(23830 words)

New year treat of PLAD as well ;)

Enjoy!

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Wo jo adhoori si yaad baaki hai...

"Dekhiye please darwaza kholiye.Hum ne kuch nahi kiya. Koi hai?(Look please open the door.I haven't done anything. Is someone listening to me?)" She banged the door desperately shouting for some help to go back to her home and attend her jiji's wedding with the papers on which her wedding relied.

Then the door opened and two men entered.

"What are you guys doing? Why have you kept me locked here?"

"Firstly tell us what do you have to do with Pro-fashion?" One of them asked sternly.

"What pro-fession? I don't understand what are you saying?!" She pleaded and dashed to the door only to be yanked back into the room by the same man asking more rudely now.

"First tell us who send you here?" He asked and it terrified her.

What were they talking about?

They continued to ask the same question and she was adamant that she doesn't know. No one has send her here. Asked them to let her go. She has to be home right now. But No.

They didn't listen and left locking her in the room again until it opened and she made a dash outside only to be caught by her elbow and whirl back to face the man in whose arms she has fallen right off the stage where she went accidentally.

Then he advanced towards her with something akin to madness, darkness emanating from his eyes making her shiver from head to toe and her heart came to her mouth when she felt the wall behind with no other way to escape. She turned to look only to find the pillar behind and the man standing a few steps away from her.

"Hum tab se sab ko samjhane ki koshish kar rahe hain k humein kuch nahi pata. Hum yahan galti se aa gaye the. Dekhiye please humein ghar jaane dijiye humein bohat der ho rahi hai.(I am trying to make everyone understand that I don't know anything. That I came here by mistake. Look please let me go home. Its getting very late.)"

"Jawab de do aur chali jao!(Answer me and then leave!)" He opened his mouth for the first time to say a few cold words that sent tremors ran down her spine.

"Kya jawab? Dekhiye aap samajh kyun nahi rahe k humein abhi issi waqt ghar jana ho ga. Ghar pe ba-(What answer? Look, why don't you understand that I have to go home right away. At home ev-)"

But he cut her sharply.

"Samajh toh tum nahi rahi ho k tumne kya kiya hai!(Actually you don't understand what have you done exactly!)"

"Aap kya bol rahe hain?(What are you saying?)" She still couldn't understand what everyone was talking about. Feeling helpless she folded her hands before him.

"Dekhiye please humein ghar jaane dijiye. Hamare ghar pe shaadi hai aur hum yahan-(Look please let me go home. There is a wedding at my home and I-)"

"Yahan aa kar show kharab karne k kitne paise mile tumhe?(How much money did you get to spoil this show by coming here?)" He cut her again and refused to listen her.

She unfolded her hands startled. This man really jump to conclusions and judge people without knowing the facts.

"Hum tab se sab ko baar baar bol rahe hain k humein kisi ne bhi nahi bheja.Hum keh keh k thak gaye hain k humein kuch bhi nahi pata. Hum yahan galti se ponch gaye the aur-(I am trying to tell everyone that no one sent me here. I am tired to explain that I don't know anything. I came here by mistake and-)"

"Galti bhi aukat dekh kar karni chahiye thi!(You should've watched your status before committing such a mistake!)" He said taking a step towards her causing her to retreat back dumbfounded at his rude words.

"Aap kya keh rahe hain? Dekhiye please humein jaane dijiye. Hamari jiji ki shaadi hai aur dahej k papers hamare pass-(What are you saying? Look please let me go. My sister is getting married and dowry papers are with me-)"

"Toh tum yahan dahej k paise banane ayi ho?(So you have come here to make dowry money?)" He mocked.

Her insides twisted with agony at his another impulsive conclusion.

"Humein aapse koi baat nahi karni! Hatiye aage se!(I don't want to talk to you. Step out of my way!)" She tried to escape from the side but he step forward to hinder it cornering her against the pillar again.

"Seedhe tareeke se jawab de do warna ulti tarah se sawal karna aata hai mujhe!(Just answer me or else I know other tactics to get it out of you!)"

"Aap jaise bhi sawal karein gay hamara jawab wahi ho ga!(My answer would be the same no matter what you try!)" She averted her eyes refusing to look at his intimidating eyes.

"Toh tum nahi btao gi?!(So you won't tell?)" His tone held a warning.

"Hum kya btayein jab humein kuch nahi pata?!(What would I tell when I don't know anything?!)" She exclaimed.

"K tum yahan ayi kaise?(That how did you get here?)"

"Humne kaha na galti se!(I told you by mistake!)"

"Jhoot bol rahi ho tum!(You are lying!)"

"Kyun bolein gay hum jhoot?(Why would I lie?)"

"Pro-fashion ne bheja na tumhe?(Did Pro-fashion send you?)"

"Nahi!(No!)"

"Paise mile tumhe yahan aane k?(Did you get money to come here?)"

"Nahi. NAHI!(No. NO!)"

She turned to him exhausted to explain herself without any fault of hers.

"Hum baar baar sirf aik baat bol rahe hain k humein ghar jaana hai. Abhi, issi waqt. Hamare ghar mai sab pareeshan honge. Baraat kab ki aa gayi ho gi aur agar hum waqt pe nahi ponche toh hamari jiji ki shaadi toot jaye gi!(I am saying it again and again that I have to go home. Right now, right away. Everyone must be worried at home. Groom's wedding procession must have arrived and if I didn't go on time then my sister's wedding will be called off!)"

"Toh toot jaane do shaadi. Tum jaisi ladkiyon ka kya hai? Aik jaye ga dosra basa laina!(Let it be called off then. I know girls like you. What if one man slipped away, you will hit on another one in no time!)"

She looked at him speechless for a moment.

"Kya bakwaas kar rahe hain aap? Aap kuch bhi bolein ja rahe hain. Aur aap hain kon? Kabse hamare peeche pade hain. Hamari jiji k baare mai kuch bhi bole ja rahe hain.(What rubbish are you saying? You are talking whatever comes to your mind and who the hell are you? You are chasing me without a reason and are not letting me go.You are talking nonsense about my jiji as well!)" She turned her head before raising it back to him determined.

"Aap k ghar walon ko koi aisa bole toh? Aap ki jiji ki shaadi toot jaye toh? Aap ki jiji k baare mai koi kuch aisa bole toh aap kya bolein gay? Boliye? Hai koi jawab? Batmeezi ki bhi hadd hoti hai!(What if someone says the same to your family? What if your sister's wedding break? What if someone says the same nonsense about your sister then what will you say? Answer me? There is a limit to everything and you are crossing yours!)" She gritted out looking away.

"Hat jaiye hamare raaste se. Humein jaane di jiye!(Get out of my way. Let me leave!)"

She walked past him lowering her head only to be whirled around and yanked in his arms so close to him that she could see her reflection in his eyes with his chocolate brown orbs spitting fire at her as if she has hit him where it has hurt the most.

"Batmeezi toh maine abhi shuru bhi nahi ki.(I haven't even started crossing my limits yet!)" He said then whilst she shivered in his arms looking away, boring her gaze at his shoulder.

"Tumhe jawab chahiye na?(You want answer right?)" He said and then her heart stopped as she felt a strong tug at the pearls at her back before she vaguely heard them dropping, clattering to the floor scattering, one by one whilst her head shot to him dumbstruck, horrified.

His jaws were set tight with nothing akin to regret or remorse as he inflicted the terror inside her. Not only her heart, her breaths caught up too as her mind turned numb.

Then he pushed her away spinning her around back against the pillar with her bare back now exposed to him.

She could feel his lustful gaze at her back and she has never felt humiliated the way she did that moment. She whimpered holding on to the pillar until her mind started working and she knew what she had to do.

She untied the ribbon around her braid and threw her long hairs on her back and she knew they were long enough to cover her back and save her dignity from this heartless monster whoever he was.

Then she turned with tears in her eyes, some flowing down her cheeks to look into his eyes. They were still expressionless yet she caught a glimpse of surprise in his eyes but before he could say or do something else she grasped her lehenga pulling it up a bit whilst running away from him without looking back.

"Payal, what's wrong with you? Why don't you talk to me?" Akash exclaimed running behind her as she excused herself to go to the restroom after his brother took, almost dragged Khushi out of the ceremony and that too with her Babu ji's permission while Payal couldn't help but only think the way it has hurt her sister, she has seen that look on her face too whilst Khushi kept turning back to look at their father hoping that he would melt but he didn't.

She stopped with her hand on the door knob before turning to him sharply.

"What do you want to talk about?" She crossed her arms against her chest.

"I just want to know what wrong did I do? Tell me what is my fault Payal because I can't understand anything why are you giving me a cold shoulder ever since .. ever since.. forever!" He burst out pinching the bridge of his nose taking off his glasses.

"Your fault is the same since forever. You are related to that Arnav Singh Raizada who is hell bent on destroying my sister emotionally by hook or by crook." She ground her teeth.

Akash sighed exasperated.

"I don't get it Payal. Why don't you keep yourself out of their business?" His voice came out harsher than he expected.

Payal stared at him in disbelief.

"Stay out of it you say huh? Didn't my sister shout out to everyone that she hates your brother and she don't want to marry him? In fact I don't get it how can you and your family allow this marriage to happen even then?"

Akash averted his eyes.

"She is just .. angry. That's all. It will pass. Bhai said the same!"

It boiled Payal with rage the way he took it all so casually.

"My sister is going mad, crazy here Akash Singh Raizada because of your brother and you are saying its just ... nothing?"

"Payal, I am just saying that-"

She raised her palm to him shaking her head.

"Enough Akash. Don't bother. I got it that you are selfish and self-centered like your brother. You are a royal younger Raizada. Why won't you be, right?" She sneered feeling choked.

"If you can't stand me then why did you agree for this marriage?" Akash scoffed.

"As if I had a choice." She croaked."Your brother proved something to my father and my Babu ji is just upholding his words because he is thinking that Khushi failed him." She choked.

"I can't even save myself and I was on the spree to prevent my sister's life!" She mocked twisting the engagement ring in her finger.

Akash felt his eyes prick looking at the ring in her finger and then his own.

"So this wasn't your choice but your parents. This is just an arranged marriage for you!" He said quietly.

She turned her head with her eyes filling up.

He wore back the glasses letting out a mocking chuckle.

"Don't worry. Once this ceremony will be over you won't have to see me. I will make sure of that. Neither would you see me nor would you have to carry the burden of this unwanted relation."

Her head shot up to him in surprise.

"I am tired Payal. Tired to explain myself. Explain my love for you. Running after you. To get just a glimpse of you hoping that one day you'd understand my emotions. But- you're right. I am selfish. My family especially my elder brother matters the most to me. After all I am the royal younger Raizada!"

He reduced the distance between them.

"No matter whether we marry or not, I would make sure Bhai and Khushi ji does at any cost. Good luck with your ways to try and prevent it. But remember one thing. At every step of your plans you'll find me standing in between. I will not let you separate my brother from his happiness. Mark my words!"

Her eyes widened in shock.

"You consider me selfish and self-centered right? Now I will tell you who a real Raizada is capable of!"

A chill ran down her spine. She shook her head.

"I was hoping that at least you'd help me untangling the mess your brother created for my sister. But like your Di and grandmother you are just siding with him in all his ugly plans!"

"What ugly plans huh?" He hovered over her that Payal stepped back startled. Grasping her elbow in his hand he pulled her back.

"If he had had any ugly plans then he wouldn't have proposed marriage. He would've had her on his bed to satisfy himself for one night before leaving her without any emotion. Just like he always did for a while now with women. But he-" His head tilted to the other side as she slapped him pursing her lips.

"How dare you talk like that about my sister? You--you are disgusting. But then so is your brother. I shouldn't be surprised but I am, Akash Singh Raizada because I didn't expect such appaled words from.. from you." She gestured to him from head to toe as a tear rolled down her cheek. The moisture in her eyes blurred her vision whilst she swiped a hand on her eyes.

Akash looked away swallowing. The slap didn't hurt his cheek but heart.

"You know what Payal?" He said determined."Don't expect anything from me at all. Because from now on I would make sure I don't meet any of your good intentions. Ever. Either."

Payal blinked her eyes at him. She has never known that this side of Akash existed too.

"Fine." He bobbed his head. "Let it be arranged marriage then. I won't back off from it now either. I take my words back.Now, I will make sure you see me more often and I will make sure to rub salts on to your wounds that you'd know how it feels like when they are scratched and bleed.When.. when your heart bleed with pain."

She shuddered inwardly, dumbfounded.

"You see me as another Arnav Singh Raizada right huh Payal? I know him very well and now..now I will tell you who he really is!" He said with his breath fanning on her face before stepping back and storming off with determination shining in his eyes.

Did she just unleash another monster in Raizada family?

Payal thought gulping looking at his retreating back.

"Khushi tell me who were they and you can go back inside as I will take care of the rest. But if you won't then you will stay with me until I won't find each and every one of them and make them pay for even laying a finger on you!" He said maniacally holding her captive against the car bonnet out there at the parking lot of Sheesh Mahal.

"If you didn't find them out ever then?" She hissed.

"Then I would burn my whole life in guilt for not being able to save you when it was always me who did rescue you every time you were in trouble. That was the only time when I wasn't there and it...it is tearing me apart Khushi." He rasped cupping her cheeks firmly.

"Really?" She asked raising her eyebrow.

"You can't imagine what I am feeling right now. This is suffocating me." He gritted. His face contorted with anguish and all of angst was clearly shown right there in the form of red misty hue in his eyes, clenched jaws and sharp intake of breaths.

"Is it?"

He nodded tucking the strands of hairs at the back of her ears looking into her hazel eyes pleading her to let him out of this excruciating pain.

"Tell me. Please?" He dropped his head on hers.

"If you didn't find them then you wouldn't stay in peace ever right?" She asked.

"It would cut me every minute, every second of my life." He pulled back to look in her eyes.

"Fine then." She shrugged slapping his hands on her cheeks. He frowned seeing something dangerous emanating from her eyes.

What was it?

This time she cupped his cheeks firmly making his inside churn with mixed feelings of happiness and sadness.

"This is so important to you my future husband isn't it?" She smiled.

He nodded smiling back placing his palms over her hands and tilted his hand to press a fleeting peck on the inside of her palm.

"Then be assured. You will never find them to quench your thirst to make them pay. This is my promise to you. Second one at that. I will never let you have any moment of peace let alone make up for the time we have already lost my dear fiance!"

Happiness left but only sadness remained as he stared at her dumbfounded.

"Now, can I go?" She patted his cheek freeing her hands. He stood there with his hands at his sides.

"No. You can't." He banged his hand against the bonnet placing his arms around her caging her with his face inches away from hers.

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Didn't I tell you that you'd stay with me until I won't find those bastards?" He roared.

"Fine by me. Where would we spend the night then?" She caught his lapels and pulled him closer if that was even possible taking him by surprise. Not because she agreed but the way she made it sound so cheap with her tone.

"Behave!" He warned her freeing his collars grasping her hands in his.

She scoffed.

"Why? Are you scared Mr.Raizada? Aren't we now a couple officially? I can misbehave with you can't I?" She gritted raising herself on her toes pointedly looking at his lips.

He swallowed.

"This is not you, dammit!" He said quietly.

"Of course it's me. My very version who is obsessed with you." She rasped against his lips confidently but the moisture in her eyes gave away how hurt and broken she was.

He closed his eyes.

"Get a grip over yourself, honey!" He croaked letting go of her hands before cupping her cheeks.

"Why?" She mocked."Don't you want to celebrate your victory? Come on, do it. Let's go somewhere to celebrate it the whole night. Or better take me to your bedroom and-"

"Shut the hell up!" He barked clenching his jaws with his hands gripping her upper arms tightly. His eyes spitting fire at her.

She laughed shortly.

"What happened? Aren't you man enough to satisfy a woman's needs?"

She winced as he dug his nails into her skin hoping she would shut up but she didn't.

"Or have you grown old? Are you incapable of it now? Or are you afraid of someone as inexperienced and as young like me? Don't worry I maybe just 19 years old as compared to your 29 years of age but I am capable enough to warm-" She wriggled as he placed his palm covering her mouth and most part of her nose stopping her from sprouting words to instigate him because if she has continued hitting on his ego and questioned his macho then he might a well go to the length of showing her how much of a man he actually is.

"Trust me honey, you really don't want to see the side of me those women has seen already when I was literally a merciless beast. So just keep quiet until you are with me. DO NOT IGNITE my wrath!" He gritted on her face.

She glared at him pulling at his hand to uncover her mouth but in vain.

Taking calming breaths he closed his eyes once before opening them when he was sure the fire of the rage has doused within him. Only then he stepped back to release her.

Blinking back the tears she gasped for breaths before opening her mouth.

"Not a word more!" He warned.

"I will talk. I will.. ummm" Her words got muffled as he tied his handkerchief around her mouth. As she reached through her hands to remove it he caught her wrists.

"Try removing it and I will show you the side of me you have seen the very first time we have met right here in Sheesh Mahal, remember?"

"Samajh toh tum nahi rahi ho k tumne kya kiya hai!(Actually you don't understand what have you done exactly!)"

"Yahan aa kar show kharab karne k kitne paise mile tumhe?(How much money did you get to spoil this show by coming here?)"

"Galti bhi aukat dekh kar karni chahiye thi!(You should've watched your status before committing such a mistake!)"

"Aap kya keh rahe hain? Dekhiye please humein jaane dijiye. Hamari jiji ki shaadi hai aur dahej k papers hamare pass-(What are you saying? Look please let me go. My sister is getting married and dowry papers are with me-)"

"Toh tum yahan dahej k paise banane ayi ho?(So you have come here to make dowry money?)" He mocked.

"Seedhe tareeke se jawab de do warna ulti tarah se sawal karna aata hai mujhe!(Just answer me or else I know other tactics to get it out of you!)"

"Hum baar baar sirf aik baat bol rahe hain k humein ghar jaana hai. Abhi, issi waqt. Hamare ghar mai sab pareeshan honge. Baraat kab ki aa gayi ho gi aur agar hum waqt pe nahi ponche toh hamari jiji ki shaadi toot jaye gi!(I am saying it again and again that I have to go home. Right now, right away. Everyone must be worried at home. Groom's wedding procession must have arrived and if I didn't go on time then my sister's wedding will be called off!)"

"Toh toot jaane do shaadi. Tum jaisi ladkiyon ka kya hai? Aik jaye ga dosra basa laina!(Let it be called off then. I know girls like you. What if one man slipped away, you will hit on another one in no time!)"

She walked past him lowering her head only to be whirled around and yanked in his arms so close to him that she could see her reflection in his eyes with his chocolate brown orbs spitting fire at her as if she has hit him where it has hurt the most.

"Batmeezi toh maine abhi shuru bhi nahi ki.(I haven't even started crossing my limits yet!)" He said then whilst she shivered in his arms looking away, boring her gaze at his shoulder.

"Tumhe jawab chahiye na?(You want answer right?)" He said and then her heart stopped as she felt a strong tug at the pearls at her back before she vaguely heard them dropping, clattering to the floor scattering, one by one whilst her head shot to him dumbstruck, horrified.

His jaws were set tight with nothing akin to regret or remorse as he inflicted the terror inside her. Not only her heart, her breaths caught up too as her mind turned numb.

Then he pushed her away spinning her around back against the pillar with her bare back now exposed to him. She could feel his lustful gaze at her back and she has never felt humiliated the way she did that moment.

She looked at him with extreme hurt whilst he released her hands knowing that he has got to her. Finally!

Feeling a knife twisting in her gut she let her hands fall at her sides. There was certain kind of fear imbibed in her related to their very first meeting. The way a complete stranger has caught her alone in a deserted corridor and tore the strings of her dress has horrified her. Petrified her and that terror has the audacity to appear every time she remember that encounter.

Though she came out of it strong and determined showing him his place but what's done was done. The fear of losing her dignity, her family's reputation has been instilled in her and it has stayed that way ever since.

He stood opening the front door of his car waiting for her. Turning to him she didn't meet his eyes and sat down silently while his heart clenched for reminding her the humiliation he made her face that night without any fault of hers.

Almost 2 years has passed but nothing has changed has it?

He thought sitting in the driving seat.

Then he has disgraced her right in front of him and before the society. Now, he has finished the respect and trust her father has on her. Time has gone by, everything apparently has changed yet nothing had.

Starting the engine he turned his face to look at her. Tears has socked the handkerchief he has wrapped around her mouth as she kept her gaze fixed to the window with her hands in her lap.

Swallowing he reached over and uncovered her mouth causing her to look at him with tears trailing down her cheeks which gripped his heart painfully.

Nothing has changed has it?

He made her cry then and he was the reason of her tears now as well.

He raised his hand to her cheek to wipe her face but she turned her head stubbornly. He curled his hand into a fist pulling back before grabbing the steering wheel vengefully.

"I knew it that you were saying the truth the minute I looked into your eyes." He said swallowing to keep his emotions in check.

She didn't turn to look but he knew she was listening.

"You know, back then, in my fashion show? I am talking about that." He said turning his head fully to hers stopping the engine and taking off the key.

"Yeah right. That was why you locked me up in a room. Called me names. Humiliated me. Terrified me. Didn't let me go and what you said, happened. Jiji marriage broke because of you!" She finally turned her head to him making him sigh.

"I am glad it did. If I hadn't become the reason then someone else would've had done the needful Khushi because Payal was ought to marry Akash. Besides your sister was better off without a man for whom money was more important than her." He reasoned.

"You aren't ready to accept your mistake yet. Of course you'd only justify it by any means." She sneered.

"I am just being practical!"

"Of course. Turn the other people's life upside down and then reason with them that you were just showing them about the practicality of life. Great!" She said sarcastically.

He exhaled when she said.

"Mr.Raizada, if you are forgetting then let me remind you that you teach lessons of life to those who mean something to you, to the people you know. You don't go around capture anyone to your liking and cage them to teach them the lessons when they don't even want or need it!" She breathed as she said it all in one breath.

"You are right. You teach it to only those who mean something to you." He said quietly.

"Exactly. And you didn't even know me then. Neither did I know you." She huffed out feeling like a burden has been lifting off her shoulder letting it all out.

"I wasn't wrong. She is immature and such a child. She do need protection from the atrocities of the world." He mumbled to himself.

"Huh?" She asked. She can swore that she heard him mumble something.

He shook his head at her.

But who would save her from you, Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada?

Because she has only suffered by your hands and no one else!

Whatever the hatred, cruelty she has faced she did because of you!

Just you!

"If you knew that I was saying the truth then why didn't you let me go?" Her question brought him back from self rebuke.

"Because I.. just.. couldn't. I didn't know what was I feeling back then because it was too new, too raw, too..disturbing that it shook me. That was why I behaved the way I did with you."

"Now you do?" She asked gulping.

"What?" He turned his head to the road.

"That what was it you were feeling back then?" She asked curiously.

He started the car refusing to meet her eyes.

"I may figure it out one day if you will stay with me!" He said pulling the car over to the road whilst Khushi's heart broke.

What the hell was she expecting for him to say anyway?

And why the hell did she allow him to explain himself when he made sure that there is no room left for her to explain her father at all?

"You were telling me!" She heard him say.

"WHAT?" She barked frustrated at not only at him but also at herself. He hid his smile concentrating on the road.

"The address of the men who tried to misbehave with you!" He asked calmly but she didn't let him be calm for more than a few moments.

"I will scribble it on the suicide note once I will kill myself." She gritted out loud. She knew how to get back at him.

The car screeched to a halt so suddenly that if she hasn't been wearing the seat belt then she would have hit the window and flown out of the windshield out there at the bonnet to roll off at the road ahead.

"What did you say?" He snapped punching his hand on the steering wheel.

She shrugged looking outside the window.

She yelped when she found herself on his lap the next moment. How did he manage to untie her seat belt and pulled her so sudden that she was dumbstruck herself that nothing but only a scream of surprise left her.

As soon as she gathered her wits she retreated and her back hit the steering wheel. She grimaced.

"Serves you right!" He commented seeing her wriggling as well as closing her eyes in pain.

His cell rang. Seeing the caller ID he gestured her to be silent as she has seen the name of the caller too.

When he was about to pick up he saw the determination in her eyes. She was up to something again. But before she could do something he made all her plans backfire by cupping her nape and burying her face into his neck wrapping a firm hand around her shoulder.

She screamed. The scream which only passed as vibrations to his body but muffled by her mouth on his neck. He took the call from his other hand.

"Yes, Uncle?" It was Shashi Gupta.

She punched him. He held back a wince.

"Uh No. No. Don't worry. I will drop Khushi myself. Everything is fine. We are having the dinner in a hotel and she is very---Ahh!" He couldn't prevent the yelp this time as she sunk her teeth into his neck slapping his chest.

His face turned red gulping the pain silently as she kept digging her teeth in his skin and with the looks of it she doesn't seem to be leaving him anytime soon. Not until he won't.

On the other hand Shashi Gupta kept questioning him worriedly through the phone that what was wrong? Why did he scream?

"I- was about to say that.. she.." He pressed his lips harder to prevent the grimace as it stung like hell as she removed her teeth from one part of his skin and sunk them into another.

".. is very cooperative. She isn't troubling me at all." He swallowed another scream clenching his jaws pressing his hand at the back of her hand as she pushed at his chest trying to take advantage of his divided attention and the pain she was inflicting on him.

"Nothing to worry uncle. The hot coffee spilled on my hand just a bit and that's why I screamed earlier. Nothing serious." He started perspiring with the composure. Finally he cut the call after a moment and tugged her head back pulling at her hairs softly and glared at her angrily. He winced as the hickeys stung badly.

"Now can I go back to my seat Mr.Fiance JI?" She scrunched her nose proud of her work as she gazed at the red skin showing her teeth marks.

"No. You can't." He cupped her nape and pulled her closer to his face. Her eyes widened.

"Let go of me!" She gripped his arm holding her nape and dug her nails into his skin making him wince.

"Enough. ENOUGH!" He took both her hands and twisted them at her back.

She struggled and it again resulted in her back hitting the wheel behind. She cried out in frustration.

She kept screaming at him to let her go.He didn't and kept mum too but kept holding her captive. She wriggled to the best of her ability until she was exhausted and breathed hard letting her head fall on his shoulder before splinting into silent sobs.

He hugged her rubbing his hand up and down her back whilst running his fingers in her hairs until she calmed down and her shoulder stopped shaking.

He grasped her ring clad hand on his chest and caressed it softly as she lay lifeless over him in that closed space of the driving seat behind the steering wheel.

"Aisa mat karein maire saath. (Don't do this to me)" She choked making knots in his stomach.

He stayed silent but clenched his fingers in her hairs while resting his head on hers.

"Humein samajh nahi pa rahe hain. A-Aap chahte kya hai humse? Aapne humare saath ye sab kyun kiya? (I don't get it. W-What do you want from me? Why did you do this to me?)" She cried out pulling back to look into his eyes for the answers.

Just that he fell short of words that moment.

"I-I don't know. It just felt right to me!" He frowned wiping her face with the back of his fingers.

She sniffled staring at him stunned.

"You don't know why you did what you did?"

"I-I mean I know. I mean I had my reasons. I do think that they were the actual reasons. But maybe, they.. they are.. not. Perhaps. I am not sure." He frowned as he finished.

"You have destroyed my relationship with my father, my family and you don't even know why?!"She shoved his hands, shrugged him off shifting back to her seat.

He leaned back on the seat closing his eyes.

Why the hell he can't explain the real reasons to her?

He have promised himself that he would tell her his feelings after marriage but right now he could've made up something to relieve her, soothe her somewhat. But No. He was only complicating things by being silent about everything.

"Let me drop you back home." He said quietly starting the car.

"Oh why? Don't you want to punish those goons now? Don't you want to find them?" She scoffed.

"I will punish them but I know I will not get any information out of you about any of them so it's better I drop you home before I lose control." He gritted.

"Lose control? Why would you lose control when it is me who is suffering here? It is me who is going mad here because of you!" She yelled in frustration.

"Shut up and let me drive!" He ignored her.

She clenched her teeth.

On one side he says he will make it up to her and on the other, he keeps his silence whenever she asks him anything. He stays like a closed locked book which key he must have thrown in a sea so that no one could find out or open it up, open him up or read him.

But then why the hell she wants to read him?

What is it to her whether he says something or just stays silent?

She shook her head reprimanding herself and then silence followed the remaining journey to Gomti Sadan until he stopped the car at the end of the street. She was untying her seat belt when he said.

"I was angry. Very much. Frustrated too." He mumbled clicking the main lock so that she don't get out without listening him.

"You shatter everyone who make you angry and frustrated?" She asked in disbelief."You break your family the same way when you get angry on them?" She scoffed as she felt like he was still keeping the real reason buried. "Don't make excuses Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada!"

She bit her lower lips and looked away when her eyes burned with tears.

"So every time you'd get angry on me, you'd take away one of my relation? This time it was my Babuji."

She sniffled. He gulped.

"I am wondering who would you turn against me the next time?"

He untied his seat belt to reach for her but she shook her head retreating back before averting her eyes.

"Tell me beforehand or at least give me a warning next time you planned something like that.So that I prepare myself for a massive destruction within me because whenever you do, you s-stab too painfully that my whole being writhe in it. And you know what worse is? That all the wounds that you gave me are invisible. I can't even show them to anyone and without showing them how would I make my father understand that I never betrayed him?" She sobbed out covering her mouth with her palm turning her head to the window.

He swallowed bleary eyed.

"Darwaza kholiye. Humein jana hai.(Open the door. I have to go.)" She croaked turning her head fully to the door with her hand on the door knob.

"Khushi.." He called softly.

"I said open the door. I need to leave!" She snapped.

"You can't. Not until.. you don't soothe the wounds you gave me. And mind you they are visible and I can show them to everyone especially your father. I wonder what would he say to that?"

Her head shot to him sharply. He pointed to his neck where the hickeys were visible on the front.

"Are you threatening me?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. You see the date of our marriage is fixed for the next Sunday but if I showed it your father and told him that you're hell bent on becoming mine as soon as possible that you are going too violent then he might as well marry you with me tomorrow itself. Now if you want that then--"

He left the sentence incomplete and it took all of Khushi's strength not to pounce on him. But she knew she was in the Gomti Sadan's street and she can't create a scene in the neighborhood. It would infuriate her father and what this Raizada said would happen.

"What the hell do you want me to do?" She glared.

"Kiss the sting away. That's all." He smirked.

"Whom have you called to witness the kiss this time around, Mr.Raizada?" She asked pointedly crossing her arms over her chest and it wiped off the smirk from his face.

Her mistrust was like a slap on his face. Invisible one. She was so right. Invisible wounds hurt and cut more than anything.

He turned his face to the road and unlocked all the doors silently. As soon as she heard the clicks she twisted the door knob and jumped out with a satisfied look on her face.

It feels too good to show this Raizada his actual place. He may have gotten his victory by getting engaged to her but hitting him with his own weapon has given her very first win.

This was her very first victory and there were many more to come. Because she has vowed that she would finish herself if she didn't win or if he won!

He watched her until she entered in her home and reversed the car in rage as he has seen the look on her face as her own words rang in his ears like an alarm.

"Know one thing Arnav Singh Raizada, there will come a day when I will crush all of your dreams right infront of your eyes. You made one promise didn't you? Here is mine."

"I will defeat you in your own game. If I didn't then I--I will kill myself."

"Let's see whether you will succeed in fulfilling your promise or I will."

"I wouldn't be Khushi Kumari Gupta if I didn't keep that promise!"

"I won't let you win but I won't let you harm yourself either!" He gritted punching the steering wheel.

She can be all happy on these small victories because the biggest win would be his.

Only and only his,

Including her too!

Changing into the night suits after cleaning the makeup, removing the jewelry both the sisters got under the covers in their own not so happy thoughts. Any girl after her engagement feels happy and a certain excitement of their new life ahead but they both were thinking of all the repercussions they would have to bear marrying a Raizada.

"I know you don't want to talk about it but just answer one question of mine will you?" Payal broke the silence after dimming the lights.

Khushi blinked back the tears scooting closer to her and Payal knew she had her consent.

"Did you really kiss him willingly?" Payal asked cautiously. After a minute of pregnant silence Khushi managed to speak.

"Yes." She croaked.

"I did, jiji." She cried out remembering the moment and it brought nothing but an unbearable ache within her which wasn't anything familiar like she felt when he broke her on Diwali but it was a whole lot different and excruciating more than ever.

"Why Khushi? Why when you confessed to me yourself that you aren't interested in him?" Payal exclaimed not being able to understand anything hoping now she could find out the reason behind everything that happened to her sister.

Khushi kept mum.

Payal huffed.

"Why don't you speak to me at least Khushi. I know that you have a genuine reason behind it which if you'd had told to Babuji then he would've believed you. But still you are keeping it inside. Why are you doing this to yourself? Khushi bta mujhe? (Tell me Khushi?)"

"I felt nothing Jiji." Khushi mumbled in a daze sitting up agains the headboard and rocked herself whilst sitting with her knees brought up to her chest.

"Huh?" This wasn't the answer to her question at all.

"I felt nothing at all jiji." She rasped raising her wet lashes.

Then what she said next made Payal exhale sharply.

"I would have felt joy, pleasure and unbound happiness if he had had kissed me that.. Diwali night back then. But that day... I felt nothing jiji. Neither that irregular beating of my heart due to his proximity nor the unusual butterflies in my stomach. It was like that..moment killed everything inside me. I have never felt as humiliated ever in my life like I felt in that particular moment." She burst out crying and Payal couldn't control her own tears too.

Sitting up she leaned her on herself rubbing her arm.

"He killed all that beautiful, joyful feelings inside me. If he married me now then he would be signing off to live with a woman who have all of her emotions buried in his own made graveyard right in here." She pointed to her heart.

"Jiji, how could he kill it all at once? I will never forgive him for taking that away from me. Those feelings though sad and cutting were what made me feel alive even when he so mercilessly shattered me an year ago. Aur ab wapis aye bhi toh baqi jo bacha tha usse b khatam kr diya. Kyun jiji? Wo insan har baar humein itni takleef kyun deta hai? Humein hi kyun?(Now when he came back he ended everything whatever was left out. Why jiji? Why that man always give me so much pain? Why? Why only me?)"

"If I ask him why is he doing this to me. He just looks at me silently as if mocking me to even asking that question as if saying that don't you know Khushi Kumari Gupta that I get what I want. If I want to make you mine, I will and you can't win over me. Ever.As if I am some prize he wants to get by manipulating everyone around me." She sobbed burying her head in her shoulder clutching her arm. Payal ran her fingers in her hairs swallowing her own tears.

"If he married me then I am sure he will celebrate his victory by breaking me..altogether." Khushi croaked in a small voice causing Payal to shudder.

"That won't happen. I am going to be with you in the same home. I won't let him break you. Ever." Payal said determined. If she was anyway going to marry Akash Singh Raizada then she would do it for her sister to stay close to her to prevent her from a certain monster's plans to destroy her sister.

But that doesn't mean until marriage she won't try to stop both the weddings to happen.

She still has a week to prove Khushi's innocence to their father. She couldn't prevent the engagement from happening but she won't just sit back and let her sister enter into a hellish life with a monster without a fight.

There, both the sister sat hugging each other thinking of bringing happiness in other's life even if it was at the cost of their own and both of them didn't have the slightest idea what the one was sacrificing for the other!

"There is only a week left for their wedding bitwa and in all the preparations how can they attend the office?" Garima reasoned with Akash.

"I know they submitted the application for the leave but.. Bhai didn't accept it. He doesn't compromise on work even in critical of situations. Besides we would've looked for replacements but in such a short notice, right now we can't." Akash said apologetically ranting out whatever his Bhai has asked him to say.

"Payal said that she already resigned along with Khushi."

"It was a leave application Aunty not resignation. You must have heard her wrong."

"Maybe." Garima frowned and then shook her head. "Maybe you are right beta but still, there is so much work at home. I-"

"Don't worry about that. Bhai has arranged helpers for that. He has even arranged for a car for Khushi and Payal as well to pick up and drop them from work."

"I really appreciate his thoughtfulness beta but we can't accept his help. Shashi ji won't like it."

"I gave my consent already. Arnav talked to me about this yesterday and the reason he gave me I am satisfied with it. If he needs my daughters at office then they would go. Period." Shashi said and saw Payal coming down the stairs right then.

She closed in herself seeing Akash sitting there with a convinced look on his face.

"Bitiya, go and get ready. Ask Khushi to get ready too. You both are needed at the office." Shashi ordered while Payal couldn't breath whilst giving an obedient nod to her father.

How would she convince Khushi and for that matter herself too to work under the same roof with the Raizadas?

Last week right after the incident that broke the relation between Khushi and Babuji, she has submitted both of their resignations through email to AR

"Now what is this new game you brothers are playing?" Payal gritted when they were alone.

"We have resigned from AR already. HR department must have received our mail a week ago." She whisper yelled careful that her voice don't reach her parents.

"They must have received it Payal but final decision is in Bhai's and of course in my hands because you both were our assistants. Our employees. We own that company and rejecting two resignation letters were just a cup of tea for us." He shrugged adjusting his tie casually.

Payal held back her anger and frustration with great difficulty.

"I know that was your way of trying to keep Bhai away from Khushi ji wasn't it? What did I tell you yesterday huh? That I will be the one standing between you and your plans to separate my brother from his happiness. You see. Here I am." He said taking her ring clad hand and dropped a peck over her ring whilst her eyes shone with tears.

"Oh come on. I have just begun this game which you forced me to start Payal and you are already breaking down." He brushed a stray tear from her cheek and rubbed it in between his fingers.

"Leave my sister out of it." She shrugged his hand.

"I might. If you will promise me that you won't hinder Bhai and Khushi's wedding by trying one thing or the other." He said briskly.

"You know your brother is wrong yet you are siding with him." She spat.

"My brother's ways might be wrong but his intentions aren't." He gritted before standing up abruptly without giving her a chance to reply.

"Anyways-" He looked at his wrist watch."It's already 7.30am. AR starts at sharp 8.30. You have an hour. So little time to make yourself and your sister ready and reach AR too. Good luck with that." He said solemnly.

"A car will be here by 8 to pick you both up. Bye. For now." He saluted and with a triumph look on his face left.

"At least Khushi isn't going to work for Arnav Singh Raizada as she is Akash's PA." Payal mumbled as neither could she get out of the situation nor could she escape going to AR neither could she save her sister from it.

If she made up some excuse to her Babuji then she knew what would happen next. ASR and now another ASR(Akash Singh Raizada) helping him in his plans, they both can mess up the whole situation and that might make Babuji more against Khushi if she refused to obey him.

So she has to convince Khushi to go with her at any cost in order to avoid other complications.

After a lot of reassurance and pleads from her side Payal made a wary Khushi ready but still Khushi refused to go in the car sent by AR not that she so wished to go in it either. Sending the car back they both took the auto.

Upon reaching AR they both got the shock of their lives and Payal's anger knew no bounds as they were told that their positions were switched yet again.

Khushi has to work as ASR's PA and Payal as Akash's.

"Khushi. I-" Payal turned to her apologetically.

"It's okay jiji. I understand." Khushi knew who did this and her jiji was powerless against the power of that man anyways. She can't blame her. She won't.

Hugging her she silently went to ASR's cabin while Payal barged into Akash's fuming nonetheless.

Akash looked up from the file at the noise and leaned back on his seat.

"Another plan of yours backfired on you didn't it Miss Payal Gupta?" He smirked pushing his glasses up to his nose making her grit her teeth.

Khushi knocked on the door. The blinds of his glass windows were shut. He only does this when he was having an important meeting or something personal to handle.

Former might be the reason. She decided herself and thanked in mind that she won't have to deal with him alone. At least some staff would be in there.

She pushed open the door hearing a subtle come in and all of her perceptions were proved trash because there leaning against his table was none other than Tanya turning pages after pages of the files opened in front of him on the table. Tanya though was turning the pages but her gaze was fixed to his face, her head tilted closed to his.

She felt her eyes burn and prick with moisture. She sniffled looking away from the scene feeling something cracking within her.

You were so right Khushi. He has had something personal to handle and he had to shut the blinds so that others don't see.

If he enjoys this type of lifestyle then why the hell did he propose marriage to her and now being engaged too he was up to these.. these things. Still?

In all this she failed to notice that neither was he paying any attention to Tanya nor was he listening to what she was saying or how close she was to him. He was lost in his own thoughts with his eyes glued to the papers in the files which he was barely reading.

"Good morning ASR." Khushi cleared her throat without looking at him. Her voice was enough to jolt him back to present. He stood up abruptly as he noticed Tanya's proximity before looking over to Khushi and then back to Tanya. Glaring at the latter, he shook his head at Khushi hoping she won't misunderstand him.

"I didn't mean to disturb you Sir. I was j-just told to.. let you know that I-I am on time for the job." She couldn't prevent the stutter in her sentences nor the teary words.

He closed his eyes pursing his lips when he noticed the blinds were shut too. He didn't do it then how?

For heaven's sake they just got engaged yesterday and this wasn't the way he wanted to start the very next day with her.

What must she be thinking?

She already doesn't trust him and now seeing him like this would only fuel her distrust.

"When did you shut the blinds Tanya?" He growled opening his eyes.

Tanya gulped.

"Can I leave now Sir? I will be back when you will be done with your personal work." Khushi asked firmly raising her eyes after gathering herself. She wasn't ready to fall into his web of lies and innocence because he could be anything but that.

"Stay where you are Khushi and you-" He turned to Tanya."Get out. RIGHT NOW."

"Why are you getting angry at me ASR? You yourself told me to shut the blinds and-"

"SHUT UP. JUST SHUT UP. I SAID OUT." He would deal with this Tanya later. Right now he has to clear the misunderstanding that must have brewed in his fiance's mind seeing them like this.

Spitting fire at Khushi, Tanya left while Khushi stood with her face turned barely hanging on her emotions. Pain was the only thing he was capable of giving her. But why does it stun her every time he hurts her? She should've gotten used to it by now. Then why the hell wasn't she?

He adjusted the scarf around his neck which he had to wear in order to hide the two big hickeys she gave him last night. Her defense mechanism was on. She was fighting back any way she could.

Sighing he approached her and Khushi jumped into action. She walked quickly to her desk in the corner of his cabin and sat down.

He sighed. He let her be for sometime. Let her frustration and hurt relieve a bit and then he will talk to her. Otherwise they both will end up fighting if he forced her for a conversation right now. So he turned and walked to his desk. Sitting on his leather chair he dragged the file closer and went through it getting back to work not knowing that by keeping silence again he has crushed her some more.

He made sure during the next few hours as they worked, Tanya stayed cleared off his cabin. But even after hours he saw that her mood hasn't changed a bit, he realized that it won't until he won't explain. She was being too hard on herself by suffocating herself in wrong presumptions and she won't even accept it that she was affected. He knew that too.

"Will you let me explain? It wasn't what it looked like or whatever you presumed. I was just-" He said coming over to her having enough of it and stood across her table but she cut him.

"You don't have to explain anything to me. Do whatever you want. I don't care." She said apparently nonchalant.

"For my peace of mind then. Listen to me." He shut the laptop she was typing the report in.

She raised her head and stood up angrily.

"I don't care for your peace of mind either. Rather I would prefer reveling in the knowledge that you aren't left with any any comfort in your life whatsoever." She chewed on each words folding her arms under her breasts.

Arnav counted to ten in his mind to restrain his anger coupled with hurt. Balling his hands into fist he barely prevented himself from going around the table to yank her up in his arms and say some hurting words back to pay her back in kind. But that would get them nowhere. So he restrained himself.

"If I won't be in peace then our lives would turn disastrous after marriage." He said calmly despite of himself.

"It would turn out disastrous anyway. I have vowed to you and myself that I will never let this so called marriage work no matter how much you try."

"Keep it in mind the minute you turned Mrs.Raizada you'll be obligated to follow each and every word I'd say to you. I'd be the one deciding how our relationship should go because in no way in hell I would give you the reign of our marriage for you to ruin or break it to win upon me." He was before her in a moment looking straight in her eyes, breathing on her face.

"And you have some high notions I'd listen to everything you'd say eh?" She gritted back looking into his eyes seethingly.

"If you won't then I know how to make you listen."

"You are so helpless in front of me aren't you Mr.Raizada because whenever, lets say only on a few occasions I had listened to you, it was only because you forced me by threatening me with one or the other thing. Otherwise you know it too that you can't get through me. Tch. Tch. I wonder how would people react if they got to know that the man who terrifies them, get powerless before the chit of a girl uh-oh I forgot to add--a middle class, a gold digger, an obsessive immature girl named Khushi Kumari Gupta."

He swallowed hard with the tip of his nose touching hers. Her words grilled holes into his heart. How right she was. How appropriate she has sum up his predicament when it comes to her. He sure was helpless.

Neither could he confess nor could he bring her out of the anguish because the former would mean bending in front of her and listening to her demands to breath without him and the later would mean losing her forever as bringing her out of pain means telling her father about his lies and that means-no marriage with her-means no Khushi in his life whatsoever. He couldn't afford either.

She turned her head whilst her lower lip trembled due to the composure she was putting up in front of him standing before him with his close proximity.

"I have no relations with Tanya, Khushi." He murmured against her face. She closed her eyes for a moment as her heart twisted inside her chest.

"I DON'T CARE EVEN IF YOU DO." She snapped raising her eyes to his.

"It's okay. Its natural to feel possessive for your fiance Khushi. It's not something to be ashamed of." He whispered cupping the side of her cheek. She shrugged his hand stepping back feeling uneasy. Shaking her head she rubbed her nape showing him the hand when he tried to step to her.

"Neither I am jealous nor ashamed because I don't care if you go out with several girls and.. even.. if you.. s-sleep with them. H-have a-affairs. D-Do anything. J-Just.." She trailed off as suddenly she felt her composure almost leaving her. She pressed a shaking hand to her forehead.

Knives twisted in his gut seeing her condition. She would not accept it that easily. Silently he whirled her around to face him before pulling her closer. She scowled twisting and turning in his hold.

"Why don't you go ahead and marry someone like Tanya because you deserve that type of women only." She hissed.

"If you are jealous then why not admit it directly and let me explain instead of hurting yourself and me by trying to cover it up with painful gibes." He reasoned holding her against her will.

"For the umpteenth time I AM NOT JEALOUS." Her eyes spitted fire at him even though the corner of her hazel orbs misted up. He pushed her at the chair behind getting irritated by her denial and slipped his hand around the side of her neck before bending to her face.

"If I had had affairs and even spent the night with women out there, that won't affect you right. You won't be perturbed or jealous at all. Is that so?" His jaws clenched when she gave an affirmative firm answer in order to get back at him

She winced as he pressed his fingers on her nape.

"Fine then Khushi Kumari Gupta. You yourself gave me the permission and now, just wait and watch how would I avail this freedom."

The traitor heart right there on the left side of her chest drummed in her chest, clenched and unclenched as if someone just clawed his hand on it.

Didn't she say to her sister that he has killed all those emotions inside her?

Then why was she feeling a plethora of emotions because of this man all over again?

He raised her ring clad hand to her eyes and displaced his own too with their engagement ring shining in both of their hands.

"These rings couldn't bind me now. I maybe engaged to you but you freed me from it's committments didn't you?" His red eyes dared her to take back everything she said or he would make her pay for it.

"I did. Enjoy your freedom Mr.Raizada." She raised her chin up swallowing past a lump.

"You!" He gripped her hand in a painful hold when she tried to extract it out.

"Better luck next time Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada because today is just not your day to make me feel like I can't breath without you. That I don't see anyone except for you. And blah blah blah!" She took a dig at him.

"There will come a time in uh lets say in near future Khushi Kumari Gupta when you won't be able to even breathe without me. When you won't see anyone but me. When no one would matter but me.When you will love me more than your father and family!"

He closed his eyes praying for patience as she made fun of his own made promise to her.

"Let that time come and then I'd see how you'd laugh over it."

"I would always laugh over it because that time would never come. Even if it did then I won't be alive enough to see you revel in your victory Mr.Raizada. Like I said, I would finish myself the day I allowed you to grow that much on me."

He pulled back silently and then she couldn't prevent the squeal that left her when he reached for her laptop and smashed it against the floor before crushing it under his foot maniacally.

With her breath hitched in her throat she stood up on shaky legs and dashed to the door as she really couldn't stand this side of him.

He turned sharply to her after letting out all of his frustration on the gadget that now lay in pieces on the floor only to find the space empty where she was sitting a minute ago.

"KHUSHI" His shout shook her who has just reached behind his chair whilst sliding against the walls trying to make as less sound as possible. If only any of his glass windows were open then someone would've heard and saved her from this monster. Damn this sound proof cabin!

His eyes caught her just when she dropped herself on the floor to hide behind his chair and despite the rage he felt his heart melting as he spotted her trying to squeeze herself in that place breathing hard with her eyes closed.

"Come out of there will you? You're making yourself more known by these shuffling sounds while trying to hide yourself." He said standing over her head.

Instead of listening to him she crawled on her hands and went under the table and sat with her knees up to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs with her eyes shut tight still.

He sighed.

"Khushi. Fine. I won't get angry. Just come out. And we will just get back to work." He negotiated.

"NO. I WANT TO STAY HERE. I WON'T COME OUT. EVER." He heard her shout followed by a sniffle.

"I WON'T WORK FOR YOU. I WON'T DO YOU ANY FAVOR EITHER. I- JUST WON'T."

"You don't have to shout dammit. I can hear you very well Khushi Kumari Gupta." He reminded her that he wasn't deaf for heaven's sake.

"So hear me out and leave me alone. Do your work on your own. I won't help at all. I am seriously very angry and pissed."

"On me?"

"On myself!"

"How about you accept that you were affected by Tanya's closeness to me and that might cool you down?"

"LEAVE ME ALONE."

"This is my cabin Khushi." He reminded her.

"Well, this is mine too." She retorted.

"Didn't you just say that you won't help me so technically you are no use to me at all. The employees who aren't any use to me and my company I simply fire them."

"WELL THEN GO AHEAD. FIRE ME MR.RAIZADA. MAKE MY LONG LOST DREAM COME TRUE." She fumed as he called her useless. How dare he?

He rubbed his ears scowling.

"Lower your voice Khushi. You will burst my ear drums." He said irritated.

"BETTER. DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAD EAR DRUMS OR NOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT FOR YOURSELF ANYWAYS!"

He huffed dropping himself on his leather chair completely aware of the person sitting under his table stubbornly and then heard the bang.

"Dammit!" He muttered bending on his knees. She must have hit her head on the table in her clumsiness.

"Come out now already. Enough of your stubbornness." He gritted extending his hand as he saw that she was sitting with her eyes shut tight with tear stains on her cheeks. Her head must be paining. He exhaled seeing her not even bothering to rub the spot to soothe the ache.

Silently he also crawled under the table and sat besides her before rubbing her head with his palm to which she squirmed and was about to hit the table above.. again but he placed his hand over her head quickly and sighed in relief when he prevented it.

"At least open your eyes you idiot to see that wooden roof above your head." He growled yanking her closer to rest her head under his chin before he rubbed her head until he was sure she was fine despite all of her attempts to wriggle out he kept her encaged pretty firmly with his one hand holding her nape and other busy in soothing the hurt, physical one though rubbing her scalp.

He felt his shirt getting wet by her tears and that made him swallow thickly.

"Doesn't matter how much you deny I know that you have feelings for me which you can't ignore even while trying so hard to do so." He mumbled as he continued to hold her with his fingers buried in her hairs, her head cocooned against his chest.

To his surprise she stopped protesting after a few attempts and let all of her weight fall on him but sobbing she definitely didn't stop.

Silently though but he knew she was breaking inside just like he was.

He wants her to accept her feelings but he won't do the same. How very fair Raizada!

Someone sneered inside him causing him to close his eyes as he rested his chin over her head.

"ASR? Wasn't he in his office? I didn't see him walking out after he came in here." The employee was busy in self monologue not seeing him in his cabin because obviously he wasn't visible. He was-

His eyes shot open while he caught the sight of the legs and recognize the voice of his finance manager. Dhruv Chaturvedi.

There goes his ASR attitude and charisma and not to mention image too.

You are sitting under the table ASR.

What the fuck?

He looked at the woman in his arms who has made him do this silly, crazy thing otherwise he and would crawl and sit under the freaking table? Never in his wildest dreams.

He sighed in relief when Dhruv left closing the door behind him. He nudged Khushi then.

"Come out of the table now at least Khushi. You are going to break my image in front of my employees for heaven's sake." He spoke annoyed. Frowning he looked down at her and pulling back her face a bit he saw her eyes closed with her breathing normally now.

"What the!" He murmured in disbelief.

She slept on him?

"So freaking amazing Khushi Kumari Gupta. Full of surprises you are in there dear fiance!" He said to her holding her face in between his hands.

"What the fuck ASR. Now you are talking to yourself and to a sleeping woman..of course!" He closed his eyes taking a deep breath opened them again to get a grip over himself otherwise his emotions were all over the place seeing her looking so beautiful even with moist cheeks and red face that he couldn't stop himself from getting lost in her.

He would've continued his drooling session if only his brother hasn't entered his cabin calling out for him.

"Bhai?"

Sighing he made her sit properly leaning against the support on the back before coming out of the table making Akash's jaws drop as he saw his brother crawling out of a freaking... table?

"Bhai, what were you doing under the table?" He exclaimed trying to get the hold of himself because any moment from now, there were chances of him to burst out laughing as he saw his brother adjusting his blazer and hairs before turning to him with his all ASR attitude.

"She slept.. there." He pointed to the table.

"Who?" He bent to see and straightened up to ask a very hilarious question in a very serious tone.

"Did you lull her to sleep Bhai?"

"Shut up Akash." Arnav scratched his stubble uneasily after shouting at his brother who looked ready to burst any moment.

"By the way, you could've used the couch there you see. But tell me was it fun to sit down there under the table?" Akash said with his tongue in cheek.

"Chuck it Akash." Arnav said sternly this time. "We will discuss whatever you have in that file you brought once I will drop her to my penthouse up there. Okay?"

"Sure Bhai."

Before Arnav could bend to carry her out Payal entered after knocking making the brothers gulp when she asked.

"Where is Khushi?"

"She has gone to the IT section for some work." Arnav replied hoping that she would leave because he don't want her to see Khushi in this condition and that too under the table sleeping with her sullen broken demeanor.

"Okay. I will check there." She said and was about to leave when on Arnav's gesture Akash stopped her catching her elbow.

"I gave you a few dictations to type. Are they done?" Akash asked sternly taking Arnav by surprise. Shrugging his hand Payal replied briskly.

"Just two left. Will be done by half an hour."

"Well I want them done in the next fifteen minutes. Now go back to the cabin and concentrate on the work rather than some chit chat with your sister." He ordered.

Whoa. Was all Arnav could say in his mind. When did his brother start behaving like.. him?

Gritting her teeth Payal faced him.

"What would you do if I didn't follow your order? Will you fire me Mr.Akash Singh Raizada? Then go ahead and do it. I will happily walk out on this office and on .. you too!"

"We both know that you could do neither of them because your father has strictly told you to work in AR didn't he?" Akash didn't back off either.

Arnav's eyes dilated sensing the thick tension between them.

What the fuck has gone wrong between them? Khushi was sacrificing herself for her sister's happiness and when she will be upset like this then what would be the point of all her troubles?

If Khushi got to know the equation between Akash and Payal and if she even got to slightest hints that Payal wants to back out then she might as well blurt out the real reason of kissing him that day in front of her father and that would be the end of everything. None of the Raizada would then ever be allowed in Gomti Sadan. His heart thudded in fear as the couple argued in front of him.

"Enough both of you!" He said out loud sternly silencing them both. Payal turned to him sharply then.

"Make your brother understand that I had to see my sister urgently." Payal was on the verge of crying.

"Why? What's wrong with her?" Arnav couldn't help but notice the certain fear on her face.

"You do know what's wrong with her. It's you." Payal retorted."Ever since Babuji isn't talking to her, for about days she couldn't sleep properly at nights and her--" She swallowed her words. She would not tell the devil who was responsible for it all.

"Her.. What Payal? Tell me?" He demanded.

"If you care for Khushi then you'd tell me because she is not in IT section and only I know where she actually is." Arnav tried emotional blackmailing which his Di always used on him which mostly did work. This time it did too.

"Her migraines are back. At this particular time of the day they get worse." She choked. "So I just had to see her to give her medicines." She opened her fist to show them the tablets."Otherwise she might faint and can fall down anywhere."

Akash's eyes widened as he understood it now and looking at his brother's face he knew he did too.

Arnav held the table for support.

She wasn't sleeping you idiot ASR. She fainted on you!

And that hit on her head might have just aggravated the pain!

Quickly he dropped himself on the knees and dragged her out carefully, startling Payal who rushed to her sister petrified.

"What was she doing under the table?" She exclaimed as Arnav quickly stood up hauling her up in his arms and ran to the couch to place her on it.

"What do you do when she faints after a migraine attack?" Arnav asked sprinkling the water on her face.

"We can do nothing until she wakes up. It's good that she at least is unconscious and her mind has shut off and it would relax the migraine itself. Relieve her off the stress she must have felt before passing out." Payal said pointedly.

"How can you say that its good that she fainted?" Arnav growled patting Khushi's cheeks but she refused to budge dropping his hearrtbeats to dull aches. If she didn't wake up then he might as well start having migraines too. He continued to call her but to no avail.

Akash and Payal looked at each other anxiously and for that moment Payal felt strange seeing Arnav's blinding concern and desperation to see Khushi awake and all fine. Dare she said she felt empathy towards the elder Raizada? She was used to handle Khushi in this condition but he.. he was seeing her this way for the first time. It must be awful seeing the result of his own doings before his very eyes.

Payal crouched down to sit before the couch besides him silently.

"She will be fine when she wakes up. The lack of sleep must have triggered it I guess. An hour or two of rest would help her." She didn't know why she has changed her own words in order to relieve him. She was a human after all who wasn't as heartless as this man sitting in front of her sister or maybe he just posed himself to be one to show that he was strong enought to withstand anything world would throw his way.

"Are you sure?" Arnav asked with his hand on Khushi's forehead rubbing it to relieve her pain, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Hmm. I will just have to go back home with her because she needs to sleep on a comfortable pillow and bed which isn't possible here." Payal said hoping that at least now he would not argue but he did.

"No need. I have my penthouse up here and my suite is comfortable enough for her to rest." Arnav announced and then he was carrying her. Payal was about to rush after him but Akash stopped her.

"For your sister's sake, stop being stubborn and so high on morals." Akash bit out."Let him take her. How do you think would you take her back home without anyone noticing ASR carrying her out with that much concern on his face?"

Payal opened her mouth to argue to but he continued not letting her speak.

"It was your sister's condition that no one at AR or for anyone for that matter should know about her and Bhai's relationship status except for our closed relatives. That was why neither any media personnel nor anyone from AR was invited in our engagement. Do you remember? If not and you want to blow the cover then go ahead. Be my guest!"

"At least I can go and stay with my sister if you'd allow me your majesty, Mr.Akash Singh Raizada?" Payal sneered.

"Not needed when Bhai is there with her. You will now silently come to our cabin and type the dictations. Enough of the excuses." He ordered. When she refused to move then he took her wrist and practically dragged her out to stop only when they were in the cabin as he gave her a nudge to her chair before walking to his.

Curling her both hands into fists she groaned in frustration to which giving her a nonchalant glance he ordered her to get back to work.

Both the Raizada brothers are insensitive and incompetent jerks!

Was Payal's thoughts when she turned her attention back to the laptop with worry of her sister still pricking her mind.

She stole a glance at him through the corner of her eyes.

Why on earth has she liked this man out of all the men out there at the first place itself?

Things wouldn't have been so complicated if only he wasn't related to Arnav Singh Raizada, the man who broke her sister's heart in the past and he was doing that unabashedly still without a fail.

"You are staring Ms.Gupta. I don't think AR pays you for that."

She jerked in her place at his voice.Flustered andembarrassed both she turned her head back to the laptop screen feeling theblood rushing to her cheeks completely missing the smug smile that appeared onAkash's face.

Placing her on the bed he covered her with the blanket properly with his heart in his mouth and his eyes prickling.

"You do know what's wrong with her. It's you." Payal retorted.

He sat down besides her and took her limp hand in both of his before bringing it closer to his lips.

"Ever since Babuji isn't talking to her, for about days she couldn't sleep properly at nights and her--"

"Her migraines are back. At this particular time of the day they get worse." She choked. "So I just had to see her to give her medicines."

"Otherwise she might faint and can fall down anywhere."

He took a sharp intake of breath with his mouth on her fingers trying hard to cope up with all this, all her suffering because of him. HIM. Dammit!

"We can do nothing until she wakes up. It's good that she at least is unconscious and her mind has shut off and it would relax the migraine itself. Relieve her off the stress she must have felt before passing out." Payal said pointedly.

Stress. Stress of his coercion and his manipulation it must be. What else? Who else have ever damaged her the way he has? Guilt squeezed his heart into fist. Unshed tears blurred his vision.

"She will be fine when she wakes up. The lack of sleep must have triggered it I guess. An hour or two of rest would help her."

He closed his eyes. Not only her peace he has snatched her sleeps too. The only respite to elude the world's and his cruelty was also taken away by him.

"Her migraines are back!"

His eyes shot open.

What did Payal mean by that?

Did she has these migraines before too? When? And Why?

Did someone else hurt her the way he did too?

He shuddered to even think of anyone else hurting her the way he has.

Was she in love with someone else?

Is that why she isn't letting him in?

Oh please huh. Didn't she let you in during diwali?

She wouldn't have let you come near her if that was the case.

And you very well know why she isn't letting you in!

He shook his head.

What the hell was he thinking?

Then what happened?

How did her migraines start?

Then a thought struck him hard making his jaws clench.

Did Shyam hurt her in some way in order to pursue her when he wasn't in her life in the last year?

Is that why she was depressed the last year?

"I swear I will bury him alive if he had had." He gritted with his mouth at the back of her hand.

Oh great huh ASR. Taken off the blame from yourself and put it on someone else to relieve your guilt?

When you know, YOU KNOW Shyam is in jail. You made sure he was!

Maybe he used some of his connections?

His sharp mind wouldn't stop to think of the possibilities knowing how vile that man was.

Someone scoffed inside him.

Again. Blame him not you, yourself!

Wow!

So very awesome!

Good. Go on. Carry on!

You're already doing a fantastic job!

He brought her hand entwined with his to his cheek and rubbed it against his skin feeling suffocated with all the questions going in his head with no clear answer and upon that the blinding concern for her was making it all the more unbearable.

"I will find answers. For you. For us. To make our marriage work I have to make sure you are always happy and content. Not this weak and... depressed."

"I will defeat you in your own game. If I didn't then I--I will kill myself."

"Dammit!" He left her hand and stood up agitated. These words from her and her promise won't leave him and he knew it won't ever. Not until he make her back off from it.

He swallowed pacing around the room before rushing to his study attached to the master bedroom. Fetching his laptop he came back and dragging the recliner besides the bed sat on it to keep an eye on her and switched on the laptop placing it on his thighs.

Occasionally looking at her for the next whole hour he went through every website, every article regarding migraine, its triggering and relieving factors and its effective treatment. Everything.

Online he has already made an appointment with a neurosurgeon for her as well. He don't want to take any chances with her health whatsoever. She got it due to him and he won't sit in peace until he won't make her come out of this splitting headache. He winced as the word 'split' pained him physically.

A website said that when a person gets a migraine attack its like someone is hammering one side of the head crushing it squeezing it and not to mention, pounding it so hard to the point of delirium that you couldn't do anything to ward the pain off until you take the strong painkillers prescribed by your doctor, especially by a neurosurgeon or caffeine or strong tea for the time being if you haven't consulted the doctor yet.

He quickly took wrote doctor's number from the site and called him personally. Upon his insistence he agreed to come over to AR but it would take an hour or so. He clenched his hand around the phone.

"Make it as soon as possible Dr. Kapoor. My fiance is in explicit pain." He said quickly. "Please." He added swallowing before cutting the phone.

He swiped a hand on his eyes rubbing his temples feeling his own head pounding. With his palms over his nose he raised his wet lashes and stared at her closed eyes and to her chest heaving up and down indicating that she was breathing. Yes, she was breathing. He should relax. She would be fine. He would make sure of it. No matter what.

She stirred in her sleep making him super alert. He stood up and rushed to sit besides her.

"Khushi?" He cupped the side of her cheek.

"Huh?"

Khushi half opened her eyes disoriented and blinked rapidly to focus on the surrounding. Abrubtly she tried to sit and fell back on the pillow due to lightheadedness.

"Laiti raho. Utho mat.(Keep lying. Don't try to get up!)" Came a concerned voice which she couldn't recognize whose was it as her ears were buzzing and her head was pounding.

She vaguely registered that she was lying on a... bed?

Jiji?

Only she knew about her migraine attacks.

She must have brought her home.

But then how did that Laad Governor let her?

As her thoughts wondered to him everything came back to her too including Tanya and the scene she witnessed not so long ago as well and that was it.

She moaned in pain as she couldn't think further.

"Jiji, please pass me the medicines. It's hurting. Really bad." She cried as tears spilled from the corner of her eyes.

Arnav gulped hard and urgently dialled Akash's number in a broken stupor as he saw her writhing in pain being half conscious, he choked out to Akash to bring up the medicines Payal have brought for Khushi till doctor comes and checks her.

"Bhai we have come on a construction site. It will take at least fifteen to twenty minutes for us to come back to AR." Akash murmured apologetically eyeing Payal who was grudgingly taking notes from the workers with worry lines still on her forehead for her sister.

"She is c-crying in pain and I don't know what to do. I-I can't do anything and it's cutting me into pieces." Arnav croaked making Akash to break into action as he told his brother to stay on the call.

He quickly gestured to the workers to leave and headed to Payal and without any word dragged her with him to the car, ordered her to get in before taking the driving seat.

"What's wrong with you?" Payal blasted.

"Keep your voice low." He hissed starting the car and zooming off. "Do you have Khushi's medicines still with you?" He asked alarming her.

"No. They are in my cabin in the first drawer." She recited worried sick. "Is she okay?" She croaked.

"We would find that out." He took a sharp turn.

"P-Please hurry up Akash." Arnav said to him over the phone which was still connected through the bluetooth Akash was wearing throughout.

If Arnav Singh Raizada wasn't that vulnerable then he would have thought of taking her directly to the hospital or give her at least painkillers to relieve her pain or he would've called some staff to get medicines from Payal's desk drawer or he would've gone himself to fetch them but no, ASR's shrewd mind wasn't working at all as he saw her suffering before his very eyes. It was slashing him from head to toe making him writhe in excruciating pain himself.

"Khushi, w-what can I do to make you feel better?" He asked more like pleaded leaning on her rubbing her head.

"Feel?" She whimpered shutting her eyes more tight before burying her head into the pillow squirming in pain. Arnav felt his heart dropping. His hands trembled and so did his whole body as he saw her perspiring even in cold.

"You know what I feel? As if.. As if..there is something stuck. Right in here. In my windpipe." She pointed to the middle of her chest with her hand shaking.

"It's like ants, snarky insects are crawling all over my skin." She choked.

He eyes prickled with unshed tears.

"It ain't gonna go. All that just travels up to here." She pointed to her temple."To my brain and mess up with my mind and blow it off. It- It pierce not me but my soul. It bloody chokes the life out of me." She cried out whilst the wretchedness was written on her face.

He flinched. The way she put it painted out a very painful, heartrending picture that he found himself feeling just because she was.

She looked at him with her half closed eyes and scoffed.

"Jiji. I think I am going mad. I am seeing that Laad Governor at your place. This migraine is messing up with my mind otherwise why would he be in my.." She looked around and frowned at the unknown surrounding and the bedroom before shaking her head.

"In my.. new room?" She murmured confused.

"Am I losing my mind?" She asked looking back at him.

"No. You are just feeling lightheaded. A doctor is coming in a bit to check on you and then you will be fine." He tucked a strand of hairs behind her ear. She rubbed her head before she again started to sit up.

He stood up quickly and sat against the headboard to help her up.

"You are my imagination only. Aren't you?" She asked with her half open eyes.

"Hmm" He said just that. Nothing more. He wasn't capable of it at all.

"Doctor is c-coming?"

He nodded only feeling his throat clogged with tears.

"Huh. Okay. Then I would see my jiji instead of you, you Rakshas?" She poked a finger on his cheek.

"You will." He swallowed.

She leaned on his shoulder making his breath hitch. Surely it must be too bad. She must be very groggy, disoriented otherwise in her pure senses she wouldn't have done this willingly. Instead she would've shouted and asked him to leave her the hell alone.

With a lump stuck in his throat he wrapped his arm around her shoulder pressing her head to his chest and placed his chin over her head leaning back on the headboard.

"I am not feeling lightheaded. I am feeling dirty." She mumbled against his chest.

He needed not asked why. He knew.

"I love you jiji so much and I can do anything for you. I am doing it. But it is turning out too much. It hurts too much jiji..and that.. that.. Tanya.. Him.. I-" She sobbed as her shoulders shook.

"Okay enough." He stopped her from saying any further as it was becoming too much for him too.

"Why are you talking like that monster, jiji?" She murmured clinging to his shirt.

"Shut up Khushi!"

Her eyelids started drooping.

"I think I should give you a head massage before that doctor arrives." He needed a distraction. Badly. And his distorted senses provided him the solution too. As to not to be drown in darkest pit of hell and guilt all over again. He had to, had to keep his sanity intact in order to take care of her.

He held her on his one arm and from the other reached over to the bedside drawer to retrieve the balm.

"Lie down." He murmured against her temple.

"Khushi?" He shook her shoulder.

"Huh?" She said drowsily.

"Lie down." He repeated.

"Okay." She whispered groggily and slipped back into the bed with her head on his thigh.

"What the?" He felt choked in an instant. The way she was saying you feel when something gets stuck in your windpipe. Just like that.

Composing himself he opened the bottle of balm and applying some on her forehead he rubbed it there and on her temples before massaging her head softly while she has long gone back to sleep.

Once done he placed her head back on the pillow before gazing at her face. He should get used to it because in a week she would be his and it would be him responsible for her health and every decision in her life.

Dare he say he was scared for the first time to take such a huge responsibility of this woman who is so dear to him? He knew he has to keep her happy even if she would turn down all off his efforts to make her so. She was entering in this marriage to avenge herself while he was entering in it to win her over. Only time will tell whether her revenge would swallow their marriage or his love would be able to prevent it.

He sighed in relief as she slept but it was short lived as she shot up in a few minutes only and cried out in pain making his heart constrict in his chest. She fell back on the pillow and he frantically massaged her forehead, her scalp in order to relieve her pain but to no avail.

She twisted and turned on the bed sobbing silently before grabbing his hands on her head and dugged her nails in to skin as a sharp wave of pain shoot through her head.

"JIJI!" She cried turning her head and sinking her teeth on his thigh. Akash barged in right that moment followed by Payal only to see a stupefied Arnav sitting dumbfounded with thick rim of tears in his eyes while Khushi had her forehead rested on his knee while tears continuously spilled from her cheek.

"JIJI!" She yelled again burying her fingers in her hairs hitting her head on his knee.

Payal rushed to her and pulled her in her arms and rubbed her back. While Arnav sat there numb not moving, not reacting, maybe not breathing at all either.

"I am here Khushi. I am here. Here. Take your medicines. Akash please pass the water." Payal said urgently. Akash handed her the water to which Payal placed the tablets in Khushi's mouth and made her drink water to wash them down before leaning her back on her.

"Just wait for a few minutes Khushi. It will pass. It will p-pass." Payal croaked blinking back the tears.

Akash stood confused, anxious not knowing how toreact while Arnav stood up abruptly and stormed off.

He entered back in his cabin through the same backdoor from where he has taken her out. With bleary eyes he slowly walked to his desk and fell on the chair with his face in his hands.

"You know what I feel? As if.. As if..there is something stuck. Right in here. In my windpipe." She pointed to the middle of her chest.

"It's like ants, snarky insects are crawling all over my skin."

"It ain't gonna go. All that just travels up to here." She pointed to her temple."To my brain and mess up with my mind and blow it off. It- It pierce not me but my soul. It bloody chokes the life out of me." She cried out whilst the wretchedness was written on her face.

"Am I losing my mind?" She asked looking back at him.

"I am not feeling lightheaded. I am feeling dirty." She mumbled against his chest.

"I love you jiji so very much and I can do anything for you. I am doing it. But it is turning out too much. It hurts too much jiji..and that.. that.. Tanya.. Him.. I-" She sobbed as her shoulders shook.

His eyes shot open and he groaned swiping a hand across the table and the things went flying in to the other corner of the room before he breathed hard and turned to the intercom and quickly pressed a few buttons.

"Clear Tanya's accounts and give her a termination letter as soon as possible. I want her out of AR Lucknow at the earliest. Got it?" He ordered more like growled on the phone and smashed the receiver back on its case.

Leaning back defeated on the chair he looked up at the ceiling before closing his eyes painfully.

"Do you know who Tanya is?" He asked an out of the way question.

She frowned.

"Where does that concern my job?"

"It does!" He punched his fist on the desk causing her to jump.

"How?" She asked stuttering.

"She was my mistress for two months."

He banged his fist on the table as bile rose up in his throat.

He and his manipulative games!

He himself has messed it all up.

"What should I do about that? Why are you telling me all this?" She asked solemnly rubbing him in the wrong way.

"To take away your peace. Keep imagining what me and Tanya shared and I wanna see how would you sleep in the night then." He said bluntly.

"DAMMIT!"

He did. He did take away her peace. Her condition was a prove of that.Tanya's closeness and his past relationship with her was affecting her badly but that stubborn girl won't admit. She would prefer to burn in ache, in anguish instead of allowing him to put her worries to rest.

"It is turning out too much. It hurts too much jiji..and that.. that.. Tanya.. Him.. I-" She sobbed as her shoulders shook.

How the heck could she trust him when he himself would poke her with his past relationships?

Burying his fingers in his hairs he clenched them resting his elbows on the table with his head hung low.

"Neither I am jealous nor ashamed because I don't care if you go out with several girls and.. even.. if you.. s-sleep with them. H-have a-affairs. D-Do anything. J-Just.." She trailed off.

"Why don't you go ahead and marry someone like Tanya because you deserve that type of women only." She hissed.

If anyone want to see a man who dug the grave for someone else and himself falls into it then he should come and see him, THE ASR because his own plan to make her blurt out her feelings backfired on him. it has brought her to this condition in which he couldn't bear to see her.

He himself has dug his own grave while trying to make her jealous with his ex.

An ex who-

The door of his cabin banged open cutting his painful thoughts and he looked up angrily. His jaws clenched when he saw Tanya standing there looking vengefully at him.

"How dare you enter my cabin without my permission Tanya?" He growled spitting fire at her.

Her eyes widened as she saw his anger. She was so dumbstruck when she was handed the termination letter which later turned into anger and she has burst in his cabin without thinking anything.

"How can you do this to me ASR?" She mellowed down a bit as she saw him glaring at her.

"I am not answerable to you. LEAVE." He ordered.

Tanya seethed in anger.

"You are firing me for that middle class cheap girl who has no class whatsoever?" She gritted coming over to his table.

"MIND YOUR LANGUAGE TANYA!" He stood up and shouted angrily making her retreat and shudder in fear as madness emanated from his eyes.

"What that girl has done to you that you are overlooking how much amazing we both were together?" Tears of insult filled her eyes.

He snapped at that clenching his fists.

"You very well know what type of relationship we had had and you dare not get me started on that. I transferred you here in Lucknow from delhi hoping you'd learn a lesson but no, you clearly didn't." He ground his teeth.

"I am sorry for this morning if that's the reason for your anger ASR." Tanya said pleadingly.

"Leave Tanya. My decision is final and it won't change!" He growled turning to her.

Suddenly she started crying profusely irritating him.

"How can you leave me after using me? You left me I tolerated that. You transferred me from Delhi to Lucknow I obliged to that too hoping you'd realize your love for me one day and would come back to me."

"TANYA-"

But she continued shedding tears making him clench his jaws and close his eyes praying for patience.

"You did come back but now I think you want someone else to warm your bed don't you? I understand she looks innocent and maybe somewhat beautiful but she can't satisfy you the way I can ASR. She-"

"FIANCE!" He shouted cutting her, stopping her monologue.

"W-What?" Tanya mumbled shocked.

"She is my fiance. MY SOON TO BE WIFE." He announced looking into her eyes firmly. While Tanya stood dumbfounded.

"And you better watch your words while talking about her because I haven't given anyone the authority to talk about MY KHUSHI. No one!"

Wide eyed Tanya stood stunned because as far as she knew him, he didn't believe in marriages. No. Not at all.

Then what did that low class girl did to make him agree for the same?

How in the freaking hell?

How when she herself couldn't do it?

"Now. GET OUT." He shouted but when she didn't budge he took her elbow and dragged her to the door before pushing her out and shut the door on her angry face.

He turned and cursed under his breath as there at the backdoor not only Payal and Akash but Khushi was standing too with Payal's arms around her.

Now he realized why Tanya turned melodramatic all of a sudden.

The more he try to solve things between him and Khushi the more the world conspires to mess it all up.

"Are you okay?" He asked catching her eye.

She turned her back to him and hugged her sister who embraced her back.

"Bhai, actually-" Akash started but intercom beeped right then.

Swallowing past a lump seeing her turning away from him, he took the receiver and brought it to his ear. He was informed that Dr. Kapoor was here.

"Send him to Akash's cabin and stay there until I come." He said and put the receiver back on the cradle.

"Doctor is here, Khushi. Come and he shall check you." He said softly while Khushi's hold only tightened around Payal whilst the elder sister felt wetness on her neck.

Akash scratched his stubble agitatedly while he noticed his brother's patience wearing thin as even after minutes neither Khushi turned to him nor did she listen to any of his pleading.

"He is the best neurosurgeon of our country Khushi." Arnav tried again.

"I have talked to him and he would find a permanent solution to your problem." He reasoned.

"MY PROBLEM IS YOU. CAN HE GET ME RID OF YOU?" She snapped abruptly turning to him.

Payal rubbed her arm anxiously asking her to calm down. The fear that was in the elder sister's eyes shone in Arnav's too as he rushed to her until he was standing a feet away from her.

"Don't stress." He said wide eyed. "Stress can trigger your migraine." He wasn't strong enough to see her in that condition again. No. He shuddered inwardly.

"Payal, Akash can I talk with her alone?"

"NO. No Jiji. If you leave me alone with him then I would.. I would.. I would kill myself."

Payal's eyes were almost on the verge of popping out seeing her madness. Not only hers but Akash was stunned too.

"I am not going anywhere Khushi." She said quickly scared out of her wits. "In fact you are coming with me." She said and wrapping her arm around her was about to take her when Arnav stepped in their way before cupping Khushi's cheeks firmly.

"DAMMIT. LET ME EXPLAIN." He lost his cool.

"Explain what? WHAT? That how you use women like tissues and throw them like trash as if they were nothing? And soon you buy a new toy to play with?"

He gritted his teeth.

"But mind you Mr.Raizada. Neither am I any tissue paper nor a toy. I would never give you that much power over me that you do that with me which you just did with Tanya."

He scoffed all of a sudden whilst a red hue shown in his eyes.

"If you haven't given me any power over you then why, why did you react the way you did? What triggered that splitting headache? Why can't you sleep at nights? Why the hell you have tears in your eyes right now? Bolo. Koi jawab hai tumhare pass?(Tell me? Do you have any answer?)" He said gripping her upper arms pulling her closer.

"Because my Babuji isn't talking to me. That's why all this happened. That's what triggered it. That's why I can't sleep." She said on his face.

"Aur iss sab k zimmedar aap hain. Sirf aur sirf AAP. Itna hi involve hain aap iss sab mai(And you, yourself is responsible for all of it. You and only YOU. In this matter you're involved just that much). Don't give yourself so much importance. You mean nothing to me."

Payal and Akash looked at each other worriedly as their argument heated up as after that Khushi shrugged him off only for Arnav to yank her back angrily making bile rise up in their throats.

Payal glared at Arnav and shouted at him to leave her sister while Akash stood stupefied when Arnav carried a protesting Khushi in his arms and stormed out with Khushi shouting, slapping, punching, flailing her legs in his hold. The staff downstairs looked at each other asking through their eyes.

What' going on? As they saw ASR carrying his own PA to his brother's cabin. After him Akash Sir and his PA entered the cabin before the door was banged shut and it cut off Khushi's shouts too who was saying something like.

Laad Governor?

Beast?

Rakshas?

Was it ASR she was addressing to when she said that?

They could only question each other because they neither they had the guts nor confidence to ask the lion himself.

"Oh freaking sedate her if she refuse to get checked." He growled irritated making Payal angry and Akash to let out an exaggerated sigh.

He has placed her on the seat in front of the doctor who was waiting for them once he dismissed the receptionist who has seen him barging in with Khushi Kumari Gupta, his PA in his arms calling him names. On her boss's gesture she ran out.

But Khushi was Khushi, she stood up the minute he made her sit and reached for the door only for him to pull her back harshly this time and shove her back on the seat.

"For god's sake Arnav Singh Raizada, is this the way to handle the one who is sick?" Payal reprimanded him sternly making Arnav clench his jaws.

"Here your sister is acting stubborn. Ask her to get herself checked instead of wasting her time in struggles because she won't get anything out of her stupid protests." He growled turning to her.

Payal looked at Khushi as she knew by now how this man processed.

"Jiji, I am fine." Khushi said upon Payal nod.

"Shut up Khushi and don't test my patience more than you already had." Arnav shouted on her face leaning to her making both Payal and Akash to huff feeling their own head bursting seeing their fights in which neither of them was ready to bend.

The poor doctor kept sitting silently looking from one face to another as they argued with each other.

Finally Akash found the solution to end it.

"Khushi ji, you just have problem with Bhai being here don't you? I will take him away and you please let the doctor check you. Payal will stay with you till then okay?"

"Yes!" Khushi said.

"NO!" Arnav retorted.

Akash felt like pulling his hairs out. At last he took his brother's hand and dragged him out himself despite his protests before shutting the door behind.

"What the hell Akash?" He yelled once he was literally brought to his office by his brother.

"I know you are worried Bhai. But to be honest you weren't helping there either."

Akash stood against the closed door as his brother tried to escape yet again.

"Bhai. Stop. Stop. Would you?" He held him by his shoulders and said firmly seeing his vulnerability as he tried hard to keep his emotions in check.

Silently Akash hugged him rubbing his back giving him what he needed the most at that time. Assurance.

"She will be fine."

At that he felt his brother hugging him back tightly before he heard him exhaled followed by choked stuttered, shattered words.

"I can't do without her. Not anymore. I can't see the uncertainty and distrust in her eyes anymore either. Neither can I see her like this."

"I know." Akash muttered not knowing what else to say when his Bhai himself was responsible for all the insecurities Khushi was feeling about him and their relationship.

If she was drifting away from him then no one but he himself was to be blamed here!

Maybe that was the only thing which was making him more desperate and panicked to reach to her heart before it fully shuts down for not only the world but for him too.

He paced from one end of the cabin to the other while Akash watched him from the couch and he could clearly note his anxiousness.

"What is taking them so long?"

"Why don't you connect to your cabin and ask Akash?"

"Or. Maybe I should?"

"What do you say?"

"Is the doctor really good or some pervert. I swear if he-"

"Bhai. BHAI." Akash stopped his self monologue. Yes, self-because he wasn't giving him a chance to say anything whatsoever for the last many minutes.

"WHAT?" Arnav turned sharply to him.

"Payal is with her. Remember?"

"So what? They both are just girls and he- dammit."

And then he himself stormed out giving Akash no other choice but to follow. Barging in the room, he demanded.

"What is taking you so long Dr. Kapoor?" Arnav's eyes spitted fire at the elderly man who raised his eyes from the paper on which he was scribbling something.

Khushi's face twisted in anger upon seeing him while Payal could only exhale.

This man was epitome of impatience. She could only pray that she could find proofs of her sister's innocence to get her out of his tangles. Maybe then her sister would not suffer the way she was doing now.

"I am almost done Mr.Raizada." Doctor said with neutral expression not at all offended by the inquiries.

He stood up then and handed the prescription to him. Arnav took it yet his features didn't soften.

"The symptoms of her recent attack were relieved by the medicines she took and these-" HE pointed to the medicines he wrote. "These should suffice for a better recovery. I would suggest follow up in a week or two."

"What's wrong with her? Elaborate would you?"

"No." Dr.Kapoor reply made his blood boil.

"Why not?"

"Because my patient has strictly told me not to say the details to anyone but her sister. Her sister was right here and-"

"I am her fiance!" He gritted.

"Then why don't you yourself ask her?" He thumped his shoulder and then he was gone. Akash went to escort him out and apologize for his brother's rudeness.

Back in the cabin, Arnav took the seat doctor was sitting on in front of Khushi and demanded.

"TELL ME KHUSHI. DAMMIT SPIT IT OUT. I AM WORRIED SICK HERE."

"Mr. Ra-" Payal started.

Arnav showed her his hand feeling extremely frustrated and angry.

"Leave us alone. Or else I would inform your father and he would definitely arrange for some place alone for us to talk."

"You are such a--" Payal was rudely cut.

"Jerk? I know. Now leave and close the door on your way out."

Payal's eyes met Khushi's and she nodded at her sister slowly to do as he was saying. That she would handle herself. Not that she was scared of him. She was just scared of losing her father's affection once and for all.

Once Payal walked out, he stood up and locked the door from inside.

"Payal told me you're in this condition before too. When?" He asked sitting back bringing the chair close to her till their knees were touching.

"Do you really think I'd answer that?" She turned her face.

"First those bastards who tried to harrass you-"

"That was your mistake only." She hissed.

He rubbed his temples.

"Khushi, I-I just want to help." He said softly this time holding her gaze.

"If you want to offer your so called help then why don't you just tell the truth to my father and relieve me off my agony?" She retorted.

He tore his gaze from her. She sneered standing up.

In a moment of despair he took a decision.

"I will. I will tell him." He stood up blocking her way.

She frowned in confusion.

Would he?

Really?

She knew this man enough to just trust his words. There is always a reason of what he does or says particularly.

"And what do you want in return?" She crossed her arms over her chest taking a step back.

He reduced the distance and looked into her eyes.

"You!" He whispered with his eyes on her darting from her hazel orbs to her lips.

He was pushed away the next moment only.

"Why do you think my Babuji would let you near me after he would know the truth?"

"Because by then you'd already be married to me." He stated calmly and stepping forward placed his palm firmly on her cheeks despite her protests and massaged her temples not wanting her migraine to appear at all due to the stress.

"Why in the bloody hell would I marry you when I'd get my father back?"

"Because you'd get him back only after our marriage." He murmured darkly caressing her cheeks.

"A week more and you'd be mine. After that nobody, NO ONE would have more rights on you but I."

He slid his one arm around her back and pulled her closer.

"Then if your father got to know everything even then he won't be able to keep you away from me." He rasped breathing on her face.

Khushi clenched her hands seeing the possessiveness emanating from his eyes. It neither made her heart flutter nor made her feel the usual irregular heartbeats. Instead it made her feel more empty, more entangled.

"Do you show the same possessiveness to each and every girl in your life before taking them to your bedroom?"

One sentence, a set of few words from her were enough to make him back off. Leave her as if he was burned.

She smirked for putting him off. But that didn't stay on her face for long as he wrenched her closer.

"You should be relieved if not happy that I am not treating you like those women in my life because if I did then migraines would not be the only thing that would've kept you up all night long." He growled on her face with the tip of his nose touching hers. Chills ran down her spine. But he wasn't done yet.

"And certainly I wouldn't have been going to all the lengths to marry you either. Instead I'd just have to make a few phone calls and you'd have been in my penthouse in no time and then you wouldn't have any other option but to be with me. With or without marriage would've been my call."

She paled and no sooner than that she was wiggling in his arms. He pushed her away rudely before grabbing her shoulders and pinning her against the table hovering over her.

"DO NOT FORCE ME TO TREAT YOU THE WAY I TREATED THEM. IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY DOUBTS GO AND ASK THAT FUCKING TANYA WHO I REALLY AM." He shouted on her face chilling her bones.

As a lone tear rolled down her cheek he closed his eyes before touching his head on hers. Khushi was feeling paralyzed. Neither could she produce a sound nor could she move any muscle.

"Do not take advantage of my softness towards you Khushi. Do not take my feelings for granted." He said pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. Frightened eyes.

"I hate you." She cried out as her lower lip trembled.

He let out a dark chuckle.

"That will change too. Soon. Very soon." He though said calmly but punched his hands on either sides of her on the table and she jerked in her position.

"Regarding your migraines. Don't worry honey-" He leaned to her face. She leaned back to create the distance causing the things to fall off the table. Soon she was half lying it with him bend over her, his hands on either sides of her head, his eyes shining with determination. A certain kind of obsession.

"Once we will be married, you'd have no freaking fever or illness other than the fever of my love and madness that would rub off on you every second, every minute of your life. You won't have anything else to worry about but your own desires which you'd not be able to curb at all. Ever."

She breathed.

"Beware. I would make sure it happens!"

He straightened up while Khushi... couldn't as she lay there looking up the ceiling trying to gather herself. Sweat beads have formed on her forehead which he clearly noticed as he saw her not moving from her place.

Taking out his handkerchief he pulled her up to hold her in his arms and dabbed the handkerchief on her forehead.

She exhaled sharply.

"Don't think much. I know that sounds scary but once you'd be there, you'd enjoy being in love with me." He said seriously.

Love?

She shoved him off.

"How on earth could you believe in the notion that I would ever, LIKE EVER love you?" She bellowed.

He stared at her unfazed as if he has made up his mind and he would make sure it happens.

She gritted her teeth. Partly angry, Partly actually scared.

"I think you forgot the promise I made to you? If you did then let me-"

She couldn't complete as her mouth was covered with his the next moment shutting every word. Especially that 'kill herself' she must had added in that freaking sentence.

"Keep it in mind Khushi. If I didn't get you, I would make sure Payal and Akash never get married either. Aur tum jaanti ho mai aisa kar sakta hun!(And you know that I very well can do this!)" He said pulling back cupping her nape.

She hardly was able to conceal the broken expressions after that and she didn't even try.

"How could you expect me to love you when you'd break me like this?" For a few moments she showed him, her vulnerability but as he passed her the same brisk look she pulled back shaking her head.

"No." She said when he opened his mouth to say something. "Don't answer that."

Swallowing her tears she stepped back and ran towards the door but he won't let her go out too. He caught her before she could unlock it.

Backing her against the door while she struggled, he kissed her head, temples, nose, cheeks, chin, the side of her neck before dropping long peck on her lips.

"Maine toda hai na? Mai hi jodun ga bhi Khushi.(I broke you didn't I? I will pick up the pieces and make you again too.)" His tone held pleading, request or something else she didn't know but for a moment she couldn't help but stare back into his intimidating eyes searching for that one thing that would put all of her worries to rest.

Not finding it at all, her shoulders slumped andpushing him away she turned and unlocking the door urgently walked out leavinga dejected, guilty yet determined Arnav behind.

Back in the cabin, they both sat behind their tables silently and went back to work after lunch break in which Khushi ate with Payal and Akash forced a few morsels to his brother before giving him the medicines.

His fingers worked on the laptop vengefully and so did hers. Engrossed in their own thoughts cursing the other in their minds for being stubborn the time passed until there were only two hours were left for office.

Arnav got a call from the construction site and instead of Akash this time he thought to go himself because the atmosphere thick with tension in here, in his cabin was already taking a toll on him. Being angry on her and at the same time longing for her too he was feeling torn.

As he stormed out fetching his mobile, Khushi raised her eyes from the laptop before leaning back on the chair and allowed herself to wallow in self pity. Knowing that she could do nothing else.

Who does he think he was?

He was ruining her life. Scratch that- He has ruined her life and he was giving her, HER the attitude as if she did something wrong.

For the whole day after their argument in Akash's cabin neither did he talk to her nor did he spare her even a glance.

Probably he was regretting getting engaged to her and throwing that Tanya out of his life. Tanya, the woman who would've surrendered to him which she never would. She scoffed ignoring a part of her which scoffed back at her.

Yes, that must be the only reason.

YES!

YES!

"Why are you shouting?" She grabbed her head before shaking it harder to ward off his thoughts.

Why is she trying to even decode his silence?

She didn't do any wrong. He did.

He can go to hell and be with any woman and she would breath in peace for finally getting rid of a monster like him!

"Hmm!" She shut the laptop with a bang after saving the documents and stood up as she felt her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. Not only that she could feel the faint waves of pain rising in her head.

She needed a strong tea to ward it off!

Not only the ache but him too!

So she headed to the cafe for the first time ever since she joined AR Lucknow and smiling to the elderly man behind the counter asked for a tea.

As he asked his workers to make it as per her likes, Khushi resorted to her usual avatar and chatted with him. She felt somewhat relaxed as his talks and affectionate smiles took her mind off the things. He talked like her Babuji. Or say that her Babuji talked with her the same way when he wasn't angry at her.

By the time he handed her the hot cup of tea, she knew all about his family including their names of what they does and where they study and how much he loves his wife and children.

"Dhanewaad, Vishal Kaka. Bohat bohat acha laga aapse mil k aur baat kar k.(Thank you Vishal Uncle. It was really nice meeting and talking to you)" She said genuinely.

"Oh koi baat nahi puttar. Tere ilawa pata hai aaj tak kisi ne humse toh baat karna bhi gawara na kiya. Bhayi naukar jo samjhte hain humein.(No problem dear. To be honest no one from this office ever bothered to even make a small talk as they only consider me and my men their servants only!)"

"Haww. Ye kya baat hui? Aap chinta bilkul bhi mat kijiye. Ab hum aa gaye hain na. Hum roz aap se mila karein gay aur baat bhi karein gay. (Don't you worry. From now on, I would come here everyday and we would talk nineteen to dozen)"

"Kyun nahi bitiya. Zaroor. Hamesha khush raho.(Why not bitiya? Sure. Be happy always!)"

At his wish even though her insides churned but she didn't let her smile to waver as he reached across the counter to place a hand over her head to bless her.

Gulping her emotions, she said.

"Aur han inn bade logo ki toh baat bhi mat kijiye. Inn k liye inn ka ghamand aur jeet sab se uper hoti hai. Kisi ki izzat aur hansi se in ka kya lena dena bhala?(And we should not pay heed to these high class people anyways. For them their ego and victory is everything. They don't care even if they have to crush others respect and happiness in order to get their way.)" She let it all out indirectly as her eyes glinted with anger which Vishal noticed too.

"I am not talking about the boss, ASR, but his employees bitiya." He felt it necessary to mention it.

Khushi's smile vanished.

"It's only his nature, his attitude and his intimidating nature that people fear him that has kept the employees to stay in their place and work hard. They might not respect or give importance to any other staff lower than them but they have a high regard for ASR. You see, ASR visit Lucknow branch, this office once or twice in an year but still the whole 365 days everyone works here as if he is right here in this office."

Khushi swallowed.

"How can you respect someone who is not even cordial to you?" She asked running the tip of her finger over the rim of the cup.

"I know bitiya, he is harsh and sometimes rude too but his intentions for his employees could never be wrong. Whoever has worked under him has only gained, never lost anything. For an example look at me. I used to be a street vendor in Delhi. You know, he has a sister too whom he loves a lot."

Khushi didn't say anything as he provided her the information not knowing she already have met THE ASR family, whole of it.

"His sister bought my hand made pani puri about 5 years ago. I have seen the look on his face when he saw his sister happy enjoying that food. They left that day alright paying me but right on the next morning he came back to my stall and offered me a contract in one of his company as the catering manager if I would just promise to be honest to my job. All I had to do was shift to Lucknow because his office in Delhi already had a good catering staff which he didn't want to take down."

Shukla ji!

He was handling AR Delhi's cafe.

Khushi retrieved her hand holding the cup and took a sip lowering her head in order to hide her emotions while her eyes, she don't know why, welled up.

He takes care of even a street vendor because he made his sister happy but what about her?

Why he always hurt her?

Why?

What did she ever do to him?

Does he consider her responsible for his sister's ruined marriage?

Is that why he was playing with her life by messing it all up?

Is that why he took away her most precious relation because she was the reason behind taking away his sister most precious relation, her(Anjali's) husband?

Was he taking some kind of revenge from her?

She felt needles prickling her throat. Without noticing her emotional state Vishal Kaka kept talking.

"This is the first time in years that he is here for more than a week and believe me everyone is wondering why and trust me each and every employee are on their toes to keep all the things in place in fear that he was here because they might have done something wrong."

Revenge!

He was taking revenge!

Khushi, you fool, he is taking revenge on you!

Standing there for a minute more was becoming too difficult for her. Excusing herself urgently she ran out blinking back the tears and bumped to someone coming from front. Tea spilled all over the person's clothes and she closed her eyes when she heard the shout.

"WHAT THE HELL?"

"I am sorry." She murmured and was about to walk away when she was whirled back to her place rudely.

Gritting her teeth she looked up and found her, HER standing with coffee all over her top spitting fire at her.

For a moment Khushi felt immense relief and.. happiness seeing her all decked up avatar ruined before she composed herself. She wasn't anyone to revel in anyone's miseries. She wasn't ASR to be precise.

She has suffered enough thinking about this woman and her relationship with her(Khushi's) so called fiance.

Definitely not anymore!

"I said sorry Tanya Mam so get over it." Khushi gritted walking around her making Tanya fume as she followed her to the centre of the office and then again rudely turned her to face herself bringing everyone's attention to them.

"Oh great. Your feet must not be touching the ground after luring THE ASR in your fake innocence eh you good for nothing stupid girl." Tanya mocked.

Khushi mentally counted to ten for not lashing out at her. Besides she didn't want anyone to know about her so called relationship with ASR either. So she silently turned to leave.

Just that Tanya again didn't let her.

Khushi pursed her lips in anger.

"Listen to me very carefully you Khushi Kumari Gupta. For the time being you may get him but when he would be done with you, he would come back to me because forget marrying he won't even look at you. You know why?"

Khushi gulped hard.

"Because he did the same to me. He made promises to marry me too. He even got engaged to me but marriage. It never reached there. It never would because you'd be so lost in his charms that you'd surrender to him forgetting everything about your dignity or morals or innocence whatsoever. Like I DID." She pointed to herself with angry tears in her eyes. Not only anger but also jealousy in them didn't go unnoticed by Khushi either. But her next words pulled the rug off her feet as she went closer to her ear and murmured just for her.

"I even got pregnant with his baby. If you don't believe me, come to my apartment and I would show you the living proof."

"Y-You are lying." She cried out.

Tanya shrugged.

"I guess you'll find out. Don't forget to pay me a visit anytime you'd like."

Khushi trembled in her shoes with emotions and terror.

"It would be interesting. Won't it be? I am the mother of his child while you're his fiance. The other woman in his life. If you weren't be there, he would've been mine. He would've stayed with us. But no, he got his eyes on you and now he wants you. Tomorrow he would see another beautiful face and would leave you or who knows your child too.. for her!"

Tanya shrieked the next moment because Khushi didn't know what came over her that she grabbed Tanya by the hairs and jabbed her knee in her stomach making her cry out loud and everyone to rush to them to break them apart but Khushi seemed possessed. She continued

"BOHAT HO GAYA. BOHAT SUN BHI LIYA TERA. BAKWAAS BAND KAR APNI. AIK TU HI REH GAYI HAI MUJHE BTANE K LIYE K MUJHE KYA KARNA CHAHIYE AUR KYA NAHI AUR KON SAHI HAI AUR KON GALAT?(Enough of you and your talks. Shut the hell up. As if you are the only sacred pious human being on earth to tell me what to do or what not to and who is right or who is not?)"

Tanya cried out in pain as Khushi pulled her hairs harder bringing her down to the level of her knee whilst her own face turned red with anger and vengeance.

Akash and Payal who came out of their cabin caught the sight of the scene from upstairs with staff gathered around in a circle anxiously as the fight got ugly and ran to the stairs without missing the beat.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?" Boomed a voice in the office making everyone silent and look at the entrance. One by one everyone moved aside whilst Khushi and Tanya came in his view and he ran horrified to separate her from Tanya just when Akash and Payal reached them concerned too.

"She is crazy. A lunatic." Tanya roared wincing out loud in pain with her messed up hairs and hands around her aching stomach.

"Ruk. Ruk. Mai btati hu tujhe pagal hote kaise hain.(Wait. WAIT. I will tell you how really crazy people process!)" Khushi lurched to her only to be held back vertically against Arnav as she kept struggling flailing her legs in air while slapping her hands on his arms to get free to launch to Tanya.

"Explain!" Arnav gritted to Tanya holding a wriggling Khushi in his arms as chills ran down everyone's spine witnessing everything and now seeing the blinding rage in their boss's stance.

"Why should I explain? It was her who attacked me. Ask anyone. They all saw it."

Khushi's eyes widened and her struggles doubled to reach over to that bitch for feigning innocence.

"I SAID EXPLAIN. YOU REALLY ARE FORGETTING YOUR PLACE TANYA. No one. NO ONE tells me what should I do or shouldn't. Now spit it out. What the hell did you say to her to rile her up like this?" At the end he said in a dangerously low voice holding Khushi at her place.

"I just- I-am sorry ASR. It won't happen again. I was leaving anyway and I-just got carried away with all the bottled up emotions and our past that-I just blurted out whatever came to my mouth. I am sorry again." No way in hell she would confess the things she said to Khushi in front of ASR. She don't want to ruin her career once and for all if he got to know what did she blurt out. But nevertheless her goal was accomplished. She has put doubts in Khushi's mind and she would never accept him, forget about trusting. NEVER. This would be her revenge to him for not acknowledging her feelings.

"SECURITY. SECURITY." Arnav shouted making everyone shudder. The guards came running in and on his order dragged Tanya out who went away without much protest. After all her last day here in AR didn't turn out that bad as she noticed the look of distrust and anguish in Khushi's eyes on her way out.

Employees went back to collecting their things as office hours were over. This wasn't the only scene they had witnessed in office today, a few hours ago they had seen ASR carrying Khushi to Akash Sir's cabin too. Now Tanya accusing Khushi for trapping ASR. What was between the lines? Only god or their bosses knew only along with their Personal Assistants.

Khushi breathed hard once Arnav dragged her back to his cabin followed by Akash and Payal.

"Water." Payal made her drink it. Taking a few sips Khushi paced around while Arnav's keen eyes observed her restlessness and unbound agitation emanating from her. No doubt she was sad and angry for the past many days because of him but right now there was something else too which depicted her stance.

What?

"Jiji-" Khushi gasped handing her the glass back after gulping it all in one go. "I need to go home. Please. I have to get out of here. T-Take me out of here." She buried her fingers in her hairs on the side putting her other hand on her mouth as if to keep herself from bursting out crying. Arnav pinched the bridge of his nose seeing her condition.

He would sue that Tanya for bringing her to this point!

"Fine. Fine. Relax. Come." Payal said and placing her arms around her shoulder turned to the door. Just that Arnav was leaning against it with his eyes glued to her seizing her up. She wouldn't meet his eyes. Pushing himself off the door, he pulled her closer holding her upper arms snatching her apart from Payal.

"Whatever that Tanya said, don't you dare, DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE believe on it. DARE YOU CRY OVER IT EITHER." He growled angrily on her face whilst she shook with emotions barely hanging on the edge of them.

Her shoulders shook whilst her lips trembled but soon the tears fell one by one along with whimpers as she shut her eyes tight.

"CHUP. BILKUL CHUP!(SHUT UP. JUST SHUT UP!)" He shouted in rage not only making her shot her eyes wide open but made Payal and Akash jerk in their position too.

"Now listen to me Khushi Kumari Gupta. If, IF you didn't sleep tonight and stressed over this bloody thing or whatever the heck that Tanya said that I'd make sure you become my wife by tomorrow night. And you very well know it would not be difficult for me to make your father agree."

She gasped and so did Payal while Akash shook his head pushing his glasses up his nose.

He left her then as all other thoughts flew out of her mind except for his threat because she knew he could definitely do that as her father now trusts him blindly. Knives twisted in her gut with the thought. How easily he took her place in her father's life.

"Drop them home." He commanded to Akash who nodded obediently.

As Payal turned with her hand around Khushi's shoulder, Khushi stopped at the door and abruptly came back to face him breathing heavily.

He gazed into her hazel bleary eyes as she opened her mouth after exhaling sharply.

"Tanya ki bajaye humein aapko maarna chahiye tha. Aap k baal nochne chahiye the. Aap ko thappad maarna chahiye tha! (Instead of Tanya I should've beaten YOU up. I should've pulled YOUR hairs. I should have slapped YOU.)"

He continued to look at her without any expressions making her blood boil. He still won't react the way she want him to.

Why did he hide such a big thing from her and her family?

How could he leave a woman after impregnating her?

She turned her face with disgust making him swallow.

"Toh kya hua tab nahi kar sake. Abhi toh kar sakte hain na!(So what I couldn't do it then? I can do it NOW!)" Having said that she gripped his shoulders and bringing her knee up kicked him in his stomach causing Akash and Payal to gasp and Arnav closed his eyes gulping the yelp of pain.

"How.. How could you do that to anyone. ANYONE?" She shouted shaking him, slapping his chest, punching him harder whilst he stood like a rock bearing everything. At one point even Akash and Payal winced when Khushi kicked him in his stomach again making him clench his jaws but no, he didn't twitch nor did he protest even then. His face turned red with composure but no words came out of his mouth.

"Enough Khushi!" Payal cried at last and dragged her sister out while Arnav stood with his eyes closed with whimpers of pain stuck in his throat.

"Bhai?" Akash came to face him.

"Go and drop them home Akash like I said." He said silently.

"But Bhai.. you are hurt."

"I am fine Akash. GO."

Nodding at him with his eyes prickling Akash did as his brother asked making a mental note to be back to his brother as soon as possible to give him support or at least first aid to relieve some of his physical pain.

Though emotional pain was another case altogether!

_______________________

Phew!

That was one hell of a long chapter. Finally I completed it and posted on the scheduled date. I am happy the way it turned out and I hope you liked reading it as much.

✮  This time I won't ask any question but am giving you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want because I know you must have had many. What are they?

✮  Let's see how many points would you pick. Either you'd' jump to conclusions or give a thoughtful analysis by being neutral? ;)

✮ Silent readers, at least VOTE to support or appreciate the hard work I am putting in to write or am I asking for too much?

To my regular readers: Hugs to everyone for such a fabulous response on the last part.Love you guys from the bottom of my heart. Please keep it up and shower your love and support on me throughout and I promise to keep writing for you all ❤ 

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT :)

Cheers!