It has been said, 'time heals all wounds'. I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone – Rose Kennedy

Gomti Sadan

Akash came back from his official trip straight to his wife and daughter, he had had an angry and pissed Payal to handle.

"You planned all that with Babu ji and that Raizada even when you knew how much it would affect Khushi. How could you?" She burst out as soon as he was done with the greeting and they were in the room alone.

"Payal calm down. Here sit down." Holding her shoulders he made her sit on the bed and sighed.

"We did what we could for Khushi. Not only Babu ji but I knew too and even you do that she wanted him only in her life no matter how many excuses she made about making him suffer , wait and all."

"But for her to realize it, was it really necessary to send her forcibly?"

"It really was needed. Trust me. Otherwise haven't you seen how she kept resisting him for months even after their marriage? First she made the excuse of getting him on his feet, it took him two months and then when he came back to take her with him fulfilling her condition, she brought up another excuse and forced him to shift to Lucknow.That took another one month. You tell me where did it get them? Nowhere. Because as soon as he completed that condition of hers she stepped back all over again refusing to go with him." He exhaled.

"If we hadn't done that then all this would've continued because you and we all know how much tough and stone hearted she has become over the years. She has learnt to control her emotions and she would've done everything in her power to resist her feelings for Arnav too."

Payal closed her eyes and couldn't help but agree to his each and every word.

"Mai Choti ko aise aur nahi dekh sakta tha. Bhai bolti hai mujhe. Behen maana hai maine usse. Toh aise kaise uss ko apni ankhon k saamne barbad hone deta? (I couldn't see Choti like that anymore. She calls me brother. I have made her my sister. Then how could I let her destroy herself before my own eyes?)" He croaked at last turning his head to her.

Payal opened her eyes and leaned against his shoulder wrapping her arm around his elbow.

"In her defense, he deserved everything she put him through." Payal stated.

"I know. Believe me even Arnav knows that. Babu ji didn't send Khushi with him just like that. He has practically warned him and has had a very serious discussion with him before agreeing to do as I suggested."

"How did that turn out? She came back in hours and has left being really upset with Babu ji. Not only that she was disappointed in you too. She hasn't contacted us for about a week now." Payal said dejected.

"Don't worry about that. She can't stay mad at her father for long. Not with me either. Don't you know her Payal?" He rubbed her arm up and down soothingly.

"I know her. That's why I am afraid Akash. She would prefer suffering and torturing herself rather than showing her weakness to anyone. Especially if its Arnav for that matter."

"We have done what we could. Now it's up to him how he would handle her and make her believe in love again which she lost because of him only."

"What if he didn't succeed?"

"Let's hope he does win. This time we have to pray that none of Khushi's efforts to keep him at bay pays off. None at all."

They heard Shashi calling them. Worried they ran to his room and found out that Khushi has called. Shashi and Akash talked to her and as they cut the call, they all sighed in relief.

Shashi told them that it was Arnav who has called and he has convinced Khushi to talk with her family as well.

Akash looked at Payal knowingly to which she passed him a gratitude smile now realizing that his suggestion was really working. Khushi needed a push, her family gave her that.

Looks like things were going smoothly as per their plan.

Now the question arose.

Till when?

Khushi Mansion

"Good morning!" He greeted her softly finding her in the kitchen next morning again with Alina helping her prepare breakfast. Rehan kaka, Anila's husband was taking out fresh juice in the glasses.

Arnav waited patiently for his wife to acknowledge him who looked apparently in a contended, peaceful mood.

Maybe because she patched up with her father and her brother-in-law last night.

Or was it a charade?

A calm before the impending storm?

He couldn't decipher. Not until he would talk to her.

"Morning!" Khushi turned to him with a smile and his insides swelled with joy. That was the first genuine smile she offered him after years and years as it not only lit up her eyes but her whole face twinkled too. He has been at the receiving end of plenty of these smiles in the past when she loved him to bits.

Now it seemed like a long lost memory.

He felt like he has achieved a milestone already in their relationship by getting her to smile at him.

His eyes prickled and he was pulled out of his thoughts as she waved her hand in front of his face.

"Huh?"

"I was asking what would you like to have? In breakfast?" She asked frowning.

"Anything you'd make." He cleared his throat to ward off the lump stuck in there. Just a week ago she has rudely told him she would do her own work and never his. That he could use his servants for that for all she cares but now she looked like she has already forgotten her own said words.

What brought this change?

Was it her gratitude for patching her up with her family?

He made a mental note to not praise her cooking at all as she turned back to her task. He has learned his lesson very well with the last experience.

Thankfully his decision to keep the middle aged couple work in the house proved fruitful. She was getting along with them alright relieving him off the worry.

With the help of Rehan and Anila, Khushi arranged the table where he was already sitting waiting for her. He had his eyes glued to her. She was wearing black jeans with a red full sleeves shirt hugging her body at all the right places making his mouth dry and stomach clench.

She took the seat opposite him thanking the couple who went back to the kitchen. She then turned to him.

"What are you waiting for? Start eating." She said casually.

His heart thumped erratically at the soft look she passed him.

Though he was contended inside that she was breaking her rigidness but he couldn't help but be cautious of her every move. She was behaving as if everything was normal between them and it was giving him uneasy feelings no matter how much he try to ward them off.

He surely needed to talk to her about it. But to be honest, he was afraid. Hell petrified. Of not only her but her outburst too which always ended up with her breakdown and he doesn't think he was ready to see her shattered all over again.

So he let it be. For the time being. He surely didn't want to break the serenity of this mansion which has started feeling like a home now ever since she has started living in it.

Pushing every negative thought at the back of his mind, he started eating. With his mind and heart focused on the woman sitting across him.

Once they finished, she stood up to clear the table but he stopped her.

"Leave it. I haven't hired Anila and Rehan for nothing." Though he made his voice sound confident but inside he was shaking with the fear of offending her and if it happened then she would stop talking to him altogether. Just like the way she had had when she has burst out on him seeing Kriti on her very first day here. For the next whole week she hasn't spared him a glance let alone talk.

He definitely didn't want the things to go back to square one. Not at all.

"Okay." She shrugged agreeing much to his surprise. He exhaled.

"By the way, why you always look at me as if I am some kind of a time bomb which would blast any moment from now?" She asked suddenly.

He swallowed.

"Aren't you?" He asked silently.

She averted her eyes before raising her lashes back to him.

"Don't tell me you're scared of me?" She raised her eyebrow.

He closed the distance between them in two long strides and stood nose to nose to her. She gulped.

"When your whole being is dependent on someone else. Then you're bound to be afraid of that certain someone. Because that one person holds the reigns of everything you have ever wished for. Now it's up to that someone whether he wants to grant you those wishes or snatch it all from you once and for all?"

He whispered gazing into her stunning eyes.

"You are that person in my life, Mrs.Raizada."

She rasped taking a step back.

"Now you tell me? How can I not be scared of you?" He whispered loud enough for her to hear.

He saw her walls cracking before she build up another strong one before his very eyes as she didn't bother replying to his hearty confession.

"I am getting late for office. You must be too." She said and dashed past him only to be stopped by his hand on her wrist. The right side of her body faced him with her hairs covering the side of her face.

"My fear is not greater than my love for you, Khushi." He removed the hairs from her face, tucked them behind her ear and folding her arm on her stomach leaned closer. She took a sharp intake of breath.

"Keep that in mind. Clearly."

He saw her mask of 'everything-is-fine' slipping and before he knew it she has snatched back her hand and ran away upstairs without a word.

He got his answers. It was a charade, a facade she has worn in order to look normal. But in reality she was anything but that.

Now it was up to him to turn that pretense into reality.

"Wait right there, Mrs. Raizada." He called out from the top of the stairs. She was sneaking out after getting ready for the office.

He ran down the stairs when she didn't stop. Instead her pace only increased. He caught her right at the door and pulled her back in causing her to fall onto his chest.

Her eyes widened and as expected in a moment her nostrils flared. She glared up at him.

"What the hell?" She shoved him. He staggered a step back cursing under his breath.

"Just because I am not saying anything doesn't mean that you'd take advantage of it and do whatever you want with me." She spat.

"How dare you?" Placing both her palms on his chest, she pushed him with all the force she could muster.

He swallowed past a lump.

"Sorry." He raised his hands in surrender. That mellowed her down a bit but then her rage knew no bounds at what he did next.

"Sorry for holding your hand like this." He caught her wrist which she twisted and turned in hold.

"Sorry for pulling you closer like this." He tugged at her hand making her fall back on his chest.

Her eyes widened.

"And so sorry for saying sorry for all this when I am not sorry at all." He nudged his nose with hers.

She exhaled closing her eyes while trying so hard to break free.

"I have to confess something even if it made you angry." He whispered with his breath fanning on her face making her shudder. It only increased her struggles.

She gasped when he placed his cheek against hers before saying ardently.

"You look stunning in your formal wear." He pulled back a bit to give an appreciating look to her black skirt and black shirt and coat. He hasn't seen any lawyer as beautiful and alluring as her.

Her eyes shot open and she found herself fully caged in between his arms which were locked at her waist with nowhere for her to escape even if she tried so hard.

"I hate you!" She gritted at last raising her eyes to his and frowned when he smiled at her declaration.

"I am literally beginning to understand what you really mean by those words every time you say them."

Her arms were sandwiched in between them resting on his front. She pushed at him through it.

He chuckled confusing her some more at his casual demeanor.

"By the way, I love you too." He said huskily.

Her struggles stopped as she looked up at him with her eyes welling up from the corners.

"I said I hate you, you dimwit." She clenched her jaws.

"I heard that." He smirked. And she couldn't meet her eyes to him after that.

"Leave me. I am getting late for office." She growled and he stepped back raising his hand up in air again.

He has seen the look on her face. He has seen how she was holding up. Her eyes were already full of unshed tears and if he hadn't released her she might as well had broken down. He couldn't let that happen. He don't want to see her weak. Instead, he would prefer the strong, independent woman, a lawyer to be precise who was an inspiration for many women out there.

She composed herself as soon as he let her go. Giving him an accusing glare, she turned.

"You're forgetting something." He called from behind.

"What?" She exclaimed frustrated turning to him.

"This!" He scooted closer and side hugging her kissed her temple before whispering.

"Have a nice day!" Then he was gone leaving her standing frozen on her steps.

She jerked in her position when she heard him starting his car. Pursing her lips in anger she ran out with her eyes turning red with rage. He rolled the window down as she breathed hard reaching his side of the door out there on the road and banged it in vengeance.

"I HATE YOU. WHY DON'T YOU GET IT? I HATE YOU." She yelled punching her fist against the door.

He looked around and found the neighbors who were also leaving for work giving her curious yet amused glances.

After shouting she had both her hands placed tightly on the door while standing outside the car.

"When did I say you don't?" He reached over, took her clenched fist in his palm and rubbed soothing circles on her skin. It must be paining by the force she punched her hand in anger.

"Then why did you say you love me too?" She pulled back her hand spitting fire at him.

He vaguely heard a few chuckles of the nearby people who must be watching them still. Sighing he twisted the door knob and walked out of the car.

"Okay. I should've said I hate you too. There. I said it. Now happy?"

"You hate me?" She gritted.

He exhaled exasperated seeing her on the verge of exploding.

"You still hate me?" She asked again.

Oh for heaven's sake, when he says the truth she don't believe in it and when he lies, she believes in it instantly!

How should he handle her now?

"THEN WHY DID YOU MARRY ME?" She gave him a strong push causing him to hit the car behind.

But the next moment their positions were switched as a now angry and fully pissed Arnav held her against the car firmly looking down at her, in her confused yet beautiful eyes.

"Because you asked me to. Because you wanted it. Remember?"

Tongue tied she stared at him.

"Mind your business. Spare us!" He yelled looking over at neighbors gathered outside their houses with their sole focus on them. Embarrassed they relented walking back into their homes.

Turning to his wife, he released a breath before cupping her cheeks.

"You are a renowned lawyer Mrs. Raizada. A very reputed one. You can figure out the difference between a deceit and a truth more than anyone. Then why don't you apply some of your skills in our relationship, our marriage as well to decode which one of my actions are true and which one aren't? Fair enough isn't it?"

She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out apart from air as his hands on her cheeks were caressing it softly with a passionate look directed solely for her which was altogether making her fall weak on her knees.

All of this didn't go unnoticed by him and like before, he stepped back. She gasped shortly before storming off without sparing him any backward glance.

"Aur kitna intezaar karwao gi Khushi? Aur kitna?(For how long would you make me wait Khushi? Just how much more?)"

He whispered looking at her retreating back.

Lucknow Women Shelter

"She is not ready to even say a word let alone file a case against him." Sakshi informed her while leading her through the corridor. On each side of which there were several rooms with dark brown single doors.

Khushi nodded seriously.

"But if you'll just look at her condition you'd feel like strangling that bastard to death." Sakshi gritted angrily while opening the door on the right corner after getting an affirmative nod from Khushi who entered and asked her to wait outside.

Cautiously Khushi reached over to the bed where the woman was lying down with her eyes shut. Her face was swollen with bruises all over and they weren't just confined there. Her neck, her arms and her feet were full of wounds. On a closer look, she found a few blisters here and there too. Khushi was absolutely sure that if she raised her dress and exposed more she would find her whole body covered in similar bruises as well.

Her heart clenched in her chest painfully as it reminded her something which she so wanted to forget.

She stood up from bed clutching the bed sheets around her bare body and limped towards the mirror.

She stood before mirror and glanced at her figure in it.She saw a woman completely pale.Yellow..that's what the color of her skin was.She has become a shadow of her former self.She ran her hand on her face from her creased forehead to her dark circles.From her bruised lips to her pale cheeks.

Then she let the bed sheet slip from her hands and she saw with tears in her eyes.Her whole body was covered with bite marks not only because from the last night session.They were always there. Infact they never vanished.He made sure of that.As whenever he made love to her.He was always hard and dominating.And when he would be finished he would never cradle her in his arms to soothe her pain.

Instead he always leave her writhing in it on bed and will return only next day.Those marks have now turned blue that even a single touch cause her to wince but he didn't care.He quenched his desires everyday without giving much thought to her pain.

This wasn't the first time those memories revisited her whenever she handled these type of cases. It has started to have become a part of her. She has learned to deal with it by burying them in the darkest part of her being whenever they poked her, nagged her, hurt her, cut her, slash her and altogether try to break her well built strong persona.

"Niti?" Khushi called softly.

The woman winced as she opened her swollen eyes with great difficulty.

"Hi. I am Khushi Gu-" She stopped whilst her heart protested reminding her that she wasn't a Gupta anymore. She was a Raizada now, again. Pushing off the reprimanding voice she continued.

"I am Khushi Gupta. I am here to-"

"Convince me to fight?" She cut her strongly."I know you Mam. I have heard a lot about you. At one point even I wanted to be the way you are. Strong and Independent. Look where it has gotten me." She gestured to her miserable condition. "I stood up for myself for the very first time and he didn't leave me capable of protesting ever again." A sadistic chuckle left her.

It took all of Khushi's strength to put up a poker face. She wasn't here to show her sympathy or pity whatsoever. She was here to give this woman the courage, the strength and the confidence to fight back not make her more weak by agreeing to each and every words of hers.

"I am disappointed in you Niti. You consider me your role model and yet you are accepting defeat at the very first failure to fight for your rights?"

"I have accepted defeat not because I lack courage Mam-"

"Call me Khushi." She interrupted in order to turn the thick atmosphere light a bit.

Niti passed her a weak teary smile before nodding.

"Khushi, lack of courage isn't the problem. He is. He abuses me, beats me up, makes me suffer every possible way and then..then he come back and apologize. Not only that he grovel until I don't forgive him. But sooner or later, he go back to the way he always were. And it continues so on and so forth." She choked at the end.

"That means his apologies weren't genuine to even begin with." Khushi stated.

"I don't know. I don't understand. It's like he is some another person when he stalk me to get forgiveness and when he gets it, he becomes a whole different man. He confesses his love in one moment and hurt me in the very next."

"You never asked him why did he do that?" Khushi asked with a lump stuck in her throat.

"He says he is like this only. If I can't handle him then it's my problem not his." She cried.

"Why are you doing this to me Arnavji? Why? Why you are being on and off about our relationship? Can't you see I love you and I ..miss you.Always." She cried out holding onto him desperately.

"Stop being clingy Khushi. Stop it. I am like this only. If you want to live with me then you'll have to get used to it.If you can't then its your problem not mine because i am not changing for anyone.Not even for you!"He jerked her away before storming off leaving behind shackles of a wounded fragile heart.

Khushi took a sharp intake of breath as her insides churned. Today, the memories were taking more time to compress unlike the last seven years of her life. Maybe because the man himself who inflicted all on her was back and upon that, the case she just got to handle was almost similar to her own life real story.

"Why didn't you leave him before? Why did you tolerate all of this till now?" Khushi asked silently feeling heavy inside but nothing showed on her face.

"You think I am here because I left him? No, Khushi. I am here because he is again in his grovelling mode and he has told me that whatever I wanted he would do it, if only at the end I'd forgive him and go back to him. I asked him to give me a break and let me go somewhere. It was his definition of giving space as he left me in this shelter after taking a promise from me that I won't open my mouth."

"What if you did open your mouth? What would he do?" Khushi asked feeling anger bubbling up for the man. He sure needed treatment.

"He would kill my baby." She cried.

Khushi gasped.

"How can a father kill his own child?" Khushi couldn't help but croak. But even though she asked the question she felt pain shooting through her heart that prickled her with needles. Her emotions were all over the place as her throat clogged.

"Did you plan that accident to kill me?" She was furious.

"Did you or did you not?" She gritted.

"Y-Yes!" He mumbled.

"You wanted to kill me?" She said aghast "You hated me that much?"

"Didn't you for once think that i was pregnant at that time?" Her tears flowed down unchecked.

"It was your child as well Arnavji.." She poked a finger at his chest.

"If not for me. At least you should have thought about YOUR baby." She sobbed.

Memories came flooding back. Pregnancy report. Certain revelations. Characterless tag. A rough push outside the mansion. And then bam. The truck. The blood. The baby. Her baby. Rahul. Gone to never come back.

Hearing any more of Niti's story was turning out too difficult for her and what Niti said next made her own eyes tear up.

"It is my second marriage. It isn't his own child. He doesn't care much for him."

"What's your baby's name?" Khushi asked with a smile composing herself trying to smooth up the heavy talk and it only weighed down on her as she heard.

"Rahul." Niti revealed and and everything collapsed around Khushi.

Including her composure!

She stood up abruptly with her eyes rapidly filling up.

Before she break down before the already shattered woman, she ran out gasping for breaths.

"He took my Rahul from me Babuji. Why did he do that? Why didn't I die when that truck hit me Babuji. Why didn't I die along with my baby? Why?"

As soon as she was out it has started to drizzle. Silently she stepped foot in the open air and looked up. She let the drops to fall on her face one by one mingling with the tears now rolling down her cheeks. Within moments, the light rain turned into heavy downpour but she didn't care. She just stood with her head raised up hoping against hope that the water running down her body wash away all the pain too.

Maybe!

Just maybe!

Arnav was descending the spiral staircase of his new office in Lucknow when his eyes has caught the sight of the woman sitting in the waiting area all wet from top to bottom. As soon as he recognized her, he climbed down two steps at a time and was before her within moments.

"Khushi?" He said concerned.

She stood up shivering with her teeth clattering. Red hue in her eyes told him the story of a recent breakdown she must have had. He felt anger and helplessness rising within him.

Why she has to be that hard on herself?

Why dammit?

"BRING A TOWEL. HURRY UP!" He shouted without taking his eyes off her because he knew his orders would be followed as it is and he wasn't wrong either because in less than a minute an employee handed him the towel which he quickly draped on her head and rubbed softly from either sides. He already had his blazer wrapped around her shoulders. Her shivering still didn't stop.

"WHO THE HELL TURNED THE HEATERS OFF? SWITCH THEM BACK ON!" His voice boomed in the hall as his orders were followed quickly.

"Why wasn't I informed that she is here?" Leaning her against him he turned to the receptionist as the employees shuddered inwardly at his loud bellow. Maybe her messed up stance didn't give her much attention otherwise they would've recognized Khushi as she wasn't anonymous to begin with anyways but that didn't give anyone authority to make her wait when he didn't give anyone the rights to do so not even himself then how dare his workers do that?

"ASR, I asked her many a times of why she was here but she won't speak." The receptionist shivered in her shoes trying to defend herself every way possible clearly realizing that the woman was someone special for her boss.

"SHUT UP." Arnav growled making her jerk in her position before he turned to his employees who has stood up obediently on their places, behind their desks as a habit because during this particular time of the day, he surely gave a visit to every department of AR to check the progress.

"Everyone! Today I am announcing it for the very first and most certainly the last time so pay attention and listen with all your ears." He gave a brisk look around.

Giving one look to his unusually silent and unresponsive wife, he addressed them squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.

"She is Mrs.Arnav Singh Raizada and from today onward if anyone, I repeat, anyone stopped her at the reception then that would be your last day in this office and for that matter the end of your career too."

At that Khushi's head jerked up to him as she blinked her eyes up at him and scoffed.

"Really?"

His eyes widened hearing her slurred speech. Looking down at her, he clenched his jaws and closed his eyes for a moment before bringing his attention back to his surprised and not to mention curious employees at the unexpected revelation.

"Am I clear?" He asked authoritatively.

Hearing a loud and clear affirmative answer from them he bent and ignoring the gasps of his workers he carried her up in his arms and ascended the spiral staircase back up to his cabin.

Placing her on one of the lavish couches, he strode to his desk and dialed a number on the intercom.

"Bring lemon water and painkillers in my cabin urgently." Thumping the receiver back on its case he adjusted the temperature of the heater before tracing his steps back to his wife who was now laughing uncontrollably without a reason.

Sitting besides her quietly, he exhaled.

"How much did you drink?" He asked quietly turning his head to hers with his jaws set tight.

She giggled shaking her head but didn't answer.

"Did someone say something to you?" He tried again.

She twitched her mouth looking ahead rubbing her neck.

He ran a hand over his face agitated.

"Did something happen at your work place?"

At that she raised her head to him and no sooner than that tears pooled her eyes.

"What happened there?" He asked cupping the side of her cheek anxiously.

"Her baby's name is R-Rahul." She choked blinking back the tears with her lower lip trembling.

He took a sharp intake of breath now understanding everything with just a name. Something must have reminded her of her loss. The loss which she faced just because of him. The loss which has left a void in her so deep and so profound that nothing could ever fill it. Not even if she tried, they tried.

Yet she has come here .. to him in her moment of weakness?

He gulped. As much as that realization soothed him that she came to him in her sadness, he was feeling anguish hitting him hard for not being able to do anything to make her come out of it.

This was the only thing in which his hands were tied. He couldn't do anything and it was enough to drown him in guilt and shame.

Cupping her cheeks he wiped the corner of her eyes as she whimpered.

"Please I love him more than anything. He means everything to me. No one else. Not even you. Did you get me?" She cried out with her fingers buried in her hairs after shrugging his hands.

He watched as she sobbed uncontrollably the same way she was laughing before.

"I got you. I understood. Okay? Now hush. Shh." He forcibly made her turn to him and pulled her on his lap and hid her in the confinement of his arms with his blazer hanging loosely around her shoulders.

"You said you'd show me to the world's best doctors and give me back everything you took from me. Would you still do that if I asked you to?" She pulled back a bit and asked almost pleadingly with her eyes full of unshed tears, a few rolled down her cheeks as she blinked.

Knots formed in his stomach.

"You don't have to ask Mrs.Raizada. Just command and I'd do anything for you." He wiped her tears from the back of his fingers.

"You'd?" She murmured unsure, her hand curled around his lapels.

"Absolutely. Yakeen nahi hai toh aazma k dekh lo (Put me to test if you have any doubts!)"

She rested her head back on his chest. His heart clenched and unclenched as her whimpers cut through him.

"I-I have traveled a few countries l-like-" She cleared her throat as her eyelids starting drooping.

"Like China, France, Italy and Japan etcetera and even the best doctors there said the same which the doctors said here in India. That I-" She sniffled. "I cannot conceive. E-Ever." She burst out crying turning her head to his chest and dug her face in whilst sobbing making his eyes well up too. He tightened his hold on her whilst his eyes burned with unshed tears.

If she had been even a little bit sober than she would've broken his bones even for even daring to touch her let alone allowing him to pull her on his lap. And certainly she wouldn't have opened up like this to him at all either.

"What can I do for you?" He choked with helplessness palpable in his voice as he held her closer with his one arm wrapped around her waist and other around the shoulder rubbing up and down her arm.

"Show me to as many doctors as you want. I-I just want to be complete. Feel complete. I-I am sick of feeling inadequate, incomplete and .. and insignificant." She croaked clutching his shirt in a fist.

A hand clawed his heart as keeping his emotions at bay became impossible for him. He swallowed thickly and opened his mouth to console her but tears got stuck in his throat making it difficult to even produce a word.

Not getting any reply from him, a restless and in desperate need of comfort Khushi raised her head to him.

"Will you make me whole again, Arnavji?" She asked silently with fresh tears brimming her eyes.

With a rasp he pressed his lips to her forehead. His arm went around her shoulder and he crushed her closer, in his arms and placing his cheek against hers murmured in her ear.

"I'd do everything in my power to give you anything you'd ask from me. Tumhare liye hi toh jee raha hun ab. Tumhe hi khush na rakh paya toh maire jeene ka koi matlab nahi hai. (I am living just for you, now. If I couldn't keep you happy then what's the point of me living at all?)"

Again, if she hadn't been drunk she would have never, ever asked for his help even if it killed her. For a split second he was grateful that she wasn't sober and he got to know from her only what's going on inside her. Otherwise she would've drowned in sadness and wouldn't have said a word to him as she still don't consider him worthy enough to share her life with him. Although sharing a same roof was different matter altogether.

"After years for the very first time, very first, you have asked something from me and it's Arnav Singh Raizada's promise to you that I'd do whatever it takes to make you whole again." He closed his eyes clenching his hand in her hairs.

Not getting any response from her, he looked down and found her eyes drooping close and lips pouted. He could tell her head was spinning with the way she was shaking it.

Did she even listen his promise?

And where the hell was that canteen guy whom he ordered to bring lemon water in his cabin?

She winced with her hand on her head.

She was going to have a bad hangover!

Right then a knock on the door made him exhale as he shouted.

"Come in!"

The door opened and the canteen boy averted his eyes as his gaze straight away went to the couch where ASR was sitting with a woman in his lap.Silently he placed the tray on the table in front of the couch and left closing the door behind.

She squirmed in his arms. He held her taking off the blazer as the cabin was now warm enough. He thought to give her water first as crying a lot must have made her throat dry.

He brought the glass close to her lips. She pushed it through her hand angrily.

"Khushi!" He said pleadingly as the glass shattered on the floor.

She shoved him and stood up wobbling on her steps. He grabbed her through her waist and pulled her closer.

She protested.

He glared.

She glared back as much as she could with her drowsy eyes.

He sighed in defeat.

After a lot of attempts when she didn't relent then he did the only thing he could.

He grabbed her chin softly and forcefully opening her mouth made her drink the whole glass of lemon water. At the end of which big fat tears formed in her eyes and she shoved past him and swayed on her steps.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." He closed his eyes in relief half bend towards her as he caught her before she could fall to the ground.

Blinking her eyes looking up at him, she raised her hand to his face making his stomach clench.

"Tell me one thing?" She asked caressing his jaw feeling her head and ears pounding.

"Hmm?" He straightened them up with her glued to his chest.

"Why are you so good to me now? Apka gussa aur zid kahan gayi?(Where did your anger and obstinacy go?)" She asked quietly with sadness emanating from her eyes.

"Jahan tumhari zid aur pagalpan chala gaya. Shayad wahin.(Where your stubbornness and craziness went. Maybe right there.)" He whispered hoarsely touching his head to hers.

"Itna sehen karne ki himmat kahan se ayi aap mai? (From where did you get this much patience?)" She asked with her eyes half open, half closed. His heart jumped up to his throat as an urge to share it all with her rose within him and he didn't resist.

"Jail mai hua ye sab. Har roz ye sochta tha k tumse miloun ga. Har roz tumhari rah dekhta tha. Har roz khud se kehta tha k aj nahi ayi toh koi baat nahi, kal bhi aye ga aur kya pata kal hi wo aa jaye. Tum aa jao. Har roz khud ko tasalli deta tha aur har roz tot k bikhadta tha. Har roz khud ko samet'ta tha aur agle hi roz phir se tot'ta tha. Bas aise hi saat(7) saal kaise nikal gaye pata hi nahi chala. Mai uss dard se pehle hi guzar chuka hun jo tum mujhe dena chahti ho Khushi. Intezaar ki takleef mai pehle se hi jaanta hun.

(It all happened in jail. Each day I spent thinking that I'd meet her today. Every day I'd wait for you. Everyday I used to say to myself that it's okay if she didn't come today, there is always a tomorrow which will come and might as well bring her too. Bring you too. Every day I used to console myself and every single day the shattered hope would break me into pieces. Each day I picked up those pieces and the very next day I'd break apart all over again. Just like that seven years passed and I didn't even know they did. I already have gone through that pain which you want to give me. I already know the pain of wait.)"

He gulped down the saliva as her head fell on his chest while she passed out throwing all her weight on him. Wiping the corner of his eyes he held her up before carrying her in his arms and lowered her on the couch.

He knew she wasn't in her senses and she might not remember anything when she would wake up but for the first time he wanted to let it all out too. Tell her how much he missed her. How much he longed for her. How much he has suffered too. It wasn't just her. It was him too in this relationship with his mind, body and soul.

Someday, he would bare open his wounds before her and then would definitely ask her on her face.

"Kya kabhi kisi ne tumse itna pyaar kiya haiMrs.Raizada jitna mai karta hun?(Has anyone ever loved you the way I did,Mrs.Raizada?)"

She woke up with a bad headache and the first thing she noticed was the familiar surrounding of her room and the last thing she remembered was talking to Niti and running out of the women shelter before drinking into oblivion remembering her lost baby and womb in a jiffy because of a man whom she has once loved to bits.

What happened later and how did she get here?

She asked herself with her hand on her head.

"It's good you're awake. It's fifth time in a row that I made coffee and came here but you're sleep. Thank god this won't go wasted. How're you feeling now?" Anila entered the room with a smile.

Khushi looked quizzically at her before looking out at the glass windows out looking the garden and found it was night now.

"I am fine." She frowned."I'd have taken the cold one alright Anila Di and if needed I'd have made it myself. Why did you bother?" She said taking the cup from her and leaned back on the headboard taking a sip.

"Oh no. No. Your husband strictly told me to keep an eye on you and I should give you a strong freshly made coffee once you wake up."

Khushi's hand trembled on the cup. With the past memories, her contempt for him has come back too. If it weren't for him, she would've had her child with her today. Bitterness seeped into her.

"Arnav was here?" She gritted and that's when her eyes went to her dress. She found herself in her informal wear. Black trousers and a green shirt. Her heart thudded violently in her rib cage whilst anger bubbled up inside her.

Did he change her clothes too?

"Yes. He was the one who brought you home. He needed to go back to office urgently so he asked me to change your clothes and take care of you." Anila added making Khushi exhale as a weight lifted off her chest. Anila took it as something else and rushed to console her.

"He will be back soon. Don't worry. He cares a lot for you. You're one lucky woman to have been loved like that. I wish my daughter gets the man like-"

"STOP!" Khushi exclaimed placing the cup on the bedside table. "Do not wish for something you'd regret later. Don't get fooled by the appearances Di. Don't." Khushi said sternly before getting off the bed.

Anila's smile vanished.

"I know I am no one to say anything in your personal matter but as you call me Di, an elder sister, can I have a permission to advise you something?"

Khushi stopped besides the bed hearing her. Her facial features relaxed which Anila took as a cue to continue.

"Don't test a man's patience and ego and for that matter don't stretch it either. Mard pyaar karta hai, bohat karta hai aur sehen, sehen bhi kar leta hai par kisi had tak. Uss k baad agar wo zid par utar aye na toh hum biwiyon k pass rone k siwa aur kuch nahi bachta.(A man does love, he loves a lot and endure, he can do much of that too but up to a certain limit. When that exceeds and he decides to be stubborn then we wives could do nothing but cry because we are left of that option only.Nothing else)"

Khushi clenched her jaws.

"Well then Di, I don't need a man whose ego is bigger than his love for his wife. I'd happily leave that type of person even if it turned out to be my very own husband." She spouted venom as its poison made someone choke on emotions.

Anila's eyes widened as she raised her head and spotted her boss standing at the door before her eyes went back to Khushi who was still talking with her back to him.

"And let me clear one more thing. I am not that type of woman either, who cries and begs for her husband's attention. I am not weak. At all."

Anila sighed as she saw Arnav gesturing her to leave and with a nod she stood.

Seeing her nod, Khushi turned following her line of vision and found him staring right back at her with something akin to disappointment in his eyes?

Anila left silently while the couple looked at each other with determination shining in their eyes.

It was him who broke their eye lock and walked to her.

"I know we have many differences but keep the servants out of it, Khushi. It's our personal matter." He gritted authoritatively.

"Personal?" She scoffed."What do you think that they don't know? We stay in separate rooms Mr.Raizada. It's not hard to guess the equation between us."

"Your tone seems accusing to me Khushi as if I am the one living separately from you. Does that mean you want to stay with me in my room to make it ours finally?" He walked another step and he was standing without an inch of distance from her face.

"Rubbish!" She growled looking up at his face. Cupping her cheeks firmly he tilted her face before placing his lips on her forehead and then her cheeks shutting down her senses and sucking off her anger. She gasped clutching the front of his shirt.

"You are most welcome to shift with me whenever you want to, okay? I am just a door away." He murmured against her skin before pulling back to look at her standing in his arms in a daze.

A pink hue was rising from her neck to her cheeks making her look exquisite. This was the reaction his old Khushi has given when for the very first time he has hugged her while he was in the process of making her fall for him and he succeeded with not much effort back then.

That means..

His heart swelled with joy.

His wife was falling in love with him all over again even if she was already head over heels for him!

Ironic. Isn't it?

It was so easy to make her fall for him when his feelings were fake but it is too difficult to do the same when his feelings are hell true and pure!

Swallowing he looked at her face adorned with blush.

"You are beautiful." He pecked her temple. She shuddered.

"The way you have gathered yourself after everything is commendable."

He pecked her nose. She took a sharp intake of breath.

"I am proud to be your husband. I am honored to have been given the privilege to spend my life with you."

He tilted her chin up to drop a kiss there. She closed her eyes breathing hard.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance even though you hate me so much."

Swallowing he placed his lips on the corner of her mouth and it not only electrocuted her but also brought her back to senses.

She pushed him away with vengeance blinking her eyes and turned around with her back to him.

"Khushi.." He pleaded.

"Please l-leave." She croaked.

"Khushi, please? Sharing your true feelings don't make you weak. Hiding them does. It would rust your inside, eat you up alive if you kept it all inside."

"I said leave. GO." She yelled at the end.

He curled his hands into fists whilst his eyes prickled.

"Fine. I am going. I came here to inform you that we are going to England this weekend. So if you have any work scheduled on those days then clear it out before Friday." He said and turned to leave.

"I am not going anywhere with you. And why the hell did you decide something for me without me asking?" She whirled around to face him while he turned back to her with a frown.

"You don't remember anything do you?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Remember what?" She asked confused.

"Never mind. I'd tell you once we would reach there. You don't have to worry about packing. Anila would do that. Just tell her if you-"

"I said I am not going anywhere with you!" She exclaimed out loud.

"You asked for it and you will. Got it?" He stated firmly.

"I didn't ask for anything." She ground her teeth.

"Jog your memory, you did. You asked for my help and I agreed to do anything in my power to give you that."

"What in the freaking hell did I ask?" She groaned.

Arnav pinched the bridge of his nose. He just can't tell her how much she has become so vulnerable before him when she was drunk and if she got to know that she blurted out her feelings about being inadequate in front of him then she would run miles away from him.

As if she is running to your arms now, is she?

She wasn't. He knew but she was at least living with him under the same roof. If she got to know about her major breakdown, not only would she shut down and stop talking to him but also the little bit progress they have made would thin into air.

"I didn't ask you to drink that much that you lose your senses and memory as well. Figure it out yourself and if you can't, it will be your problem not mine." He shrugged and Khushi turned red with anger.

"Arnav!" She gritted pissed.

"By the way, you called me Arnavji when you asked that from me. Did that ring a bell?" He said smugly.

"Get lost." She whisper yelled when she couldn't recall anything and it was making her more desperate to know what she said to him in her drunken stupor.

While Arnav turned and walked out with a contended look on her face.

Now, she won't think about the incidence which has broken her down and drink to oblivion and above all made her remember Rahul. Instead, she would use all of her senses and strength to recall what did she exactly say to him and why the hell was he taking her to England?

Sighing in relief he entered the dining area where Anila and Rehan were serving the dinner.

He sat waiting for her as Anila went up to call Khushi down.

He stood up pushing back the chair as she descended down the stairs all ready in her formal wear yet again to leave.

At this time?

"Where to?" He was blocking her path reaching her in no time.

Anila and Rehan watched them from the dining.

"To finish what I started. Whole of my day got wasted I don't know where!" She stated.

"Khushi time dekha hai tumne? Ab jo bhi kaam hai subah kar lena. Abhi chalo khaana kha lo (Have you seen the time? Whatever work is left you can do so tomorrow. For now, come and eat dinner.)"

"Who are you to tell me what should I do or shouldn't?" She spat.

"Your husband dammit." His reply was instant and sharp as he stood nose to nose to her.

"Fine. Mr.Husband. Let's eat. Shall we?" She stepped back and walked to the dining.

He followed with a frown. She agreed. Without arguing? How so?

He didn't has to ponder long because he got his answers no sooner than they reached the dining table as one after the other she picked the dishes and dropped them on the floor looking into his eyes causing the middle aged couple to gasp in shock and Arnav to clench his jaws as she faced him with a smirk then.

"There. I had my dinner. Now I can go to work can't I?" She raised her eyebrow and turned to leave.

"No. You can't." He stated on her face whirling her around to face him catching her elbow.

"Who will stop me? You?"

"Yes. I will." He left her elbow only for his hand to go around her waist making her eyes widen as she wriggled.

"Arnav. Let go. I have to attend an important client." She twisted and turned in his hold.

"I'd stop you from doing anything which would remind you of Rahul." He said and she stilled.

All of her struggles vanished and so did her strength to fight back as she slumped against him. He closed his eyes feeling guilty for using that name which sucks off all of his wife's fighting abilities along with all the courage she has mustered up the last seven years.

As tears pooled her eyes, he swallowed before cupping the back of her head he pulled her in burying her face in his chest.

His gaze went to Anila and Rehan who looked at him apologetically and silently walked inside the kitchen after witnessing how bad the situation was between the couple whom they were hired to serve. They had an idea already but tonight that got confirmed cent percent.

Arnav tightened his hold around her hiding her in the confinement of his arms before placing his chin over her head.

After dropping her home and telling Anila to take care of Khushi he has straight away went to her office from where he has gotten to know about the new case she was offered to volunteer to fight from Lucknow Women Shelter. As he dug in more information about the case, goosebumps erupted on his skin as that woman story was almost similar to his wife's. His Khushi's.

He caressed her back and buried his fingers in her hairs clenched them in it as emotions overruled him.

"Her baby's name is R-Rahul." She choked blinking back the tears with her lower lip trembling.

He closed his eyes with his eyes burning with unshed tears as he rubbed his nose alongside her hairs in sheer anguish.

Enough is enough!

He won't let her torture her anymore by surrounding herself with the women who has suffered the same way she did. In that way she was only digging a grave and she was falling deeper in it and if it continued then she won't be able to ever come out of it. And he won't let that happen. No!

"You want to work as a lawyer, you can. But you won't be taking those depressing cases anymore. I will make sure of it." He said more like ordered pulling back a bit to cup her cheeks and saw that tears has socked her cheeks and his shirt too.

She was quietly sobbing and as he saw her condition his nostrils flared while his heart clenched painfully. Guilt gnawed him.

How could he damage her this much?

Just how could he?

"Forget about the weekend. We are leaving as early as possible." He said bleary eyed clenching his hand in her hairs.

She pulled back when her tears dried and she couldn't cry anymore. Emptiness filled her then. He observed her keenly as she wiped her face with defiance before she raised her wet lashes to him.

"You don't leave any opportunity to come close to me, touch me do you?" She snapped.

He clenched his hands into fists.

"You are again finding my weak spots and are noting them down in your mind to exploit them in future. I know you Arnav Singh Raizada. I know who you are. What you can do. What you want to do." Days events were taking a toll on her.

Arnav stared at her stupefied with his heart cutting into pieces.

"Good that you do know everything." He gritted out pushing back the hurt."If you know me then you should know this too that I will be the one succeeding this time around too. I will be the one with whom you'll fall in love with all over again."

He gripped her upper arms before whispering with his breath fanning on her face.

"I will be the one with whom you'd share your whole life. And certainly I'll be the one with whom you'd share everything. Everything." He spoke with vengeance. His face has hardened and so had his eyes with red hue shining in chocolate brown pools.

"Nothing like that would ever happen."

"Oh it already is happening Mrs.Raizada. You just didn't realize it. To prove my point let me tell you why we are going to England." He burst out all at once as her words and accusation slit through him. Here his every breath takes her name. Here he was living for her only and there she was calling him an opportunist.

"Leaving your meeting with your new client halfway you'd run from there and do you know where did you go after drowning yourself in alcohol?"

She frowned. She really didn't remember nor could she recall not until he said.

"You came to me. You came to AR." He breathed hard. "You cried out. You told me everything about your wish to be complete. You told me all about your insecurities. Everything."

Khushi stood stunned after his outburst.

"You begged me to show you to as many doctors as I could. You asked for my help. I agreed. There. Now you know!" He left her with a jerk.

She curled her fingers around her shirt, tugged at it as emotions rushed through her.

Her biggest weakness was in front of him already. What was there to hide now? He knows everything. He knows it all. Now he would definitely use it to his advantage.

If he could read her thoughts he would've known he was so right about her reaction to knowing about it and her next words told him exactly that.

"Now England is the place you have decided this time to show your true colors? To snatch everything from me all over again?"

"Dimagh se kam lo Khushi. Tumhare pass bacha hi kya hai jo mai tumse cheenun ga? (Use your brains Khushi. What are you left with anyways that I'd snatch it from you?)" He growled and immediately regretted it. His eyes widened as he recalled his words.

They were mean and cruel. Blunt truth told with bluntness that he saw crushed his wife. Her eyes prickled coupled with hurt and heartrending emotions passed through her face.

"Khushi I didn't mean to-" He tried but the damage was already done.

Gulping her cries she turned and ran away.

He ran after her till the stairs. She turned sharply to him.

"Don't follow me." She shouted and her voice boomed around the hall. It reached Anila and Rehan too who were heading to their quarter.

Arnav stopped with his hand on the wall as she ascended the stairs hurriedly before disappearing from his sight.

He groaned punching the wall before taking the vase and smashing it against the wall in sheer helplessness.

No. No. He can't let her think that awful about him. No.

He shook his head and ran up two stairs at a time. Taking long strides he reached her room urgently and found the door shut, locked from inside.

His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach.

"Khushi?" He knocked feeling needles pricking his throat.

"Khushi. Open the door. I need to talk to you. Please" He pleaded.

"Please. Please Khushi." He banged the door still not getting any response from her.

His restlessness grew so did his anxiety. He can't bear her being this upset with him when he knew he was at fault. He has promised himself that he would be patient with her but he don't know what came over him and he became that venomous ASR for that moment when she accused him of being an opportunist.

"I AM SORRY. I AM SO SORRY." He shouted banging the door harder now.

"Please let me in. Let me explain. Please." He touched his head to the door closing his eyes.

His eyes shot open when he heard her unlocking the door before she pulled it open. He exhaled in relief looking into her eyes.

"Five!" She stated crossing her arms under her breasts.

Swallowing he frowned.

"In the last five minutes, you have said please five times. What has gotten into you?" There was no sign of the hurt she felt earlier. She was behaving as if nothing happened.

Again?

Arnav groaned inwardly.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He apologized genuinely.

She shrugged stepping aside giving him the permission to come in. He entered and she closed the door behind.

"It's okay. You just spoke the truth. I overreacted."

He pinched the bridge of his nose feeling like an idiot for putting her through this. She already feel incomplete and he had to go ahead and remind her that yes, she was right.

Damn him!

"Whatever it was. I haven't given anyone the right to hurt you like that. Not even myself. That's why I am sorry." He said facing her.

She looked at him for a minutes maybe contemplating whether he was saying the truth or not before averting her eyes. Maybe she found her answer that's why.

"Do you trust me?" She asked suddenly.

"More than myself." His answer was quick.

"I wouldn't have if I were you."

"Excuse me?" He didn't understand.

"Nothing." She shook her head. "Blind trust costs you nothing but betrayal. The same way it costed me everything. "

"You are my everything. Nothing else matters." He was blunt.

She couldn't speak for several moments.

"I have learned my lesson. You should learn from mine." She found her voice.

"Why? You're asking me to doubt your intentions?" He asked confused.

"Shouldn't you?" Pat came the reply.

"Why would I?" He retaliated.

"Because you know why I married you." She said expressionlessly this time.

"To hurt me I know. But as long as you are with me no hurt or pain could be more bigger than this feeling of having you besides me." He cupped her cheeks.

Khushi huffed pushing him.

"What is it?" He asked.

"NOTHING." She snapped.

He was taken aback by her anger all of a sudden.

What did he say wrong this time?

"Please. Leave me alone. I want to rest." She demanded.

He didn't argue. He retreated his steps and left to his room right next to hers. Khushi breathed hard clenching her hands at her sides.

"Did you plan that accident to kill me?" She was furious.

"Y-Yes!" He mumbled.

"You wanted to kill me?" She said aghast "You hated me that much?"

"Didn't you for once think that I was pregnant at that time?" Her tears flowed down unchecked.

"It was your child as well Arnavji!" She poked a finger at his chest.

"If not for me. At least you should have thought about YOUR baby." She sobbed.

"He took my Rahul from me Babuji. Why did he do that? Why didn't I die when that truck hit me Babuji. Why didn't I die along with my baby? Why?"

"She is Mrs.Arnav Singh Raizada and from today onward if anyone, I repeat, anyone stopped her at the reception then that would be your last day in this office and for that matter the end of your career too."

"You said you'd show me to the world's best doctors and give me back everything you took from me. Would you still do that if I asked you to?" She pulled back a bit and asked almost pleadingly with her eyes full of unshed tears, a few rolled down her cheeks as she blinked.

"You don't have to ask Mrs.Raizada. Just command and I'd do anything for you." He wiped her tears from the back of his fingers.

"What can I do for you?" He choked.

"Show me to as many doctors as you want. I-I just want to be complete. Feel complete. I-I am sick of feeling inadequate, incomplete and .. and insignificant." She croaked clutching his shirt in a fist.

"Will you make me whole again, Arnavji?" She asked silently with fresh tears brimming her eyes.

She screamed in frustration which though reached Arnav but he stood his ground didn't rush to her giving her time to figure her feelings out. True one at that.

She fell down on the bed with her head in her hands. Tears brimmed in her eyes as everything came back to her slowly yet surely.

"Apka gussa aur zid kahan gayi?(Where did your anger and obstinacy go?)" She asked quietly.

"Jahan tumhari zid aur pagalpan chala gaya. Shayad wahin.(Where your stubbornness and craziness went. Maybe right there.)" He whispered hoarsely touching his head to hers.

"Itna sehen karne ki himmat kahan se ayi aap mai? (From where did you get this much patience?)" She asked.

"It all happened in jail."

"Every day I'd wait for you. Everyday I used to say to myself that it's okay if she didn't come today, there is always a tomorrow which will come and might as well bring her too. Bring you too."

"I already have gone through that pain which you want to give me. I already know the pain of wait."

"As long as you are with me no hurt or pain could be more bigger than this feeling of having you besides me."

An hour later he heard the banging on his door. He opened it hurriedly and found his messed up looking wife with her disheveled hairs as if she has ran her fingers multiples times in them and her swollen eyes indicating her breakdown.

"I can't.. sleep." She choked.

He swallowed.

"Can I stay with you.. tonight?"

He felt his eyes prick.

"Come." He offered her his hand. She placed her trembling one in his and then he didn't waste a moment to pull her in his arms closer before shutting the door behind her. She exhaled as he hid her in the confinement of his arms with his one hand over her head and other around her waist.

She brought her hand to clutch to his shirt and her other hand gripped his shirt from the back tightly as if to never let go.

Resting his chin over her head he asked.

"You sleep on the bed. I will take the couch."

"No." She whispered. "I won't sleep alone."

"Khushi? Are you sure?" He whispered.

She pulled back abruptly and glared at him for not listening to her demands as it is without any questions.

"I am sure but seems like you are having second thoughts." She gritted out. "Is there someone else-"

"NO!" He cut her in the middle. "Stop jumping to impossible conclusions. Stop making the same mistakes I did Khushi." He couldn't keep his voice low.

She scoffed.

"Impossible conclusions? By the way wasn't it you who said that you love someone else? I never got the privilege to ask you about her. Who was she? The woman whom you loved more than you life.. who was always on your mind when i was with you and you imagined her when you touched me.. fucked me.Was it Sheetal or someone else?"

"You thought I love you.Haha.What a joke.Want to know the truth.Then listen I never loved you. I never will. I love someone else. She is my life"

"I always imagined her when I was with you. I imagined her when I hugged you. I imagined her when I kissed you and I imagined her when.."

"Stop...p-please.. stop!" She begged as she covered her ears. It was getting too much for her to hear.

Taking her both hands off her ears he locked them behind her back and completed his sentence.

"I imagined her when I made love to you..." He saw her expressions going completely miserable. "Actually it wasn't love making! It was just sex for me by the way and I loved fucking you everyday!"

"I don't regret anything and neither will I ever because a girl like you deserve only this. You disgust me Khushi Kumari Gupta.I hate you.I hate you like hell!"

He felt his heart slashing. She was about to leave when he grasped her wrist in his hand and dragged her to the dressing table and standing behind her putting his hands on her shoulders he whispered in her ear.

"There she is." He tipped her chin up for her to look at herself in the mirror.

"It was you. It was always you. No one else Mrs.Raizada. Even when I hated you it was always you only. Just you. You were stupid enough to believe my half baked lies about my love for someone else. I did all that to hurt you knowing that nothing else would break you other than this."

She whimpered looking at herself in the mirror before turning to him and pushing him away vengefully.

"How could you do that to me? How? You knew it would hurt me. You knew what I feel for you. Even then why didn't you believe in me? Why didn't you trust me?"

"Because .. because I thought that you.. you--forget it." Blunt truth would hurt her more. He can't do that to her. Not again. He has to keep his tongue in check.

"I- what?" She demanded grabbing his collars. "Tell me." She was adamant.

When she didn't stop questioning, he had to blurt out.

"Because I thought you were used to jumping from one man to another just like--" He stopped.

"Like I jumped from Shyam to you. Right?" She murmured as his past words too hit her.

"That's what I wanted. For you to love me."

"So that my task could get much easier and trust me it wasn't that difficult because I knew what type of a girl you are. Who easily went from one guy to another in a span of few days.Just like you moved from Shyam to me!"

She tried to figure out over the years that when he knew that she loved him genuinely then why did he punish her away?

Why didn't he believe her?

Why?

She has turned his said words over and over again in all this years yet she couldn't understand until now. Now she knows and it killed her.

He may have gotten his legal punishment for attempting to murder her and murdering her child but what about the mental torture he gave her for those six months that even after seven years she couldn't come out of it?

Who would make him pay for those days..and nights?

Especially that last night which she spent on that road with blood pooled around her body?

She herself will. She decided in vengeance.

"I will become like one." She raised her wet lashes to him determined who has seen her getting lost in past memories.

"I will show you how the women like those operate who jumps from one man to another." She added.

He gasped and yanked her in his arms when she tried to leave with that glint in her eyes which scared him.

"Don't do anything reckless in your anger Khushi!" He held her restraint.

"Let go of me." She pushed at him.

She wriggled. His hold only strengthened.

"Calm down. Relax. Relax. That was past. Long gone. This is present. I am way past those thoughts. I know you better now. I know the truth Khushi. I know it all." He caught her arms in his grip while she twisted them to get free hitting at him trying to ward him off but he was too stronger than her. Physically!

"Shh. Shh. Shh." He pulled her in his embrace once she stopped and breathed sharply exhausted.

She wriggled weakly. He tightened his hold around her while she whimpered.

"You have hurt me so much." She croaked sniffling against his chest.

He blinked back the tears.

"I know. I will be forever sorry for that."

With her hand around her shoulder he walked her to the bed and made her lie down before covering her with the blanket. He walked around to take the other side with his gaze never leaving hers.

Leaving a safe distance between them he turned to face her with his hands under his cheek . She was gazing up at the ceiling.

"Are you comfortable?" He asked softly.

Her head shot to him stunned while his eyes widened realizing instantly what a big blunder he has made.

(Mature content ahead. Readers discretion advised. Strictly!)

"Are you comfortable?" He asked making way inside the decorated bed.

She lowered her eyes shyly before nodding.

"Not for long!" He said meaningfully.

She raised her head to him confused.

He smirked.

"I know you're tired after marriage rituals and then traveling from Lucknow to Delhi but I can wait no longer." His eyes darkened while his face became expressionless making her heart thump in her chest.

"I-I am never tired for you, Arnav ji." She whispered looking at him innocently with blush adorning her face.

"Good." He said and she didn't know why a chill ran down her spine at that one word.

"That means I can do whatever I want with you tonight?" Though it was meant to be a question but Khushi felt like it wasn't. It sounded as a command. Shrugging the uneasy feeling she said.

"I am yours."

"There good again. We have taken the nuptial rounds and vows. You are my wife now."

Khushi blushed feeling happy like never before. A smile lit up her face as she lowered her head not noticing the dark expressions passing across his face.

"And a wife is meant to please her husband." He said taking away her smile.

Her heart jumped up to her throat whilst she raised her head to look at his face and saw him removing his blazer before his hand went to his belt as he took it off in one swift motion.

She gulped feeling not only apprehensive as well as scared for the first time because as she looked at his face it was devoid of any emotion whatsoever. He didn't look like her Arnav ji with whom she fell in love with. He looked whole different. Flipped.

She was expecting a romantic wedding night. A loving foreplay by her husband before he would complete her as a woman but nothing of that sort happened. Instead she heard.

"If you don't want me to tear your clothes and yank off your jewelry then take it off. You have a minute."

For the first few seconds she just stared at him thinking that he was joking.

"Arnavji. S-Stop it." She gasped. "You're scaring me." She croaked in fear with her eyes dilated.

"5 seconds already passed." He said waving his watch in front of her before taking it off and noting every second passing by.

She shuddered as sweat beads formed on her forehead. Try as might she couldn't do as he ordered. A minute passed just like that and what happened next left Khushi dumbfounded. He turned his words into reality.

She whimpered horrified seeing her bridal dress torn and now scattered on the floor.

"Arnav ji. What are you doing?" She sobbed covering the front of her chest as she sat naked in front of him without any piece of clothing while he was still fully clothed.

But neither did his features softened nor did his heart melt like it always did whenever she cried.

"Now here is the deal." He said heartlessly eyeing her body lustfully as she shivered in front of him.She tried to cover herself with the blanket but he snatched it from her and glared at her with such intensity that she shook from head to toe.

"For every cry leaving your mouth I'd fasten up the pace and make sure you can't stand on your feet for days. So have mercy on yourself because I won't be showing any. I want pin drop silence. Pin drop."

"What has happened to you?" She cried out and he once again made his words turn true. He grapped her nape and bent her down unzipping his pants.

She placed her palm over her mouth when he let her straighten up.She has learned her lesson well for producing a sound. He extended his hand to her face. She crawled back on her hands terrified. She couldn't believe what he just made her do. She was frantically searching for the glimpse of the man she fell in love with. But she found a monster who warned her all over again.

"Come back right here." He didn't move but commanded her. A shiver ran down her spine.

She shook her head with her both hands covering her mouth as she looked at him with extreme hurt. But nothing melted him.

"Because if I pulled you back I'd be giving you all the more reasons to cry your heart out." He said in a dangerously low voice.

Shuddering she moved back to face him silently. She was petrified of him already. What has gotten into him?

"Did I do something wrong? Why are you doing this to me?" She made a mistake of making a noise and then the whole night she got punished for it. For a few times, she was able to hold her cries and maintain silence but for many she couldn't hold back and sobbed out loud and had to bear the brunt of negating him.

In the wee hours of the morning when he left did she take the liberty to cry her heart out clutching the blanket up to her body as every muscle in her body ached. She felt wetness n between her legs but she was too exhausted and emotionally drained to get up.

She sprang up clutching the blanket up to her chest when she heard someone entering the room.

It was him. He gave her a long stare standing at the foot of the bed. She looked distraught with her messed up hairs, swollen eyes and lips, her shoulder blades visible from the blanket were covered with several hickeys. He averted his eyes.

He walked to the bed and sat before her. She gulped hard staring at him with terror.

"I hope you enjoyed our wedding night as much as I did." He said and it took all of her strength not to cry out louder before him. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She dared not ask him any question.

He reached over and pulled her in his lap making her eyes widen and heart clench in fear.

"Take your hands off the blanket." He demanded. Her hands clutched it tightly.

"Do not make me ask you the second time Khushi." He gritted.

Shutting her eyes tight she let her hands fall to her sides and so did the blanket.

"Do not forget to clean yourself up and the room as well. Eat something too because you'd be needing that strength for what I have in store for you tonight." He said authoritatively getting down the bed and buttoning his shirt back up as she turned to the other side clutching the pillow under her head.

"Did you hear me?" He turned to her and found her shoulders shaking with her head buried in the pillow.

"DID YOU HEAR ME?"

She jerked turning on her back before nodding shuddering from head to toe.

"Good. Tonight if I saw even a single trace of tears in your eyes then I'd not leave you capable enough to cry at all."

He said heartlessly and walked out leaving behind a devastated woman with scars not only on her body but heart too.

(Mature content ended)

He closed his eyes in excruciating pain as she turned to the other side clutching the blanket up to her shoulder which soon started shaking and he couldn't take it anymore.

"That's past. Gone. It's over. It was over long ago. Come out of it now Khushi. Please. I will never hurt you that way ever again." He whispered bleary eyed.

"I was expecting a romantic start of our life that night. Expectations. I had associated a lot of them with you. You build them all up in my heart because you knew you yourself would crush them under your feet one day. You wanted to make it as much painful as you could. You succeeded." Her tone was flat but hoarse with tears.

"That night turned into a never healing scar in me. The scar of my broken dreams."

His heart slashed as he felt the sudden urge to take her in his arms and replace that painful memory into something tolerable for her but he knew she wasn't yet ready for that. He himself wanted to take it slow. He was in no hurry. He could work hard to earn her forgiveness even if took his whole life.

"One day, I will replace all the bad memories with new happy ones." He promised looking at her back. Not getting any response from her he turned his back to her too feeling never ending sadness and remorse. She was so close to him, just an arm length away but his hands were tied, too tied that he couldn't reach out and pull her in his arms.

Sleep eluded them till the wee hours of the morning as they both laid down with their backs to each other. Each one suffering in their own made hell hole. One in guilt and the other in memories of past that were too cutting to be forgotten. And as the man himself was back in her life she was finding it all too difficult to keep them out of her mind as one after the other, they visited her and would crush her already shattered self into more small pieces.

For how long would she be able to bear it all and stay with him too?

No one knows!

She entered into this marriage to torture him but it seems she has signed off for a bigger test herself. While he was fighting head on to bridge the gap between them, she was feeling her own strength leaving her with every passing day to fight him and herself both.

She was avoiding his eyes ever since they woke up entangled in the bed. She would've blasted on him if she hadn't noticed that he was lying on his own side of the bed while she wasn't. That means she herself must have scooted closer to him in her sleep.

He took a sip of tea looking at her over the rim of the cup as she ate the breakfast quietly.

If only she knew he himself has pulled her closer when he was sure she was asleep. He couldn't resist it try as might so he did what his heart said but he also knew how to keep her from blasting at him or accusing him. Hence this!

He half smiled which she caught from the corner of her eyes.

"What's so funny?" She inquired from across the dining table.

He shrugged.

"Nothing." He said biting back a smile.

"I said sorry. I myself don't know how I ended up like that with you."

"I don't mind. At all. And this I have told you umpteenth time already Mrs.Raizada. You can take as much advantage of me as you want or please and I won't even say a word. I promise."

"And why would take advantage of you when I don't want to?" She glared.

"When I am saying that I don't have any problem then why are you getting so worked up? Chill, Mrs. Raizada."

"Call me Khushi Kumari Gupta." She punched her hand on the table.

"Come on you are a lawyer yourself and still you don't know that a woman after being married is entitled with her husband's name."

"I don't care about those freaking traditions at all. I won't let go of my paternal surname. Never."

"Fine by me. Don't. Add mine too into it. Then you will be, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. What say?" He said smugly.

She looked speechless at him for a second as her heart drummed in her chest before she gathered herself.

"It's Khushi Kumari Gupta. That's it." She punched her palm on the table again. She was totally annoyed for not being able to find a good retort. He snorted. It was amusing.

He now know how to handle her along with staying close to her. She herself would never admit that she wants to be with him as much as he does so he would himself make the situations in which not only would she reduce the distance between them herself but also won't be able to blame him for anything.

Now it's time to use his mind too along with his heart to deal with her.

Huffing she got up and he heaved a sigh of relief as they had a comparatively light conversation after the heavy ones yesterday and he knew another heavy one was overdue after he would tell her his decision.

After breakfast, they went to their respective rooms to get ready for the day.

"What?" She asked as he took the passenger seat in her car as soon as she took the driving seat.

"I am coming with you." He has pondered a lot on it yesterday night. Stopping her from doing anything would only make her distance from him so he has found a solution to relieve his worry. He would go with her.

She frowned.

"You want me to drop you to AR?" She inquired.

"No. I am coming with you to your office or wherever you'll go today."

"Why so?"

"I want to. So?"

"Arnav, get off my car."

He sat stubbornly not moving at all.

"Don't frustrate me Arnav. Get off." She tried again. Didn't work.

"What's your problem?" She yanked him closer pulling at his blazer and quickly realized her mistake as his breath fanned on her face tickling her senses. She pulled back leaving her hold on him.

"If you don't want me to accompany you then you'd have to withdraw from fighting Niti's case. But if you won't then you'll have to bear with me because I wouldn't be leaving your side until you won't win that case." He explained softly

She exhaled gripping the steering wheel.

"So what do you want? It would be your call." He asked patiently.

"Don't you have your own work?" She gritted feeling irritated as well as touched which she couldn't deny at least to herself. She knew yesterday was another difficult day of their lives. Not only did it leave a great impact on them but also settled a few scores between them as well.

"I have. But I can do it from your office too." He said raising his laptop bag to her showing her that he has come with all the preparations.

"Arnav, I'd be alright. I don't know what came over me yesterda-"

"When did I say you won't be alright?" He cut her seriously. "I just want to see you work. That's all." He made an ever so innocent face. She let out a sigh before turning her face to the road and starting the car.

"Thank you." She heard him say but neither did she respond nor did she felt the need to.

For Arnav, it was more than enough that she agreed without much of a protest. She stopped the car outside the woman shelter and straight away went to Niti's room where Sakshi was helping her eat.

Khushi greeted Niti who this time welcomed her warmly with a smile unlike yesterday. She asked her permission to continue their discussion from where she left and Niti agreed. Sakshi left taking the used dishes.

"I will file the case against him." It was the very first thing Niti said stumping Khushi.

How?

Who convinced her?

Yesterday she was completely against it and now?

"I met your husband. From him only I got to know why you left abruptly the day before." Niti answered her unasked question while Arnav closed his eyes who was standing outside the door in case Khushi would need him. He has requested Niti not to disclose it but..

Khushi sucked in her breath.

"Arnav?" Khushi felt like her voice was coming from under the cliff.

"He told me your story. Your real story."

Khushi gasped clenching her hands around the file she was holding. From deep inside her rage bubbled up to the fore burning her from within.

"Trust me I couldn't believe how you are still standing on your feet and fighting for the other women out there after suffering through hell yourself? Your strength gave me courage to take this step. You inspired me." There was a tremendous respect in Niti's tone as she said that which Khushi didn't notice. She was stuck to the information that Arnav went ahead behind her back and told her life, personal story to someone without her permission.

Who the hell gave him the right to interfere in her work, her business?

She fumed inwardly while Niti talked.

"I will fight. If not for myself than for my child. My Rahul." Niti choked and Khushi closed her eyes at the name. At that a knock brought their attention to it.

"Yes?"

"Can I come in Ms. Niti if you don't mind?" Came his voice which made Khushi boil in anger but she kept it all inside when at Niti's permission he entered. Khushi raised her head to him while he took the seat right besides her. She didn't realize but he did his work for what he was here. He successfully diverted her mind from Rahul to him without her knowing.

"I was telling this to your wife only how you helped me decide. I am grateful to you. And I am sorry for not hiding about our meeting because if Khushi Mam is going to fight my case then I have to be honest with her and I will be."

"That's alright. I'd have told her anyway." He didn't meet her eyes when he said that.

"Did he tell you all about the man too who was the villian in my story Niti?" Khushi asked who was silent by now. Anger was palpable in her tone.

Arnav swallowed.

"Yes. It was your first husband who did all that to you wasn't it?" Niti said to which Khushi passed her a smile. While Arnav felt his heart dropping to the pit of his stomach. He should've known that his wife is a lawyer, she can judge and decide to what extent one would tell truth about a situation and from where they would lie.

"Yes. Now I am over it. Over him." She deliberately said that to hurt him and she succeeded too as she saw him clenching his hand into fist.

"Of course. When you have a loving husband like Mr.Raizada then why would you mope over the past, right?"

"Of course." Khushi said in a flat tone making Arnav wonder whether her anger has subsided or she was just pretending it did?

"I will file your case after taking a written consent from you. I will be back tomorrow. And yes, I am shifting you to a more safer place where your husband won't be able to influence you." After discussing a few more things with her with Arnav listening silently she stood up to leave.

He was impressed by the way she gathered information with such ease that Niti took it as a casual conversation but she didn't know that his wife has already started her work.

Once they were back in the car and she started her car to head to her office, he looked at her from the corner of his eyes as she drove silently while he opened his laptop to send a few urgent mails. He knew she would talk when she would feel the need to. And he wasn't wrong.

"What were you trying to do?" She stopped the car angrily at the side of the road not being able to hold it anymore.

"Just helping you out." He closed his laptop giving her his whole attention.

"Did I ask for your help?" She said exasperated.

"I couldn't see you like that." He reasoned. "So I had to do something." He said softly looking into her eyes.

"Don't mix my personal life with professional one Arnav." She yelled.

He swallowed seeing her this much angry.

"Wasn't it you who left your meeting yesterday because your personal life came in the way? Isn't your profession related to your personal life already?"

"That's none of your business!" She punched her hand on the steering wheel.

"I was just trying to help you dammit." He said hurt.

"Oh how were you doing that? By telling my weak points to my client? Oh bravo!" She growled.

He averted his eyes feeling like a fool now. Maybe he did a mistake but he didn't know how else to help her.

"Why don't you go ahead and announce it to the whole world Mr. Raizada? Or better I will if that's what you want." She groaned.

"I just want you to be happy." He said quietly. She closed her eyes trying to curb her anger.

"Look Arnav, you should do your own work and let me do mine the way I always did. Do not try to help me out in my cases ever again. I can handle myself whenever I'd falter. I have been doing it for like ages from now."

"Okay. I'd not interfere again but for that you will have to promise me something too."

"I am not going to do anything. Understood?" She shrieked.

"Fine then you aren't getting rid of me from your office too." He said stubbornly.

"What do you want?" She exclaimed.

"That you'd go with me to England whenever I'd say." He said.

At that she turned silent.

"Leaving your meeting with your new client halfway you'd run from there and do you know where did you go after drowning yourself in alcohol?"

"You came to me. You came to AR."

"You cried out. You told me everything about your wish to be complete. You told me all about your insecurities. Everything."

"You begged me to show you to as many doctors as I could. You asked for my help. I agreed. There. Now you know!"

"Fine." She said starting the car. He couldn't believe it. He was ready for more verbal exchange but she agreed without much protest.

Was she really mellowing down or she has something else in mind to get back at him?

"So you didn't had the guts to admit your mistakes before a stranger? Huh?" She asked changing the gears bringing him out of his thoughts of figuring out his own wife.

"I didn't lie. It was your first husband. Can't you tell the difference between that man and I?" He gave a diplomatic reply.

"Oh yeah. That was smart." She said sarcastically.

"If I'd have told her about me being your husband both the times then it would have made her decision more solid. She would've never agreed to fight if she has gotten the notion that she would end up with him only at the end." He added.

"Considering that I shouldn't have fought so hard to make my life as well when at the end I had to end up with you only." She took a dig at him and it pierced him with needles.

"Don't say that." He requested. "I am not like that Niti's husband. Once I realized my mistakes I did everything in my power to correct them. He didn't. He don't deserve her and she should think like that only because if he were really sorry he wouldn't have repeated the same mistakes over and over again." For the first time he defended himself.

"Unlike him, I didn't repeat any of it. I know you don't like me at all but you can't deny that at least. Can you?" His tone turned hoarse at the end making Khushi feel bad for him for the first time but she didn't say any comforting words which she knew he was expecting from her.

She was long past that stage of thinking him above anything or anyone. He should know that by now.

He leaned back on the seat dejected when she didn't say anything to relieve his hurt while Khushi felt her heart cutting and eyes pricking which at one point even blurred her vision to which she swiped a hand across her eyes to drive without a mishap.

She parked the car in her usual slot before taking off the key.

"Khushi?" He called when she was about to step out. She turned her head to find him looking at her with so much compassion that her insides churned. She raised her eyebrow nonchalantly.

"What?"

"I love you." It wasn't a confession but a plea to acknowledge him for once in her life at least.

Her throat clogged with emotions. She pursed her lips not knowing how to respond.

"I-" She trailed off.

"You don't have to say it back." He smiled sadly as they revisited another memory.

"I love you." She confessed with a smile.

"I-" He fumbled.

She placed her fingers on his lips.

"You don't have to say it back." She said blinking back the tears.

Khushi rasped and didn't know what came over her but the next moment she found herself leaning to him and pecking him on his lips closing her eyes.

His eyes widened and a short gasp left him startling her as well. Her eyes shot open and she pulled back dumbfounded before getting down and running away into the building.

As the shock subsided, a smile lit up his face as emotions rushed through him in waves whilst his eyes filled up from the corners.

If that would be the result of his love confession every time then he was ready to say I love you to her every second, every minute of his life.

Elated he opened his side of the door and followed her.

Today was turning out another big day for him, for them. A huge boulder that was there on his chest was slowly, slowly uplifting and was making breathing in this world easy for him.

He was making a place in her heart. He was succeeding. His efforts and patience was paying off.

What else does he need in his life anyways?

By the time he reached her office the light smile has turned into a wide one and try as might he couldn't curb it or hide his joy that was showing from his every feature.

Knocking on her cabin door, admiring the interior of her office he entered in after hearing a come in.

"You didn't leave yet?"

Khushi asked looking up from her laptop.

"Leave? Where?" He frowned but a light smile which lit up his eyes was still there.

"To your office!" She gave him duh expressions feeling a relief inside her seeing him smile genuinely with joy after so long.

He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"I have already taken a day off. Can I spend it with you? In your office?"

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I promise I won't interfere or interrupt."

"That's better. There is that couch where you can sit and work while I finish mine. After that we can have lunch together somewhere outside. What say?" She said casually gesturing for him to sit.

He stared at her dumbstruck.

Did she just say she would go out to have lunch with him?

"Arnav?"

"Huh?" He said still in a daze.

"Are you planning to keep on standing the whole day? Sit." She said turning her attention back to work knowing very well she has taken him by surprise offering to go out with him.

Nodding he walked and sat on the couch looking at her every now and then while opening his laptop but he couldn't do any work from there onward as he kept thinking about their impending lunch and her casual behavior as if she didn't kiss him at all.

She would drive him mad one day by being this unpredictable!

He thought shaking his head but soon his lips quirked up into a smile as he realized that he was thinking way too much. He would make most of the time he will spend with her and gather his strength. And whenever the gloom of the past overshadowed them, he would use that power to fight to make a life with her together one by one solving everything between them.

He decided in his mind with his smile widening before going back to staring at her from the corner of his eyes pretending to work on his laptop not having any idea that the gloom would overshadow them both very soon which would pull the rug off his feet leaving him torn in its wake.

I love you

Her breath got stuck in some region of her throat as she gazed at her plate and found the rice she ordered arranged in alphabets. Each one raising her heartbeat.

"What is it?" She asked swallowing looking at him sitting across the table. They were in a cosy restaurant now for the lunch as per her say.

"The truth." He said huskily.

"Arnav, you'll have to stop doing that. Okay?" She shook her head looking at him before glancing at her plate as her heart flipped in her chest.

"Fine. I will. Just tell me what else would make you happy then I'd do that." He asked genuinely.

"Who said that getting a love confession from you makes me so?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Your eyes. You!" He said sipping the wine. His gaze never leaving hers.

"Nonsense. You assumes things to be true whatever comes to your mind." She shrugged it as if it was nothing.

He was getting used to her closing in herself to avoid any talk about her feelings. So he didn't push her much.

"As it doesn't bother you at all then why don't accept it everytime you just did. Nonchalantly. Good idea. No?" He wasn't any less to get his way by any means.

That made her more defensive.

"Of course. Do and say however and how many times you want it to. It doesn't matter."

"Great. Thanks for your permission and you'd hear this confession every other hour. I promise."

She gulped feeling restless inwardly as her heart jumped up her throat.

"Is it really necessary?"

"If it bothers you I won't say it. Tell me. Does it?" He raised his eyebrow.

She shook her head rubbing her neck uneasily. How could she tell him that her heart clench in pain and longing every time he says it? The urge to say it back and feel the same way about him doubles within her which she can't let happen at any cost.

"No. Not at all." She said casually turning her attention back to the food.

He smirked feeling excitement bubbling up inside him after so long to win over her. He was definitely looking forward to see that for how long would she resist and pretend that his confession stirs nothing inside her.

He was eager to know what would she do when her patience and pretense would get to the brim?

Let's see Mrs.Raizada, for how long will you deny and resist my love for you?

He addressed her in his heart and right then she looked up at him with a frown.

"Did you say something?" She asked.

"Did you hear it?" He asked with a smile.

"What?" She raised a brow.

"Nothing." He said shaking his head.

Confused she took the glass of water and drank it and all the while his constant gaze on her was making her skin burn. It was turning out impossible to act nonchalant but she had to put up a brave front before this man at any cost and she would. She did.

Though it was another thing that how did she swallow down the morsels from alphabets I to U as with every bite her throat would clog and eyes prick. As if with each grain of rice she was gulping down his love too which soon would pass through her veins and infuse it all within her.In her whole being. Her eyes filled up some more. Keeping up a poker face became one hell of a task. But in order to show him she did that too but dare not raise her eyes lest he catch them full of unshed tears.

For how long would she resist him and her own feelings too she didn't know but one thing she was absolutely sure of. Nothing was going as she planned it would.

Nothingat all!    

Gomti Sadan

Khushi was sitting with her head on Shashi's shoulder, her arm wrapped around his elbow while her family sat on either couches in the living room happy that she visited and has left the grudges aside.

She has come here to meet them all. It was again Arnav's idea to cheer her up. He knew she needed some space too as everything was too difficult and too much to take for her at once. That's why he didn't accompany her here.

"How does he treat you?" Garima asked softly who was sitting on her other side. Khushi's hold tightened around her Babuji who patted her head urging her to speak.

"Like a princess." Words left her mouth without her knowledge.

Madhumati, Garima, Shashi, Payal and Akash looked at her surprised and relieved too as they didn't expect her to open up about Arnav that easily.

"As if I am made of glass." She mumbled blinking back the tears, her fingers fisting her father's cuffs. And soon she was crying softly turning her head into his chest but that didn't worry them at all. Instead they smiled knowing that she was herself finding it hard to believe that she could be treated that way by the same man who once shredded her into pieces. They were happy that he was keen to put those pieces back together.

"Bitiya, ye toh acha hai na. Iss mai rone wali kya baat hai? (That's good dear, no? Then why are crying?)" Shashi asked softly with his hand at the back of her head.

"I don't know. He isn't.. him." She choked.

They listened patiently.

"He wants to take me to England to-to.. I don't know." She stood up abruptly facing her father.

A message popped up in her phone there on the table which caught the eye of everyone and as Khushi took her cell to check it, her heart burned in her chest seeing its content.

I love you!

"You'd hear this confession every other hour. I promise."

She closed her eyes in sheer helplessness. He was testing her to the best of her limits.

"Babu ji, please tell him not to do anything for me. I don't need any favors from him." She burst out in front of her family knowing that if she showed her reaction to that Raizada he would catch the lie she told him that his love doesn't matter to her.

"Why don't you say it to him yourself?" Shashi said calmly.

"Because he doesn't listen to me. At all." She complained.

"I have a completely opposite opinion of him, bitiya. I think he doesn't listen to anyone but you." He said as a matter of fact.

"You are taking his side? How could you?" She fumed and huffing ran up to her room leaving them all looking at each other partly relieved and partly worried.

"She would give him really tough time. She knows what he is doing for her yet she is finding reasons to negate his efforts by any means possible." Akash spoke to which they all agreed.

"He knows that Akash. Don't worry about that. I have been in touch with him." Shashi said to which they all nodded praying in their hearts that things work out for the couple one way or the other.

__________________

PRECAP:

"You advise other women to fight against abuse while you are tolerating a scumbag as your husband who tortured and abused you like no one else. What a hypocrite you are." Sunit yelled outside the court in amidst of many people surrounding them.

Khushi stilled with her hand on Niti's wheel chair while Niti looked at her husband angrily. She very well knew how much influential person he himself was and he wouldn't come without the background check on the lawyer who has convinced her to fight against him.

____________________

Thank you so much for patiently waiting for the update and also for appreciating my work so very much. Love you guys for standing by me throughout.

I hope you liked the chapter and it was worththe wait. I will be waiting eagerly foryour feedback. A detailed review to the long chapter would be much appreciated :)

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT.

Cheers!