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Hi Guys,

This story is written by my friend Bibbo. I am publishing here on her behalf. Hope you all have as much fun reading it as I did.
Please do leave your comments about it...let her know what you think about the story.

And now without further adieu here is the story

CHAPTER 1

Arnav knew he was running out of time.

His time with Khushi was coming to an unceremonious ending, way earlier than his intended 6 months... and all because of his ego. "dammit!" he exclaimed, while tearing his vest off his chest, and throwing it on the bed.

Just a few minutes earlier, he had once again seen Jeejaji trying to chat up his wife in the kitchen, where Khushi had gone to make him some unsweetened kheer. In an effort to try at hand at romancing her, he had decided to go down to the kitchen himself, and maybe grab her around the waist. He'd seen Akash do that to Payal, and she'd blushed. He figured since Payal and Khushi were sisters, Khushi would enjoy that too.

While he descended down the stairs, he folded his sleeves up, and loosened his neck. He'd seen Payal lean her head back and settle herself by Aakash's neck, and he wanted to be prepared in case Khushi, too, would do the same, for a man could hope.

However, just as he was about to step into the kitchen, he heard Jeejaji telling Khushi to forget him:

Shayam, tries to get near Khushi and says, "KhushiJi, you and I both know that I love you, so why are you rejecting my love?"

Irrigated by his adamant behavior, Khushi finally decides to set him straight, "listen jeejaji. You are Di's husband. In case you do not understand what that means, let me remind you that your ONLY rishta with me is that you are MY husband's sister's patidev. Do you understand how distantly related we are? It would be best if you finally get that through your head, and leave me alone, before I tell my husband - whom i adore a LOT - how much you've harassed me in the past."

Smirking his creepy grin, Shaym retorted back with "but KhushiJi, you've underestimated the power I have. Had you had the capabilities to make Saale-saab understand you, you would still not have misunderstandings between the two of you. I've done a good job of poisoning him against you, and made him believe that you want me just as much as I want you. Why else do you think he made you marry him? I realized this that day during Holi when you were close to confessing to NaniJi and RaaniSahiba. In case you haven't noticed, I have the upper hand in your relationship, and you will be mine one day KhushiJi. Soon, you will be mine!" and with that Shayam left the kitchen from the opposite entrance.

Feeling the blood drain from her head, Khushi felt lightheaded! Arnav, too frozen from the confession from his jeejaJi's mouth, could not move, and so stood standing by the entrance, watching his wife, his beautiful, sexy, paagal wife panic.

Oh DeviMaiyya! How could she be so stupid? During the past few days, she kept seeing the old Arnav. Her Laad Governor who had once again forgotten how to smile, and would hold her with punishing hands, had once again softened with her, and she had foolishly started to dream again.

Oh silly her! Muttering to herself, she grabbed the ingredients for jalebis while the unsweetened kheer for her husband cooked. "Hai Devimaiyya, why did you do this? I thought after I applied kumkum on you on Holi, you and I were friends again! Then why are you back at giving me a hard time? I really thought everything was going to be okay between ArnavJi and me. But if what jeejaji has said is true, then I really cant stay here any more. Even though NaaniJi and Di have accepted me as the bahu, how can I live knowing that Arnavji thought I would not only be in love with ShaymJi, but would want to break apart Di's shaadi-shuda zindagi?"

With that, Khushi started to make her jalebis, and Arnav, after listening to everything he could possibly manage to hear that day, left just as quietly as he had come, and once again went back to the haven he called his room.

"What the HELL was I thinking?! I should have given her a chance to speak and defend herself" Arnav paced all along the length of his room, and waited for Khushi to come to the room. He knew she would eventually come, and he needed her in their room so they could talk. He feared that if he went downstairs, either or both of them wouldn't be able to keep their emotions in check, and everyone would find out about the circumstances that they married in.

after about 20 minutes of pacing, and 20 minutes of coming up with an idea, the door to his - no, THEIR - room opened, and in walked the woman of his dreams.. with a look of sheer determination she first handed him his kheer, and then said, "we have to talk."

When Arnav didn't respond back immediately, Khushi took a step further, and another, until she was merely an inch away from him, "I have to leave you. Please, please, PLEASE let me go", she said with pleading eyes.

Arnav wasn't surprised. He figured she would say something like that. He also knew that to keep Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizaada with him, he had to play dirty. And dirty he could do.

Keeping the kheer aside, he folded his arms across his chest and tried not to smirk: "fine. When did you want to leave?"

Khushi: "Really?! You'll really let me go?" she wasn't sure what surprised her the most: his eager tone to set her free, or the fact that she was so hurt by his quick dismissal of her.

Arnav: "of course Khushi, if you want to go, you go baby - "

"Really?!" she repeated again.

Arnav: " - yep. You can go as soon as you'd like. But before you go, you owe me 300 Rupees. As you said, I'm a man who likes to play business-business. How can I let you go without getting my money back in full? With interest?"

Upon seeing her dumbstruck face, he elaborated, "Now, I know you probably don't have the money to pay me back yet, but I have a suggestion. You stay with me, as my wife - in my bed this time - until you find your means to return the money to me. For those 300 rupees, you will have to do as I say. After the price has been paid, you're free to go."

Saying this without bursting out laughing was a hard task, but he did it flawlessly. Now that he had her where he'd wanted her, the next step, he realized, wouldn't be a challenge. Now that he knew she was innocent, and upon listening to her semi-confession to her DeviMaiyya, he knew he had her. Now he just had to prove it to both of them.

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Chapter 2 - The NEW Deal

Something was wrong with Khushi, of course. Maybe it was all those years of munching on jalebies that was causing her to go delusional, and hear things. All those years of gulping down the sugary syrupy jalabies, and she was finally experiencing a high that left her to hear stupidity come out of her husband's mouth.

For she was sure she did not just hear the Laad Governor, HER Laad Governor, tell her he planned on keeping her here - "in the bed" - until she paid him back his stupid 300 rupees. Anger boiling her blood, she gave him a look filled with venom, and scrunched up her brows.

"Nahi! I refuse to stay with you," she said, almost sounding like a 4 year old being denied her favourite toy. Placing her hands on her hips, she tried to look as confident as ever, hoping that he wouldn't catch onto the fear growing within her.

Trying to keep up with the plan, Arnav picked up a file from his working table, and tried to look engrossed in last weeks profit reports. It was futile of course, since he knew the stats well. His companies were booming, and he did not need to review the documents. However, he knew this would irritate Khushi, and she would try and argue some more with him. That's just what he wanted.

He wanted her to come up to him again. He needed to know that despite wanting to leave, she'd come back and seek his approval. It wasn't about him being the all dominating alpha-male, but he wanted to feel the sincerity of her words that she'd spoken to JeejaJi.. she had said that she "adored" him, and called him her husband. That was big, especially since he was a jerk to her since their wedding.

Exasperated that he wasn't paying her any attention, Khushi marched towards Arnav. "Look!" she said, and grabbed his papers away from him. Knowing this was his chance he was waiting for, Arnav grabbed her upper arms, and looked deep into her eyes. Seeing that she was close to flinching, he immediately eased his hold on her.

"God Khushi! You make me go crazy!" seeing that she refused to give him eye contact, he let go of her arms, but didn't let her go too far. He took the back of his hand and softly caressed her cheek. "Khushi" he whispered, and she shivered, "look at me." Putting what felt like all the energy she could muster, she tried to lift her gaze up to match his. It was reassuring to see that his eyes were not accusing as they had been since she's married him.

"What is it ArnavJi" she emphasised the "ji" on purpose.

Deciding he needed to sit, he lightly trailed his hands away from her face and made them go down the length of her arms. Holding onto her right hand with his own, he led the way to the bed, "please sit." When she obeyed without hesitation, he was pleased to realize that he liked that about her. Even when she was mad at him, or confused, she didn't defy him when he really needed her support, like when he helped to bring Payal and Aakash together. It was one thing to regularly have little arguments here and there, for he knew in the long haul, they'd be the reason their romance would still be alive, but he loved that she didn't question him when he truly needed her to do as he'd ask.

In a clear voice, he stated, "I saw you in the kitchen with jeejaJi."

Khushi was glad Arnav had made her sit down, because she was sure if she was still standing, she would have faltered, because those words shook her being.

"W-what?" she panicked.

"Relax Khushi" he took both his hands and enveloped them between both of hers. He also angled himself on the low bed, where their knees touches, and they sat facing each other. Because of his long length, it was almost as if he was kneeling in front of her, and it was quite fitting. For he was about to bear his soul, make a proposal and hope all the way to hell that she would accept.

"I heard everything. From his shady confession of love, to your words aiming to set him straight about your priorities.." When she didn't say anything, he decided to continue, "I am so sorry for not listening to you earlier, or giving you the chance. I'm sorry to have ruined your dreams of a wedding. I'm also sorry for making you sleep outside.. can you ever forgive me?" he let the words hang He realized that he was too scared to look up to her, in fear of rejection, and so took in a deep breath. He tried reminding himself that he was ASR, the fearless businessman, who could unnerve even the toughest of negotiators, but that was in vain..

..In front of his woman, his fearlessness didn't match up.

Finally when he looked up, he saw the beginnings of tears in her eyes, and so, he tried to lighten the mood. He'd caused her enough tears since their wedding and he wanted to change that. "hey..I also heard you tell him that you 'adore' me". I don't blame you, I am pretty cute."

When she started to laugh, he finally let go of the breath he was holding in. A tear escaped her eye anyway, and he quickly brushed it away with the pad of his thumb.

Grabbing her face gently between his hands now, he finally told her what he had been meaning to, after his plans of waist-grabbing in the kitchen, "Khushi, I want you to give me a chance. I want you to give me the opportunity to do right by you. I want you to grow to accept me as your husband. Not just for the next 6 months, but for eternity. Will you do me this honour?"

Khushi was blown away. Had anyone, even her DeviMaiyya, told her that Arnav would be proposing to her today, she would have laughed at such a thought. But it was happening. Just as she had thought many, many years ago, with Jiji.. Arnav was offering her a romantic tale, and all she had to do was accept. Deciding to have some fun instead, she said, "and what if I do not agree? What are the consequences then?"

Dumbstruck, Arnav's jaw set firm. Was this woman serious?! After practically confessing her love for him to his jeejaJi, she was now asking for consequences to her rejection of his proposal. Unbelievable!

Well. He'd show her. "easy. Before you can even consider rejecting me, know that you'll stay 6 months with me anyways. A deal is a deal. And for my precious 300 rupees, the stakes have changed. Seeing as how I want you in my life, but you sort of don't seem so sure, for every rupee, I want a kiss. Your lips meeting mine. My tongue with yours, and my hands, all over you. and you only have one choice to this: acceptance"