Lawful Sins - Season 2 - Part 28

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Chapter 28


Gupta Villa

“This is delicious. Nani, I love whatever you cook” Nandakishore exclaimed licking his fingers.

Nani had made a Paneer gravy for dinner.

“Paneer is Nani’s specialty” Lavanya added. “That’s because ASR loves Paneer”

Khushi who was eating quietly so far, suddenly paused. Even his name made her body submissive. This was so wrong considering how strong she had been so far.

“Let me tell you both a secret” Nani said turning to Khushi and Lavanya. “The path to reach your man’s heart is from his stomach. Just learn to cook whatever he likes to eat and see the magic”

Khushi froze. She imagined herself cooking for Arnav Singh Raizada and feeding him with her own hands. Goddammit. The mere thought of it was enough to make her hyperventilate. Arnav Singh Raizada teasing her with his hands while she tried cooking for him. How she desired that to happen in future. STOP!! Her rational mind took over. How many times does she have to remind herself that he doesn’t want her in his life? 

“Khushi bitiya, do you know to cook?” Nani lovingly asked.

“Uh.. no. Never tested those skills” she answered honestly and resumed eating.

“How will that work?” Lavanya commented. “ASR is so foody”

Now that surely pissed her off. Khushi turned back to Lavanya for a fitting reply.

“Nani was telling me you cannot cook well either. But Kishu is still with you. Isnt he? How do you think that worked?”

Nani got her point and so did Lavanya. NK chuckled.

“Khush.. that was such a fitting reply. But.. you scared my wife” he teased holding Lavanya’s arm over the table but soon she withdrew her hand from his and focused back on Dinner.

Khushi noticed their coldness towards each other and decided to intervene.

“Arnav and I were thinking to send you both on a honeymoon” Khushi exclaimed.

NK was elated but Lavanya was surprised.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I cannot miss my doctor appointments”

“Doctors are around the world Lavanya. Whenever you need one, I will make sure the best is available for you”

Khushi’s reply won Nani’s heart again. She had slowly started observing Khushi and reading her heart. She wasn’t that rough and strong like she seemed to be from the outside. She was a hurt soul with a fragile body. But with a sharp mind and massive courage.

“Lavanya wanted to see Maldives. How about we go to Maldives? It will be a good change for you and the baby” NK suggested looking at his wife.

Lavanya frowned.

“Can I get some time to think about it?” she asked.

“Sure” Khushi smiled. “But don’t delay it so much that the essence of it fades. Soon you will be entering your second trimester of pregnancy. Travelling then will be risky. Okay?”

Lavanya nodded gently and continued eating. That’s when Nani’s phone rang.

“Chotte?” Nani answered. “We were just having dinner. What about you? When are you returning?”

“Tomorrow Nani” he replied. “How is La and everyone else?”

“All are fine. Wait, talk to Lavanya”

She passed the phone to Lavanya who asked him about the list of items she wanted from Singapore. He promised he had bought all of those already and packed them. Nandakishore snatched the phone from Lavanya to talk.

“ASR.. Thanks for the honeymoon idea. Khush just told us about it. We appreciate it so much” NK almost bowed his head.

Arnav swallowed recalling that dinner date with Khushi Gupta when they discussed this and then also the night that followed… right from their burning desires in the elevator.. till that tantalizing kiss in her room.

“ASR? You there?”

Khushi realized he must have recalled that moment, just like she did right now.

“Yea. Sorry.. I hope you have decided where you both want to go?” Arnav queried pacing in his hotel suite.

“Maldives” he excitedly replied. “But your sister still has to give a go ahead. Anyways, I wont waste much of your time talking about us. I know you didn’t call for us but for my sweet sister Khush. So please, speak to her”

Khushi was shocked when NK handed her the phone. If she denied, they would only be suspicious but what will she speak to Arnav Singh Raizada?

“Excuse me” she took the phone and slipped away. She knew their eyes would be on her while she spoke which was fine. She just didn’t want the three to hear their conversation though.

“Hello” she stuttered pressing the phone to her ear.

Arnav shut his eyes the moment he heard her voice. He realized she was been forced to talk to him. But God knows he too wasn’t very comfortable to speak to her right now.

“Tum theek ho?” (You alright?) he managed to ask.

Khushi clutched the phone.

“I don’t see why I won’t be alright Mr. Raizada. I am perfectly fine”

Arnav could sense it from her tone that she was pretending as if they never met in Singapore.

“Because I am not” he debated.

He was not fine? How dare he said that to her now? Khushi faked a smile to Nandakishore who was watching her from far, trying to make sense of what the couple talked.

“I am very good Mr. Raizada and I don’t see why you too shouldn’t be fine. Things are going absolutely the way you wanted”

“I didn’t want you to run away” he snapped. “Not without hearing me out”

“Hearing you out?” she passed a sarcastic laugh. “You made it crystal clear to me what you want. Or rather… what you don’t want”

“You are presuming things Khushi” he gritted his teeth.

“I am saying what you were hesitating to tell me that day. Don’t keep any grudge on yourself either. It was not at fault. I lost my senses and initiated things against your will”

A sudden silence spread between them.

“In fact I am glad you stopped me and.. we didn’t… we didn’t cross any lines because that would have been terrible” she added.

“Khushi..” he tried to interrupt but she didn’t let him do.

“This wouldn’t affect the lie we have said to get Kishu and Lavanya’s relationship back on track. I can assure you that much”

“Will you just stop and listen to me?” he argued.

“Have a safe flight Arnav. Goodbye”

It took her some serious strength to end the call while her heart kept asking her to hear him out. The damage was done. Arnav Singh Raizada had broken her in some gruesome ways and she would never be able to repair herself anytime soon.


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

Khushi cuddled to the pillow again at night. Bella was sleeping fast at her feet. Whatever she spoke to Arnav Singh Raizada today had pulled down the walls of guilt from her mind but the vacuum will always be there. Despite being strong and self-sufficient to handle her own life, she still missed someone in whose arms she could forget the world. She didn’t want a man to protect her, she needed someone who can just hold her in arms and make her feel loved. She had thought Arnav to be that man in her life. But only when she was about to make a run to him, she realized he wasn’t prepared to accept her. And she had to stop. Not to find his replacement but to equip herself with some more strength to survive this solitude. She was a human after all and humans needed affection, love for their inner peace and survival. With that thought running in the back of her mind, she shut her eyes to sleep.

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

Next Day – Gupta Office 

Mrs. Pinto hurried in her cabin, intruding Khushi’s important meeting. Though Khushi Gupta was tremendously annoyed by her interference, she knew that woman wouldn’t barge in without a thorough reason. She waited for Mrs. Pinto to whisper out the reason. Her knuckles turned white as he heard her out.

“Gentleman, this meeting is over”

Everyone walked out of the room except her and Mrs. Pinto. Khushi then took the envelope from her secretary and asked her to leave. She quickly opened the envelope and read out the report which could create havoc in the Raizadas lives if this got published in the articles tomorrow. Not willing that to happen, she decided to break her resolve and meet her so called parents. It was not very surprising that they stooped so low but now that they had, she knew how to put them back to their place.

She picked her phone and dialed her mother Garima Gupta. Her hands trembled recalling all those bad incidents in her life for which they were responsible. She would never see their faces again, never let them get close to her but this time it wasn’t about her and Kishu. It was about the Raizadas and she wouldn’t let anyone hurt Arnav. Not even God himself.

“Khushi” Garima answered the call. “I am so glad you finally called”

“Cut the crap and send me your hotel address. I am coming to meet you both”

“You got the gift then which your Dad sent” Garima replied. “We didn’t want to do this but you were not willing to see us. Anyway, I will text you the address. Please come soon”

Khushi ended the call and waited for the address. As soon as it hit her phone, she messaged them the time she would be there.

“Hello beautiful woman” Ruby Khanna entered her cabin.

Khushi acknowledged her presence but didn’t had the mood to smile or welcome her any differently.

“You seem to be in a bad mood. I understand” Ruby took a seat. “Need my advice?"

“Tried taking one from you but it didn’t work the way we wanted”

“Really? You mean? He .. he doesn’t feel for you?”

Khushi’s body ached with that thought.

“Doesn’t matter to me anymore. Where are you going in that dress by the way?”

Whenever Ruby wore a frock like that, Khushi knew it had to be special. Ruby had 5 break ups so far but it wasn’t her fault entirely. Seemed like the 6th one was in queue to steal away her heart.

“Sanjay is coming from London this evening. I am going to pick him up at the airport” Ruby blushed.

“Sanjay?” Khushi tried to recall.

“Sanjay is my new friend and if things work out, my new boyfriend too”

“All the best” Khushi pressed a weak smile. “Anyways, I have to sort some things tonight. But just in case things don’t work in my favor and I don’t call you in next 3 hours, call the Police at this address. Though I am sure that wont be required. They cannot harm me anymore”

She shared the hotel address with Ruby whom she trusted by her heart.

“This doesn’t sound good to me. Whom are you going to see there?”

“My parents” she replied in a stern tone.

“No way. You won’t go there. Why do you want to meet them?”

“They are blackmailing me again but this time I am going to end this forever”

“Blackmailing is not new to them, is it?” Ruby shouted. “I wish to push them in a dark well myself if I could. Why can’t they just leave you and NK alone?”

“They will have to and they will”

She picked her purse and rose to her feet. She had so much to do before she meets her parents in that hotel, including talking to her lawyer.

“I will see you tomorrow then” Ruby gave her a hug. “Please be safe and take your guards”

“I will” she patted Ruby’s cheeks gently and hurried out. Ruby sighed in disappointment. She could feel Khushi’s pain. Though Khushi wouldn’t accept it, Ruby knew her friend needed solace and some serious love. Only if the man she wanted this from realized it.


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

Arnav Singh Raizada strode out from the Airport. He had plans to head to Shantivan first, freshen up and then as invited by Lavanya for dinner, drive to Gupta Villa. The thought of facing Khushi Gupta again haunted his mind though.

“Ruby?” Arnav called out seeing Ruby Khanna waiting by her car.

Ruby was equally shocked to see him but she waved at him and reached him in no time.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Came to pick a friend. And I suppose you just got back from Singapore”

Arnav knew Khushi and Ruby were close and shared most of the things. Did Khushi also tell her what happened between them in Singapore?

“She did” Ruby read his confusion. “She told me few things and I am myself shocked. But I wouldn’t intervene between you two. Don’t worry. Just that I worry for my friend too much. She is already handling so much plus her parents blackmailing and upon that ..”

“Blackmailing?” Arnav scowled.

Ruby was tongue-tied. Should she tell him?

“Sorry I can’t tell you. I am sure Khushi will handle things”

“Ruby.. speak up. Is she okay?”

Ruby sensed worry in his tone and decided to share. She told Khushi had gone to see her parents as they had blackmailed her with something very precious and though she had no clue either what that was, she still feared if the meet would end up well. Arnav checked his watch and without wasting any time, he drove to the address Ruby mentioned. 

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

Hotel


Khushi gripped the wheels of her car which she parked at the basement of this Hotel. Within few minutes she would be meeting the couple she hated the most. But she would still do this because somewhere this kind of blackmailing had to end. Memories flooded in her mind how reckless her parents had been since her childhood. All they cared was money and their own freedom and needs. She shrugged those memories and strode inside.

“Miss Gupta, your parents are waiting for you. This way please” the receptionist guided her to the other end of the lobby.

A little further, she saw her parents sprawled on the couch, enjoying coffee and cookies. It was a huge open space for VIP’s like them to have informal meets.

“There she is” Shashi got up to welcome her.

Khushi scanned the place and smiled.

“Glad this is not a closed room meeting” she taunted.

“We wanted you to feel safe” Shashi mocked.

He gave her a gentle hug which she quickly pulled away from. She hated such artificial gestures. Her mother was next.

“You have grown into a beautiful woman dear. Just like me” Garima appraised.

“It’s awkward to see you both together though” Khushi sneered. “What happened to your respective affairs? Still there or have you decided to reconcile?”

“Forget us” Shashi commanded. “Is it true that you are dating Arnav Singh Raizada?”

“Oh, come on Shashi” Garima intruded. “if she hadn’t been dating him, why would she come here?”

Khushi rolled her eyes. They were two junk heads if they thought she was here to plead and beg to spare her and the Raizada’s dignity.

“Out of so many men, you chose a pothead?” Shashi mocked.

“Shut up and quote your price” she growled.

Shashi smirked hard. Finally, their plan was working. He had made his sources do some research on ASR, especially those years when he was passive and absent in AR Group. It was then he got to know that those 3 years, Arnav Singh Raizada was in a rehab, getting treated to put an end to his drug addiction. Now since his daughter was dating that man, she would pay any price to keep his name clean in the social circle. And it worked!!

“50 crore each in mine and Garima’s accounts” he demanded.

“And permission to meet Nandakishore whenever we like” Garima added.

Khushi let out a laugh which stunned the couple.

“What happened to all money you got from grandpa? Over? Is that why you came back to me for more?”

“It was our money” Shashi shouted. “We used it the way we liked”

“Used is an inappropriate word Dad. Doesn’t fit in for you people. You must have spent the money again in gambling, racing, boozing too probably and roaming the world with your respective partners”

Garima looked away.

“This is our money.. You snatched it from us” Shashi screamed in a dangerous tone.

“It was Grandpa’s money Dad. He slogged all these years to earn it and only because he knew you two were no good, he transferred it all on mine and Kishu’s name, leaving you both with almost nothing. Poor him, he didn’t know his son and daughter-in-law were capable of blackmailing their own children to grab more chunk of money”

“Shut up” Shashi almost pounced on her and though she feared it, she didn’t step back.

“Don’t even think of touching me or else my guards will punch you so hard that you will end up in a hospital”

Shashi was offended by her words. Garima grabbed his arm. They weren’t here for anything else but money.

“Seems like that man has taught you to stand up against your own fears” Shashi muttered.

“You know what Dad and Mom? More than anyone else in my life, I have learnt a lot from you two. I have learnt to protect me and my loved ones from selfish people like you. If you both think I am going to let you meddle in Kishu’s life then you are wrong. You will get the money but no rights on Kishu”

“You are forgetting something Khushi. I have the reports from the rehab which could spread like fire once we send this to media if you deny any of our demands”

Khushi sighed in disbelief.

“You have always underestimated me” she teased. “You thought you will blackmail me with this report? I will take no time to prove this is false. I have already spoken to the management of the rehab and threatened them of leaking such sensitive information of their patients. The man who gave his report to you has already lost his job and the rehab is willing to support me so that I don’t sue them for their staff recklessness.”

Shashi hadn’t thought even in his dreams that Khushi could go to this extent.

“So technically, your blackmailing is not going to work” she smirked.

Garima frowned.

“Then why are you even giving us the money?”

“Because that’s the last time I am giving you both a chance to move out of our lives.”

She dialed someone and asked the person to come inside. A lawyer hurried to them.

“That’s my lawyer Kamal” she introduced and grabbed some legal papers from him. “Sign them and the money will be transferred in your respective accounts. This contract says this is the last time you are getting additional share of money from me. If you both ever try to create more problems in future, I am going to take you to court. And things wouldn’t be easy thereafter”

Shashi fisted his fingers.

“You have no choice but to sign these papers and get away because without that you are not even getting the money” she crossed her arms as her lawyer passed the papers and pen to Shashi Gupta.

“But we want to meet NK and his wife.. at least allow us to see them. Besides NK is a big boy now. He can take decisions for himself. You cannot control him”

“That’s not happening mother” Khushi yelled. “And he wouldn’t go against my words. EVER”

Shashi realized this negotiation wouldn’t go well if he didn’t sign and accept her conditions. If not, they wouldn’t get money either. He signed the papers. Garima followed.


“Good. Kamal, ask my accountant to transfer the amount to them” Khushi instructed and made her way out. She didn’t even want to see their faces again. The moment she moved; her body froze. Arnav Singh Raizada stood at a distance, watching her with pride. What was he doing here? Did he.. did he witness this entire scene? Probably. And if so, then by now he had probably realized she didn’t need him to protect her, all she asked from him was Love and some warmth.



To be Continued.

NEXT PART

Note: Hope this was a long update :)

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