Chapter 3

First Published on 12/Apr/2022

Arnav was enjoying watching Shyams' face losing its color, as if all blood was sucked out of it. Oh how would he love to see that happen not just figuratively? Shyam's sick words for khushi were still ringing in his ears, 'I cant even tell you how much I am enjoying seeing you so restless, shyam. You will feel every ounce of pain you gave to khushi. What had you said khushi has become your junoon, your pagalpan right? See, she is my wife now! And now I will tell you what real junoon means!' Arnav thought.

"Chote, what do you mean Shyamji will not be able to take that case?" Anjali broke his reverie and as he was about to answer, a phone to Arnav disrupted their discussion. Arnav saw it was Aman and thought to ignore it but Aman kept calling again and again, as Arnav answered "I am with my family Aman, work can wait" saying so Arnav was going to cut the call, when Aman's insistent voice came from the other end,

"its about you family ASR, I have someone with me who claims that your family's car's breaks were tampered with. If its an attempt to cause a deliberate accident, its very serious case of planned murder, so please come as soon as you can." Aman didn't need to say twice as Arnav was already on his feet.

"Arnavji?" Khushi looked at him surprised. They had decided to corner Shyam and they were so close to doing so but he was now leaving her alone, once again.

"I will be right back" he said without a word more and left.

"Chote bhi na" Anjali dismissed the conversation they were having and Shyam sighed in relief.

However he still had to confront Khushiji! First she went and married that sale sahab of his and now she was almost blowing his cover. How could she? Looks like she took his love for granted. he will have to scare her once again, Shyam smirked as he imagined a scared khushi in his arms.

"uff khushiji!" he almost said it loud, but to his luck everyone had left from breakfast table and khushi was talking to her jiji.

"But jiji, its my pagphere too right? Why doesn't amma want me to come?" Khushi asked sadly as Payal informed her that Garima and Buaji had strictly instructed only Payal to come for the ritual.

"After what you did yesterday khushi, you really think they will welcome you? And what was that at the breakfast table? Its not even 1 day of our marriage khushi, if not you at least think about me. What will akash and maaji think if we tell them everything today itself? couldn't you wait?" payal's questions made khushi even more upset. Was there anyone in this world who thought of her safety? who understood how dangerous it was already that they had hid shyam's truth for so long? But wait, she didnt need anyone anymore, she was her own Knight in shining armor!!!

Maybe it was time to give an earful to her family too! Khushi chuckled to herself as she climbed the stairs, missing that Shyam was following close behind!

--*--

Arnav was on the way to AR, but his mind was on the events from last night.

Flashback from their wedding night:

"Dammit Khushi why cant you forgive me?" He asked finally when she refused to so much as look down at him. And probably it was his ASR avatar that got a reaction from her,

" I have bore your anger, your insults, even you denial but the accusation on my character is something I CAN NOT bear." She said moving away, ignoring him

"And I already said sorry right? That was temporary slip of judgement Khushi and I have already rectified it haven't I? What else should I do, what else do you want?" he asked frustrated

She laughed bitterly "what I want? Is it ever about it? And temporary slip of judgement? Really arnavji? Tell me one thing, if I hadn't mentioned about shyam's harassment, wouldn't you have gone ahead and destroyed my life? Wouldn't you have tried to sabotage jiji's wedding? And don't tell me you have rectified it, you haven't, you can't. You have hurt me. Out of all things I thought you could do to hurt me, this is the worst."

"Khushi please try to understand, it was the way it looked to me when I saw you in his arms-"

Shit. As soon as he said that he realized, she didn't know what he had seen last night. To her it was still only shyam manipulating arnav. Till now he had only mentioned shyam telling him about khushi's affair with him but he hadn't told that it was him who went to shyam in the first place! Now he did let it slip away. Shit!!!

"what?" she asked dumbfounded.

"Wo Khushi-actually" what was the way to tell her why he choose to turn his head away after only half of the scene there? and better still, why didn't he barge in and pull shyam away, like he had pulled those goons away from her in Nainital?

"You saw me? You saw he was- he manhandling me and yet you stood there? Wow! I had let you touch me even kiss me, and still you thought I would let anyone else, least a married man touch me? Why did you choose to be a spectator instead of coming there to help me? Heck, even confront me? Why did you run away like a coward Mr. Raizada? Tell me!" she shouted and he winced. He had no answer. Because all her accusations were right. He had known she had feelings for him, she had let him kiss her for god's sake, that should have kicked in his instincts to figure out the scene on the terrace. But it didn't...

"i am sorry" he said but even to him those words felt hollow.

.

.

She was emotionally drained, tired even. But things were clearer to her now. Her main culprit was Shyam Jha! It was her big mistake to let him loose for so long and he was still at large! She had to take care of that problem first!

"what do you—you want to do now?" he asked after a long time, dreading her answer.

She sighed. What was done was done. The moment had passed and they were left with its consequences now. Good thing was he was at least with her. And together they could take shyam down. She would think of what to do with her husband, later.

"last night when you told me shyam told you about my...I had thought he manipulated you. Now that I know it was you who went to him in the first place...its changes many things. But one of the reasons I agreed to elope with you last night was to keep Shyam away and I want to see through with it. I want to ensure he is punished for his crimes, against me, my family..and against...di I mean Anjaliji...and I might need you-"

"I will help you. I will do whatever you want me to. Besides, I'd love to rip apart-"

"its ok arnavji, I have seen who you choose to punish when it was my enemies vs me. Anyway, I am going to police after pagphere rasam, but I want to prepare everyone's mind to hear the truth."

End of flashback

And that's how they were working on their plan. Until Aman's call made him run to AR.

--*--

"Khushiji, rukiye!" Shyam held her hand making khushi turn. She was almost at the top staircase while Shyam was a couple of steps below.

"How dare you Khushiji? How could you marry sale sahab? and what was that on the dining table? Aap samjhti kyun nahi hum aapse pyaar karte hain (why don't you understand, I love you)?" shyam said and moved to cup her face when khushi jerked his hands away and bellowed,

"Aur hum aapse nafrat karte hain (And I hate you)! chi, you should feel disgusted at yourself for cheating on a wife like Anjaliji. And don't you dare touch me again, I will not take it lightly."

That irked Shyam more. From where did she get so much daring? He had to make her understand it was only him for her,

"What will you do? huh? who will believe you? heck, your own family doesn't stand by you. You only have me Khushiji, trust me." he again tried to move close and Khushi had it! "For the last time, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A MAN LIKE YOU! A man like you should rot in hell!" She said as she pushed him away, making him loose his balance. And in no time, Shyam was hanging at the top of the stairs, about to tumble down.

Everything happened in a microsecond,
Shyam shrieked for his life,
Anjali came there hearing that,
Shyam extended his hand for Khushi to save him,
And Khushi stood there, doing nothing but watch him look scared for his life and then fall!

And soon later, Shyam was lying at the bottom of the stairs in pool of blood!

--*--

In the meanwhile, Arnav reached AR and as Aman had said the mechanic where they usually sent their cars for servicing, was waiting for him.

"I have come here with a lot of risk to my life, sirji, but i had to tell you this" the old mechanic named Kishor, said folding his hands. He was doing the right thing but he was afraid too.

"Don't worry kishor bhai, you are safe, we will ensure of that. Now please tell ASR what you were telling me" Aman assured Kishor as Arnav too nodded and Kishor went to on tell them how the car's breaks were manually tampered with, clearly an attempt to kill the traveler!

Someone was behind their lives! But who? Business rivals? Or- NO! Arnav's wheels of thoughts started churning. Shyam was a loose character no doubt, two timing bast*rd but could he be a potential killer too? was he capable of attempting to murder his own wife? This whole thing was so horrible to even think about that Arnav held his head! He had a killer roaming in close vicinity of his family...and his Khushi! If what he was thinking was indeed truth, he had to take an action fast. Shyam who was no longer an abuser but also a murderer and if that was the case he had to be very very careful.

He asked Aman to do 2 things immediately, appoint bodyguards in his house, and a spy to follow shyam's every move.

Unknown to him, Shyam was anyway not able to move for a foreseeable future now!

--*--

Precap: "Why didn't you save him Khushiji? He had extended his hand for help, you could have held his hand to save him, but you didn't. Why?" A tearful Anjali asked Khushi

--*--

A/N - If you think this is Shyam's end, hang in there tight. Its the beginning of his misery. Let me know what you thought of his 'accident'. Also, hopefully story doesn't feel too fast paced.