Chapter 1

This idea has been in my head for a long time. Thought I would share it with all of you.

The sangeet was over and done with. Everything had gone well. The guests had all enjoyed the sangeet with the whole competition happening between both families and the winner being none other than

'Khushi'

What was with that girl? Arnav carried on thinking. She surprises me at every turn he thought.

The waiters had started serving food once the competition was over and done with.

The Raizada's were all sitting on one table while the gupta's were on another table right next to them with Akash and Payal almost sitting next to each other. Both looking at each other and blushing when caught out by family members.

Arnav and Khushi were not sitting next to each other. In fact they were on totally opposite ends but it didn't stop Arnav from intently staring at Khushi. Khushi would sometimes look up and see Arnav looking at her but she was at a loss as to why.

Shyam had also been noticing the exchange and wasn't pleased.

NK who wasn't paying attention decided to go sit next to Khushi but as soon as he got up "NK bhai where are you going?" Anjali asked. "Di I was going to go sit next to Khushiji" NK answered coyly. This irked both Arnav and Shyam. "No NK bhai. Dinner is being served so you can't." NK felt dejected and sat back down while Arnav was thanking his sister mentally.

Once dinner was over and done with the waiters started taking everything back. Khushi went to the kitchen where all the mithai (Indian sweets) was. She started opening the boxes one by one making sure the mithai which had been made by her and bought over the day before was still all ok. Once she was satisfied the waiters started taking all the mithai with them but she had specifically also remembered to make mithai without sugar only for Arnav which for some reason she really wanted him to eat. She had told one of the waiters to go and give those mithai's to Arnav and Arnav only.

Khushi went and re-joined her family as the waiter brought the mithai's to Arnav. Arnav first looked at the waiter in anger thinking why in god's name has he bought me sweets. Anjali saw this and indicated to the waiter to bring the sweets towards her side. The waiter did as asked and Anjali took one to eat. When she realised there was no sugar in it she told Arnav who at first looked at the sweets and then knew that only one other person has ever made him sugar free mithai. He turned to look at Khushi who was also looking in his direction. He took one and ate the mithai.

Khushi felt nice that Arnav had one of her sweets but she didn't know why.

Shyam was noticing this exchange and he didn't like it one bit. He managed to excuse himself and left from there.

It was time to leave so Khushi headed towards one of the guest rooms where she had left all her clothes to go pick them up.

As she was going making sure she had everything in her chest she overheard Shyam talking to what look like a picture.

"Only a little more time Khushiji and I will make you mine forever once Anjali is dead and buried I will be able to marry you. That is the only thing that was stopping you from being mine wasn't it the fact that I was married well after tonight that will not a problem no more when the scorpion I have bought to kill Anjali with will do its job" Shyam spoke while grinning evilly.

Khushi heard all this and moved backwards but unfortunately knocked into a table causing a crash which made Shyam turn to see her horrified face as he realised Khushi had heard the whole thing. Before Khushi managed to even run out of the room Shyam had grabbed her in a lock and put his hand over her mouth so as to stop her screaming. He really needed to do something about Khushi as she had heard everything and she would ruin his plans.

As he happened to be in one of the guest rooms with her he had no idea what to do. He looked around and remembered her clothes from the earlier performances were around. So as he held her he bent down towards her chest to find she had a head scarf so using that he closed her mouth.  He then grabbed a duppatta which was also in the chest and tied her hands together. As soon as she was secure he put her on the bed as she struggled to get out of his hold. As he was about to leave Khushi using her legs moved forward and off the bed but Shyam managed to yank her back but in the struggle she fell backwards only for her head to hit the side of the bed making her fall unconscious.

This was a lucky break for Shyam as he had to think on the spot about what to do.

He suddenly remembered that the guest room at the end of the corridor has access to going out the back. So he picked up an unconscious Khushi in is arms and made his way out of the room. He headed towards the end of the corridor, entered the room and using the back access he made his way out of the back of the house.

As he knew if he disappeared right now with Khushi suspicion would certainly fall on him. So he placed Khushi on a wall nearby and got onto the phone. "Get here to Raizada mansion this moment" he shouted at the person on the other end.

All the guests started departing from Raizada Mansion.

All of the Raizada family were towards the front of the house saying farewell to all their guests. Arnav who was also with them was not only saying farewell but his eyes carried on darting towards the back of the house looking for someone.

Payal had gone to go check on how long Khushi was taking. At first she knocked on the door of the guest room but as she didn't get an answer she opened the door to find Khushi was not there but all her clothes were still in the chest. She went to check the bathroom but no sign of her. Payal was getting worried. So she started checking all the rooms. Khushi was nowhere to be found.

By then Shyam's man had come and taken Khushi away with him while Shyam went back into the house towards Anjali who had been looking around for him.

Payal had then moved out towards her family but she couldn't say anything as there were still more guests around. As she came out Akash's eyes landed on her. He smiled but Payal couldn't return his smile. Akash looked carefully towards her and noticed that Payal looked very worried. He looked around his family but as everyone was chatting away he moved towards Payal. "Payalji what's wrong?" asked a worried Akash. "Umm'Akashji'I'.I'.." the words just wouldn't come out of her mouth. Akash started getting more worried. "Payalji tell me what's wrong?" "Akashji I can't find Khushi anywhere" said a very worried Payal as tears started appearing in her eyes. Akash looked shocked. "Payalji are you sure you checked everywhere? She may have gone upstairs" Akash said. Payal looked up at Akash "Yes she may have. I just go check" as Payal went to move Akash grabbed her arm Payal turned to look back at him. "Wait I will come with you as you still haven't seen the whole house. You may get lost." Payal appreciated the concern Akash was showing towards her. With that both Akash and Payal went upstairs to go look for Khushi.

Both went all over the upstairs floor. They even went to terrace to see if she was there but there was no sign of her. Both Akash and Payal were really starting to worry now.

They headed downstairs to find the last of the guests had left and the only people left were the Gupta's and the Raizada's. As Payal by now was very worried she was also crying. Akash had a hold of her as they made their way down towards their families. As they reached their families Payal left Akash's side and went and hugged her mum crying on her shoulder. This made Garima worried and everyone else look towards Payal.  

Anjali looked up towards Akash who was looking towards Payal. "Akash what's happened?" Akash looked towards Anjali "Di we can't find Khushiji anywhere in the house." Everyone looked at Akash in shock but one person felt as though his whole world had come crashing down.

Arnav didn't know what to say nor what to do as the words sank in that Khushi was nowhere to be found.

Anjali walked up to Akash. "Akash are you sure about this?" asked a worried Anjali. Arnav heard his sister and looked back at Akash still in shock. "Yes di. Payalji had already checked downstairs and we both went everywhere upstairs. We couldn't find her anywhere."

Hearing that Khushi was missing bauji was starting to stir in his chair feeling helpless. Garima started feeling faint. It was lucky Payal was around and just managed to handle her mother while Akash who saw her father went over to him to settle him down. Nani went towards buaji who started to cry and was having trouble breathing.

Watching everyone around her having trouble Anjali walked up to Arnav and shook him bringing back out of his trance. "Chote is there anything that can be done?" Anjali asked looking at her brother.

Arnav turned around first to his sister before scanning the room. He took out his phone first to get their family doctor to their place for Khushi's bauji and buaji before he was about to call the police. Shyam got worried about this.

As the gupta's heard police Garima screamed "NO. Not the police." Arnav looked up towards Garima with a shock expression. "No. If the world was to find out Khushi has been kidnapped then her reputation. No I can't allow her reputation to be spoilt" as she pleaded towards Arnav. "But we have to inform the police. They can help locate Khushi" nani said. "Naniji I know but society today is still so bad. If people get to know Khushi has been kidnapped, then she is found people are going to talk and say pretty nasty things making it hard for my baby to ever get married into any family. No please I beg of you no police please" Garima pleaded while crying. Arnav was really pissed at this. He wanted to say something as his temper was high but seeing the situation in front of him he just walked towards his room. Anjali saw this and slowly started walking towards his bedroom.

Nani called Hari Prakash and Om Prakash to help settle the gupta' s on the settee's in the living room as the doctor had arrived.

Anjali walked into Arnav's room to find him pacing. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Chote I know you are worried but in a way Garimaji is right in her way. She is just worried for her daughter's reputation. Our society is that bad that once they find out a girl is missing they always blame the girl for the rest of her life. I know you don't believe in all this but we have to do this for Khushiji's sake if no one else's" Anjali said. Hearing Khushi's name Arnav closed his eyes and the memories of their dance were still fresh in his mind as he had felt Khushi very close towards him, touched her and he felt as though she was feeling the same but he was not sure. Anjali left him alone to go downstairs.

Arnav opened his eyes and got onto his phone.

Downstairs the doctor had managed to calm both Shashi and Madhumati but Garima and Payal were still crying a lot as Khushi was missing.

The Raizada's had asked them to stay over but they declined the offer as they were traditional in the manner that a girl's family shouldn't stay at their daughter's in laws place before the marriage or after the marriage.

Before they all left everyone saw Arnav leave the house and heading out without saying anything to anyone.

Anjali was worried about what Arnav would do. She knew his temper very well and when he got mad he didn't think straight.

Akash had been asked to drop everyone to the gupta house.

The only one who was enjoying this whole scene was of course Shyam knowing full well Khushi was.

Nobody managed to sleep that night. Either at the Raizada's or at the Gupta's.

Arnav had not come back home until quite late that night and the whole night he couldn't stop thinking about Khushi. Where she could be, if she was alright, what she must be going through. All night thoughts of Khushi being hurt were haunting him.

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