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“What the…!” Khushi blurted in shock, so did everyone watching the news…! 

“What is he doing…?” Nani couldn’t comprehend!  “Why is he inviting trouble…?” Aakash was unable to gauge the move.  Khushi fumed…!

“Why? Arnavji, why are you doing this?” She paced in rage.  Offering a stake in AR group to Rattan was beyond her imagination…!

“We must stop him from doing this…!” She said loudly and Payal shuddered.  She knew Khushi’s rage…! Khushi would do anything in a fit of rage…That was not good for her health too..!

“Yeah.. Khushi bitiya… We will talk to him… You just relax .. ok?” Nani tried to pacify her.  Khushi dashed for her phone.  

“As usual…. Out of reach…!” she contorted her face and the phone switched to voice mail…

“Arnav ji… Call back immediately… Its urgent..” she said trying to control her temper.

There was a total black out for the next day.  Khushi and everyone else grew restless per passing hour.  

“Papaji… Did you see the news?” Khushi called up papaji. 

“Haan puttar.. Kya hua?” he asked.  She went overboard…!

“Kya hua?  Are you asking me? You should have asked him, Papaji..!” she barked.  Papaji sensed the tension.  He too was puzzled with Arnav’s sudden decision to offer stake in AR designs…!

“Kya hua, Khushi puttar?” Papaji asked concerned. 

“Papaji… This… This … Arnav ji..” Khushi lost her words fuming.

“Umm… Khushi.. I am in a meeting… I will call you later…” Papaji found out the escape route.  He never wanted to interfere…! Khushi disconnected panting in frustration.  She tried Elsa, Raj, Shondeep one by one in vain.  No one was available at that point of time.  Khushi’s mind working superfast,,, she concluded..

“This means, everyone knew about this… they kept me in dark… the most significant partner was kept in dark about this arrangement….. Fine… Fine… I am waiting for you Mr. Raizada…. I will not let this happen…” she clenched her fists.  The decision was taken without her consent.  She was ready with her weapon… her ultimate weapon… her VETO power…! She suddenly felt confident and calm… she can stop the disaster.. can control the damage …!

“Phew..!” she blew a strand of her hair smugly…! “Aao Patideo  Dekhatain hain..” she waited for her husband.

For the next couple of days there was no phone call or any news from Kanpur.  Arnav was busy in convincing his dadi to come along.  But dadi, after a second thought, had refused to come with him.

“Naa Naa… ! I won’t come now… I will come later… Not now!” She wouldn’t forgo her new found authority over the Thakur Clan..! She was reinstated by her grandson who looked like her husband.  Her lost pride had returned…! She wouldn’t leave these Thakurs so easily.  Arnav had no argument over this.  She was looking and sounding so happy, he just couldn’t bring her along against her wish.  He finally agreed but not before warning all the Thakurs about her care and security….! 

**********  ******

“There must be some reason, Nani… I am sure…! Bhai must have done this for a reason…! He will tell us about this, when he comes back.

“But he should have discussed with us before taking such a drastic decision…!” Mamaji too was disappointed.  Nani shook her head.

“He always takes such decisions in a fit of rage… and then it takes ages to clear the mess his decisions create…!” Nani said gravely and Mami nodded.

“Aur nahi toh ka? Hello hi bye bye..? What happened in that Lavanya’s case? She turned against us….” Mami said disdainfully.  Name of Lavanya brought a bad taste in Anjali’s mouth.  She glanced at Khushi, but Khushi was in a different world…! She was waiting for her dear husband to come back and then she would settle the scores with other three partners for keeping her in dark and then take on to Papaji for his betrayal…! 

********  ******  ******

ASR walked in through the main door and everyone stared at him apprehensively.  He glanced sideways and handed over the baggage to Ram Prakash.  Khushi stood up thrusting her hands on her hips.  Payal pulled her down.

“Not now, Khushi…!” she warned.  Khushi fumed impatiently.  ASR ignored everyone and went straight to his room, after Ram Prakash and Khushi tried to run after him.

“Khushi bitiya… come here..!” Nani sensed to oncoming danger and pulled Khushi back.  Everyone wanted the explanation but Khushi wanted to confront.  How could he take such a big decision without consulting anyone? She clenched her fists helplessly frustrated.  

“Bring my breakfast here…!” ASR barked at Ram Prakash and Khushi lost her grip…! Anjali had already reached his room.

“Chote? How was your trip?” she asked sitting by his side holding his arm.

“It was good, Di!” he said softly and looked up at Nani who had reached the threshold of his room.  He could see other faces of the entire Raizada house…! They came in and ASR looked at them sternly.

“Is everything ok, here?” he asked suspiciously.  

“Yes Bhai…!” Aakash sat on the other side.  Arnav looked at the gathering apprehensively.

“What’s the matter?” he asked raising his voice a bit.  

“Umm… Bhai… its just the news… About Rattan Singh…. I mean… you bailed him out…” Aakash was a bit nervous.

“Yeah! So?” ASR asked smugly.

“So? You did that and you are asking us?” Khushi lost her control.  Coming forward from behind Payal and Mami, she stood tall in front of Arnav.  Arnav gaped at his wife’s furious face.

“What is it, Khushi? Are you ok?” he asked softly.

“You… you bailed him out?  The one who tortured your grandmother…Who… who ruined your childhood..! You.. you gave him a stake in business?” she asked raising her voice, waving her hand in front of his face.  He looked at everyone.

“Yes…!” he said gazing at Aakash’s questioning face.

“Yes..?? Do you have any idea what you have done…?” Khushi asked and ASR stood up to confront everyone…!

“Bhai… Umm.. I mean…!” Aakash started off weakly and ASR turned to him.

“Are you questioning me, Aakash? My business prudence…? Is everyone here for this?” he asked looking at everyone and everyone took a step backwards.  Payal was already out of the room…! 

“Yes..!” Khushi confronted and the others staggered back.

“No.. I mean… Chote… We just…” Nani was the next to stutter…! Khushi had had enough of this hide and seek …!

“Yes.. We are asking you… Arnav ji… Why didn’t you ask anyone of us before taking such a step?” she asked what she thought to be reasonable which blew his head off.

“Are you all questioning me…?” he asked again clenching his fists and gritting his teeth..! They all shook their heads, giving up the battle raising white flag to surrender unconditionally..!

“Yes…!” Khushi’s only voice boomed and Arnav stepped forward aggressively.  Khushi stood her ground.

“Don’t you know the danger? And what we all faced because of this person?” Khushi opened her mouth and ASR raised his hand to stop her.

“I don’t owe any explanation to anyone..!” His arrogance had returned and so was Khushi’s temper.

“Oh! Yeah? You can’t take such a decision autocratically!” she faced him and

“I just did…!” He said dismissing her.

“You can’t!” She retorted.  The others were mere spectators…! “I won’t let you do this…I… I..Will use my VETO” she took out her weapon of last resort and he looked at her piercingly.  She hesitated a bit but went ahead.

“I won’t sign on the papers, even if Raj and Shondeep Sir do..! You can’t go ahead without my signature…” she clarified her superior position and He turned stepping ahead.

“This is my company… AR Group! Not BTR..! And you don’t have any stake in this… You understand? Not even a penny…” He spoke and Khushi froze as if someone had Slapped her square on the face.  Everyone else was shocked too at Arnav’s callousness..! There was a pin dropped silence…! 

Realization stabbed Khushi…! She was not a part of his empire… Not even a penny…! Someone had sucked out all her energy…! She dropped her shoulders… She had no right to talk about his decisions…!

“Sorry…!” she said turning to everyone…!

“Sorry.. Naniji… I shouldn’t have talked in this… !” 

“No.. Khushi…! Wait…!” Anjali went after Khushi glancing at Arnav angrily.

“What?” Arnav looked at everyone…!

“It’s a fact.. she can’t stop me..!” he said matter of factly…! Nani turned to him…!

“She may not be part of your so called empire… but chote, she is a part of your life.. we all are…!” Nani spat…!

“Yeah! So?” he still was not getting the point.  

“So?!! Chote, can’t you see how hurt she was?” Nani asked turning her back on her grandson and going after Khushi.  Everyone filed out after Nani and Aakash lingered behind with Mamaji.

“Bhai… Its just that… Umm… I mean… We just were shocked… I mean… We all know you have a reason…!” Aakash started off hesitantly.  Mamaji was deep in thoughts…! This decision would cause a divide in the family… he knew…! No one was for  this …!  Even the other board members would object… Arnav would face the resistance…! He must be careful… The control should not slip out of Arnav’s hands…! He should warn Aakash…! 

Mamaji turned and left the room without a word.  Aakash and Arnav stood looking at each other…! No one knew what was going on in other’s mind…!