Part 25 Not just words...

Khushi became nervous hearing a knock on her room door. She was sure it was not Anjali because the *knock* sounded low. Anjali would have called her name while knocking on the door if it was Anjali. So, it must be Shyam. That thought made her more nervous. She decided not to open the door.

Taking her mobile, she dialed Anjali's number. But there was no response. Anjali should have been sleeping. Or, Shyam might have put her mobile on silent mode. But, she got a call from Anjali's number immediately. She attended the call hurriedly.

"Di..."

"So, you have not slept yet..." Said Shyam.

Khushi clutched her breath hearing his voice on Anjali's phone. She closed her eyes in fear. Shyam not only put Anjali's mobile on silent mode but also kept it with him.

"Don't cut the call..." it was a warning.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to listen to him and also decided to record the call.

"Why don't you understand my love, Khushi? Do you know how badly I wanted to meet you? I came to India only for you" He talked slowly.

"Could you stop talking rubbish?" Khushi said angrily.

"Listen to me Khushi. I know you are angry with me for stopping your marriage. But trust me, I can't live without you. My love for you is so deep..."

"Shut up... Just shut up... Don't you have shame? At first, you loved my sister and got married to her..."

Cutting her,

"Yes, I did... It was just an infatuation... I understood that only after I realize my love for you"

"Don't name it love..."

"Let it be anything... I want you..."

"It will never happen"

"Do you think you can go to Delhi and could live alone?" it was absolutely a mockery.

"You can't stop me," she said with stability.

"I won't... In fact, I too want the same" he chuckled.

Khushi frowned.

"I will come to Delhi... without your sister's knowledge and disturbances... only you and me. It will be easy to tackle your sister if you go to Delhi than being in Mumbai"

"I will tell Di about your dirty mind"

"Are you going to spoil your sister's life?"

Khushi was silent.

"She is happy... She will be...but, it's in your hands. Are you going to break your sister's family?"

"It's not me but you who is breaking my sister from the core. My sister knows me. She will not believe you..."

"Really? Shall I show you a sample tomorrow morning? It won't be hard for me to turn the table against you. I can make your sister think, you are the one who eyed on me. Do you think I can't do that?"

Khushi gulped hard.

"you have no choice other than listening to me... Or else..."

"Or else?" She gritted her teeth.

"Your sister will be left alone..."

"Being alone is much better than being with a womanizer like you"

"Womanizer? No Khushi... My only need is you. Only you. You have no idea how badly you affected me. Let me touch you once. I won't disturb you again. I will get you married to whoever you want..."

"Chi... how cheap you are... My sister is worshipping you..."

"Of course, I will give her whatever she wants... just like a God... in fact, I will give her everything, even god can't give. Your one YES can make everyone happy. Trust me... Your sister will not get to know about our relationship. You don't have to bother about her."

"How could you be so heartless?"

"I'm not heartless... My heart is full of you... That's why it's demanding me to bring you close to it. Just think... How happy your sister is...! A simple adjustment of yours will keep her happy always"

"Simple? What do you think of me?"

"I'm thinking a lot about you... I will tell you everything when you are in my arms"

"It won't happen"

"What do you think? Can't I get you? I don't need your permission to touch you. I can do it if I want... but, I just don't want to make you awkward because I want to make it out with your full acceptance."

Khushi was shocked. How dare he?

"A single sleeping tablet is enough to make your sister sleep. After that, I can even break the door of your room"

Khushi clutched her dress, biting her lip. She didn't expect he would have guts to this extent. She panted hard.

"I will give you one full day to think. I know you will come to me because you have no choice. You have no one other than us. What will you do? Where will you go? Even if you go to Delhi, it won't help you because I have the photos that we captured when I came to India last time. It's enough to prove that we are in a relationship. Who will question me?"

Khushi closed her eyes. Yes, they captured the photos before she got to know about his dirty intention. in those photos, she was so casual with him. how cleverly he used everything in his favor...!

Khushi thought about Arnav and Nani. Thank God, she had someone who could provide shelter for her. Thank God, Shyam was not aware of them. Or else, he would have searched for some excuse to stop them from helping her.

"Khushi, listen, I will make you feel like a queen."

Khushi was silent. She didn't think talking with that monster would be useful. What was there to answer to such a cheap creature?

"Take a full day and think... see your sister's smiling face and cheerful Shali, then decide... Give me one chance... you won't think of leaving me ever..." he said devilishly.

Khushi closed her eyes, thinking about her sister. Tears rolled down from her eyes. How truly Anjali was loving him! How did she believe he would be their protector? How this man made everything upside down! Bloody bugger...

"I will be waiting for your good reply. Good night Khushi" Shyam disconnected the call.

Khushi threw the phone on the bed wrathfully. She didn't care about herself because she got a place to be safe. But her sister was an unlucky woman to have such a heartless husband. Khushi didn't want to be in the house for not even a minute where the cruel man was living. But it was just 1o clock. What could she do now? What if Shyam woke up early in the morning? How could she leave the house?

Khushi remembered what Arnav said. Didn't he say, he will be up for the whole night? What if he slept? Why should not she give it a try? There were a lot of questions raised in her mind. Yet, taking her mobile, she dialed Arnav's number but disconnected the call on the first ring itself. If Arnav was awake, he would call her. Her face lit, seeing her mobile lightening. She saw Arnav calling her. she attended the call immediately.

"Arnavji..."

"Did he do anything? Did he misbehave with you?" He asked controlling his anger.

"No, but he intimidated me..."

"for what?"

"That, I can do nothing against him..."

"What did you say?"

"I said nothing because I don't want him to know about my plan"

"What did he say?"

"He gave me one-day time to tell him my decision."

"What decision?"

"He... he wants me..."

Arnav gritted his teeth.

"Come out..." he said.

"Yeah... I will be coming out of the house tomorrow early morning"

"Not tomorrow morning... right now"

"Now? But how? It's 1o clock Arnavji... I won't get any transportation..."

"I said just come out..."

Khushi sighed and something kicked into her mind. She rushed to the window and slid the curtain. What she saw there was unbelievable. Arnav was waiting there in his car. Khushi was stunned. Damn this man... was he waiting for her here? for the whole night?

"Arnavji, are you here? when did you come? From when are you waiting here?"

"I came at 10'o clock..."

"You could have told me"

"All the lights of your house were switched off... I thought you were sleeping"

Khushi sighed.

"Sleep? And me? How could I sleep when the snake is ready to swallow me alive?"

"Likewise, how could I sleep, leaving you with a snake?" he asked in a feeble tone, could not hold his tongue.

Khushi got stuck... a smile crept on her face with relief. What Arnav said was not just words... he truly wanted to protect her.

"Check, whether they are sleeping or not. Be careful"

"Mmm..."

"Don't disconnect the call... don't be scared. I'm here..." Arnav said.

"Jee..."

She pulled her bag from under the bed. Taking it, she slowly opened the door without making noise. She ran her eyes and checked if Shyam was somewhere in the living room but nope, he was not seen there. She peeped from her room and saw Anjali's room door was closed. She headed to the main door tiptoeing. Slowly opening the door, she came out and again closed the door.

Arnav saw her out and kept the car ready, starting its engine. Khushi run fast and got into the car panting hard. Arnav didn't delay there even for a minute and geared the car up. Khushi closed her eyes, hugging the bag. No doubt, she was crying. Arnav saw her miserable figure. He extended his hand and touched her head. Khushi stopped crying and looked at him. Arnav gulped down hard. Though he didn't say anything his touch conveyed that he will be there for her... forever...

To be continued...