Arhi FF : Living and Loving ~Lnk for Thd 2 on pg.1 - Page 27

Note :

A new character introduced in this update, y'all! Ajay Bharadwaj. I kept Ritwik Dhanjani for his character. . . God knows why, though! I don't even like Ritwik Dhanjani! 😛

Thanks for all the love, my darlings. . . 😳

Hope you enjoy this update. . . . 😊

Part 3:

Khushi Kumari Gupta, was now a woman of respect. And the credit for turning Khushi into one, went to none other than, Shiva. Who had, in so loyal a manner, been on Khushi's side ever since she had taken Khushi under her care. It had been, in fact, her pleasure to watch Khushi bloom into the most lovable human being in the city of Goa. And that is exactly why she thought of Khushi as her baby, her child. And when she heard that Khushi wanted Anjali to stay at Hope, she was the least surprised. Khushi did not have a bone of grudge in her, and she knew it.

What surprised her though, was the tone in which Khushi spoke of Arnav Singh Raizada. Her eyes had been full of disgust and resentment when she had asked Anjali if her brother had bought the woman's (Shyam's another victim's) silence. Things had changed, after all, thought Shiva. And they had changed for good, she believed. If that man claimed to love Khushi without trusting her, Shiva knew better than to believe that load of bull!

By what she had come to know about Arnav Singh Raizada, however, she realized that he would soon be bestowing his presence upon them. He would do it at least to take his sister back, and she prepared to face him. Though what she did not know would happen, was the sudden termination of the flow of funds from his side. She had been going through the balance sheets and giving a perfunctory check to the bank balance too, knowing nothing would be going wrong in that department, when she noticed they were running too low on cash. It was already 10th of the month. And Arnav, from the last eight months, had promptly deposited the money on the first of each month. What had changed, now?

Khushi must be told, she thought as she went in search of her. Khushi was helping the cook when she heard Shiva call her. Removing the apron, she wiped her hands and smoothed her hair as she walked towards Shiva. "One bad news." Shiva told her, and Khushi wondered who had left them. The first time they had seen a very old Mrs. Ross die in front of their eyes, they had all been crestfallen. But tending to the old, they had all learnt together, to let go of the aged, when their time arrived.

"Who?" Khushi asked, her face showing her concern. Maybe it was Mr. Dsouza. His asthma had started getting worse. And her heart went out for Mrs. Dsouza, who loved her mister a lot.

"Arnav Singh Raizada." Shiva answered, and saw Khushi jerk back in horror. "He has not paid you this month."

Khushi heaved a sigh of relief. It was given that she hated him for the bas***d that he had turned into. But she did not want him dead!! She asked Shiva to explain, and listened to all of it with a frown on her face. There could not have been a mistake, for she knew Arnav Singh Raizada hardly committed mistakes. At least in monetary matters. Her lips pulled up in an ironic smile, and Shiva wondered what was going on in Khushi's mind. "Book a round trip flight ticket for Delhi, will you. It is time to go meet our generous donor." Shiva had opened her mouth, about to voice her concerns, when she saw the gleam of some kind of twisted pleasure appear in Khushi's eyes. Somehow, had Khushi developed a morbid sense of humor? Or was this all a show? And then it dawned on Shiva. Khushi, though she still loved the man, was angry. And she had successfully learnt to give as good as she got. So it was now Arnav Singh Raizada, who should really worry about himself, Shiva thought, as she chuckled to herself.

"But you had to attend a dinner party with Ajay Bharadwaj today. . ." Shiva reminded her, and Khushi nodded and said she would handle him. She went to her room on the top storey, and started packing. When she was done, she called Ajay Bharadwaj, the second most competent donor of Hope, after Arnav. What business Ajay Bharadwaj was into, Khushi had not known, and had never really bothered. As long as he paid his share of money to support Hope, she was least concerned about him or anything which had to do with him. She called him up and was about to wish him a good morning, when he said, "I'm waiting for you downstairs. . ." Khushi's eyebrows shot up in surprise, as she replied with an "Oh!" She informed that she would meet him as she walked towards the door and down the stairs.

"Mr. Bharadwaj!" Khushi greeted him with a handshake and a warm smile.
"Ms. Gupta." Ajay bowed as he greeted her back.

She motioned for them to go and sit in her office, and when they were seated, she started explaining that she would not be able to attend his dinner party, as she was required in Delhi. Ajay listened to all of this, and said, "Fine, then. I shall cancel the dinner party. . ."

"Oh, no!! Mr. Bharadwaj! There's absolutely no need for you to do that!" Khushi said immediately, not wanting to get in his way in any possible manner.

"Erm. . . There is really no point in me sitting alone and having dinner. Is there, Ms. Gupta?" Ajay asked, as he gave an almost sheepish smile, which dropped when he saw a name on the patient file on Khushi's desk. Anjali Singh Raizada. That name struck a nerve. Was not this the name of the woman whom his detective agency's branch in Delhi had agreed to search very recently. It was in these thoughts, that he was immersed in, when he heard Khushi calling his name.

Khushi was taken aback at his revelation. So it was not a dinner party and it was to be just them having dinner together? What are you up to, Mr. Bharadwaj?? Khushi thought, before she asked what he meant. But he sat silent, with a thoughtful frown on his face. A minute like that, and Khushi called his name, rather too loudly, and saw him focus back on her.

"I had arranged for the dinner, because there was something I needed to say. Something important. It does not matter. We will talk some other time. . . ." He said, making Khushi think what important matter he had on his mind. She soon let it go though, as she had a flight to catch. They bade their farewells and Khushi was soon on the flight towards Delhi. It was now that she started doubting whether this was the thing she wanted to do. Did she really have the strength to face him?? She thought of Hope.

House of Hope. A home for the homeless.

That name would bring an ironic laughter out of Khushi, each time she thought about it.

Khushi, who had lost hope for herself, ran a House of Hope!!

House of Hope, or Hope, as they usually referred it as, was the brainchild of Khushi and the woman whom she considered no less than her own sister, Sivaranjani, or Shiva, as she herself preferred to be called as.

So this was how Khushi Kumari Gupta had decided Arnav Singh Raizada's money would be spent on.

Yes.

That money would always remain Arnav Singh Raizada's.

Never hers.

These thoughts, though disturbing, seemed to bring out the innate the strength that Khushi Kumari Gupta, which seemed to have lost somewhere for a while. The flight, which was hardly 3 hours in duration, soon came to an end, and when she got off the plane, and came out of the airport, she stood still for a while, refusing to give into the sense of deja vu, the busy streets of Delhi arose in her. Squaring her shoulders, she hailed a cab, and drove towards AR. It was still 4 p.m., and Khushi knew that Arnav would be still at work.

Pam saw Khushi as she entered AR, and her mouth hung open at seeing Khushi in this avatar. The Chamkili Khushi Kumari Gupta was lost somewhere, and now what she saw was Khushi in a simple, free flowing, peach-colored button down shirt over a pair of basic jeans. With her hair let open, and the natural beauty she was born with, she looked like a model on vacation.

Pam sat staring with her mouth still open, as Khushi, hardly paying any heed to the gawking female, made her way to Arnav's cabin.

Arnav looked up in surprise, as he knew nobody who worked for him, had the guts to enter his cabin without a knock. And needless to stay he was stunned to find the woman he loved standing in front of him. He threw that thought out in rage, as he sat back in his chair, his eyes roving on her body as if he owned it. Khushi stared on, as she saw the look in his eyes. His eyes, which once had showed his love for her, now made her feel repugnant. Repulsed at all of which had transpired between them. She ignored the feeling, as she walked towards him and stopped when she was seated in front of him.

"Why haven't you paid me this month??" Khushi asked, looking straight into his eyes, knowing the thrill that "THE Arnav Singh Raizada" might be feeling at the moment. The thrill of having his theory of Khushi-is-a-gold-digger, proven true by none other than Khushi herself.

"There's no need for me to pay you to cover up for Di anymore. She knows." Arnav said, his face contorted in pain, which he'd never want Khushi to see, given the circumstances.

Khushi saw the pain flash through his eyes. Though one small corner of her mind showed its concern for him in a small voice, there was this sadistic sneer which made its way onto her face as she congratulated herself for having come here, to meet him. The pain in his eyes, she would not have wanted to miss, at any cost. She stood up, and looked at him as he comprehended her expression. He glared at her, which she did not even give a thought about, and said, "It was nice meeting you Mr. Raizada. I hope you take care of your SISTER." And was about to exit his cabin when he asked, "What exactly do you need so much money for??"

Her countenance really did not show any sign of the grandeur one might expect when they had so much money. If not for a makeover, there was nothing different about her at all. He watched as Khushi turned around, and with that irritating smirk on her face, replied, "That's none of your bloody business."

Change in her vocabulary too. Impressive. Arnav thought, as he nodded his head once in appreciation. Though he regretted doing it when she asked, "Waise, how is your sister??" She had pursed her lips, as if she was trying to stop herself from laughing, but Arnav was in no mood to look and measure her expression. He took in a harsh breath and answered, "And that's none of your bloody business!"

Khushi shrugged easily, saying, "Suit yourself!" But her mind easily pictured Anjali sitting in the garden of Hope, either staring blankly or petting Casey. And she knew she needed the money to shelter Anjali and all the others who depended on her. But damned would she be, if she grovelled in front of Arnav Singh Raizada for the funds. She turned back, and left, her head full of thoughts about what her next step should be.

Arnav watched Khushi leave with her head held high, and her gait displaying her confidence. Something surely had changed. He just could not put a finger on it.

Khushi easily boarded the same plane through which she had flown to Delhi, and which would now take her back to Goa. It was close to eleven when she reached Hope, and was soon having her dinner with Shiva as she explained what had come out of the meeting with Arnav. And she also told about Ajay Bharadwaj wanting to talk to her regarding something important. Shiva asked her to call him. "Now??" Khushi asked, as she bit into another piece of her toast.

"He's the only potential sponsor of Hope left. . . Just ask him what he wanted. . ." Shiva explained, worried as to what they should do to keep Hope up.

Khushi nodded, and called him, hoping that he had not slept. And soon Ajay Bharadwaj was to meet her. He had not even been home when Khushi had called, and had agreed to meet her.

Khushi finished her dinner and waited for Ajay at her office. He soon arrived and after denying Khushi's offer for a cup of tea, started telling his important matter.

"I run a detective agency, Ms. Gupta. Our whole family runs it, in fact. And we have branches all over India. We usually provide our services to the creamy layer of the society, and hence our affluence. This is the prime period for my career and I am least interested in marriage right now. But my father seems to have lost it. He had started urging me to get married from a year or so ago, and now that he does not see me doing that, he has laid a condition. I don't get married. I get kicked out of my own agency. Basically he would disown me!" He said, and he paused, gauging Khushi's reaction.

Khushi nodded slowly. Her mind was screaming that she was losing this benefactor too, though she managed to maintain a poker face. How was she to feed Hope, she was thinking, when he made his offer.

Marriage for money.

After a minute of stunned silence, Khushi all but wanted to laugh her head off!

Sarcastically, of course!

What had she done to deserve such self-obsessed, eccentric men in her life? If one paid her to leave his side, this one wanted to pay to keep her by his side!

"I shall donate the amount each month, Ms. Gupta. And in return, you shall marry me. Oh, don't worry. It'll be a marriage of convenience, and nothing else. I get my assets and you can run your 'home for homeless' in peace." he said, his eyes as smug as Arnav's would be, when he knew he was winning. Though these eyes didn't hold even a pinch of charm as his had. Reprimanding herself for STILL thinking about Arnav, she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"No? Suit yourself." he shrugged, and Khushi could see it as clear as daylight.

No marriage, no donation.

"I was thinking about something else. I shall do it, Mr. Bharadwaj." Khushi answered, her face gaining the smirk which she usually sported these days.

A smirk of black humor. . . . .

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