(18k+words)

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"How could you make me regret it?"

His eyes shot open as her voice suddenly hit his mind out of nowhere midst the commotion at the airport silencing everything else around him.

"What was that?" He whispered frowning.

"I heard you saying 'how could you?' What were you telling me while I was asleep?"

"I was trying to wake you up. I asked 'how could you fall asleep on me' like this?"

"Here I thought you confessed your love to me and asked me how can I make you regret falling in love with me." He has chuckled and she has looked into his eyes dumbfounded as if he caught on something but when she said, "Do you really think I'd say something like that to you?" He has disregarded all of his stupid assumptions. But..

"Did I actually missed something that day?" He whispered rubbing his temples closing his eyes.

"I wish I had never met you!"

His heart clenched harder.

"How could you be the man to whom I gave my heart to, once? How could you be?"

He gasped hard whilst his eyes shot open whilst chocolate brown orbs widened in disbelief.

"No. No. NO!" He shook his head repeatedly. "No I can't miss something like this for long. No. No. I couldn't be stupid enough to sleep through it. I couldn't be." He whispered whilst his eyes filled with unshed tears making his vision blurred realizing that day he may have fallen asleep but not his subconscious.

She must have confessed many important things to him that day while he stupidly kept snoring his heads off. Even though he heard it all yet remember so little. So very little.

"Here I thought you confessed your love to me and asked me how can I make you regret falling in love with me."

He actually guessed it right. That's why she was so shocked and covered it all and he like a fool believed her white lie.

"I am a fool. An idiot." He hit the side of his head in vengeance getting weird looks from the other people sitting in the waiting area but he was in his own world.

"Remember, Arnav. Remember! What else did she say?"

"How could you be the man to whom I gave my heart to, once? How could you be?"

He shut his eyes tight as his mind remembered her sobs whilst she said that. A whimper escaped him whilst he ran his fingers in his hairs.

"How could you say something like that while I was sleeping, Khushi? How could you?" He whispered gripping his hairs in a fist.

"How could I be the man to whom you dared to give your heart to? How could I make you regret it?" He mumbled to himself with his heart clawing and breathing harsh.

"I am finished! You finished me, Khushi. You killed me!" He cried out to himself.

"How would I face her now? How?"

He raised his bloodshot eyes up and saw Sameer coming from afar who waved his hand at him spotting him before taking long strides to him.

But before him someone else reached him,

"Arnav Singh Raizada?"

"Hmm," He could only murmur seeing the uniform clad officers surrounding him.

"I am afraid you have to come with us, ASR." One of them said cautiously seeing his barren condition. And who wouldn't know the great ASR and his influence, connections around yet they couldn't prevent it.

Sniffling he stood up schooling his expressions.

"What's the matter, officers?" He asked nonchalantly.

"We have an arrest warrant for you. You have to come with us." He dropped the bomb on him.

"What's happening here?" Sameer exclaimed reaching over to them and held the officer's hand when they were about to handcuff him.

"Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada is under arrest as a prime suspect for an attempt to murder case of Mr. Samrat Shergill!" Inspector announced professionally whilst Arnav and Sameer looked on dumbfounded as their faces lost all colors.

*

"She will not know anything. This news will not go out, Jiju!" Arnav told Sameer whose eyes widened understanding what he meant. He looked at his brother-in-law while standing behind the bars.

"What are you staring at, brother? Promise me you will handle it. This matter will stay out of everyone's ears. Especially Khushi's." Arnav emphasized.

"Arnav, how can I hide such a big thing?" Sameer rubbed his forehead still in shock of the sudden unexpected turn in their lives.

"You have to. You will!" Arnav gritted out. "If she got to know it will tear her apart. Till now she just had a doubt. If that doubt got cleared because of someone's stupid misunderstanding then it would devastate her. Just the thought of me doing anything as heinous as trying to kill someone would kill her absolutely!" Arnav rasped with his throat clogging with emotions.

"She hates you doesn't she?" Sameer wasn't sure anymore with the way Arnav was panicking. Did his sister hide her true feelings from everyone till now? He was so dumb that he couldn't understand it himself either?

A wounded smile formed on Arnav's lips.

"Yes, she does. But I hated her too while being crazily in love with her wasn't I?" He said brokenly. Sameer went into another shock at the revelation understanding the innuendo.

"My younger sister is--are you saying that--that--"

"Jiju, hate is another form of love and that you should know better than anyone else, shouldn't you?" Arnav croaked feeling his eyes prickling.

"Yes," Sameer choked running his fingers in his hairs in anguish.

"And she signed a wedding contract with you, Arnav. Oh dear, it's so fucked up!" Sameer cried out on the verge of panicking.

"Yeah it is. That's why I am saying. Don't tell anyone anything at home or at office. Make sure none of the media personnel get the hold of it either. For them, I will still be in Canada working on a business deal."

"Arnav, Samrat's family is quite well off. Even if I stopped everyone how would I possibly be able to prevent them from making it a big deal? After all these fools said that you are a prime suspect. How and why?" Sameer burst out exasperated.

"Samrat's family didn't do it." Arnav mumbled to which Sameer head has whipped to him.

"Who, then?" Sameer gritted. "I swear Arnav, spill everything right now or I won't listen to anything you say!"

Sighing Arnav nodded and one by one told him everything. Listening which Sameer felt goosebumps rising on his skin and forehead sweating.

"You are lying!" Sameer moved back shaking his head in disbelief.

"You won't be such an idiot. You won't be!" Sameer grabbed him through his collars pulling him forward that his front hit the iron rods to which Arnav shut his eyes tight.

"I am sorry. I did it for her!" He cried out.

"What? Are you insane? From where I see it I think you didn't consider her feelings for even once. If you did you wouldn't have done this!" Sameer growled in a low menacing voice.

"I wanted to prove myself to her." He whispered brokenly.

"Wow. You proved it alright. Now why don't you want her to know?"

"Because I just got to know that she cared for me once. She loved me once!" He burst out as his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"And having loved someone once, having felt that emotion, that feeling, that ache, won't go away just because you keep telling yourself you're over it. She is going through that phase only." He breathed out.

"She thinks she is over me but she is not, Jiju. Your sister still loves me as much as she did before. She is denying it because she has been hurt beyond repair, that's all. That's all." He reasoned.

"Go to hell!" Sameer growled and shoving him left from there but Arnav knew he was convinced. He would find a way to keep it hidden. Sameer won't let Khushi be hurt anymore. Nor would he himself. Even if he has to rot in jail his whole life, he would.

Swallowing hard he walked back and his eyes caught a corner in the prisoner, pretty similar to the one he saw her sitting on months ago when he sent her to jail. Her condition, her breakdown, her sobs, her outbursts thereafter, all came crashing down to him making him burn from within.

Feeling suffocated he walked to the same corner he was staring at and slowly sat down leaning against the walls with his knees up to his chest, exactly the same way he saw her once which has crushed all of his ego and ruined him at once totally. Gradually he placed his head on the arms he has wrapped around his knees and closed his eyes.

"How could you make me regret it?"

His lips quirked up into a sarcastic smile. His heart clawed.

"I wish I had never met you!"

He shot open his eyes and rubbed his chest feeling restless like never before.

"How could you be the man to whom I gave my heart to, once? How could you be?"

"How could I be? How could I be?" He mumbled to himself with his fingers in his hairs and head thrown back in defeat. Soon, his shoulders started shaking.

"How could I be?" He asked himself opening his bloodshot eyes.

"I haven't seen anyone as cruel as you in this world." She has said on their wedding night. Oh how right she was. More than her, he has been crueler with himself to have snatched his own happiness with his own hands.

"I cannot give you what you want either. I can't stand being called by your name."

He chuckled dryly. Yet she still has his name attached to her. Just now he realized why she married him despite of his cruelty. It wasn't because he threatened her or she was afraid for Samrat's life. But quite the opposite!

She was afraid for him!

HIM!

ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA!

The man she gave her heart to. She was terrified of him becoming a murderer. In her subconscious she didn't want the man who held her heart strings at some point of time to turn into an ugly beast he portrays himself to be.

And that was when she was still so much hurt by everything he did. Yet she married him to save him!

"Ah Khushi!" He whispered smiling teary eyed. "How naïve you are. You fell in love with a beast. And the beast clawed your heart out long before he realized his love for you!"

"How would I ever be able to forgive myself for that?"

"Never. Ever!" He shook his head before taking something out of his pocket.

"You wanted it, right Mrs. Raizada? Here I am. I will rot in the same hell I threw you in." He caressed the passport sized photo of her he has had hidden in his blazer with his vision blurring and heart pinching.

*

"She is having high fever." Anjali said worriedly looking at the thermometer. Sameer ran his fingers in his hairs in frustration.

"But she was fine this morning." Sameer exclaimed.

"I don't know. Even I am confused. She was fine two hours ago as well. It happened so sudden that even I am shocked." Anjali said frowning.

It struck him then. Sameer closed his eyes understanding everything in an instant. Two hours ago Arnav landed in Delhi and also got arrested almost at the same time.

"Oh dear!" Sameer sat besides Khushi and placed his hand over her head. "You sensed it too, right?" He whispered to her pressing his lips to her forehead.

"Sensed what?" Anjali asked cautiously.

Sameer stiffened for a second before composing himself.

"That, Arnav is worried for her. He is missing her a lot. Maybe she sensed his pain and got herself in this condition." He tried to cover it up as much as he could. He succeeded in diverting her attention as well.

"Chote hasn't been picking up our calls for the last two days. I hope everything is alright with him." Another worry nagged her.

"I talked to him. He is alright, Anji. Don't stress much. It's not good for you in this condition." He reassured her.

"But, Khushi?" Anjali looked at her sleeping sister-in-law.

"Doctor has checked her and told us there is nothing serious. She will be fine, too. Trust me." He nodded his head at her calming himself down for her which relaxed her a bit.

"Now go and have your supplements. I am here with her." Sameer told her softly.

Anjali seemed reluctant looking at Khushi shivering even in sleep.

"Anji, think about our baby. Please?" He probed.

"Okay," She whispered and left.

As she reached downstairs after taking her medicines everyone bombarded her with questions regarding Khushi.

"She is sleeping after taking medicines. Sameer is with her." She assured them while they all sat in silence praying for Khushi's health not knowing anything about the catastrophe that has befallen over them already.

"Don't you worry, Choti. I'd get your husband out of there. I promise." Sameer caressed her hairs after properly covering her in the blanket as she slept with a frown on her face indicating that she was having disturbed sleep only.

"I am sorry I have to hide it from you. Trust me it's for your own good."

*

Anjali and Sameer were having breakfast in Shantivan when Sameer's phone rang which he picked up casually but then listening to the other side his face turned pale before he shouted standing up.

"WHAT?"

Everyone jerked at their positions at that before standing up from their seats as he barged out of the dining to the living room growling on the phone.

"How could you let it happen? How is he? TELL ME DAMMIT?"

Everyone flinched now looking hell terrified of whom was he talking about.

"I am coming!" He said hurriedly and cut the call before turning around only to find everyone in the family awaiting the explanation regarding his outburst. He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.

I am sorry, Arnav. I can't hide it anymore!

He looked around making sure Khushi wasn't here before opening his lips.

"Someone tried to strangle Arnav,"

"What?" They all yelled panicking and terrified.

"Who? Why? Is he alright? Sameer book our tickets for Canada ASAP." Anjali cried out.

"He is not in Canada." He dropped another bomb on them while Anjali swayed on her steps to which he caught her on time cursing himself for disclosing it like this. But he didn't has any other choice. This was getting out of his hands.

Making sure Anjali was comfortable on the couch after drinking water he apologized to her for hiding it from her crouching down before her taking her hands in his.

"If he is not in Canada then where is my Chote, Sameer?" Anjali whimpered. "Please tell me already?"

"He is in Delhi prison for the last four weeks." He disclosed earning gasps from the family while Anjali stared at him shocked.

"But why?" She exclaimed stunned.

"As a prime suspect in Samrat's attempt to murder case."

Everyone's eyes widened. He quickly added before anyone of them presume something bad about Arnav.

"Someone is trying to frame him. He didn't do anything. But despite all the connections we couldn't prove it. There is some big conspiracy going on. And now I got to know he has been almost strangled to death. I think they want to bury this matter putting all the blame on Arnav and later on killing him in order to close the case once and for all. That's why they tried to-" He paused feeling his eyes prickling.

"Ahhh!" A loud scream made them all to whirl around.

What they saw ahead made them dumbfounded.

Sameer stood up but remained in shock for several moments seeing his sister sitting on the floor holding her ankle at the base of stairs.

Everyone rushed to her. Sameer followed panicking as he saw her bursting into helpless sobs.

"Hari Prakash ji, bring cold packs." Anjali yelled crouching down besides her seeing her feet swelling. He ran and was back in less than a minute.

Sameer knelt besides her as Khushi's cries only grew whilst Anjali grabbed the cold pack from Hari Prakash and pressed it to her ankle. She won't let anyone help her up but continued to sob silently shutting her eyes bowing her head down.

"Is it hurting too much?" Anjali caressed her head while Sameer swallowed hard as realization struck him as she stiffened at the question.

She looked up at Anjali then and Sameer knew there and then that she has heard everything and she wasn't crying because of the pain but for the hurt and worry for Arnav as he remembered what Arnav has told him.

"If she got to know it will tear her apart. Till now she just had a doubt. If that doubt got cleared because of someone's stupid misunderstanding then it would devastate her. Just the thought of me doing anything as heinous as trying to kill someone would kill her absolutely!"

.

.

"She hates you doesn't she?"

"Jiju, hate is another form of love and that you should know better than anyone else, shouldn't you?"

So this is why Arnav asked him not to let her know! He thought looking at an inconsolabe Khushi.

"Choti, relax." He whispered sitting on his knees besides her before embracing her close to him while Anjali went to call the doctor.

"He is fine. Nothing bad happened to him." He added just for her ears to which her cries stopped suddenly whilst she looked up at him sniffling as if trying to make sure that he wasn't lying.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to him. I will get him out. Don't stress. This is your Bhai's promise to you," He kissed her temple before he carried her up to the nearby couch and this time she didn't protest.

"He did it, didn't he?" Khushi choked once Sameer was done bandaging her feet after massaging it well with herbal balm.

"No, of course not dear. Arnav would never harm anyone like that no matter what." Sameer reassured her.

"But he harmed me!" She burst out. "How can you say that he didn't do it? That too right on my wedding day? He even confessed it to me that he got Samrat kidnapped and shot him when he tried to escape before time because he couldn't see me with anyone else!" She shrieked stilling everyone and everything there.

"I think you need some rest," Sameer broke the tensed silence as everyone was speechless at her revelation.

"How's Samrat? Is he- is he-" Khushi looked on the verge of panicking and he knew why.

"He is alive. Still in coma but alive," Sameer rushed to relieve her worry.

"If something happened to Samrat they will sentence him to death!" Khushi cried out.

"NO!" Anjali exclaimed and next moment everyone rushed to her as she collapsed whilst Sameer caught her right on time before she could fall on the ground.

"They are fine, don't worry." The doctor told them as everyone gathered in Anjali's room once doctor was done checking Anjali.

"They?" Akash whispered confused.

"Yes, her and the baby!" Doctor informed.

"BABY?" Everyone shrieked in joy in unison as Dr. Shreya looked at Sameer in confusion as if asking hasn't he told everyone yet?

"I didn't get the chance to tell them." He said and after she instructed few precautions he escorted her out as everyone happily congratulated Anjali who smiled at their enthusiasm despite everything. But the moisture in their eyes gave away their worry for Arnav.

While Khushi stood at the corner of the bed. Anjali's eyes caught hers and she was surprised seeing Khushi's face lit up with a genuine smile.

"Congratulations," Khushi mouthed to her to which Anjali nodded at her overwhelmed.

"Sameer tell me Chote didn't do it? Please?" Anjali's said silencing everyone as he came back in the room.

"He didn't." Even though Anjali questioned he replied it looking at Khushi who averted her eyes feeling choked. Anjali and everyone else sighed in relief.

"Then why did you hide such a big thing from us? For a whole freaking month." Anjali asked offended.

"Because Arnav wanted it. He told me he didn't want the family to worry. Especially you and Khushi." He stated simply. Khushi's head whipped to him in surprise. While Anjali whimpered.

"And what about Anjali bitiya's pregnancy? Doctor said baby is three months old and Anjali bitiya already had her first checkup a month back?" Devyani asked sternly.

"It's not his fault." Anjali told her Nani. "Actually I wanted to tell Chote first and he wanted to tell Khushi first. So we decided to disclose it to Arnav Khushi together once Chote will be back before telling you all."

Khushi swallowed hard before twisting her fingers hearing that. Despite not wanting to she felt overwhelmed.

"Arnav knows already. He was the first one to know as you wanted. I told him." Sameer for the first time felt a bit light and hopeful as he saw Khushi frowning as he disclosed that. He felt the vibes of the younger sister finally radiating from Khushi who seemed jealous of her brother giving someone else importance over her.

Ever since he revealed the past to Khushi, though she has stopped avoiding him but they were far from being called as a brother sister because she still never directly addressed him nor talked to him.

"Actually that was the reason he decided to come back before it all happened a month ago."

Sameer deliberately revealed it as he wanted Khushi to know that Arnav didn't break the promise he made to her to stay away. Even though truth was altogether different. Arnav came back more because he couldn't stay away from Khushi anymore rather than some other reason. And there he got trapped in a deep pit himself.

"If all of your questions are over I have to go Arnav. Everyone relax, there is nothing to worry. He is absolutely fine." Sameer said.

He refused when everyone except for Khushi insisted on going with him and turned to leave.

"Can I go with you?"

Sameer stopped short at the threshold of the room before whirling around with his eyes wide as it was none other than Khushi herself. Not only him everyone else were stunned to silence too.

"What?" He whispered.

"Can I come with you?" She croaked. His heart went out to her. He walked to her and stopped just an arm length away before cupping the side of her head.

"That isn't a place where you should go. I will handle it I told you." He said softly cupping both of her cheeks.

"I have been there before already," She choked.

"That wasn't your choice. Then, I couldn't protect you but now I am here." He ruffled the side of her hairs.

Anjali blinked back the tears witnessing the rare moment between brother-sister which she has been pining to see for so long. They have come a long way. There were days when Khushi refused to even look at his face let alone tolerate his presence in the same vicinity as her but now, look at them. They were standing face to face and talking civilly with one another sharing their pain and sorrows.

"What if I say I want to go, still?" Khushi stepped back looking here and there while he smiled seeing her still not ready to accept him as a brother even though in her heart she already had.

"I am waiting for you in the car." He said with such softness as if he was talking to a child making everyone awed there. They have seen Sameer's craziness for Anjali for years, as her lover, as her husband, as a father for Sanjana but for the first time they were seeing him in the role of a brother. It warmed their hearts.

He left as Khushi kept standing with her head turned to the side and only when she saw him leaving she turned to look at Devyani.

"Nani ji, I-"

Elderly lady understood what she wanted to say.

"I understand. Go bitiya," Devyani smiled teary eyed.

Nodding Khushi left while Akash, Manohar, Manorama, Anjali and Devyani were overwhelmed with sudden turn of events.

On one hand they heard a really bad news of Arnav's arrest and on the other not only did they receive good news of Anjali's pregnancy but in front of their eyes they saw Khushi and Sameer's relation improving. Last but not the least, it seemed Arnav, Khushi relation would see some good progress as well as Khushi herself asked Sameer to take her with him to Arnav.

"Drop me to the hospital where Samrat is." Khushi said the moment she sat in the car.

Sameer frowned.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I thought you wanted to-"

"Why would I go to your brother-in-law?" She growled. "I am least worried about him. Karma is a bitch. He didn't even care when I was strangled to almost death in the jail then why should I?" She snapped while he saw her eyes welling up with the words she uttered.

"Khushi!" Sameer said sternly.

"Please, Mr. Rathode!" She turned her head to the window. Sameer felt frustrated and somewhat angry as she called his surname hurting him but he didn't lose his temper at her. He couldn't. She didn't give him that right yet.

"If you wanted to go to visit Samrat then why did you let everyone think that you'd be going to see Arnav with me?" He really wanted to know.

"Because of Anjali ji," Khushi said solemnly.

"Why?" He probed.

"Because she was stressing so much for her brother. It's not good for her in this condition. You go visit him and then pick me up from the hospital on your way back," She let it all out taking away all of his earlier anger.

Sameer smiled amused. She looked like a child to him at the moment. A kind one, with a good heart. Even with all that she endured she was still the same from inside and he was proud of her.

"For a record, her brother is your husband." He told her seriously.

"Of course you'd say it because that man is more important for you than your-" Khushi said fluently before stopping realizing what she was about to say. But Sameer heard it in her silence and started the car with his heart growing in size.

He didn't comment on it as he knew it would make her conscious and fidgety, embarrassed which he didn't want.

As the jail Arnav was locked in came before the hospital Samrat was in so Sameer stopped the car in front of it first before looking at her who seemed lost in her thoughts.

"I will be back in a bit making sure he is alright," Sameer said to which Khushi nodded swallowing hard without looking at him.

"Do you want me to pass any message to him?" Sameer asked her softly while parking the car in the empty spot.

"N-No," She croaked despite herself.

"Okay, just stay in the car. I will be back in a few minutes." He hopped out of the car and went inside while Khushi felt her heart pounding painfully in her chest as it sensed his presence close and ached with longing. Four months it has been since she has last seen him. Four freaking months. Only she knew how she survived.

She shuddered thinking of the things she felt in the last month when he was in jail and she didn't know the heck of it.

Nightmares which has stopped because of his brooding presence alongside her, has made a blasting comeback. And so has other traumatic things.

She already couldn't sleep much since the night he left but in the last one month she has become literally insomniac. In the last four weeks she has had been sick and so lethargic that she could barely concentrate on anything unless she paid rapt attention to it.

Their families didn't get to know much of her condition because she hid it well. She was still the chirpy, enthusiastic, Sanka Devi for them but from inside she was so hollow, so empty that the void building up inside of her often made her cry buckets whilst she held on the middle of her chest with her face buried into the pillows all alone.

She has promised him she would eat healthy, she did, that she would not harm herself, she didn't.

But only if he has taken a promise from her to sleep properly and on time as well then this wouldn't have happened. If only he hasn't gotten arrested then he would have been with her for the last one month he had been in the city.

Her eyes shot up to the front as she realized what was she thinking.

"What does it has anything to do with him? It's your life, your heart, your mind, control it the way you want. You can't be this dependent on him Khushi. You can't be. It's ridiculous!" She whisper yelled to herself.

"Fine. I agree you are slightly worried for him but that's all. You are human. It's natural, Khushi. If there was anyone else in his place you'd have been as much concerned. Yes!" She placed a hands on her bleeding heart and rubbed the left side of her heart to console it as it continuously buzzed in her head screaming at her to go have a glimpse of him.

"Actually you know what. It's my right to see him go through the same which he put me through!" She finally found an excuse to relieve her mind's voice and coming out of the car walked in after taking the details about him.

With a thudding heart she took gradual step forward in and the past memories in prison made her feel nauseated. The bullying, the torture, the sleepless nights. She gasped as her heart cried within her. For him. For she never from her heart wished him this. Although she has halfheartedly cursed him in anger for the same.

"I wish you rot in the same hell you threw me in!"

She swallowed past a huge lump that stuck in her throat as she walked through long corridors which were lit up by just tiny sunshine coming from the windows that were there only close to the ceilings.

Her heart clenched harder as she neared her destination.

"He already has a visitor," She was told to wait outside the meeting room where he was having a meetup with his brother-in-law.

Officer who told her got busy in his work before he left taking some file while she gulped down the saliva as her heart became too impatient and her hands turned clammy and trembled as she stood up from the bench and placing her hand on the knob of the metal door she twisted it silently and pushed it open just a little and peeked through it.

Too late, she wished she hadn't. Or the bile wouldn't have risen up her throat as her gaze fell on him as he sat straight in the line of her vision talking to Sameer. Time stood still for her whilst her breaths got stuck in her throat. Her stomach churned whilst her heart pinched seeing him after months.

Grown beard, frowning lines marring his brows and on the top of that the melancholy radiating from him made her feel suffocated more than she already was.

Her gaze then suddenly fell on his neck where the finger marks were prominent, the evidence of him being almost strangulated, made her tremble like a leaf, her vision blurred and her shaking body hit the metal door lightly but the door being quite old created the loud creaking noise causing the two occupants in the room to look at the source of the sound abruptly and freeze there and then.

Khushi who has been holding the breath till now exhaled sharply before inhaling in to draw in oxygen for she felt herself hanging in the middle of air with her heart pounding in her ears.

"Khushi," He whispered pleasantly surprised and stood up.

Air around them charged with so much emotions that left him too overwhelmed. His heart thudded violently in his ribcage while his throat clogged with unbridled anguish for seeing her after four months.

Sameer was shocked as much. She was so adamant she would not come to see Arnav but look here. He didn't intervene as he saw them gazing at each other as if in this whole damn world only they existed, no one else.

Arnav felt his whole being coming alive seeing her after so long. Didn't he come back only for her? If only he wasn't caught up in this mess he would have been there with her and she wouldn't have looked so miserable.

He hated seeing her like that. That's why he prohibited Jija ji to not tell her, especially her. But now he could do nothing but watch as her bloodshot eyes gazed at his chocolate brown orbs filled up with mist.

"Tum theek ho? (Are you okay?)" He rasped while he noticed that her gaze slipped from his eyes to his neck as the trembling in her body intensified, her pale face turned blue before it all transpired so suddenly that he didn't know what the hell happened.

She swayed there at the door and then fell on the floor with a thud making his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach and eyes turn wide like saucers.

"KHUSHI!" Arnav and Sameer yelled in unison while running to her horrified.

*

It took a dozen of police officers to hold Arnav back as Khushi was being carried away on a stretcher whilst he was locked back in prison. Still, his bellows shook the foundation of the whole building.

"Let me out. My wife is not well." He cried out pulling at the bars.

"Didn't you hear me dammit? I need to be with her!"

Sameer closed his eyes in pain hearing Arnav's screams which followed even after they shifted Khushi into the ambulance before driving off.

"Jiju, get me out of here. Please do something brother and get me out of here. I can't stay here when she is in this condition." Arnav has yelled from the meeting room which was closed the moment Sameer carried an unconscious Khushi out on the gurney.

"This is why I told you not to tell her!" He has bellowed at the top of his voice which still rung in Sameer ears as he sat in the ambulance holding Khushi's hand. Despite all of the attempts she refused to wake up that has alarmed him and the officers in the police station who has then called for the ambulance urgently.

"ASR you need to calm down." One of the officers said while Arnav kept pulling at the bars asking them to open it or he will sue them. That they doesn't know what he can actually do. Junior officers looked frightened while their head officer only shook his head at him asking them to just let him be.

Already Arnav was placed in an isolated prison after the attack on him. The man who attempted it was already under strict investigation in a separate cell.

"Khushi," After what felt like eternity he croaked out the word as his throat turned sore after all the yelling not letting him produce more than a word without needles prickling him. He has never felt this helpless before.

It was true he sent her to jail once but when he saw her in one actually all hell broke loose and he got her out as fast as he could while drowning in a mountain of guilt. Today, he knew most certainly why she lost herself the moment she saw him in prison.

He couldn't see her in jail for even a moment himself. Same way she couldn't. He got her out using his connections even on a holiday. While she could not do much as it was not in her hands. The mess was too big while she was so fragile, too small, too broken to be able to fight it all alone.

But he will fight. For her. For them.

Till now he didn't try with all his heart to get out of here because deep down he knew he deserved it. But now, he will. He will move heaven and earth together to go back to his wife who was in this condition because of him.

Last night when he felt certain hands pressing his neck taking his breaths away, suffocating him, most probably taking his life he hasn't resisted much as if he has given up on his life, thinking that it was his punishment for ruining an innocent girl's life until he felt a soft voice vibrating in his ears.

"How could you be the man whom I gave my heart to, once?"

Then he has retaliated with all his might until the attacker was under him and he gave him one single punch to knock him off. By then everyone were already up who were trying to get the man off Arnav already but he seemed to be on mission.

They were yelling for help but nobody came until Arnav himself came back to his senses and saved himself. Officers ran in then and dragged the assailant out before shifting Arnav to a private cell after giving him the first aid.

"That's why I was asking them to keep you in a private cell. But you were you, 'I don't want any special treatment', that was what you said. Remember?" Sameer has mimicked him not so long ago. Arnav has brushed it off as nothing.

Now, sitting here in the isolated prison he was berating himself for being so careless. If only he hadn't let his guards down, no one would have dared to touch him. No one at all. But not anymore!

Whoever did this he would make sure they know with whom they have messed up!

"I have been lenient for too long. Let me show you who the real ASR is, you bastards!" His eyes glinted with dangerous shine as images of an unconscious Khushi swam before his eyes igniting his resolve.

*

While he was desperately making arrangements to get himself out, the unexpected happened making him hell shocked as well as relieved. And highly grateful too.

Samrat Shergill has woken up from coma and he gave the names of the people who shot him himself making Arnav free from the charges against him.

Aman and Sameer along with his lawyer finished the paper work for him in less than a day and now he was free. Free of any charges or prison.

Sameer was waiting for him outside jail with his car while Arnav came out literally running with impatience written over his face and stopped in front of him gasping.

Sameer hugged him relieved. Arnav didn't even greet him properly making him inwardly smile at his urgency despite of tension lurking around.

"How is she?" He asked abruptly pulling back.

It's been five days since he saw her falling unconscious before him while he could do nothing but watch her being taken away in front of him.

Though Sameer kept him informed and rest of the family members visited too but still his heart was not in peace. These five days were more torturing and exhausting for him then the last 4 months he spent without her.

"Conscious but still weak!" Sameer replied sighing.

"At home or the hospital?" He breathed out.

"Shantivan!"

"Let's go!" He hopped in the car hurriedly.

Sameer shook his head at his impatience while starting the engine. Couldn't blame him though. The condition in which he has seen Khushi he was sure to go bonkers.

He can't even imagine how would he himself has reacted if he wasn't allowed to take care of Khushi the way Arnav was. He would have gone insane. He was amazed at the composure of his brother in law and admired him for that.

But he saw that same composure, the strength left him when Arnav practically barged in his room and came face to face with Khushi lying down in the centre of the bed looking all frail with Anjali sitting besides her. Even Guptas were there along with Raizadas.

Arnav's eyes prickled with unshed tears as his hands trembled.

Khushi was discharged from hospital just this morning and had no idea of Arnav being released from jail. She had no idea of how's and why's of it either. Seeing him before her made her heart prick and stomach twist in an unbridled anguish.

They all greeted him. Some hugged him congratulating him for his freedom and proving his innocence but his gaze was fixed on hers whose eyes welled up seeing him whilst fresh tears leaked the corner of her eyes as her lips trembled in an attempt to contain her sobs.

Everyone watched this exchange emotionally and silently left the room one by one closing the door behind leaving the couple alone.

Pin drop silence followed their wake while a whimper involuntarily left Khushi that forced him to rush forward to reach her and sit besides her before he leaned closer to her face and cupped her cheeks ever so softly wiping the tears with his thumbs that Khushi felt her whole being charged up with unbound agony coupled with relief.

"Shh. Shh. It's okay. I am here. I am fine. I am okay," He pressed a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her shoulders shook.

"Who said I am crying because of you?" She sobbed out.

"Right. You shouldn't. I am not worth crying over anyway!" He whispered slipping his one arm under her shoulder and pulling her up to embrace her in his arms passionately resting his chin over her head.

His shirt got wet by her tears as he himself cried quietly burying his face in her hairs inhaling her jasmine scent which he longed for like crazy.

"Oh I missed you insanely!" He murmured into her hairs.

"I can't sleep," She spoke hoarsely in between her hiccups.

"I want to sleep for once without being hounded by the nightmares!" She whimpered clutching the front of his shirt in her fist involuntarily.

"I don't know why those dreaded dreams are back. I don't know!" She cried out quietly.

He blinked back the moisture feeling his whole being cutting as he realized that nightmares were back to haunt her. He thought his absence would relieve her but he was so very wrong. His absence has done more harm than good. But not anymore.

His lower lip trembled as he pulled her more up against him until she was tightly bound in his cocoon half leaning on him. Her one hand was clutching his shirt from front while the other was curled around his left biceps in a strong grip as she shivered mumbling her pain to him in between her sobs.

"It's getting unbearable," She mumbled against his chest.

Without you!

He heard her unsaid words and shut his eyes tight squeezing her in his arms.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Now that I am here I will make it alright. I will never leave you again. Never. Doesn't matter how much you push me away I will always find a reason to stay by your side."

Cupping the back of her head he murmured dropping kisses on her hairs as her face was buried under his chin close to his throat making him shudder with her every cry while his arms hid her in his cocoon as if making a shield around her as to make sure no pain or suffering could penetrate this barrier or hurt her ever again.

"I am tired," She rasped in a quiet tone.

He let her pour her heart out while holding her close until he heard her soft snores as she slept right there on his chest making him smile a wounded one as he realized another thing with prickling intensity.

"She was having difficulty sleeping for the last four months but for the last one month she was totally insomniac and she told it to none of us. Not even to her doctor."

Sameer has told him regarding her condition but as he saw her peacefully sleeping in his arms he knew what prevented her from having a good sleep.

His absence!

Yet she never contacted him herself. Never. While he was pining to get a word out of her she was busy torturing herself while missing him like hell that she brought herself to this point.

He kept holding her close peppering kisses to her head, her hairs, her temples feeling his heart weighing down.

"Stubborn woman!" He said bleary eyed placing her head back on the pillow carefully before covering her with the comforter.

"What do I do with you?" He whispered brokenly caressing her face with the back of his fingers.

Softly gazing at her as she slept holding onto one of his palms under her cheek peacefully like she has never slept before, his soft eyes suddenly took a calculative look as he made a decision which he would follow no matter what. For her!

For he was more certain than ever now!

"I love you, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada!" He murmured with all the emotions shining in his eyes and voice while showering her face with fleeting kisses before finally touching his forehead with hers closing his eyes.

*

She squirmed on her place and yawned before opening her eyes lazily. Scrunching her face she closed her eyes again as bright lights in the room blinded her.

"Good evening sleepy head!"

She heard a very familiar husky voice causing her eyes to shot open and she looked ahead to find him standing at the foot of the bed looking at her amused with his hands in his pant pockets.

"Everyone were being worried for nothing when they said you couldn't sleep a wink for months. They should have seen you today when you slept like a log for almost half a day." He teased her.

"It was because of the medicines." She stuttered despite herself.

"Yeah the medicines the doctor said wasn't much working on you for the last five days. You are right." He said sarcastically.

"What do you want to say?" She snapped irritated for not being able to justify herself.

"You really want me to say it?" He quirked his eyebrow and just that single act of his made her heart do a somersault. She swallowed as she registered his appearance.

He was back to his glory. His thick beard was replaced by a light one making him look younger and fresh not aged and aghast she has seen him in jail. His eyes which were dark and tired which she saw in prison were now twinkling and bright. He was in his casual dress yet it made him look like a freaking model who has just walked out of the ramp.

Arnav smirked seeing her checking him out.

"Loving it, aren't you?" He said smugly. She averted her eyes feeling her cheeks heating up.

"Shut up! That word has no business between the two of us." She hissed.

Oh so the wild cat was back. He thought more thrilled than hurt by her words.

"For me it has. Because I love you!" He stated so simply yet her heart went on overdrive making her furious as well for losing control.

"You don't love me. You are just guilty I think. I get it. And I am fed up of all of that you do, you think you are doing in your love. So listen to me Mr. Raizada and listen it well and good." She paused.

All of the mischievous left him as he waited with bated breath for her to complete dreading what she would say.

"I forgive you!"

He gasped. His eyes widening. His heart skipped a beat.

"I am forgiving you for everything you have ever done to me!" She spoke confidently sitting leaning against the headboard while he stood rooted to the spot standing at the foot of the bed.

He swallowed past a lump seeing it in her eyes that she meant every word she said. And chocolate brown orbs misted up as he felt a heavy weight literally lifting off his chest.

"I hope now you'd stop this rant that you 'love' me and leave me alone!" She said sternly and throwing the comforter away got down the bed swiftly only to sway on her steps while standing up. He rushed to her catching her on time.

"Easy there you stubborn lady!" He said leaning her on him despite her weak protests.

"You are still not fully okay so hold your horses down!" He said softly making her sit back on the bed as she rubbed her temples.

A few moments later he placed a plate full of meal in her lap while sitting besides her.

"Eat. Only then I can give you painkillers." He urged her while she looked up at him strangely.

"You can scold me all you want but first have something. You need strength to lash out at me don't you?" He smiled at her gesturing to the plate and to his disbelief she didn't resist and ate silently while he sat besides her well aware of her mind still occupied with various thoughts, conflicts and questions.

Placing the empty plate on the bedside table he gave her the medicines which she ate with a glass of water before he took the glass from her hands and placed it on the table as well.

"How did you get out of there?" She asked so quietly that he wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't sitting close to her.

"Doesn't matter." He whispered. He just didn't feel like telling her himself that his innocence was proved by the fate itself. In front of everyone.

She gave him a frustrated look when he looked at her.

"Sameer Sir said that you're imp--imprisoned for a whole month there and even your connections couldn't get you out. But in the last five days what changed?" She probed feeling her heart cutting just by thinking of him in that place where she has herself experienced such horrific days and nights.

"I want to know!" She grabbed his wrist surprising him when he stood up and turned his back to her without replying.

He knew very well why it was so important for her. But there is something he wanted to hear from her mouth too before disclosing it to her. So he turned and looked her in the eyes.

"Why exactly did you marry me, Khushi?"

"Huh?" She was confused at this sudden question as her hand slipped off his.

"You told me you married me because you couldn't see someone getting hurt or dying because of you. Right?" He quirked his brow.

She nodded not knowing where this conversation was going.

"Then you could've simply called the police and got me arrested to save that Samrat Shergill for whom you were so worried about." He said seriously.

Her eyes widened involuntarily while her fists clenched.

"Why didn't you, Khushi? Why didn't you tell the police if you're suspecting me as his culprit? Why did you rather marry the murderer?"

Flabbergasted she looked at him completely taken off guard.

"I-I don't know why you are bringing that up again." She stammered snatching her gaze away from him.

"Because if you want answers you have to answer me, too. It's going to be equal between us from now on. Give and take!"

She pursed her lips looking up at the stubborn glint in his eyes.

"You want to know why I got out of the jail then you'd have to tell me the actual reason you made me your husband!" He said boring hole into her being.

"I am not answerable to you!" She said in rage at his audacity.

"You sure are when you become this dysfunctional and ill without me!" He retorted gesturing to her from head to toe.

"I'd ask the family if you don't want to tell. Or better I don't want any answers at all if you are going to act this way!" She countered.

"Are you sure you'd be in peace without having your answers?" Rage bubbled up in him.

"Yes!" She said stubbornly.

"Very well then!" He gritted out angrily.

"Why are you doing this?" She exclaimed feeling frustrated.

"Why should I answer you?" He ignited her emotions by acting nonchalant.

"You are impossible!" She said fiercely.

"So are you!" He hissed out.

"Argh!" She groaned.

"Argh back to you!" He pointed at her imitating her that despite the seriousness of the situation a chortle left her to which she looked away biting back the chuckles while he couldn't breathe hearing the melodious laughter after so long as she couldn't hold back and laughed out loud throwing her head back placing her palm over her mouth.

Sameer and Anjali who just arrived outside ArShi's room to check on them were stunned and happy hearing Khushi's laugh. Not wanting to disturb the couple they turned on their heels and left quite elated.

"Oh god, if only you have looked at the face you made!" She chuckled wiping the tears that has left her eyes while Arnav felt his vision blurring with unshed tears and heart cracking seeing her genuinely laughing like the carefree girl she was before she met him. His heart grew in size for he was able to make her smile for once.

"I'd become a clown if that's what would take to make you laugh like this every day," He choked putting a full stop to her amusement. She swallowed before looking up at him seriously.

"That was cheesy!" She said making a face.

"Don't you love romance, cheesiness, prince charming and princesses' fairy tales anyway? Bua ji told me you love it all so much since childhood." He asked hiding the hurt at her ignorance to his genuine feelings.

"They were dreams. I woke up from them a long time ago!" She stated simply burning him from within as he knew why she felt so. Because of him!

"What would it take to transport you back to those dreams?" He asked earnestly.

"Nothing," She whispered looking away.

"Khushi, I love you!" He said out of nowhere.

"I don't," She looked at him sternly even though he saw her eyes misting up and lips trembling at his confession and her own rejection.

"Why not?" He said clenching his jaws as she continued to deny her feelings. It was even more painful now that he knows he once had her love and took it for granted.

"I would never love you!" She spat destroying everything in him in return adding misery into her already messed up heart.

"You said you'd never forgive me, either." He snapped giving it all back to her silencing her once and for all.

He gave her a long piercing stare shaking everything inside of her before furiously storming to the poolside with his laptop leaving a stunned Khushi behind.

*

The doctor was amazed at Khushi's recovery in less than two days. She was up and about, gone was the lethargy, exhaustion from her body, dark circles were fading, and her eyes... her eyes which seemed dead, hollow before were now brightening up. She looked more refresh than ever. As if she has never been ill.

"She is absolutely fine." Doctor said turning to the family.

"I-I mean... the last time I checked her I was afraid if it continued she would have to be admitted again in the hospital but now.. I don't know how it happened but she is totally okay. According to Mr. Raizada she slept quite well without the medicines as well. I am withholding her medications and you'd just have to follow up after a week in my hospital."

As the doctor told his confusion and happiness about it all the family smiled in relief except for one person whose eyes were boring holes into hers which she was trying hard to avoid after their quite recent heavy showdown between them.

Akash escorted the doctor out.

"Hello hi bye bye! Khushi bitiya is okay because Arnav bitwa is back." Manorama spoke knowingly which everyone had in their minds but didn't had the courage to say it out loud fearing Khushi's reaction. Khushi averted her eyes from his overpowering ones.

"You are wrong, Mami ji. She is okay because Samrat is out of coma!" Arnav gritted out silencing the commotion in the room.

Khushi's head shot to him in shock.

"What if I am? So?" Khushi countered feeling hurt.

"Arnav! Khushi!" Sameer warned them. But the couple paid no heed to him.

"So?" He quirked his eyebrow. "Don't you want to go and pay him a visit which you so desperately wanted to, a week ago?" He taunted.

Sameer shut his eyes tight regretting telling it to Arnav that Khushi wished to visit Samrat instead of him when she got to know about his arrest.

"Of course. More than me I think you should go see him because if he hadn't woken up you would still be rotting in jail!" She gibed causing everyone to gasp and Arnav to go red with rage.

She was sitting on the bed while he was standing against the glass door facing her. Both were spitting fire at each other.

"You-" He took a step towards her to which Sameer stepped in between holding him back.

"What's the big fuss, Mr. Raizada? Oh now I get it. Sorry and thank you isn't in the great ASR's dictionary so why would you even bother, right?" She was cutting him absolutely while family members watched with their hearts dropping as Arnav's eyes moistened.

Arnav released himself from Sameer's clutches and came to stand at the foot of the bed.

"Oh is it all just because Mami said you're okay because I am here?" Anger left him and realization suddenly lit up in his eyes.

"Truth hurts doesn't it? Denying it agonizes you more!" He said sarcastically.

"What truth huh? What truth?" She snapped throwing away the comforter in vengeance.

"You don't want me to spell it out now do you?" He clenched his jaws.

"I do, actually. I DO!" She hissed. "Say it clearly what you want to say!"

"Okay, fine. Listen then!" He gritted out.

"You have fallen in love with me, Khushi Kumari Gupta!" He declared causing Sameer to hit his palm over his head while everyone to gape at the couple while Khushi's face lost all colors.

"That too for the second time!" He rasped.

"And you know what the funny part is? Everyone except you know it!" He gestured to everyone present there before pointing his index finger at her.

"Satisfied now? Here goes nothing!" He growled out loud looking at her fiercely whilst his anger melted seeing big fat tears in her eyes which soon trickled down her cheeks until he saw vengeance shining in hazel orbs.

"Good for you. You can inflate your big fat ego with whatever assumptions you have made up about me. But let me tell you for your kind information." Her voice shivered even though she stared at him confidently.

"I hate you! I will keep doing so for the rest of my life!" She said out loud and her voice reverberated in the silent room stilling everything and everyone present there as now it was Arnav's turn to stand gobsmacked in front of her.

"Now it's up to you what conclusion you make out of it." She very conveniently made all of his words doubtful making him feel awful. That he didn't know what came over him that made him do what he did next otherwise he had no intention to do it. Ever. At least not in front of the family.

"How could you be the man to whom I gave my heart to, once?" He said crossing his arms over his chest.

Khushi couldn't breathe as her whole being trembled whilst he added.

"Did that ring a bell?" He quirked his eyebrow smugly.

"I don't know what... what you are talking about." She averted her eyes fidgeting with her fingers.

"Why Khushi? You can confess your love when I am sleeping but not when I am wide awake. How convenient!"

"Don't impose your so-called dreams on me!" She somehow composed herself.

"Talking about ego and inflating it were we?" He taunted her.

She fumed.

"Get out!" She snapped. "Get out of my face!" She yelled making everyone flinch. Though Arnav remained calm yet his insides were shivering with devastating anguish at her denial.

"Why? Because you ran out of ideas to defend yourself?" He quirked his eyebrow infuriating her more that she took the pillow from behind her and threw it which hit him square at his face making everyone cover their mouths fearing Arnav's reaction as he looked ready to burst.

The calmness became the thing of the past as he slid the pillow down his face and narrowing his eyes threw it back on her face making Khushi's jaws drop.

What started as a serious, heartrending conversation between the couple turned into a totally hilarious pillow fight in moments stunning the family who watched agape as,

Khushi would throw one or the other pillow or cushions she could get her hands on sitting on her knees on the bed before literally standing up in the middle of it giving her all in the childish brawl while Arnav would catch, dodge or get hit before throwing the same back on her while cursing each other out loud amusing Anjali, Sameer, Devyani, Akash, Manohar and Manorama who has got out of their way the moment their ridiculous fight started.

"You, Laad Governor. Stop it!" Khushi screeched blowing air on her messed up hairs while throwing another cushion at him.

"You started it. You should stop!" The topmost businessman of the year argued like a child while throwing the cushion back with vengeance glaring at her.

"Why did you say that you kidnapped and got him shot? You liar!" She growled. She wanted to lash out at him from the moment she got to know the truth from Anjali ji's mouth.

"You yourself wanted to think about me like that. I just made your work easier!" He replied in the same tone.

"Why? Do you enjoy putting me to misery?" The pillow fight has stopped as she huffed standing in the middle of the bed spitting fire at him with her hands on her hips.

"The question is, were you in misery more because Samrat got shot or because you thought I shot him?" He said solemnly boring holes into her eyes.

The way Arnav and Khushi were fluctuating between light and dark modes it was giving the family chills and sweats. Sameer escorted them out silently closing the door behind them that the couple in their own world did not even notice.

Pin drop silence followed his question.

"What do you want me to say?" She gritted out. "Tell me and I'd say it just to get rid of your questioning session!" She dropped her face in between her hands letting herself fall on the bed behind before sitting cross legged against the headboard feeling exhausted.

Arnav sighed and did not push her more seeing her predicament. Filling the glass of water he held it in front of her when she raised her head up. She didn't refuse as she was tired more after the verbal battle between them. Gulping down the whole glass in one go she breathed placing it back on the bedside table.

"I am sorry," He whispered as he settled himself besides her leaning against the headboard while she was sitting an arm length away from him.

"I know you have forgiven me. But I can't forgive myself yet. I was always guilty for sending you to prison without any fault of yours. But I didn't know what you must have actually felt confided in a place for three weeks until I myself experienced it firsthand." He explained when she didn't say anything.

"And it was too hard. It was hell!" He added as she sat silently without interrupting or replying.

"Hell is you trying to make it work." She whispered after a minute of disturbing silence.

"Don't!" She said looking at him teary eyed. He swallowed hard.

"I think it's ridiculous to stay together bound by that contract, Arnav ji." She tried to reason. He looked away.

"Azaad kar dijiye humein, hmm? (Set me free, will you?)" She said not taking her eyes off him while choking out the words.

When he raised his bloodshot eyes to hers she couldn't let out the shaky feeling in her heart as he parted his lips to say something.

"That contract became null and void the moment you broke your end of the deal," He announced chilling her bones.

"W-What?" She stuttered and wanted to shout out loud but only air came out of her mouth.

"You said you won't harm yourself yet you did by hiding about your condition that again led you to the hospital. As you didn't abide by the terms of contract you have yourself turned that contract marriage to a lifelong one!" He dropped the bomb on her so calmly that she didn't know how to react.

"Now, forget about 18 months and all. You are stuck with me forever!" Saying this he leaned and dropped a kiss on her cheek before walking into the bathroom leaving a dumbfounded and speechless Khushi behind.

"You can't do this to me. I didn't hide it deliberately. I just..." She pounced at him the moment he came out of the washroom dressed in his three piece suit.

He whistled walking around the room while getting ready for the office while she followed him around.

"Arnav ji!" At last she lost her cool when he refused to pay heed to her.

"You can't nullify the contract." She screeched.

"I already did yesterday. All I had to do was get your recent hospital records and congratulations I have successfully turned that so-called wedding contract to a lifetime of marriage and togetherness!" He patted her cheek.

She groaned.

"I can't stay with you forever!" She snapped.

"Why not? You have forgiven me, right? So there is no harm in living together and giving us a chance now, is it?" He has an answer to everything.

"No!" She shook her head in vengeance.

"Sweetheart, we will argue later. Right now I have to leave for office!" He said and pulling her closer pecked her head before marching off.

"I am not your sweetheart!" She said through gritted teeth feeling trapped at his twisted ways following him out.

"How about a darling, then?" He smirked stopping abruptly causing her head to collide with his back. Hearing her huff and puff in anger made his smile wide.

Raizadas and Rathodes who has come down to give the couple privacy turned to look at the direction of the sound they heard before their lips quirked up into an amused smile seeing the scene in front of them.

Arnav was coming down the stairs with a devilish smirk intact on his face while Khushi was following behind arguing with him making gestures sometimes with her hands pursing her lips as if she wanted to bang his head somewhere or probably her own too in midst. She looked highly pissed and annoyed at whatever Arnav was muttering under his breath to rile her up.

"Oh why don't we ask the family for opinion?" He stopped once he acknowledged everyone sitting on the couches in the living room while Khushi swallowed realizing that she has followed him till here in their argument.

"Everyone, give me propositions of what endearment should I use for Khushi because she seemed to have a problem with each and everyone of them I have been suggesting!" The twinkle in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by them while Khushi's jaws dropped at his audacity.

"Let us hear the suggestions though, Chote which you already proposed to her?" Anjali chipped in with her tongue in cheek.

Arnav pursed his lips to stop the chortle from leaving him as Khushi looked on with her eyes turning wide and cheeks warming up as he actually played on.

"Sweetheart, darling, honey, sugar, love, dear, baby, my heart, my treasure, my better-half," He said in a sped before slowing down. "Umm... shona, munna, kaka..." He added humor at the end causing everyone to burst out into peals of laughter at the way he said 'shona, munna, kaka,' just to irritate Khushi more who couldn't stand there anymore as her cheeks felt hot and turning around ran upstairs clearly hearing another bout of laughter in her wake.

"Shona toh theek hai saale sahab but munna and kaka? Like seriously? (Shona is fine brother-in-law but munna and kaka? Like seriously?)" Sameer said mischievously. Arnav snorted. Everyone guffawed.

"Aren't you teasing her too much, Chote?" Anjali narrowed her eyes at him.

"Aren't you taking her side too much? Are you my sister or hers?" Arnav said in mock anger.

"I have double relations with her. Not only she is my brother's wife but also my husband's sister. Bhabhi and Nanand both. So obviously her side is stronger than yours." She said proudly with a smile feeling like things won't be that bad anymore between ArShi.

"Why are you complicating it more, Di. She is your sister-in-law either way. Simple!" He smirked. She gave him an annoyed look. Everyone smiled.

"I don't get it, Di. Her brother is enjoying it all while you are being the joy-kill." He said pointing to Sameer who looked relieved and hopeful for he could now see Khushi behaving normally for a change.

"Oh hello, I am silent only because my Choti spared you. But beware, don't trouble my sister much or else you'd have to face me." Sameer said with an underline warning clear in his tone.

"Your sister is already giving me a tough time. I do deserve to pay her back sometimes too, don't I?" Arnav said turning serious all of a sudden making their smiles falter before he left for office after greeting everyone leaving a thoughtful family behind.

*

"I will go. I will not show you my face until or unless you don't want me to."

He has said to her when he left to Canada four months ago. But now he was back breaking his promise. In fact he would have been back a month ago if the prison mishap hadn't happened. She was told that he came back for Anjali ji but was that really true?

She would not let him fool her anymore. Yes, she has forgiven him but forgetting it all might take her whole life. And trusting him may take a lot more. She wasn't that strong enough anymore to withstand the agony of juggling between conflicted emotions. No. He has to understand that. She thought while getting ready.

"Yes, I am okay now Veer Kaka. No, no. I don't want anymore leave. I will be coming back to work today. I hope you won't mind if I am an hour late. I have some urgent work to finish on my way there. Oh thank you so much for understanding. See you at work. Bye!" She cut the call before turning to the mirror putting her mobile phone in her purse.

Exhaling she shut her eyes tight to gather her wits and ignoring her inner conflicts at least managed to compose herself apparently before exiting the room hanging her purse on her left shoulder.

"Are you going somewhere, bitiya?" Devyani asked who has just come to the living room to head to the kitchen.

Khushi nodded.

"To work, Nani ji." She cleared.

"But bitiya, you just recovered. Shouldn't you rest a few days more?" She said concerned.

"I am okay. Didn't the doctor inform that I am absolutely fine now? That means I can go back to my routine life as well, right Nani ji?" Khushi gave her, her best genuine smile to assure her and succeeded as well.

"As you wish, bitiya. But do take good care of yourself and don't exert much." She said cupping the side of her cheek.

Khushi nodded feeling overwhelmed with all the love being showered on her by the Raizada family. If only things weren't that complicated then she would have revelled in it, too. But life is too unfair and she is too broken to look at the brighter side.

"One second!"

Khushi stopped when she heard Devyani and turned to her whilst her heart dropped.

"Did you inform Chote about this?"

Khushi clenched her jaws feeling her nerves bursting.

Why would she inform that control freak?

Why when he broke promises after promise he made to her?

Why when he did things behind her back?

Why when he even broke their contract as well?

But instead of lashing out she kept her calm and nodded at Nani making her sigh in relief.

She hurriedly went out lest someone else block her way or ask uncomfortable questions or worse inform the man who was hell bent on presuming himself her husband.

She took an auto from the main road making sure not to catch the eye of the driver while leaving home whom Arnav has himself hired for her. She didn't want any of his favors at all. Never!

Telling the auto driver the address she swallowed hard praying for patience because what she was going to do would take hell loads of that.

Gulping down the saliva she jerked back to present as the auto stopped in front of her destination.

"Relax, Khushi. You can do this. It will not be the first time anyway!" She mumbled to herself while climbing the stairs. Fear and uncertainty settled in her once she took the lift and reached the required floor before stopping short seeing the familiar face whose face turned red seeing her.

"You! Again?" She growled standing up from the bench she was sitting on moments ago.

"Auntie ji, I-" She stepped to her but halted in her steps when she showed her hand giving her a warning glare.

"Leave at once!" She snapped. Khsuhi flinched.

"Don't do this, Aunty-"

"I am not your aunty!" She spat. Khushi's eyes prickled.

"Mrs. Shergill," Khushi said bleary eyed.

"Listen, Khushi. I don't know why you are torturing us again and again by showing us the face of the woman because of whom my son almost died but here look at this!" She said rudely and folded her hands before her.

"Enough is enough! My son barely survived from a near death experience and we could breathe in relief finally and now I don't want your evil shadow falling upon him for him to fall into another calamity. Did you get it?"

"I didn't do anything!" Khushi reasoned on the verge of sobbing.

"Keep telling yourself that!" She hissed out.

Khushi felt her head spinning at the accusation shining in her eyes. She has had paid several visits to this very hospital when Samrat was in coma and she was being sent back with various insults without letting her a chance to meet him with a new accusation thrown at her face at her every visit. Because when she didn't know the truth she thought it was because of her he was in this condition.

That it was because of the madness of making her his that Arnav brought Samrat in this condition and that guilt often caught up to her and she would find herself in front of this ICU begging for forgiveness from his mother or a chance to mend her mistakes which she indirectly committed. But she was never given a chance to do so either.

And now when she knows Arnav was innocent she wanted to come here to thank him and wish him a quick recovery. She owed him that at least. But seems like his mother was still in delusion. She still considered Khushi a guilty candidate.

"And by the way, aren't you married already?" She said pointing to the vermilion and beaded chain around her neck.

"What business now do you have with my son I don't really understand?"

"Samrat told the police that-" Khushi started.

"That your so-called 'husband' didn't shot him? Is that it?" She glared at her.

"And you thought that I'd forget everything and let you meet him?" Anita Shergill scoffed.

"I could never forget that black day when my son got shot. If it weren't for your ill-fated steps and your bad omen that blackened my son's life which being his fiancé you bestowed upon him he wouldn't have gotten shot. You are equally responsible for his state as much as that culprit was. Did you get that?" She pointed a finger at her vengefully.

Khushi felt her whole being paralyzed with her words. She stared at her dumbfounded.

"Why are you so shocked? You shouldn't be because I am cent percent right. Your ill-omen even got your husband in jail didn't it? If it weren't for Samrat then he would have suffered in jail his whole life for he married an inauspicious girl like you!"

"It's not like that," Khushi choked whilst her vision blurred with unshed tears.

"Do you really think I care about what you think? Now just get lost and never show me your face ever again!" She let out a low growl giving her a push away causing Khushi to stumble back and hit the back of her head with the wall behind making her head spin.

Ajit Shergill who has gone to get their breakfast came right that moment to witness his wife pushing Khushi. He rushed forward and throwing the boxes on the bench held the poor girl as she swayed on her steps.

"Beta, you alright?" He asked placing a hand on her right shoulder.

Khushi gave him a small wounded misty smile.

"Ji Uncle,"

Ajit's heart went out to her.

"Are you hurt?" He gestured to her head which has hit the wall.

She shook her head whilst two tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I just came to wish him well," She whispered with bloodshot eyes and trembling lips.

Ajit looked back at his wife who turned her head to the other side before sighing in agitation.

"Beta, why do you keep torturing yourself like this? Stop letting others affect you like this. I know it wasn't your fault, Samrat knows too. Then why?" He cupped the side of her cheek.

"I just want to meet him once and clear things out. I want to apologize and wish him good luck for his life. That's all Uncle. I was committed to him to marry him yet I didn't and got married to someone else in order to save my family's reputation. I should have been with him in this tough phase of his life. But I wasn't. I acted selfish. I owe him explanation at least to give him that closure. Don't I?" She sobbed out.

"You owe him nothing, dear. Nothing. I know why he is there in that hospital bed and it definitely isn't because of you. Okay?" He reassured her.

Khushi looked ready to argue when he shook his head and added.

"I know you have been coming here to give him support for all the months he had been here yet you weren't allowed. If I hadn't been stuck in America because of some issues I'd have never let my family treat you the way they did. But now I am here and I won't let anyone belittle you. Including you, yourself!" He said giving a pointed look to his wife who averted her eyes but didn't say anything.

"Now, here is the thing." He brought cheerfulness in his tone in order to lighten up the mood.

"First of all congratulations for your wedding." He patted her cheek.

Khushi looked down feeling a heavy burden on her chest lifting up. Yet something caught up in her throat as Ajit Shergill added.

"I saw the video of your grand wedding reception with ASR and I must say you guys looked made for each other. The way he stood by you in your difficult time clearly tells that he cares for you a lot. Maybe loves you, too. And he should! Because you deserve all the happiness in the world." He smiled genuinely at her.

Khushi whimpered.

"And if meeting with Samrat would relieve you off your worries then so be it." He said coming up to a decision.

"What?" Anita squealed standing up. "What are you saying? I'd never-"

"Nobody asked your opinion!" Ajit turned to look sternly at his wife who shut up gritting her teeth glaring at Khushi.

"Right now he is sleeping and also in recovery phase so he won't be able to talk much either. How about when he recovers fully and you both can have a detail conversation somewhere outside this hospital then I will call you and let you know, hmm?" He gave her an encouraging pat on her head making Khushi look at him in shock before she smiled teary eyed.

"That would be great. Thank you. Thank you so much Uncle." Khushi bobbed her head in approval feeling quite overwhelmed.

"Till then you promise you won't let any nonsense get into your head?" He extended his upturned palm to her to which she placed her hand in his and nodded her head like a child making him chuckle at the innocence radiating from this girl with whom his son has fallen in love with for quite a sometime but she wasn't in his fate because maybe, maybe someone else's love was more powerful than his son's that supreme power above gave this girl to the one deserving her.

"Stay happy," He wished her patting her cheek affectionately before Khushi turned and left leaving the elderly couple alone.

"What was that?" Anita questioned him sternly.

"That was I atoning for the sin you committed against our son!" Ajit snapped at her.

"What did I do?" She gritted out.

"If only you weren't that superstitious then maybe, maybe your son wouldn't have lost the woman he loved. If you weren't that hasty in your judgements then Guptas wouldn't have to marry their daughter to save their reputation. Then maybe Khushi would have waited for our son to recover and we would have brought her to our home instead of letting her face that humiliation. If only I hadn't been stuck in that goddamn unavoidable circumstances in US then I wouldn't have let any of this happen!" He burst out.

He ran his fingers in his hairs remembering his son's condition when he got up from the coma and got to know all that happened while he was unconscious. Oh how his son broke down in his arms like a baby. He felt his eyes tear up recalling it all.

"He is better off without that unlucky girl." She said solemnly not guilty at all.

"Well then revel in it while you can because Samrat has clearly told me that he wouldn't marry ever in his life!" Ajit dropped the bomb on his wife and stormed off leaving an astounded Anita behind.

*

"Where is she?" Arnav grabbed the owner's collars growling at the top of his voice causing every customer's attention to turn to the commotion. Veer Sharma was worried himself for the girl he adored like his own child.

"We don't know. She told on the phone that she would be an hour late but now it's been three hours to that too but she isn't here still." Concern could be heard in his tone as well. He wasn't feeling even a bit bad about Arnav's behavior. In fact he understood the worry of the young man.

"If she isn't here then where did she go?" He screeched causing everyone to flinch.

"Arnav, calm down. We are looking for her." Sameer tried to handle the volcano which was erupting on everyone ever since Arnav got to know that Khushi has left for work informing Nani ji who later on told Anjali who came to visit Khushi and then the rest they say in history as right that time Anjali was on call with Arnav who heard Devyani and all hell broke loose.

Anjali informed Sameer who rushed out of his office and followed Arnav to this restaurant lest he lash out at Khushi but here his own nerves burst as he got to know that Khushi never reached her work place and was missing for hours.

"Where, Jiju? Where the hell would we look for her?" He bellowed pushing Veer away turning his bloodshot eyes to his brother-in-law.

"Arnav don't forget. She is my sister as well. I am as worried as you are. But losing your cool would get you nowhere." Sameer placed a hand on his shoulder asking him to gather himself.

"She is neither here nor in Laxmi Nagar or RM. She has nowhere else to go either." He snarled.

"Maybe she does. But we don't know." Sameer tried to remain calm himself.

"Jiju, you don't know how dangerous it is for her to roam around alone!" Arnav whispered with gritted teeth. Worry for her making him hell terrified.

"I am sure she will be fine wherever she is. We would only think positive!" Sameer said sternly.

Arnav groaned running his fingers in his hairs.

"Will you at least get a hold on yourself? Even media personnel has stopped coming here because of Khushi's absence from work for a week as Veer Kaka instead of telling them about her health told them she has left work in order to rid them off her back and here you have misbehaved with him while he has only helped our Khushi!" Sameer tried to douse some of the lava within Arnav but it didn't help much.

"What if those bastards who attacked Samrat got a hold of her?" Arnav whirled around growling in a low menacing voice as Sameer was on call with his detective friend asking him to look for Khushi while Arnav dashed towards the exit with his nerves on the verge of bursting with concern for the woman who holds his life with every breath she takes.

He looked ahead with his jaws clenched and stopped short a few steps away from the exit as an auto stopped in front of the restaurant and the reason of his worry got down from it and after paying the driver entered inside in her own oblivion while placing the rest of the money back in her bag only to gasp out loud as something or say someone's arms suddenly pulled her in a bone crushing hug making the breaths whoosh out of her.

Sameer closed his eyes exhaling in relief.

"She is here, Aditya. Thanks anyway!" Sameer cut the call.

Not only did Veer Kaka was relieved seeing her back safe and sound but also everyone present there were awed looking at them as Arnav kept kissing the side of her face, her hairs, her temples cupping her nape holding her tightly in his embrace mumbling something like 'Thank heavens you are okay. You are fine. Oh god I was so scared!' over and over again while showering her with chaste kisses making her speechless and all red.

Sameer didn't fail to notice that Khushi didn't even raise her arms to hug him back. She was too stunned to understand what was going on that made Arnav react this way. Or what was he doing at her workplace anyway?

She wriggled weakly in his arms making him come out of the overwhelming emotions he fell in when he saw her all fine.

He pulled back just a bit but didn't let her go. As the relief subsided anger took over his form as his gaze wandered on her swollen eyes, red nose and cheeks.

"Where were you?" He demanded to know shaking her grabbing her upper arms.

"Nowhere!" She gave him a rough shove but not strong enough to ward him off.

"Oh really?" He gritted out as rage took over his form for the blinding concern he felt for those minutes when he couldn't find her anywhere. All sorts of negative thoughts had flooded his mind making him sick with worry.

"Arnav!" Sameer warned him from behind as he saw Khushi wincing in his strong hold.

"EVERYONE OUT!" His voice boomed around in the otherwise packed restaurant.

Veer Sharma nodded at his employees who understanding his orders quickly got the restaurant empty apologizing to the customers. In less than ten minutes the tables were emptied. Veer left with his employees silently shutting the door behind leaving only Arnav, Khushi and Sameer alone in the hall.

He gave her a push away seeing her face contorting in pain before turning around with his fingers in his hairs cursed out loud. Sameer huffed at his choice of words.

"Language, Saale Sahab!" He reprimanded him.

"Language, my fucking ass!" Arnav bellowed making Khushi jump at her place as she took a step back in fear. Seeing which Sameer quickly went up to her and stood by her side.

"Don't worry. It isn't something you can't handle. Right?" He placed a hand around her shoulder as Arnav paced the length of the hall trying to calm himself down without looking at her.

"He just went crazy for a moment when he didn't find you anywhere. Even I did. In a way he is right though you know. You shouldn't have left all alone in a public transport when you just recovered and an army of reporters are after you." He tried to distract her seeing her shivering looking at Arnav alarmed.

Usually she never would have gotten intimidated by either Arnav or ASR but the fire she saw in his eyes today made chills run down her spine for no apparent reason. It was the glint she has never seen in him before that took her by surprise. That's why she was hell terrified.

"But nothing to worry. Even being angry neither he would hurt you nor would I let him. Trust me." He gave her shoulder a light squeeze to which Khushi turned her head to look at him only to find him smiling reassuringly at her and she started relaxing under his hold but only for a few seconds until,

Hesitantly she moved away from him causing his hand to fall to his side. Despite being hurt he didn't say anything knowing it will take time for her to accept him as her brother. Until then he would silently protect her like this.

"You-" Arnav marched up to her with a dangerous glint in his eyes when Sameer quickly stepped in front of her. Khushi's eyes widened in shock before she exhaled in relief.

"Arnav!" He gritted out.

"I am giving you a leverage but you are taking it too far, brother. Can't you see you are scaring her? Calm down or I won't let you be near her ever again! Get that?" Sameer turned into his protective mode which Arnav often saw him in when he is with Anjali or Sanjana. Right now seeing him being the same way with Khushi made him retreat as it is knowing that if he didn't he'd act on his words.

"Fine! I am calm!" He raised his hands in surrender as his face relaxed. Seeing which Sameer's features mellowed down as well.

"Now let me talk to her. Alone!" Arnav demanded gazing at Khushi who was looking everywhere but him.

"I have known you for years, Arnav. Your anger doesn't cool down in moments. So don't try those tricks with me which you use with others. You will be allowed to talk to my sister when you will actually get out of this angry mode. Till then she will stay far away from you and I will make sure of that." He announced and grabbing Khushi's hand walked out making Arnav howl in a low voice seeing him driving away with his Khushi.

His Khushi?

Was she really?

Does he even have the right to call her his?

She never gave him even a reason to ever, either!

Feeling his eyes prickling he kicked the table on the side growling in frustration.

"Till when would you run away from me huh? Till when?" He said to himself eyeing the place she was standing just moments ago with a mysterious glint shining in his eyes.

His phone rung then.

"Yes, Aman. Tell me!" He barked as soon as he picked up the call and hearing the other side made his jaws and fist clench whilst his eyes turned red and later on green with a very known emotion.

*

Sameer arrived with Khushi to Shantivan and told everyone about all the recent events to which family members tried to lighten up Khushi's mood who seemed quite shaken with the happenings.

Half an hour later Anjali, Sameer, Devyani, Manorama, Manohar were all in the living room including Khushi who was sitting besides Nani while they were engrossed in a light chat which halted with the bang of the front door and Arnav's abrupt entry who marched straight to Khushi and pulling her up placed his hand at the back of her head and pressed it causing her to wince out loud.

Everyone stood up while Sameer separated Arnav from Khushi furiously.

"What the hell do you think you are doing, Arnav?" Sameer shouted.

"Ask her!" Arnav pointed to Khushi who understood what it was about and averted her eyes whilst she felt her head started aching.

"I am asking you!" Sameer howled while Anjali rushed to Khushi and lightly rubbed Khushi's head seeing her face twisting in pain.

"Fine. Let me enlighten you about your oh-so-great sister. While we were worrying sick for her she was there in the hospital getting verbally and physically abused by Samrat's mother!" He bellowed spitting fire at her.

Everyone gasped while Khushi exhaled as the headache was now prickling behind her eyes.

"I saw the CCTV footage with my very own eyes how she silently bore that woman's insults and nonsense before getting pushed by her which led her to hit the back of her head by the wall and instead of standing up for herself she kept pleading in front of that ridiculous woman. WHY KHUSHI? WHY? Why didn't you give it back to her? WHY DAMMIT?" He yanked her closer and demanded shaking her feeling his eyes prickling.

She looked up at him defiantly before shrugging his hands.

"I am not answerable to you!" She hissed out.

"Yes, you are!" He pulled her closer grabbing her elbow in a strong grip.

"Keep telling yourself that!" She retorted.

"You will tell me right here and right now if you don't want me to send that woman to jail for hurting you. I have proofs you know!" His eyes bore holes into hers. He saw her tough exterior break at his words whilst her resistance stopped and she looked at him accusingly.

"Tell me why? Why, dammit?" He shook her shaking everything inside of her. Including her emotions.

"Because all of it reminded me of my mother!" She burst out raising her red-rimmed eyes to his bloodshot ones.

"If only she had given me a tiniest bit importance of what Samrat's mother gave to him I wouldn't have lost my mother!" She screeched silencing everything and everyone around. Sameer closed his eyes in pain.

"But she loved that man more than me! She chose death over me! She chose to leave me!" She cried out glaring up at him while Arnav's grip slackened on her whilst he moved back in pure anguish.

He seriously had no idea how would he manage to pick up the pieces of this broken woman. Before this moment he thought he could mend her. Wholly. Now, he knew better.

"I could never hold it against Anita Aunty because she was just looking out for her son. I have no grudges against her either. If only my mother had stood by me like her then she would have been with me and a man like you would have never gotten the chance to ruin me like this!" She growled without any mist in her eyes whilst her whole body trembled with the onslaught of emotions. Except her, not even a single pair of eyes were dry there.

"You left didn't you?" She then gave him a push with her face turning red. Arnav staggered back with his heart galloping in agony for her. Seeing her in this condition made him die a thousand deaths right there and then. She wasn't done yet. She was in full mode to turn him into ashes.

"Why did you come back? WHY? Why don't you leave me alone?" She hissed out grabbing his collars, shaking him hard.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he cupped her face firmly despite her trying to ward him off as he finally got her problem. The reason of her angst. And he knew how to assuage her insecurities. He parted his lips caressing her cheeks with his thumbs softly while shivers ran down his spine.

"Because I love you. And I will never leave you like your mother did. You better get that in your head, Khushi Kumari Gupta!" He said emphasizing on each and every word making sure she was looking into his eyes when he confessed. He deliberately didn't add 'Singh Raizada' in her name knowing she hated it.

There he saw finally moisture gathering in hazel orbs until her eyes were full of unshed tears whilst her hands curled into fists on his collars as her nostrils flared. Two tears rolled down her cheeks while she gazed up at him with all of her broken pieces.

Swallowing past a lump he slid his one arm around her shoulders and buried her face in his chest with his fingers of the other hand threading within her hairs he totally engulfed her in his embrace rubbing his hand up and down her arm to sooth the tremor down her spine.

As Khushi silently sobbed onto Arnav's chest, Sameer wiped his face off the tears while Anjali hugged him by his side to which he passed her a reassuring smile exhaling which made her eyes tear up more as she knew he wasn't okay seeing his sister in the same phase he once was from where Anjali pulled him out. Now seeing Arnav helping his (Sameer) sister pick up her broken pieces made him worried as well as relieved.

"Arnav bhaiyya, doctor sahab is here." Hari Prakash's cautious voice made Khushi pull away from his embrace abruptly. Arnav reluctantly let her go but his gaze didn't leave her.

She looked around the worried faces of the family before wiping her face hurriedly feeling conscious. She was about to turn to run upstairs when Arnav caught her wrist.

"Let him check you. You have hit your head pretty bad there," Arnav said softly. Earlier anger was nowhere evident in his stance.

"I am okay," She said nonchalantly twisting her hand in his hold.

"For a record I wasn't asking!" The rigid tone was back. He made her sit on the couch putting pressure on her shoulders while telling the doctor about the trauma she had had to her head.

"Your brother would never stop being an asshole!" Sameer mumbled to Anjali who narrowed her eyes at him.

"Excuse me?" Anjali looked at him with mock anger.

"Didn't you see how his mood changes around her? From anger to soft to dominance in moments. Oh how he ordered her just now!" Sameer said with no hint of rage in his voice. His eyes twinkled in mischief.

"If only your sister wasn't that stubborn then he wouldn't have to!" She wiggled her eyebrows.

He glared at her to which she twitched her face and gave him a smug look which despite of everything made him smile.

"I will deal with you later!" He said huskily eyeing her lips.

"I will be looking forward to it." She winked at him.

A sound of cough made them look to their right only to see Akash looking ahead with a teasing smirk. Anjali reddened while Sameer pursed his lips to stop himself from smiling wide.

Seeing Arnav and Khushi healing each other in their own way has made the family somewhat at ease. They were ready for their sudden breakdowns and showdowns but they were hopeful the couple would be able to overcome it as long as they stayed together. But,

Only time would tell whether they were right in their presumption or not!

*

She came out of the washroom after changing into casual salwar kameez but still took his breaths away even with such simple avatar. He was sitting on the recliner waiting for her with his intense gaze lingering on her every feature as if he was reading her inside out.

Khushi was feeling too embarrassed for venting out her emotions in his arms yet again. She doesn't know what's it he has in him that every time her head touches his chest she would forget everything else and would feel like letting it all out without the worry in the world as if... as if her heart knew that he would always be there and take care of her problems.

What rubbish Khushi?

Get a grip!

She chided herself coming to sit in front of the dressing table and started combing her hairs in order to avoid him and his piercing gaze which was making her conscious and conflicted both.

"I have something to talk to you!" He stood up and came to stand a step behind the chair she was sitting while looking at her through the mirror.

"If it's about my visit to Samrat in the hospital then forget it." She looked up meeting his eyes in the mirror as well.

"That's for later. Right now I want to talk to you about your job." He started.

"I love my job. I am not resigning if that's what you are going to say." She was clear.

"Do you want me to get sick with worry every time you'd be out there?" He said exasperated.

"You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself very well." She said solemnly.

"Yeah like you did when Anita Shergill was pushing you to the wall?" He burst out.

She glared at him.

"Why do you always defy me? Why not for once do something I say without me having to force you?" He almost pleaded rubbing his forehead.

For a record she felt like standing up, turning around and wrapping her arms around him to console him, to ward off the worry lines on his forehead. Her eyes widened at her own thoughts that she clenched her hands into fists in her lap and exhaled when his phone pinged and he casually looked at it before storming off dialing a number.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" She muttered to herself absentmindedly combing her hairs looking into oblivion when like a hurricane he came back in the room five minutes later and announced.

"You are not going to that restaurant ever again!"

"Excuse me?" She stood up and whirled around to face him angrily.

"You heard me!" His eyes looked sharp and more like the ASR who has hurt her time and time again. Who once sent her to jail.

"I never asked your opinion or permission for that matter!" She scoffed.

"Now you will. You are not going there and that's final!" He pointed his index finger at her in an explicit warning.

"Who will stop me? You?" She chuckled dryly and giving him a pointed look shook her head only to walk past him to leave.

"I am serious!" He caught her wrist.

"So am I!" She countered.

"Not only that you are not going to step out of this mansion either, until or unless either me or Sameer Jiju accompany you. Got that?" He held her upper arms and said in no-nonsense tone with chocolate brown orbs staring directly into her hazel eyes.

"Am I a prisoner now? In your cage?" She gritted out.

"You can take it the way you like!" He left her and marched out leaving a flabbergasted Khushi behind before her stance turned defiant.

"Let's see how you would be able to stop me then!" She clenched her jaws looking at the closed door from where he walked out moments ago.

*

"I think you should tell Khushi about this," Sameer said seriously after listening everything he revealed to him.

"She has enough on her plate already. I won't stress her more. I can protect her very well anyway." Arnav said firmly.

"How? By controlling her like this? By banishing her in Raizada Mansion?" Sameer scoffed.

"Jiju, it will be for a limited time. It's better this way!" Arnav pinched the bridge of his nose.

"But she will misunderstand you again this way. How will you mend her or your relationship with her then if problems would keep hindering your attemepts?" He exclaimed worriedly.

"I handled that contract thing pretty well that it doesn't exist between us anymore. Now I have a lifetime with her and I guess that's enough time to heal someone and make them accept you isn't it?" He felt calm descending on him with his own said words.

"Yeah that's another problem in your marriage too. You broke yet another promise you made with her of giving her space. How would she ever be able to trust you again?" Sameer felt angry at his calmness over such a sensitive matter.

"Whenever I broke any promise it was for her sake only. Sooner or later she would understand that. And like the way she forgave me for my past blunders she would forgive me for this, too. One day!" He was looking very hopeful all of a sudden that downright shocked Sameer for a moment.

With all that was going on in their life he was worried it would bring back his ruthless avatar but again Arnav surprised him by handling it all sensibly. Positively.

"I will prove everyone wrong about their perception of me. Guptas, you, my family, everyone. Even her."

"I will prove my love for her. To her. When she will herself choose me, no one will be able to make any objections to our relation."

"--I am ready to wait till my last breath for that to happen. Even if it took my life I will never give up on loving her."

Sameer looked at Arnav thoughtfully and somewhat amazed as he recalled his said words of a while back. He has proved half of it true already stunning him. About the rest of his promise he could see him working on it already as Khushi hasn't chosen Arnav herself yet. She was still distant and aloof.

"I can't see her in that lifeless condition again which I did when I saw her sitting in that corner in jail. That picture of her has killed every arrogance and ego in me. It is imprinted in every fiber of my being and till I will breath I will never forgive myself for it. Never. Ever."

Sameer cleared his throat as a question popped up in his brain remembering another set of words Arnav once said to him.

"You said she has forgiven you for all that you made her suffer. But have you?" Sameer asked curiously.

"What?" Arnav frowned.

"Have you forgiven yourself?" Sameer asked bluntly.

Arnav swallowed past a lump whilst his eyes prickled as a certain voice rung in his ears twisting and turning his insides making the pain unbearable.

"How are you managing with the 'truth' that I could have died in prison because of you?"

He averted his eyes blinking back the tears and Sameer had his answers.

"If you want her to move on from the past then you have to, too." He reasoned.

"Khushi has a big heart Jiju. I don't." He croaked bleary eyed. "She could have died there because of me!" He looked ready to break down. His face turned red with restrain.

Sameer clenched his jaws as he felt his rage returning hearing about his sister's suffering but he has realized for a while now that Khushi was incomplete without Arnav or vice versa so he has to bury the past for their sake. For his sister's sake especially.

"You almost died too." Sameer said quietly.

"That wasn't relevant." Arnav gritted out gripping his hairs.

"It is." Sameer exclaimed. "You suffered as well. No one could deny that. Not even Khushi herself."

"But my sufferings were the outcome of my own doings. She bore all that devastation when she was completely, absolutely and totally innocent. Just because of my ego. Just because I couldn't handle the emotions she evoked in me." He growled placing his palms on his face threading his fingers in his hairs from the front.

"If you want a fresh start with her then you will have to kill your guilt totally. From the root." He advised trying hard to stay calm.

"Guilt is such a small word for what I feel within. I feel revolted with myself with every breath I take." He hissed with self loathing visible in his eyes.

"This guilt has made you accept that sentence in jail for a whole month when you weren't even the culprit. And see what followed after that. You thought your suffering would bring her joy but you have only damaged her more in order to punish yourself. Don't do it anymore!" His voice notched higher in frustration.

"Either way I only end up injuring her more." He whispered aghast.

"Arnav, this self-loathing and guilt has to go for your marriage to survive. Only then you will be able to mend her wounds completely if you'd stop dwelling in the agonizing past."

Sameer urged him nonetheless to which Arnav looked at him with his sad misty eyes before turning his head ahead pursing his lips. His mind was a mess. So was he.

"I can't promise but I will think about it." Arnav murmured releasing a sigh.

"That would be enough for now." Sameer exhaled in relief for finally getting to him.

______________________

PRECAP:

The guard saluted her upon seeing her not commenting on her bloodshot eyes. As she entered everyone greeted her with respect shining in their eyes which she didn't hear at all while she stopped at the reception.

"Where is he?" She gritted out.

"In a meeting. In conference ro-" she didn't let her complete and was barging upstairs like a hurricane and pushed the door open to the dark room illuminated just by projector screen.

Arnav's eyes fell on her abruptly and then forgot to return as he was sitting on the head chair while everyone's attention was to the presentation.

"Khushi?" He stood up worried.

"I need to talk to you. Right NOW!" She snarled. When he kept staring at her speechless all hell broke lose.

"ARNAV!" She exclaimed out loud while Arnav Singh Raizada's heart did a somersault as she called him by his name for the first time.

_______________________

I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THE PART:)

THIS IS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE PART OF THIS STORY. I LOVED PENNING IT DOWN.

Q/A

1. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY REGARDING THE PROGRESS IN ARSHI'S RELATIONSHIP?

2. DID KHUSHI DO RIGHT BY FORGIVING ARNAV?

3. WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND ARNAV'S IMPRISONMENT? WHY HE COULDN'T GET OUT DESPITE BEING A KNOWN FIGURE?

4. WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE ATTACK ON SAMRAT WHICH LED TO HIS COMA?

5. WHAT OPINION DO YOU HAVE REGARDING SAMRAT'S MOTHER AND KHUSHI'S CONVERSATION?

6. DOES ARNAV DESERVE FORGIVENESS?

7. DO YOU WANT A HAPPY ENDING OR NOT?

8. ABOUT THE PRECAP? ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON?

9. WILL THE LOVE WIN OR WILL THE EGO AND PRIDE SWALLOW THIS EMOTION?

10. WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE MOST SCENE AND DIALOGUE OF HIS EGO, HER PRIDE TILL NOW?

11. WHICH PART OF THIS STORY DID YOU LOVE THE MOST?

WILL BE WAITING EAGERLY FOR YOUR PRECIOUS FEEDBACK. A DETAILED REVIEW WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.

KINDLY DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT. IT WON'T TAKE MUCH TIME BUT WOULD MAKE MY WHOLE DAY AND MAKE MY HARD WORK PAY OFF :)

NEXT UPDATE DEPENDS ON YOUR RESPONSE ;)

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE!

CHEERS!