OUR HEARTBEATS BECOME ONE !

CHAPTER 10

"No more games! You have kept me waiting for sooooo long........JAAN!" He crooned.

The nickname was back. Khushi flinched at the use. She tried moving away again, but his grip was strong! She turned her head sideways, avoiding his gaze! He scowled!

"I know your angry jaan..... But you went away without telling me! It took me some time to find you......"

She dint respond.

"Please Khushi.....jaan, don't do this to me! Talk to me jaan.......I want to hear your voice....it's been soooo long!" He pleaded.

She dint budge.

His anger rose, he swallowed it .......the cunning streak was out.

"You know I have my ways to make you speak jaan........" He tried.

She turned deaf ears to him. He smirked at the opportunity. He traced a finger down her cheek gently.....moving down to her neck ......and then her collarbone.

"Stop!!!" Cried Khushi, petrified!

A small , cunning smile adorned his lips. He tilted his head as he enjoyed the ring of her voice.

"Ah! How I missed that! Your voice." He looked back at her. She turned to face him.

"I want that with me....forever! "

She gulped.

"I have a surprise for you jaan....." He drooled. He got up and turned around , moving towards the dark corner.

She immediately tried to free herself.....in vain!

He came back, his hands behind his back. His lips spread in a smile, which disappeared as soon as he saw her moving about!

She stopped, not wanting to enrage him further. His smile came back!

"Look what I have for you jaan...." He chirped. He brought his hands out from behind his back, to reveal a box of sindoor and a mangalsutra!

Her eyes grew wide in horror as she imagined what would happen next. Her breath hitched. Tears streamed down her face relentlessly. She panicked as he came closer.

"No! Shekar please......"

He stopped hearing his name from her mouth, and immediately crouched down before her, grabbing her arm in his excitement ! She winced.

"Say it again! My name! It sounds sooo good from your mouth!" He looked at her expectantly.

She understood the need to do as he asked."Shekar ....."

He closed his eyes, enliving the moment. He let out a deep sigh. His eyes opened to show her a new gleam in them. He raised the mangalsutra again, only to be stopped by her again!

"No! Shekar....this is not right..."she began, wary of the rising anger in his eyes.

"I mean...we need a pundit....a pyre...a holy pyre...all the mantras....we need permission.....from....from my bua!"

"Your people were always against us jaan....they never want to see us united!" He wined....in urgency.

She stammered in her own urgency to convince him, "No.... No . Buaji ....she is not like that! I mean...she will never say no to this....... But you have to meet her...and ask her...nicely!" She said, and added as an afterthought,"please......for me?"

He seemed to consider and then replied softly," Anything for you jaan!"

He quickly untied her, and pulled her along with him.

"Wait! " she said. He raised his brow, turning back at her.

"My phone,.... I mean...I need to ca....call buaji! To tell her you are coming to meet her!"

"Why jaan? We will surprise her!" He said cheerfully.

"No! " she retorted again......infuriating him again!

"I mean....she is old Shekar... If we just pop in like that..she might be shocked!"

He laughed a high menacing laugh, and then looked at her keenly, "Now then.....we wouldn't want her to die....and delay our union.......would we?" He purred.

She gulped...but managed to smile at his humourless joke .

He handed over his phone, "Use mine!"

"But....but. ..... I don't know buaji's number! It's in my phone!" She hoped to put him out of doubt.

Nevertheless he looked at her , scrutinising her.

He handed her her sling bag. She frantically searched for the phone, and with trembling fingers dialled the number. She placed the phone by her ear when she heard him say," I trust you jaan....."

She smiled weakly.....and concentrated on the dial tone.

Payal's phone rang. She looked at the screen and was surprised.

"It's Khushi!" She exclaimed. Arnav moved closer as she picked the phone, trying to catch the conversation.

"Khushi!" Payal exclaimed...but was cut off by Khushi's urgent...and false happy voice!

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"Buaji!" She exclaimed

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"Buaji?" Enquired Payal , confused.

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"I am okay! I am here with...Shekar..... We are coming home! "

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"What??" Screamed Payal.....scared as her own suspicions came true!

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"Yes.... The same Shekar! He is coming home with me to meet you. Please do proper arrangements....after all he is coming home for the first time!"saying she flashed Shekar a smile, who reciprocated with fervour .

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"Yes yes! I will..... See you at home! And Khushi..... Take care!" She cut the phone and looked down at the screen, disbelief and fear surging through her.

"What happened?" Enquired Arnav frantically. He hadn't managed to hear much!

"They are coming home! " She looked up. "She is coming home....with him!"

Arnav looked at her trying to comprehend. He again misunderstood Payal's reference. But it was enough to make his blood boil! Again.......

Meanwhile, Payal made the call.

"Namaste! Hum Payal Gupta. Woh.... Lucknow mein..... Ji.....Ji......he is here.....Delhi...." Payal recited the address and then urged the receivers end to be there immediately!

She then turned and walked towards the house, with Arnav following behind, shooting questions at her....that she ignored.....or rather tried to.

Arnav was confused. And Payal's silence was infuriating him to the core! Nobody in his entire life had dared to ignore him or his questions till date....i.e. till he met the Gupta sisters!

His patience was fast eroding! Had it not been for the fact that he respected Payal, he would have snapped at her and got it out of her. But his decency didn't allow him to misbehave......with Payal ofcourse. With Khushi....it was a completely different matter!

As soon as they reached home, Payal broke the news to buaji, disclosing everything except the name.

"Hai re nandkishore! " buaji exclaimed.

"Please buaji! You have to be strong. There will be an end to this today! " said Payal vehemently.

She turned to Arnav and said, "You should leave.....it won't be nice if he sees you here.... He is....he is unpredictable!"

"I won't go anywhere! I will stay here and I'll kill that b******! "

"No Arnavji! Please understand..." Began Payal, but was cut off as she saw the two of them entering . Her eyes widened in shock! He was really here! He had really found them!

Arnav who had his back to the door, turned around on seeing Payal's dumbstruck expression.......... And immediately, bought the expression off her! To say, he was shocked was an understatement! He was overjoyed to see Khushi! But ....who was this guy with her? This was not Shyam! And why......why the HECK WAS HE HOLDING KHUSHI'S ARM!!!!!!!!!!!!................

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Khushi's eyes move from buaji to Payal to Arnav, where it rests.She remains rooted to the spot to find him there. What was he doing here?

Shekar on the other hand had eyes only for Payal. Hatred emancated from them, as he vividly remembered the slap...her slap!

FLASHBACK

'How dare you? How dare you touch my sister you scoundrel!"

*Slap*

"You will rot.....rot in hell Mr Tandon......I swear!"

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The ambulance had taken him away that day....but not far.

Payal meanwhile had multiple emotions! she felt relief, and fear, and hatred! Relief to see Khushi safe. Fear as she took in Shekar's expression. Hatred at him for landing her sister in this mess. For touching her! And hatred at herself for letting it happen!

To break the awkward silnce, Khushi spoke up," Buaji! This is Shekar! Shekar....my bua"

Shekar tore his eyes of Payal, and looked at buaji. His eyes softened and he moved towards a petrified buaji , dragging Khushi along with him. Buaji took a step back, despite herself, and slumped onto the sofa!

He immediately knelt down beside her pulling Khushi as well into sitting position...still not leaving her hand.....and infuriating Arnav all the more!

" I am marrying Khushi..", he stated with glee, and then his tone changed as he regarded Payal from the corner of his eyes, " No matter, who opposes. I dont care if anyone has any problem!"

Saying, he stood up, pulling up Khushi as well, and turned to leave. Khushi was shocked, that was faster than she expected! She couldn't think of any way to stall him further! She looked at her sister, confused and pleading.

Payal was in a state , no better! She gulped as she frantically thought of ways to handle the situation!

But Arnav surpassed them all!

" You can't take her away...." , he hissed.... making Shekar stop in his tracks.

He turned around to look at Arnav, whom he noticed for the first time after entering, and whom he took an instinctive dislike to!

Shekar raised his brow, amused as he shot," And who is to stop me?"

Arnav walked over , and stood in front of him , with a breaths gap between their faces. His eyes bore into his counterparts, as he spoke," Let go of her hand!"

Shekar tightened his grip, making Khushi wince, which did not go unnoticed by Arnav.

He looked defiantly at Arnav, his brow raised.

Arnav gritted his teeth and clenched and unclenched his fists, to control his ever rising temper!

Shekar noticed it and smirked! He pulled Khushi closer and turned to leave. But he didn't take a step more as he felt a stone hard wrist clasp around his , tightening with each passing second. He turned around furiously, to find Arnav's eyes on Khushi! His anger mounted as he saw Khushi returning the look!

He gripped Arnav's hand and tried yanking it off! But the latter was too strong!

Arnav deftly evaded Shekar's hold, as he increased the pressure on Shekar's wrist...all the while looking deep into Khushi's eyes, which refused to move from his. Exactly as he wanted it!

When the pain became unbearable, Shekar unclenched his wrist, letting go of Khushi's hand. Arnav caught hold of hers instead and yanked her behind him, away from the monster.

Infuriated, Shekar moved forward to punch Arnav, which the latter evaded yet agan, and instead landed a couple of blows on on himself!

They fought each other for a while, both matching each other, in strength and skill!

Payal and Buaji shouted and screamed as they tried to prevent the two from hurting each other. The commotion had brought many interested eyes to their doorstep...and soon a huge crowd surrounded the Gupta house.

Khushi meanwhile silently watched the two as thoughts rolled across her head. thoughts about their differences, about how their wounds affected her, about how their blows aimed at each other affected her, why it did the way it did! And finally about why she should differentiate between the two...when , come to think of it, both where similar! Both had hurt her! What was the difference between the two?

As she thought this, and looked up she saw Shekar hurling a brass vase at Arnav aiming for his head!

Arnav , who was disorganised from the previous blow did not see it coming, and hence was weak at his defence.

As soon as the vase made contact with Arnav's skull, Khushi got all her answers! She rushed forward to protect him, as he clutched his head in pain.

Shekar, blinded by his anger and power, didn't notice Khushi come in between. He stuck again, this time on Khushi's head, making her scream in pain, before she passed out in Arnav's anxious arms...........again!

The monstority forgotten, Shekar moved forward along with Payal and buaji to help Khushi. But just at that time he heard the most hateful sound! The sound that brought back memories of tortured days and lonely nights...

The sirens sounded louder and closer, but the three of them , hunched over Khushi's limp body, where too busy to notice! Shekar took the opportunity and slipped away from there, before they could come in search of him! By the time they entered the house he was gone!

Arnav returned back to his senses, as he heard the sirens. She needs a doctor, his brain processed,.....Fast!!

He cradled her in his arms as he carried her to the ambulance and directed them! His own wound forgotten, he bickered with the driver, who insisted that he was there to pick up a mentally unstable person...and not a wounded one! He yelled, shouted, and paid a hefty amount to get her to the hospital in time.

She was taken in to the OT, her stretcher followed by a wailing buaji , weeping Payal and a distraught Arnav. The doors closed, leaving the behind...as she entered ,to fight her battle..............

An hour and thirty five minutes later the OT light went off, indicating the ceasing of the operation.

Dr Mahapatra came out, tugging at the strings of his gown. Arnav, Payal and buaji rushed to him, the eager look on their faces, speaking a thousand words.

"She is fine... it was just superficial bleeding, thankfully! We have sutured the area, and checked for possible deep injuries. Mr Raizada, I see you have let the staff bandage you as well? Good. One can never be too sure, when it comes to this area. " said the doctor. Then looking at their pensive faces, he assured them some more, " She is fine. She will be shifted to a room temporarily just so that we can check her stats. A bit of grogginess is expected. She might feel weak as well. But otherwise, she is bound to have no problems."

The trio sighed.

"Thank you doctor! Thank you very much!" said Arnav.

"Can we see her?" asked Payal

"Sure, in a while...she will be shifted to her room, and then."

Dr Mahapatra strode forward ,patting Arnav on his shoulder on his way.

About 15 minutes later buaji and Payal sat on either side of Khushi's bed waiting for her to wake up, while Arnav stood at a distance, near the door...deep in thought.

Khushi stirred slightly at first, but pretty soon her eyelids fluttered open and swivelled around taking in her surroundings.Buaji and Payal were on their feet immediately, bending over her anxiously, while Arnav moved out to call the doctor.

The doctor was in soon enough. He checked her stats and confirmed that she was alright...just exhausted.

The trio sighed in relief...inaudibly .

"She can go home in a day. I shall prescribe some painkillers. Apart from that I dont think I need to keep her here any longer", said the doctor.

"Thank you doctor ." uttered Khushi, who was wide awake now.

The doctor excused himself and buaji and Payal began fussing over Khushi.

"I am fine jiji! your titliya is hale and hearty! ", assured Khushi to the tearing duo.

Arnav stepped forward, grabbing the women's attention finally.

Khushi noticed the bandage on his forehead and immediately her heart fluttered. But she curbed her emotion...and forced a false formal voice as she addressed Arnav.

"Thank you Mr Raizada! Thank you for your help...."

But she was cut short as Arnav spoke, ignoring her tone, and her words.

"Payal, buaji.... all three of you are coming with me to Raizada mansion, once Khushi is discharged. You shall stay there with us."

He uttered the words and ....finally.....gazed at Khushi.....awaiting her reaction....which he could almost predict.......

"What? No way!!", screamed Khushi, just as Arnav had expected. He smirked, infuriating her. Payal and buaji"s heads snapped in her direction.

"I mean, I will ...rather we will go to OUR house, once I am discharged Mr Raizada. "

Arnav ignored her again, and looked at Payal. "I understand, you catch my reason for saying so. He is very dangerous....and your home is just not safe anymore! But at my place you will be safe, plus di and nani will be there...."

Payal, opened her mouth to speak, but is cut off by Khushi's protest.

"Thank you Mr Raizada, but no thanks! We are very well, capable of taking care of ouselves...as we have done in past as well. This situation needn't concern you in anyway!"

Arnav clenched his fist at her indifference.He knew she was angry at him, at the office incident.But he didn't respond to her, and continued talking to the ladies infront of him.

"I have already arranged for your luggage to be shifted, and as of now, I have posted security outside the room, just in case he decides to attempt something, though I highly doubt it."

"But Arnavji...." started Payal, but is cut off by Khushi yet again!

"I said, WE DONT WANT YOUR HELP!!! Don't you understand? Is it that hard to process? Who are you to help us? What right do you think you have......Mr Raizada?" asked Khushi frustrated.

Arnav's temples throb. He manages to maintain calm with great difficulty. He chooses to ignore her again, which infuriates Khushi to the core!

"Why? Cat caught your tongue? Answer me......answer me this instant,....."

"Enough Khushi!" shouted an irritated Payal.

"Do you even know what you are doing? He has helped us so much! You are alive and away from that monster because of him, and instead of thanking him....you are questioning his right? What has gotten into you?..."

"Silence! Mam...what are you doing? Please stop shouting in front of the patient. Please...all of you leave the room, immediately.....let the patient rest...please!" chided the nurse, who came running in hearing the commotion. She shook her head disappointedly before injecting Khushi with a sedative, despite her protests.

The rest of them moved out.

"I am extremely sorry about Khushi's behaviour Arnavji! I don't know what has gotten into her." apologised Payal.

"No no Payal...its okay.."

"But I will have to decline your help. You have already done so much for us! We cannot take more help. And by staying at your place we cannot put your family in danger! He is a lunatic! He dosen't care about anybody, but himself. He will do anything to get what he wants. In such a case I cannot knowingly, put your family in danger.."

"Please Payal. You do understand that I would never do anything that would harm my family in anyway. If i have decided to take you three home, then I have a solid reason. And I know ...it is a better way to keep an eye on him as well. I have arranged my men to find him....He won't rest for long...that I am sure. But he won't attack soon too. His stagnancy will give us time to prepare for his attack. "

"But..."

"No Payal! I will not take no as an answer. You have lied to me enough...don't you think?", asked Arnav, raising his eyebrow.

"Woh...." started Payal. BUt she stopped short, having no words to complete the sentence in her defence. She hung her head accepting defeat!

And so it was decided...the Guptas would shift their residence to the Raizada household.......for as long as it takes.......the phrase holding good for a lot of culminations!