"If you knew all that he was all set to take revenge then why didn't you try to warn Khushi? Why you kept silent? Is it because you too were trying to take revenge from her for rejecting you years ago? Is it true what all i am saying Shyam? If yes, than its you who destroyed Khushi's life.Firstly by telling Anjali about her and secondly by spitting out her name in front of ASR" Devyani Jha asked him as soon as she seated herself besides him.

"What do you think Dadi? I didn't try huh? I tried, i tried to warn Khushi when i first saw her with Arnav.I knew something was fishy when I coincidentally saw him hugging her in that park. I even heard his conversation with Aman that he wants to marry Khushi as early as possible and also he wants to shift Anjali from RM to his farmhouse because he doesn't want Khushi to find out who he actually was.I knew he was ought at a mission and .." he swallowed.

"...and Dadi, above all he didn't even let me meet Anjali.I wanted to see her, just once.I didn't know what to do? All was so messed up.I lost my child. I lost Rani Sahiba and that too in a matter of few hours Dadi.Just...Just few...few hours...fucking few hours.." his hands fisted at his sides.

"Did you meet Khushi then? Did you warn her?"

"I couldn't directly say to her as I saw one or the other guards of Arnav were always following her.I didn't know what and why he was doing all this? But i couldn't let him go into the misunderstanding and ruin an innocent life because when he cornered me in the hospital Dadi I saw the animal..A wounded animal who was hell enraged to do anything to make the one pay who has dared to hurt his Di.I tried telling him the truth many a times Dadi" He breathed.

"But he shrugged me off.I was helpless. He ruined my career to the extent that I didn't get any cases whatsoever.All of my previous clients run away from me as if I were an alien.I knew he was behind all this.I didn't want Khushi to go through all this as she was innocent.She didn't even know what has happened in my life and why suddenly a multimillionaire was interested in her? And which storm was awaiting her? So I went to her house at night that day but when I was about to knock I was hit with something solid at my head."

Devyani gasped and clasped his hand with her trembling hands, her eyes teary.

Shyam continued shuddering.

"After that when i woke up i found myself in some dark room and later i got to know that it was Arnav who did that.He has told his informers that not to let me anywhere near the Gomti Sadan but when they saw me.They did the best they could at that moment.He kept me imprisoned there for months saying that he will free me when he will be done with Khushi.That he will release both her and me and we both can go wherever we want to go. Dadi.." he cried out as he remembered his words on the last day of his imprisonment.

"You can have her as I have already had my share of her!"

Right after he was released he went to RM to look for Khushi but hearing what Ramu Kaka told him gave him goosebumps that how Arnav threw Khushi out and in what condition. He told him that Anjali was back in Shantivan and he couldn't resist meeting her. She came back to life because of him but worry for Khushi and her whereabouts kept him on toes for days after he left RM.

"Dadi, I don't know what he must have done to her in those months.She is so innocent.How I wished I hadn't told Anjali about my first love ever.How I wished Dadi. I wish..I won't be able to forgive myself ever...I feel so low...so low...I don't know what to do anymore? I don't know.." he threw himself in his grandmother's arms and let out all his sorrows.

Devyani herself cried silently seeing her strong grandson this vulnerable.

Both pulled back startled as they heard a scream.

Looking at each other shocked they rushed to the next room.

"Can you please tell me where is the patient no.169 who was shifted here from City Hospital three weeks back?"

"Sorry but patients information are personal and confidential. I-"

"I know. I just want to know whether that patient is here or not? Please. It's important."

"That much I can tell."

He saw receptionist type something on laptop and after a minute she looked up at him nervously before asking,

"What's your relationship with the patient?"

"She..uh..she is my wife." He said swallowing as his eyes teared up.

"Erm I am sorry Sir. That patient is no more.Her dead body is in morgue."

"WHAT!" he shrieked startling the nurse.

"Have you gone mad? How dare you speak like that about my wife?" he gritted out as his vision blurred.

"I.. I am saying the truth.If you want you can recognize the dead..."

"Don't.." he cut her "Don't say that word.." he said with so much anguish that nurse gulped and nodded.

"Just...just tell me the way to the mor...Please.." he breathed out when he felt his insides shivering, not being able to utter the name of the place where she might have been kept.

His hands trembled and he took faltering steps towards mortuary...with an attendant following behind.

As he reached the door of the morgue...he stopped abruptly and collided with the attandant who was following him close by.

"Sorry Sir." the man apologized "This way Sir!" he instructed as he opened the lock with a key.

"Sir the patient you were looking for is in the box number 3..I mean her dead.." he stopped and staggered a step back when Arnav turned towards him sharply and glared.

Without saying anything the fearful attendant just stepped forward till he reached the box and pulled it open.

When he turned around he saw arnav still standing far away from the boxes almost at the door.

"Sir, here i have opened it.You can see and recognize if its really your wife or not?"

All of a sudden Arnav felt suffocated as he realised there was no escape now.Its now or never..

For a fraction of second he felt like he should just turn around and run away from the door and that way he may have a hope that she was still alive but he knew he can't go on like that.He had to face the reality and take the punishment of his own doings which he committed to the soul who never had done anything wrong to anyone.Even when he hated her every day, she was living and hoping every day that one day this all will change...But he snatched that hope himself as well..He is worse than an animal and beast.

As he took steps towards that box, he saw films after films run in front of his eyes.Her pleas , her love , her helplessness , his cruelty flashed as if it was happening again in reality in front of his eyes..

"It...It hurts Arnavji..It really hurts..."

"I..I..am pr.pregnant Arnavji..."

"Arnavji what.whatever you are thinking is wrong.I never wanted anything bad for Anjaliji. Infact.."she sobbed as another wave of pain hit her belly.

"But you...you said you lov.love me.."

"Please..Don't.." she pleaded him tearfully.

"I am not trying to pursue you Arnavji" she sobbed "I am just stating the facts.Why don't you believe me? I...I loved only you and no one else...and I had seen the same love in your eyes too in the days before our marriage.."

"Your crime is that you are KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA!!!!"

"I have to admit that by marrying a middle class chick like you,I got one advantage.." he leaned closer to her lips and whispered "Your body.You did warm my bed"

"Arnavji, I won't be able to live without you.Don't leave me ever"

'Hum ap se boht boht pyar karte hain Arnavji..Bohat se bhi zyada..Sab se zyada..Khud se bhi zyada..(I love you so much Arnavji. Much more than that. In fact more than anyone. Even more than myself!)'

By now he was in tears as he reached to where the attendant was standing looking at him with pity.

He fell on his knees as soon as the attendant pulled down the white sheets from her face.

"Khushi..."

He don't know what to feel at that moment?

"Its...Its...Oh My God!!! She is not...she is not... my khu..shi..She is not..." he exclaimed and cried covering his face with his hands.

Relief

He didn't know what that word felt like until... today!

Waqt bhi thehara hai

Kaise kyun ye huaa

Kaash tu aise aaye

Jaise koi duaa

Tu rooh ki raahat hai

Tu meri ibaadat hai..

"Aman, what's this? I don't pay you just to say 'Sorry ASR, we couldn't do it'!" he yelled sarcastically "I want results dammit.Your best professional detectives about whom you were so sure, couldn't even locate a single girl? That's so not done.Replace them Aman and I don't care how and from where but I want positive results, If you want then call the international detective team.I am repeating Aman. I just want results!" shouted ASR at the top of his voice making Aman shiver.

"S..Sure A..ASR" stuttered Aman.

"OUT!!" ASR bellowed again.

Aman ran as fast as he could out of his boss cabin.

As soon as he left , Arnav let out a frustrated growl before falling back into his leather chair.

"Where are you Khushi?" he rasped out "Just where are you?" his voice came out as a whisper full of agony.

Its been a month he has been searching madly for any sign of her but he always met with dead ends.

"Please Khushi, just be safe wherever you are.Please be safe."

"HAMARA BACCHA!(MY CHILD!) LEAVE ME. I WANT TO GO TO MY CHILD.LEAVE ME. I WANT TO DIE. I WANT TO DIE. I WANT TO--" her voice faded and she collapsed with her head falling back on the pillow.

The nurse discarded the syringe and turned towards the two people who had  tears in their eyes and were rooted to their spots.

She has seen them in the same state whenever the patient have fits during the last month...

"Her condition isn't getting any better.It's getting worse day by day." The nurse informed them.

"How can she be cured?" asked one of them, to the nurse.

"She needs counselling.But as she is not responding to any psychiatrist.Her doctor has informed that only someone really close to her can bring her out of this state.Someone who could bring out any response from her.And that someone should have that hold on her that even a single move of that person can bring huge response from her part."

"I know who can help her." The man said to the nurse.His determination clear in his eyes.

"Sir, yes that's the same girl whom they took with them." said the receptionist of the Delhi hospital seeing the picture when she was permitted to tell the ASR whole detail of the patient.

"Are you sure?" asked Arnav, his heart thumping loudly in his chest.

"Yes Sir they said they are her family.And that patient needed her family in that condition.A man and a woman came to receive her.Firstly she was shifted from many hospitals to here because there was no one who came to own her.Just a month ago her family came searching for her and after completing the formalities, they took the patient with them." the receptionist informed.She as well as all the staff know about that poor girl.As soon as she was alive she would never forget the condition of that fragile girl.

"How...err..how was she?" he swallowed past a big lump, asking one question which he was dying to ask..

"To be honest she was anything but fine.It was a miracle that she survived that accident.She even lost her baby." she stopped abruptly as she heard the man before her take a sharp intake of breath. He knew it would happen but when he heard the news confirmed it brought out raw pain from within.

"Please.Was she...Is she..?" he stuttered as the girl behind the desk looked on curiously seeing the man before her as if he was dying with every breath, as if he was breathing in hell.

Arnav was still in shock after knowing her condition, that she lost the baby and that's because he himself, tried to kill along with her, No..not tried but made sure...firstly by his cruel behavior and secondly by planning that accident.

"Arnavji please...ahh...I..I need to go to a doctor...Ahh..Our...baby.."

"Don't you want to know what my Di felt after she lost her child huh?"

"Yes" she answered firmly with quivering lips "I love my baby more than anyone...more than You!

He staggered a step back due to cruel reminders of his own deeds and took hold of the desk before him to balance himself.

"Sir, who is she to you?" the girl behind the desk asked, not being able to control herself.

Who is she to you?

He looked up at the unknown girl with sad eyes.

Manzilein ruswa hain

Khoya hai raasta

Aaye le jaaye

Itni si iltejaa

"I never..I.." he swallowed "I never knew. I never realized what she is to me until I..l...lost her." he clenched his hands.

"My wife.She is my wife." Saying this he turned around wiping a drop of tear from the corner of his eye.

"You are her Arnavji she kept calling out for?" She mumbled to herself as it was the girl's turn to gasp as she stared at his retreating figure as he walked away without catching her whisper.

"Are you sure you are doing the right thing?"

"Hmm"

"Can we trust him again?"

"I am not going to trust him again ever.Don't worry about that"

"Think again. If he.."

"I said so don't worry.I am going to deal him in his way this time.He loves making deals so I am going to offer him a profitable one."

"Why do you think will he agree?"

"He will. I'll make sure of that."

"I just hope you succeed.Its high time he get punishment of his sins. He should pay for what he made of that poor being and her child."

"Sir, a man is sitting outside and is saying that you asked him to meet you." Aman said carefully trying not to shiver seeing the man sitting before him.

He wasn't the ASR he knew once. If he was rude before then now he was worse than a beast.

"Send him in." his boss's voice broke his reverie.

Leaning his head back he allowed himself to drown in his miseries...

Now as he knows that she is safe with her family, he could now make his next move which he planned the day when he came to know the truth.

"I will pay you if you'll murder me"

Raghu..

That was his name whom he has hired to kill himself.

He had come the very next day to his office and because he didn't had any news of Khushi he had taken his cell number and last night after thinking a lot he had called him. Now as he knew that her family took her and she was at least alive and in safe hands the time has finally come for him to repent his deeds. Pay for what he did.

There is only one punishment to his sins he has decided.

His death!

Easy escape huh?! a voice pricked him from inside.

"Saab g." Raghu's voice broke his chain of thoughts.

"Huh? hmm!" he acknowledged him with a nod.

Opening one of the drawer of his desks, he pulled out a gun and extended it to the him.

Raghu took it with shaky hands.

"There is a back door on this floor.Run from there when your work will be done.Here is your money." he placed a briefcase on the table in front of Raghu who was wiping the sweat beads from his forehead.

"Now go ahead.Complete your task." Said Arnav as he leaned his head back to his chair and closed his eyes prepared to take the bullet which would free him of all his worries and guilt but will it??

With shaky hands Raghu pointed the gun to his temple and took deep breath before pressing the trigger.

"ARNAVVV!" 

Someone screamed from the door but it was too late as the bullet was already been shot.

All AR employees downstairs screamed as a gunshot voice reverberated in the whole office echoing from the cabin of their boss followed by the crashing of the glass walls of his cabin.