(Not proofread)

"Aaj phir sahab late hain? (Sir is late today, again?)" The waiter who usually serve them their order at the usual time they visit the cafe, came up to the table where she was sitting twitching her face every now and then while waiting for him, looking at the entrance every other second as if it would make him magically appear at the door.

Making a face she bobbed her head as he placed the glass of water in front of her which she took and started taking sips after sips hoping it calm her down a bit.

"He must be busy." He said softly looking at her sad face.

"But Yash Bhaiyya, aisa koi karta hai kya? Hum char ghanto se unka wait kar rahe hain.(But Yash Bhaiyya, who does this? I am waiting for him for the last four hours)" At the end her eyes glistened with moisture and she looked away to hide it. She has tried his number several times but he wasn't picking up.

She knew she should just leave because he must be too busy to come or inform her but she just.. couldn't go without seeing him at all. That's why in a hope to just get a glimpse of him she was sitting here torturing herself with long, painful wait.

Yash sighed. Not only him, the whole cafe was now used to see this couple everyday. Not only them but also their illogical banters and also the tycoon, yes they knew he was Arnav Singh Raizada who when entered this place left all of his arrogance out of the door and here, he was a completely different man with this sweet lady. Scratch that- she was the sweetest lady they have ever got the chance to encounter in their cafe.

It was difficult to tell who loved the other more because if Khushi waited hours for him every other day then that tycoon wasn't any less to show how much she means to him. He made sure to make ways to pacify her to make up for her hours of wait. He did so every time so effortlessly but today, today he has crossed limits.

Yash came back behind the counter and shook his head at his fellow workers.

"I think today they will break up!" A female waiter said furrowing her eyebrows. Her colleague hit her palm on her head earning an 'oww' from her.

"Don't talk rubbish. They look so beautiful together. I hope they stay together forever."

"Par aaj Sahab ki khair nahi. (But today no one could save him)" Yash said with his tongue in cheek seeing that with every passing moment Khushi's patience was wearing thin.

Just like that another hour passed. Still, there was no sign of Arnav.

Khushi swallowed seeing two missed calls from home. Amma, Babu ji and Bua ji must be waiting for her. Already it was dark outside. They must be worried.

She looked around the cafe. Apart from her no one else was there either. She looked at the wrist watch before raising her head to the front where the known faces were packing up their things behind the counter. Yet again, her eyes teared up.

She stood up and hanged her bag on her shoulder sniffling. Behind the counter, everyone gave her sympathizing looks, passed her smiles to cheer her up. She couldn't even return their smiles because her treacherous heart was so gloomy for not being able to see him. Yes, she was angry for it more than him not coming or even bothering to pick up her calls or inform her he couldn't come today.

Placing a few notes under the glass she walked out of the table. Just then the door barged open and someone rushed in stopping her on her tracks right in the middle of the cafe.

His eyes traveled across the cafe frantically and once it landed on her, the guilty orbs met her hurt ones. He closed his eyes letting out a breath once before taking long strides to reach her.

He stopped an arm length away and exhaled. She took a step back as quickly as he took one forward. Walking around him she opted to walk out with her teeth clenched.

He caught her elbow and pulled her back to stand in front of him before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I am practicing." He said huskily tucking her closer while she was continuously struggling against him.

"To say a simple sorr-" He paused with a frown. She stopped twisting and raised her wet lashes to look in his pleading eyes.

"Sorry?" She mocked. "Rehne dijiye aap se nahi hoga. Sirf aik sorry bolne k liye apko itna waqt lagta hai. Kabhi hamara utna intezaar karna pad gaya jitna hum apka karte hain toh jitne ghamandi aap hain aap toh humse baat karna bhi chod dein gay!(Let it be you won't be able to do it. When you take so much time just to say a single 'sorry' I wonder if you'd had to wait for me even half of what I do for you then you won't ever talk to me in your anger considering how arrogant and egotistic you are)"

"Matlab tum mujhe explain karne bhi nahi do gi?(Means you won't let me explain at all?)" His hold tightened around her. Khushi became self-conscious as her gaze fell on Yash, Ritik, Soha and Sushma behind the counter who were pretending as if they were invisible.

"What are you doing? Let me go. We are not alone." She wiggled.

He followed her line of vision. They waved their hands at him. He nodded with a light smile.

"Do you guys have any problem with us standing like this?" He asked out loud. Yash showed his teeth cheekily while Soha, Ritik and Sushma nodded in a no' hiding their smiles.

Khushi's mouth gaped open at his audacity.

"See!" He tilted his head to a side. She huffed turning her head to the other side with a slight pout involuntarily forming on her lips. He cursed inwardly and exhaled to control his emotions for this woman in his arms.

Get a grip Arnav!

There are more pressing matters at hands other than your desire to taste the sweetness of her lips or smooch that pout.

Shut it!

He screamed in his mind as it started going into dangerous territory.

"Theek hai. Gussa rehna hai reh lo par mairi poori baat sune bina mai tumhe jaane nahi dun ga! (Fine. If you want to stay angry then okay. Stay so. But without listening me I am not letting you leave)"

"Zabardasti rokein gay humein? (Will you stop me forcibly?)" She glared.

He half smiled and shrugged.

"Kyun? Tumhe kya lagta hai? Nahi kar sakta?(Why? What do you think? Can't I?)" His eyes shone with challenge.

"Koshish bhi mat kijiye ga!(Don't you dare even try!)" She hissed.

"Sahab? (Sir?)" Came Yash's voice from a few feet away.

Arnav turned around holding Khushi in his arms. Yash looked at him apologetically and extended a bunch of keys to him.

Arnav frowned in question.

"Would you lock the cafe on your way out? We all have to leave now. And I think you have some unfinished business to complete here yet." He said the last words looking teasingly at both of them.

Arnav smirked while Khushi's jaws dropped.

"Yash Bhaiyya? You are siding with him? And.. and..want to leave me alone with this Rakshas?"

Not only Yash but also everyone burst out laughing hearing the endearment Khushi used for Arnav while Arnav looked at her amused.

"Sure Yash. Go ahead." Arnav placed Khushi on his one hand and extending the other took the keys from Yash and pocketed them. All this while Khushi tried to remove his hold but in vain.

"And yeah if you want to drink coffee then feel free to make it. Or if you want I can-"

Arnav cut him in the middle with a gratitude look.

"No it's fine. I will handle it."

Soon, they all left leaving only the two of them alone with each other. He turned his attention back to her and seeing her angry avatar he felt emotions overruling him. He bent and meshed his lips to her cheek so passionately that a gasp escaped her and her eyes closed on reflex.

He smirked seeing his effect on her. Taking advantage of her dazed state he leaned to her ear and whispered.

"Now listen!"

She shivered as a current ran down her spine which even he felt.

"I wanted to come on time. Trust me I wanted to see you so bad but," He stopped. He had to because she placed her head ever so lightly on his chest and wrapped her arms around his back before tightening her hold.

"But your work came in the way." She whispered back rubbing her nose on his shirt inhaling his intoxicating cologne.

To be honest her anger vanished the moment she saw him. His one glimpse was enough to bring peace inside her and then nothing else matters other than being with him. Also, she could see how much drained and tired he looked but still he came. She could understand how difficult he was trying to balance both his work and meeting up with her.

While Arnav stood stock still on his place. His Adam's apple bobbed. A thrill ran down his spine. The beauty of the moment caught up with him as well and he crashed her in his embrace burying his nose in her neck.

"No matter where I go. Wapis toh tumhare pass hi ana hai. (I will come back to you only)" He murmured against her hairs.

Khushi felt some hoarseness in his voice. Stunned, she raised her head just enough to look in his eyes and found them glistening.

"Arnav ji?" She cupped his cheeks, caressed his jaws and shook her head. "I am sorry. I was just pretending to be angry. I am not upset at all. Please don't be sad." She swiped a hand on his eyes one by one while Arnav swallowed and pulled her back in his embrace.

It should be him saying sorry but he don't know why it just doesn't come out easily. But he was trying. He would try for her.

"S-Sorry." He stuttered.

She smiled against him.

"It's okay." Her smile widened which he could feel even in her voice. His heart pinched and fluttered at the same time. How easily she forgives and forget his mistakes!

"I don't know what have I ever done in my life to deserve such a pure hearted girl like you." He whispered overwhelmed.

"No." She pulled back with a serious expression on her face making him frown.

"Think about it this way." She said thoughtfully.

He raised his eyebrow.

"What did I ever do in my life to deserve an arrogant, egoistic and Laad Governor like you. My punishment and your reward." She scrunched her face while Arnav narrowed his eyes.

"Am I a punishment to you?" He pointed to himself shocked.

She bobbed her head cutely.

"What can we do? It's the bitter truth of my life." She shrugged royally making an ever so innocent face.

Arnav looked at her for a moment in warning before making a run to her because she has already run to the corner of the cafe bursting out laughing sticking her tongue out at him.

He chased her around the empty cafe with a light smile on his lips while her giggles reverberated in the atmosphere and fell like a music to his ears bringing peace in him inside out.

NK eyed Arnav sitting on the bench in the lawns while he, himself paced left, right, centre on the grass. Try as might he couldn't open his mouth about everything that happened in the last year. Or maybe he didn't know from where to start. Or just, he was finding right words to utter that would hurt less which was even he knew was impossible.

Arnav was losing his patience every passing moment. When NK didn't speak even after the next hour, he lost it.

"Spit it all out, NK. You're only terrifying me by your silence." He growled as her teary face kept swimming before his eyes pinching his heart mercilessly.

"The day we landed in Sydney, only I know how I convinced her to come with me to my place, here. She was refusing to come considering your wish to marry her to me. But somehow I managed to gain some of her trust back and got her home relieved that I got to her but I was wrong. So very wrong." He paused.

"The minute we came home, she forced me to lie about her death. That I should tell everyone that she died due to a blast in the kitchen." NK said rubbing his forehead while Arnav has gone frozen the moment he started speaking but after this revelation he couldn't stay silent.

"And like a fool you listened to her knowing very well that she wasn't in her right frame of mind?" Arnav blasted on him standing up to face him.

"You think I'd have agreed without a fight for such a thing?" NK retorted in the same tone.

Arnav exhaled a sharp breath.

"She actually went to the kitchen and practically turned that lie into reality. Of a blast in the kitchen."

Arnav's eyes widened in horror.

"Don't worry. She didn't get hurt." NK added quickly. Arnav breathed.

"I was so angry at her. I shouted at her for the first time. I never knew I'd. And then, she broke down in front of me." NK croaked with his eyes prickling remembering the time as if it happened just yesterday.

"I don't want to live Nanhe ji. It would be good if death found me by any excuse because I am too a coward to commit suicide myself!"

"Pray for my death Nanhe ji because a weak woman like me don't deserve to live. Because I still..still miss him!"

"I miss him Nanhe ji. I MISS HIM!"

"After everything he did I still.. love him."

"I miss him Nanhe ji. I miss him. I love him Nanhe ji. I LOVE HIM!"

"Those were her exact words." He choked.

Arnav closed his eyes in pain.

"I still couldn't get out of the sting which I felt that day seeing her that way. To be honest, it shattered me. She wasn't only my friend but also my love. Seeing her like that shred me into pieces and out came the rage for you. In that moment, my decision was made." He said the last words spitting fire at him. Arnav couldn't meet his eyes.

"That dead body," Arnav whispered brokenly.

"Don't ask me about it." NK said sternly.

Arnav felt a huge lump stuck in his throat and didn't ask more about that incident or else he wouldn't have been able to hear more and he knew he had to stay strong in order to know everything she suffered the last year with the burden of such a huge lie on her shoulders.

"Don't tell her I revealed everything to you or else she would break her ties with me as well saying that you're more important for me than her." NK fell on bench besides him feeling drained after telling Arnav everything word to word while Arnav, he couldn't move an inch nor could produce a word.

He just sat there with his head on his clenched hands supported by his elbows on his knees. NK held back a gasp when he placed a hand on his shoulder and Arnav looked up.

His red rimmed eyes pinched his heart.

"Am I?" Arnav uttered the two words with great difficulty.

"For me, you and Khushi aren't separate. If I'd take one's side that means I am siding with you both." NK replied genuinely.

Arnav's hands trembled.

"She deserves a man like you who love her unconditionally." Arnav croaked averting his eyes inhaling a breath as his lungs suddenly felt deprived of oxygen as he said that.

"Maybe. But what can we do with her heart which can never feel anything for any man other than you?" He asked a very obvious question wistfully with his eyes prickling.

Arnav had no answer as he knew even he, himself was helpless when it comes to his heart.

"Now that you know what would you do?" NK asked composing himself a bit. Reliving those memories weren't easy for him either.

"Give me the address of the place where she works."

NK narrowed his eyes as he saw the determination replacing the brokenness on his cousin brother's face.

"You aren't going to create any scene at her work place would you? Because I swear Arnav, I don't know about Khushi but I sure would sue you."

"NK," Arnav gritted turning his head to him defiantly. "Address!" He repeated.

NK typed it in his cell and sent it to Arnav. Hearing the beep on his phone, Arnav took it out, opened the message, stared at it for a minute before standing up and storming off without looking back.

NK frowned now worried of what was cooking in his cousin's brain?

Did he do right by telling Arnav everything or not?

Only time will tell.

"You have become so bitter do you know that Mrs. Raizada?"

"If I had signed the papers then you'd have lost your rights on Dhruv as well dammit. I saved you from pining to be with our son."

"If I had divorced you then I wouldn't have let you even a mile near my son!" He had blasted.

She was lying on the bed haphazardly with her misty eyes glued to the ceiling. After every moment one or two tears would slip from the corner of her eyes and dissolve in her hairs. Her heart was constricting in her chest to the point of suffocation but she laid still. Rigid.

"It was you who abandoned our son to punish a little baby of a few hours for the mistakes he never committed."

"You loathe my Bhai because he made your sister pay even when she was innocent and look here, what you did?"

"You shouldn't blame my brother anymore because you did the same to your son by depriving him from the motherly affections which are his birth rights!"

"How could you stay detached to the being whom you nurtured inside of you for long nine months?"

It wasn't easy finding yourself on the wrong side. Very, very wrong side. Did she really do that to her own blood? How could she? How dare she? How could she let go of a part of her the news of whom has brought her out of the despair she fell in after separating from Akash due to his misjudgment?

How could she let go of the only solace left in her life after her sister's apparent death?

How?

She closed her eyes in sheer pain.

"You want divorce from Akash, Payal? Fine, you would get it." It was Arnav.

"Before that you should know not only would the property be divided between you two but also Dhruv. Only one of you would get his custody and considering your history with abandoning Dhruv and Akash taking a very good care of him all along, you very well know what would be the court's decision."

Her insides churned as Dhruv's innocent face swam in her eyes and twisted knives in her gut. Separating from her son for the second time? NO! She shrieked inwardly sitting up straight breathing hard.

"But even if court still decided to give you a benefit of doubt then they would see who could give Dhruv all the luxuries of a good life, education and upbringing and I need not tell you who would win in that trial too. So go ahead, sister-in-law. File for a divorce and I swear if you did then I'd be the one hiring the best lawyer to make sure my brother wins!"

"Divorce?" She whispered to herself as if, as if she just realized the real meaning to that word or what would follow if it happened. Not only would she has to withdraw from Dhruv but also from Akash.

A scream of agony brewed up inside which she prevented to come out of her mouth by putting both of her palms over her mouth as tears flowed unchecked.

The fear of losing Akash, it never prickled her the last year because he was there everywhere, everyday of the whole year but now, now when he himself was thinking about divorce, that fear now weighed down on her. Not only of losing him but her son as well whom she has just got back after such a long fight with herself.

Losing Khushi has fogged her heart and mind so much that she didn't realize what she actually was missing. Now, spending just a few hours with her son in her arms in the flight from India to Sydney has opened her eyes.

Even before landing she has vowed to make up for the lost time with Dhruv but never for once she thought about making up for her bad behavior with Akash because she was sure no matter what he won't leave her. He couldn't. But now, that wasn't the case anymore and it was prickling her with needles of how to set things right.

How should she make him believe that she has forgiven him long ago. Maybe that day itself when he started coming to Gomti Sadan with Dhruv and made sure she knew each and every progress of her son. He proved her that he wasn't his brother. He wasn't Arnav Singh Raizada. In fact for him, his relations, his love, his son, his family and his wife means more than anything else in the world. Even more than his own ego, hurt, pain and loneliness. He overlooked everything thinking that it was his punishment for not siding with her when his Bhai accused Khushi and married her to Shyam forcibly.

Now as she looked at it, she shouldn't blame Akash for that either because if she were in his place she would have done the same. She would have sided with her family, her close sibling only with whom she has grown up since childhood. So if he did the same then what wrong did he do that she tortured both him and her like this? Soon, in that list she added up her son and made him suffer too.

Not anymore!

She wiped her tears firmly and stood up adjusting her dress left the room with determination shining on her face.

Just that she has to come back in the room with dejection written on her face because she got to know that Akash has left with Dhruv to book the tickets which she has so coldly ordered him earlier.

"Since you heard it Akash can you make arrangements for my departure?" She said sternly.

"And yeah Dhruv is coming with me." She added.

"You want divorce from Akash, Payal? Fine, you would get it." Arnav said.

"If I had divorced you then I wouldn't have let you even a mile near my son!" Akash had blasted.

Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Akash's silence over the proposition Arnav gave to him put fear in her mind so profound that tears spilled over her cheeks.

"Will he divorce me?" The question left her mouth and so did her confidence as well as determination and she sobbed burying her face into her hands and didn't realize that it was her who always asked for divorce from Akash. Not once he himself proposed it, ever.

"You don't want to be fine. All right. Let's enjoy being in this pain. We both will. Together!"

"We are not together." She cried out.

"We will be. Because you'd get rid of me only when you will be fully sane and healthy not only physically but mentally as well!"

"I am not crazy if that's what you are implying!" She protested more forcefully.

"Yeah you are not. Except that you just declare yourself death for sport, right?" He scoffed.

She slid against the door with her lifeless eyes yet her body was still shaking with tremors due to their intense encounter not so long ago. She brought her shaky hands in front of her face and keenly observed the way they were shivering before placing one above her heart and found it erratically beating as if.. as if it has come alive after ages.

Sweat beads formed on her forehead as a slit formed in her fogged, depressed mind and soon she was hyperventilating as her lungs refused to take in oxygen due to the onslaught of emotions raging within her.

Everything happened so suddenly, so quickly that she didn't know how to deal with this twisted situation that has now risen in her already crestfallen life.

He was back and so was everything that has ever happened between them.

Their unexpressed love, his unbound hatred, her unconditional love, his cruelty, him marrying her forcibly to Shyam and what not. All of her life swam before her eyes like a panorama and it drowned her in a dark hole. In its darkest pit.

The little bit sanity she has gained being away from him and shattering him with the news of her death vanished into thin air. In place of it, a madness took over which soon showed in her eyes which just a few minutes ago were lifeless.

She wiped her eyes which she didn't know when started pouring down her cheeks and stood up from the floor and turned to the door. Unlocking it she walked out with her jaws set tight and crashed hard with the man of her thoughts at the turn of the corridor.

A low squeal left her losing her balance. Shutting her eyes tight she didn't reach out to hold anything to stop from falling and in return hurting herself. She just wanted to feel some physical pain which would take her mind off from the invisible pain crunching her insides.

She waited and waited but it never came. Instead felt a firm hold on her wrist before she was pulled forward and crashed back to the person standing before her who was drowned in another guilt trip reading all of her thoughts on her face of how she was so keen on hurting herself.

Feeling warm hands caressing her hairs at her back before they locked on her waist, she opened her eyes and soon they went wide as saucers looking into chocolate brown pools filled with so much anguish that it pinched her heart. In her subconscious she knew it was him without even looking but her stubborn mind wanted to deny everything. Every obvious evidence in front of her eyes.

Khushi Kumari Gupta then saw how his intense, emotion filled eyes soon became devoid of everything and she saw the same glint in his brown orbs which she did the day when he married her to Shyam. On reflex she started protesting.

"HANDS.OFF.ME!" She chewed each word trying and failing miserably in her attempts to do so.

"Dr. Sinha will be here by tomorrow. Your counseling will be started from where it was left off and you better start taking it seriously now!" Not only his words, his demeanor screamed of coldness which despite everything broke Khushi some more and defiance seeped into her.

"You are no one to take decisions for me. You are NO ONE. Suna apne? (Did you hear me?)" She growled wriggling hard.

"Oh really?" He left her with a jerk and folded his arms across his chest with a raised eyebrow while Khushi tried hard to regulate both her breathing and emotions.

"Prove it." He stated briskly.

Swallowing once she closed her eyes to gather her wits before raising her lashes to him with the same vigor like before. Even with more coldness with which he was looking at her right now.

"Prove what?" She too crossed her arms across her chest defiantly. Neither of them was ready to show their weakness at all.

"That I am no one.. to you!" He shrugged.

From one side of stairs NK and Sheetal were coming up and from the other Akash with Dhruv in his arms who heard them and were now standing on either corners of the corridor watching their another encounter with their breaths stuck up in their throats.

Khushi's brows furrowed. Seeing that she didn't understand what he was implying he elaborated.

"Prove that you are not affected by me anymore. Prove that what Payal said earlier about you was wrong. That you are refusing getting treatment because you can't let go of me. You want to hold on. Do you?"

For a moment, Khushi stared at him blankly not understanding what he was implying but soon like a bomb it exploded in her brain.

"You know what I think of your stupid idea of revenge and all Khushi?" Payal seethed.

"It's your own way to keep clinging to him not because you want to punish him but because you don't want to let go. At all."

"You just want to stay in this pain because it connects you to him. You just want to keep feeling something, anything for him even if it's hate, disgust, hurt, pain and all sorts of dark things he make you feel!"

"NO!" She shouted out loud placing both her palms over her ears.

Sheetal took a step forward but NK held her wrist and shook his head to stay where she was. Same thing he gestured to a worried Akash who was standing on the other end of the corridor. While for Arnav, it took all of his self-restraint to keep standing in his place and not close the distance between them and hug her. She was looking too vulnerable.

He could see how much in a bad situation she was in that it takes her at least a few moments to understand things. The thought itself was enough to suck off his breaths but he stayed strong on his place. For her.

"If not, prove it Ms. Gupta! Start back your treatment." He stated flatly.

"No. No. NO. You can't make me agree. Do whatever you want. I won't say a word to your doctor. I won't take any treatment or the counseling ever. I'd never." She bellowed so hard that Payal also came running out of her room and upstairs to stand besides Akash.

"That means you want to keep clinging to me?" Arnav was pestering her to the best of his limits.

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" She shoved him hard.

Akash gripped Payal's wrist who was about to move to them and pulled her back against him and held her around her waist while Dhruv was already sleeping on his other shoulder.

"Take Dhruv to your room or else he'd wake up." Akash whispered in her ear from behind. Her swollen eyes didn't go unnoticed by him indicating that how much she cried. He didn't want to be that harsh or rude with her but he didn't know what came over him when he lashed out at her.

To his surprise, she didn't protest and turning to him took Dhruv in her arms carefully. She gave a worried glance to the heated argument between Arnav and Khushi. Akash noticed it and much to her bewilderment cupped the side of her cheek before saying,

"I am here. I will take care of them. Do you believe me?"

Payal swallowed blinking back the tears before nodding sniffling.

"I do." She choked. Now it was Akash's turn to swallow past a lump. Payal left downstairs with Dhruv while Akash turned his attention back to his brother and Khushi where she was now hitting his chest non-stop while Arnav stood as if he was made of stone.

"I don't have to prove you anything. I don't. I don't." She kept repeating it while slapping his front before shaking him grabbing his collars. That itself told how much she needed a serious counseling.

Arnav scratched his stubble when she stopped for a moment to breath while her eyes turned red with restraint she was putting up not to cry in front of him.

"You have two options now Khushi Kumari Gupta. Either you'd start back your treatment with Dr. Sinha or you'd have to marry me."

At that not only Khushi but also NK, Akash and Sheetal gasped dumbfounded.

"WHAT RUBBISH?" She took several steps back as if his words physically pushed her.

Arnav was as brisk as ever. He royally shrugged pissing her off. She lurged forward and this time slapped him hard on his cheek.

"This is my answer to both of your propositions!" She cried out and brought back her hand from his cheek to place it on her mouth to stifle her sobs.

"How could you-" She trailed off feeling too choked to continue further. "How could you say something like that to me after what you did?"

"Maire liye hi itni takleef mai ho na tum? (You're in this pain because of me aren't you?)" He yanked her closer. Khushi stared at him aghast still not out of the shock.

"You once said that why didn't anyone dished ME out for you in platter, right? Didn't you? Here, I am. I am giving myself to you Khushi Kumari Gupta." All of the briskness became the thing of the past and out came the broken man he was. Blinking back the tears, he cupped the sides of her neck earnestly.

"Arnav Singh Raizada is yours. Now do whatever you want to do with him. I'd never complain. I am yours. Please, I am yours Khushi. Make me yours." He touched his forehead to hers in sheer helplessness while a whimper of acute anguish left Khushi's mouth as well. NK, Sheetal and Akash's eyes weren't dry either.

"Just, just get better. Please agree for the counseling. Please?" He croaked threading his fingers in her hairs breathing harshly. Despite him holding on to her face tightly she slipped from his hands and dropped down on her knees before burying her face in her hands sobbing harder. She couldn't keep up the facade of being strong and unbroken before him anymore after what he just said.

"Please Khushi. You don't want me to be in peace, I am not. I will never be for what I did to you. But just, just for once think about your family. Not for me, do it for them. They are innocent." He pleaded dropping himself on knees before her.

"I WAS INNOCENT TOO!" She pointed to herself in a snap spitting fire at him. "Did anyone think about me? Did YOU think about me? Then why should I?" Her voice has turned hoarse with all the crying and screaming.

Downstairs, Payal could clearly hear everything while standing leaning against the closed door behind which her son was sleeping. She sobbed along with her sister yet she didn't run upstairs to console her because she knew this phase Khushi has to pass by herself to get better.

All of a sudden she stopped crying and looking into his eyes said,

"Okay, I will marry you."

Everyone's eyes widened while Arnav couldn't breath.

"W-What?"

"But I have a condition."

"Anything. Anything you ask." His answer was quick and certain but not for long.

"Wipe those three months I spent with Shyam." She gritted out. He froze and so did everyone.

"Wipe it from the moment you married me to him to the point when you mixed abortion pills in my tea. Could you?" She cupped his cheeks whilst more moisture gathered in her eyes.

"Please. Wipe it all. The words he said, the things he did, everything. Especially the time whenever he came close to me!" She gasped. He shut his eyes tightly in pain as his stomach twisted in anguish. But she wasn't done yet.

"When he-" A loud wail left her throat before it turned into muffled sobs. "Wipe the time whenever he used to say 'loving' words and all I could think about was you. Every time he used to touch me, not him I'd find you in the place of him."

Akash turned his back to them with his fist to his mouth before wiping the corner of his eyes while NK blinked back the tears.

"Marriage was such a sacred bond for me. I promised myself that whomever I'd marry I'd love him, cherish him my entire life no matter what. I promised myself that I'd compromise with him in every situation whether good or bad but.." She hiccuped.

"But because of you I couldn't help but make a mockery out of it. I did the same which Shyam did to Anjali Di. I betrayed that relation by loving someone else and pretending to be okay and all right with the other. ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" She whimpered.

"It was like I wasn't with him but you only for those three months I stayed with him. He didn't even exist for me." She threw her head back in sheer torture as her heart pinched in her chest.

Sheetal ran downstairs not being able to see it all anymore and found Payal standing against her room's door sobbing silently while Arnav couldn't stay silent anymore. At least she spoke some of her pain. It would relieve some of the burden from her heart.

Pursing his lips harder he reached out and despite her protests yanked her closer and embraced her, cried on her shoulder and so did she. Soon, she realized her position and pushed him off before standing up on shaky legs while he kept sitting on the ground with his shoulders slumped, head bowed.

"So, don't you dare talk about marrying me at all unless you don't complete my condition. As far as seeing your so called doctor Sinha is concerned I dare you call him and I swear you'd get nothing out of it. Neither my betterment nor yours!" Saying that in a clearly hoarse but determined tone she turned to leave but found her wrist in a vice like grip which stopped her from moving further.

She looked down and found it in his hand while Arnav sat there with his jaws clenched and hands balled into fists on his lap. When he looked up at her his eyes were devoid of emotions yet again.

"Leave my hand!" She twisted it in his hold.

He stayed unfazed and stood up to face her with her hand in his grip while she continuously struggled.

"Agar tum ziddi ho toh mai bhi Arnav Singh Raizada hun. Zid mai tum se kayi hath aage. Agar apni zid puri karne k liye Shyam se tumhari shaadi karwa sakta hun toh tum hi socho ab toh maira dimagh bhi thikane aa gaya hai. Ab tumhe iss sab se nikalne k liye kya kya kar sakta hun aur karun ga!

(If you are stubborn then I am Arnav Singh Raizada. Way more stubborn than you. If I could marry you off with Shyam in my obstinacy then think when now I am back in my fully sane mind, what not I could do to get you out of this condition? In fact I would!)" He hissed pressing her hand involuntarily.

She winced. He loosened some of the hold but still kept it firm.

"Hamara haath chodiye! (Let go of my hand!)" She said as if his words had no affect at her at all.

He balled his other hand into fist and with the other tugged at her wrist. She fell on his chest. Her eyes widened.

"Think about the options I gave you. Agree for the therapy or else I'd have to make you mine to give the therapy myself."

"What did you mean by 'I would have to marry you?' You can't force me for anything, anymore. Keep that in mind!" She warned.

"I won't. Not until you didn't force me to!" Now they were standing nose to nose looking into each other's eyes defiantly.

Before they get into another verbal brawl NK and Akash nodded at each other realizing that it was time for them to intervene because their conversation was going into dangerous territory which could turn disastrous.

So they stepped forward and separated them apart bringing them both out of the trance they were in while spitting fire at each other challenging the other with their eyes.

Arnav breathed while Khushi gasped.

"I have booked flight tickets of a week later." Akash said in order to distract him because Khushi has run back to her room and Arnav kept looking at her retreating back until she didn't disapper from his sight.

Arnav frowned before looking at him confused.

"A week later?"

Akash nodded while Payal standing downstairs against her door felt her heart jumping up to her throat.

"Yeah. Only this much urgent I could book the tickets."

"For?" Arnav raised his eyebrow rubbing his hand over his face to compose himself after such an intense encounter with Khushi.

"All of us." Akash said and Payal placed a hand above her heart touching her head back to the door.

"Are you out of your mind? It was Payal who wanted to go back to India. You should have booked her tickets only." Arnav seethed.

"I know but then I thought that if we-"

"You very well know that in 'all of us' Khushi won't count herself. She won't come back so easily. And I am not leaving her alone here." He argued.

"In that Payal could help. Only she could convince her to come with us."

"Do you really think Payal would help me?"

"No. But she would help her sister for sure." Akash said confidently.

"Will you talk to her?"

Akash hesitated for a moment and it plunged knives in Payal's heart.

"I will."

It was turning to be a very long day for everyone. It was just 6 in the evening but they all were feeling like they have passed years and years from morning till now. Silence weighed down on the mansion which broke when NK's parents made their entry back from a business event they went to attend yesterday as it was out of the town.

NK was taking a stroll in his garden when he spotted them getting out of the car and heaved a sigh of relief reaching up to them. As soon as he did, he engulfed them both in bear hug much to their astonishment and worry. Not because he hugged them, it was his usual way of greeting them for about months now but for the way his body language screamed of tiredness and.. heartbreak made them wary.

Something was up. They understood and embraced him back. His mother caressed his hairs while his father thumped his back to give him support to gather himself and he did before pulling back after a minute. Passing them a weak smile he announced.

"Nannav, Akash, Payal and Dhruv are here."

They looked at him surprised. They didn't need more introduction as the names were enough.

"Precisely, the Raizadas!" Sohana said with a smile to cheer him up a bit as she could see it was taking a toll on him. It was just a few months ago when he has indulged about Khushi's 'detailed' introduction to them including the lies he told Raizadas and Guptas for Khushi. They were stunned to silence because they never knew that he would go against his own relations to do something like that even though he knew it wasn't right. That day they realized what Khushi actually meant to him. He calls her his 'best friend' but they knew the truth was far more different and .. deep.

NK opened up with his parents, most accurately, when the barrier between the two mansions was removed. All thanks to Khushi. That was another long story.

If Raizadas were here, that means they must have seen Khushi and they could tell without even asking it must have been an emotional and heartbreaking reunion.

He gestured to them and they took refuge on the chairs in the middle of the lawns itself while NK filled them with all that happened ever since their surprised visit.

"They didn't even inform me until they didn't reach the airport. I could do nothing to stop this sudden face-off between them. I am so worried. Especially for Khushi and Nannav." NK admitted.

"And for Akash and Payal?" Anand spoke for the first time.

"Their case is different Dad. Really. They have their son Dhruv to make a bridge between them despite of all the differences but as far as Arnav and Khushi are concerned, there is nothing to make a way for them. No bridge. No anchor. No hope. Nothing at all. All there is, its hate, pain, suffering, longing, guilt and sadness which isn't healthy at all. Not only mentally but physically as well." NK ran his fingers in his hairs.

"Calm down, son. If they are meant to be, they will find a way. If not then none of us can do anything. Sooner or later, the truth was going to come out anyhow. For how long were you planning to hide it anyway?" Anand asked with furrowed brows.

"I wanted it to be a gradual process. I didn't want neither Khushi nor Arnav to come face to face so suddenly that crush both of them into pieces. And what I didn't want, happened. All of my hard work to prepare both Arnav and Khushi for this time went in vain due to Arnav's impulsive decision to come here without informing." He ran his hands over his face.

"You don't know how I was trying in my own way to prepare them to handle it without any hurtful words exchange. Here, I was trying to convince Khushi to meet up with her parents at least and once she would have come with me to India I'd have slowly given her the confidence to face her demons. Face him."

"Same way, I was talking every other day with Arnav as well. Though he couldn't speak but through texts I kept giving him hints that Khushi was alive. But due to some urgent work in the office I couldn't visit India last weekend as I promised him. Upon that I couldn't contact him at all either. Hence, he came here ruining all of my 365 days effort in a snap." He huffed.

Once he finished speaking his heart out, only then his father spoke.

"Son, if it was in our hands to control where life should go then the first thing I'd have done was to make Khushi fall in love with you!" Anand's words put a bucket of cold water on NK's head. He couldn't breath.

While Sohana eyed her husband incredulously.

"What?" Anand said understanding her look. "Did I say anything wrong? If everything was in our control or lets say even in Arnav or Khushi's hands then they wouldn't have been in this condition at the first place."

"So beta NandKishore, keep it in mind. Don't try to be a control freak like your cousin brother or you might end up losing everything just like he has had in his stupidity." Anand said sternly.

"He lost his sister who was his everything since forever!" NK argued now getting offended.

"No. She wasn't his everything. Yes she was the most important person in his life but at that time even Khushi has made an important place in his life. If he has lost his sister he should have turned for support from the only important person left in his life. But what he did? He turned her down. Pushed her away in the worst way possible. He gave her to his sister's murderer. Pathetic!" Anand gritted angrily. Still his blood boils whenever he thinks of it. The very first time NK told him, he has reacted the same way.

"Dad, please? He was not in his senses. He didn't know what he was doing. Doctor said so himself." NK said pleadingly.

Sohana placed a hand over Anand's hand on the arm rest and squeezed it silently asking him to calm down.

"Fine I agree. He was sick. And all thanks to him he made sure the only person left in his life turn as much ill as he was. Whenever I see that girl I feel like strangling that Raizada to death. Neither can she be with him nor without. How much helpless she is because of him!"

Despite the seriousness of the situation NK couldn't help but smile seeing the protectiveness emanating from Anand for Khushi. In a few months, ever since she reconciled his parents with him, she has made a special place in his parents' heart. Now they treat her as their own daughter. After knowing everything about her, her respect in their eyes only grew manifold.

"What's so amusing?" Anand exclaimed.

NK shook his head.

"Nothing Dad. Just happy the way you and Mom have accepted her in your lives. Despite being related with Raizadas you're supporting the person who is right."

Anand narrowed his eyes at his son.

"Oh come on. Now don't you dare go all grateful to us because it should be us thanking her for coming in our lives and giving us our son back. Besides, yes, Raizadas are our close relatives because your mother's cousin sister Manorama is married in that house but that doesn't mean I'd side with whatever happens in that family whether right or wrong. I have eyes and ears which I know how to use."

"He is right." Sohana said genuinely.

"Fine. Fine. I got it." NK exhaled raising his hands in surrender.

"Right now, I need your help. No one has eaten even a single bite since morning and if we didn't intervene they would starve because it is not even the last thing on their mind right now."

"Are you serious? Are they starving a one year child as well in their worries?" Sohana stood up angrily all set up to go inside and take their class.

"Mom. Mom. Relax. I am not talking about Dhruv but elders. Payal has taken his responsibility well but she herself refused to eat anything. Same is the case with Akash, Arnav and Khushi. In fact Khushi didn't even go to work today. If she has had, she would have got some distraction from this tense atmosphere."

"Weren't she and Sheetal going to attend Nisha's engagement?"

"Yeah and since the morning Sheetal was only trying to convince her to go with her but then Raizadas made an entry and it all took a backseat."

"Engagement is at night. Precisely at 8, right?" Sohana double checked with NK.

He nodded with a frown.

"Don't worry. She will go. Sheetal is still here, right?"

"No. She went home considering the delicate situation. She said she didn't want to intrude."

"Call her to get back here. She and Khushi are definitely going to the engagement."

"But Mom, you know Khushi. She,"

"Seriously, NK. You are doubting that your mother won't be able to do what she has decided so firmly?" Anand replied cutting him.

"Exactly. Khushi did so much for us. Now its time to return the favor." Sohana said emotionally. Anand nodded totally agreeing with her.

NK felt some of the tension ebbing away with their optimistic support.

"Now, get up. We shall get inside and get those lazy lads out of their self-imposed prison. I mean, their rooms!" Sohana urged them and they both got up with a relieved look on their faces before following her inside.

Arnav touched their feet and so did Akash. After them Payal came forward to greet them. Blessing them all with a smile on their face Anand and Sohana asked them to come with them to the dining hall.

Once they settled at the dining table, Sohana asked.

"Where is the little Raizada?"

"He is sleeping." Payal answered politely conscious of herself as Akash was sitting right besides her. Arnav, NK and Akash across them while Sohana on her left side. Anand took the head chair.

"And Khushi?" Anand asked not from her but the maid who was asked to call Khushi from her room. At her name, Arnav's ears perked up.

"She isn't opening the door." The maid replied. Arnav's heart dropped and he abruptly stood up.

"I will go check on her." He mumbled as unbridled fear washed over him. Payal and Akash looked at each other warily seeing his desperation but before he could go Sohana stopped him by saying,

"No. You sit. I will go get her."

"But Auntie," He was cut firmly by Anand.

"She is right. Let her." Anand ordered with a piercing look directed his way that despite wanting to argue Arnav couldn't say a word more and sat back on the chair interlinking his fingers in agitation.

In all this Akash, NK and Payal didn't intervene knowing very well that even if Arnav had went to call her, Khushi wouldn't have responded to him at all no matter how much he'd have pleaded. But if Sohana Aunt would go there were chances Khushi won't be able to refuse.

Servants filled their plate and Anant asked them to start eating but none of them did in concern marring their brows for Khushi.

"Didn't you all hear me?" Anand said out loud. "Start eating!" He commanded to which Akash, Payal and NK started eating slowly while Arnav still didn't touch a thing.

Akash and NK shared a glance eyeing Arnav who was playing with the food with the fork in his hand.

"Here she comes." Sohana's voice made Arnav's head shot up and his eyes sought her as she walked to the table and firstly touched Anand's feet to get his blessings.

"Stay happy, always." Anand prayed genuinely which brought tears to Khushi's eyes. She blinked rapidly to ward off the moisture.

"Aaj hamari beti itni chup kyun hai? (Why is my daughter so silent today?)" Anand asked as Sohana made her sit besides her opposite Arnav whose eyes weren't leaving her.

Khushi swallowed past a lump and so did Arnav.

"Nothing Uncle. I am not feeling well today. That's all." She shrugged it off as nothing making Arnav's heart clench. Payal felt like hugging her while Akash and NK couldn't help but feel sad for her. They knew what was wrong with her health. Upon that Anand and Sohana has made the estranged couple sit across each other.

How would they eat when the other was sitting right in front of their eyes?

Khushi's plate was filled with food and Sohana urged her to eat but Khushi kept glaring at the person sitting on the other side of the table gawking at her. Everyone noticed this exchange.

On NK's gesture through eyes Sohana nodded and making a morsel brought it to Khushi's mouth bringing her out of her reverie to send daggers Arnav's way. Clenching her jaws she passed Sohana a fake smile before opening her mouth. As she chewed the morsel they all saw awed that Arnav tore the roti, dipped it in curry, ate and chewed along with her making it impossible for Payal to hold back her tears.

She was about to get up to leave but felt a hand on her thigh stopping her. She turned her head to Akash who shook his head at her to keep sitting. Pursing her lips, blinking back the moisture, she nodded restraining herself.

"I-I will eat myself, Auntie." Khushi said now composed and filled Sohana's plate herself. Relieved Sohana nodded and picked fork and spoon to eat. Not wanting others to suffer because of her, Khushi started eating.

All the while as Khushi ate she kept avoiding his gaze not knowing that only when she ate a morsel then he would. Seeing this, the others could barely gobble down their food.

"I am full." Khushi said casually and got up. Despite noticing the thick tension in the atmosphere she didn't acknowledge it or rather say she ignored it.

Arnav pushed away his plate too while NK, Akash, Payal and Anand had long ago stopped eating and were just waiting for Arnav and Khushi to finish thei food without them having to break the trance they were in while eating.

"Hello, everyone!" Sheetal's entry somewhat cut the thick tension engulfing them all in. NK sighed in relief seeing her.

"Glad you came. Now go with Khushi upstairs and get ready for the function."

"Function?" Khushi asked confused.

"Did you forget?" Sheetal answered. "We are supposed to attend Nisha's engagement?"

"No. Not we, you were. You're just hell bent on forcing me to go with you."

"What kind of a friend are you? Can't you do such a trivial thing for me?" Sheetal made a sad face while Khushi remained unfazed. Sheetal looked at Sohana for help. Arnav noticed this exchange and understood what were they trying to do.

"Come on Khushi. Nisha and Arjun would be so happy to see you." Sheetal tried again.

"She is right Khushi. If you'd go the couple would be over the moon." Sohana sided with her.

"I have already apologized to Nisha and Arjun both, personally. They accepted my apology." Khushi wasn't ready to listen at all.

"Is it the hard and fast rule that you can't go after an apology. In fact now if you'd go it would be a best surprise for them on their special day." Sheetal said exasperated.

"Do you have extra invites for the function as well?" Arnav spoke addressing Sheetal. Khushi narrowed her eyes at him. All of her nonchalant regarding the matter puffed into thin air.

"Yes." Sheetal answered. "Either I or Khushi could take one person each with us."

"Great." He stood up placing the napkin on the table. "So that means if I want I can come with you?" Arnav asked Sheetal completely ignoring Khushi.

Payal seethed seeing his audacity as she could clearly see how much it was affecting Khushi. Akash shook his head at her not to say anything to which she huffed inwardly while NK could see what Arnav was trying to do here so he kept quiet and asked his parents through his eyes to stay silent as well.

"Of course." Sheetal said awkwardly as she could see how Khushi was throwing daggers at Arnav who blinked his eyes at Sheetal asking her to play along. She nodded as the awkwardness ebbed away.

"Do you know why your friend Khushi don't want to go?" Arnav though addressed Sheetal but his eyes focussed now on Khushi who clenched her jaws looking at him.

"Why?" Sheetal asked now really curious.

"Because unfortunately she had to do a hasty marriage because of which she couldn't have the pre-wedding rituals." He said mercilessly sending chills down everyone's spine as Khushi took a step back in stupor as her eyes widened in sheer torture.

"Now she can't see anyone marrying so extravagantly with all the rituals. She can't see anyone happy because she isn't." Arnav added casually piercing his eyes into her soul taking her breaths away.

He removed his gaze from her dumbfounded face and looked at Sheetal's worried one.

"Wait for me. I'd be ready in a jiffy." He said and coming around the table walked to the stairs.

"One minute!" Khushi's sharp voice stopped him on his tracks. His heart clenched in his chest as he felt the challenge in her voice itself.

He turned and looked at her in question expressionlessly. She walked slowly to him while everyone at the dining table stood up.

"It was a good try." She said reaching up to him. He rasped.

"But not good enough." She came closer and dusted his blazer over his shoulder twisting knives in his gut.

"Enjoy the engagement with your ex-girlfriend. You must reminisce the old flames and get acquainted with her during this function. Who knows things work out 'very' well." She mocked churning his insides as his own plan backfired on him. She took it all in another meaning.

How the hell does she know Sheetal was his Ex?

"Best of Luck!" She patted his shoulder and stormed upstairs.

He looked helplessly at them especially at Sheetal who looked guiltily at him.

"I am sorry. When I shared my college days with her I didn't know she knew you or vice versa." Sheetal explained.

"You did it again." Payal spoke angrily heading to Arnav. "You say you'd help her but then you do the exact opposite. You are only burdening her with more suffering as if she hasn't had enough already!"

"Your sister know me very well." Arnav exclaimed."She knows that there is no one in my life other than her. Neither would there anyone be, ever. But still she is taking everything in the pessimistic way in order to torture herself and in return me." He croaked at the end pointing at himself.

"But you don't worry she would go to the engagement for sure!" Soon determination followed his stance and without waiting for their reply left upstairs aiming towards her room.

When despite her calls Arnav didn't stop Payal opted to follow him but was stopped by a firm hand on her wrist.

She whirled around to look at Akash who was holding her hand.

"Come. I need to talk something 'important' with you." He said and Payal went dead pale.

Was he going to talk about divorce now?

"But Khushi," She muttered trying to find an excuse to avoid the 'talk'.

"You, very sternly yourself told Khushi to make a final decision didn't you? Now, let her do it by herself. She has to pass this on her own. Lets not interfere between them unless we don't have to."

Excusing everyone Akash took a visibly shaken Payal to his room whose heart was galloping fast in her ribcage.

"Can't we talk some other time? I need to check on Dhruv." Payal tried to escape once they were inside the room but he didn't move away from the door after closing it.

"Dhruv is sleeping." He stated pushing his glasses up his nose while observing her keenly.

"I know but still let me,"

"Sit." He said flatly as if she didn't say anything. Walking to the dressing table he opened up a drawer.

Despite wanting to run Payal found herself doing what he ordered. She sat on the corner of the bed and felt her palms sweating when he sat right besides her with an envelope in his hand.

"Here." He extended it to her. She didn't make any move to take it.

What if they contained the divorce deed?

Her mind has shut off. She couldn't think of any other possibility.

"Payal?" He urged her but when she didn't react and kept sitting rigid he grabbed her hand, opened her palm and placed the envelope over her palm.

"I know you want to leave from here as early as possible but that will be only possible through AR private plane which was sent back to India after we landed in Sydney. Now, even if I called it back it would take two days to reach here."

"You very well know that in 'all of us' Khushi won't count herself. She won't come back so easily. And I am not leaving her alone here." Arnav argued.

"In that Payal could help. Only she could convince her to come with us." Akash said.

"Do you really think Payal would help me?" Arnav asked.

"No. But she would help her sister for sure." Akash was sure.

Payal closed her eyes in relief. So they were just tickets. Such an idiot she was. Didn't she herself heard the brother duo talking that Akash would talk to Payal for Khushi?

Akash was still talking not knowing that his wife has gone through hell and back in between his words.

"--This thought occured me and I arranged tickets for all of us. Of this weekend. Now, before you start to argue let me clear one thing that I didn't do it because I want to go with you."

Payal's head shot to him at his tone.

"I did it for Khushi because I think meeting up with her parents might bring a positive change in her. She has stayed separate from them for so long. She needs them. Yeah, apart from Bhai and you, they are an important part of her life, too." He spoke fluently without giving away his emotions.

Payal felt her heart drumming in her ears.

"Also, I know Khushi won't want to travel in the plane owned by Bhai. If you agree then okay. Otherwise I could call AR private jet to get you back to India two days later if you are in a hurry. But mind you, I won't be sending Dhruv with you at all. We would come back this weekend only."

"No." Payal shrieked stunning Akash. He looked at her but she quickly averted her gaze lest he catch the moisture in it.

"I-I will go with you all." She mumbled.

He swallowed seeing her obviously ignoring him, again.

"Great." His tone turned mocking. "At least for once you didn't defy me." He added sarcastically.

"Would you convince Khushi to come with us too because certainly Bhai won't go if she didn't. And I am sure you won't leave your sister alone with Bhai either."

"I am upset with her. You very well know why." Payal admitted silently. "Besides I told her that I won't let her meet Amma, Babu ji until she don't make a firm decision."

"I know that. You're angry with her because she is ruining herself. You put that 'condition' of not letting her meet Amma Babu ji because you know how much it would affect her. But you withdrawing completely from her could affect her badly. You know she isn't healthy at all to take it all at once." He exhaled.

"There Bhai is trying his hard ways with her and here you. I am not saying that forget everything and talk to her normally or just don't talk to her at all. All I am saying is show your anger, be upset with her all you want but do what is in her benefit. Just convince her to come with us to India anyhow."

"I will try." She agreed making Akash frown. What's with her today? She was agreeing to what he was saying without much of a fight. What brought this change?

If only he knew!

"And yeah, don't tell Khushi that I arranged the tickets. If she asked in case then tell her that NK Bhai arranged it because she won't tolerate even a penny spent on her owned by Bhai."

Payal nodded silently. Akash frown deepened seeing her behaving so obediently.

"What's going on Payal?" He cupped her chin softly turning her face up to his. Her heart skipped a beat. She gulped.

"W-What?" She stuttered not being able to meet his eyes.

He tipped her chin up but she still didn't look at him.

"Look at me." He commanded.

She raised her misty eyes to his curious ones whilst a tear rolled her cheek.

"Did I see it right?" He asked in a whisper.

"W-What?" She stammered all over again.

"The fear. The guilt. In your eyes." Now he got her problem. And he understood it very well.

Her eyes widened at his correct guess that she pulled back flustered. Akash noticed her reaction with pursed lips.

She still won't accept. He thought angrily but he won't plead before her anymore, either.

"So its decided. Once we would go back to India we'd divorce." He said nonchalantly while her head shot up to him in shock.

"D-Divorce?" She choked.

"Yeah." He nodded sternly. Pushing his glasses up his nose he added. "I think Bhai is right. If you want a separation then I shouldn't bind you to me without your consent."

Payal became dead pale.

"This week we can stay here as Dhruv's parents. All thanks to you, divorce papers are ready already. They are in India. All we'd have to do is just sign and register it in the court. So all set? We are separating!" He clenched his jaws after finishing while tears rolled down her cheeks but she didn't utter a word flaring his anger.

"You don't have to worry. I won't stop you from meeting Dhruv at all but I won't be giving his custody to you either. I am not as heartless as you are. For me, my son's happiness relies on both I and you. And he would get it all.".

He stood up, turned and stormed out of the room while she slipped from the bed on the floor and splinted into sobs.

Her worst fear has come true.

Akash Singh Raizada has finally given up on Payal Singh Raizada!

________________________

PRECAP:

"Make fun of anyone of my family as much as you want to.Hell disguise as Mami ji as many times as you want if that makes you feelbetter. If not then make fun of me. Sing any song even if it is 'jiji tere jethji dewaane' to tell me that I have my heart locked with a key. Tell me I should be married to alaptop. That I don't know how to smile. Say anything. Do anything but just talk. TALK TO ME KHUSHI. LET ME IN. "

.

.

.

How many times has she imagined this moment when everything was right between them in the past?

But she never knew it would come at this time,this time when it brought nothing but ache in her which settled within her andmade her heart heavy. So heavy that she couldn't draw in air to the point of suffocation. 

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I am feeling too emotional after writing it. I don't know what to say anymore. Just hoping you liked the update as it is a very crucial and important part of the series.

Waiting eagerly for your feedback :)

Please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT.

Cheers!