Forgive Her Anything (IPKKND AU) #Wattys2016

Chapter 10: Khushi

Khushi lay half asleep, still reveling in last night's dream where she'd flown to London to meet Arnav-ji and he'd held her while she slept. She knew she had to get up and start her day soon but she couldn't face another day of being tormented by her memories of her husband.

Of being tormented by that disgusting Shyam, who was taking advantage of her husband's absence in the most obscene ways possible.

She clutched at the sheets, pretending they were Arnav-ji's shirt. Khushi wished he would return soon, if only so Shyam would stop harassing her. Shyam wouldn't dare come near her if Arnav-ji was here.

Her imagination, she decided, excelled at conjuring up the sleeping form of her husband beside her. She could almost feel him breathing, almost hear his heartbeat quicken as she moved her hands.

She remembered the first time they'd shared a bed together - at her Bua-ji's house - when they'd woken to her hand clutching at the neckline of his shirt. She didn't think she'd ever forget how Arnav-ji's breathing had stalled, how loud and fast his heart had been beating. Every morning that week, they'd woken to one of them holding tight to the other. They hadn't spoken of it and continued with their day as if it wasn't happening, trying to ignore that they were wrapped in each other every night.

Now she felt that closeness again and wished with all her might that she could go back to those days at Bua-ji's house, before their argument over her and Shyam's past, before he'd left her at the airport.

The airport.

The sudden realization felt like cold water had been thrown over her. It hadn't been a dream. She'd travelled to London to meet Arnav-ji and now she was in his hotel room.

She'd fallen asleep in his bed.