Living Room, Armaan's Mansion

Armaan and Rihan's attention is grabbed by Kavya's voice, "Mr. Raichand."

They shift their gaze to the staircase, where they find Kavya descending the steps with Mary following behind.

Kavya's anger didn't go unnoticed by the two men, who have their scrutinizing gaze fixed on her.

Mary glances around and finds two butlers standing at the corner. She dismisses them by gesturing with her hand and they obediently step out of the room. Now only the four of them are left in the living room.

Kavya stands in front of Armaan and forces a fake big smile, scaring Rihan even more. Though Armaan stays unaffected and keeps staring at her.

Kavya states, "Mr. Raichand, I was wondering, we never had a systematic conversation after you confessed the truth."

Before Armaan could react, Kavya realizes something and dramatically slaps her forehead.

She taunts him with a teasing smile, "Oh! What am I saying? How can we have a conversation? The famous business tycoon, Mr. Armaan Raichand, practically RAN AWAY after confessing the truth, WITHOUT INFORMING ME. Right?"

Kavya smirks, seeing Armaan furious with her accusation. Rihan's fear increases and he glances at Mary to ask for help, but she lowers her gaze, rejecting his pleads, non-verbally.

Armaan responds, "Kavya -"

Kavya interrupts, "That's alright Mr. Raichand because I can completely understand your passion towards work. I know, you can do ANYTHING for your company."

A hint of hurt and pain makes an appearance in her eyes, which reduces Armaan's anger. But before he could understand what to do, Kavya blinks away those feelings and stares at him with fury.

Kavya suggests, "Anyways, forget about it. Let's have a talk now, there are certain points, I want to discuss with you."

Armaan frowns in confusion and Kavya demands, "Can we sit somewhere and talk?"

Armaan nods and utters, "Office Room."

Kavya moves aside and instructs, "Lead the way."

Armaan stares at Kavya for a brief moment to understand her intentions, only to fail in reading her thoughts.

Her eyes, her expressions were so unstable and blank, which didn't permit Armaan to draw a conclusion.

It seems, Kavya has build-up walls around herself, which didn't allow anyone to know her thoughts. Her every step, her every act is a surprise for Armaan.

Kavya raises her eyebrows and snaps her finger with a sound, to draw Armaan's attention. He nods and starts walking towards the office room.

Office Room

Armaan takes his seat on his black luxurious revolving chair at one side of the large glossy wooden top table. The table is fitted at the middle of the room with a laptop, stationery and some files.

Kavya is seated across the table, facing him on a brown luxurious revolving chair. She has the cash box, envelope and handwritten agreement placed on the table in front of her.

Armaan places his laced hands on the table and asks, "So what you want to discuss, which even needed their presence?"

Armaan glances at his right, where Rihan and Mary were seated on a black couch.

Kavya admits, "I want to discuss about the terms of my stay in your Mansion. They will be the witnesses of our discussion."

Armaan demands with a frown, "Terms of your stay?"

Kavya states after a nod, "I hope you remember, our talk in the NGO, this morning. I had mentioned, we are as good as strangers."

Armaan frowns, remembering their heated conversation in the NGO, which brings back his anger. Kavya smirks, recalling how she didn't allow Armaan to utter a word and challenged him for the land.

Rihan and Mary share a nervous look. They can feel the tension increasing in the air, but were helpless.

Kavya continues, "Plus Mr. Raichand, I have a belief that strangers shouldn't rely on each other for anything."

Kavya emphasis on each word, "THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE BENEFITS OUT OF THE OTHER."

Anger rises in Armaan with Kavya's each word. But he clenches his fist to control himself and not utter anything inappropriate to Kavya.

Kavya challenges, "Am I right, Mr. Raichand?"

Rihan thinks, after observing Armaan's anger, 'Kavya is playing with fire.'

While Mary thinks with a smile, 'By now, Armaan would have lashed out at the person responsible for his anger. But he is quiet and controlling himself, that means, Kavya has some importance in his life.'

Armaan pinches the bridge of his nose and states, "Look Kavya-"

Kavya interrupts, "First listen to me."

Rihan slightly slaps his forehead while thinking, 'Armaan hates interruptions.'

Kavya opens the cash box and Armaan shifts his gaze to the box and is surprised to find money in the box.

Kavya forwards the cash box and informs, "This money is for every meal, which I ate from your Mansion's kitchen."

Armaan stares at Kavya in confusion, while Kavya leaves the box and takes the envelope which has rent money.

She informs, "INR 50000, the rent of my room, for this month."

Kavya places the envelope beside the box. Armaan stares at her in astonishment, as he fails to understand, why Kavya is giving him the money for meals and room.

Then she grabs the letter and informs, "This is an agreement, which says, I promise to pay monthly rent of INR 50000. It even mentions, I will pay for the meals, I will eat from your Mansion's kitchen."

Armaan opens his mouth to speak, but Kavya interrupts him by informing, "Additionally, if I use anything else, I will pay for that as well. There is a point, if I cause any type of damage to the property or create problems for you, then you are free to charge me for the same."

Kavya places the agreement next to the envelope and glances at Armaan's shocked face.

She turns to face Rihan, who is mirroring Armaan's shocked face, while Mary gives her an appreciating smile.

Kavya informs, facing Rihan and Mary, "Rihan and Mary will sign as witnesses of these terms."

Kavya turns back and takes the blank cheque and states, "And Mr. Raichand, I am enough capable to take care of myself. I don't need your money to survive."

Kavya holds the cheque from the centre with both hands, in front of Armaan's face and tears the cheque into two pieces. She maintains the eye-lock with Armaan, while gathering the pieces and tears them further into four pieces.

Armaan's shocked eyes convert to furious, as Kavya tears the cheque further into eight pieces.

Kavya gathers the pieces again, but this time, instead of shredding them further, she moves her hand to grab one of Armaan's hand.

He lowers his gaze to find Kavya placing the shredded cheque on his palm.

Armaan lifts his gaze to meet Kavya's gaze, who informs with determination, "I don't need anything from you. We are not husband and wife, you are my landlord and I am your tenant."

Kavya takes her hand back and gets on her feet while speaking, "If you have any doubt in the values or any term, then you can have a word with Mary and make the necessary changes. Or if you agree with it, then sign and send me a copy of this agreement through Mary."

She completes with a fake smile and fake honeyed voice, "Thank you for your valuable time, Mr. Raichand. Have a good day."

Rihan stares at Kavya with wide eyes and thinks, 'Bloody hell! I thought Kavya is the sufferer, but here, she has attacked the arrogant, right on his neck.'

Kavya turns to make her way towards the door, but stops realising something.

She turns to meet Armaan's angry gaze and smiles. She walks around the table, taking slow steps and maintaining the eye-contact.

Rihan and Mary share a terrified look, as Kavya stands close to Armaan.

Kavya informs, "I forgot to give the deposit."

Saying this, Kavya removes something from her jeans pocket and shows her fist to Armaan, who frowns at it.

Kavya admits, "I didn't had more money, so-" and open her fist.

Armaan shifts his burning gaze to Kavya's face, after seeing MANGALSUTRA and ENGAGEMENT RING on her palm.

Mary covers her mouth in shock, as even she didn't expect Kavya to take this extreme step.

While Rihan closes his eyes and shakes his head in helplessness.

Kavya drops the Mangalsutra and engagement ring on the table, still staring into Armaan's furious gaze.

She states, "I hope, you are fine by taking my USELESS jewellery as deposit."

Kavya smirks and turns to walk out of the room, leaving a fuming Armaan behind.

Mary and Rihan stare at Armaan, who is glaring at the things, which Kavya left on the table. They can safely assume, Armaan won't be quiet now and will do something in return.

Armaan clenches his fist which has the shredded cheque and murmurs in anger, "How dare she?"

He throws the shredded cheque on the floor, then picks up the Mangalsutra and engagement ring.

He places them in the cash box and shut it with a loud thud. He gathers everything in his grip and gets on his feet to move towards the door.

Rihan and Mary raise to their feet in panic, seeing Armaan's increasing anger. They step ahead to stop him, but Armaan glares at their direction, making them stop at their spot.

He roars, "Stay out of it."

Armaan leaves the room and Rihan slaps his forehead.

Rihan panics, "Shit shit shit. This is horribly, horrible."

Rihan faces Mary, who is standing calmly beside him. He grabs her shoulders and turns her, to face him.

Rihan asks, "You knew Kavya is planning all this?"

Mary confesses, "Yes, except the Mangalsutra and engagement ring stunt. That was a surprise for me too."

Rihan demands, "Why didn't you stop her?"

Mary reasons, "When I couldn't stop Armaan from hurting her, then how can I stop Kavya from taking a stand for herself? Do you know, what was her condition, how she has gathered herself and started afresh. Do you even know, she-"

Rihan leaves her shoulders and informs in low, defeated tone, "I know, I know everything and that's why I was trying to solve their problem. But now it's gone to an extreme level."

Rihan sits back on the couch and places his hand over his head, worried for Kavya and Armaan's damaging relationship.

Kavya's Room

Armaan pushes the door with force, making it bang on the wall behind and bounce back. This grabs Kavya's attention, who is standing near the bed and typing on her phone.

He marches towards her, while kicking the door behind to shut and throws everything on the bed. He pulls her closer by holding her both arms.

Armaan asks with anger lacing his voice, "What do you think of yourself, Kavya? Huh? How dare you do this to me?"

Kavya attempts to release herself from his firm grip, making it difficult for Armaan to capture her in his hold.

So, he pushes Kavya back and pins her to the wall and presses his body on her, to restrain her struggles.

Armaan orders, while glaring, "Stay still."

Kavya stares back with equal anger, but reduces her struggles.

Armaan accuses, "Kavya, just because I don't say anything to you, doesn't mean, you can insult me. How dare you throw your father's money on my face?"

Kavya freezes at her spot, hearing his words and demands, "What?"

Armaan warns her, "Don't try to act innocent in front of me, Kavya."

Kavya glares at him and justifies herself, "I am not trying to act innocent. Who told you, this is my father's money? This is my hard-earned money."

Armaan retorts, "Oh just shut up! Which NGO pays so much, that you are giving me INR 50000 rent a month with meals extra? I know this is your father's money."

Kavya gets angrier and pushes Armaan's chest with force.

This makes him stumble back, but he balances himself. He presses his entire body weight on her as she starts struggling again and pins her hands on the wall.

Armaan continues to glare at her and Kavya stares back with equal fury, while struggling to escape from his strong grip.

Kavya yells while, struggling, "How could you accuse me for something, you don't even know? This is my hard-earned money, not of my father."

Armaan opens his mouth to argue, but Kavya speaks first, "Mr. Raichand, don't think everyone is a selfish businessperson like you. There are people who care for others, for their family."

Pain appearing her eyes as she yells, "And I will never hurt my parents and sister because of you."

Armaan stares at Kavya with soften gaze, when he finds tears, forming in her eyes.

Kavya justifies, "To throw my father's money on your face, I have to tell him, what you did to me, how you used me, how you tricked me for your selfish benefits."

Armaan continues to stare into Kavya's eyes, which are now glistening with painful tears.

Kavya confesses truthfully, "I can't hurt them by informing, they selected a wrong person for me, that they failed to judge YOU."

Kavya's words make Armaan loosen his grip on her wrists. He stares at her, with hurt visible in his eyes, but Kavya, herself is too hurt, to even realise, how her words are affecting Armaan.

Kavya continues in a defeated tone, "I don't think of only myself Armaan, I have a younger sister, who is more important to me. I can't react in a way, which can spoil her life."

Tears escape from her eyes, as she continues, "For heaven sake, think over your own self and stop being so self-centred. This world is not only about Armaan Raichand, there are others, who are important to me, whom I can't hurt because of you."

Armaan continues to stare at Kavya, as silent tears keep escaping from her eyes.

Kavya admits in a low voice, "I didn't tell my parents anything, I have a different source of income, which is hidden from them as well. What happened that night and later, has not been conveyed to them. They don't know anything."

Armaan leaves Kavya's hands and stares into her moisten eyes. She sniffs, while caressing her wrist, which was held by Armaan.

Unknowingly, he moves his hand to wipe her tear, only to stop in mid-way, when Kavya moves her face away from him.

An unknown pain develops in Armaan's chest, when Kavya denied to be touched by him. But he waves it off and takes his hand back.

Kavya states, looking at her side, "I don't need anything from you, I will live my life on my own. You needed your rights in the company, which you got. You don't believe in this marriage and don't consider me as your wife-"

Kavya nods, still looking away and continues, "That's fine by me. I promise, I will never ask or expect you to fulfil any duty of a husband. You are just my landlord and we will have a professional relation, where we have to fulfil the terms of the agreement of my stay in your home. Other than that, there is nothing, just nothing between us."

Kavya's words create a havoc in Armaan's senses and he turns around, running his hand through his hair, vigorously. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, to calm himself.

But the suffocation and discomfort stays rooted in his chest. Armaan turns around and glances at Kavya, who is still looking away.

He moves to step closer, only to stop and take two steps back. He didn't knew whether to explain, assure or argue with her.

During his entire life, Armaan never wanted to marry or have a relationship. He just wished to work and give his company, the top most position in the corporate world. He has lived a life full of freedom and never wanted to give that up.

Today even after marriage, Kavya was not interfering in his life, she assured to never expect anything from him. He is finally getting everything, what he wanted.

Though a part of him lacks the satisfaction, and yells to argue with Kavya and give her everything he promised during the marriage -

"Promises to give her rights over his home, to never compromise with her health, to take care of her needs, to respect her and her family, and to keep her happy."

Armaan fails to understand, why he wasn't satisfied even after receiving, what he always wanted, instead he craved to fulfil those promises.

He takes a deep breath, controlling his inner turmoil and ignores every thought, which are running in his mind.

Armaan faces Kavya and agrees, "Alright, if this is what you want, then from today, I am your landlord and you are my tenant."

Kavya faces him with teary eyes and he continues, "You will pay for everything, you had mentioned in the agreement. I will sign it and send you a copy, as soon as possible."

Armaan turns and gathers everything from the bed, he threw earlier. Then makes his way towards the door, while pushing away every thought, every feeling and decided to agree with Kavya's conditions. He opens the door, steps out and closes the door, without sparing a glance to Kavya.

Fresh tears escape from Kavya's eyes and she covers her mouth with her right hand land, preventing her from crying over the man, who doesn't care for her.

But she fails to stop the painful sob from escaping her lips as she realises, the marriage between them has completely ended. The love of her life is a stranger now, her landlord and will never be more than that.

She runs towards her bed, while covering her mouth. She lays on her stomach, on the bed and hugs the pillow. She continues to cry, while hugging the pillow tightly and mourning over her marriage.

Office Room

Armaan enters the office room and drops the things on his table, grabbing Rihan and Mary's attention. They rush to Armaan, who has taken his seat and finds him, reading the agreement, written by Kavya.

They share a confused look, as now Armaan was not angry, though they can't even analyse his current state of mind.

Armaan turns his laptop on and orders, "Rihan, place a stamp paper in the printer."

Rihan frowns in confusion and faces Mary, who is equally confused. Mary shrugs her shoulder and stares back at Armaan. Rihan obeys the order, not willing to make Armaan angry again.

Armaan drafted similar agreement on his laptop with reduced rent. The monthly rent is now INR 40000.

While typing, he realises something and asks Mary, "How does she travel?"

Mary answers, "Public transport."

Armaan shakes his head in disbelief and murmurs, "Stubborn woman."

Armaan types a new point in the agreement, where she can use one of his car and pay the fare for each ride.

He reads every point carefully, then commands a print on the stamp paper.  Rihan brings the document, once it is printed.

Armaan signs it and asks them to sign on the witness box. They obey wordlessly and Armaan gives the agreement to Mary.

Then Armaan removes INR 10000 from the envelope and keeps the envelope inside the cash box.

Armaan instructs Mary, while giving the money, "Inform Kavya, her room is simple and she doesn't stay whole day, so 40000 is enough as rent."

Mary nods and Armaan adds, "Charge her the lowest price for the meals and take care of her comfort."

For some reasons, Mary doesn't argue with him and obeys with a nod.

Armaan then informs, "I have added a point for her travelling. Make sure she agrees and once she signs, make a copy and keep it, in my document's cabinet."

Armaan orders Rihan, "Ask Max to become Kavya's driver."

Rihan raises his eyebrows in shock, as Max is one of Armaan's most loyal and trusted bodyguard. But he fails to understand, why Armaan is asking a bodyguard to become Kavya's driver.

Armaan ignores Rihan's shocked expression and orders Mary, "Do whatever Kavya says, her every word, every wish should be fulfilled. Give her the access to entire Mansion and never stop her, from doing anything."

Mary nods obediently and Rihan remains stunned with the instructions.

Armaan takes the Mangalsutra and engagement ring from the box and stuffs in his pocket, making both Rihan and Mary's eyes widen in surprise.

Armaan demands in his usual bossy tone, "Am I clear with the instructions?"

Mary and Rihan respond, "Yes."

Armaan walks out of the room, taking the cash box with him.

Rihan glances at Mary, who is smiling, staring at the new agreement and money in her hand.

Rihan asks, "Why are you smiling? The situation has got worst."

Mary shakes her head and informs with a smile, "No Rihan, from what I have observed, the situation has reversed. The man, who never thought about anyone in his lifetime, today has cared for someone and bend according to her conditions."

Mary turns to face Rihan and announces confidently, "Armaan is changing, Rihan, and he is changing for good."

************

That's all for now.....will update next part as soon as possible.....hope you liked this part, do give your reviews...till then Keep Smiling and Take Care

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