Chapter 13 - Holding On

~ I wonder if I will ever have the strength to hold onto something or if I will always be someone who destroys. - Ally Condie, Matched ~

The light of the lamp post glinted off of their faces as Arnav ran crouched, the sharp branches of passing bushes scraping against his skin. With his left hand he pulled Khushi with him, her hand tightly grasped in his. Leaves bustled against their feet as their shadows danced against the wall, large and almost threatening. He felt the tremble of her hand and then heard her gasp as he halted abruptly, her delicate body colliding off of his, her breath against his skin only for a single second as he turned around to look into large frightened eyes, desperation glinting off of them and on scrutinising closely, a deep trust that he may end up breaking within a few hours. He breathed in heavily and squeezing her hand looked at her reassuringly then turned around, bringing her closer to him once more then increased his pace.

***

Garima sat leaning against Khushi's closed bedroom door, knowing that they would be at it any minute now. Her eyes were bloodshot but she could still make out the shapes through the haze of her tears. Khushi would be safe, she knew that much, her faith in Arnav, the faith that she had always had in him not wavering for a second. Life was not always predictable and if she had had her way things could have gone differently but she was now at a turning point and she would take the right road. She continued to stare out of the window, her heart pounding away in her chest. 

***

Arnav sprinted the last few steps, then pulling Khushi with him leaned against the back of his SUV, the usually dim lights now too bright for the situation at hand. Khushi clung onto his shirt, her face hidden in his chest, his arms tight around her waist, pressing her body against his. Khushi closed her eyes, feeling their frenzied hearts beat in panicked unison, his ragged breaths cutting through the silence offering an unusual solace. She felt him shuffle, carrying her with him, the actions registering in her mind seconds later, as if she was feeling everything through a distant dream. "Khushi," his breath was against her ear, the warmth seeping through her body that she suddenly realised had gone cold. "Khushi!" His whisper was harsher this time, she slowly opened her eyes, her eyes widening as she looked into conflicted orbs of molten brown. "Khushi are you okay?" His husky voice finally broke her away from the distance, she let out a gasp, realising that she had held her breath for a few seconds. She pushed herself away from him slightly as she felt a new rush of blood surge through her body. "Khushi when I say go I want you to run to the passenger side and get in, do you get that?" His gaze didn't waver for a second and she nodded in reply as his arms loosened around her waist.

---

Khushi watched in silence, her senses now running on overdrive, her mind numb and every worse possible scenario playing through it. Her mother, she left her mother to fight off a danger she was herself being taken away from. So how bad could the danger be? What was she even dealing with? Whose doing was this? What the hell was even going on? She watched, unable to yet phrase her question, her throat parched and dry, a hundred questions rattling through her mind as the car whizzed through an open dark road, the lamp posts and anything alighted and visible passing by in a tangled, glinting blur. He drove on in a dangerous sort of silence, the muscles on his face taunt, his normally molten eyes now dark and foreboding, the knuckles of his hands pronounced. Khushi didn't remember the last time she had seen him so angry, actually the more she looked at him the more she couldn't quite put a name to what his expression was. Was it fear? Since getting in the car he hadn't looked at her even once, the growing silence was almost suffocating, her breathing now a bit too loud. And then there was the distant jarring sensation that all that she had said that afternoon was quickly going to waste, the feeling that he was only here to take her away from some sort of crazy, incomprehensible situation and not to confess his love for her slowly dawning on her.  Was she being selfish? Why were sudden thoughts of her own crumbling life flashing through her mind in this moment of disaster? Why was she so lost? Why was her life falling apart in front of her eyes? She leaned back against the seat rest, closing her eyes shut, letting all thoughts leave her and let out a large sigh, a slow throbbing now replacing the numbness of her mind, slowly crawling up to the surface making her head whir in pain when she suddenly felt his warm large hand engulf hers then squeeze lightly and even though a slow calm began to wash over her she kept her eyes closed, too exhausted.

"I know everything's happening too fast," his voice hoarse and quieter cut through the thick silence and opening her eyes she looked to his face that continued to look straight ahead, the quietness and calm of his voice not reaching his dark, frightening eyes, giving him an almost mechanical look. "But I don't have time to explain, I... I just..." He turned to look at her then, the hardened contours of his face relaxing slightly as she refused to respond. And he was taken back as their gazes clashed and he stared into orbs of melting hazel, her eyebrows knotted in frustration, her lower lip quivering ever so slightly, the sight of her fragile form relentlessly fighting against her strong sense of mind something he clearly understood. He looked away then, feeling that he could not continue what he had begun to say whilst looking into her conflicted yet trusting eyes. "I just need to get you away from here and then I'll tell you everything," he continued, feeling her gaze still on his face.

She nodded in silence, then looked away, out towards the blurry scenery, shadows of leaves and trees and here and there bright lights off of lamp posts all distorting into one fathomless picture. She sighed heavily again, her breath misting against the glass and watched it slowly fade away, awakening her voice, "but where are we going?" She finally managed to croak out.

"I'm taking you to Aberdeen," he stated blankly and her eyes widened instantly as she turned around to look at him but he continued to stare straight on. She continued to stare at him, completely bewildered.

"But... Why?" She managed to stutter out, removing his hand from hers.

He looked around at her for a brief second, then looked away again, irritation flashing through his eyes. "Didn't I tell you I'll tell you later," he exclaimed suddenly and as raw anger bubbled up inside her she felt the car finally slow down, new brighter lights now sprinkling through the windscreen.

****

Garima lay on the floor, blood trickling out of her forehead, unable to move but still conscious, loud voices fading in and out of her mind.

Shyam stepped out of the large house, his gang quickly gathering behind him. He saw the flashes of red and blue just in time and signaled for his men to get in to the vehicles.

Getting into his own, he fired the engine to life as he dialed a number and put the phone to his ear with his free hand.

"Ma'am she's not here," already steeling himself to face the enraged voice of Arundathi Raizada.

"What do you mean she's not HERE?!" She screamed, spittle flying out of her mouth, her eyes red and venomous. "Where the hell is she?!"

"I don't know ma'am seems like somebody already knew we were coming," he replied slightly irritated at having taken up the job in the first place.

"WHAT!?" She screamed, shaking with anger. She took the glass on her table and threw it at the wall, watching the brown liquid inside it splash against the wall then smash, the pieces falling to the floor almost in slow motion. "Well she can't have gone far! Find her!" She exclaimed, knowing that she had not yet lost.

"I don't know it looks like we've lost her she's been gone a while."

"Where could she have gone?!" She demanded convulsing with anger.

"Aberdeen!" A confident voice suddenly replied from behind her, she turned around instantly to face Aakash, a knowing smirk on his face, "she's gone to the airport!"

Her face lit up immediately, "Shyam! She's gone to the airport! I want her dead! You hear me? Just finish her off!" She exclaimed finally, an evil gleam reaching her eyes as she sneered, not yet letting her victorious cackle loose.

****

"Sir, Shyam Jha and his gang are on their way to the airport. It looks like they knew where you were headed."

Arnav came to an instant halt, his muscles flexed, his jaw clenched as he listened to Aman's voice.

Khushi walked muttering to herself, too many steps behind Arnav. She had just received an extremely short call from her father, his brisk words still replayed on her mind.

"Bitiya we are fine. I will explain everything later, please trust Arnav for now and let him take you to Aberdeen." He had then ended the call, not even bothering to let her reply.

"I will explain everything later, explain everything later?! Urgh! What the hell? Why can't these people just tell me what is going on!" She fumed, muttering to herself. "He didn't even let me take my bag!" She continued to mumble to herself not bothering to look at where she was going, or rather being led when she walked straight into a wall of muscle. Colliding against him she looked up glaring as he turned around, her irritation mirrored in his face. "What the hell Arnav!" She screamed. He rolled his eyes back, the irritation quickly fading and grabbed her hand.

"Come one hurry up!" He ordered then began marching forward, pulling her with him.

"What! Stop walking so fast! I feel like I have to run to keep pace!" She screeched, almost stumbling over her own feet.

"Well then run!" He stated, without looking at her and kept walking, his phone looking like it was permanently stuck to his ear.

"It's okay Aman, we've passed through check-in. So they won't be able to get through. Just make sure someone's at the airport to stop them in case they decide to do anything stupid." Arnav continued to speak into his phone whilst pulling a fumbling Khushi with him.

"Yes sir, got it. I've got everything prepared in Aberdeen and the your jet is ready."

"That's great Aman. Thanks. I'll let you know of anything else if I need. For now just handle the situation here."

"Yes sir that's fine. What do I do with Arundathi?"

"I want her out of the picture for a few weeks. So that she can't try anything else," his eyes hardened further as he spoke now. And Khushi edged closer, her brows furrowing as she deliberated over this new peice of information. Who was he talking about?

"So what you said earlier?"

"Yes Aman," he sighed, exhausted, "exactly that."

"Are you sure?"

"Aman! I'm sure! Now shut up and get it done!" He snapped, annoyed, "and I'll speak to you again once I get off in Aberdeen," and with that he switched off his phone and stuffed it back into his pocket.

****

Shyam stood in the middle of the entry point to the airport, moving his hair off of his forehead as he glared into the distance, outraged. He took out his phone, dialing the number once more.

"They've already checked in, they're going to Aberdeen."

"WHAT!? Arundathi bellowed making Shyam flinch and move his phone away from his face. "Well what are you doing?! Book the flight and follow them!" She yelled, already thinking through the next step.

"But Ma'am they are taking a private jet," he stated blankly, unable to take the psychotic woman's demands anymore.

"Well then take the next normal flight you fool! I know where Khushi stays in Aberdeen!" She commanded. She'd be damned if they thought it was over yet!

****

Khushi waited in patient silence till the flight had taken off then steadied, her eyes studying Arnav's thoughtful face all the while. How he had lead her on without a word, sat himself down then leaning back in his seat closed his eyes and shut her out. She watched as his jaw clenched and unclenched, worry lines etched into his forehead. She couldn't help but feel bad for him even through her irritation. A private jet, her mother screaming, her father's phone call, Aakash's random phone call then abrupt show of anger, then the talk of getting someone out of the way, a woman. She was attempting to add everything up in her head but still could not comprehend it . But all of those things would have to add up, somehow, it all had to be connected.

Placing her palms on her chair, she sighed heavily, his almost frozen state annoying her beyond measure, pushing herself off of the seat she stood up then slowly paced up to him. Having felt her approaching he slowly opened his eyes then turned his head round, a blank look to his face, the softness in his eyes still absent. She looked at him pointedly and folding her arms at her chest, raised an eyebrow.

"Arnav Singh Raizada, it's time for my explanation," she stated calmly. "Now start talking."