Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Negotiations

I swear people, I'm not planning to start a HATE-ARNAV club...🤣

I thank you all for coming with me so far and request you all to trust me just a little bit longer... I will not disappoint you all I promise.😊

My God, I'm ready to sink into the floor or go into permanent hiding.😕 The bashes I got for the last chapter...

But some of you did find this Arnav HOT, just like me...😉 and thank you for that... Others... just don't hate him... He's our Arnav after all...🤗 These are desperate times... He'll come around... Hopefully...😆

After the disastrous encounter with Arnav Singh Raizada, Khushi returned home completely shaken. And the first thing she saw on entering made a chill run down her spine.

He Babuji was sitting on the sofa rubbing his chest, pain evident on his face.

"Babuji..." Khushi rushed to him worried sick. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Bitiya calm down. I'm fine." He smiled at her. "It's only a bit of acidity."

"No Babuji. You can't take this lightly." Khushi panicked.

"Khushi, relax." He said placing a hand on her head and she held it to her cheek. "I'm not taking it lightly. Your Amma and I have already seen the doctor and he has confirmed that it is just acidity. I have taken my medicine." He explained.

"Oh Devi Maiya Thank you. Nothing will happen to you Babuji. I will not let that happen." She said hugging her father.

"Khushi bitiya? Are you alright? Why are you talking like this?" He asked with concern.

She pulled back suddenly. "Nothing Babuji. It's just work. Maybe I'm too tired." She replied not meeting his eyes.

"Why don't you take a day off and rest?" He suggested.

"Yes, I think I'll do that." She said and rushed to her room.

But Payal tried to stop her on the way, "Khushi, I want to talk, you know Aka..."

"Not now Jiji." Khushi almost snapped, entering into her room and slammed the door shut on Payal's shocked face. She didn't have the patience to deal with her jiji's heart burn right now. This was all her fault. Was that maniacal Raizada's brother the only guy she found in this whole wide world to fall in love with?

She threw her handbag away and started pacing along the length of the room. There had to be some way out of this. She thought desperately until way past midnight but came up with nothing. Finally defeated she sank down into her bed and dissolved into tears.

~~~~~~

Khushi's eyes were swollen and red when she woke up next morning. She had cried all night until her tears had dried and she had exhausted her self to sleep. She freshened up and came back to sit on her bed. Her mind had gone completely blank.

First things first, she had to call Rohan. She picked up her phone and dialled his number.

"Hey beautiful, good morning." Khushi's heart twisted with pain hearing Rohan's cheerful voice.

"Good morning Rohan." She said slowly.

"I'm coming to pick you up for work in half an hour. Be ready." He said.

"Er... Rohan can I take a day off today?" She asked nervously.

"Of course you can baby. But what's wrong. Your voice sounds off. Are you unwell?" He asked concerned.

"No, I'm fine. I think I need some time to relax." She answered.

"I understand dear, IFW has been hectic. You take some rest. I'll manage at work."

"Thanks Rohan." She said gratefully.

"Don't say it. You take care." He said and disconnected.

Khushi felt as if she was at a dead end so she decided to go to the Mandir and spend some time there.

As she sat in the Mandir staring into her goddess's eyes, Khushi realised one thing. Arnav Singh Raizada had her trapped alright. There was no way out of this. There were only two options, either stand aside and watch him destroy her family or get destroyed herself. But after all she was Khushi and she could do anything for her family who had done so much for an orphan like her. She'd rather burn at the stake than let them come in the path of harm. So she made a decision. A thoroughly planned decision. She picked up her phone and made a call.

~~~~~~

Arnav picked up his ringing cell phone and was amazed to see Khushi's name flash on the screen.

He eagerly answered. "Khushi? That was real quick. Have you made your decision?"

"I want to talk to you." She answered in a dead voice.

"Good. What have you decided?" He asked eagerly.

"Not so soon Mr. Raizada. There are certain things that need to be discussed yet." She replied.

"Really and what are they?" He inquired.

"Not over the phone. Meet me at the Durga Mandir in Old Delhi right now. I'm already there and then we'll talk." She answered.

"You want to meet me?" He asked surprised.

"Yes. Right now." She said in a flat tone.

"I'll be there right away Khushi." He said and hung up.

Just then Anjali entered in his room and saw Khushi's picture on the laptop screen.

"Chote? How long are you just going to stare at her picture? It's been almost a year now. You won't even tell me who she is." She said accusingly.

"DI..." He protested.

"Don't 'Di' me." She said sternly. "Why are you so stubborn? If you love her so much, just tell her."

Arnav was planning on ignoring his Di and leaving but hearing her last statement he stopped dead. "Love?" he wondered aloud.

"Yes... Love..." Anjali smiled and turned him to face her. "It's plain as daylight. I've seen it in your eyes for the past one year. You're in love with her Chote."

Arnav just stared at his sister's face. Was he in LOVE with Khushi? After all that he had done and is doing to her... was it love that he felt for her?

"So when are you going to tell her?" Anjali asked.

Arnav was too amazed to reply for a moment. His feelings for Khushi had been just defined for him. He was in love with Khushi. "Di, she is going to be with me very soon and then there won't be any need for a picture." He answered excited. "But don't ask anything else Di. Not yet." With that he rushed out of the room without waiting for Anjali's response.

~~~~~~

He saw her sitting on a bench in the temple premises and walked up to her. She looked deep in thought.

"Khushi?" He called out.

She looked up at him and got to her feet.

"So... What's your answer? Do you agree with me?" He asked with a softness.

"I don't like it." She replied.

"As I said yesterday, you don't get a choice." His tone turned hard. "You have only two options. Be mine or lose your family."

"I see it a bit differently." Khushi answered calmly. "I see two options too. Either give in to your demands or kill myself."

"NO..." He roared and grabbed her arms. "I will not allow that."

"Let go of me, Mr. Raizada, we are in public." Khushi said without losing her calm.

He slowly loosened his grip and let go of her arms.

"Mr. Raizada I rather die than let you claim myself. But I don't want my family hurt and me, committing suicide will definitely hurt them. So..." She trailed.

Hope lit up his eyes and he stepped forward to hold her. But she backed off putting up a palm to stop him.

"No... not so easily Mr. Raizada." She said stopping him. "As I said over the phone I need to discuss this."

His eyes narrowed. "What do you want to know?"

"You have to know this that I have to accept your demands unwillingly only for my families sake." She paused for a moment but he didn't respond so she continued. "So if I have to sacrifice myself there has to be something that I get in return."

"What do you want?" He asked his tone businesslike.

"We'll come to my demands later." She said. "First things first. You say that you want me to be yours, right?"

He nodded.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"Huh?" He was confused.

"What kind of a relationship do you want us to be in? Do you want to just 'Keep' me or marry me?"

Arnav hadn't really thought that far. He just wanted her with him. But the way she had worded her question angered him. "What do you mean 'Keep' you?"

"You very well know what I mean, Mr. Raizada." Khushi responded unaffected by his anger. "But let me elaborate. My family will never be able to bear an unnamed relationship and I will never do something that scars my family's reputation."

"Fine, I don't really care what it is as long as I have you with me. If you want marriage, you'll get it." He answered his nose flaring in rage.

"Okay." She merely commented and continued. "Now there are other things I need to clear."

"Go ahead."

"There will be no hurdles in my Jiji's happiness. She will have no opposition from any member of your family." She demanded.

"I'll make sure of that. Akash and Payal's relationship will be accepted by Mami and others." He answered.

"You'll never again harm my family." She made her second demand.

He folded his arms. "As I have said, I never wanted to harm your family. If I have YOU I don't need to stoop that low."

Third demand... "You'll not stop me from working at Emerald."

"AR Group and RC Creations are not rivals. So I don't see any harm in that. But your relationship with Rohan should be strictly professional." He made himself clear.

She nodded and drew in a deep breath, she was about to make her last demand and she didn't know how he would respond to that. She was a little scared actually after seeing his behaviour yesterday. But she had seen that her suicide trump card had worked and she would use it again if she had to. She steeled herself and spoke. "Lastly... Although I've agreed to be with you and we'll be married, you'll NEVER force yourself on me."

His eyes widened and glinted and she shuddered with fear for a moment but before she knew what was happening, he came forward and engulfed her in a gentle embrace. "Of course not Khushi... I will never, ever do that to you. It's not possible that I hurt you like that ever again." He pulled back and cupped her face, "Just be mine, I'll not tolerate you with anyone else. I love you Khushi. I love you so much. I can't bear it when you are away from me. I hate myself for what I made you go through. I swear I'll never force myself on you."

Khushi stared at him blankly fighting the urge to push his hands off her face and closed her eyes. This was the maximum she could get out of her life if she wanted to see her family safe and happy.

"Alright then, Mr. Raizada." She sighed defeated.

Arnav had a victorious smile on his face. "Great! I'll speak to my family today itself about us and I'll convince Mami for Payal. I can't wait anymore for you to be in my life."

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