"Fine. Don't talk. Don't let me in. But I am Arnav Singh Raizada only. I won't leave either. I will stay here under this fucking rain and won't care whether I develop cold, fever, pneumonia or whatever the hell other sickness are!"

With that he sat on the stairs in front of the door with his elbows on his knees. Running his fingers in his hairs he groaned when he didn't get any response even after a very solid threat from him as he knew that no matter what she won't let him drench in rain in this cold and get sick. His safety matters the most for her.

But his assumptions proved wrong the very first time as an hour passed but she didn't relent at all while he sat there under the pouring rain with his jaws clenched and lips pursed. His eyes turned red with restraint. Another hour passed and his patience level starting notching down.

Another hour and it reached the score zero and he let out a blood chilling bellow of frustration.

"KHUSHI!"

His whole body shivered with rage coupled with helplessness as he turned his face to a side and his eyes finally caught her standing like a statue behind the single glass door out-looking the stairs where he was sitting. There wasn't a single twitch on her face neither was any acknowledgement of his condition. She was just staring at him blankly.

How could she?

"DON'T DO THIS TO ME." He shouted and along with his yell thunder rumbled again. Heavy downpour continued.

"Do you love someone else now? Is that why you are being this cold with me?" He asked in order to get some expression, emotion out of her. Hurt her in other words. But her answer stumped him.

"Yes. I love someone else now." She said briskly and right on a cue her hand went to her abdomen to caress it. If he wasn't that stunned he would've noticed this unusual habit she has developed now a days. That might have given him clues but his bad luck or say his over the top obsession,extreme emotions about his world revolving around only at a single point at one time.

In the past it was his mother. After her, his sister.

And right now that point, that reason was her only. Khushi. He couldn't think of anything else except for her. Nothing beyond her. Coming to think of it. It was this only that has made him who he was. Arnav Singh Raizada. If didn't had that trait in him then he wouldn't have succeeded in business world at all either. But he did. Only and only because at that time he wanted to give his sister a good, luxurious life back which was snatched away from them heartlessly.

Only difference was that his nature was always giving in those relations. Never taking. But in this particular relation with his wife his nature was never giving and always taking. Snatching to be precise.

He blinked his eyes as if to clear the fog. Maybe he heard her wrong. She didn't mean what she said but as he looked in her eyes, he saw that she wasn't kidding at all. And it.. it broke everything inside him.

With that all of his views to bargain with her puffed in air as ASR took over within moments. The next thing Khushi knew was that the front door was broken along with its hinges with just a few of his strong kicks to it and he was before her in no time hovering over her that she couldn't hold the gasp of surprise herself.

"When did you go out? Who helped you? Who is he?" He threw many questions all at once towering over her without touching her. Water dripped down from his hairs and face to her nose and cheeks causing her to swallow thickly.

"I didn't go out. No one helped me. I can't tell you." She replied in order of his questions making him more stunned with the serenity on her face as if she has found everything in the world she has ever asked for. He was afraid, that everything, didn't include him at all.

"HOW COULD SOMEONE ELSE ENTER YOUR LIFE WITHOUT ME KNOWING?" He roared punching his palms against the wall on either sides of her head.

She gulped hard and it took all of her strength to keep a poker face while looking into his intimidating eyes as blood rushed to them making him look like a wounded animal. She has touched a sensitive string of his heart.

"The same way you declared your rules in my life without me knowing." She answered back calmly. Arguing with him will only made him more mad which right now neither could she afford nor could she handle.

Right now her only motive was to make him understand her position and get him out of their life. Her and her baby's life. She can't let this much darkness touch her innocent child. No way.

For that to happen she has to get rid of his/her father. Even if it would kill her from inside separating from him.

Before she could act on her words, she found herself in a bone crushing hug drenching her dress from front as well with his one hand on her waist and other cupping her nape. His breaths fanning on her neck sent shivers down her spine.

"I know. I know you just said that to hurt me the same way I did. Neither can you love someone else nor can you think about anyone else but me." He was saying breathing against her neck.

She didn't struggle this time nor did she retort. She just stood there waiting for his madness to subside a bit so that she could talk with him. She has to be calm and rigid for her baby. She can't be weak anymore. Never.

At least not in front of this man. A lump formed in her throat as a thought struck her whilst she felt him nuzzling his nose against her neck, her hairs.

His hand around her waist trailed from her back to her abdomen stilling her in her place because right at his touch she felt her baby move. Her baby already knew his/her father's touch. Blinking back the tears she closed her eyes as anguish hit her hard as she asked herself yet again.

Was she doing the right thing?

She knew they both had a lot of differences and distances between them that would never be solved and filled ever but.. what about her baby?

It was because of him only that she knew now what it felt like to have a life growing inside you. Out of all the bad things he ever did to her, this was definitely not one of them. It was only because of him she was going to be a mother and it was only and certainly because of him that she has had to hide it from him too. He would stay deprived of it. Maybe forever. A wave of guilt passed through her which was wiped off by his next move as he carried her up effortlessly all of a sudden before heading in the direction of stairs.

"I think you have forgotten what it's like to be loved by me, Mrs. Raizada." He said meaningfully.

"Ex. Raizada." She corrected him bunching his wet clothes in vengeance trying desperately to wriggle out not really sure of what he was up to now. She shook her head closing her eyes as water drops fell from his hairs to her face making her scowl.

"Whatever." He walked ahead holding her tightly against him despite her protests. "This is the perfect opportunity and time to refresh your memory."

"You will force yourself on me again?" She growled punching his shoulders. He stopped for a moment before swallowing painfully and composing himself. Guilt gnawed him.

"Shut up Khushi. I am not talking about having sex." He said bluntly stunning her.

Her struggles stopped and she looked at him wide eyed. No matter how bold she herself was but she couldn't use that word that blatantly ever. She would've thought a thousands time before uttering it.

"Come out of your narrow mindedness Khushi. There are other ways to show love and care, too." He continued ignoring her reaction.

"Mr. Raizada, leave me. Let me go." She was getting irritated now. Tears welled up her eyes. Upon that the pregnancy hormones were already doing their job quite well as her patience level was withering with every passing second. All of her thoughts to be calm and talk flew out of her mind in a jiffy.

"Eight hours. It had been eight freaking hours that neither I saw nor talked to you. Isse zyada mai bardasht nahi kar sakta. Bilkul bhi nahi. (I can't bear more than that. Not at all.)" He was now ascending the stairs as her struggles stopped yet again hearing his words whilst his eyes confirmed them.

"Aur un choda dino ka kya? Tab kaise rahe the hamare bina? (And what about those fourteen days? How did you live without me then?)" She asked finally what she had been meaning to ask ever since he came back.

"Tab reh liya tha toh ab bhi reh sakte hain. Aur iski aadat daal lijiye kyun k hamara bilkul bhi aap k saath zindagi guzarne ka irada nahi hai.(When you could live then you can do so the same now. And get used to it too because I have no plans to live with you forever)" She said when he didn't reply to her earlier question and kept staring at her as if he has nothing else in the world to look at.

"Careful Khushi. Choose your words wisely because your family's safety is dependent on my calm mood. If it finished so would the peace in your family." He reminded her brutally.

Maybe that did it or something else she didn't know because all of a sudden she didn't know what came over her but the next thing she knew she was sobbing profusely stopping him dead in his tracks making him guilty for blackmailing her again.

If only he knew that wasn't the reason which made her cry. Even she herself couldn't tell why she was wallowing at the first place itself.

All of her calm demeanor vanished and she wailed out loud making him sick with worry.

Her mind was blank but her eyes kept pouring out testing his patience. Hitting him where it always cut him the most. Always.

"Fine. FINE." He shouted before putting her down once he was in the bedroom.

"There. I let go." He raised his hands in air."Now stop crying. I won't do anything."

But nothing calmed her down. She rubbed her eyes, sniffled and then cried some more causing his nerves to throb.

Only thing left was for her to sit on the floor and whine like a child. Huh!

He was in full mood to shout at her when he frowned as his gaze fell on her abdomen accidentally where one of her arm was constantly wrapped around.

"Is your stomach paining?" He asked and the question was enough to put a full stop to her sobs. She shook her head while her face turned pale.

Stumped at her shock, he raised his eyebrow when he noticed another obvious thing before his eyes darted to her face, her shoulders, her back, her hips, her legs and then back to her arm over her belly.

"It's weird. When I look at your face, your arms, your shoulders or any other part of your body it seems like you have lost weight but when I look at particularly your abdomen, it seems you are gaining weight. Just from there. Why didn't I notice it before?" He asked more to himself than her.

Khushi gulped hard. Sucking in her breaths, she tried to gather her wits.

Of course she isn't gaining weight as a normal pregnant lady should because of the stress you're putting me through!

"You are just seeing things." She composed herself in miliseconds. After all it was the matter of her life. Her child.

He walked to her with his eyes never leaving her face trying to decipher her reaction to everything.

"Of course you'd lose weight because ever since you started living in a separate room, away from me you got the edge to do as you please. Not anymore." He said and she exhaled in relief that even after obvious observation, his shrewd mind didn't go there. To the truth. To the secret. Maybe it wasn't in his mind even in the farthest corners. Not even in his wildest dreams he could think of this possibility. She wouldn't have either if she hadn't had seen and felt the proofs.

"I know how to take care of my possessions." He cupped the side of her cheek to which she felt her breaths turning shallow. In fear. Fear of him finding out. It was so potent that for a moment she even forgot he has divorced her and humiliated her in the worst way possible. She felt her ears buzzing. Her head pounding.

"Let me tell you how did I live without you. In the last fourteen days." He whispered huskily pressing his palms to her cheeks hovering over her turning her face up towards him while gazing at her hungrily.

Then the unexpected happened. Her eyelids drooped and she fell on him making his jaws drop. Dumfounded he gathered her in his arms for many moments before he rushed into action.

Panicked he patted her cheeks on the verge of passing out himself.

"Khushi. Open your eyes dammit." He ordered with his eyes turning wide with horror before he hugged her tightly in his arms worried sick when she didn't respond. Gradually his mind started working after he kept calling her but she didn't budge.

"Shit" He muttered as he realized that he has drenched her clothes in his desperation to be close to her. Maybe her blood pressure lowered. Already she was so thin and petite that even the wind could blow her. Coldness of the winter must be too much for her.

He was having his own monologue while lying her down on the bed. Running to his closet, he fetched his long kurta from a few spare clothes he has left in here and changed her clothes keeping his gaze on her face before covering her with the blanket properly. He caressed her face then sitting besides her on the bed after changing his own clothes as well.

He didn't waste any moment before calling the doctor but her phone was switched off.

Dammit!

He ran his fingers in his hairs in frustration and on the verge of bursting his nerves before a thought struck him finally. Taking the glass of water, he sprinkled water on her face. She squirmed but didn't open her eyes. But it was enough for him to know that she was alright. Coldness and tiredness must be the reason of her fainting like this. Yes, that was it. He comforted himself.

"Maybe she fainted due to lack of food." As soon as the thought occured him, he placed the glass on the bedside table and hurried to the kitchen.

He made a few sandwiches and took out fresh orange juice for her. Thankfully, he keep the kitchen of this mansion well stocked too otherwise it would've been difficult getting anything from outside in this rain at this time of the night.

When he came back in the room she was sitting all awake leaning against the headboard. Heaving a sigh of relief he placed the tray on the bedside table before offering her the plate of sandwiches looking at her face and her eyes hungrily. She has really given him a fright just minutes ago.

To his surprise she took it and ate them all without a word. He handed her the juice then which she drank without a fuss as well.

"I guess you were really hungry." He said with a raised brow.

A lump formed in her throat.

Not me, our baby was.

She wanted to say but gulped the words down with the last sip of the juice. She felt repulsive of herself for starving her baby like this. Not anymore!

She slipped back into the blanket silently stunning him some more. Just hours ago she has screamed at him that she won't let him be near her after what he did to her. Neither would she stay in one room with him. But now, not only was he with her in a room he has changed her clothes himself as well and she.. she didn't even say a word.

What was going on in her mind?

"What kind of trick are you playing with me this time around, Khushi?" He asked leaning over her while sitting besides her. His hands placed on the pillow on either sides of her.

"What do you think?" She asked instead.

"I will be good to you till you will stay obedient to me. So you better chuck it all out whatever your ploys or fucking tricks are to escape me. Did you get it?"

"Hush." She whisper yelled."Do not curse."

"Huh?" His brows furrowed.

What the fuck?

This wasn't the first time he was cussing.

Now all of a sudden she has a problem with that too?

"Are you kidding me?" He gritted.

"I didn't say anything when I woke up and saw that you changed my clothes and invaded my privacy doesn't mean that I have given you the authority to do anything." She retorted.

Now that was something like his Khushi. But wait, what the hell was she saying?

"I invaded your privacy? From when did you start having personal things in which I can't interfere?" He scoffed.

"Since you divorced me." She was all ready with an answer and it stung like an invisible slap on his cheek.

It was better when she was keeping silence. He pursed his lips.

"Fuck it." He deliberately cursed in obstinence. "I don't give a damn to anything called privacy in your life even if you believe you freaking have any." He growled on her face punching the pillow besides her head.

All she could do was shake her head disappointed at him. What else could she expect from him? The time when she had attached hopes with him was long gone and buried.

"I handed you the divorce papers doesn't mean I would give up on you too." He announced which he has been screaming for umpteenth time.

"Kaise rakhna chahte hain humein? (How do you want to keep me?)" Despite herself, she couldn't help but choke.

"Mine. Always." Pat came the reply said with an ardent, fervent emotions shining in his eyes that made her exhale.

She would have let herself be played by his words, his conflicting emotions, his over possessiveness, his madness maybe silently if she wasn't mindful of the life nourishing inside her to whom she has promised to fight till her last breath. And she did.

"Then give me some time to understand."

"About what?" He acted innocent even though he knew what she was talking about.

"To make up my mind to live with you without marriage." She stated blankly.

His eyes took a calculative look.

"Are you serious?" He asked seriously.

She just nodded.

"How much time do you want?"

"At least-" She swallowed. "A week."

"Done." He agreed right away. His Di has asked him to make a decision in a week. There he have to make a decision and here she would make it at the same time. In the same interval on which both of their future would depend.

"You won't meet or talk to me during--"

"No." He shrieked. "I had had enough of separation from you in the last two weeks. Not anymore. You need time, right? You will have it. But I am not letting you out of my sight."

"Ye kaisa time dena hua phir jab chobeis ghante hamare sar par sawar rahein gay? (How can you call it giving some space when you'd keep hovering over my head all the time?)" She gritted angrily at his stubbornness. He always turn the situation in his own favor and have his own way.

"Maine aisa kab kaha? Tumhe waqt chahiye, le lo. Socho aur phir faisla karo. Mai disturb nahi karun ga. Par mai tumhe yahan akela chod jaun ga iss baat ko apne zehen se nikal do toh behtar ho ga tumhare liye.(When did I say that? You want time, you will get it. Think about it and decide. I won't disturb you. But leaving you alone here isn't an option. Keep that thought out of your mind.)"

Frustrated she groaned at his arrogance.

"Wah.Agar aise hi waqt dena hai toh nahi chahiye humein. (Wow. I don't need your so called generiosity then if you are going to stay over my head)" She burned with anger from inside while saying it.

"Maine tumse pocha nahi apna faisla sunaya hai.(I am not asking but telling you my decision)" He said fastening his gaze on angry hazel pools.

"Bhaar mai jayen aap aur apka faisla. (Go to hell both you and your decision.)" She roared.

Sighing he bent to kiss her head but she turned her face and his lips landed on her temple.

"I wasn't kidding when I said you will forgive me one day. You would. You'll have to." He whispered in her eyes causing her to close her eyes in pain. How much confidence and believe he has in his words that yes, he would get it one day that for a split second even she got carried away too before she shoved him off her.

"Zara sambhal k Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada. Itna ghamand bhi acha nahi hota. Agar toot gaya na toh bohat takleef ho gi. Itni k bardasht nahi kar payen gay.(Be careful Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada. This much proudness isn't good for if it broke then it will prick like hell that you won't be able to bear the desolation thereafter)"

"Takleef k aur bhi bohat se roop dekh chuka hun. Wo bhi dekh lein gay, Mrs.Arnav Singh Raizada.(I have already seen different forms of agony anyways that I don't see any problem experiencing any more shades of grief, Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada)"

For a moment that name churned her inside before she shrieked out in anguish.

"I am not your wife anymore. Stop calling me that." Her tone slowed at the end whilst her eyes teared up to which he swallowed.

"Bohat dard hua na tumhe divorce papers dekh k?(Seeing the divorce papers stung you badly didn't it?)" He asked silently.

She averted her eyes blinking back the tears.

"Agar tum ne pehle hi din mujhe chuna hota toh itni takleef na hoti tumhe. Na hi mujhe tumhe itna dard dena padhta.(If you had chosen me on the very first day then you'd not have been in so much torment today. Neither would I had been forced to give you so much pain)"

"Agar apne wo sawal kiya hi na hota toh ye sab hua hi na hota.(If you hadn't raised that question then all this wouldn't have happened either)"

"Agar uss sawal ka theek jawab diya hota toh maine bhi wo sab na kiya hota jisse tumhe takleef ponchi.( If that question had been answered correctly then I would not have done all that had hurt you.)"

"Jawab toh bilkul sahi tha bas Arnav Singh Raizada ki pasand ka nahi tha (The answer was absolutely right but simply it was not of Arnav Singh Raizada's choice)" She said sarcastically causing him to clench his jaws.

And he lost it when she said.

"Han humne chuna apni Amma ko. Aur agar dobara kabhi yahi sawal utha toh bhi hum unhi ko chunein gay. Samjhe ap?(Yes I did chose my mother. And if that questions arose again then I'd choose her only all over again. Do you understand?)" She knew how to cut him deeply. Surely.

His insides shook with angst. He trembled with emotions. In that moment he lost his patience and unbound rage shoot through him.

"Band karo mujhse bewajah behas karna. (Stop arguing with me for no reason)" He growled as old wounds cracked open. Not only his but hers too.

For no reason? Seriously? She fumed.

"Shuru apne kiya tha. (You started it)" She reminded him bitterly.

"Toh ab mai hi bol raha hun (Now only I am saying it) Shut the fuck up!" He roared before storming out of the room deliberately added cussing word to which she flinched.

She knew now he would make that a habit to use profanities just because she asked him not to. Not because he frequently used it anyways already but just because he was hurt and he would definitely want to get back at her by anything. Any means.

He ran downstairs clenching his jaws and balling his hands into fists when he saw someone entering through the broken doors while looking at the condition of the doors worriedly.Seeing the person made him ground his teeth in sheer frustration. Her eyes met his and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Of course she wouldn't have let you in otherwise." She said looking at the mess he has created.

"Let me breath at least Di. Do not overcrowd me." He gritted walking to her who casually arranged the strip of the bag on her shoulder before giving him a smug smile that made him burn with rage. As if he wasn't neck deep in it already because of that crazy woman who was his wife once. Days ago only.

"Now you can actually feel what Khushi ji had been feeling for about months now." She showed him the mirror very smoothly that left him tongue tied.

"I don't overcrowd Khushi." He exclaimed pissed.

"Yeah, you don't overcrowd Khushi and I don't have a limp in my leg. Same pinch. Aren't they?" She took a dig that forced him to purse his lips. Her gaze fell on Khushi's suitcase still there at the door.

"Anyways, I am here for Khushi ji. She must be up in the bedroom right?" She didn't stop for a reply and walked upstairs dragging the suitcase with her leaving behind a gaping Arnav.

His sister was interfering in his life and taking away control of the things from his hands. It was getting too much for him. He had to find a way to not only get the situation back in his hands before its too late but also get to the bottom of everything Khushi was hiding from him.

With that thought he climbed the stairs having a goal set in his mind.

"If you are staying here then so am I." Anjali has put her foot down causing Arnav to tighten his jaws and Khushi to heave a sigh of relief.

That wasn't all. Anjali has slept with Khushi in her room while she has blatantly told her brother to look for another room in his big mansion to rest. When he tried to protest Anjali just gave him a warning through her eyes reminding him about the hold she now has on him. His life. Those damn Gupta House papers!

Fuck!

How did she get hold of those papers?

Question lingered again.

That was so freaking frustrating to have no answers to his questions. First thing in the morning, apart from trying to bridge some of the gap between him and Khushi also giving her promised space too at the same time, he would ask Aman to dig in answers for him that how in fucking hell his sister could reach his secret locker in a hidden place in his cabin and retrieve something so confidential without him knowing?

"I too was once an ASR. ANJALI SINGH RAIZADA!" Anjali has said.

"Dammit!" He punched his hand on the door upon entering in a room down the hall.

Now what difference would it make anyways whether he gets to know how she got the papers? His Di knew and she took full advantage of it proving him that surely she was his own sister!

As he fell with a thud on the bed on his back he turned to one side, grabbed the pillow and tucked it under his head before burying his head in the same and screamed out loud into it. If his voice wasn't muffled by the pillow then it would've echoed the whole mansion.

He turned to his back and looked at the ceiling as tears teetered on the edge of his eyes.

"It's weird. When I look at your face, your arms, your shoulders or any other part of your body it seems like you have lost weight but when I look at particularly your abdomen, it seems you are gaining weight. Just from there. Why didn't I notice it before?"

His brows knitted as he felt something amiss. Something really under the line. What? He couldn't pinpoint.

What was it?

He tossed and turned in the bed before grunting.

"Damn you Khushi Kumari Gupta!" He gritted.

Whatever the damn his instincts were pointing at must have some meaning because never has it ever happened that his gut feeling turn out wrong.

She was losing weight ever since she has been out of his sight and stayed in another room. To be precise ever since they have come back to RM where one or the other family member won't let him have all of the say in her life neither does she.

He grabbed his phone and dialed a number to book an afternoon appointment with his family doctor.

"You gotta be alright Khushi. You sure as hell should be!"He muttered while waiting for the call to connect.

"I have to make an appointment for my wife Khushi Singh Raizada with Dr. Nidhi." His heart stung as he told Khushi's ex-name which she no longer owned.

Dr. Nidhi's assistant connected the call to her cabin and once Nidhi was on line Arnav urgently told her that he would come with Khushi to the hospital tomorrow anytime she would be comfortable giving his wife her full attention because he want her thoroughly examined.

"Oh so finally you know Arnav. Thank God." Nidhi sighed in relief who has herself witnessed Khushi's tension upon finding her pregnancy test positive and all that happened later.

Arnav's heart jumped up to his throat as his stomach lurched.

He knows. He knows what?

In just a moment for an astute businessman like him he knew that even Nidhi was privy to the secret his wife- erm ex-wife was hiding from him. So he jumped at the opportunity to get it out of the doctor if not Khushi.

"Yeah I know." He stated simply.

"Did you talk to her? She was truly depressed upon the news."

He swallowed.

What was it that depressed her more and other than he, himself?

"Yeah we had a detailed conversation and now she is okay. So are you available tomorrow?"

"Of course. I am." She said and he disconnected the call deciding that the afternoon appointment would be best.

He knew he could've asked Nidhi directly of what does she knows that he don't?

But he can't take that risk. Probably there were a high chances that Nidhi has been in contact with Khushi so she knows what he don't and if she told Khushi that he called to book an appointment then it would sure make Khushi defensive and alert which could make her attempts increase to hide whatever the problems she was having.

So he chose the indirect way. Agreed to whatever Nidhi was asking. Pretending that he already knows. It would take the doctor in confidence and then tomorrow he would play his cards to get to the bottom of everything.

Now the question which was nagging him and rubbing him.

What could be possibly wrong with Khushi that she took the help from doctor Nidhi?

Was she alright?

The thought of something disastrous happening to her gave him shudders.

He impatiently paced in the bedroom trying to curb the urge to barge in her room upstairs and demand answers. Ask her to assure him that she was fine. She would be fine. She would always be!

But not only was he bound to the promise he made to his Di he was also bound to hers that he would give her space so he let himself fall back on the bed and spent the rest of the night on eggshells whilst worry for Khushi kept him on the toes every single passing moment.

The only relieving thought was that the afternoon of tomorrow would come soon and so would the light that would uncover the truth and every damn secret.

__________________

PRECAP:

"Get ready. We are going to the hospital." He ordered in his own typical way.

A chill ran down her spine as she went all pale.

Hospital? 

"You need to get thoroughly scanned. You are not doing well." He added more firmly.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

Scan?

No!

NO!

Her hand immediately went to her stomach which didn't go unnoticed by him.

At all!

___________________