Gauri's wedding:

Aman saw her giggling with her week-old friends, sharing some joke.
'How much I missed her dimples!'

"Jeejaji, would you like some sweets?" One girl offered him some snacks, "Or you have filled your appetite just by looking at Lavanya!" She teased him.

He just smiled, again glancing at her.

A week ago when he had reached his home in Lucknow, expecting to surprise Lavanya he was surprised in return, "Lavanya has gone to Kanpur bitwa!" His Amma was wondering that he didn't know about it, "It is marriage of a friend."

After torture of one week of not able to meet her, he had left finally for Kanpur to fetch her back.

"It was Gauriji's wedding. She had insisted me to come a week in advance." Lavanya had told him in the morning as he appeared suddenly.

'She still looks reserved around me.' He observed.

._._._.

It was a week full of loneliness and torture for Khushi as she was longing for her Raizada.

'I didn't feel such intensely for any of my boyfriends, then why with him?'

After their unsatisfied kiss she was craving for him. He had even graced her with his presence in her wet dream.

'I'll neither remember him nor talk to him.'

Taking resolution to not call him, she was bearing the pain since last week. He had also not disturbed her by any call or message.

But his work had ended yesterday and all staff including his secretary was back.

'Why isn't he back yet?' Her fear of Malik was making her crazy. 'Aman might know.'

Not able to control anymore she dialled to Aman but he was unreachable.

'This Aman has become useless now a days!' She was annoyed.

._._._.

"So, have you come to take your boss' daughter!" Gauri pulled Aman's leg as he congratulated her with a wrapped gift-box.

"No Gauriji, to claim my wife!" He was confident now as he saw Lavanya coming towards them.

Bidding everyone good bye they moved to their car as Aman put a hand on her smooth waist tingling her.

"Still angry?" He asked her, putting gifts from Gauri's family in backseat, while she remained silent.

._._._.

Sheesh Mahal

"You can never get rid of me Bhatije!" Malik smirked at Arnav. Arnav had finally got him arrested for all misdeeds he had done illegally. But his spineless uncle was not repenting it.

"I'll come back soon and get rid of you just like your parents!" Arnav shot glares at him. "Do you really think it was an accident!" He laughed like a maniac, as he was handcuffed and taken away.

While Arnav was rooted to ground listening it.

Accident? Parents!

._._._.

Later that night:

"KKG, I am not with ASR. Actually I have come to Kanpur." Aman replied only to hear the beep beep sound from other end.

Khushi quickly disconnected the call not bothering to hear more. She had become restless after talking to Arnav.

Half an hour ago she had called Arnav to know about the deal or to hear his voice.

"Khushi..." He had whispered, his voice tired and feeble, "He had killed them!" He had said while crying.

Khushi was panicked, finding him so unusual. "Arnav, what happened. Who killed whom!....Arnav..." She was not getting any response.

"I am missing them Khushi!" He was sounding dejected and helpless, worrying her more.

So leaving everything she had departed towards Lucknow.

As her chopper landed after two hours journey, she reached the hotel where he was staying.

"Sorry ma'am but we can't give you the spare keys like that. It's against our policy."

"I am his wife, dammit!" She startled the receptionist who was not allowing her to go to him.

Taking the duplicate keys she opened the door as he was not giving any response to her knocks, only to find him unconscious on the recliner.

"His blood sugar has gone down!" The doctor said after injecting glucagon. "He will be alright soon Mrs. Raizada."

After the doctor went away, Arnav opened his eyes, getting conscious.

"How are you feeling now!" She was sitting near him, caressing his hair.

"Khushi!" He hugged her finding her before him, while she took his scent, rubbing his back.

"What happened!" She cupped his face, "You skipped meals, didn't you!"

She just wanted to scold him hard for his carelessness.

"They were murdered!" He whispered again while she looked with a frown. "Your mother and my parents were killed by Malik, Khushi!"

._._._.

Aman and Lavanya reached home late at night. She had not talked to him in the journey, pretending to be sleeping, leaning on the window.

'Isn't a week enough?' Aman was losing his patience. It was his mistake that he assumed things but he had right to be heard. To ignore each other was not an option.

"Lavanyaji, at least listen to me!" He held her wrist before she could go inside.

"I am very tired!" It was a part of punishment, from her.

Before he could tell anything, his Amma had come and she had escaped away taking the opportunity.

._._._.

Khushi was feeling a rage inside. She wanted to kill Malik by her own hands, for snatching her mother, her childhood from her.

"My parents were not the best Khushi! But they were like a shield, protecting me and Di from the world." Khushi came out of her thoughts listening him, "After losing them, life was like a battle ground." He explained about all he had gone through, their home, business, Di's broken marriage.

'He had to endure so much?' Khushi was feeling his anguish. She still had her father but he had lost everything. His family, home, all luxuries and most important the love and care.

"It would have been different if they were alive!" His head was in her lap as he shared his agony, while she was having a sense of regret when she remembered her behavior towards him.

'My pain was nothing before his pain and I was blaming him!'

"Don't worry Khushi. I won't leave him easily. He will pay for it." He brought her out of her self-convicting thoughts.

'I am sorry Arnav!'

She wanted to say but then dinner arrived as they indulged in it.

._._._.

"When KKG told me to break this marriage I was startled." Aman had finally held her in their room to hear out him.

'Khushi didn't spare even him!' Lavanya was not aware of it.

He had explained her about his love life, breakup and then wedding preparations.

"During marriage rituals, you seemed upset and then I thought that I am being selfish!" Aman was sitting on the floor holding her hands while she was sitting on bed. "So I decided to correct your love life!" He was chuckling on his stupidity.

"We should have talked!" Lavanya was astonished, knowing the reality.

"Lavanyaji, it's ok. Now everything is sorted." Aman was also disheartened on revelations of lies told by Khushi to both of them, "We should forget the past and think about our future."

._._._.

In Hotel Room:

Arnav snuggled close to the soft pillow, liking its warmth as well as sweet fragrance, while Khushi opened her eyes with the fastening of her breath.

Dhakdhak Dhakdhak!

Looking down she found Arnav's head on her bosoms as the corner of his lips touched her now hardened peak.

They had gone sleep on the two corners of the bed but in the matter of night he had come closer to her.

'Why is he being so touchy?' She was fearing to go too physical. 'He wants you to be a good wife!' She gulped, although liking the touch.

'Going physically close, won't make you fall in his love!' Her heart reasoned with the mind.

Hearing the dhak-dhaks in his ears, Arnav opened his eyes, bringing her out of the dilemma as he moved away.

"I am sorry!" He said removing the duvet, not willing to scare her more by their proximity.

Last night he had become vulnerable after meeting Malik and outpoured all his thoughts to Khushi.

'I hope she is not feeling pity on me!' It was totally unintentional but he found his solace into her.

"Are you fine enough to travel?" She asked him, closing the chapter permanently.

"Yeah! I'll freshen up." He moved to the washroom, "I want to see Nani before going back!"

'Oh no!' She was in no mood to tackle her in-laws now.

._._._.

So some misunderstandings solved 😄
This is going towards the end of the story 😊🥰

Take care and stay healthy 🙏