#2 ArShi FF - I AM WITH YOU || Ch 24 on Pg 115 [Sep 3] - Page 68

Khushi knew Arnav wanted her to be there as he shared his story. She was eager to know more...

There was silence for a moment as both stood side by side. Though Arnav didn't look at Khushi, he could feel her presence beside him. He knew she was here for him. She was here to listen to what he wanted to tell her.

"Sheetal's dad, Shyam Uncle was Papa's business partner. Their fathers started this company together 50 years ago and see where it is now!" Arnav's wet eyes gleamed with pride as he spoke.

Khushi smiled in acknowledgement. She could imagine all the efforts these friends might have had put in to build an empire as it was now - The R-J Group of Industries. It was named after the creators - Raizada and Jagtap.

Arnav heard Khushi take in a deep breath, his eyes looking past the trees in front surrounded by darkness.

"Sheetal and I know each other since we were born... Our fathers had taken over the business from out grandfathers by then..." he said, breaking the silence.

Silence? Not really! They could hear the rustling of leaves as the branches of trees swayed with the wind. The cry of insects continued as Arnav paused for a while to recollect what all had happened. His face became grim as he continued, "It was some 28 years ago that marked a black phase for our company. Many frauds were revealed, the company was in the black list for the scams that came out into limelight..."

Arnav's eyes spoke of how horrifying days those were. Khushi looked at him to see his restlessness.

"Though I wasn't born then, I have seen it through my parents' eyes. Papa was devastated. The company was into loss. The clients broke all the ties. Papa suspected that all this was done by someone from inside the company. Shyam Uncle too agreed and the police began the investigation"

Khushi was lost into the story Arnav was narrating. She was waiting for more, she wanted to know who had brought such bad days to the company. But Arnav was lost into his own thoughts, may be thinking of it. He was silently staring into the empty air but Khushi could read his mind through his eyes. She could see his mind racing through numerous thoughts. She waited for a while, giving Arnav's mind some time to settle down. But she couldn't wait any longer. She was curious to know the further story. Before she could ask for more, Arnav resumed the narration.

"Three people have been murdered till now. The investigation is still going on... Every time we used to think that we were close to getting hold of the culprit, the link was broken by the murder of the person who we thought would be the key to reaching that devil behind all this"

Khushi was horrified to hear this. Three murders? She missed a beat, her body shivered and her hands turned cold. Investigation still going on? For all these years? She couldn't imagine what everyone must have gone through, especially the Raizadas and the Jagtaps.

As if Arnav heard Khushi's unasked questions, he spoke further, "It was very tough... Facing all this... facing the world. The constant taunts, the inquiry, the questions thrown at us by the media... Our innocent employees had their pleading eyes set upon us in the hope that everything would be fine one day. People were being murdered fearlessly despite the police investigation going on. All this was too much to bear" Arnav's eyes were wet, his throat dry. "Papa was fed up... The pressure and tension was rising. Though the company's position improved a lot, though we gained back the lost trust and respect over the years, there was this unknown guilt. How could someone, our own someone, cheat us? Papa felt hurt whenever he thought about it. He felt like being stabbed in the back by someone close" Arnav's voice cracked. He swallowed to wet his throat to ease speaking.

Khushi wanted to comfort Arnav. She couldn't see him in pain. She never knew all this. Arnav never told her. He just used to say that there were some problems going on and would be solved soon. But never did he let Khushi know the seriousness of the issue. Before Khushi could come out of her thoughts, she heard Arnav's voice.

"Papa was under tremendous pressure, so much that he began facing health issues" A tear escaped Arnav's eye which he quickly wiped off. "We were worried for him. Ma too was very tensed but she never showed it thinking of Papa. I always feel so helpless at such situations. I just want to take away their pain, I want to see them get rid of their tensions. But I can do nothing..." Another tear flowed down his cheek. "Nothing at all..." he whispered.

Khushi's eyes watered seeing Arnav's condition. She placed her hand on his that rested on the railing as he kept staring into the darkness at a distance. Wiping off the tear, he sniffed before he continued. "Shyam Uncle too was badly affected by all this. Unable to bear more pressure, he and Sheetal went to London for a change two years ago"

Hearing Sheetal's name, Khushi instantly withdrew her hand away from Arnav's. Arnav looked at her in surprise. He could feel his hand empty... as if the soft, warm, protective sheath was suddenly taken off him and he was left there all alone to face the cruel world. Khushi chose not to look at him as she could feel his intense gaze on her. Arnav could very well understand the reason behind Khushi's action.

"I don't like her!" he blurted out at once. Khushi looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to say this. "Trust me... I don't like her..." he repeated. "I mean, not in that way..."

"Do you hate her?"

"What?!" exclaimed Arnav confused by Khushi's question.

"Do you hate her?" repeated Khushi stressing every word.

Arnav had not expected her to ask this. "Why would I hate her?" he said.

"Well then... That's enough, isn't it?" said Khushi to Arnav's surprise.

Arnav knew Khushi was hurt. But he was bound by his father's word, and he hated it the most at the moment. Khushi let out a helpless sigh, carefully controlling the tears in her eyes with great effort, and looked away from Arnav... back to staring at the reflection of the night sky in the pool water.

"I never thought of her in that sense..." Arnav tried to explain. "She was just a friend always..." he said, "Not even a friend, actually... Just that I knew her..."

Khushi remained silent. Her eyes filled with tears as pain gripped her heart. She somehow managed not to break down. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she said, "You never spoke of her... not even once... not even after your marriage was fixed with her"

"Because she never meant anything to me!"

"But now she does..." replied Khushi.

There was silence again. Khushi did not want to cry... not now... she didn't want to feel weak, not in front of Arnav.

Arnav had nothing to say in his defense. He had lost to his destiny.

After a few moments of unspoken words, Arnav spoke in a low voice. "It was two years ago when another guy was murdered. It was the third murder related to this case. The investigation tightened. There was immense tension and pressure. We were being questioned. That's when Shyam Uncle suffered from a mild heart attack. The doctors said that it wasn't good for his weak health to face all this. As I said earlier, he and Sheetal went to London for a change so that his health would improve. But the investigation took a different turn and things worsened. Shyam Uncle's health weakened due to tensions and he was admitted to some hospital in London. Thankfully Sheetal's Aunt, who is settled in London, was there with them. Before we could understand anything, Shyam Uncle suddenly passed away due to a severe heart attack. He had called Papa a day before. He could feel he was dying. Papa was very disturbed listening to his pale voice over the phone. He could feel Uncle's pain. And that's when Uncle expressed his wish that I should marry Sheetal. She had lost her mom at a very young age. Her father was her only close relative. Uncle knew she would be well taken care of if she would be with us. He expressed his wish about our marriage. How could Papa deny a dying man? Papa promised uncle that his wish would be fulfilled... And the next day we got the news that Shyam uncle passed away"

Khushi was shocked to know this. She didn't blame anyone but her fate. She felt bad for Sheetal. She knew what it was to lose parents. Two years ago she too had lost her dear mother. And her father... He never was the same after that accident. He was close to her, yet so far. Khushi had no hatred towards Sheetal now, just sympathy.

Arnav was silent. Khushi knew what he was going through. "Some things can't be changed..." she said gently, "Whatever happened was to happen... We must accept it... and move on" she said not only for Arnav but for her as well.

"Move on?"

"Hmm"

"Would we be able to? After all that has happened?" asked Arnav, not ready to let Khushi go away from him.

"We will have to... That's what we are destined to... Part ways..." she said sadly.

"I wish we could change it..."

"I wish..."

Just then Veena came there looking for Khushi to call her for dinner. She was surprised to see Arnav with Khushi.

"Arnav? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"We were just..." Arnav didn't know what to say.

"Enjoying the breeze" Khushi quickly completed Arnav's sentence.

Veena thought for a moment, not understanding what exactly was going on. She then just ignored her thought. "Okay, come for dinner both of you..." she said with a smile and went away.

Khushi glanced at Arnav and began walking ahead. Arnav followed. As they walked past Akash's room, Akash called out to them. "Arnav! Khushi! Will you please come here for a moment?"

Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances knowing not why Akash called them. They went in. Akash showed them some missed calls on his phone from an unknown number. And then he showed them a text message he had just received. Khushi and Arnav's eyes widened in shock after reading the message.