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Monday, April 29, 2013

Chapter 28 - Its game time

A Quick Note

A lot of you asked about TFS, just wanted to let you know, I will make it available via Amazon at a nominal charge. The proceeds will be donated to a local charity in Chicago called Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. I hope you wont mind securing a personal copy all the while helping a good cause.

I have an ideation for another Arshi story and will be writing in a couple of months. Please stay tuned to this blog or follow me @serialjunkie1 on Twitter for updates.

Finally, I am so happy and thrilled that many of you enjoyed this story. This was my maiden adventure into thriller genre and I am glad it succeeded in parts to entertain you. Thank you for being a reader, without you, stories do not matter. 

Hugs
SJ

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“Are you ready for this?” Shyam asked with an incredulous expression.

“Yes”

“There will be questions, uncomfortable, annoying questions. Can you handle it?” he repeated his concern.

“I handled you, didn’t I? I can do this.” Khushi rose from her chair and straightened her charcoal grey pencil skirt. She wore a becoming pink silk blouse with boat neck, adorned with a single simple strand of pearls, and simple grey pumps to complete her look. Her hair had grown considerably longer since Zurich, and she had tied it up in a professional looking high pony tail. Nothing ostentatious, nothing garish, paradoxical to what she was about to do.

The double leaf door to the large conference room opened and Khushi stepped onto the plush carpet of the hall. The sea of flashlights and cameras buzzed into action, nearly blinding her for a second. The room was packed to standing room only. A row of seats had been set up on stage with microphones. A suited body guard guided her to the stage as she took the center seat. Gitu and NK followed her to the stage and flanked her on either side, ever the protective friends they’d proven to be. Her eyes scanned the crowd and she only saw strangers. She fought her rising desire to see the familiar caramel brown eyes, melting with love just for her. The room was full of people and yet, she felt awfully lonely. She missed Arnav.

Shyam sensed her discomfort and leaned into whisper into her ears, “You can do this, honey. You are strong and you have chosen the right thing to do. I am with you, all through the way.” He placed a fleeting kiss on top of her head and took his seat. She felt a temporary surge of warmth as she marveled how far Shyam and she had come in mending the untenable mess between them. Her cheeks struggled to hold a smile but she tried anyway.

The crowd settled and a note of silence fell in the room. All eyes were glued to her, press reporters waited with note pads and recording devices to capture every word she had to say. She turned to look at Shyam who was seated two seats away from her. He nodded and winked another vote of confidence.

What a difference a year made - twelve months, 365 days, 8760 hours, 525600 mins, 31 million seconds and counting. The time she’d carried the gaping hole in her soul, which cried for its soulmate. The time since some old foes had become important to her, like Shyam, who had been deeply penitent and did everything in his power to right the wrong he had done by her. The time when some family turned to foes, like Payal, whose venomous rants had escalated to psychopathic paranoia even as she served time behind bars. The time for her to seek forgiveness and absolution had arrived. She missed Arnav, she needed him and yet she didn’t want to pull him across the morass she had found herself in the year since the deadly shoots in Zurich.

Arnav had been badly hurt. The FBI escorted by Gitu and NK had intervened just in time but not soon enough to stop Arnav from getting shot. Her last memory of him was seeing him covered in blood, laying still on the floor, while a  medical emergency team worked on him. She had passed out.

When she regained her bearings in a hospital, she wanted to know how he was. Gitu had ensured her that Arnav was critical but stable. She wanted to be by him, and by the time she regained her strength to walk and find Arnav in the hospital, he had checked out. Never to be heard from, again.

A lump began forming in her throat as she remembered those first days back from Zurich. She missed him as if a part of her body had been severed.  God knows she’d tried persuading NK, and Kevin to tell her his whereabouts. Neither divulged anything about him, stating only that he was on extended leave and did not wish to be disturbed. The first months were hard on her.

She’d never imagined she’d fall so hopelessly in love with someone. In less than a month since she’d met Arnav, she’d gone from resenting him as her protector to falling in love with him to a point of no return. Although in the last few months, the constant agony of missing him had dulled into a silent throb, ever present and ever reminding her of the place in her heart that will never be filled by another man. She took a breath in and began to speak to the waiting eyes and ears.

“Hello” she began nervously, casting her eyes across the room to find a reassuring pair of eyes to focus. “Thank you for joining me today. My name is Khushi Gupta, I am a doctor at the Northwestern Memorial ER and I have an announcement to make that might be of interest to you, and to many historians who seek information on World War 2, Nazi exploitation of Jews and the Holocaust.”

With each revelation to the press, her chest felt light from one less worry. In the year since her return from Zurich, she’d worked extensively with FBI to give them details and locations of everything she remembered. She wanted the mafia routed and was determined to do her bit. What she didn’t know was what to do with the spoils, the so called inheritance. She needed to find a way to make it public, so that any sleeper cell of mafia with future designs on that money would never dream of touching it. She had to make it public and big. That’s when she’d decided to call the press conference. In a sadistic way, she thought she could erase the past by shaming her bloodied heritage in public. It was beginning to work.  

“I am the bastard child of the Royal Prince of Gwalior, Maharaja Mahinder Singh.” She labored the words, laying special emphasis on the word “bastard”, because that’s how she felt on most days, a fake, and a pretender who was thrust into life without a mooring. A collective murmur engulfed the gathering as many heads nodded in approval while others in disapproval of her confession.

“My mother was Jewish, a commoner, her name was Sara Schwab. My parents had me out of wedlock when my father went seeking the rightful owners of the ill begotten wealth of my ancestors. I regret to say that my great grandfather, a royal of indomitable reputation in India was…a man who made an Unholy Pact with the devil, the Nazis” A furor erupted in the room as the press members shifted and scuttled at the revelation.

It was a long day. Khushi didn’t spare any details of her heritage and how the story had unfolded for her. She spared Shyam and his horrid details as he had done enough and more to atone for his doings. She carefully recounted how her great grandfather colluded with Nazis in a misguided attempt to secure the wealth for his future generations. She allowed as many details as FBI would let her to the press. At the end, when the room was finally settling into understanding the burden and empathized even, with her, she laid her future plan.

“I plan to donate all $15 billion of historical artifacts and jewelry to museums, and charities. Barring one painting done by my great grandfather Jakub Schwab, called The Virgin With Daisies, I am donating the entire $50 million worth of his work to museums in Zurich and Chicago. I feel the need to honor my mother’s memory who had suffered in enough and died young. The cash from government bonds will be used to build Sara Schwab Children’s wing at the hospital.”

“I want to add that I don’t think my father was a culprit, I just think he was a weak man. I cannot accept the title or heritage of his family because it will be a constant reminder to me of the gory past both of my mother and of the war. Therefore, I formally renounce all my royal ties, titles and lineage. My parents are Dr. Sasi Gupta and Mrs. Garima Gupta.” Khushi paused to compose herself and continued, “I miss my parents. So mom and dad, if you are watching this, I want to come home.”

The floor opened for questions and the excitement in the room was out of control. A good time passed before the question and answer session settled into a cadence.

“Do you have a boyfriend? What does he have to say about all this?” a young perky girl asked.

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Khushi brushed the question off.

“Did you have one? Did he leave you because of this?” the young one insisted.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” She bristled. Then she looked straight at the camera that was focused on her. “I thought I had a soulmate, a man whose memories stay embedded in me. And it does not matter how long it takes, I will wait. After today, I don’t need to carry the weight of my past with me. I am free, free to live and free to love, again.”

A lone tear fell from her right eye. Finding the perfect picture moment to end the story of the century, the cameras clicked away.

****

ASR sunk his head into the pillow and screamed. He had missed her like no man could miss a woman. He knew it was impossible for him to ever fall in love with another woman. There could be no other in his life. He ached for Khushi, body and mind. Her laughter, her cheeriness, her goodness and her ethereal beauty gnawed him and reminded him of his own inadequacy as a man. Why did he let her go?

“Did you see the press conference?” Anjali walked in with a tray of coffee and snacks. He sat up, disheveled and unshaven. He had been visiting his sister’s house for the holidays. He had made sure a security detail was watching Khushi from a distance and reporting to him periodically. But god, did he miss her!

“Yes”

“She misses you, Arnav. I can see it in her eyes. Hell, she even sent an open invitation to you.”

“I can’t.” he contemplated the coffee cup to distract his aching need for Khushi.

“Why not? She is free. She is free to love you. She is not a rich spoilt princess, Arnav. She is a living, breathing human being, who is madly in love with you.” She rose from the bed and cast him a disapproving look.

“Now, Arnav Singh Raizada. I never took you for a loser. But if you lose that girl, all I can say is I’ve never seen a bigger Jack Ass than you!” with that she stomped out of the room

His sister had the uncanny ability to lay the truth like it is. Arnav stared at the screen. The news channels were going bonkers over Khushi’s news. Her pictures were splashed all over the screen, “Billionaire heiress gives it all up. Says she is free to live and love.” Marquees scrolled under the screen.

He sat there glumly watching the screen for a few more minutes. The he threw the comforter off, jumped off the bed, and dashed out like a cheetah on steroids.

*****


 
The front door bell rang with demanding insistence. Set in a handsome neighborhood of Andersonville, Khushi’s modest town-home was an upgrade from her apartment . The neighborhood consisted of rows of town-homes occupied by hip yuppies and young families. She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and shoved the cake pan into the oven. A bit of cake dough remained stuck to her chin.

Baking was a new hobby she’d picked to keep her mind occupied. She set the oven to bake and rushed to the front door. She was enjoying the relative ease of a lazy Saturday afternoon. She went about barefoot and braless, while her pale pink PJs with spaghetti strap tank top did nothing to protect her from the cold outside, but she preferred them to warm clothes. Her hair was rolling in tendrils out of a rough bun she’d put up. She strode to the door and customarily peeked through the peep hole.

If there was a moment of freaking out, this was it. Outside the door, she saw a sight for her sore eyes, a sight she had waited months to see.  There he was. More handsome than she remembered, clean shaven, with a short crew cut that gave him a school boyish charm. She could sense the devilish smirk through the door. She clutched her chest to calm her thumping heart.

She couldn’t be seen like this. Oh God! She peeked at the console mirror and made a face. Oh God, what now.
The door bell rang again followed by loud thumping.
“Khushi, I know you are in there. Open up. I can hear you.”
Oh Jesus, that deep baritone. Her stomach did a somersault at that voice. She had forgotten what it felt to be with a real man, a sexy man like Arnav, and then the memory of their first kiss flashed through her mind. She missed him, she needed him.

Dammit!

She flung the door open and stood with hands on her hips, shoring as much nonchalance as she could muster. Inside, her heart raced wildly and her legs shook with excitement.

“Now, don’t go breaking my door. Isn’t it enough you broke my heart?”

Arnav turned and dropped his jaws open. She was beautiful. He didn’t hear anything she said, none of the accusations, anger, protests registered with him. He simply stepped forward and followed her into the house, as she jabbered away a litany of complaints and wrongs he did.

He pulled her by the waist, roughly turned her around lifting her by her waist and planted a kiss on her soft lips. The words stopped. A silence fell in the room, only punctuated by breathless whispers and whimpers of two frayed souls who had stayed away from their salves for too long. The stirring kiss brought back all the memories Khushi had tried to bury, unsuccessfully

"God! I've wanted to do that for so many months." he gushed with satisfaction/

She pulled away to catch her breath.”Why did you leave me?” It was a simple question, yet the pain behind it was immense.

“I am sorry, Khushi. I really am. But you must know, I never left you.” He answered earnestly. “I was always there, watching you from a distance. I had been assigned to your security detail. But I had to be invisible to make sure you and the remainder of mafia never suspected it.” He rattled off and tightened his arms around her waist. She braced her hands against his chest defensively, still not ready to accept his explanations. He inhaled the mild vanilla odors on her skin from her baking and in an impulsive move, licked the dough stuck on her chin. She turned her face away, still resisting his advances.

“You mean, you knew what I was doing, where I was all this time? And not once did you want to talk to me?” she held his shoulders away from her, as her dangling feet struggled to find firm ground. 

He cupped the back of her head and pulled her face to his. The spicy musk of his aftershave and the vanilla on her skin created a heady concoction. Khushi looked away and involuntarily stretched her neck giving him access to her soft skin. He didn’t miss the invitation and lowered his mouth to nibble the sensitive spot, nuzzling her with his rough jaw. She shivered at the unexpected burn on her skin.

“I cried for you, Arnav and it didn't bother you, why?” she complained, as he drew circles on her clavicle with his tongue.

“I couldn’t” he laid another hot kiss on the side of her neck and trailed down to the thin strap of her top. “I had to protect you, I couldn’t have us both vulnerable. If the mafia knew you were helping the FBI, your life could have been in danger. Most of them know me, I would have brought danger right to your doorstep.” He moved the strap with his teeth revealing a creamy shoulder. He bit down on it hungrily, sucking in the smooth feel of her skin.

“Oh!” she blurted, both accepting his explanation and soaking in his attention to her.

He pushed down the other strap too, revealing the top flesh of her breasts. He found her even more toned and fit than he remembered and a deep pang of desire shot through him. She clutched the lapels of his jacket and laid feathery kisses on his jaw, giving in to his musky odors. His calloused caresses brought back the glorious times they had spent together. She whimpered and pressed closer to him, declaring to him that there was no turning back.

“Khushi?”

“Yes.”

The words weren’t completed. They didn’t need to be completed. She knew what he was asking and she gave him her simple answer, readily. He lifted her and carried her further into the house to her bedroom, striding with the confidence of a man who just won over the world. The lovers knew it would be months before they'd emerge for sunlight and it was just as well.
 
The End

54 comments:

  1. haw! the end?!!!!

    well all good things come to an end .........magar itni jaldi kiya thi SJ?
    sniff sniff

    another story comes to an end.and now i stalk for a new one.

    Shyam did come around for her and she gave it all up.

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  2. Sighh... You took your time for a perfect ending... Fabulous!

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  3. Awww what a beautiful sweet ending!!!

    Can't believe it has already ended!!!

    A brilliant story, a fantastically weaved mystery!!!

    Loved the story & love your amazing creativity that made it possible to write this fabulously convoluted mystery!!!

    I do hope you will write another SS as I love your unique stories!!!

    PS another superb peace of music (cryztallise)l never heard it before but will be adding it to my playlist!!!

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  4. wow that was an amazing story! thank you so much for writing and publishing your work for people to enjoy.
    I truly admire your writing style and creativity and I hope you continue to write because you are seriously very talented!
    I've read many fanfics and TSC and TFS were definitely two of my favourites.
    I'm kinda sad it's ended but I look forward to reading some of your other work in the future!

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  5. Absolutely loved loved loved it... the thrill the suspense. ... this was an amazing ride..... the characters were creatively written. .. loved psycho payal.... hats off..... hope you will write another story soon. ....

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  6. Thanks a lot for finishing this. I'd been waiting since a long time for this.
    She decided to give everything to charity. It takes guts to say and do what she did at the press conference. But Khushi never lacked in guts.
    Thank God Anjali knocked dome sense in Arnav and he came back to Khushi. I love stories which end with a happily ever after.
    Have always been a fan of your work. I have read the Filigreed Sun at least a fifty times without any exaggeration. This is the story I have read the maximum number of times and I have read many in my life.
    Hope you will continue to write for our reading pleasure though I know you are hard pressed for time.

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  7. That was a roll coaster ride. But even that has to end somewhere right. But I had a wonderful journey.
    For a minute, when I read that Khushi missed arnav I feared something happened to him. I loved the last line Khushi said to the press that she found her soulmate and would wait for him. I always love happy endings. And I'm soo glad that you gave us one here too.
    Your an amazing writer. a lot of thought and research goes into your work, not to mention your creativity and I hope to be fortunate to read more of your work.

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  8. thanku u so much what that end sad that arni get hurt but also these seperation phase was difficult for both but happy that they come togehter and just :D



    But sry for u mother in law can understand my Nani past away also because of cancer not a long time ago so it is difficult and we always think about them but life moves on and we should keep happy because thats what elders always want from their children



    But plz stay on and write us so wonderful stories and i hope u son and husband are also keeping well :D


    IF gilmore

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  9. this was a hell of a journey...and enjoyed every single chapter....so arnav was away cos he was saving her from ar...loved it but there separation was soo sad...had a very heart tugging feeling...
    he comes for her and now shes free to live and love...loved the end...thank you...hope that you write more...
    yush

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  10. Awww its the end... awesum.. as I said love your stories...

    I have to now look for another story to read... hope you write more.

    RT

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  11. Waiting for ur next.....
    This was gr88 , as was the filigreed sun. Btw , why is it off the blog?

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  12. Perfect ending for a very well written plot. I love your stories, there is always something more to it. Arshi are so real and you make them become a couple with all their luggage - good or bad. They have to fight hard for their love to appreciate it. I will miss this story. like I said I re read filigreed sun and appreciated it even more the second time around. I know life is busy, if you write another Arshi story, let me know as I would love to read about it. Thank you.

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  13. i can't believe it has all come to an end :( was the filigreed sun taken down?

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  14. AND so it all ends here. The perfect kiss to the perfect end.
    Shyaam although remains a mystery to me and always will.

    She gives it up and he gives it back. Love is just an illusion baby!

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  15. Nice ending! did not think that you will end it so soon! still not understand shyam very much but ASR and khushi are with each other so there is nothing much to ask.
    Hope to see you soon with a other story.
    thanks for this one.

    latha

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  16. A beautiful end to beautiful story ...
    Thanks SJ ... just loved it ...
    Loved the mystery you created ...
    and the painting 'The Virgin With Daisies' sounded so real ;)

    Will always look forward to more of your work ...

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  17. A befitting denouement to an alluring and refulgent story, SJ!!! It was so heart warming to read K giving up all her riches, (except holding on the the memorable painting) just to have a normal life..and I liked the fact that Shyam,was there supporting her all the way...And, A&K together, and, blissful..am satiated!!!
    Have enjoyed this story, immensely..looking forward to the next...soon!!

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  18. Loved the story, ur writing is awesome,
    Please continue with others!

    U have a lovely gift.
    Glad to be a part of it

    K x

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  19. THIS IS IT, THEN.

    Thank you for writing this story SJ. I still cant believe its ended. Though a part of me wanted this story to go on for long, but well the other part is happy an contended at the happy and befitting end. Arnav and Khushi are together - world seems alright. :)

    I've read two of your works now, Filigreed Sun and Sabre Chronicles - and I've loved them both. You must know that you are one of the most talented writers I have ever seen. Your attention to detail is your strength. And so, me being an ardent reader and fan of your stories, I would love it if we could soon get another FF on Arhi from you? I don't know if IPK, A-K still inspire you that much - but incase you decide to write a story, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know and add me as a reader. :)

    Till we meet again, All the best in life SJ. :)

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  20. What a thrilling story!
    Just read the whole thing right from the starting and i can honestly say that didn't want to stop reading even for a minute.
    It was intriguing,pacy and crisp.I haven't ever come across any fan fiction in suspense/thriller genre,which is written even as half as good as this one.The kind of research you've done,the detailing and to top it all the precise writing...kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole time i was reading it.Kudos to you for all the hard work,effort and time you've put in this one.

    I absolutely loved Agent Raizada and Dr.Khushi....their secrets,their past,their circumstances....in the end they conquered all for love.
    Shyam was an enigma....i couldn't exactly figure out him till the last chapter.
    Payal....nothing much to say about her except that she was a bitch and plagued by demons of her own mind.
    NK and Gitu....proved to be quite good freinds to Arnav n Khushi.Gitu....a CIA ...now that was a shocker!
    Shashi and Garima....perfect parents to their adopted child.
    David and Noam....i enjoyed their convos,their bickering. :)

    In short,i loved the whole story and thank you for sharing this with us.Hope to see another one from you soon and this time i'll try to be there from the start of the journey.Few months back I came across TFS when it was completed and yesterday i wanted to reread it....but when i searched for it, i came across TSC. :)I am glad that i read this one but why can't i find TFS?

    Kanishka
    IF-arshiyakanishka

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  21. The end was awesome...when are you writing another arshi story??








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  22. SJ - please update when TFS will be available on Amazon. I want to purchase to support a good cause and also for myself :)

    RT

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  23. wow....what an ending ......a beautiful story....will miss it
    flowers4u

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  24. Wow! breath taking..
    its over
    What a beautiful ending! He stayed away from her for sometime and they missed each other badly I was thinking why he left her but Yes he wanted to made sure she was ok and happy but how could she when he was away from her....
    SJ can't thank you enough for this great story. Please don't stop writing wonderful arshi stories. We always love to read from u. Hope u r going to write a new story very soon...

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  25. Oh its over now..
    What a wonderful ending...
    please don't stop writing beautiful arshi stories we love ur stories. If u need a break u can have but plz give us more stories.

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  26. Awesome...recently found it n couldn't keep myself away from it until i finished reading it...
    What a thriller rolled in with a racy love story...just loved it...

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  27. It's over? I went MIA for a few weeks, and come back to see the story is finished. WHat a beautiful ending though. I like the idea of donating all the artifacts, jewellery, paintings to museums. And the Sara Schwab Children's Wing is just a wonderful idea. Loved this story. And The FIligreed Sun is one of my fav Arnav-Khushi stories as well. Hope you write another one soon :)

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  28. Hi SJ ,
    Just caught up with the last two chapters. It was an unusual and a griping love story enjoyed it immensely
    Thanks for a wonderful story. Please let me know when you start the next story.
    Waiting anxiously !
    KAVITA 1970

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  29. The end??!! But...really?? Well, unbelievable!! This is a hell 0f a st0ry and a great read. T00 bad it had this early ending.

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  30. WHAT DA! like IPK abrupt ending NOOOoooo!!!sorry lame joke! but wish bit longer! not good at comment, loved it loved it loved it, read all in one go u write so well, cant wait 4 new Arshi story pls update soon, read TFS only half way pls do keep posted would love read rest chapter,miss u gals chickini chamkili team IF, take carexxx angeldelight twt

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  31. WHAT DA! like IPK abrupt ending NOOOoooo!!!sorry lame joke! but wish bit longer! not good at comment, loved it loved it loved it, read all in one go u write so well, cant wait 4 new Arshi story pls update soon, read TFS only half way pls do keep posted would love read rest chapter,miss u gals chickini chamkili team IF, take carexxx angeldelight twt

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  32. WHAT DA!!! Noooooo!!! like IPK abrupt ending!!! sorry lame joke but wish bit longer, loved it loved it loved it , really enjoyed reading & very well written,read all in one go, not good at commemt pls dont mind me missed chickini chamkili team,& loved TFS read only half pls do keep posetd,& cant wait new Arshi story pls update soon,told u bad at comment:-) take carexxx angeldelight(twt)

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  33. Amazing piece of writing. ..loved every bit of it....thanks for writing this wonderful story...
    Read in one go...couldn't stop....hope to read ure new story soon....

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  34. an amazing piece of writing. throughly enjoyed the story.

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  35. I just caught up with the whole the TSC series and it just awesome. Mindblowing and Superb


    IF id rakhee12

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  36. HI SJ,

    Thank you for the fantabulous story, this was superb, one of the BEST arshi FF. Intriguing, mysterious and awesome till the very last sentence. The way you solved the Sabres code, I had to go over again and again in my mind and it was just fantastic. Loved, loved, loved the thriller. I felt sorry for Sarah and Khushi(teared up actually when Khushi was reading the diary) and was very sad in the beginning of this chapter that Arnav got killed, alas, he was alive and all iz well in the end!!.:-).

    I missed reading The Filigreed Sun. Please let us know when it is available on Amazon. I can't wait to read it.

    You are an awesome and a gifted writer!!! Looking forward to more of your works!!

    Love & Hugs
    kclovearshi

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  37. Hi there....recently came across this work..just finished reading... it's absolutely mind-blowing!!! Using the world war II background.. then including mafia n fbi in an story...& using arnav-khushi..is just awesome! Loved the plot and the setting...it was quite thrilling n gripping...very nicely done!!!
    I'd love to read TFS..so plz lemme know when it becomes available!! Good luck for your future ventures.
    UV_Arshi (IF)

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  38. Wow its over...I knew about this FF bu only read now coz I was waiting for it to be done. Its an amazing story, a completely different genre and story too. I hope you keep writing more ARSHI stories. Truly superb that they have inspired so many to write such beautiful stories.

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  39. Hi SJ thank you for a lovely story. I read the entire story in one reading and thats because I just discovered your wonderful blog from IF. I loved this story and I am going to buy TFS as well and bookmark your blog so that I can follow your new stories....All Arshi I hope! By the way I adore Arshi but more particularly Arnav for obvious reasons of being female!

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  40. Thank you SJ for a wonderful story. I loved it and I am looking forward to more Arshi stories from you. I discovered your blog from IF and have bookmarked it so that I can look for more new stories. your stories are written well and have detail which is incredible. I adore Arnav and Khushi so I want more!

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  41. Hey SJ you have an ardent fan in me.I simply love your style of writing be it TFS or TSC.Pls keep me updated for your future works.I go by the name of oopppsss on both IF as well as blogspot.PS never stop writing.Good luck always

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  42. Hey SJ I simply love your stories and enjoyed TFS andTSC.pls continue writing Arhi stories.looking forward to your next Arhi story

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  43. The story was amazing ...

    I had finished reading the story within 2 days and I must say I got so addicted read and solve the mystery.

    I didn't expect many things to be like that I mean it was shocking ...
    Shyam's character, Payal envying Khushi and Payal being the snitch ...
    Not to forget Gitu to be CIA & ya NK and Gitu made a nice pair ;)

    And I guess I didn't find out who was the leader of the mafia ..

    And Daniels appearance like that in the hotel room thrilled me

    I didn't come across you on IF and I'm glad I found your blog :)

    I don't know about your other completed story ongoing I'll have to check and read them ..

    I admire your writing and ahh I will want to buy a book :')


    Nice ending and it was so emotional reading Sarah's diary and I was glad Khushi understood her mothers love and the pain and Arnav was just adorable

    FBI agent ASR geek God...

    I will defenetly want to make my sisters read this story (from IF)

    Hope I find another story of yours to read so I can give comment :)

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  44. Dear SJ, I had written my long comment and since I wasn't signed in I lost that comment ....

    Anyway I had read this story within 2 days and I got addicted to read the story and I wanted to solve the mystery...

    I didn't expect the sudden thrilling changed to the story and I admire your writing so much for the way you wrote it...

    I mean Shyam's character and things discovered about him and later about Payal being the snitch.

    I didn't expect Gitu to be ICA and ya I loved NK and her pair :)

    I loved ASR as the FBI the great geek God ;)

    I guess you didn't let us know who the leader was of the mafia if you did let that information I have missed that (but I'm sure I didn't miss anything) ...

    I'm very glad how Khushi understood her mother and her pain while reading the diary ...

    And ya I didn't expect Daniel to be behind her misery too, like though he was in the story for short in our eyes he was behind her for long and I'm wondering if Aunty Martha knew about that...


    I really loved the ending of the story and I will ask my sisters to read it coz I never came across your story though being on IF ...


    I don't know if I can find your other stories (if any) if I do I'll surely read and leave comment :)

    I wish to buy a book so I can read it whenever :) not to forget loved your imagination about the painting ... Big missing puzzle to the misery

    I can keep on commenting so let me stop and say I loved the story :)

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  45. Just finished reading everything in one go.... all I want to say" wow!!" Can I reach through and give you a big kiss and a hug....... thank you sooo much... really!!!! Your details and scenarios....... I can climb in and actually watch the whole thing unfold........ its a fascinating and intriguing piece........ brilliantly written ........ I am normally not into mysteries and stuff but boy!!! Am I not glad I didnt pass this one?? Thank you once again!!!
    Love all the way from K.S.A

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  46. Hello SJ, :)

    And the mystery is solved! :)

    I know I am quite late but better late than never. :) I don't know if you remember me but I have previously commented on this phenomally written story of yours. :) I remember when I found this story it already had a couple of chapters posted. I quickly started reading it and I couldn't stop because this is a story which is completed different from anything I have read on Arnav and Khushi. Very intriguing! :) I am writing this to you for two reason. The first one being I just caught up to the last two chapters that I didn't read before. I read them and below is my comments on the chapters as I was reading them. :)


    Chapter 27 - Seminal Errors

    When I was reading, Chapter 27 - Seminal Errors, I thought to myself I understand what Henri is doing is for his father but would he really kill Khushi. A person who just recently found out that she is a member of the royal family.

    Wow! It had only been three weeks and a lot has happened. :o :)

    Aww... Arnav thoughts were so sad and romantic. I like that you have actually wrote about when and how Arnav had fallen for Khushi because I really wanted to know this earlier when I was following your story. He had fallen for Khushi the first time he saw her in the hospital but the feelings of how he is not worthy of Khushi's grand life after going to the secret vault was so sad. :( I don't think Khushi would want to be anywhere else other then with him. :)

    Poor Khushi! It is really sad when you are forced to do something that you don't want to do. Khushi doesn't know what sad things are going on in Arnav's mind and is about to be apart of something she doesn't want to and is ashamed to be part of. :( I really like the way you have written Khushi's thoughts on her helplessness and also why she came so far. It is actually very brave and sweet of Khushi to risk her life in order to help Arnav get to the Mafia so he can remove the guilt he had for Lana's death. :) I spoke to soon... Even though Khushi wants to be with Arnav like I said above you give a valid reason why Arnav can't be apart of her life after the secret vault revelation. Khushi doesn't want Arnav to be drag in to her worries after the secret vaults content are revealed. So sad! They both love each other a lot. :(

    Omg! Nazi kept blood tainted possession of other people in their lockers and Khushi's cousin, Daniel is part of the Jewish Mafia! :o

    I hope Arnav and Khushi are safe.

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  47. Chapter 28 - Its game time

    What the... Shyam? What is going on where is Arnav? :S

    Okay! maybe I have spoken too soon... Khushi misses Arnav and feels lonely in a room full of people. I don't know what is Shyam doing with Khushi but Lets see...

    Oh! So everything is sorted between NK, Gitu and Shyam. That is good! :) Payal is in jail and established psychopathic paranoia. :o Wow! :o I never thought she would became this but considering what her behaviour towards Khushi. It is understandable.

    Awww...Khushi was true to her words that she would always love Arnav. It has been a year and she misses him. So sad how her life circumstances is keeping her away from her soulmate. :( Arnav just checked out of the hospital without even saying good bye but I guess it was not a goodbye he was always protecting her. :)

    It was a big risk on Khushi's part to reveal her past to the media because you never know what people would think. But I understand she did it to bring what mafia did in public so the Nazis don't get a chance at the money. She also did it to get rid of the burden that is on her. I am glad that everyone in the room empathized with Khushi. :)

    Awww... Arnav missed Khushi unconditionally as well. These two are nuts! Nice to read about Anjali! Really liked reading a Anjali putting some sense in to Arnav. It was a very heartwarming brother and sister conversation. Good job! :D

    Lol...."The he threw the comforter off, jumped off the bed, and dashed out like a cheetah on steroids." :D

    The whole scene of Arnav and Khushi meeting after one year was initially very funny but then turned very romantic.

    Aww...So Sweet! “Now, don’t go breaking my door. Isn’t it enough you broke my heart?” I loved this dialogue. It is sweet and sad at the same time. :)

    I really like the way you have described Arnav and Khushi meeting after one year. They way Arnav tells Khushi that he didn't voluntarily stay away from Khushi he stayed away to protect her from the rest of the Mafia. Since most of the Mafia knows Arnav which could have put Khushi's life in danger. Well done! :) *Clapping*

    And Arnav and Khushi's unconditional love for each other got them together in the end because they couldn't breathe without one another. And they now live, Happily Ever After! :) In simple words, Loved Reading This Story! *Clapping* :)

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  48. The second reason is I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading this story and how you have beautifully written this story. :) This story is such a good combination of thriller, mystery, romance and humour. *Clapping* All the characters in this story were shown completely different from the show IPKKND. I liked how you progress Arnav and Khushi's characters and their relationship. :) You have justified each character from a jealous sister, Payal, who eventually got a mental illness to Shyam who initially seemed evil but turned out to be a good friend who immensely regret his previous actions. :)

    You have shown certain social issues that do exist with in the families nicely. I think the relationship you have shown between the siblings Payal, Khushi, and Malayka was very realistic. Khushi's emotions of feeling like an outsider growing up because of the way she looks and the unwanted attention she got from boys caused to bring forth Payal's resentful behaviour towards her. It was very realistic because if you grow up with a sibling who resents you in this case Payal, it results with feelings of not fitting in and feeling like an outcast. It was all very beautifully described. *Clapping* Khushi's relationship with her parents, Sasi and Garmia were really nicely shown. You can tell that Sasi and Garmia truly loved Khushi like their own daughter and wanted what's best for her. :) Again a very realistic concern you have shown through Sasi and Garima for Khushi. The concern of Malayka treating Khushi the same way Payal does because of Payal's influence on Malayka. Parents with children not getting along worry that the younger child may wrongly get influence to go against one child resulting in a two to one team. They concern about their one child being cornered by their two siblings which in this case is Khushi. So, I really like the realistic way you have described and portrayed Khushi's relationship with her family and Khushi's emotions living with her family. *Clapping*

    I have to say that Arnav and Khushi's past were quite unique and very original. You have were nicely written Arnav's past with Lana which was so sweet in the beginning but ended in such a tragedy. :( I can't imagine how one must feel after such a terrible accident on the most joyous day of a couples life, wedding. You wrote Arnav's emotions really nicely. Arnav being afraid to fall in love again and that to with Khushi who is again just like Lana apart of his mission and helping the FBI. However, even though he kept saying Khushi would not be another Lana in his life Arnav's attraction towards Khushi was powerful enough to break through his firm resolve. I am glad that Khushi went to discover and unravel her past to not only help herself but to help heal Arnav from his guilt of Lana's death. Khushi's past was what this story was based on and what a past Khushi had. A past that changed her whole life. A past that is hurtful yet beautiful because it brought her soulmate, Arnav into her life to help her. Without Khushi's past Arnav would not have come into her life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and unravelling Khushi's past mystery. :D *Clapping*

    The music/music videos that you added was a really nice addition. :)

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  49. This story is very intriguing and fantastically executed by a talented writer like you. :) My words are not enough to explain how much "The Sabre Chronicles," has a very unique concept and how beautifully it is written. The whole story concept and the way it was written had you know Hollywood mystery/thriller like, "The Bourne Identity" kinda feeling to it. :)

    I was not much of a reader but after reading wonderful work on Arnav and Khushi from talented writers, like you, I have become a reader. :) You are a phenomenal writer and I am writing this message to tell you how much I enjoyed reading "The Sabre Chronicle." You should definitely think about professionally publishing this or even making this fantastically written story in to a movie. Have you ever thought of publishing this?

    P.S. Just a reminder, if you don't remember me here is the link to my one earlier comment under the name, Rimz. I think beside the following comment on the link I have commented once more as well. :)
    http://thesabrechronicles.blogspot.ca/2012/11/chapter-17-on-brink.html

    Thank you :)

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  50. P.S. Did Khushi meet her parents and is everything sorted between them? :)

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  51. You are such an amazing writer that I am at a loss for words. TRULY EXCEPTIONAL BRILLIANT writing. Your gift for words, the way you conceive scenes and your penchant for details is extraordinary. I felt like I was actually reading what might have happened during the time of the nazis... evoked feelings similar to the ones I had when I read Anne Frank's Diary. I was living all the moments. Take a bow for your brilliance and please keep entertaining us with your beautiful writing.

    A big fan -- ship13

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  52. Just read this story. I could not stop after starting it because of the suspense and mystery. Loved the way Khushi and Arnav worked together from the beginning. Chemistry was amazing! The lack of misunderstandings between them made it even more special and unique! Glad she gave it all up all that blood money in the end!

    I bought the Filigreed Sun from Amazon and loved It too!

    Hope to see more work from you!

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  53. I read this story in two days in one go. LOVE your writing. a marvelous job. Thank you so much for creating such sinful characters who would take us to another imaginary world. Above all thank you for keeping Arnav and Khushi alive.

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