dedicated to aaks19, avika13, anjalikharbe, Vandieeg, Kiddo_Star, Ananya_malik, atom_brown_eyes,

and too all my followers, readers and friends...

24 ~ Beast's Return ~

Flashback.......

Ray Mansion...

Living Room...

Late Night around 1 a.m.

" So, You are still awake, MISS KHUSHI BASU?" Arnav's cold yet slightly slurry voice snapped Khushi from her inner thought.. She looked ahead but froze seeing in front of her.

Arnav Ray is standing in front of her with his devilish smirk, red eyes and a cold posture. Looking at him anyone can say that he is heavily drunk...

" Answer Me Miss Khushi Basu.. Why you are still awake?" Arnav uttered every words chewing brutally...

Only one question popped in Khushi's mind, " Is this the end?"

Gathering her all will power Khushi finally replied, " Arnav... are you drunk?"

Hearing her question, the mighty AR only smirked and taking few long strides stands before Khushi. Khushi could senses Arnav is heavily drunk because his hot breathing is fanning on her, his red eyes signalling something dangerous.

" First of all, It's AR for you Miss Khushi Basu and yes, I am drunk. But who are you to question me?" Arnav said hissing making Khushi flinch in her place.

" There is something wrong, very very wrong... How a man can change so suddenly and become so harsh in a blink of eyes? Or was this the real feature of Arnav, till now was he just pretending?" Khushi thought to herself.

As if sensing her inner thought Arnav uttered, " You are right Miss Basu... Finally I got what I wanted for long. Advay's custody and it means Your Service is No more required." Arnav said harshly looking straight into Khushi's eyes.

Khushi felt an invisible slap on her face, her inside churn in pain but the moment she locked her eyes with Arnav's brown orbs, she felt there is something more in the story. Why Arnav's words and his eyes are not matching? Why there is ocean of pain and a silent plea in his brown orbs? What is actually going on?

" Why are you mute? Cat got your tongue?" Arnav mocked but it seems to Khushi that he indirectly wanted her to speak, give some reaction after his hurtful words.

" You asked so many questions Mr Ray, so let me answer them one by one. I waited for you and call you by name because I am your wife." The moment Khushi spoke those words Arnav cuts her off.....

" If you are forgetting this is a contract marriage, so we are contracted husband and wi..wife.. So, You will not wait for me anymore.. and you will not call me by my name and.. and..." Arnav suddenly stop seeing KHUSHI standing so silently. Why did not she reacting more violently? Or Why is she not crying ? Arnav thought desperately looking at Khushi's composed demeanour.

" Yes, I remember this is a contract marriage. But I think you have a short term memory loss Mr Ray, because there is exactly 12 days still left for the contract marriage to end. So, till then I am your wife and I have the right to call you by your name and wait for you to your return back at home. Anything else ARNAV ??" Khushi said while Arnav stomped listening after Khushi's words.

" Now, have your dinner and sleep." Khushi said signalling Arnav to take his seat and Arnav was too shocked to execute his next plan.

" You are counting the days to get rid of the contract?" out of nowhere Arnav asked the question but regretted immediately. Did Khushi find out his inner turmoil? Did she able to see the soul of him behind the mask of a beast?

Arnav collected himself immediately and said, " Good... that's good that you are already prepared to.. To leave me... I mean leave us.."

Khushi did not reply but silently served him the dinner. The moment Arnav started to eat, Khushi started towards the stairs.

" Where are you going dammit?" Arnav roared seeing Khushi is leaving without having her dinner. Khushi did not reply but continues in her step.

Khushi soon stops as she felt Arnav's hold on her hands and before she could understand he pulled her harshly towards him. " Finish the dinner and then go upstairs. You are not allow to stay in empty stomach." Arnav said firmly but Khushi felt his helplessness beneath his every words..

There is definitely something very wrong.

" Why? What will happen if I stay in empty stomach for a night?" Khushi asked not showing any eagerness to move to have dinner..

" I.. I don't want any trouble for upcoming 12 days.. Yes.. That's .. that's the reason." Arnav said not meeting Khushi's eyes.

Khushi observed Arnav keenly for few moments and then silently sat down on the dining hall. They both silently finish their dinner. Khushi was about to go towards the stair but stop when Arnav spoke something very unexpected, "And Miss Basu, you may shift your things in the guest room. I think in the guest room many of your belongings are already present, so just shift the rest .. And regarding Advay, he will sleep in his nursery room. He was used to sleep there before too, may be for few days it will be difficult but he will eventually adapt the change. And I will soon appoint a nany, so you will hand over her everything regarding Advay before you leave..."

Khushi froze in her place this time. It is not any joke or it's not any drunken stupor. The coldness and bitterness in Arnav's voice was so serious that Khushi convinced that this is the end... But then, why she saw helplessness and pain in Arnav's eyes earlier?

Khushi thought to confront Arnav but the moment she turns, Arnav was already standing before his study. Looking at Khushi's eyes Arnav shut the door with a loud thud making Khushi flinch in her place..

This really the end then...

********

Next day morning....

Khushi was restless the whole night and definitely she did not get any ounce of sleep. The whole night she just remembered Arnav's words and his expression. Her mind had always warned her but Khushi prefer to listen to her heart's whispers in the last six months time periods...But yesterday her last encounter with Arnav not only shaken her but she started to think everything with a clear mind. The more she thinks the more she got confused.

In this entire time period the way Arnav care for her, his affectionate forehead kiss, his possessiveness, protective nature everything was making her more confused. Khushi could not help but remembered the entire time period Khushi spend with Arnav..

"Was is all a pretension? Then why yesterday Arnav's words and his eyes were not matching? Why I felt Arnav was helpless? Did someone blackmail him? Did the Mallik are related in anyway?" Khushi thought restless and the more he thinks, the more she got confused.

Yesterday, Khushi made Advay to sleep in his nursery room. Advay is and always been a very understanding child. Before the six months Advay used to sleep in his separate room, and even in this six months Advay few times slept in this room and even with Akash and Payal.. so, it was not difficult to make him understand and besides Khushi stayed with him till he asleep.

Khushi herself shifted to guestroom. Because Arnav's last words and repetitively mentioning about the contract marriage, hurt her a lot. Though she is still hoping against hope that there is something more which is hidden from her, but she could not just hold on the tiny hope. So, after a lot of thinking finally Khushi shifted towards the guest room and it was not very difficult too. Khushi when came here had nothing of her own, so, she easily left the wardrobes untouched. In the guest room there are few clothes which she had used before her marriage and she decided she will use those clothes only.

Khushi looked at the small box in her hand while she stands infront of the bedroom of Arnav, which yesterday was "their" bedroom but now it's changed, it's now only Arnav's bedroom. She has to give back this box as she could not keep them with her anymore, after Arnav's words last night.

Khushi knocked the door slightly and found it already open. Taking measured steps Khushi entered in their oppse now Arnav's room. She could not find Arnav there but the sound of water indicates that Arnav is in washroom. Khushi stands there for few more times when Arnav came out from the washroom being ready for the day.

" You are here, anything you required? Look I am little bit busy if you don't mind." Arnav said not meeting Khushi's eyes.

" I will not take your much time Arnav." Khushi said looking at Arnav's eyes who just flinched looking at Khushi's red eyes which indicates that Khushi had a sleepless night. Arnav felt a stab in his heart for giving Khushi this much pain.

There was a pregnant silent. No one dared to continue the conversation. Khushi was hesitant to ask the question which she had prepared for and Arnav was not at all ready to hurt Khushi more that he already had hurt.. Though he had intentionally drunk last night just to get his emotion numb so that he can hurt Khushi... Only Arnav knew how much he himself got hurt while muttering those hurtful words towards Khushi.

Last night was almost a nightmare for Arnav when he entered in the bedroom which was Khushi-less. He kept tossing and turning for a long time but due to the effect of Alcohol finally he slept. And now early in the morning Arnav had all the plan to leave for office early so that he can avoid to face Khushi..But Khushi herself came to confront Arnav and Arnav is not at all ready to face Khushi right now.

Just then Arnav's phone rang breaking the silence and Arnav sigh in relive. A broad smile appears in Arnav's face looking at the caller ID.. For a moment Arnav forgot that Khushi is standing in front of her and their present relationship equation.

" What a pleasant surprise Liza...I was not expecting your call..."

.......................

" You are coming after so many years, so I will definitely come to the airport to receive you..."

......................

" I am always at your service baby girl...yaa.. I love you too." Arnav finally cut the call while an unusual smile was plastered in his face.

Khushi felt a ache in her heart.. Don't Know why but the smile on Arnav face and Arnav addressing some other girl so lovingly, just stabs her heart...

" Don't forget your real place Khushi. Arnav had already make it clear that this was just a contract , nothing else.. You meant nothing to him.. and this will end within next 11 days.. You have already lost everything, your family, your mother and your precious heart too. But don't make it obvious in front of Arnav that how much you are broken, that how much he affects you, that how much FOOL you are.. Did you forget who you are? You are just an ordinary, middle class orphan and he is Arnav Ray.. if , you are nothing that no one would ever want you in their life then,  He is everything that any girl could desire in their life. Just save your remaining dignity and leave this house after the contract gets over... and now from the phone call it's clear that there is someone special in Arnav's life..." Khushi's mind mocked at her while her heart tried to protest but sometimes, people believe or force to believe what they see...

At present Khushi is too hurt to use her rational thinking. She was the one who came in the room to have a proper conversation with Arnav before deciding anything about their relationship. Somewhere she was sure that Arnav is doing this for some reasons, Khushi thought may be because of Mallik but now after watching Arnav's smiling face Khushi decided to take steps back...

Arnav looked at Khushi after cutting the call and coming back to reality and asked, " You were saying something. Hurry up Khushi.. I have to go."

" Nothing special Mr Ray. I am here to return back the belongings which is rightfully belongs to your wife, I mean your real wife and the real daughter in law of this house.." Saying so Khushi silently kept the box on the table besides the bedside and turn to leave but stop hearing Arnav's voice.

" What is in the box?" Arnav asked while his cold voice did not show his inner turmoil.

"See by yourself.. I have to go, Advay will awake any time soon." Khushi again attempt to leave but Arnav again stops her.

"Wait Miss Basu. Let me see what you are returning me." Arnav said while in his heart he wanted Khushi's presence for few more times. Arnav open the box and was surprised to see the jewellery inside it.

" What the.... what is it Khushi?" Arnav asked while the irritation was clearly visible in his voice.

" Nothing, the jewellery which belongs to your family." Khushi said while crossed her hands over her chest. "Please check it Mr Ray, if everything is there or not."

" KHUSHIIIIII......." Arnav almost shouted hearing Khushi's opinion.. "did she thinks that low of him ? She became ready to leave everything so easily?" This was the only thought in Arnav's mind.

" It's Miss Basu for you, Mr Ray..and I am really busy." With that Khushi hurriedly left the room otherwise she would have break down before Arnav in no time.

" She has move on so easily? That means she never loved me.. She just fulfills her responsibilities?" Arnav thought while his heart burned with Khushi's ignorance and nonchalant behaviour.

" You are a beast. No girl will ever love you AR..." Sheetal's words echoed in Arnav's mind.. Arnav shakes his head while wipe the lone tears..

" Everything was an illusion... not every fairytale have happy ending.." that was the common thought which were lingering in both Arnav and Khushi's mind..

Communication is the key to clear every misunderstanding and establish a successful relationship.. On the other hand, a lack of communication can let a beautiful relationship to death bed.. And it's so true for both Arnav and Khushi at present scenario....

After Arnav's hurtful words last Night, Khushi once thought to confront him but Arnav's irrational act and insensitive words holds her back.. and cherry on the top the mysterious conversation...

Khushi thinks that Arnav is in a relationship and Arnav thinks Khushi never loved him...

Whom to blame?? Are they really blameable or their fate was designed in such a way that they are never meant to be together...

After all not every fairy tale have a happy ending....

End of flashback....

************

Present day....

Terrace...late night..

Ray Mansion...

Khushi was remembering the last 6 months she had spend in this house. Few more days are remaining, and she will leave this house leaving everything behind... it's been 2 days after the conversation she had with Arnav and Arnav left for a business trip to London...

No phone calls, no message, no communication.. Nothing...

But Khushi very well knew that Arnav is interacting with the family members daily for few times.. and she is trying hard to maintain the facade in front of the family. But today, before few hours when Khushi got the news that Arnav is coming back tonight, she felt happy suddenly and once again had thought to confront Arnav for one last time.. But all her hope crushed when in late night a news link was visible in her whatts up ...

" Arnav Ray was hanging out with his ex flame Liza D suza... they were seen in late night party and club... their proximity indicates that they are NOT JUST FRIEND... so, are AR again falling for his ex? Then what about his wife? Is there is problem is paradise? Is a divorce in it's way??"

Along with the news there was a photograph of Arnav and a beautiful woman was tagged.. Though it was not very clear but it seems like they were very cozy.. And from the corner the photograph was taken it seems they were kissing each other...

Khushi shut her eyes tightly while trying hard to control the damn tears.. She has no right to think about this, even she has no right to get hurt...but what about the stupid heart...

Khushi's thought was broken when she heard the sound of the car in the porch... the white SUV indicates who has arrived finally..taking deep breath Khushi hurriedly came down and went towards the guest room... she will never show her broken heart to Arnav...

She will leave eventually after 9 days anyways... she will be strong... she have to ... with that Khushi lays down closing her eyes waiting to welcome another sleepless night...

To be contd.....

Author Note:

Hello My lovely readers...

Here is the next chapter of this story..

So, the flashback of past ends here.. Now the story will move in present ONLY...

Finally Beast is awake and has taken his first move.. Already angry with him?

I can only say, It's a ROMANTIC LOVE story, so keep faith on your story teller.

Hope you are enjoying...

Expecting your response ....

I have published a new Arshi OS " you are my everything".. have a look..

My other works name, " Another chance", " Sweetheart" and " Rising phoenix".

There is two OS and two TS which are completed. Give them a try too.

Love and regards...

Your story teller

Mamree

02.03.2020