It didn't take more than a second for Akash Singh Raizada to react. He walked up to his brother, his face revealing his anger and pain regarding his brother's actions, and pulled a non-struggling Arnav Singh Raizada along with him.
"Akash.."
"Say no more, Arnav. You have completely crossed your limits today. You have pained me a lot. Seriously, threatening your brother's love life as blackmail to someone? That's low even for you, and I have seen the worst of you, Arnav," spat Akash, fury unleashing itself like never before.
Arnav was unable to believe that his docile brother had begun verbally attacking him but he knew that he had toed the line, no matter how grudging he has to accept that. It just never crossed his mind that KhushI Gupta would reveal his threat publicly. The nerve of the girl to humiliate him.
"Now, Arnav, if you have any shred of humanity left in you, you will apologize to Khushi," he demanded, gaining Arnav's attention again.
"What? No ways, I am not apologizing to that woman, because I am not sorry. Arnav Singh Raizada does not do things that he does not mean," he declared proudly while Akash shut his eyes in frustration as he tried to calm himself down.
"Look Arnav, Khushi is like a sister to Payal and I love her with every breath of mine. I don't want Payal to think that I did nothing to stop your atrocities, especially when Khushi does not deserve any of it. And even if she was not Payal's best friend, I would not encourage your behavior. It is animalistic to say the least," he lashed, unable to understand why his brother was so obsessed with humiliating his love's best friend.
While it was true that he was used to everyone bending in front of him and Khushi was like a tight slap of reality for him, it did not explain his lusty deeds towards her. Akash earnestly prayed that his brother was not creepily obsessed with her.
"It is matter pertaining to me and Khushi Gupta, Akash. I see no reason why you should intertwine this with yours and Payal's," said Arnav in a nonchalant way which irked Akash all the more.
"That is because you are the one to intertwine it, Arnav Singh Raizada. I will say this once and for all, Arnav. I have never asked anything from you till date and today I am asking. Just stop tormenting Khushi, for god's sake. Seek her forgiveness and only when you earn it, you will be my brother or else... Don't make me and Maa regret accepting you," said Akash, walking out as he left Arnav in thought.
If there was something which Arnav valued more than his ego, it was his self-respect. It was true that Akash or his family had never asked anything from him and they had only given him endless things along with boundless love. Refusing to give the only thing which they had ever asked in return of everything they did for him would be a blow on his self-respect and he would not allow it, even if it bruised his ego.
He moved back to the entrance area and began searching for the woman who was the reason of his brother's outburst. He finally found her studying under the tree with utmost focus and concentration.
Taking a deep breath, he walked upto her and stood in front of her, hoping to escape the challenge of initiating the awkward conversation. But it seems, Khushi Gupta was in no mood to entertain him.
He wondered what he would call her: Khushi, Miss Gupta or his infamous Princess? He decided that it was the best that he struck to her given name.
"Khushi.."
She didn't even bother looking up.
"Khushi!!!" He said in a slightly higher pitch, gaining the attention of several around them.
"Goddammit, listen to me!" He shouted when he still failed to gain her attention.
"I do not have any interest to listen to your threats and nonsense, Mr.Raizada. Please leave," she replied nonchalantly, not even bothering to look up.
That was it! He might be there to apologize to her but he was not tolerating her lack of attention. He immediately grabbed the book in her lap and hence forced her to look at him.
"I am here to apologize to you. Akash has been hurt with my deeds and I cannot tolerate that," he said in as nonchalant way as possible to avoid seeing glint of victory in her eyes, as she rose to match his height.
"It comes as a surprise to me, Mr.Raizada, to see that you actually care for someone. The saner part of me says that this is just one of those cheap games which you love to play, isn't it?" she mocked, her eyes showing no sign of regret as they burned with sarcasm.
Needless to say it stung Arnav right through his facade of nonchalance. It bruised his ego but also managed to shatter something which he had long hidden.
"Khushi Gupta, I am ready to do anything to prove my genuine intentions to you. I just need your forgiveness, no matter what cost I have to pay for that," he replied, ignoring the whispers of the slight crowd which had begun surrounding them.
Khushi seemed to be assessing the situation in the inner recesses of her mind. She looked at him with keen interest, layered with disgust and hatred but there was no hint of that victory which Arnav was trying to search in her eyes.
"Will you be able to do what you wanted me to do, Mr.Raizada?" she questioned, mockery back to gleam in her eyes.
"What do you mean?" he asked, momentarily taken aback. He didn't expect her to place a proposition in front of him. He had taken her to be a goody-two-shoes, albeit a strong one because that one he has to give it to her, but the one with morals and with no intention of revenge. But she seemed to be proving him wrong at every level.
"Will you be able to apologize to me in full public view? Just like you wanted me to do. Maybe that would convince me of your intentions like nothing else would," she said, sarcasm and hatred lacing her tone, breaking every assumption which Arnav had about her.
What will Arnav do?
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