Gupta Sadan Study

OP kept the tea tray on the table in the Study.

"Jamai babu, should I prepare it for you?" He asked Shyam, who seemed the only attentive person in the room, while the other three occupants were too engrossed in their papers.

"No OP kaka, I'll help myself."
Shyam poured the tea in the cup.

He had come here an hour ago and since last 30 minutes he was sitting on the plush sofa doing nothing.

It was exactly the 6th day after the death of Shashi Gupta.

As normalcy had prevailed, Shyam had come to disclose the Will of Old man. In addition there were three personal letters from Shashi, that were also to be handed over to their righteous owners.

'Shashi sir indeed was smart businessman. Knowing exactly how to make any person do according to his wish!'

Shyam thought taking the first sip of cardamom tea.

Shashi had properly used emotions, conditions and obligations for Lavanya, Khushi and Arnav respectively.

Arnav's PoV

He sighed reading the papers.

As if two Gupta daughters were not enough, Gupta Uncle had also put the responsibility of company on him.

'The 'G&R' will be headed by Arnav Singh Raizada.'

Arnav looked at the other side. 'He showed so much trust in me.'

Lav's PoV

She wiped her tears while reading the content, 'Papa and Mom's blessings will always be with you and Aman.'

Her father wanted her to marry Aman Mathur.

Hugging her father's letter to her chest she ran out, towards her room.

'I have to choose between Papa and Arnavji.'

Khushi's PoV

Her face was red with anger.

Shashi had divided his shares between his two daughters equally ----15% to each but with a condition.

'Both will have to get married within a month.'

Khushi was clueless why her father wanted them to marry the grooms chosen so arbitrarily- Arnav and Aman.

Her patience was out of control...and she needed to vent out her anger on someone.

"You must be too happy, isn't it Raizada?" She looked towards her target. "Everything went as per your plan, didn't it!"

"Shut up Gupta, I am tensed already. Don't you start now." Arnav was in no mood to argue with her.

"After all this..."

She threw the papers towards him, which he felt hitting his face.

"....YOU are fucking tensed? As if I don't know your strategy! By brainwashing Papa you inserted these clauses, didn't you?"

Arnav stood up marching towards her. "Cut the Crap! I was neither interested in you nor your company!"

Pulling her arm, he inched closer to her, as he said in deadly whisper. "Do you get it?"

But Khushi pushed him back before retorting, "You can't fool me, because I am neither Lavanya nor Papa. You didn't find Lavanya profitable enough so you thought to catch me?"

She caught Arnav with his collar, "But why will you leave a Golden Hen? So trying to tie my sister with your cousin!"

Shyam who was too frightened to speak till now, have to intervene.

"KKG, it's not like that. Shashi sir had made the will 2 weeks ago, even before Chhote came back."

"I am not talking to you Mr. Jha. Your work is over. Have your tea and get lost!" Khushi didn't like his intervention.

Shyam was used to her rude behavior. But it was not like this since the beginning.

Their fathers were family friends. So she was very fond of him. But after his marriage, the equations changed.

Shyam was not sure of the reason or he didn't want to acknowledge it.....

Arnav who was successful in freeing his collar from her, was irritated now. "You can't talk to Jeejaji in that tone!"

"I can! Because it's my home." Khushi shouted back, "You and your family stay away from it Raizada! Forget the marriage I won't let you take even my company!"

"Really Gupta! Let's see then. I challenge you....In two weeks you will marry me in the same mandap with Lavanya and Aman." Arnav wasn't the one to back off.

"The day will never come. Even Lavanya will not agree for this marriage." Khushi moved to go out.

Shyam was already out of the study.

An angry Khushi and Arnav is deadly combination for anyone's health.

'How will their marriage happen?' Shyam was tensed, when he heard her.

"Jeejaji..."

It was Lavanya.

"You have said that my signature is needed."

For a second Shyam was flabbergasted but then he replied her calmly...

"Yes, on the confirmation letter. But it's not urgent. You can sign it later."

"No jeejaji. There is no question of second thought." Lavanya had her face drained with all the tears, as she held the open.

While Shyam took the papers out of briefcase...only to have another roaring voice taking away their attention.

"Stop it Lavanya. Are you out of your mind?" Khushi had come out and shocked to witness the scene. "Do you know what you are going to do?"

"I know Khushi, I am ready for the marriage." Lavanya mumbled.

"But you can't. You don't love..." Khushi's protest was not important for her sister who cut her in middle.

"It's Papa's last wish Khushi! This is the least I can do for him."

Lavanya signed, and gave Shyam, back the papers ignoring Khushi's horrified expressions.

"Arnavji..." Arnav was seeing all this from the Study door, when Lavanya called him, and he got tensed.

"Does Amanji know..about this..? Will you tell him and Madhumati aunty about it?" Lavanya was acting too much mature of her age.

"I'll." Though he was not sure if Aman and Buaji knew.

'Buaji will be happy. After all she had proposed it in the first place.' Arnav was relieved seeing Lavanya handling it so easily.

Now he had to tackle only the elder sister.

While Lavanya went back to her room, Khushi got angrier looking at Arnav who was mockingly smirking at her.

'I am already winning Gupta!' His eyes were reflecting it.

'I'll have to find some solution for this.' Khushi marched towards her room.

._._._.

Khushi's Cabin GR

Next morning Khushi was in her cabin with NK. "I called Bhavya, but she says there is no loophole."

She had not slept even a wink last night. Looking for all possible options...to dodge the will.

"Bhavya is the best legal advisor in the country, K. If she says so, then we have only one option to prove that Arnav has forged it!" NK spoke convincingly.

"No NK, we'll not take any illegal option." Khushi already knew what NK was proposing... but she denied it outrightly.

"KKG try to understand. We are already at loss due to your father."

NK was exasperated,

"To blackmail and manipulate for his own wishes! Which father does this to his own daughters?Everyone has the right to choose their life-partner but..."

The complaints of NK irked Khushi.

"Enough NK! I haven't given you any right to talk about my Papa in this way!"

"Sorry K. I just got emotional. But if ASR retains the chairman seat it would be disastrous for us. I am still puzzled, how he has got those 20% shares."

Khushi pressed her head.

NK was right.

If Lavanya and Aman got married, Lavanya's 15% shares would also act in Arnav's favour.

While Khushi would be left with only 15% of her own. Her father's remaining 15% will be sold, if she didn't marry Arnav, according to the Will.

"K, your marriage with ASR is panicking me." NK tucked her hair behind her ear."I can't think of living without you even in my dreams."

He was being overdramatic.

Holding her chin he made her look towards him. "Let's spend tonight together. Why don't you come to my flat? It's been weeks since we..."

He tried to snuggle her neck, but she detached from him.

"NK, no! I am not in the mood."

She had lost her father just a week ago.

NK sighed, "Hmm...I understand. May be sometimes later. Next week?"

Khushi didn't answer him anything.

She had many pressing matters before her.

'I have to choose between 15% or my freedom.'

She took a sip of black coffee, while NK went back to his cabin, giving her an irritated glance.

"What if I force Lavanya to marry Arnav?" Khushi asked her father's photograph, freshly hanged that morning...on her cabin wall.

And this idea had a devilish smile on her face.

She had to use Sam Dam Dand Bheda to replace Aman with Arnav.

By Hook or by Crook.

._._._.

Up above the sky

Shashi slapped his forehead while Garima smiled from up above the skies as they heard Khushi in their respective tablets, the live forecast from Earth being available now.

"You are not the only one using Chanakya Niti." Garima teased her husband.

Note : (I don't believe in ghosts. The last phrase is just for fun😉.)

._._._.

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