IPKKND FF: JALEBI by Jalebi Jane Thread 2 EPISODE 043-052 - Page 7

Above all, to support every woman's right to live on her own terms, whether they are consistent with ours or markedly radical... precisely...

first of all congratulations on new thread
it is always good to read your writing. so keep writing
it was an amazing update. after reading my reaction was like "woaaah"
it was damn good. such an interesting stoty
loving it.

Arnav Singh Raizada = Confusion

Are we getting an update today 😊

Congrats on the new thread..Dont know what to make of this Arnav

Congrats on the new thread

Originally posted by: JalebiJane

I'd rather have the Beast than the Prince Charming :-)

You r right we did sign up to love the beast the day we liked him on screen 😃

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 044)

MANY SISTERS HAVE WRITTEN TO ASK, "How could Payal accept Khushi's story so readily?" I agree. I, too, wondered the same. Initially. But upon reflection, I realized that Payal believed what she hoped to be true. Remember---that when the Guptas left Lucknow, they left in disgrace. Khushi's reputation was in tatters, and Payal, as the elder, had been concerned about the younger's matrimonial prospects. Especially having awareness of Khushi's lofty and dreamy aspirations for a husband.

Payal's readiness to believe Khushi's fabrication was a form of wishful thinking that is suddenly gratified. Khushi's news had eased a burden from Payal's mind. That her fanciful sister had found a man she loved---a man brave enough to take her on!---was in simple language, a relief.

But be assured that Payal's eagerness to believe, did not diminish her sisterly responsibility. Khushi paid for her deception. Because from the time she revealed that she was Mr Raizada's to-be-bride, to the time they finally went to bed, Payal grilled her for minute details of this secret courtship.

And imagine Our Heroine's wretched position!

To appear happy when she was so miserable. To describe the journey from loathing to love which had never taken place. To paint scenes of romance which had never been. And most difficult---to speak of Arnav with ardour and affection. It was a very lucky thing that Khushi had watched so many films, for she shamelessly stole moments from those and pretended to have lived them with Arnav.

Of course, this only depressed Khushi further.

No wait!---what was most depressing was how Payal began to rewrite history. Once satisfied that Khushi and Arnav were truly-madly-deeply in love, Payal spun Arnav's beastly behaviour into repressed passion. Just like Pari had. And this barrage of spin did not end until the lamps were extinguished for the night.

You will not be surprised, Sisters, when I tell you that Khushi had difficulty falling asleep. And when finally she did, she must have had a bad dream because she roused several hours before dawn in a state of agitation. She sat up in bed. And she knew what she must do.

Careful to not disturb her Jiji, she slipped from the bed, grabbed her phone, and on bare feet tiptoed out of the bedroom. Once in the front room, she found Laad Governor on her telephone contact list and pressed the button.

CLIMBING UP FROM THE DEPTHS OF SLEEP Arnav woke from a tasty dream. In a state of full arousal. He rested back on the pillow and shut his eyes with the hope that he could recapture the embers of that dream in his awake mind.

A dream of Khushi. She on top. Her legs astride. Her back to him. Nothing but a dupatta floats over her hips. Her plait traces her naked spine. She moves against him. She controls their rhythm. His fingers loosen her plait. Her hair cascades down her back. His hand reaches for her unseen breasts. She slaps his hand away. She cups her own breasts. She looks over her shoulder at him, bites her lip and smiles.

Vixen!

His phone, which was resting on the adjacent pillow, rang out to interrupt that thought. Who would call him at this time? Aman? Had Shyam returned to see Khushi? Imagine how his brows lifted with surprise, Sisters, when Arnav realized that it was the very vixen he had just been dreaming of.

He connected the call:

Arnav: Tum theek ho?

Khushi: (pause) One night. Agreed.

Arnav: (silence)

Khushi: Mr Raizada? Are you there? I said, yes. One night.

Arnav: One weekend.

Khushi: Kya?

Arnav: I warned you. I don't make the same offer twice. It's no longer one night. It's two. A whole weekend.

Khushi: You---you pig!

Arnav: Shall I make it a week?

Khushi: Stop! One night. That is it. I will not negotiate with you.

Arnav: Nor will I. You walked away from one night. We are now at one weekend. Decide.

Khushi: Look, one night is out of the question! Two nights is impossible---

Arnav: ---Miss Gupta, your innocence prevents you from understanding this, but be assured that two nights will be to your advantage.

Khushi: (silence)

Arnav: Well?

Khushi: I---I don't---Mr Raizada, your innocence prevents you from understanding me. As you have reminded me countless times, I am a middle-class girl. Girls like me are not permitted by their family to spend weekends away from home. Alone. One night will be challenging enough.

Arnav: You're a clever girl. You will find a way.

Khushi: No. I won't do it. I will not.

Arnav: Then we are at an impasse.

Khushi: I'd rather marry Shyam.

Arnav: I don't generally attend staff weddings, but I will attend yours. Do remember to send me an invitation.

Khushi: Has anyone told you that you are a bas***d?

Arnav: Nobody has dared.

And for the second time in twenty-four hours, Khushi put the phone down on her employer.

By Jalebi Jane

JALEBI by Jalebi Jane (EPISODE 045)

AFFECTATION OF GOODNESS IS COMMON ENOUGH---one meets with it everywhere. But to be good while pretending to be wicked was a perversity that could belong to only one man.* Arnav Singh Raizada.

This morning Khushi and Payal left the house together. Payal wanted to check on Buaji (but I think we all know that she did not want to remain in the house alone once Khushi set off for work.) As they descended from the portico, the ASRGroup driver pulled up. The same driver from the previous day. He leapt from his seat to open the car door for them.

Khushi did not move. But Payal pushed her towards the vehicle---for to her it was the most natural thing in the world that her sister's loving fiance would send a car for her.

WHILE KHUSHI WAS HEADING TOWARDS HQ that fiance was winding down a meeting with Mr Behl and Mr Chopra. They were on The Roof. This early breakfast meeting was called to set-out the strategy against Shyam.

I know there are many Sisters who enjoy the finer points of military strategies, but I confess I find such details tedious. All I wish to know is: Will Arnav obliterate Shyam? And it appears that he fully intended to. Indeed, that he was planning Shyam's destruction though Khushi had refused his terms spoke to something decent in this gentleman that we must acknowledge.

Either that---or he fully expected to hear her change her mind. Your guess will be as good as mine.

What was Arnav's strategy against Shyam? Fight fire with fire. Or in this case: Blackmail the Blackmailer. Threaten to expose Shyam to the CBI.

Ek minute, Sister!' you exclaim. Had Arnav poached Our Heroine's idea?

Yes. Arnav had taken the germ of Khushi's plan but he had strengthened it. In two ways. The first was to destroy all evidence of Buaji's fraud, so Shyam---or anyone for that matter---had nothing concrete to implicate her with. Secondly, to plant false evidence suggesting that Shyam himself had defrauded the CBI, and threaten to inform the CBI unless he backed off.

That would immediately neutralize him. And during the period of time that it would take for Shyam to gather strength to hit back---for Arnav did not doubt for a single second that that fiend would!---Mr Chopra would excavate Shyam's history to uncover how many others Shyam had duped. Such a man did not wake up one day and turn to such activity. As you have heard me say previously, if a man is deceitful in one quarter, he is deceitful everywhere. Arnav was confident (as Khushi too had suspected!) that Shyam had trapped others before Buaji.

By the time Shyam rose again, there would be more information available on his criminal history. And ammunition to finish him forever.

"Prepare the legal documents so when I approach Shyam, I can make him sign the properties back," Arnav instructed Aman. "In fact, I would not be surprised if he came to me. He appears to be the type who likes to take the first shot, so let's be ready."

Aman made the note, confirming, "both properties revert to the aunt?"

"Make them revert to Khushi. The aunt cannot be trusted. And the sister is not strong. Khushi is clearly the driving force in that family."

To Mr Chopra, Arnav said, "I want to know under what circumstances Shyam entered the lives of the Gupta women. Did he target them? Why? Or was it an accident?"

Once Mr Chopra left the roof, Arnav rose and stretched, taking quiet pleasure in the freshness of the morning air. For a man whose sleep had been interrupted, he was remarkably energetic.

Throwing a glance back to confirm that they were alone, Aman asked, "Sir, I applaud your wish to assist Miss Gupta, but I would be failing in my responsibility to you if I didn't caution you about the risk you take."

Arnav turned to face him, a small smile hovering over his lip, "Aman? You surprise me. I thought you would urge me to do more."

"I'm not suggesting that you don't help. The fact is---this is not a case of a bad man going after an innocent---"

"She is innocent!" Arnav interrupted.

"Miss Gupta is innocent but her aunt is not. This Jha---Wardhan---he's a bas***d, but would it not be more effective lending legal resources to her defence, rather than enraging a man who is not powerless, by any means. What if he decides to target ASRGroup in retaliation?"

"What can he do to us?"

"We have our own secrets, Sir. Are we not taking a larger risk than the situation the Guptas find themselves in? He could tie ASRGroup in bureaucratic nonsense which could take months to clear up."

"Let him try," Arnav shrugged, "But I don't think he will want to call attention to himself. I'm confident Chopra will find more on him."

Arnav reached for a business newspaper from the large pile on the breakfast table. A sign to Aman that he was dismissed, but Aman had one more point to make. "How did you convince Miss Gupta to receive your help in this matter?"

Without meeting Aman's eyes, Arnav said, "She doesn't know that I've set this in motion."

"She'll be pleased," Aman said. Adding, "Surprised but grateful."

"Aman," Arnav tossed the newspaper back to the table and said, "Let's not have this conversation. You won't approve of my intentions. No more talk. Let's get to work." And with that he turned and left The Roof.

*Adapted from Jane Austen's -Pride and Prejudice-.

By Jalebi Jane