Arshi FF:Love Me Forever #2 LINK TO# 3 pg 149 - Page 63

Chapter 22

They had already bought a baby cot and a bay pram and now she was going through various baby clothes. She picked up a green frock and a blue one then showed it to him, he pointed towards the blue one, she kept it aside then selected some pink, orange and purple frocks, he went to the shoes corner and got a pair of blue baby shoes, she frowned at him thinking why was he choosing everything in blue, the cot, the pram and now the shoes were also in blue," Arnav ji, you're picking everything of the same color. Go for some other color." he pursed his lips and said," I hope it's a boy that's why I'm choosing everything in blue."

He felt that she was a little disappointed on knowing that he wanted a boy and not a girl, he didn't want her to misunderstand him so continued further," don't take me wrong it's just that after marriage girls leave the house but boys stay back...so" she nodded her head and let out a faint smile, it was true girls grow up and one day leave the parents to go away after marriage and he didn't want to lose his baby ever, earlier he didn't care about the gender of the child but ever since payal got married and left the house he was finding it difficult to come to terms with it, which was why probably he wished to have a boy but all these things were not in their hands, she hoped and prayed that bappa gave him what he wanted.

She went to the toys section and began choosing them, teddy bears, stuffed animals, rattles, teethers, baby chairs etc. he was amused watching her shop so excitedly and wondered where would she keep all these things, if possible she would buy the whole showroom, not that he would mind but still she wasn't stopping at all, he slipped his hands in his pockets walked leisurely and stood next to her," do you have enough space to keep all this stuff?" she knew he didn't like to share his cupboard neither was she expecting him to do so, she turned her neck to look at him and said," don't worry I won't keep these things in your cupboard."

He shook his head, good she wasn't planning to touch his cupboard, he picked up a stuff toy and was looking at it when he heard her say," when I'll leave golu can have my cupboard ."

His eyes stilled at the toy for a moment making him think back at the deal he had struck with her, he gazed at her with the corner of his eyes, she was busy getting the things packed but why all of a sudden did she bring up the topic of her leaving him once the baby came to this world? He clenched his jaws and stared at her but she seemed ignorant of his tight glares, he dropped the stuff toy and went to the cash counter to make payment. His cellphone vibrated, it was aman on the other side," yeah aman..you bring daadi, we'll be there soon." He told her that they were supposed to visit the paper mill that he had bought, aman and daadi were also coming there.

At the paper mill, Mr. Khurana a middle aged man and the ex owner of the mill was waiting in the cabin to hand over the keys to Arnav. Since daadi and khushi had still not seen the factory he thought of taking them along. They all seated and made themselves comfortable, Mr. Khurana called for tea and sweets and informed that the keys were with his wife who was on her way and would reach any moment.

Arnav nodded silently just then they heard a knock at the door and a young lady entered, one by one everyone turned to look at her and were left surprised, khushi smiled happily on seeing her, she was the one who had helped her during shopping. Arnav clenched his jaws and flared his nostrils in anger on watching his regretful past coming in, his eyes widened on realizing that he wasn't wrong, the other day he had actually seen her, but what she doing here? The same question popped in her mind too, she had never imagined that one day both of them would come face to face, her biggest mistake was now looking back at her with hatred. She walked silently in shock as her eyes gazed at the old familiar faces which had displeasure and disgust written all over except khushi who smiled warmly at her.

Mr. Khurana stood up and introduced," meet my wife, Lavanya" leaving everybody stunned that she had married a man of her father's age but Arnav he didn't look so perturbed, afterall someone like her could do anything for money. Mr. Khurana looked at his wife and continued further," and lavanya, these people have bought our factory...meet Mr.." before he could complete she interrupted," Arnav Singh Raizada. I know. We go back a long way."

Her husband smiled on knowing that she knew Arnav, may be because both of them shared the same home town. Lavanya joined her hands to greet daadi and asked," daadi ji, how have you been?"

Daadi wasn't pleased to see her back infact feared that she would once again ruin her arnav's happiness replied dryly," fine. Thanks." Lavanya took a step forward and bent down to touch her feet but she moved back instantly surprising khushi, who had never seen daadi behaving so indifferently with anybody. Disappointed Lavanya straightened herself and looked at aman who turned his neck ignoring her completely. Khushi felt sorry at the way the rest of them were behaving with her even though they knew her before. Lavanya came and hugged her lightly, making others frown, seeing their questionable looks she clarified,"I met her in the market..while shopping she was of great help to me." Khushi smiled and introduced her to Arnav as her husband. Lavanya glanced at her baby bump and then gave him a thin smile which he didn't bother to acknowledge.

The peon came with tea and sweets, lavanya got up to serve everybody. Daadi refused to have it, khushi didn't like the way lavanya was being treated, she insisted daadi to have it by saying," daadi ji please have tea. You have it at this this time every evening."

Daadi shook her head slightly and reluctantly took the cup. Lavanya gave khushi a thankful look and served the rest, she added 2 teaspoons of sugar to arnav's cup and kept it in front of him quietly she still remembered that he liked his tea a little sweeter.

He stared at the cup before him for a moment then raised his eyes looking at her, she saw the pain, the hurt, the anguish in them which she had inflicted on him years back. He took a sip, not relishing the taste he kept the cup aside. Lavanya furrowed her brows thinking didn't he like it asked him," Arnav don't you prefer your tea a little more sugary?" he pursed his lips in disgust witnessing her audacity to remind him about his tastes shamelessly and that too in front of her husband.

He shot her an ice cold glare then shifted them to Khushi and said," my tastes and preferences have changed."

Khushi could feel the tension in the atmosphere, the silence, the coldness was disturbing her just like the way it hurt lavanya to know that his likings had changed. He had moved on in his life.

She pressed her lower lip and smirked at herself, in a way it was good especially after what she had done to him, she didn't deserve him. Mr. khurana asked her to offer everybody ladoos and said," Congratulations. This factory now belongs to you" She took a deep breath and offered him ladoos hoping that he would at least have them," lf I recall correctly you're quite fond of ladoos."

Khushi smiled at her, he indeed relished ladoos. Arnav ignored her offering and asked Mr. Khurana agitatedly," can we please have the keys?" Mr.Khurana could sense the urgency in his voice, he asked lavanya to hand over the keys, lavanya bit the inside of her cheek and told that she had forgotten her purse which had the keys in the car," l'll just get it." And left the cabin.

Khushi turned towards him and asked softly," can daadi ji and I go and have a round of the factory?" he nodded his head and gestured aman to show them around . He shook hands with Mr. Khurana and said," I'll wait outside ."

He waited near the car for the keys and everybody to return. He heard somebody clear her throat, he turned around and found lavanya standing. She held the edge of her sari nervously and said," I never thought I would see you again." He too had never expected or should say never desired to meet her again, he slipped his hands in his pockets and looked the other way not bothering to reply. She fiddled with the key in her hand, lowered her head and spoke," I know what I did with you is unforgivable but still if you could ..."

He turned his back to her and kicked a small stone in front of him in frustration, wishing just like this he could kick out his past from his present too, he wasn't interested in her apology and forgetting what she had done was out of question. With tears of repentance she continued," the hunger for money and power blinded my vision. I couldn't see how much you loved me."

He wrinkled his nose as he recalled how she had left him for money, how for the sake of worldly comforts she had crushed his heart which was full of love for her. Tears rolled down her eyes on realizing the biggest mistake she had committed in her life, money couldn't buy happiness, had it been so she would have been the happiest woman. She got what she wanted but what she lost she could never buy back "true love" she gazed at his hostile back and said softly," today my hands are empty. I neither have love nor money."

She had deserted him and later on ended marrying an old rich man but now tables had turned, he was calling the shots, he was in power and today he was bailing them out of their debts. Life taught and punished her the hard way but she didn't mind, she deserved this humiliation and his hatred.

She wiped her tears, she was glad that he found a true life partner in Khushi who loved him immensely, she had seen it in her eyes," khushi is a nice girl."

His head turned sharply at the mention of khushi, he glared at her as she continued," she has everything that I lacked."

He raised his finger pointing at her and widened his eyes in rage," don't you dare take khushi's name from your filthy mouth." He didn't wish to hear anything about khushi from her, she wasn't worthy enough to speak about her.

She smiled through her tears on seeing the extent to which he was possessive and protective about khushi, he truly loved her a lot," you love her immensely, don't you?"

He saw Aman, daadi and khushi coming from behind, he curled his fingers in a fist to control his rising temper.

Khushi smiled at him excitedly and said," arnav ji, the factory is so huge." He nodded his head and softened his expressions, lavanya too noticed that khushi's mere presence calmed him so much. She walked upto him and held her hand out to give away the key. He wrapped his arm around khushi lightly, she raised her head to look at him, he gave out a faint smile and said," You take the keys. After all you're the boss."

Aman and daadi had proud grins on their faces, well indeed khushi had showed him the right path and she rightly deserved this honor. Lavanya handed over the keys to khushi who thanked her graciously. Lavanya shook her head dismissing khushi not to thank her everything was hers now," all this is yours and will remain yours. Forever."

She looked from arnav to khushi and hugged her before bidding good bye and saying," I'm glad you're giving arnav his biggest happiness." He was a family man who wanted to settle down with her, but she had her own dreams which she thought he couldn't fulfill, how wrong she was? Nevertheless she was happy to see his dreams finally getting fulfilled. She joined her hands once again and lowered her head slightly to seek everybody's forgiveness before leaving the place.

After returning to RM he retreated back to his room, he wasn't hungry and wanted to be left alone. The whole car journey was quiet, nobody uttered a word but Khushi could make out that they all were disturbed after seeing lavanya there. Daadi too went to her room, she followed her with the dinner plate," khushi I'll eat later. Beta you go and rest." How could she leave her like this, it was important for daadi to have her meals on time so that she could take medicines afterwards, she kept the plate on the bed and sat next to her holding her hand and asked," daadi ji, who is lavanya and how is she related to arnav ji?"

Daadi pressed her lips sadly on recalling about lavanya, she creased her forehead and shook her head. She knew that Arnav was upset to see her again and that only khushi could make him feel better and for that she needed to tell her about his past.

She began narrating him about what all happened 5 years back. Arnav had come to know about her sisters evil intentions that they loved him only for his money, they didn't care how he earned it, as long as they were enjoying a luxurious life they were happy and while providing them that even if he had to lose his life they didn't bother. He was heartbroken and devastated thereafter and drowned himself in alcohol. One evening when he was drinking sitting on a sea shore he saw a girl being molested by some goons, he saved her from them and brought her in his house unaware that eventually she would ruin his life completely.

She was lavanya who pretended to be his friend, shared his sorrows and gave him her shoulder to cry on, he was emotionally vulnerable at that point of time and couldn't differentiate between good and bad. She supported him in whatever he was doing, never encouraged him to leave the path of crime or refrain him from indulging in alcohol in fact she added fuel to the burning fire of hatred he had towards his sisters making him believe that she was the only one who understood him and his pain. He became completely emotionally dependent on her and thought she was the only one who was made for him and had entered his life as a fresh ray of hope. He began loving her and one day proposed to her which she readily accepted. Soon they got engaged and came more closer, he started sharing with her all his thoughts, be they personal, financial or related to business. Unknowingly he was digging his own grave. She wasn't any helpless weak girl as she had portrayed herself on their first meeting in fact she was his arch rival Sikandar's mistress and was sent to him to know his trade secrets so that one day he could be eliminated from sikandar's path.

It wasn't long when her true face came to light, he was held captive by sikandar and that's when he saw her in sikandar's arms. His world came crashing down, once again he dared to love and once again he got betrayed and once again the reason behind was lust for money and power. A gun was being pointed towards him, not by sikandar but by her, whom he loved deeply. He looked into her eyes trying to search the same emotion but there wasn't a trace of it in them, no remorse, no guilt nothing just greed for money. He hated himself for trusting her, for bringing her into his life and most importantly for loving her. Escaping from Sikandar's clutches wasn't difficult for him in fact minutes later both of them were at his feet begging for their lives but getting rid of those bitter memories was hard for him, till date daadi thought he didn't forget what happened years back.

That was his painful story which made him lose faith in people, in relationships, in happiness and above all in love.