He couldn't deny the truth any longer. Ignoring Manvi hadn't made his feelings disappear. It hadn't erased the memory of the way her lips felt against his, the way her eyes had looked at him with such tenderness. If anything, it had made those memories stronger, more vivid, and harder to escape.

Sitting in his cabin one evening, long after most of the office staff had gone home, Aarav's thoughts drifted back to Manvi her kindness, her patience, the unspoken love that lingered in her eyes every time she looked at him, despite his coldness. Guilt gnawed at him. He realized that by keeping her at arm's length, he wasn't just hurting her he was denying himself the chance to be happy. And wasn't that what he truly wanted? Happiness? Love?

With a sudden sense of determination, Aarav stood from his chair. He wasn't going to let fear control him any longer. He had to make amends, to tell her how he felt before it was too late. He stepped out of his cabin, his mind racing with the things he wanted to say, the apologies he needed to make.

But as he scanned the office floor, Manvi wasn't there. Her desk was empty, the soft glow of her computer screen the only sign she had been there earlier. Aarav's chest tightened. He had waited too long. She had gone home.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Aarav grabbed his keys and headed out of the office. The cool evening air hit him as he stepped into the parking lot, and without a second thought, he got into his car and drove straight to Malhotra Mansion. The roads were quiet, the city winding down for the night, but Aarav's mind was anything but calm. His thoughts swirled with everything he needed to say to her. He couldn't let her continue to believe that she meant nothing to him, that what had happened between them in Shimla was just a fleeting moment.

As Khushi spotted Aarav's car from her window, she rushed down the stairs, her heart heavy with concern. She found him sitting on the couch in the living room, his face buried in his hands, the weight of his emotions overwhelming him. The soft glow of the evening sun filtered into the room, casting a warm light across Aarav's slumped figure. Khushi approached him quietly, her footsteps soft on the marble floor. Without a word, she began to gently press his head, a comforting gesture she had done so many times before.

Aarav lifted his face, his eyes glistening with unspoken thoughts, and smiled weakly at Khushi. The vulnerability in his eyes struck her deeply, and she sat beside him, her concern growing.

"Kya hua, Dadda? Itne pareshan kyun ho?" she asked softly, her voice filled with gentle concern as she studied his troubled face.

Aarav sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Nahi, kuch nahi," he replied, his voice heavy with emotions he wasn't ready to share.

Khushi frowned, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "Dadda, aapne promise kiya tha na, aap mujhse kuch nahi chupaoge," she reminded him, her voice gentle but firm, urging him to open up.

Aarav let out another deep sigh, the tension in his chest tightening as he struggled to find the right words. "Khushi, mujhe khud kuch samajh nahi aa raha," he admitted, his voice low and defeated.

Khushi looked at him with understanding. "Ya aap samajhna nahi chahte ho, Dadda," she said gently, her voice laced with love and patience.

Aarav turned to her, confusion clouding his features. "Matlab?" he asked, unsure of what she meant.

"Maine aapke saath itne saal misbehave kiya, wo sab aap bhool paye?" Khushi asked, her voice tinged with remorse and hope.

Aarav's expression softened. "Khushi, tumne mujhe itni haseen yaadein di hain ki wo sab mayne nahi rakhta," he replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He had forgiven her long ago, cherishing the bond they had rebuilt over time.

A smile spread across Khushi's face, relief flooding through her. "Exactly, Dadda. Agar aap apne past ko bhulana chahte ho toh apne dil ko pyaar karne ki ijazat dijiye. Khushiyon ko chuniye, Dadda," she urged, gently fixing his hair with the same care she had seen him do for her countless times.

Aarav hesitated, his heart still tangled in the fear of repeating past mistakes. "Khushi... lekin," he began, the weight of his insecurities pressing down on him.

"Dadda, Dost aapki sauteli maa jaisi nahi hain. Yeh baat aap ache se jante ho, par mante nahi ho," Khushi said, her eyes welling up with emotion. "Unse behtar mere liye maa koi ho hi nahi sakti."

Aarav felt his heart tighten as he looked at his daughter, her teary eyes reflecting years of longing. He had always sensed her deep connection with Manvi, but he had hesitated to fully acknowledge it. The weight of his past—his hurt, his fear—had kept him distant, afraid to embrace the idea of loving again.

"Khushi," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "main tumhare jazbaat samajhta hoon. Par yeh faisla lena itna aasaan nahi hai."

Khushi, now sitting beside him, gently took his hands in hers, her small fingers squeezing his large, calloused ones. Her eyes held a maturity far beyond her years, understanding more than he had ever realized. "Dadda, Dost hum sab se pyaar karti hain. Unhone kabhi mujhe takleef nahi di, aur kabhi dengi bhi nahi. Aapko unhe ek mauka dena chahiye, aur apne aapko bhi."

Aarav swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat as her words struck him deeply. "Par Khushi, agar fir se..." His voice trailed off, his mind clouded with memories of Maya and the pain she had caused.

Khushi shook her head, her expression firm. "Dadda, agar hum darr ke jeeyenge, toh kabhi bhi khush nahi reh payenge. Aapko Dost par bharosa karna hoga, jaise aap mujh par karte ho."

Aarav looked into his daughter's eyes, seeing the unwavering strength and wisdom she carried. Tears began to slip down his cheeks, and he found himself overwhelmed by the weight of his own regrets. "Khushi," he whispered, his voice trembling, "mujhse galti ho gayi, beta. Maine Shimla se aane ke baad Manvi se theek se baat bhi nahi ki."

"Dadda, toh kya hua? Jaise aap mujhe manate ho, waise hi Dost ko bhi manalo," Khushi replied, her tone gentle but encouraging. She saw through his guilt and wanted to offer him hope, just as he had always done for her.

Aarav sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair, his emotions swirling like a storm inside him. "Lekin Khushi... main nahi janta uske dil mein mere liye kya hai."

Khushi paused, her gaze softening as she revealed something she had held back for so long. "Dadda, wo aapse pyaar karti hain... mahino se karti hain." Her voice carried a quiet conviction that made Aarav's breath hitch in his throat. "Jab aapne unhe unke ex-husband se bachaya tha aur ghar laaye the, tab unhone aapse pyaar karna shuru kiya tha. Lekin unhone kabhi kaha nahi, kyunki wo jaanti thi ki aap kabhi pyaar nahi karoge unse."

Aarav felt a pang of guilt, realizing how much he had unknowingly hurt Manvi with his emotional distance. Khushi cupped his face gently.

The weight of Aarav's past with Maya still lingered heavily in his mind, a shadow that refused to leave. Memories of her control, the constant manipulation, and the deep emotional wounds she had left behind were still fresh, making him hesitant to trust again, to open up to anyone new. The mere thought of going through that same pain, of being vulnerable once more, made his heart ache. But Khushi's words, gentle yet resolute, pierced through his apprehension like a ray of sunlight in a dark room.

"Dadda," she began softly, yet with an urgency that belied her years, "apne dil ke darwaze kholo. Wo Maya mumma ki tarah nahi hai. Wo sirf aapko pyaar dengi, samjhengi, aur hamesha aapka saath dengi." Her eyes were pleading now, silently asking him to take a chance on love once again.

Aarav closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to steady himself. He could feel the fear gripping him, the weight of old mistakes, the possibility of repeating them, of being hurt all over again. But there was something in Khushi's belief, in her unwavering faith in Manvi, that stirred something deep within him—a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this time could be different.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Sharda entered the room. Her presence was like a calming balm, radiating maternal warmth and understanding. "Khushi ek dum sahi keh rahi hai, Aarav," she said gently, her voice filled with the wisdom of years.

Aarav looked up at her, and in that moment, the kindness in her eyes mirrored the support Khushi had been offering. It was as though they both understood his turmoil, his fear of stepping into the unknown again. Sharda's words, simple yet profound, echoed Khushi's sentiments, urging him to reconsider the path he was about to take.

"Beta," Sharda continued, her voice filled with conviction, "is ghar ko agar koi sawar sakti hai toh wo Manvi hai. Uske aane se Khushi kitni badal gayi hai, aur tum dono ke beech phir se jo rishte bane hain, wo sab Manvi ki wajah se hai. Tum badal gaye ho, Aarav. Kismat ne tumhe ek naya mauka diya hai apni zindagi ko theek karne ka. Use jaane mat do."

Her words struck Aarav deeply, like a key turning in a lock, slowly opening the door to something he had kept shut for so long. He exchanged glances with Khushi, whose hopeful eyes urged him to seize this moment, to choose happiness not just for himself but for their family. "Haan, Dadda," she whispered softly, her voice trembling with trust and hope.

Aarav sat there for a moment longer, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of emotions surging through him—fear, hope, regret, love. But in that swirling storm, there was clarity. He couldn't let his past regrets and fears dictate his future. With Khushi's unwavering support and Sharda's wisdom guiding him, he knew what he had to do.

Slowly, he wiped the tears from his cheeks and stood up. The air in the room seemed to still, as if it was holding its breath, waiting for Aarav to take the next step toward his destiny. The golden light of the setting sun filtered in through the curtains, casting a warm glow over everything, as though nature itself was signaling the beginning of something new.

With each step he took toward the door, Aarav could feel the nervousness in his chest, but it was accompanied by a growing sense of determination. He was ready to find Manvi, to tell her everything, to lay his heart bare and trust her with the pieces of it. He was ready to embrace a new chapter of his life, one where love, understanding, and forgiveness could finally take root and flourish.

As he stepped outside, the cool evening air brushed against his skin, filling his lungs with a sense of renewal. The world seemed alive with possibility, the air charged with anticipation, as though it too was waiting for what was to come. Aarav's heart felt lighter now, more resolute than it had been in years. He knew this decision wasn't just about him; it was about his relationship with Khushi, about the future of their family, and about the love that had quietly grown between him and Manvi.

He got into his car and began the drive to Manvi's house. With every mile, the weight of his past—the fear, the hurt, the guilt—began to slowly lift. It wasn't an easy road, and the future was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, Aarav felt free. Free to hope, free to love, free to embrace the life he had been too afraid to accept.

Guided by Khushi's love, Sharda's wisdom, and his own heart, Aarav felt a quiet confidence growing inside him. The journey ahead would no doubt have its challenges, but he was ready to face them, to trust in the possibility of happiness once more. And this time, he wouldn't let fear hold him back. He was determined to find Manvi, to tell her the truth, and to open his heart to a future filled with love and hope..

Khushi headed to her room with a determined stride, her heart heavy with a complex mix of emotions. As she reached her wardrobe, she opened it gently and took out an old photograph that she had kept hidden for so long. It was a picture of her mother, Maya. Khushi stared at the photo for a moment, her eyes searching the familiar face, but the warmth she used to feel was no longer there. Instead, a small, bittersweet smile tugged at her lips.

"Aapne mere dadda ko kitna dukh diya," she whispered softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Aapne mujhe bhi unke against kar diya tha, par ab... mere dadda ko unka pyaar milega." Her smile grew sadder as she thought of the pain Maya had caused, not just to Aarav but to their entire family. "Aapne dadda ke saath jo kiya uske liye... mujhe aapse nafrat karni chahiye."

She paused, the weight of that thought pressing down on her. She knew she should hate her mother for the way she had treated Aarav, for the suffering she had inflicted. But Khushi couldn't bring herself to feel that hatred, not entirely.

"Mujhe nafrat karni chahiye," she repeated softly, her fingers brushing the edges of the photograph. "Par kar nahi sakti." Her voice was laced with a mixture of pain and frustration. "Dadda ki parvarish hi aisi hai... unhone mujhe aapse nafrat karna sikhaya hi nahi."

With a deep breath, Khushi felt a sense of closure begin to wash over her. She had spent so much of her life torn between her loyalty to her father and the complicated feelings she had toward her mother. But now, seeing how much Aarav had changed, how much happiness Manvi had brought into their lives, Khushi knew what she had to do.

In a swift motion, she tore the picture into pieces, watching as the fragments of her mother's face fell into her hands. She felt a strange sense of liberation as she walked over to the bin and let the torn pieces fall away, her fingers shaking slightly.

"Ab sirf meri dost meri mumma hogi," Khushi whispered to herself, her heart finally making peace with the past. "Aur mere dadda ki patni."

At that moment, Khushi felt lighter, as though a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She had made her decision. Manvi was her new mother now, her friend who had stood by her, her father's companion who had shown nothing but kindness and love.

Meanwhile, at Manvi's home, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. The weight of Aarav's recent behavior had been pressing down on Manvi like an invisible force. She sat on her bed, her knees drawn close to her chest, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Aarav's silence had become unbearable. Each passing day without a word, without an explanation, cut deeper than the last.

Her mind drifted back to the moments they had shared, to the time when she knew with certainty that Aarav would never love her. In the beginning, that knowledge had been enough to shield her from pain. She had accepted that their relationship would remain distant, that Aarav, with his past and his emotional walls, would never open his heart to her.

"Jab main janti thi ki aap kabhi mujhse pyaar nahi karenge... tab koi takleef nahi thi," Manvi whispered to herself, her voice breaking as the tears she had held back began to spill. "Par ab... ab aapki chupi chubti hai mujhe."

She wiped her eyes, but the pain lingered, sharp and relentless. Aarav's recent behavior had given her hope, however brief, that maybe—just maybe—he felt something for her. That kiss... it had felt like more than just a moment of impulse. It had felt real, like a glimpse into the heart he kept hidden from the world. But now, with his silence and distance, that hope had become a source of agony. The uncertainty gnawed at her, the thought that maybe she had misread everything, that perhaps Aarav had pulled away because he regretted ever opening up to her.

Manvi took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She wasn't one to crumble easily, but this time it felt different. This time, the stakes were higher. She had fallen for Aarav long ago, long before she ever admitted it to herself. And now, being so close to him, yet feeling so far away, was tearing her apart.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself a brief moment of vulnerability. "Aapko ya toh pyaar karna hai ya mujhe door karna hai, Aaravji. Par yeh beech ka raasta nahi chalega." The thought swirled in her mind as her heart ached for clarity, for a sign that her love wasn't in vain.