Chapter 32 - RIPPED

Its Unfortunate

Its Heartbreaking

Its A Pain

That Shakes the Soul

The Pain That Seers through My Being

When the Realisation Struck

That I was The One

Who brought this Upon Us

The Soul Shattering Pain As I Realise

That I Ripped Your Heart

That I Ripped Your Soul

The Soul Shattering Pain As I Realise

That I Ripped My Heart

That I ripped My Soul

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

Shantivan

Anjali listened carefully as Arnav filled her in about everything that had happened with Khushi last night, and about how he had gone to the hospital to be with their mother,and by that look on his face,she knew that something deep inside of him, in his heart, and in his mind and probably in his soul, had changed completely,good because, he had finally evolved in his love, bad,because he had paid a very heavy price in return.

A very high price indeed.

She sighed as she sat next to him as she touched his shoulder - " You did the right thing, Chotte, but im sorry, i am so sorry, that this happened..."

Arnav nodded and held his sisters hand for some comfort - " and i dont have anyone else to blame but myself, di, and thats really what hurts the most....anyway theres something else that i want to do now..."

Anjali looked at his pained yet taut face and she asked cautiously - " what??"

Arnav - " I need to see Asad, and i need to talk to him..."

Anjali was now shell shocked as she asked - " what?????? what did you just say??"

Arnav sighed - " Theres something you should know di...", and he started telling her about everything Khushi had told him, in regards to why Asad hadn't supported him for investigation all those years ago.

Anjali felt tears welling up as she whispered - " I knew there had to be a strong reason Chotte, deep down in my heart i always believed there had to be something more to that, or else Asad wouldn't have turned his back to you on the investigation,and now we know...."

Arnav brushed his hand in his hair as he said - " di, i don't know why he didn't tell me any of this then...and thats a question i need to ask him,because we were best friends weren't we, we grew up together, why couldn't he come to us, and tell us about what happened to Dilshaad aunty, why did he have to take it in all alone, from what i heard and know from Khushi, it was the darkest night of his life, probably just like how it is for all of us..."

Anjali looked at him as she asked - " does this information help you see him in a different light Chotte??"

Arnav sighed - " well to be honest, i am still hurt very hurt over the fact that he didn't give us the benefit of doubt, us as in to dad,that he didn't believe me when I asked him to see that there was more than what met the eye here, but yes, the hatred that immense hatred, that i felt for all these years,has vanished di, all of a sudden just like that, i don't hate him anymore, now that i know,his reason.You know i hated him more ,thinking that my best friend, betrayed me like none other and went behind my back and without even taking to me once, took the decision,the decision to halt the investigation,to clear up the mess,that he took the decision in a jiffy ,the decision that changed everything between him and me,and did the damage that our fathers couldn't do.And now that I know, all i want to know is why couldn't he come to me, and tell me just once, maybe just maybe I would have understood back then, i was a different person, wasn't i, di...??"

Anjali sighed - " Yes, and like Khushi said, that , thats a question only he has the answer too,but im glad she told you about this Arnav, after everything that happened between you two, i know she loves Asad and Zoya, but somewhere i know she did tell you,this for you...because she loved you truly,and maybe probably always will, i have seen it in her eyes, she may move on, but she will never stop loving you, but only silently maybe like in a dream,because in reality that dream just broke the two of you in different ways maybe, but it did break you both..."

Arnav nodded - " I know, I know di, and thats why for her, as in I know,she wants me to do this, and for once i will do what Khushi wants, and i will put everything aside, and talk to Asad...."

Anjali looked at her brother in shock and in sadness, something had really happened overnight and she asked - " you changed overnight, Chotte??"

Arnav looked at her solemnly as he said - " Maybe yes, maybe not, I am still who I am, but you know as I sat with maa last night with her hand on my head and the silence,the pain i was feeling the tears that left my eyes, i just realised that I had finally evolved to Maa's Chotte at the matters of the heart, something she always believed I could become, something that had been shadowed by hatred, pain of betrayal...by the pain of loss....but why did i have to pay such a heavy price for it di?? Why did I have to loose the only girl I have ever truly loved,and this pain just shakes me, as i realise that i was the one who ripped everything apart, that I ripped her heart and soul,that i ripped my heart and soul in the process....why di....why????"

Anjali kissed his forehead,and she spoke - " I wish i could answer you chotte, i wish i had an answer to your question....",and with that she pulled her broken brother into a hug, she knew he needed it.

And right then her phone beeped,and she pulled aside and looked at it,and she she said - " Chotte, Khushi, just messaged me..."

Arnav looked surprised - "Khushi??? what happened??"

Anjali showed him her phone and he read her message :

"Di, ammi saw the newspaper article this morning, we had been hiding it,but somehow she just saw it, she is so mad over what happened, i told her everything expect for the misunderstanding between bhaijaan and Zoya, and she wanted to see you all, and apologise for the humiliation in person,Zoya is like me to her, her daughter, and she loves her so much. They are on their way to come see you all, bhaijaan , Zoya and Ammi. She asked me to let you know, di please handle the situation, i have no idea how will he react, he as in Arnav, will you please stop him from doing anything more destructive?? I dont want Zoya to be hurt in the process, and if he hurts her further, he will hurt himself even more, you know thats how he is,please just handle everything,and if possible keep me informed...thanks..."

Arnav shut his eyes and he opened them again as he read again - "will you stop him from doing anything more destructive?? If he hurts her further, he will hurt himself even more,you know thats how he is..."

Arnav straightened up as he looked at his sister - " di, why dont you go and inform everybody, ill just come down...ask the guard to let them in...."

Anjali asked cautiously - " you aren't angry are you??"

Arnav felt his muscles twitch in his throat as he fought back emotion that wasn't anger, it was everything but anger - " No, im not di...for once im going to handle it calmly...if not for myself, for Zoya i will, she is a part of that family now...", and for Khushi he added silently.

Anjali nodded,and she made her way out.

Arnav watched her leave, and he walked to his washroom and washed his face with cold water again and again,as he recalled Khushi's text message, he felt it, he could feel that care in her words despite everything he knew she still cared,and he was truly undeserving of her in every sense.

And he knew he had ripped them apart, he had ripped everything with his own hands,and no matter how much it pained him, he couldn't blame Khushi for doing what she was, even though he knew that deep down she would be ripping herself apart even more.

It was strange ,so so strange that the two had loved each other with so much intensity ,and yet ripped each others heart and soul.

He wiped his face with a towel,and looked at his reflection in the mirror, he had lost Khushi, he had lost everything, now there was nothing to loose,it for her he would handle this calmly, for her he would look at things differently.For her, he wouldn't do anything more self-destructive.

For Khushi, it was time to make ammends, he couldn't have her back,but he knew this would make her happy,and after everything he had done, this was the least he could do.

And he would.

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

Asad pulled into the gates of Shantivan,and he was suprised, when the guard opened the gates without any questions,and he finally brought the car to a halt in front of the main door.He had agreed to this, only for his mother, because she had used a tone, she hadn't used with him in years, and he knew it that this time around, she wouldn't let him have his way, and a part of him that trecherous heart did tell him that maybe he had agreed to this for Zoya's sake too.But he brushed that thought aside,and he knew Zoya had been looking at him,but he didn't want to look at her and so he stepped out, without giving her a glance.

Zoya looked at Asad from the corner of her eye, something was different so so different, his silence was stony and very scary at the same time,and she couldn't read him at all, it was as if he had locked himself up somewhere far from her ,emotionally. She wanted to get him to look at her, but he didn't,and he got out the car and finally opened the door,as Dilshaad stepped out,with the beautiful packet in which Khushis engagement card and a box of sweets was enclosed and when she saw the two of them waiting for her,she finally stepped out ,she didn't know what to feel or say and so she just followed them silently.

.........

Nani,Mami,Mama, Payal and Akash, Shyam and Anjali had all gathered in the living room,and they all were equally shocked to see Arnav sitting in the wing chair in front of them, in way that was very calm and composed,and it was completely impossible to believe that he was waiting with that kind of calm for the moment, that was making everyone else very nervous.

For they were all waiting for Dilshaad, Asad and Zoya.

Akash walked upto his sister and he whispered - " di, is that really bhai, i mean how can be so calm and composed...??"

Anjali whispered back to him - " sometimes, the things you cant change end up changing us, Akash...."

Akash understood what she meant and he looked at his pained brother and asked - " he's in so much pain, isn't he di??"

Anjali nodded.

And right then she saw HP open the main door,and the minute she saw Dilshaad, she felt her tears well up, she had been like a mother to her,and she couldn't believe she was seeing her waking through these doors again, after all these years,she had never thought of this day being possible,but then lately a lot of things had been happening that she had never expected, so she gestured her Nani and they both started to walk to the main door, to greet them.

Nani looked at Dilshaad,and the minute she stood in front of her, she instantly pulled her into a hug, she was her daughters best friend after all, infact she smiled at the distinct memory of how Dilshaad had promised her that she would always watch out for Kkusum at the day of the wedding, to console a weeping mother and she had been secured with a knowledge that her daughter was surrounded by a lot of people who genuinely loved her.

Dilshaad hugged Devyani and she finally let go as she whispered - " maa, its been so many years...."

Nani smiled as she said - "and i never thought id hear those words from you ever again..."

Dilshaad wiped a tear from her eye as she said - "its so so good to see you..."

And with that she turned to Anjali and gestured her to come to her, and she did, and hugged Dilshaad and she brushed her hair tenderly as she said - " you changed so so much Anjali...but in a good way...."

Anjali smiled and she gestured everyone to come in,and Dilshaad greeted everyone one by one.

It had been a decade, since he had last seen her.He had never thought he would be facing her ever again,no matter what happened in the past,and no matter how much he had hated her son, Arnav could never in his heart feel any kind of disrespect for this woman, who had played an equal important role in his life, before the tragedy had struck.

Arnav watched her silently, a figure who had been no less than a mother to him, she was also Khushi's mother,and the minute she came face to face with him, the raw emotion inside of him made him get up from his chair in an instant and he hugged her briefly surprising the living daylights out of everyone in the room and probably even her,and he watched her touch his cheek gently as she said - " Arnav, iv seen a thousand pictures of you, in the paper or in the TV, and god only knows how much i wanted to see you for real, myself...."

Arnav knew where all this was coming from, he had always been so close to her in the good old days,she was the one who had saved him so many times from his mothers anger and wrath at his mischief whilst he grew up, and his mother had been the same for Asad,and he just touched her hand on his face and nodded in acknoledgement of the emotion that had been exchanged between the two of them and spoke softly - " why dont you sit down, please??"

Dilshaad nodded and she finally took the chair.

Asad stood stunned and shocked, and probably he knew he was as shocked as Zoya who stood silently looking at the re-union between his mother and Zoya's family.And he realised in that one moment, that all this while his mother had only refrained from this family, because of him,because in her heart she still had the same affection and love as she had all this years ago.

Zoya stood stunned,too stunned, she didn't know whether to feel happy or sad,because she had wanted this hadn't she?? a moment like this for their families, for the sake of their love, and as it was happening, it broke her as she realised that, that energy of love and affection was missing between Asad and her,because of course Asad was still so mad at her.

Anjali looked at the stunned Zoya and Asad and she called back - "Zoya and Asad?? Come on in..."

Asad was shocked,at the atmosphere he was seeing in front of him, it was everything different from what it was when he had last been here, when he had claimed Zoya was his wife and taken her with him. That day everything was tense and electrically unwelcoming, and today even though he had expected it to be like that, it wasn't. No one had said a word to him or Zoya yet, and still as they walked towards everyone they nodded in acknowledgement of their presence to the two of them,Asad realised that even in this silence, they were welcomed in Shantivan,something he had never expected to happen ever again.

Zoya sat down in silence and Payal came and sat next to her and hugged her briefly as she said in her ear - " smile a little will you?? dont worry, everything will be fine..."

Zoya gave her a small smile and she saw her Jiju, Akash and Nani and mama, mama, smile at her warmly and she just walked upto them one by one, and hugged them,she had so much to say,but in that moment she knew that her silence was being understood.

She felt Anjali pulling her into a hug as she said with tears in her eyes,as she hugged her - " my little baby..."

Zoya came face to face with her brother and she thought he would look away ,and not say a word and she was shocked as she felt him touch her hair briefly and he kissed her forehead as he said softly - " good to see you, Zoya, really good to see you...."

Zoya looked at him in shock and she felt tears strain her cheeks as she asked through the tears - " bhai, im so so so sorry, will you ever forgive me??",and then she hugged him and wept some more.

Arnav hugged her for a while and he pulled back and he said - " i wont say that I have Zoya, but i can say that I will try....I cant be mad at you for falling in love, although i am still a little mad at you for how you went about it...but maybe i am ready to give you a window and understand that the two of you didn't have any other way out at that time...and just so you know, I dont disapprove of your choice Zoya, Asad is a good man,and you are lucky to have him..."

Everyone went silent ,as those words left his mouth but not more shocked and stunned as Asad Ahemed Khan.

Asad couldn't believe his ears, did he just hear what he had heard??

This was Arnav telling Zoya that she was lucky to have him.

He looked at Arnav in disbeleif, sure that the sun had probably risen from the west today, for such a thing to have happened.

But he didn't say anything, he just maintained his stony silence,and sat down on the sofa and Zoya sat next to him, and they all took their seat an sat in silence for a while, each thinking of how to break the ice that had suddenly taken over the air.

How do you break a silence that had lasted for a decade??

Dilshaad finally took a deep breathe as she spoke - " I saw that newspaper this morning, my children, Asad , Khushi and Zoya, had been successful in hiding it from me until this morning, or i would have come here before, I am sorry for th humiliation that you all have faced, even though it wasn't the intention of my son to humiliate or insult you all..in anyway....but it happened nonetheless, and for that I would like to apologize, for i know whatever happened in the past for bitter and ugly for all of us, but no, you all didn't deserve this, and especially not Zoya, she's like my daughter,she is as dear to me as my little Khushi, how am i ever going to show my face to my god, or to Kkusum if she woke up one day, if i didn't come here to seek amends and apologize"

Mami,Mama, Akash,Payal and Shyam and Anjali sat silently because they were all very overwhelmed with the situation and they all looked at Nani in anticipation as she was the head of the family and it was right then as they heard Nani clear her throat as she looked at her grandson who then silently gestured her to handle the matter through his eyes and she spoke - "Dilshaad, beta, we know the truth, Anjali bitiya told us everything, it wasn't any of your's fault, not yours too Asad...unfortunate to have happened,and yes humilating too, but ita alright, we have come to terms with it...",she said looking at Asad.

Asad looked at Nani and he finally spoke softly - "Thank you, but ammi, is right, it did happen unintentionally through me anyway,and for that I am sorry, I truly am...",and then he looked at all the family members one by one and finally at Arnav, hi long lost best friend as he spoke in a calm and composed voice - "I maybe shouldn't have dropped the bomb on all of you like I did,and i truly mean it when i say that this humiliation came your way in the way it did...and to be honest,i wasn't thinking straight, took a reckless decision..and obviously paid a very price for it", he finished looking at Zoya referring to the price being his broken heart and soul.

Zoya looked at him and their eyes locked for a few seconds and she knew what he meant,and she felt her very own heart break,as she heard him cover up as he said - " in the sense that Zoya had to face all this nonsense being written..."

Arnav nodded in return as he finally spoke - " I understand....its alright Asad..."

Asad looked at him suprised, why was Arnav so calm and composed and he asked in shock - " you do??"

Dilshaad took the opportunity as she took tha packet from aside of her and she handed it to Nani and she heard her ask - " Dilshaad, whats this??"

Dilshaad gave her a small smile as she said - " I dont know if you know, that tonight is Khushi's engagement,this is the invitation card, i truly wish for all of you to come, we were all family once until Asad and Arnav marked these walls around us, but now since Asad and Zoya are married which makes us all a family again,for Zoya's sake, please?? will you accept my invitation??"

Arnav felt his insides go still has he realised what Dilshaad was saying, and right then he heard his Nani speak ,as she smiled at took the packet from her - " we will be there, from what Anjali told me, i know Khushi has always been so kind and loving for our Zoya,why wont we be a part of her celebration, of course we will be,after all what am i going to answer Kkusum if she were to wake up one day, you do know she loved Khushi just like her own....she gave her , her name didn't she??"

Dilshaad wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as she said - " Ofcourse, and also i have asked Asad to let the party be covered by the media,so that they will know we have taken steps to reconcile for Asad and Zoyas sake, i know it wont change what happened, but atlas in some way it will cover up for the humiliation that Zoya and you all had to face..."

Zoya watched her sister and her brother and she knew the gestures that were being exchanged between the two of them,she knew Anjali knew, the gravity of what was being said to her brother.

Anjali was about to say that she would come but was going to make a excuse for her Chotte knowing that it was going to be so so hard for him , but before she could say anything, she heard him say looking at Dilshaad and Asad - " we will be there, like Nani said, and actually its good idea aunty from the media coverage point of view, all of us will be there..."

Asad looked at Arnav skeptically,something was seriously wrong with him today, sun had seriously risen from the west today and he asked in shock - " you will come to my sisters engagement??"

Arnav looked at Asad and replied curtly - " of course, i will, Khushi has been a great friend to Zoya and I respect that, we will all be there...have you called for the media coverage?? if you haven't, i can..."

Asad was baffled and very taken aback by his reply but he said - " no, thats alright, i haven't yet, because i didn't know whether you all would agree,anyway now i will ,but thanks....ammi should we go now?? we do have a lot to do today..."

Dilshaad nodded - "yes, we should get going now, but we shall see you tonight..."

Anjali nodded as she said - " yes, for sure..."

Arnav wanted to stop Asad because he wanted to talk to him, but he refrained, maybe another day,today and especially this moment wasn't the right time.

Zoya got up as she started to follow Asad out and she said - " im sorry di, bhai, i have to go now, i mean theres a lot i need to oversee...",and she thought she saw her brothers flinch in pain at the reference of Khushi's engagement,but she couldn't say anything to him at that moment so she just stayed silent.

Anjali hugged Zoya and kissed her on the forehead as she said - " go now, we will see you in the evening..."

Zoya nodded, and giving one last smile to her family,she followed Asad and Dilshaad out.

Dilshaad sat down in the car and she smiled,and she looked at Asad who had started to drive as she smiled at Zoya - " now see, that went well didn't it?? although i didn't expect it to...but it did, sometimes life surprises us...cmon Zoya, give me a smile now atlas..."

Zoya turned back and smiled at her as she said - " yes ammi, that went well, im sure they will forgive me now...."

Dilshaad -"ofcourse sooner or later they would have Zoya, they love you....people who love you, do forgive..."

Zoya looked at Asad and she hoped he would look at her or give her some gesture, his tony silence towards her was now worrying the hell out of her and a chill went down her spine as she heard him ask her mother in a ice cold voice- "ammi, do people who love forgive, even if their heart and soul has been ripped apart??"

Dilshaad shrugged as she said - " whats with you?? huh??anyway i cant say,for family yes, but otherwise, i dont know, love and forgiveness is subjective Asad..."

Asad just nodded and continued to drive and he knew Zoya was desperately looking at him trying to get some sort of a reaction out of him but he wouldn't give her any reaction,and he instructed his mind to concentrate on his sisters engagement for now.

Zoya looked at him,and she had never seen him like this, something was seriously off, very very off,and she realised she had done this to him hadn't she?? Like he had said - she had ripped his heart and soul, but did he knew that she had ripped her very own heart and soul too??

She just stared out of the window in silence, and she didn't know why she felt her heart grip in fear because that stony and steely calmness that was coming out of Asad was indicating,that a storm was indeed about to come her way.

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

Arnav stared at the invitation card in his hand,after they had left,everyone had dispersed to their respective rooms, in the hope to let it all sink in, that the silence that had almost lasted a decade had been broken today,and it wasn't broken because his mother had woken up from Coma, but for Zoya's sake,and he had broken it also for Khushi's sake.

As soon everyone had left, he had picked up the engagement card out of the packet and taken it with him and brought it to his room, and only when he had reached his poolside he had opened it,and the minute he had looked at the card, his eyes could only read the specific lines which read :

Khushi Ahemed Khan

And

Arhaan Khan.

He stared at it continuously and the pain that seemed through his being was as if everything inside of him had just been ripped again and again.

Khushi & Arhaan.

Dammit, just when he thought he wouldn't be capable of feeling any more pain, he felt it even more, and now that he was going to be there, how would he bear it?? Could he really see Khushi getting engaged to someone else with his own eyes??

Yes, he could,and it was as if life and fate's way of punishing him for being so cruel to Khushi, then now it was a punishment he was willing to accept at any cost,and not just that he had to see for himself, that Khushi stepped into a new phase of her life with a smile on her face.She deserved every bit of the happiness, he couldn't give her.

Right then he heard Akash's voice behind him - " you dont have to Bhai, i mean we all will go,you dont have to do this..."

He turned and he saw his sister and brother stand and watch him worriedly and he heard his sister say - " Chotte, dont, you dont please dont do this to yourself...you know it will ripp you apart, ill come up with some excuse...."

Arnav turned at handed the card to Anjali as he said - " No, di, please don't, i have to be there, for Zoya's sake,aunty is right the only way the media will stop inspecting into my sisters love life,we have to give the impression that we have taken steps to reconcile, it wont matter if you all are there and i am not, everyone knows me and Asad are the root cause of the enemity...I have to be there..."

Akash - "but bhai..."

Anjali protested - " but Chotte..."

Arnav looked at his sister - " get some gifts arranged di, for Khushi, from our side, ok??"

Anjali looked at him baffled but she just nodded as she watched him leave his room,and she looked at the card in her hands,and she heard Akash ask - " di, im so worried for him, why does he want to do this to himself, like you said, i can sense it'll rip him apart..."

Anjali sighed as she wiped a tear from her eye - " for Zoya's sake too and also because he wants to punish himself Akash, but i know he wont be able to take it, in his heart he is sensitive,my chotttee..."

Akash looked at her helplessly as he asked - " can we stop him??"

Anjali said, with sadness loaded in her voice - " no we can't...i just know, we can't...."

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

ITC Maurya - 830 PM

Khushi looked at her reflection in the mirror,as she saw the artists leave, and she smiled at a little,because she couldn't believe this was her, for once ,she knew as in she agreed to what the artist had told her before she had left, that she was looking gorgeous and radiant.

Zoya shut the door,as she walked towards Khushi,and she smiled.

Khushi was looking gorgeous, so so so gorgeous,and mesmerising,and she was so happy that they had bought her this subtle gold sequential sharara,and the best part was that it wasn't too heavy for the occasion, it was just perfect,and the artist had done her job well,for Khushi's makeup was light,natural and yet captivating and flawless, and the deep red colour lip colour that she had used, just highlighted Khushi's angelic beauty even more.She smiled as she kissed Khushi on the head,and said - " seriosuly, you do know you look gorgeous Khushi, even i cant take my eyes off you...."

Khushi pressed Zoya's hand on her shoulder and she smiled - " Zoya, i could say the same, im sure one look at you and bhaijaan is surely going to forget all his anger...",for Zoya looked no less than an angel herself, in the delicate yet heavy intricated pink anarkali.

Zoya stiffened,a little, because of course she had just come up to get Khushi down to the hall,and Asad hadn't even looked at her in the eye , but she didn't want Khushi to worry so she lied - " yes im sure, but lets not talk about your bhaijaan and me right now ok?? everything will be fine, i dont want you to worry for us right now...iv come to take you down...the guests have arrived, Khushi,its time..."

Khushi looked at her reflection one last time,she touched the dupatta which was neatly tucked in and pinned on her shoulder and she saw Zoya look at her with a little worry in her eyes,and she turned as she asked - " whats wrong??"

Zoya looked at her and she asked - " Khushi, you do know once you go down,you will be engaged for real, there will be no looking back, are you sure this is what you want?? are you really really sure?? look im just worried for you Khushi, I really am....are you sure Arhaan is the one and not...",and she felt her voice trail away.

Khushi spoke softly - "and not Arnav...thats what you want to know right??"

Zoya nodded - " look between you and me nothing is hidden,Khushi, no prettiness , no judgements, then please somewhere in my heart something just doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel right to me..."

Khushi gave her a small smile as she said - " just because a story isn't complete doesn't mean that its of less significance Zoya, I know why you are feeling this ok, because you love your brother and me equally, but just because we couldn't make it work,does not mean I will ever belittle what I felt for him,I did love him,and maybe a part of me always will, even today,even right now, but you do realise thats precisely one of the reasons why i have to do this, i cant make him happy Zoya,no matter what i do I can't, in that case we both can't ,its complicated to mess with Zoya,and you know trying to make it work has taxed us both, drained us both, its the kinda of love that hurts, just hurts so damm much,be it through love, distrust, or pain or even manipulation, we both thought we were going to be different this time, but no, its like a cycle we were stuck in,we thought that somehow this time around it would be different,and yet when we tried,it somehow ends up being worse than before and you have no idea, how painful that is Zoya, for me and even for him, I know it is, its injurious to our mental health and well being,its unbalanced, its crazy and its insane,so dramatic, so addictive,because its like in between us there is a roller coaster of highs and lows, Its the love i wished it were right, that i know he wished it were right, but it isn't right Zoya, I cant keep up with this, so its the best to do what I am doing, i need to move on, and i know he will too with time, Arhaan does love me, and its the love i never saw coming,and who knows maybe it will come to me with time so easily and it wont seem possible right now, but who knows,right???", she finished and she instantly felt better saying it all loud to Zoya.

Zoya looked at her with concern as she said - " you do know, all this sounds pretty convincing but to the mind Khushi, what does your heart say??"

Khushi sighed, Zoya knew her way too well, could she tell her that somewhere in her heart it wasn't feeling right too,but she refrained as she lied - " my heart Zoya, for the first time is in sync with my mind...."

Zoya looked at her in the eye as she said holding her hand ans she kissed it - " if thats what you want, then im with you, but just so you know, he is here, i mean my family arrived a couple of minutes ago, bhai is here too..."

Khushi felt her eyes widen on its own as she asked softly - " he came??? i thought he wouldn't come...i mean when you all came back and told me that your family would be coming, i thought everyone else would come, but not him"

Zoya nodded - " yeah me too, but by that look on his face, i know why he came..."

Khushi felt herself ask softly - " why??"

Zoya touched Khushis hair which had been set to soft curls,as she shifted a stand behind her shoulder and she looked at Khushi in the eye - " he wants to punish himself, i guess..."

Khushi closed her eyes for a second,was he really here??? Why??? She fought a sudden ruff of emotions that burst in her heart, she couldn't believe she would have to see Arnav in front of her, on her engagement with Arhaan.

But maybe, it was something they both needed to do,she had to get engaged in front of him, and he had to be a witness to it, some cruel twist of destiny perhaps.

Right then Zoya's phone rang and she picked it up as she said - " yes, ammi, we will be down in a minute...."

Khushi composed herself as she gave Zoya a small smile - "cmon Zoya, lets go..."

Zoya sighed, there was nothing more she could do and so she just nodded and led Khushi out of the door.

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

Meanwhile Simultaneously

Dilshaad greeted a few guests and she walked and stood next to Anjali and Nani as she said - " i have to thank you all so much for coming again, thank you so much, this means a lot to me....", and she took Nani's hand,and kissed it.

Devyani Malik looked at the woman in front of her,she had been like a daughter to her and she smiled - " you dont need to thank me again, i have faith that a small step today,can be a beginning to bridging the gap our sons had marked in between of us...."

Anjali smiled at Dilshaad - " aunty, im sure, it will be, nani is right, i can already see the few of your friends, whispering around as to how, we all have reconciled,and thats the only reason why we could be here, it was a good idea..."

Dilshaad looked around,and she saw a few of the guests look at Asad, who was standing with Akash, Arnav, and Shyam across, and he was saying something,and then she saw the guests talk amongst themselves ,and she obviously knew what the topic of discussion was and she said - " yes i agree Anjali, anyway, ill just be back...i need to see Arhaan's aunt for a minute..."

Anjali and Nani nodded,and they watched Dilshhad leave and right then Anjali looked at her brothers taut face as she caught him scanning the crowd,ofcourse he was wanting to see Khushi.And she knew everything inside of him was breaking,and if this idea was good for Zoya, she knew it was the worst possible idea for her Chotte. Right then Payal walked up to them as she said - " so maa has met a friend of hers,and im glad, i could escape from there, oh the outrageous stories of their college days, di...anyway wheres Zoya and you know what, i really want to see Khushi for real, i mean from what Zoya tells me, she is really pretty isn't she di?? you'v met her havent you??and iv just seen Arhaan, hes handsome, probably a good match,good for them isn't it??"

Anjali - "yeah, maybe...good for Khushi"

Payal smiled - "im just so happy that we came, for Zoya , i knew we would, just like i know we all have forgiven her in our hearts..."

Anjali nodded as she whispered softly - " oh yes, that we have...."

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

Asad had greeted a few of his associated from the industry and then ammi's guests, and the minute he had seen the Raizada's arrive, he had been suprised, he didn't think for real that they would actually come, but then he remembered what his mother had conveyed, and he knew that no matter how annoyed they were with Zoya,they did love her,and thats why they were here, for their daughter.They had probably forgiven her in their hearts.

His eyes had scanned the room for Zoya, she had welcomed a few guests standing along side of him and then gone to get Khushi.

She was looking out of this world, one look at her and he had been bowled over, but then reality struck, and he did feel that it was so much better to continue living in the dreamland, in the dreamland in which everything was rosy in his head, in between of him and Zoya where he believed that they had a love that could bear any storm,because now that the reality had struck,and he had open his eyes to the brutal truth that fate had thrown on his face,it had just ripped his heart,ofcourse he should have known,he wouldn't be that lucky ,life wouldn't ever be that kind to him.In his dreams yes, but in real never.

Because he knew in his heart that he could never forgive Zoya,he could never forgive nor could he forget how she had made him feel.He had forgiven her once before, for lying to him about who she was, he had forgiven her hadn't he, really from the heart,and what had he got in return?? He had been a fool to think that his act of love had been acknowledged and appreciated,but no, she had doubted everything about him,all the accusations that she had hurled at him had to be buried deep down in her head and mind.

He had fooled himself once before, he had let his heart win,but now he just couldn't stop his mind from ruling over because it had shut himself in that known shackles of darkness once again.

And he was sure about his decision,and he knew that as this party was over, he would be telling her about his decision.About his decision to annul their marriage.

He had seen Arnav introduce Shyam and Akash to few of the common business associates,and he had to be courteous and so he walked up to them as he said - " i didn't think you all would come for real, but thank you..."

Akash looked at Asad and he said - " we would of course, for Zoya....shes our little sister....we cant be mad at her forever..."

Shyam gave him a small smile as he said - " My wife speaks highly of you Asad and also of Khushi,we didn't have to think twice on this decision, and honestly it can be for the best..."

Asad gave him a small smile - " Anjali di, always been very kind to me...thank you..."

Asad looked at the camera flashing at all of them and he said dryly - " thats why i dont allow the media, there they go, im sure this will be all over news tomorrow, but unlike the rest, thats what we want in this case, of course..."

Arnav watched his jiju and Akash give them a nod as they walked a little afar, probably leaving the two of them in one frame for the media to spot and he spoke,looking at Asad - " I know you are hurt, Zoya shouldn't have doubted you..."

Asad looked at Arnav shocked,but he smiled because he knew he was under the scanner right now - " How do you know??"

Arnav said dryly - " from di ofcourse, and i also remember, that forgiveness doesn't come easily to you, Asad..."

Asad gave him a small nod as he said - " thats between Zoya and me...and i know you are her brother...but..."

Arnav nodded as he sipped his drink - " but that doesn't give me any right to interfere, and I won't, i agree its between you and Zoya to sort out and cope up with, I know she has hurt you a lot,...but i would still like you to know that she really is sorry,i can see it on her face..."

Asad replied dryly - "and sometimes it isn't enough...."

Arnav knew,ofcourse he had experienced it himself,sometimes no apology could ever be enough and he looked at Asad and his taut face again,he had known him well,and he knew his sister had messed up big time, just like him because unlike Khushi,forgiveness didn't come easily to Asad Ahemed Khan.

Arnav jumped straight to the point - " why didn't you tell me??"

Asad - "excuse me??tell what??"

Arnav - " tell me that aunty got a heart attack that night,and she was the reason why you didn't support me for the investigation?? we were family weren't we?? if not for that sake, atlas we were friends Asad,best of friends, we grew up together, why didn't you tell me??why couldn't you come to me, or any of us in the family, like for example di, you were always so close to her too weren't you, then why didn't you??????"

Asad asked shocked - " you know?? how????..",and then it dawned on him and he said - "ofcourse Zoya told you..."

Arnav was now shocked - " Zoya??".Zoya knew about this?? then why didn't she ever tell him?? Maybe ofcourse, she didn't have any way of explaining him how she had got to know such a personal piece of information

Asad looked at him surprised - " if she didn't tell you then who did...??"

Arnav immediately covered up - " I mean of course Zoya did...but why??"

Asad shrugged his shoulders - "as if it were going to make any difference..."

Arnav shrugged - "maybe it would Asad, just maybe it would, maybe i wouldn't have spent the last decade hating you like i did, if you had just told me the real reason behind it all,the only reason i let you break all ties with us was because i felt so betrayed by what you did, you do know, although i know you believe what you saw, i still dont, in my heart just like the rest of my family, I dont believe that my father was capable of....the hatred was born inside of me only because you believed what you saw so blindly and then even more because i felt so betrayed by what you did with regards to the investigation, it really would have made a lot of difference Asad, from where I see it, it would have made a lot of difference..."

Asad stood stunned and shocked,he had never expected Arnav to ever question him like this,and he thought of what to say,what could he say right now to him,when he could only see confusion on the face of the man who he had grown up with,who had been his besets friend,his brother in a way,he was about to say something, but right then he saw his mother gesture him as she spoke to Arhaan and his uncle and aunt.

Asad - " if you'll excuse me right now, I have to go ,ammi, is calling"

Arnav nodded - " ofcourse..."

Asad gave him a small nod and then looked at him briefly,something in Arnav had changed, he wasn't the same anymore,that hatred on his face wasn't visible anymore,and he knew that their conversation was far from over,but he walked to his mother, it was his sisters engagement today,he had to concentrate on that, he could deal with the Raizada siblings later.

...........

Arnav sipped his drink,as he stood next to Akash and his jiju,and he heard his jiju say - "This idea is working, im sure,its funny how everyone cant stop looking at us, and then start their murmuring..."

Akash nodded - "ofcourse jiju, thats just how it is...",and he looked at his brother on the side he looked deep in thought,and he wondered if he was ok,and out of curiosity he really wanted to see Khushi too, this was the girl who had made Arnav Singh Raizada fall in love.

Arnav felt everything go still in the air, and his heartbeats fasten,and he knew Khushi was around, and right then as he saw the hustle bustle in the crowd, he knew she had arrived.

His eyes followed and the minute he registered her sight, his heartbeats stopped, in that one moment, he knew he fell in love with her all over again.

And he felt as if there was no one else in this room, but her.

She wore this amazing dull gold embellished outfit,and she glowed in it, as if she were like this halo light,and the minimal yet captivating and flawless make up,only enhanced her gorgeous features,and that gorgeous deep red lip colour snug so perfectly to her lips,that it bowled him over completely.

He saw her walk in with Zoya next to her, but he couldn't take his eyes off her.

He had never seen anyone as beautiful and gorgeous as her.

It was as if her beauty had bewitched his gaze.

She was as alluring as the golden sun and also as calming and scintillating as the moonlight

So exquisite, so pure,so delicate,

And he was only feeling Mesmerised once again.

He looked at her face again,the face he had never seen before, the only face that captivated him.

She was as fresh as a flower,

She looked like a princess of a magical tale

Splendidly Luminous and Dazzingly Radiant

Just like in his dreams.

God,she was exquisite and mesmerising, she looked like someone you could just fall in love with in a second, all over again.

And he knew, he did, in that one moment,he did fall in love with her all over again.

And right then as he noticed her walk pass from where he was towards the stage,and she stood next to Arhaan, the reality and realisation struck and his heart broke all over again,as he realised the happenings around him,he was a guest at Khushi's engagement to Arhaan.

The Pain seemed through his being again, and it ripped everything inside of him slowly and steadily,and he felt everything that he had never felt before, the pain that he had never felt before,as he saw Arhaan whisper something in her ear,and she smiled,and then as he stood dazed and broken,statued to the spot,he noticed Zoya and Dilshaad aunty hand Khushi a ring, just as Arhaan's aunt handed him one.

Arhaan took her hand in his,and he made her wear the ring,and kissed her on the hand,everyone hooted and cheered,and then he noticed Khushi,and just as she was about to make Arhaan wear the ring, she finally spotted him in the crowd,as their eyes locked for a brief very excruciating and heartbreaking painful second, before she looked away ,and smiled at Arhaan and made him wear the ring.

And he stood just rooted to the spot, as he realised that he really had punished himself in the worst way possible, for this was the sight he would never forget in all of his life,and nor would he forget the pain,but he knew he had deserved it.

Right then he felt his sisters hand on his shoulder as she asked softly - " choottee?? you ok??"

And right then he heard Akash ask him - "Bhai...we can leave if you want..."

Arnav fought the tear that was threating to leave his eye but he composed himself as he said to his concerned sister and brother - " I am alright, and no we cant leave soon, not before we congratulate the couple..."

Anjali looked at her brother in shock, she knew he was broken right now so so so broken,but she saw him mask his emotions,and she felt her own heart break, because Arnav Singh Raizada could mask his heart to the world but not to her,and she clearly knew it took every bit of his strength to fight that tear that had been threatening to leave his eye.

...........

45 Minutes Later

Khushi smiled at her brother as he pulled her and Arhaan briefly into a hug and she heard Arhaan say - " bhaijaan, there you go, your little sister is now officialy mine..."

Asad pulled apart and he cupped khushi's face gently as he spoke - " and you will take care of her, wont you??"

Khushi rolled her eyes and she said to her brother - " oh cmon I'm not married yet,theres still a few days to that..."

Asad nodded - " yeah but you are still going to leaving us very soon, Khushi...", and before he could complete his sentence ,Khushi had hugged him.

Afreen (Arhaan's aunt) walked over as she said - " cmon, i guess most of the photography is done, why don't the two of you come off the stage..."

Arhaan smiled - " ofcourse khala, it would be great to mix around everyone being off the stage, its so formal, i wont complain though, did get Khushi exclusively by my side...", he finished with a wink.

Khushi - " god you are shameless, you know that..."

Arhaan held her hand and kissed it - " what, now do i need permission to flirt with my fiancee ,no way...."

Afreen smiled as she said - " ok Asad, i wanted to ask you something,if you wont mind, I would like to spend some more time with Khushi,as in is it ok if she stays in the hotel tonight, i will send her back by Noon tomorrow, as I m leaving for Hyderabad tomorrow afternoon to visit my cousin, i will be back in a day, but still, are you ok with it??"

Asad nodded - " yeah its ok...no worries..."

Khushi gave Afreen a small smile ,she was really nice and right then she felt Arhaan hold her hand again as he said looking at someone in the crowd - " hey cmon I want you to meet someone..."

Khushi gave her brother a small smile and she followed Arhaan.

Asad watched the two of them walk ahead,and he turned to find his mother and he noticed that Zoya was busy talking and smiling with some of her mothers friends,and he knew she was masking everything inside of her ,her turmoil ,just like him for Khushi's sake.

He looked away refusing to feel any emotion whatsoever,and walked towards a few guests.

........

Khushi finished greeting a few people,right when she felt Zoya behind her as she asked softly - " all ok??"

Khushi nodded - " ofcourse...."

Arhaan looked at Zoya - " so i know your family is here, cmon introduce me, I mean i have met your brothers but now that i can sense that this family feud may be over soon, i want to meet the rest of them...."

Zoya looked at Khushi,and she nodded at her, meaning that she was ok with this, and so she just followed Arhaan and Zoya,right when she saw that the Raizada's were coming up to them,just then she heard what she assumed would be Naniji speak - " Khushi, bitiya, so nice to finally see you, congratulations, to you too Arhaan beta..."

Khushi gave her a small smile as she and Arhaan greeted Nani, Mama, mamiji, Shyam,Payal and Akash one by one,as Zoya introduced them

Just as she came face to face with Anjali, she felt her pull her into a hug as she said - " congratulations Khushi, you look so so so gorgeous..."

Khushi smiled as she pulled back - "and i always wanted you to be a part of this, I'm so glad you all came, all of you...thank you so much...."

Anjali cupped Khushi's face fondly as she said, hoping that no one caught the sadness of her heart in her voice - " I do want to bless you with all the happiness Khushi, you deserve nothing less..."

Khushi nodded - " Thank you di..."

Arhaan - " have you all eaten something?? the dinner is served..."

Zoya immediately said - " yes, ofcourse, ill take care Arhaan, dont worry...", and with that she saw her family give Khushi a small smile as she led them towards the buffet.

Zoya looked at her jiju as she whispered - " angry much jiju??"

Shyam gave her a small smile as he said - " Can i really be mad at my favourite saali,any longer?? of course not Zoya, its ok, i understand..."

Zoya felt him hug her from the side, just as Akash ruffled her hair tenderly and she glared at him - " Akash, my hair...please..."

Payal laced her hand in Zoya's as she said - " your brother is hopeless, didn't i always tell you..."

Zoya grinned at Payal and she knew it in her heart they were all ready to forgive her for what had happened.She took a deep breathe as she turned to look at Asad longingly, only if he could forgive her too.

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

Arnav had been sipping his drink casually standing with a business associate ,when he had seen his family greet Khushi and Arhaan,and just as he saw Zoya leading everyone for dinner perhaps, he finally walked towards them, no matter how much it pained him, the two of them had their back to him,he put a hand on Arhaan's shoulder as he said - " Congratulations Arhaan..."

Arhaan turned in an instant and he smiled as he side hugged Arnav - " thanks Man, im so glad you came, but out of curiosity did you accept my invitation or the Khan's??"

Khushi felt her insides stir up a turmoil,she had never felt before, she knew he had been gazing at her through out the evening ever since she had stepped in,and she hadn't acknowledged it expect for the brief second that their eyes had met before she made Arhaan wear the ring, and in that second, that one heartbreaking second,as she had looked in his eyes,and the anguish and the pain she had seen had pulled someone unknown string of her hearts,and thats why she had looked away as immediately because she knew what she had done, had ripped him apart.She had probably ripped apart his heart and soul,forever.

Arnav looked at Arhaan for a second, when all he wanted to do, that part inside him that was breaking so badly,all it wanted to do was take Khushi in his arms,and take her away with him forever, to a place to the world, where it would be just him and her.

But did that world exist?? Ofcourse not.

Existence of that world was a dream,and this reality was a nightmare of the worst category.

He replied - " probably both, Arhaan, congratulations Khushi..."

And the way he had emphasised on her name in the end, finally made her look at him in the eye, and the minute she did she knew it was a mistake, because she had never expected to see that level of anguish and dejection that she was seeing right now ,and it shook her , it shook her being,and the guilt that she had done this to him started to resurface, but she had never expected him to come in the first place,and within the next second he masked his emotion and she replied softly - " thank you Arnav..."

Right then one of Arhaan's friend pulled him to meet someone,and Arhaan excused himself giving them both a smile ,leaving the two of them standing in front of each other,and Khushi looked at him and again that emotion that heartbreak, soul shattering pain was back in his eyes and she spoke softly - " I didn't think you would come, for real, why did you??I know its...",and she couldn't get herself to say it.

Arnav looked at her, the guilt that she had hurt him like this was in her eyes too and he didn't want her to feel guilty at all and so he controlled the heartbreaking emotion in his voice as he said - " heartbreaking??"

Khushi nodded,and she said softly - " yes....you shouldn't have come...why are you doing this to yourself...im sorry Arnav, I just dont know what else to say..."

Arnav fought that tear again in his eye as he said - " dont be sorry Khushi, trust me i dont want you to be anything but happy today,and anyway you cant possibly more sorry than I am..."

Khushi didn't know what emotion passed between the two of them but it was electric and very intense,and she looked into his eyes,she couldn't look at him anymore, not like this ,knowing that she had done this to him,and she stepped back a little as she whispered - " I'm sorry, i need to go...",and with that she walked to the crowd,and went and stood next to Arhaan,as he spoke to his friends.

Arnav watched Arhaan lace his fingers into Khushi's,and he couldn't look anymore so he turned and walked to join his family.In that flash of a second of look in her eye ,and he knew, that Khushi hadn't just only ripped apart his heart and soul,she had also ripped apart her heart and her soul.

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

Midnight

Zoya watched Asad enter the washroom,and she sat dejected on the bed, ever since they had got back from the hotel, 30 minutes ago,she had tried to get him to talk to her, but he wasn't even looking at her, she had quickly changed and then as she had stepped back into the room,he had gone to the washroom,and now she was just waiting for him to come back,and she decided now he would have to talk to her, no matter what.

He hadn't looked at her all day,varely spoken to her even,expect for what as necessary for Khushi's sake and at the party,and this was what was confusing her, what was last night about then?? All the love making till the wee hours of the morning, and for the first time she felt a little sick,as a thought came to her mind, that maybe last night it was just sex for him,and that it wasn't love that had made him touch her.

She instructed her mind to just shut up,she was not going to jump to any presumptions in her head, nor was she going to let her mind come up with any absurd theory before she spoke to him, she had committed a huge blunder due to her mind.

She walked over to the study and poured herself a glass of water, and gulped it down,she needed it for sure and she waited for him patiently, and she picked up her phone and it was right then she saw that her battery was low, so she opened the drawer to take out her charger, when a transparent file caught her eye,and she put her charger aside,as curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it,and the minute she read what it was,she felt as if she had died in that one moment.

Annulment.

These were the legal papers, that were drafted for the Annulment of their Marriage.

Ofcourse she knew what it meant, annulment meant that the marriage never existed in the eyes of the law in the first place, that it was null and void.

She quickly looked at the papers ,and turned the pages,and she gaped in shock as the declartion stated, that Asad wasn't in the right frame of mind when the wedding happened, i.e he was intoxicated under the influence of alcohol.

And she read the similar thing being written under her name.

What the fuck was this fucking nonsense..??

And then her eyes fell at the end,and she felt fear and pain break everything inside of her as she realised that Asad had signed these papers already.

Tears started to fall her eyes,and she clutched her heart in a soul shattering pain, Asad had signed these papers??

He wanted to Annul their marriage??

Claim that it never existed??

Claim that she was never his wife??

Claim that this was a mistake??

That she was the biggest mistake of his life??

And the pain , the insult, the humiliation that had started to surface in her being was heartbreaking and she just sat in shock, right when she saw the door of the washroom open and he stepped out,and the minute he looked at her he realised what she had seen,and she just looked at him dazed, tears brimming and pouring out her eyes as she asked - " you want to annul our marriage??"

Asad saw the distraught look on her face and the broken pain in her eyes,and he walked over and took the papers out of her hand,as he browsed through it and he said, sure his voice was devoid of any emotion - " since you regret everything that happened, and especially the way in which you married me, i thought it would be for the best,you know divorce isn't legally an option for us, since we haven't been together as in legally married for long,annulment is the other way out, long shot i know, but can be granted, all you need to do is sign the papers Zoya, and you are free, from me..."

Zoya looked at him shocked and stunned , how could he say these things, how could he even get himself to think of this and she said helplessly as she clutched his shoulders getting up making him face her - " look, im sorry, i really am, i know you are mad, really mad, at me, anything but how can you even think of such a thing Asad, didn't it break you, how is it so easy for you to even say such a thing, the mere thought of which has ripped me apart....Asad, look at me...look at me, answer me, you do know what this means, right??"

Asad looked at her in the eye as he said - " yes i know what this means, I had the papers drafted , didn't i?? im just saying what i think i should right now, just like it was so easy for you Zoya to doubt my love, and throw distrust on my face,even though the mere thought of which you knew was ripping me apart..."

Zoya looked at him in despair - " I know i hurt you dammit, i know, and i cant tell you how sorry I am, I made one mistake Asad, driven by the situation, one mistake, i will not justify it by making excuses, but why do you want to do this?? you want to hurt me, you want to punish me?? aren't you hurting yourself too, because i know i hurt myself when i hurt you..."

Asad felt his anger rise a little as that pain he had been subjected too came back to his mind and he pulled her hair in a fist and spat back - " the only thing i care about right now , is about you signing these damm papers, and getting over with this mess, i listened to my heart once before, and i really did forgive you for lying to me about who you were, and look what that got me in return, you didn't just break me Zoya, you ripped me apart, and id be dammed if i let you get away with this, and I'm not hurting myself, because i don't fucking care anymore, you get it....I can never forgive you for this..."

Zoya squirmed in pain,and she struggled to get herself free and he let her go the next second and turned away and she walked and stood in front of him as she asked in a voice so desperate that she didn't know it was her's - " so you want to rip me apart too?? is that what you want??"

Asad glared at her in anger, and he spat - " i didn't know you were deaf...i think i made myself pretty clear...i dont want anything to do with you anymore, i cant be with you Zoya....I want you freaking out of my life, and out of my house, once Khushi's wedding is over..."

Zoya felt her heart shatter as she stammered tearfully - " do you really think in your heart that this is what i deserve for making one mistake Asad??"

Asad spat back - " one mistake?? only you can be so obstinate and stubborn to not see what a monumental mistake it was, you freaking broke everything inside of me, pushed me back into that darkness, that i had fought with for you, you pushed me over the cliff Zoya, you freaking broke everything ,ripped everything inside of me...and honestly speaking im letting you get away easy, just simply asking you to leave...you probably deserve worse..."

He looked at her shocked and stunned and broken face, and he knew that he was ripping her apart,good she deserved it, but that part inside of him ,that part also knew that he was doing this because he didn't want to hurt her everyday for the rest of his freaking life....and he knew he will...if he saw her in front of her everyday, he would do things to torture her everyday...for she had unleashed that darkness inside of him ,that he didn't have any control over, it really was the best if he got her to sign these papers ,because he knew he was in a dark space right now.

Zoya felt everything go numb one by one inside of her as she asked - " when did you get these papers drafted??"

Asad folded his hands on his arms - " yesterday morning..."

Zoya - " you mean before you got to know the truth...i mean we...before khushi and di..."

Asad spat angrily - " the truth didn't make any difference for i knew of my innocence all along,and honestly it just made it worse, because so easy to believe strangers over me right....what kind of a useless marriage is that anyway??

Zoya asked broken - " so you are going to give up?? just like that, is it so easy?? i was a mess too right, but did i leave?? did i give up??? we got married, for heavens sake, its no joke..."

Asad spat angrily - " oh, i thought for you it is, for you surely made a joke out of it ,a joke of our marriage...and I'm not giving up, you see theres a small difference between giving up,and knowing when you have had enough, and Zoya, trust me i have had enough...."

Zoya desperately held his hand - " Asad, i know you are angry and so so hurt, but don't do this to me,please i beg you, i love you....i love you so much, don't push me away, don't tear us apart, please....", and she fell down crying against his feet.

Asad had never seen her like this, never in his whole life had he imagined he would be hurting her like this and right then he felt emotions start to stir up inside of him and he pulled her up as he sighed - "Zoya, I'm tired, and exhausted alright, i want you to sign these papers,and you will stay here until Khushi is married off,and then you can leave..."

Zoya wept ,her shoulders shaking, as she realised a truth, she couldn't go back to her family, to her home,she had left everything for him, with what face was she going to face her family and she said it all out loud - " and how can i face my family, go back to the house, i left for you?? I walked out with you remember???"

Asad shrugged - " you can go wherever you want, for all i care, and i think your family has forgiven you, they will take you in..."

Take you in.What was she?? A freaking commodity or what?? He sure made it sound like that,and she asked curtly, for she really needed to know - " if you were so sure that you wanted this yesterday itself, what was last night about?? what were you thinking making love to me over and over again, giving me hopes that you might be ready to forgive me...or atlas be thinking about it, if you clearly had this disaster on your mind, then what were you freaking thinking??"

Asad looked at her, for a second he wanted to tell her the truth that he did so, because last night the emotions those freaking emotions had got the better of him, and he had used the moment to store in her memories in his heart before he shut her out forever but he refrained and he asked pointing at her heart - " hurts right there doesn't it?? when hopes shatter, hen dreams shatter?? Doesn't it Zoya??? i just thought you should experience the taste of your own medicine...there was a time when i would put my arms around you and I felt that I was home, but no that was not what last night was about, it was about how I wanted to remind myself once and for all, how you were the biggest bruise to the heart,the one who tore me apart,and how i had been such a fool to forgive you once and fall for this trap of a joke in the name of your love, that was what it freaking was, it was anything but Love, and thats what i want you to know it was,anything but love..."

As if the insult that he wanted to snatch away the fact that they had ever been married, that she was never his wife, wasn't enough to butcher her being, then the humiliation over what he had just said had done just that,ripped her apart, she cooudnt believe that he had used their expression of love in a way so demeaning as a method of using it as some sort of a mind game which had been designed to destroy her hopes,and in that one minute she felt disgusted,so so disgusted.

She felt used.

She felt insulted.

She felt humiliated.

She felt shattered.

She felt as if someone had stabbed inside of her soul.

She felt...Ripped.

She asked trembling - " you made love to me because you hate me now?? i always heard that theres this very thin line between love and hate, have you really crossed that line for real???"

Asad looked at her face and yes he had succedded, he had ripped her apart and he said his voice devoid of any emotion - " oh yeah iv heard that too,and yes, iv crossed it, and please like i already said, don't even think for a second that last night was even for a second out of that emotion of love that i used to feel for you, for you butchered it with your own hands, and lets get it clear once and for all, I didn't make love to you last night, I slept with you, i don't think i need to get into more significant details to make you understand, you are mature enough to understand what I mean..."

Zoya felt as if she had Been Whipped all over her body,a million times,before she had been ripped apart as the meaning of those words dawned on her,and yes, the pain that she was starting to feel,shattered her completely,every bit of her heart and soul was now shattered. She knew then and there, that these words that had left his mouth, would always haunt her,until she closed her eyes to death.

She knew she had done a mistake a blunder and probably pushed him over the edge back into the darkness,and if this was what he thought she deserved after all this while,then she honestly didn't have anything more to say to him and she said sure that her voice was shaking - " I am willing to put my self respect aside for a small emotional window Asad, even though what you just said is downright degrading,you just degraded me in my very own eyes,but still I am willing to ask you for one last time, this annulment,you really want this??are you sure?? say it now,because that part of me that loves you insanely is giving you this one chance to think over this again,for if I sign this,there wouldn't be any looking back for me, for you will be pushing me into something, into the hollow space that i couldn't return from,Asad, is this what you really want??????? i m asking is this what you really want?? you want me out of your life forever?? do you really understand the gravity of what you are wanting me to do here...think about it, im going to Khushi's room to sleep, you can answer me in the morning....", and she turned to walk out,desperately wanting to run away from his room,she couldn't stand being near him right now.

Asad caught hold of her hand,as he pulled her back instantly - "no drama, no room for any emotional window Zoya, i want this...im not going to change my decision", and he picked up the pen from the table and he handed it to her - " sign the damm papers and sign them now...."

Zoya looked at him, his taut features, this man in front of her wasn't Asad, wasn't her Asad at all, he had locked him up somewhere deep inside of him where she couldn't even reach,but she felt her treacherous heart asking again - "Asad,don't, please don't, this is..."

Asad spat back - " Insulting?? are you feeling that insulted and humiliated at the thought of annulment??and the thought of last night?? then good,because like i said, you deserve it..."

Zoya flinched, and then she felt her own hand rise on its accord as she took the pen from him ,and opened the file, and turned the paper and signed them,and she felt fresh tears ooze her eyes as she closed the file as she took it in her hands - "congratulations Asad, you just succeeded in what you wanted to do, this annulment means that this marriage never exited, that this was a cruel joke,just like everything between us probably was,and you very successfully broke me apart....im taking the papers with me, ill have them filed in the court tomorrow,but dont worry no one will know about this until Khushi's wedding,I will continue to put up the act until then,I hope that makes you happy,and i hope that you are also happy in the knowledge that you ripped my heart and soul apart...."

Asad looked at her as he said - " Only returning the favour, Miss Raizada..."

Zoya looked at him in the eye as she said painfully, as the soul shattering pain started taking over - " Thank you for the punishment that I will never forget, Mr Khan..."

Asad folded his arms - " thats the point,close the door behind you,as you leave..."

Zoya nodded - " i will...", and she walked out ,and closed the door,and in that one similar moment she had also closed the door of her heart to him, forever.

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

Zoya washed her face with cold water, she quickly put on a jeans and a top,and shoved a night change in her bag along with the file in her hand,and then made her way out, she needed to get away for tonight, she wanted to be alone, and so she quickly walked out of her door, and then out of the main door as she ordered herself a Uber,and she waited at the gate as she told the guard that she was going to be with Khushi,and then hopped in as the cab came,and then asked him to drive to ITC Maurya,she still had the keys to her room,and so she would just go in and be on her own for a while, Khushi couldn't know any of this for sure,and so she knew she had to fight this battle of heartbreak,she felt tears fall continuously ,and she knew she would be probably crying out all night,crying herself to sleep for probably the rest of her life.

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

Hospital - 6.30 AM

Kkusum Raizada had been listening to her son's constant sobbing all night again, for the second time in the row,and she had felt him keep her hand on his head as he wept,and as helpless as she was in this coma, she couldn't do anything about it, and it pained her greatly.She wanted to move , she wanted to come back to Life.

Right then she felt him keep her hand on his head and he sat silent,but she could sense that he was shattered and broken completely,and she wanted to move,she really wanted to brush his hair tenderly and she closed her eyes for a second,and gathered every bot of strength of her mind ,as she instructed her body to move, to just make some moment,and she felt shocked and surprised as she felt her own fingers move over his head, and she felt her heartbeats fasten.

Arnav was sure he felt it, he felt her fingers move on his head, and he shot up instantly as he said - " maa, Maa, did you just move, maa tell me...",and right then he felt the monitors around him beep loudly,and he quickly walked to the door, and called out to the nurse and the doctor.

The next few minutes went by in a rush as he saw a team of nurses and doctors rush inside,and they instructed him to wait out,and he tried to talk to the doctors,but theyjust instructed him to wait,and so he did.

He had come here to his mother after the engagement party ,heartbroken and shattered,and spent most of the time crying under her touch,like a kid, who had just realised that broken knees had been so much easier to deal with than broken hearts, for atlas those bruises healed, for he knew this bruise of the heart would never heal,and then he had slept n the sofa, his sleep had opened a while ago,and after he had freshened up,he had returned to her wanting to feel her hand on him, and that was when he had felt her fingers move on his head.

He waited in anticipation,and then he took out his phone and called his sister.

.......

Two Hours Later

Anjali paced around nervously as she looked at Arnav and Shyam and asked - " why aren't they telling us...anything...what is this, she is our mother...."

Shyam held her hand - " you need to relax ok?? the nurse did say theres nothing to worry, its all under control..."

Anjali - " yeah but they aren't giving us the exact picture..."

Arnav walked witha few bottles of water and handed it to his family members, as they all waited in anticipation for the doctors to come and talk to them, it had been two hours since his mother had shown the movement.

And right then they saw the doctors come out the ICU ,to where she had been shifted urgently and he walked fast towards the doctors and he asked - " My mother, how is she?? please tell us something....anything...at all..."

Dr.Arvind Roy gave the scared family in front of him a small smile ,as he spoke, breaking the news to them that he had been waiting to say for a decade now, ever since Kkusum Raizada had been brought here, and had been under his care - " A miracle, a miracle, that I knew would happen one day indeed,she is awake....Arnav, Anjali, your mother is conscious....and out of coma...."

Arnav felt the ground shake beneath him but out of happiness,as he heard his sister ask - " what??? what did you say???"

Arvind touched her shoulder - " I said, she is awake,but in a delicate situation, out of danger ofcourse, but we need to keep her here for a while..."

Arnav asked, sure his voice was shaking - " can we see her?? I mean will she be able to talk??"

Dr gave him a smile - " Arnav, thats why we took so much time to stablize her, to see if all her parameters were in control, she just got back to consciousness after a decade, a lot of things needed to be taken care off,and examined, which we did, and yes she will talk to you, but her voice is very meek,barely an audible whisper, but it will be ok with time, will improve,and its the ICU, only one at a time, but since a special case, I will allow both you and Anjali,she asked for you both and Zoya, but i cant see her...anyway why dont the two of you go in..."

Anjali looked at her husband and she heard him say - " dont worry, ill just call Zoya...you go..."

devyani stood too stunned in happiness, her daughter was awake finally awake,for a second she had wanted to be the first to see her, but she had refrained, she knew her grandchildren had been waiting for this.And so as the rest of her family members hugged her one by one in happiness,she finally thanked the gods above,for listening to that one prayer she had been sending out every day.

.......

KKusum moved her eyes as she felt the doors open,and she was surrounded by so many machines still, so many IV's but the minute she saw her son and daughter step inside,she felt herself give them a small smile,she could smile, she could move, after all these years of torture, she could finally move,and she wanted to speak,but her voice was weak,and so she just moved her hand a little,and before she knew it both her Chotte and Anjali had hugged her from either of the sides,and she felt them cry into her arms,and she just held onto them for a while.

And right then she remembered the events of the fateful day , that fateful day,when everything happened, of how both her husband and Rashid and Najma had been mudered, and the trauma,the flashes,and in an instant she felt anxious and right then the machines beeped again.

Arnav shot up at the same time as Anjali and she asked worried - " maa, maa, are you ok...??

Kkusum felt so anxious, as the memories came back and the only thing she could mange to mutter,she knew her kids were near her,and they could hear her for sure ,and she said - " Chotte, Anjali...."

Arnav instantly held his mothers hand - "Maa, im here, di is here, Zoya is on her way...dont worry, you are fine, you will be fine...."

And right then they heard her speak in a tone that was meek and yet very anxious - " Firoz, and Farhaan...Firoz,and Farhaan, Firoz and farhaan..."

Arnav looked at his sister in shock and confusion - "why is she taking Firoz uncles name?? hes dead isn't he?? long back..."

Anjali nodded - " yes, two years after dad's passing, and who is Farhaan??"

Arnav looked at his mother - " maa, you want to say something??why are you taking these names..."

And right then the doctor and the nurse came back,and they asked them to leave,as they injected their mother with an injection as dr Arvind said - "something has worked her up,made her so anxious, her BP shot up, look lets just let her relax for a while, we have injected her for sleep, she needs it..."

Anjali looked at her mother who was now sound asleep,and the nurse put on an oxygen mask and she heard her brother ask longingly - "didnt she just wake up??"

Dr smiled at him - "relax, this sleep is different, she will be better , up and awake in a few hours....ok..."

Arnav and Anjali nodded,as they walked back.

Shyam watched them come and he said - "Zoya's no is switched off, i dont have Asad's no..."

Arnav - " its ok jiju, i have, i will call him..."

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

Barkat - 9.00 Am

Asad ate his breakfast and he watched his mother as she asked worriedy- " what was the need for Zoya to go see Khushi so early??"

Asad shrugged - " i dont know, these two ammi, they have a little world of their own...relax they will be here by Noon...", he said covering up, ever since the guard had told him this morning that Zoya had left last night itself,he had lied to his mother saying that she had left a while ago, to see if everything as ok with Khushi and to greet Arhaans family over breakfast.

Right then his phone rang and he was shocked to see the munger flashing on his screen and he heard his mother ask - " who is it??"

Asad shrugged - " i remember his number, its Arnav,why is he calling me?? oh maybe,he wants to talk..."

Dilshaad looked at him surprised - "what??"

Asad - "Zoya told him about your heart attack that night, and everything else too, he questioned me about it last night at the party..."

Dilshaad eyes widened - " pick it up, what are you waiting for, put it on the speaker, i want to hear what this is about..."

Asad - "ammi...seriously>??"

Dilshaad glared at her son and she watched him put his phone on speaker as he answered - " hello...."

And they both heard Arnav's hurried voice on the phone - "Asad, where is Zoya?? her phone is off, look just get her here, at the hospital , Maa is awake...."

Before he could say anything, Asad felt his mother ask in shock - "whattttt?????? how???? when?????"

They Heard Arnav explain about the events of this morning ,and Asad and Dilshaad said at the same time - " we are coming...."

They heard Arnav's voice on the speaker - " also aunty, while we were with her me and di, she just took two names, and got so anxious that the doctors had to put her back to sleep..."

Dilshaad - "what names??"

Asad heard him say - " Firoz and Farhaan...ofcourse i know she referred to Firoz uncle but why.... he is dead,and who is Farhaan?? do you have any idea who is Farhaan??Asad, do you remember any reference ever from uncle?? i dont remember any fromDad..."

Asad tried to remember - " No i don't....anyway we are coming...ok?"

Dilshaad - "yes i don't recall anyone too....dont worry, are you all there??"

They heard his voice full of emotion - " Yes, we all are aunty..."

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

Meanwhile Simultaneously

Khushi sat in Arhaan's room,as she waited for him to come out of the shower,they had decided to go down for breakfast together so that they could greet his family and friends,and thats why she had come to take him,but he had been answering some mails since morning,so he had asked her to wait and he had promised hed be quick.

She looked in her bag for her phone to wile away time, and she realised that she had left it in the room,and so she just walked to the study and picked up a few magazines,and right then she knocked over his business bag,and a few things fell out.

She bent forward ,and she started to pick things up, while her eyes landed on his passport and she smiled,out of curiosity she opened it to see what kind of photograph he had on his passport because hers was of course very funny,and she knew his would be too,wasnt everyone's.

And right then she felt her self feel shock,as she read his name.

Farhaan Khan.

Why did his passport name say Farhaan Khan, when his name was Arhaan Khan.

This was funny,she scanned the rest of the pages to see the visa stampings of various countires,and then her eyes fell on that column on the last page.

Father's Name - Firoz Khan.

What?? how was this possible?? She clearly remembered, that Arhaan had told her that his fathers name was Abdul. Abdul Khan.

Why would he lie????

She flipped back the pages,as she read again

Farhaan Khan.- the picture was his.

Fathers name - Firoz Khan.

And right then thought came to her mind, a thought that shook her completely,making a chill go down her spine her mother had mentioned a friend of her's to her a while ago, a common friend who had caused a rift between her father and Zoya's father,and his name was Firoz wasn't it??

But she didn't know if his name was Firoz Khan,ofcourse there were a lot of Firoz's in the world.

But still why would Arhaan lie about his name?? His fathers name??

She clutched his passport in her hand, and she waited for him to step out of the shower.

He was going to have to answer a few very important questions.

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

Fate reached out for a drink - "seriosuly, i need some scotch,after that heavy duty roller coaster turn of events...."

Destiny - "ofcourse, and i agree, Arhaan, as in farhaan is going to have to answer a lot of questions..."

Fate nodded - " the answers which i want to hear..."

Love sighed - "dont we all just want to hear?? we'v been waiting to hear it out,even though we know it is, still different impact when you actually hear it our for real..."

Destiny nodded - "ofcourse, and that moment is finally here, when the past would see the light of the day...."

Love nodded - " about time, isn't it, and like I always say, its not about just getting over with it, its always about walking right through it, and its time they all did...."

Hate walked in as he did a victory dance - " ahhaaa, seriously just when i was starting to think i couldn't ever rip apart Asad and Zoya, good for me, and you know what the best part is, it has nothing to do with the past..."

Fate scowled - "the best?? you insensitive sadistic jerk, thats the worst part..."

Hate rolled his eyes - " its subjective, best for me, worst for you, anyway like i care, and also id like you to watch out for your other princess Khushi, she's walked into deep shit,and with all that questioning she has on her mind, id advice her to be careful,for i can smell some deep trouble around here..."and then he walked away breezily.

Fate watched him leave and he sweared under his breath - 'what the?? is he serious?? Khushi, god, why do you always land up in the middle of all the mess....but this Arhaan oh Farhaan,he really does love her,he does, doesn't he??"

Destiny nodded - "he does, yes, he does...."

Fate - "he wouldn't harm her right?? no no he can't...",and he looked at Love - "say something, why are you quiet...??"

Love looked at the two seriously as she said - " looking into his heart, and like destiny said yes he loves her, he changed into the person he could be only because of Khushi and for Khushi, but...."

Fate asked worriedly - " but what???"

Love sighed - " But nothing can change the fact that Farhaan Khan, is a lot of mixed shades of black and white, a lot of complex shades of grey....",and she saw her friends look at her solenmly,as they returned to their desks, deep in thought.

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