Shashi didn't had any choice but to move in with his daughter Khushi to RM.He didn't has proofs against Arnav and he knew that the man in question could do anything to keep Khushi with him now that he knows she was innocent all along and he is responsible for her current condition.But he had put his condition before Arnav as well not wanting to risk his daughter's life again.He has to be cautious that the man don't take advantage of Khushi in this lifetime ever again. He has warned him not-so-subtly.

"If her condition didn't get better these days staying with you then I won't even listen to any of your threats Mr.Raizada and will take my daughter back with me."

Arnav has all but nodded before saying.

"She will go when she will herself asks for it but I agree to your condition as well. I am sure you'll see a great improvement in her state in the coming days Sir!"

Shyam was passing by Arnav's room when his eyes caught in the scene inside the room as the door was completely ajar.His eyes widened.He saw Arnav opening the ropes with which Khushi was tied.She was wide awake and was struggling in them.

"Arnav, are you crazy?" Shyam shouted "Don't untie these ropes.She will try to kill herself if she got rid of them."

Arnav didn't even pay attention to him and continued with his task to untie the cords from her legs.

"Arnav, I am talking to you.Don't you want her alive?"

At this Arnav's anger rose.He stood up freeing her legs by now.

"Don't even say that again Shyam.Did you get that?"

"Arnav tie them again.She gets hysterical when she is free." Shyam tried to explain him calmly.

Khushi was sobbing silently. Arnav's heart twisted in pain seeing her like that.

"She won't Shyam. I will handle her. I can't see her crying like this" His eyes glistened with tears.

"Can't you see she is crying for the last 10 minutes since she woke up."

"She will sleep eventually due to the effect of medicines. Just wait for a few minutes Arnav." Shyam could see Arnav dying from inside with each of her sobs.

"You want me to watch her cry and not to do anything huh?"

"Just for a few minutes Arnav.If you can't see her like this then wait outside and I will send Payal or Anjali to look after her until she sleeps okay?" Shyam tried to make him understand but he didn't budge.

"For a few minutes be the same man who never paid heed to her cries."

Arnav's hands stopped at Shyam's pointed words.

"I am not leaving her" he declared."Neither I am going to see her like this crying helplessly."

Arnav went to the bed post and opened the ropes from her hands as well.Her sobs lessened a bit giving some solace to his aching heart.

To his horror in the next moment as soon as he freed her off the ropes she jumped off the bed and grabbed the glass vase, smashed it against the wall and brought its sharp edges close to her already injured wrist.

"KHUSHIII" Arnav and Shyam shouted at the same time horrified.

Arnav reached her in time before she could cut her wrist snatched the glass piece from her before throwing it away.

Hearing their scream Gupta family along with Anjali and Devyani had also gathered there and were now seeing how hysterical Khushi was going in Arnav's arms.He was having a hard time controlling her as she was constantly trying to shrug him off to reach the broken vase again to kill herself.

Arnav was already in tears seeing her state.

He has to put all of his strength to keep her in his hold.

"Kon hain ap..Chodiye humein..Humein apne bache k pass jaane kyun nahi dete? Nafrat hai humein aap sab se jo humein humare bacche se door rakhne k liye humein bandh dete hain.. (Who are you? Leave me. Why don't you let me to go to my child? I hate all of you who always keep me tied to keep me away from my child.)" She pushed at his chest as he held her struggling form in his arms.

"Aur aap..(And you..)" She looked at him with her eyes blazing fire "Aap se hum sab se zyada nafrat karte hain. Kal se humare aas pass bhatak rahe hain. Humein khola bhi toh khud jakarne k liye. Chodiye. Cho..(I hate you more than anyone else. Since yesterday you are roaming around me. You freed me only to hold me restraint. Leave me. Lea-)" And she collapsed in his arms as the effect of medicines finally kicked in her senses.

Arnav was trying hard not to break down hearing her words.He held her against his chest as she fainted.

Aap se hum sab se zyada nafrat karte hain(I hate you more than anyone else)

His hold on her tightened as her words ringed in his ears.Burying his face in the crook of her neck he closed his eyes and one after the other tears came out of them.

Anjali, Payal, Garima were already sobbing while Shashi, Shyam and Devyani had tears in their eyes.

Arnav had a detailed discussion with Khushi's psychiatrist about her condition.

"Hmm that's a good progress that she spoke so much like that. That is what's needed.She needs to feel all the things. Only that can bring her back.It's do or die situation Mr.Raizada. There are chances she could recover and there are chances she can even get worse."

"Means there is no guarantee that her mental condition will get back to normal?" Arnav asked dejected.

"I said there are chances. 50% to be precise"

He gulped."Is there anything which could assure her come back 100%?"

"No.The conditions, situations and trauma she went through is not that small.I will be surprised if she gets back to at least half of the normal"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked angrily.

"It means it is not possible to forget what she went through.Even if she by any miracle comes out of this state even then it'll leave a huge impact on her personality, most importantly on her mind and thinking.In these cases, people usually lose faith on love and trust on any person.They get unemotional.They rarely acknowledge any of the feelings even if they have any.In short they become heartless."

Sweat beads formed on his forehead.She will never be the same again even if she gets back her senses? She will never be the lively, bubbly Khushi again.She will never be softhearted ever again.

"She will never be like before" he asked now feeling helpless.

"Yes there are more chances of her to never be same again. Mr.Raizada being a psychiatrist I have seen women go suicidal after suffering through a rape and they never come out of it until they die but in this case what I have been told of Khushi's sufferings I will be surprised even if she for one day wake up and don't think about her child and the torturous nights she spent without breaking down. Being one of your family doctors I am keeping it all a secret still just for the sake of the girl who has gone through hell otherwise you know that the cases of sexual assault and harassment charges could be placed on you and seeing her mental condition you'd be jailed for years."

"I don't care for myself as long as she recovers."

"The reason you are still out free is because she needs your help. You better prove yourself worthy of the trust I put in you by not contacting police Mr.Raizada."

"I will. After that she can decide my penance."

"For that she has to come out of the denial first."

Arnav sat dejected.On the verge of going into depression himself.He will have to bring her back even if it's next to impossible.He has a long way to go because firstly he has to bring her out of her current oblivion state and after that he will have to bring the liveliness back in her.

But the question arises. How to and from where to begin with?

He will have to work hard and he will. That's it. There was no second thought.

"Are you out of your mind Arnav?" Sheetal shouted."What the hell are you saying?"

"Please Sheetal. I know that day I did wrong by forcing you to--" He swallowed "--forcing you to k-kiss me." The word itself pierced his heart.

Sharp unbearable pain shoot through him as he remembered the devastated expressions on Khushi's face on that particular day when he kissed Sheetal before her to make her feel the pain of betrayal but now..now he would do anything ,anything to wipe off that day from their history.

Hell! If it was up to him he would wipe off the past seven months from both of their lives travel back to that day when he saw her with Shyam...carry her away...grasp her love close to his heart and hide her away from this world..away from everyone...away from every pain. Away from everyone but not from him.

"Sheetal just help me this once. I need your help desperately.Please!" Arnav almost begged before her making her shock and bewildered at his vulnerable state.

"Why Arnav? Why do you want my help? Anyone can do this then why me?"

"Because only you were a part of it" His voice shook.

"Only me? How?"

"I will tell you how but-"

"One minute Arnav. Why is it so important for you? You said she was your maid then what is the need to do all this for a mere servant?" Arnav could easily sense the sarcasm in her voice and words.

"It is important. Very much to say the least." He turned around because he didn't want her to see his welled up eyes.

"I lied. I lied to you Sheetal. She wasn't any housekeeper. She was my wife. In fact she still is."

"Wife? ASR you were married? Since when? Why the hell you kept it a secret? She was so very beautiful and by the way she reacted to our kiss that day I am sure she had feelings for you.She loved you I guess."

"I know. I know she loved me. I..I married her some seven months back and since last one month she is--she is not fine."

Oh really ASR? Since last month? She wasn't fine ever since you married her!

Remember how you scared her on the wedding night? A voice sneered at him from his heart.

Knots formed in his stomach.He had shocked her on wedding night by his cold attitude and brutal ways to handle her.He shuddered as he remembered how brutally he snatched her virginity and how he left her exhausted not even bothering to soothe her pain. He was a monster..no monster would be a small title for him for the way he treated her.

"Of course she wouldn't be fine. You betrayed her intentionally. When there was nothing between us ASR then why did you want to present it before her as if it were?"

"Because...because I wanted to hurt her. Todhna chahta tha usse(I wanted to break her)" He swallowed. "Aur todh diya(And I did)" He felt his eyes prick.

Sheetal stared at his back shocked.

"Why? Why would you do that? What did she do that you gave her the worst punishment by kissing some other woman before your wife?"

Arnav's stance turned rigid.

"She did n..nothing.I punished her without any fault of hers.I misunderstood her and.."

Sheetal just couldn't believe it. ASR who always judged people right no matter what made the mistake of misunderstanding someone and that too to the extent of damaging her with a revenge so brutal. So cunning?

If only she knew what else ASR did to Khushi. She would have cried out in agony.

"I can't believe it ASR. You could stoop so low.If you had any doubts on your wife regarding something then why didn't you confront her?"

"I didn't even know her when I misunderstood her."

Sheetal wasn't getting anything.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? 

If he didn't know her than how could he misunderstand her?

She asked frustrated.

"ASR will you come clear? I can't understand a thing."

Arnav felt himself shudder because he has to go through the same unbearable pain of disgust and guilt if he has to tell her everything.This will only stab his being.Hurt his soul to remember all those what he did to Khushi. It will be like adding salts to his wounds but he had to do it if he wants Sheetal's help. He will have to do it for Khushi above all.

"I thought she was having an affair with my jijaji. Shyam!" With that he told her everything which he did to Khushi. Each and everything.

"I tortured her days and nights.Used her physically like a toy. Didn't let her meet her family.Imprisoned her in my mansion.Treated her like a sex object.Kissed you before her to make her feel the pain of betrayal. When she got pregnant I questioned the legality of the child.After that I threw her out of the house telling her what all i did to her.How i faked my love. When I threw her out I didn't leave her even then.I hired-"

"Stop!" Sheetal rasped.

He turned around with bloodshot eyes and saw her misty eyes whilst she covered her mouth with her palm in order to gather herself. This was too much.

"Stop. Please stop." Being a woman her heart was shattering even listening to what he all did to an innocent soul. She couldn't even imagine the pain Khushi must have gone through who actually suffered all that.

"YOU ARE A MONSTER! GET OUT!" Sheetal yelled pointing towards the door.

"Sheetal-"

"ASR! Tum insan nahi ho. 'Rakshas' ho Rakshas'. (You are not a human.You are a beast--a beast!)"

"I know. I already know that. Sheetal i need your help desperately.She is not fine."

"She will be fine i think.All you have to do is just stay away from her." She gritted out wiping her tears.

Arnav stayed silent.

"One minute. You just tell me her address.Where is she now? I want to apologize to her for whatever I did. You told me she was pregnant when you threw her out. I want to help her in this phase of her life. At least I will be able to look at my face in the mirror then."

Arnav felt like he was pierced with thousands glass pieces.

"You didn't hear me completely. After I threw her out, she met with an accident"

Sheetal gasped.He purposely skipped that he was responsible for that accident as well.

"She lost the baby and now she is bedridden.She has lost her mental stability. We have to tie her down in bed" His heart ached "Because every time she wakes up she tries to kill herself."

Sheetal fell on the couch with a thud.Covering her face with her hands she burst into tears.

How can someone be so heartless? She now despised the day she considered ASR as her role model.He don't deserve to get this respect.

"I don't understand ASR." She looked up at him who was standing besides the couch with clenched hands and jaws."Why are you telling me all this? I wish I hadn't participated in your dirty game.In a way I too am responsible for her condition."

"Because I need your help."

Sheetal stood angrily.

"I will help her. You just don't need to tell me what should I do. Just give me her address.Is she in some hospital?" She asked concerned glaring at him.

"No. At RM.She is there" Se said hoarsely his throat too constricted for his voice to come out normal.

"Did you inform her family?" She asked suspiciously.He nodded.

"They are at Shantivan with her."

"Didn't they know what you all did with her?"

"They do." He whispered.

"Then why they are still tolerating you around her.Why are they staying in your home.Why didn't they took her away?"

At this his temper flared.

"BECAUSE SHE IS MY WIFE DAMMIY! SHE BELONG THERE AT MY HOME AND NOWHERE ELSE."

Sheetal could only gape at him.

"After all what you did to her. You still think you deserve her?"

"I know I don't but right now she needs me.She reacted only to me few days back.She didn't try to kill herself the first time she saw me before her after the accident but now..now she has stopped reacting and--" He ran his hand across his hairs "--and I am desperate to get her to react so that she comes back to her senses.Doctor said she needs a push and when she'll be back to her mental stability then she will not try to harm herself. I want her to heal and that's all.After that she can decide whatever she wants for her life.With me sans me will be up to her"

Sheetal sneered.

"You think there is a chance she will want to be with you after recovering?"

His heart pricked.He chuckled mirthlessly.

"Sheetal if only you have seen her love for me.You wouldn't have asked this question"

"You are asking me this huh ASR? Why didn't you see her love when she was in front of you all those months huh?"

His face went pale which didn't go unnoticed by her.He closed his eyes to compose himself.

"How can I help you?" She tried changing the topic.

She don't want to extend this conversation more.She would be relieved if she could help that poor soul. It might lessen the burden of guilt on her shoulders.

He clenched his fists to gather control over his emotions.

"You will have to kiss me again before her" Arnav announced, earning a gasp from her.

"WHAT? How can you.." Sheetal looked enraged.

"Let me complete Sheetal. As the doctor said Khushi needs a push a hard one at that to bring her back to her senses.She will only react to the situations which can affect her deeply and...and as she has loved me to bits.." his hands shook."I have decided to re-create some-" he blinked his eyes to stop the tears to come out "--some of the situations which has affected her the most and..and this one is on the top of all."

He sat down on the couch opposite hers.

"This is the only way now." He crossed his fingers.

"I have to hurt her again...to bring her back."

________________________

PRECAP:

Shashi gripped his collars.

"Don't you dare do that to hurt her."

"It's the only way to bring her back" He replied calmly.

"Takleef nahi hoti tumhe Arnav Singh Raizada?(Doesn't it hurt you?) She is a human being for devi maiyya's sake. She won't be able to take it. Taras nahi aata tumhe uss masoom pe? Ab bhi nahi?(Don't you feel even pity on her? Still you don't?)" He asked pushing him away.

"I will not allow you to do this. Never!" Shashi announced his verdict."I am already doing a favor to you to be with her.That's is enough for ripping me apart. I can't willingly let you go through this plan to hurt her knowingly. All over again."

"Fine don't allow me. Wait for her to crumble down before your very own eyes. But I won't tolerate that--" He looked into Shashi's eyes with a steely determination.

"Didn't you see how much she trusts me even in her oblivion state. She doesn't listen to anyone except me. She don't even do anything without getting my approval."

Shashi closed his eyes at this while Arnav continued.

"All I have to do is give her an order and she will get ready to go with me anywhere I ask and I swear--I swear I will take her away from you and your family.. from everyone to get my plan into action. To get her back to her normal self."

"You won't dare!" He yelled furiously.

"Try me!" Challenge glinted in ASR's eyes.

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