ArHi FF: 2nd chance at Love-- Chp5 up!!!!

Chapter 1 ...

The meeting was supposed to be held in a neutral territory. Garima Gupta did not wanted to appear over-bearing in the present moment of sorrow which had engulfed her main target but she also knew that this is the exact moment where she can strike hard and get what she wants.

The moment she came to know about the extent of the disease which was plaguing Lavanya , she had set her plans into motion. She knew that Lavanya wont survive long so she had very less time to fulfill her goals. She had asked her manager and lawyers to prepare the required documents.

She knew that she was never a "good " mother .She was not there to guide her daughter through her life in her crucial moments. As a result of which her daughter fell to wayward ways in her late teen years. Even though she was successful now, she knew Khushi was not happy at all. She always wondered that did she herself took away all her daughter's happiness due to her follies or was it her daughter's fate.

She always suspected that her daughter's love for Arnav was not one sided . But that would mean that Arvan hated Khushi bcoz of her mother. That was also difficult to digest.She remembered how her daughter had come back crying the next day of her 20th birthday. After reported cajoling and threatening , Khushi had refused to divulge what happened. Then her wayward association with Arnav's brother in law had broken Arnav's sister's house and earned Khushi the same reputation as her mother.

On the day Arnav got married to Lavanya (Garima did admit that they made a beautiful couple) , khushi was never same again. She had withdrawn from their lavish lifestyle. She had no other social life other than her ramp and photo shoots. However Khushi's career did get a boost after Lavanya excused herself from modeling life after the birth of her twins. But even Lavanya rare occurrences on ramp were more praised than that of Khushi's.

But today she will try to give her daughter what she had wanted the most through her entire life. Her ways may not be correct but at least her intent was.She will make sure that her daughter becomes the new Raizada bahu.

But will Khushi agree?

And Garima was scared of Arnav.He was ruthless to anyone who crosses him. Garima just hoped that her trump card wont fail.

Chapter 2:

The first indication of the pending storm was received by Arnav on the 13th day of her death. After doing the morning pooja , his closed relatives and buisness associates and their family had gathered in the evening for the ritualistic feast.

He had not wanted to be a part of this gathering. He just wanted to shut himself in his room for eternity and cry. Sometimes in the last 2 weeks he had even thought of killing himself to be with Lavanya. On one night he had suddenly woken up , drenched in sweat ,and found a blade and was about to cut himself. He suddenly felt that Lavanya was standing behind him , mentally pleading to not take a drastic step and think about their children. That had brought him out of his trance forced him to confront his sorrow.

He suddenly heard that his children were fighting with other kids . He went outside to see what the commotion was all about. He saw that Anshika was crying and Ansh was hitting a child . He dragged Ansh away and scolded him . Ansh gave him a look of defiance and told him that he will not apologize . Anshika came to her brothers' defence and told Arnav that the the boy had said aloud their latest fear. The boy had teased her that now that their mother is dead , her father will bring home their stepmother in no time just like their grandfather had done. After all Arnav was his father's son.

After hearing his father's name , Arnav's anger knew no bound. He sternly told the boys family to get out of his house.

And when he turned he saw the reason for his anger standing in front of him as an uninvited guest in the house and his life.

" What the hell are you doing here? Who let you in ? Get out now. "

He caught that man by his arm and was dragging him out of the house when suddenly his sister stopped him.

Anjali : " What are you doing here" ."DAD" . The last words spewed out of her mouth were of disgust .

" Oh! Thanks a lot Anjali ! I came here to pay my condolence on my daughter-in-law's death. May her soul rest in peace. Badi pyari bachi thi."

Arnav: " Shut up! Don't take her name from your dirty mouth ".

His father Armaan Mallick ignored him and went to Ansh and Anshika. " Are bachon apne Dada ka ashirwaad nahi loge. Bahut dukh hua tumhari Maa ke baare mei sunn ke. Pareshaan mat ho tumhare papa jaldi hi tum dono ke liye ek nayi aur achi Mummy le aayenge".

Both the kids got very scared and huddled closer to their Bua.

Arnav : " i am not like you. Why dont you go back to your old/new mistress ".

He ignored his comment and looked at Arnav and then said " I have a news for you. Since you were completely ignoring your company for the last month, someone has bought more than50 % of your company's share. This legally allows them to bring a vote of confidence against you and throw you out of your company."

Arnav : " I have build my empire from scratch . I can rise from ashes again. I don't need your advise".

Armaan: " I know you can but what about your kids. You would not want the sleeping on road is it ? So be at office tomorrow at 9 am with Aman and try to get your company back". He then left.

When he reached outside, he breathed a sigh of relief. That went well. The only way he could have had any conversation with his son was now by stoking his hatred against himself. He suddenly felt very sad today. He had liked Lavanya. She was his sons biggest strength through his growing years when his father has gone wayward. After their kids were born she had even tried to bring them closer and also let him meet his grandkids behind her husbands back.

Then he suddenly saw her . Her face was half hidden in dupatta but he could recognize her anywhere. He went towards her. On seeing him, a shock registered on the woman's face but was quickly replaced.

Armaan :" I came to pay her last respects. She was a nice girl . I know that initially you hated her but she was a good wife and daughter and mother ,Khushi. She loved Arnav and his kids with all her heart".

Khushi : " I know , Mr Mallick"

Armaan : " Arnav is completely broken Khushi. The moment I saw him , I felt that he could break into million pieces any time. He needs to have a goal in his life now. Either extreme hatred or extreme devotion can save him. Those kids are also very scared. ". He saw that Khushi was crying. He choose the next words very carefully and said with folded hands.

" Do you still love him Khushi. Will you mend my broken son ."

Khushi : " Even if he hates me ?"