Foundation of Marriage

Part 16 - Deal or No Deal?

Payal, still unsure of where this conversation was headed, asked hesitantly,

Payal: "Then what do you want from us? We've told you everything we know. If you don't want to break the marriage, what is it that you want?"

Arnav leaned forward and locked his eyes onto Payal's with a steely resolve.

Arnav: "I need some assurance. I want to believe you, but I also need to protect my family. I want something of yours just to be on the safe side. So, I'm proposing a deal. I'm not trying to take advantage of the situation, but this is how business works. Put yourself in my shoes, would you trust someone you've just met, without any solid proof?"

Payal hesitated, then shook her head. "No," she admitted, her voice was barely above a whisper.

Payal: "But what exactly are you asking for?"

Arnav's next words were like a bombshell for everyone. "Khushi"

Three pairs of eyes immediately darted to him with disbelief and shock etched on all their faces.

Arnav: "Meri behen ki zindagi ke badle tumhaari behen ki zindagi" he declared with his cold and calculating voice.

("In exchange for my sister's life, your sister's life.")

Payal and Khushi stared at him in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what he was saying. Arnav continued, his tone was eerily composed.

Arnav: "I want Khushi! I'll make you a good deal. Nothing will change in two days, your wedding with Akash will take place as planned. But on the same night, I want Khushi to marry me, for eight months. Once Di's child is born, I'll let Khushi go. I'll give her enough alimony that she'll never have to work again. Don't worry about her future, I'll take care of everything."

Payal's heart raced as she processed his words, unable to believe what she was hearing. Khushi, too, was in shock, her mind was struggling to catch up with what Arnav had proposed. Arnav's eyes darkened as he issued his final warning.

Arnav: "If you're telling the truth about Shyam, Khushi won't have any problems. That's my guarantee, I'll keep her safe and happy. But if I find out that you've lied, or tried to cause harm to my sister, then be prepared to face destruction, of not only your own life but Khushi's as well."

Khushi looked at him with tears welling up in her eyes, her heart was breaking at the thought of what he was asking. Payal's mind was spinning, torn between protecting her sister and ensuring her own happiness with Akash. Arnav's gaze didn't waver, his expression was set in stone as he waited for their response. There was no turning back now; the deal was on the table, and he wasn't going to budge. Khushi's voice trembled as she spoke

Khushi: "Arnavji, What are you saying? How can you even suggest something like this?"

Arnav's gaze hardened, his voice was laced with both anger and frustration.

Arnav: "Haan, bilkul. Ab jhagra kar lo mujhse, lekin tumne itni badi baat pehle mujhe bataana zaruri nahi samjha?"

("Yes, exactly. Now go ahead and argue with me, but you didn't think it was important to tell me something this big before?")

His words were sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Arnav: "Don't forget that today we all are in this situation because of you. You couldn't tell di, I get it, but you couldn't even tell me? or Naani? or Akash? You should have said something to someone before, not two days before the wedding."

Khushi flinched at his words, her heart was sinking with guilt. She had been so overwhelmed by the situation, so afraid of what it might mean for Anjali and the entire family, that she had kept the truth from him.