"Khushi" Arnav called softly, She had just come out of the washroom

"Arnav... Yeah?" Khushi said taking her place beside him

Arnav took her hand in his

"It wasn't over last night, You have questions" She stated

"Many"

Khushi sighed Of course

"You were tired last night... So I thought... Also Aashi was there... " Arnav trailed off

"Aashi should be asleep for a little more time. Ask away" Khushi said

"Am I a bad husband, Khushi??" Arnav asked weakly

"N-No Arnav... No you're not a bad husband" Khushi said startled

"Then... Why??" Arnav whispered

"Arnav... "

"You know Khushi I didn't stop you that day, Because I knew you needed to leave for a while, I knew you were upset, You had promised that you'll come back, I never thought you'll leave me alone" Arnav accused sadly

"I.. I needed to... I meant to come back Arnav" Khushi said genuinely

"Then why didn't you??" He shouted in frustration

"Arnav" Khushi was slightly scared

"I'm... I'm sorry Khushi, I didn't mean to shout" Arnav apologized seeing her scared

"No... I deserve it" Khushi said

"You didn't even Try to contact me even once in these six years Khushi, Do you even realize what Hell I was going through?? Was that not selfish??" Arnav shot her with another accusation. This time she deserved it.

And Khushi knew it.

"I tried... I did try, Every way I could think of... Phone, WhatsApp Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, Gmail, Hangouts...Fax, Letters... I tried everything. Every damn thing I could think of. I was blocked from your every social network... My Call never connected, whenever I tried calling you. My letters where coming back... unopened. I had... I really had no idea what to do, How to reach you, How to tell you where I am. I had no idea what was going on in Raizada Mansion. I tried... My best, From the day I discovered my pregnancy, I tried to contact you. I tried.. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to... Arnav." Khushi choked, Tears trickled down her cheeks

Arnav pulled her into his arms, Caressing her back. He shouldn't have accused her like that, He didn't know her reasons

"Ssshh Khushi... Don't cry" Arnav breathed

"I was blank Arnav... I just wanted time to process everything... I never meant to leave forever, I told you that! I just wanted a break from all the chaos... I never... I'm sorry Arnav. I wanted to come back.. I needed you too, I know I deserve being accused like that. I know I deserve far worst... But trust me Arnav, I really didn't mean to keep it from you. I wanted to tell you about Aashi. I was just scared. I don't know why, When I wasn't able to contact you, I grew scared. I wanted your assurance. I wanted you... To know about our baby Arnav... I-" Khushi sobbed uncontrollably in his Arms

"Khushi... Shhh.. Relax jaan don't cry. Please don't cry... Khushi" Arnav consoled

"She was our biggest happiness, I tried Everyday Arnav... But whenever I called home. I don't know how but only Anjali picked up. Later on... I was blocked in the landline too. Then..." Khushi stopped abruptly

"Khushi... Then what??"

"I received a letter" Khushi said in a barely audible whisper.

"From?"

"Her"

"And??"

Khushi got up from the bed and began to search for something in her handbag

She came back with a crumbled sheet of paper in her hand.

Don't you dare use your tiny brain to think How I had my hands on your address, Cherish the fact that I did. This should be the very first, And sadly the very last piece of communication from us. The Raizada Mansion is happy without you. Arav has his rightful place in the house. Sheetal Ji is going to get her rightful place too. You're thinking about Arnav, Aren't you? Your Arnavji is a hard nut to crack... Khushi. But no worries... I'll have him under me in no time. Isn't that a happy news?? Khushiji?? But you'll have to help me. Will you help me Khushiji?? Of course you will. So you will have to follow some advices

STOP TRYING TO CONTACT MY BROTHER

Don't you see Khushiji, That he has blocked you away from his and everyone else's life (More like... I have :P) Oh you must know that.. My lovely chote wouldn't do it. So it's me. There's no use lying to you. It's been months, You've left. Then WHY AREN'T YOU LEAVING ARNAV ALONE?? Why are you Hell bent on coming back again and again?? You have left... So don't even Call him. Because I'm not going to let you come back No matter how hard you try. There's no way in Hell you're going to come back. Get that straight to your tiny little head. Take me very seriously Khushiji. Because I guess you know me enough to gather that I don't give up easily. I'm ASR too... And I have my ways.. Remember, If I can get hold of your address. I can do far worst. I hope I don't need to make myself clearer

Yours
Anjali

Khushi sat motionless as Arnav read the letter with shaking hands

"It could be a blank threat Arnav... Maybe not even written by Di-"

"It's her handwriting. And it's Anjali, Not Di"

"Aashi was barely a week old, When... This letter, I was already... Horrified. I didn't know what to do. Arnav..."

"I went about searching for you. I couldn't succeed. You could be anywhere in the world."

"You wouldn't have found me. I was moving about every few months. After that letter... I couldn't risk it..  with Aashi, Could I?" Khushi said

"Okay... Granted. But you could've come back straight... It's your Home!!" Arnav said

"It's... It's my home, I agree. But Arnav I had no idea how the family has taken my leaving the house. I had no Idea till then What's going on in Shantivan... I had no Idea. And then sheetal called me.. Three days after I left home. And The day I became conscious of my pregnancy. Told me all about Anjali.. And Hung up, Without even waiting for a reaction from my side. What do you expect me to do? Come barging inside the house Where I know Anjali hates me enough to break even her Chote into a million pieces to have her way with him. To kick me out of that house. I was scared. For my little angel. She wasn't even Born Arnav. I know it was selfish of me. But I did what I felt was the right thing to do. I just stayed away. Never left... I tried every thing I could to contact you. It was breaking me too Arnav. You're the last person I'd ever think of abandoning. You're more than my life to me Arnav... Just-" Khushi said

"I know. I know Khushi... Shh, Love I know.. I understand. And you're not selfish, Don't Call yourself that. You had reasons, Which I didn't know. Please understand, Please.. It's been Six Years, I was..." Arnav said

"I know... Relax. I know I went through that as well I can understand... Moreover I had my Laad Governors' Princess with me. She was honestly the only reason I was sane. You didn't even have her. And I am to blame for that, Had I found my strength earlier... This wouldn't have happened." Khushi said

"Chote... You're late for breakfast" Nani said as she saw ArShi and their little princess making their way down the stairs

"Sorry Nani..  Aashi was showing tantrums while waking up. So we got a little late" Khushi said

"Bilkul junior SankaDevi hai (She's just the junior version of SankaDevi)" Payal joked

"Jiji.." Khushi whined as Aashi chuckled

"Oh... She's so adorable Khushi, I wonder how you managed this little one all these years. May I have her for once??" Payal asked

"Yeah..  Of course Jiji... Go Aashi, Go to Payal Maasi" Khushi said softly pushing her in Payal's direction

Payal immediately crouched to her height and kissed her little nose lovingly

"How's Aashi??" She asked while kissing her cheeks making her feel ticklish

"Payal Maashi... Hehe itsh... Tickling" Aashi said while giggling

"Oh she had a beautiful smile Khushi... She's so like you" Payal and Aakash commented while Aakash took his turn cuddling and tickling her.

"She has Arnavji's eyes. And his ASRish Protectiveness." Khushi said from afar

"She's ASR after all" Arnav said

"Thankfully not diabetic" Khushi said quietly. That made Arnav sigh in relief too

"May I have her Khushiji??" Anjali asked ever so sweetly

"DON'T YOU DARE LAY HANDS ON HER" Came four people's voice at the same time. Payal and Akash let go of Aashi the moment Anjali said those words

Aashi ran towards her Mumma hiding in her arms... Scared hearing loud voices

"Sshh... Nothing happened baby. Don't be scared." Khushi cooed taking Aashi in her arms rubbing her back soothingly, While Aashi hid herself in Khushi's hair

"Aashu... You're my Jhansi Ki Raani baby... You're so strong. Why is my JKR getting scared??" Khushi said

"Jiji??" Khushi was confused as Payash had also screamed alone with ArShi

"Sheetal" Payal mouthed

All this while, Arnav and Akash were continuously glaring at Anjali

"What?" Anjali asked innocently

"Don't you dare... Not that tone on me" Arnav warned

"What have I done to you Chote?" Anjali asked faking hurt

"Oh. You don't know??" Arnav asked sarcastically

"She had left on her own" Anjali said in a dangerous low angry whisper

"You had threatened her" Arnav said loudly. Hell he was tired of pretending

"When??" Anjali asked

"Oh... You really want to know??" Arnav asked

"I didn't write that letter" She said without thinking

"I never mentioned a letter Anjali" Arnav said with a Winning smirk

"What letter are you talking about Anjali Bitiya. What's going on here?? Why didn't you people let Anjali Bitiya take Aashi bitiya... She's her Bua after-all" Nani asked

"I was pretending all this while Anjali... Because I didn't want Naniji to know. Or get ill because of it..  But you've left me with no choice. You did a grave mistake in trying to separate my Khushi from me. And an even graver mistake by threatening her!!" Arnav said angrily

"What is going on here Chote??" Nani asked. Mami scrunched her brows in confusion

"HHBB...Yes Bitwa what is happening Here?" Mami asked

Arnav started the Hometheater and It displayed the Letter that Anjali had written to Khushi

"This" Arnav said gesturing the enlarged version of the letter "Is the letter I was talking about"

"It's not me... She's trying to poison my Chote's mind that Khushi" Anjali said shedding her crocodile tears

"Don't... I warn You Anjali... Don't say another word against her." Arnav said

"Arnav... Aashi" Khushi whispered gesturing to Aashi, Sure this atmosphere wasn't for that little pure soul, Who was getting scared with the negativity

"You... Need to stay Khushi. So does everyone else. Call HP if you want... He can take care of her for a bit" Arnav suggested

Khushi nodded slightly though unconvinced at leaving her alone

"It'll be over once and for all Khushi... Don't worry. It's just a matter of a few minutes." Arnav whispered sensing her turmoil

"Why are you sending my little niece away Chote.. You trust her.. Your so called wife who didn't even tell you about your child all these years?? Over us. Me?" Anjali asked in a hurt voice as HP took Little
Aashi away

"I refuse to believe she didn't try contacting me. I have plenty reasons to believe she did. For example. That letter. Where you very carelessly stated that you've blocked her from every life in Shantivan. Especially mine"

"Why would I do that Arnav" Anjali asked

"That is for you to explain Anjali, Because I know for a fact that she was trying to contact me... Coz the minute I unblocked her, My inbox flooded with her messages. And By the way I never blocked her in the first place. Would you mind explaining who blocked her from every social network I ever dared to use. When I clearly didn't?" Arnav asked sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Anjali opened her mouth to say something

"Ah.. Don't waste your and my time in telling lies. Because, In that letter. You clearly mentioned it was you!!"

"Anjali Bitiya... Why did you do this?" Nani asked

"She had left... Forever!!" Anjali said desperately

"I never said anything about leaving forever Anjali... I had just left for a few days... Maybe Weeks to clear my head. Arnav knew I was coming back. Eventually" Khushi said

"When was that eventually coming? If you mind telling us??" Came a sarcastic question from Anjali

"Three days After I left. If not for Sheetal calling me and telling me all about your evil sinister jealous self. After that, I thought it was better to come back once I contact Arnav and tell him the exact situation, I was for one thing a little scared, For I didn't know what was happening here at home. And I had no means to contact anyone either. Except... You! Surely you remember I called the landline a few times when miraculously... You were the only one home. To take my calls" Khushi said enraged

"Anjali was in America for three years" Nani said

Khushi looked at her side and Arnav nodded

"I told you Nani I had no means to contact you. I had no idea she wasn't in India. Or about anything that happened in these six years. I had no Idea!!" Khushi said in frustration

Arnav held her hand in assurance

"You've... Done enough Anjali. Enough of breaking her. Not anymore. I told you... All those years ago, That she was the most important person in my life. No one.. Absolutely no one, is more important than her!! But in your jealousy, In your bid to control my life. You drove my life away from me!! But not anymore... Now, You have to pay... For directly or indirectly being the reason I was away from my family for years" Arnav said

"How am I the reason??"

"I think you know, But anyway, If Khushi had to keep Aashi a secret from Me... She wouldn't've told Aashi about her father as well. But she knew me. She called me papa when she first met me. She hugged me on her own without prompting. My princess... My little angel knew each and everything about me. And that's proof enough to know that Khushi didn't do it intentionally. Still she apologized repeatedly. And you're not even budging from your lies. You disgust me. Anjali!! You do" Arnav said

"What I didn't want, Happened. My brother hates me-" Anjali started

"And it's your fault" Arnav roared

"But-"

"You know what Anjali... Just get the Hell out of my sight. You deserve to be called a sister. And an ASR?? No way in Hell!! I hate you!!" Arnav said angrily

Anjali looked around her for support, But no one saw her in the face.

She deserved it!!

"Now... Mrs. Raizada..." Arnav said looking straight at Khushi

"Yeah"

"I shouldn't lose sight of you ever again in my life. Or I swear on Aashi I'll never forgive you" Arnav said

"I never meant to do that in the first place Arnav... But I promise I will never even think of doing that. I promise" Khushi said

Hope that puts my lovely readers' curiousity to rest. I know you people probably want me to punish her more severely... But Power and Position are dearest to Anjali, And they have been snatched. She has been kicked out of the house. And I honestly think and believe, That's punishment too. Besides what she did, I don't know if its legally punishable or not. So I just left it.

Hope you enjoy it...

Love 

Vinny