Not so innocent vixen - ArShi FF (completed)

16. Trust is a 2-way street

Quick note – in previous 2 chapters, Arnav's and Khushi's behaviors may seem contrasting at times, but they are not. They are closely following how Arnav was initially shown in the show and Khushi in this FF being a smartass. Arnav was madly in love with Khushi and often channeled that by insulting and manhandling her (weird way of loving her!) while Khushi in this FF was attracted to him yet she was totally convinced about him being a villain, thanks to his own words and then being under influence of someone(will be revealed today). So their opposing feelings keep making things complicated except the consummation night when they let their strong pull to each other take a lead. Hope this clears things and any confusions. Now to the chapter - 

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As Aman and Khushi stepped in the study room adjoining the hall, Khushi gestured Aman to take a seat. She had pulled her small bag with her, Aman noticed. Keeping the bag on the side, she took a lounge chair opposite him, seating cross legged. Dressed in a simple pale-blue salwar suit, her hair tied in a ponytail, she looked like a teenager yet had a bossy aura around her. Her confidence told Aman she was not going to give him any easy time or heed his convincing to release his boss, ASR. He still had to try though

"Mam, I know about you- I mean your plan to ruin AR and ASR's image" he went straight for the kill, there was no point neither time to play hide and seek anymore

Khushi just stayed calm for a minute, forming her reply however Aman noticed that there was not even a glimpse of fear or panic on her face. Probably she had guessed when she saw him at their house that he had known something. And when he thought she wouldn't reply, he heard her speak.

"Let me tell you a story Aman, a real one. To make it interesting, it involves your boss, Mr. Raizada, and me. You just have to give me 10 minutes and after hearing that, tell me who was more wrong in there, fair enough?" Khushi looked at him with same calm face.

Aman just nodded, not really understanding what story she was going to tell. As far as his investigation went, she and ASR had met first time in that fashion show in Lucknow. Was there more? But he soon started getting answers as she continued,

"It all began 5 years ago, in Lucknow as well as in Harvard, Boston! There was a middle-class Gupta family living in Lucknow who might not have luxuries, but they had dreams. The biggest dream was their sweet shop that the father of the house owned. He and his wife had 2 daughters Payal and Khushi, although the younger one, Khushi, was adopted. They might not be bonded by blood, but they were bonded by love" at here Khushi took a pause, remembering her Amma and babuji and her babuji's dream, their meethai shop!

"but then a tragedy stuck them. Their babuji's meethai shop faced huge losses due to trusting wrong people, who ordered a huge chunk of sweets but never paid money. And soon they had to mortgage their own house to pay off the bills for the groceries and electricity used in the shop. Their father couldn't bear this and he faced a heart stroke. The then 17 years-old-khushi and 19 years-old payal were scared beyond limits. With their father admitted in hospital, their shop almost lost and their house about to get snatched from them, they were sure to be thrown on road." Khushi again took a break and Aman waited with bated breath as to how exactly was ASR related to this. As far as he knew, ASR never dealt with confectioners, did he?

After a brief pause Khushi's tone became more serious

"It was then a very kindhearted family came forward to help them. Kapoors! They were Gupta's neighbors for years albeit much more affluent and well to do than the middle-class families around them. They not only paid babuji's hospital bills but also saved their shop by lending money. Had it not been for Rohini and Manish Kapoor who kind heartedly gave them shelter and helped them save their shop and house, their fate would have been much worse. Guptas returned the money to Kapoors in installments in last 5 years, as their shop was doing much better since then. But how do they forget the help that can't be measured in just money? Don't they owe that elderly couple at least that much?" Khushi asked high on emotions. it was clear it was her own story