About Last Night THREAD 4**Part 38-48** - Page 27

Hi just read the last five parts together and they were fantastic.

Part 40

Khushi slipped in behind the sofa and pressed a cool compress to Anjali's forehead. And thus began the season of ineffectual sympathy, Khushi thought. The days ahead would be filled with all of them performing small acts of comfort for Anjali knowing full well that no amount of tea and tears could buffer the heart. Not from the degree of damage it was about to endure. Anjali alone would have to bear the pain--and no amount of well-intentioned hand-holding could mitigate this. She glanced at her husband and knew he was thinking the same. He could destroy the man; but he could do nothing about the desecration that would ensue. Arnav met Khushi's eyes and he gave a very slight shrug. It said: what can I do?

Her heart ached for Arnav--yes, for his sister also!--but especially for him who was the silent victim. She knew he blamed himself. He would by now have asked himself a million times, how he could have let such a viper into the bosom of his family?

"Can I? Can I? Please?" Little Khushi's voice broke into her worried thoughts. The child saw some sort of naive pleasure in holding the compress to Anjali's forehead and wanted to have a try.

"Climb up, then," Khushi encouraged.

The child kicked off her mojris and got on the sofa. Khushi showed her how to hold the folded up towel against Anjali's forehead, and not to let it drip into her eyes.

"Gently, love," the father prompted the daughter. Then met Anjali's eyes, and explained, "she's a bit of a nurse."

Anjali, in her usual wonderful way, wrapped her arm around the child's legs to hold her steady on the cushions. She replied, "then you are a perfect team. Doctor and nurse."

"We are a team!" he smiled, nodding.

Khushi sent a silent prayer to the gods that arranged for Yash to be here today. Yash had always been destined for the healing profession; not only because he came from a family of doctors, but because he had a quality about him that always restored those who he encountered. One could know Yash for a decade or for a day, but to be in his presence made one feel better. That was Yash Malhotra's true gift. Khushi looked from Yash to Anjali and back to Yash. She had a thought, but before it could be expressed, her husband made a request.

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"Dr. Malhotra, a word?"

Yash gave a nod, and stepped away from the gathered family. Arnav lead him to the upstairs study where their conversation would be relatively private without arousing suspicion. However, when Arnav glanced back to meet Khushi's eyes, he saw that her suspicion had already advanced.

Yash had removed a slim notebook from his jacket pocket and with a small pen, he wrote on a page. Arnav remained silent during the process. Yash tore the page out of the book and handed it to Arnav.

"There is nothing to be alarmed about. But, as a doctor I would be negligent to not advise your sister have these routine tests done within the next two days."

Arnav took the paper and nodded.

Yash continued, "she is physically strong. Encourage her to rest. Eat every few hours. Indulge her whims. No mental agitation--"

Arnav interrupted him here. "Are you in Delhi for long?"

He saw Yash's surprise at the sudden shift in the conversational direction.

"Uh...our plans are not firm," he replied.

"Can you stay at Raizada House for a few days?"

"That's kind of you, but we are quite comfortable at Buaji's," Yash replied, tucking the notebook back in his pocket.

"You misunderstand. I am not extending a personal invitation," Arnav clarified. "I am engaging your professional services for the duration of your stay in Delhi."

Yash's brows gathered. "That's really not necessary--"

"--allow me to decide what is necessary for my sister--" Arnav snapped, and at the same moment he felt Khushi's hand on his shoulder. Her touch distracted him for that one second; a second that was long enough for him to recognize his misdirected anger. He took her hand, and brought her near. He pressed his lips to her temple. She wrapped an arm around his waist, pressing herself to his side, and looked at her friend.

"Will you please stay with us for a few days, Yashji?" She glanced at Arnav seeking permission with her eyes. He gave her a slight nod. "We will all feel better if you are near," she completed.

Yash looked at Khushi and then at Arnav. His eyes demanded a deeper clarification.

Arnav provided it. "In a few hours my sister will learn that her husband has left her."

There would be a time in the near future when Arnav Singh Raizada would reflect upon Yash Malhotra's next words and begrudgingly concede that the doctor behaved admirably. This, however, was not that time.

"I'll return my mother to Buaji's house, and return with my case. My daughter goes where I go," he said to Arnav and Khushi.

"Of course," Khushi replied and gave him a smile of thanks.

Arnav added, "name your fees and I'll make arrangements--"

Yash held up a hand to stop him. "I'm doing this for Khush...and her new family."

Arnav said nothing further. He met Khushi's eyes and said, "come up."

Yash had already descended the stairs.

Khushi said, "I'll just say goodbye to Mrs. Malhotra."

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Khushi quickly informed Nani that Yash and Little Khushi had accepted an invitation to stay at Raizada House for a few days. Mrs. Malhotra and Yash left with the driver. The child chose to remain with Anjali until her father returned. Payal went to begin lunch preparations, and Khushi excused herself to go and see her husband.

When she entered their bedroom, Arnav had changed clothes. He was in jeans and a light sweater.

"It's time, isn't it?" Khushi asked.

He nodded silently facing her.

Khushi closed the distance between them, tears of apprehension pooling in her eyes and bubbling over her cheeks. "I'm coming with you," she stated in a voice that brooked no argument.

"Khushi," he wiped her tears with his clean handkerchief. "I need you to stay and take care of Nani and Anjali."

"Who will take care of you?" she protested.

He pulled her into his arms. "You will take care of me tonight."

"I'm serious!" she pushed him off.

"So am I!" he said, pulling her back into his embrace.

Khushi was not happy with these arrangements that kept her at home and sent the man she loved into the dark unknown. But, she knew he was right. She tilted her face up to his and grumbled, "When there is anything exciting happening, women are sure to be left out of it. While you go out to slay dragons, we stay at home to supervise lunch!"

Arnav laughed, "don't underestimate the importance of lunch."

With that he took her mouth in a bold and hungry kiss. Khushi met his hunger, surprised by her own arousal at such a time of crisis. He cupped her hips, crushing her against his pelvis. Breaking the kiss, he instructed, "Khushi, latch the door."

She looked up at him, rather bewildered, her thoughts telling her she must have heard wrong.

He moved away to latch the door and came back to her. His eyes told her exactly what he expected of her.

Now?! her eyes asked.

Now! his eyes replied.

But--?

Don't you want--?

I always want...

Then don't waste time, Woman!

Khushi began to remove her saree but he stopped her. "The pleasure of a quickie is that we remain fully dressed." Khushi drew in a sharp breath when in one skillful move he had gathered her saree with petticoat around her waist, and pushed her down on the bed. He parted her knees and with his fingers, he pushed aside the small strip of lace that covered her. He tasted her. She gasped at his daytime audacity. But those sensations of shock were soon overtaken by the havoc caused by his mouth and tongue. It took only a moment for her reluctance to melt, and she parted her knees further to give him more access. When she moaned in pleasure, he drew up to her, and said, "take me inside you!"

She blindly fumbled at the fly of his jeans, and when her hand brushed against his hardness, he released a deep groan signaling his breaking point. Khushi found the parting in his underwear and freed him. By now she too was breathless, her bottom lip caught in her teeth. She met his eyes, and he encouraged her, "go on, Khushi!"

Khushi did as he asked, aware of some sort of primitive power of having a fully aroused man in her hands and under her control. He swore softly, as she took him into her body. Once within her, he caught her mouth fiercely and penetrated her completely, fully, deeply. She moaned into his mouth, as he rocked her into position. From then on, he controlled the ride. It was nothing short of aggression directed into piercing intense passion. He led them both to shattering completion leaving his breath ragged and Khushi sobbing with pleasure. She curled against him, wrapping her legs around him.

She said, "promise me you won't fight him. I don't want you to be hurt."

He rolled off her, catching his breath, "You don't think I can take him?" He looked affronted.

Khushi brushed his hair off his forehead, caressing his face, "I know you can. I've seen you fight remember? It's just...you are so beautiful...I don't want you to come home with a broken nose and split lip."

He smiled and kissed her nose and lip. "My fists will be used on Shyam another day. Today, I will use my mind. He will find that far more painful."

"Will you tell me what you intend?"

"When I return," he promised, as he rose off the bed.

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Shyam looked up as Arnav entered SSP Khan's office. He shook his head and chuckled without humour. "When they arrested me this afternoon, I took it for certain that the mighty Arnav Singh Raizada would be somewhere behind this."

Arnav ignored Shyam and greeted SSP Khan.

"Use my office to conduct your business," Khan said, leaving Shyam, Arnav, Mr. Chopra and the AR Group solicitor, Mr. Rao alone in the room.
Arnav took SSP Khan's seat, resting his arms on the desk, leaning forward to meet Shyam's eyes. He felt savage himself sitting opposite this animal, but he kept all expression from his eyes. Arnav remained silent and waited for Shyam to open.

Shyam--not a man known for self-control--showed his hand immediately, "what am I being charged with? Even you cannot have an innocent man arrested without a charge? Whatever you do to me, Rani Sahiba will force you to reverse it. She controls you; I control her. So, essentially, I control you."

Arnav, satisfied that Shyam had revealed his trump card, said to Mr. Rao, "let's put him out of his misery. What are the charges?"

Mr. Rao adjusted his spectacles and said, "Embezzlement, larceny, and fraud. Fifteen counts and still counting."

Shyam laughed, "and who precisely did I commit these crimes against?"

Mr. Rao said, "Anjali Raizada."

Shyam met Arnav's eyes. He sighed as though he was saddened by what he was about to say. "A word of advice, Saala-saheb, with all your money, you should really retain a more accomplished advocate. Your Mr. Rao seems unaware that it is not considered misappropriation of funds when a husband manages his wife's money, property and other assets. What belongs to my wife, belongs to me. I have broken no laws."

Arnav said, "Mr. Chopra, let's have that photograph."

Mr. Chopra proudly placed a full colour glossy underneath Shyam's nose. Shyam's eyes widened, and beads of sweat immediately appeared along his hairline.

"Is this the wife you are referring to--or is there yet another?" Arnav asked, coolly. Shyam visibly struggled to gather his thoughts. Arnav clarified, "since you are not married to Anjali Raizada you can and will be charged with misappropriating and misusing her assets." With that he rose to his feet, and said to Mr. Rao, "proceed with those charges. Also add eleven years for the crime of bigamy."

"Wait!" Shyam said, his mouth twisting and contorting as he tried to re-assemble his world. "You will only hurt your sister more by doing this. You know her. She loves me. I'll convince her to forgive me and wait for me. Is that what you want for your sister? To spend the next twenty years visiting me in prison?" he asked, now appealing on sentimental grounds.

Arnav shrugged carelessly, "Once you are behind bars, my influence on her will be stronger than yours. Don't depend on many prison visits."

With those words, Arnav checked his phone, an action to show that he had dismissed Shyam. He proceeded towards the door, but Shyam stopped him, "wait! Please!" Arnav could smell the man's desperation. "I'll make a deal with you. If you drop these charges, I'll disappear from her life. I'll tell her I don't love her. I'll tell her I never loved her. She can then hate me but she will be free."

Arnav turned to Shyam, and shook his head in disappointment. "You are so predictable. I was looking forward to a challenge, but this has hardly been worth leaving my recliner for." He then turned to Mr. Rao, and said, "have Mr. Jha sign the goodbye letter to my sister that we drafted on his behalf."

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Hi Maya!