13-03-2022

I tried my best to post the update as soon as possible. Thank you for loving the story and waiting for it. Please ignore the typo and grammatical mistakes. Not proofread yet. Let me know the mistakes in in-line comments.

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Part 20:

"Where were you?" Dadi asked, looking at Khushi who is coming out from the kitchen with breakfast - with a determination of proving Khushi wrong in her eyes.

Khushi took out her phone and dialed Bua Ji's number, keeping her eyes on Dadi. "Bua Ji, it's me Khushi. Dadi Ji is asking me about my whereabouts. Can you please answer her?" Khushi asked and kept the phone on speaker. "Bua Ji, you are on speaker now. You can say,"

"Haire NandKishore, Namaste Ma Ji. Thank you so much for sending Khushi to my house. She was so helpful. Actually, my brother and his wife will be leaving for his treatment. Khushi's stay helped us a lot. Thank you so much," said Bua Ji, with an over-sweet voice. She never liked this Dadi candidate.

"Thank you, Bua Ji. I will call you later," saying that Khushi disconnected the call and smiled at Dadi. She was stopped from turning to serve the members.

"I don't believe you nor your Bua Ji. I have my doubts that you were not at her house," Dadi said.

Khushi frowned her brows thinking whether Dadi came to know about her stay with Arnav. But immediately she realized that Dadi was just trying to create a scene. Because, if she came to know about where she was, she would have done something to bring Arnav Ji home. Taking a deep breath, Khushi turned to Dadi and looked at her as if asking her to continue.

"I don't believe you nor your Bua Ji. I have my doubts that you were not at her house," Dadi said again. Dadi asked Shyam to check her Bua Ji house and he said he didn't see Khushi in the surroundings of Bua Ji's house. "I didn't see you there!" said Dadi.

"I don't understand, Dadi Ji!" Khushi asked, confused.

"I didn't see you near Madhumati's house. I checked," Dadi said. She didn't want them to know that she asked their SIL to check on Khushi.

"Oh! You were there at my aunt's house? I mean, when you were at my Bua Ji's house, whom did you meet? My father or mother or Bua Ji? Because I didn't see you either," asked Khushi.

"No, I didn't go inside!" said Dadi.

"Dadi Ji..., as normal people, I stay inside the house, not on the roads or surrounding. If you wanted to check whether I was there or not, then you should have come inside. Then you must have seen me there, helping my parents," Khushi said with confidence.

Dadi couldn't understand how to cover up her slip of the tongue.

"But you were at home all day yesterday, Subhadra. When did you go to Lakshmi Nagar?" asked Nani, looking at Dadi irritated.

"Oh, in that case, Dadi Ji, whoever gave the information to you, they lied to you. They are betraying you with your work. Please choose people who will stay trustworthy and loyal towards you, not towards the money," said Khushi, guessing the person who might have helped her.

"Devyani, did you see how she is talking with me? Is this the good quality you said about her?" Dadi asked, trying to divert everyone's attention from her.

"Khushi bitiya, come let's have breakfast. Later I have a lot of things to talk about with you. Come, I missed you a lot," said Nani, caressing Khushi's cheek lovingly.

"Ji, Nani Ji," said Khushi with moist eyes.

"I can't take this insult. Here I'm talking and you are ignoring me, Devyani? That too before these people?"

"Yes, I am ignoring you. Because I already said that I will not allow anyone to say anything about Khushi and I will not accept. As you are not ready to listen to me, I don't have any option other than to ignore you. You better think before talking about these people who are MY Family. I am not going to tolerate any bad words about my daughters-in-law. You better remember that" Nani is vexed up with Dadi's insulting words. They are already dealing with so many things and she is not helping them. Nani felt helpless, alone, and drained out suddenly. She is missing her grandson. No one would have dared to talk about family if he was here. No one would have dared to point their finger at the family. Nani shook her head, not allowing her mind to go in that way of depressing thoughts.

"It's okay, Nani Ji. Don't take anything to heart. Everything will be fine. Please don't take tension. We need you, Nani," said Khushi.

Nodding her head with tearful eyes, Nani sat on her chair along with others to have breakfast. Dadi looked at them and left from there.

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"Anjali! Do you even understand what you are saying? Do you even understand whom you are talking about?" asked an agitated Mami.

"Of course, Mami. I'm talking about Khushi," said Anjali in irritation.

"I can't believe this! Anjali, did you forget how good she is? Don't you know what is important to her? Don't you know, she prefers relations, values, and culture more than money? Then what's wrong with you? You only said she is perfect for Chote. Then what happened now? What's changed?" asked Nani, not understanding why her ever lovely granddaughter is talking nonsense about Khushi.

"Everything has changed, Nani. That time, she was acting. She didn't want to get caught by anyone. Now, as Chote is not around, she is showing her true colors. She is taking all Chote's money," said Anjali.

"And how sure are you?" asked Nani.

"100%! I know what she is doing behind our back! I was informed about everything, whatever she was doing," Anjali said.

"And who informed you?" asked Mami, guessing the person.

"Who else? Shyam Ji. He informed me about her deeds. She asked one lawyer to make a Will which states that Chote has written everything in her name! She will submit that Will in court to get registered, it seems," Anjali said, not understanding why Nani and Mami are not ready to understand her words. Why can't they understand that her Shyam has seen everything with his own eyes and heard with his own ears, why is it so difficult for them to believe what he says?

"And you believed everything? I am so surprised that you and Damad Ji believed whatever that certain lawyer said. If she is going to submit that Will, don't you know the court will ask about Arnav's signature? And also the judge might ask about ASR's personal lawyer? And being a lawyer himself, how did Damad Ji miss this fact? Why didn't he ask that lawyer?"

"I'm not talking about us, Mami. I'm talking about Khushi. Whatever you said was right, but that doesn't mean she will not do all these!" said Anjali, getting more irritated.

"And I don't think Khushi bitiya is that much of a fool to take the worst step of her life," said Nani.

"Nani? Are you supporting her?" asked Anjali.

"Yes, I'm supporting Khushi. I trust her blindly. She can never make any mistake. She can never be behind money. She loves Arnav and she can never betray him. Anjali, don't come to any false conclusions. Don't make any decisions in haste. You will regret it. You better think well and check from both sides for the truth. Don't take anyone particular side which may fool you with all the wrong information," said Nani.

"Nani!!! You are doubting Shyam Ji! My husband?! Don't you know him, Nani?" tears rolled from Anjali's eyes.

"No, Anjali. Sasuma doesn't mean that. What we mean is, Damad Ji also might have gotten the wrong information from another lawyer? You better think before following someone's words blindly. We never wanted you to be in a place where you would get hurt or regret," said Mami with a serious expression on her face.

"Now, go and get some rest," dismissed Nani, not willing to listen to her dumb granddaughter. But Anjali sat there looking at both ladies thinking whatever they said. 'Am I thinking wrong? Is whatever Mami and Nani are saying true? But why would Shyam Ji say anything wrong about Khushi? Why would he be so against her? From the start he never liked her! He always asked me to stop depending on her. He never met her before, but how can he talk about her as if he has known her for a long time? What? What am I even thinking about Shyam Ji?' thought Anjali and shook her head not believing the way her thoughts are going.

Khushi, who witnessed everything that happened between the three ladies, left from there planning something to get Anjali's trust and show her Shyam's truth a bit. She can't take things slow when Shyam is hell-bent on spoiling everything so soon. She left for her room to get ready for the office, passing Anjali's room - and her ears pricked up, her heartbeat raised, her body shivered, her mind went blank with fear. After what she heard, she understood that the person she is going to fight with is not a normal man, but a devil himself. Devil, who will never think once before harming or destroying anyone, even his own family.

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"I'm here!" shouted Khushi, entering inside the house, making both Arnav and Bua Ji smile. Their smiles grow wide seeing her rushing inside the room like a tornado.

"Relax Titaliya. Why are you running like someone behind you? Haire NandKishore, when will you learn to be a grown-up?" asked Bua Ji, very well known about Khushi.

"Bua Ji, don't tell me you changed your opinions and interests. Remember, you only told me not to change?! So, I'm just trying to fulfill your wish of being Titaliya. That's all!" Khushi said with a naughty smile.

"Nothing can be done with you. I don't know how my Arnav Babua will deal with you, Nandkishore! Okay, now, as you are here, I want to take some rest. Call me if you need anything. Don't eat Babua's mind much! Remember, he needs rest. Arnav Babua, please take care of yourself," saying this Bua Ji left for another room to take rest but not before kissing on Arnav's forehead - leaving both Arnav and Khushi surprised.

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Khushi sat beside Arnav after feeding him his breakfast. She was engrossed in her thoughts caressing Arnav's palms. Arnav held her palms, breaking her thoughts. He raised his eyebrows as if asking what was bothering her. Khushi smiled a little, shaking her head saying nothing. But Arnav knows her better to catch her lie. He breathed out deeply and looked at her.

"Nothing Arnav Ji. I'm just thinking about happenings, what to do and how to do it. I have a few plans in my mind to do. But I don't know how you will feel when I do them. It's just I don't want to upset you or irritate you. I want to share everything with you, Arnav Ji. I already made a mistake hiding a very important thing from you. And I paid a lot for that too. And I don't have the strength to pay more or lose more. Yesterday, Aman Bhai said, Shyam is trying to frame me. He already poisoned Di's mind about me, telling her I'm behind your money. Do you also think like that? Do you still think I'm behind your money?" Khushi asked innocently, looking into his eyes.

But the look in her eyes and the word "still" pricked Arnav's heart and he felt as if a thousand needles pierced into his body. He held her hand in his tight grip, shook his head in denial. He so wanted to apologize to her but his state is not helping him. He said so many bad things to her before their marriage. But he trusted and believed her with the biggest ugly truth of their lives. Living with her, he realized how wrong he was with her, about her. The innocence in her eyes and smile, and the purity of her heart - everything made him realize his blunder towards her. Every step, every word, every touch, and every hold was wrong. He realized how rude and harsh he was on her. Yet, she faced everything with courage. He never thanked the almighty for anything. But now, he wanted to thank Khushi's Devi maiyya for giving her to him.

"Arnav Ji?" Khushi's call broke his thoughts.

"I soyi Ushi. I belee n u. I tust u. I ow u," said Arnav, gaining a satisfactory tearful smile from her. (I'm sorry Khushi. I believe in you, I trust you. I love you) "I ill b ith u, aways,"(I will be with you, always) said Arnav with lots of love.

Nodding her head Khushi leaned on his lap and closed her eyes, trying to console her nervous heart. She was always a happy-going girl and she always preferred a relaxed and peaceful life. She faced a lot in her life. Even though her foster parents gave her a lot of love, she was always reminded of her being an orphan. She was always told by others that she should be grateful towards Gupta-s. And she believed that and tried her best to fulfill their needs. Wasn't that what made her meet with the great ASR? But she is thankful towards her Devi Maiyya for that day. She is like that, searching and seeing only goodness in every person and every situation. That's the quality that made her see good in Arnav and even Shyam, even though they were brutal towards her. People around her always taunted her saying she is selfless, spineless, and without self-respect. But she knew how difficult life can be when one keeps getting reminded of being an orphan. Sometimes, surrendering will be the best option. In other words, avoiding and ignoring people and situations is the best option. But who can understand her? The people who she met till that day, aren't orphans! One should live the situation to feel the pain. Both of their trances got disturbed by a knock on the door.

"Good Morning! How are you feeling ASR?" asked Aman after entering the room.

Arnav nodded his head. He is feeling relaxed being surrounded by his people. Aman smiled at him and turned towards Khushi and asked, "Khushi? Did you ask Mr. Roy to meet you? He called me in the morning and told me that. Why do you want to meet him?"

"I need to talk with him about a few things. And I also want to let him know about Arnav Ji. I don't want to take more time to reveal that Shyam," said Khushi, leaving both Arnav and Aman puzzled.

They heard a doorbell and house help informed Khushi about Mr. Roy's arrival.

"Arnav Ji, you don't have a problem about Roy being here, do you?" asked Khushi after dismissing the maid.

Arnav shook his head in a negative way. He knew it was needed. It's important to inform their family lawyer about this major incident.

Smiling at him, Khushi left to bring Mr. Roy.

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"So, Mr. Roy, what do you think? How can we do that?" asked Khushi.

"Ma'am, I don't know what to say. I mean, this is unbelievable. Oh god!" said Mr. Roy, not able to believe what he heard. According to whatever Khushi ma'am's showed, everyone - Khushi ma'am, Anjali ma'am, Nani Ji, Mr. Raizada, Akash Raizada, NK, and even Aman - everyone's lives are in danger, if the Will comes out. But whatever the solution, Khushi ma'am is telling is not acceptable.

"What are you thinking, Mr. Roy? There is no time for that. We need to act fast and save everyone. Tell me what we can do legally to save them. Will my solution works?" asked Khushi.

"If that works also, I can't take a risk ma'am. We will think and find another solution. Please, Ma'am," said Mr. Roy.

Khushi closed her eyes in frustration, took a deep breath before asking him to follow her. Even though he was confused thinking why she was taking him inside the house, Mr. Roy silently followed her. But when he entered inside, he stood like a rock seeing the person in front of him.

"Did you recognize him, Mr. Roy? My Arnav Ji! Our ASR! Can you see in which condition he is? Do you know what happened to him? Do you know who did this to him? What do you think? I want to punish the culprit. Now, I'm getting a chance and asking you to do your work and show your loyalty towards ASR. But you are thinking? I was so sure that you would help me, but I'm disappointed. I didn't expect this from you, Mr. Roy," said Khushi, her face red with anger and pain.

"Khushi? What is happening here?" asked Aman.

"And, Mr. Roy, what is he doing here?" asked Akash.

"Mr. Roy, I was asking you something!" asked Khushi, looking straight into his eyes.

"Uh! ASR!????" Mr. Roy whispered. He couldn't believe his eyes.

Arnav nodded his head, not getting anything that Khushi said. What chance did she get? Whom does she want to punish?

"I will, Ma'am. I will help you. Whatever it may take, or whoever we will face, I will help you with all legal formalities. Legally, the culprit will be punished," said Roy.

With a satisfactory smile, Khushi nodded her head. And before she asked him to leave, Aman asked with a high tone.

"What's happening? What help are you talking about, Mr. Roy?"

For some reason, Aman couldn't get a good feeling about this. Looking at the satisfactory smile Khushi was giving, sending him known fears down his spine.

"Khushi ma'am asked me to prepare a few fake papers which show her as the sole owner of ASR's properties. She is saying someone is planning to harm you all," said Roy.

"What?" asked Akash, not getting anything.

"Just before coming here, I went to Nani's room to spend some time with her. But whatever I heard made me take this decision," with that she explained to them about Nani and Anjali's conversations. "Later, when I was returning to our room, I heard Shyam talking on his phone. And what I heard left me terrified. He is planning big and I can't allow him. Before he takes any step, I need to safeguard all of you, I mean all of us. I need to take this step, it's important to catch him red-handed. I can't wait for more days," said Khushi pacing in the room. 

...to be continued

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Doesn't make any sense? I don't know. Just let me know what do you think! I hope you like the update.

.Sri.