A/N: All flashbacks are in italics.
This one is for Tangamji. Do you remember now?
"He's talking about me."
As Arnav stared at the person in front of him, his initial shock quickly gave way to relief as he walked forward.
"Where were you? I tried calling you so many times, but it was always.."
His words trailed off abruptly as her words registered.
And then confusion took over, and the hands that he had raised to hold her, now dropped back to his side of their own accord.
"What are you talking about?"
Aman rushed towards them, his voice indicating his discomfort with the whole situation.
"That's what I was trying to tell you, ASR. She is the new majority stake holder in A.R Fashions!"
Arnav couldn't help it.
He started laughing at the absurdity, but sobered quickly when he realized that everyone were still staring at him with somber, appalled faces.
"So that's the big news? Of course I know that, Aman. I was the one who added the clause to the prenuptial agreement that gave her sole control over thirty percent of the shares, the same as I have. So after our wedding, she is a major stakeholder too.."
"Maybe you didn't hear him well enough. He said majority , not major."
There was something in her voice that froze him for a moment.
For the first time since she had entered the conference room, he actually took the time to take in her complete appearance.
To an outsider, she probably looked like the epitome of a new bride.
She was wearing a pale blue saree, and had her hair up in a knot at the nape of her neck. The sindoor and mangalsutra proclaimed her status. and so did the multitude of bangles on her wrists.
But he was not an outsider.
He knew her.
At least, he thought he did.
As he continued staring, he noticed the subtle differences.
She no longer looked shy, or scared..or even uncomfortable with this situation.
In fact, the look of confidence and challenge on her face reminded him of...himself, actually.
Just what was going on here?
Could this be a huge misunderstanding on her part? She was a small town girl with very limited education, after all.
Was it possible that she had not completely understood the way things worked?
"Majority? We are equal stake holders, Khushi. We each own thirty percent of A.R Fashions. And Di owns another ten, with NK holding five. The remaining twenty-five percent have been bought by various minor stake holders and.."
He paused as he suddenly remembered something.
Just last week, they had heard many industry rumors that someone was aggressively buying out all the minor shareholders in A.R.
What did all this mean?
Before he had a chance to say anything else, the door to the conference room burst open, and NK rushed in.
He came to an abrupt halt as he saw Khushi, and Arnav was alarmed to see the look of rage that spread across the normally easy-going NK's face.
"NK? Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to reach you for ages!"
"Arnav, I've spent all morning trying to get in touch with all our minor stakeholders. And do you know what I have managed to finally find out?
A sudden sense of foreboding spread through Arnav.
He wasn't sure if he was ready to hear this.
"All twenty-five percent of those shares have been bought out by one single person in a concerted move. The same person who has also been given a thirty percent stake as a gift. "
No!This could not be possible!
NK continued before he could say anything, and Arnav felt like his entire world had just collapsed all around him when he heard NK's next words.
"That person now controls fifty-five percent of A.R Fashions, which makes her the majority stakeholder. And she has used it to facilitate a hostile takeover bid by the Singhanias."
NK moved over to stand next to him, and Arnav listened to his voice in stunned silence.
"Your wife, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, has just tried to take A.R Fashion house away from you."
This couldn't possibly be true.
He refused to believe it.
He couldn't believe it.
"Khushi? This is all nonsense, right? I'm sure NK has made some mistake.."
He waited for her to say something, anything that might make this nightmare go away.
But when she finally spoke, he knew that it was just beginning...
"There is no mistake. I have a fifty-five percent controlling interest in A.R fashions as of yesterday. And as the majority stakeholder, I have decided to facilitate a takeover by the Singhanias."
He stared at her for a moment.
Was this the same woman he had married?
Where was the simple, innocent, shy girl who blushed when he kissed her on the hand?
Where was the beautiful bride who had fit so perfectly in his arms last night?
Who was this woman who had just calmly informed him that she was intent on taking away the one part of his assets that he held close to his heart?
And more importantly, how and why had she done this?
Suddenly, a memory came back to him..a conversation with NK a few days before the wedding...
"It's not that I don't trust her, Arnav. But I have to look out for your best interests, and making a prenuptial agreement will serve as protection, just in case something does go wrong.."
"Oh all right! Let's make the damn prenup, just so that I can shut you up! But I'm going to add something of my own.."
"What do you want to add?"
"I want to add a clause that gifts her a thirty percent stake in A.R fashions as soon as our marriage is legal."
"What?! That will give her an equal stake in the company! And you will only retain thirty percent! And Arnav, that's not what a prenuptial agreement is usually about.."
"I know what it is about, NK. You can write in all that nonsense about who gets what in case of a divorce, I don't care about that anyway. But my addition stays, or I will not sign this thing at all!"
NK had argued against this for hours, but in the end, he had given in and drafted the unusual prenuptial agreement.
Why hadn't he listened to NK?
He knew why, of course. He had known that Khushi was acutely conscious of the differences between them, and by giving her this, he wanted to take one of those disparities off the list..
But he had no time to take this in, as one of his senior board members interrupted.
"ASR, what is the meaning of all this? The board members need to know.."
Arnav looked at the worried faces of the men around the conference table, and knew that this situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.
He had to take matters into his own hands right this minute.
But how was he supposed to do that when all he could think of was the ultimate betrayal that he didn't even believe in yet?
"I..I''ll be back soon..please give me some time, gentlemen.."
He took Khushi by the elbow, and started walking out of the room.
To his surprise, she didn't resist, nor did she say anything as he took her into the nearest empty room, which happened to be the break-room.
He shut the door behind him, and turned to face her.
She stared back calmly, and once again, he was struck by the difference in her that was even more pronounced now.
And still, he was tempted to give her the benefit of doubt.
"Khushi,I don't even know where to start.."
" Why don't I start by telling you how easy you made this for me?"
"What?!"
"Yes, you did. I have had A.R Fashions in my sights for a while now. And yes, I was the one who has bought up twenty-five percent of those shares from the minor shareholders. I've been doing it for the past few months, in fact. But I managed to do it in such a way that your advisors couldn't figure it out until recently.."
She stopped for a moment, and a small smile broke out on her lips.
And even in the midst of all this turmoil, his treacherous heart skipped a beat at that sight.
The financial terms coming out of her mouth threw him for a moment, and he wondered how she knew all of this if she had dropped out of college..
But he didn't have the time to make sense of that either, because she continued speaking, shocking him anew with her words.
"But I could have done nothing with just that twenty-five percent. It wouldn't give me the power I needed to take A.R away from you..but you gave me that power yourself, when you signed that prenuptial agreement.."
"I can't believe this! Why would you..how.."
"I've just explained how I did this, Mr.Raizada. I wanted to take control of A.R fashions, and I bought out twenty-five percent of the minor.."
"With what? Where did you find the money to.."
"Do you think you are the only one with any money? Of course, you would know exactly what my financial status is, if only you had bothered to find out a little more about me before we got married..but like I said, you have made this very easy for me. At every single step."
The truth had finally sunk in.
She could see it in his eyes, the pain of betrayal, the slow-building anger..
But she wasn't afraid.
Fear had no place in her heart, because she knew that she had nothing to lose.
She hadn't had anything to lose for quite some time now.
As he continued to stare, she took a moment to think about the man she had married.
She had gone against everything she had believed in, and entered this mockery of a marriage..
She hadn't wanted to, of course.
But when fate had offered her the chance to strike at him from the inside, she had grasped the opportunity with both hands.
Because he deserved this, and more.
And she had waited a long time to deal this blow.
When he finally spoke, she could hear the rage in his words, but she still did not succumb to panic, or fear..
"So this was all your plan? Right from the beginning?"
She laughed.
"My plan? Of course not,Mr.Raizada. You entered that sweet shop, and my life, remember?"
Confusion crossed his face, and she sighed as she sat down in a leather chair.
"Do I really need to explain this to you? Okay, then. I know everything about you. I have known it from years.."
She saw as realization dawned , and knew what he was going to say before he actually said it.
"The sweets offered by the Panditji. I should have known! I had never told you that I was diabetic..so how would you know that?"
"I was surprised when you didn't realize that right away. And yes, I know that little fact, and a lot more as well. I also knew that you prized A.R fashions above all else, and that's why I wanted to take it away from you. Which is why I started buying the shares from the minor stakeholders. But I would never have been able to accomplish my goal until you came in and changed everything.."
"If you had the money to buy out those shares, then what the hell were you doing in that sweet shop in the first place? Or is your Buaji involved in all of this as well?"
For the first time since she entered this room, Khushi felt the beginnings of fear.
"Leave Buaji out of all this! She had no idea about what I was up to! And I told you already, I was helping her out in the sweet shop because she was injured. It is the least I could do for her, since she will not accept my financial help.."
"So she knew you were rich? Then why didn't she tell us?"
"Did you ever ask her?"
She saw him close his eyes and take a deep breath as his recklessness came back to haunt him.
His impulsive behavior in this whole business had been a godsend for her, but she was sure that he was regretting every moment of that now..
"In fact, did you ever try to find out anything about me? If you had, you would have found out the truth immediately, because I wasn't trying to hide anything. But you didn't, did you? You were in such a hurry to take things forward, you didn't even stop to think things through! So in every sense, you have brought this upon yourself, Mr.Raizada. You pulled me into your life, you gave me the weapon to use against you, and you didn't even realize it! What kind of businessman are you, anyway?"
"The kind that places his trust in a pair of innocent eyes. But that innocence, the naivete, everything was an act, wasn't it?"
Anger flooded through Khushi at his words.
How dare he make such assumptions about her?
"I do not possess that level of acting ability, Mr.Raizada. That was the true me. Or rather, what I would have been.."
If only you hadn't destroyed everything I held dear..
He looked away for a moment, then turned back to her,and this time, she drew in a sharp breath at the naked pain in his eyes.
Despite everything she knew about this man, despite everything that had happened, she actually felt a twinge in the region of her heart..
But that had been the problem right from the start, hadn't it?
She knew what he was, and what he was capable of..and yet, she had almost given in to the strange connection between them..
She had struggled to keep herself away, she had tried hard to forget those eyes..his touch..
And everyday, she had hated herself for feeling anything at all for this man.
And once again, she asked herself the same questions that had been on her mind ever since she met him.
How could she hate him, and still want to be near him?
How could she hate him, and still be affected by his touch?
How could she hate him, and still feel his pain, and recognize the turmoil within him?
Was there a name for this at all?
She pushed away these unanswerable questions with the same thing she had told herself many times before.
Her feelings didn't matter.
They weren't important.
Revenge, and retribution were above all else.
When he finally spoke, there was no hint of pain in his words.
The chilling rage in his voice engulfed everything else.
"I don't care if it was an act or not. And right now, I don't even care how you did this. But let me tell you one thing, Khushi. If your goal was to take away A.R Fashions, don't think that you have succeeded just yet, because I will not give up without a fight. And even if I do lose A.R Fashions, I still have my other businesses ,and you have no hold on them at all!"
She smiled again as she spoke.
"Do you think I don't know that? I realized quite early on that it was impossible to destroy you entirely. A.R Corp is too big to be brought down by one single person. Which is why I chose to attack your pride and joy,the fashion house.I knew that bringing down A.R Fashions would affect you on a personal level, and that's what I wanted. And who knows, perhaps the news of losing A.R fashions will have an affect on your other companies as well. Investors are such a sensitive bunch, you know.."
"But why, dammit? That's what I don't understand! Why have you done all this? I had never even met you before that day in the sweet shop, so why are you out to get me?"
Why?
He wanted to know why?
She would tell him.
Of course she would.
After all, hadn't she waited from four long years for this very moment?
Unbidden, her thoughts flew back in time as she remembered her..
"Aye bitiya, what happened to your eye? Why is swollen and black?!"
"Amma, some kids at school were teasing Khushi for being an orphan, and so I told them she wasn't one anymore because I was her sister. But they still continued their taunts, so I pushed them down.."
_____
"Khushi, I made some jalebis for you.."
"At this time of night? Thanks Jiji, you are the best!"
_____
"Jiji, I've decided what I want to do. I want to go abroad for my MBA!"
"Buaji is right to call you Sanka Devi! How can she afford that?"
"So what can we do about it, Jiji?"
______
"Jiji, do you really love Akash Mehraji?"
"Love? I'm sure I will learn to love him in time, Khushi. But he is rich, and he does live in America, so I thought.."
"Wait, Jiji! Are you marrying him only because of me? Because you think he can help me study there? I don't want you to do that!"
"Don't be silly, Khushi. I do like him. Everything will be fine!"
______
"Jiji, it's been two months since your wedding, and you still haven't resigned from your job at the fashion house! When will you go to Akash Jiju?"
"Khushi, you don't worry about it..I'll go when the time is right.."
______
"Jiji, did you submit your resignation today?
"Jiji?"
"Jiji, are you crying? What's wrong? Tell me!"
______
"Jiju, thank you so much for bringing Amma and me to New York.."
"I only hope that you are able to help her,Khushi.. she has gone from bad to worse..and I have tried everything I can think of, but she is unable to forget.."
_____
"Dead?! What do you mean? My Jiji would never commit suicide! Are you mad, Jiju?"
_____
"Jiju, have you been drinking again? You have to stop this! It's not going to bring her back!"
_____
"Ma'am, we are sorry to inform you that your mother and your brother-in-law have been killed in a car crash..apparently, he was drunk.."
______
And just like that, her entire family had been taken from her.
Leaving her all alone.
Again.
For days, she had stumbled around in shock, the loss threatening to destroy her completely..
Until one day, she had seen an article about him.
He was receiving an award for Entrepreneur of the year.
Sheer white-hot rage had burned away her despair as she realized that the man who had done this was living his life as if nothing had changed.
And then she had promised herself that she would take revenge on the man responsible for all this.
She would take away that which was most precious to him.
No matter what she had to do to achieve that goal.
And now she was finally here, in front of him.
It was finally time.
And yet, she hesitated for a moment.
Could she really do this to him?
Was she strong enough?
She steeled her heart against the pull that she felt even now, even after she had just remembered everything that had happened.
She had to do this.
He had to know that his sins had finally caught up with him.
And so she moved to stand in front of him,and the sheer hatred in her eyes sent a chill across his entire body.
"Why have I done all this? There is only one reason for that, Mr.Raizada."
She took a deep breath before she spoke, well aware of the effect her words would have on him.
"And that reason is Payal Gupta."
A smile of satisfaction crossed her lips as his face drained of all color.
*****************
P.S: Please do not judge anyone, not just yet.
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Edited by EXPELLIARMUS - 12 years ago
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