Lawful Sins - Season 2 - Part 7

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Chapter 7

Gupta Office

1 hour. 2… 3 and that’s it. Arnav Singh Raizada got up from the couch and strode to the reception.

“Is she still busy?” his voice conveyed his anger but Mrs. Pinto could do nothing about it.

“Sir, I have told you she has denied meeting you. It is upto you now if you wish to stay or leave”

Arnav clenched his jaw.

“She is doing this on purpose, I know” he growled banging his fist on the desk. “But tell her Mrs. Pinto. She doesn’t know me yet. I will make sure she meets me and listens to what I have to say”

Mrs. Pinto swallowed the lump of nervousness formed in her throat. Poor woman had no clue what was suddenly brewing between ASR and her Boss. She could feel the fire between them and wondered if this continued, it would burn down every single person who tries to intervene. Arnav Singh Raizada walked out of the Gupta Office.

Khushi Gupta grinned watching him leave. She was closely monitoring him through the CCTV Camera on her Laptop Screen. That man had lost his patience. She loved seeing him so helpless because that’s exactly how she felt when he had slapped her. He was going to pay big time.

*****************

Gupta Mansion

When Khushi drove back home, she saw a car parked already. Someone was here to meet her but who? She didn’t recall Mrs. Pinto informing her about this. She strode in and before she could call her Servants to check who the guest was, she saw him. Arnav Singh Raizada was sitting on her Couch, in the living room, waiting desperately for her.

“How dare you come here?”

“Just like you dared to ignore me at your office” he replied throwing the magazine he pretended to read, on the table and rose to his feet.

Her brow twitched high and strode ahead.

“You are not important to me Mr. Raizada and I don’t waste my time in entertaining such people”

“Neither I” he muttered. “But this is not about us anymore. I am here to talk about Lavanya and Nandakishore”

Khushi reached the Couch and folded her arms at front.

“My Brother has nothing to do with your sister” she declared.

Arnav chewed his teeth. How can she dismiss their relationship like nothing happened?

“Nandakishore doesn’t think so” Arnav snapped. “He has promised Lavanya to convince you for their marriage”

“His promises are meaningless without my approval” she clarified. “And he knows that too. Otherwise why would he go to Malaysia?”

“Khushi..”

“Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada” Khushi cut his words. “I suggest you quit having hopes from my brother”

Arnav’s body shimmered with rage. Why was she being so cruel? But he was not going to lose his patience. He recalled Lavanya’s state and he wanted to give his sister justice, not shatter her dreams.

“Are you really so arrogant not to realize the gravity of the situation or are you blind by the hatred for me?” he asked. “And why do you hate me on the first place? Only because I got the ownership of Prem Nivas? I am ready to change the ownership. You can have that place and do whatever you wish to do there. If that’s what you want”

“Now you are talking” she mumbled with a grin.

Arnav didn’t understand what made her say that?

“Coffee Mr. Raizada?” she casually asked.

Seriously? Just a few minutes ago she was frustrated seeing him in her house and now she was offering coffee?

“No thanks”

“Maria” Khushi shouted and the next instant a woman wearing a Chef Apron came out from the Kitchen. “Two Coffees for us”

“Yes Ma’am” she bowed her head and slipped away.

“Have a seat Mr. Raizada”

Arnav was still clueless. He had denied for the Coffee but she didn’t care. This woman was so full of her own wishes.. her own tantrum and her own rules.

“So what were you saying?” she asked again. “You are willing to sell me Prem Nivas?”

“If that makes you approve Lavanya and Nandakishore’s relationship” he replied.

“No..” she shrugged. “Its too cheap compared to everything that I had to go through past few days. Raise the stake Mr. Raizada. Impress me” she muttered wittily.

Taking a deep breath, Arnav processed what she just said.

“Impress you?” he shot back.

“That’s the only way this will work. Otherwise the door is right behind you because I am very tired to extend this conversation” she faked a yawn.

Arnav frowned.

“What do you exactly want Miss Gupta?”

“Hmm” she cleared her throat. “Now that you have asked me to the point, let me define my needs”

Arnav felt himself caged with a shark. For the first time ever, he realized to be in an unprepared situation where he knew victory was impossible.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?” he scowled back forcing her to speak to the point.

“I WANT YOU MR. RAIZADA” she replied. “Everything that you see.. everything you touch.. everything that belongs to you.. I want all of it … for the next 6 months”

Arnav jolted by her sharp reply. What was that supposed to mean?

“Practically speaking” she continued. “I want you to dance on my fingertips. To do what I say, to honor my every silly need, to accept my every single demand without raising any ifs and buts” she smiled.

Arnav froze. She better be joking!!

“I want a hold over you and your business, both. You will remain the face of AR Group but the decisions in your Company will be mine. I want every right on your house and your assets. You might be busy anywhere in the world, but never for me. If I call you somewhere, I want you there before I lose my interest. You will never leave the country or the city without my approval. You will eat what I like, you will sleep when I allow you to sleep. You will wear clothes of my choice. You will meet people, friends or family, only after my approval. If you ever have to address the media, your replies will be crafted by me”

Arnav swallowed. He didn’t know if he was nervous or annoyed.

“In more simpler terms. I want you to be my slave willingly for the next 6 months Mr. Raizada”

The chef brought two cups of Coffee, placed it before them and left. There was a pin drop silence for few minutes. Arnav’s gaze pierced through her eyes but she didn’t care. This was expected. He wouldn’t agree to any of this for now. But technically if he wants his sister’s happiness, he will abide.

Arnav Singh Raizada rose to his feet.

“You know what?” he passed a sarcastic smirk. “You need a psychiatrist. Find one.. Get your crazy brain treated. You have lost it completely”

“Have I?” she mocked. “But so would you, in the next coming weeks when the society will notice your sister’s baby bump and question her. I thought you love your sister very much and this little demand of mine would not be a problem for you. But” she sighed. “I understand. It’s easy to slap somebody but equally tough to payback. I won’t give you any deadline to decide on this proposal. You can take as much time as you want but remember one thing. Every single day delay in your approval is going to cost your sister’s happy life ahead with Nandakishore. All the best and please GET OUT”

Arnav gritted his teeth and made his way out. Khushi picked the mug and sipped some hot coffee while watching him leave. He was going to come back.. SOON!!



****************

Shantivan

When Arnav Singh Raizada returned home, Lavanya knew he had been to meet Khushi. But noticing his bad mood, she realized the meet didn’t go well. She felt bad for her brother. She was guilty. He didn’t eat dinner properly and retired to his bedroom early. The next morning, he skipped his breakfast and head to work early. She tried to ask him multiple times what conversation he had with Khushi Gupta that had pushed him to such a state but he denied revealing anything. The next two days passed the same way. ASR was behaving completely unusual and she hated to see him that way.

That night when she, Nani and Arnav were eating dinner, she decided to put a break to all this once and all.

“ASR, I don’t want this baby” tears rolled down her cheeks as she forced herself to take the decision.

Nani’s fingers shivered and she dropped the spoon in the plate.

“What? You don’t want this baby? What are you talking Lavanya?” Nani shouted.

“Nani.. I cannot see ASR and you like this. People will not just blame me but you both too and it will kill me to see your heads bowed down because of my mistake”

“And killing your baby wont make you any less guilty?” Arnav asked. He knew she didn’t want to do this.

“ASR but..”

Arnav held her hand over the table.

“Lavanya, you have already committed a mistake by crossing lines with a man who cannot take a stand for his own self. Don’t commit one more by hurting your baby. Do you think me and Nani are so cruel that to save our heads we will push you in hell?”

“No” she cried.

“Then trust us. Even if Nandakishore doesn’t marry you, we will always stand by you. You will give birth to this baby and we will raise it with pride and love”

Nani gulped her tears and smiled admiring her grandchildren. If they were together, they would fight the world.

******************

It was late night and Arnav was about to get on the bed when Nani knocked the door and came inside.

“Chotte.. I want to talk to you”

“Sure Nani. Please come in”

Nani and Arnav sat on the couch to converse.

“Whatever you promised Lavanya today at dinner was praiseworthy. I have seen siblings fighting for property, money and rights on their parents but then when I see you both, I value your bond. I am sure nothing can harm Lavanya and her baby anymore. You will always be there as a strong support. Your parents have really raised you well”

Arnav smiled.

“Not just them, you too have equal share in making us what we are today Nani. You are our light. I don’t think I could be so strong without you”

Nani caressed his face lovingly.

“But I am worried Chotte. Ever since you returned talking to Nandakishore’s sister, you have lost your smile. I am sure she must have asked something horrible from you in return to get Lavanya married to her brother”

Arnav exhaled rubbing his face.

“She is gone insane and I am not going to give in to her silly demands” he declared.

Nani felt his pain. He was exhausted fighting for his sister’s right.

“Nani, I am capable enough to take care of both Lavanya and her baby. I don’t want to force Nandakishore to take their responsibility. I can look after them till I am alive and will secure their future even if I am dead”

“I know you will” Nani replied. “But what about the world? We live in a society where single mothers are still not looked with pride. No one sees their pain. People backtalk. They leave bad comments. I know you will handle it all. But Lavanya? Is she that strong enough? And the baby? Why should the baby suffer without his father when he/she already has one? Why should you let Nandakishore to spoil other girl’s life? It is his mistake too and he should be equally sharing it with Lavanya. Why should his sister take the pride of seeing you lose? Someone has to crush her ego, teach her that she is not always right. Every time she will watch Lavanya struggle raising the child, why should she enjoy?”

Nani’s words swelled his heart.

“What should I do then? Accept her filthy demands? She will ruin us Nani”

“She can’t” Nani answered. “No one can ruin you until you accept defeat. And you are a survivor Chotte. You have worked hard on your issues and came out victorious. You cannot be defeated. I trust you completely. If you can bring the world down for your sister then why cant you win from Khushi Gupta’s insane proposition? I have seen people like Guptas. They pretend to be perfect and in that ego they tend to commit a mistake. You have to pick that up and use it to teach that woman a lesson and in turn give justice to your sister and her baby. I am sure Nandakishore is not a bad man, he is just blinded. If Lavanya has loved him, there has to be some goodness in that boy. Now it is your responsibility to open his eyes and make him see the reality, to ensure he doesn’t remain spineless forever and take a stand henceforth for his wife and child”

Arnav exhaled. All this was too much to digest. If he agrees to Nani’s advice, there would be a whole lot of change in his life which he was not ready for. But for Lavanya, he decided to re-think.

To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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