LOVE OR SELF RESPECT??

CHAPTER 30

After being lost for a few minutes and completely disoriented with the happenings, Arnav Singh Raizada found himself in a maze and completely directionless. But one thing he was sure of was that without Khushi, he couldn't stay in RM, and that would just kill him day by day, with her memories and pain haunting him.

He called Aman, gave him a couple of instructions, and then went downstairs, asking HP to call everyone as he wanted to tell everyone something.

In the living room, everyone had gathered around, including Mrs Anjali Jha. Everyone was confused about what ASR had to say.

ASR: There are a couple of things that I have decided, and these things are not up for discussion by anyone.

Firstly, Khushi has left the house forever, and I don't know if she is ever going to come back or not. I take complete responsibility for that, and I don't want you or anyone in the family interfering with or talking to her or calling her regarding this matter. This is between us, and I would like to keep it that way.

Family members were shocked because when Khushi had stayed back, they had assumed that she would not go anywhere, only to leave after a day, and now their chote is asking not to get involved in anything. The only unaffected one was Mrs Jha, as this is what she wanted in the first place.

ASR: Secondly, Akash you have 1 week to decide whether you want to continue working for AR or not because if you want to do something else on your own, I will buy all the shares from you of AR and this will give you enough capital to lead a comfortable life or start something on your own. So do let me know because I don't want people blaming me later that I somehow forced people to work under me, so you can decide for yourself and Payal.

Akash was surprised and could just nod because he also knew this ASR in front of him was not kidding, nor the brother he knew. He was the person ultimately betrayed by his sister, and being left by his wife, he knew this was not the time to discuss or tell anything.

Lastly, I have asked Aman to cancel all the credit cards of Mrs Jha, and all her account balances have been moved at this point, and only a monthly sum of INR 50000 will be deposited in the account for the next 6 months till the baby is 3 months old. So Mrs Jha has 6 months from this point to find a job and find a place to live within this period. If I find anyone else helping her with the finances, then I will be cutting all my ties with them as well.

There were gasps all around as they never imagined their chote could do something like this.

Nani: But Chote, how can Anjali bitiya take care of all this when she is pregnant?

ASR: I don't know Nani, she can definitely go behind my back and do all this, and I am sure she is more than capable of doing this as well. The only reason I am even letting her stay in this house is because of her unborn baby. She can't be sitting inside MY HOUSE and insulting ME and MY WIFE repeatedly just because she can, and her actions have no repercussions.

I am neither going to justify nor explain anything anymore, and all her jewellery and assets are also frozen, and she cannot use that as well. She neither believed me, nor respected me, nor my money, so this is what I wanted to do. If you are so worried about her well-being, you can move out along with her as well. I honestly wouldn't mind because for you, only she is alive rest are dead anyway.

Devyani Raizada stood motionless as the words hit her more than anything else. Arnav didn't wait for anyone or anything, headed outside, and asked the driver to take him to Gupta House to have a word with Khushi, assuming that she would have gone to Gupta House.

Everyone dispersed to their rooms without a word, and Anjali Jha walked inside feeling agitated and helpless at the same time.

Gupta House:

When Arnav Singh Raizada reached the Gupta house, he had thought to ask Khushi for her opinion on what she wants to do next and where their future goes from here on, and also to apologise to her parents about whatever has happened and is happening in RM.

He goes, and before he even starts talking, he understands that Khushi had not come here after Buaji asks about Khushi not coming with him or being oblivious to things happening at RM. He understood that neither Payal nor Khushi had told them anything about the issue. He conveniently lies to them that she is at home and he was here at some work and wanted to check on them as it was closer to their residence. He finished talking to them quickly within 5 minutes, totally restless, not knowing where Khushi might have gone, as it's almost afternoon, and there were no signs of her.

He tried calling her, but she had her phone switched off and leaving him no other way than to call Aman to find out her details.

ASR on call:

Aman, I want to know where Khushi is right now. She is not picking calls, nor is she at Gupta House.

Aman: Sir, we can't possibly trace the number so quickly.. We will need at least a couple of hours to do that. The agencies have made it so difficult for everyone to do that that no one can use this to their advantage. But I will try my best, sir! With that, he ends the call.

Now it was almost 9 pm, and there was no word from Khushi, nor had she gone back to Gupta House. Arnav Singh Raizada had been waiting impatiently to get some update for a couple of hours now and is getting more and more restless.

Soon he received the call and informed ASR that the address, which told the current location of the mobile, was in a decent neighborhood in Delhi, and is an apartment complex. Upon digging, he had also found through CCTV's installed in the building that indeed Khushi had entered in the morning and had gone out, and had returned in the evening and was currently inside apartment number 3024. He had shared the video with ASR as well.

With confusion, but to make sure that indeed Khushi was doing good, he drove towards the mentioned address.

Apartment 3024

Khushi was dead tired from the classes and was taking a shower when she heard the continuous ringing of her doorbell. Thinking it might be some kids trying to trouble neighbors, she continued with her bath, and the ringing never stopped.

Hurriedly, she finished her bath and came out to unlock the door, and was surprised to see Arnav Singh Raizada standing in front of her.