(28K+ words)

Not proofread. Ignore the typos.

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Payal looked from Khushi to him perplexed before she saw him leaving his office clearly upset.

"Khushi, what happened now between you two?"

Feeling like someone was peeling off her skin Khushi's knees buckled and she felt on the chair behind her. Payal quickly went back to her cabin to fetch her medicines.

"Here is the deal Ms. fiancé. I am giving you a day to tell me everything Tanya said to you and also tell me since when and how many times did you have those migraines and also for making up your mind to keep wearing that ring too."

"There is a little glitch with the last one here. The minute I saw your ring removed would be the moment you'd yourself feed me death by making me a sugar fillled coffee and I swear it won't go wasted like this one did." He pointed to the broken cup and coffee spilled over the couch at the corner of his cabin. While Khushi looked at him stumped to silence.

"Got it?" He grabbed her upper arms and shook her. She whimpered despite herself.

She felt a whimper leaving her in present too.

"Dont be afraid. Before drinking your hand made coffee I will free you off the charges of my murder too. Phir jee k dikhana."

She pulled her knees up in the chair with her shoulders shaking and no sooner than that she had her head buried in her knees before breaking down.

"Great. Your ring will be here soon. And I promise when we would leave for shopping in the evening our engagement ring will be shining with all its glory on your hand."

She screamed in agony while sobbing profusely. She felt her sister's arms around her while she let out whimpers and shouts with her voice muffled with her face buried in her knees.

"Khushi. Khushi. Please stop. Please. You are cutting me here." Payal choked swallowing her own tears while Khushi raised her head and buried it in her stomach and cried like a baby clinging to her.

"This is pure torture Jiji. He is torturing me." She cried out clutching to her sides like her life depended on it.

While Payal ran her fingers in her hairs with one hand and rubbed her back from the other but nothing soothed Khushi. Nothing at all.

"I lied to you Jiji." Khushi croaked after several moments with her head still on her stomach.

Payal pulled back to look into her eyes. Dragging the chair across her she sat and urged her to talk.

"I fell in love with him." Khushi choked earning a gasp from Payal who jerked back as if her words physically pushed her.

"I didn't realize it. Not until Diwali. I fell in love with him Jiji. I was in love with him." She murmured brokenly with fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

"If he had kissed me I'd have confessed." She sniffled."You know.. you know how I am. I could never keep a secret like that. I could never." She burst into cries.

"I lied to you Jiji. I loved him." Her shoulders shook while Payal couldn't hold back her tears anymore either.

Seeing Khushi breathing heavily she reached over and made her drink water and also wash down her medicines before asking her to calm down.

"I lied to you when I said I am over him. I kept lying. He taught me how to lie and how to keep a secret as big as this. He taught me to hide my feelings. He taught me to be this fake person. This angry and impulsive person. He did all this jiji. I am not like this. I swear I am not." Her breaths were coming out in short spurts while emotions overruled her while Payal's worry only grew seeing the nerves at her neck standing out.

Her sister needed to relax.

"We will talk later Khushi. Look at me." Payal grabbed her chin to make her look at her when her younger sister kept shivering due to onslaught of emotions.

Khushi blinked her wet eyes at her with such brokenness that Payal's heart broke into pieces. Composing herself she cupped her cheeks.

"We will talk later. Right now, just relax. Give yourself a break. Here. Go home." She handed her, her bag and ushered her out.

"But Babu ji? Shopping?" Khushi said hoarsely.

"I will handle everything. Now, go and rest. Don't you dare think about anything else." She gave her a hug. Khushi hugged her back tightly before leaving.

Feeling the fresh air outside she felt like she hasn't been out in a while. As if she was caged and today only she came out after many days of imprisonment.

When she stopped an auto and sat in it she let out a long sigh as her heart told her she did right to open up about her true feelings to her sister. Agreed she can't tell her everything regarding why she kissed Arnav which ended up disastrous by her losing her father's love but that doesn't mean she can't tell her why she couldn't stand him, right?

She has her reasons. Reasons which had turned her from a bubbly, chirpy girl to an insensitive, aggressive and an impulsive person, a being very much like Arnav Singh Raizada himself.

Pressing his fingers to his eyes, he exhaled feeling his heart cutting. Everything was taking a toll on him. He thought he could fight it. Fight her hate for him despite of everything. Despite of everything he did to her, he was sure there was a part of her that cared. That may had felt something for him like he did during those intoxicated moments of Diwali. Scratch that- Even before that. But now-

"Naraz ho unse?(Are you upset with her?)" Anjali asked and he swallowed a wallow of agony feeling his eyes burn. He was in an illusion that she maybe liked him too, had feelings for him as well but what she did today brought him down. Made him lose all his expectations. It has torn him. Broken him altogether.

What she wanted was happening. Arnav Singh Raizada could see his defeat very clearly. He could see it but accepting it, he would not.

Fine if she don't like him now. She soon will. For sure.

He decided and turned to his sister finally with something akin to madness in his eyes which made Anjali gulp. She gasped at what he said next.

"Di, I am not marrying Khushi."

Anjali gasped.

"Are.. Are you serious?" She couldn't believe it. She thought she would talk to him first before letting him know how much upset Nani was with him and wanted to talk to him personally to knock some sense in him to behave well with Khushi. Now, maybe, she won't have to.

"Yes." He mumbled.

"You will not marry her at all?" Anjali wanted to be sure. Ever since he came to Lucknow every single day he was so keen on making Khushi his by any means and now.. what changed suddenly?

"Oh of course not Di. I will marry her but not now. Akash and Payal's marriage will happen on the fixed date while mine and Khushi's later. Some other time." He explained.

Anjali released the breath in relief.

"Some other time? When exactly?" Anjali probed.

"Later." He said and stormed to his room leaving a perplexed and anxious Anjali behind.

Now what was going on in her brother's mind?

Anjali followed him and barged in his room. Seeing him sitting on the recliner lost in his thoughts she silently sat besides him.

"You have given up on her? Already?"

He swallowed turning his head to the other side.

"If you are planning to back off then for once think of everything you did to come to this point. You are only days away from making her your wife. Yours, forever. Permanently. You would let that chance slip through your hands like sand when finally things are going your way."

"She hates me." He said silently whilst his eyes prickled and heart ached. He didn't add what he realized today. She hated him that much to mix sweets in his coffee. She wanted him dead. The raw wound bled inside him.

"Tell me something I don't already know." Anjali said sternly.

"And it hurts. Like fucking hell." He gritted. "With every passing day, her hate is only growing and all I am doing is only adding fuel to the fire. I-I can't help it." He shook his head.

"End your misery along with hers. Confess." Anjali suggested softly.

"That won't make a difference anymore. Things have gone far beyond my comprehension. Confession or not, she won't be able to love me. Ever." He choked the last word. "Besides if I confessed she would ask me to prove my love and come clean with everything with her father as well. And no way in hell I could do that. It would snatch her permanently from me." He shook his head with his jaws tightened.

"Apologize to her. Sincerely. That might mellow her down a bit." Anjali advised.

"She would think I am faking it." He said hoarsely.

"Then make her believe in you. Build her trust gradually."

Arnav closed his eyes as her words rang in his ears.

"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?"

"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."

His Adam's apple bobbed whilst he opened his tired eyes full of helplessness.

"I thought I had it all planned, Di. But now, I don't know what to do anymore. I have no freaking idea how to get through her when I know everything she suffered, is suffering all are my damn doings."

"It will come to you. Trust me." She wrapped her hand around his elbow before turning his head to hers from her other hand.

"Now tell me what's bothering you? And I want nothing but truth." She said firmly.

"She has had migraines in the past and from her father I got to know that happened when she was forced--to leave Delhi. Around D-Diwali. It didn't take me long to put two and two together to know who became a trigger for those splitting headaches. Me." He paused to reign in his emotions. "It happened when I left her. When I-I pushed her away." He choked blinking back the tears.

Anjali couldn't produce a word due to shock.

"That damn migraines are now relapsing. When I am back in her life." He felt a sharp pain shooting through him. "And I-I am only adding to it, Di. I am not able to help her at all because I can't stop being an asshole." He gasped shortly feeling out of oxygen. "This time except for Payal she hasn't let anyone in her family know about her condition. She is punishing herself for the mistakes I made."

He ran his fingers in his hairs in sheer agitation with his hands shaking and eyes brimming.

"Upon that, Tanya has said some things to her about my past relationship with her which I can't seem to figure out what but I know it was something awful the way she reacted and gave Tanya a fair beating in front of my whole office."

Averting his eyes for a moment he looked back into his sister's eyes with so much pain that Anjali felt herself whimper too speechless to say anything while Arnav inhaled sharply as memories, her pain, her agonizing feelings hit him hard.

"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. Her 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."

He swallowed thickly.

"You know how she feels? Like something is stuck in her windpipe." He choked not being able to continue without stuttering. "As if...as if some ants, snarky insects are crawling all over her skin." His voice turned shallow as he blinked back the moisture. "It doesn't leave her. All that travels to her brain and messes it up and blow everything off. It not just pierce her only but her soul. It bloody chokes the life out of her." He sniveled feeling his throat clogging with plethora of emotions.

"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.

"She loves her sister so much and for her, she can do anything. But now, it is turning out too much for her to tolerate. It hurts her and upon that.. that fucking Tanya and I-" His shoulders shook with his eyes now turning red full of unshed tears.

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 his 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.

Feeling suffocated holding back the moisture from pouring out he stood up and paced every inch of the room while Anjali tried to process everything he revealed about the extent of damage he did to Khushi. She didn't realize she herself had her eyes pouring out.

Heaviness settled on his chest as if someone has placed a boulder on it and breathing under its weight was becoming too difficult.

"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.

His pace fastened as he restlessly walked back and forth in his room.

"Do you know who Tanya is?" He asked. 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."

"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.

All of a sudden he stopped and rushing to his sister sat on his knees in front of her.

"What if I reveal truth of my past relationship with Tanya? Do you think it would make her worries to rest?" He looked expectantly at his sister.

"Could she handle the whole truth?" Anjali found her voice.

"Why not? It was past. Just past. I have nothing to do with that woman now!"

"Okay." Anjali nodded.

"Okay then." Arnav mumbled while wheels turned in his head to reveal everything to Khushi in a way which would hurt her less.

"Hurt is inevitable in either case, Chote. You can't save her from that. No matter how would you tell her it is bound to cut her." Anjali said reading the expressions on her brother's face.

Feeling torn he dropped his head on her lap.

"But it's better to come clear with her as to stop others to take advantage of your weakness so that no other person could do what Tanya did by using your past against you." She advised softly running her fingers in his hairs soothingly.

He didn't say anything for many minutes but when he did his voice was dripping with tears and unbridled fear.

"She would hate me more. She won't understand."

"Maybe not at once. But when she will come to know you better, she will. Like I did." She encouraged.

He raised his head to look at her.

"You think so?"

Cupping his cheeks she nodded.

"That was a very, very long time ago Chote. You are not that person now." She said while caressing his jaws softly.

"Well, I am still .. me." He swallowed past a lump.

"But at that time you weren't .. you. That's the difference."

He placed his head back on her lap feeling too overwhelmed. Khushi runs away from him anyways and if she got to know what type of past he has had it would only scare her away, more.

"Tell her everything and then leave the ball in her court. For a record leave the decision in her hands." Anjali encouraged with her one hand on his cheek and other in his hairs.

"What if it pushed her far away from me?" He clutched her hand on his cheek.

"For how long or how far could she run Chote? Soon, she would be your wife and then one day or the other she has to accept that nobody is perfect. We all have had our fair share of mistakes."

She heard him let out a tired sigh.

"That's why I am saying. Let the things run the way they are going. Do not postpone your wedding neither back off." Anjali said with determination shining in her eyes. Yes, if Khushi has heard her say something like this she would have called her selfish and the way Khushi has changed, she might has well has called her names. A bitch perhaps. If thinking about putting her brother out of his misery proves her to be a bitch or whatever then so be it.

"I won't. I will come clear about my past with her and then even if it scared her off she already doesn't have any other choice but to marry me either way." He raised his head with ASR look back on his face making Anjali relieved for putting his broken self back together.

Someday, she would apologize to Khushi for throwing her to a very harsh path. That is, living with her(Anjali's) brother or maybe someday Khushi herself would understand why she did what she did by encouraging her brother to do whatever it takes to bring Khushi in his life. One day Khushi might forgive her for overlooking all her suffering and still supporting her Chote.

Right now, all that mattered was to prevent her brother from going back to his old, dark ways to numb the pain which has become his companion when their parents died. To be precise, when their mother committed suicide.

"Where to?" Anjali asked him seeing him grabbing his wallet after shrugging back into his blazer.

"Neither the wedding is off nor our shopping plans of the day." He said fetching his car keys from the table and turned to leave.

"Chote?" She called from behind.

"Don't ask me to be patient Di because it doesn't come easily to me." He said turning to her exasperated.

"I wasn't going to say that." Anjali exclaimed.

"What then?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Umm.. nothing." Anjali shrugged looking sheepishly at him.

Shaking his head he relented.

"Fine. Shoot. I will try to follow through it as much as I could."

Anjali's eyes twinkled as she spoke.

"Forget about her rejections for just a day. Just for today. Think of her as just a woman with whom you have fallen in love with despite having all that walls around you. Could you do that.. for me? For her?" She asked earnestly bleary eyed.

Swallowing thickly he averted his eyes and with a reluctant nod stormed out.

"Dammit! And there Di asked me not to ponder over her rejections. Yet again, she did it." He murmured punching the steering wheel.

He has went back to the office only to get to know that she has left without informing him. Her sister, Payal told him she was ill and that had made him worried like hell for her thinking that she has had another one of her migraines but when he called her home number as she wasn't picking up his calls, he got to know from her mother only she was absolutely fine and was working in the kitchen.

Talking to her mother, he clearly got to know how she made the situation in her favor and he don't know how but she also made her family believe that he was having many meetings so he won't be able to take her to the shopping today but Akash and Payal would go along the plan and shop before coming home.

Garima also thanked him for giving a half-day to Khushi as that would buy them time and not only that, she was taking Khushi to the market as they had so much to shop while the preparations were at peak at Gomti Sadan.

Wow, she bails out on him and makes a perfect plan to escape him the whole day as well!

Bravo Khushi Kumari Gupta!

So fucking amazing!

He growled in his mind whilst his knuckles blanched over the wheel while he sped up putting his foot on the accelerator more firmly. His eyes reddened.

"Fine. You want me to burn? Guess what. You will, too!" He gritted stopping the car with a screech outside the market.

His brows knitted together as he looked around the congested shops and rows and rows of people moving in and out of the entry and well, exit was the same as it seems perhaps.

He registered still sitting in his car, the people giving his SUV weird looks because as he looked around there wasn't any car parked even the miles away. Every one was on foot, walking with shopping bags in their hands and despite looking tired they still went on as if they didn't shop today then they wouldn't be able to like ever.

Seriously?

An exasperated sigh left him.

If it had been a mall he would've found her by making a call and getting access to the security room where each and every floor of the mall was being seen and monitored.

But here, in this market he was sure there was no CCTV cameras and if there was any they must not be functioning at all.

He fucking have no idea how far the market extended either!

How the hell was he supposed to find her in this crowded place?

Just how?

He really envied Akash and Payal right now because they both were gone to the mall he preferred shopping his all things from.

Dammit!

Taking a deep breath he put on his sunglasses and stepped out after parking the car at a safe place. There wasn't any valet either. Damn, another minus point. He has to do everything himself.

Above all he has to walk. He doesn't remember the last time he has walked in this much crowded place with these much noisy people. Maybe yes, he was familiar with it at one time of his life but that was years and years ago. More than a decade ago to be precise.

Damn that Aman too who has been handling AR in Delhi because when he called and asked him to get him any information about this fucking market or at least its map he was told that place wasn't much developed neither was in any higher authorities control so in order to get more knowledge he(Aman) has to visit it and he would if he(ASR) wants him to and would surely give him a detailed report as soon as possible.

He cut the call in frustration while walking more and more inside the market getting pushed by one person or the other who didn't see or didn't give a fuck who he was.

Now who would make that stupid Aman understand he needed to know everything right away, right now not after days?

He couldn't possibly tell him he was right now in the same market looking for his fiancé with her engagement ring in his pocket which despite of his warning she didn't bother wearing.

Despite being in the month of November he was sweating profusely by now. Taking off his blazer he was now carrying it over his shoulder running his fingers in his wet hairs. Breathing hard he continued his search looking from shops after shops for hours until it was night and still he couldn't spot her.

All of his ASR'ishness melted with the sweat trickling down his body while he felt moisture seeping into his eyes. Shaking his head he willed himself not to cry.

It wasn't the end of the world man! His heart consoled him while he felt his head spinning.

What if he didn't find her today in the market? It's okay!

He would soon meet her in his office. Tomorrow. For sure.

Maybe he should give it a break and turn and go back home. He would make her pay for making him to search for her for hours. He would surely make her pay.

He staggered a step back when the nausea hit him hard. Rubbing his face with his hands he looked around disoriented with his breathing ragged.

Feeling his eyes drooping he tried to focus shaking his head vigorously to ward off the dizziness.

He had been here for the last 6 hours and he has skipped his meal and obviously his medicines too so it was bound to happen.

Fighting the drowsiness he reached for the his cellphone and called the very first number on his speed dial.

"Hello?"

Some of the energy returned to his being as he half smiled hearing the soothing voice.

"F-Finally y-you p-picked u-up." His speech slurred causing Khushi on the other side to look at her phone and close her eyes while she glanced at her mother who was busy bargaining with the vendor. If she hadn't been so engrossed with watching her Amma and adding one or two words to add fuel to fire to get the bargain she wouldn't have picked up his call at all.

"What do you want?" She asked coming out of the shop placing one of her hand over her other ear to listen over the noise of hundreds of people.

"I-I didn't eat. No-medicines.." She heard him take shuddering breaths causing her heart to drop as she heard the familiar noise of the crowd on the other side of the phone.

"Where are you Arnav ji?"

"In.. the.. same... market... you... are." Came his voice full of stuttered and long pauses.

She panicked when she heard his voice losing the strength.

His sugar level must have dropped!

"Where are you?" She looked around frantically feeling her eyes pooling.

"I-told you.. in-"

"No. No. I am asking where are you in the market?" She shouted now on the phone already pushing through the crowd looking at every single face to find him.

"I-I don't k-know."

Khushi felt her breath catch up in her throat. Holding back a huge ball of tears stuck in her throat she didn't know where she was heading or whether she was heading in the right direction or not but all she knew was. She was following the way her heart guided her to.

"Please. Please Arnav ji. Don't hang up. Don't faint. Wait. Wait for me. I'll find you." She rounded in circles running from street to street of the big market pushing through people who cursed as she passed them accidentally hitting their bags or eatables they were carrying in their hands. She knocked one guy almost to the wooden pillar of a shop. He cursed her from behind but she didn't care. She kept running with the phone held to her ear with tears streaming down her cheeks.

For the next many minutes she begged him to keep talking. He tried some incoherent words. She shouted at him to get into any shop, sit, drink water and ask anyone to give him a sweet or something or better search one from his pockets.

She yelled unmindful of the people who looked at her as if she has grown two heads but then they would shake their heads and walk away minding their own business. She shouted into the phone to him to tell her that he hasn't passed out. That he was still there. Waiting for her. That he has heard her instructions and has done something to help himself but he proved her wrong. He hadn't. Or maybe, he couldn't.

"Tell... me ...you...at least... like... me, too." She heard him say in the same weak voice and it stopped her dead on her tracks whilst her heart ached. Not only it but also as she raised her head and spotted his sweating form leaning weakly against the wall trying to fight off the dizziness she croaked feeling knots forming in her stomach.

"I. Don't. Like. You. At. All. I-I don't." She felt her throat clogging and with vengeance rubbing her red eyes froom the back of her fingers, she ran through the crowd and reached him breathing harshly.

He looked at her from under his lashes with his lips twitching upwards a bit and then he gave in.

She caught him right in her arms when he passed out causing the fresh tears to roll down her cheeks whilst the phone slipped from his hands and landed on the ground cracking into many pieces. She caught his blazer on his shoulder before it could fall too keeping her hands firmly on his waist.

Shouting for help she escorted him into a shop, made him eat a sweet as a boy ran to get one from the nearby store. She felt extremely angry when she searched his blazer and shirt and pant pockets and didn't find any of the sweet candies he always carried with him in case of situations like this.

What if something had happened to him if he hadn't called her and she hasn't reached him on time?

The thought gave her shudders as she saw him open his eyes after several moments and look at her weakly. She opened her mouth to say something but only air came out as she blinked her teary eyes at him.

For the life of her she couldn't get over the trauma she went through when she heard him talking weakly into the phone telling her he might be around here somewhere about which he has no idea about and he might be fainting any moment from now.

What if he has had?

Crowd was so much that people would have walked over him and..

She whimpered as her breaths came out in spurts while he blinked his eyes to focus and then he sat up straight in the chair as his gaze landed on her.

"Khushi?" He called seeing her shoulders shaking.

"Bitiya, tera pati theek hai ab. Ghabrane ki koi baat nahi.(Your husband is fine now. There is no need to worry anymore!)" Shopkeeper said kindly seeing the girl breaking down at last. He has seen her frantic condition when he, along with the help of the others has made her unconscious husband sit on the chair.

That's when Arnav registered they weren't alone and he was inside of a small shop of unstitched clothes. He was sitting on a wooden chair while Khushi was sitting on the low slab over which racks and racks of clothes were stacked.

"HE. IS. NOT. MY. HUSBAND." Khushi cried out looking over at the salesman as the emotions hit her hard.

"But I am your fiancé. Your-to-be husband. I guess there isn't much-"

"SHUT UP." Khushi gritted.

"Fiancé means future husband so yeah, your 'future husband' is all right, bitiya." Shopkeeper named Anuj won't let it go either.

"For god's sake when I said he is not my husband. Then he is NOT. Neither any to-be nor any future whatever at all." Khushi prayed for patience as she gasped for oxygen.

Arnav looked at her condition and then looked apologetically at the shocked Anuj earning an understanding nod from him.

"Khushi, drink water." He extended the glass to her which Anuj passed him.

When she kept sobbing turning her head to the other side he placed his hand on her shoulder as he felt his wet hairs and strained body relaxing after getting reprieve from the continuous walking.

She stood up sharply slapping his hand from her shoulder and snapped.

"WHY WEREN'T YOU CARRYING ANY SWEETS WITH YOU?" She bellowed causing many heads to turn to this particular place and even many other salesmen's attention was directed to this shop.

"I- erm-I forgot." He raised his head up to look at her guiltily seeing her still shaking with tremors due to onslaught of emotions.

He saw her lips trembling hearing his reply. More tears brimmed in her eyes.

"Khushi. I am fine. Rona band kro! (Stop crying!)" He said softly feeling his heart welling up seeing her getting so worked up upon his health.

"I AM NOT CRYING. I AM NOT WORRIED FOR YOU AT ALL EITHER." She shook from head to toe whilst whimpers left her. He felt his heart going out to her.

"I am sorry." He whispered knowing it was his fault she was going through this.

"It was your revenge for that coffee thing this morning wasn't it?" She choked.

He shook his head vigorously.

"Congratulations. You won. Again!" She sobbed out slapping his chest as he stood up.

He took a step to her.

"No!" She raised her hands backing away. "Stay away. STAY AWAY." She yelled out causing more crowd to gather outside the shop making it difficult for Anuj to disperse the people.

Despite her warning he still reached over and took her in his arms. She shoved him off causing him to stagger back.

"Congrats. You did it again. You broke me. Bravo how easily you do it everytime." Her features screamed off the pieces she was broken into from inside.

He clenched his jaws in sheer helplessness.

"I didn't do anything. Not this time." He growled defending himself.

"That's how you keep posing being innocent before my father too." She cried out.

"I was here to give you back your ring. To make you wear it." He tried to make her understand when he knew she won't believe him. They both were still unaware of the attention they had earned due to their intense verbal brawl and loud shouts.

"I wanna see how would you do that." She gritted stubbornly. It rubbed on him and brought back all of his strength to make her listen at any cost. That's when he noticed the crowd gathered around and he knew what he had to do.

He walked to her and yanked her closer. She twisted and turned in his arms sniffling to get free but he seized her firmly and whispered in her ear.

"You want me to create a scene here Khushi? Trust me I can. You very well know it. Either wear the ring back silently or I will make you wear it 'my way'. Now, when I say 'my way'.. you very well know you won't like me doing it all in front of so many people of the market you frequently visit. Now, do you?"

"Do it. Do whatever the hell you want to. I won't wear it." She looked square into his eyes causing his eyes to darken.

"I will drink the sugar filled coffee then and you will be the one to make it for me!" He warned not so kindly.

That took her off guard for a second before she gathered herself.

"Do it and I will make sure I get hanged by the law taking all of the blame on me. I will confess I killed you. I promise!" She wasn't the one to back off so easily.

"DAMMIT!" He shook her hard in frustration. She looked at him victoriously before a smirk formed on her lips and it vanished the instant she heard.

"Khushi? Arnav bitwa?"

Arnav released her and stepped back while Khushi turned to see her mother rushing over to her and hugging her upon reaching her. She scolded her for leaving without informing her. She was hell worried while searching for her in the market until she saw the crowd gathered outside a shop. This shop.

It was Arnav who explained it was him who wanted to suprise Khushi with his presence here but instead he got lost himself. His sugar level lowered and hence he called Khushi and she rushed to help.

"Oh and you see Aunty, I have Khushi's engagement ring with me too. I have had it resized so that it doesn't slip off her finger ever again." Arnav took out the ring from his pocket and displayed it for Garima holding it between his thumb and forefinger.

"That's so sweet of you beta." Garima caressed his head while Khushi saw with her own eyes as the situation slipped out of her hands and again went to his court when she heard her Amma say.

"What are you waiting for Khushi? Take it and wear it." Garima urged.

Khushi refused to take it and turned her head when her head shot to him as she felt him raising her left hand without a warning and slipping the ring back in her ring finger the vein of which connects directly to the heart. She realized it was damn right because the minute the ring touched the base of her finger she felt a jolt of electricity passing through her heart along with which gloom surrounded her whole too.

She raised her angry, hateful, hurt eyes to him and found him smirking at her. Now, it was his time to look at her victoriously.

The chorus of claps jerked them back to present as they turned and found the crowd gathered outside cheering up for them before they dispersed one by one.

It was only a day later that the same scene was the headline of every news channel where the ASR was making a girl wear a ring in a small shop in Lucknow. The headline read.

Is the 'most eligible bachelor' of India not a bachelor anymore?

Only a few hours later the headline changed causing a hype in the media.

Is Arnav Singh Raizada marrying the same girl who fell in his arms in his own fashion show about two years ago?

"FUCK IT ALL UP AMAN. I said I want you here in Lucknow and I want you in AR today!" Arnav was on the edge of his sanity seeing the news taking so much of media attention and why wouldn't it? It was ASR of the fashion world they were talking about here. Why would they let any chance go to raise their news channels and newspapers ratings?

Now the media was all crowded outside AR and not to mention outside Sheesh Mahal as well due to which he has tightened the security in both the places.

Peaking through a gap through the blinds he closed his eyes seeing the chorus created outside his office. How he got in through those people throwing questions after questions to him was only he knew.

Still his incompetent security wasn't able to disperse them off.

If only Khushi hasn't placed a condition of not revealing about their engagement to anyone in office or the media he would've shut them off and asked them to get out but now his silence was only aggravating their anticipation and interest on the news. Upon that media has got the whiff of Khushi's connection to his past fashion show of two years ago as well. That added more to the mess as they keep asking whether their guess was right or they are misinterpreting both the women of then and now?

His chain of thoughts came to an abrupt hall when he saw an auto stopping outside AR and Gupta sisters stepping out of it and no sooner than that the media recognized Khushi they were hovering over her extending their mikes to her pulling the rug from under her feet.

Letting out an explicit he made a run for the door and got into the lift.

Dammit why was she here today?

Don't tell me she was oblivious to the news that was viral not on social media but also on every news channel?

He tried calling her several times this morning regarding the same but she wouldn't pick up his calls after their encounter in the market yesterday and in the morning she switched off her phone and he thought she was now angry more seeing the news but..seems like she was still stuck on yesterday only.

Upon reaching outside the AR, he saw with his eyes burning with rage how Khushi was hiding behind an anxious looking Payal as well but still she was trying to save her sister from blatant questions thrown her way. Not to mention Akash was covering them both standing in front of them with the security now circling them from all the sides but still the media was going berserk to get anything out of Khushi.

"Finally you worked your way in ASR's life didn't you Ms. Green Lehenga girl?"

"Would you show us your ring so that we confirm it is really you?"

"Oh come on it's her. She is here in his office. That means she is still meeting with him."

"What is your name by the way? Is it a fallen girl or an opportunist girl huh?"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He shouted from the top of the stairs causing the commotion to turn into silence as the reporters now turned to him and ran to his direction while his eyes were fixed on the frozen girl standing like a statue at her place with her face having blotches of tears and redness in her eyes.

Yesterday it was her who pushed through a heavy crowd to reach him. Today it was him as he pushed through all the reporters to enter into the circle and reaching over to her he felt his heart cutting into pieces as he saw her eyes meet his. A hiccup escaped her. Clenching his jaws he put forward his hand, entangling his fingers in her hairs cupped her nape and pulled her in his arms causing the various clicks and flashes of camera to land on them as he embraced her in creating a hype outside AR as the employees watched from up the stairs who also has come outside.

Once he wrapped her firmly to his chest only then he realized she was shivering badly. He rubbed her back with his one arm on her waist while Khushi didn't know what to say or how to react at the bitter questions buzzed in her head and pounded in her ears causing it impossible to do anything else but let them flow out in the form of tears which soon soaked the front of his shirt. One moment she was getting out of the auto and another she was standing in front of flash of cameras with the people surrounding her asking her questions which made her bleed from within.

"Now would you still deny your relationship with this girl who once ruined your fashion show?"

The question rubbed his wrong nerve whilst he shot his eyes to the media. Moving back from her he pulled her behind him while Khushi grabbed his blazer from behind sniffling.

"What she or I have is none of your damn business. STAY OUT OF IT!" He bellowed silencing them all for a minute before he lost it when he heard a reporter ask.

"Is it another one of your flings like Lavanya Kashyap or your past..Like Tanya Mehra?"

"Were all the rumors true that you left Tanya Mehra for Lavanya Kashyap and now you have left Lavanya Kashyap when this green lehenga girl trapped you in?"

He pushed the guards aside and grabbed that reporter from the collars with his eyes spitting fire at her.

"When. You. Don't. Know. Anything. Then. Don't. Fucking. Speculate. Rubbish. Either!" He shook him landing a punch on him causing everyone to step back frightened before he turned to the media who were now cowering back already seeing ASR in his real angry avatar.

"TOMORROW!" He stood before many cameras and said into the mikes. "Tomorrow I am going to hold a press conference and all of you who are here today are not invited at all!"

The shouts and questions and requests thickened only while Akash pulled Payal back on his side and glared at her when she tried to move to her sister as instead of going back to the building inside Arnav grabbed Khushi's hand and took the detour to the back of the AR with the guards covering for them.

Within minutes he was gone leaving a shocked media behind which after another half an hour was successfully dispersed by his security team.

"Did he break up with Lavanya because of Khushi?" Payal asked Akash once they were back in the cabin.

"Yes!" Akash spoke the truth.

Payal felt her heart dropping into the pit of her stomach.

"Tell me he isn't playing the same game he played with Tanya and Lavanya ji?" She asked with moisture seeping in her eyes.

Akash felt his blood boiling. Standing up from his seat he faced her who was standing across his table.

"Did he get engaged to either Tanya or Lavanya now did he? No, right. So-"

"He announced his marriage with Lavanya ji!" She snapped.

"But he didn't marry her." He defended his brother.

"He was planning to." She countered.

"He did it to protect himself from the emotions he isn't so used to feeling." He retorted.

"Wow. In order to protect himself he got the right automatically to burn someone else into ashes? Great huh!" She silenced him while he took her ring clad hand in his and rubbed circles on it he saw her breathing hard averting her misty eyes.

"My brother is a complex man Payal. He has been in dark for so long. More than you can ever imagine. And your sister, your sister has penetrated into that darkness and has made a place in his life irreversibly." He paused. "He has gotten a reprieve from the thick walls he has created around himself because of her. The suffocation is now finally relieving from his life only because seeing her, being with her brings him peace. Calm. You can't blame him for doing everything in his power to make sure she stays besides him forever along with that peace she brings in him now can you?"

She opened her mouth to retort but he cut her.

"I know he has done wrong and I know my family, me, Di, Nani, we are supporting him still but it's only because we don't want to lose him all over again. Please try to understand?" For a record Akash became the same old soft Raizada he was so famous for but not for long.

"You don't want your brother to go back to the darkness and you want me to watch silently while he is pushing my sister into the same abyss more closer day by day?" Payal seethed.

"You know what? I don't care what he has been through or why he is using Khushi as a scapegoat because I have seen enough of what he has made of my sister. Now, I have zero empathy towards him. Did you hear me? I damn care about your brother or your family or yours pathetic excuse for selfishness. All I want is for Khushi to get back to normal and that would only happen when your brother-" She poked a finger on his chest. "--would leave my sister alone!" She finished in one breath before rasping. Akash could only stare at her.

She walked around him wiping her face before sitting back on her desk bringing Akash back to the point he has been when he has promised her he would become another ASR and make sure his brother and Khushi marry by hook or by crook and for that to happen if he had to fight her(Payal) then he would do it without hesitation as well.    

"Finally you worked your way in ASR's life didn't you Ms. Green Lehenga girl?"

"What is your name by the way? Is it a fallen girl or an opportunist girl huh?"

"Is it another one of your flings like Lavanya Kashyap or your past..Like Tanya Mehra?"

"Were all the rumors true that you left Tanya Mehra for Lavanya Kashyap and now you have left Lavanya Kashyap when this green lehenga girl trapped you in?"

Khushi rocked in her seat behind her desk with her arms wrapped around herself while Arnav sitting across her table couldn't gather enough courage to start the conversation and clear it out with her.

"Prepare yourself Khushi Kumari Gupta because tomorrow in the press conference I am going to announce us as a couple officially." He found his voice and it made her shoot up from her seat.

"You will do no such thing!" She spat.

"By any chance is that a challenge, honey?"

God. Not again!

Khushi gritted her teeth.

"We had an agreement Mr. Raizada that no one would know about our engagement except for our families and some close relatives!"

"I accepted your condition and acted upon it. Now the situation is whole lot different."

"I don't see how?" She snapped punching her palms over the table leaning over it spitting fire at him.

"BECAUSE THEY ARE QUESTIONING YOUR CHARACTER DAMMIT!" He stood up and hit his palms over the table too looking straight in her eyes glaring at her.

"I don't care what other people think of me." She retorted.

"Oh really Khushi? Chuck it will you? You and your family became a mess when I released the video of you falling in my arms. People started calling you names and you escaped to Delhi to escape them!" He interjected hitting his fist over the table silencing her.

He breathed seeing her averting her eyes. He didn't mean to cut open her wounds but she didn't leave him any other choice.

"Look Khushi, it has become necessary to clear your name in the media and for that I will have to reveal to the press about our engagement." He spoke calmly this time.

"You don't understand do you? It will make it impossible for me to break this engagement if everyone got to know about it." She gritted.

A sense of déjà vu  hit him. Oh that's exactly what he wanted but she needn't know about it that he could try many other tactics to clear her name too but he choose this.

But Khushi Kumari Gupta was no fool. She figured it out soon.

"You did this. Didn't you? You hit two targets with one arrow. You tricked me into wearing the ring in front of a whole crowd and made sure some one make a video and then you released the video like you did in past and now you are planning to officially announced me your fiance leaving me no room for me to escape at all because you know when the world would know then I'd surely need your help to keep me and my family away from media and you'd make that as an excuse and would offer me to stay with you as you'd protect me from them. Also you'd ask to postpone our separation until that hype subsides, right?" She rasped.

"You know what I will tell media all the truth and will be done with it." She gritted.

He sighed exasperated. In anger. She wasn't s naive after all. But he wasn't ASR for nothing either. It was another thing he wasn't faking when he fell ill yesterday neither it was him who took or released the video but if she wants to keep thinking bad about him then let it be. Let her!

"Great. Go ahead. Reveal everything to the media tomorrow. Say your version of the truth. I dare you!"

Khushi narrowed her eyes at him. Was he serious? Or was he up to something again?

"If you think I can't twist the same truths to make press believe me as a victim and you an opportunist then you have underestimated me, honey. I wonder what would be your father's reaction when you would be all over the news tagged as a psycho stalker trying to get your ways in ASR's life who is every girl's dream?"

Khushi couldn't breath as her eyes widened and heart dropped to the pit of her stomach.

"You're already posed bad in the media and my confirmation would only add fuel to the fire and then no one would be able to stop it from spreading in every house, in every damn ears. Including your father's." He was cruel to the extremes until he saw the tears of humiliation filling her eyes before she fell back on her seat feeling trapped.

"What do I have to do so that you keep your mouth shut about us to the media?" She choked blinking back the tears keeping her gaze fixed to her lap.

Clenching his jaws tight he rebuked himself from doing this to her but .. yes, this but is the problem here and so is him!

"Tell me what Tanya said to you and for how long and how many times did you have migraines?"

Her eyes shot to him in stunned silence.

"I gave you a day time Khushi. 24 hours. They are over. Now, open your mouth and spill it out. Everything!"

She wasn't stupid not to realize what he meant.

"Here is the deal Ms. fiancé. I am giving you a day to tell me everything Tanya said to you and also tell me since when and how many times did you have those migraines and also for making up your mind to keep wearing that ring too."

"There is a little glitch with the last one here. The minute I saw your ring removed would be the moment you'd yourself feed me death by making me a sugar fillled coffee and I swear it won't go wasted like this one did."

Seeing her sniffle and hazel eyes brimming with thick rim of tears he walked around her desk and came to lean on the table besides her chair facing her. Seeing the ring on her finger filled his chest with warmth that she took his warning seriously.

"So what do you think about this new deal I offered you?" He urged her to say something half sitting on the table. He waited for her to say something. Relieve him off the fear of losing her. He has a feeling that day wasn't far away and to make it stop he has to keep eveything in his hand so that nothing goes wrong until he make her his wife.

"I think you are the world class bastard I have ever met." She spat looking up at him.

Despite the seriousness of the situation his lips turned up to form an amusing smirk.

"Oh Khushi. No wonder you drive me so crazy!" He let out a sigh shaking his head while Khushi felt a lump forming in her throat.

"I don't drive you crazy. You are insane anyway!" She countered breathing heavily.

"Enough of the bickering Khushi. Now come to the point. Are you in or not?"

"Do I have a choice?"

He shrugged.

"Fine I will tell you everything but for that you will have to promise you won't say anything about us to the press?"

"Deal." He said firmly taking her left hand and kissing over her ring finger. Khushi snatched back her hand feeling her hand burning with his touch.

When he didn't move from his place she huffed and looked into his eyes which emanated intense emotions cutting her insides.

"Can we talk after work?"

"Where?"

"I don't know. Maybe somewhere outside because I don't want jiji to worry if she saw me crying remembering those days."

He swallowed and to lighten up the mood he said.

"Are you asking me out on a date, honey?"

She felt like throwing the paper weight on his face.

That stupid, irritating 'honey' was back in his vocabulary!

Gulping her exasperation she said.

"I am just completing my end of the deal." She ground her teeth.

"Oh speaking of the deal. There is a catch in here, too."

Her heart galloped in her chest as she decoded the look on his face.

No way!

"What?" She asked.

"Do you remember the last time we made a deal.. for your sister?"

Her eyes widened and she shot up from her seat seething.

"Think about it. The deal I offered is pretty awesome. Just one kiss of a minute and your sister will get a lifetime of happiness. It isn't that bad is it?"

"Don't even think about it." She pointed a finger at him.

Entangling her finger with his, he gave it a rough tug landing her in a space in between his legs. Before she could move back she felt his arms going around her waist seizing her in.

"Who have you called here this time around?" She asked wriggling in his arms looking around frantically expecting anyone to pop out of anywhere any moment.

"No one. Just you and me, honey!"

"Stop calling me that." She cried out pushing at him.

"Khushi. Khushi. KHUSHI!" He shouted and it stopped her struggles at once as she raised her wet lashes to him. "I am not asking you to kiss me. I am asking your permission this time. Allow me to seal our deal." He murmured eyeing her lips.

She turned her face to the other side barely holding her tears as everything came back to her.

The kiss. Her father's anger. His changed behavior with her. Her pining for her father' love. Her father trusting Arnav more than her. Her babu ji willingly handling over her responsibility to this monster.

"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?"

"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."

"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."

"It is what this is about isn't it? The physical relation. Your needs, right?" When she looked at him this time there was no traces of tears in her eyes.

He yanked her more closer causing her to gasp as she felt each muscle of his tightening pressed to hers indicating he was buring in rage.

"Go on. I am listening. Tell me what else do you think about me?"

As if Khushi needed the chance to let it all out so she burst out all she has been thinking all along.

"You're taking revenge from me for your sister."

He raised his eyebrow. Oh, is he?

"On one side you asks me to marry you and on the other you belittle in my own eyes as if I am nothing."

He swallowed thickly.

"On one side you promise to take care of my every problem if I agreed to marry you and on the other you yourself makes my life a living hell by creating one problems after the other." She accused.

He averted his eyes as he couldn't look into hers anymore.

"On one side you say you like me and on the other you say you would marry me to take back your money from me little by little all my life with a good interest." She choked.

Guilt washed over him like waves and he would've continued to feel awful if he hadn't heard what she said next.

"I know. I know you'd leave me and my baby once you'd get bored of me." She cried out.

"Who the hell told you that?" He growled.

"I am intelligent enough to connect the dots myself." She sniffled rubbing her nose.

He chuckled despite himself.

Only she. Only she could jump to conclusions like this!

Unbelievable!

"Intelligent? Are you?" He mocked.

"Baby huh? Abhi hamar shaadi bhi nahi hui aur tum bachon tak bhi ponch gayi? Wah. Acha laga k ab tum..(We aren't married yet and you have already reached that far, to a baby? Wow. It feels good that now you--)"

"Shut up!" Despite not wanting to she felt her cheeks warming up.

He let it be. He would tease her about it some other time. Right now he has to ask what has struck him.

"Did that Tanya fill up your brain with this rubbish? Is that why you reacted that way?"

Her first four allegations he could relate to himself because he was responsible for making her feel that way but the fifth one, about him leaving her when he would get bored of her. No way in hell he has ever made her feel that he would leave her. So obviously it was someone else. Precisely, Tanya!

He saw her lips trembling and eyes watering.

"I-I will return your money once our engagement will be over after Jiji and Akash ji's marriage." She whispered in a choke.

He felt like shaking her but for a record he listened to his Di's advise and tried to be patient with her.

"I don't have any hand in snatching your sister's husband believe me. I didn't even know he was married. I don't deserve to be accused and punished for something I didn't do." She murmured taking a sharp intake of breath.

He stayed silent neither negating nor accepting her assumptions of why he was marrying her.

"For once Arnav ji listen to me and spare me!"

His heart clenched in his chest as she called him 'Arnav ji' with so much compassion that he felt his eyes prickling.

This time instead of being angry at her allegations he cupped her cheeks firmly raising her head to look straight in her eyes determined.

"Fine. Let's have a talk somewhere after work." Saying this he pushed himself off the table pulling back a bit but when she tried to free herself from his grip he caught her tightly in his seize.

He saw her gulp audibly.

"You will open up about Tanya and your migraines and I will tell you a part of my life about which I am not so proud of. Let's see how big of a heart you have!"

She frowned as he stepped back and headed to his desk before resuming his work.

Lost in her thoughts she peaked a look at him through the corner of her eyes and wondered.

Was there really something in Arnav Singh Raizada's life about which he wasn't proud of?

They didn't communicate much the rest of the day until the end of working hours when he received a call from Aman who has reached Lucknow a few hours ago.

"What do you mean they reached there?" He stood up running his fingers in his hairs in agitation.

"I already have called for a press conference. I will make sure I put an end to this mess once and for all tomorrow for sure. Great effort Aman. I appreciate it." He cut the call and thumped the receiver back on its case in sheer restlessness while Khushi felt like her heart would jump out of her chest if she didn't know what was wrong.

His agitated eyes met hers and he swallowed.

"Media reached Gomti Sadan." He said.

Her eyes widened whilst a startled gasp left her.

"They know now who you are and where you live." Arnav gritted.

"Amma, Babu ji.. Buaji?" She croaked reaching over to him.

"Don't worry. Aman and Akash reached there on time and they all are now safe in.. Sheesh Mahal."

Khushi's breath caught up in her throat.

"Now Babu ji would hate me more."

"It isn't your fault dammit." He gripped her arms and shook her. "Media wants some news and for them anything about my personal life comes in the hot list. You're involved in this only because you are related to me now!"

But she won't listen. The fear of losing her father's love and respect was taking a toll on her. He placed her head under his chin and embraced her. Being on the verge of brokenness she relented and accepted it for a few moments.

"I can put an end to this more easily if you will let me announce our engagement." He suggested in an encouraging whisper.

She pushed back vengefully.

"Never!" She growled.

He clenched his jaws hurt.

"Alright then. Suffer!" He picked up his laptop bag after wearing his blazer while she stood silently shedding tears dreading her face off with her father after all the fiasco media must have created with her family just because of her.

"Are you going to stand here all day or move so that we could reach Sheesh Mahal as soon as possible?" He turned to her sharply when she refused to follow him as he ordered her to.

"I can't face them.. him." She whispered in a choke.

His heart fluttered while he cursed in his mind.

"Either you will come with me to Sheesh Mahal or we will spent the night here in AR up in my penthouse together!"

That jolted her from her stupor. She made a run for the door.

"I will go with Jiji and Akash ji." She said reaching for the door knob.

He placed his hand in his pocket and smirked when he said.

"They already left."

"No. You are lying. Jiji can't go without me." She twisted the door knob hurriedly.

"Oh she did. Because she was told you already left." He said solemnly.

She whirled around only to find him standing too close to her. She breathed.

"You did this didn't you? You lied to her so that you can take me with you?" She snapped but soon her shoulders slumped when he said.

"After all you still have a little brain." He said sarcastically before gripping her hand and pulling her in the opposite direction. Her heart jumped up her throat.

"Fine. Fine. I will go with you to Sheesh Mahal. Leave my hand now!" She shrieked but he kept pulling her along and stopped only when they were in the elevator and it was ascending up.

"You are so stubborn. You should have listened when I was being that generous with you!" He punched a button to the top floor grasping her hand tightly whilst she twisted her wrist to get free.

"I am listening to you now. Let me go!" She pleaded. She wasn't scared of him but her father's reaction if he got to know she spent a night with Arnav alone in his penthouse and who knows how this beast would take advantage of that speculations!

"Your time was up the minute you unnecessarily asked me stupid questions instead of agreeing with me. I don't have much patience Khushi and you are testing it continuously!" He pulled her to face him before backing her against the metal wall of the lift.

"What do you want now?" She wiggled.

"Let's play lie and dare instead of truth and dare!" He said all of a sudden causing her to stop protesting and raise her red swollen eyes to his.

Was he serious?

"Yes. I am serious." He said reading the wonder on her face.

"The rules are simple. You will ask me a question first and I would answer with a lie. Then I would ask a question and you would tell me a lie. Got it?"

"I don't want to play any of your stupid games!"

"Either you will play this game or I will make you mine tonight. So tell me which one would that be?"

Breaths left her in a whoosh.

Oh she was sick of his 'either and or'!

"I will play the game." She gulped.

He smirked evilly.

"There you go. It isn't that difficult for you to obey me now is it?"

She gritted her teeth standing in his arms turning her head to the other side.

The elevator pinged and the door slid open. Passing her a smirk he took her inside his penthouse before closing the door behind.

Memories hit her hard. This was the place where she lost her respect in her father's eyes. Turning around her eyes landed on the place she once stood with her arms around him while she kissed him. Two shadows of them appeared before her as she saw herself reluctantly kissing him following his rules and then her head shot to the door when her ears buzzed with a familiar voice.

"KHUSHI!!!"

There at the end she saw another shadow appearing of her father cutting her heart into pieces and turning her legs into jelly. Then she saw herself of days ago turning away from the beast and looking at her father shocked.

"B-Babu-ji. Y-You h-here?"

"I asked you many a times didn't I bitiya that whether you want to marry him or not and what did you say huh? That you aren't interested in him. Is this your definition of not interested?" He pointed to the way she was standing too close to Arnav and it made Khushi take many steps back from him looking pleadingly at her father. It would shatter her beyond repair if her father doubted her. She would not be able to bear it at any cost.

"I can- I can explain Babuji." Khushi croaked.

"Babuji please believe me.. I-"

"You know what bitiya, when days ago he came to our shop to say all those things about you I didn't believe him for even a second and today too when he called me to tell me that you are going to meet him, I came here just to prove him wrong not because I doubted you but look here, he proved me wrong not the other way around." Shashi's eyes filled up from the corners.

She saw herself running to him and hugging him tightly.

"Babuji, you were right not to doubt me. I could never do that to you. Believe me." She clutched to him desperately when he didn't hug her back.

"I did believe you with all of my heart and look where it has gotten me." He coughed stepping back.

"Are you alright Babuji?" Khushi asked frantically, concerned.

"How can I be when you have shattered my trust on you. If you wanted to marry him, you could've just asked me bitiya. I would've never refused. You didn't had to play this game, you didn't had to lie." He shook his head and it shook her insides.

"Babuji-" Khushi sobbed. "I don't-"

"You didn't had to go behind my back to pursue him to make me agree. You didn't had to hide in shadows to be with him." His broken stance made Khushi's inside crush into pieces. She fell on her knees right there in front of her father.

"Please Babuji, don't do this to me. It would kill me. Don't doubt me. Please don't."

"Mr.Raizada, you can come with your family tomorrow in the evening and this time you will get an affirmative answer for both of your proposals. I have lost before you and now I will keep my words." Shashi said more like croaked before turning around and leaving. Khushi's cries of pleads followed him till the end of the corridor until he entered the escalator bleary eyed with a heavy heart.

"Khushi? KHUSHI!" Someone shook her gripping her shoulders bringing her back to present where she realized she was there on her knees crying calling out for her father. Begging him to believe her.

Arnav couldn't take it anymore so he hugged her whilst she cried slumped against his chest weakly protesting to ward him off but he won't let her go.

"I can't stay here." She sobbed. "Please I can't stay here or it will choke me to death."

"Shut up Khushi." He growled helping her up to stand before making her sit on the couch.

"We will leave once we will finish the game you promised you'll play with me. Remember?" He tried to distract her and it ended up with her slapping his chest many a times.

"I am breaking here and all you could think is playing games with me!" She bellowed bursting into sobs.

"Yeah I like playing games." He pretended to be non chalant shooting daggers at her heart.

"Ask and get this over with." She sniffled.

"It's your turn first. So you ask. Or give me a dare!" He said causing her to look into his eyes confused. He knew she was trying to read him but he also knew she would've to do a lot more to get there.

Twisting her fingers she contemplated to ask something which would make her understand what does he exactly wants from her. Giving him a dare would be useless because she knew he would complete it without a doubt. Once deciding she looked back into his chocolate brown eyes.

"What did you mean exactly when you said you like me?" She asked knowing she has sent him in a dilemma of how to answer as she read it in his eyes. Finally, she could read some of him.

He would now answer with a lie and that would mean in order to get through the truth she has to believe in opposite. Simple, right?

"What I really meant was.." His eyes trailed from her moist eyes to her rosy pink lips.

"Like is an understatement. I-I-" He leaned closer. She felt her heart tugging in her chest.

"I love you!" He whispered.

Anjali gave a nod to the maid bringing the trolley. She herself served the snacks on the table along with the tea but she knew Guptas were least interested in eating anything right now. The situation was as bad here in Sheesh Mahal with the Raizadas after the news release and now it has caught up the Guptas which was inevitable as sooner or later they gotta find out.

But the way they did by a bunch of reporters breathing down their necks outside their home asking bitter questions about their daughter Khushi Kumari Gupta was something that gave her shudders as she has seen it live how shaken up they all were when they opened the door of their home and saw many cameras clicking their pictures, mikes extended to them with no idea of what the hell happened.

"Shashi ji, Please have something. Garima? Madhumati ji?" Devyani said earning a negative nod from all the three of them before her gaze went to Payal who was frantically calling someone on her phone.

"Payal bitiya?" She asked.

Payal looked at her with the phone to her ear before cutting the line and looking at her worriedly.

"Khushi isn't picking up her calls. I was told she has left for Sheesh Mahal long back. But she isn't here yet."

"She is with Arnav." Shashi spoke. "They both have to work about this press conference he is holding tomorrow. They might be late tonight."

Payal stared at her father with her heart thumping in fear for her sister while Anjali and Devyani looked at each other with the same worry.

"And you are alright with them being alone?" Payal couldn't help but ask.

"I trust Arnav. He is a good guy and he knows how to handle her." Shashi spoke bitterly rubbing his forehead. That shut Payal up but she couldn't raise her eyes to Devyani and Anjali in embarrasment.

Guilt washed over Devyani and Anjali for hiding such a big thing from a father who is turning more and more bitter with his daugther every day. They had a notion they would put the pieces of a broken relationship of a father-daughter once Khushi would come here after marriage but they have forgotten not always everything goes as you have planned.

Payal stood up and ran to the garden and bumped into Akash who was walking in through the doors.

She pushed him away and kept running until she was in the middle of the green lawns and sat, more like fell on the deckchair with her fingers clenched in her hairs. Akash watched all this with a stone on his heart which he couldn't keep putting on until he saw her bursting into heavy sobs.

"I know you don't care about my brother but your sister only and I get that. You are just overdoing it. She will be fine." He said coming to sit besides her.

"Oh really? Then why can't I ward off this feeling that my sister is in a lot of pain and I can't do anything about it because she won't open up to me completely?" She burst out glaring at him. "I couldn't meet her after all the fiasco outside AR because you didn't let me and when I could I was told she has already left. How stupid of me to believe that and come here leaving her alone with your brother!" She cried.

"Payal.."

"Don't you dare defend your brother in front of me ever again! You want to behave like him, be like him then BE LIKE HIM for all I care but if you came in the way of me protecting my sister ever again then I swear Akash I will never forgive you!" She finished at once before breathing in and out.

Akash opened and closed his mouth like a fish at a short of words. She looked at him once she regulated her breathing and saw him gaping at her.

"Don't look at me like that because I know it was you who conveyed your brother's lie to me this evening when I was just about to go to his cabin to get Khushi."

He lowered his eyes. Payal rubbed a hand on her face before rasping out.

"Now this media thing has made Babu ji more aloof to Khushi. How could your brother turn such a happy relationship between a father and a daughter into this much uncertainty and distrust and not feel guilty about it at all?"

"For him to feel guilty about that he has to have a father's love and to feel the loss of it too. But he never did so he never could feel what Khushi must be feeling." Akash spoke silently.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She scoffed.

"His father cheated on his mother with their housemaid. And you know when did he and his family got to know? The day of Di's wedding."

Payal gasped.

"The maid was of the same age as Anjali Di that time." He croaked while Payal couldn't produce a sound.

"His mother couldn't handle the stress and shot herself on the spot.The shock made his father paralyze for many minutes before he took the same gun and shot himself too before Bhai. Yes he was there. Bhai was standing outside his parents room when he heard his parents fight. He was there." He stopped to breath and wiped the corner of his eye.

"Yet never in his wildest dream he thought his mother would kill herself and he won't be able to prevent it. Seeing both of your parents die in front of your very eyes is bound to mess your mind and he.. got too messed up. He is too messed up!"

"Upon that Di's marriage broke. Barat left. His Chacha kicked him out along with Di. Dad and Mom were living in a separate home those days because Dadi was upset with them for marrying so hastily without informing the family. She herself couldn't attend the wedding so she didn't know what wreck has happened to Bhai and Di and her own daughter. Di and Bhai both stayed in an orphanage for days until someone called Dad and informed him about the happening. Dad informed Dadi and they all rushed from Delhi to Lucknow urgently and got them both here. But they couldn't prevent the damage that was already done. And all of this you know happened right here-" He pointed to the ground. 

"In this palace. It was the place where Di and Bhai grew up. You know except for the one time he had to come here to buy it or say snatch his home back from his Uncle he avoided coming here because memories stung him hard but now do you know why he shifted here? Because he wants to start afresh. He wants to start afresh with her. Your sister." He trailed off taking off his glasses and looked at her with his eyes full of unshed tears.

"And this is just a snippet of how shattered and damaged is my brother. Now if you want to blame me for siding with him when I am seeing an opportunity to bring him out of his past then carry on. Call me a bastard. Selfish. Coward. Whatever. Because nothing you say would or could change my mind to assure he gets what he wants to live normally. Whatever it takes Payal. Whatever it bloody takes!"

With her heart clenching and unclenching in her chest Payal listened with her breathing stuck in her throat.

"Akash!" Payal sobbed out while he stood up with his jaws clenched and stormed inside.

Too stunned and feeling too weak to absorb all of it at once she she buried her face into her palms and cried not knowing whom to blame anymore. Arnav Singh Raizada, his past, his father, his mother or simply just.. fate or her sister's bad luck to cross paths with such a complex man with so much baggage over his shoulders?

"I love you!" He whispered dumping the weight of earth on her head. Her heart stopped beating along with her breathing. She stared at him without blinking and a smile was about to blossom on her lips when she realized it was a 'lie and dare' they were playing. He has lied and the reality was exact opposite to what he said.

"You h-hate me." The realization dawned on her as she swallowed with great difficulty before she gasped for breaths.

When he saw her rubbing her chest as if to ease off the pain his heart went out to her. He had to confess somehow and now it was up to her how she read between the lines and realize he hasn't lied. He was saying the truth but she was so innocent that she failed to realize the twisting game he was playing in order to convey his feelings to her.

"My turn now." He pretended he didn't see any of her torn expressions while Khushi tried hard to compose herself.

"Y-Your turn now." She croaked wiping her tears. His insides shook seeing her hurt but he remained stoic outside.

"You like me don't you?" He asked expectantly.

"Yes!" She answered causing him to rasp.

"You do?" He said with his eyes sparkling.

"I thought we were playing 'lie and dare'. Now do you realize what does that mean?" She countered feeling like screaming her heart out at him for saying something like that even when it was a lie. Now, she knew too how to get back at him and make him feel as restless as she was.

"Yeah." He gritted.

"Shall we leave now that the game is over?"

"No!"

"You said-"

"I don't care!" He growled. "We are staying here tonight."

"You are backing off from your words!" She hissed.

"I GIVE A DAMN!" Shouting he stormed to one of the rooms and banged the door shut while she reached for the exit door. To her surprise it opened alright and she didn't waste a moment to reach to the lift and press the button only to realize the escalator wasn't working. She ran around the corridor and soon she realized the only escape out of this floor was through the lift which was shut down.

Letting out a cry of frustration she walked back inside before slumping on the couch with her head in her hands.

"Are you hungry?"

She jerked on her position hearing him. Raising her helpless eyes to him she spit fire at him.

"GET LOST!" She shouted.

"Oh you aren't? Because I am damn hungry." His earlier anger was gone replaced by calmness.

"What do I do if you are hungry? Bring you a bottle of poison because I'd love to!"

He laughed darkly shaking his head.

"Ah! And you say you don't like me." He mocked.

"Because I DON'T." She gritted.

In long strides he reached her and that's when she realized he has changed into his informal wear. Black t-shirt and blue trousers.

She stood up once he stopped before her.

"Take me to Sheesh Mahal. Facing my parents, my Babu ji is better than being with you!" She cried out.

"I have already called your parents and even my family too. They understand." He said as if was talking about the weather.

"What did you say to them?" She asked frantically gripping his shirt from front.

"For now, I just told them that we are preparing for the press conference tomorrow and we might be late. Or we might stay in office tonight as well if we had to. Your father understands. He trusts me!" He smirked trailing the back of his hand across her cheek.

She swallowed past a lump feeling her eyes pooling.

"How easily you lie and make others dance to your tunes!" She choked.

"Now if you whined more then I might as well make this situation so bad for you once you reach Sheesh Mahal in the morning that your father would abandon you without a second thought so stay silent and do as I say!"

"Why don't you at once take a knife and plunge it into my heart?" She spat tugging him closer with her face morphed into hurt.

"Because-" His Adam's apple bobbed as he raised his hands and cupping the sides of her neck entangled his fingers in her hairs. "--I can't."

"Tanya Mam was so right about you!" She snapped.

"We will come to that discussion Khushi but right now I am hungry and--" He caught her wrist and dragged her to an open kitchen and left her hand whirling her around behind the counter. "--you will cook food for both of us!"

She opened her mouth to protest only to see him raise his eyebrow at her in a warning causing her shoulders to sag as she knew how he could turn this situation into his favor in the morning if she countered.

"That's great. Call me from my bedroom when the dinner is ready and you have served it in the dining room. There!" He pointed to the dining area outside the kitchen before he turned and left leaving her fuming and on the very edge.

How she searched for the necessary things and how she made the food she didn't know. All she knew was that once she finished she felt empty all over again. Yet again he succeeded in snatching every damn emotion from inside of her. Until she heard a whisper close to her ear.

"What I really meant was.." His eyes trailed from her moist eyes to her rosy pink lips.

"Like' is an understatement. I-I-" He leaned closer.

"I love you!"

She placed her palms over her mouth and sobbed and yelped silently into them as emotions unfurled from every corner of her being and flowed through her like waves. The fact that he played with her like that with those words added to her misery.

"I lied to you Jiji."

"I fell in love with him." She choked.

"I didn't realize it. Not until Diwali. I fell in love with him Jiji. I was in love with him." She murmured brokenly with fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

"If he had kissed me I'd have confessed." She sniffled."You know.. you know how I am. I could never keep a secret like that. I could never." She burst into cries.

"I lied to you when I said I am over him. I kept lying. He taught me how to lie and how to keep a secret as big as this. He taught me to hide my feelings. He taught me to be this fake person. This angry and impulsive person. He did all this jiji. I am not like this. I swear I am not."

"KHUSHI!" He shouted shaking her yet again before yanking her closer as she swayed in his arms. He has come over to check on her only to see her sobbing standing against the dining table without a voice with her hands over her mouth.

He gave her a gentle push to a seat before sitting on the chair besides her.

Seeing the dinner arranged on the table he pushed off the lid from a bowl and serving some on a plate made her eat it before giving her the medicines he always keep with him along with his own not only in his office, in his penthouse but also in the pocket of the suit he wear.

Once he saw her breathing turn to normal and color returning to her face he sighed in relief whilst he heard her sniffle with her head turned away from him.

Then much to his surprise she turned her head to him and sobbed out.

"She said when you'd be done with me you'd go back to her. Forget marrying me you won't even look at me after that. She said you made promises to marry her too. You got engaged to her too but marriage. It never reached there. It never would because I'd be so lost in your charms that I'd surrender myself to you forgetting everything about my dignity or morals or innocence whatsoever. Like SHE did. She even got-" She dropped her face in her hands and splinted into heartrending sobs cutting him into pieces as well as boiling him in rage for what lies Tanya brewed up to her.

"She said she got pregnant with your baby. If I don't believe her then I should go to her apartment to see the living proof." She mumbled into her hands while Arnav saw red.

That Tanya was so dead now!

Removing her hands from her face she stared at him torn.

"I couldn't gather the courage to go to her and see the truth. I couldn't." She shook her head. "Tell me yourself. Say the truth. I know you hate me like you said. Tell me beforehand how long would you keep me with you and when are you planning to leave me so that I make myself strong enough to face it."

"Since when did it happen that Khushi Kumari Gupta has the fear of Arnav Singh Raizada leaving her? I thought it was the other way around." He wasn't stupid to let this opportunity leave to get her feelings out of her. Just now he has caught her reason of desperation and hurt over Tanya's words.

Nothing else affected her more than when Tanya said he would leave her once he would be bored of her.

His heart cracked as well as came alive.

When she didn't answer and kept crying clutching the edge of the table with her gaze fixed to the plate he added.

"Wasn't it you who was going to leave ME after Akash and Payal would marry? Why this insecurity now Khushi? This way or that you are separating from me anyways. How would it happen shouldn't bother you!"

"Do you have a baby with her or not?" She hissed turning her face to him grasping his shirt pulling him closer.

"For me to have a baby with her I had to have sex with her!" He put her out of misery by using the blatant words.

"You said she was your mistress for two months!" She accused.

"How did that prove that we were sleeping together?"

"What does a 'mistress' mean then?" She asked shaking him, punching his chest.

"I lied, okay? I LIED. I wanted you to be affected and see you are." He blurted out in one breath.

She shook with tremors while looking at him dumfounded.

She spent sleepless nights thinking about his relationship with that bitch and just now she found there was nothing between them at all.

How could he torture her emotionally like that?

"The media said you left Tanya for Lavanya ji." How could she forget that how it cut her insides.

"They love spreading rumors about me."

"Is it a rumor too that you left Lavanya ji for me?"

That silenced him.

"Some of the rumors might be true." He shrugged earning several punches from her right on his chest, shoulder and arms before she shouted.

"That it might be true too that you are lying about Tanya too. Maybe she is saying the truth. Maybe you do have a baby with her."

"Do you really think of me as an irresponsible bastard? I made AR for my Di to give her an easy life which was snatched from us when we were so young. I was abandoned by my paternal family Khushi. I know that feeling. Now do you really think I would make my own child feel the same way by giving up on him? I may be a pompous ass but I am not that heartless Khushi!"

His explanation did made her feel better as she saw the truth and pain in his eyes.

"No. You are both. You are an pompous ass as well as the worst heartless being I have ever seen on this earth. Strike that. This world!" She couldn't help but say.

"Serve me." He said abruptly prying her hands from his shirt before adjusting it to smoothen the creases.

"Huh?"

"Serve me dinner Khushi. Now I am more hungry than ever." He said expressionlessly as if they didn't just had a heart wrenching conversation between them.

All she could do was stare at him stumped.

"What are you looking at? DO WHAT YOU ARE ASKED TO." Yeah he is heartless and an ass! She recognized him well.

Jerking in her position she lifted the lid from the bowls with her trembling hands and filled his plate. He started eating without a word while she swallowed her tears which weren't stopping at all.

"Water!" He commanded once he finished and wiped his mouth with the napkin.

She felt like throwing the whole jug on his face. Curbing the urge she poured some in the glass and thumped it in front of him and saw him clenching his jaws.

He took the glass and poured it back in the jug much to her bewilderment.

"Give it nicely." He said while she who hated being ordered felt like pulling his hairs out but she knew how that will end. Right now, relenting was her only option if she want to go back to her family.

So she poured it calmly this time and placed it softly before him. He took it and drank it whole before thumping the glass in front of her.

Were the lessons of being nice only meant for her?

She burned from inside.

"You have lot to learn how to behave around me, honey." He commented causing her blood to boil yet she stayed silent swallowing the curses inside.

"Now that we have come clear about Tanya situation it's time you reveal the details about your migraines as well." He turned to her giving her his full attention. "Start. I am all ears."

"I will but only after you will tell me everything about you and Tanya. Otherwise forget it!" If she was trapped then she might as well make some out of it too to put an end to her worries.

"Khushi!" He warned.

"I don't have much at stake now anyways. So either tell me about Tanya or you will never know what you want to know about me!"

"Yes." He growled pissed. "Tanya was my mistress but for namesake only. We studied together in high school. I used to take her to parties as my plus one, years ago when I started my business. Also, because she knew a secret of mine which she used time and time again to force me to announce her as my girlfriend." He hissed.

"What secret?" Khushi asked curiously.

What could be that big that ASR let himself be blackmailed?

Arnav ran his fingers in his hairs. Now is the time to reveal everything. His Di said Khushi would understand one day. That means at first attempt it was bound to scare her.

"I-" He cleared his throat. "My mother caught my father redhanded on my Di's wedding day cheating on her with our housemaid. My mother committed suicide followed by my father. It preceded to my sister's broken marriage and our Uncle throwing us siblings out on the streets to rot until Nani and Mama ji came to get us." He stopped to gulp while Khushi couldn't breath at the revelations.

"I saw both of my parents shooting themselves yet I couldn't do anything." He swallowed while Khushi felt a sudden urge to take him in to a bone crushing hug but all of a sudden he also seemed too far. Too unapproachable.

"For the first two years, in order to numb the pain I used to physically hurt myself hoping that the physical pain might lessen the emotional one."

Khushi's hand went to her mouth while she gasped audibly. Then she couldn't hold back anymore. She reached over and threw her arms around him. This was the man she once loved. This was the man who made her feel plethora of emotions, tore her, broke her. Just now she could see how broken he himself was. Maybe they were miles apart but she could at least give him a hug as he relived his tragic past. Right?

She didn't realize she would question her own monologue when he would open up further.

"Later I-I-" He tightened his jaws squeezing her in his arms resting his nose against her neck in order to gather courage to say the next words which might scare her away. "--started going to brothels and did the same to the women there." He blurted out in one breath feeling his chest hurting with the dark memories.

Breathing hard Khushi pulled back as if his words pushed her away physically before she stood up abruptly with trepidation filling her eyes as well as the terror.

"Khushi?" He choked. "I was just 17 then." He whispered blinking back the tears.

"So all that pulling, pushing, pinning, manhandling.. is because you-"

"I am not like that anymore dammit!" He interjected.

"If you think so then you are in denial, Mr. Raizada!" She bellowed hoarsely. And there she thought he was just broken. He wasn't just broken. He was a wounded monster.

"Di found out and she pulled me out of it." He rasped.

"How did Tanya come into the picture?" She hissed wanting him to just stop speaking about that side of him.

"She used to pester me to spend the time with her. I refused every time but one day she followed me and in order to get back at me she told my Di." He said urgently. He felt his heart hurting as when he would take a step towards her she would take many behind while shaking from head to toe.

"Khushi, Please. Don't be scared of me." He pleaded feeling moisture seeping in his eyes.

"How could you do that to anyone.. to.. to yourself?" She cried out shivering.

"BECAUSE I WAS DAMAGED. I was.. just.. damaged." He trailed off.

"YOU STILL ARE. You haven't recovered yet." She sobbed out. "Because if you had you wouldn't have damaged me the same way you are!" She fell on her knees and cried with hiccups.

Crouching down to her level he extended his hand to her face only for her to move back and drag herself back far away until she felt the wall behind her.

He curled his hand into a fist.

"I started having migraines when my parents died. You know how old I was? Of course you know."

She chuckled dryly.

"I was 8 years old. Feeling such excruciating pain in such a young age would make me double over. I used to scream at the top of my lungs whenever I had an attack and it happened every other day till I was in my paternal home where no one damn cared whether I cried or died because I was just a burden to them. Until Amma, Babu ji took me in and the very first day I had an attack there I was rushed to a hospital because I fainted. Along with the therapeutic medicines my Maasa and Maasi's family offered me support and you know what I did. I accepted it instead of turning my back on them."

He averted his eyes as he knew she was hinting to him for not looking at his family for support when he was shattered. Broken beyond repair.

"The second time I had an attack Babu ji took me in his embrace-" She felt a lump forming in her throat. "And he told me a fairy tale. His soothing voice lulled me to sleep for the first time after many days. From that day onward he used to tell me a story every day of a prince charming and an ordinary girl meeting, falling in love and then their happily ever after. He made it sound so simple!" She chuckled mirthlessly."That's how I started believing in them. The fairy tales." She sniffled pausing to take a deep breath.

"Jiji used to hug me at nights when I had nightmares. Amma taught me how to make jalebis so every time when I became upset I used to make them to take my mind off the things. And Buaji.. she used to take me to grocery shopping. She used to talk nineteen to dozen. That's how I became such a chirpy, talkative and cheerful girl. My family played a very big role in putting my pieces back together. If it weren't for them I'd have died of the emotional stress and migraines I was so frequently having."

"You had your new family with you. I had-" He tried to defend himself only to be cut sharply by her.

"Don't say that you had no one because you had your Di. Your sister. Your grandmother. Your cousin brother. Your Mama. Your Mami. You had a family too but you chose to stay in darkness rather than relying on the people who took you in. You never let anyone be that close to you to take away your pain. You never shared. Instead you took a dark path to numb your ache!" She snapped before hiccuping. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I HAVE LEFT THAT PATH LONG AGO!" He shouted.

"You haven't." She hissed. "Because you become your same old dark self when I came in your life!" She sobbed.

"That's not true!" He bellowed.

"It is. Wasn't it you who kept me locked in a room when I first met you? Wasn't it you who made my life a living hell when I worked at AR? Wasn't it you who sent me to a delipidated building where I almost got killed? Wasn't it you who threw me out of your car in the middle of the nowhere many a times? Wasn't it you who were almost kissing me one moment and announcing your marriage with another woman in the other? Wasn't it you who threw a cheque on my face calling me characterless girl and took away my home to force me to leave Delhi? Wasn't it you who then came back to my life only to snatch the most precious relation of my life. My father?" She was gasping for breaths once she finished leaving him tongue tied.

"Khushi.." He choked as she showed him the mirror.

"WHY?" She cried out. "W-Why?" She croaked.

"You were a monster in the past because you lost your parents. What did I snatch from you that you are always a monster to me? Why did you become a beast to me? What did I make you lose?" She whispered hoarsely at the end.

He blinked back the tears.

"You made me lose control. You made that Chote come to the fore who I thought died with his mother. I-I guess I was scared." He mumbled.

"Scared? Of what? Of me?" She scoffed.

"Neither of you nor of me. I was scared of losing you."

It only made her feel awful.

"You were just scared. I lived through it. I lost you because of you!" She said hoarsely.

His head shot to hers stumped. She wasn't saying what he thinks she was saying, right?

"You wanted to know how many times I had had migraines, right? Then listen. For the first time I had them years ago when my parents died like I told you and later after many years when you pushed me out of your life like a piece of trash. And now they are happening again because you are back and so is the heartache. Because I was-"

He listened with his heart in his mouth with his eyes full of unshed tears.

"Because I was in love with you!" She cried out and with a gasp he dropped his head in his hand as everything inside of him shattered.

Was?

She said she was!

Nothing could explain the heartrending pain that made him feel.

Here, he was feeling tortured with speculations that she never felt anything for him.

"You was?" He croaked.

"I was. I WAS." She yelled with a sob.

Feeling suffocated with the knowledge that he had her love once and he threw it away, he stood up with his face a picture of misery as the air thickened with tension, sadness and downright anguish.

"Is there any chance for that 'was' to again turn into 'is'?" He asked earnestly.

"N-No." She whispered with trembling lips.

He walked to her and sat in front of her.

"Go and wash your face. My PR agent will soon be here." His voice was hoarse but his face has turned back to being expressionless.

She refused to raise her head feeling ashamed for blurting out her weakest point of life to him. She has opened herself along with all of her past and insecurities. But then so has he.

That thought made her to look at him as he waited for her answer.

"Do you really hate me?" She asked silently.

"Aren't we done playing 'lie and dare'?"

"Truth. Tell me the truth." She grasped his shirt and yanked him closer.

"No. I don't hate you." He whispered.

"Did you ever love me?" She croaked bunching the front of his shirt in fists.

He swallowed thickly.

"I am too damaged to love anyone Khushi. I told you I like you." As he uttered that and searched his insides he realized he meant what he said.

So he was lying to himself, to his Di, his brother, his Nani till now when he said he loves Khushi. He still have a long way to go to reach there. Maybe.

She released her grip on him feeling her eyes burning with fresh tears brimming in her eyes.

His heart cut into pieces seeing her like that but now as he was out of the confusion it was good he didn't confess his love. Or maybe love was such an understatement for what he always, actually felt for her?

Because he never shared his dark past with this much detail with anyone.

Someday when he was sure he would tell her what he actually feel for her.

Seeing her sitting slumped against the wall he swallowed before slipping his one arm around her waist made her stand and she didn't protest much because she was too damaged too to utter another word. He felt her shiver within his hold while Khushi closed her eyes feeling worn out.

Making her sit on the couch he sat besides her.

"There is-" He stopped when she ran her fingers in her hairs in an effort to wan her emotions.

"--more. I know." She choked.

"Yes." He whispered. "But that can wait. Because we have our whole life to know each other."

He winced when she cringed away from him as he touched her shoulder. But he was thankful to her for not negating him about their togetherness this time around.

"I will never hurt you that way, Khushi. It is another thing emotionally I can break you into pieces." He accepted with a catch in his voice.

She chuckled dryly.

'You already have.' She wanted to scream but she was too exhausted to say any word let alone shout out in agony.

"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!"

"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.

"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."

"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.

"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.

He wasn't kidding when he said all that. He meant every word and he wants her to be thankful that at least he wasn't physically hurting her. That he was 'soft' with her.

She scoffed getting his attention.

"If I kept-" She coughed as her throat hurt. He passed her a glass of water. Seeing which she realized how thirsty she was. Drinking it whole she breathed while he placed the glass back on the table.

"If I kept refusing to marry you there is a chance you can become that beastly with me?" She felt foreign when she said that because she didn't know how much more he has to do to be called a monster?

Arnav stared at her with anguish. How could he tell her or make her believe that she was too precious and special for him to let his dark side control him. Yes, it was a part of him once. Maybe he still had little bit of that monsterosity alive within him but he could never ever in his wildest dream hurt her the way he hurt those women. No way. Despite the monologue in his head his answer was exact opposite to his real feelings.

"Yes." He said and heard her whimper.

Before he could say something else the intercom beeped. He took it up and listening to the other side he gave her a furtive glance sitting curled against the corner of the sofa before speaking into the phone.

"Send him up. To my penthouse. Yeah, okay. I will turn on the lift."

Her head shot to him. Of course it was him who turned off the escalator to keep her from leaving.

"What?" He asked seeing her shooting glares his way.

"You love it when I become helpless in front of you don't you?"

He didn't say anything. Neither in negation nor in affirmation.

"In case you had to lock me up in a room when all of your other plans failed then you would. Won't you?" She croaked feeling her chest hurt. Her cellphone was in her bag. She remember carrying it over her shoulder when he dragged her from his office up here. Now, it was nowhere to be found as she came back from the kitchen.

"It won't come to that." He gritted.

"You mean to say if it did you won't back off from making me your prisoner either." She hissed.

"It is up to you not to push me to that point." He snarled.

"You need help, Mr. Raizada!" She cried out.

"Help me, then!" He retorted.

She opened her mouth to counter only for him to get up as there was a firm knock on the door.

Before reaching the door he gave her a look. Reluctantly she has to relent to make herself presentable before his PR agent as to not give any hint about their differences.

Once she disappeared in to the room he opened the door. After greeting him with a curt nod Arnav invited him in.

Vihan Agarwal was the head of his PR for quite a while. He has handled and managed his' as well as AR reputation along with the deals and his clients very efficiently. He knew his job and he was best at it. That was why Arnav trusted him with all of his inside information.

Sitting on the couches across each other Arnav discussed his plans for the press conference tomorrow. Of what he would say. Of who would come to the press release and who wouldn't. He wasn't kidding when he said those reporters who tried to harrass not only his Khushi but also her family too would be banned from attending it and he was firm they would be the last one to know.

Once Arnav finished it was Vihan's turn to give his opinion and it sure sent Arnav in a dilemma.

"Are you sure Vihan?"

"Absolutely. What I suggested would be the best for not only AR but also for your relationship with Ms. Gupta." Vihan said confidently.

"Then it's done. We would do what's best." Arnav said.

"But we have to take Ms. Gupta in confidence." Vihan informed.

"We will. She will be here any moment and you'll tell her what she has to say or not before the media."

"You said she is against it." Vihan said with a frown.

"You write a script and I give you my word she won't say a word above it." Arnav said authoritatively and Vihan felt a chill running down his spine despite being a collective person.

The door of the bedroom creaked open whilst Khushi emerged in to the room all freshened up and stopped short catching very last of his words.

'She won't say a word above it.' He said.

Above what?

She looked from the stranger to Arnav in question.

"Oh Khushi. Come and we shall discuss some basic about the press conference you have to attend with me." Arnav encouraged.

Gulping she thought it was better to be composed before any outsider.

She walked silently to an empty couch only to catch a look in his eyes and with a deep sigh sat besides him while he placed his arm behind her on the headrest making her self conscious.

Vihan who was an excellent observer got to know too much seeing the couple's interaction in the last minute. It was Ms. Gupta's bad luck or say Mr. Raizada's luck that she fell in the devil's arms in his fashion show and ever since she has been marked to doom by the very monster. Yes, he knows because it was him who released that video upon ASR's order of her falling in ASR's arms and yeah the cheap words on every new channel in the background were his own scripted. He won't say he was guilty because he was just doing his job of what he was ordered.

"So Vihan tell her what you told me." Arnav's command brought him back to present so he gathered his professional persona and started.

"... It wouldn't have been much of a problem to clear your name if you weren't the girl from that ruined fashion show. The fact that every media personnel recognized you and connected the dots is not good. Upon that the recent video on social media and now on every news channel very clearly shows ASR slipping the ring on your finger in front of many people. Now denying it would prove him a liar and you a .. well, you-know-what. That would jeopardize not only ASR's reputations but yours as well along with AR. Not to mention your family's too Ms. Gupta."

Khushi felt knots forming in her stomach as he continued.

"AR shares could lose values and our recent and also on-hold deals could slip from our hands. It would leave a very bad impact on the overall business. So-" He stopped to let his words absorb in the scared girl's mind. He has done his research already on her in order to handle this press conference. For heaven's sake, she was just 19 years old. He shook his head to ward off the sympathy for the girl.

"So it's best if ASR announced you his 'fiancé' tomorrow. That would put many speculations to rest and also would save not only yours but ASR's and AR's reputation as well." He finished while Khushi turned pale.

"NO!" Khushi shrieked before she turned her head to Arnav who knew what would follow and he wasn't wrong.

"You promised you would complete your end of the deal. I completed mine now you can't back off!" She exclaimed.

Arnav ignored her and addressed Vihan who pretended he didn't witness anything.

"Prepare everything including the script. We both will meet you in my cabin at sharp 7 in the morning."

"Sure ASR." He gathered his files and standing up left while Khushi's chest heaved up and down as she breathed irregularly.

"There is so much at stake here Khushi. I-" He started but she cut him.

"Including your precious AR!"

"Including you, too." He exclaimed in protest.

"I don't care about myself." She yelled.

"But I do. Because of some deal I made with you I can't put AR at risk!" He was blunt and it slashed her.

"Why don't you say it directly instead of pretending that AR is more important for you than anything?"

"Fine. You want to hear it. Okay, then. AR is fucking too much important to me. I won't let some stupid media to spread false rumors about my personal life which could affect my business!" He growled.

She blinked her eyes at him in shock.

"I don't understand why are you marrying me when I am nothing to you? To satisfy your ego?"

"Whatever." He stood up flaring his nostrils indicating he was teteering on the edge of his sanity.

"Don't walk away like you always do. Give me some clear answers at least." She yelped.

"I bared my soul to you Ms. Gupta. I told you all about my past, a very dark past yet you are saying I am not answering to you?" He shouted turning to her sharply. "Well, that was me giving you importance which I never gave to any other woman in my life." He gritted. "I told you why I am what I am. I told you clearly. If you want to overlook that. Fine. Be my guest. But dare you open your mouth in front of the media except for what you'd be given to say. Got it?"

She stared at him stunned to silence with moisture seeping in her eyes. He placed his hands on the sides of his waist and paced the length of the room pinching the bridge of the nose in agitation.

"What if I did open my mouth and didn't say anything in the script then?" Maybe she wanted to rub it in.

"Then you'd become my wife the minute that press conference would end. You know what? I had already told Vihan to keep the marriage certificate and a lawyer ready for our court marriage in case anything got wrong in the press release tomorrow." He stopped the minute he saw her burying her head in her knees while she broke down.

"I want to go home. To my family." She cried out.

"You can't. Not tonight." He said and walking to her carried her up bridal style while she raised her misty eyes to his hard ones clutching his lapels lightly with her one hand snaked aroud his neck. To his relief she didn't protest even when he walked her to the bedroom and lowered her to the bed covered her with the blanket before sitting besides her.

"Is there any way of my escape?" She asked silently.

"None." He whispered running his fingers on her cheek.

Much to his surprise and bewilderment she extended her hand and palmed his cheek.

"If I stopped protesting what would I get in return?" She asked caressing his jaws with the pad of her thumb causing a lump to form in his throat.

"Me. With all my flaws."

She swallowed blinking back the tears.

"I am tired. I want to sleep." She choked biting back a sob.

"Okay." He whispered removing her hand from his cheek and kissing her fingers. She whimpered while he felt his eyes prickle.

"I haven't overlooked anything. I appreciate how you opened up to me and I am not judging you either because neither I was there nor did I know how you survived that ordeal but.. your past didn't give you the right to damage me as much as you were. Because I never did anything to you. Never." She sobbed. He swallowed. "You have got no rights to shatter me. None whatsoever." She rasped twisting her hand in his hold but he grabbed it in between both of his' tightly.

"Neither did it give you any authority to control me like you own me. It certainly can't justify your heinous plans and lies to separate me from my father. It doesn't. Nothing could justify it. Nothing. Now, if you still want me to relent then here I am Mr. Raizada succumbing to your wishes. I will marry you without any attempts to escape it from now on but you will be marrying a whole different person then that Khushi you first met in Sheesh Mahal."

He averted his eyes as he saw the tears leaking from the corner of her eyes and absorbing into the pillow.

As he heard her silent cries for a minute he put a stone on his heart and turned his head back to look at her expressionlessly.

"That would suffice for now." He whispered before leaning in and pecking her eyes one by one followed by a lingering chaste kiss on her forehead.

Even though she gave in yet the feeling that he was almost on the verge of losing her has only doubled over in him. It shouldn't right? Then why?

Is something about to happen which would take her away from him?

Maybe forever this time?

"NO!" He shrieked out loud and the next thing Khushi knew she was yanked in his arms and held against his chest choking the life out of her.

Her heart galloped whilst she felt him nuzzling his nose along her hairs, her neck, her cheeks while one of his palm lay flat on her back while the other at the back of her head with his fingers entangling within her hairs.

"Don't ever leave me." She heard him whisper which caused the knives to twist in her gut. Feeling torn herself in between loving and hating him she raised her arms and wrapped them around his back curled her hand into fists bunching his shirt tightly before submerging into tears.

"Don't let g-go." The words left her without her control.

"Never!" He kissed her hairs tightening his hold around her running his hand smoothly over her hairs whilst he felt his shirt soaking in her tears.

Maybe it was just one of those weak moments where they both let their guards down and succumbed to their feelings telling the other how much they need each other despite of all. Despite of everything.

Yet, they knew when the sun would rise and so would the problems, inhibitions, his wrong doings, her sufferings all would come to the fore then resistence and resilience and payback would surely follow.

Because there are some mistakes that are too big to be forgiven and there are some wounds that are too deep to overlook.    

In the morning as per the schedule they were both back in his cabin in the same clothes of the day before while Vihan handed Khushi the script and she would answer only within it's limits if any question were to be asked from her. If she couldn't then she should stay silent because then Arnav would handle it.

"Do you have any questions?" Arnav asked her sitting on his leather chair behind his desk while Khushi and Vihan were sitting across him.

"No." She said keeping her gaze fixed on the paper.

"Okay then Vihan. See you at the press conference in a few hours."

"Sure ASR." He shook hands with him and left while Arnav shifted his attention to his fiancé whose hands were shaking holding the paper. With a sigh he came around the table and sitting on the chair besides her, dragged her chair closer until their knees were touching before tugging the paper out of her hold.

"Forget it. You will just stay mum while I will handle it. Okay?" He took her shaking hands in both of his. She slipped her hands out of his hold causing him to swallow.

"I gave my words and unlike you I don't back off from what I say." She grabbed the paper once again and tried to remember it by heart over her already stressed mind while he observed her while she did so.

"Done." She placed the paper in the file and placed it on his table on the right.

"Sit back down!" He ordered when she got up.

"You said you would relent and not fight anymore. Were you serious or just bluffing?"

"I told you I'll keep my words." Grounding her teeth she sat back holding her anger inside.

"Good for you. Because If you didn't then I'd have made you either way." He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"Every rule, every damn restrictions are for me only aren't they? And you.. you are excused from everything?" She exclaimed exasperated.

"Yeah." He twitched his mouth a bit. "Because I am Arnav Singh Raizada." There was so much proud in his every stance. He looked so .. so.. arrogant. Arrogant Rakshas!

"If you are done flaunting your attitude then can I get back to work?" She gritted.

"No!" Pat came the reply. He knew how much burden was there on her. Not of work but of the emotional stress and recent press fiasco. Not to mention his own behavior with her. Although he has made sure she has had her medicines but still, he didn't want to take any chances.

"Why not?" She huffed.

"Because I want to be sure you were saying the truth when you agreed to comply. Let's see how firm were you when you made that commitment."

Khushi felt a shiver running down her spine as she saw him extending his upturned palm towards her.

Did she has a choice other than to comply?

It's not that he gave her one!

She gulped before placing her hand on his only for him to grab it tightly once before tugging at it with full force causing her to jerk up and land on his lap. A squeal left her in surprise.

"What are you doing?" She was about to wriggle when she saw him raising his eyebrow in challenge. With tears brimming in her eyes she sat with all of her muscles tightening which even he felt.

"You need to relax." He said mellowing down a bit.

She pursed her lips to stop herself from shouting on his face.

"I can't." She cried out.

"You can. Lean over me and rest your head on my shoulder." He encouraged and when she gaped at him of what the hell was he up to he pressed her arm causing her to stiffen some more so he himself placed his hand at the back of her head and pulled her in his embrace. Once her head rested in the crook of his neck he lowered his hand to her arm and rubbed up and down soothingly. Soon she relaxed much to his relief.

"What are you doing to me?" She whispered as slowly she raised her hand and curled her fingers on his lapels lightly.

"I don't know." He whispered back as he kept running his fingers in her hairs, on her arm in order to keep her mind off the stress, to keep her nerves calm so that they don't fray or cause her a migraine thinking about the impending press conference.

"Where is my-" Payal barged in followed by Akash who seemed to be stopping Payal only for both of them to stand rooted to their spots seeing the couple in a compromising situation.

Akash's jaws hit the floor while Payal couldn't believe it because right in front of her was her younger sister sleeping sitting on Arnav Singh Raizada's lap. Upon that Payal didn't want to notice the obvious as well but dare she say she looked peaceful? When was the last time when they left Delhi has Payal seen her sister sleeping like a baby.. like this.. this peaceful?

Her eyes teared up while Arnav clenched his jaws.

"There is something 'knocking'. Have you both ever heard of that?" He scoffed and that's when he heard a soft snore and his eyes shot to the woman in his arms, on his lap.

She.. she.. slept on him. Again?

He kept staring at her face stumped.

Akash scratched the back of his head nudging Payal to leave them alone but she won't budge.

"Did she had another attack? Has she fainted?" Payal's exclaim made both the men alert while Arnav's eyes shot to Akash in blinding worry. He looked at her and shook her lightly.

"Khushi?"

"Hmm?" Came her drowsy reply making the trio to sigh in relief. She was just asleep not unconscious.

Khushi raised her head a bit with her eyes closed before placing it back on his shoulder finding a comfortable spot and clutched his collars as if to never let go making Payal's jaws drop.

"Did you drug her? Did you drug my sister?" Payal exclaimed. "Of course you did. Otherwise how could she sleep so peacefully in your arms?" Her concerns came out of her mouth.

"What rubbish?" Arnav gritted. "I didn't do anything. She just nodded off while I was trying to keep her from stressing out dammit."

Payal felt her eyes burning as a realization hit home that made her heart clench into fist.

"Payal I think we need to leave them alone." Akash said when he saw his fiancé on the verge of breaking down.

"Yeah. She is my fiancé now. I know how to take good care of her." Arnav said. "Go and prepare for the press conference. You both will have to be there too."

"Did she eat and had medicines?" Payal asked refusing to leave.

Akash released a sigh.

"She did. I made sure of it." Arnav answered confidently.

"Payal!" This time Akash asked sternly to which giving one last glance to her sister she walked before stopping at the door and turned to look at Arnav.

"Please don't hurt her again. Stop hurting her." She pleaded causing Arnav to avert his eyes.

With a whimper she left followed by Akash while Arnav turned his eyes back to the sleeping beauty in his arms.

"Did you drug her? Did you drug my sister? Of course you did. Otherwise how could she sleep so peacefully in your arms?"

With his heart in his mouth he realized Payal was absolutely right. She looked so peaceful while sleeping. In his arms.

Was Akash right the last time when he said.

"Did you lull her to sleep Bhai?"

Does his embrace actually lull her to sleep and calm her nerves?

Does she find comfort in his arms?

The other day when she had migraine attack before him she has also slept the same way and Payal said it was good she was asleep otherwise she would've been in pain.

Feeling a lump in his throat and moisture prickling his eyes he marveled at the knowledge.

How could she feel at peace in his embrace after everything he did to her?

Just.. how could she?

Neverthless he was relieved. Things were taking the course he has wanted them to.

But at what price?

A question rose at the back of his mind to which he had no answer.

Swallowing he got up with her in his arms. Walking to the couch he lowered her on to it before moving back only to stop with her hand still gripping tightly to his lapels. Blinking back the moisture he pried her fingers and placed her hand on her stomach before he turned. No sooner than he reached his desk he heard her mumble something which only got louder by passing second.

He whirled around and saw her shaking in her sleep before she shot up with a blood curling scream freezing his nerves.

Akash entered right after Payal in their cabin and saw how his fiancé was barely holding up the emotions inside. He couldn't take it so he broke the silence after a minute when he saw her pacing with her breathing turning shallow every passing moment.

"Why are you so worried Payal? You should be happy that now they are getting along well."

She whirled around to face him while Akash was taken aback to see the redness and anger in her eyes coupled with helplessness and a certain realization. Of what? He didn't know until she started speaking.

"Did you see there.. she-" She buried her fingers in her hairs messing them up pacing around the cabin restlessly.

"She used to be that peaceful whenever she was with Babu ji. Only with Babu ji." Payal cried out pointing her finger in the direction of ASR cabin before placing a palm on her mouth to stifle her cries.

Akash frowned.

What was wrong with Khushi being that peaceful with Bhai then?

It's a good thing, right if they were to marry?

"It was my father who used to make her come out of the stress no matter how heavy, how deep. It was him only who walked her out of that darkness which followed her parents death. It was our father. Her Babu ji." She choked.

"Payal. What the hell are you blabbering? I can't understand anything. Come clear." Akash exclaimed.

"He has taken over his place. Didn't you see that?" She shrieked out freezing Akash on his spot.

"He is slowly-" She gritted. "--Slowly cutting each and every single piece of her relationship with Babu ji and putting himself in that position of the person who is the most important in my sister's life. He is climbing step by step to be on the top of her priority list."

Akash rubbed his forehead in sheer dilemma of whether to console payal or be stunned of his Bhai's perfect planning which was going exactly as he planned if Payal was presuming right.

"I get it Akash. I get it he has been through a lot and it has made him rough. Ruthless. But then so did my sister. Her parents died when she was just 8. Nobody at her paternal home was ready to accept her. she stayed in swear pain with migraines in that house full of people yet no one cared. No one even bothered to take her to a doctor. It was their great mercy they let her eat their left overs. But still, still after bearing all that when she came to our house she didn't turn dark nor negative not even tough for that matter. She accepted love despite of all the abandonment she faced despite all the loss she suffered." She cried.

"Payal-" He stepped to her.

"NO." She yelled pointing a finger at him with her eyes red.

"Your brother has proven himself to be an excellent manipulator. He trapped my sister in such a web that she lost the love and respect of Babu ji. And he knew. He knew that it would make her cry, pine to get back her father's love but for how long? Hours or maybe days but then she would have to bend to the person, to her only support that would be left because It was either with Babu ji or me with whom she used to share everything. Everything. But now she can't. She can't say anything to anyone anymore as every single thing is now in your brother's hands. He has manipulated her in a way that she has no one to turn into but him. Only him. And haven't you seen? He is succeeding! HE IS SUCCEEDING!" She sobbed out before croaking out brokenly.

"My sister is just 19. Just a girl barely out of her teenage life. Naive. Innocent. There is so much she could resist. I applaud her effort for how she fought headstrong till now. He knew. He knew one day she would have to surrender. Now she is.. she will. Soon! She already is." Bursting into helpless sobs she turned away from him while Akash was too shaken to respond.

He thought he knew his brother. Looks like he doesn't. At all.

"Your brother is planning to pluck her out of every relation which is dear to her only to replace it with only one. Him. Just him!" Payal turned defeatedly to Akash who took two long strides to reach her and enveloped her into his arms.

"Please save my sister Akash. Save her from your brother. Please. Don't let him take her away from us. From her family." She pulled back to plead looking at him expectantly only for him to avert his eyes.

"If you want to save your sister from further hurt then let the things run their course and don't do anything. It would save her a lot of trouble. Like you said she is too naive, innocent and simple to win over Arnav Singh Raizada. And trust me she can't. Neither can you nor anyone else. Not even me!" He whispered cupping her cheeks wiping her tears.

Her face was a picture of misery as she listened his oh-so-great advice.

"What kind of comforting words are they? You want me to watch as your brother destroys my sister permanently? How thoughtful!" She hissed taking many steps away from him.

"Yes. If not all I know my brother a bit. That's why I am saying. The more you will try to keep Khushi ji away from him the more resilient would become his advances. End result would be him hurting your sister only. Now if you want that then do what you please to separate them. But if in that quest of yours ended up with her complete destruction then that would be on you more than anyone. More than him. Because I'd have warned you beforehand."

She whimpered with sheer gloom seeping in her eyes as he saw the flicker of understanding and relenting in them that made him let out a sigh.

He went over to her but she walked away straight to her desk leaving him standing with his one arm extended in mid air which he had raised to wipe her tears. He curled his hand into a fist before moving over to his desk without reacting much.

Not only her sister, Payal Gupta herself was one stubborn being!

If she continued the same way then he might as well had to take a leaf from his brother's diary and apply some on her as well to make her surrender like her sister has begun to do so!

He was before her in no time. Sitting on the space behind her on the sofa he reached for her shoulders and rubbed up and down her arms to calm her down.

Weren't migraines enough that now she was having...

"Was that a nightmare you just had? I just turned for a minute and you-"

"I am fine." Came her composed voice but her body was still shaking with tremors.

"What was it that you saw in the dream?"

"I said I am okay. Let it be." She gritted shrugging his arms before lowering her legs to the ground and sat leaving a space between them.

"Khushi!" He warned.

"What?" She turned her head to him sharply with her eyes blazing fire.

"What were the nightmare about?" He chewed on each word. His eyes reminding her of her concedence to him not so long ago.

Closing her eyes in exasperation she took a deep breath before slowing opening them to look in his questioning eyes.

"It was of someone pushing me off a cliff." She swallowed.

He went rigid. The 'cliff' significance wasn't lost on him.

"Who?" He asked silently. "Who pushed you off?"

"I-I couldn't see." She whispered while he saw her hands trembling.

She was sleeping fine when she was in his arms. Then what went wrong?

His eyes widened.

"I know. I know you'd leave me and my baby once you'd get bored of me." She cried out.

He put her down. He moved away. That's what the nightmare must have been about.

She couldn't see the face of the person because she wasn't ready to accept that she was scared.

Of him leaving her. Shunning her. Abandoning her.

That means.. that means last night when he left the room after she slept same must have happened in his wake.

"You didn't sleep last night. At all." He said as a matter of factly.

She didn't answer. Not that he needed one.

He turned his head to look at the side of her face while she kept herself rigid looking ahead at nothing in particular.

"Ever since I came back in your life did I made you feel even for a second that I would leave you? Ever?" He asked softly.

She turned her head now that her hairs were hindering his view of her.

He slipped his hand at the back of her neck and turned her head to face him cupping her nape firmly.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She whispered.

"Fine. The lawyer or the marriage certificate won't go wasted today because the minute the press conference finished we would be signing on marriage documents and I'd be taking you to RM with me!"

Her eyes misted up causing his own to prickle.

"I don't want to go with you." She said teary eyed knowing that he could do what he said. Her face morphing into an expression of misery.

He tugged her more closer so that the tip of their noses were touching.

"Well, honey, I wan't asking." He murmured against her lips.

Khushi felt all of the fight leaving her at what he said next.

"The only thing that seems to be comforting you now-a-days is only my embrace. I know it's shocking but that's the truth. At least it looks from where I see it. Your sister said you weren't sleeping at nights ever since.. your father isn't talking to you but still how peacefully did you sleep in my arms last night even if it was for a few minutes and same happened right now. The minute you sense me missing you have nightmares."

"You are just giving yourself too much importance." She scoffed.

"I don't know whether my theory is true or not but I'd like to go with it. I don't want to take any chances or risks with you! So-" He tucked the hairs behind her ear with his free hand.

"--So with or without the announcement of our engagement we are marrying anyway. Today!" He whispered and literally felt her going all stiff in front of him. She kept staring at him stumped to silence before she found her voice which wasn't much more than a whisper couple with choking emotions.

"You can't do this to me. You- you are backing off from your words again!"

"Do I look like I care?" He left her and standing up growled causing her to jerk on her seat scared.

Hearing her whimper he pinched the bridge of the nose. He strode to the glass wall seeing through the employees downstairs who were now filling up and starting the day's work. In all the cities of India wherever he has AR branches, all of his cabins were made of glass windows and Lucknow wasn't an exception either except that this cabin was triple the size he had back in Delhi and also it was at the 13th floor means no one could even get the whiff of what was happening inside neither could anyone dare to eavasdrop.

He closed his eyes stuffing his clenched hands in his pockets as he heard her sniffles indicating she was crying on her fate. She doesn't know but he has taken care of Tanya. She would never be able to trouble her ever. But she need not know that otherwise it would scare the hell out of her. Already he has scared her enough last night by baring open his soul. Telling her his deep and darkest secrets. That much was enough for now for her to know and him to open up. Like he said, she needn't know more!

"If you don't want me to take you back to penthouse and cuddle you to calm you then you'd stop crying right away!" He gritted without turning to her and it worked much to his relief otherwise he was beginning to melt inwardly which he couldn't afford right now.

What was it he was so afraid of that he was rushing things even though marriage was just four days away?

Was it only her need to be close to him for whom he was doing it or there was something else?

He didn't know. He couldn't pinpoint. All he knew that it seemed the right thing to do. At least, it was right for him!

His heart clenched in his chest when he turned to look at her and found her muffling her cries with her hands on her mouth. Cursing under his breath he strode back to her but even before he reached her she removed her palms from her mouth and straightened up breathing heavily trying and failing miserably to compose herself.

Sitting besides her he snaked one of his arm around her waist and pulled her in causing her head to fall on his shoulder. All this while Khushi had her breaths as well as her tears stuck in some region of her throat.

"Now, cry!" He ordered. "Only on one condition that the minute you'd pull away you'd be done with all the lamenting! Am I clear?" He looked down at her. She gulped but nodded. She relented as she said she would.

"Good!" He said though but the next many minutes were sheer torture for him as the floodgates opened and she weeped with her hands clutching to his arm, her nails digging into his skin. He pried one of her hand from his arm and held it against his chest before making soothing circles at the back of her hand until he heard her sobs turning into muffled whimpers.

"Done?" He asked without looking at her. He wasn't ready to see her that distraught all over again even though it has become a part of her ever since he snatched her father's respect and love from her.

"D-Done." She choked pulling back. She tugged at her hand grabbed by him on his chest but he won't let it slip away. She raised her head and found him too close to her.

"Will you ever love me?" He asked with his jaws clenched and eyes shining with red hue.

"Will you not marry me?" Pat came the reply.

He wasn't a fool not to get the hint. Both the questions had the similar answer which they both knew what that was.

"Our families don't have to know because we would complete the traditional customs as well this Sunday on our wedding day." He changed the topic right away not wanting to go in the dangerous territory where if he didn't get the desired answer he could use his dark ways to get what he want which.. which he could never imagine doing that to her. Never.

"When we are marrying on our due date anyways then why the rush?" She exclaimed hoarsely.

"I told you why!" He retorted.

"I'll still be living with my parents if we are to hide it. Then why? What's the need?"

He felt anger bubbling up in him due to her counter talks against their marriage.

"What happened to your 'relenting' speech now huh? Stop negating me fiancé!" He gritted.

That shut her up but a fire, an unrelenting resilience seeped into her. She knew she can't escape this thing now that he has made up his mind but that doesn't mean she would not make him pay. For his arrogance. For his superiority. For his heartlessness.

Let this press conference end then she will play her last card to get rid of him. Relenting or no relenting she wasn't marrying him. Period!

But until then she would've to do something to escape this hasty marriage he was so hell bent on pursuing.

Until then she would've to slay her self-respect and do as he says!

"Is she ready?" Arnav asked the minute he stepped his foot in his penthouse where he has sent Khushi with AR beautician to get her ready for the press conference along with Payal.

"Yes, ASR. They both are." She informed. Akash entered in through the doors the next moment and a silent communication went between the two brothers to which Akash asked Sandy, the beautician.

"Are they both in the same room?"

"Yes." She said before smiling. "They are very nervous and insisted on staying together."

With a nod to his brother, Akash disappeared into the corridor while Arnav dropped himself on the couch with his one leg perched over the other before taking out his cell.

Sandy sat on the single couch.

"I saw the ring on her finger. You really are engaged to her aren't you?" She waited for the reply which never came as he continued to punch buttons on his cellphone. She sighed to which he placed the cell in his breast pocket and turned to her.

"Look Sandy I am in no mood to talk about it when already too much is going on. Too much is at stake not only in my professional and personal life as well. And who knows where have you placed your mini cameras or mike right now?" He raised his eyebrow causing her eyelashes to fall on her cheeks in embarrassment.

"It happened just one time and that was long time ago. When will you stop taunting me about it? I thought you have forgiven me that's why you asked for my help today!" She exclaimed with tears shining in her eyes.

"I don't forgive cheaters. I trusted you and you lied to me!" He gritted.

"I told you why I did what I did and you said you understand." She cried.

"I said I understand doesn't mean I forgave you for it. As far as calling you today is concerned. This is me 'understanding' you Sandya! You aren't going to blow this up on my face now Sandya are you?"

Sandya was about to retort when Akash and Payal entered in the living room followed by Khushi seeing whom Arnav went stock still on his place.

The expression of wonder and bewilderment was written on his face which everyone present there noticed before his eyes darkened with passion causing Khushi to squirm on her place.

Once Akash and Payal moved to the exit door with Payal tightly holding on to her sister's hand Arnav stood up and was before them in seconds.

"Where do you think you are going?" He caught her wrist prying her hand from Payal who looked anxiously at her sister.

"I-I am ready and I-I-am going with jiji back to-." She trailed off with her mouth turning dry as she has seen the look on his face when he saw her whole new avatar. She has seen herself in the mirror and for a moment she couldn't recognize herself minus the braid and pompoms.

"No. You are definitely not going with your jiji!" He said arrogantly causing Payal to look at Akash knowingly with hurt written all over her face indicating that now it was her, Khushi's sister whom ASR wants to pluck out of her life. Akash averted his eyes hurting her for not trying to prevent her sister from his brother.

"Why not?" Khushi tried.

"Because you are going with me!" He said more like ordered.

Khushi was in full mood to counter but one look at his face and she shut up.

Payal could only stare at the exchange between Arnav and Khushi that how he made her obey with just one look.

"Jiji you go with Akash ji. I'll meet you downstairs."

"But Khushi, how can you-"

"Jiji!" Khushi grabbed her shoulders and gave her an assuring nod. "I'll be okay. Don't worry. Please."

Swallowing her tears Payal nodded and left with Akash.

"I am impressed honey. That was one big progress with you volunteering to stay alone with me. Umm.. almost alone." He said smirking before turning to Sandya who was watching everything silently.

"You are such a bastard!" Sandya said fiercely.

Khushi's eyes widened as she was seeing someone for the very first time especially a woman who wasn't scared to curse him.

Now who was she? Khushi frowned. Someone from his past.. again? Her heart clenched painfully at her own speculation.

To her surprise Arnav smirked.

"And I am proud of it." He smiled smugly.

"Prick!" She said accusingly.

Arnav chuckled.

"To what do I owe these compliments Sandy?" He raised his eyebrow with his grip tightening around Khushi's wrist which didn't go unnoticed by Sandya.

"Why don't you leave the poor girl alone? Look how much anxious she is looking." Sandya said suggestively and Arnav's playfulness vanished as he turned his head to glance at Khushi only to realize that Sandy was right. She did look hell a lot nervous and anxious.

"Firstly you're going to announce her as your fiancé in front of the press-"

"Wait. Wait. Wait." Arnav turned his head back to her with a frown. "How do you know what or what not am I going to announce?"

"Doesn't matter." She shrugged. "I know you enough to know that you won't just give your mother's ring to anyone!"

Khushi gasped whilst her eyes shot to the ring on her finger while Arnav closed his eyes in exasperation.

"Get out!" He growled the minute he opened his red eyes.

"Secondly, it's her first time in her life to be facing so many reporters and their twisted questions."

She continued as if he didn't say anything.

"Thirdly, the fact that it was her who ruined your fashion show once is only going to make it difficult for you to handle this press conference. Mind you ASR, this is going to be a very tough battle and very crucial two hours of your.. both of your lives." She said eyeing Khushi whose face waned.

"Get. Out." Arnav gritted.

"Do you even know what the media is calling her? Trust me news channels are going way too soft on her. The real politics is going behind the curtain. Your rivals are way too happy with this scandal which is going number 1 on trending on social media for the last 36 hours!"

He felt Khushi's hand trembling in his grip. Yanking her to his side he placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards his chest so that her face was now hidden in his frame seeing which Sandya smiled.

"I knew it she is special for you the minute I saw your mother's ring on her finger. You'll have to change your ways ASR in order to keep this special, innocent girl in your life otherwise you'll lose her even before she became yours!"

"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP. AND. GET. OUT!" He yelled. Sandya shook her head at him before collectings her things and leaving giving him one last knowing look.

Khushi's heart trembled in her chest as she heard the word 'special' and 'his mother's ring'. He said he 'likes' her. There wasn't anything in his speech about her being 'special' or 'worthy' of his mother's ring.

Feeling choked she clutched his blazer while inhaling a lungful of his cologne not knowing what to feel about him anymore.

Sandy wasn't wrong because the minute Arnav, Khushi, Payal and Akash settled behind the mikes on the stage the very first question was directed to Khushi.

"Mam, for how long has you been trying your ways with Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada? Two years, right?"

It took him all of his life experience to keep calm and a poker face while Khushi wasn't much experienced in that department to hide her emotions so the bewilderment and hurt showed on her face. Payal who was sitting besides her placed her hand on hers under the table while Akash perched his glasses up his nose as a deadly silence followed the question which preceded with hushed whispers.

Clenching his jaws, Arnav saw her condition before giving a piercing look to the reporter.

"It was I who has been trying my ways with her. For the last two years and I still am!" Arnav's voice boomed around the hall silencing every commotion and made Khushi look at him surprised.

"The very first day she fell in my arms was the moment I knew I wanted her in my life. She refused and it hurt my ego and the rest you all know. In order to teach her a lesson I released that video of her falling in my arms and ruining my fashion show. She wasn't at fault at all. It was just an accident. A very beautiful accident of my life which turned my life upside down. Obviously in a good way!"

Not only Khushi but Payal was shocked too at his acceptance of his mistakes before the whole media.

"Today, here, in front of you all I apologize to her and her family for acting irrationally for which they suffered the accusations of the society when they weren't wrong at all." He finished and leaned back on the chair satisfied while Vihan who was standing on his right whispered just for his ears.

"What was the need to accept all of that in front of the press? They would now all think of you as a liar. It would cause bad publicity that you spread false news in order to feed your ego!"

Arnav pretended he didn't hear him while he glanced at his left where Khushi was sitting stumped at her place. Coupled with a few alterations he has told the truth. He owed that to her. This and much more!

He squeezed her hand to which her head shot up to him. He eyed her with so much compassion that her heart fluttered and eyes prickled. What was him? Who was him? What does he want? How he took all the blame on him. Why couldn't he do the same in front of her father and bring her out of misery of the acutest kind? These little salvation weren't any important for her anymore. She already told him that what other people think of her, she didn't care!

She slipped her hand out of his hold and looked at the rows and rows of reporters sitting in the hall. Every second a flash would fall on them causing her eyes to blink and black out for a second.

Commotion silenced after the reporters recorded and noted down his acceptance word by word.

"How many more news that AR spread in the media which could be termed under your 'false' category, ASR?"

"It takes great courage to accept your mistakes. I made a mistake, one mistake and I accepted it. Now if you want to hold it against me then it's your choice. Go ahead. Call me a liar!" He stated calmly shutting down the reporter.

"We appreciate your honesty ASR. It was what gave you the position of the India's most successful businessman. You were always upright but what we want to know that why did you make your personal matters public? As far as we know you are a very private person and we hardly know anything about your personal life until you yourself announce it. Why then?"

"Because I give a damn to what others think of me but-" He stole a glance at Khushi who was looking down at her lap. "Now, that's not the case anymore." He said silently causing the atmosphere around him and Khushi to charge with something akin to passion surrounding everyone around its aura when Khushi's eyes met his.

"Still, I don't want anyone's approval but hers!"

Khushi's eyes dilated in surprise. That created the hype around the media as they captured the moment between the couple. Akash and Vihan cleared their throats causing Arnav to break their intense eyelock.

"Is it true she worked in AR, Delhi as your ex-girlfriend Lavanya Kashyap's secretary?" Came the next question.

"Yes!" Arnav asnwered simply while Khushi didn't feel any good about it.

"Later she worked at your home to train your girlfriend Lavanya to be a better daughter-in-law for your grandmother who wasn't in favor of your and Lavanya Mam's relationship. And for that your sister offered her a huge sum of money which Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta accepted." A reporter asked causing the breath to whoosh out of Khushi's lung. How does they know such private information?

"This press conference is about my present life not past!" Arnav said sternly.

"Isn't your present linked to your past? There were speculations that you left Tanya Mehra for Lavanya Kashyap and then you left Lavanya Mam for Khushi Kumari Gupta. They are true or not?" A very astute reporter asked who was known for his cutting questions to get the truth out of the celebrities.

"Tanya was never my girlfriend. She just accompanied me to a few parties as my friend. So leaving her for Lavanya is out of the question. However as far as breaking up with Lavanya is concerned then we broke up mutually. We weren't meant to be. That's all there is to it." He finished shutting that reporter's mouth as well.

"You said you're after Khushi Mam for the last two years. That means you had feelings for her even when you're with Lavanya Kashyap, right?"

"Yes!" He stated right away.

"Did Lavanya Kashyap know?"

"I don't know."

"Did she break up with you because you were cheating on her? That proves Ms. Gupta your mistress!"

Arnav didn't see it coming and it left him speechless for many moments which broke Khushi sitting besides him. Payal was about to place her hand on Khushi's but just then Khushi turned her head to bury it in Arnav's arm squeezing Payal's heart in pain. Her sister was already drifting apart from her too after Babuji. She was finding comfort with the man who was slowly, slowly destroying her.

Clutching his arm tight Khushi cried jolting Arnav back to present.

"Was she your mistress for the last two years, ASR?" The question was repeated and Arnav saw red. He stood up abruptly causing his chair to topple over before he swiped a hand across the table making the mikes to land on the floor with a blast to which everyone stared dumbfounded at his rage.

"SHE IS MY FIANCÉ. WE ARE MARRYING THIS WEEKEND. DID YOU GET IT NOW DAMMIT? SHE IS NOT SOMEONE ORDINARY. SHE IS MINE. MINE! AND DARE YOU CALL HER ANYTHING BUT ASR'S FIANCE. MY TO-BE-WIFE!" He bellowed thumping his hands on the table leaning forward spitting fire at the reporter who has asked such a heinous question. His eyes has turned bloodshot and face red with restraint.

Catching the hand of the visibly shaken Khushi he pulled her up to his side and looking in her eyes at once placed his lips on hers causing everyone to gasp and the media personnel to go berserk.

Akash and Payal averted their eyes and so did Vihan while the reporters were going gaga over the announcement and public display of affection by the ever so stone-hearted ASR.

When he pulled back Khushi gulped looking at him accusatory.

"Babu ji must be watching. How could you-" She whisper yelled with her eyes shining with tears and lips tingling.

"So that means I am allowed to kiss you when no one is watching." He whispered nudging his nose with hers tightening his arm around her waist while his one hand was on her cheek caressing her soft skin.

She glared swallowing past a lump feeling knots forming in her stomach.

Oblivious to the surrounding where reporters were now standing off their chairs and hurling questions after questions about the most awaited wedding of India's most eligible bachelor, Arnav and Khushi stood looking at each other in each other arms while Akash and Vihan shared a look before Vihan stood and whispered in Arnav's ear to stay put. This much display of affection was enough to turn the situation in their favor to shut every reporter's mouth and now no one would talk bad about Khushi either after Arnav himself cleared everything and warned them not-so-subtly.

Reluctantly he let go of Khushi and pulled her to sit along with him before the questioning resumed once the guards forced the media to settle back on their seats.

"For how long have you been engaged?"

"Where is the wedding?"

"How many celebrities would attend it?"

"Will it get media coverage?"

"Or will it be just private function?"

"Will it be the destination wedding?"

Questions after questions were hurled. Vihan took over and answered everything calmly.

"You have still not introduced us with the young lady sitting besides your fiance, ASR? Who is she?" A reporter asked causing Payal to gulp scared. Akash patted her hand.

Arnav looked at Akash who nodded and it was him who answered.

"Well, I have been waiting for all of you to calm down to announce it myself. Now that everything is out in open I don't see any use in delaying my wedding announcement as well."

Commotion thickened. Akash smirked. Entwining his fingers with Payal he brought it to his lips and kissed her fingers causing Payal to turn red. Khushi smiled for the first time throughout the conference when she heard Akash say.

"Everyone meet Payal Gupta. My fiance and my to-be-wife!"

It was only for her sister's happiness she has traded herself with the monster and for all, it was worth it because her sister deserves all the happiness in the world. Her sacrifice won't go wasted. She don't know what she would do if it did go wasted. It would break her like never before. She won't recover for it ever.

Another set of questions followed which Akash handled very well while Arnav sat amused as still Khushi face was red as tomato. Blush would just not leave her face neither would she raise her head from her lap.

For god's sake he just gave her a peck- strike that- long peck and she was blushing like an idiot.

What would happen when he would do more than that?

He knew she was angry as hell with him too for all the PDA but she was keeping quiet because she gave her word she won't fight him. He was glad she wasn't even though he knew she just accepted him only because he didn't leave her any other choice.

One day she would fully relent by heart. He would make sure of it.

Step by step!

Just then he had no idea what storm was awaiting him which would destroy all of his well built plans!    

______________   

PRECAP:

It was the same like that day in the penthouse just that there Khushi was the one trying and failing miserably to explain herself while here it was him.

.

.

He may have won many battles before this but today she won the war and got even with him by all means!

She fulfilled her promise. She paid him back with interest.

______________

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