Accepting Reality

Part 5 - Aftermath

The next morning, Khushi wakes up in Arnav's arms. As she opens her eyes and takes in her surroundings, she is startled by the disarray of her room. Her saree was flung across the couch, two glasses of whisky sat on the table, and her blouse hanged precariously by the edge of the couch. Arnav's clothes were scattered haphazardly on the chairs and the floor. Overwhelmed by the scene before her, Khushi was filled with shock and disbelief at what had she done. She felt a deep sense of regret and was on the verge of tears. She recalled the events of the previous night with a sense of horror and disbelief. She remembers forcing and begging to Arnav, she remembers taking his hands and groping herself when he refused. Making Arnav touch her all over when he had initially resisted. She recalled the moment he finally gave in and the intense relief she felt afterwards. The realisation of how intoxicated she must have been to make such choices left her feeling both confused and regretful. As she questioned whether she was overreacting, she tried to steady herself and decided to refrain from making any immediate decisions. She quickly got up and headed to the washroom to dress, seeking to regain some composure.

Arnav lay still, pretending to sleep peacefully. In reality, he had been awake for some time, keenly observing Khushi's reactions from beneath his closed eyelids. He wanted to gauge her state of mind and see how she would handle the situation before deciding on his next move. As Khushi emerged from the washroom, Arnav was getting dressed. She noticed the marks of nail scratches on his back and her lipstick marks on his hands, evidence of the previous night's events. When she looked up, Arnav was adjusting his suit, clearly having dressed with care. He turned to face her, his expression a mix of concern and regret.

Arnav: "Khushi, I'm really sorry about last night. I didn't want things to turn out this way. Can we please talk?"

Khushi, her emotions still raw, took a deep breath before responding.

Khushi: "I understand, Arnav Sir. But I need some time to process everything. Maybe we should talk later."

Arnav: "Of course. Take all the time you need."

Khushi: "Thank you"

Arnav: "Ummm, Khushi.. do you.. do you feel okay? I mean physically are you okay?"

Khushi: "Yes, yes I am fine"

Arnav simply nodded and exited the room, his mind was still occupied with the events of the previous night. He had already stashed his camera equipment, laptop, and other belongings beneath her bed. Those items were to be collected by Aman and his team after everyone had checked out of the hotel. Once Arnav was gone, Khushi began tidying up her disheveled room. As she straightened the cushions on the couch and picked up scattered clothes, her thoughts were consumed by what had transpired. She sank onto the couch, her mind was racing as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night and understand her feelings. The room was quiet, but the turmoil within her was anything but.

She had slept with Arnav, and he had allowed it. How did it all happen? Well, she was drunk, obviously, she then forced him, and he gave in. But how did he give in so easily? She knew of Arnav's lifestyle, he only slept with people he could pay. He never got involved in any strings attached kind of relationships, nor did he sleep with people who wanted to use him to climb the fashion world ladder. He was quite particular in this regard. Her mind wandered to the comments her friends had made in the past. Lavanya often teased Khushi about the special attention she received from Arnav. "I think he has a soft spot for you, Khushi," Lavanya would say, winking. "You're his protégée, after all." NK and Preetika had also mentioned that they felt Arnav liked Khushi. "He definitely has a thing for you," NK would joke. "Just look at how he looks at you." Preetika would nod in agreement, adding, "Yeah, he's always paying extra attention to you." Was Arnav attracted to her as well? Or did he do this out of kindness because he had a soft spot for her? She recalled him mentioning that he couldn't bear to see her cry. She cursed herself for falling into this mess. Surely, she had made a big mistake towards Arnav, who had given her a new life. But then she paused for a moment. Was she overreacting? Was this really a big mistake or an opportunity? She decided to calm herself and not make any hasty decisions. For now, she would remain casual and avoid overreacting. She definitely needed to apologise to Arnav and gauge his reaction, but not today. It would be too soon, she figured.