PART-68

“Hello khushiji!How are you?”Shyam asked in his coyishly silken voice,much to distaste of khushi.

“Are Shyam babua!Please come in!”Buaji blubbered,dragging him in.

“I’m going .Bye!”Khushi murmured.

“Khushji,wait!I’ll drop you.”Shyam offered eagerly.

“Thanks but no thanks Shyamji!I’ve to go to temple too.You need not face the inconvenience.” Khushi retaliated,ignoring buaji’s exclamation of how lovely that would be.

“That’s all right khushiji!I won’t be put to any inconvenience....”

“ Shyamji why are you forcing your company on khushi?If she doesn’t want to go with you,then let it be!”Payal growled angrily.

“Payaliya!Is this the way to talk to a guest?Haven’t we taught you anything?”Buaji fumed.

“Buaji,please will you stop taking his side and think of khushi for once?She need not be even more upset and despondent than she already is!”Payal puffed.

“Please stop it!Shyamji,I’ll come with you!”Khushi implored desperately, trying to subside the angry altercation between her sister and aunt.She didn’t have the patience to bear it. With hapless resignation,she left the duo-one fuming and other slightly gleeful,behind with Shyam as they started for temple.

“Shyamji,I’ll be back in a few.You can go if you are running late.”Khushi added hopefully,but the latter didn’t pay her heed,his entire concentration centred somewhere in the midst of the bustling copious crowd.

“Khushi,you go on.I’ll wait here.Actually I’ve spotted one of my clients.So....”Shyam trailed off, trying his best to infuse careful off-handedness in his tonebut not quite managing the effect cleanly.

“Ok Shyamji!”Khushi said dubiously,registering the unmistaken urgency in his voice.Shyam hurried off in the milling crown and khushi’s curiosity got the better of her.

She carefully stepped into the ensuing bedlam,keeping a  scrupulous distance from Shyam as she followed him.She saw him clutch the hand of a girl-who was too skimpily clad for a religious place and was invoking several scandalised looks for the same from passer-byes-and drag her to a secluded corner of the precinct,throwing nervous glances to his surrounding every now and then.

“What are you doing here?”He hissed as soon as they were nearly discernible behind a dense thicket,his face menacing,but instead of recoiling from him,the girl hung on to him as if for her dear life.

“I just saw you entering the place,so I followed.By the way,who was that girl?”The girl asked suspiciously.

“A cousin of mine!”Came the prompt reply,which shocked khushi.The guy literally panted after her and here he was lying regarding her!

“Oh!”The girl puffed apparently satisfied by his answer and wound her arms lewdly around him,pressing her body against him.A hungry expression came on Shyam’s face.

“It has been so long that you came up to see me!”The girl pouted,her voice flirtatiously critical.

“I’ve been so busy sweet heart!Otherwise I would’ve surely spent  my days with you,ensnared in the manacles of your love!”Shyam sad cloyly,his hands pulling her indecently closer.

Khushi’s eyes widened in confusion!She couldn’t make out head or tail of what was unfolding in front of her eyes.

“Aww my poor baby!You look so tired!You seriously need a break!Why don’t you come along and play?”The girl asked sinuously, slipping her fingers between the buttons of Shyam’s shirt,making his eyes dilate with lust.

“Surely my love!How can I deny such a tempting offer,but not now for I’ve some meetings to wrap, but I’ll be there in the afternoon to be your beauty’s slave!”Shyam murmured and after disentangling himself from the girl’s embrace,traded his hold on her for her hand.He hailed an auto for her.

“Be there in the evening then!”The girl insisted.

“Of course!”Shyam promised.

Khushi saw the auto chug away and immediately jumped into another one,giving hasty directions to follow the other.

“Like in Hindi movies!”The driver exclaimed exuberantly.

“Shut up and follow the auto!I’m a police officer!”Khushi growled,whipping out her cell to send a SMS to Shyam.

‘Some important work cropped up,so I had to leave in haste!Thanks for the lift!’Shyam read the message in disappointment.He had hoped to spin things so as to spend some time with khushi before going off for a promising day to his mistress.But the plan had fallen in cold bag. Sighing resignedly,he sat in his car and zoomed off, unaware o f the tempestuous storm so close on his horizon!

Just as the chase began sleek black S.T.F. SUV rolled to a stop in front of a speeding truck followed by a fleet of police car.

A.C.P.Arnav Singh Raizada alighted, straightening his shades.The look on his face promised menace!

“What do you want ?”The driver drawled,alighting from the truck,the graffiti on which proclaimed its association with  ‘Spark hotels’ owned by the Jhas.

“Akash,Aman check the truck!”ASR ordered,ignoring the driver.

The truck was assiduously checked ,but nothing was found except blankets,quits and pillows to be used in the hotel!

“I told you so!You won’t find anything!Its just pillows and duvets in there officer!Yor really need to...know...really...”The driver balked as he saw ASR grabbing a pillow and tearing it deftly with a pocket knife.

To utter amazemet of those that surrounded him,several packets of some white stuff fell out! ASR tore one of them and sniffed lightly.

“Drugs!”He announced shortly to the stunned gathering of police officers and constables around him.

There was silence for a split second before,the driver of the truck raced off as if chased by fierce hounds of hell with loud yelp!

Downfall of Jhas had begun!

PART-67

A.C.P Arnav Singh Raizada had a whacking day during which he leafed carefully through,stacks of papers related to the company of Surinder Manohar Jha. Details of banking transactions,MoA(Memorandum of Association), Articles of Association,financial statements,investments etc,in an attempt to find some vital clue which would throw some light on the entire incident.

Apart from the business jargon,he also had call details and banking statement of Chandru.He had given strict instructions to tap Chandru's calls to Akash without any speck of mistake.

He scrupulously examined all the papers, reading every word with great concentration till his grey cells were stretched taut,to their limits.ASR leaned back in his high-backed chair,dialing a number.

"Hello jijaji,I need you to do me a favour!I want you to probe into every deal and investment that Surinder Manohar Jha and his son does,every minutest and non- consequential details on the firms they are partners of,whether dormant or active, their black money floating in the market or stashed some where else-because I'm damn sure it is!Any secret alliance or contract they have entered into with anyone! I the nutshell,everything!Can you do it,please without raising any unnecessary suspicion,please?I could have done it myself,but it would've drawn attention and I don't want that.Even if the beans are spilled in your case,then it won't arouse dubiousness since you are involved in the same business as his and hence it can be brushed off as competition!"ASR explained wearily.

Armaan listened in grave silence as his brother-in-law explained his strange request to him,his mind whirring.The unnatural gravity of his voice was unnerving,but Armaan knew better than to ask him.Arnav liked to maintain secrecy.

"Fine Arnav,I'll do as you say and don't worry!Every information will reach you and nobody will be wiser!"Armaan assured.

"Thanks jijaji!I owe you one for this!"ASR said gratefully and disconnected the call,closing his eyes with complacent contentment.

His 'contingency plan' was on the rollers too!The situation was under his control!

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The sun rose just as beautifully as ever,initiating another day,full of promises, happiness and hope for everyone but not for khushi,who had been dreading this day every year since that horrendous night years ago when she had lost her parents.

She felt the same void,the same emptiness,which was even more pronounced on the ghastly day and fought hard against her tears.She couldn't fall weak.

"Khushi,are you ok?"Payal asked anxiously, caressing her hair.

"I'm fine jiji!"Khushi tried to smile,though her gruff,throaty voice gave her away.Before Payal could say anything,she hopped into bathroom,not trusting her tear ducts to support her long.

She stood underneath the steaming shower,letting her tears run unchecked- one of the many benefits of water drops!She bathed longer than usual and then gloomily dressed up to go to the office,only work could occupy her mind.Her family treated her diligently,caressing her cheek and ruffling her hair affectionately,attempting to sooth her,but unknowing adding to her pain.

"Come back soon titaliya.We've organized a pooja in the evening."Buaji said after she forcefully fed her some morsels of breakfast.She avoided looking in khushi's eyes as she said it,not wanting to see the pain there.

Khushi nodded,knowing that it was the ritual pooja that was organized on her parents' death anniversary every year.She wordlessly crept forward and opened the door,not knowing her day was going to become even more worse!

Quite on the cue,she grimaced to see Shyam Manohar Jha emerging from his car!

PART-66

"What's going on?"Khushi asked as soon as she reached near ASR,who was standing on the steps with an expressionless face,yet he had an aura,sheer power which was almost palpable!

"Nothing terribly exciting.Just the usual sweeping the place for possible bugs for snooping,you see.Not that any one will dare to do that S.T.F. office!They could as well go in front of a rampaging,mad bull!"ASR said mendaciously, keeping a watchful eye on Chandru who was lingering anxiously in the corner,obsequiously listening to each word he said.To Arnav's immense satisfaction,Chandru bought his theory and slouched off,but same wasn't true for khushi.

 

Had it been not been for the indisputable fact,that she knew his inside out,even though they had not been together for more than a few short months, she wouldn't have been able to detect the hard edge that was undercurrent in his carefully off-handed voice.Khushi raised her eyebrows questioningly at the look of contentment on ASR's face,making the latter realize that he could fool anyone but her.So,sighing resignedly,he sauntered to his cabin,shutting the door firmly behind khushi before turning to her.

 

"You are dubious regarding honesty of people working here.This sudden check is not simply adhering to protocols."Khushi stated flatly.

 

ASR affixed her with a hard,speculative look,apparently weighing how much to tell her.He didn't want to compromise her safety by putting a lot into her.

 

"All right!I won't persist.If you want confide in me,you can do it anytime!" She muttered,mistaking his silence to be his lack of trust on her.ASR's heart fluttered at the look of hurt on her face,though she attempted hard to disguise it behind her nonchalance.

He reached forward to grab the door knob before she could open and step out and pulled her in.

"Khushi,don't be ridiculous!Its not a question of trust because I've full faith that you will never betray me or this organization,but its merely my concern for your safety!"ASR said,guiding her to one of the chairs.

"What do you mean?"Khushi demanded,confusion apparent in her voice.

"I think someone is spying on us.I mean he is passing information regarding intricacies of our every move,our investigation to our enemies."ASR said lowering his voice.

 

"And who is in your radar of suspicion?"Khushi asked.

 

"Chandru."

 

"What?He I mean how could that be?Are you sure?Because we did all the routine check assiduously before employing him!All his driving license,voter ID, Aadhar card, everything to determine his identity was done meticulously,then how could he possibly hoodwink us?"Khushi spluttered.

"I'm aware of that khushi,but I'm sure of this thing too that Chandru is the infiltrator!"ASR's low voice was grim.He then narrated the entire incidents that led him to his deduction.

"We should sack him immediately!His presence poses danger to all sorts of high profile information that S.T.F. houses.All the names and residence of our spies in different nation,deals on armaments and secret missions,everything is at stake! We can't take risk of this magnitude!"Khushi exclaimed  vehemently,jumping to her feet.

"Khushi,Shut up and sit down!"ASR ordered,pulling her down.

"But how could we....."Khushi stammered.

"Khushi I could've sacked him long back if I had wanted!But, we can't afford to make any hasty decision in a sensitive situation such as this.We need to weigh our every step cautiously.Exonerating is not a viable option.We've to nab the kingpin of this obnoxious nexus!"ASR reasoned passionately.

"But..."Khushi began,but she was stopped short by a brusque knock on the door. ASR stood up and sat behind his table before saying a brisk 'Come in'.

"Sir,we found nothing!There is no electronic bug in here."The man said.

"Good!You may go now and thanks for coming here today."ASR said dismissively.

He had not expected anything to be found either.That would have been the most abysmal of mistakes.His foe was equally shrewd!

PART-65

Sun rays peeped in through the heavy curtains and khushi grimaced in her sleep, her one hand groping around for Arnav.She soon found an arm and in her state of abject sleepiness mistook it for Arnav's ignoring the softness altogether. Khushi pulled herself closer,nuzzling closer.

"Good morning Aranvji!"She mumbled sleepily,slightly lifting her face to place a kiss on the cheek of whom she mistook to be Arnav.

She felt his body rock,tremors going down until they increased in frequency.

"Arnavji,what's wrong?Why are you so shivering so much?Oh God!Did you catch cold,sleeping all night in the balcony?"Khushi's eyes flew open in concern and her one hand immediately touched his forehead,until she saw a figure clad in yellow lying beside her.Surely Arnav wouldn't wear such bright colored clothes!

"Khushi....you aa...re mad!Arnavji.....Gooood morning!Se...riously!" Payal rocked back and forth with laughter,clutching her stomach.

"Jiji...you here?What?How?When did I reach here?I was with Arnavji!Then how?"Khushi went on incoherently.

"Woah!Hold down a bit little sis!So many questions at a time!Why are you blaring like a steam engine?Anyways, so this is what you do with your Arnavji? Kissing and coddling!"Payal teased,clutching her by her ears.

"Ouch jiji!It hurts!By the way you are wrong!I was just....I mean I was dreaming and that..."Khushi's cheek turned the shade of a tomato!

"Stop it Khushi!Don't lie!The fat is in the fire!...You love him don't you?" Payal added softly,letting go of her ear.

"Jiji I..."Khushi looked down,abashed.

"I know you love him and this time round you have truly done something sensible!Arnavji absolutely adores you!He is so intense about you...so caring..and the look in his eyes,when he was gazing at you!Well, it seems my crazy, childish sister has finally found her match!"Payal smiled softly.Khushi looked up and immediately embraced her,while Payal patted her back gently.

"You know what,had you murmured someone else's name and coddled up the same way going cozy,I would've given you a good one,a nice elder sisterly lecture on being responsible!"

"If you want you can still have a go on me jiji!Don't keep anything pent up!" Khushi said.

"Oh sure,I would love to!But you should get going.I don't want to be the cause of your Arnavji's despondency so early in the morning!"

"Jiji!"Khushi yelled,throwing a pillow at her,while Payal laughed and ducked out of the way just in time.

After sometime,Khushi emerged out of her room in great haste,having willed away her time in a pillow fight with her sister.She ran helter-skelter,trying to gather her things up and banging every now and then on the walls and doors.

"Hai rey nandkishore!This girl will bring the house down someday! oversleeping and then nearly razing the house down!What will I do with her?"Buaji wailed, watching her niece rush around like a lunatic.

"Bye Buaji!Love you!"Khushi blew her a kiss mischievously,before dashing out of the house.

She didn't encounter much traffic,to her immense relief and reached the office on time.She swiped her identity card and touched the screen of the biometric device with her palm,rushing in as soon as the doors opened.

"What the.....?"Khushi gasped as soon as she emerged out of the elevator.

The entire S.T.F. office was bustling with activity as unknown people swarmed around with a heavy-looking machine in their hands!

PART-64

Payal walked back and forth in the gallery near the back door as she waited for khushi and ASR for Akash had just called and informed her about their reaching there any moment.She felt pretty churlish as she pondered over the conundrum named Shyam in tensed silence.

Apparently buaji had called Shyam home when she tried to call khushi for umpteenth time and her call couldn't get through.She started having kittens and was bantering at the top of her lung,until Payal had called Akash and he had somehow assuaged buaji's temper,giving some trifle excuses.But it was Shyam's outburst that had raised her suspicion.

As soon as buaji had told him and the others that Khushi was with Akash,working on some important case,he had nearly shrieked through gritted teeth and tempestuous spleen that Akash had lied,that Khushi was with ASR. Though,the family had ignored it after Shyam had stuttered some badly-constructed lie,with buaji fondly referring it to be caused by stress and possessiveness,Payal who had known the truth was highly unnerved.

She was anxious about her sister's safety.Was that creep of a man keeping tabs on her little sister?The question made her highly restless and she had immediately shared her worries with Akash for she couldn't possibly be the cause of her father's anxiety by confiding her suspicion with him.

Her dubiousness and restlessness had further increased when,though Akash had tried to use fairly nonchalant and dulcet tone,he hadn't been able to hide genuine anxiety in his voice.She knew something was terribly wrong and was squared to have a word with ASR.If he truly loved her sister then it was a matter that he should be aware of!

 

Suddenly she heard a gentle rap on the backdoor and nearly flew and wrenched it open,her mouth hanging down at the sight in front of her.Khushi was cradled in ASR's arm and slept serenely while he was holding her as if she were something that would break at the slightest of jostling.She followed him inside and watched appraisingly  as he lowered khushi on the bed.

Payal could clearly see the love and absolute adoration in ASR's eyes for khushi and knew with renewed conviction that he was just the man for her,that finally her crazy,erratic and hair-brained sister had done something mature and sensible by falling in love with a man who was perfectly capable of looking after her.

 

"Arnav ji,I have something really important to talk with you."Payal began hesitatingly,as soon as ASR was done with ogling at khushi.

 

"Yes what is it Payal?"ASR asked curiously.It was the first time that they were having a conversation more than mere courtesy.

 

"Its about khushi....and Shyam."Payal said,looking for his reaction.ASR's eyes darkened and his hands balled up into fists as he heard that rascal's name tagged along with his khushi's.

 

Payal narrated the entire incident to him and was quite literally frightened by the look on his face.It was murderously angry!

 

"Don't worry Payal!I'll look into the matter and I assure you that  his sick plans to court khushi or marry her will never succeed.I'll surely look into the matter!"He assured her as gently as he possibly could,but his voice was still taut and strained.

ASR looked at Payal and knew that she was still anxious and was touched by her possessiveness and unquestionable love for khushi.

"I won't allow anything to happen to her Payal!"ASR tried to sooth her to which she nodded gratefully.

ASR and Payal were flexed to save their khushi from anything that conspired against her!

 

 

 

PART-63

"What?"Khushi screamed at the top of her lung as soon as she got out of the initial shock.

"Yes,he's the one who is responsible for the reason I'm an orphan.The reason of all the anguish that me and my di suffered for all those years.The reason my mom killed herself to save her honor from that lascivious fiend,my dadi died protecting my di and my dad of a cardiac arrest!...We suffered a lot of humiliation and were ousted from our very own house!"ASR's voice seethed with hatred and khushi stared at him ashen faced.

"But,now its going to end,because I'm going to end it!That Surinder Manohar Jha got away by shredding my family apart but not this time,not at any cost! I'll be damned if I didn't get him and that scumbag son of his to rot behind the bars for rest of their lives begging and grouching for their death!I had waited so many years for avenging the death of my family!"ASR growled,making khushi shiver in fright.

Though khushi had been unaware of the magnitude of felony and debaucheries of the Jhas,she knew that they were pretty potent with lots of politicians at their beck-and-call.Local police literally ran around,wagging their tails behind them. So,as she heard of ASR's oath,it was utmost natural for her to be absolutely terrified.She had already lost her parents in the dirty bog of politics and she knew she would die if something happened to ASR.

Khushi immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his waist as if protecting him,making ASR chortle darkly.He disengaged one of his arms from her fierce embrace and patted her gently.

"Nothing will happen to me."He assured her softly.

"I won't allow anything to hurt you,to snatch you away from me!"Khushi growled back,embracing him possessively.ASR sighed and kissed her forehead.

The couple sat snuggling,each lost in their own world,taking in what all had transpired,and in khushi's case,letting the revelation sink.Utterly cathartic,they dozed of wrapped in each other's arm in the serenity of the night.

It was just quarter past 1 when ASR's cell rang,awakening him from his slumber. He looked down groggily at the screen which flashed Akash's name.ASR carefully extricated his arm from that of khushi's,barely moving more than enough so as to not to jostle her and received the call.

"Hello,what is it Akash?"He asked irritably.

"Bhai,where are you?Its so late in the night!Did you forget you need to drop khushi at her home?Buaji was having kitten and had literally razed the house down until Payal got her to talk to me and I lied that Khushi is with me and we are busy with an important case!"Akash replied in a single breath and ASR could almost hear his smile.

"Oh,yeah we sort of zonked off!I'll take khushi to her home."ASR said,wanting nothing more than to scold his brother for sounding so smug,but he couldn't do it,not with khushi sleeping so peacefully on his chest.

"Good!Then go from the backyard of their house.Payal shall be down there to open the door."

"What the!I'm not some thief that I'll need the back door to get khushi in!" ASR said,clearly annoyed.

"Fine then!Go down the front and get shot be all kind of awkward question by khushi's family,not to mention get khushi in serious trouble with buaji!" Akash quipped slyly,but ASR didn't reply and snapped the phone shut.He vowed to deal with his younger brother in the morning.

With assiduous gentleness as if handling a fragile butterfly,he lifted khushi in his arms and zoomed off towards her home,with his sleeping beloved at his side!

PART-62

Khushi sat nuzzling in ASR's lap as they lolled on the recliner in the balcony after a sumptuous dinner with a frown on her face,which didn't go unnoticed by him.

 

" What' wrong khushi?"ASR enquired softly.

"Its overcast.I can't see the stars."Khushi pouted.

"You are missing your parents."ASR said and it wasn't  a question but a statement.

"Yes I'm!Life would've been so beautiful if they were here by my side!I would've loved to introduce you to them."Khushi sighed,blinking her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill over.ASR gently wiped her tears,tightening his arm around her waist.

"Shh Khushi!Don't cry!I know you miss them a lot and I can empathize with you for I suffered the same.I know how it feels to be an orphan.How much it hurts! But you should never hold an exposition of your vulnerability for life is hardly fair and people leave no chance at smiting where it hurts the most!"ASR said quitely.

Khushi looked up at him,her brows furrowed.ASR met her gaze evenly.

"Why are you so bitter Arnavji?Why do you hang on this pseudo facade of stoic antagonism so tenaciously?Why can't you just let go of the masquerade of ASR and just be my Aranvji for once?"Khushi asked unnerved.

"I'm bitter,am I?Of course I am because I know that life is not a walk of cake! Its cruel in its most ugly form!There's nothing noble or pristine about it as you've deluded yourself to think.Just one wrong step on your part and thousands of people sit around to make you fall flat on your face....to destroy every shred of happiness!Perseverance,magnanimity,benevolence,fortitude are stuff of those ruddy fables and not of worldly pragmatism khushi!"ASR breathed heavily,his eyes glinting.A charged silence followed his monologue.

"You are referring to your parents,aren't you?"Khushi asked softly and immediately felt his hands balling up into fists.

"H....How did they...they die Arnavji?"She asked in a trembling voice and ASR froze.He looked down in her eyes searching and found them shining unmistakably with love and concern.He drowned in their depths,for how long?He didn't know,and then began speaking taking a deep breath.

"My dad had a big textile business....the famous chickankari of lucknow.We lived there with my uncle and grandmom in a joint family.My uncle,Yash Mallick was as loving and doting as anyone can be,the perfect brother,a family man so much so that there was no speck of doubt in the love that he had for us!Then one day everything changed!"ASR's voice became hard,his eyes sparked with hatred and khushi sat in his lap,wide-eyed,listening with rapt attention.

"Out of the blue cops entered our house one day and arrested my father on the charges drug peddling!They said that huge consignment of drugs worth crores of rupees was caught in the store room of my dad's factory and that the workers there had admitted that they were engaged in the smuggling of drugs and that my dad was the kingpin!We knew that it was all a lie,that someone had framed my dad yet we didn't have any proof!Then those officers told us that the complain against my dad was lodged by my uncle,Yash Mallick,who had dared to defy his brother and reported cops about his illegitimate business.We all were shocked and it didn't take us long to put two and two together.Apparently,that greedy bastard had duped his family,had put his own brother behind the bars for money!"Khushi stared at ASR ashen faced as he continued his story.

"My mom decided to confront him,to make him see the errors of his way,but that lusty fiend crossed all his limits!He tried to r...rape my mom and nearly succeeded, but my mom committed suicide to save her honor!She shot herself and that monster,infuriated at my mom's denial lasciviously advanced to my di who sat near mom's corpse crying.But listening to the entire racket,me and my grandma reached the room on time and saved my di from that pervert's clutches. That dope attacked us and in attempting to protect us my grandma sustained severe head injuries!That demon didn't even leave his own mother!..Till then nani, mami and mamaji reached and took us away!My grandma passed away after a few days due to brain hemorrhage and my dad,unable to bear the taunts and jeering and also the pain of losing half his family died in prison due cardiac arrest."ASR fell silent,his posture stiff,cold anger akin to death radiating from him which so terrified khushi that she was rooted on the spot,unable to move a muscle.

"And during all those time,my uncle had a loyal side-kick,his compatriot who helped me destroy our lives."ASR said through gritted teeth after a protracted period of silence.

"Who?"Khushi whispered making ASR look down at her and his eyes were expressionless.Cold!

"Surinder Manohar Jha."ASR announced taking khushi by surprise.

 

 

PART-61

"WOW!Its so pretty!"Khushi choked,her eyes brimming with tears as she undid the gift wrap.She ran her fingers through the subtly silk of her dress and inwardly commended ASR's perspicacity.

"Did you like it?"ASR asked nervously biting his lips nervously.

"Of course!How could I not!Its simply so elegant and so beautiful!I love it!"Khushi nearly laughed at his idiotic question.

"So,wear it."

"Now?"

"Of course.I want to see you in it."ASR was adamant.

"Ok!I'll change."Khushi agreed,smiling at the look of pure joy that lit his face at her agreeing to wear.He is so much like a child!Who would say he's the same ruthless ASR who makes criminals pee in their pants with his fierceness if they were to see him now.Khushi thought amusedly as she pecked his cheek gently and got up.

ASR waited impatiently for her to come out.She seemed to rake a lot of time and he wasn't actually known for his patience.Just as he was about to get up and knock on the door of the room where she had disappeared,she came out,bringing him up short.He gaped at her speechless,spell-bound.

Her skin was cream and roses,highlighted by the couture gown that suited her perfectly,emphasizing her curves tantalizingly.Even though she had donned no make-up,her face glowed with an ethereal sheen,the slight blush on her face completing the sight.The gown flowed down her body like an inverted   calla lilly and looked utterly graceful even though khushi was motionless.Her long hair caressed her face,her tresses framing her face as she stood there shyly,peeking at him from under her thick lashes.

"Khushi!"ASR croaked.He had no recollection of when he moved towards her,yet now he stood before her.He raised his hand and cupped her face.Khushi sighed. Suddenly he pulled her closer.

"Do you have any idea,how breathtakingly beautiful you are?Its almost a duress, a felony!I'm feeling as if I've died and reached heaven!"He whispered in her ears,making her shiver.

"Arnavji I...."Khushi tried to speak,but got distracted by the look in his eyes. It was so gloriously intense that she could stare at it all her life,yet have no recollection of time.But being the prankster that she was,she wasn't going to give in so easily.Besides he deserved punishment for hurting her!Suddenly something caught her eyes and she smirked inwardly.

"Arnavji I love....."She trailed off with perfect dramatic effect.ASR eyes glinted with anticipation,his heart bursting with bliss.Finally they were going to confess! Even though they knew that they were madly in love,they had never confessed and now he desperately  wanted to hear her say those magical words!

"Yes khushi?"

"Arnavji I love,I loved the movie Aashiqui 2 and want to watch it again!"She yelled in his ear and ran away giggling.

ASR stood rooted to the spot dazed.She had tricked him!Fine!Two can play a game!She was going to pay for it.

Khushi slid in the DVD and switched on the T.V.She sat down on the couch,studiously avoiding ASR's gaze,pretending to concentrate on the T.V. Suddenly she felt something smooth tickle her cheekbone an at the same time a pair of warm hand ensnared her.

So for the rest of the evening it continued as ASR distracted her flirtatiously by kissing and cuddling her,inflicting his sweet torcher.

Khushi was doing her penance!

 

PART-60

A.C.P. Arnav Singh Raizada spent a major chunk of his day staring at the sullen profile of his beloved,cursing his hot temperament and devising ways to thaw her out,yet he couldn't think of a single thing!All his wisdom and sharp brains while dealing with highly dangerous criminals and high profile cases was of no avail in the intricacies of love!That meant he had to bank on his sister's plan which,doubtlessly would be something exceedingly filmy and downright gooey!

As the time passed by and the blistery afternoon dissolved into serene twilight, his breath hitched.It was the time to face his little tigeress and so he called her to his cabin.

 

"Ms.Gupta,we've to go for investigating a case and I want you to accompany me."ASR said flatly.

 

"I can't accompany you,so please take somebody else Sir!"Khushi said dryly, emphasizing the  word 'Sir'.

"Ms.Gupta,I didn't ask you,that was an order!Let's go!"ASR snapped in a no-nonsense voice before marching out of the door.Khushi stared at his vanishing profile with a frown for a few seconds before following the suit sighing in resignation.She couldn't mingle her professional life with her private one. 

But she was determined to not to leave any stone unturned in showing ASR her petulance and ire.After all he had hurt her so deeply,he deserved the punishment more than any else!

ASR peeked at khushi every now and then as he drove carefully and he had to suppress a chuckle everytime.Pouting and angry with a reddened nose,that was nothing but kittenish fury for ASR,she was the most desirable women in the world and he had a hard time to not to stop the car and kiss her jutted lips, but of course he couldn't do that.He had to mollify her,that too in her style!

 

So,he silently drove and it was only that they crossed the boundaries of the city that khushi broke the silence.

 

"Where are we going?"Khushi asked startled as the traffic disappeared behind.

 

"I told you once and I don't wish to repeat it."ASR said shortly,silencing her.After sometime a huge house loomed out of the darkness.Before khushi could utter a word,ASR had already killed the engine and darted out.Khushi followed him.

"Where have you brought me Arnavji?"She asked staring at the house.But,she didn't get the answer as ASR had already caught her by the arm and pulled her in.

"What are you doing?Leave me!"Khushi struggled,but was no match to his biceps.He took her in the living room and khushi quitened and took in her surrounding.

The room was tastefully decorated and looked elegant.Heavy looking draperies were hung around and plush oriental carpet covered the floor.Beautiful antique looking paintings adorned the walls except the left wing which was embossed with glasses through which soft moonlight filtered.A huge chandelier hung from the roof and a carved staircase took to upper landings.Black,leather couches were kept in the middle in cozy groupings and a beautiful crystal vase,which was kept on a glass table in the midst,was filled with a wild assortment of flowers-a color riot.Freesia,roses and orchids's sweet smell wafted in the entire room.

Khushi looked around amazed and then at ASR,who was staring at her with soft eyes,the intensity of which seemed to make her bones turn into marshmallow. 

"Khushi,I'm so sorry!"He whispered,holding his ear and giving her an impish look which melted her heart.

"I shouldn't have behaved so harshly with you,even before knowing the entire truth.I know I hurt you a lot,but you know how I am.My anger blinds my prudence,hampering my thinking power.I couldn't simply digest the fact that you hadn't told me,that you had trusted others over me!You see,I'm jealous for this too,overtly possessive or maybe a maniac,whatever you may prefer.But that's how I'm.I now understand why you didn't tell me.I see your point,but can you understand mine and forgive me,please?"ASR whispered.

Khushi swallowed hard,but couldn't speak so she wordlessly flung herself in his arms and hugged him with all her might,answering his question.

ASR smiled and buried his face in her hair.He had once again won her love!