RECAP:

"The best way to deal with the past is to face it heads-on. That's what we are going to do. Today. Whether you like it ... or not." He told his verdict while her eyes burned with unshed tears.

.

.

"Keep one thing in your mind, Arnav ji." She said defiantly wiping her eyes. "You can deal with past the way you want to but it isn't going to change anything because I won't be surrendering to your whim this time. Never again. And you .. you have to, have to respect my decision."

.

.

"What did you say yesterday huh? That when you'd leave you'd tell your parents that we weren't compatible and that's why we broke up? Well, good luck with that. Today how they saw us together and happy and in love they'd call you crazy if you said that right the other day." His eyes took a calculative look.

"I am sure Buaji would call you Sanka devi for spewing nonsense. She would say you're at one of your another illogical tantrums and fought with me and you would be back to me sooner or later. You were asking me why I took you to Laxmi Nagar, right? That was the reason! I had to gain time and I would even if you left. Your own family would send you back to me in a few days only!"

.

.

"I can't stay with you anymore even if my family sent me back and you now that. Contract marriage ends today!" She exclaimed.

.

.

"You want to go to your parents. Fine. You can. Right now you are too overwhelmed with all that's happened between us. And it has clouded your judgment. So go, stay with them. For one month, two months, or an year to calm your anger down. Take as much time as you want and return when you are ready to start anew. Until then I'd wait. I can."

.

.

.

"If you want to get away this is your only chance and option. Otherwise i'd not let you out of my sight for even a second no matter how much torturous it turns out for you you'd have to stay with me. Make a choice now!" He finished and turned his head to the window holding back his aggravating emotions while Khushi couldn't help but think,

How could he still be so ruthless?

.

.

.

"Contract is over but our marriage isn't unless we divorce." He snapped back finally looking back in her eyes.

"Then divorce me!" She spat.

"I won't. You want a break, take it. After that, we will sort out our differences when you have calmed down a bit." He burst out now having moved closer to her till their noses were touching.

"I don't want to sort anything with you!" She shouted spitting fire at him.

"Too bad. I do." He mocked glaring at her.

"Mr. Raizada!" She gritted exasperated.

"I am listening, Mrs. Raizada! Let's do everything properly this time. I will court you until you find it in yourself to accept me back as your husband. End of discussion!"

________________________________

PART 5

(Not Proofread)

Are you seriously kidding me?

She wanted to ask but held back with great difficulty. She has seen the look of determination and stubbornness in his stance, on his face and the Arnav Singh Raizada she knew would and could do or go to any length to achieve what he wants.

But he forgot something here that she is Khushi Kumari Gupta as well. She wasn't the one to surrender that easily either. She would fight and would get her freedom as well. Freedom from this suffocating, unnamed relation.

Although she knows that she won't be able to find peace at all even after that. Living without him would be hell. Pure torture. But she has to do it. She has to be strong for she has to, has to save her self respect to at least be able to look at herself in the mirror.

If only he would understand her too!

"You didn't answer me." He asked cautiously as she remained silent throughout the rest of the drive after his proposal.

"Would you give me the honor to be your man?" He choose his words very thoughtfully as to not give her a reason to refuse.

She turned her head to look at him incredulously.

"No!"

She said bluntly before looking away crushing all his hopes just like he did several times with her. Now he knows clearly how she felt when he rejected all of her attempts to make their relationship work. It must have been unbearable, cutting, too painful as if.. as if something is slashing your insides.

He was too hurt and shocked that he couldn't even respond for good five minutes. He kept staring at her while Khushi dared not turn her face to him lest she melt looking at him shattered. She has had shown enough weakness to this man. Not anymore. Now it was time to get back everything he snatched from her.

"Are you sure?"

Just three words said with pure coldness sent shivers down her spine and she couldn't help but look at him. When she did she couldn't breathe. The man who locked her up in the room in Sheesh Mahal, who threw her down his cabin, who insulted her time and time again, that man .. was back. With all of his ruthlessness. It showed on his face. Clearly.

"I-"

He cut her.

"Never mind." He said briskly before getting out of the car.

She followed suit feeling scared inside. Whatever he was planning she knew would distance herself more from him. But the man himself didn't care because all he wanted was for her to stay even if it killed her.

Thankfully they didn't encounter any family member in the living room otherwise their devastation and pain was written all over their faces showing that nothing was right between them even if they were pretending.

They entered in the room together. Without looking back she walked and stopped at the centre of the room before turning when she heard a click of the door. Frowning she looked at him.

"We are back to the time in Sheesh Mahal aren't we?" She scoffed. "You are going to lock me in the room, threaten me to agree to whatever you are asking for. Isn't it?"

"You know me so well." He smirked darkly.

Unknotting his tie he threw it at the recliner before coming to stand nose to nose to her. Cupping her nape he tilted her face up to his causing her to gasp.

"What,"

"Shh!" He said huskily making her breath hitch. She averted her eyes wriggling in his arms.

"Look at me!" He ordered in such a way that she found herself obeying him. Raising her lashes she looked at him with her eyes filling up.

"I have given you options to choose. Either go live with your parents temporarily before you find it in yourself to accept me or let me court you to make it all up to you. See, none of those options include me giving up on you. So it'd be good for you if that gets into your head very, very clearly. So choose wisely Khushi because you just have one night to decide. Tomorrow you'd be either choosing one of my given options or I'd make you!"

Saying that he buried his head for once in her hairs and inhaling a lungful of her flowery, intoxicating scent before dropping a kiss on temple he moved back and headed to the bathroom after taking the change leaving a deadly silence and a stunned Khushi behind.

*

In the morning as he opened his eyes he saw her tiptoeing around the room from the half ajar cupboard to the bag she has opened on the recliner. She hasn't bothered turning on the lights lest he wake up. There was only shadowy light of the sun coming inside the room through the curtains drawn on the glass doors.

He gritted his teeth as he realized what she was up to. His last night warning fell into deaf ears. She wasn't going to relent easily and he sure as hell know how to make her.

She was in the middle of zipping the bag when the room lit up with bright light. She shut her eyes tight. Damn her. Stupid her. She should have left without the luggage but some things were too precious to be left behind. She was already leaving behind one of her most precious belonging. She didn't want to leave more.

Hence she thought to get the stars, windchimes, Salman Khan's poster, her wedding night dress and so on and so forth things which had one or the other memories with him. Now, she realized she would have to pay for being a fool in her emotions by the hands of her tormentor itself.

"Good morning, Khushi." His sarcastic tone made her turn around as she swallowed hard.

"Good morning, Arnav ji." She gave him a tight smile rubbing her hands on her kurti.

"Where is vermilion and the red thread I made you wear yesterday?" He asked with an authoritative tone.

"Which thread?" She had the audacity to ask.

"Let me remind you," He growled all of a sudden approaching her dangerously when she exclaimed,

"Here it is!" Placing her veil on one shoulder exposing her neck she brought it to front holding it in between her fingers. He calmed down a bit seeing it while Khushi exhaled remembering his own words when he tied the same thread around her neck yesterday in the temple and she tried to break it off,

"Don't you dare!"

"Don't ever take that off." He emphasized on each word.

"If I did then what?" She cried out more hurt than ever.

"I would tell everyone about our contract marriage."

"You were going to hide it as to not hurt them right? But guess what Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada I least care about others feelings so don't expect me to lie like you would. I am so done with all the lying and hiding games." He meant it. She could see it in his eyes.

She gritted her teeth when she saw him looking satisfied at her with a smirk before he frowned again.

"What about the sindoor?" His inquiry began again.

She huffed.

"I am wearing this thread not as a symbol of our wedding which already ended yesterday. Instead I'd take this only as a 'gift' from you. It.. this.. It's color.. will always remind me how you made me cry blood tears due to your trusting issues."

"Khushi!" His voice held a warning.

"I am not wearing any vermilion because I am not married to you anymore." She stated as a matter of fact bringing out the rage in him.

"Khushi, you are going nowhere unless you promise you'd come back to me!" He towered over her.

"I am not coming back. And this is my promise to you!" She snapped.

"Fine. FINE." He nodded his head angrily. "You made me do this." He pointed to her accusingly.

The glint in his eyes suddenly scared her. Her confidence in standing up for herself wavered a bit when he walked to the cupboard, took out a file and shoved it under her nose.

"Read it and you will know." He said before she could even ask what was in it that made him so confident?

All of a sudden she felt herself trembling from inside. Her hand shook too as she took the file in her hands and opened it to read the first page. She gasped as she read the very first word. She has seen it before as well. It was the worst nightmare of her life. And it was back with its teeth wide open to chew her heart and skin her alive.

He swallowed clenching his jaws as her face started losing colors as she turned page after page and by the time she was done her cheeks were wet with tears and the file slipped from her hands landing on the floor without a noise.

She looked up at him dumbstruck while he kept himself restraint whilst it broke him as much as it tore her apart.

It was during the time when he has shouted out the truth about their marriage on that terrace in Laxmi Nagar where she tried to commit suicide in order to free him of this sham marriage so that he could be with Lavanya whom she thought he loved.

In those moments he has made these papers.

The extension of their contract for six months more.

Making her sign it wasn't easy. For that he made another twisted plan though it costed him some shares of AR which were on his name. Out of 51 he transferred his fifteen percent AR shares on KKGSR name without her having any idea and went to Anjali.

Told her that he wanted to gift it to Khushi on their sixth month wedding anniversary but Khushi signs are required in the documents. For that she would have to help to make Khushi sign without reading the papers. Anjali was more than happy to help him for his apparent love.

He had hid the contract marriage papers in the middle of the deal and Anjali has got them signed much to his glee.

At that time he has made her sign it in order to keep her with him and torture her emotionally so she never finds happiness. Because in his eyes she was the culprit who betrayed not only him but also his sister and was ethically very wrong woman.

His plan was to keep extending it after this span completes as well. Then again. And again and again. And so on and so forth. To conclude, he never had it in his plan to let her go even when he hated her to bits.

But now, those same papers which he got signed with deceit would bind her to him for further six months but this time for all the different reasons. For his love. For their love.

He didn't bring it up the last two days of their first contract because he didn't want it to reach to this point where he have to blackmail her with legal matters. He wanted to solve the heart matters by showing his love to her. But apparently it didn't work so he was holding onto the last straw. Another contract marriage of six months.

He knew it will make her loathe him more. However, he couldn't do anything about it as she already hated him enough. It isn't going to change anytime soon so why not go for it once and for all? At least he would get to have her besides him for more time. And it would help him earn her forgiveness in the meantime.

*

"Why? Why? Why?" She shook him grabbing him through his lapels.

"Now we have-" He started holding her arms against his chest whilst she blinked back the angry tears. "-six months more to stay together. We would divide it among us equally.  3 months however you want and 3 months however I want. So tell me do you want this coming 3 months to make me agree to your demands or the other three months? Decide."

"I want a divorce. An annulment of this contract." She growled twisting her arms in his grip.

"Anything except that." He growled back pulling her closer. "You want to go to your parents? Go and do whatever you want for the three months but mind it after that you'd do everything I'd say for the remaining three months. Got it?"

"Nah." She shoved him away. "Never." She bent to pick up the scattered papers fallen from the file. Guessing her intention he snatched them from her before she could tear them into pieces. For heaven's sake they were originals.

"Not so fast, Mrs. Raizada." He smirked holding the papers at his back folding one of his arms.

She spitted fire at him. Precursors of tears formed in her eyes despite her trying to keep herself composed.

Seeing which Arnav cursed himself inwardly a thousand times for being the reason of her sadness again. But he couldn't apologize openly. He won't. Not again. He tried. He failed. Now if he showed weakness he would surely lose her. Only ASR can win Khushi Singh Raizada back not her Arnav. He has learnt it the hard way.

So when tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked seeing his hardhearted demeanor he averted his eyes and resisted with all of his might not to embrace her. Console her. Tell her that he loves her so damn crazily that it hurts him as much.

But.. but letting her go was not an option. It never was. Even when he hated her he choose an option deliberately which would bind her to him. The forced contract marriage was a proof of that. And now when all the misunderstanding was cleared he would be a fool if he give up on her due to his guilt.

Remorse won't help him. Won't soothe Khushi's wounds neither would him begging for a second chance do them any good.

He would spend his life making it up to her. He would earn her forgiveness but.. but being WITH her not without. Never, without. And for that if he has to force her, blackmail her, tear her apart along with himself then he would. They would be in pain but they would be together. Together they could fight anything. All of their demons. Whether in the outside world or inside them.

"Where do you think you are going?" He pulled her to himself holding her wrist when she made a dash to the door. She sniffled looking up at him.

"I am so disappointed at you." She cried out struggling against him. "I told you how suffocated I felt in this contract marriage yet you made another one. And legalized it too getting it signed by me without me knowing. How could you? Just how? How much more are you planning to punish me? How much more?" She questioned completely shattered.

"I hate you, Arnav ji. I hate you." She sobbed out the words gripping his shirt in a fist.

While he stood holding her captive with his face contorted in pain and jaws clenched to reign in his emotions. He couldn't fall weak. He won't. She said she hates him only because she is hurt. She doesn't mean it Arnav. She loves you. That's why it is breaking her more. That's all. He consoled himself.

"Yeah. I love you, too." His intense eyes grilled holes into hers as she stopped crying at once and looked at him in disbelief. That's all he has to say to everything she was going through?

"You-" She couldn't complete due to the sudden unexpected turn of events.

He has leaned in and pecked her lips lightly. Neither could she breath in nor out. Her eyes widened on the verge of popping out. A red hue unknown to her formed on her cheeks.

"Breath, Khushi." He shook her worriedly after a minute when she continued to stay in stupor. She let out a gasp before coughing twice until she realized what exactly happened.

After inhaling in a lungful of oxygen she shut her eyes tight for a moment or two before opening them with vengeance.

"Let go, Mr. Raizada." She was as cold as ice which burned him and he found himself obliging to her demand.

Once out of his hold she raised her hand and struck it against his cheek which fell to one side due to the impact of the slap.

He closed his eyes tightening his hands into fists.

"Don't you dare think that I'd let you play with me like this. And don't forget that I am the same woman to whom you said that you'd prefer a whore over her." Despite acting strong her voice broke at the end.

He opened his eyes and looked at her utterly ashamed.

"I didn't mean it. Believe me." He pleaded quietly.

"I said it all in anger in order to resist the 'exquisite-you' that night. Please, trust me. I'd never degrade you like that. I can't. Due to those words the feeling of disgust for myself rose in me with guilt and that was the only thing which made me walk away. Otherwise I'd have given in to you that night only." This was the first time he opened up this 'openly' to her about that night.

She blinked back the tears looking at him accusingly. With deep hurt. And anguish.

"So in order to take the easy way out you decided to drive a knife through my heart? If that wasn't enough the coming days you continued to twist the same knife in my chest making me bleed from within. Is that how you have loved me? Is this what you call love, Arnav ji?" She choked sniffling.

His head hung low as he fell short of words.

"Khushi, I-" He tried after a few moments.

"You aren't guilty of what you did to me. Not even a bit. If you were you wouldn't have made me sign another contract through your treacherous ways."

"I am guilty, dammit. I am. But me regretting it is only taking you away from me!"

He moved closer.

She stepped back showing him her hand.

"Stay away from me." She hissed out.

"I can't." He said brokenly.

"I can't, Khushi."

"I won't." He added.

His mask slipped and Khushi read every emotion there. Guilt being on the top. But there was stubbornness and obstinacy as well. Love coupled with remorse made him look like a wounded lion. A lump formed in her throat seeing his pleading eyes.

"Don't go. Please." He held her elbow when she grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

"If you are really regretting everything then you'd not force me anymore." She said looking into his eyes defiantly removing his hand from her arm.

"I can't let you go." He said seriously. The hardness was returning in his features.

"Don't stop me. It won't work." She glared at him when he held her hand when she freed her elbow.

"Burn that new contract. I am never going to accept another sham agreement with you. I have had enough." She twisted her arm in his hold. He wasn't letting go. And he wasn't looking at her either. He kept holding her arm tightly while looking down.

She could see his tightened jaws and hardening demeanor every passing moment as she saw him transforming from Arnav ji to ASR in seconds. When he did he raised his head up and looked at her with those cold caramel brown orbs which sent chills down her spine. She breathed in.

"If you left me I'd be ruined." He gritted out yanking her close taking her off guard.

"If I stayed you'd ruin me." She countered.

"I said I love you. Did you hear me?"

"You don't. It's just your guilt talking." She rubbed his throbbing nerve at a very wrong time.

"Don't degrade my feelings. They are genuine." His nails dug in her arms.

She scoffed looking at his hold first before giving him a pointed look. Swallowing he loosened his grip but didn't let her go still.

"Don't force me about everything. Maybe then I'd believe in your so-called love." She mocked looking at the edge of her patience as well.

"Don't . Mock. My. Love." He reminded her again in not so subtle tone. She seemed unaffected as she placed her heels on his shoes causing him to suddenly move back wincing in return leaving her.

Then what happened next shocked him to the core. She hurried out of the room taking her bag in a jiffy leaving him dumbfounded with a 'What the' uttering his lips.

He ran after her and stopped at the top of the stairs when the scene downstairs glued his feet to the ground.

"You didn't tell us Khushi bitiya. Where are you going with your packed bag?" Nani was inquiring her who has caught her red-handed in the living room while she was trying to leave quietly.

"I am going to stay at my parents for a few days." Khushi found herself blurting out. Despite the resolve that she won't keep any secrets anymore with the family she couldn't find it in herself to say the truth either.

Arnav's stance relaxed a bit as he slowly descended the stairs. This will be interesting.

How'd you get yourself out of this situation now, Khushi? He asked her in his heart.

"It doesn't seem so." Devyani said looking at the stuffed bag as if not visiting she was permanently going to live there only.

"Did you and Chote fight?" She asked spotting Arnav coming down with a grim face. Following her line of vision Khushi's mouth turned bitter seeing the challenging look in his eyes asking her to try and get out of this now if you can.

She huffed inwardly. She will find a way out. For sure.

"No. We didn't. In fact everything has become crystal clear between us now." Khushi's words only Arnav understood.

And Nani bought it as she relaxed seeing Khushi and Arnav glancing at each other with such passion that she averted her eyes not wanting to intrude in couple's privacy.

"If Chote doesn't have a problem then I can't say anything either. Go." She patted her cheek and turned to leave.

"Who said I don't have a problem?" Arnav said out loud coming to stand facing Khushi though he addressed Devyani who stopped and turned to them frowning.

"I want her with me all the time. But she loves her family more." He accused.

Devyani chuckled seeing her grandson whining. She took it all in another meaning. She thought Chote was just sulking for spending some time away from his wife. But in reality she knew nothing of the equation between the couple.

"Chote, don't be a child. Wherever she will go, in the end she would come back to you only." Nani's words made Arnav and Khushi look at her with surprise.

How deep were her words that it made one of them happy and the other apprehensive.

"So relax and let the girl breath." Devyani left shaking her head smiling.

Arnav looked at Khushi knowingly.

"See, even without knowing anything Nani knows that you belong with me no matter what. In the end you'd yourself come back to me."

"Exactly. Nani knows nothing. So her words are only just... words. Nothing true. I am not coming back. And that's my final and utmost decision. I'd not back off from it for anything." She seemed too distant all of a sudden.

"Not even for me?" He asked huskily towering over her.

She swallowed.

"No." She tried hard to sound confident. And somewhat succeeded cutting him deep.

"Won't you miss me?" He nuzzled his nose with hers sending shivers down her spine till her toes.

"I won't." She growled pushing him off and stepping back herself.

She turned to leave and this time bumped into Anjali who was coming out in from the garden.

God. Were all the Raizada specifically woke up early today to torture her? Khushi thought inwardly.

"Khushi ji, what's the hurry?" She teased her seeing her flushed face and upon that she has seen her Chote standing behind her.

"Woh- I am going to Laxmi Nagar. Will stay there for a while."

"Is Chote going with you?" She asked the expected question. "The way you're saying 'for a while' means you have planned to stay there for a long time." Anjali questioned.

Khushi fidgeted. Arnav sighed. He knew these questions will surely arise once she would leave but this soon? He wasn't expecting that. Neither was she.

Seeing Khushi not answering she looked at her brother with a frown. Seeing him looking longingly at Khushi she sensed something wrong.

"Did you guys fight or something? Is she leaving you Chote?" She exclaimed with her eyes widening and tearing up in shock.

"No, Di. There is nothing like that." Khushi said urgently when she saw that Anjali was about to panic.

"Then what is it?" Anjali asked worriedly.

"Just a little tiff, Di. I said some words in anger and she took it to heart. She needs some space to forgive me and I gave her what she wanted. Freedom. But for a few days only to clear her mind."

Khushi looked at him flabbergasted. For a few days only? Who was he to decide that? How could he lie so bluntly on everyone's face and be cool about it? If he has guts which she don't apparently then why doesn't he tell everyone that their marriage period or rather say contract is over and he was forcefully trying to bind her with another?

Anjali gave Arnav a reprimanding look before cupping the side of Khushi's cheek.

"I know how rude my Chote can be but this is not the way to solve the problems between you two. Be angry, give it back to him but please stay WITH him. He loves you. It's just he gets more emotional and aggressive when it comes to his loved ones."

"See, even Di understands that I love you. Just you don't." Arnav said to Khushi accusingly while Anjali was pleasantly surprised at her brother's open confession. Apart from her he was never this open with his feelings with anyone else before. Now Khushi ji has made him open up and change for the better. This girl was proving out to be the best thing that ever happened to her brother.

If only she knew her brother has turned out to be the worst thing that could ever happen to Khushi.

"Wow. Did you see Khushi ji? He never confesses his love wordly. Instead he likes to show it through actions. But with you, he is different. Not only does he act but also express verbally."

"Yeah. He has expressed his love quite beautifully in words every single day of our marriage." She looked pointedly at him reminding him of every torture she went through his killing words during the last six months to the night when he degraded her love comparing her with a prostitute adding a final nail in the coffin to break her completely.

"Don't go, Khushi ji. I will talk to him and he would apologize to you."

"Don't bother, Di. He has already had asked for forgiveness and I refused to give it to him. And it isn't that simple like he explained it to you. Rather it's quite complicated. Now excuse me. Your brother will explain in detail to you if he preferred it suitable. I am getting late. Take care of yourself and your baby. Good bye."

Dumbfounded with Khushi's departure Anjali turned to Arnav for answers who without looking at her stormed upstairs leaving her worried sick for both of them.

*

Khushi couldn't believe the turn of events in the next just... just 12 hours. All because of that beast.

In the morning she went to Laxmi Nagar alright. Her parents and Buaji welcomed her happily. Learning that she is going to stay with them for a few days they first looked at her to search her face for any kind of gloom but she hid it all well, then they burst with joy when Khushi explained that Arnav ji knows and he himself allowed her to come here to spend some time with them.

She decided to slowly drop the hints of her broken relationship with Arnav to her family.

Payal jiji called her and was upset that she didn't meet her before leaving or she would have accompanied her. It took Khushi an hour to calm her down before she cut the phone sighing thinking that how many more lies she would pile up in her life because of that man? Why can't she just blurt out everything out at once? Why was she deliberately giving the trump card to that Rakshas to blackmail her? Why, dammit?

Humph!

Now she even uses his language. Uff!

Not only in her heart he has gotten into her mind totally and absolutely as well. Getting him out of it would mean ripping apart her heart and bursting her nerves which would definitely result in nervous breakdown. So she let him stay in the space he has made in her being silently.

Not to mention that space was huge, humongous that if she took him out a void that deep and that big would not let her live at all. It would suffocate her to death.

"Let's do everything properly this time. I will court you until you find it in yourself to accept me back as your husband."

"Would you give me the honor to be your man?"

If only he had been considerate enough to ask her consent when he bound her with a contract forcefully. Shattered all of her dreams at once. While she was weaving sweet dreams about him in her innocent heart he.. just in one night from the sky of heavens threw her into the deepest pit of hell from where she still couldn't get out. Neither could he.

"Didn't I hurt you even though I loved you more than anything else in this world?"

"W-What?" Khushi rasped.

"You loved me?" She cried.

"I love you!"

She rubbed her chest feeling breathless all of a sudden. It was very hard to ignore the words which you always wanted to hear for a long time.

Gasping in anguish already missing him she reminded herself again and again of all he did until she could breath somewhat and get a hold of herself.

In midst she has received several calls from Arnav which she hasn't picked up and many texts messages which she didn't bother to open.

When the temptation to pick up his calls and read his messages grew too much she switched off her cellphone huffing in partly annoyance and partly in angst.

She had had at least a peaceful lunch with her parents and Buaji. It was in the evening that she received the call on the landline and when she did the ground beneath her slipped.

"I am coming." She said hurriedly and despite her family's various calls got into an auto and left urgently with worry lines marring her face.

She entered pushing open the doors running in and found Anjali sitting in the living room sobbing while everyone else seemed aghast trying to stop her cries.

Spotting her Anjali stopped crying at once and something akin to accusation lingered in her eyes before she approached her limping.

Khushi was looking at her with worry and tears in her eyes. Then a cold shiver went down her spine seeing her expressions.

"I told you he is sensitive about his loved ones yet you left." Anjali blamed her raising her voice.

"Anjali bitiya," Devyani called from behind seeing that Khushi was already on the verge of a breakdown herself and Anjali was only adding fuel to the fire.

"Please Nani. It's between me and her. A sister is talking to her brother's wife. No one will interfere."

"Di," Khushi choked. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"What, Di? Huh Khushi ji? What? Wasn't it you who asked me to let you take responsibility of Arnav? You asked for it yourself and yet you left after getting him so used to you. Just because..because you fought?" Anjali said in disbelief.

"Tell me, tell me Khushi which husband and wife doesn't have a problem? Marriage is such thing only. Some times you have joyful days and some days you don't. Sometimes you fight and then in another you make up. But you, you considered it a joke and left it in the very first fall back of your marriage?"

"Di, listen to me. I-" Khushi sobbed. "I'll explain it to you but first let me see him." She moved past her but Anjali blocked her way.

"No. You won't go anywhere near him." Anjali's decision earned gasps from everyone.

"Go back to your parents and sulk all you want." Anjali announced. But instead of hurting her it stopped Khushi's tears. Suddenly it became too much for her.

She couldn't understand why was she here standing before the family trying to explain everything while she was nowhere at fault?

"Did you hear me Khushi ji?" Anjali caught her elbow when she moved forward silently.

Letting out a sigh looking ahead Khushi quietly freed her arm from her hold before looking at her with such eyes that all the anger and repulse in Anjali's eyes dissolved into nothingness.

She frowned at the defiance in the eyes of the woman whom her Chote loves to bits. That much that her absence of just a few hours made him sick and unconscious.

"I heard you, Anjali Ji." She emphasized on her name. Anjali swallowed hurt as she dropped the 'Di' she used to call her. First pang of guilt washed over her.

"Now you hear me, too." She faced her. Tension only aggravated in the air seeing them standing against each other.

"Your Chote is not a saint. And who better than you know that." She said bluntly. A short gasp left Anjali because the words coming from this softhearted girl were quite wicked.

What has Chote done to her? Now she asked the logical question getting the much needed wake-up call.

"Secondly, you are no one to decide when should I meet my husband and when should I don't." She gritted out with her bloodshot eyes.

Everyone's eyes widened clearly noticing the bitterness in her tone.

"Thirdly, it's none of your business either, whether we decide to stay together or apart. Stop trying to interfere in your brother's life more than necessary." Khushi was dropping bomb after bomb of words on Anjali stunning the family along with her.

Anjali felt that her throat has constricted with the impact of her words and her eyes has watered in hurt. Remorse was hitting her hard every passing second. In worry for her Chote she overlooked the last six months how this same woman looked after her brother ardently without a fail.

"I just wanted-" Anjali cleared her throat to start but was cut in sharply.

"It's all because of what you want. It all happened because of it only." Khushi blurted out in anger. Rage. Angry tears formed in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Anjali couldn't help but ask. "Did you both fight because of me?"

Hell, yes! She wanted to shout. But held it back gulping down the saliva.

"Don't jump to your own conclusions. I told you. You know nothing so don't interfere or try to mess things up more than they already are."

With one last glance at her guilty yet hurt face Khushi headed to the stairs and this time Anjali didn't stop her. She couldn't. Not after she showed her the mirror.

"What exactly has happened between them?" Devyani thought out loud.

Anjali fell back on the sofa concerned and guilty both. She shouldn't have talked to Khushi like that. Now she was regretting when cat was already out of the bag.

Akash looked at Payal for answers who shook her head telling him she has no idea but she would talk to her sister soon.

*

"Arnavji-" She barged in the room and her breath caught up in some region of her throat when she felt the bang of the door closing behind.

Alarm bell rung in her head as she turned. Her blood boiled and nerves burst when she saw HIM standing leaning against the door with his ankles crossed and arms folded on his chest. All okay. ALL FINE. She screamed in her mind realizing that she has fallen prey to his games all over again.

What a fool she was!

"Do you know you are the very first person who made Anjali Raizada that much speechless? Otherwise she never let anyone counter attack her."

"So it was all your drama. You weren't sick. You even deceived your family. How many times would you do that? Your sister is pregnant Raizada. Worrying for you could harm her health. Did that thought never crossed you?" She burst out on him while he swallowed past a lump.

"She said so much to you and you are still thinking about her?" He couldn't help but ask her in wonder.

"She said so much and like always you stood watching in the background doing nothing as you and your family run over me whenever they want."

"I am giving you permission. Stand for your rights the same way you stood for yourself in front of Di downstairs."

"I don't need your permission to do that. I told you I already had enough. I won't let anyone blame me for anything which I didn't do at all." She was dead serious.

"I like this new you."

"I don't." She blinked back the tears. "Staying with a beast made me heartless too. I am now hurting people as well no matter what the reason."

"Staying with an angel made me soften as well. Now I know there is something called apology, forgiveness and love in this world too. You taught it to me." He said approaching her.

She stepped back glaring at him.

"What did you say to Di hmm? That she is no one to decide when should you meet YOUR husband huh?" He has reached her a foot step away and his words glued her feet to the ground when she felt his fingers touching the side of her face.

"I won't hold it against you if have developed some bitterness for Di because it's for her I ruined your life."

"I don't channelize my anger on innocent people, Mr. Raizada." She said grimly moving back.

"What I said to her downstairs was only to clear my position. I had no intention to hurt or trample over her. Besides, until we don't declare about our breakup with the family I have to pretend that you are my husband. Unfortunately." She was brisk to the extremes.

He could only stare at her stunned.

"Now that I can see that nothing is wrong with you I should go back. Amma Babu ji must be worried."

"So something has to happen to me actually before you would decide to stay besides me huh?" He gritted out whirling her around and pulling her up against him with his nose touching her and his eyes spitting fire at her.

"Everything would be temporary from now on. I may come but I'd leave, too. I'd never permanently stay in this mansion ever again. Get that and we all would find peace."

"I'd make it all permanent one day. You get that, too." He suddenly gave her a firm peck on her lips sending waves of electricity down her spine. Shock and excitement bubbled up in her which eventually transformed into anger and she stomped on his feet just like in the morning causing him to move back due to sudden attack.

She raised her hand to slap him which he caught in mid air.

Folding the same at her back he hauled her flush against him and this time when he smashed his lips against her he kissed her thoroughly pouring out all of his emotions in that one kiss. Love, hurt, anguish, and above all, guilt and an apology begging for another chance.

"Hit me all you want. But know that when you'd slap me once I'd kiss you twice." He rasped pulling back before joining their lips together once again not giving her the time to protest.

"I didn't slap you yet." She shoved him off trying hard to regulate her breathing. And rapidly beating heart.

"Oh yeah," He said smugly. "Here is my face." He turned the side of his face close to her.

"Get yourself even. I owe you that." He said in such a way that Khushi knew that if she hit him again he would counter attack by wrapping her in another one of his twisted ways to get close to her. So she backed off and headed to leave.

"One step out of that door and I'd show 'both' of our contracts signed by 'us' and sanctioned by court not only to our families but also the media."

That rooted her feet to the ground for good two minutes. He waited patiently for her to retaliate. And she didn't disappoint him when the gravity of the situation dawned on her. He has created a wall of bricks around her being. Invisible one yet powerful enough to imprison her inside its four walls from where she won't be able to get out even if she tried with all of her might. Realizing that very clearly,

She turned furiously reached him in two long strides and slapped him not once but thrice before screaming into her hands covering her mouth. And he .. he didn't stop her but he completed what he promised her once she was done.

He kissed her on her lips passionately exactly six times in return of three slaps on his cheeks flabbergasting her. By the time he left her she was feeling weak on her knees, her lips were swollen and her eyes were blinded with tears of both hate and anguish.

Seeing her standing looking at him with anguish not moving an inch from her place in the middle of the room he knew he has won the ultimate battle.

"So finally we have an agreement. And this time, I will do everything possible to turn it into a lifetime commitment." He said victoriously while she looked back at him in vengeance as sudden turn of events has had her entrapped in Rakshas' den all over again. For another six months. If not forever.

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