PART 28

''Buwaji,Dad has been showing me some photographs of girls...He wants me to get settled.''Shyam dropped the bomb after hours of patiently hearing buwaji's babbles.

''What?So what have you decided?''buwaji asked.Her dreams of getting Shyam and Khushi married crashing round her ears.

''I don't know buwaji.None of them are my type.I hjust want a simple, understanding  girl who'll be my staunchest support if need be.''Shyam sighed, looking at buwaji.

His words brought respite to buwaji who grinned from ear to ear.

''You're such a sweet boy!With God's grace you will soon get your soul mate!'' Buwaji said moonily,already dreaming about the lavish wedding.

Shyam smirked.He had achieved his goal.

After some time,Shyam took leave from Guptas and zipped through morning traffic,whistling cheerfully.Now he had nothing to do but to let buwaji be the good samaritan and get khushi to marry him.He felt buoyant as if a heavy, oppressive  weight had been lifted off his chest.

Shyam's mind wandered to the phone call that was the catalyst behind his earlier tumult.....

''Boss,I have a good news!I think ASR is falling in love with a girl!''Chandru's barely concealed excitement was evident even on phone.

The man leaned forward in his high-backed chair.His eyes gleaming.He could use the girl as weakness to strike ASR and make him vulnerable.

''Are you sure?Who is it?''He asked.

''It is one of the pretty head lady officers,Khushi Gupta.He really seems to care about her and....''But Chandru's words were lost in a fanatic einging in his boss's ears.

A vein throbbed in his head and ire like never before had his body aflame.How dare that vile git ASR fall for his girl?

He snapped the phone shut and formulated a plan.He needed to act fast.

''I won't let you get away with this ASR.KhushiHe is mine to possess.''He growled, crushing the stress ball to its minimum.

Shyam drove aptly,riding a jittery high.He felt contented after spending a restless night.He had come across several beautiful girls in his life,yet their memories faded in front of khushi.There was something so elemental about her.

Shyam sighed happily.Once married,he will take her far away from everyone...... from ASR.

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Shashi Gupta was sitting in his bedroom,his mind a perfect tangle of concern and doubt.Morning incident had transpired before his eyes and he had immediately seen through Shyam's pre-orchestrated act.

Why was he so desperate to marry khush?

He had noticed Shyam's growing preoccupation and interest in khushi over past few days.Though logically,it should please him that a boy with a good family background,that too the son of his own best friend had fallen for his daughter, but  it worried him.

Shyam's fascination with khushi was unhealthy.Only the other day,he had noticed the delinquent-like,feverish anger in Shyam's eyes when he had found khushi giving direction to a guy who had lost his way.He had questioned khushi so harshly on the same that Shashi had a hard time not to simply throw Shyam out of his house.But of course he couldn't do so for the sake of his friendship with Surinder.

On top of that,he had heard some rumors about Jha family which weren't very appeasing to put it mildly.He could tell something was amiss.

Fear for the well-being of his youngest daughter khushi,gripped him and it was debilitating.

''Papa?''

His disturbed train of thoughts was brought to a halt by Payal.He looked up to see Payal standing before him.

''Papa,I wanted to talk about something.''She began,not meeting his eyes.

''What is it bitiya?''Shashi asked concerned.

''Umm,Papa,that Shyamji....I mean buwaji,is planning to get khushi married to him.I..I don't think that he's good for khushi.He's so self-obsessed,like creepy. Even khushi doesn't like him.She won't ever be happy with him.''Words tumbled out of Payal's mouth in wild torrent.

Shashi gazed at her anxious face.She knows!He thought.

''Do you think I'll get khushi married against her wishes?Don't worry,nobody will force khushi into this.''he assured her.

''Oh Ok!''Payal felt relieved.She turned to go out of the room.

''Bitiya?''Shashi called.

''Ji,Papa?''Payal asked.

Shashi opened his mouth uncertainly.He had to come out with it!

''I just want you to not to leave khushi for a single minute when Shyam is around.''he said.

Payal stared at her father's expression and what she saw alarmed her.

Things are more dodgier than they appear to be!She thought.

''Of course Papa!I'll certainly do that.''She promised.

Father and daughter duo were ready to protect and fight for their khushi with all they had....