#3SS|TheContract+HerConditions| Update-135, Lnk136 - Page 75

"I'm sorry, but we couldn't save the child, and the Mrs Raizada is well….in a critical condition…"

Payal gasped, while Nani began to cry. "Why is our family struck with disaster always!"

Arnav sat on the chair with a thud. He felt his vision swimming. His child died even before he could see her… He had never really liked children, but this was his own child… He wanted to know who she looked like…

Would she have had Khushi's eyes and hair? He wanted her to. He wished she wouldn'y have had his temper…

He never thought that the loss of ANYTHING would've caused THIS much pain. More pain than when his mother died, because he had atleast spent 14 years with her, but his child… He hadn't even held her.

Anjali's eyes filled with tears. "Chhote…." She whispered, and sat next to him.

Arnav rested his head on Anjali's shoulder. "Why me, Di?" he cried.

Anjali sighed. "Chhote, that is the problem with you. Are you forgetting what Khushiji went through? What she must be going through? You need to stop thinking 'Why me' and start thinking 'Why US'. Don't forget that you are not the only one who gets angry and hurt…" Anjali whispered.

Ashish watched the two of them and sighed. There was no doubt Arnav loved his sister, but he still didn't approve. Was his love enough?

Ashish turned to the doctor. "When can we see her?"

"I'm not really sure. We can pull her out of danger, but there is no telling if she'll regain consciousness…."

"WHAT! 'IF'?!" Arnav yelled, looking up.

"Mr Raizada, she'll have to fight it and come back by herself…"

"She WILL come back. My Khushi is not that weak!" Arnav scowled.

Asha nodded solemnly and went into the OT. Ashish sighed and slid against the wall to the floor.

"Bhaiyya?" Payal said softly.

Ashish looked up, and hugged Payal. "I was an idiot Payal! I shouldn't have left! I shouldn't have! None of this would have happened!"

Payal rested her head on his shoulder. "Bhaiyya, what ought to happen, happens. Now tell me. Wh-What did Arnavji tell you!"

Ashish snorted. "He is a crazy man! I dunno how Kuku puts up with him! He misunderstood her, and marriage for six months? Who even MADE him a business man? What kind of businessman makes blind decisions!" Ashish fumed.

"Bhaiyya, I know exactly what went wrong. I want to know what you think…" Payal said, sitting next to him.

"I think I should punch Arnav in the face and drag Kuku away from this mess and take her to France with me…" Ashish muttered.

Payal sighed. "I'm at fault too. I knew all of this. Akash heard Arnavji threatening Khushi…"

Ashish looked incredulous. "And you both did nothing?!"

"No Bhaiyya. Initially, I dismissed it as minor fighting… Then we heard it…"

Payal told him about the MP3.

"Even Anjaliji was not to blame. She thought Khushi didn't want to anger Arnav while me and Akash thought he was trying to protect her. But after listening to it, we knew something was seriously wrong. So on Holi, Di mixed Bhaang in Khushi's milk and we came to know the whole thing…"

Ashish's nostrils flared. "You gave her Bhaang?"

"Sorry, but you know her. She never shares her problems. After we found out, we chose to keep quiet."

"You people are crazy fools. Why were you quiet, may I ask?"

"We didn't WANT Khushi to be with ARNAVJI. We told her to leave but she refused to go."

"She really does love him doesn't she?" Ashish sighed.

"She does. And Akash thinks he loves her too…" Payal said.

"Unfortunately, I think so too. But I think we should let Kuku decide…" Ashish said, while Payal nodded in agreement.

"And Payal, did you know that Arnav is a Mallik?"

Payal's eyes widened. "WHAT! HOW?!"

Ashish stood up. "That reminds me. I have the same question to ask him too…."

"Bhaiyya, I'll come too…"

"NO! There might be blood…" Ashish said.

Payal looked horrified. "Bhaiyya, no! Keep Khushi in mind. Please?"

"Alright, alright. I will consider not beating him up depending on the explanation he gives me…" Ashish muttered and walked towards Arnav.

He looked at Arnav, and felt sad. He knew the pain Arnav was going through. It was hard to admit, but yes. He DID sympathise with him, because he knew the pain behind the death of a child. He thought his child died, but he had seen her and knew her. Here, Arnav's child had died before seeing the world…

"I'm sorry." He said quietly.

Anjali looked up and saw Ashish, while Arnav did not move. Her eyes went to Payal, who was staring at the trio.

'Talk' Payal mouthed, gesturing to Arnav and Ashish.

Anjali nodded and excused herself. Ashish smiled at her gratefully and took the seat next to Arnav. He crossed his arms and looked straight ahead, while Arnav hid his face in his hands.

"Arnav? You okay?" Ashish asked.

Arnav inhaled deeply and looked up. "I have to be. For her. This is the beginning of the storm. She doesn't know yet…" Arnav muttered. He cleared his throat. "So where was I?"

Ashish looked hesitantly at Arnav's red eyes. "You know, you don't have to do this right now… We can talk later…"

Arnav shook his head. "No. I want to get this over with. I have a reason for telling you all this today, right now."

Ashish rose his brows. "What might that be?"

"THAT I will answer later. First things first. As I told you, I'm a Mallik by birth."

"But then what about the Raizada name?" Ashish asked, finding it somewhat incredulous he was TALKING to a Mallik.

"My father was cruel and mean. He drove my mother to suicide. I couldn't bear it. I loved my mother a lot. She died, and then Chachaji threw us out. Me and Di were left on the roads. Only Nani and Mamaji came to our help. . I was fourteen then. When I finished school, I got into Harvard. After graduation, Mamiji sold her jewellery to help me start my business. That's when I set up AR. I hated my father, and did not want to have anything to do with him. So I adopted my mother's maiden name. The first thing I did was buy Sheesh Mahal back from my Chachaji. The sweet taste of revenge…"

Ashish looked at Arnav carefully. Clearly, he had been through a lot.

"I didn't believe in marriages or love or anything. Circumstances hardened me, and people feared me. From the struggle in my life, I felt that only money could keep one happy. But then, Khushi came along. The first one to answer me back… I would get infuriated and well, you know the rest."

"And why are you telling me all this?"

"I need your help." Arnav muttered.

"Like HELL I will help you… " Ashish rolled his eyes. "No way!"

"Please Ashish? Chachaji paid a visit yesterday. You and Payal were out and Khushi was asleep."

Ashish turned purple this time. "The nerve of the man! What the heck did he want!"

"He wanted Shyam to be released…"

"You better not have agreed!" Ashish said menacingly.

"I-I had to. He threatened Khushi's life."

"WHAT! How does he know its HER…"

"Shyam told him…."

Ashish groaned. "What else?"

"Shares in AR. 40%. And Sheesh Mahal. All at the cost of Khushi's life… I had to agree…."

"WHY are you telling me!"

Arnav stood up with a smirk. "Chachaji was always overconfident. He made a mistake…."

Ashish stood up too. "What?"

"He said he will finish off Shyam once he comes out. He was afraid Shyam would spill. So I talked to Shyam…."

"What do you-" Ashish stopped, and then his eyes widened with realization. "You bought him to our side…."

"I did."

"But that ass is unreliable…"

"Yes. Which is why I told him that I'd give his game away. I made him promise he'll help us from behind the scenes…"

"But then he'll go scott-free…." Ashish muttered.

"Oh no, he won't. I didn't promise him safety…." Arnav said with a wicked smirk.

"So youll take his help and then turn him in?" Ashish asked.

"That's the plan…"

"But that's… double-crossing…"

Arnav turned away. "Tit for tat."

"But Arnav…"

"But WHAT! We give 'justice' to Shyam….?"

Ashish smirked. "Exactly."

Aranv blinked. "What the-!"

"Well, justice to HIM WOULD be jail wouldn't it?"

Arnav nodded in realization. "Ashish, we need to find evidence…. A Solid one, against him…"

Ashish shook his hands with Arnav. "Deal is sealed. BUT I STILL don't approve of you…" Ashish said, and sat down again, crossing his legs.

Dammit!

Arnav thought, and looked up when the red light of the OT flickered off, and the doctor came out.

"We'll shift her to the ward. She will have to WANT to be conscious. You can see her soon though. But remember that her health is delicate and fragile, so please guard your emotions with her. She can hear you… So please…"

(Once again, dunno if this is possible -_- )

Arnav sat next to Khushi, while the others stood around her. Ashish was on Khushi's other side.

"Khushi…." He said softly.

She didn't show any movement.

She lay quiet, her face drained of all color.

Everyone was controlling their tears. No one talked about the baby…

I heard Arnav call to me. I wanted to tell him to go away. That it hurt when he was near, but I couldn't say a thing. I heard Bhaiyya, Dee, Jiji, Nani, Di, Mami… Everyone. But… I could sense a little sadness. Why? What happened? And… Why wasn't anybody telling me about my baby? They would know now, wouldn't they, that I'm going to be a mother? Wasn't anybody angry with me for hiding the news?

I could hear muffled voices. I tried hearing what they were saying… But I couldn't.

"Di, she is not waking…" Arnav whispered in a panicked voice.

"Chhote, this is not the time to break down. Talk to her properly…" Anjali plead softly.

"Hello Hi Bye Bye… We have to tell her about the baby aalso!" Mami said, her voice becoming shrill at the last two words.

Baby! Someone said baby! I wanted to hold her… I had to get up.

"Sh-She moved!" I heard Bhaiyya say happily.

"She moved at the mention of baby…"

There it was again! I wanted to get up.

Arnav watched as her fingers twitched slightly. He stood up in a frenzy and went wild. "Khushi! Khushi, don't you want to see our baby? It's a little baby girl!"

Baby girl? I thought it'd be a boy… But I had my child! I wanted to hold her…

Ashish pushed Arnav back. "ARE YOU CRAZY!" he whisper-yelled. "What'll you tell her when she wakes up!"

"I don't know…" Arnav muttered.

"Then WHY are you leading her on!"

Arnav pushed Ashish back. "IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T Noticed, that is the ONLY thing she is responding! Once she wakes up, she will be upset, but at least she'd be awake! Un-Unlike now! I-I have never seen her so still and I CAN'T BEAR IT!" he whisper-yelled back.

"Chhote, calm down!" Anjali said.

Looks like Arnavji is having one of his temper fits.

Then I heard his voice again. "Khushi, she has lovely eyes just like you…."

And suddenly, a distant memory stirred somewhere…

"Preeettyyy eyes!"

"Khushi, come on! You will make her sad!"

I willed my eyes to open, and suddenly, there was blinding flash of light.

Arnav stilled as soon as her eyes flew open. He took a step back and ran out of the room, his eyes getting moist and red.

Ashish was torn between wanting to go behind Arnav, give him a piece of his mind AND staying right here.

He watched as her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, and looked around. She tried to sit up, Payal and Anjali rushed forward and helped her up and fluffed pillows behind her.

{We saw this scene in the show too, but there is character-reversal here. I wondered how it'd be if it went that way…}

She sat up with a smile on her face and looked around at everybody.

"Why are you all so sad? Where's my princess? My child? Bhaiyya? Where is she? An-And where is Arnavji?"

She looked around at everybody's tear-streaked face and suddenly realized.

She was in her 2^nd month… Premature labour wasn't possible at that age, and even if it was, the baby wouldn't survive. And then she remembered the moments before she passed out.

Anish Mallik…

Blood…

She had miscarried! A part of her told.

But that part of her, which was clinging on to the positives in her life, screamed at her It is not possible! God wouldn't be that unfair! Arnavji had said that it was a girl!

It is impossible!

She looked around, trying to keep her smile. "Wh-where is she?" she asked looking around at everyone.

Slowly, she got angry. "WHERE IS MY BABY!" she screamed, she already knew that there was no baby.

But hope… Hope was a dangerous thing…

And then her eyes fell on Arnav's pale face and bloodshot eyes, standing right outside the door. She stared at him for a few moments, and slowly took in his hollow face. Her lower lip began to tremble, and she gave out guttural scream.

Arnav flinched and turned away, as Khushi hugged her now hollow stomach and began to sob. "WHY! WHY! What wrong did I do!" she sobbed in Payal's neck as Payal hugged her.

Hearing her sobs, tears rolled down Arnav's cheek too. He inhaled deeply, remembering Anjali's words.

Why US

He walked into the room, and sat next to Khushi on the bed, opposite to Payal and Ashish.

"Khushi?" he whispered softly, taking her limp hand in to his hands. He kissed her knuckles softly.

Khushi froze and snatched her hand away from his. "GO AWAY! YOU LIED TO ME! AGAIN!" she screamed.

Then she looked at everyone. "GO AWAY! All of you! Leave me alone!" she screamed, before breaking into sobs.

The door opened, and a nurse hurried in.

"I think it's best you let her be for sometime…"

Everyone filed out of the room, teary-eyed.

Ashish & Arnav stayed at the hospital for the rest of the night, while the others went back very reluctantly.

Khushi had fallen asleep, into a deep and uneasy slumber.