Avni's POV

"So you are saying that you kissed me to irk Mr Dwayne?", I asked, annoyance and frustration clear in my voice.

"Yes Miss Mehta, the affectionate move was to provoke him so that he does something impulsively and we have an upper hand in the whole chaos.", he said coolly.

"The what move?", I asked in exasperation.

"Did you just get that part from the whole statement?", he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Do you think all this act will stop him from chasing me? What about my mother? You know he's a maniac right?", I asked ignoring his question. Talk about embarrassing yourself.

"I've taken care of your mother for now but I'm certain Dwayne won't accept his defeat so easily. He'll come for your mother and eventually... for you."

"Why are you helping me all of a sudden? Why are you helping a girl who ridiculed you so many darn times? And on top of all that, why are you marrying me?"

He pulled me towards him gripping my shoulders. 

"Believe me what I'm doing is totally appropriate and eventually you'll thank me for that.", he said looking straight into my eyes.

"If a marriage is all that takes to stop that psycho, I'll marry someone else but you are not an option."

His grip on my shoulders tightened, "Don't be ridiculous Miss Mehta, you think any man can protect you from him. You want someone who's more powerful than your enemy."

"I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO PROTECT ME Mr Khanna.", my words were clear and loud. What does he think of himself, if he won't help me, I would not be able to help myself?

"Sure you don't," he said sarcastically. Arrogant son of a rotten bread!

"Mr Khanna if you think you are my knight in shining armours then let me give you a reality check that I'm no damsel in distress, I'd rather die than surrender myself to a devil-like you."

"I don't have such ridiculous desire to be your knight in shining armours and I'm not giving any option to you. You and I are going to marry and that's final."

"No.", I stated and took a step back.

"No?", he said striding towards me.

"No."

'Great Avni, I'm proud of you. Don't you dare agree to marry with this Satan.'

"Do you think you can protect your mother from him? As far as I remember you got kidnapped and that day she was alone, anyone could have killed her. You can not stay around all the time to protect her, you need someone Ms Mehta, why are you making such a deal of this fact?"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE THE SAME MAN WHO DESTROYED THE ORPHANAGE OF MY DADA.", my hands flew to cover my mouth as soon as I spoke the last word. He can't know about Dada, he can't know about my tragic past, about my horrible fate. 

Tears stung my eyes and I turned in order to hide my tears. Why am I so sensitive whenever it comes to Dada? He always taught me to stay strong then why do I always end up with tears just by a mere thought of him.

"You see I demolished your orphanage and here you are, bawling your eyes out, that shows how strong you are.", his words were insensitive. I won't lie it hurt me like someone stabbed a knife in my chest.

"I need time to think."

"I don't have time, I need your affirmation right now."

"Mr Khanna?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you want to protect me?", I asked looking deeply into his brown eyes.

"I've my reasons.", he said without looking into my eyes and sat down on his chair pretending to read some papers.

"What reasons?"

"You'll know them sooner or later.", he said and got back to his documents.

"This is going to be disastrous.", I mumbled and closed my eyes sitting down on the couch placed away from his desk.

"Is that a yes?", he said, his eyes glued to the stupid documents.

I sighed.

~~~~

After the life-changing affirmation as Mr Khanna says, I was asked or more like ordered to stay inside his igloo. 

"Your mother is safe, believe me.", his words before he slammed the door of the guest room behind him.

Aarav was not home and I was getting bored out of my mind, Mr Khanna took my mobile phone and didn't return it. 

"Miss Mehta, are you in there?", Mr Khanna knocked at the door.

I opened the door and let him in," Do you think I'm a witch who can teleport anywhere.", I asked sarcastically.

"You can't keep your sarcasm aside for a moment, can you?"

"No.", I retorted.

"That was a rhetorical question, Ms Mehta.", he said folding his arms.

"Oh was it? My bad!"

Mr Khanna didn't say anything for a moment and ran his gaze across the room.

"Why didn't you eat lunch?", he asked, moving towards the table where the plate of food was kept.

"I'm not hungry.", I mumbled and sat down.

Mr Khanna sat down beside me and handed me the plate," You need to eat. I have come up with a way which will keep your mother out of all this for a while."

"But you said she's safe?", I asked fully turning towards him.

"She is but I'm not sure for how long.", he paused and waited for my reaction but all I felt was empty, sensing I'm not going to say anything he continued," I have come up with a permanent solution."

"You have?"

"But for that, I need your..", he hesitated and a second later a small whisper left his throat, "help."

"My what?", I shrieked in disbelief. Mr-I-am-the-richest needs my help. An amused laugh escaped me and he glared at me.

"Goodness! Miracles don't cease to happen. You, Mr Khanna, need my help, sweet little innocent me's help. Wow!"

"Dammit do not joke Miss Mehta.", he grumbled.

"I wouldn't dare.", I laughed but immediately covered my mouth.

"Come on.", he pulled me out of the room.

"Hey! but what's the plan, what I need to do and where are we going, Mr Khanna?"

"To meet your mother.", he said without paying any glance towards me, his strides were long and It felt like he was practically dragging me.

"And?"

"And that's it."

He almost gently shoved me in a black Camaro, keyword gently. Note to self: Never travel with Mr Khanna. The car ride to the stars knows where was silent, of course. The expensive motor vehicle stopped at a very strange place.

 It had no vegetation, no buildings, houses whatsoever, it was just a piece of land and I suppose right now we are standing in the periphery of Mumbai. He'd have told me where we are going but of course, suspense should be there.

That sneaky son of a bachelor!

I looked behind me and just as I expected there was a whole troop of bodyguards.

"Where is maa, Mr Khanna?"

"You see that car over there, she's in there.", he said, his voice composed.

"What are we waiting for then, let's go.", I said and began walking towards the Sedan parked across us at a fine distance.

"Miss Mehta what did you think?", his words froze me right at my place.

"What do you mean?", I asked, confusion and fear lacing my voice.

"You forgot you still have to apologize to me.", his voice was cold, icily cold.

My heart thudded inside my rib cage, what crawled up his senses all of a sudden. What nonsense is he speaking?

"I thought we were over that phase."

He gave me a blank look," You really thought you can pass like that after ridiculing me, hmm?"

All of a sudden he snapped his hand and hell broke loose. A large explosion took place.

Boom!

Horror filled me, no this can't happen, he wouldn't dare. And then his words made sense.

"I've my reasons."

"I have found a permanent solution."

I turned and my eyes widened. The car in which my maa was sitting was on fire. I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

"You killed her.", I choked."Just for revenge, an apology."

I ran towards the car, no-no this can not be happening, Mr Khanna is lying. The car looked like it was ready for another explosion but I could care less. 

"Miss Mehta..."

All of a sudden arms wrapped around me and I was pulled into a hard chest. He turned me so that now I was facing him.

"Why did you do this. You killed her...You want an apology? I'm ready...I'm ready to apologize but please tell me she's safe, she is fine.", I sobbed and struggled in his arms to escape. All of a sudden I heard a gunshot.

My heart dropped in the pit of my stomach.

My anger and the pain in my heart was something that can't be described. I felt I was dying but his next words shocked me.

"Quit struggling Miss Mehta.", he grumbled." She's fine."

As soon as those words left his throat, my head snapped to his face.

I looked into his eyes finding any trace of a lie but I failed." You are saying the truth?", the continuous crying made my voice hoarse but all I cared about right now was if maa was alright.

Mr Khanna brought his hand to my cheek tucking some strands behind my ear," I promise she's safe."

"Then what was all that?", I asked impatiently.

"An act. There was a mole in my system and I used him against Vidyut. That guard over there, he was backstabbing me, as soon as the car exploded James saw him calling his master that is Vidyut, once he was done he shot him."

Now in Vidyut's eyes, your mother is dead and no one can kill an already dead person fixing our problem."

"Mr Khanna you are heartless.", the tears in my eyes didn't seem to stop anytime soon." You can't realize how I felt a few moments back, I felt you ripped my heart off me. You could have told me about this act."

Something like guilt shone in his eyes.

"If I had told you, the essence of the act would have been lost."

"You can't be serious."

Before I knew his forehead was on mine and once again hell broke loose. He kissed a tear running down my cheek.

"I'm sorry Miss Mehta but trust me even the walls have ears and I can't risk anything when it's involving you. I can't risk you in danger, not now not ever."

His words were sincere and I don't know why warmth flooded my heart due to them.

What is happening to me?

And

What is happening to Mr Khanna?

___________________________________

Thank you so much for reading. I sincerely hope you liked the chapter. Did any of you imagine that Mr Khanna would turn so soft suddenly? 

What are your views on Mr Khanna's plan? I could have left it in the middle but I personally hate cliffhangers like H-A-T-E. 

And he apologized to her. Mr-Arrogant-Chauvinist-I'm-a-block-of-ice-Khanna A-P-O-L-O-G-I-Z-E-D to her.

Excited to read conscience's thoughts on it, aren't you? *laughs*

Till then take care and stay safe

Love love

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar