Part 2

In the dark room, lit by only one floor lamp, Arnav was standing alone, like a lone warrior. For "the" Arnav Singh Raizada who only knew how to possess, how to rule, how to lead, this situation was making him restless and sick. When he had money and power, people were around him like honeybees around a nectar. But now? Now that he had nothing, he had found all his so-called supporters turning away.

Which is why he needed this marriage the most!

And maybe because it was her- Khushi, once 'his Khushi'! Although he never really considered her as his back then, she was just a pawn in his game until a few years back...

Now he was not so sure.

He had judged her heavily when his father had showed her from a distance. "This" was chief minister Shashi Gupta's daughter? But then again, he was told she was kept away from politics and in general real harsh world. Well, now he was there to do the honor, wasn't he? Introduce to bad bad world, he would. And he did.
He had never loved her; he knew that. Attracted? Like hell! She was and still is a beauty, an exquisite creation. Now he knows, she is much more than just a pretty body, she is a true blood ruler!
But a few years back, when he first met her, he didn't know it, neither was she so mature. And he didn't have time for her silly heart games. He needed to march ahead towards the throne, to the Chief minister's chair, for which he needed to use her...

Flashback from 3 years ago:

"Bin maa ki bacchi hain Shashi, itni chut bhi mat do (she's a child without a mother, don't let her lose so much)." Madhumati, her bua had commented to her father, which Arnav overheard. He had been staying in Lucknow from past few months and had V.I.P. access to the branded boutiques and other places where Guptas visited.

"Nahi jiji, meri bitiya mera guroor hain (my daughter is my pride), she knows her limits and anyway this is all if for her only." Shashi said looking lovingly at Khushi who was on a shopping spree.

Just then, someone kept a hand on his shoulder, and Arnav turned to see who it was,

"Stay away from her." Aman warned him. Aman, his best friend from college, was once his devoted supporter, and who betrayed him to join Shashi Gupta camp few years ago.

"Oh? And who are you to stop me? My once best friend who now joined my enemies?"

"That was because I saw the true face of your family, of your father! And you are stepping in his steps! I couldn't see my friend in you anymore." Aman said the same thing he had said back then.

"So you went and licked Gupta's boots? Or is it because you wanted a bigger position? or maybe something else?" Arnav said suggesting to Khushi

"Shut up ASR! Not a word more!" Aman held his collar, but soon, sensing they will pull unnecessary attention, Arnav left from there.

This incident did the least to stop Arnav and soon he wooed Khushi. Thankfully Aman used to be away most of the time, staying with Shashi Gupta which only helped Arnav...

End of flashback

But he didn't feel bad then, even when his mother confronted him, he cared for nothing. Such was the nasha, the influence of power! His father had promised him chief minister's chair if he could destroy Shashi gupta's reputation. And the way to do so was his only daughter, a naïve silly small-town girl, Khushi. It had taken him a year to woo her, but boy, was it worth it?

And finally, when Shashi gupta's slapping his young daughter clip went viral, the scandal forced him to resign making way for him.

Flashback from 2 years ago:

When Khushi had stood in front him, with a bag in her hands, he felt victory. He had few of his friends with him, and one of the girls whose name he didn't bother knowing was clinging to him, much to Khushi's irritation. He was sure she could also smell alcohol in the air, which she hated!

"Look who is here? Chief minister's daughter! Ms. Khushi Gupta! How can we serve you, madam?" he said in a mocking tone and saw Khushi gasp in shock.

"Arnav? Why are you talking like that? I have left my house for you."

"Really? But why? I don't even know you that well." he had dropped the bomb and saw tears form in her eyes. For a brief second, he wanted to pull her in his arms and tell her everything was fine, but then he remembered his father's words, nothing was more important than the crown! And currently this was needed to ensure he got it from her family! So, he let her break down...

A while later, as they were some distance away from the earshot of media, she had asked why he did it and he felt a need to tell her. It was for the throne; it was that he was after! Never her!

"I left everything for you, Arnav."

"And you thought I would be ready to marry you, didn't you? Oh Khushi, you're so silly! I did all this for the chief minister's chair, which belongs to me. Samjhi tum?" he had said.

She had left heartbroken, as Aman escorted her.

The media there immediately took these photos and videos and rest everything happened per his and his father's plan...

End of flashback

Soon he heard the news of khushi's wedding with Swayam Mehra getting fixed, a son from a wealthy Mehra family, business magnate Rani Mehra's son, but it was a known secret that he was recovering drug-addict. Arnav felt weird sadness for a few minutes, but soon his eyes were back to the aim. That's what the 'Malik's did. Malik, his real surname. His father Arvind Raizada was actually Arvind Malik, but when he married a rich heiress Ratna Raizada, he adopted her surname too. Arnav often wondered why his dad did it, especially when he could see his parents didn't love each other. Later he got to know the influence and pull of royal Raizada surname was much higher than Malik. And he admired his father for taking that smart decision!

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And just as he was getting ready for oath taking in his dreams, he faced a harsh reality! His father deceived him and himself took the CM chair! 'This is politics my son, don't even believe your own father here' his dad had coolly said, and Arnav felt gut punched! He was offered a finance minister position, to keep him pacified.
Soon, Arvind Raizada swore in as Chief minister of Delhi and just as Arnav thought he could deal with this; he got another shock. The truth of knowing Ratna wasn't his birth mother! The same mother with whom he had almost never spoken a word with and who still cared for him wasn't his anyone! Apparently, the reason Ratna Raizada married a nobody Arvind Malik was because she couldn't ever have a child!

Flashback

"Why are you taking his side? He is not even your son." Arvind shouted, which Arnav heard

"Don't shout, Chote will listen. And so what if I didn't give birth to him? I raised him, I bore your infidelity." Ratna had said, and he flinched at the mention 'chote', he had often told her to not call him that.

"So, what option did I have? You should thank me that the world doesn't know your secret!"

"And you should thank me for this life you have today!" Ratna answered in equal high pitch.

End of flashback

Arnav left the house in a heartbroken state and when he returned, his mother had met with an accident and was now in a coma. When he tried to dig deeper into the matter, Arvind shut him up threatening to harm his birth mother who was apparently in his custody...

So, when in next two weeks, khushi's marriage came, he felt a strong pull, a need to stop her from going away from him. He still remembers that evening of her wedding when he went to beg her to stop the wedding. probably because of his ego which couldn't take another blow? Or maybe because he knew if anyone really cared for him apart from his mother, it was her.

Flashback from 1 year ago, Khushi-Swayam marriage day:

Khushi looked shocked as Arnav had climbed into her room from the balcony. She couldn't believe he had managed to breach the security and jump in her balcony. But then again, nothing was ever impossible for him, right? And now he was the son of Delhi's current chief minister!

"What are you doing here Mr. Raizada? It’s my marriage to Swayam today!"

"Please Khushi, please tell me anything, tell me anything but don't tell me you are choosing him over me. You don't love him, you love me." he had said pulling her in a hug

She scoffed. He was finally where she had wanted to see him for so many months, since the time he and his family had ruined her family had been a reason for her father's and her ruined reputation. Since that moment, she had decided to live only to see him beg in front of her like she had. And see how it ended up? Although, she had to admit she didn't think it would happen so soon.

"I may not love him yet, Arnav, but I respect him. And that is why I am going to marry him. Yes, I am choosing him over you. Now, leave." She had said and asked security to escort him away...

End of flashback

Soon after Khushi's wedding, Shashi Gupta used his new son-in-law's money and influence to turn Arvind Raizada's supporters to his. Arnav had stayed indifferent, trying to gauge what he should do in this new development. To his surprise, even Khushi had started attending party meetings and supporting her father's political campaign. He often took to alcohol seeing her glow like a new bride, getting teased by other ladies.
But he didn't know Arvind Malik was taking the rise of Guptas the worst way! An enraged Arvind planned something so heinous that Arnav had never imagined. His father had planned to eliminate Shashi and his whole family!

With his luck, Shashi Gupta and Khushi survived with few injuries, but Swayam lost his life. Khushi was widowed within a few months of her marriage.
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And then everyone saw the rise of Khushi Mehra, who not only won the election but unanimously got CM's chair. Maybe a sympathy wave or her good image or her non-stop rallies, but no one knew what hit them when a storm called 'Delhi ki khushi - Khushi Mehra' came!

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Months after that were life changing for him. He had watched her win the election, swear in as Chief minister and report to her as a working committee member of the ruling party he too was a part of. She had literally changed from a caterpillar to a butterfly and Arnav found himself admiring her anew. This time, as a smart politician!
And when she, along with her mother-in-law Rani Mehra came with a proposal, he was shocked. But when he heard their reasons and terms for this alliance, he understood it was more like a political move. He had to pledge his faithfulness to them in return of a board of directors' seat in Mehra group, a vacant position left by Swayam. One 'chair' in return of another 'chair'...but the control will be with Khushi!

And today, as he watched the newsflash where she was addressed a ruler of Delhi, owner of that chair, he felt empty. The same chair which he had long pined for, now only mocked him, showed him blood splashed on it, and it made him want to throw up! It seemed as if he had started to get disenchanted with politics...

If only he knew...even if he left politics behind, politics was not going to leave him so easily...

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A/N – So this is Arnav for you! He is neither a hero nor a villain. He is just a politician who aspired to become Hercules maybe? Anyway. Next is Rani Ma and a bit of Swayam and Arvind and then we move to present from chapter #4. Stay right here.

Also, since I mentioned Cleopatra in last chapter, here's something more about her: An ambitious queen of ancient Egypt, she was involved with 2 most powerful men of Roman political circle, with Julius Cesar and after his death, with Mark Antony. While it's believed that Cesar was the true love of her life, her association with Antony was said to be on a political basis. He helped her with getting many political favors as well as fight with internal enemies, in turn she gave him an army to fight the battles.

No, I am not saying Swayam is based on Cesar or Arnav is based on Antony, but Khushi maybe is inspired from this Queen who made me fascinated with her for a long time. And the fact that she existed some 2100 years ago is even more intriguing, to think how powerful women were even back then.