ArHi SS:A Thing called Marriage #1 *Complete* - Page 24

Khushi sighed, keeping the paper back on table after reading the article. She had seen it coming.

Her husband will do anything to throw her out of Shantivan. She just hoped that Anjali haven't read the article and Payal as well.

Payal has said about staying 2-3 days in Lucknow after her wedding before coming back in Delhi and in that way, she won't be able to read the local Delhi entertainment supplement of the newspapers. She just prayed that whatever she is thinking should happen in reality as well. But she knew it was too good to be true.

Just at that moment, her phone started buzzing attracting her attention and she looked at the screen to see her sister's name flashing on it. She shook her head dejectedly before taking the call.

"Khushi, what's all this?" Without even saying hello, her sister has started with her questions.

"Jiji, it's just a mere publicity stunt nothing else." Khushi lied effortlessly, hoping to convince her sister with it.

Khushi heard her sister sighing in relief before she heard her reply "thank god I got worried for you."

"Jiji, you need to take everything easy. I am not a kid anymore." Khushi stood up, walking towards the window staring ahead absent-mindedly.

"Still you are my kid sister. You know na if things don't work out between you and Arnav which I think is going to happen, you can always come and stay with us." Payal again brought her offer forward which Khushi chose to ignore like earlier.

"How is Akash Jijaji?" Changing the subject, Khushi asked casually.

"He is eating my head about bringing you here. He cares about you Khushi and is worried for you just like me."

"Tell Akash Jijaji that I got bored with his maths jokes and refused to stay with him." Khushi smiled hearing her sister's laughter at the other end which ended rather abruptly as Payal whispered "I wish I could have done something to talk you out of this marriage. I know that you are lying but I can't see why you can't accept that you are fighting a lost battle? Arnav hates you, we both know that very well. I will visit you soon."

"Okay Jiji. Please don't worry. I am fine here. Bye." Pressing the end button, she threw the phone on the table before walking out of the room.

Everything about this room was suffocating her.

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That day, Arnav took his own sweet time in finishing his work and leaving for home. He knew very well that what was going to happen once he enters inside Shantivan. His Di will be breathing fire, his Dadi will be silently praying to god and his so-called wife will be shedding tears.

He rolled his eyes, mentally scoffing at her. Just a few more hours and you will be out of my life, Mrs. Raizada'.

He will be the biggest fool of the world, if he didn't used his manipulating and cunning business skills into talking her to walk out of this marriage.

________________________________________________

"What the Hell is this, Arnav?" Anjali roared as soon Arnav stepped inside Shantivan, throwing the newspaper on the table in front of him.

Throwing a rather casual look at the newspaper, he replied carelessly "Di, it's just a gossip. We were just discussing about upcoming fashion week there."

Gaping at him incredulously, Anjali strode towards him, fury emanating from her tensed composure "If it's just a gossip, then why it is appearing on the papers miraculously when in past you never let any article appear in the papers about you and our family?"

"Di, I was busy and plus their news is just mere work of imagination of those useless reporters. There is no truth in it."

"What's the use of hiring best PR team for AR when they can't even stop an article getting published, Arnav?"

"Di our PR team have better things to do than stopping articles getting published about their CEO's personal life."

Pointing her finger at him, Anjali stared at Arnav with narrowed eyes and hissed in a low tone "Don't act smart, Arnav. I can very well understand the little game you are trying to play."

"Didi..." Arnav and Anjali both looked up to see Khushi rushing downstairs and coming to stand beside Anjali before silently pleading her to stop all this but Anjali refused to look at her.

"Didi please don't do this." Khushi pleaded to Anjali once again whereas Arnav just rolled his eyes, slipping his fingers inside his trouser pockets casually.

Bringing her hand forward, Anjali stopped her and growled "No Khushiji, let me deal with him today."

Arnav and Khushi both were about to reply together to Anjali when they saw Anjali's eyes losing a bit focus before rolling back in sockets and she swayed slightly. They both stepped forward to help her when Arnav glared at Khushi telling her silently to step back which she did rather reluctantly. Wrapping his hands around her shoulders, Arnav made her sit on sofa with concern and worry clouding his face.

"Hari Prakash, bring those BP tablets of Di." Arnav shouted making all the servants rush towards Anjali's room meanwhile Khushi picked up a glass of water and passed it to Arnav.

Taking tablets out of sachets, Arnav brought his palm forward to make Anjali eat the medicines but she shook her head, turning her head away before stuttering in a weak voice "No. First, I need to talk to you. I will not let anyone point their fingers at Khushi and this marriage."

"Di, you need to take these medicines. We can talk about it later." Arnav said almost desperately, shocking Khushi more if it was possible. It was the first time she was seeing him caring for anyone else other than himself.

"No I want to hold a wedding reception for you both in two days. I want everyone to know that this marriage is not just a faade, its reality."

"Do as you please Di, I won't say anything against it. Now please take these medicines."

Anjali took the medicines reluctantly while Arnav watched her intently. Khushi smiled seeing the concern in Arnav's eyes for Anjali. At least he has a heart, she knew now.

____________________________________________________

"Close the door."

Khushi was startled to hear Arnav's gruff voice ordering her to lock the door when she entered in the room after making sure that Anjali is taking rest after having dinner. At first she was happy to see how Arnav cared for Anjali then a maddening rage took over her mind as she realized that he was responsible Anjali's deteriorating health and how can she forget Payal's concerned call for her? Just because of him. She fisted her hand to control herself from lashing out on him.

She isn't a person to lose cool. But she will make him see that she is not going to tolerate it anymore !!

Closing the door, she turned to see Arnav massaging his temple with his fingers, his shirt's sleeves rolled up while staring at the laptop screen intently. Shutting it with a snap, he turned towards her and said "Whatever that article said was true. I was there with Latika spending some time with her. I don't like you and will never accept you as my wife. Staying together under one roof won't affect my decision. Look, now I don't have the strength neither the energy to fight this battle with you. I will not let you stay in this house at any cost. So, I am offering you a deal, you need to walk out of this marriage and this house, I can give you anything you want-money, property, anything."

As expected, he saw Khushi's eyes brimming with tears as she said in a broken voice "You can't do this with me."

"I can do this. Anything about you- your tears, your pain doesn't affect me, so don't waste them on me." Arnav turned away from her, smirking as he knew that he had already won this battle.

"Arnavji please don't do this." He heard Khushi begging to him and turned to snap at her when the view in front of him totally shook him.

Khushi was comfortably sitting on a chair now, smirking as she looked up at him. Pain, despair totally wiped from her face.

When he continued looking at her, she raised an eyebrow and said coolly "What? Isn't it how you wanted me to react?"

"Huh?" Arnav managed to utter only a single word as his mind failed to understand what was going on.

Leaning back on chair and tilting her head to right, Khushi once again said "You know what Arnavji, that article didn't affected me even a bit. Whatever you do doesn't matter to me at all. You slept with a girl or two or whatever you were doing, I am not interesting in knowing it because I already know everything. When you saw Latika, you asked her to spend an evening with you, act like your lover and only then you will sign her as your show stopper for the upcoming fashion week. Am I right?"

Shaking her head, she stood up and walked up to him stopping a breath away "What you said haan? You are offering me a deal. You can give me everything-money, property etc. if I walked out of this house and marriage, right?"

Coming out of his shocked state, Arnav replied curtly "if you want to do it this way, then be it. Yes, I will give you anything you want if you agree to walk out from this marriage and house."

Crossing her arms on her front, Khushi looked at Arnav confidently "and now I am offering you a deal, let me stay in this house in peace and I will give you anything you want-money, property anything."

"And how are you going to do that?" Arnav scowled at her arrogantly.

"You are forgetting Arnavji, I own 40% shares in AR and my parents have left me ample amount of money. I am as rich as you are. I am willing to give you everything if that will make you stop doing all these cheap tricks."

"How DARE you talk to me like that?" Arnav shouted at the top of his voice which didn't had any effect on Khushi.

"And how dare YOU do all these things just because you don't want me here? Don't you know how seriously Anjali Didi takes our marriage? You MISBEHAVED with me, THREW me out of this room, I didn't said anything but enough is enough. I will not let you play your dirty games anymore." Khushi shouted back.

Taking a deep breath, Khushi said calmly "Look I don't give a DAMN about you and I am NOT walking out of this house ever, so it'll be better if you just concentrate on your life and let me live happily with everyone else who care for me."

"If you think that by playing your mind games, you can make me go away then you are so WRONG. I know your ruthless business tricks, your manipulating mind games very well to get trapped in them. What you thought that I married you and came in this house, clueless about you and your nature? I have done my homework on you Mr. Raizada but it looks like you forgot to do yours."

"And now I am tired. So, good night Arnavji and sweet dreams." Khushi said in a sickly sweet voice before lying comfortably on the recliner closing her eyes as Arnav stood there watching her, a bit shocked.

For him, it was so unexpected. For the first time, Arnav felt the urge of knowing more about his so-called wife.

Okay, I am so nervous about this update...please don't kill me if you find it not so good...and please hit 'like' button and comment

I am waiting for my reader's response *fingers crossed*

Aditi 🤔

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