In a majestic mansion on the outskirts of Delhi stood a man staring at a huge picture frame of a beautiful woman with a garland on it.

His eyes shimmered with unshed tears threatening to fall at any moment when his phone rang breaking his reverie.

He frown seeing the name displayed on the screen and wondered why the person was calling at this time.

"Hello? "

"Boss there is trouble. " The person on the other side replied and revealed everything to him and he was raging like an angry bull.

"Keep an eye and them and make sure you report every little thing you hear when Shyam is not around to me understood. "

The man cut the call and started raging and his threw his phone on the floor shattering it into pieces and the noice attracted his personal assistant who was shocked seeing his boss looking pissed and his phone destroyed beyond repair which didn't surprise him as he is used to it.

He sighed and picked up the destroyed phone and took out the sim.

"What's it this time? " His personal assistant Alex asked as he pulled another phone from a drawer and inserted his sim card into it.

"Alex, those bastards are trying to force Khushi to marry Arnav by using the public and I will die than watch her be pulled back again into a relationship with that demonic man..... We have to move our plans forward....... As much as I want revenge for what they did to my mother, I have to put Khushi first. "

"Well I never thought a day will come where a stranger will be more important to Rudra Singh Rathore than his revenge or his mother..... So this love. " A clipper flew towards Alex and he dodged it and laughed hysterically at his angry boss. "Whether you see it or not, you have feelings for Khushi and it's better you start accepting it like Shyam said. "

Rudra stood up and walked out of the room mumbling cusses at Alex who shook his head and turned to look at the picture.

"Isha maa...... Your son is in love and with a good woman too who unfortunately is being tortured by the disgusting family but I promise you I won't rest until they are both together. " Alex muttered to the picture and the candles surrounding it flickered brighter than ever as if she had given him her permission and he smiled widely.

Road to the outskirts of Delhi.

Shashi stared at Shyam suspiciously, he trusted his daughter but not the man driving and staring at him from the rear view mirror.

He hated himself for not listening to him when he tried to explain his story after he caught Shyam with Anjali then maybe he would have been able to save his daughter from the monster in the form of Arnav singh Raizada and his chameleon family.

He couldn't believe his ears when Khushi told him the entire truth about how Arnav had forced her into a six months marriage contract by blackmailing her with Payal's marriage and as if that wasn't enough he verbally abused and manhandled her while his family nearly killed her.

He felt like failure but knowing that such a powerful man was behind Khushi made him relax but not with Shyam.

As much as he was shocked about the atrocities of the Raizada family, he wasn't in favor of their revenge against the family but part of him understood and he knew if he was to be of any help to his baby girl then he would have to get well soon.

They are on their way to the best rehabilitation and Ayurvedic center in the country all sponsored by this mysterious stranger who was helping his daughter.

"Papa? " His head snapped to his daughter who looked worried seeing him lost in thought.

He squeezed her hand assuring her he was okay.

"Again I apologize for hurting you Mr Gupta..... I swear I didn't mean to hurt you...... The circumstances made me do it and I also tried to explain my real intention to you at the hospital but you went into shock..... Am really sorry Mr Gupta and I promise you I will make it up to you by protecting Khushi when I can. " Shyam uttered and Shashi knew he was being sincere even though he couldn't trust him completely for now he nodded and Shyam smiled at him.

Khushi watched Shyam driving and she remembered the night he discovered the sinister side of the Raizada family.

Flashback.

Khushi slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a dark room and on a huge master bed that was three times more bigger than Arnav's bed.

The rich dark interior was oozing with richness and glamour something Arnav could never imagine from the chandelier to the recliner, television, telephone, night stand and everything, a rich man like Arnav could never match.

She snapped out of the admiration she had for the room and remembered the mysterious man who had saved him.

She thought Arnav was handsome but this man was a god from his viking jet black hair that tousled beautifully on his forehead , his thick well shaped eyebrows was to die for, and his fully shaped lips was worth kissing.

He was tall and alluring and she remembered how he moved with a leopard-like grace as he scooped her into his muscular arms and all she remembered next was darkness consuming her.

She stood up from the bed but sat back down from how dizzy she felt.

"Careful." She head a husky voice say and she looked by the door to find the same man who saved her standing by the door with a bed tray filled pancakes, fruit salad and orange juice with a bottle of what looked like aspirin.

She licked her lips as the delicious aroma hit her lips and the man smiled and khushi looked away embarrassed.

"There is toiletries  and some clothes in the bathroom for you. Brush your teeth and clean up and finish your breakfast..... I will wait for you down stairs when you are done. " The man said as he placed the tray at the foot of the bed but Khushi stared at him and didn't move. "You can trust me Khushi. " Khushi looked surprised hearing her name from his mouth and how she loved the way it sounded from his mouth. "I know you want answers and I will give it all to you but first go clean up and finish your break fast....... If you want hot water, move the lever to the right and the left is for cold water...... Pulling the handle up will make the water flow and down to make it stop. "

He immediately walked out as if his tail was on fire and Khushi giggled and did as she was told.

Within half an hour she was done and with fifteen minutes, the tray was empty because of how hungry she was.

She wondered what had happened to the men who kidnapped her and who the boss there were talking about was and she had her suspicion which was on Arnav and Shyam.

She shook the thought off and lifted the tray and moved down the stairs to find the man spread out in an huge arm looking like a king of his throne and beside him was another scrawny looking man with a baby face and a huge smile on his face staring at her.

A maid run up to her with a smile and took away the tray.

"My name is Alex. " The scrawny looking man introduced as he pointed to the sofa facing them and Khushi smiled and nodded. "And he is Rudra Singh Rathore my boss and good friend. "

Rudra rolled his eyes at Alex and back to Khushi who looked amused.

"I am Kh. "

"Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. " Rudra cut her off and Khushi looked him stunned. "You are his six months contracted wife to save his demonic sister's marriage....... He has abused you and manhandled you for the past four months and his family had taunted you for eloping and excluded you from everything and your sister was a silent spectator in all of this with only Akash Singh Raizada as your protector but he always can't be there for you because ASR intentionally kept him busy so that he won't be able to defend you. " Khushi was petrified by his knowledge of her and the Raizada family and wondered who he was. "I know you are shocked and wondering who I am but it doesn't matter because just like Arnav Singh Raizada snatched your dream, dignity and happiness form you, he and his sister also snatched our loved one from us........ My mother. "

"And my baby sister. " Khushi flinched hearing the familiar voice and she stood up and turned to find Shyam walking up to her.

She glared at Shyam and back to Rudra and seeing his calm demeanor, she knew he was in on what ever they were planning.

"I should have known you two criminals were working together....... You two make me sick. " Khushi muttered but enough for them to hear.

She tried to walk away but Alex run up to her a blocked her and Khushi glared at him.

"I know you are angry but we are the only ones who can save you from being killed by the Raizada. " Khushi scoffed at Alex's words and was walking away when an audio of a familiar voice stopped her.

"Khushi has left the house and I want you to finish her off and make sure her body is not recognizable." Khushi turned to see a video of Anjali in her room as she hunged up the call and there was an evil glint in her eyes that sent shivers down her spine." That bitch thought she could trap my Shyam and get away with it but she won't succeed because if she is dead...... Shyam's eyes will then follow only me...... First I thought she will be the perfect puppet to obey my instructions if she marries chote but she convinced chote to elope and I know that is why he is angry at her........ This shows how much power she has over chote and I can't allow the two men in my life being attracted to her...... Sorry Khushi, no hard feeling but I can't let anyone be Shyam or chote's priority..... It's sad to see sure a beautiful and lovely soul go. " Anjali laughed hysterically and Khushi started crying hearing the horrible truth.

Alex paused the video and walked up to a crying Khushi.

"This is the real Anjali....... And this is not the first time she and her accomplice had killed someone....... She murdered Shyam's adopted sister five years ago. "

Khushi looked at Shyam and for some reason she saw a different man than the one she knew.

"Five years ago, my baby sister Pihu was murdered by Anjali....... She was in a relationship with a man named Mohit." Khushi looked shocked because that was the husband of Anjali's best friend. "Yes the same Mohit your know, Anjali's best friend's husband..,...... She loved him so much even though I was against the relationship because one Mohit's family were very classist and colorist because Pihu was dark skinned but she assured me he was a good man....... By then I was in Ooty and she was in uni in Delhi....... Three days before I was to come to Delhi to visit her and meet Mohit, she called me crying hysterically and I came to find out Mohit was cheating on her with another senior in her university and she had publicly exposes them........ I immediately got angry and left Delhi only to told upon my arrival that she had died from a hit and run incident and high levels or alcohol was found in her system. " By now Khushi was back to her sitting position staring at Shyam who had tears streaming down his cheeks. "I knew it was a lie and that my Pihu will never touch alcohol because she was extremely allergic and any cross contamination will kill her within minutes but according to the police and witnesses, she had been drinking at a bar for two hours nonstop...... For three months I tried to tell the police it was conspiracy and there was more to this but no one heard me out........ One day one of the police men provided me with an shocking audio of Anjali and Arnav at the commissioner's office bribing him to destroy all the evidence because Anjali was the one who run her over in a fit of rage because she had humiliated her....... Arnav was a very powerful man and by then I was a poor rookie lawyer. "Alex then played a video of Anjali, Arnav and the commissioner and Khushi was shocked unable to believe Arnav was capable of such injustice.

She always knew Arnav was that protective of Anjali and was capable of killing for her but she never knew he was actually capable of being a accomplice to murder.

"So you married Anjali to avenge your sister but how is it revenge if Anjali is a free woman and you are stuck in the marriage. " Khushi asked confused as to why he didn't do anything horrible to Anjali up until now.

Shyam chuckled and walked up to Khushi and sat on the center table facing her.

"Khushi you are so naive. " Khushi frown as the insult but she knew she indeed was because of the way she allow people treat her. "Khushi I didn't sit idle for the past four years....... I sent all this years gathering more evidence of Arnav secretly sabotaging rivals and small businesses that challenged his reign to the top but the master documents to seal all the proofs I have can only bbe accessed by Arnav and Aman alone....... Yes Arnav is hardworking but he is also shady.,..... Don't you remember what he did to you when you a nobody according to him challenged him. " She looked away remembering all the humiliation and character assassinations Arnav put her through since they met. "I could have taken the video to the highest authorities but what was the guarantee that Arnav and Anjali will be punished....... I waited for Arnav to become more bigger because the more bigger and higher he go, one he will accumulate more enemies and his fall from grace will be....... I and Pihu may have not been blood related but we grew up in the same orphanage and left together...... Since we were kids I promise to protect her and I saw her in you...... He bubbly and carefree nature that won every heart and he love for jalebi. " A crying Shyam stared at Khushi in a brotherly love way.

"Then why did you try to marry me? " Khushi asked and they all felt the doubt in her voice but they couldn't blame her as Shyam's method to save her would have been questionable to anyone.

"I never wanted the first time buaji suggested it...... I knew she was trying to get rid of you but after I could out how Arnav was treating you, I decided to get you to stop and if it meant marrying which I knew it will be fake because I am already legally married to Anjali...... I tried to intentionally make Anjali look bad but you smartly got my intentions. "

Khushi was stunned by his confession but was still doubtful.

"And the terrace?"

"It was all a plan by us. " Khushi heard another familiar voice and turned to find Hari Prakash walking up to her and she was stunned to know the loyal servant of the Raizada family was also with them. "Shyam baba wanted to confess everything to you for you to stay away from Arnav but Arnav started looking for you and was heading to the terrace to I message Shyam baba about Arnav. "

Khushi immediately remembered Shyam had received a message when they were on the terrace and her head snapped back to Shyam.

"It was all an act Khushi...... I saw Arnav walking up the steps and I thought if he thought we were in a relationship, he will send you away...... I was scared at first but was happy he heard only half of our conversation because he confronted me and I told him we were in love and I thought he would try to send you away to protect Anjali but I guess he thought he would punish us by bringing us closer but far away. "

That was when it dawned on Khushi the reason Arnav married her.

"He married me for revenge. " The crack in her voice not only made them realize she had hope in her relationship with Arnav that it will be well soon but with that crack, that hope also vanished and was replaced by hate, pure unadulterated hate for Arnav and the Raizadas and the Guptas except Akash, Shashi and Nk.

Khushi turned to Rudra who was staring at her.

"And where do you first in all of this. " Khushi asked and he stood up and walked up to Khushi and held her hand leading her out of the room into a special part of the house.

They both stood in front of the picture of the most beautiful women she had ever seen but it broke her heart seeing it was shrine and she knew she was deceased.

"She is my mother Isha Malik. " Khushi stared at Rudra and it hit her, Rudra is Anjali and Arnav's half brother. "She was the first wife of Arvind Malik....... They had an arranged marriage and I don't know much about how their love went because I was born after the marriage broke apart....... For three years my mother couldn't conceive and it pissed Arvind Malik off because people were mocking him and he ended up cheating on my mother with Ratna Malik who got pregnant with Anjali....... To prevent people from pointing fingers at him, he and his mother together with Deviyani Singh Raizada blackmailed my mother to announce that Ratna was the second wife and she already knew about the pregnancy and she allowed it because she was barren...... By then Ratna was six months pregnant and my mother who had found our she was two months pregnant with me left because she couldn't stand the taunts from both the Maliks and the Raizadas....... She raised me alone and we were happy....... I knew who my father was but I didn't bother knowing him because I had  a mother and father in the form of Isha Singh Rathore....... When I was a teenager, an old maid of the Malik mansion revealed that my mother that the reason she was unable to conceive was because Sudhadra Malik my paternal grandmother was mixing birth control in my mother's drinks and food because she hate her for being middle class but my mother didn't care anymore....... I had it all, a loving mother, wealth and fame even though no one knew what I looked like and I prefered it that way until six years ago. "

Rudra's voice cracked remembering his mother.

"The night Pihu died, Anjali's reckless driving caused another car to swerve into a ravine. " Shyam continued and Khushi looked at Rudra.

"It was your mother. " Rudra nodded at Khushi's words.

"She was on her way to the airport to meet me and she and one of my most trusted employee lost their lives...... He left behind a wife and a small child and Hari Prakash here was his brother in law..... The driver that died that day was the husband of his little sister who suffered a heart attack after hearing the death of her husband. "

"That day I didn't only lose my brother in law but my sister and her unborn child...... She was two months pregnant and we all found out after the autopsy. " Hari Prakash continued in tears. "They are all monsters Khushiji..... And we won't stop until they are totally destroyed because jail will never be enough for them. "

Khushi rushed up to HP and hugged him as he broke down remembering his sister, brother in law and his unborn nephew or niece and his eight years old niece who was orphaned at such a very young age all because of the Raizadas.

Flashback ends.

And with that she joined them to make Arnav pay for what they did to her and she will make his life a living hell for the next two months of their contract marriage.

She wasn't surprised when Shyam revealed Anjali's affair with her own best friend's husband who happens to be the same Mohit from Pihu's past and the child she was carrying was his because Shyam had a vasectomy before he married Anjali which Anjali doesn't know.

Gone was the all obedient Khushi because now they will face the strong and no nonsense Khushi.

To be continued.

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