There will never be another you- Chapter 7

"Have you totally lost it?"  Shivaay stamped his legs, blinded by rage.

"That is the only practical solution Shivu." His father tried to explain.

"Solution for what exactly? How can you even suggest something like this? This is like a punishment for helping her."

"No Shivu.. Please listen to us. This fake news will destroy her future and yours too. Don't think this as a punishment. Anjali is a nice girl and her family is also nice. She will be a perfect wife for you."

He finally understood his family's real intention behind this.

"Oh.. So this is the matter. Now I get it. But sorry I am not going to marry her. You cannot force me Maa"

"We are not forcing you.."

"Oh really? Then what the hell were you people doing in past one year?  Now tell me one thing honestly. Was it any of you who called the media people there ?"

He snapped at his family.

"What are you saying? You think we can do something like that? It is true that we desperately want you to marry move on. What is wrong with that? We are your family. You are still holding on to your past. Let it go. I know it is not easy for you. We all are worried for you and please think about that girl who is dealing with all these with no fault of hers."

He became silent for few seconds. His Dadi came to him and touched his face lovingly.

"Shivu everything happens for a reason."

"I am good now Dadi. Then why you people want things to change?"

"Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can come together. It is high time you forget Tripti and move on . She is not worth it."

Shivaay left the living room silently and entered his room.

He closed his eyes as he slumped down in a chair. He didn't want to yell at his family but how can they expect him to casually agree for a marriage.

Love and marriage will happen only once in a lifetime. 

Love, he already did and he couldn't marry the girl whom he loved. Now marriage with someone else?

Tripti's face came to his mind in a flash. How can he agree to marry Anjali or any other girl when he is not fully over his past? Why can't his family understand?

His family loves him and they want to see him to be settled and happy. They were pressurizing him for a marriage since one year and he kept refusing. When the opportunity was presented in the form of Anjali they decided to nag him again. His parents think a marriage will help him to forget Tripti. But how is that fair to the girl who will become his wife? 

He remained in the same position until someone knocked his door.

It was his grandfather.

"We will be going to Raizada house with the proposal. I am not planning to wait for your approval, After all we are family and we have that much right on you , hain na?"

He stared at his grandfather in silence. 

Taking his silence as an approval his grandfather walked out leaving him alone with his thoughts.

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Anjali listened, dismayed by the conversation going on with the families in the living room of Shantivan. 

When Shivaay's family showed up before half an hour, she never thought they were here with a proposal. When she served them tea and left for the kitchen she heard his grandfather asking her hand for the marriage. 

On top of that her Nani and others seemed to be thrilled about it. What the hell is going on in her life? Isn't it necessary to ask about her opinion?

She was in shock and didn't know what to do now. His family is here means he already agreed for this marriage. But why? Why he want to marry a divorcee when he can have any woman he wants?

"EHHHmmm" Someone cleared throat and she turned back to meet the smiling face of Vasundhara Rathore.

"Anjali I understand what you are going through. "

"I am sorry but I don't think if someone understands aunty. If you were then why would both the families suggest something like this?"

"Because we are elders and we always want best for our kids. Tell me something honestly.. If you were not a divorcee and this scandal wouldn't have happened then you would have still refused this proposal? "  

Vasundhara's words made her confused. Why she was happy about an alliance like this for her son? And did she mean I am perfect for her son? Anjali answered he after a pause.

"No Aunty. But here we are held at gun point. There is a big difference in being forced by circumstances and being own choice."

"Anjali I agree that you both are being forced but no need to over think about it. Consider this as a normal proposal. We have seen more of this world than you people so why can't you trust us? Sometimes, the wrong train, takes you to the right destination. Maybe the circumstances leading to this marriage is wrong but you both can make this work.  Think about it. "

 With that Vasundhara walked out of the kitchen leaving her alone.

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Arnav picked up his tie from the shelf and turned towards his wife who was about to walk out of the room. She was avoiding him ever since the time she heard the conversation between him and his Di. She is acting normal but avoided direct conversation with him. He tried to apologize few times but she didn't let him speak. 

"Khushi.. "

"Yes?"  She stopped and turned back from the door. 

"Can you  ?" Arnav extended his tie towards her.

She stayed on the same spot in hesitation. He never asked her to do any thing for him.

"Please?" He asked again sensing her hesitation.

Khushi walked back to him and took the tie from him. 

He bowed his head for her to put the tie around his neck. As she stepped closer to him  She smelled the scent of his cologne. Her heart was racing and her hands were shivering, but she forced herself to be normal. Why is her mind going out of control whenever he is close? 

She decided to stay indifferent until she finishes her contract period. She cannot let her heart break in the end. Any girl in the world is the same for him. How stupid of her to expect something from him. During the time of their Jaipur stay she thought maybe he is not what he is showing to this world. But he proved her wrong. 

They cannot have a future together. He can never become a good husband. He cannot fall in love with her.

Every girl is the same for him. After her he will move on with any other girl. 

Arnav closely observed her face. 

"Khushi.."

Without looking at him she tried to finish the job quickly with her shivering hands. She needs to go away from him.

Irritated by her indifference he grabbed her waist and drew her close. The sudden movement made her gasp and She looked at him in shock.

"What are you doing?"

"Why are you avoiding me? I want to talk to you."

"leave me. " She struggled to escape from his tight grip but he didn't let her go.

"No.. I won't leave you unless you hear me out."

"You cannot do this."

"Why? Not only this, I can do a lot more. You are my legally wedded wife Khushi. remember?"

"I am your contract wife Arnavji. Remember?"

"Khushi.. I know you have heard a part of mine and Di's conversation that day. I wanted to talk about it."

"I was not eavesdropping. Just happen to hear it when I came to Di's room."

She said without meeting his eyes.

"Khushi, that is not the matter here. I want to come clean about it. I have met many girls in my life but I never wanted to marry any of them. You are special. I don't know why but you are special. I agreed to marry you because I wanted to marry you. It was not like you or any other girl was same for me. That was a lie. "

"You don't have to explain anything to me. It is not that important."

"It is important Khushi. For the 100th time I want to give this marriage a chance." His tone was louder this time. 

"I don't know if I want that too. You confuse me sometimes. " She said softly.

He sighed and surprising himself and her he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He want her to be happy. Why? He didn't know. 

"I am sorry Khushi.. I won't do it again. Please believe me it was not intentional. I didn't mean it."

She was stunned by the tenderness in his voice. 

When his grip loosened against her waist, she slipped out of his arms and looked here and there. Why is he invoking so much feelings in her when he told her clearly that he didn't believe in love?

"Bhai.. We are getting late." Akash interrupted in hurry from the door.

"Sorry If I interrupted something. He added with an awkward smile.

"No No.. You are not interrupting. I was just fixing his tie." She went close to her husband and fixed it in hurry.

"There, its done." 

Arnav thanked her and left the room followed by a grinning Akash. Khushi wondered why they were leaving so early? There is still 3 hours left for the press conference to start. 

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"Sir, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada is here to meet you. " His secretary interrupted his meeting. 

"Take him to the conference room in 2nd floor, I will be there shortly. Will continue after a short break gentlemen."

He had a rough idea why Arnav is here. He knows Arnav, he is here to confront him or threaten him. After all his sister is his life. 

A full proof plan was made before kidnapping Anjali. He even arranged a man from south to surrender without involving directly. But that Rathore ruined everything. He kept on wondering who might have leaked that news to the media?

His son and men were not involved in leaking that news to the media, then who?

Mr. Jha walked into the conference room masking his nervousness with his indifference. He cannot afford any scandal at this time. It is better to play safe now.

As soon as he closed the door of the conference room he felt a punch on his nose and a kick against his abdomen.

Arnav's punch had the impact of a bag of bricks, his kick of a sledgehammer on the old man.

Senior Jha fell down on the marble tiles screaming in pain.

Love,

ST