Part 27 Husband's Duty

Laila slowly stepped inside Neerav's room. Neerav got down from the bed, gritting his teeth. He raced towards her while shouting,

"Why did you come inside my room?"

"Calm down Neerav... we have life..." she said trying to handle him.

"Life...? What life are you talking about? You have no right to talk about my life after ruining it..."

"What did I do? What was my mistake? I saw you with an alcohol bottle..."

Cutting her,

"You said I misbehaved with you...did I? Did I even touch you?"

Laila tried to say something,

"Don't you dare justify your action... I can remember well what you did. Falling on me, you dragged me on the bed... Get the hell out of my room"

"Where could I go?"

"Go to your father and mother who were the main characters of your drama..."

"Drama...?"

"Do you think; I know nothing? I know how shamelessly you were behind Arnav. After his marriage got fixed, you planned to trap me to get him... that's why you stepped into our family..."

Laila was shocked to the core. Could Neerav predict this much? Of course, Neerav didn't say that knowing her intention. He said that in anger but fortunately or unfortunately it was true.

"No, Neerav... that's not true..." she said making a sad face.

"I have no single reason to trust you... get out..."

"Listen to me Neerav, what if I have piles of money? I want your love and support..." she hinted that she has money.

"Love and support? For what? To destroy MY family? It will never happen until Neerav is alive..."

"Will you believe me if I give you loads of money?"

Neerav stopped.

"Money...? Like really?"

Laila nodded yes, getting hope.

"After killing me alive, are you trying to bribe me?"

"No..."

He dragged her to the door and pushed her out of the room. This time, he locked the door from inside.

Laila stood outside fuming. She wanted something but happening here is something opposite to it... her plan of making Neerav her slave by showing her money flopped. What will she do now?

The next morning

Arnav woke up from his sleep as his phone rang. He extended his hand and his hand touched something SOFT. It didn't feel like a pillow. He opened his eyes and saw Khushi sleeping next to him. His sleep fled away from his eyes. Khushi stretched her body. His TOUCH should have disturbed her. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Good morning" She closed her eyes casually again, making Arnav wonder.

Again she opened her eyes jerking and sat on the bed. Arnav smiled at her.

"Did you think you are hallucinating me like ALWAYS?" he asked teasingly.

"No..."

Cutting her,

"Don't lie, Khushi. I have the capability to find lies" he smirked.

"Very nice..." She got down from the bed and rushed to the washroom.

Taking his mobile smilingly, Arnav checked it. The call was from Aman. Why did Aman call him early in the morning? Arnav called Aman and he attended the call.

"Yes, Aman...?"

"ASR, what you suspected is right"

"What do you mean?"

"Rakesh was bribed by Anup Kapoor"

"Whaaaat?"

"Yes, Rakesh got fifty lakhs from Anup last night."

"What the f... How do you know?"

"My men are following Anup and Rakesh"

"Follow Laila too..."

"ok... We have to tell Neerav about it"

"No... not now..."

"Why ASR?"

"He is already angry with that woman. He didn't even allow her inside his room last night"

"Is it?"

"Yes... he will kill her if he gets to know the truth"

"Let her die"

"I don't care if she dies... but Neerav's life will be spoilt. Do you know why they did this?"

"No... they didn't talk about the reason. Anup thanked Rakesh for lying to us about Neerav. Rakesh was the one who forced Neerav to drink. They trapped Neerav with a good plan"

"Do what I say..."

"Yup..."

Arnav said what should be done. Aman said ok.

"I want him to be behind the bars..."

"He will be"

"Then we will get to know why they exactly trapped Neerav"

"Mmm"

Arnav disconnected the call furiously. Don't know what they want. How brilliantly they portrayed Neerav as a drunkard in Arvind's eyes. What's their plan? Why Laila became Raizada Bahu? Does she want to revenge them? He has to be careful... Let's see what she does.

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

Neerav saw Khushi going to the kitchen. He rushed to her and stood in front of her. Khushi was taken back, seeing him.

"One minute Khushi... I mean, Bhabi..."

Khushi wondered.

"I'm sorry..." he said.

"Sorry for?"

"For hurting you," he said regretting.

"When did you hurt me?" She asked calmly.

"I did... I..."

Cutting him,

"I want to thank you for that. Because of your denial, I married Arnav... I would have missed a great person if I had married to you..."

Neerav gulped hard.

"Yah... Arnav is a good guy but hardly interacts with others..." he smiled awkwardly.

"Really? Maybe... With OTHERS..."

"I'm happy he is not like that with you..."

Khushi nodded yes without a smile and left the place not wanting to hear more from him because she was not ready to trust him blindly. Who knows what his intention is.

Neerav stood couldn't understand how to react. She is his brother's wife now. He couldn't even feel sorry for hurting her... because it won't sound good anymore.

He got his sense back, hearing a coughing sound. He saw Arnav coming towards him with a smile. Neerav smiled at him awkwardly.

"Don't feel bad... I will take care of her" Arnav said with a smile and went to the kitchen. Neerav was perplexed, seeing him talking to him about Khushi casually.

In the meanwhile,

Khushi came to the kitchen and boiled the milk to prepare coffee for Arnav and herself. She sensed someone behind her. She saw Laila standing. Khushi smiled at her formally and concentrated on the work she started.

"I can't understand what's there in you..."

Khushi's hand stopped working, hearing that.

"At first, the younger brother wanted to marry you... after he denied marrying you, the elder brother came forward and married to you... from where did you learn to trap men? I don't even know the skill..."

Khushi looked at her shockingly. How could she talk to her like this? There was a smirk on Laila's face as she achieved what she wanted to... her smile got vanished when she saw Arnav spitting fire on her, standing at the entrance of the kitchen. Khushi looked in the direction of Laila's sight. She felt more insulted seeing Arnav though she was a little relieved. But, to her disappointment, Arnav left the place said nothing.

Laila sighed in relief. Maybe, Arnav doesn't want to interfere in women's matters. She thought.

"Oh... poor you... even your husband accepted what I said it seems..." She smirked at Khushi teasingly which made Khushi furious.

Turning off the burner, Khushi rushed to their room... no... not to their room but to fight with Arnav. She saw him standing at the poolside, looking at the water blankly.

"This is how you defend your wife? " Khushi asked.

Arnav stood not turning towards her.

"I'm talking to you only as you are my husband..." she shouted.

Arnav turned towards her with a plain expression on his face.

"So...? Do you want me to be sitting in the kitchen defending you all the time without doing any other work? " he asked.

"What do you mean...? "

"I unintentionally came to the kitchen and saw you getting degraded by another bahu of this family... What do you want me to do in this? "

"Won't you do anything? This is what your duty is...? "

Taking a few long steps, Arnav reached her. As she didn't expect, he clutched her upper arms.

"I too want to ask you the same Khushi... Won't you do anything? Will you be listening to something that degrades you? Will you be adjusting the insults...? Or... do you want me to babysit you, sitting in the kitchen, leaving my work? " he asked wrathfully.

Khushi was looking at him perplexed. What does he want her to do?

"I would have been happy if you had broken her teeth... at least a slap... but you? Stood with teary eyes. Shame on you, Khushi... this is not what I expected from you. My wife should not be expecting someone to defend her. You are Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada... know your value. My wife should be a WARRIOR, not a WORRIER..." he left her hands.

Khushi was gulping down.

"But it will create problems in our family..."

"This is what your problem... an evildoer is not at all minding about anything but you... this is what her strength... your weakness is her strength... strengthen your weakness and show her nothing can stop you from saving your respect..."

Khushi nodded yes and left the room. Arnav stood all smiling, completing his husband's duty.

To be continued...

The next part is available on InKitt

Not for you

Laila called Anup and he attended the call.

"Hello, baby, Good morning... hope you are happy..."

"I'm not happy... and this morning will not be happy for not only me but also for you," Laila said panicking.

"What do you mean?"

"Rakesh got arrested this morning for keeping fifty lakhs in his house"

"Whaaaaat! How do you know?"