Chapter 40
The Secret Weapon.
I peeled off the soul,
to please my desire.
I scratched off the art,
that projected my arrival.
How cruel I was to
question my existence.
When I was the one
who challenged my survival.
~Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.~
"Why the hell did you keep me in dark...why didn't you tell me that my own mother was involved with Sashi Gupta?, his tone was accusing, self-disgust lingered in his eyes as he smashed a hand on the table placed infront of the elderly man, who looked up, at the young man's angry face, while his own eyes remained blank, betraying no hint of shock whatsoever.
"We had a hunch that she was the main cause behind the incident but we had no proof, he replied stiffly while twirling the pen between his fingers...
"Ah...so I was just a scapegoat...in all this planning of yours...a person to be used and then discarded later on, he spat out bitterly.
Sorrow and guilt replaced the blankness in the elderly man's eyes and he got up from his chair. Rounding the table he came to a halt near Arnav and placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. "No...no Arnav my boy, you are taking this the wrong way, he protested vehemently...
"How should I take it then?...tell me I lost my mind, my soul, my spirit thinking about revenge when all along it had been my mother who brought this on her family, he gave a short self-incriminating bark. "That's exactly my point Arnav...if not you then who would have the guts to bring down that scum Sashi Gupta...you were there you saw what he did to your family...we thought it would be best to hide the circumstances of your family's destruction, your mother's secret from you...in case you lose your motive to take your revenge, the man patted his shoulder but it had the effect of trying to control a raging bull...
"So you thought why not use a pathetic boy who had been burned at Sashi Gupta's hands, first bound him by oath and then mold him into a killing machine, so that when you'll pull the strings he would do anything for you,pain and rage crossed his face and he shrugged off the consoling hand of the man...
"I could do nothing Arnav...except what the higher command wanted...they asked me to find a person who had been the victim of Sashi Gupta and then..., his voice trailed away lamely. "And then use him against him...I know...the perfect weapon, he acclaimed bitterly...
"I am sorry, Colonel Arjun Acharya bowed his head. For the first time in his life, he was feeling guilty instead of proud at achieving his duty...
"Don't be...I am not going to blame you...after all I am only a weapon to be used and weapons don't feel, he gave a mocking laugh, twisting the knife deeper and Arjun winced...
"It's okay colonel...don't pity me...I am what I chose to become...don't forget I wanted the revenge too and this is the price I paid for it, he patted colonel's shoulder, lips twisting cynically."So what's the next command for me, he continued casually. Sighing Colonel Arjun resumed his seat behind his desk. He knew to argue was impossible as Arnav had gone into incognito mode, concealing every emotion behind a relentless mask."Bring back Sashi Gupta's daughter at any cost and then marry her,Colonel Arjun replied in a matter of fact tone.
"First you wanted me to get rid of her and now you are asking me to marry her at any cost...what's the game, he gave a mistrustful glance to the older man. The colonel suddenly looked tired, the age lines bracketing across his mouth,embedded a little too deeply. "I know...but that's the higher commands order...to argue with them is pointless...you've got to find that gal, cajole her or force her that is your prerogative but bring her to your side at any cost, his voice lacked any vigor as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"And what if I refused?, Arnav asked testily. "There is always an another one to replace you Raizda, his words maybe threatening, but his face was filled with sorrow and guilt. Don't refuse...please don't, his eyes seemed to be pleading, as he pinned the younger man with a piercing stare...
"And in other words...I will be disposed off, he asked harshly, his eyes filled with bitter self-mockery...
"I am sorry Arnav, Arjun bowed his head. "Don't be it's the same for you as well, he said cynically and Arjun flinched at the callousness of his tone. The statement was harsh but true to the core. He knew what he had signed for when he joined this mission, but Arnav had been kept in the dark to the reality of the plan, as to make him more compliant for the job.
Unbeknownst to the horror of the cut throat mafia he was forced to become a mole in order to infiltrate the underworld and find his place among the nest of the criminals...
His valour, his fearlessness were the qualities that made him into the best spy for zero force. A brutal branch of the police that was famous for gathering victimized youth from all over the country and then honing them into becoming spies and killers. They were secret weapons, infiltrating the enemy's dens, brutal and inhuman in their approach, famous for their lack of morals...
But yet so easily disposable...
Disobey the higher command once and you'll be a dead meat, the whole team will turn on you and the order will be to wipe you off the face of the earth. That was the lesson that was embedded deeply in their minds by their instructor who had trained them. Kill or be killed, do or die that was the motto of the zero force...
No one knew about them except a handful of government officials who although supported the force but kept themselves at a distance as to avoid their name being associated with the zero force. The victims were all alone, on their own, except for the team members who backed each other, but only during a mission. They were asked to be never caught by the police or army who had no knowledge of the zero force. If one of them were to be caught by the police or army while completing his/her mission, he or she was labeled to be one of the enemy and disposed off without any acknowledgment...
Because that person's only sin would be that he did nothing to escape his predicament...
The zero forces agent were neither here nor there, they were forced to work for the higher command and live a life in purgatory, haunted by their past and fearful for their future. 
"Marry Khushi...keep her at your side, you need to have complete control over her life. She will be of great use in the future, after all she is a witness to Sashi Gupta's crimes...we can use her in the court, Colonel Arjun was explaining in a stiff tone, his eyes still lowered as if he didn't bear to look at the condemning face of the younger man...
He was the guilty one, he knew that. He had broken the rules when he took Arnav under his wing, promising him protection while he had done nothing but threw him among the wolves. The higher command had wanted someone who was a victim of Sashi Gupta. And when Colonel Arjun had found Arnav, a gangling youth, with the ashes of broken dreams still simmering in his eyes, he had realized that nothing could make the best secret weapon against Sashi Gupta but Arnav...
He had hidden the circumstances leading to the destruction of Arnav's family, so he could air the fire of revenge in the youth's heart.
And from among the ashes, a phoenix had emerged, the best spy for zero force, Arnav Singh Raizada had bargained his soul with the devil in the quest for revenge. He had thrived on that thought, counting each day when he would be powerful enough to crush his enemy...
"Yes sir...I will do as you say, his voice was dispassionate, reluctant acquiescence lit his haunting eyes as he bowed his head then without listening to the next words of Colonel Arjun he turned on his heels and exit the room...
"God be with you young man, Arjun's words fell effectively behind as Arnav closed the door behind him with a sharp click...
"Why the sudden proposal?, Khushi gave a nervous laugh. "Why not?, he arched a disbelieving brow, as if he couldn't believe she was arguing on that topic. "Isn't that what you wanted in the first place?, his lips twisted mockingly. "Yes, but not now...we are fine without it aren't we?, she asked skittishly. "Afraid that I will catch on your plan, he taunted and Khushi's face suddenly turned a guilty shade of red...
'What plan...there is no plan, she replied jerkily, while her fists clenched at her sides. "Then there is no reason you should be afraid of marrying me, he said casually, giving her penetrating look. He enjoyed belittling her, just to see her face turn darker with anger and helplessness. She was cornered and the knowledge was like a burning pike in her heart, eyes filled with angst...
"But I have come to realize that living like this, as we are now is much better than being married, she tried to seize the last chance at winning the argument. "You are refusing to marry me. She had a sudden inkling that this was no joke to him but a serious matter, as she could detect a hint of threat in his words. But she gathered the last bits of her tattered courage and raised her stubborn chin. "Yes, I don't want to marry you, she glared boldly into his glittering eyes. Grudging admiration shone in his eyes for a second before the shutter fell over the topaz surface, leaving them mercilessly cold...
"Then it's the end between us, I will no longer touch you, he announced pitilessly. Khushi jerked back with shock. His statement shouldn't make her panic, she should be feeling relieved but to her utter horror she could feel a deep sense of dejection in her soul. Her heart plummeted as she thought about her mother's words. "Khushi don't ever depend on anyone for your needs, Garima's tortured face swam infront of her face, the agony in her long suffering eyes unforgettable as she cupped her daughter's cheeks lovingly in both hands to raise her innocent face...
She had always known that she was highly-sexed, but have never realized that she was insatiable as well. Sexual frustration had burned like a brighter flame inside her but while other men's touch had left her feeling cold and empty, her passion unexpectedly had found a mate in Arnav Singh Raizada...
He provoked and made her angry all the time, yet only he could feed the sexual monster residing inside her, and seemed to understand the insatiable commands of it...
The knowledge was like a bulletin board in her eyes, screaming out the words at him like an advertisement. It seemed what her mother's horror had become her living nightmare. She had started to depend on her nemesis, Arnav Singh Raizada, not for money or love but for sex...
Sex, what cruelty of fate was it? she wanted to howl with misery. Why the hell it should be this mocking devil's touch to melt her frozen self?... He seemed to catch her message so well that his mouth quirked in a lazy smile. "Still not going to marry me?, his words reminded her of her father Sashi Gupta. He had leaned down once into Garima's face and had taunted her, "Still not going to serve me sweetheart?. The problem was not in the words, but in the way he had uttered them. The statement which could have been made by any loving husband to his dotting wife asking her to serve him breakfast, had reeked of control and not love...
Manipulative, cunning , a sick bas***d Sashi Gupta had used his wife's love for him to control her life, walk all over her dignity and self-respect until she had lost the will to live. Her essence destroyed, her soul tattered she had become a shell, a walking robot going through the motions of life...
But she was Khushi not Garima Gupta, yet the man infront of her trying to assert his control over her was becoming the same shade of Sashi Gupta that she had hated in every man...
Was she destined to become what she hated the most, an invalid without any identity of her own. Would she become another Garima Gupta? She had wanted to marry Arnav in the past, infact she had been the one to raise the question of marriage. But that was because she had been confident that she would take money from him and escape one day, make a life of her own.
After Garima's death, she got to know that her mother had saved a hefty amount of cash and jewelry in her account and she had dropped her plan altogether. Maybe she would have been content to live with him if he wouldn't have announced his marriage with Sam and then chucked her out of his life...
Even as she had escaped from under his radar, in a tiny corner of her heart she had longed for him to find her because there was no way in hell that she would have gone back to him on her own. She was that much stubborn...
He had found her, dragged her back to his side. She had struggled, trying to oppose his high-handedness, but she had been glad that he had come for her even if it was in anger...
She was ready to live with him, there was no question of marriage not now nor in the future. But he only had to raise it himself and her sixth sense had started going haywire.
"Marry me and you can have whatever you want...however you want, anywhere you want...even sex, his voice was like a honeycomb, sweet, addicting. Her mind warned her not to fall into the trap but her body had other ideas.
It was beginning to react to the scenarios he was painting in her mind. The suggestiveness of his words was like an aphrodisiac to her senses and she could already imagine their tangled and sweaty bodies, f**king the life out of each other. He knew what buttons to press and the knowledge was there in his deep-throated voice, his heated gaze and in his long tapered fingers which he ran down her throat...
Sex with him was out of this world, and she was ready to pay an arm and leg to be able to f**k him all her life. While others touch had made her draw into herself, Arnav's had made her bloom like a hothouse flower...
"Just say yes...you know you want to...you are a very highly-sexed creature princess...and we both know that only I can sate your appetite, he declared throatily. Oblivious to the rain falling over them, she raised her eyes to his face, squinting in the pouring water. There was arrogance in the arch of his brows, cynicism in his cold eyes. He should have looked like a drowned rat in the rain but nothing could deter the stamped masculinity on his rugged features and the stubborn pride veiled by the mocking eyes...
It was a game...a game of control...that he was playing with her and with every breathing moment of her life she knew she was weakening. Surrender and he would pounce on her like a cat would on a rat, give in to his demands and he would rub her weakness on her face...
What did the future hold for her?...
"I can prove it you know...take you right there on the floor and you won't even lift a finger to protest, he smiled suggestively. "Don't do this to me Arnav Singh Raizada...you don't have the right, was it her voice, instead of threatening it sounded thin and frail...
"Oh I do want to have the right, he laughed. Khushi thought that she hated him at the moment but more than that she was disgusted with her own weakness. "Come on princess, he urged growing serious. When she didn't reply Arnav clicked his tongue with impatience and yanked her closer. She hissed in pain or desire he had no knowledge but in the process the sheet that she had wrapped around herself before coming out on the balcony fell to her waist, baring her upper body to his gaze...
Water cascaded over her breasts, caressing the rounded curves, the nipples contracting with desire beneath his hungry gaze...
She sucked in a breath, her eyelashes fluttering due to the torrent of water sluicing down her face, his features looking hazy except for the lust that was very prominent in his eyes...
"If you won't marry me then so be it...but don't say that I didn't warn you, his tone was dark. Khushi's eyes narrowed, as he shrugged his shoulders noncommittally."I am free to marry anyone...even Sam, he paused suggestively, throwing her a side glance, a satisfied smirk appearing over his face as he saw Khushi's face fell with shock.
"Don't you dare, she threw out her hands to grab his face, fingers squeezing his cheeks. "Marry me then, he barely managed to let the words out through his mouth...
Anger and pain flashed across her eyes and her finger bit into his skin. He was cornering her, using her weakness for him. The agony of that knowledge was so much that hatred rose crushingly in her heart and she wanted to wipe the smirk off his face, to pummel and pound his bones to dust beneath her fingers.
"If you are leaving me...then get ready to face a custody battle, I will take Khushi from under your nose and then I will marry again...a woman younger than you, a drunken Sashi jeered at Garima who was cowering in the chair, while a nine year old Khushi peered from behind a potted plant placed at the foot of stairs, not far away from her father, who was creating one of his ruckus after consuming alcohol...
Disgust was evident in her eyes and hidden from his view, she could clearly see his features twisted into an ugly mask...
"Yes, I will marry you, her eyes blazed before she pulled down his mouth to hers and claimed his lips in ownership. It was a kiss that staked her claim over him.
A possessive kiss...
Realization had came to her just now that she was obsessed about him to the point of insanity. To see him seeing or touching any woman, was unbearable to her. Even to imagine him talking casually to Sam or any other woman made her break out in cold rage...
With the realization had come the knowledge that she had bound herself to him, marriage or no marriage she was unable to extricate herself from his honeyed trap...
Bingo, Arnav smiled internally, then deepened the kiss...
Ramlal smacked the head of the security man who was squinting at the computer screen, trying to make some sense out of the two thermal images entwining with each other. "Close the feed, he ordered stiffly. "What is happening?, the young man asked in bewilderment. "My child it's not for you to know...just close the feed, he stretched his lips in a parody of a smile, while his ears burned with embarrassment. The guy shrugged his shoulders throwing a baffled look at the moving images then pressed some buttons on the keyboard, cutting off the feed...
"The youth...these days...don't care what they are doing and where they are doing it, he muttered in a disgruntled tone. "On the balcony...of all places, he snorted, then muttering something illegible beneath his breath he hurried outside, leaving the security man looking befuddled at his back...
"You look amazing, Arnav's husky voice came from behind and Khushi's head whipped towards the doorway. The girl who was helping her pin her saree's pallu over her shoulder, shuffled back nervously, the cloth falling from her hand.
She was a young girl with thin elfin features and big brown eyes that had stared at Khushi with awe and admiration. It was there wedding day and Khushi had refused Arnav's suggestion of buying a customary red bridal dress from a famous designer. Instead she had chosen to go with a more gothic look. A red and black designer saree with black bead work on red blouse had been hanging in her closet from a long time. She hadn't gotten any chance to wear it anywhere. But now was the time to make use of it, she had thought...
The girl named, Rupali was the daughter of their cook and Arnav had sent her to Khushi with the thought that it would be better if Khushi dressed up at home, instead of going to a beauty parlor. He wanted to keep it low key, lest their private moment would be destroyed by the infiltration of media at court and at his house...
"Amazing enough to eat, she smiled throwing him an admiring glance from beneath her lashes. He looked amazing himself, infact more than amazing, he looked appetizing. In a black three piece Armani suit, that accentuated the lean powerful lines of his body, he just managed to look civilized. But while others could see a sophisticated creature in a clean shaven jaw and smooth lines of his face, she could detect the hint of unleashed and untamed animal that he was hiding beneath the thin veneer of civilization...
He looked, rugged and all alpha male...
A man whom she could never be able to tame, she thought with an excited shiver...
It was there in his topaz eyes, his all animalistic desires bare for her to see, the lust for power and dominance was in his nature, like an embedded stone, which would never budge...
He was her...
A mirror to her soul...
"Yes, amazing enough for that, he cocked his head. Rupali coughed and the strange connection between them was gone...
The girl's ear turning red with shame and embarrassment, she struggled to pin the sash of Khushi's saree. "Leave it...I will do it myself, Khushi said quickly, snatching back the pallu from the girl's nervous hands. Through the corner of her eyes she had seen Arnav making his way slowly towards her and she didn't want to embarrass the girl further with their actions. More than embarrassment, the girl looked afraid of Arnav. Her thin body had trembled as he had come inside...
"You can go now, she nodded her head at Rupali, who hesitated throwing a confused and fearful gaze first at Khushi and then at Arnav. She shifted her feet, trying to say something then thinking better of it she scurried outside, closing the door behind her...
"There will be a day when all of our servants will ran away, she sighed theatrically. "And why is that?, he asked mockingly, sliding his arms around her waist. "Because of that, she pointed her eyes towards his hands that he had placed over her belly...
"No worries, we can always hire more servants who will be immune to our intimacy, he winked at her...
"But not this one...she is ready to run away sooner than I had thought, she chewed her lips, trying to think what could have made the girl so afraid. Then something flashed in her mind and slipping away from Arnav's hold she headed towards the dressing table mirror. "Oh damn, she clapped a hand over her forehead. "I should have known, she rummaged in the drawer, then taking out a thin stick of concealer she straightened to face Arnav...
"I forget to conceal the marks on my body, she announced in a strained voice. Arnav's body tensed, his face betraying anguish and guilt for a moment, then it was gone leaving his features bland. "You need to close her mouth Arnav...she will talk to someone and the word will spread that our relationship is abusive, she threw her hands in the air, a hysterical light growing in her eyes. "Isn't it, his voice was gritty...
"Will you shut up Raizada...you are only making it worse...by your confession, she rebuked. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, I'll see what can I do...but don't expect me to kill her for your sake, he mocked...
"It's not a joke, her head jerked back, eyes narrowed in disapproval. "Okay...okay I get it..., he made an apologizing gesture with his hands...
"I am ready when are we going the court, she had already turned towards the mirror and was now giving last adjustment to her saree...
"After I'll give you this, he took a long box from his coat pocket. "Turn around, he instructed sliding his hands around her shoulders. She obeyed without a question. A second later, she saw his reflection sliding a black diamond choker around her neck. She shivered as the cold stones rubbed against her skin, as if giving her a premonition of her bleak future...
"There, his fingers adjusted the stones at her throat, then looking downwards his fingers traced the bruises along the slender line of her neck and his jaw tightened...
"I should apply the concealer, she voiced to his reflection. "Do as you please, he replied stiffly, his hands falling away from her shoulders. "I will be waiting for you outside in the car, come outside whenever you are ready, his tone was gruff...
As soon as he turned to head outside, Khushi caught his arm halting him in mid-stride. "Don't feel guilty Arnav...these marks don't hurt me...I just bruise easily, she explained, giving him a small smile."Who said I am guilty, he snorted, turning his face towards her. Then throwing an amused glance at her disbelieving face he pulled his arm out of her grip and whistling under his breath, strode out of the room...
"Stubborn bas***d, she threw out a his back angrily...
"Have you prepared the contract Vehaan, he asked his lawyer after sitting in the car. Vehaan, who was sitting in the front seat, turned his head. "Yes, Arnav I have prepared it...but how are you going to hide the conditions from Khushi, if she tried to read the contract, he asked with concern from the man who was lounging calmly in the back seat as if there were no worries in his life. "I am not going to hide anything...let her read if she would want to, he waved a hand carelessly.
"What if she refused to marry you...what are you going to do then?, Vehaan chewed his lips. "Come here, Arnav pointed a hand and leaning forward cupped a hand around his mouth while Vehaan bent down to listen to him. He whispered something into Vehaan's ear and he frowned...
"Are you sure this plan is going to work?, he asked after listening to his words. "Two hundred percent sure...there is no doubt about that, he answered, an arrogant smile appearing over his lips as he saw Khushi sashaying towards the car...
She had no idea what the future had in store for her...
Hell, she didn't have any knowledge about the real identity of him and was ready to go to her doom...
Infact they were both doomed, he thought grimly...
P.S: Do Like And Comment Dearies If You Liked The Latest Update! 😛😳
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
CID
34