ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi #5 link to next thread @ pg.1 - Page 6

congratulating u for new thread and wishing u moreee

Loved it. Arnav have plans for Khushi. Anuj Raizada is planning something big it seems like beginning of end game for Vikrant

Arnav is being mischievous... poor Khushi! Manyata is adorable. Love her chatting with mumma, daddy and her new friend , Aman Uncle... Anuj and Vikrant meetings was confusing... don't know what happened.

wow its getting better nd better... waitin 4 it to unfold... plz update soon...

I was expecting to read some more of ArShi! But I know you'd give equal importance to all of them!

Nice update

ArHi FF: Yeh Saali Zindagi

Chapter 32-B

Selfless, a word meant thinking more about the needs, happiness of other peoples than about your own. A word which defines very few people in the world.

It is said that being selfless has always been a difficult task. That putting the happiness, needs and priorities of the others before your own takes a hell lot of courage and patience.

It also demands a certain amount of sacrifices.

But he did everything.

While listening to every taunt and insult, he never took them seriously, always brushing them away with a smile. He always valued the people he loved more than his own life.

He loved them selflessly.

But, Akash Raizada learned that, it would never be enough. After living a month of his life on his own terms and ways for the first time, it was difficult to look back.

It was difficult to be the man who always took orders but never gave one. It was difficult to put his heart back in the cunning and dark world of politics after living a different life for a while, full of smiles and happiness and truth. He just wanted his family's happiness dammit.

"So are you coming?" Akash blinked, hearing the uncertainty in his brother's voice and sighed.

"We will be there." He whispered before disconnecting the call. Putting his phone down on the counter, he glanced up, meeting his wife's gaze warily.

Payal stiffened, whispering hesitantly "Akash, what is it?"

"Bade Sahab wants to meet us all together." He answered truthfully, pushing away from the counter to walk upstairs.

"And?" Ignoring his sullen mood, Payal asked.

Stopping in front of a door, Akash knocked tentatively before turning to face his wife "And we are going."

A look passed between them. Startled they looked up as the door opened and a bored Anjali appeared on the doorway. Pausing midway while yawning, Anjali demanded "What happened?"

Looking at her blankly, Akash bit out the words "Bade Sahab."

"Thank you for doing everything you did, Aman." Repeating the words for the hundredth time, Khushi gushed, holding his hands tightly and shaking it vehemently.

Flustered, Aman snatched his hand away as he exclaimed "Stop thanking me. It was nothing."

Khushi smiled, not accepting his words "No, it wasn't nothing. You know how much Manyata mean to me and Arnav. You took such a good care of her yesterday. I am really grateful to you."

Looking down, Aman murmured embarrassedly "Stop it yaar. I am your best friend and that's what friends do."

Making a show of holding his shoulders and looking up and down his body, Khushi grinned "I guess they do."

Amused, Aman didn't say anything, staring at her. Suddenly he looked solemn as if something occurred to him just then and said coldly "Want to hear the update about the case?"

Khushi stiffened "Do tell me."

Crossing his hands across his front, Aman stood straight, staring ahead resolutely "The next hearing is about to take place tomorrow."

Nodding her head, Khushi studied his posture and said what he was indicating at "And that's not good news."

Meeting her eyes, Aman agreed instantly "No it isn't. Doesn't it look odd that the guy who managed to dodge the hearing for the case for past 2 weeks suddenly wants to attend it? He is up to something."

Shifting on her feet uncomfortably, Khushi whispered "Maybe his lawyer managed to find some evidence to support his argument."

"No he didn't. I have my eyes on him, Khushi and trust me, I would know if he did manage to find something. Something is going to happen tomorrow." Aman stated, looking determined.

"But what?" Khushi wondered.

"I don't know, Khushi. I think I will meet Sahil Awasthi and will try to assess what Vikrant is planning. We have been on talking terms for years. He will talk to me for sure. He is a good guy despite the fact that he took Vikrant's case. Maybe he was forced to do so." Aman replied as if thinking aloud.

Looking at him in approval, Khushi concluded "Okay then. Let me know what he says. I got to go, Aman. Arnav called me to his office."

Aman smirked, a devilish gleam entering his eyes "Speaking of Arnav, I saw you too looking at each other as if communicating silently during breakfast. It was sickly cute and cozy. Care to tell me what it was about, huh?"

Blushing for a moment, Khushi shook her head vehemently "It was nothing."

As she turned to climb inside her car, Aman said loudly "Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. By the way, thanks for the lift."

She didn't look back, afraid that he might catch the truth in her eyes.

"You got some nerve to summon all of us like that." Anjali snarled, storming inside Arnav's cabin looking infuriated.

Anuj looked up at her calmly, sitting comfortably in a chair. Flicking his wrist, he gestured to the chair opposite his "Please sit down."

Anjali huffed, occupying the seat reluctantly. Looking away, she glanced around the room, glad to find Arnav behind his desk with Khushi standing by his side while Akash and Payal chose to sit around her, having just entered the room after her.

The glass door opened once again as Shashi strolled inside, looking calm and composed. Everyone watched as he chose to stand beside the chair where Anuj was sitting.

Anuj looked around, meeting everyone's gaze for a moment before he announced loudly "The reason I called you all here is we have got a problem."

"Oh. And it's surprising because?" Anjali replied sarcastically.

Facing her, Anuj stared at her, his gaze demanding her respect and silence as he answered "Because the lavish party I planned for you is about to happen soon. I met Vikrant today and he is after you all."

"What makes you say that?" Arnav questioned, looking concerned.

Not moving his eyes away from Anjali, Anuj answered emotionlessly "Because he said it himself. He is angry at you and Khushi for accusing him in such a high profile case he fear to lose. He wants to hurt you both. Anjali is his sure target along with maybe your daughter."

"Manyata? What's she got to do with it?" Enraged, Anjali questioned, clenching her fists tightly.

Shrugging his shoulders, Anuj answered in a soothing tone "Nothing more than Arnav and Khushi love her. I recommend keeping an eye on her for few days for her own safety."

Feeling bitter, Anjali argued "He won't dare hurt her. I won't let him do anything to her."

Raising his hand to stop her, Anuj retorted back "That's not the question. The question is how much you want to win the upcoming elections?"

"Not more than putting Manyata in danger. I will never do anything that might affect her safety." Anjali answered instantly.

An uncomfortable silence fell in the room as Anuj looked at Shashi while Arnav and Khushi stared at each other. Tearing her eyes away from him, Khushi announced "I agree with her. No one here wants anything to happen to Manyata."

Turning to face his daughter, Shashi assured "That won't be necessary. Just hear out our plan."

Noticing as everyone except Anuj and Anjali looked at him expectantly, he continued "Anuj and I think that no matter what the danger is, we need to take the risk. We can't keep backing away from our plans because of a mad man. What we need is a good plan."

"And that is..." Akash said, encouraging his father-in-law to continue.

Looking down, Shashi explained "We both think that the get together should happen tomorrow. The invitations will be sent tomorrow in the morning. Whatever Vikrant has planned is for a few days later like everyone expected the party to happen. We will introduce Anjali to the political world and then we will keep promoting her till the voting day. It won't take much effort."

"I hear a but' in this plan." Anjali declared, staring at her father as if trying to gauge whether his plan have any ulterior motives.

Shashi turned to Khushi "You will have to support Anjali publicly while Anuj and I will be pegged as her mentor for the political world. It'll help her gain acceptance from the public given how respected we three are by everyone."

Knitting her eyebrows together, Khushi said eventually "I don't have any problem with it."

Everyone turned to look at Anjali, who still focused on her father completely. Tilting her head to the left, she observed "You have something else to say to me."

Anuj nodded "That I do. I want to know how willing and desperate you are to win the elections."

Sitting straight, Anjali replied confidently "Enough to threaten and blackmail my way in if I need to."

Anuj grinned "That's what I needed to hear. Tomorrow in the morning, everyone will be present in my party's urgent meeting to support you. There, you should win everyone's support without any help. I don't want anyone to go behind my back just because he/she doesn't find you worthy. So do you need any help regarding it right now?"

"No."

Standing up, Anuj nodded before adding the last bit "Vikrant's and Shashi's party members will be there as well considering the support I gave their party in the past. Will you able to handle it all?"

Everyone turned as Arnav chuckled, answering instead of his sister "Trust me, she will be able to handle it very well."

As Anuj turned to walk out of the cabin, Anjali put voice to the only question in her mind "What about Vikrant?"

Whirling around, he looked down at his daughter in affection "He won't be a problem anymore. All you need to do is present a strong front for everyone else tomorrow. Arnav and Akash will support you without a doubt. Tomorrow, the Raizada siblings need to rule in the meeting."

Still stuck on her question, Anjali asked insistently "How can you say that he won't be problem anymore?"

"My men kidnapped him from the hospital around an hour ago. Even if he had a plan, he won't be there to execute it tomorrow." Anuj revealed.

And then he walked out, earning everyone's approval and reluctant awe.

As a kid, Arnav was a very obedient boy. He always did what he was told to do by his parents, eager to please them. To make them love him.

Every night, when his mother used to kiss him good night, he would smile and respond to the greeting enthusiastically. He would watch her walk out and close the door after her.

But what he never told her how much scared he was of the dark, of monsters hiding underneath his bed.

Every night, he would shiver in his bed in fear. But he never told anyone about it.

Tonight, as he walked toward the bed and saw his daughter sleeping there, all bundled up in her pink top and pyjamas, he stiffened feeling the same fear slithering down his spine.

He felt scared of losing her in the darkness of their life, unaware of the upcoming danger. He felt scared of her getting hurt because of her own father.

As much as he wished to ignore the words of his father, they kept buzzing in his head, filling his ears with the sound of it.

He felt scared like a child. She is the soul of his heart dammit.

He wouldn't let anyone hurt her but the prospect of inevitable future scared him to death.

He loved her too damn much.

Crouching down, he caressed her silky hairs tied in a glittery yellow band, burrowing his fingers in its thick volume and smiled tearfully, watching her sigh in contentment and lean further into his touch.

"Arnav, are you okay?" Startled, he straightened up, looking over his shoulder to see Khushi standing behind, staring at him in concern.

Withdrawing his still outstretched hand, he smiled mechanically and replied evenly "Yeah I am fine."

Shaking her head, Khushi exhaled slowly, stepping toward him and grabbed his hand, dragging him out of the room with a stern look on her face. Together, they walked out in the balcony.

Pushing him down in the wicker chair there, she tapped her foot impatiently and ordered, looking down her nose at him "Okay, spill everything now."

Arnav sighed, hiding his face in his hands and replied, his voice muffled "I can't stop thinking about what my father said. What if Vikrant actually did anything to our daughter?"

Stiffening for a moment, Khushi squatted down in front of him, cradling his face in her palms delicately and whispered, making him look in her eyes "Hey, don't worry. Nothing is going to happen."

Shaking his head, Arnav retorted looking extremely vulnerable "What if something did happen?"

Khushi smiled "When your family have a protective member like you, nothing wrong could happen to them. Trust me. Besides, we all love Manyata and won't let anything happen to her."

Glancing down, Arnav didn't say anything, his body still as a rock.

Patting his stubbly cheeks, Khushi whispered fearfully "Arnav, please breath."

Inhaling sharply, Arnav looked up, burrowing his face further into her touch and closed his eyes, a look of contentment spreading across his face slowly.

Dazed, Khushi stared at her husband, watching the overwhelming play of emotions shadowing his features as he tried to compose himself.

She smiled in assurance the moment he opened his eyes.

Leaning his face towards her, Arnav confessed, looking sheepish "You know, I had some special plans for us this evening but I cancelled everything to look after her."

Blinking her eyes, Khushi asked looking surprised "Really?"

Raising his hand, Arnav looped a strand of her long hair around his finger as he answered apprehensively "Really. First we would have had a candle light dinner in a seven star hotel and then I would have taken you to dance night."

Her eyes crinkling at the corners, Khushi scrunched her nose "Dance night?"

Arnav chuckled, shaking his head "It's not bad as it sounds like. Back in New York, Shyam and I did attend some dance nights and it was fun. It didn't matter if you are a terribly dancer. All you need to do is move your body to the rhythm of the music."

Looking up at him reverently, Khushi cursed teasingly "Damn, I really missed a good date."

Placing a hand on his heart, Arnav announced in a booming voice dramatically "Don't worry my dear wife. I will take you there very soon."

They burst out laughing the next moment, looking at each other.

Watching her face lit up as she laughed, Arnav memorized the way her nose scrunched up in the process, the sound of her laugh similar to a sweet music to his ears.

Suddenly a thought crossed his mind making his breath catch in his throat. Grabbing her hands, he smiled down at her, whispering her name like a sacred prayer "Khushi."

Still laughing, Khushi breathed "Yeah?"

Pressing his finger against her lips to stop her laughter, Arnav said nervously "I have to tell you something."

Khushi froze, staring up at him, speaking against his finger slowly "Okay tell me, then."

Breathing deeply, Arnav edged forward, moonlight falling on his face making his eyes shine "I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow but I do know things will change for good or for bad. Before anything happens, I want to tell you that..."

Expectantly, Khushi looked on, meeting his gaze as his eyes darkened and the emotion behind them shifted. He looked at her like she is the only thing in the world that mattered. That he didn't wish to see anyone or anything beyond her

Like she is everything to him.

His fingers rubbed back and forth on her lips as he continued after a brief pause, his lips stretching in a heartfelt smile "I love you, Khushi."

Everything disappeared, freezing against the time.

Closing her eyes, Khushi smiled, basking in the way the words fell against her lips, touching and caressing her. Her ears felt numb, repeating the words again and again.

Arnav stared at her in wonder.

Opening her eyes slowly, Khushi laughed as tears spilled from her eyes "Finally, you said it. I love you too, Arnav. I love you."

Arnav laughed in happiness, slipping his hands around her waist and pulling her up, dragging her in his lap. Pressing a hand against the side of her neck, he whispered glancing down at her, looking amazed "I know."

And then they moved towards each other like an unstoppable force, their lips meeting in a kiss that spoke the truth and emotions behind their words.

Intense and memorable just like their love.

It is said that vengeance is a dish best served cold. A pursuer of it must wait for the enemy to be at his weakest spot, unaware of the approach of danger before delivering the ultimate strike.

A well calculated move delivered with appropriate time and opportunity can be as deathly as poison.

Anjali Raizada knew it very well.

For six years, she studied her father and ex-husband's every move, trying to look at the things through their mind to understand them correctly.

As opposed to everyone thinking of her as a foolish and nave woman, she possessed a very sharp and clever mind. Not using it to sense the intentions of her father and her then-husband was her only fault for she paid dearly.

But she had learnt her lesson well. Very well.

Even though it took her time, she perfected the art of thinking like them with greed for power and money as her focal point. For a long time, she predicted their next move, keeping herself updated with their movements and campaigns.

It helped her to realize when the time arrived for her to head home and face them.

Sitting in her room dressed in khaki shorts and a tunic top, Anjali stared at endless starlit sky above, sipping her herbal tea mechanically. Her fingers tapped against the rim as thoughts whirled in her mind, breaking through and trying to make her see her next course of action.

Two weeks ago, she felt troubled after getting to know about Vikrant's plea for the delay in the hearings of his case. Though she knew he gave his sudden illness as the cause of the plea, she wasn't convinced a bit.

She knew him. She knew that he was lying to escape from his ultimate fate, planning a strategy to strike against the Raizada's meanwhile.

For the past fourteen days, Anjali waited with bated breath for him to come out from hiding and set his plan into motion when she least expected it.

But he didn't.

The thought should have relieved her but it increased her worry. Her mind and sources were unable to come up with anything that might have been running in her ex-husband's mind.

And her father's words regarding her daughter was the last straw in it.

It forced her to think of her last resort, which could risk everything but she had to know something before something terrible happens.

Taking her phone out of the pocket of her shorts, she pressed a button to light the screen up, scrolling through her contacts quickly.

Her fingers paused at one, before moving to press the call button.

Releasing a sigh, Anjali stood on her feet, keeping the cup down before pressing the phone against her ear. She waited patiently for the person to pick up her call.

A click registered into her mind before a crisp, business like voice reached her ears "Vikrant Chaudhary's personal line. How can I help you?"

Clearing her throat, Anjali spoke in hindi, her tone nasally and rural "Can I talk to his secretary?"

The voice responded without missing a beat "Yes. I am his secretary."

Running her fingers through her damp hairs, Anjali asked "I met you to speak about my sister who was assaulted by a politician, forced to keep quiet for her family. I was promised with a way out as help. Has anything happened regarding it madam?"

"Tell me your name please."

Anjali squeaked, lacing her tone with apprehension and fear as if the answer was taking too much effort of her strength "Anjali. Is Vikrant Saheb going to help our family, madam?"

An understanding pause fell before the voice whispered "Yes, he will. We assure you that we are looking into the matter but our help is being interrupted by few problems."

"And what is it exactly, madam?" Gripping the phone tightly, Anjali whispered.

The voice said apprehensively "Vikrant Sir is occupied with pressing matter against some people. Once he eliminates the causes behind it, he will be available for giving aid to you and your family."

"Causes?" Anjali whispered.

"Yes causes." The call cut off abruptly, a dialer tone ringing in her ears immediately but Anjali paid no attention to it.

The message was clear. Vikrant was planning on killing someone or a few people to be precise.

Her blood ran cold.

And I am dying here, feeling so nervous. Please do tell your opinions,

Aditi

Amazing update
Arshi confessed and everyone's read regarding manyata's safety
Vikrant is upto something big, may be he is planning an attack on party gathering?

Awesome update! Loved the confession! Who is vikranth planning to kill??? I hope manyata will be safe, bless her.

Please don't kill anyone awesome update