(Not proofread. Ignore the typos)

Wo jo dabi si aanch baki hai...

"Hello Chote, how are you and Akash?" She chirped picking up his call.

"Uh- Kuch baat bani?(Is there any progress?)" She asked cautiously when he didn't reply thinking that maybe the things didn't work out?

"Yeah. She agreed to get mar--engaged to me." He said silently.

"Really?" She was surprised and happy but she didn't miss the sadness in his voice.

"Hmm"

"Then why do you sound so dull Chote? Aren't you happy? This is what you wanted. When she is giving you the chance. Grab it and make sure you never make her regret it."

"You like winning, no? Guess what, I know the feeling of loss and trust me at the end of our relation I would make sure that you feel it too.You would regret the day you asked me to marry you when I will be done with you!"

He started scratching the table's surface with the sharp edge of the key.

"Chote?" She called when she didn't hear any reply.

"I did it Di.All over again." He mumbled sounding like a child who comes to his parents after messing things up.

Anjali sighed.

"What did you do?" She kept her calm.

"She refused me Di. She said NO many a times. What would I have done then?" He defended himself.

"Chote.." Her tone told him to come to the point.

"I might have blackmailed her to say yes to me." He mumbled, the scratching noise grew more in the room.

"Will you scratch that might from your sentence? You did blackmail her." She sounded angry.

"Are you going to scold me now?"

He heard her huff before she exhaled as if to control her temper.

"No.Because I know it will be useless because you will do whatever come to your mind anyways."

He closed his eyes.

"I told you Di. I am only going to hurt her." He leaned back on the headboard.His voice wasn't above a whisper.

"ME Di! I AM the problem!"

"She is a very innocent, bubbly, chirpy girl with never say die spirit and ME... i am a very cunning, arrogant and shrewd man with a zeal to burn everything that comes my way, that challenges me and SHE..."

"...She will challenge me in every path of my life with her contrasted opinion about life with me and I being the egoist person will do anything to contradict her, to prove her wrong"

"At the end, the result will be only this..HURT from ME to HER! I can't ruin her life by binding her to me"

"Yeah I do remember Chote. Can you rewind your words and recall where exactly you ended your logics?" She urged him.

"I am selfish but not that much that i destroy her life just to make mine! She deserves better who love her the way she loves life"

His eyes shot open.

"Fine. Give up. Let her parents find a suitable match for her whom she deserves and let them marry her off to--"

"NO WAY DI!" He growled.

She sighed.

"I won't say you did right to blackmail her.What's done can't be changed now that she is hurt already and you can't turn back the time to re-do everything the way she would've liked.So I'd advise you to be patient from now on while dealing with her."

He scoffed.

"Di, you are asking ME to be PATIENT?"

"Yeah, YOU Chote. Because it is just not about you and Khushi ji. Akash and Payal's future depends on you both. If not for yourself, can't you guys think about your respective siblings of how they are suffering in the tug of war between you two?"

"I know."

"Good that you do. Now make sure that your anger and impatience always take a back seat when you are in front of Khushi ji."

"Di, that woman is crazy. She won't let me be calm." He whined.

"She always does things which irk me." He complained.

For the first time during their converstaion Anjali's lips quirked up into a mischievous smile.

"Well then I would say that you have met your perfect match. Imagine Arnav Singh Raizada losing all of the control before a certain chit of a girl.Tell me how many times has she crushed your manly ASR's ego? Bohat hurt hua ho ga na?(It must have pricked you too much?)"

He could hear her stifling the laughter.

"Di.." He warned frowning.

She chuckled.

"Okay. Mat btao. Hum Khushi ji se poch lein gay jab woh hamari Bhabhi ban kar yahan ayen gi (Okay. Don't tell me. I will directly ask Khushi ji when she would come here as my sister-in-law)"

The creases on his forehead vanished and his lips quirked up into a smile.

The thought of her becoming his..ONLY HIS thrilled him to the core.

He couldn't wait to have her ALL for HIMSELF.

"Day dreaming huh?" Anjali's teasing voice broke his trance.

He smirked but didn't comment anything on that.

"Di, will you talk to Nani and convince everyone to ask for Khushi's hand in marriage for me?"Emotions gushed through him as he said that.

"Ahan. Sure I will.Anything else?"

"And make sure to ask for Akash and Payal's alliance as well."

"What if Payal ji refused?"

"She won't. The reason for which she was reluctant doesn't exist anymore. Now she won't have any other excuse to say NO."

"Hmm Okay."

"Let me know after you talk to them. I will book everyone's tickets to come over then."

"Sure Chote."

"Bye D--"

"One minute!" She exclaimed.

"Yes?" He frowned at her shriek.

"Don't do anything stupid again"

"Why don't anyone advise this to that Khushi Kumari Gupta?" He said pissed.

"Chote!" She reprimanded him.

"Okay fine. I will try." He gritted.

"One more question, what did you say to her that she agreed?"

"In return of her sister's happiness, I asked her for...myself."

Anjali gasped.

He hung up before she could react or admonish him more to drown him in guilt.

As if he wasn't in it already!

That was so low of him

He knew!

But she didn't leave him any other choice.

Did she?

Next day

Court room

Khushi and Payal were at the edge of their seats while Garima and Shashi were looking on dejectedly as the high profile lawyer of Vikrant Oberoi was easily twisting facts and was proving Shashi Gupta a liar and a cheater who made his sweet shop on someone else's land illegaly.

The defense lawyer which government provided to Guptas was barely able to uphold the terms in their favor and the court room turned silent as the prosecutor won yet another argument making Vikrant pass an evil smirk to Shashi who in response turned his head to the other side in disgust.

Sunil Roy turned to the judge with a victorious smile.

"You see your honor, facts are now out in open. I was saying it from the very begining. It is an open and shut case. My client has all the legal documents which proves clearly that the land on which Satwik Mishtan Bhindar was made belongs to none other than Vikrant Oberoi.Now I would request the court to give this property to its rightful owner and give the severe punishment to the cheaters. Th-"

"Oh sure, cheaters would definitely get their due punishment Mr.Roy!" An authoritative voice cut him making him turn only to find the ASR standing there with his company lawyer Ronit Raichand.

Khushi's eyes widened.

Payal nudged her before glaring at her.

"Did you call him?" She whispered to Khushi.

"No jiji. Why would I?" She whisper yelled.

"Oh because he is going to be your fiance soon!" She scoffed.

"Jiji. I know you are still angry at me but trust me I didn't say anything to him."

"It seems so he knows more than you do." Payal gritted as the sisters looked on at the sudden turn of events.

"Listen ASR, you stay out of this!" Vikrant whispered to him tilting his head when Arnav took the seat besides him giving a casual look to the shocked Guptas including her.

"Not me. You should. Be relieved that I didn't do anything yet when all I want right now is just to strangle your fucking neck!" Arnav gritted spitting fire at him.

"What's in it for you?" Vikrant snapped.

"I would love to answer that but right now shall we concentrate on the happenings inside the court.Trust me Vikrant. You are gonna love the show." He straightened on the seat and his eyes clashed with hers accidentally.

"You are a selfish, bloody bastard and an equally coward man and that is what my feelings are for you and they aren't going to change ever because you won't."

"I hate you!"

"You only know how to manipulate."

He glared at her before turning his head to the front. Every time he recalled her words he would drown in guilt and pain and that would later turn into frustration and that into anger.

More so Di informed him this morning that as expected Mami wasn't ready to even consider Payal as her daughter-in-law.

That means Payal and Akash's alliance can be called off and that means his chance with Khushi will blow off as well as she agreed only because of her sister. A loud yell broke his pondering.

"...YOU COULD'VE MADE IT UP MR.RAICHAND!" Roy, Vikrant's lawyer has resorted to yelling when Arnav's lawyer presented the CCTV phootage of Vikrant talking to a man named Nitin Sharma who was famous for making fake documents with so refinery that only topmost specialist could catch them.

It didn't stop on that only. They had Nitin Sharma with them as a witness who spilled the beans before the judge that Vikrant gave him money to make the legal papers of that sweet land and all of those documents are fake.

"I am surprised Mr.Roy that even being a lawyer you are saying this?Everyone saw the proofs including you, no?" Mr.Raichand shook his head hiding the smile.

Arnav smirked.

Shashi and Garima smiled through tears and seeing them Khushi's eyes teared up too and so did Payal's.

Khushi entwined her hands together and sent a thankful prayer to her favourite deity.

When she opened her eyes, they met his.

Thank ME not your so called devi maiyya!

He mouthed to her and all of the happiness washed away from her being.

"...The court is giving the legal custody of Satwik Mishtan Bhindaar to Sashi Gupta.Government should remove the seal from the shop now. As for Mr.Vikrant Oberoi is concerned, he has wasted court's time by filing a false case.He has tried to deceit the court and has also tried to change the facts and documents. Thereby, court is announcing an year imprisonment for him along with 10 lac fine.The court is now adjourned."

Gupta sisters hugged their parents with all of them having tears in their eyes as everyone left the court except for Arnav and his lawyer.

Shashi broke the group hug and walked to Arnav before folding his hand making him uncomfortable.

"Thank you so much beta. You came at the right time otherwise.."

"It-It's Okay." Arnav mumbled awkwardly.

Will Uncle take this thank you back if he told him that he didn't do it for him?

He had his own selfish, not-so small reasons!

"Khush raho bitwa (Bless you my child!)" Garima mumbled cupping the side of his cheek making him all the more cautious.

He wasn't used to such affection except from his Di or Nani.

He just nodded trying to lift up his lips into a smile and failed miserably.

"He didn't do it for us.Not for me, not for Amma, not for Babuji." Payal stated breaking Khushi's trance who was busy seeing the way Arnav wasn't comfortable with the affection her parents were showing on him.

"Then?" Her heart thudded.

"For you silly." Payal smiled.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Are you saying that you aren't angry on him anymore?"

"You told me that he told you that he likes you. What he did today is a living proof that he mean it."

Khushi's eyes teared up in frustration.

He has lured her jiji in his trap.

The Payal who wasn't even ready to accept the sight of the man with her sister was praising him now and was giving him the benefit of doubt!

Not only her sister but her parents were becoming too fond of him too.

She knew what he was up to.

But she won't let him succeed in it

Ever!

She didn't realize that her Amma, Babuji left the court room and so did Payal asking her to follow them which she couldn't due to her messed up thoughts which kept her in a daze.

Someone waved his hand in front of her face jerking her out of the musings.

She blinked her eyes only to see herself alone with him and that rose her temper.

"Why did you do all that?" She pounced on him.

He chuckled.

"You never fail to amaze me Khushi.Sometimes its productive to use a bit of brain you see.Don't you remember what I said to you at the hotel the very first time I proposed you and you...refused?"

"Leave this job and let me help you get a better one OR another better option MARRY ME! Give me the rights to handle your problems from now on.."

"I think now you do." He saw her eyes shining with remembrance.

"You agreed for THE BEST OPTION. So technically, I have the RIGHTS now."

"I didn't agree. You forced me to." She retorted.

"Same pinch. Because at the end you agreed and now I own you!"

"I am not a property that you can buy or own!" She growled.

"I don't need any favors from you." She added with vengeance.

"Easy there honey. Your anger isn't gonna help you."

"I. AM. NOT. YOUR. HONEY!"

"Oh you are for the last 24 hours 30 minutes and..." He looked at his watch."..45 seconds. 46 now.Oh 47...48...49...50..5"

"SHUT UP! You tell me how much that lawyer of yours costed you for this hearing. I would pay you back each and every penny!"

All of his playfulness vanished in response.

He clenched his jaws furious at her.

"YOU WANT TO PAY ME BACK? WELL BOTTOM LINE YOU CAN'T AND I WON'T LET YOU DO IT EITHER!" He bellowed on her face jolting her from head to toe but she stood her ground.

"You-"

"ASR?" Ronit's voice from behind made him swallow down his words and anger while Khushi gulped.

"Yes Ronit?" Arnav asked not tearing his gaze from Khushi.

"I just came to say bye." His eyes darted from Khushi to Arnav cautiously as he has heard ASR's shout while entering.

"Sure. Before that tell this idiotic woman how much I paid you for this case!" He ordered running his fingers in his hairs.

"Are you sure ASR?"

"Of course. Tell her." He demanded in rage.

Khushi looked at Ronit expectantly hoping it was within her reach to pay him back.

Otherwise she would always feel indebted to ASR and that...that wasn't pretty feeling for a strong willed girl like her.

But as Ronit opened his mouth and said the exact amount , blood ran cold in her veins.

"1 crore and as I have won the case I would be getting additional one million rupees allowance as per AR's rules." Ronit stated making Khushi's breath stuck up in her throat.

"O-o-one...C-C-Crore.." She stuttered. "O-O-o-ne M-M-m-ill-ion.."

Her eyes were almost on the verge of popping out.

"You may go now Ronit." Arnav dismissed him.

He grabbed her elbow and pulled her closer harshly.

"Did you hear that? Still wanna repay it?"

"Ye-"

"Don't you dare say yes. Don't you dare!" He gritted.

"Because even if you worked your ass off for days and nights your ENTIRE life, you would never be able to return it to me.Ever!" He closed his eyes as soon as the rude words left his mouth.

Regret filled him as the trail of tears rolled down her cheeks.

He was supposed to stay calm as Di has advised

But what do he do when she pushed him by saying that she would give him back, repay back whatever he did for HER only?!

He has a sharp tongue and he makes full use of it if he gets angry or frustrated

This woman should've known it by now not to push his wrong buttons!

She pushed him and took several steps back.

"I understand it now. I do." She cried out.

"All this drama was to gain my family's trust and make me feel indebted to you because you know how much my family means to me. How much my self-respect means to me.You want to involve my family that much that I would not be able to break the engagement if it ever happened."

"You are growing brains Khushi. Congratulations!" He scoffed.

"It would have been too good if you had grown a spine too, no?" She countered back bursting his nerves some more.

"I am spineless. Oh yeah right!"

He reached her in long strides and yanked her in his arms and held her restraint.

"Let me give you proves then how much of a jerk I can be." He locked her hands at her back with one hand and cupped her nape with the other before caressing the side of her face while she wriggled.

"Listen to me very  carefully Khushi Kumari Gupta.." He breathed on her face stilling her.

"Now even if you didn't repay 1 crore plus one million rupees. I would still get all of that money back with INTEREST!"

Her eyes widened seeing him eyeing her lips.

__________________________

Who pissed you off more in this part?

Khushi or Arnav?