26

Khushi

Entering the room after Arnav, I sat on the bed and pretended to look sad.

I wanted Arnav to notice me, but all he did was open his laptop and stare at it intently.

I wondered how he was planning to win my heart with this attitude. Not that I cared about that, but him not doing anything made me suspicious as well as impatient.

'I guess I will have to nudge him a bit.'

Thinking that, I sighed deeply, making sure Arnav heard it, and started speaking. "It is better that we returned to this mansion. This place will remind me not to give up on avenging myself."

As soon as I said that, Arnav looked up from his laptop and frowned at me. "What do you mean, Khushi?"

"Well, your family insulted me, and you kept on listening, not saying even one word to defend my honor," I said, trying to put as much sadness in my voice as I could. "And if you continue doing that, I will continue thinking you only want to win me, not my love. So, it will be much easier for me not to give in to your efforts. Because no matter how often you say you love me and care about me, your actions always speak louder than your words."

Arnav's frown deepened as I noticed him peering at me intensely. "Why does it matter what my family thinks of you? I did not say anything to defend you because I felt what should matter to you is what you think about me."

Listening to him, I wanted to bang my head on the wall. Seriously, how can someone be so thick and clueless?

Still, I kept a calm demeanor as I started speaking. "That is what I am saying, too, Arnav. If you thought good about me and my character, you would have said something to my family. But I guess you still think of me as a characterless girl. That's why you kept mum throughout the tirade they threw at me."

I smirked inwardly as Arnav looked thoughtful after hearing me. I could see on his face that the wheels of thoughts in his mind were churning. I only hoped it stirred in the direction where I wanted.

"They are my family, Khushi. I can't go against them and start bashing them just because they said something to you," he said, and I nodded.

'This will take some time,' I thought and pretended to sigh sadly.

"Hmm, that's ok. I don't know what that makes me feel. I should be happy that you are choosing to side with your family. That way, I would not have any qualms about hating you.

"But I don't know why I want you to support me. I want to see your efforts. Because no matter how much I hate you, maybe deep down I still--" I stopped abruptly, not wanting to complete the sentence.

Even in my pretense, I could not say I love him. Each fiber of my being is drenched in so much hatred for him that even in my lie, I could not bring the word of love for him out of my mouth.

Anyway, with the way I have abruptly finished speaking, I am sure he would interpret it the way I want him to.

"Khushi, do you mean--" Arnav was saying but was interrupted by the knock at the door.

"Just a moment," Arnav said to me, and when I nodded, he walked to the door and opened it.

One of his house helpers was at the door.

"What do you want?" Arnav asked the man at the door.

"Anjali Ma'am is back, Sir. You had ordered us to inform you as soon as she returns," the man standing at the threshold replied, and I felt my heart pound within my chest.

Hearing Anjali's name reminded me of what I needed to do next. I do not know how I will accomplish it when only thinking about it has made my heart race and my palms sweaty.

"Khushi, I need to go and talk with Anjali. We will continue our conversation later. Ok?" Arnav asked me, and I nodded.

I also needed some time to gather my thoughts and strengthen my resolve to go and talk with Anjali.

I need to do it anyhow. After all, this step of talking with Anjali will be pivotal in my plan to destroy Rathores.

***********

Third Person's POV

'You can do it, Khushi. Just knock on the door and get it over with,' Khushi encouraged herself as she stood outside Anjali's room.

She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths wanting to calm herself, but instead of relaxing, her whole body started trembling when that horrific scene of that nightmarish day flashed behind her closed eyelids.

Feeling nauseous after recounting those scenes, Khushi was about to turn and run to her room, but the door opened at that same time, and Arnav walked outside.

"Khushi, what are you doing here?" Arnav asked her, and Khushi could not reply to him.

She gulped as the claws of fear gripped her heart when she saw Anjali standing behind Arnav.

When Khushi did not speak for a while, Arnav raised his hand to keep it over her shoulder, but she immediately moved back-not wanting him to touch her.

Arnav sighed as he saw Khushi moving back.

'I still have a long way to go.' With that thought, he lowered his hand.

"Tell me, Khushi. Why did you come here?" Arnav asked again.

"Arnav, she is standing outside my door. So, she must be here to speak with me. Right, Khushi?" Anjali asked her, and Khushi felt a chill pass down her spine as Anjali signaled her to nod to Arnav.

As if in reflex, Khushi nodded at Arnav, and noticed Anjali smirk at her.

"Oh, ok. You talk with Anjali then. I also need to go to the office now. We will talk after I return," Arnav said to Khushi, and bidding goodbye to her and Anjali, he walked away from there.

As soon as Arnav was out of sight, Anjali gripped Khushi's arm harshly and pulled her inside.

"How dare you return here? Hadn't I told you last time what the consequences would be if you ever tried to defy me?" Anjali glared at Khushi.

Khushi opened her mouth to reply, but no matter how much she tried, not one word came out of her mouth.

"It is so good to see you fear me, Khushi. I know you still remember what you saw that day, which is why you are now trembling in front of me. That is why I cannot understand why you returned here when you very well know what I am capable of," Anjali said to Khushi, smirking a bit now as she saw her scared demeanor.

"I am...here be..because I....I want t..tto P..ppunishh Ar..Arnav," Khushi stuttered, her heart still pounding in fear.

"What do you mean?" Anjali was curious to know.

Khushi looked at Anjali and saw her waiting for her reply. So, she took a few deep breaths and fisted her hands to calm herself enough to speak clearly. She needed to do it. She has already taken a step toward getting her revenge, and she cannot let anything come in her way, not even her fear.

"I know how much you hate Arnav. That is why I need your help in destroying him," Khushi said, and Anjali raised her eyebrows.

"Hmm, but why do you need my help? I am also one of the reasons why your life was ruined. So, you must also hate me. Therefore, why would you come to me when you hate me?" Anjali asked, limping toward her bed and sitting on the edge.

Khushi, too walked to the couch near the bed and sat on it, facing Anjali. "Yes, you also had a hand in ruining me, but you do not know what Arnav did to me. He raped me and tortured me. That is why I hate him the most in this world. In fact, hate is a small word for the feelings I have for him."

"Ok. Let's say what you are saying is true, and you genuinely need my help. But why would I help you? What is in it for me?" Anjali inquired further.

Khushi twirled and untwirled her salwar's shawl over her fingers as she prepared her answer. She knew Anjali would ask these questions, which is why she had thought of all the answers before coming here.

But being face to face with Anjali has stirred up her fear and messed up those answers.

Still, she tried to calm herself and focus on saying what she needed to say.

"You hate Arnav. So, would not destroying him give you happiness? I mean, we both have the same goal. That is why I want us to unite and give Arnav what he deserves," Khushi said, hoping Anjali would believe her.

Anjali peered at Khushi deeply for a while before she stood up from the bed. When she saw Khushi too about to stand from the couch, she signaled her to keep seated.

When she was close enough to Khushi, she stroked her hair gently, her lips curving into an evil smirk as she felt Khushi shake underneath her touch.

After a while, she suddenly clutched Khushi's hair and yanked it upward, making Khushi look at her.

"What did you think, Khushi? That you would come here, pretend to ask for my help, and I would agree? Just like that? Do you think this is a movie, and do you really think I am so stupid to fall into your trap?

"I very well know your intention behind asking for my help. You want me to believe in your need to unite with me, so I begin trusting you. And when it gets to the point that I completely trust you, you would then collect the evidence against me to show it to Arnav and the police.

"That is what you had in your mind, right? The plot of many crime-thriller movies out there." Saying that, Anjali left Khushi's hair and moved back, watching her rub her head to soothe the pain. "Bad news for you, Khushi. I am not going to fall into your trap. So, you can stop dreaming about succeeding in destroying my brother or me."

"Anjali, please--" Khushi started but was cut off by Anjali.

"Get out of my room and remember, Khushi, you will never win against me. I do not know what silly plans are running through your head, but I suggest you abandon them all. And if you want to live in this house, make sure never to cross me. One wrong move and-" Anjali stopped, leaning close to Khushi, bringing her mouth closer to her ear. "-well, you know what I am capable of, don't you, Khushi?"