Chapter 48

Ola people. Me back! With full use of my arms. Thank you all for your wishes and for not losing your patience. So this is a big update for all of you and the update you were waiting for. However, I should say the story isnt over yet. Keep waiting for the future updates coz story abhi baaki hai mere dost. :D Special thanks to Meera, my crazy cousin for agreeing to become the messenger and updating the teaser. Dedicated for u Meeri. Luv u loads :D 

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_astJa4jEvo[/YOUTUBE]

Anjali sat thinking how her life had changed since the time Arnav had come home. He had managed to bring the entire family out of the painful stupor they were induced in since her parents' death. They smiled again, laughed again, were happy again and they were living again. Not just existing. All at his cost. He had given all his happiness, his joy, his life to her family, herself. He had driven himself deeper into the melancholic pool of suffering to bring them out of it and she couldn't be more grateful. But the only thing she ever wanted was him to get his life back. He was supposedly happy now, trying to live his life, fall in love again. But at a terrible price of losing his first love. She knew he would never forget her. His childhood friend. That memory will always be deeply etched inside his heart, painfully tugging him every single time he remembers anything related to love. It broke her heart to see him suffering like this.

Her thoughts were broken when she felt a hand on hers and looked up to see Vinay staring at her imploringly. Her husband knew what she was thinking for she could see that guilt, that burden reflecting in his eyes. He was truly sorry for Arnav's loss. He would do anything to bring back that smile on his face again but that healthy, jovial smile of Vinay would only be back when Arnav forgave him for his mistakes, which she was pretty sure that her brother wouldn't do. It killed her bit by bit to see the two most important people in her life suffering to such an extent that it was almost breaking point. Neither of them was wrong. Vinay was protecting his love and Arnav tried to protect his. Anjali felt suffocated as she was stuck between the two like spokes of a wheel, unable to do anything but roll when the force hit her.

"You don't have to worry about me," he said, kissing her hands softly, "I will live with this burden my entire life if I have to, only if that brings satisfaction to Arnav."

"But I can't see you like this," she whispered, leaning on to his shoulders. Tears of helplessness flowed out of her eyes. He hugged her more tightly and whispered, "I have hope, Anju... very soon everything is going to be alright. I can feel it."

"I hope your hope comes true..." Anjali sniffled, "I just want Arnav to forget every painful memory of his life. I just want to..."

"Can we go see Akash?" she softly whispered, "I want to talk to him."

"Yes, of course we can..." Vinay smiled, "Come. Let's go..."

And together, they walked out, not knowing that this night was going to change the world for them...

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Lavanya and Akash came out to see where Arnav had vanished when they saw him and Chris talking. They were about to come to him when Khushi got up and left with Arnav and Chris following her from a distance. What the hell was happening?

They looked at each other and in split second, made their decision. They walked behind the boys, careful not to make them notice when they felt they were being watched and turned around to see the entire pack. NK, Diya, Anjali and Vinay all running towards them. They frantically shushed them before they could shout and ruin the stealth. Lavanya could see Arnav and Chris following Khushi in their car. She had taken an auto.

"What is happening?" Vinay whispered as soon as they came to them, "When did Arnav come back?"

"We don't know but we think something is seriously wrong," Akash said, "Do you have you car?"

"Yes, but..." but Akash shushed Vinay, "no buts. Let's go... we have to follow them. Come on..."

"I will get the car," Vinay said and ran to the vehicle. Within seconds the Raizadas were zooming ahead, trying to find Arnav and Chris; all of them wondering what was happening.

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Arnav could see Khushi walking down the road to a dilapidated looking warehouse with a purpose. She looked confident, determined and strong. Yet the feeling of helpless and fear tugged at his heart. He didn't want her to get hurt but couldn't interfere with her plans as well because Chris had warned him of her famous Gupta anger and he didn't want her to unleash it on him even though he didn't mind getting yelled at. He was just too worried for her safety. He had already lost her once. He didn't want to lose her again. He knew he couldn't take that blow the second time. If something happened to her this time, he would crumble like a stack of dominos.

"Come on..." whispered Chris, "I have a feeling this is going to be the best day of your life."

"How can you sound so bloody optimistic all the time?" seethed Arnav, "I am practically dying out of worry here."

"I don't know why you worry so much," Chris smirked, "it is Khushi. Being with her these seven long years, I know her very well. She is the best and she can make it out of any situation. I am telling you. She won't give herself up."

"What if she does?" snapped Arnav.

"Then we will stop whoever it is in the nick of the time," smiled Chris, "relax Romeo..."

"It is either that or Nannav..." smiled Chris, "entirely your choice."

Arnav turned in mock fury and hit Chris squarely in his abdomen. But before he could cry out loud, he clamped his mouth shut and whispered, "now what will you call me?" but Chris couldn't answer. Arnav smirked and whispered, "let's go..." and together they walked, with worry and confidence. Trying to save the woman they both loved, albeit in different ways.

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Shyaam and Avinash sat on an old jeep in the warehouse, counting minutes before she arrived. She had called and whispered, "I am coming."

Shyaam couldn't wait to see his girl. Too much time had passed and lots of hindrances had blocked his way that led to her. But today, everything had finally come around. After years, he could finally feel the success. She would come, begging for her father's life and her sister's and he would gladly grant it to her, on the condition of her being his forever. And she no choice but to say yes.

"Do you think she will say yes?" Avinash asked. Shyaam looked up annoyed, "Do I think? I know she will..."

"You are wrong..." came a clear voice and in walked someone who he never thought would come. It was not his Chippu. It was someone else. He got down from his car immediately and yelled, "Who the f**k are you? And where the hell is Chippu?"

She smirked, "tch tch... and here I thought you had done your research."

"Stop playing games with me, you silly girl," seethed Shyaam. "Avi, ask this girl to leave."

"Leave..." Avi got down and yelled. Khushi just smiled, "You asked Chippu to come here. So here I am. And now you are telling me to leave? What exactly do you want boys?"

"Aaah aaa..." Khushi shushed, "Not a word against my sister or you will regret it."

"Your sister? Diya has only one sister and that is that bitch, Payal..." Shyaam snapped, "are you police? Are you a spy? Who the hell are you?"

"I see you are scared already," Khushi smirked, "without me having to do anything."

"You are not Chippu..." Shyaam seethed, taking out a revolver, "and before I shoot your sorry arse, get the f**k outta here. Your father is going to die and Avi will upload Payal's video if you don't bring me my chippu."

"And Arnav Singh Raizada is going to kill you if you do anything to me..." Khushi smirked.

"Arnav Raizada?" Shyaam's hand shook a little, "What is it got to do anything with Arnav Raizada?"

"Oh sorry... I should have said Rinnie..." Khushi laughed, "if RInnie comes to know you tried to hurt his Chippu, he is going to flay you."

Khushi laughed as Shyaam looked shocked, "do you really think I came here to surrender myself and ask, or rather beg my father's life by giving myself up? I didn't come this far in my life to give myself up to some asshole who doesn't even know the real Chippu is. Do you think Rinnie saved me to see this day? He sent me running out of the orphanage to see this day? And did you really think I wouldn't recognize you? Do I look so stupid to you?"

"You are not Chippy..." Shyaam's hands were shaking, unable to hold the revolver at the shock of whatever she was telling. Avi hadn't moved near the laptop. His feet were frozen.

"I am..." Khushi said as she took out her belt, "but I am not just Chippy. I am Khushi Gupta and I very well know how to teach sickos like you a lesson. You dared to harm my father, my sister and you will very well pay for it." And she hit him hard with her belt, on his head, and Shyaam crumbled like a sack of potatoes. Avi watched in horror but even before he could even move, the same fate awaited him and he too fell down, unconscious. Khushi ran to the laptop, took out her hard drive and transferred all the data that he going to use as blackmail. Game over. Plan success.

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She turned and he stood there, with this eyes sparkling in pride and love. His eyes said it all. She knew he had heard the entire conversation. She knew that he knew that his Chippy was alive, safe and sound and just waiting an eternity to get back to him. All the moments from the first time she met him after years of seperation to the moment she realised her Rinnie was none other than Arnav flashed before her eyes as she took a step towards him. One step turned to two, two turned to four and then she broke into a run, unable to stop herself. She had to get home. Home where her heart belonged. In his arms. The heaven she was born into...

The distance felt like eternity, but finally she reached. She flung herself onto him as he lifted her in the air and twirled her around in sheer happiness and joy that his Chippu was back. Back to where she belonged. His heart, his life, his arms.