80

"Grandmother... who was locked up for several years...!" she screamed shrilly and tried to get up. ....

"What? What did she say?.. locked up?" Khushi turned to Rattan to inquire further. Now she had her back on Arnav and his grandmother. Rattan fumbled. He had no answer. Camera was focused on grandmother to capture her expression. She went on.

"These animals locked me up in the house for several years! This... This.. Krishna Kala is the brain ... he does all this!" she went on accusing every Thakur and Zaa. Krishna Kant got wild with the accusation and came on to her like a maniac. 

"Yes, What do you have to say on this?" Khushi turned to Krishna Kant. He looked furious. No one knew what was going on. Arnav came to Rattan. "I can stop this, if you want to!" he whispered in his ears. Rattan looked at him in surprise. "After all you are my family, Rattan!" he said smirking. Rattan looked aghast. 

"Confess.... If you want to get out of this mess!" said Arnav gravely. Rattan did not answer. Arnav stared sternly at Rattan. "Fine! Let it go on! You want to be exposed like this! Fine with me!" he said. 

"No! I mean.. wait!" Rattan for the first time looked weaker and vulnerable. Arnav smirked.
"Tell what Krishna Kant and Sham did to you!" prompted Arnav. Rattan nodded reluctantly.
"Good! I will talk to her!" said Arnav going towards Khushi who was busy chattering in the mike.

Arnav pulled Khushi. "What are you up to Khushi? Why did you come here?" he hissed.
"This is Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada... a famous business tycoon!" she went on introducing him
"Shut up!" he stopped her pushing the camera aside. The camera man focused on Krishna Kant and Sham.

"Why did you come here? I had asked you to take care of the family!" he was enraged.
"What? I did take care of the family! And I came after you! Why did you risk your life?" she was enraged too. She touched his hand. He pulled her closer.

"What do you want to do?" Arnav asked Khushi. "don't know! I just wanted to meet you!" she said with tears in her eyes. She was losing her composure... and the drama was taking toll on her. When Arnav touched her, she was lost. Now it was up to him to rescue her, to keep her safe. She came and hugged him. He held her tightly for a second and whispered ..."hide yourself somewhere...safe!" she looked at him. "No!" she said.

"Khushi .. go!" he ordered. But before they could do anything...
"This is all fake... She is Khushi... she is my love!" Sham said smirking. Khushi winced and Arnav clenched his fists in rage.

"She has come for me! She cannot live without me! You know, we are made for each other!" Sham forcibly turned the cameraman and spoke looking straight into the camera. This was sheer provocation. He knew Arnav will not tolerate this and will make a mistake of attacking him. He could then shoot him in self defense.

Arnav came forward gritting his teeth. But was blocked by Khushi...
"Let us see what Mr. Sham has to say. Who is this Khushi? We heard you married Rama first and then Anjali...! And now Khushi?" She laughed at Sham.

"Mr. Sham, tell us about your several marriages... in detail!" Khushi went on. Sham looked furious. His provocation had boomeranged on him. He flared up.

"We also heard that you have a wife in Kanpur also... ! How many wives do you have Mr. Sham?" It was a blind shot for Khushi. She just made the statement and that provoked Sham beyond control. He came on to her taking out his gun and pointed at her head.

"Who will save you now? Arnav?... A slight movement and I will kill her!" He came ahead and grabbed her shoulder... He leaned towards her and smelling her hair he said in a husky voice...
""Hmm... After a long time... Khushi... I feel so good to hold you like this!" Arnav couldn't move. His Khushi again was held at gunpoint.

"Drop the gun!" came a rough voice. Everyone turned to look... Cameraman had taken out his gun and was holding Krishna Kant at gunpoint. 

Sham was taken aback. He looked at the camera man for a second and said.. "Ok. Go ahead and shoot him... anyway, he is of no use to me now! He is done for me!" he laughed hysterically. And turning back to Khushi he said..."You are more important to me, Khushi! You are mine!" 

"You are our hostage! and you are my ransom too! I will take everyone out safely!" he declared looking at Rattan. Rattan looked relieved.

Khushi was scared to the core.. Arnav took a step ahead .. Sham put his finger on the trigger..."I will kill her! If she can't be mine.. she can't be yours too!" Arnav stopped dead. Khushi laughed..

"Yes .. go head and kill me!" she said holding the gun from his hand. He looked Shocked. "You have to kill me! .. I prefer death!" she said loudly. 

No one noticed the old lady had got up from the rocking chair and was moving towards Khushi and sham. Four more people had appeared brandishing guns in the hall behind the Thakurs.. Arnav had given a go ahead signal.. police were closing in. 

Sham turned his gun and shot at the cameraman who was holding his father at gun point. The cameraman was brought down. Khushi screamed... she pushed Sham. He fell backwards... Grandmother held him from behind, with her weak hands. Arnav ran forward and snatched the gun from his hand. Police appeared at the door. There was a cross fire and no one knew who was shooting whom. A gun fire from somewhere hit the target... Sham fell down bleeding heavily. Krishna Kant ran forward towards the lifeless body of Sham. 

Sham fell down face up with eyes wide open with fright...! Police barged in. The mysterious men appearing and firing... mysteriously vanished. They had done what they wanted to. Sham was shot dead. 

"Sham.....!" cried Krishna Kant over his body. Khushi ran towards the cameraman... he was dead. She cried out. Arnav ran behind her and pulled her towards him. Rattan singh tried to flee... he took out his gun and shot at Arnav, but someone came and shielded Arnav and Khushi took the shot in the arm. Police encircled the hall. Some more people appeared at the door.
"We are from income tax department... we have a search warrant!" said the officers. The real media barged in. 

Arnav pulled Khushi in his arms, tears rolling down he said "Khushi...!" she started crying... !
"Khushi... you are injured..!" he tried to look at the wound. "Its nothing.. the bullet just brushed..!" she tried to smile at him putting up the brave face..

"KHUSHI .." came a fierce roaring voice. Khushi broke from Arnav. "Splat...." She got a slap square on the face. She fell backwards on Arnav. They both looked up. Papaji had slapped her in rage. He stood there looking at her for a second. She looked at him helplessly and the next moment she was in his tight embrace... 

"Khushi... sorry.... Sorry!" papaji had lost his composure... he was crying holding her tightly...
"Puttar, I am sorry... I slapped you! I am sorry puttar, I couldn't control myself...Why did you do this, puttar? Why didn't you tell me?" he was crying... Arnav put his hand on Papaji's shoulder. Papaji looked at him.

"Arnav puttar, I am sorry! I hit her! I am sorry!" Papaji wrapped his arm around Arnav.
"She needed one!" said Arnav. 

"what?" Khushi broke apart from both of them and asked flaring up.
Arnav smiled. Khushi looked at papaji. He was looking shattered. "Papaji !" she hugged him tightly. 

Someone put a feeble hand on Arnav's shoulder. All the three turned.
Grandmother was standing in front of them. 

"Grandmother, she is Khushi, my wife!" he introduced. They both touched her feet. She lifted Khushi up and looked at her intently... the color of her face changed from kindness to rage...

"You? You!" Grandmother pushed her back. Her kindness gone, her shrill voice returned... "You .. you are the one who ... who snatched away my husband from me!" she screamed. Khushi had lost her balance....