"Khushi.. Khushi why are you crying? What are you doing here?" she felt someone patted her back.

Khushi looked up with teary eyes only to find Lavanya acting like worried for her. She glared disgustingly at Lavanya.

Khushi stood up angrily facing Lavanya, "Stop acting Lavanya.. It doesn't suit you!"

Lavanya looked at her startled and stammered: You already know.. about me and ASR?.. You heard our conversation in the terrace?

Khushi looked away with tears flowing from her eyes.

"And you saw the video also?" Lavanya said glancing at the phone on the floor playing that video.

"Why did you do this to me?" Khushi asked crying.

"Look Khushi.. I did what ASR asked me to.. I simply love him and I can do anything for him.." Lavanya said pressing her lips sadly.

"What does that mean?" Khushi asked.

Lavanya faced her back to Khushi and smiled evilly, she composed herself and turned serious, "Khushi you're thinking that I came in between you and ASR.. but that's not the truth. The truth is that YOU came in between us.. We already love each other even before you came in our lives.."

"That's not true!" Khushi whispered.

"It is!" Lavanya said confidently, "By staying all this time with ASR, you must have known by now that he doesn't accept defeat at any cost.. and you're the first girl in his life that dared to fight against him, you're that girl who didn't accept to bend to him.. and this made him take this step to destroy you.."

"Remember when that building collapsed and you were there.. ASR thought he finally won and you lost the challenge to him, you would bring your resignation letter and accept defeat to him. But no, you came there and decided to continue working in AR which infuriated him because this would mark his defeat to you.. then he talked with me and shared his plan to destroy you once and for all. The plan was to make you fall in love with him and then.. on your marriage day, he would ditch you.. he wouldn't appear on the marriage day.. he would break your heart mercilessly that you would find difficult to even live here.."

Khushi held the pillar for support, she shut her eyes tightly crying out loud, "Nahin.. this is not true.. yeh sach nahin hai.. it's not possible.. Arnav ji aise nahin hai (Arnav is not like that)"

"It is true Khushi!" Lavanya gritted her teeth, "I'm at least being good with you and informing you all this before it gets too late.. I never liked you and that's why I accepted ASR to go on with this plan.. We made you feel like I'm the villain in your love story with him but in reality he was always with me.. but now as a woman like you I'm telling you should leave from here, leave before ASR destroys you completely!"

Khushi shook her head crying terribly.

Lavanya was losing her patience, "You still don't believe in me! Fine.. The day I sent roses bouquet to his home but he didn't disclose about our relationship to his family because you were there Khushi, he made you believe that we are just friends to make his way easy with you, then he started acting like he hates me and was suddenly behaving good with you, didn't you find it strange? ASR, your rude and arrogant boss who makes your life a hell suddenly changed with no proper reason! He started caring for you and your family.. he started treating you like differently from other employees.. He started taking you to his home and introduced you to his family.. He even managed to convince Mami to let Payal marry Akash.. All this sweet little stuff was to win your heart Khushi.. and you fell in his traps so easily.. And ASR doesn't waste time, once he saw you were falling for him, he quickly proposed you to be his girlfriend.. and then engagement! Why do you think he is in so hurry to make you his? Because he wants to get rid of you quickly also.. He is badly waiting to revenge you and destroy you for daring to act brave in front of him.. for not accepting defeat to him.. He wanted to win at any cost by hook or by crook.. He's ASR and he wouldn't accept defeat ever by a middle class girl like you.."

"I'm not lying to you Khushi.. In fact I don't give a damn to what ASR is going to do with you.. but yesterday, Mom talked with me saying that me and ASR are doing no good by playing with an innocent girl's life, so I was feeling disturbed then.. I decided that I will tell you everything later when ASR is not near but guess you already saw and heard everything.. Yes, it's true that me and ASR are in a relationship and he was just using you to revenge.. after that he would throw you away from his life.." Lavanya said and left from there praying that Khushi believes in her story.

After Lavanya left, few minutes later Arnav came out of the terrace and found Khushi crying uncontrollably near the pillar of the corridor.

He wanted to console her and ask what happened, but the phone laying on the floor carelessly took his attention. He bend and took the phone in his hand and saw a video in a WhatsApp chat, he clicked to watch it and understood why Khushi was like this.

Khushi looked back and found Arnav, she gave him an angry glare. Her face was red, her red eyes were filled with tears and the make up was terribly spoiled.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked in a broken whisper way.

Khushi chuckled painfully, "You.."

"Don't.. Don't speak anything that will make you repent later if I'm proven right and you wrong!" he said pointing his index finger to her.

Khushi looked away, she cried frustratedly and was trying to take off the ring from her finger when Arnav stopped her holding her hand tightly, "And don't do anything that will make you repent later if I'm proven right!"

"So what should I do?" Khushi cried.

"A deal!" he said in ASR's tone.

"Deal!" Khushi rolled her eyes and chuckled mockingly, "Lavanya was right.. Everything for you is a deal.. A deal that you've to be the winner at any cost, by hook or by crook!"

"The deal is that we will not break our engagement.. You have doubts on me, then you will clear your doubts by staying with me and not away from me.. And don't forget, you just saw one side of the story.. You don't know my side of the story yet and you can't accuse me without being hundred percent sure!" he said.

"What is your side of the story then?" Khushi asked.

"Even if I say it to you, you won't believe me.. I will make sure that even without saying anything in my defense, I will make you realize that you are wrong!"

"So do you agree or not?" he asked.

"Agree to this deal is equal to destroying my life with my own hands.." she sobbed.

"Don't just think about yourself.. 4 days later is Akash and Payal's engagement also.. If we give a heart breaking news to our family about our broken engagement, do you think Akash and Payal will be able to enjoy their engagement? Do you think our families would be happy? We can't ruin their happiness.." Arnav said gritting his teeth.

Khushi thought for a while, she wiped her tears away and nodded her head and whispered in low tone: Okay..

Arnav held her hand and took her to his room. He led her to his bathroom and gently washed her face with his hand, Khushi was trying to avoid him but he was stubborn him, he didn't give up till she agreed for him to clean her face.

Then he took her back to his room and asked her to sit. He walked out of his room thinking to himself, "This is the first time I'm doing a deal in which I'm the loser Khushi.. If you trusted me, then I wouldn't need to make this deal with you!"

He reached in Anjali's room and searched on her dresser for her make up kit. Once he found it, he headed back to his room where he saw Khushi quietly sitting and lost in her thoughts.

He start applying foundation and concealer on her face.

Khushi was staring at him confused, "If you know that I already know you just want to revenge me, then why are you still behaving good with me? I already know about your plan, then why did you make this deal with me? Why did you thought about our families's happiness? Why don't you just throw me out of here and get rid of me once and for all? Why are you doing this with me Arnav ji? What are you planning in your mind?"

"You're so innocent Khushi.. you're unaware of this world's cunning ways.. You believed in that damn video.. Not only you, but for some time I also fell in Lavanya's trap.. How could I not see this coming?" Arnav thought applying make up to her.

"Is it possible that all this is lie? Is it possible that you're innocent?.. But then leaving me waiting for you, you were more worried for Lavanya's accident, and that video clearly showed me how much close you're to Lavanya, then she also confessed her love to you and even hugged you but you didn't react at all that means you also love her.. Lavanya was also right, you changed your behavior drastically with me ever since I came back to office after that building accident, you rushed to propose me and even you were in hurry to get engaged to me, could all this be a sign that all this was your plan to revenge me? If you can leak my pictures from that fashion show to punish me, to spoil my reputation then why can't you fake love to me now to destroy me for daring to fight back with you? But still my hearts is not ready to believe in all this.. My heart is not accepting that my Arnav ji can do this.. You can't be so cruel with me.. Now only through this deal I will know who is right and who is wrong here.."

"It's done.." Arnav said keeping the cosmetics back at the make up kit.

Khushi stood up and went away from there.

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

"Khushi.. Chote.. Why are you standing there? Come and join us to dance.." Anjali shouted giggling calling them to the dance floor.

Arnav and Khushi stare at each other for a while sharing a sad rabba vee eye lock.

Khushi then walked foward and joined Anjali and Payal pretending to dance with a fake smile. She looked back at Arnav and found his intense hurt look on her, his eyes glistened. Why is he upset now? Shouldn't he be happy that he succeeded in destroying her?

All of sudden, Lavanya came and wrapped her arms around Arnav's smiling.

Khushi turned her back to them unable to watch the scene. She quickly wiped her tears away and joined the dance again.

Arnav glared at Lavanya and shoved her hands away.

"What happened ASR? Why are you behaving like this with me? I thought we are friends now.." Lavanya said confused.

"You think you'll play games with me and I will never get to know about this.. You think I'm gonna play the fool of this story.. then you're wrong Lavanya.. You should have thought twice before taking this step!" Arnav said in calm and composed tone, but only Lavanya felt how aggressive he was sounding.

"I'm not getting what you're saying ASR.." she smiled nervously trying to sound confused.

"First step acting like you don't love me anymore and accepting the fact that Khushi is the girl of my life and not you.. Second step friendship again.. Third step leaking that video to media who misinterpret it completely so that Khushi doubts on me.. Fourth step convincing me that you like Aman and ask my help to get a dinner date with him and using this context you purposely added in your dialogue "I know you would always be with me.. I love you ASR" so that when Khushi comes to the terrace she hears this and think we're having an affair and then when she left, you covered it up by saying: I love you ASR as a friend, of course!.. When I found Khushi crying at the corridor, I already knew what your plan was Lavanya.." Arnav said.

Lavanya looked at him shocked and dumbfounded.

"So what exactly would you gain by doing this? You thought I would get angry on Khushi for doubting on me, Khushi would have fought with me and break off this engagement.. I would have stood by your side, saying that you're innocent friend and all this blame goes to media people who cook these stories everyday.. My family would think bad of Khushi for leaving me, they would advise me to marry you as your reputation will be spoiled now, this damn society won't let you live in peace and will make it difficult for you to marry another man.. and blah blah blah.." Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Nothing of that sort is going to happen Lavanya.. As you can see Khushi is still the ring I made her wear.." he gestured Lavanya to look at Khushi dancing with whole family.

Lavanya stare at Khushi, she frowned also thinking why Khushi hasn't taken any step till now. Why was she dancing with everyone instead of creating a drama here and break this engagement?

"You failed Lavanya.. Your plan flopped badly.. You know why.. because ASR values trust more than love, but Khushi's Arnav values Khushi more than trust! I will make sure this distance you create just for now between us strengthen our relationship hundred times more than before.."

"Okay.. I might have failed ASR.. I will never get your love, but I also made sure that you will not get Khushi's love also.. You will feel the same pain I felt when you broke my heart and slapped on my face that Khushi is your girlfriend and I'm just a mere employee.. You will never get Khushi's love in your life because I filled such venom in her mind for you that she will never be able to look at you as her Prince Charming.. she looks at you as Rakshas only.. try everything you want.. but you will not succeed.. NEVER!" Lavanya glared at him.

"Not a problem.. I don't care what you said to her about me that she thinks me to be a Rakshas... ASR is always known for his victories Lavanya, so be careful when you say NEVER to me!" Arnav said smirking at her.

Lavanya left from there.

"I will make sure you NEVER mess up with me!" he gritted his teeth watching Lavanya leaving the hall.

Anjali came to Arnav worriedly, his family behind him, she showed the video to him: What is this Chote?

He stare at Khushi who looked away with moist eyes.

"It's nothing Di.. media always look for stories to get TRP to their channels.. and celebrity news doesn't take time to spread and get viral.. don't worry about this video.. Just enjoy the party!" Arnav said.

"Are you sure Chote? You look upset.." Nani asked concernedly.

"Yes, I'm sure!.. I was just worried if Khushi, Payal, Garima aunty, Shashi uncle and Buaji would believe in me or not.. I knew my family would never doubt on me!" Arnav said.

"Hey Arnav bitwa.. what are you saying? We too are your family only, not any strangers.. of course we believe you.. I know this media link one person anyone they see.. so don't worry.. This video is fake only.. made by fake people!" Buaji said.

Arnav smiled a little.

"Also I'm working to stop this video from getting viral.. So no need to take tension.." Aman said.

Everyone sighed in relief.

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

Two days later..

Khushi walked in hurry to step in the lift. She saw Arnav was standing there and ignored him getting in the lift.

"Khushi wait.." Arnav tried to stop her but she closed the door on his face.

Arnav caressed his temple smiling at her foolishness, as the lift was going up and she wanted to go down to the first floor.

The lift again stopped at the third floor where he was standing and waiting for it to go down, and it opened with an highly embarrassed Khushi who looked down at her files avoiding to look at his face.

Arnav walked in pressing his lips tightly trying to suppress his smile, he clicked number 1 button and looked at her in teasing way, "Lift ne teri baat nahin suni kya? (Didn't the lift listen to you?)"

She looked away. They reached at the first floor and Arnav left from there heading to his conference room.

Khushi buried the files on her face and groaned frustratedly and embarrassed.

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

Sometime later..

Khushi knocked the door of his cabin, she heard his voice allowing her to come in. She opened the door and was surprised to see Payal there, "Jiji app.."

Arnav walked towards her and took the tray with two cups of coffee from her hand and gestured her sit with Payal.

He served coffee for Payal who thanked him smiling and took his coffee and sat back on his chair.

Khushi watched this simple gesture of him not letting her serve the coffee makes her heart melt but the words of Lavanya ring in her ear always, what if this is just an acting?

"Actually Arnav ji offered to design my outfit for my engagement as you know Akash ji choice is a disaster.. So I'm here to try it and check if changes are needed or not.. but I'm sure Arnav ji designs are perfect, there can't be any mistake on his designs.." Payal smiled.

"Guess I'm perfect in everything, I just fail in handling relationships!" Arnav said glancing at Khushi.

Payal looked at him and shook her head, "Why are you saying like this? You handle your family so well and you do everything to keep them happy and together.. Akash ji told me how you work hard to get AR in top position so that you could give Di everything she wished for.. Where will we find such a brother like you?.. In fact, Khushi is very lucky to have you in her life.. I'm sure you will always keep her happy and safe with you!"

"You think like that?" Arnav asked to Payal.

"I don't think, I'm hundred percent sure!" Payal giggled.

Khushi was just staring at Arnav with moist eyes.

A knock on the cabin got their attention, it was an assistant who came to take Payal to try her lehenga choli for the engagement.

Khushi and Arnav were left alone at the cabin.

"Will you answer my question?" Khushi asked.

Arnav nodded.

"Was that video fake or not?" she asked.

"It wasn't fake but.."

"Did Lavanya say I love you to you or not?"

"She said but.."

Khushi stood up showing her palm to him, "Enough.. I don't want to listen to anything.."

Khushi left from his cabin crying.

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

Later at night..

Arnav was cutting his plants, thinking about the recent events that shook him completely.

"Remember I said to you Ma that trust is more important to me than love.. I thought if Khushi breaks my trust one day, then I would distance myself from her.. I wouldn't think twice before breaking my relationship with her.. but when she didn't trust me over Lavanya's matter, more than being hurt that she broke my trust, I was fearing to lose her.. I didn't want our relationship to break no matter what misunderstanding happened between us.. Perhaps for the first time, your Arnav is dealing with this phase of his life and not ASR.. You taught your Arnav to not cut any ties with loved ones so easily and always fight for your loved ones, that's what I'm doing now Ma.. I will not cut my ties with Khushi, I will fight for our relationship.. our relationship will not break because of our enemies.."

"And yeah.. you were right.. this love thing hurts so much!" Arnav chuckled painfully as a tear slipped from the corner of his eyes.

(This song as background music is playing)