Chapter 9

Arnav was pacing up and down his bedroom unable to control his anger. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. Why was he saving her all the time? Whatever happened to her didn’t make a difference to him. He didn’t care. Did he? No, he didn’t! Not after what she had done. Along with betraying his entire family she broke him. His trust and more importantly his heart,but then why? Why can’t he stand to see her in danger when he’s around? He shook his head. None of that mattered anymore. The next time she was in trouble she’d just have to save herself because he didn’t care. He dropped down on the recliner with his head in his hands. He needed a distraction. The more he thought about the more he remembered the things he didn’t want to. He grabbed his laptop bag off the coffee table next to the recliner. Work would definitely distract him. He was marching out of Shantivan and was almost out the front door when a petite figure stood in his path. “Where exactly do you think you’re going?” Sanjana asked him with a raised eyebrow. He glared at her. Sanjana sighed. “Don’t give me that get-out-of-my-way look. I’m not budging and you’re not going to the office. That’s final. Now turn around and get back upstairs to your room before I drag you there,” she said with a smile. Knowing his sister wasn’t going to let it go he went back upstairs. He could still work from his laptop at home and if he needed anything from the office then Aman, his manager, was always there.

 

Sanjana grinned as she saw her brother’s retreating figure. She loved the taste of victory. Now it was time to set her plan into action. She knew everyone was most likely going to kill her for doing this but she had no other choice. It was the only way the two of them were going to realize what they really felt for each other. She had to at least tell Karan even if he was going to be completely against the idea and would shoot her for it. Sanjana dialled Karan, “Karan, I’m going to tell you what I’m going to do. Whether you help or not is your choice but I’m going to do it regardless of what you tell me.” She could imagine Karan raising his eyebrows on the other end of the phone. She spoke on the phone for about half an hour giving him every detail of her plan and how she would execute it. “ARE YOU MAD?” she heard him scream over the phone. “No, I’m not Karan. I just can’t take it anymore. Ever since they’ve seen each other they constantly think about one another and don’t you dare tell me Khushi doesn’t because you know very well she does,” Sanjana stated. “Okay fine, but you do know that nothing ever goes according to plan especially when you want it to,” Karan was reluctant but he had to try even if getting caught meant suicide or murder. “Trust me Karan. I’d never do anything to hurt them. I love them both,” Karan could hear the sincerity in her voice. “So we start tomorrow. I’ll bring Khushi there, all you have to do is make sure that he sees her there,” Karan said unsure. Sanjana swallowed, “I really don’t want him to know but it’s the only way we‘re going to be able to push Arnav’s buttons and the right ones too. Thanks for helping me Karan. I know you didn’t have to. Goodnight.” She put her phone in her pocket and headed upstairs towards her room. She needed to rest properly tonight because there was no way she was going to be able to sleep tomorrow. Not after what she was going to do.

 

It had been a week since the fashion show and Khushi was looking forward to going back to Lucknow just as her friends had promised. She was almost done packing which was a difficult task considering all the crazy and outrageous thoughts that were constantly running through her mind after the mall incident. Those scenes kept flashing in front of her eyes and occupying her thoughts. She had thought long and hard about everything when she had got back home. She had come to the decision that her leaving would be the best option because there would be no chance of him running into her or finding her again. He would still be travelling around in India and would probably go to Lucknow often and she couldn't take anymore chances so she was going to London to stay with Jiya. It wouldn't be a problen because she was going with Jai anyway. Khushi had just closed her suitcase after struggling to shove the last bit of clothes in when Priya walked into the room looking extrememly annoyed and irritated. "You might want to unpack that," she muttered pointing at the suitcase. Khushi raised an eyebrow questioningly. " Your very dear best friend's cousin is ill and he wants to stay for a couple of days until she gets better," Priya sounded highly annoyed. "Oh, Karan didn't tell me anything. It's fine. A few more days couldn't hurt. We've already been here for a week. I'll tell Karan it's okay and I'll stay but you have to go back. Jiya can't be doing everything alone," replied Khushi surprised, "I'll stay with him and you go back. If I leave the two of you here you'll tear each other's hair out," she add flatly. "I'm cool with that," Priya had an unmistakeable grin on her face.

 

A few hours later Khushi was with Karan in his car on their way to see his sister, Riya. "Khushi I just have to stop at Riya's friend's house quickly. She just sent me an address and asked me to pick up some stuff for her. You know how demanding she can be," Karan rolled his eyes. Khushi smiled at him, "Sure. Go ahead. I don't mind." Karan gave her a small smile. He didn't like lying to her, she was his best friend, but he had no choice. It was in her best interest. Karan stopped outside Shantivan to Khushi's surprised. "Karan, why did we stop here?" Khushi stared at him. "This is the address she gave me, now come on. I might need you to help me carry some stuff," Karan said casually. Khushi stumbled over her words, "But Karan... This is... Rai..." Karan cut her off, "Are you coming or am I going to drag you out of the car and up those stairs." Khushi looked at Karan as she got out the car and very reluctantly started walking towards the house. Karan rang the door bell and they were welcomed by Sanjana. Sanjana could see Khushi's uneasiness and was double minded about whether to carry out the plan or not but she shook it off. She had to. It was the only way. "Hi Karan," Sanjana said brightly. Karan returned the greeting with a smile, "Riya said I had to pick up some of her stuff that you had. She's not feeling well so she asked me to get them for her." Sanjana glanced at Khushi who seemed to be looking everywhere but in the house and replied, "Oh yeah, she called me up this morning. Come with me, it's upstairs in my study." Karan looked from Sanjana to Khushi signalling her. "Khushi come inside," she said as she walked towards the living room with Karan and Khushi not trailing far behind. " Khushi have a seat," she said indicating at the sofa, "Karan and I will be back just now. It won't take us long." Sanjana smiled and walked off with Karan upstairs towards her study.

 

Khushi was sitting in the lounge downstairs fiddling with her dupatta prayong to her Devi Maiya that no one else was home when Karan and Sanjana came back downstairs. She breathed a sigh of relief. She stood up and was ready to leave as soon as Karan stepped of the last step. He had one foot one the step, "Stop!" He heard Sanjana's voice behind him. He turned around raising an eyebrow. "I forgot the stuff in the cupboard. Leave this down here with Khushi," she said passing him the pile of books she was carrying and come back upstairs." Khushi was beginning to worry wondering if anyone else was home. "Uhm, Sanju... Is anyone else at home?" Khushi asked nervously. "No, I don't think so or at least there shouldn't be. Di, Mami, Nani and Payal have gone to the temple and Mama went to the office with Akaash. Arnav left for a meeting half an hour ago and Shyaam also left for work," Sanjana said casually. Khushi relaxed, "Oh, okay." Sanjana nodded and went back upstairs with Karan. They passed Arnav's room on the way and Karan heard a voice, "Yeah, Aman. Just make sure it's properly authorised and then we can finalize the deal." He looked at Sanjana with wide eyes. She shrugged. "You said he left for a meeting!" Karan exclaimed. "Maybe he cancelled and did a video conference instead. He tends to do that you know," Sanjana looked at annoyed. Karan was about to give her an apt reply when he paused mid-word. She turned around to look in the direction Karan was staring. "What-t-t-t is he doing-g-g-g her?" Karan stammered. Sanjana had a guilty look on her face. "Sanju?" Karan glared at her. She sighed in defeat. It was time to tell him the full plan," I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you last night because you would have never brought Khushi here. I want to see how Arnav reacts and what he does. He still thinks Khushi is guilty and his brother-in-law is a saint. It's time he comes to know what really happened be it before or after he marries her." He could see a determined look in her eye, "Wait. What? What do you mean before or after he marries her?" Sanjana braced herself."I know Arnav and I know his anger. It'll get the better of him. He reacts first and thinks about it later. He's always been like that and it causes a lot of problems for everyone, not just him but maybe this time it'll put an END to all the problems," she looked at him apologetically. "Sanjana..." Karan shook his head. She held her ears in a gesture to say sorry and Karan pulled her in for a hug, "Next time just tell me before you do something this drastic. Okay?" Sanjana shook her head in the affirmative. "Now that we're done can I set my plan in action. He's going down and it's not going to be long before he sees her," Sanjana said. "Be my guest," Karan said before he walked to her study, "Just make sure Arnav doesn't know I'm here." As Karan walked away Sanjana opened the door to her brother's room. "Arnav?" He looked up from his laptop at his sister standing in the doorway. "I need some books that are downstairs in the lounge but I have to make an urgent call. You're done with your video conference so I thought of asking you to get it if you wouldn't mind," she leaned against the door with her fingers crossed behind her back. Arnav gave her an annoying look,"You're the only person in this house that ever asks me to do things that are a waste of my time and I don't know why I do it all the time either." Arnav got up and started walking toward her sending daggers in her direction. "It's because you love me," she said with a smirk, "and because I'm the only person in this house who has the guts to face you. Everyone else is just scared of you because you're Arnav Singh Raizada but I'm Sanjana Singh Raizada and I can be just as bad as you when I want to be." She gave him that you-know-who-I-am look and walked off as he was walking down the hall towards the stairs. She signalled for Karan to come out of the study and they both stood in the hallway overlooking the lounge downstairs. "Brace yourself Karan. This is not going to be very pretty," Sanjana said as she turned her attention to the scene downstairs.

 

Khushi had relaxed a little since Sanjana told her that no one else was home. She took a deep breath, let it out and picked up one of the books Karan had left with her. She had just reached the end of the first chapter when she heard someone coming downstairs, she looked up from the book aghast. There he was standing at the bottom of the staircase gawking at her. Khushi shot up like a rocket shocked. "Khushi," Shyaam said with a smirk on his face, "What are you doing here? I thought I would never see you again after what had happened." His smirk turned into an evil smile that grew wider with each step closer that he took. "Stay away from me! Don't come any closer. I'm warning you," Khushi said pointing her finger at him and moving backwards away from the couch. How could something like this have happened? How could HE of all people be at home? Sanjana said that she was alone and no one beside her was here? "Khushi, why are you being so difficult? I haven't seen you in so long, haven't felt you either. Why are you moving away from me? I know you missed me as much as I missed you so don’t make me suffer anymore,” he said as he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. His arms were tight around her barely giving her enough space to breathe. “Let go of me!” Khushi said her voice getting louder as she tried to push him away unsuccessfully. “What do you think of yourself? Who do you think you are? You are no one to me and I don’t want to be anyone to you! Get your slimy hands off me!” her voice was full of disgust. Shyam gave loosened his grip on her slightly, “You only left because of Arnav, Khushi. Had I not said anything that day you would’ve still been roaming around here, but unfortunately I had to because you see,” he pulled away from her holding shoulders, his grip tight. “Arnav had become suspicious. I don’t know how but he did. Telling him it was you made my life easier because then he didn’t doubt me and of course he wouldn’t try defending you because it was a question of his sister’s life.” He laughed. It sounded so bad, so evil. Khushi wondered how someone like this could even exist. Despite being married he still lusts at other girls. Khushi could feel the anger in her rising. “You know what Mr Shyam Manohar Jha? I’m kind of glad you put the blame me because had Arnav found out the truth that day you wouldn’t even be around right now. I don’t even think you’d be ALIVE. You chose the wrong person’s sister to play around with. You haven’t seen the wrath of Arnav Singh Raizada. You don’t know what it’s like,” Khushi let out a laugh seething with anger. You could see it in her eyes. “It doesn’t make a difference what he can do because his sister will never let him do it. Anjali loves me too much to ever let anything happen to me,” he pulled Khushi closer, “I love you and I told you that before, nothing is going to change that.” Khushi tried pulling away but his grip on her was too tight, “And I’ve told you before that if you don’t Anjali than leave her!” Khushi had run out of patience. When was he going to stop speaking rubbish!

 

“What the…” Both Shyam and Khushi turned to look at the top of the staircase. Khushi’s eyes were wide with shock. Shyam pushed Khushi away from him making it look as if it had been her that tried to get close to him. Arnav started down the stairs two at a time, anger radiating off him. It was visible in his eyes even from a distance. Sanjana and Karan were holding their breath when they saw Arnav head towards the lounge and stop at the stairs. Sanjana looked at Karan and could see the fear in his eyes, “Whatever happens now has nothing to do with us Karan. We play no part in whatever happens after this. You don’t have to be scared. I know you’re worried about Khushi but I’m there to stop Arnav if he tries anything.” Sanjana looked from Karan to the scene downstairs totally unprepared for what was about to happen next.