Chapter 11

"There you are. I thought you won't come." Khushi said breathing in relief seeing Arnav walking towards her, after signalling the speaker to announce their arrival.

"I had to come. Let's just get over it." Arnav grumbled, standing beside Khushi waiting for the signal to walk forward and added under his breath "can't believe I am doing all this."

"Me neither, Arnavji. It's funny how we are going to act like a couple madly-in-love when 'hate' is the perfect word to describe our relationship." Khushi mocked him.

Arnav shook his head, walking forward when darkness engulfed them and Khushi walked behind him, bumping into him now and then making him look back and glare at her, forgetting she can't see him in dark.

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Arnav Singh Raizada. A name that always sent shivers down their spine whenever they remembered the enigma that the man is. Be it his arrogance that oozed from his rigid composure or the harsh way he had always treated them, everything about him screamed a mystery to them that they have never managed to solve.

It'd been more than 4 years when Arnav Singh Raizada had taken over AR designs after his father, Avinash Raizada's death and they still remembered the day very well. They were so delighted to finally have a young, handsome businessman who looked no less than a Greek god, to spy on and had been uncharacteristically brooding making it enjoyable for them to hunt news about him.

But it wasn't easy to be done as it was said. Arnav Singh Raizada never had affairs, never had been involved in any fight and brawl and never had been part of any illegal work. His history was clean; his way of work has always been truly professional still his rivals feared him like he was incarnation of Satan.

2 years ago when they had finally managed to get something spicy about Anjali Raizada, Arnav Singh Raizada's sister, they thought that eventually they have the upper hand but all their vision of victory was broken when Arnav Singh Raizada sued a popular newspaper in court for writing about his sister and his wrath ended with the abrupt closure of that newspaper agency.

To the media, he had always been a forbidden territory but with the arrival of Khushi Raizada as Arnav Singh Raizada's wife has made it appear otherwise. They were flabbergasted when the PR agency of AR itself gave news to them about Arnav's personal life and not to forget the overwhelming response they have received to it.

And for them it was no less than the biggest miracle of the decade that they were dully invited in Arnav Singh Raizada's wedding reception.

They watched with a bored expression as some AR employee kept talking about Arnav and Khushi, the clarifications to the rumours surrounding their life before announcing their impending arrival.

As the centre stage of the reception venue went pitch black before the whole venue bathed in white, their cameras flashed madly when Arnav appeared on stage, dressed in a black Jodhpuri bandh-gala. His hairs as usual gelled back and his lips curved in a smile for the first time. He brought his palm to his left as if waiting for someone to join him and hold his hand.

The peoples present there forgot to breathe watching a breath-taking beautiful woman dressed in fuchsia trousseau slipping her milky white hand into his before appearing to his side with an enchanting smile on her full, rosy, luscious lips. The tanned skin of Arnav's hand to her milky white complexion presented such an interesting contrast that they were unable to move their gaze from their intertwined hands.

All the negative rumours regarding their marriage flew out of their mind seeing the couple finally together in front of them.

Perfect-that was the only word that flashed in their mind and in front of their eyes as they saw the newly wedded couple staring at each other, oblivious to other's gaze on them.

They watched in awe as Arnav bent his head a bit, leaning towards Khushi and whispered something in her ear before pressing a kiss to the side of her head making her blush prettily.

Does this evening have more surprises under wraps? The media mused moving closer to the center stage to capture the perfect and so-much-in-love couple in pictures for which they posed adorably with Arnav's hand snaking around Khushi's waist. Khushi leaned onto him, resting her henna covered hands over the soft fabric of suit around his hard chest, giggling a bit. They watched in amazement as Arnav and Khushi turned to look at each other and froze.

The electrifying chemistry between them was hard to ignore.

As some reporters came forward to ask some questions and opened their mouth to voice their question, they were stopped abruptly. Arnav brought his hand forward authoritatively and bit out coldly, his softened expressions nowhere to be seen "No questions."

The media scurried away immediately making way for Arnav and Khushi. The couple walked towards a nearby group and they saw Arnav introducing Khushi to them.

Suddenly Khushi Raizada appeared like a forbidden territory to them seeing the guards standing close to her while looking around.

And just like that they knew, they have another battle to fight before getting another juicy piece of news about Raizada's, their ultimate forbidden territory as decided by Arnav Singh Raizada. No wonder his rivals were scared of him.

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"Now don't start seeing dreams okay." Arnav whispered as Khushi caught his hand and slid closer to him.

"Better call them nightmares when it comes to you." Khushi whispered back smiling at the media, baring all her teeth.

She was startled however when Arnav leaned closer to her and whispered "that's better. Don't think I am drawn to you or something."

She looked up confusedly not understanding the meaning behind his words when suddenly Arnav's lips came into contact with her skin and a soft sound followed soon.

Arnav KISSED her.

She felt her heart beat shooting up as her mind registered what had happened and looked up to see Arnav already moving away. She felt her skin getting warm with each passing second. Heat rose to her cheeks and around her neck.

Ignoring the strange sensations in her tummy and goose bumps appearing on her skin, she faked a giggle while gritting out "you don't need to do all this, Arnavji."

"Whatever." Arnav whispered, posing together for snaps.

Controlling the sudden urge to throttle his neck, Khushi relaxed down and smiled while leaning onto him.

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"Khushiji look who has come to meet you?"

Arnav and Khushi, both looked up still standing together silently as Anjali joined them dressed in a pale blue saree, looking very happy. Khushi frowned looking around to see the person Anjali was referring to when Anjali stepped aside, revealing a woman dressed in a beautiful peach saree standing there.

"Jiji?"

"Khushi?"

They both said at the same time as Arnav stepped back, walking away feeling like intruding their private moment. Khushi kept staring at Payal as Payal did the same before Khushi pounced on Payal with a sob, hugging her tight.

"Oh Jiji, I missed you so much." Khushi whispered making Payal hug her back and stroke her hairs in an affectionate way.

"I missed you too pagal." Payal whispered, thanking Anjali silently for inviting her making Anjali smile at them. Payal was about to step back when Khushi hugged her more tightly, sobs racking through her body.

As if seeing her sister had broken her dam of courage and patience.

Anjali and Payal looked at each other worriedly as Khushi kept on crying. "Khushi, what happened?" Payal asked softly.

"I am responsible for everything Jiji. Arnavji has suffered so much because of me." Khushi opened her heart in front of her sister. Her inner turmoil was making her die a little every day.

Looking at Anjali, she continued "Anjali Didi never says anything to me but I know I am responsible for everything. If that Vishal wouldn't have been after me, nothing would have happened."

"Are you crazy Khushi? You are not at fault. Vishal was a mad man, you know that. He would have done anything with you hadn't it been for Avinash Uncle and Aruna Aunty. They saved you. The only regret I have till now is that they died while saving you. You are not responsible for all this, AT ALL. Are we clear on this topic?" Payal said patiently cupping her face and making Khushi look in her eyes while saying all this.

"I agree with Payalji, Khushiji. My parents would have done the same if I would have been there instead of you. I am proud of them. They did the right thing. They are not with me but I know they would have spent their whole life repenting if something would have happened to you. Did Arnav say all this to you?" Anjali said while looking around for Arnav to confront him for saying all this to Khushi. Spotting Arnav, she was about to go to him when Khushi caught her hand and shook her head, silently requesting her to stay back with her.

Anjali sighed before looking up and saying "You shouldn't think all this, Khushiji."

"You are right, Anjali. Now behave like a good girl, Khushi" Payal admonished Khushi, wiping tears from her face. Smiling lightly at them, Khushi composed herself and started chatting to them.

Just at that moment, Arnav turned to look at her and was flabbergasted to see her crying. As their eyes met across the venue, Arnav felt himself softening a bit towards Khushi seeing the dilemma, sorrow and regret in her eyes.

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She was walking towards her room when she heard it. FOOTSTEPS.

Footsteps of someone following her. Her mind got alert as through the corner of her eye, she traced the outline of the person carefully.

Recognizing the person at once, she rolled her eyes and resumed her walk. Her eyes were still trained on that person, waiting for the next move.

As the person quickened his steps and caught her hand to turn her around, she pushed him away before freeing her hand of his grip.

A sound echoed around them as Anjali raised her hand and slapped him hard across his face, so quickly that he didn't understood what was happening.

He had a disbelieving look in his eyes, not able to believe that it's the same girl he had known. His eyes fell on her, startled to see a satisfying smirk on her face as she massaged her hand, trying to wipe his touch.

Crossing her hands under her breasts, she stood up proud looking like her brother, Arnav, at the moment.

The look of arrogance and win was hard to ignore as she spat coldly "Hello, my dear husband."

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Opening the few top buttons of his suit, he sighed tiredly walking through the deserted corridors of Shantivan with an eerie silence falling around it after the party. Workers were silently removing the decoration as Arnav watched them. He was passing through the living room when a voice rang in the air halting him

"Trying hard to behave like a monster?"

Startled, he turned around and looked in time as the lights were switched on to reveal Devyani Singh Raizada sitting on the sofa staring at him blatantly.

Like a predator-all ready to make her final stroke and trap the prey.