ARHI SS: Trapped Thread 3 Link to New Thread - Page 40

'Arnav is something wrong? Why did you wake me up in the middle of the night? Do you need something? Are you ok?' Khushi asked in alarm looking at Arnav's bloodshot eyes.

'Can you cut the concerned wife act? Let is discuss some home truths,' he said looking at her with an expression which Khushi recognized as a mix of anger and hatred.

'Can it wait? It is almost 1 in the night,' Khushi said looking at the clock.

'No we can't. We have to talk right now!,' Arnav said in a tone that warned her not to continue the request for delay.

'Ok. What do you want to ask?' Khushi said apprehensively.

'How do you know Shyam Manohar Jha and Rohan Singhania?' Arnav asked her point blank. He saw her face turn into an ashen white and her lips tremble.

No words emerged as she sat silently. There was an eerie silence, when he could almost hear her heartbeats.

'I am waiting,' Arnav reminded her.

She refused to look at him.

'Khushi I repeat, how do you know Shyam Manohar Jha and Rohan Singhania?' Arnav repeated his question.

Slowly she spoke up 'They are -----are ---my friends,' she said finally.

'Really? Weren't you engaged to Rohan?' he drilled.

Once again she recoiled as if he had slapped her.

But she nodded in affirmative.

'So you did not really break up with Rohan when you got married to me?' Arnav asked.

'I did,' she said.

'Really? If so why do you share an account with him and Shyam? Why do you still meet him and talk to him?' Arnav asked.

She looked at him in shock,' How do you know all this?' she asked.

'That is not important. Isn't it true you still meet them and give them money?' he asked.

'Yes I do,' she admitted.

'Why?' he asked.

'Don't friends help each other?' she asked.

'You help them by giving all the money you have? You have transferred a lot of money to them, so much so that you are almost bankrupt. Why? Are you hiding something? Are they blackmailing you?' Arnav asked, trying his best to be fair to her and not jump to conclusions.

'N---no----not at all---why would my friends blackmail me?' she asked, her eyes downcast.

'So you are in good terms with them?' he asked again.

'I told you I am. They are good friends,' she said evasively.

'Are you aware of what you are saying? You are friends with two men, one of whom happens to be your ex fianc. You transfer all your money to them. How would you view me if I was in touch with Ria and some other friend at such a level? Would you think it is a normal relationship?' he asked her, stemming down his anger.

'I won't mind,' she said although her face gave away the fact that she would.

'So what are your good friends planning to do? Why do they need so much money? And why do they need it from you?' he asked.

'Well, they asked me if I had money and I said I do have and can help them' she said.

'So Khushi, where am I in all this, as your husband. I don't know you are still friends with your ex-fianc. I don't know you are meeting him still. I don't know what relationship you have with him. Do you think it is fair to me?' he asked.

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Arnav refused to be moved by her tears. He was finding it difficult as it is to control his anger.

'And do you know who Shyam is?' he asked.

She nodded.

'So you know he is my worst enemy?' he asked. She nodded again.

'And you are still friendly with him?' he asked, his tone anguished.

She nodded again.

'I don't believe your guts. Not only do you meet your ex-flame, you also have good terms with my worst enemy and yet you are my wife? Do you have any loyalty towards me?' he asked, wanting to hear her reassurance, despite his anger.

'Does it matter what I say? Haven't you already judged me?' she asked her voice dull.

'Fact is, I am trying very hard not to judge. But you are making it very easy to judge you. So tell me, are you all planning against me to destroy me?' he asked.

At this she looked up at him shocked.

She shook her head vehemently, unable to speak.

'Don't lie to me. I know you all are planning something. Look at this message from Shyam in response to mine. I sent it from your cell phone.

Don't look so shocked. If you can lie and cheat, so can I. It is clear, that you plan something to bring me down. Yes or no?' he asked.

She shook her head again. By now she was openly sobbing.

'I want answers tonight Khushi. I don't want any more of all this pretence from you. Your truth is out. And it is time you owned up to it. You have nothing to save yourself.

Not even one evidence points to your innocence.

Yet I am ready to give you a chance.

I am ready to listen to your side of the story.

I am ready to give us another chance, because at the end of the day I have shared good moments with you.

I owe it to you.

So, tell me, what is Shyam planning against me? And what is your relationship with Rohan? Whatever you do, please don't lie to me,' he asked

Khushi looked at her irate husband looming over her. Finally the day she dreaded had come. Finally she had to take the chance of losing him one way or the other.

There was only one thing that could save her and that was if he believed her without any explanation or proofs

She had to know he trusted her and loved her enough to believe her no matter what happened.

Only if she was safe in his love and trust she could take the tremendous risk of telling him everything.

Whatever she would have to tell him would rely on his love and trust.

She had to be sure that Arnav believed he was the only man she had ever loved and given her body too. It was critical for her.

Moving forward she gently took his hand in hers. For once he did not resist.

She asked him 'Before going any further I want to know one thing. Do you believe that you are the only man I love and I have never ever given my heart and body to anyone? Do you trust and love me? Do you believe I will never hurt you?' she asked, her eyes searching his.

Arnav looked at her eyes deep in pain. In his mind he recalled all the things from the time he knew her.

Everything came fleeting back. Their first encounter, their trip to Simla, the first kiss they shared, her accident, her confession of love, the way she had tricked him into marriage, their bitter initial days, their gradual friendship, the warmth they began to share, the way they made love----and everything culminated in the message he had read from Rohan and Shyam.

His thoughts skidded to a stop at the message 'Let's meet tomorrow then, same place.'

'Wow. I am glad to see this enthusiasm. Will explain the plan again!'

Finally, coming back to the present, he said 'No I don't love or trust you enough to believe that I am the only man you love or been close to. I don't believe you can never hurt me.'

Her hands dropped from his, her eyes became stoic and she turned her back to him and said 'Then we have nothing to talk about. It's all over.'

Arnav couldn't believe his ears. She was refusing to give him an explanation after everything he had done?

He violently turned her around Answer' me damn it. What were you and those scoundrels up to? What were you plotting against me?

What did you want from me when you married me?

Were you planning to have my baby and blackmail me for my wealth?

What a fool I was.

I am sure you must be laughing in your head at my folly,' he said angrily.

Khushi stood numb, refusing to speak.

His anger grew by leaps.

He had to leave the place immediately or he knew he would explode and harm either her or himself.

Gathering his car keys he rushed out of their room and home-----

Khushi looked out of the window watching him drive away Goodbye Arnav. Our journey ends here"-