"Let me tell them I know what you are thinking but I think they should know after all they are our parents."

"What am I thinking? What is he thinking? Come on Arnav Ji insanity has a limit too I guess..." she decides to ponder over her self-talks later. Presently it was necessary that she should divert the topic. She also wants that nothing should be hidden from their parents but the situation demanded something very different. She can't let this man spoil everything in a split of a second.

"Umm, I don't think it is much of importance.  It can be skipped and besides Mumma and Papa we are getting late we should head towards home. I have a meeting tomorrow which needs some preparation." Khushi tries her best to shifts everyone's mind but was this possible? Everyone was filled with so many queries as they heard the word " Contract" from Arnav's mouth.

"No, Khushi we want to know what is it? What kind of contract Arnav bitwa? Is everything right between you people? What are you people hiding? Khushi, why you want, to ignore this topic? I have an intuition that there is something that is definitely wrong? Who is in trouble that you people had to think of a contract? Why you people are silent tell us?" their parent's faces were filled with so many worries with an unending questionnaire. But wasn't this pretty much expected? Khushi was numb she wasn't sure why Arnav had even spoken of this word.

"Everyone please calm down I will tell you everything. Everything is fine between us. Please, no one has to be worried. It's just a piece of information. Well, actually, Khushi had just joined her new office where she finds some of the terms not very suitable which are mentioned in her work contract period. So, we were discussing them and since I had some contacts so I was going to help her to alter them, also previously we had decided not to reveal about it to any of you expecting that this may develop worries like now and hence numerous questions too but then Mumma had heard us upstairs and we had convinced her not to tell you guys about it but later we felt that nothing should be hidden from you people so that's why we wanted to tell you.

Khushi takes a sigh of relief.

"What are you guys sure this was all about the Contract that you people wanted to discuss then why did Khushi seem to overlook it?"

"That you should ask her," Arnav said.

Damn Khushi how could you judge him even before listening to him? You very well know how much love he has for his parents and how much he values them you got a glimpse of it may be just an hour back. Obviously, he won't hurt them. "Khushi Gupta you have already started thinking like him. It is his habit to conclude before anyone even makes a move. Isn't it?"

"Khushi! Khushi!" Her self-talks were hindered as she heard the voices around which were of her parent's giving her a questioning look. Did she even know what was the question she was so lost after listening to him in her own thoughts that she never acknowledged what was being spoken?

"Uhh, sorry well my mind was somewhere else. What you were asking?" She spoke hesitantly and embarrassed.

"If this was such a small issue why were you trying to ignore it?"

"I was not ignoring it I genuinely had some work at home." She answered.

"You never informed us before." They were still so suspicious.

"Ya, it was suddenly planned. If you remember I had attended an official call just before dinner and I had already told you that this is not a big issue isn't it?"

"Oh!" They all nod their heads looking pretty much convinced.

"Arnav spoke in such a serious tone that we thought it is a big concern," Garima said.

"Yeah, I was so horrified with this sudden revelations that I took it in other sense." Shashi told them.

"What did you took it Uncle" Arnav wanted to confirm.

"Actually a few days ago I and Mahendra have attended a business party of Sinha's and there we got know that Raj Sinha their son who had recently got married some 7 to 8 months ago was divorced. While we further dug the matter we got to know that it was a contract alliance for 6 months. It was just for a business profit that they did so but still, I could clearly see Avdhesh Sinha(Raj Sinha's Father) was not so happy about it."

"Contract Marriage?" Ratna and Garima questioned.

Arnav and Khushi look at each other trying to hide any kind of expressions on their face and presenting as if they were even unaware of the term like that.

"Yeah, they both had signed for this marriage for 6 months and then got divorced."

"How can people stoop so low? A pure bond like marriage is to be worshipped. This is something that is to be cherished for life and now I can't even believe that people are using it for growing their business."

"Seriously Nandini Ji they should be ashamed this proves that money is more important to some people rather than relationship."

Can their parents stop making them feel more guilty? Fine, they knew they were wrong but now the burden on their heart increased more as they heard them speak even if they were generally expressing their view on a contract Marriage. No more does it looked like a mistake to them but it felt like a sin.

"So Avdesh Uncle had no idea about this contract wedlock?" Arnav dug further.

"He knew everything but which father will whole heartily accept such a contract Arnav. I think Avdhesh should have opted for some other way." Mahendra explained. Arnav just nods his head.

"And that is why when you spoke about Contract. I was terrified at what in case if you people were also going to say something like that but obviously how I can forget you people are not selfish. You will never do such things." Shashi said.

Arnav wanted to bang his head somewhere.

"What...What if we I mean just Consider had told you that we were planning to do a contract marriage?" Khushi put all her courage to ask this question.

Arnav looks at her but he can somewhere guess why she was asking such a thing she just wanted to judge what would be their parent's reaction in case they tell the truth which actually felt to be a total absurd idea now but still just to see how deep impact will it have. At least they will get a glimpse.

"No, Khushi beta never say that again. I would have died if this was in reality." Shashi expressed his fears.

This one sentence from Shashi's mouth had made one thing clear enough to Khushi that she can never risk her father's life and up to some extent it was clear for Arnav also and the next statement from Mahendra cleared the leftovers from Arnav's mind too.

"Yes, Shashi is right. There would be nothing more heart wrenching than hearing something like this from you people. We would rather prefer to die than to hear this." stated Mahendra

So even Arnav was clear. Both of them in their hearts and brains have already decided that no matter what they will never reveal this to their parents under no CIRCUMSTANCES.

They were caught in such a big dilemma they neither can tie up in actual nor can reveal about the contract to their parents.

"Why are you asking this question Khushi?" Nandini spoke.

"No just as in for no specific reasons. Obviously, why would we do something like that? I don't even know why you all were thinking that there can be something like this in our mind." Khushi said.

"Yeah, we trust you people and we are sorry for even thinking like that but you see situations becomes really doubtful sometimes. I mean you guys were not so close and then Arnav had someone in his life. So you people are accepting each other so simply moreover Arnav is quite introvert when it comes to such kinds of stuff. So genuinely I never expected Arnav to agree so readily but how could we forget that you are our children. Always sincere and obedient. We should be truly sorry to even think like that."

"Its okay doubts occurs sometimes, it's quite natural," Khushi spoke

"No Khushi we were not doubting you people but we were questioning our own upbringing by thinking like that. We are really ashamed." Nandini is about to join her hands but Khushi held her hand in between nodding in a no.

"What are you doing Aunty you are elder to us. Please don't do this. It is not a big concern please never join your hands in front of me. You are like my mother to me." Nandini keeps her hands down.

Nandini is overwhelmed by this gesture of Khushi. She hugs her. "I am so fortunate Khushi to have a daughter in law like you. Actually a daughter like you."

Khushi was really a pure human being. He had no idea if he would ever in real tell her this. But he is a keen observer and such unintentional gestures from her let him know one thing that such people are rare gem who are hard to find.

"Okay Nandini Ji, Mahendra Ji we will leave now. The dinner was really delicious and the time after that will always be cherished. Let's start to prepare for the coming rituals." Shashi hugs Mahendra and Nandini hugs Garima.

After a few minutes, Gupta's lastly parts from Raizada Mansion. Present discussion between them and their parents made certain thing crystal clear in Arnav's and Khushi's mind.

"They can't even in their dream take a risk to reveal the truth to their parents about the contract marriage"

"Although their parents trust them yet they have to do something. They can't leave any space for doubts in their minds."

AND AND AND

"They have now lead themselves into a trouble whose intensity can't be measured."

Just as Gupta's left Arnav left for his room. Khushi was also very quiet for the whole of the journey till her house. Her mind was clouded with so many thoughts. She was puzzled. "KHUSHI DARLING THIS IS GOING TO BE YOURS WORST EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER RIDE" her inner voice nagged her.

"A tear drop escaped from her eyes. She is going to lose everything after the contract ends. Starting with her parent's trust to her own sanity."

"Kamar kas le beta Khushi. This is just the start."( Get ready Khushi) she said to herself.

Arnav was also lying on his bed. Life was so unpredictable he had never thought this will happen just a few hours ago he had decided that no matter what he will reveal about their disinterest in the wedding to the family members. But here he had to change his own mind. For the first time in his life, Arnav Singh Raizada wanted to believe that "Destiny had its own way to play with people and they were just puppets."

His parent's words were constantly echoing in his mind. He was literally so scared of the consequences that he can't even think of a situation where he can even hint them a bit about the contract. His parent's trust was everything to him and for that, for a moment he was even ready to marry Khushi in real if required.

---------------------------------------------------

Next day Arnav opens his eyes as the alarm rings. He stretches his arms and gets up slowly moving the curtains for light to enter in his room. The sun shines brightly in the sky but still, he felt dark. Dark inside, it felt like he was drilling a deep dark hole for himself. Keeping aside his negative thoughts he planned the day he will have to meet Khushi and Lavanya and decide their next move cautiously and secretly. He had dropped a message on Khushi's phone for the meeting.

Some few minutes later a message popped on his screen stating that they can meet at her lunch time and he should also bring Lavanya so that they can includer her along in their plan. He conversed it with Lavanya and she agreed to be there on time.

*******************************

So many apologies please again forgive me. Really the days had been gruesome. Hope you will understand.

Hello, my beautiful and lovely readers. Thank you so much people for waiting. Hope this part is worthy of waiting. Do let me know how was it in the comments section.

Votes please if you find its deserving. Silent readers just a humble request don't be so silent. Vote it takes a second.

Love

Luvarshi(Shagun)