Part 4 Matured

Trigger warnings - mentions of drugs and alcohol

"In politics, there are no relationships between rivals, there are only truces!" - Unknown

--*--

Arnav stood mesmerized as Khushi descended the staircase and walked towards the stage where he was standing, waiting for her. For a minute, he almost thought she would excitedly run into his arms, like older days.

But as she came nearer, he was made to face the reality of today, reality of his once ex-lover, soon fiancé.. he remembered the conversation he had with her when they had come with the proposal,

"This will be a marriage bound with terms and conditions. Of course, we have been generous for your benefit too, but you will sign it to pledge your loyalty." Saying so they had given him the file...or rather the contract!

And then Khushi had asked to speak with him alone, so Rani Ma excused them.

"I just want to clear one last thing Arnav, this is a namesake marriage, so we will be husband and wife only for the world. but we will not have any physical relations. Our bedrooms will be separate. I don't care what you do behind the closed doors as long as you don't do it publicly and I-" he stopped her from saying further, aghast at what she was implying...

"Khushi whatever you think of me, but I am not into infidelity, and I will expect the same from you." He couldn't believe she was hinting at something like that. He agreed he had cheated her the worst way in the past, but he wasn't going to be unfaithful in their marriage, and neither would he allow her to.

"Stop right there Arnav. Yes, I am faithful but to only one person. Swayam. And he is no longer in this world. And about your loyalty, I will never believe you on it, especially after getting my trust trampled under your feet last time." she was still not meeting his eye and that hurt him, more than her words

"Will you never even look at me khushi?" he didn't know why it was affecting him so much

"The day you refused to look at me, you refused to acknowledge our relationship, you lost all the respect in my eyes Arnav. I had trusted you despite you being my father's enemy's son, despite you being a Raizada, but you proved that an enemy will always remain an enemy. Now there is nothing for you here." she said with a finality and he sighed.

"Fine. I am ready to sign this, but I have a condition." one final thing he needed to ensure.

"You really think you are in a position to demand things Arnav?" she laughed but he ignored it with a stiff face,

"My condition is, you will never dig out about my father, Arvind Raizada." he said as he had to ensure Arvind Raizada was not messed with, until at least his mother was safe.

"So you can plot something again? You are still dreaming of snatching the chief minister chair, aren't you? You know Arnav, when you threw me out, I had promised myself that jis kursi ki wajah ye sara kissa shuru hua tha, agar usse haasil karke nahi dikhaya toh hamara naam khushi Gupta nahi! (I had taken an oath that the crown for which this whole thing started, I won't stop until I possess it). And I did it. I snatched it from the Raizada family. and now-"

"Now you will want to publicly humiliate me too? The way I did? so tumhara badla pura ho, right?"

"I won't stoop that low Arnav. All of this started because of your game for power, I agree, and now I have it. But it has become much more than that for me now. and I am not going involve in anymore of your stupid games. So, this is a truce, a ceasefire..."

.

And soon Delhi's chief minister Khushi Mehra became engaged to Arnav Singh Raizada. Their marriage was going to be in one week's time and given that it was a wedding of Delhi's current chief minister, and that too a wedding of two people from Delhi's most powerful families, it was a hot news.

--*--

"Aman." Arnav called out to his once best friend, who had become estranged due to his own mistakes. Aman stopped in his track and turned, "Congrats on your engagement, ASR." Aman said and Arnav nodded. But he didn't want to let Aman go yet,

"I am also really happy for you Aman; you have made it in Delhi's political circle." Arnav genuinely said.

Aman observed this man in front of him. There were many changes apparent in him. Gone was the ever-present arrogance and high headedness. He now seemed to have matured over the years, especially in last 2 years.

"ASR! How about a beer at my place tonight? For old times' sake?" Aman said without realizing and Arnav immediately agreed.

"How's Ratna aunty doing?" Aman's question brought a smile on Arnav's face.

"She is recovering." and with that Arnav tried to make amends with at least one person...

--*--

In the intervening week, Khushi often found herself thinking at night, debating if she was doing right. Arnav had helped them track contract killers, made their way easy to put them behind the bars, but still somewhere she knew, he knew more than that, that the real culprit was still roaming free. And she had an inkling who it was! She just needed some more time to throw him in his rightful place and for that, to keep Arnav on her side...

But in all this, she was getting herself tied to Arnav...

And that thought made her miss Swayam even more. Swayam and her marriage had started on an awkward note, as another political deal. But there was one thing that they never lacked, mutual trust and respect. She still remembered how he had told her; she was his first!

Swayam held her hand in his, as they were sitting on their bed as newly married couple, "I have never been with any girl, Khushi. The ecstasy of ****(drugs) never let me miss any other pleasure." and when she widened her eyes, he chuckled to add, "don't worry, I will never relapse again."

She had been honest with him too, about her past, about Arnav. It was an open secret anyway. But still. And from then on, they had found marital bliss in their short but blissful married life. He was her support, her confidante, her true life partner...she missed him dearly!

--*--

Soon one week passed by and it was the day of Arnav-Khushi's marriage. Amidst all this, one person was trying his best to not kill his own son! Arvind Raizada.

Arnav had threatened him to reveal his name behind Swayam's murder if he tried to harm anyone anymore. And that had kept him calm till now...but the day of Arnav-Khushi's wedding, Arvind finally had it!

"Come on Arnav, there is still time. Don't get married to that Gupta girl, stop this nonsense. We can still manage to-"

"Stop it dad! You have already made me do so wrong with her in the past, now let me handle this." Arnav said as he was getting ready.

"There is no right or wrong in politics, Arnav. It was needed that time."

"Who said politics? I am done with your stupid politics, wo aapko mubarak ho. I am taking a stand for what's right in my life here on." with that Arnav almost left, when Arvind stopped him,

"Fine, but what about your biological mother? Don't you want to know about her?" he pulled an ace.

"No, I will manage on my own to find her... I am perfectly capable of taking care of both of my mothers." Arnav said with gritted teeth!

"Oh really? Because currently it looks like she is the one taking care of you. By making a deal? Or maybe that is what she always saw you as, a means to strike deals" he dropped the bomb

"What are you trying to say?" Arnav paused at that...scared to hear what he knew would come next...

Arvind laughed bitterly, "Ask your Rani ma, if she knows any Reema Sharma... because that's the name of your birthmother."

--*--

Arnav stormed in Rani Mehra's office, which was in the headquarter building of Mehra group. And without saying anything else, or waiting for her to greet him, he thundered,

"What is your relationship with me Mrs. Mehra? And why exactly were you so keen on me helping you put Swayam's killers behind the bars? What's your enmity with Arvind Raizada?"

Rani Mehra immediately understood Arnav knew the truth. She couldn't afford him revolting against them right now.

Yes, she had given him birth, made a deal with Arvind Raizada for a child in return of a position for her in his party but he had ultimately thrown some notes on her face and tried to shut her up. that was her first mistake...but Rani Mehra didn't back down after that first ever lesson, she didn't look back either...she had bigger things to achieve...now that she had already made many sacrifices for it..

"Arnav, listen." She tried to calm him down

"No, you listen to me Mrs. Mehra. I am done being a pawn at your hands and your ex-partner's hands." Arnav could hear ringing in his ears due to all the anger he felt for his so-called birth-givers!

"I have lost my one son, Arnav, I didn't want to lose you." Rani Ma said emotionally

"Oh really? Is that the real reason or you wanted to ensure the crown stays in your house either way? Who else is your next pawn, you depressed daughter?" Arnav spat

"Swara is your sister Arnav!"

"Wow Mrs. Mehra, you really think I will suddenly buy this relationships bull**it! Listen to me, you may have made a deal of my life Mrs. Mehra but not anymore. I-"

"Everyone calls me Rani ma, Arnav, please call me that." she once again tried to make a way in his heart but he was beyond listening,

"YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, neither will you ever be. I am Ratna Raizada's son. I was never a Malik and I will never be a Mehra for sure." With that Arnav was gone.

.

.

Everyone was waiting for Arnav at mandap. And as the muhurt approached everyone started whispering if Arnav would come or not. Khushi was cursing herself for once again believing him and giving him a chance to play with her reputation...

.

.

And just as they thought the wedding is cancelled, he did arrive... just in time...and took his seat beside her in the mandap. Everyone sighed in relief while gossip mongers felt disappointed for having lost a chance to witness such a huge debacle of Khushi Mehra's life...

Arnav still didn't know why he was here. He hated Rani Mehra, but at the same time he didn't want to wrong Khushi anymore either. Even when his subconscious told him it was not a real relationship anymore, but merely a deal.

.

.

Aman watched silently as Arnav and Khushi took seven rounds around the holy fire, and soon were declared husband and wife...

--*--

kyun nazrein teri yoon anjaan hain, aankhein hain meri bhi nam,
(why are your eyes so unaware, my eyes are wet too)
kyun paa kar bhi tum ko khoya hai, hum kyun na ban paaye hum?
(why have I lost you even after getting you, why couldn't we become 'we' (why couldn't we come together)?)

"Wait Khushi. I think we should stay in the same room." Arnav said even before he realized, as they were walking on the stairs, with their families already gone, done with all rituals. It was his loneliness speaking.

"Have you hit your head Arnav? Or have you lost it? Why will I do that? I told you we will be husband and wife only for the world. In this house, you are no one to me. Remember this is only a deal and stick to the clauses." Khushi said through gritted teeth and stormed in her room.

--*--

A/N – phew! A lot happened in here right? I guess some of you may have already guessed Rani Ma was Arnav's mother. Clues were in chapter #2 and #3. And maybe now you see I meant when I said there is no hero, heroine or villain here, everything is only politics and everyone is grey, well more or less on the scale of grey. Anyway, next chapter will be delayed. And It will be even more high voltage so tighten the seat belts.

p.s I finally used one of IPKKND songs in my stories, Rabba ve was so apt for this story. and happyy_me I hope this makes you happy too :)