Khushi wasn't able to stay awake anymore.

It was dawn,3.45 am and she was on the verge of becoming a victim of the Oblivion. .

"No Khushi.. You can't lose this time. That Shaitaan has to be awake" She said to herself, while taking her phone in her hand, browsing through the contacts and wondering whom to call next,to disturb her Boss/Husband, aka ASR's sleep..

She was just about to hit the green button,when a hand on her shoulder shook her off her senses..

She turned back in excitement to find, it was none other than Arnav, whose eyes were red just like hers, as a result of being sleep-deprived..

"AAP??????" She uttered in astonishment and before she could say anything else, he held her from her waist,and put her petite body on his shoulder and headed towards their room.

Khushi made all the efforts to get rid of his hold,by squirming, but nothing seemed to work.

He finally reached their room and threw her on the bed..

"Ab Ek Aur Shabd Kaha toh, subah ka wo poora ka poora cello-tape tumhare muh mein laga dunga" (Now If You utter any other word, I'll put that cello tape in your mouth) ,Said an agitated,sleep deprived Arnav,who was on the verge of dozing off any minute.

Khushi's mouth flung open hearing his orders and she was just about to say something when she saw Arnav falling over the bed, just beside her and adjusting himself,to sleep.

Khushi- What the hell are you doing?

Arnav's limit of tolerance was now gone. He flipped himself in a way, that he was on top of her and guarded her from both the sides with his hands.

He brought his face closer, while Khushi softly remarked-

"Where is the partition..?"

She could feel his warm breath on her face and for a second she felt, all her drowsiness went to some other galaxy.

Arnav brought his face more closer to hers and finally whispered-

".. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, I'm very sleepy and I can see that even you're sleepy. So now without any further ado, will you please let your husband sleep? Or else, not only for the next 24 hours but for the next 24 years, I'll make it sure, that you will never be able to sleep.."

Saying this, he withdrew his hands and turned to the other side, to finally sleep..

Khushi, who was still under the effect of the scary scene of Arnav on top of her,finally came out of her reverie and turned to the other side, trying to maintain as much distance as possible in the small cot, from her husband.

Before closing her eyes, she muttered to herself with complete disgust-

"Laad Governor"

..Arnav, who was pretending to have fallen asleep, caught her saying this and in return, he uttered-

"Pagal Ladki"

They both finally fell asleep, though in the same bed, but thoughts way apart from eachother..

**

The chirping of the birds suggested that it was morning and Arnav finally opened his eyes.

He was about to look at his watch, when his eyes caught the most beautiful sight in the world..

His wife, sleeping peacefully, facing him, clutching his arms.

A smile automatically took over his face and he slowly stroked his hand over her cheeks and slowly moved the strand of hair, coming over her face..

".. Bass Kuch Din aur Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.. Uske baad, ye jo distance tumne hamare beech bana rakhi hai.. Use main hamesha, hamesha ke liye mita dunga (Just a few days more, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, and after that, whatever distance you have kept between us, I'll erase that forever..)" Said Arnav to himself.

Reluctantly, withdrawing his hand from her face, he took a glance at the watch. It was 6.45 am.

He had to get back to Raizada Mansion as early as possible,for he had to make plans for the next hours,for his "Mission to Win Khushi Back"

He quickly took out a white envelope from the opcket of his track pants and kept it on the bed side table. He grabbed his mobile and car keys from the same place, wore his shoes and proceeded towards the door to leave, when he suddenly stopped and turned back.

.

.

He came near the cot, where his beautiful, crazy wife was still sleeping..

He bent down his face, close to hers and softly planted a kiss on her forehead..

"Will see you soon, Mrs. Raizada"

He softly spoke into her ears, displaying the ever green smirk on his face and then he finally rushed to the main door and left..

**

"Khusi? E Khushi? Aur Kitna So gi? (Khusi? For how long will you sleep?)"

Buaji shouted her name in the entire house,waking up the sleeping beauty ultimately.

She stretched her hands and yawned, still not satisfied with the almost 4 hours sleep she got.

She looked onto the other side of the bed, to find it empty and that gave her some relief.

"Thank God this Laad Governor, isn't here" She thanked her stars, when she suddenly spotted the white envelope on the bed side table.

She got off her bed and quickly grabbed the envelope with her right hand.

She opened it quickly and found all notes of 500 Rs.

Khushi counted it all within seconds and breathed a sigh of relief to see that it was full 24,000 !

She kept the money back in the envelope and kept it inside the drawer of her dressing table.

"Chalo, Laad governor ne koi toh promise poora kiya( Atleast, Laad Governor fulfilled one promise properly) She muttered to herself and proceeded towards the living room to have the morning tea with her family..

.

.

She took the first sip of her tea, when her phone rang and her facial expression changed from an original U to an inverted U..

"Laad Governor, Subah subah mood kharab karenge(This laad governor. Early morning, he will ruin my mood)" She once again spoke to herself.

She kept the cup of tea in the dining table and excused herself from her family and went inside her room, to avoid the glares of Buaji and Amma..

Khushi- Kahiye? Kaise Yaad Kiya Hamare Aka? (Say, Why you remembered me, my lord?)

Arnav- Tumhari bakwas ke liye time nahi hai mere paas, sidha kaam ki baat suno (I don't have time for your nonsense, get to work)

Khushi's face became blue,out of her anger..

Arnav- Got the money?

Khushi- Yes

Arnav- Good..

Khushi- So, what do I have to do now?

Arnav- Umm,nothing..

Khushi- WHAT?

Arnav- You heard that right.. You don't have to do anything.. Wait for the next task..

Saying this he hung up, and Khushi was left surprised.

**

The bell rang at Gupta House, and Khushi rushed to the door and finally opened it.

This time, she was not sad or shocked to see Shukla Ji, the landlord standing at her door step, rather she was happy that now finally she and her family would be rid of the debt called- House Rent.

Without giving a chance to the mid-aged man to speak, Khushi ran towards her room, grabbed the white envelope and came back to the door and handed him the same.

The man took out the money from the envelope and started counting it, like a proper business man.

Khushi- Gin lijiye,poore ke poore 24,000 hai(Count,count..Its full 24000 bucks)..

Her broad smile never left her face all this while, until the man's face formed a frown and he remarked-

"How can it be full then? You have to pay 24,000 Rs more"

Khushi's smile dropped in an instant and she gazed at the man as if she saw a ghost standing in front of her.

"24,000 MORE???? WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN????" Khushi inquired, speaking at the top of her voice.

Shuklaji- The new developers who have bought the rights to this entire area has also demanded for the maintenance charges and hence, now the amount that sums up for you to pay is 24000 more..

Khushi's eyes didn't blink even for a second and it seemed as if she was on the verge of having a nervous break down.

She finally gathered herself and in a stern voice said-

"Who is this new developer? How dare he impore such things on us? That too without any prior notice,at the 11th hour??"

"That all I don't know. You have to pay the remaining amount by hook or crook, within tomorrow or else,you all have to leave the house", Said the landlord in a commanding tone.

Khushi- Shuklaji, try to understand, please..

Shuklaji- I can't do anything..

"If you want to do anything, here, this is the card of the developers who got this area under them.

Do what you like,talk or negotiate with them. I want the rest of the money by tomorrow,by any means." He added,while handing over the visiting card to Khushi and left.

**

Khushi closed the door behind her back and all this while,she kept staring at the card of the developers.

She hurriedly went to her room,closed the door and thinking for two minutes,finally dialed the number written on the card.

.

.

Khushi- Hello? AK developers?

Man- Yes.

Khushi- Hum, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada bol rahe hai.(This is KKGSR speaking)

Man- Yes, How can I help you?

Khushi cleared her throat and finally spoke..

"Actually I am a resident of Laxmi Nagar, Srithi society and I got to know that recently your company has bought the rights to this region. Actually, due to some financial crisis, we are not in the state to pay the additional amount of 24,000 Rs, so I just wanted to request you,if you could kindly reduce the amount of maintenance charges..."

There was a brief pause from the other side,and for a second Khushi had to look at her mobile screen to check whether the call was still active or not,when the man on the other end finally spoke-

"Hmm.. Well, we can understand.. I see.. So..."

Khushi's face enlightened with a ray of hope, when suddenly she heard the man complete his sentence-

"..So.. Why don't you meet me at my residence. Say, tonight?"

Khushi's face shattered in a fraction of second and her doe-shaped eyes widened in disgust and shock..

She couldn't believe her ears and she cut the call in anger.

In no time, she changed into a pair of her anarkali suit and lashed out of the house, her hands formed into fists and her teeths clenched in anger.

She took one last glance at the card,to make sure she was going to the correct address,and when she was certain that she had reached the correct spot, she asked the auto driver to stop.

.

.

Khushi ran in rage, and entered the building. She didn't bother to take the elevator and rushed through the stairs.

The receptionist stood up to greet the guest but Khushi didn't give her a chance and in a rapid pace went towards the Chair person's room.

The office crowd had already gathered,to see a woman storming into the Chairman's cabin in complete anger.

She opened the door of the cabin and entered without a second thought.

The receptionist and other staff stood at the doorway, unaware of what this drama was all about.

"What the Hell do you think of youself????????" Khushi shouted at the top of her voice, making all the eyebrows of the employees rise in surprise, thinking who this woman was who had the audacity to talk that way to their boss.

The man at the other end sitting in a revolving chair, had his back facing Khushi..and he seemed to be completely unaffected by whatever words she was uttering.

"Are you even listening to me??? How dare you ask me to spend a night at your residence??? Do you even know,I'm married?" Khushi continued, without any pause between the phrases.

She took a step forward and was about to say something, when suddenly the chair at the other end revolved and Khushi's eyes were startled to see the vision in front her..

.

.

It was none other than Arnav, sitting right in front of her, having that same smirk on his face, staring at his wife, with love, with power,with aggression and with the joy of winning..

Khushi couldn't believe her sight anymore. It felt as if this was some nightmare, she was in, maybe because she didn't have a proper sleep last night.

**

Arnav stood up from his chair and made his way towards Khushi, who was still trapped in the shock of seeing him here.

.

.

"I know you are married Khushi.. And I guess, it seems only legit for that reason that you should come back home, to my residence.." Arnav spoke softly, making Khushi finally comprehend that it was not any nightmare, but the truth, that he had once again won with his tactics of defeating her,like always.

.

.

"Aap?...Aapne ye sab kiya? Itni Giri hui harkat? (You?...You did all this? Such a cheap thing?)

Khushi spoke,gritting her teeth,unable to control her anger this time.

Arnav's face didn't lose the smirk and he rested his back on the edge of the round table in the

cabin.

Folding his hands against his chest, he said-

"Khushi, if you want the rent rates to be negotiated, you have to come back home.."

.

.

"Not even in your wildest dream, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada" She replied.

Arnav- Fine! If that's your ultimate decision, then I can't help it. We have to demolish Buaji's house.

Khushi's face was shattered, not because of the house being demolished but because every time she thought, he has changed, he always changed her mis conception and brought her back to reality which echoed- ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA CAN NEVER CHANGE!

After a period of silence, she finally spoke-

"Hume manzoor hain..(I agree)"

Arnav's face lightened up with a broad smile as he thought that this score was his too and the ball was once again in his court.

Arnav- Good then.. You go back home now, I'll pick you up in the evening.

.

.

Khushi- No,Mr. Raizada! I don't need any of your help! And FYI, I didn't comply with your conditions.

Arnav looked at her, his eyes perplexed.

"I'm not going to come back home. Not at any cost. Do whatever you like.." Khushi remarked, her voice determined.

Arnav liked it.

His wife was always giving him tough competition,in terms of everything. But he knew, the game was definitely going to be a win for him and hence, he commented-

"Ok then.. Let's see Mrs. Raizada. Who wins"

"But,I know.. Come What May, YOU will HAVE to come back to Raizada Mansion" He further added.

Khushi gazed at Arnav for 5 seconds, her eyes still full of anger,when she finally turned back and was about to leave the cabin,when suddenly she felt her dupatta stuck some where from behind.

"WHAT THE???" For the first time, Khushi stated her husband's signature phrase,while she turned back to look at him and to her surprise,she saw that he was standing with his hands free,looking at her with an evil grin on his face.

"It's stuck there" Arnav pointed out with his index finger, and she finally saw her dupatta was stuck in the door of the cabin.

She pulled the dupatta ,with full force and got it free, and finally lashed out of the room,giving Arnav an angry look.

.

.

For some moments, Arnav stood there as-it-is, cherishing his victory at the same time, smiling,admiring how beautiful his wife looked when she was all angry.

**

"Whoa, That was a hugee drama, wasn't it?"

Arnav heard some of the employees in the corridor, murmuring,chit-chatting amonst themselves..

"Yeah, right.. and who was that lady,who dared to challenge Boss?"

"..Whoever she was yaar, wasn't she an Absolute Item? Looked Gorgeous, didn't she?"

Arnav's hands clenched into fists and he approached the man who made that nasty comment against his wife.

Within a fraction of second, he held that man from his collar and turned him to face him and slapped his face hard making everybody's eyes wide in terror and shock.

"How dare you...?" Arnav gritted through his teeth.

".. Do you know who she is? ... MRS. ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA!!"

Everybody's eyes grew larger than its size, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets..

"You are FIRED!!" Said Arnav,to the man, finally leaving his collar and proceeding towards his cabin, once again..

**

Khushi finally reached Laxmi Nagar.

Her face was totally dull and lacked the smile, that used to be always visible on her face.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the door bell of her house,but to her surprise, she found that the bell wasn't ringing.

To make sure there wasn't anything wrong with her ears, she kept pressing the switch again and again,when she finally understood that it was really not ringing.

Thinking,there was a power cut, she knocked the door twice.

.

.

Buaji came running and opened the door and Khushi entered the house.

The dullness in her face aggravated when she noticed the upset face of Buaji..

Khushi- Buaji? Kya Hua? Sab thik hai na? (Buaji? What happened? Everything is fine na?)

Buaji- NandKisore! Ka bataye Sanka devi, hamare ghar ki bijli kaat di gayi hai (NandKisore! What to say,sanka devi? The electricity of the house has been cut)

Khushi- WHAT????????

Khushi stood up, her mobile falling from her hand..

Buaji- And not only the electricity Titaliya, the water supply has also been stopped..

Khushi couldn't take it anymore..

It was supposed to be a one on one game, but Arnav had crossed all his limits by bringing her family in between his games. Khushi's patience had crossed its boundaries.

She was a girl, who was lively,chirpy, and could do anything for the sake of others' happiness, for the sake of her family's happiness. Be it tolerating the ill-treatments of her husband, after their contract marriage or bearing the tantrums of the Raizada family after the Shyam Fiasco.

But under any circumstance, she could not take the fact of her family suffering due to her or her husband, who was hell bent on winning and ready to go to any extents to get her back.

"He has crossed all the extremes.." Khushi thought in her mind, and she rushed towards her room, shutting the door tight behind her back.

Tears rolled down her cheeks,as she recalled all the past moments, of how he misbehaved with her,how he manhandled her,at the same time images flashed in front of her eyes contrasting, making her remember the times, he took care of her, protected her and did things to make her smile.

She broke down to tears, sitting on the floor, hugging her knees, her head resting between her legs.

.

.

She couldn't let her family suffer because of her. But there was no question,of her going back to Raizada Mansion.

For him, only winning, money and power mattered.

He manipulated the universe with money and thought everything in this world can be bought by it.

With every single thought, her tears kept flowing from her eyes,making her vision blurry.

Her right hand reached out towards her neck, touching the locket of her mangalsutra, which he had forcefully made her wear, on the dreadful night at the temple, when he ruined her life completely..

Without a second thought, she pulled the mangalsutra, with all her power and the beads scattered on the floor,leaving her neck completely empty.

**

"Enough now Khushi.. Its enough.." She consoled herself, finally wiping her tears with the back of her hands.

"It's time for Arnav Singh Raizada to understand, that every thing in this world can't be BOUGHT, can't be REPLACED, can't be MANIPULATED" She spoke to herself, while she finally stood up and went towards the small wooden almirah in her room.

She opened it quickly and hands browsed through the ultimate back portion of the second shelf, throwing the other clothes in the front,on the bed.

Her hands finally reached the thing, she was searching for and she gently took it out..

.

.

It was a medium sized box of red color, slightly dusty from outside, being in the back of the shelf untouched,for so long..

She sat on the bed, and softly kept the box on her lap and opened it..

A slight smile, curved up on her face despite of the tears as she took out the things, it contained..

**

Khushi helped buaji with the chores and when they were running short of water, she took two vessels, which were kept under the kitchen counter, and stepped outside the main door to fetch water from the nearby tubewell..

Before she could proceed further, she noticed a White SUV stopping outside her house.

She need not guess who's car it was. Ignoring the man getting out of the car, she continued walking towards the tubewell, when suddenly he pulled her from her wrist, making her come close to him..

.

.

"What are you doing?" Arnav asked her, while removing his shades with his left hand.

"..You can't see or you're pretending that you can't see? I'm going to fetch water.." She replied, completely unenthusiastic..

Arnav- Khushi,You don't have to do all this. Just come back home.

Khushi didn't even shared an eye contact with him. What ever had happened since the morning, was enough ground for her to not talk to him.

"Khushi! Look at me, When I'm talking to you!!" Arnav spoke, at the same time tightening his grip on her wrist.

But his words seem to have no impact on her, she behaved as if he was talking to a wall..

Arnav's face became angry to the core, when he suddenly noticed that the mangalsutra was missing from her neck..

He withdrew his hand from her wrist and for a moment, he was having second thoughts to justify his vision..

.

.

His hand approached her neck, when she abruptly moved back, evading his touch.

Arnav was about to take a step forward when he heard buaji calling out for him, standing in the Verandah of the house.

Khushi took advantage of the opportunity and disappeared from the scene in a second,leaving alone, a startled Arnav..

**

It was 6.00pm in the evening.

Arnav was in his room, resting on the recliner,his eyes wide open..

"..Am I doing right?"

His conscience questioned him..

.

.

"But there is no other way, she would agree to come"

The ASR in him, answered the interrogation framed by his own conscience.

Arnav was deeply engrossed in the battle of his mind and heart,when he heard the door bell ring.

He jumped out of the recliner, a smile automatically taking over his face.

"Khushi! She is finally here.."

He spoke to himself, and rushed out of his room, running down the stair case..

He finally reached the main door and opened it..

**

His smile widened to see his wife standing on the door step, looking at him..

She wore the red suit- his favourite colour and Arnav could no longer control his happiness and took a step ahead to hug her and take her in his embrace, to start this new journey of 'forever' with his love, with his khushi..

But his smile instantly faded and his face shattered, when Khushi took a step back, making him stare at her in confusion.

.

.

He noticed her taking something out from her bag and all this while, he couldn't make out what was happening..

Khushi took out a fat bundle of notes from her side bag, and placed it on Arnav's right palm..

Arnav didn't have the slightest idea to what she was doing and why she was doing all this..

.

.

"..Its 1 Lac Rupees, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada.. Gin Lijiyega, achi tarah se(Count it, properly)" Khushi finally spoke, her eyes still swollen due to the endless tears, but her face as determined and firm as ever..

Arnav kept staring at her, with absolutely no expression on his face. For the first time in life, the mighty ASR was having absolutely nil idea about what he was facing!

"You think everything can be bought with money right? Well, then here it is.. I had to pay 24,000 extra isn't it? Here I pay more than double of it.. Is that enough? Or something more is needed?

Khushi said,without any pause.

Arnav went a step ahead stretching his hand to touch her, when she stepped backwards and shouted-

"Don't you dare try to touch me, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada!"

"I've had enough of it! Enough of your dirty,filthy games.. But this time.. This time, you've crossed all your limits, by bringing in my family into this.."

.

.

".. FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT,RIGHT? SO IMPORTANT, THAT YOU CAN GO TO THE EXTENT OF RUINING A GIRL'S LIFE BY FORCEFULLY MARRYING HER IN ORDER TO SAVE YOUR SISTER'S MARRIAGE.."

"SO IMPORTANT, THAT DESPITE THE INNOCENCE OF A GIRL, SHE HAD TO BE ILL TREATED EVERY TIME.."

"SO IMPORTANT, THAT DESPITE DOING NOTHING WRONG, SHE HAD TO SPEND DAYS AND NIGHTS LISTENING TO THE TANTRUMS OF YOUR FAMILY"

Khushi went on speaking without any break, when Arnav finally stepped forward and trying to console her,kept his hand on her shoulder and said-

"Khushi..Listen to me.."

.

.

"NO MR. ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA! YOU LISTEN TO ME.." She once again, broke him midway..

Khushi- FOR YOU ONLY MONEY,POWER AND FAME MATTERS RIGHT? THEN BE IT! YOU CANT ALWAYS WIN!! YOU HAVE GOT THE MONEY RIGHT? THEN JUST SET ME FREE!

"Khu.." Arnav's eyes were moist now and it was difficult for him to even utter her name..

.

.

"Nothing else, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada.. Everything is now OVER..!!"

Saying this, Khushi turned away to leave when she suddenly stopped and turned back to face him once again..

.

.

"..Don't think I sold that Mangalsutra for repaying the debt,Mr. Raizada! Because, we can sell only those things, which we had ever owned.. And I NEVER OWNED IT!"

Making her final remark, Khushi lashed out of the Raizada Mansion, tears rolling down her cheek.

Tears of leaving the one whom she loved more than her own life, tears of pride that she kept the dignity of herself and her family, tears of failing.. failing in love..failing in the attempt of changing this ruthless man, who never saw anything beyond power..

.

.

Arnav stood at the door way, with the bundle of 1 lac still in his hands.. His eyes completely welled up with tears, when he finally realized that time was ticking away, his life was running away from him, his Khushi was going away from him..

"KHUSHI!!!!!!!!!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and came out of the Raizada mansion, just to find it was too late and she was no where to be found...

**