ARHI SS: Trapped Thread 3 Link to New Thread - Page 49

Part 31

He had driven round the entire ton like a mad man. Anger and pain gave him the energy that a sleep deprived brain could not.

What a fool he had been. Hadn't he known trust should never be built on anyone?

Hadn't he known that caring for someone brought pain?

Hadn't he known that happiness was a fleeting feeling?

And yet he had let Khushi take him for a ride. He had given her his body and he was sure he may have almost given his heart. Thank God his mind had prevented it. She was a traitor and a cheat.

But why was his heart refusing to listen? Why did it feel horribly wrong to think like this about her? Why did her eyes filled with pain and shock float into his mind's view?

Why did something in him say that he was doing a grave injustice to Khushi?

You are a fool Arnav, to think this way despite her open admission of being friendly with your enemy and her ex-lover,' he told himself.

He did not know what time he reached home. But, the sun was high up in the sky. He did not want to meet anyone right now and so he would enter through the back gate. But how could he avoid Khushi? She would be right there in his room.

The thought borought fresh rage. He couldn't imagine staying in the same room as her. But for now he had no choice. Her father's contract had seen to it! But before the year was over he would get the truth out of her and he would avoid all contact with her. After a year, he would file for divorce. He just hoped she would not be pregnant. That remained his biggest fear.

As he entered the room, he became aware of the subtle difference. The wind chime was no longer there at the entrance. Looking around the room, he found other changes. The stars around the bed post were missing. All the items in the dressing room were missing. The huge Salman Khan poster was missing.

As realization hit him he walked quickly to the wardrobe and yanked open the door. He was right. Khushi had left. All her clothes were gone.

Slowly he walked back to the bed. He sat on it lifelessly. His eyes moved to Khushi's side of the bed. Lying on it was an envelope addressed To Arnav'.

With trembling hands he opened the envelope and began reading her letter----

'Yes I am leaving you. I have no choice and I know you hate me anyway. Still, for your own peace of mind I had to pen down my long sordid story. It is also important for you to know as your safety depends on this letter.

Where do I begin my story of lies and deceit? Let me go back to the very beginning when it all began. It was a week before my wedding with Rohan.

Rohan and I had kept fighting a lot. He wanted to be intimate with me before the wedding. Loving you as I did, I could not let him so much as touch me. Even otherwise, I believe in the sanctity of marriage. But this was always a sore point with Rohan. He hated me for it. We had frequent fights. Honestly, I believed our marriage was a huge mistake. But my Dad would not listen to logic. To him, this was a matter of his social standing and honor for the word given to his best friend.

Anyway, one day Rohan said he wanted me to meet his uncle and his close friend. I obliged to go and meet them as I hardly went out with Rohan alone.

I was in for a rude shock. His uncle was none other than the doctor who treated me when I met with an accident in Simla.

You might remember him. He also came to treat you when you fainted due to drop in sugar level. He also saw us in each other's arms in the ice skating ring. He had always assumed you and I were married.

So, when I met him, as Rohan introduced me, he asked me, 'Aren't you already married to Mr Raizada? You were staying with him at the cottage weren't you?'

I did not know how to explain the situation. Rohan was very angry and embarrassed in front of his friend and uncle.

Rohan's friend turned out to be Shyam Manaohar Jha, your brother-in-law. Only, at that time I did not know this.

After the meeting, I left, fearing the worst from Rohan. I knew he would make life hell for me as he had always suspected that I was in love with someone else.

The wedding being just a week later, I could not risk any problems, because my parents would be extremely hurt.

I tried to tell Rohan the whole story and why I stayed with you in the same cottage in Simla. I told him his uncle was mistaken. Rohan asked me Can you tell me just one thing? Do you or do you not love your ex-boss? And have you never ever shared anything physical with him?'

I had no choice but to admit I loved you and that we had shared a kiss and a few embraces. Rohan was angry. I tried to reassure him that it was all in the past. It looked like I had succeeded in convincing him as he did not bring up the matter for the next couple of days.

Wedding preparations were on full swing. I was trying to be as happy as I could, under the circumstances.

One day Rohan called me to his friend Shyam's house to meet him as he had something important to discuss.

Unsuspecting of what awaited me I went there.

First Shyam was very friendly. He wanted to take several snaps of me and Rohan. Initially it felt very natural, because friends often want to click pics of couples.

It is only when he wanted more and more intimate pics that I grew hesitant. He wanted to take pictures of Rohan holding me, which I allowed as he was my fianc. Then he asked Rohan to kiss me on the cheek. I was uncomfortable but accommodated it.

But when he moved us to the bedroom and asked me to sit on Rohan's lap I resisted. I refused to pose.

It was then that their plans emerged in front of me.

Shyam laughed evilly before telling me, 'My, my, my. So shy. I know you have done all this with ASR. So why not my poor friend Rohan,' he jeered.

I looked at Rohan for protection. But he had a wicked glint in his eye and he endorsed his friend, 'Yes Shyam. She has had all the fun with your Saala and now she doesn't want to give half of it to me.'

I felt sick then. I only then realized Shyam is your brother-in-law.

They again tried to force me into intimate pictures. I point blank refused. I pleaded with Rohan,' I am going to be your wife. Don't you have any respect for that fact?'

It was then that he revealed the plan he had made with Shyam. Rohan wanted revenge on me. I later found out, he also needed money desperately as his family business was in ruins. His family had hidden this from my family. As they had lived away from us, my father had not known the truth.

Rohan told me,' No you are not going to marry me. You are going to marry that ASR. You are going to blackmail him into marrying him.

You will tell your Dad that you want to marry him and when he asks you have to admit that Arnav and you had been intimate in Simla. Oh, oh, you don't have t protest. I know you were not really intimate because you are such a prude.

But you are going to say it nevertheless. How else will the great ASR agree to marry? And knowing your Dad, he will immediately force it on you both and that's what we want' he laughed.

I was absolutely stunned and felt cornered. But my courage did not leave me I told them I would rather die than betray you or bring dishonor to my Dad.

Shyam said 'We knew you would do all this drama. If you decide to die, we will bring out all the details of Simla and say you committed suicide because ASR had fun with you and dumped you. We will frame him. They can never disprove it. Even if you leave behind a letter stating no one is involved, we can prove it. So, don't you dare dream of dying. Marry saale saab and do as we say. Or we will make this worse,' Shyam threatened.

Calming myself, I asked them what they wanted from me. It was then that Shyam revealed his evil plans.

Shyam said I want to destroy Arnav Singh Raizada.

'I have been looking for chances for so long. But it has always evaded me, till today.

I have prepared for it gradually, buying the shares of his company in bits and pieces. Now I have 40% of his shares and he doesn't even know it.

I have used the names of various fictitious companies and names to buy these shares. All I need is another 20 %. Unfortunately, I know 60% of his company shares are kept within the family. I need at least 20% more to take over the company and become a permanent threat for him. Once I get the entire 60%, I will sell the shares to his biggest competitor and he will be on the streets. I also need access to his wealth.

That's where you come in. When you marry him, you have to get at least 20% of the shares and this 20% you have to give it to me. My mission will be accomplished. I will have my sweet revenge and also I will be in a position to threaten him. He took away everything from me---my son my wife and all the money he had given me access to.

I want to do the same to him. He deserves nothing less.

And as for Rohan, he will get his revenge on you and will also get some of the huge wealth of ASR through you. So, you see, Rohan and I stand to benefit greatly when you marry ASR.

Rohan will be saved from the blame of breaking this marriage, because it is you who will be doing it.

In this whole game, only you will suffer and later ASR. Perfect,' Shyam laughed.

I was sickened by the fact that people could be so low. But I knew I was trapped. But I decided to fight with all my might and not give in to blackmail. I told Shyam,

'You think I will give in to this sick plan? Never. I will never hurt ASR and definitely not cheat him into marrying me. Never, ever! You can't force me.'

It was then that I saw the menacing side of Shyam. He said,

'If you fail to do as I said, I will release the details of his company accounts, which contain details of tax evasion. You think I am lying? You are wrong. ASR himself is honest. But his accountant is a devious man, whom ASR trusts.

He has evaded tax several times and pocketed the money and ASR has not had the time to verify it. This guy, Mr Sharma, is my friend from the time I was married to Anjali. He has been feeding me with all the data.

You are wondering why I haven't already done it? Because tax evasion may damage his reputation. But I want his money. So, it is your choice. Immediate doom for your ASR or destruction later?'

It was then that the idea occurred to me, that by marrying you, I can save you. I could keep Shyam hanging for the shares and make sure I gradually destroy all evidences against you for tax evasion.

But even then I was not convinced I told them I wouldn't do it no matter what. I picked up my bag and was about to leave when Shyam and Rohan blocked my way.

'If you don't do as we say, we will release the details of our Simla stay and call off your wedding. Your family and your reputation will be in ruins,' Rohan threatened.

I said I did not care.

It was then that Shyam said, 'We will also not hesitate to cause an accident for ASR, such that it cripples him. I still have great friends in his staff and they will do as I say.

You can save him or I will destroy him in a much worse way. I don't want to harm him unless needed. All I want is his money. But, if you dont help, I will harm him to get my revenge' Shyam threatened me.

I began to lose all the confidence then. You see, you may not have loved me, but I loved you. I wondered if marrying you was the only option.

Rohan finally sealed the decision by saying 'Shyam, forget her. I will call off the wedding and ruin her. That will be my revenge.

You plan the accident and the newspaper leak of his tax evasion. That will be your revenge. We don't need her.'

It was then I agreed. They were very happy. They laid down several conditions.

'You will regularly supply us with money from ASR's account,' was the first condition. I have been doing that every month, selling all that I have and earning the rest of it, I never told them it was your money.

'You will regularly give us updates about his company's financial standing' was the second condition. I have been doing this too by lying as much s possible about facts.

'You will get us the shares as soon as possible,' was their third condition. I have been delaying this with various excuses and they were getting impatient. I told them I can't just snatch the shares from you. I need time to build the trust so that you accept me as your wife and gift me the shares. They have been buying the story. However they wanted to be paid more because of the delay. Recently they had planned something big to get the shares transferred to my name. They had been wanting to meet me. That is why Shyam responded to your message saying he will explain.

And the final clause was 'You will never reveal the truth to him.

If you do, don't forget he can be injured or dead. And more importantly, the photographs of you and Rohan are with me.

If at all ASR finds out about your relationship with us, you should take all the blame. You should never reveal my role or Rohan's.

You should just pretend you are friendly with us and never reveal the truth of our transaction, even if he finds out and questions you.

You should make it look as if Rohan and you are still close to each other and I am a good friend.

We will click a few more pics now. These photographs will make sure ASR believes our story even if you, by mistake reveal the truth.

And if you still tell him the truth, we will splash the photographs in the paper and internet. Imagine the scandal it would cause to both your father and ASR.'

It was then that Shyam made me lie with Rohan on the bed under a blanket. And he made us pose for several pictures. Looking at them, you will never know that both Rohan and me were fully clothed and we were acting. It will instantly make you believe we were intimate.

The last clause was the hardest for me. I was dying to tell you the truth. Every day was hell. I was walking on a tightrope, trying to balance between you and those scoundrels.

That is why I desperately wanted you to believe me because the pictures would go against me. I could have risked telling you the whole truth if you had believed me. Even then I was not sure how it would hurt you as Shyam is capable of anything.

No. I probably would never have told you the truth when I am still with you, because if those thugs get to know that they have been exposed to you, they will kill you or publish those pictures.

I cannot risk that threat to you. So, it's better for them to believe I went missing somewhere so that they have no hold over you till you can deal with them.

Also, I can give you proof of my innocence by going away. Or, you will never trust my side of the story.

This is the only way I can make you believe what Shyam and Rohan are up to. Deal with them carefully. But get them nailed. Don't take direct actions. Trick them into your web and get them arrested.

So, this is my story Arnav. The rest you know. I lied about what happened in Simla. We got married. I have been sending money to Shyam and Rohan.

I have lived a life of hell for months now from the day I trapped you into marrying me.

I lost my parents and you in the process of saving you all. I have nothing more to lose. I have lost in life.

My biggest loss s that, the man I loved and gave my body to, still believed I am a cheap tramp who could be with another man.

You never understood how much I loved you and now it is too late.

I am leaving your world forever. I am finally free of all traps---

I wish you well and do not blame you. There were too many reasons for you to mistrust me.

But my heart breaks for only one reason...that you believed I could share my body with a man for ulterior motives.

Till my dying day that will haunt me. You need not have loved me---but how can you ever think I can be so low?

Take care and God bless. Give my love to my little Richie, Ma and Di. I love them.And for the last time I love you---because love can never die no matter how things change .'

When he finished reading, Arnav did what he hadn't done in his adult life---bury his face in his palm and weep uncontrollably whispering again and again 'I am sorry Khushi. I am so sorry. Just come back!'