Chapter 12

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~ CHAPTER 12 ~

The day after Christmas, Arnav left for US. Khushi bid farewell to him with thinly veiled with tears in her eyes. There was a peculiar restlessness in her heart as she watched him walk away. The unsettling feeling made her uneasy, but she consoled herself saying that Arnavji would be back for the new year. She walked back into her apartment, their apartment now, and realized just how empty it seemed without him. Like something vital was missing from it. She tried to shake the gloomy thoughts clouding her mind by busying herself in the kitchen, trying out new recipes for the dessert menu and exhaled slowly.

The days were going to be particularly long until the new year, even in December.

-----xxx-----

Arnav Singh Raizada was an enigma to the world but to one Khushi Kumari Gupta, he was her whole world, and vice versa. No longer the brooding businessman with her, he couldn't stop showering all the love he had stored inside him from years. His world began and ended with his Khushi. Sighing, Arnav looked at Khushi's photo which he had set as his screen saver and leaned back on the seat of his private plane. It was just over 6 hrs that he had seen her last, but he missed her like hell already.

How was he going to survive the next few days?

-----xxx-----

Arnav looked the man sitting in front of him and frowned. "Do you mean to say Dr. Richards, that you think Sheetal is not mentally unstable after all? That she could be malingering?"

Dr. Keith Richards straightened his glasses before speaking "Human mind is a very beautiful and complex entity, Mr.Raizada. Sometimes a very normal looking person may turn out to have a delusional side to him or a man whom everyone thinks is crazy, might turn out to be the sanest among all. No one knows exactly what goes on inside a human mind. Sure, science and research may be able to explain the physiological and pathological variations, but even the most advanced science could not read minds"

Dr. Richards looked at him thoughtfully for a minute before continuing, much to Arnav's disconcert. "In your wife's case, I'm not negating the necessity for therapy for her completely. She is indeed in dire need of rehab for her addiction, and she may well have an ailment which makes her behave so irrationally. But it's highly unlikely that it's the one which is on her report from last 5 years. From what I have seen of her during her month of stay in this rehab, she does not suffer from any mental instability. Her symptoms just do not corroborate with the earlier diagnosis. "

Arnav looked nonplussed. He couldn't take in what the doctor was implying. Sheetal did not have a mental disorder? Then that would mean a conspiracy has been afoot ever since his first attempt to divorce her, when the so-called disorder had been first diagnosed after her suicide attempt. It also consolidated what he had begun to suspect after he had received the newest report on Sheetal's lawyer, the one he had ordered because of a gut instinct that something wasn't right. Something shady was definitely underfoot. Nothing was what it seemed but if Dr. Richards report was true, he had been blind even to the most obvious. Sheetal had been faking her mental health disability and had conned him.

For what? Revenge? Money?, he didn't know. But whatever her reasons were, Arnav knew he wasn't going to let it go. He had a very low tolerance for gullibility, and absolutely none for deceivers. Coming to a decision, Arnav thanked Dr. Richards for his time and left from there, before calling Mr. Maxwell. There were only 3 days left until new year, and he had lots to do before he could go back. Back to his country.

Back to his love.

-----xxx-----

Lavanya and Payal surprised Khushi, who had been moping around the apartment, and dragged her to the nearest mall for a girl's day out. Lavanya had just broken up with Varun and "shop till you drop" was her usual way of revival after any stress, even though she insisted she wasn't heartbroken or any such "sop" since the relationship hadn't been that serious. Khushi too had been feeling low because Arnav hadn't called her last night, so she let herself be pulled along.

They hit the clothing stores with vengeance, where each one tried out and bought clothes they didn't normally wear. Lavanya bought salwars and sarees while Payal splurged on a short skirt and spaghetti top, along with a knee-length black cocktail dress. Khushi who had been confused as to what to buy came to a grinding halt as she saw the pretty little nightdress on the mannequin. It was sheer pink silk, short with only two small straps holding them. Unable to resist, she touched the soft material and instantly fell in love with it. She bought the nightwear with some hooting from her friends, who wanted to know for whom was she going to wear it for. Khushi shushed them trying not to blush too much and hiding her embarrassment.

As they were walking around the mall a little while later, Khushi suddenly stopped and turned to look around her. La and Payal noticed her lagging behind and asked her what was wrong.

"I had this weird feeling that someone was following us" Khushi replied uneasily, still looking around the crowded mall. She had been having the feeling of being watched since Christmas day, and it had begun to spook her.

La rolled her eyes as she pulled her by her hand "Come on Khushi, look around you. There must be thousands of people in this mall. It's going to be hard to even keep track of people you are with. Come on. No one is following us" Khushi followed them dubiously, after giving a last look to the bustling throng of people behind them.

They spent the whole day out and even had dinner together before waving each other goodbye. But Khushi couldn't shake off the creepy feeling of being stalked, though she didn't comment on it further. She would talk to Arnav about when he called tonight, she decided.

------xxx-----

"You won't believe what I just found out about Ms. Gupta from our man in Delhi!" Shyam Jha exclaimed as he faced his equally cunning client, whom he had saved from a surefire drug bust when she had still been in college.

"What? Is she Arnav Singh Raizada's relative by any chance? A sister perhaps?"

"Even better! She is Arnav Singh Raizada's lover. Your honorable, guilt ridden husband has been keeping a mistress on the sly. And a looker she is too. If my preferences went that way, probably even I'd have been attracted to her" he snickered as he threw the photographs on the table. "He has kept her a very well protected secret. Not even the media is aware of it. And that's something considering he is always in news"

Stunned into speechlessness at that piece of news, Sheetal slowly picked up the photographs and began to look through them. There were several of them of the girl alone, beautiful as she was, but the one's that caught her attention was one photo which had both Arnav and her. It was a taken from a telephoto lens, and showed Arnav Singh Raizada with hand on Khushi's cheek as he whispered something to her. They weren't doing anything explicit which could incriminate them but it was the look in both their eyes that caught her attention. Shyam was right. These two were more than just friends. Way more.

Sheetal threw the photos back on the table and instructed something to Shyam in a furious tone. He agreed gleefully and left after taking a certain package from her.

-----xxx------

That night when Arnav called Khushi, after taking him to task about not taking his medicines on time, she told him about her suspicion that she was being followed. Arnav was quiet for a moment before he told her to be a little vigilant because it could be someone from the press sniffing around her. Khushi promised him she would be more careful and will call NK, just as he advised, if she finds anything remiss. They chatted for a while before hanging up.

As soon as Khushi kept the phone, Arnav called his security expert Pratap in Delhi, and instructed him to watch over Khushi's apartment and to shadow Khushi never letting her out of his sight. Pratap Singh was a professional. If he found his employer's orders peculiar, he didn't comment on it but agreed quietly to act upon it immediately. Arnav then placed a call to Mr.Maxwell.

It was time to expedite the course of action.

-----xxx-----

The next day as Khushi returned from the office, she checked her mailbox as usual and was surprised to find a package waiting for her. She quickly checked it to see if it was from Arnav but there was no name of the sender, just a line saying "Your well wisher". A chill went through Khushi and she hesitated. A little apprehensive but a lot more curious, Khushi took the package to her home and slowly opened it to find a letter and another cover inside. She removed the letter and began to read it. It just had 3 lines.

Arnav Singh Raizada is a cheater. He would never leave his wife for you. If want proof, check inside the cover.

Your well wisher.

Shocked by the fact that someone seemed to know of her relationship with Arnav, she opened the cover with not-so-steady hands and pulled the object out.

They were photographs.

Lots and lots of photographs of Arnav and Sheetal.

There were photographs of Sheetal leaning on to Arnav's arms as they came out of a club, of Arnav carrying her in his arms, photos of them getting inside a car and many more similar photographs.

Khushi looked at the photos stunned and blinked a couple of times. She needed to talk to Arnav right now. She scrambled around for her phone and sank to the couch as she dialed the number he had called yesterday from.

It went directly to his voice mail.

-----xxx-----

Arnav entered the darkened room and saw the blindfolded man restrained by his security men. He slowly sat across the man across the table and began to tap rhythmically on the table with his fingers. The man snarled as he tried to get out of his restraints. Arnav signaled one of his men to remove the blindfold.

The man blinked against the semi-dark room before his vision adjusted. As his gaze fell on Arnav who was sitting opposite him, the man flinched and exclaimed in shock.

"YOU!"

Arnav smirked at the man's reaction "Didn't expect me huh, Mr. Shyam Manohar Jha?"

"What's the meaning of all this?" Shyam yelled as he got a look at the brawny men standing guard. "Tell me why you have brought here forcefully and release me right now. I'll file a complaint against you! Sheetal will hear about this" he pronounced shrilly.

Arnav just smiled, picked up a sheaf of papers from the table and began reading. "Mr. Shyam Manohar Jha, age 34, Born and brought up in New Jersey, Parents deceased. Blah..blah..blah.." Arnav turned the papers quickly and smiled with satisfaction "Ah, now we get to the good part. Seems to have a taste for illegal gambling, Has debts piling up since from college. Financial status..."

"Ok..Ok...What do you want?" Shyam interrupted swiftly.

Arnav gave him a piercing look over the papers and put them down back on the table. "Tell me about about how you got involved with Sheetal first? Was it before or after she met Dhruv?" When Shyam looked uncertain Arnav asked him casually, pointing towards the guard "Would you like a little help from Jack here to make you talk?"

"A...After" Shyam began at once, worried now "I was the court appointed lawyer for her when she was caught in a drug bust. She told me that she had just met this guy who would be her sure jackpot. She assured me she would give me a share in whatever money she made if I got her out without a conviction. Since then I have been her lawyer" he said trembling, with a fearful glance at the muscle bound guard.

Arnav wasn't finished. "Were you also part of this mental patient drama that she concocted?" Arnav saw Shyam's eyes widen in alarm and got his answer even before he opened his mouth. "W...What drama? I...d..don't know what you are talking about..."

"Is that so? Hmmm...Then I'm afraid your usefulness is done here. But there is someone else who wants to meet you quite badly. Does the name Marco DeLuca ring a bell?" Arnav asked with a mocking smile as terror began to reflect in Shyam's eyes. "I hear you have a very long history with the man...and even longer debt to pay. Quite a cat and mouse game that you have been playing with him. I suppose he'll be very happy to have you handed over to him"

Shyam, who by now had begun to shake with fear, started to beg desperately "Please I will tell you everything you want to know. Just don't tell Marco anything. I'll even give you a recorded confession from her. Here..Take this. It's in my pocket. I did it in the event I may need a leverage against her..."

Arnav's eyes took on a gleam as Jack removed the flash drive recorder and handed it to him. He switched it on to hear Sheetal talking her plans on how she had planned to trap Arnav, just few days previously "Hmm...This might help" Arnav said as he pocketed the flash drive "One more thing...Did you order anyone to follow Khushi?"

Color climbed in Shyam's cheeks "I...I...did it on Sheetal's orders. I have nothing against your l...lady" he stammered as he noticed the quiet menace on Arnav's face and hurried to strengthen his plea "Sheetal has also planned something else so that she would be heartbroken and would leave you"

Arnav felt his whole body stiffen and he bent, keeping both his hands on the table "What the hell have you done?" he asked in cold fury.

Shyam realized the mistake he had done in talking about Khushi and backtracked "I...don't know..She told me to send a package to her and I did. I d..don't know what was in it"

Arnav had already begun to back away from the room before he had finished, after indicating to the guards. Seeing the man who entered after Arnav exited, Shyam began to scream in earnest.

"He's all yours" Arnav smiled at the mobster and turned around to face Shyam one last time "You should know there will be certain consequences if you try to cross Arnav Singh Raizada, or harm anyone he loves" he nodded at Marco and left the room.

Marco thanked Arnav for his help as he entered the room where the cheat, who had cheated him out of hundreds of thousands of gambling money, was tied up.

No one got away with cheating Marco DeLuca either.

~ END OF CHAPTER # 12 ~

[NOCOPY]