SRHNT is ranked #294 IN ROMANCE already in just it's first week here on wattpad. All thanks to everyone who read, voted and reviewed from the start till now without fail. Thanks a ton guys.

This chapter is dedicated to each and everyone of you for making it possible :)

Shashi and Garima sat down once the guards put a barrier at the floor where Arnav was being admitted in the ICU. The press was pestering them to speak and say something on the matter that why and how ASR landed up there under the water?

Apparantly a media person was present there at the scene and has secretly recorded everything that happened and more so that included Khushi crying and shaking Arnav too in her bridal avatar.

The press didn't need more than a few seconds to process who that girl was and then a hype was created on every news channel as they found the girl who was ASR's ex-wife whom the media was trying to get a hint at any cost.

The girl who filed a case against ASR and got him arrested for the years too.

For whom ASR was ready to suffer the imprisonment rather than a luxurious life outside the jail.

Aman, ASR's PA has rushed to the hospital as soon as he got the news and he appointed guards promptly to clear off the media from the hospital and to keep them out of the area as far as possible to which Shashi and Garima sighed as they were tired trying to elude the media's terrifying questions about their daughter. Khushi. And more so to keep them away from reaching to a shocked Khushi too.

"I realized now Garima that I did wrong." Shashi teared up glancing at his wife.

She understood as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Shashi ji we wanted our daughter's happiness only. If we want to see her happy and chirpy again then what is our fault in all this?" She sobbed resting her head on his shoulder.

He placed his hand over hers on his arm.

"She can never be the same again. You know that." He choked glancing at the bench in front of the ICU where his daughter was seated in her bridal wear looking down at floor.

One drop of tear would fall from her eyes every now and then but she was lost in her own thoughts gazing at the ground as if it would answer her why and how it all happened. To her?

"Does she still love him?" Garima asked her voice cracking. Her heart went out to her daughter.

"I don't know. But she still cares for him. Her attachment to him is way deeper than we thought it was." Shashi concluded.

"But love? I am not sure about that. She can never love him that way again. My daughter can never forgive him. He killed the reason of her breathing. He killed her child."

"Some times I wonder Shashi ji. What if her Rahul has survived? Had she has forgiven him for everything he had done to her?" Garima questioned which answer she couldn't comprehend.

But Shashi knew better as he recalled his conversation with Khushi years ago when she asked him to leave her at RM with Arnav.

"Bitiya why are you behaving like this as if nothing happened?" He asked as soon as he took her inside the room and locked the door.

"What happened?" Khushi asked putting on a smile.

"That person cheated on you. Arnav is a cheater bitiya. He doesn't deserve you. Punish him for what he made you go through."

"Babuji, I-I know what you're saying but I don't want to go. Not yet at least."

A slap resounded in the room.

"Stand up for yourself Khushi. Open your eyes. He doesn't love you. He just used you."

"Then let him use me however he wants to." She said determined not at all feeling bad about the slap.

"Bitiya.." Shashi said defeated cupping her cheeks.

"Come back with us. Your family who loves you and misses you."

"I will come back to you all but for just a few months I have to live here. Kuch hisab barabar karne hain.(I have to even some scores)"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want him to do something!"

"What?"

"My child. He will give me my child back.Then I will go from his life forever.That's what he wanted always right? For ME to be out of his life. He will get it but once I will get what was mine whom he snatched from me."

"For a child. You'll stay with a man who destroyed you?"

"He gave me the feeling of being a mother too. It was wonderful Babuji even if it was for a few moments. I want that feeling back." She cried.

"Bitiya.." He hugged his daughter who cried hard on his shoulder. His eyes welled up.

"Please let me stay here for a few months. I need him to give me my child back."

"For a child how far can you go Khushi?"

She wiped her tears before exhaling.

"If I had to chose between hating him and getting my child back then I would chose latter."

Shashi was shocked.

"You will forgive him if he gave you a child? For all the horrendous acts he did?"

"I will." She spoke firmly.

"What are you bitiya?"

"A human!" She smiled sadly.

Aankhon mai tere saaye

Chahoon toh ho na paye

Yaadon se teri faasla..

"You can never forget that. If the wounds given by me are still fresh in your mind which are showing right now through your eyes then how can you say you have moved on?"

"I am just trying to tell you that no matter whoever you'll marry the scars given by me won't fade. Same way I won't fade from there too. I will always remain at some corner of your heart even if its as a person who inflicted terrors on you, who snatched your child."

"You're getting married Khushi in an hour. After that you won't be my wife. Thodi der toh mujhe khud ko dekhne do. Please?(Let me look at you for a bit. Please?)"

"I know. You don't have to remind me that. It is present in my mind all the time. I am practically living with it. With all the sins I have committed towards you and my...uh..your child."

"Forgive me..just a little. Thoda sa hi. So that I can d..live in peace. Get some peace.Please?"

Ab mairi zindagi mai jo hai wo tum ho.. Aur koi nahi. (Now whatever is left of my it's YOU. No one else)

"He isn't breathing!"

He isn't breathing

He isn't breathing

Breathe please...

Please Arnav...

A cry rose up in her throat as her own sobs seeing him lifeless came back to her along with her pleads to him.

"Breathe Arnav.. Breath please!"

"You can't do this to me Arnav. I never wanted this. I never wanted you dead. I just hate you. Hate you. Please i hate you!"

She swallowed the tears not letting except for one to escape and fall on the floor.

What is it with him that she can never hate him like the way he hated her?

She still cared.

Her own reaction to his suicide attempt was a proof of that.

She cared that much that instead of being at the mandap for her marriage she was sitting here in front of the ICU behind which he was being treated.

Why?

Can she forgive the person who murdered her child just because she feels pity for him?

Just because he is guilty?

Just because he is suffering too?

Can she?

NO!

Never!

Her heart cried as the motherly feeling took over.

Then what is she still doing here?

Why is she still waiting for any news about him?

That too desperately?

"You love that thing so much?" He neared her as she pressed her face into the cupboard's lid distancing herself from him.

"Do you love that baby more than your Arnavji?" Her startled eyes shoot up to his and she saw that he was serious.

"Yes" She answered firmly with quivering lips.

"I love my baby more than anyone...more than You!"

"Awww so much love.You got me really wondering for a second that you actually love that thing more than me" He turned her trembling form towards him gently and cupped her face.

"But I know that you love me more than anyone...more than that thing, right?" He said brushing his nose to hers breathing on her face.

Her eyes widened. Her heartbeat raised up. Her breathing labored. She stood up agitated from her seat and ran away from the corridor ignoring her parents calls. Flabbergasted she panted clutching her lehenga reaching the barrier where the guards were standing. They stopped her. Told her that she can't go out as the media was still out there.

Garima and Shashi silently watched her from a distance teary eyed but didn't approach her. They gave her time. Time to process what she wants.

Putting the back of her hand over her mouth she took several steps back until her back hit the wall behind.

Leaning against it she sobbed covering her mouth to suppress any sound from coming out.

No it can't be.

She love her child more than anything.

She can never put anyone before Rahul not even his father!

She isn't that weak.

She isn't!

She hate Arnav.

She can't have a soft corner for him at some dark corner of her heart still.

She can't.

Denial took the form of anger which she swore she will take it out on him.

Once he will wake up.

He destroyed her perfectly build life by entering in it again.

He destroyed the peace she made all these years with her past.

He destroyed everything.

He for the second time turned her world upside down by planning to suicide on her wedding day.

If he thinks that she will come running back to his arms then he so will have another thing coming.If he thought that she will forgive him ever then he was so gravely mistaken.

If he thinks she will pity him then he can go to hell for all she cares!

He has to leave her heart and mind. Once and for all and she will prove it to him that her love for her child is more than anything or anyone. She won't feel weak by caring for him anymore. She won't.

Jaa k bhi tu na jayee

Thehra tu dil mai hayee

Hasrat sa ban k kyun bhala?

Kyun yaad karti hu..

Mit'ti hun banti hu

Mujh ko tu laya ye kahan?

Shyam and Anjali were sitting in the living room anxiously waiting for Arnav.

It was late night and he wasn't back yet and it was worrying them to bits.

"Shyamji lets go to her house. His phone is switched off too. I am feeling scared."

"He will be back. He said na. Don't worry."

In frustration Anjali turned on the TV and started randomly surfing the channels when at one Shyam shrieked.

"Switch back to the last channel Anjali. That news channel. Hurry up!"

She did and then the remote slipped from her hand in shock.

At the same time Shyam phone rang which he took up. It was Aman.

ASR the business tycoon jumped off the bridge. Did he or someone pushed him off?

Hold on guys we have some another news. Here look at his video! Can you see a girl in bridal avatar crying for ASR asking him to breathe? She is THE EX. Yeah ex-wife of ASR because of whom he served seven years of imprisonment.What is she doing in a bridal wear? Did ASR commit suicide because he can't see her with anyone else? Well that only ASR can tell.

We tried to get some news inside the hospital where ASR is being monitored but his PA has tightened the security that no media personell can enter.ASR ex-in laws are there too.

We are..

Shyam switched off the TV taking Anjali in his arms shouting out for the driver to make the car ready.

"Shyam ji. My Chote!" Anjali shrieked sobbing.

"He will be okay Anjali. Aman said that he is being treated by best doctors. Lets go there."

Akash gave a reassuring nod to Shashi and Garima spotting them standing at a distance.

  "Choti?" Akash called out standing before her.   

She straightened up from the wall where she was leaning crying silently.

Opening her eyes she saw Payal standing behind him with tears in her eyes.

With a hoarse cry she threw her arms around him.

"I hate him Bhai. I hate him." She sobbed.

"I know you do." He said blinking back the tears putting a hand over her head.

Payal placed her hand above his crying with her.

"Where is he Aman?" Khushi pulled back hearing a familiar voice.

The three turned and saw Anjali and Shyam hurriedly entering as the barrier opened to let them in.

They both stopped abruptly spotting Khushi there.

A few tears rolled down Anjali's cheeks seeing Khushi dressed up as a bride.

What she wouldn't do to adorn this girl as a bride for her brother?

Because she knows what she means to Arnav, her Chote. She has become his life. Now when she was leaving to become someone else's he didn't see any point in living too and took that step to end his life without caring of anything else. Without caring for his sister too.

"Di mujhe aise hi rehne de(Let me be like this only).If I opened up then you will not be able to see me. In fact no one will be able to bear it."

"Its better I stay under this mask of indifference Di. Iss k bina ya toh mai nahi rahun ga ya phir maira wajood khud hi toot kar bhikar jaye ga."

"Dariye mat. Until I am in this mask of indifference you shouldn't be scared."

So his mask has slipped just by meeting and seeing Khushi.

This girl has the power to bring her Chote to his knees to the point that he felt living useless without her. Anjali thought sadly as she knows this too that there is no future for them together.

Khushi won't forgive him neither would he be able to forgive himself ever. And with him she will live in guilt too as it all started because of her foolishness.

As Khushi turned her face away from her in disgust Anjali put her head down in shame silently passing them to reach the ICU.

Two days passed like this with everyone hoping against hope for Arnav's stable condition whether it was his family or hers as doctors weren't much hopeful.

The difference was that Anjali was openly showing her concern while Khushi and her family weren't.

Payal has got a change for Khushi knowing very well she wasn't in a condition to leave home and has made her change from heavy lehenga into simple orange chudidaar.

Shyam has booked two rooms there in the VIP section in one of which Gupta family stayed at nights especially Shashi, Garima and Khushi.

Akash and Payal came in the days and left in the evening to handle the situation at home. Pari needed them too.

Shyam has to work hard to get them to accept this room offer but at the end they had to seeing Khushi's plight.

The other one was for Anjali and him as he knew the Guptas weren't that much fond of Anjali and bringing them together can create a scene in the hospital.

Media would show up every now and then outside the hospital which Aman handled very well to disperse them.

"Congrats." Doctor came out with a relief over his face.

"We have recovered him. His condition is stable now."

Anjali cried out in happiness hugging Shyam who sighed in relief.

Khushi closed her eyes exhaling her breath.

Shashi and Garima looked comforted too hearing the news.

"Can we see him?" Anjali croaked.

"Yes you can but in a few minutes when he will gain consciousness." Saying this doctor left with the assistant doctors and nurses following behind.

"Chote.." She choked caressing his hairs sitting besides him.

He opened his eyes lazily and then closed them again as light hit his orbs after days.

"Slowly Chote. Open them slowly." She urged.

He did so and when his eyes adjusted to the lights he muttered a curse hoarsely.

"I survived...again?"He whispered aghast.

Anjali couldn't hold back her tears.

"Chote please don't say that." She cupped his face.

He turned his face removing her hands.

"Who saved me?" He asked bitterly in a low growl.

"Why? Do you want to jump off that bridge again?" Came a voice from the door.

Anjali stood up to stand at his side of the bed to reveal Khushi standing at the door glaring at him as if to burn him alive. So what if his suicide attempt couldn't kill him. She would do the honors.

"Khushi.." He murmured.

His throat not being able to make a sound more loud than this.

"Han hum(Yes. ME) No tell me? Do you still want to die? Tell me and I will help you." She gritted.

"I--" His already sore throat turned more dry.No words came out as tears formed behind his eyelids in self restraint.

"Get up and I will take you there right now and trust me this time I won't let anyone save you, If you don't want to go there then tell me I will arrange the poison here for you which won't take more than a few minutes for you to get out of this world." She gritted out venomously.

He flinched.

His eyes scanned her face which stopped at her parting and then around her neck and his brows frowned.

"What are you looking at? Trying to figure out whether you succeeded in breaking my marriage with this suicide stunt or not?"

"I never--" He croaked but was cut rudely by her.

"SHUT UP. Don't say that you didn't want to ruin my marriage because you practically have!" She said chewing on her words. Her eyes spitting fire at him.

He looked away devastated not being able to bear her contempt as a tear rolled down from the corner of his eye which Anjali wiped off crying herself.

"Please Khushiji he isn't well." Anjali pleaded to spare him for the time being.

"Yes he isn't Mrs. Jha. I suggest you to show him to a psychiatrist. He definitely need one. Suicidal thoughts doesn't come just like that right?" She stated with her eyes filling up with angry tears.

"I..am.." He started and started breathing heavily.

"Don't go all sorry on me. It won't and can't change anything." She cried out with tears spilling over her cheeks feeling the hurt herself by hurting him in this state.

"Kya sabit karna chahte the aap ye sab kar k? Ya kya hasil karna chahte the?(What were you trying to prove by doing all this? What was in it for you?)"

"Nothing." He choked his heartbeat raised which was indicated in the heart monitor attached to him.

Anjali panicked.

"Please. Please Khushi ji. I beg you." She folded her palms together.

"He is already depressed and just got up. Please don't say all this. At least not right now." She pleaded.

Khushi ignored her and coming around her stood besides his bed and tilting her head asked.

"Shaadi karna chahte hain na mujhse?(You want to marry me don't you?)"

His eyes widened at her unexpected question and so did Anjali's.

What is she talking about and why?

"W-What?" He croaked.

"You heard me. Now Just answer me." Her face gave away nothing of her inner self or thoughts.

"But I--"

"Yes or No?" She ground her teeth.

"Y-Yes." His eyes shone with tears.

It was an impossible wish to get fulfilled he knew and he knew she must be teasing him to hurt him so he said what was in his heart.

"Then you have sixty minutes. An hour. To get up by yourself and come to the same altar which has been designed for my marriage two days ago which is now deserted at the center of the hall of the Gomti Sadan because of YOU. But mind you. You should reach there on your own feet." She poked her finger on his shoulder.

He closed his eyes in pain knowing she has asked the impossible.

He can't get up or walk.

"Khushi ji can't you see? He--he can't walk or move right now. His body is too weak. He needs these supports badly as the doctor said. You were there weren't you?" Anjali voiced out his thoughts pointing towards the oxygen supply and the machines, drips attached to him.

"He said I am his everything. Lets see how much true that is. Let me test how far can he go to make me his!" Khushi stated unfazed at Anjali's explanations.

"Khushi ji have...some mercy on him." Anjali sobbed with her folded hands.

His eyes full of unshed tears looked up at hers in a silent plea.

He pursed his lips defeated as she looked away.

"Sixty minutes Mr.Raizada or I will marry Anurag in that altar only. Sixty minutes or I will be gone. This is your last chance. If only you can take it but tch tch you can't even get up. Can you?" Her heart bled as she said this.

He made a fail attempt to clench his hand and pain shot through him at the slight force.

"I can" He rasped raising his head a bit only to fall back on the pillow as his fragile body resisted even this small movement.

Anjali reached up to his side in a second and caressed his head as he closed his eyes feeling helpless.

"Uthne mai itni takleef ho rahi hai Mr.Raizada. Hamare mandap tak khud chal k ponchna toh bhool hi jaiye.(But you can't even sit up Mr.Raizada let alone coming to the altar on your own legs)" She smiled sarcastically crossing her hands under her breasts.

"I-I w-will." He breathed.

"I will come K-Khushi." He choked as his eyelids started to drop.

"Well then. Your time starts now!" She said and turned her back to him.

Her victorious expressions changed into a broken once as her inside churned with pain.

If he wants her pity then he so will get it!

Arnav glanced at her retreating back with his eyes barely open.

Tujhe kya khabar maire haal ki

Maire dard maire malal ki

Ye maire khayal ka silsila

Kisi yaad se hai jura hua

Use dekhna usse sochna

Mairi zindagi ka hai faisla

Ye ussi ki palko k sayee hain

Mairi rooh mai jo utar gaye

Ye junoon-e-manzil-e-ishq hai

Jo chale toh jaan se guzar gaye

Khushi came out of the ICU only to see all of the shocked faces of her family along with Shyam's.

She knew they had heard her words and decision.She glanced at Akash, Payal and then at her parents.Her eyes teared up.

Fresh pearls rolled down her cheeks as her Babuji took her in his embrace.

Tu hi bta ae dil maire

Maine toh hamesha tera hi kaha maana hai

Kyun hai mujhe ye gham ghere

Mujhe umr bhar kya bas yahi saza paana hai?

"Am I doing right babuji?" She asked silently.

"No. You aren't."  He replied quietly.

"I am sorry." She murmured.

"You shouldn't be."

"He shouldn't have come back Babuji. He shouldn't have." She buried her face more into her father's chest.

Everyone's eyes teared up.

"When did he leave bitiya? He never did." He stated the obvious.

"I want to wipe him off. From my life. From everything. I will." She gritted out firmly.

"You can't. He is there. Everywhere." Shashi finally understood as a tear slipped down his eye seeing his daughter's suffering even after years of pain.

"From now on I will remove him piece by piece...from everything! Even if I have to rip myself apart." She said wiping her tears determined.

Shashi wanted to say something but held back.

If she wants to let her pain out this way then he won't stop her. His daughter has suffered enough. Now its time she gets back what she has been missing.

Her happiness...and everything she has lost so far. Even herself.

"Babuji you won't be angry. Will you be?" She asked looking up at him innocently with her red eyes.

"I won't be. I can never be angry on you bitiya." He kissed her forehead cupping her cheeks.

She rested her head back on his chest.

"But I am so much angry on myself. What do I do?" She mumbled more to herself than her father.

"It isn't anger. It's helplessness dear."

Hearing her father she couldn't hold back anymore and broke down in his arms whilst a certain chocolate brown orbs filled with longing and helpless tears swam before her eyes.

Sapne boye maine aur dard maine hai kaate

Gaye geet maine aur paaye maine sannatey

Aarzo nakaam hai,

Suni si har shaam hai!

Kaisi hai ye udaasi chayi maire dil mai..

Kaisi gehri hai ye tanhai maire dil mai?

PRECAP:

"Doctor can you...can you give some sedatives to my brother?" Anjali asked in a plea with tears rolling down her cheeks.

He has fainted again after his several attempts to get up.She can't see him like this.It is painful for him physically and emotionally for her to see her Chote this much hurt.

"Yes we can but why is he trying to get up again and again? He should rest and relax."

Anjali swallowed.

"N..nothing doctor. He just don't want to be weak. He never was." Her voice cracked as she recalled an image of her healthy and ever so dominant and composed Chote. The ASR.

"Well in that case I can help." The doctor agreed.

"Sister inject a mild sedative in his drip." He instructed the nurse.

_________________

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