ARHI FF:Strings Of Illusion-T7| CHP 44 - PG 129|LINK to THREAD 8-Pg 1* - Page 2

"How about this one rimmy? What do you think?" Tripti asked her sister who sat with a faint smile on her face as she fingered the delicate lace on the bright pink sari...Tripti kept the sari she was holding aside and clicked her fingers in front of Garima which startled her a bit, making her drop the sari and look at her sister in alarm "Arre...where were you lost? And what's happened to you?" Tripti asked her as Garima shook her head and smiled

"Whats happened to me? I'm the same..." Garima said trying hard to cover the blush she was sporting by holding her palms over them "Rimmy...are you ok? You seem a but flushed...should I decrease the AC a bit?" Tripti asked as she leaned over and reduced the AC temperature further down as Garima shook her head

"No..no, i'm fine...I think its just the busy day i've had" she said as Tripti gave her a grateful smile "Sorry rimmy...I know I dragged you all across town for all this shopping...but i really wanted you to come along...plus i felt this would take your mind of all the things that are happening around us" she said as Garima hit her lightly on her arm

"Chup...how dare you say sorry! This is my son's wedding...if i'm not there with you, who is? Waise bhi Sanjay is always busy with his patients..the least I can do is be with my sister for the preparations" she said as Tripti made a sour face "You bet...sometimes i really wonder if his heart beats for me or for his medical equipment" she said as both ladies chuckled

"Arre wah...whats happening here? Two of my three favorite ladies giggling into oblivion!" Sanjay said as he strolled into the bedroom where Tripti and Garima were sitting, the bed piled high with various designer sari's and dress materials.. "Oh Ho...talk of the devil! When did you come?" Tripti asked as she got up and walked to him, taking his coat from him

"Just now...Akhil told me you both are in here...poor boy did not want to step in anywhere near here" he said as Tripti hung his coat and returned to her place on the bed...on cue the house help came with a cool glass of water with mint leaves and held it out to Sanjay who took a huge gulp of the refreshing water "This habit of yours will never change na Jijaji?" Garima asked Sanjay who gave her a warm smile and leaned back in his chair

"No ways Garima...I cannot have water without mint...i'm surprised you remember it" he said as Garima rolled her eyes... "As if I will forget...you remember when you came to see Tripti at our house and I offered you water? You seemed so hesitant to take it when your mother said that you only drink it with mint..." she giggled as Sanjay laughed along with her

"Yes, and then you...ran all the way to your little garden and plucked some out for me...how sweet was that!" he said as Garima smiled while Tripti looked on fondly "That was some day huh!" she said as All nodded reminiscing about the past when Garima took a deep breath and said softly "That was also the day when I met Arun for the first time..." she said as both Sanjay and Tripti looked at each other

"Rimmy..." Tripti said as Garima shook her head "Its ok now...those things don't bother we anymore...i'm well over him and everything related to him...this memory just triggered that moment i first saw him..." she said as Tripti sighed "I know...to think that if Sanjay had not come that day to see me, you probably would have never met that vile man" she said as Garima gave her hand a squeeze

"Leave it Tripti...he was Sanjay's best friend...more like a brother to him...and if Sanjay had not come that day, then would we be here today? If I wouldn't have met Arun, would I have my gudiya with me today? My Khushi? and anyways, if not through Sanjay, he would have come in to my life anyways...he always coveted that job in our mills..." she said as Sanjay shifted his chair closer to hers and held her hand "You are right rimmy, Khushi is the only good thing that ever came from Arun...rest of him kept rotting as time went by" he said as remorse for a one time best friend took over

"I know Sanjay...and it wasn't fair to you that you had to lose a friend because of what happened between us..." she said as Sanjay shook his head "He was lost to me a long time before that...but why are we talking about all this huh? We have soo many good memories to make now! Akhil's wedding, then pretty soon it will be Khushi's wedding too...by the way is she seeing anyone or should we start thinking seriously for some ristha's for her? She's pushed this for far too long now!" Sanjay said as Tripti clucked

"Leave her alone...I'm sure she will find someone worthy for herself...because I truly don't know if we'll ever find a man worthy enough for my chulbuli" Tripti said as Sanjay nodded "Actually, I was thinking...how about Mr Raizada's grandson? Arnav? The one she works with? He seems really good, plus the family is very well known to us...what do you say rimmy? Baat chalaye [should we talk?]" Tripti asked her as Garima looked on with wide eyes

"Uh...yeah, he will be perfect for her...but I think i'll talk to her first and take her opinion...after all it would be awkward if we go and speak to Yudhisthirji and Khushi doesn't agree after that" she said as both Sanjay and Tripti nodded "Yeah, lets not rush this...and waise bhi jaldi kya hai? [Whats the hurry?]" Sanjay said as Tripti gave him a confused look

"Doctor saheb...what's wrong wrong with you! Just now you were worrying about her marriage...anyways, Rimmy...you are right...i really hope khushi says yes though...once she too is settled in life, both children's life will be set...plus i really like that Arnav...isn't he helping out with the investigation? I heard he got the best guy on the case...looks like he cares for khushi already" Tripti said as Garima nodded

"Yes, he got his friend Avinash to intervene...the detective in charge from CBI is not really all that good...plus he seemed to be working more on what everyone said instead of actually investigating...at least Avinash is good, I haven't met him yet but Khushi was all praises about him...we did talk on the phone and he seems like a genuinely good cop too" Garima said as Tripti nodded and squeezed her shoulder

"Phir wohi baat [again the same thing], I told you na...lets not talk about stuff that makes us gloomy and sad...lets focus on new things...like this sari! Garima you will look really good in this...what do you think Tripti?" Sanjay asked as both women got diverted back to their original conversation "No Sanjay, rimmy wears muted colors...she does not like loud ones..." tripti said as Garima picked up the earlier pink sari she was eyeing "No Tripti...I like this one...maybe its time I bring colors back into my life" she said as Sanjay smiled warmly at her, his eyes misting as he saw some of the old rimmy back

...

"One Black coffee for you and one masala chai for me" Avinash said as he settled himself into his chair in his study, while Arnav smiled gratefully...He had come to meet his friend at his house as he wasn't keeping well and they had to discuss a little bit more on the case as well...Avinash had explicitly told him not to bring Khushi along, making Arnav anxious and worried

"I forgot you like masala tea...Khushi too...she can't seem to survive without it" Arnav said fondly as he tried to kepp his worries at bay...probably it was nothing...but till Avinash does not tell him, he will keep wondering about it..so he thought its best to bring it up at the beginning itself

"Speaking of which...Why did you tell me not to bring Khushi? I feel she has a right to know everything about this case..." Arnav said getting a little bit defensive as Avinash chuckled and took a large sip of his tea "Arnav...do you even realize how deep you are in already? God...I've never seen you like this...have you told her?" he asked him to which Arnav rolled his eyes

"Avi...seriously...we are not here to talk about my feelings for Khushi...which I assure you I am perfectly aware of and am planning to tell her soon" he said as Avinash chuckled some more "Right now I'm really tensed about why you called me here alone...What have you found out?" Arnav asked him as Avinash kept his cup down and entwined his fingers before resting his elbows on his desk as he studied Arnav sitting across him

"Arnav...I honestly did not ask you not to bring her here to keep anything away from her...its just that I needed to run this past you first before bringing her into it...also, by law...she is under suspect.." he said as arnav nearly jumped out of his seat to defend her but stopped as Avinash put his hand up

"No..listen to me first Arnav...I am an officer of Law first before your friend..and it is my duty to follow the strict rules by which we adhere..." he said as Arnav let out a frustrated sigh "Then what about me? Even I'm a suspect...how come you are telling me all this then?" Arnav asked a sudden challenge lit his eyes

"In case you did not know, the only one pointing towards you was Ms Sheetal...and she has in her latest statement taken her doubts off you...that does not mean you are cleared...but you are not in direct line of fire...while Khushi...she is...unfortunately..." he said as Arnav took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair while massaging his suddenly throbbing forehead

"Ok...fair enough...I don't think we should waste time arguing anyways...what have you found out?" Arnav asked as the silly argument seemed to have lost its weight under the more pressing issue to what Avinash and his team have found out "Ok...now there are two things we are dealing with here" Avinash said as he pursed his lips and leaned forward, Glad that Arnav had let it go for now...he understood his annoyance but he had to accept the facts

"One is the murder...the other is attempts on Khushi...maybe not to harm her...yet" he said as Arnav's eyes took on a darker tinge "Nothing is going to happen to her Avi...no one will hurt her" he said with a finality which Avinash had to admire in his friend...he really was head over heels in love with her...the thought making him smile

"I understand Arnav...and nothing will happen to her...but we will discuss her safety in a bit...for now, all I want you to know is that, the person responsible for both these things are not the same...it just doesn't add up" he said as Arnav's eyebrows creased in confusion "How can you be so sure that they are not the same? Didn't she get the photograph with a red mark across her father? So they have to be the same person" he said as Avinash rubbed his neck and shook his head in the negative

"No...I think the person who is behind khushi is just using the opportunity of Mr Mehra's murder..you see Arnav, the person who killed Arun had a very personal issue with him...no one would benefit from his death...not even Monica...or Garimaji or Khushi...all his property is protected and most of the things he owned has been sold off or stuck in the banks..." he said as Arnav nodded

"He also did not have any kind of professional rivalry...in fact the competition loved him for the company secrets he occasionally let out..." he said as Arnav raised an eyebrow "Oh yes...a lot of dirty laundry has been discovered during our investigation...even Shaliniji had removed him for fraud from the company...so no one, and I mean no one would benefit from his murder...it can't even be a jilted woman because the kind he usually slept with knew that they were in for...he did not make false promises..." Avinash said as Arnav listened carefully

"So, whoever has killed him...had a very personal agenda against him...something big enough to want him dead...now Monica did mention that he used to get calls from a woman...and after checking his accounts we have worked out a pattern where he called a number every month on the 1^st...and that same number called him at odd times in the night..." he said as he got up and went to his window to light up a cigarette [Smoking is injurious to health]

"We got it checked and found out that it belonged to a Parul shah' from Ghatkopar...but on further investigation, we came to know that this person does not exist...what is also interesting is that the last call between Arun and Ms Shah's number was on the day of the murder.. precisely six hours before...also the number has been out of existence from the day after the murder...we will look further into it and I'm sure we will figure it out...but something tells me that this might be our killer...a woman...Ms Parul Shah...obviously a alias" he said as Arnav digested all the information

"Why do you feel then that this person is not the one behind Khushi? What if she wanted to take revenge further by hurting his daughter" he asked as Avinash turned around and faced him "Exactly Arnav...why would she? The world knows how much Khushi loathed Arun...she made it quite public when she threatened to kill him...so why would she or maybe even a he try to harm someone who hates Arun Mehra...it just does not make sense" he said as Arnav sighed and covered his eyes with his hands

"What do you think then? Who can it be?" Arnav asked as Avinash once again sat down on his chair and stubbed his cigarette "Someone who does not like Khushi...it can be someone on a professional front or someone in the family who has something against her...and I'm dead sure that the person, if not family is someone who is close to them...that photo of Khushi and her father...Khushi said only two copies existed..one is with her still and the other was with her father...so..." he said as Arnav caught on

"Monica...I will kill that b****h" Arnav said with so much venom that Avinash had to get up and hold his shoulders down "Calm down Arnav...this is just a hunch...we are still not sure...and we also need to think how will Khushi's fear or sorry to say this but death' can benefit her...why go to such an extent if there is no reward...I feel there is someone else involved along with her" he said as Arnav nodded and relaxed

"We need to find them Avi...both of them...but more so the person who is now behind Khushi...We don't know what else they might be planning...I'm so scared and worried that they might get her the next time..." he said as Avinash patted his shoulders "Arnav...you have done whatever you could to keep her safe...she still doesn't know about the bodyguards who trail her does she? They are like shadows...we'll keep her safe...I promise you" he said as arnav looked up and nodded

"Do what you have to Avi...but find them...find out if its Monica...and if its her...God save her from my wrath" Arnav said as Avinash squeezed his shoulders and assured him...the first thing he had to do now was call up his team member at the station and get the daily reports on Monica's whereabouts...he had got a tip that she was meeting someone in a hotel...he was waiting for the photographs and report eagerly.

...

"Khushi maam?" Aman asked Khushi as she sat at her desk going over her mails...she had had a very busy morning with meeting prospective clients and working on finalizing the samples for the French deal...plus the fact that she had not seen Arnav since morning had made her cranky as hell.

"Hmm Aman..." She said not looking up from her laptop as her fingers typed up her responses to the unread mails "Uh...I...I wanted your opinion on something" he said after a few minutes of silence in which khushi completed her work and looked up to find him fidgeting nervously in front of her...she gave him an amused smile as he searched for something in his suit pocket before coming and sitting at her desk opposite her

She craned her neck to see what he was holding when he raised his palm and held out a small velvet box "What is this Aman?" she asked him as he opened it and held it out to her "Its for the woman I love..." he said as Khushi looked on bewildered at her usually quite and shy PA as he blushed while showing off the ring to her but before he could say anything, a loud voice bellowed inside her cabin

"Aman Mathur! What the f**k do you think you are doing!" Arnav roared as he saw Aman holding out a ring towards khushi while confessing he was in love with her...he had just gotten back from Avinash's and had headed straight to Khushi cabin to share some of the talk that Avinash had said was ok to involve her in when he came across this sight

"S..sir?...I...I" Aman stuttered as the ring box fell from his hand onto Khushi's desk...he stood up straight as Arnav came and towered over him "Care to repeat what you just said to Khushi? How dare you?" Arnav asked him as Aman looked between a throughly confused khushi and a throughly angry Arnav...but he squared his shoulders and looked him in the eye "What is wrong with proposing to the woman I love? We both love each other and this is the most logical step I should take now" he said as Arnav went to hold him by his lapels when Khushi intervened

"Arnav Wait...Aman what are you saying? When did you...I don't understand..." she said as she saw a fuming arnav looking at Aman with daggers in his eyes while Aman gulped and picked up the ring box "It just happened maam...Love doesn't come knocking you know...we fell in love and I fell in love with everything about her...her smile, her simplicity...her kindness and also her adorable kids..." he said as Arnav and Khushi looked at each other in utter confusion

"Wha...Who? Who are you talking about?" she asked him as he smiled and said in a soft voice "Lavanya..." he said as Khushi's eyes nearly popped open "What? Lavanya? As in Lavanya Kashyap?...Aman! When did this happen? Oh my god! This is huge!" Khushi said excitedly as Arnav took a huge breath and relaxed...it did not even register to him that Aman was talking about his PA..the only thing that relieved him was that Aman wasn't talking about Khushi...his Khushi...no one had the right to love her...no one...except him

"Arnav? Arnav! Where are you lost!" she asked him pinching his arm as he came back to watch Aman look at him warily "Sorry Aman...for a minute I thought you were talking about Khushi..." he said as Aman's face twisted in horror...No wonder Mr Raizada had gone wild! "So, whose the girl then?" he asked him with a small smile as Aman and Khushi gave him weird looks

"Arnav...Lavanya...your PA...what is wrong with you!" she said in exasperation as Arnav looked on at a blushing Aman... "Really? You and Lavanya?" he asked with an amused looked as Khushi hit him lightly on his arm "Shut up Arnav...Aman, the ring is gorgeous...you are right, this is the next step into your relationship...Lavanya is a wonderful woman and I am sure you will make her very happy...Life is too short to wait around...Go and get her!" she said with a huge smile as Arnav felt the weight of her words...was she hinting at him too?

He saw her smile at Aman and gush over the ring as she fingered the delicate diamonds on it...he saw a twinkle in her eye as the shine of the diamond sparkled in them...he knew he had procrastinated this for too long...he just hoped she wanted what he did too...with that in mind he congratulated Aman and threatened to kill him if he ever hurt Lavanya...as Aman left Khushi's cabin with a spring in his step, Arnav pulled Khushi closer to him, crashing his lips over hers...she responded with equal longing as they remained in each other's embrace, waiting for each other to take the next step.

I know...I know...not a lot of Arhi in this chapter...but this is a multi-character FF...so I can't have them in every frame...but they do dominate the story! Promise to have more of them in the next chappy ;)