London,

Myra Mehra, a woman in her early mid-twenties, is a bright girl at her age. She used to be a bubbly and chirpy butterfly, fluttering around the plants and flowers. The only difference was the butterflies would have been drinking the sweetest nectar and she'd have been tending to flowers, watering it, and letting them grow, admiring their beauty. Until a day!

And the day had been so brutal to her that destroyed her dreams beyond the limit. She was living the life of a dead person, wanting to be dead and yet having reasons enough to breathe. Just breathe! Living isn't in her fate anymore. Until Dhruv happened, who stood out from the rest and tended her heart.

When she had crafted a beautiful picture with him and wanted all of it, to live her life, yet again she was thrown into the dawn. She's still in the recovery phase as she saw everyone sitting at the dining table and having their dinner including Arnav. Arnav and she were both similar in so many ways. Like that of a sister and brother, in strange ways but good. When the same face with another name tried to destroy her, she couldn't get it out of her head.

Who would if one attempted to rape again and was instead accused of seduction in the name of slut?

That was Myra Mehra aka Raizada, a woman with a wrenchingly painful past who wanted to live a life with all the positiveness and hope.

She came out of thoughts with a nudge on her arm by her husband and looked at him, smiling and shaking her head at his curious eyes, and continued eating.

The evening with a lot of fun and food, and at the end of the day, when it was too late to go home, everyone had a night over except for Arnav. Khushi voluntarily dropped him off at his hotel. All he said was he had some work that needed to be looked into before tomorrow's meeting with his employee. Khushi, shrugged, albeit wanting him to stay, and yet nodded at the face he made.

Thus, ended the night, with stars twinkling in the clouds, and the rearing castles made it difficult for one to look higher and higher.

The night was beautiful albeit it had a painful but yearning reuniting of two lost brothers. If it was beautiful for someone, it couldn't be sure it would be the same for someone else.

———————————————

JaTal Flat,

Their night was daunting.

Adam's security wasn't able to find Sheetal when he came to check on them in their flat. Neither was Jay visible. Discreetly, they had to keep an eye on them. And when the night dawned, they saw a visibly grumpy Sheetal and irritated Jay entering their flat. They are out in open. All they need to do is, seemingly destroy their not-so-beautiful night, more so intensely.

Alex was ready to do that, and he did, barging into their falt as soon as they were in, shocking the wits out of the couple. A couple who have been in a live-in relationship for a long time and marriage was still not on the cards, reasons only known to them.

Sheetal stood flabbergasted when all of them glared at her and she was suddenly afraid. Did they catch her crimes? But how could they, she really covered up her crimes well, not letting anyone know what she was up to. How would have they known? She was smart enough to plan it perfectly, knowing the power of Khushi and her father, she was never careless.

She always hated Khushi, for, getting everything she ever dreamt of.

One of them was Jay Martin. Jay was becoming too detached from his wife and she could only take advantage of it, luring him into her and he did, although, not physically, emotionally he was drawn and done. Khushi would never get late in divorcing if she'd know. She didn't need to do much. Khushi was smart enough to find it out. Her plan was perfect. She divorced her husband and Jay agreed, for, he know he cheated on her.

He was emotionally attracted to her. Sheetal wasn't a psychiatrist for nothing. She knows how to play mind games. Jay was completely into her and they started living together albeit knowing he was dying of guilt. She did try her best to make him understand, that it is okay to feel for someone else. One couldn't control their feelings, could they? Jay could only retort back with the regret overpowering him. He should have! He was supposed to control his feelings knowing he was married. He loves his wife, how could he have fallen into another woman's lap just because his wife was busy with her duties in the hospital? He could have handled it differently. It mattered to him he had a kid with Sheetal, but does that mean he needed to cheat on his wife by hiding the truth and being emotionally drawn towards Sheetal? Aarav was still fine, as he was his own blood. Why was he drawn to Sheetal as well? Why did he hide the truth from his wife? He shouldn't have. Khushi found it out herself and the look in her eyes haunted him from that moment. All the emotions he held up for Sheetal seemed to disappear as the divorce was finalized in court. It suddenly became difficult to accept Sheetal as his wife. Yet he tried his best to accept Sheetal amidst the guilt and regret filling his heart. It was wounding his heart beyond limits.

Amidst the chaos of emotions he was stuck in, Sheetal had only one thing to worry about. Her mind was triggered by the tense he used for his wife amidst a few words, particularly, a four-lettered word. She knew if she wanted Jay to be completely hers and her son's, she needed Khushi out of his life, physically. If she wouldn't be physically around him, he'd get her out of his mind, emotionally too, for, psychology said a person can forget the loved one if their physical reminders weren't there anymore. It'd take time. She'd give him that, to accept Khushi isn't alive anymore, to forget her, to forgive himself, and to accept her.

She tried killing Khushi. All for her family. She didn't leave any clues. How the hell on the earth they narrowed it down to her? She couldn't understand. Or it might be something else and she was worrying for nothing. All this while, her expressions were normal. Tensing up would only push her into the den, and who know they weren't even here for that matter and know nothing and she was here, being very obvious of her deeds? She acted normal and did so perfectly. A naked eye wouldn't be able to find out unless experienced.

Alex didn't get the job with no experience or Adam wasn't too kind to grant him one without skills and experience.

He gestured his guards and they were in front of Sheetal and a terrified Aarav, taking her into their custody as they dragged her out. Aarav cried calling for his mother.

Jay didn't get to understand anything and stopped Alex from walking away, "Why are you taking her?"

"Because she did all the good deeds. Some of us became mental because of that and wanted treatment!" He was sarcastic, well, Alex, by nature, is sarcastic and when it's related to Jay who was a fool enough to cheat on their Khushi Madam, he was more interested in being sarcastic only to prove how much more foolish he could be.

"What?" Jay was still confused by his words and understood there was a hidden taunt in the words. But what? He couldn't understand that.

"Sir, ask your girlfriend if she didn't try to kill Khushi Madam?" Alex, sighed, huffing, and pointed towards Sheetal who was out of the flat with her arms arrested by the guards.

It'd be an understatement if one said Jay was astonished. He was beyond that and didn't know how to react. He never expected it from Sheetal. She wasn't that kind of person. Was she? He looked at Sheetal, his blue eyes dipping into the deep ocean holding all the questions, "I did not do it."

Sheetal lied, looking straight in the eye. Someone said eyes are the greatest betrayal.

And Sheetal's eyes looked nothing less at the moment.

Alex wasn't behind in retorting, "We have got proof." They aren't fools to barge into someone's flat and take someone into their custody. Neither of their job responsibilities would allow that.

Sheetal was struggling a lot to come out of their hold but wasn't able to. They were strong and she was lean. They were about to take her away when Jay stopped them again, "Wait for a minute."

If they were saying they have proof, there's no doubt Sheetal would be the culprit. Yet he wanted to hear from her mouth.

"Is it true? Did you try to kill Khushi?" He gulped down the pain, he didn't know he was staying with a woman who claimed to be the mother of his son, the same woman who loved him, and the woman is the reason behind Khushi's murder attempt.

He thought whatever happened with Khushi was an accident...until today.

"No, I did not," she denied, quite confidently. He shook his head in disappointment at her white lie. If it was anyone else in Alex's place, he would have given a chance to doubt their conclusion. But it was Alex, he would never make any mistakes in Khushi's matter. Alex considered Khushi nothing less than a younger sister.

"Why did you do that?" he croaked, hurt by her lies and actions. Didn't she think what would happen to Aarav? Did she hate Khushi so much? He wasn't able to even get a hunch about it let alone recognize it?

Sheetal sighed, coming out of her oblivious being, knowing Jay had already believed Alex and realized she was lying.

"What do you want me to do? I tried all the ways you'd concentrate on me, love me but you've always been drawn towards her," she complained, hate pouring out from her words. How didn't he notice the malice in her eyes before? So true eyes can lie and Sheetal's eyes definitely did. Aarav was beside his father, crying.

"Just because of you, I had to cheat on Khushi," he gritted his teeth in anger. Because of a woman like her, he indeliberately, and quite successfully cheated on his ex-wife. He could have hit her, but not in front of Aarav, and the guilt that he himself was the reason to destroy his marriage life didn't let him. He was to blame as well.

"As if you were a saint, you had an option! But you chose to cheat. Don't blame me alone," Sheetal pointed out. Jay shook his head, closing his eyes in regret. He had an option, isn't that true? He realized that a long ago. Sheetal doesn't need to remind him of that.

He chuckled, his eyes pained. He remembered a phrase he read somewhere long ago, 'Laughter with a reason doesn't need medicine but Laughter without a reason needs one! For that would be abnormal, and hid his pain as he chuckled humorlessly, '"You-"

Alex cut him off before it could extend more, "Enough, sweethearts. You can play this blame game in the jail, and Jay, I'll make sure you get to meet her in the jail. You can continue fighting there. We're hungry right now. Goodbye!"

He neither cared about the child nor the man in question as they dragged Sheetal away that night.

Jay and his son, Aarav had a long night, a night full of nightmares. He was busy consoling his crying son and had a difficult time taming him to sleep.

If it was a good night for someone, it couldn't have been the same for someone else and with Sheetal Kapoor in their life, it was proved.

———————————————

The next day,

Arnav was working on some of the materials for the designs he made for the event when he was disturbed by a voice.

"Hello, Mr. Raizada!" Arnav was surprised to find AG at his office in the morning hours. He didn't understand the reason for his visit. Nonetheless, he welcomed the man inside the material room.

"Good Morning, Sir," he greeted, moving out a chair for him to sit. They have a small office table and one head chair along with two other chairs in front of it.

"How's your work going?" he asked, denying the seat and examining the material Arnav was working on.

"It's good," Arnav whispered, his voice low but loud enough in the silent room.

AG nodded, he could see that well. The material Arnav was using for the design they made is commendable. The young man had talent and it was proven to an extent today. But there's a lot he needed to learn. Putting his business mind aside, Adam started for what he was here for.

"Alright. Let me come straight to the point, did you abuse my daughter while she was working with you?" he raised his eyebrows, it could intimidate anyone but Arnav!

Arnav was stunned at his words and composed himself from it soon enough, he never did any wrong, unless he was out of control with his anger, and he would just admit that.

"I'm still waiting," AG asked, looking at the man and his face's varying emotions.

"No. Never deliberately," he muttered. Never was the keyword here and Adam acknowledged that. Whatever Story Payal had been saying didn't match the word — Never.

"Payal had another story to say. What do you say about that?" he questioned, putting aside the material and looking at him straight in the eye. His gaze would normally make the opposite temple, whether men or women, never mattered. Arnav seemed out of the list and fell into the rare list of humans who didn't fear him.

"Khushi totally misunderstood my intentions. You can check CCTV installed in my office. I never abused her," he said, now he was sure Khushi had Amnesia. Dhruv while having dinner amidst so many random conversations, also discussed Khushi, and thanks to Dhruv, he knows Khushi suffered from Amnesia in an accident that occurred while she was going to a Medical Conference in Mumbai.

"I'll. Don't worry about that. Until then, just know my eyes are always on you!" He muttered and bidding bye and luck, he walked away. He had already kept men for getting the CCTV footage and they'll arrive soon. He'd know whether Arnav was telling the truth or not. Although it looked like Arnav wasn't lying, his confident demeanor screamed high about the same.

But he can't be fooled, again. Appearances can lie. Outside of a human can be a lie. And no one had the power to peek inside.

Only people who truly love the man in question would be able to peek inside. Obviously, Adam isn't close to Arnav.

Arnav looked at AG's back till he disappeared. AG's words took him back to the day he had met Khushi again, in Sheesh Mahal.

"Khushi?" he called out for her as soon as he entered the room where he told his guards to lock Khushi. 

He was surprised to find her in his arms out of all places, she was walking on his stage? He caught her before she fell and was shocked out of his wits looking at her form. The Khushi he know never had a nose pin, and neither she wore so much jewelry. He had never seen her like that.

Not getting any response, he called out for her again, "Khushi?"

Khushi who realized someone calling her got up from the floor, she hated darkness and reason was unknown to her. She got up running towards the door and Arnav was fast enough to hold her back. He didn't let her go, gripping her arms tight, "Let me go, my sister's marriage will break if you don't let me!"

"I'll not let you go before you tell me why you acted before?" Arnav wasn't listening to any of her words. She was here again, in front of him, and assumed she was acting. And the acting she does, he knew was too perfect. The last time he didn't get the chance to ask her and he wouldn't leave her, without knowing anything today.

"I'm not acting. I really don't know how I reached the show. It's all that manager's mistake!" She pleaded. Arnav loosened his grip on her still not leaving her grip. There was a distance of three steps between them and she wanted an escape.

"I am talking about that. I am talking-" he continued. Her denial didn't go well with him. He wasn't able to continue his sentence. She released herself from him and took a six-foot distance away from him. He walked nearer to her only to be cut off by Khushi even before he could open his mouth, "Don't touch me, or else I'll kill you!"

"Look, listen to me-" he tried again and Khushi shook her head vigorously, her face all red from the crying session she had, and tears were still rolling down her eyes.

"No. Let me go." She walked to the other side and Arnav blocked her way again, whispering her name, "Khushi.."

Why is she denying recognizing him? Why is she acting? Is she really the one he thought she was or did he misunderstand?

She was about to walk to the other side but Arnav was already in front of her, turning her around, Khushi wiggled while he was turning her around, and struggled a lot to get out of his arms and struggled so hard that when he was about to touch the white long scar on her back, her Dori got broken. It wasn't deliberate. He just wanted to feel the scar and get confirmed she was the same Khushi who let him touch her scar before. But Khushi was too scared of what he would do that she kept wiggling, moving her back. His hand got entangled with her Dori before could touch her in the process.

Broken pearls rolling down on the floor were enough to get them out of the stupor. They were still all of a sudden, both of them widening their eyes in shock at what had happened. While Arnav immediately left Khushi. Khushi could misunderstand his intentions more than she already did.

A man locking her in a room for the night didn't seem great to her.

"What are you doing? Please leave me." She pleaded, immediately leaving her hair to cover her bare back with only a string of cloth musing the blouse together.

"I am just-" he didn't know how to explain it to her. He wasn't the least affected one here. An equally affected one if not more if one could measure. He became someone he hated the most, although it wasn't a deliberate attempt. He still did.

"What just, what if someone else behaves like this with your mother or sister?" she cuts him, screaming at him in anger, and there, the word mother had triggered him enough to burst.

"Don't you dare talk like that!" he warned, gritting his teeth, still maintaining the distance. He didn't like her words. Period! And the Khushi he know would never use words like that.

"I'll dare, you-" she was cut off by Arnav who shut her mouth with his hand, pointing his palm towards her. Her lips trembled in fear at his words, "Not a word more!"

She tried escaping again and couldn't get out of his way. Arnav sighed at her stubborn nature and was about to take the phone from his pocket messaging his guards and looking around, still blocking her when she started hitting him on the chest. He immediately backed away from the sudden touch, anxiety started engulfing him and he didn't know when he twisted her arms in defense.

"Aah! You're hurting me!" she screamed, in pain.

He came to his senses and left her in reflex. He regretted hurting her, he was engulfed by his own demons and didn't know what was he doing and uttered in a croaked voice, "I..I'm sorry."

But she was gone. Long gone! The message his guard outside the room received was fast and he already acted on his Boss's command.

He was left all alone in the room and it took a few minutes to compose himself. The fear from her sudden touch had got him anxious and it always takes a few minutes to calm his heart down.

And when he went out, he saw Khushi nowhere. He was back to being the ASR and covered his red eyes, goggles did help him the best in hiding his emotions.

"Make sure, none of the photographs gets released!" he commanded before walking away, looking around, trying to search for Khushi but she was nowhere as if she was never there and all of it was his hallucinations. The pearls in his pocket did give him some hope but what if they were his hallucinations too?

The guard who was commanded to do what he was supposed to do, walked down the hall to do the needed until he met another ASR.

"Advay sir?"

———————————————

It's been two days since he came to know about Dhruv and Myra and was meeting them frequently after his office hours. Sharing a cup of coffee with his brother and Myra who had become better with his presence had given him immense joy. Even he wanted to stay here with all who truly loved him.

Who would want to go to a toxic family when he had Dhruv here? If he was willing to go, it was only because he had his reasons..until he got the phone call.

"Yes, Aman!" he answered, flipping the file. He also needed to be the perfect one in Fashion Gala. There's yet a lot of time and he still couldn't waste, thinking on that line. He was engrossed in it when he heard his intercom ring.

"Congratulations, Sir." He frowned listening to his employee beaming at him in joy. Why would his manager congratulate him and for what? They didn't have any client meetings and the one they had was with Gravity Fashion House which had only approved their designs and the event is almost six months away.

"For what?" he muttered, resuming burning the file with his gaze.

"Don't you know? Tomorrow is your engagement with the chudail Lavanya," he implored. Aman was also one of his rare friends. That kind of friend who would anyway, even without your consent, becomes your friend and calls themselves one. He was one of a kind. It was also a well-known fact that he never liked Lavanya with his boss.

"What the!" How was he supposed to react? His signature line came out of his mouth before he registered his words. He was getting engaged? And he himself didn't know that? Wow! That was a piece of news. He could now connect the dots why Lavanya left without any hunch. It was all his family's drama.

Huh! He expected nothing less than that as well. It took only a few seconds to come to the conclusion.

"In fact, in some time, Raizadas will distribute the invitation cards to your clients and acquaintances," Aman informed and Arnav snorted, rolling his eyes, "Well, good for them!"

"ASR?" Aman raised his eyebrows in wonder. What was his boss saying? He was a secret baggage carrying information he gets to know of Raizadas other than being his manager. Arnav never asked that. He himself took up the responsibility! All because he liked Arnav more than all of the other Raizadas for whom he has no respect. Their behavior was such!

"Aman, listen to me carefully, I'll be coming tonight but before do as I said," Arnav instructed. He know the situation would come up anytime and it's just that he didn't expect it to be this fast!

"Whatever you say, ASR," Aman, though, confused about why would he want to return, knows another fact ASR wouldn't do anything without reason.

Now that he knew what his family was up to, he was ready to implement his long-delayed plan.

He had to just wait and watch, waiting for the drama that would create havoc among Raizadas and Kashyaps.

To be continued.., 

Let me know what you think of the update!

P.S. I'm changing my pen name to Poly!

What do you think about Arnav and Khushi in the past?

Sheetal?

Jay?

Aarav?

Regards,

Poly

24/01/2023