The Raizadas sat down at the dinning table still in shock at what just happened.

Nani who always prided herself as the respectable matriarch of the Raizada family was feeling defeated and slapped with her own hypocrisy.

Anjali state was no different from Nani. She always thought she will forever be the one in control but yesterday her fear of being replaced was confirmed when Akash who had never spoken back at anyone since his childhood literally threatened to kick them out if they disrespect his wife but today that fear has become a reality. A reality that she no longer runs things but Payal does.

Mami who was always confident Payal will bow down to her was now imagining Payal making her work like a slave and she knew all it takes was a complaint to her son and she will literally be turned into a slave to serve Payal and that scared the living daylight out of her.

Shyam on the other hand couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Khushi was rich. And the fact that Shashi was going to get treatment didn't sit well with him and he knew if he is able to speak, he will rat him out.

"Khushi is a rich woman!..... And look at how am wasting my time with this limp...... I have to do something to be in Khushi's good book and that way manipulating her to be mine will be easier........ And also find a way to get rid of that Shashi." He thought forgetting Arnav will make him regret his existence if he came closer to Khushi.

"Well.... Well..... Well. " Manohar slapped breaking their reveries. " Finally maa someone broke your illusion of thinking because you have grey hair and older than everyone you are always right...... To tell you the truth..... Payal wasn't disrespectful as you all think she is...... All she did was call out you and your so called granddaughter's bullshit...... If I were you all I will not provoke her any further because silent women like her are more deadly when provoked...... All she needs is ask and it shall be fulfilled by Akash....... Come on Nk....... We have things to do. " Manohar said and walked out with Nk.

Shyam stood up and left and Anjali knew he was planning on wooing Khushi now more than ever because she is not only beautiful but rich us well.

Immediately they got to the room Anjali started her nagging.

"I know you are planning on leaving me for that witch..... But I won't let you. " Anjali yelled and Shyam laughed.

"And who is going to stop me..... You!...... With what army...... Arnav left you..... Your so called father also left you...... You are a bad omen which snatched Arnav's life from him....... And tried to kill him....... Don't provoke me to tell him and the family the truth of your origin." Shyam taunted and moved to the bathroom leaving a crying Anjali behind.

"Where are you papa!?...... I need your help." She cried and Shyam who just stepped out of the bathroom rolled his eyes seeing her and went out.

AR.

Akash stood at the top looking down at the workers changing everything that reminds him of Arnav when his phone rang and the screen displayed an unknown number and he frown and walked into his office and picked the call.

"Hello..... Who is this? " He asked and hearing the voice on the other side made him angry.

"Hi ex...... I just wanted to hear your voice....... And I know you know who I am. " The person replied.

"What the hell do you want Natasha? " He bellowed.

"Relax my ex...... Am just calling to congratulate you on being chosen to be part of the fashion show Award. " Akash smiled but it drop and turned to anger with what Natasha said next. "Oops....... I forgot it was for Arnav and not you parasite....... So the congratulations must go to him instead of a leech and an incompetent person like you. " Natasha said and laughed making Akash angry.

"Shut up Natasha. " He yelled. "I will prove to all you foolish people that am more qualified to make AR greater than it use to be. " He concluded and started hyperventilating in anger.

"Oh Akash....... You must be a fool of elephantine proportion to think you are above Arnav...... You will always be beneath him like the low life you are." Natasha taunted and laughed and cut the call leaving Akash fuming in anger and he started breaking everything in the office.

"You will pay for this insult...... I promise you will pay you bitch. " He bellowed and walked out of the office and out of AR.

Delhi Rehabilitation Center.

Shashi was wheeled in by Payal much to his displeasure. It hurt Payal but she masked it and pretended not to care but it didn't go unnoticed by Shashi.

"Why are you doing this Payal?...... I feel and know you are hiding something from me..... This is not you..... This is not my sweet Payal who was more like a mother to my little princess than a sister...... I must have failed really badly for you to be hiding whatever you are hiding from me..... I thought ignoring you will force you to tell me the truth but it's not working...... Devi Maiya.... Please help me heal soon so that I can bring my daughters together again and punish that Shyam for making me helpless. " Shashi prayed.

His reverie was broken by the sweet voice of his little princess and he looked up to find her ever smiling daughter and Arnav by her side.

Khushi moved closer and hugged her father and kneeled to his level.

"Don't worry babuji..... I know you will be alright soon..... Because they are the best and the security here is very tight...... I can't wait for you to get better. " Khushi said enthusiastically and wiped the tears cascading down Shashi's cheeks.

He smiled and nodded and looked up to Arnav and he kneeled beside Shashi and held his hand.

Arnav knew what he wanted to say and he smiled at him and said.

"Don't worry Mr Gupta..... I will protect and take very good care of her." Arnav said surprising Shashi who nodded and with much difficulty placed his hand on Arnav's head and blessed him.

Everyone was surprised he was able to raise his hand this far and all immediately knew he will be well soon.

Khushi kissed his cheeks making Shashi smile and Arnav admired the relationship both share. They were not related in any way but their bond was even purer than anything he'd seen.

Payal wanted so much to join them but kept her distance and was admiring them which didn't go unnoticed by Arnav.

"Could Khushi be right about Payal pretending to hate her!?...... There is more to her behavior than we know...... And I will get to the bottom of this. " Arnav thought and Payal who felt a gaze on her looked up to find Arnav looking at her suspiciously and she looked away.

The head of the rehabilitation center together with a couple of nurses and doctors came and took Shashi in after they all said their goodbyes to him. And Madhumati and Garima followed  because they were staying to help Shashi.

Both said goodbye to only Payal thinking Khushi will be hurt and beg them to accept her but were shocked when she royally ignored Madhumati and looked at Garima in disgust which confused her and Madhumati huffed in anger and left with a confused Garima trailing behind.

Payal were about to leave when Khushi called her.

"Wait Payal. " Payal was taken aback when Khushi called her Payal instead of the jiji she has been calling her since they met.

"What do you want? " She asked masking her hurt and Khushi sighed.

"Can I speak to you for a moment. " Khushi requested and Payal nodded and they all walked to the cafeteria and sat down and order some coffee.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Khushi broke it.

"Payal..... I know you hate me and you made that pretty clear a few days ago and to tell you the truth it hurts but I can't turn my back on you for all that you have done for me........ Akash is not a good man and he will only destroy your life..... Please divorce him because he and the family are frauds...... What happened on the day we all got married is the first proof you need." She was confused when Khushi mentioned the family. "The Raizadas are not who they portray themselves to be especially Akash and Anjali." Payal who was listening to all of this saw Akash entering the cafeteria but pretended as if she hadn't seen him. "Please Payal divorce Akash ,he is not a good person..... If not for me do it for yourself. " Khushi begged.

Akash who heard it was fuming in anger but was scared Payal will fall into Khushi's words and was about to yell at Khushi when what Payal said next brought a smile on  his face.

"Sorry Khushi...... Am not leaving Akash because I love him...... And I vowed to stand by him through thick or thin...... And please don't believe whatever nonsense your husband has told you about Akash...... Akash is no cheat because the only cheat is you husband. " Payal said confidently making Akash smirk and an angry Khushi banged her hand on the table and stood up.

"Don't you dare insult my husband. " Khushi bellowed making Payal and the other customers flinch.

"And why shouldn't she Mrs Malik. " Akash said and moved closer to Payal and held her waist.

Akash purposely said Malik thinking it will piss Arnav off but he smiled and stood up and held Khushi's waist and kissed her cheek and looked back at a confused Akash.

"Mrs Malik........ It's not a bad name.......infact am thinking of changing my last name to Malik...." Arnav said while looking at a shocked Akash and more shocking for him was Khushi was also smiling. Arnav then turned to Khushi. "It's of no use making your ex sister see this common thief for who he is.... ... You have tried to make her see but she is blind..... So please let's leave..... When the time comes you  know you did your best and I hope it won't be too late for her. " Arnav said and Khushi nodded and moved out but stopped midway and walked up to Akash.

"Payal will only love one man and that's Abhishek bhai..... She is just confused...... It's that right Payal. " She said looking at Payal.

Akash was fuming in anger at Khushi but melt seeing Payal's face. She moved away from  Akash and said.

"If you think I will be intimidated by your words then you are wrong...... Abhishek is my past and Akash is my present and future..... Don't ever interfere in my life again or I will kill you. " Payal threatened and Khushi was taken aback.

Arnav pulled Khushi back and towered over Payal who got scared seeing the murderous look in his eye.

"I will kill you first before you touch her. " Arnav threatened and turned and held Khushi's hand and they moved out.

Akash then held Payal's hand and they also moved out.

Khushi who had a feeling Payal was pretending was beginning to believe maybe it true her jiji hates her and it hurts her so much that she started crying.

Arnav pulled her into a hug and stroked her back.

"She mean everything she said Arnavji...... She wasn't pretending..... I hurts so much to know my jiji really hates me......... And all because of money and fame...... I lost my jiji....... I lost her Arnavji..... I lost her. " Khushi chanted while crying uncontrollably in Arnav's chest.

"Stop crying Khushi..... You were absolutely right when you said Payal was pretending. " Arnav said and Khushi stopped crying and looked up at him.

"I don't understand. " She said innocently and Arnav smiled.

"I have been observing Payal since we meet and she doesn't hate you like she said..... I saw her admiring you and your father instead of getting angry and the longing in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by me....... Secondly was she did believe you when you spoke of Akash but changed her expression when she saw Akash entering..... I happened to see Akash reflection in the transparent door behind Payal...... I don't know why she is behaving that way but I know for sure Payal doesn't hate you. " Arnav revealed shocking Khushi and warming her heart that Payal doesn't hate her.

"So why is she doing all this? " She asked.

"That is what we have to find out....... " Arnav said and pulled out his phone from his pocket and dailed a number and within two rings the person picked up.

"Hello it's me..... I have a job for you. " Arnav said.

...........................................

"I want you to keep an eye on Payal and report to me if you find or hear anything suspicious...... You are the only one I trust in that house. " Arnav ordered.

.............................................

"Report to me immediately you find anything. " Arnav said and ended the call.

Khushi looked in at him in confusion.

"Who was that? " She asked.

"It's my ever loyal Hari Prakash...... He will be my eyes and ears in RM...... And Aman's men will be my eyes and ears outside RM." He revealed and Khushi smiled and hugged him and he reciprocated.

"Thank you so much Arnavji. " She exclaimed in joy.

"Anything for you my love. " He replied and broke the hug and opened the door for Khushi and entered his side and drove out of the center.

Two weeks and three days later.

Payal had literally become the new boss of the house. And her say was the order of the day.

This irritated Anjali and Nani but they kept quiet remembering how a few days ago Anjali and her were almost kicked out by Akash when he come home to witness an argument between them and Payal and asked them to leave but Payal begged him to let them stay and he agreed.

Mami and Shyam knew better not to provoke Payal and Nk and Manohar was enjoying Payal ordering Anjali and Mami around but were still sad that Aman has refused to tell them where to find Arnav and none of their private investigators they hired has given them any fruitful information not knowing Aman has paid them off to lie to them about not finding the whereabouts of Arnav and Khushi.

As for Akash everything was going on smoothly with the preparation for the  fashion show but was finding it difficult to find a famous showstopper for the show.

He came home one evening only to find Payal standing at the garage smiling at him.

"Something really good might have happened for you to be smiling like that. " He said as he moved closer and engulfed her in a hug.

Payal felt disgusted like she always does but masked it and literally pulled Akash into the house.

"I have a surprise for you. " She said as they got into the hall and a confused Akash followed her gaze only to find Natasha sitting with Mami, Anjali and Nani.

Natasha stood up and walked up to them with a smile.

He whispered. "Natasha!? "

"Yes...... She was my classmate in high school and we meet at the mall two days again and I told her how Arnav betrayed us and told her how you needed a showstopper and since she once worked at AR and is the most famous model in India and overseas, she agreed to help you....... And I invited her to stay here with us. " Payal squealed shocking Akash who was stumped and didn't know how to react.

Natasha smirked seeing his stupefied state and Akash nervously smiled looking at Payal.

He excused himself and left to his room.

Natasha and Payal shared a devilish and victorious smirk which didn't go unnoticed by Hari Prakash who was keeping a close eye on Payal on the order of his favorite boss.

To be continued.

A little image teaser for the next update.

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