"I hate her...... I hate her. " Anjali screamed hysterically as Shyam sat in his arms chair rolling his eyes at her.

It been three weeks since Arnav exposed Anjali and everyone including Mami has been cold to Anjali barely speaking to her and her apologizes were not accepted by any of them even when she went to the Guptas to apologize, Buaji and Garima kicked her out warning her not to come back which surprised Anjali as she knew Khushi was not on good terms with her aunts.

Anjali come home and revealed this to Nani and the family at dinner thinking they will all sympathize with her but instead of sympathy, they all turned on her warning her to stay away from Guptas especially Khushi.

This incident was the final nail to the coffin as Akash who returned from his honeymoon with Payal two days ago cut all financial aid to Anjali permanently and no one stood up for Anjali when she protested.

Yesterday, it was announced Khushi was joining ARD on a year long contract and the family went to Laxmi Nagar to celebrate without Anjali and Shyam.

Arnav has been hyped since Khushi signed the final contract and has spared no expenses making sure Khushi's office was top notch with the newest and lastest gadgets.

"She keeps winning all the time. " Anjali cried out and Shyam scoffed making Anjali glare at him.

"Glare at me all your want be that won't solve our problems....... I warned you that girl is dangerous but "Miss I can control her" won't listen...... She has turned the entire even Mami against you and now her sister is basking in the attention Mami is giving her....... She always goes to the spa and shopping with you but look at what happened....... She went with Payal and you were thinking Mami will antagonize her but she returned smiling and so did Mami...... Those Gupta sisters are deadly and I saw this from the beginning...... If you had listened and not support Akash's relationship with Payal from the beginning then we wouldn't have been in this predicament......... Now instead of looking for a solution, you are screaming your head off. " Shyam exclaimed angrily which made Anjali mellow.

She knew he was right and regretted not listening to Shyam from the beginning but it was too late and she had to salvage what's left of the situation.

A devilish smile spread on Anjali's lips as Shyam looked at her confused and suspicious.

"What are you planning? " He asked and Anjali laughed staring at him and Shyam felt chill run down his spine.

"Arnav is all tough but there is one thing he hates to be reminded of, his relation to the Mallik family and what better person to help me torment him than Dadi herself who won't stop reminding him of who he is....... It's about time Dadi pays the family a visit after all it's been over a decade since we last saw her. "

Shyam looked shocked as Anjali laughed hysterically.

"Anjali, they won't allow her step foot in the mansion. " Shyam warned.

"Not if she is settled in before they are all at home....... We find a day everyone is out and call Dadi here. " Anjali explained but Shyam was still sceptical but agreed to it.

Meanwhile in ARD, the employees were whispering among themselves at the cafeteria at the new version of the boss which shocked and delighted them at the same time.

Most were happy about the new development with their boss and they came to the conclusion that, Lavanya was not their boss's girlfriend which came as a relief to most of them who saw Lavanya for the bully she was.

"Did you see the way ASR was staring at Miss Gupta during the introduction? " Everyone nodded as one of the employees spoke. "I won't be surprised to hear about their wedding soon afterall she is not only educated but renowned and successful and on top of that, she is the sister Akash sir's wife. "

"True, I also heard ASR's Nani and Mami loves her and the rumors about Akash sir's mother not liking Payal was all a lie........ My sister saw her and Payal shopping at the global mall and they were holding hands and Payal was smiling. " Another said and they all looked happy for their bosses.

Soon after, Lavanya and her minions Sim and Pam walked in and everyone started whispering and stealing glances at them.

"Lavanya do something or else these people will not stop harassing you." Sim whispered as the sat on one of the empty table.

"There is nothing she can do........ ASR has warned us and if you two do anything I will denounce you....... I can't risk my job again. " Pam warned as Sim looked stunned and Lavanya glared at her.

"Wow, now that ASR has dumped me, you have shown your true colors....... Snake. "

"Hey, it's not my fault your mother messed up causing ASR to end your contract and dump you so don't take out your anger on me....... Unlike you who till have crores in your bank account as a farewell gift from ASR, I don't have that so sorry cousin if I put myself first." Pam defended unapologetically which pissed of Lavanya and her twin sister Sim.

"Pam, you are being ungrateful........ It's because of Lavanya that we have this job in the first place....... She needs out support now more than ever. " Sim scolded and Pam rolled her eyes.

"Continue being her puppet...... I am done with being her puppet and from now on you are on your own. " Pam said and stood up leaving Lavanya fuming and Sim in shock.

"It not over until I say so........ ASR won't use me and toss me aside like I am nothing." Lavanya said with gritted teeth as she slammed her hands on the table.

She stood up and walked away turning deaf ears to Sim's calls as everyone stared at her wondering what was happening.

Lavanya barged into Khushi's office startling her and Preeto who frown seeing Lavanya.

"Miss Kashyap, have you forgotten your manners? " Preeto scolded but Lavanya looked unfazed.

"Spare me....... I didn't come her to speak to a low life like you. " Lavanya responded arrogantly.

"What you tongue Miss Kashyap. " Khushi growl taking Lavanya by surprise but she immediately composed herself. "Preeto please excuse us."

Preeto tried to retort but Khushi assured her she will be okay.

Preeto walked out but not before throwing a disgusted and angry glare at Lavanya who had a smug look on her face.

"What do you want Miss Kashyap? "

"Am here to tell you ASR is using you just like he did with me and countless other women....... He is a womanizer and a sex addict and being faithful to one partner is not in his vocabulary....... After he is done with you, he will discard you like garbage. " Lavanya said expecting Khushi to feel sad but she was stunned when Khushi started laughing hysterically.

"Spoken like a true jealous and insecure woman which just got dumped."

"How dare you call me jealous and insecure. " Lavanya yelled slamming her hands on Khushi's desk as Khushi scoffed.

"You can't stand that you didn't become Mrs ASR like you wanted....... You think a shameless woman who goes into a contract with a man for monetary value will be worth being the wife of ASR. "

Lavanya's eyes widened in shock hearing Khushi speak about her contract with Arnav and she was wondering if Arnav had told her not knowing in her past life which she doesn't remember, she had confined in Khushi about it when she was training her to be accepted by Nani.

"How do you know? " Lavanya asked shocked and Khushi shrugged as she leaned into her chair.

"It doesn't matter but I am warning you Miss Kashyap, am not the one to mess with and if you dare pull another stunt like this again, you will be left homeless and jobless that I promise you. "

Lavanya shuddered staring at Khushi and for a moment, it felt like she was staring at Arnav and this unnerved her and she immediately nodded and was about to walk out when she bumped into a hard chest.

Lavanya gulped as the familiar scent filled her nose.

She knew who is was before she could raise her head.

"What the hell are you doing here Miss Kashyap? " Arnav cold voice raised and Lavanya flinched backwards and the look of rage in his eyes nearly her pee herself.

She started stammering but the words couldn't come out.

"Why, cat got you tongue? " Preeto mocked and Khushi immediately realised Arnav's presence in her office was orchestrated by her.

"Khushi are you okay?....... Did she bother you in anyway? " Arnav asked his voice and gaze softened which shocked Lavanya.

"I am fine Mr Raizada. " Khushi replied as she stood up and walked up the them but Arnav frown hearing her address him professionally which he hated but didn't push as he didn't want to upset Khushi on her first day at work. "I was having a girl talk with Miss Kashyap and she was just leaving. "

"Liar." Preeto exclaimed and Khushi glared at her but she didn't look intimidated. "It wasn't a girl talk if she just barged in and called me a low life. "

Khushi closed her eyes as Arnav looked shocked because Preeto just came to his office and said Khushi was in danger and he immediately left everything and rushed here.

Rage filled Arnav hearing this and he turned to a petrified Lavanya who was on the verge of tears as Preeto smirked and Khushi shook her head disappointed at Preeto.

"You are done Miss Kashyap. "

"Arnav please, let it be. " Khushi begged and Arnav turned to her stunned.

"Khushi you know I respect you but this is something I have to disrespect you for. " Arnav said and grabbed Lavanya's arms and dragged her out of the office turning a dead ears to Khushi's call.

Khushi turned to Preeto who looked proud of her achievement.

"What?...... She got what she deserves....... No one mess with you and gets away with it. " Preeto said unapologetic.

"You are unbelievable. " Khushi exclaimed and walked out as Preeto followed her.

RM.

Manohar sat in his office, lost in thought about the events of the last few days.

He never thought he would be able to trust a complete stranger like Khushi, but it was worthwhile because Khushi gave them good advice on how to break the news to Arnav.

Manohar was astounded by how well Khushi and Arvind bonded on the way to the rehabilitation center, because once they arrived, Arvind never left Khushi's side and only listened to her.

Thanks to this, Khushi was able to persuade Arvind not to flee again or else she would be angry at him, and like an obedient child, he agreed on the condition that Khushi visit him frequently, which Khushi fulfilled by visiting him every day and spending at least two hours with Arvind.

He is now miraculously recovering at a rapid pace and taking his medication without complaint, which was a headache for the center.

This eliminated any doubts Manohar had about Khushi being the ideal partner for Arnav.

Flashback.

Khushi sat in Satish's office, looking at both men for answers.

"Khushi dear, what do you know about Arnav's life story?" Manohar questioned.

Khushi realized there was no need to hide the truth, so she revealed what Arnav had told him, which surprised Manohar and Satish because they knew Arnav was never the type to open up to anyone, but seeing the sincerity in Khushi's eyes, they knew she was telling the truth.

"I always knew my best friend was innocent because he despised cheaters and the harm they caused to his own family." Khushi appeared surprised when she heard Manohar. "Abhishek, Arvind's father, cheated on his sick mother with his stepmother Sudhadra Malik, and their son Anant Malik was the result of that infidelity........ All of this came to light when Sudhadra arrived at Arvind's tenth birthday party with an eight-year-old Anant and revealed the truth about her relationship with Abhishek........ Instead of denying it, that bastard admitted to his affair and blamed Arvind's mother, Naina, for his philandering because she was unable to bear another child due to complications from her cancer, which was discovered during her pregnancy with Arvind...... Poor woman was so devastated that she died a week after Arvind's birthday and to make matters worse, Abhishek brought Anant and Sudhadra home a week after Naina's last rites and married her two days later........ Arvind never forgave Abhishek, and he only realized his mistakes a year later, when Arvind vented his frustration on him...... They were never the same again, and to make amends, Abhishek left all of his properties to Arvind while ensuring Sudhadra could not contest it........ Abhishek died when Arvind was twenty-four years old, which is when the truth about the inheritance was revealed, but instead of kicking Anant and Sudhadra out, as most of us wanted, he let them stay, and he has now lost his son as a result."

Khushi was stunned and saddened by the tragic story about Arvind.

"Does Arnav know anything about this?" Khushi asked, and both men shook their heads no, causing Khushi to frown.

"Arvind did not want Arnav to be burdened by his past, but Arnav only knew Sudhadra was Arvind's stepmother." Satish revealed.

"So how did Arvind end up alive, and what happened to him?" Khushi asked and both sighed knowing there was no hiding the truth now.

"Arvind never killed himself, as Sudhadra led everyone to believe. Everything, my dear, was a lie, a massive conspiracy to defame my best friend." Manohar said as he nodded to Satish, who was typing something on his laptop and turning it towards Khushi.

Khushi was shocked to see a man tied to a chair and delirious as Satish injected him with a solution.

"That is Anant Malik, Arnav's uncle." Satish is revealed.

"Tell us all that happend that day on Anjali's wedding? " Satish asked and Anant laughed but what he said next shocked everyone.

"Arvind found out Anjali was my daughter that day when I wanted to give Anjali away instead of Arvind....... I was arguing with Ratna about this, and unbeknownst to us, Arvind, who came looking for Ratna, discovered the truth...... Seeing him broken brought me joy, and I told him the truth."

Manohar in the background appeared stunned and stumbled backwards into a chair as Satish continued.

"What is the truth you are talking about?" Satish asked calmly.

"I was the one Ratna loved, not Arvind..... I convinced her that Arvind had been cruel to me, and she believed me, so we began our affair..... She came up with the idea of assisting me in reclaiming what is rightfully mine......... Maa's friendship with Deviyani assisted us in arranging their marriage, which is how her marriage to Arvind came about........ We planned to let her marry for at least five years before divorcing due to domestic abuse and infidelity........ We will take half of Malik's fortune and elope to start our own lives...... That plan was going great, and my daughter Anjali was the light of our lives until Anjali's fourth birthday, when Ratna discovered I was lying about Arvind's abuse, and to make me pay for deceiving her, she allowed herself to become pregnant with Arnav, Arvind's son........ I tried to win her over, but she had fallen for Arvind, which I despised....... When Anjali was sixteen, I told her the truth, and she accepted me but wanted Arvind to be her father because he had more money than me. I agreed because I loved her........ Ratna was against it when she found out, but I and Anjali threatened to expose her to Arvind, so she had no choice but to accept my relationship with Anjali...... This truth was also revealed that day, leaving Arvind devastated but enraged...... He decided to divorce, expose Ratna, and leave Anjali out of his will after her marriage...... Ratna begged him to reconsider because she loved him, but Arvind would not listen........ Knowing I would be an outcast without money, Maa persuaded Ratna to pretend to commit suicide with the gun, and we convinced her it was unloaded....... We planned for Arnav to witness this and hate his father, which would hurt Arvind because he adored Arnav, and the rest is history........ We paid Arvind's secretary to claim Arvind had an affair with her in order to make this appear legitimate and prevent Arvind being believed if he revealed the truth."

Manohar's sobbing grew louder in the background.

"How could you do this to him after all he did for you and your mother?" Manohar screamed and punched Anant, who was groaning and grunting in pain as Satish pulled Manohar off him.

"He deserves it because he took what was rightfully mine." Anant yelled furiously. "I made everyone believe he was dead when, in reality, I had been torturing him in the basement of Sheesh Mahal for years, and it was glorious to see him beg and plead to meet Arnav, his beloved Aru." Anant laughed hysterically, as if it were the funniest joke.

Satish stopped the video, and Khushi was stunned by the revelation.

"To confirm this, I had a DNA test done, and Anjali and I are half siblings on their father's side...... I can not believe we let Anjali and Ratna deceive us for so long... I do not feel sorry for my sister because she got what she deserved, but Arnav put her on a pedestal and this will break him." Manohar exclaimed with sadness.

"He has a right to know..... He deserves to know the truth, and they deserve another chance." Khushi commented.

"But what if he does not believe us?......You are forgetting that he will be devastated." Manohar replied sceptically.

"So you believe that keeping him in the dark will help him...... You are both being unjust to your best friend and Arnav. I know this will hurt Arnav, but he deserves to know the truth...... We begin gradually, with the video, followed by Arvind's presence...... But we also need to find that secretary.......Her testimony will also be helpful to us."

Manohar and Satish nodded, knowing Khushi was right.

Flashback ends.

Manohar stared at the report in front of him, knowing that the content would destroy not only the Raizadas' lives, but also the Guptas', as the secretary in question is none other than Garima Gupta.

To be continued.

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