Cupid's Arrow

Chapter thirty nine

As the evening descended, casting a golden hue over the bustling village, the anticipation of the festival filled the air with palpable excitement. It was a first for me, a momentous occasion that promised adventure and joy. Clad in a resplendent red half-saree, I felt a flutter of nerves mingled with exhilaration, eagerly anticipating the festivities.

Arjun, with his keen eye and adept skills, captured her essence in photographs, immortalizing her beauty in the pixels of his phone. However, her anticipation was soon met with the dark cloud of her husband's arrival. His stern gaze bore into hers, laden with unspoken accusations. Confusion clouded her mind as she wracked her brain, searching for any transgression that warranted such ire. Finding none, she chose to ignore his simmering anger, focusing instead on the jovial atmosphere surrounding us.

"Ahem, ahem," Arun cleared his throat, attempting to draw her attention, but Adithi brushed past him, engrossed in conversation with Arjun. Unbeknownst to Arun, they shared a conspiratorial glance, reveling in his visible frustration from afar.

The sight of Arun's irritation only fueled their mischief, prompting a triumphant exchange of high-fives. With his frustration evident, they knew their plan was working, drawing us closer together in our shared mischief.

Later, as the village came alive with the fervor of the festival, Adithi found herself walking alongside her father, while Arun trailed behind, his countenance marred by irritation. Ignoring his presence, she immersed herself in the festivities, determined to enjoy herself despite his mood. But she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for Arun, his solitary figure trailing behind them.

Yet, despite her empathy, she resolved to focus on the festivities ahead, determined to make the most of this rare opportunity for joy and celebration. As they ventured forth into the heart of the festival, she couldn't help but wonder what the night held in store, hoping against hope for a moment of respite amidst the chaos of our tangled emotions.

In Arun's mind, however, a storm brewed. He despised the village and its suffocating confines, resenting the distance it had placed between them. His thoughts turned to Arjun, a thorn in his side, always by Adithi's side. Was it jealousy that gnawed at him? He scoffed at the notion, refusing to admit the truth buried deep within.

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As the night enveloped the dining hall in a soft glow, Arun found himself standing alone, his hunger gnawing at his insides. A pang of irritation surged through him as he caught sight of her, Adithi's palm, extended to Arjun, fueled Arun's anger, his frustration boiling beneath the surface. Their whispered conversation casting a shadow over his already troubled mind.

He took a seat beside her, hoping to insert himself into their exchange, yet she remained oblivious to his presence, engrossed in her conversation with Arjun. The sound of their laughter grated on my nerves, fueling the simmering anger within him.

"Wow, you have a future as bright as your beauty," Arjun remarked, a sly grin playing on his lips. Arjun's words, laced with flirtatious charm, stoked the flames of jealousy within arun.

Adithi laughed in amusement. "And what does my future hold, Mr. Fortune Teller?"

"You may meet a handsome boy named Arjun," he teased, his words striking a nerve within Arun. How dare he speak to her in such a manner, as if she were his to claim? Arun clenched his fists, struggling to contain the torrent of emotions threatening to engulf him.

Her laughter, like a dagger to my heart, pierced through the silence, igniting a blaze of fury within me. How could she entertain his advances, flirting shamelessly as if his feelings meant nothing?

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Arun excused himself from their presence, his footsteps echoing in the hollow silence of the dining hall. Each step felt like a heavy burden, weighed down by the weight of his emotions, his heart torn between anger and despair.

Meanwhile, Adithi and Arjun exchanged knowing glances, their plan unfolding seamlessly.

Adithi’s Pov

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for Arun, trapped behind closed doors with his own demons.

"Success!" Arjun declared triumphantly, his enthusiasm a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that surrounded us.

"But he hasn't even eaten," I murmured, my worry evident in the furrow of my brow.

Arjun flashed me a reassuring smile, his confidence unwavering. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Curiosity gnawed at me as I watched Arjun's determined stride, his unwavering resolve a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to engulf us.

"But how?" I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun's response was cryptic, a mere promise of things to come. "You'll see," he replied, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

With a sense of anticipation, we made our way to Arun's room.

As we approached the closed door, Arjun wasted no time in making his presence known, his voice rising above the din of the night. I watched with bated breath as he called out to Arun, each word a gentle plea for reconciliation.

"I told you he's nothing special," Arjun remarked casually, his words cutting through the silence like a knife.

"Why would you say that?" I questioned, my heart heavy with uncertainty.

"He knows it's true," Arjun replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "That's why he reacted the way he did." Adithi's eyes widened before she played along, pretending to agree with him.

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Arun's POV:

I stormed back to my room, my mind ablaze with anger and frustration. How dare they discuss me behind my back? The nerve of Arjun, speaking ill of me to Adithi. And Adithi, agreeing with him as if I were some insignificant pawn in their game.

As their voices drifted through the closed door, a white-hot fury boiled within me. I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white with the force of my rage. They would pay for their betrayal, of that I was certain.

With a swift motion, I flung open the door and strode purposefully to the dining table. My appetite was gone, replaced by a bitter taste that lingered on my tongue. But I forced myself to eat, each mouthful a bitter reminder of the deceit that had unfolded before my ears.

Adithi's POV:

I watched as Arun stormed out of the room, his anger palpable in every tense muscle of his body. Part of me wanted to go after him, to explain, to apologize for the hurt I had caused. But another part of me, a stubborn and defiant part, held me back.

"Thanks bro," I murmured, my voice tinged with a hint of regret.

Arjun's response was unwavering, his confidence a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume us. "No problem sister! I told you right! Arjun is always right!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his boastful proclamation, a small glimmer of light in the midst of my turmoil. "True," I conceded, though a pang of guilt gnawed at my conscience.

"But I can't shake the feeling that my behavior was wrong."

Arjun's reassurance was like a lifeline in the storm. "Nothing like that, sister! You had to do it to get him back. He'll see his mistake, I promise!"

As he pulled me into a comforting embrace, I felt a flicker of hope. "Okay, let's not waste time," he urged. "You go to bed and pretend to sleep before he returns."

With a nod, I smiled faintly as I made my way to our bed, my heart heavy with the weight of the evening's events. I sensed Arun's presence as he entered the room, but I kept my eyes closed, feigning sleep. I felt his hand gently shaking my shoulder, urging me to wake, but I remained still, my breaths slow and even.

A sense of guilt gnawed at me as I lay there, pretending to sleep. I knew my actions must be hurting him, but I saw no other way. I needed him back in my life, the way he used to be, trusting and loving without question. But his doubts and suspicions had eroded that trust, leaving only shadows of our former selves.

As tears threatened to spill from beneath closed lids, memories of happier times flooded my mind. Arun, my Mr. Devil, with his mischievous grin and infectious laughter, was like magic to me. But now, those moments felt like distant dreams, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand.

I longed for him to trust me again, to believe in our love without needing all the answers. If only he could see past the doubts that clouded his mind, if only he could trust his heart as I trusted mine. The thought of him saying those words, "I trust you," without needing to know every detail, would be the greatest gift he could give me.

With a heavy heart, I wiped away the tears that had escaped, my silent prayers whispered into the darkness. "I'm waiting, Arun," I murmured softly, hoping against hope that he would find his way back to me. "I love you so much." And with that, I surrendered to the embrace of sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring a glimmer of the love we once shared.

To be continued..