Lawful Sins - Season 2 - Part 52

 

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Chapter 52



Garima immediately clutched Khushi’s hand over the table.


“You can’t do this to us. We are your parents. We have every rights to be around you and NK”

“You both lost those rights years ago” she shrugged her off.


When Khushi stared back at Shashi, she realized her father had not predicted any of this.

“What had you thought?” she snapped. “You will shower some fake love, pretend you both are getting together again, scare us using Viraj and then be our savior from all these false threats so that me and Kishu will bring you back in our lives? In Gupta Mansion?” 

The couple was speechless.

“Never. Your lies, deceits and your greed for money is why you lost us and this time, forever. Take these restraining orders seriously because if you still try to interfere, I won’t mind putting you both behind bars. For once, let your children live in peace. We both have seen enough in life, have had enough of your tortures. We never got a family life until we met Arnav, Lavanya and Nani. They are our family now”

“Family?” Shashi laughed. “What family Khushi? I have never seen people buying relationships and families on contracts… precisely 6-month Contract. Right ASR?”


A complete silence filled the room.


“Don’t see me like that” Shashi growled again at Khushi. “If we could plant Viraj in your life, how long did would it take for us to bribe your lawyer Kamal?”


Now Arnav Singh Raizada was alert. Kamal was the same lawyer who had drafted his and Khushi’s six-month contract. Arnav knew where this conversation was leading to and didn’t want Lavanya and NK to hear it right now. He stood up.


“This dinner is over” he said grabbing Khushi’s arm. “Lets go”

Khushi stood rooted to her place, not ready to drop her heated gaze from her father. This man had never given her love and today he had crossed every lines to snatch every person dearest to her.

“Khushi, we are done here” Arnav shouted. “You have told them what they had to know. Now let’s go”

He tried to drag her but she shrugged him off. Shashi continued his laugh while Lavanya and NK were blank. What contract was he talking about, they wanted to know.


“You can’t blackmail me, you can’t threaten me either” Khushi spat at her father. “Not this time.. and never in future. I won’t give you that luck”


She walked out of the restaurant and Arnav followed her instantly. Garima tried to stop her but NK blocked her way.

“Don’t Mom. This is over. Just stop hurting us more. Just stay away.. Please. I beg”

“NK.. We are..”

NK didn’t wait there to hear her explanation. He and Lavanya made their way out. The moment Arnav, NK and Lavanya reached the parking where Khushi was, she turned to them.

“There is one last thing you both should know” Khushi stated.

“Khushi, don’t” Arnav shouted. “It was between us.. its over.. you ended it. So don’t”

“It’s not over yet Arnav. It won’t be over until we are all on the same page. We are a family and we will have no secrets. I don’t want them my parents to have an upper hand on us. Ever”


Arnav watched her with hooded eyes. He knew their present was already complicated and he didn’t want to mess it further but Khushi had decided. Though she never wanted this secret to be out, she was no longer afraid to admit this contract was once a part of her and Arnav’s relationship.

“What is this 6-month contract?” Lavanya asked. She could already feel something very wrong with the way Arnav was stopping Khushi from sharing it.

“It’s a contract I imposed on Arnav if he wanted my approval for your and NK’s marriage” Khushi confronted. “According to which.. Arnav would do anything and everything I would ask him to do. He would honor my silly needs without ifs and buts. I would have a hold on him and his business. He would remain the face of AR Group but the decisions would be mine. I would have rights on all his assets, house, shares and properties for six months. He would never leave the country without my approval. He would eat, wear and meet people, everything as per my choice and my approval only. I almost.. made him my slave and forced him to dance on my fingertips if he wanted your marriage to happen with NK”


Lavanya felt dizzy. This whole contract thing churned her stomach.

“And he agreed.” A lone drop of tear left Khushi’s eye. NK himself loathed on the conditions his dear sister imposed on ASR. He had never seen this side of her.


Arnav exhaled harshly. He never wanted this part of their life to be out before their siblings at least.

“I tortured him and I do repent it now. But things changed as we started getting closer to each other. And during our Goa trip, I freed him from that contract. It’s no longer the only link between us.. We are bonded by hearts and souls, not some legal papers anymore”


The sudden revelation had just blown off everything Lavanya had so far for Khushi. She stormed to her. Guilt washed her face as she realized what her brother had gone through because of her mistake.


“What are you? What kind of woman? You duped my brother to make him dance on your fingers?” Lavanya burst out. “To prove you are superior to him? To ease your ego?”

Khushi controlled herself from snapping back.

“La” Arnav turned his sister around. “I won’t let you talk to Khushi like that. You have no idea what had happened and how it changed everything between us with time”

“Don’t ASR” she shrugged off his arms. “Don’t give me any explanations. I am not worth it. I am not worth any of this” she cried. “You went through all that humiliation alone .. for me..??”

“La..” he tried to hold her but she moved away. “To cover my fault, to give me my love, you … you sold yourself to a woman like her”

“Enough” he scolded. “The woman you are talking about is going to be my wife.”


Lavanya wiped her tears and turned to Khushi again.

“Congratulations Miss Khushi Gupta, you won. You have snatched my entire family from me.. Congratulations”

“Lavanya” NK stormed to her. “Do you even know what allegations you are putting on my sister?”

“I do. But know what NK? You too on her side. So be it. I don’t need anyone.. anyone of you”


She pushed him away and ran to the exit. Arnav and NK both rushed to stop her. Khushi who was holding her tears so far, finally broke down. It was over!! She could feel it. For the first time again in all these years, she lost.


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


Lavanya was too hurt to even let NK talk to her forget convincing. Arnav had to literally drag her from the road and dump her in the car before she could run away. She pleaded him not to send her to Gupta Mansion. She wanted to go back home… her home.. to Shantivan and Arnav had to fulfil her wish. But before driving away, he clutched NK’s arms and demanded.


“Look after Khushi.. She needs me right now. Tell her I will be back for her tonight”


NK weakly nodded and only after taking his assurance, Arnav sat in the car to drop Lavanya to Shantivan. Lavanya cried bitterly, apologizing and pleading to be forgiven by him, but all he could think that moment was Khushi.. Today she showed the courage to stand up for her own actions however wrong they were. He knew this would break her too and he could wait to comfort her.


Nani was already in Shantivan when they reached and seeing Lavanya cry, she demanded to know everything. Arnav explained her what happened and also revealed about the contract which no longer existed between him and Khushi. It was another shock for Nani but she controlled the situation and focused on Lavanya as that was the only way to ensure she doesn’t fall sick.


“I am sorry ASR.. I really didn’t know you were troubled so much. I would have been a single mother rather than marrying NK. I hate myself so much for doing this to you”

“La” Arnav cupped her face. “Stop crying.. you are spoiling your health. Listen to me..”

She denied to hear him out.

“I am sorry..”

“It’s not your fault” Arnav consoled her. “I would do anything for you. That’s what siblings do Lavanya. Yes, Khushi made me sign such a contract but when she realized her mistake, she didn’t delay to nullify it. We all do mistakes, she did bigger ones in her ego but its in the past. Look at me now, I am happy. I am happy with her..”

“I don’t think so.. You can’t be happy with a woman who has so much of baggage already. This is not love ASR.. You are pitying her and she is using you. I can see it clearly now”

“She is not using me. She is a strong woman and she has enough strength and power to lead her life with her decisions, however right or wrong they are. She has changed La.. And if you can’t see it or accept, I will not force you or defend her anymore. But you should know one thing. Khushi is my life. Yes, she has her own insecurities but I still see her as my partner. You have to accept this truth someday”

Though not very convinced, Lavanya still wept hard hugging her brother. Nani was too afraid to speak about the present revelations. She had noticed Arnav losing his strength when Lavanya’s pregnancy news came up and she was proud that he put his own life and dignity at stake to cover up Lavanya’s mistakes and get her settled. It was hard to find siblings like that. The other side she had also witnessed how Khushi had changed after Arnav stepped in her life. Her solitude and loneliness were eased by Arnav’s love for her. She too was a changed woman now and much stronger from her heart than her mind. It was high time these two get their share of happiness. But it wasn’t possible until NK and Lavanya were happy and Nani was confident both Arnav and Khushi will strive again to get their lives back on track.


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

Gupta Mansion


“Khush, open the door” NK banged the door.


After Arnav and Lavanya left, NK reached for his sister but realized that she was no longer at the parking. She had left. He dialed her number but she didn’t answer his call. The Security at the hotel gates told him Khushi had taken a cab. He knew the only place he would find her right now was their home. So he drove back alone and got to know from the servants that she was in her room. Whenever Khushi was upset, she would lock herself in the bedroom for hours and today was no different. Bella was barking from outside the door, supporting NK to urge Khushi to let them in but no luck.


“Khush.. I am not going to judge you. Please open the door and let me in.. Please. I beg”

There was no reply from her for a long time and that’s when Arnav reached Gupta Mansion. Once Lavanya was okay, he didn’t waste time in driving back here.

“Where is she?” he asked worried for Khushi.

“She is in there. I am trying to unlock this damn door but can’t”


Arnav was terrified. He knew Khushi’s ways of self-hurt and he hoped she hadn’t tried any of that again.

“Let’s break the door”

NK agreed to it and they both kicked the door hard together. After three attempts, the door finally broke open and they barged in. Bella was the first one to spot Khushi in the bathroom. Arnav rushed inside and saw her sitting in the bathtub, the black elastic band around her wrist which she only wore when she wanted to hurt herself. Damn!! She was still in the same clothes she sported for the dinner tonight. They were completely soaked and if she stayed like that for even few more minutes, she would definitely fall sick. He reached her and cupped her tearstained face.


“Khushi.. come out” he demanded.


She didn’t meet his gaze. She wanted to face no one. Not even him. They say karma bites back and it happened to her for all those sins she did in the past.. for all those mistakes, wrong decisions she took all these years. She might have changed to a better person but she couldn’t run away faster from her past blunders. NK was too hurt seeing her in this state.


“Get something hot for her to drink” Arnav ordered to Nandakishore who quickly left the room. Arnav leaned down and then next instant he carried her in arms and drew her out of the bathtub. She was cold and the sudden change in the temperature, made her shiver. He put her back on feet and grabbed a towel. “Change your clothes. Right now. Wear this robe”


He passed her a bathrobe but she didn’t take it. Her ignorance made his anger swell.


“Khushi either do this yourself or I am changing your clothes. I wont mind”

She finally blinked and took the towel and robe from him.

“I am waiting at the door. You are not going to lock it again. Now change”

He strode to the bathroom door and turned his back to her. After almost 5 minutes when he heard her footsteps behind, he looked at her. She had worn a bathrobe now while water still dripped from her hair. She had leaned on the counter for support. Arnav reached Khushi again and swayed her off her feet. He took her in the bedroom and made her sit on the bed edge. She made no more movements. He wiped her head with another towel.

NK was back with a bowl of soup. He placed it beside on the table.


“Can you just give us few minutes NK?” Arnav urged. NK nodded and left the room. He knew if there was anyone who could change his sister’s mood right now, it was only Arnav.


As soon as NK left, Arnav sat next to Khushi and cupped her face.

“Did you hurt yourself again?” his voice trembled. “Tell me Khushi, did you?”

Fresh tears filled her eyes as she met his gaze.

“I wanted to..” she replied meekly. “But I couldn’t.. I had promised you never to hurt myself again, I didn’t break that promise Arnav.. I didn’t”


Arnav stilled for a moment and then gently took off the elastic band from her wrists. The old scars were still there but he was glad she didn’t drew new ones. He kissed those scars and then raised his head and kissed her all over her face.

“Whatever you did today.. needed a lot of courage Khushi. I am proud of you. You admitted your mistakes in public, you isolated yourself and NK from your mean parents forever and you didn’t hurt your body. I am so damn proud”


He kissed her lips but she was too numb to react. He pulled away and gripped her nape.


“Now listen to me very carefully. Doesn’t matter who understands what we have between us or not, I don’t care. I want you Khushi Gupta and no matter what odds, we will fix this together. Do you hear me? We will fix this together..”


His mouth covered hers, drinking in the sounds of her sobs.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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It is mostly said, we realize the value of a person only after we have lost them. But what if we get a chance to rekindle our relationship after crossing the barriers of life and death? Can you change your mindset about a relationship after touching the footsteps of death? What chances you have to fall in love with someone in your afterlife?

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Alisha thinks she fell in love with someone in her afterlife. Is that true? Who is that mystery man? Where does Dhruv Mathur relate to all this? Read this Short Story to find it out.

A soulful love story with a twisted happy ending.

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Excerpt 1

“Alisha, that’s your tea and your bread omelet” he wakes me up. It’s 09:00 am and I am still on the bed sleeping. It’s been 5 months for our marriage and even though I have never treated him well, he has always done the best from his side to try to keep me happy. I don’t know how long will it take for him to realize I don’t want him in my life.

Excerpt 2

“Wow. I am glad that the Creator chose you for me” I admit shamelessly.

He glances at me and then ignores my words. As if he knows I am flirting. Am I flirting? That too with the Soul Transporter? It’s insane, isn’t it? But I like his company, his way of making me understand where I stand, what I lost and what my future will be. I will be sent to Hell for sure. Committing suicide is a crime in the Creator’s eyes. I have misused the life he gave me. I have taken away my life, against his will. I am not going to Heaven for sure.

“I can recommend Heaven if you want” he reads my trail of thoughts again.

“No thank you. I hate recommendations” I giggle. “But seriously, can you do that?

“I can try”

“Why? Why are you going against all your norms for me?"

I desperately want him to reply. Will he?


Also Read: Other Excerpts on Soul Laced


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