sincerity.

" I don't want to test this love of yours, Arnav. Because I don't think I have a parameter by which I can make you fail in the test. Love for me means respect, understanding, loyalty, trust and most of all concern, and I feel that I have every feeling I just said for you. I love you too, Arnav." For once Khushi felt happy that the shameful incident took place in her life, as she found someone as wonderful as the person standing in front of her due to that.

Arnav enveloped Khushi in a solace-giving embrace while Khushi reciprocated it with the same zest as Arnav. Who said that all the touches needed to be desire-directed, lust-filled or seductive in between two people who are deeply in love? Love was anything but desire, lust and seductive.

" But Arnav, will your family agree to this?" Khushi glanced at Arnav, sideways while Arnav's expressions underwent rapid changes.

" I will not keep you in any false hope, Khushi. Though my family has grew out to be more modern than many people, I doubt their views on this. But I will do everything possible to convince them." Something struck Khushi's mind as she spoke expressing your views,

" You don't have to go against your family for me, Arnav." Arnav cupped her face gently in between his warm palms,

" Of course, Khushi. For you, I will not go. But if I have to, I will go against them for myself. Now, stop worrying about all this. You have to get the examination done right? I will drop you to the hospital and go home to speak about this to Mami and Nani."

Khushi nodded in an affirmative manner, while Arnav placed a kiss of assurance on her forehead as the began walking hand-in-hand towards their car as if they cannot walk without each other's support.

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Shantivan,

" Nani, Mami, I know this may sound a bit very sudden for you all but me and Khushi want to get married to each other." Arnav spoke with a smile on his face and sincerity pooling in his eyes while shock was written all over Nani's and Mami's faces.

" Arnav Bitua, how can you marry Khushi Bitiya?" Mami questioned curiously while Arnav couldn't get the point she was trying to make.

" What do you mean how, Mami? Just how usually marriages happen." Arnav answered in a calm and composed manner while Mami and Nani exchanged serious looks to each other while Nani began speaking,

" Chotte, Manorama is trying to say that Khushi Bitiya is a rape victim, we are not saying she is at fault but how can you marry her?" Realization finally dawned upon Arnav, as he realized how true Khushi's so-called parents were about him realizing it one day that he was wrong.

" You know Nani and Mami, Mr and Mrs. Gupta told me that one day I will be shown how wrong I am. And you did it today. You showed me how wrong I am to expect that people have changed, they evolved to be more broad-minded and they have changed their views. But the fact is still, our society looks down on rape victims and now I feel that more than Mr and Mrs.Gupta, it is the fault of people like you both who are causing parents to do this. I can't marry her, why? Because she is no longer a virgin? Excuse me, she was forced in the most brutal way possible. No one cares for that but cares for the so-called damn dignity which apparently lies in between a girl's thighs according to this society.

But the fact is, purity is a state of mind not a bodily state, Mami and Nani. Whether you accept this marriage or not, this marriage is happening because I cannot let one more brave girl who won the war against the death itself to lose in front of this society's stupid thoughts especially if that girl is Khushi, whom I began to respect and love more than I ever did in my life and now certainly more than you because of your amazing truth of the society." Arnav's thunderous voice had showed Nani and Mami that he was serious about what he was saying and without giving them a chance to say anything, Arnav walked out of Shantivan, ignoring the calls from Nani and Mami.

How will Khushi react to this?

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