This was supposed to be chapter #15 or something but then we kept adding other chapters. Anyhow, this IMN guy is kind of a male version of Shital Kapoor so brace yourselves!
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A tall dark handsome, 30 something, ACP Ranveer Khurana was an ambitious yet horribly misled police officer, a force to be reckoned with nonetheless. When he first joined police force, he had big dreams of fighting against crime and punishing criminals. But soon he realized corrupt politicians and high society people easily evaded the law. And that made him resentful to people from affluent families. In his mind, every rich man was immoral, corrupt and offender. He hated them. Until he crossed paths with a certain Mrs. Raizada. Now he hated rich WOMEN too! Or so he said. Because lately, all he could think 24*7 was her, her eyes, her dramatic way of talking, and her charming personality. F*CK it! he would curse! And then think of her some more..
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The first time when Arnav heard Khushi talk about ACP Khurana, he sensed danger. Seemingly Khushi had crossed paths with Ranveer Khurana when they needed some permission for an extension at Gupta foods and ACP Khurana had straight away declined it. In fact he had accused Khushi of being an unlawful person who was trying to encroach the land, while it was not even the truth! Khushi being Khushi engaged in a verbal argument with the said ACP and now the matter only became more complex! ACP Khurana constantly tried to find some fault in Gupta foods unit and summon Khushi to police station or he came to her office and the duo would argue! After this happened the third time, Arnav lost his cool, he already sensed where this was going!
"I think he is attracted to you Khushi. Ensure you tell him you are happily married and have 3 kids, next time. Better still let me or our lawyers handle it." Arnav said in a firm tone, making Khushi more annoyed.
"What? are you even listening to what I said? I said he fought with me again today and you heard he flirted? He keeps saying we are doing something unlawful because we have money, and it is not true. I will not hear someone malign our names like that!" Khushi stood her ground
"I am not saying he flirted, in fact, this man is clearly biased against us for whatever reason. But here it seems like he is doing this to find excuses to meet you, engage you somehow. Don't you see?" Arnav tried to tell her, what he was sensing. True, the ACP hadn't done or said anything on that line but Arnav could feel his intentions weren't noble either.
"that's not true! I agree he is biased against us but I wont agree that he is hitting on me. You think I will let it happen?" she almost cried. Why couldn't Arnavji see things as they were? In the last 10 years, she had dealt with unwarranted attention from the other sex and so did he and they did handle it with trust on each other. Then why was he behaving this way today?
"I never said that khushi. But believe it or not, fighting with a girl, especially a pretty girl is a man's mechanism to fight his own attraction to her." he said with a sigh. Putting these thoughts in words was never easy.
"aap pagal ho gaye hain, kuch bhi bol rahe hain. This doesn't happen."
"accha? And how exactly you remember our first meeting? Or even next few ones?"
"just because you dealt with it that way doesn't mean every man does. Besides I wear sindoor and mangalsutra, clearly indicating I am married, they are not for show, right?" she didn't know why she was justifying this, because she didn't believe what Arnav was saying, that ACP Khurana had any indecent interest in her.
"well, good that you do. But stay away from him pls." He said leaving from their room. If he stayed more then either of them (most likely him) would say something they will regret later.
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Next few days didnt change much, as ACP Khurana had started wreaking havoc in khushi's life. He always ensured to rile her up, and they always ended in a verbal banter. If one had to think, their fights closely resembled with the ones Arnav and she had at the beginning of their story, just that Ranveer was standing where Khushi was in terms of social strata while Khushi was in Arnav's shoes, being the affluent one. But enough was enough now, this was 3rd time he rejected Gupta foods' extension permit and work had stopped which was causing losses and would affect poor workers soon! Khushi had decided to put an end to this for once and for all! She called Arnav and told him she was going to confront the man. Arnav sighed in half relief, half worry and asked his PA to clear his day, her call was an unspoken code between husband-wife that she needed him around, just in case. He hoped that Khushi was right and Ranveer was just messing up with them for bribe or some other reason and not because he was having feelings for khushi. Because otherwise, Arnav didn't think he would keep his cool and not punch on the face of a police officer!
On the other hand, Ranveer had found himself in conflicting emotions. On one hand he had felt irresistibly attracted to Mrs. Raizada while on the other hand he couldn't do anything about it, so he felt extremely helpless. And that had taken a form of anger which he often directed at Gupta foods. But he was losing his patience now. He had started to accept he was attracted to her! Should he finally give up and approach her? He had heard stories about rich men and women who apparently had 'open marriages' and infidelity wasn't a big deal in high society people. That is what his friends had told him. Should he take a lead?
Khushi knocked on his cabin door and after a curt 'come in', she barged in.
"You have to stop making our lives difficult ACP Khurana. I don't see any valid reason for you to refuse Gupta foods' permit. In fact my husband has started to think if you have some weird interest in me and I –"
"He is right." Ranveer put his pen down and calmly looked at Khushi. She was so charged up and looked irresistible in her anger!
"What do you mean?" Khushi hoped it wasn't what she thought.
"Your husband is right Khushi, I admit. I am attracted to you! That's why I keep messing up with Gupta foods' permissions. Because there is no other way for me to reach you. And if Mr. Raizada has still let you come here talk to me then my guess was right, it's not a big deal for him or you."
"Stop right there ACP! You have gone too far. I don't know what you thought in your mind, but I am happily married and a mother of 3 kids. And don't call me Khushi!" Khushi tried to maintain her calm, but she was soon panicking. Just then her phone beeped, indicating Arnav had reached and was outside. That suddenly gave hear strength, to hear his next bullshit and then take an action!
"Alright. Look Mrs. Raizada, you may be married and all but to me you are a gorgeous and attractive woman who is an independent lady and has won my heart. I just want to spend some time with you. Just go on few dates. It's not a big deal. I know it happens all the time in your world. Your husband wouldn't even know. In fact he himself might be doing the same."
SLAP. No sooner did Ranveer finished his talk, Khushi slapped him tightly across his face.
"Enough Mr. Khurana. Aaj bola hain dobara mat kehna. Aisi ghatiya cheezein aapke dimagh mein ayi hi kaise? And just because you are like that, don't think everyone else is! MY husband is a loyal, and principled man. You can never compete with him. And I love him and only him. Humein laga tha aap thode ghusse wale hain, thode badtameez hain par aap toh awara nikle! Anyway, you are right about one thing about rich people, they do use influences. And I am going to do just that here. Here's what will happen now. You will apply for a transfer out of Delhi, to a farthest state, I don't care which one. It will be upto me to see your transfer is approved. And then I don't want you to ever come in front of me or my husband or my family again. Is that clear?" Mrs. ASR roared, without taking a break. She herself didnt know what gave her the courage to say all that, probably being Arnav's wife so long had rubbed off on her!
For a minute there was pin drop silence. Even Arnav who had reached outside, stood impressed with his wife! Finally Ranveer dared to open his mouth,
"Mrs. Raizada-"
"Its Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada for you. And you're right, rich people do use their influences. Though I have very rarely used that power, now is one of those times. I want your transfer application on your senior's desk by the end of the day today. Am I clear?" She repeated her earlier order!
When he kept quiet, she raised her voice, "AM I CLEAR?" clearly catching Ranveer off guard. Suddenly he realized what he had proposed! He had crossed a line and went too far! Feeling ashamed of himself, he bowed his head down,
"Yes Mrs. Raizada, I mean Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada" He said in a low voice, he had done a grave mistake and now it almost costed him his career.
"Good. Goodbye" she said turning to leave
"Mrs. ASR?" he called in a soft voice, much unlike him. When she turned, he was still looking down, "I am sorry." He looked up to see her response and she just nodded to acknowledge his words but left it at that. She wouldn't believe his apology until she saw or rather never saw him around her again!
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Arnav was standing near his SUV, already relieved that the matter was taken care of. He had hoped Ranveer would never act on it even if he was harboring any feelings for khushi, although he was always there to ensure she was safe. But Khushi proved she can handle herself better now than she did 10 years ago! He would of course do the last bit and ensure ACP Khurana's transfer orders went through but right now he had to see his wife. He saw her coming to him but she was taking slow steps and her face looked like she would cry any minute.
"Hey. Kya hua?" He sprinted to reach her while she was still few feet away. She looked at him with almost tear filled eyes.
"Nothing Arnavji. Just hold me." and without caring they were surrounded people, Khushi went in Arnav's arms. She needed his comfort right now. Besides she felt guilty too that she didn't agree with him early on. Maybe this could have been avoided. Maybe she should just stop meeting people? her thoughts were a mess!
"I am sorry. I won't deal with these people henceforth." she said, still hugging him tightly and Arnav understood her thoughts. He wanted her to be safe but he didn't want her to let these incidents affect her the wrong way. He caressed her head lightly,
"You did great there sweetheart. I am proud of you. and I don't want you to stop your work because some stupid men exist. All I want is don't let matters go out of hands and if they do, let me help. But otherwise, you were amazing there Khushi, my Mrs. ASR!" his soothing and comforting words brought a small smile on her lips. He was right, she wont let these things affect her in negative way, as long as they were together, she could deal with anyone or anything...
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A/N – Yeah, these kind of creepy men exist! Kinda a male version of shital Kapoor, trying to create problems between a married couple. But at the same time many gems like Sidhharth exist too (chapter 5) and he's gonna appear again in 'it meant nothing-4'. So don't forget him. But that's for another day.