Rabba Ishq Naa Hove - Season 3 - Part 21

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Chapter 21


Khushi’s POV


One more sleepless night and again because of the same man whom I lied to be in love with once and now I hated to fall in love with him because he had done irreparable damage to my heart. Last night we had a healthy discussion though and apart from his usual obsessed side, I saw pain, vulnerability and the fear of losing me. Arnav saw me and NK together and was jealous which was agreed as he was husband but I never thought he would literally ask me not to leave him for another man. Why did he even want me by his side when he was still revenging my father? I toss the phone away after reading another article on social media about how my father was slowly losing the case against him for all the allegations Arnav had put against his black business. I really didn’t know if I had to show any support to my father in any way because he had closed every way of contacting him. I don’t understand why he didn’t personal tried to know about my whereabouts and my safety, like Arnav did and followed me to New York. It just proved either my father’s incompetence of lack of responsibility towards me, none of which I was able to believe in. There was only one way I could get in touch with him and know what the hell was he going to do to come out clean of all the allegations or was he being trapped in false accusations, and that was through Arnav Singh Raizada. I know he hates my father but at this moment when I wanted to get in touch with him, I know only Arnav could make it happen.

So, the next morning, I knock at his bedroom door. I hope he is awake because I want to have this conversation before Maa wakes up. She still doesn't know I am the same woman who she thinks is the reason why her son has turned up cold and ruthless.

Arnav opens the door in a few seconds. He is as surprised to see me at his door as I am seeing him shirtless. I glance at his chest, recalling how I had kissed every inch of it that night when we consummated our marriage, before raising my head and meeting his eyes.

“I… I want to speak to my father.”

He looks disoriented at first, then his jaw clenches hard. How easily I can see his soft side turning into a dark one.

“Not needed,” he commands.

“Don’t you dare tell me what’s needed in my life, Arnav.”

Arnav grabs me by my wrist and pulls me into his room, shutting the door behind. I know he too is aware his mother can hear our argument and hence he did that.

“You ask me anything, I’ll give you that,” Arnav mentions. “Just don’t ask me to do this.”

“Why not?” I scowl. “Arnav he is my father, I-”

“No, he is not!!” He interrupts me almost making my heart skip a beat.

A strange silence engulfs us and it bring so many weird thoughts in my mind. Why would Arnav say that?

“He is not your real father, Khushi.” Arnav grabs my arms, looking in my eyes. “He is your stepfather. And I got to know this much later after you left for New York.”


I would have collapsed on the floor had Arnav not held me. What is he saying? My father is not my real father? But stepfather? I instantly compose myself and shrug off Arnav’s arms.

“What are you talking, Arnav?” I snap. “Is this some kind of game again you are trying to play because I am not in a mood of being a part of your revenging techniques anymore.”

“It’s the truth,” he blurts. “Don’t believe me? Wait..”

He walks to his closet and gets some file.

“Check this. That’s your DNA test report and it doesn't match with Shashi Gupta.”


Arnav forcefully makes me hold the file and I am shivering.

“The day you left after hearing my conversation with Di in the hotel room, I was in the impression that you went to your father but then Lavanya told me she had you in her house, safe. I was relieved but soon as days passed the thought kept pricking me why wasn’t Shashi Gupta worried for you? That was new because all these years he had been backing you for everything then why not this time? Even when Lavanya told me you left the country and this matter reached Shashi Gupta’s ears too, he never cared to look for you, forget being remorseful that he couldn’t give you shelter in your own house. So, that’s when, I tried finding your past…”

He grabs my arms again, pulling me to him. “Your mother’s past, Khushi.”

I swallow painfully as he continues revealing.

“Your mother Garima had an affair when she was in college and then she got pregnant too but the man she loved died in an accident and she didn’t want to terminate her pregnancy. So her father, means your grandfather got her married to Shashi Gupta who was nothing but just a clerk in your grandfather’s office. He was too loyal to your grandfather and he was the only man your grandfather trusted so he got your mother married to Shashi Gupta who was ready to give his name to you as a father.”


My eyes brim with tears but I see Arnav swallowing as if he can read my pain.


“Your mother gave birth to you, died in a few months but she had this Will which specifically mentioned that you will be the sole owner of everything that she owns.”


Arnav presses my hand again.

“The will is also attached in this file for your reference in case you don’t believe what I am telling you,” he adds.


I am shocked but equally curious to know more.

“She’s given not even a penny to her husband Shashi Gupta which means she too knew what kind of a man he was and that he could ill use all her wealth. Seems Shashi Gupta fought against that Will in the court but he could not win the case. But being your stepfather, he was only given your custody and he had to raise you well which was another condition in that Will which I think that man was following unwantedly. The entire property, assets and business would be allotted to you once you were 30, that’s what the will defined and your stepfather was only its caretaker until you were of that age. Obviously, it was clear he had married your mother only for her money but he raised you as he knew that was the only way to ensure you somehow remain in his control. Before you turn 30, he had plans to get you married to some man of his choice who would still let him control you and your money. That was his plan but it failed terribly because I married you and he knew he wouldn’t be able to have a hold on your money and assets anymore. That’s why he never looked after you or your issues much after we got married, because you were of no benefit to him anymore, Khushi. Apart from the allegations I have put on him for all the black business he had been doing at the back of running the company, I’m also now fighting the case for him to return your assets back to you. The ones which you rightfully own as per your mother’s wish.”


I literally grab his arms to help me stand firm, I am that hurt. Arnav pulls me in his embrace and for the first time since he returned, I willingly let him touch me. He strokes my back, giving me the strength I need to process all these facts he just stated.

“He never told you this because he wanted you to believe his love for you, and that’s why he always caged you in his protection. He didn’t want you to have an affair or marry the man of your choice, nor he wanted you to seek your passion of modelling, because he was worried if you walk out of his cage, you will seek the courage to stand up against him one day and he wouldn’t be able to retain all your maternal side wealth he was enjoying so far. In fact, I am still suspicious if your mother had a natural death or was Shashi Gupta responsible for it, because I know he is capable of hurting anyone, even killing.!!”


I cringe at the thought of him hurting my mother, but if whatever Arnav said is true, then I hate that man too who has made me and my mom suffer so much.


“We are still investigating your mother’s death but if that happens to be Shashi Gupta’s way of pushing your mother out of his way to use her wealth, then I’ll make sure he gets a death sentence for sure by law.”

That’s it!! I break down, leaning my head on Arnav’s chest I cry my heart out. Suddenly it feels like I was living in some kind of illusion regarding my father and now that illusion has broken and shattered my heart and feelings in a brutal way. Arnav scoops me to his body and let him do that because I want someone to hold me when I am this deeply hurt. It’s strange that I am taking the support of the man who also has hurt me but his inflicted pain on me feels far less than what Dad gave me.. my stepfather.. I still can’t believe he was never my real father!!


I don’t know how long I cry, wetting Arnav’s chest with my tears while he keeps stroking my head and back to calm me down, until we hear a door knock.

“Arnav?”


I quickly realize where I am and what I have been doing and retract from Arnav’s body. It’s his mother knocking at the door and obviously I can’t let her see me crying. I wipe my tears and rush to open the door while Arnav is still rooted to the spot, staring at me.

“Maa..?” I fake a smile. “You … you woke up?”

She looks confused seeing me in Arnav’s room because she knows we haven’t been sleeping in the same room ever since he came to New York. Soon her confusion turns into a grin as she looks behind me, at her son who is shirtless.

“I… I am so sorry. Did I disturb you? I just didn’t know you two are together or else.. I…”

“Maa” I interrupt, to ease her queries. “I just wanted to speak to Arnav about us.. That’s it. We are still.. not in terms of staying together in one room.”

“Until when?” Comes a direct question from the man himself but I don’t care to respond.

“I’ll make the breakfast ready.” I say to Maa, before walking out of Arnav’s room.

I don’t think I want to do anything apart from crying after coming to know dad isn’t my father and he could also be involved in my mother’s sudden death. I am shocked that Arnav even revealed these things to me because as far as I Know he was always a closed book and never told me a word about why he was revenging me for. Probably after knowing I am not Shashi Gupta’s real daughter, he has given up the idea of involving me in the revenge and hence wants this marriage of ours to work. But if that’s so, he is still living in an illusion. That’s never going to happen. I am flawed in my own ways, and so is he. We can never make a good couple.


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

Evening

I spend the day at my shoot which relieves my mood a bit but when I return home, I see Shyam here. He is in deep conversation with Arnav but the moment he sees me, he smiles and I greet him too. Even though Arnav is here to host his brother-in-law, I couldn’t skip meeting and spending some time with them.

“You look happy,” I tell him, without even glancing at Arnav who wants my attention too. But as usual, I ignore him and keep speaking to Shyam.

“Thanks.. I am actually happy. Sit down.”


He drags me to sit on the couch and Arnav is instantly alert as if he doesn't like me being so good to Shyam and not to him despite being my husband.

“So, as I was saying to Arnav, Anjali is coming tomorrow and I am so glad to know that. I’ve missed her,” Shyam says to Arnav as they both continue to speak, sitting on the couch.

Shyam comes home to check on Arnav’s mother twice every week and according to him, she is doing superb ever since we moved her here in this penthouse with me. Now that Arnav is here, Maa is too happy to get to live with both of us. I know secretly she is hoping we start living in the same bedroom but that’s never going to happen.

“But she is angry on me.” Shyam’s voice breaks my trance.

“I know,” Arnav’s glances at me. “Di is upset but when she will see Maa happy and progressing so well, she wouldn’t mind with whatever decisions you took for Maa in our absence.”

I don’t want to be a part of this conversation anymore so I get up from the couch.

“I’ll make you some coffee,” I say to Shyam who nods happily.

“One black coffee for me too,” Arnav mentions before I turn away. My eyes bore into his. “If you don’t mind, please.”

Please? Did he really say please to me? We both keep staring at each other for no idea how long when Shyam coughs on purpose to divert us.

“Umm, Khushi is great at making coffees,” Shyam mentions which makes Arnav raise his brows.

“Would know that when she makes one for me,” he grins, giving me a once over from head to toe.

Yes, I am still in my shoot clothes because I didn’t get time to change. It’s a pretty brown bodycon dress hugging my curves and I see a different hunger in Arnav’s eyes the moment he meets my eyes again after taking his time to gawk the rest of my body.

“Let me know if you need help in the kitchen, I’ll gladly be there..”


Arnav’s flirtish remark heats my body up but I don’t let him control my mind.


“I’ll never need your help, Arnav Singh Raizada no matter how many excuses you try to find for being around me.”


Shyam clears his throat again as if to help us cool down and he is right. Since Maa is coming out from her room, I don’t want this argument to continue either. But before she reaches us, I still have something to add to both these men.

“Let me know when Anjali is going to be here to meet Maa, I’ll happily be away from home because I don’t think I have room in my head for more hatred from the Raizadas…”

Shyam is speechless whereas Arnav a bit hurt at my words. Before he can say anything, I make my way to the kitchen to make their coffees. Even I need one badly knowing there is one more person who hates me, joining us soon.

To be Continued.

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Vansh Kapoor
My best friend, Taani, assigned me the responsibility to help her find a suitable groom for her sister, Vidhi. I would have gladly done so if Vidhi hadn’t been my runaway bride, who didn't even acknowledge our marriage bond for 24 hours before fleeing from my life. Now she is right under my nose, letting her sister hunt marriage alliances for her, and the worst part is, I can’t even claim her as rightfully mine.

Vidhi Gupta
Vansh Kapoor, the man I ran away from five years ago on our first night after marriage, was a childhood friend of my elder sister who was now looking for prospective grooms for me. Vansh was dragged into this responsibility as Taani trusted him more than anyone else in the world. I may have had a reason to marry him in the past, but I’d no excuses to hold on to that relationship anymore. Especially not when I knew the selfish reason why he had married me in the first place.

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