IMPORTANT (DON'T MISS IT):

It took too much time to load this long chapter. Hence the delay. Sorry about that guys. 24th chapter would be in two parts as well because it was taking too long for me to write so I had to break it into two as I know how much eagerly you all were waiting for it so I couldn't postpone the update anymore (Or you all would've killed me. LOL)

Almost half of the second part is written as well. So you could expect an update soon but for that you all have to be quick to reach the target VOTES till I write the next chapter along with the update of PLAD ;)

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Mairi nazren toh gila karti hain,

Tere dil ko bhi sanam tujhse shikayat hogi!

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"Khushi, I am warning you. Come back right here!" He chased her around the hall amidst the family's laughter at their crazy antics.

"No. NO. I won't change the dress. I won't!" She giggled running ahead ducking under his arm.

"Tumhare toh ache bhi karein gay! (I'd see to it how would you not)" He yelled from behind. Instead of scaring her it only added up to her mischievous. She looked back and stuck her tongue out at him to which he pursed his lips hard stopping at once and spitted fire at her.

She stopped a few steps away from him seeing him doing so and much to his frustration started dancing crazily to rile him up. A chorus of laughter from the family filled the atmosphere. But one look from Arnav silenced them all. All of them except for Khushi whose giggles were still reverberating in the air.

It was just a momentary relapse from her side as she glanced at the family and winked. That's it. He got to her and yanked her closer causing all the laughter to die in her throat and eyes to widen.

"OH!" Rang in the hall in unison.

"Now, laugh. Try and rile me up!" He challenged whilst his hand trailed up at the bare skin at her back and all of her mischievousness thinned into air. She gulped audibly and her cheeks warmed up.

Now it was his turn to chuckle as he saw her breathing hard completely at his mercy.

The family had by now averted their eyes as their own cheeks colored seeing the heated scene unfolding in front of them.

"H-Husban--d" She rasped with her breaths coming out in spurts.

"What did I say would you do?" He leaned down to her height and asked more like commanded.

"C-Change m--m-my c-c-clothes." She stuttered as his eyes darkened and trailed to her lips.

"E-E-Exactly!" He imitated her making invisible patterns at her back. She shuddered as jolts of current passed down her spine.

"So tell me sweetheart? When I'd remove my arms from around you where would you go?"

"B-Back in your arms!" She murmured with her lips trembling in a completely dazed state. He chuckled leaning in pecked her nose.

"That's right but only after going to our room, changing this gown. Am I clear?" He caressed the side of her cheek. Her eyelids were on the verge of drooping in intoxicated dreamland.

She swallowed before nodding with her hands clutching to his lapels involuntarily.

"Good." He said and removing his arms stepped back. She blinked her eyes once, twice and that's it Khushi came back to her senses whilst the family hid their smiles as she looked at Arnav accusingly.

"That's cheating!" She exclaimed.

"Everything is fair in love and war. That's what you taught me, wife."

At hearing 'wife' he saw her eyes tearing up which sucked off his smile.

"What happened?" He was before her in a less than second and held her face in between his palms.

"I don't know." She choked while the rim of tears in her eyes thickened. "I feel like.. like.. I am hearing you call me 'wife' after ages." She quickly covered the distance between them as he saw the agony written on her face very clearly which only doubled over with every passing second.

"No. It's not possible, Khushi. I call you wife a hundred times during the day." He reassured her.

She shook her head. The agony left her face and in its place a more painful, heartrending shadow passed across her face which took his breath away. Slashed him there and then.

"What is it?" He asked frantically.

"I-" She tried to get the word out but her breathing quickened and he paled. "I-I r-remember it." She cried out gasping for breath.

"What?" He patted her cheek as her eyelids were drooping while she started hyperventilating as if she was having trouble even drawing in air.

He pulled her closer and embraced her frantically worrying out of his mind. He rubbed her back, he made her drink water, he tried everything but nothing worked.

Soon even the sound of her breathing stopped and so did his heartbeat. His eyes dilated on the verge of popping out as she went limp in his arms. His grip around her loosened and her head fell to the side and so did her body but at the last moment he felt the strength returning to his being from god knows where but he found himself holding her before she could slip out of his arms.

"K-Khushi?" He croaked patting her cheeks softly holding her horizontally on his one arm. His vision blurred with tears.

"Hey, Khushi?" He called out in a whisper whilst the walls closed in on him.

"Sahil, call the doctor. CALL THE FUCKING AMBULANCE!" He yelled at the top of his voice as moisture thickened in his eyes.

Not getting any reply from his brother he turned his head to look behind where his whole family was sitting just a minute ago, only to find them all ... gone?

Empty couches and a thickening, deafening silence welcomed him. He held her closer and murmured,

"Nothing will happen to you, Khushi. Nothing. I am here, sweetheart. I am here, wife." His words came out like a sob while he yelled for help. He called out for his mother, Sahil, Navera, Natasha, Aryan and even for Aiden and Lara, Sheetal and NK but no one answered.

"Where did they all go?" He whispered to himself before shaking his head. "I have to take her to the hospital urgently." He picked her up bridal style and ran to the front door. Turning the door knob he found it locked. That too from outside.

Soon, his own condition became pitiful. His hands trembled and so did his whole body. He fell to his knees along with her right there on the door when he checked every door running around the mansion with her in his arms and found them locked that too from outside as if someone deliberately encaged him in this four walls.

"What's happening? Where is everyone? And why did they lock me here? WHY NO ONE IS LISTENING TO ME?" He cried out holding her close to his chest with pain striking fear of loosing her. Of the same kind when she has had the cardiac arrest and that horrible accident few days ago.

"MAA, SAHIL, NAVI!" He shouted once again but only heard his voice striking the wall, booming around the silent mansion and coming back to ring in his ears.

In sheer agony he looked down in his arms and much to his surprise he found her eyes open while she was looking at him with narrowed eyes. Not only that, her breathing was back to normal as well. Letting out a huge sigh of relief he yanked her closer thanking over and over in his mind and crushed her into himself. Hid her in his cocoon.

"Thank God. Thank god you're fine. You scared me to death." He felt her pushing him off to which he pulled back but just a bit to look in her eyes only to find her nostrils flaring and eyes spitting fire at him.

"I jumped out. For y-you." No sooner than she said that he witnessed horrified as her forehead started bleeding with mud covering her face and clothes in patches.

Sweatbeads formed on his forehead as if he wasn't terrified already. He shook with tremors whilst she went limp in his arms all over again.

"No. No. NO!" He bellowed seeing her back to her earlier condition with her chest still and heard no heartbeat while leaning his ear against her chest. His face turned back to pale as paper as if someone sucked out all of his blood and let his veins dry as well.

If that wasn't enough the power went off turning everything to darkness. He felt wetness on his cheeks and upon touching them he found himself in tears.

Soon he realized his hands, his arms were empty. She was gone as if she vanished into thin air.

What the hell was happening to him?

"KHUSHI!" He called out loud jumping up to stand and ran trying to look for her in the darkness but in vain.

Lights came back in the next moment and he found himself in the middle of the hall with whole of the RM decorated the same way it was on Christmas Party. He grabbed his head in both of his hands as it buzzed with noises so loud and so painful that he cried out in pain.

Then everything stilled. His heartbeat. His breath. Even the pain vanished as he heard,

"Husband?"

He turned to the source of sound and found her coming down the stairs in the black gown he bought for her.

"Happy now? I changed into your gifted dress." She smiled that infectious smile that his own lips quirked up in a wide smile. She sent him a flying kiss and he closed his eyes in relief seeing her all fine.

"I just want to protect you from every bad. Every evil." He murmured opening his eyes with a smile which soon died on his lips seeing himself in his office with Aiden breathing down his neck and Aryan trying to make them see sense.

He felt his hands moving on its own accord to punch Aiden even though there was no strength there in his limbs. He felt as light as feather yet he could see that his hand touching Aiden's face broke his jaw and made him bleed.

Sweat trickled down his body as even being at this side of the door he could clearly see Khushi entering the office, going to his cabin, breaking down into sobs finding the fake contract and then climbing the stairs to reach to the conference room where he was present yet he couldn't do anything to stop her from knowing the earth shattering truth neither could he move except for shouting at Aiden who god knows what the hell was yelling at him.

It was when he saw her falling on her knees in between the doors did the life bounced back in his body and he could feel strength returning to his being as he heard her heart wrenching sobs.

"He ended it Adi, he ended it." She cried out.

"If you are ready to let go of your love, so am I." It weren't just the words. They were his death sentence. His heart clenched so hard in his chest that he choked for breaths yet she didn't take pity on him and continued to wretch him with both her words as well as the sobs.

In a spur of a moment she was standing before him with her hands clutching his collars vengefully demanding answers.

"You have broken my trust. You have broken me, mercilessly. Khud se zyada bharosa kiya tha humne aap pe. Khud se zyada. Sab se zyada. Par apne, apne kya kiya?(I trusted you more than mysef. More than anyone. But you, what did you do?)" She choked letting her head fall. Just that there wasn't any space for her to rest her head and it touched his chest.

His heart grew in size feeling her closer. The pain turned into relief. The gloom reverted to calmness. His breathing came back to normal but only for a minute until he heard her say,

"Nahi rahein gay aap k sath. US wapis jayen gay (No I won't stay with you at all. I'd go back to US)"

Anger coursed through him. He yanked her back to face him while his eyes turned bloodshot shining with determination but before he could say a word he found himself sucked into the darkness and to an unknown place with his lips calling out for Khushi frantically not to dare leave him. Ever.

He frowned finding himself in a gathering in a lavish hall where people were chatting nineteen to dozen and were dressed as if for a ... wedding?

What?

He spotted Maa, Sahil, Navera and Absara there. That means she must be here too. All he had to do was find her and apologize to her. She must be somewhere around or sitting alone crying her heart out because he has shattered her beyond repair this time but he would make it up to her. He always had. He would pacify her this time around as well.

His eyes madly searched for Khushi in the crowd and he did find her after a few moments there at the top of the stairs dressed in the same bridal avatar in which he brought her to RM five years ago.

He felt himself sighing in relief seeing her all fine and healthy not shedding a tear as well, either. A big relief because he can't stand even a drop of moisture in her eyes.

"This girl is driving me mad. My mind is clearly playing tricks with me. But I don't remember planning to renew our vows? Who arranged it? Maybe someone from my family made this surprise for us." He thought smiling and was about to go join her in the altar when his steps faltered and glued to the ground seeing his own brother Sahil and his own best friend Aryan escorting Aiden down and making him sit besides his Khushi.

His eyes glinted dangerously and his jaws clenched. He balled his hands into fists in sheer rage.

"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?" He hollered and saw terrified that neither anyone heard him nor it reached them. There wasn't even a flicker or twitch in anyone's stance as if they could not even see him even though .. even though he was now standing in front of them clearly in their view right in front of the mandap.

He yelled again and again and even walked around the setup altar to yank his wife off but as he reached to grab her his hand passed through and in her much to his disbelief. He frantically tried over and over again to touch her, to grab her in between his arms but in vain. Neither could he touch her nor could stop her. Despair fell on him. Tears prickled his eyes.

He couldn't recover from this shock at all. Dumbfounded he stood watching it all in sheer helplessness raging through him.

Was he dead?

Already?

His eyes widened in horror as pain so profound cut his soul that he fell defeated on the altar besides her looking at her desolate, shattered face as she started the rituals rigidly.

"If only Chote has been in the place of Aiden. I always wanted to see them marry this way." He heard his mother crying standing behind Khushi whilst she tied Khushi's veil with Aiden's.

His eyes teared up as he saw her, his Khushi biting back sobs holding the flower in her outstretched trembling hand over which Aiden placed his hand.

He leaned closer to her face with his soul wrenching.

"I am here, Khushi. I am here. Can you hear me?" He didn't realize he was hiccuping.

"Please forget whatever I said. Please forget I ever wanted you to marry someone else. Don't punish me like this. It's hurting me. Don't do this. Please don't." He cried out cupping her face. Just that his hands only passed in and through her so he kept his hands a bit in air with her face in between his hollow palms and leaned in closing his eyes.

"I love you." He rasped and his body jerked several times before he felt himself falling on something hard that he cried out loud but from inside. The pain was too much to bear. He sensed that no words came out of his mouth even though he was screaming in his head to get himself out of this excruciating pain.

Vaguely he heard some beeping sound coming from somewhere around him. He was in the wedding wasn't he? Khushi and Aide- he couldn't think further as he fought aggressively against his frozen senses and limbs to move at his place but found himself immobile.

What the hell was happening?

What in the freaking hell?

He screamed in mind so loud that his head buzzed with his own subconscious voice.

At a point not only the buzzing in his head turned loud but also the beeping around him that he clearly could hear it near.. very near him. Not only the sound but the familiar scent. Of her.

Khushi?

He called out in his heart but try as might neither could he open his mouth nor the eyes. In sheer torture not being able to make her understand that he wanted her closer. More closer to tell her how sorry he was. He couldn't do anything but stay wherever he was. Limp. Still. Vulnerable!

He has never felt this much helpless in his life before. Never, ever.

Even after his many attempts to produce a word at least if not move he found himself almost accepting defeat and succumb to darkness and he would've had if he hadn't heard,

"If you didn't wake up Arnav then I'd spent not one but many one night stands with a new random guy every day!" She wasn't just saying. She was growling in a low menacing voice.

Khushi?

Dammit, what the hell are you saying?

I am very much awake!

Can't you see me?

Hear me?

And dare you do anything that reckless or you'll see the worst of me!

"I swear I'd ruin myself. You wanted me to live my life after you and not die, right? I will live my life but I'll kill my self-respect every day which you have worked hard to build back up all these years. I will put all of your hard work to drain. And IT. WILL. BE. ALL. BECAUSE. OF. YOU!" She gritted out from afar but he felt like she was whispering it all in his ears. Very closely.

DAMMIT, KHUSHI I SWEAR YOU'D FIND THE SAME OLD MONSTER ASR BACK IF YOU AS MUCH AS TRIED TO HARM YOURSELF LIKE THAT!

By now he was quickly coming back to his senses and could clearly hear the beeping close to him. Not only that he could even feel the life returning to his limbs. His fingers moved and his lips parted. His eyelids fluttered.

"I will not let you be in peace even if you died. Keep it in mind. And this is your wife's promise to you."

At that, his heart lost control and it started beating so irregularly that he couldn't control it. She was gone creating havoc in him and so was his oblivion. He was desperately trying to jump up from the dark, from under the cliff where he was running around in circles. In a limbo.

His breathing came out in spurts and his body started trembling. Sweat trickled down his face, his front, his back, his hands. He heard some vague voices and an alarm ringing. Someone barging in as if through the door. Someone was massaging his heart. He even felt a faint prickle in his right arm in seconds but nothing soothed him. He wanted to get out of here and run after Khushi to stop her from ruining herself. He knows how much stubborn she could get. In that condition only he himself could handle her.

"Arnav? Arnav? You need to calm down. I know you can hear me. Just relax buddy. I got you. I got you!"

Raghav?

He frowned not understanding anything but he did listen to his friend and let his muscles loosen up. His eyes were fluttering behind his closed lids frantically still.

"K-Khushi" He heard his own feeble voice which felt foreign to him as if.. as if he was hearing it after days.

"Yeah. She is right here. Just outside. Waiting for you." Raghav replied dabbing his face off the sweat.

She is waiting for me?

Outside?

Then what was that he just saw a few minutes ago?

"I know you might not understand what's happening right now. To either around or in you. But it's no big deal as you have passed the tough phase. Everything is under control now. Your mind may play some tricks on you at this time and you might not know what's dream or what's reality but soon you will. Okay?" Raghav was continuously talking to him while injecting some medicines and treating him with his team in midst.

So, Aiden and Khushi's wedding could be a dream as well?

Or maybe it is a dream where Raghav is consoling him?

He felt a huff leaving his .. parched lips?

"Okay Arnav. Try and open your eyes very, very slowly." Raghav urged him and that's when he realized his eyes were closed.

"I know you are awake now. You just have to make a little more effort." Raghav tried again waiting with bated breath with his colleague looking hopefully at Arnav.

"M-Maa?" Left Arnav's mouth when pain shoot through him as he tried to move his head.

"Auntie is here too. If you want to meet both her and Khushi you need to open your eyes." Raghav encouraged and his smile widened as Arnav slowly opened his eyes the next moment.

"YES!" Raghav said punching in air feeling happy like never before. Dr. Kapoor along with the paramedics smiled.

Arnav closed his eyes again as the bright light hit his pupils. After days staying in darkness it was bound to pain a little bit.

"There is no rush. Slowly, Arnav." Raghav became alert.

"Hmm" Left Arnav's mouth which made Raghav relieved that he was fully back to senses.

This time when Arnav opened his eyes he blinked his eyes once, twice, thrice before trailing it from unknown faces hovering over him whilst a scowl formed on his face before it disappeared as his gaze landed on Raghav who was smiling ear to ear.

"Welcome back, buddy." Raghav said releasing a sigh.

"What .. the .. fuck .. is .. happening .. here?" Was the first clear, loud and long sentence he spoke making them all chuckle and Raghav to shake his head because it still took a lot effort from Arnav to speak without gaps. On his gesture the nurse passed Shergill the glass of water with a straw.

"Yeah, the douchebag is back!" Raghav said mischievously to keep the atmosphere light and Arnav tried his best to reward him a warning glare while drinking the water sip by sip which somewhat soothed the needles prickling his throat.

Once done he placed the glass on the table on his side and turned to Arnav who was still shooting daggers at him.

"Don't look at me like that. I know you wanna fight but right now I have to go and tell this good news to your family. So save it for later." Saying this he was about to leave when Arnav held his hand weakly.

Raghav turned to him in question before a knowing smile formed on his lips.

"Yeah I got you. I will send everyone one by one but after a few minutes. You need to calm down till then."

Arnav scowled. Raghav chuckled.

"They have waited long enough for you to wake up. Now it's your turn." Raghav patted his hand.

"S-Send h-her f-first." Arnav stuttered to which Shergill turned serious remembering Khushi's condition without Arnav and upon that he has stopped the poor girl to meet him even considering the risks to his health.

"Sure." Raghav said with an understanding nod. "But till then make sure don't move your head much. The stitches needs to heal properly. Also, don't talk much either."

Arnav blinked his eyes as Raghav instructed before Raghav left with a sprint in his steps and gestured the paramedics to come out with him but Dr. Kapoor stayed.

Arnav hissed feeling like something hammering his head. The pain comes and goes. His hand weakly reached to his head and he frowned,

"For.. how.. l-long?" Arnav looked at the other doctor in question.

"You had a very complicated brain surgery which lasted for 15 hours. After that you stayed unconscious for almost half a day. We were going to declare you in comma if you hadn't woken up for the next two hours." Dr. Adam Kapoor explained calmly while checking his vitals along with his higher motor functions and noted the score in the file.

Admist which Arnav's face morphed from confusion to realization and soon his eyes glinted with dangerous glint as he pursed his lips.

"Auntie is here too. If you want to meet both her and Khushi you need to open your eyes."

"Don't look at me like that. I know you wanna fight but right now I have to go and tell this good news to your family. So save it for later."

Maa?

Family?

Here?

In the hospital?

What was Raghav saying?

How could Maa be here?

If she was, does that mean she knows?

She doesn't, does she?

No. No. NO!

His eyes trailed around the hospital room as realization dawned on him what has happened to him whilst slowly but steadily everything came back and when it did his nostrils flared and eyes turned red in self restrain as ASR took over all his senses even in this weak state.

"Khushi!" He gritted vengefully.

Just wait and watch,

No one can save you from me now!

Sahil excitedly called Ratna to inform that Bhai has woken up to which at RM Ratna burst into sobs of relief. Sheetal and NK sitting in the living room with her along with the children looked at her concerned to which she placed the cradle on the phone. Sending a quick prayer up she said,

"Chote woke up." She cried out in happiness. Sheetal and NK sighed in relief while Absara who was lying with her head in Ratna's lap looking all dull jumped up and out of her lap in happiness and started dancing shouting 'Yay'. Ratna smiled through her tears while Sheetal and NK smiled while,

Abhay scowled seeing her dancing crazily as her two ponytails bounced up and down while doing so.

"You don't know how to dance civilly." He commented shaking his head making the elders laugh and Abi to stick her tongue out at him.

Ratna saw with disbelief while they settled in the car that Absara who was too ill to get up on her own just a minute ago was now talking cheerfully to her as if the news injected some unknown strength in her.

Sahil has distributed sweet in the whole hospital. The news of Arnav recovering reached the media who again gathered out of the hospital. This time Sahil didn't disperse them but not only did he give statement but also didn't let them go empty handed. Everyone were treated with a lavish meal at the end of the press conference and a box of sweet on their departure.

There was a festive kind of event in the hospital. Not only the media the whole hospital staff and patients got the treat. If a certain patient couldn't eat the boisterous food then extra efforts were made to provide them what's good for their health. Also, Sahil himself announced an allowance in their salary and ordered Aman to make sure they all get it. After all it was Bhai's own hospital.

But there was still one thing which hasn't changed yet in here. The security. No one was allowed to enter without strict scans but only through temporary entrance. ICU section was still no entry area. In fact Aman has tightened the security more after Arnav's recovery.

"Sahil?" Ratna choked from the entrance spotting him at the reception. Absara has already run to him and was hugging him around his waist. Bending he pecked her head ruffling her hairs and carried her up before turning to look at Ratna. Their already swollen eyes met and that's it.

In two long strides Sahil ran to his mother like a child and hugged her tightly with Abi sandwiched in between them.

"Chote is okay, right daddy?" Absara asked trying to distract both her Dadi and her Dad out of the gloom who were silently shedding tears of relief upon hugging each other.

"Yes thank god he is, princess." Sahil pulled back and sniffled passing her a smile kissing her temple. She pecked him back on his cheek.

"Then why are you both crying?" She asked more like scolded. Ratna chuckled.

"Yeah. Our bad." Sahil wiped Ratna's face and then his own. Absara smiled widely seeing him doing so.

"Now take me to Chote." Abi clapped excitedly.

"As you wish your highness," Sahil said royally bowing a bit to which Absara giggled before he placed a hand around Ratna's shoulder and escorted them in. A minute later Sheetal and NK entered the hospital with their children as the security let them in upon Aman's gesture.

Ratna hasn't reveled in her son's recovery much yet that upon reaching ICU section another news was awaiting her. Hearing which her stance turned rigid.

"W-Where? And why didn't you tell this to me on phone?" Ratna exclaimed while they all stood in silence half relieved and half concerned.

"Will you," Sahil asked without answering her question.

"Of course I would." She glared at him to which Sahil coward back. "One minute," She stopped after a few steps before turning back to them.

"Does Chote know?" She croaked. Helplessness replaced her earlier anger on them for not informing her on time.

A negative nod and she breathed in relief.

"No one would say anything to Arnav until I don't say so. Is that clear?"

At their affirmative nod she pushed open the door and entered in the room.

In her wake everyone looked at each other not knowing what to feel anymore about all of it. Whether they should be happy or sad.. or both? Maybe!

Amidst Arnav's continuous tantrums to Raghav to first send Khushi to meet him he was shifted from ICU to a private room. Like Raghav said he would send everyone one by one. He did. They came one by one. Except for her.

With every passing second his patience was wearing thin. He would ring the bell held in his hand after every minute and ask for Raghav who was right now busy attending his patients but upon his insistence he was called to him and Arnav burst out at him.

"I.. told.. you.. to .. send.. her.. first." Arnav gritted as much as his jaws could allow.

"You are telling me that you aren't happy meeting your family?"

"My .. family.. is .. incomplete.. without.. her." He glared venomously at him. At that Raghav had the audacity to laugh which died in his throat when he saw Arnav trying to get up. He held his shoulders and laid him back.

"Okay, relax. I'd see what can I do." He again answered vaguely to which his stomach turned and heart clenched. Beeping lowered for a moment before shooting up on the machines. Raghav sighed.

"Calm down I said."

"Shergill.. I .. need .. to .. see.. her." There was certain desperation in his tone that caught up to Raghav.

Arnav's eyes dilated in terror when he didn't get any answer. He was in this hospital in critical condition for the fucking many, many hours and there outside she must be worrying sick for him. In that concern what if her heart stop--

"Tell me. TELL ME SHE IS ALIVE?" There. He spoke fluently without stuttering but ended up in coughing fits.

"She is okay. She is fine. Very much alive." Raghav urgently said and made him drink water to ease up the cough.

"Calm down. Calm down."

"Didn't you tell her that I woke up?" He asked clearing his throat. The corner of his eyes misted up before he felt some piercing gaze on him. His eyes shot to the door frantically but he found it closed and there wasn't anyone except for Raghav here. He frowned and vaguely heard Raghav saying,

"She knows. And you need to loosen up your nerves. Your heart is beating too fast." Raghav said looking at the heart monitor.

Arnav closed his eyes as he realized what it meant.

"Shergill," Arnav breathed. "Send her in here. Quickly. Or I'd lose it." Arnav chewed each word to which Raghav nodded and left.

He breathed in and out to reign in his emotions.

She knows. She knows that I am awake now yet she didn't come to see him let alone meet?

Why?

Why dammit?

He was on the verge of loosing his senses and he would've had if the door hadn't opened and she hasn't walked in shouting,

"CHOTE!"

He let out a long sigh as his heartbeat started coming back to normal whilst Abi climbed up on the chair besides the bed and talked nineteen to dozen with him but didn't let him speak much saying that,

"Doctor Uncle said that you need plenty of rest to get out of this hospital and if you followed his instructions we would all take you home as soon as possible."

He did hear her each and every word with all of his attention on her until it started dissipating as he felt it again. The feeling of being watched. But as he looked around at the windows and the door he'd found no one. Then why was he feeling like there was someone around keeping an eye on him?

Khushi?

He swallowed hard.

Is that her?

No!

It can't be.

His Khushi couldn't just stand outside and watch him. That's not her. That's him.

If it was Khushi then she would've barged in through the doors and crushed him into a hug and has cried all over him seeing him all fine.

He felt his eyes prickle at even the thought of seeing her break down. How much devastated and shattered she must have been when he had had been unconscious for so long. Thinking of her pain plunged knives in his gut.

Swallowing thickly he carefully turned his head to look at Abi who was still talking telling him stories after stories of the hours she missed with him. Of the time when he wasn't around and was deeply missed.

He knew everyone must have missed him. Maa would've been angry knowing about his health all of a sudden as much as she must have been terrified but she has had taken it upon her to gather strength to pray for his safety as well.

Sahil must have become everyone's strength and Navera of both Sahil and Abi. Lara and Aiden would have handled Khushi while Aryan, he was sure he must have looked upon not only his recovery but also at everyone and would've given his help when needed.

Aman would have taken it upon him to make sure all of the people here were secure. He must have handled security and every damn arrangement and also the media during all this. And Lavanya, yes he knows. He knows that she must have come to give everyone strength as well because she has had faced the similar situation with him in Scotland all alone.

As far as Sheetal, NK and Natasha were concerned he knew they must have taken it upon them to offer help as much as they could.

Absara got down the chair and stood besides the bed with frown.

"Why are you crying?" She asked rubbing her thumb on the corner of his eyes where a lone tear was stuck while unshed tears shone in his eyes of having such gems of friends and an amazing family who were with him throughout and must have gone through so much just because he has neglected his health.

He gestured her through his hand weakly. Understanding Absara walked along the bed and reached over to grab his hand lightly.

"Because I am feeling lucky." He raised his hand up to cup her cheek. Absara smiled ear to ear.

"So these are happy tears?" She blinked her eyes innocently. He chuckled nodding and swallowed realizing that it was the first time after waking up that he was feeling relaxed.

"Thank you, baby." He whispered.

"You're welcome, Chote." She replied throwing her hairs at her back causing his lips to quirk up into a small smile.

"Mission accomplished!" Absara cheered.

"What mission?" He frowned.

"To make you smile." She made an adorable face while saying so.

His smile widened. Before he could ask her to send her Kushi inside nurse entered and Absara ran out after kissing his hand. The girl knew it was time for her Chote's medicines and rest later on.

His smile slipped because the feeling was back. Of piercing, intense gaze. On him. His heartbeat raised but his chest tightened. He looked at the nurse checking his vitals.

"Sister," He called out.

"Yes, Sir?" She asked busy in her work.

"Is there someone standing outside my door?" He asked and she stopped whatever she was doing. She looked at the door once before turning to him. Her face was expressionless.

"Uh, no. Why would you say that?"

"I feel like.." He trailed off. How could he explain it to her? This feeling only he or Khushi could understand. No one else.

"Like?" She said turning to the medicine tray and injecting a medicine into the drip.

"Umm.. nothing." He brushed it off. She completed her work and left while despair fell on him.

Maybe his mind was really playing tricks on him!

He was feeling her around because he was thinking of her only. All the time. Every time.

Here he was in full mood to scold her for what she did and there she.. she didn't even want to see him. As some more time passed, Maa, Sahil, Navera, Absara, Sheetal, Natasha, NK and Lavayna came and met him more than once throughout the day but still there was no sign of her and it took a toll on him when no one even mentioned her either much to his irritation.

Memories kept flooding back as well and it ended on heartrending realization which made him bleed from within.

"Ye dard khud apne maire aur apne hisse mai likha hai. Ab bhugtein gay bhi hum dono hi.Humne bhi kaha k hum jayen gay to jayen gay.(You wrote this pain in our lives. Now we both would've to tolerate it. I said I'd go then I WILL.)"

"You have broken my trust. You have broken me, mercilessly. Khud se zyada bharosa kiya tha humne aap pe. Khud se zyada. Sab se zyada. Par apne, apne kya kiya?(I trusted you more than mysef. More than anyone. But you, what did you do?)" She choked letting her head fall. Just that there wasn't any space for her to rest her head and it touched his chin.

"Galti bhi khud karte hain aur uper se saza bhi humein hi dete hain. Kyun? Aap hamare saath aisa kar bhi kaise sakte hain?(You do the mistake yourself and upon that making me pay for it as if I am wrong here. Why? He can you do this to me?)" She bellowed blinking back the moisture thickening in her eyes.

"Why did you do this to me? You said you loved me." Her whisper was a tormented wallow coming out of her.

.

.

"You are asking me to calm down after what you were about to do?"

"Aap aisa soch bhi kaise sakte hain? Maire liye? Apni Khushi k liye? (How could you even think like that? For me? For your Khushi?)" She cried out.

"Jab mai baar baar keh rahi thi k mujhe mat jaane dein mai jaane dein tab toh humein door bhejne pe tule the. Ab kya hua? (When I was begging you to not let me go over and over again then you're so adamant to send me away. Now what happened?)" She screeched.

.

.

"ENOUGH. Bohat bol liya tumne aur bohat sun liya maine bhi. Ab wahi ho ga jo mai chahun ga.(You have said and I have listened enough. Now whatever will happen, it will happen as per my wish!)" Arnav growled.

"Aaj tak bhi wahi ho raha tha jo aap chahte the husband! (How perceptive because everything till today has happened as per your wishes only!)" She scoffed.

.

.

.

"Nahi rahein gay aap k sath. US wapis jayen gay (No I won't stay with you at all. I'd go back to US)"

Has she left him?

Already?

In this condition?

He looked at his family for the answer. They were tight lipped about her. Even though they knew what was he seeking for. He pursed his lips in anger as suddenly the same anger was directed to his family as well. How could they not talk about her? They know he is stubborn and hot headed but they are sensible aren't they?

Restlessness doubled within him.

How could she leave him? His heart repeated the question the umpteenth time doubling his torture.

And why won't she? An arrow went straight to his heart.

She must have been tired of him flipping his emotions every other moment. She is a human after all. There is a limit to someone's patience and endurance as well.

Before he could respond Sahil walked up to him. Arnav winced as a needle pierced through his arm suddenly causing him to gasp while Khushi closed her eyes. Arnav looked shocked at his brother and wife who passed each other knowing looks.

"W-What?" Arnav grimaced as dizziness hit him with force.

As his knees buckled up Sahil held him through him arms and carefully laid him down on the carpet while Khushi rushed to sit on the floor just in time to support his head on her lap.

"Did you call the ambulance?" It was the last thing Arnav heard uttered by Khushi before he felt everything going blank. Black. All of his hardness turned to weakness as the medicine worked.

Sadness left and unbridled rage took over him all over again. It happens every time his fragile mind reminds him that.

How dare she try that trick with him?

Wait till he gets up from this bed then he would show her even if he had to go to US to teach her a lesson for plotting behind his back.

Look who is talking! Someone sneered from inside.

The man who always plotted behind his wife's back to push her away. Now when she has, he was blaming her only.

Hypocrisy at its best!

But still no logic melted his anger yet his eyes sought for her. Every second. Every minute. At every creak of the door or the person entering the room he wanted it to be her. At least for once. Even if its to scold him. Shout at him. Reprimand him. Fight with him. But nothing of that sort happened.

Instead it only intensified as a week passed with him in the hospital and there was still no sign of her.

She so is getting it!

She made him unconscious and sent him to surgery to get away from his life?

Because she knew he won't let her if he was even a bit sane or awake!

She didn't even call to ask for him? Heart cried again.

If she has had then his family would've informed him, right?

Right?

He frowned not so sure at all anymore.

He would have asked his Maa or Sahil or even Aryan, Aiden, Lara, Natasha, Aman, Lavanya, even Sheetal and NK for that matter but seeing them worried and fussing all over him he held it back or maybe he didn't want them to confirm what he was dreading.

How could she leave when Aiden and Lara were still here?

How could she?

Aiden must be angry on him as well but he stayed even though he was her friend not his!

Dammit!

Try as might he couldn't gather courage to ask these questions with Aiden either. There was certain feelings of guilt washing over him whenever he glance at him. He was Aiden's culprit as well as of Lara. He broke them apart. Imagine the agony they must have gone through separated from their true love.

Maybe that's why he was rewarded with similar pain by the fate itself.

He vowed to make things right between the couple once he would get out of here.

Ratna was not letting him talk much either. He could see her upset with him but still she was with him and there was that woman who is his wife because of whom he was here and she left him without a backward glance?

Shergill said she was right outside the day he woke up. And didn't he himself heard her talking to him just before he woke up or was that an illusion?

Did Raghav lie to me so that I don't worry in this condition?

His own speculations were taking a toll on his already weak, operated mind. He was too agitated that he didn't even feel it necessary to ask Raghav itself.

His heart constricted in his chest.

Maybe his mind was too fragile after the complicated surgery to think much rationally otherwise ASR and would just speculate and take too much time to connect the dots? No way. Instead he would just look at people's faces and would know which question to ask and how to manipulate and play mind games to get them blurt out the answers in a minute or two.

Here, a fucking week has passed yet he had no idea where the hell his Khushi has vanished?

There was so much he could take. So much he could bury inside. So much he could keep silence.

And then all the tough exterior and facade broke. So did his silence!

Into tiny pieces!

"Chote , please. Eat something." Ratna extended the spoon with soup bowl held in her hand trying and failing to make him drink even a drop. Ratna was sitting besides him on the bed while he was half sitting with pillows arranged behind him.

He nodded his head in a no with his head hung low. Her heart twisted in her chest seeing his lips trembling.

"Just a little?" She cajoled. He shook his head twisting and untwisting his fingers in his lap.

"Why are you punishing us like this?" She tried to keep her tone stern but it came out as a plead.

"I-I am sorry." He choked. "I can't eat. I won't be able to." He murmured with so much pain in his voice that it punched her in her gut. Her own condition turned pitiful.

She knows what he wants but she couldn't get him that either. She was as helpless as he himself was feeling for days. Due to which it was quite difficult for everyone to handle him especially for the doctors as he gave them quite hard time while taking medicines.

If it wasn't for Raghav he wouldn't have been having his medicines regularly. Even his mother's anger or scolding or stern glares didn't work here. They all knew why it was that but there was little they could do here except for supporting him during this phase. And they did. Silently. But he won't have it. He would make sure to throw tantrums after tantrums and kept them all on their toes.

"Don't behave like a baby." Ratna said sternly and his eyes shot up to her.

"I want a baby!" Knives plunged in his heart.

"I want our baby." She choked.

His eyes brimmed. His hands trembled in his lap. He averted his eyes as he felt like the lava has reached up to his neck and soon it would burst up to his throat and come out of his lips like a howling scream. He pursed his lips in self restrain.

Ratna looked away as she saw that his eyes were on the verge of pouring out.

"I am not hungry, Maa. Please." He hissed out the words in sheer agony. Not physical but emotional.

"You need to take your medicines so you have to." She resorted to pleading cupping the side of his cheek.

"N-No." He shook his head removing her hand from his face and held her hand in between his tightly. She too felt the shivers in his hands.

"If you love me then you'll drink this soup silently." Ratna knew she has to be strict to get through him and she succeeded this time as she saw his shoulders sagging.

When she extended the spoon to his lips he quietly opened his mouth and swallowed blinking his eyes rapidly. Ratna refrained from looking at his face or else before him she herself would break down.

Neither could she broach up the subject that was hurting him nor could she console him without doing the former. She was stuck in the middle. Literally. In between these two stubborn yet torn souls.

Several moments of silence passed as she fed him until the unexpected happened.

"She left didn't she?" His lips quivered. He finally found the courage to ask what was killing him from inside.

"You have hurt her too much this time." Ratna said instead wiping the corner of his mouth with her thumb.

"I know." He whispered lowering his head. Too choked to produce a word more but Ratna couldn't see him like this so she placed the bowl on the bedside table and opened her arms for him and nodded her head teary eyed as he looked up at her all broken.

Swallowing thickly, blinking back the tears he silently moved closer and hid himself in her chest like a kid. She gathered him in her arms and placed her one hand on the back of his head whilst rubbing the other up and down his back. The thick bandage around his whole skull was replaced by a thin one and now it was just around his head.

"Good news!" Sahil barged in unannounced along with an equally excited Navera. The wide smiles on their faces died as they felt the tension in the air that even after hearing him neither Ratna moved nor did Arnav who was hugging her desperately. Looking at each other they silently walked to the bed and sat on the either sides of Ratna.

"It's been seven days that neither I heard nor saw her. I tried everything to mask it. To mask the urge to see her. I tried everything. I even tried to hide behind my anger for she brought me here and then.. but.. it isn't helping Maa." They heard Arnav's muffled whimpers which brought tears to their eyes as well while Ratna sobbed along with him.

"How could she leave me like this? In this condition?" He complained like a child clutching her saree in fists. Tremors shoot through him.

Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada has reduced a 30 years old man into a vulnerable 4 years old. He seemed the same to his mother. The same child who once met Khushi and made her cry over and over again. Now the same man was sobbing the same way he used to make her in his jealousy and hate.

In short, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada has turned Arnav Singh Raizada into ashes. In just a week while for him it took years to break her. Fully. Completely. Absolutely.

Sahil blinked back the tears while Navera placed her hand on Arnav's shoulder. Her eyes brimmed some more.

So the dam broke!

The knew it would one day but this soon? They didn't expect it at all because it was ASR they were talking about here who possessive heights of self-restraint.

They knew it would be painful but this much. They didn't know that either.

"Bhai, please. You are not fully fine yet. Don't do this to yourself." Navera croaked seriously concerned.

"I was not conscious but you were. You all were." He pulled back with his eyes blazing fire at the trio. The lava burst on them as well.

"How could you let her go away from me even knowing that what she means to me? Even knowing that I'd be devastated without her?" He growled. The nerves at his neck stood out which worried them so Sahil quickly stepped forward and threw his arms around him.

"Please. Please, Bhai. Calm down. Relax." He rubbed his back frantically. He nodded at Navera over his shoulder who nodded back and walked out without making a sound.

"I CAN'T. DID YOU GET ME? I CAN'T." He shrugged him off and would have gone berserk if Ratna hadn't held both his hands firmly causing him to look at her with vulnerable, bloodshot chocolate brown orbs full of unbound emotions. Her heart cried for him yet she couldn't do much. She couldn't help him even if she wants to. He has himself written this agony in his life.

"Okay, tell me. What do you want us to do?" She asked softly wiping his face. He pursed his lips to restrain himself from drowning into the dark abyss. It hurts like hell dammit.

"Talk to that idiot Raghav and get me out of here. I need to go to US as soon as possible. I can't sit here calmly while knowing that she is so upset with me that she left me at the time when I was fighting the damn death." He breathed.

"Maa, I came back to life because of her. For her. And she.. she.. left me? ME?" He hissed out gripping her hands tightly.

"How could she? HOW DARE SHE?"

Seeing him going back to his aggressive mood Ratna cupped his cheeks and forced him to look at her to which a painful cry left him whilst he dropped his head in between her palms clutching her hands.

"I'd go mad if I didn't see her. I'd go insane!" He cried out with his face turning red.

"I will book your tickets!" Sahil blurted out urgently. Arnav's eyes widened. He asked through his eyes if he really would?

Sahil nodded sitting besides him and hugged him from the side resting his head on his shoulder. It calmed Arnav down a bit to which Ratna and Sahil heaved a sigh of relief inwardly. Maybe he really needed some time to fully become the same astute and shrewd businessman. ASR.

Has he forgotten that he just have to make one phone call and he didn't have to ask anyone else's help to book his tickets at all?

At that Sahil felt his stomach twisting in knots that in Khushi's absence he was losing his real self and becoming the old version of Khushi who once landed in the same hospital with a fragile heart that stopped due to fear of certain monster who called himself her husband.

"Me and Navera came to tell this only that Dr. Shergill has signed your discharge papers." Sahil informed and Arnav completely relaxed as his muscles loosened up. Now the hope of seeing her soon infused the vigor back in him.

Navera entered and behind her Raghav looking quite concerned. He glared at Arnav as he noticed his swollen eyes. Navera was right.

"I am postponing your discharge for a few hours." Raghav declared sternly.

"Why?" Arnav hissed spitting fire at him. "Sahil has the discharge papers signed by you and no one could dare stop me from leaving now!" He gritted out.

"Not Sahil, I have them on my desk. Still." Raghav informed crossing his arms over his chest throwing him a victorious look.

Arnav looked at Sahil for answer who nodded telling him that he was saying the truth. Ratna pursed her lips to stop the smile from erupting out as Arnav scowled throwing daggers at Raghav.

"So it's still very much in my hands to cancel it if I want to." Raghav said smugly.

"What do you want me to do you idiot?" Arnav took the pillow from behind and threw it at him which he caught effortlessly. Sahil snorted while Navera made weird face to keep herself from bursting.

"Come on Raizada. You know what to do. If you will take tension and cry like a 3 years old then definitely it would delay your recovery. So obviously, it would be my obligation as your doctor to keep you here until you fully recover!"

The scowl deepened on Arnav's face.

"Fuck you, Raghav!" Arnav growled. Ratna gasped and so did Navera. Sahil smirked while Raghav chuckled.

"Fuck you back, Raizada!" Raghav winked.

"Language both of you!" Finding her voice Ratna said sternly.

Sahil looked gratefully at Raghav for cheering his Bhai up and so did Navera while Arnav sulked on the bed shooting daggers at his so-called doctor.

Raghav turned to leave.

"One second," Arnav called out grudgingly.

Raghav turned back to him giving him a smug look. Another pillow was thrown his way which he failed to duck and it hit him square on his face. A smirk formed on Arnav's lips at his victory this time.

"What?" Raghav mock glared at him placing the pillow on the other one on the couch which Navera picked and went to place it back on the bed behind Arnav.

"DischargemeandIwouldnotcry." He said it so speedily that Raghav couldn't catch him at all.

"Excuse me? Come again, Raizada!" He bit back a chuckle.

Arnav clenched his jaws.

"Discharge.Me.And. I. Won't. Cry!" Arnav chewed each word.

"Yeah. That's like a good boy!" Raghav said as if he was an 8 year old kid.

"I AM NOT A BOY YOU GOOF!" Arnav bellowed clearly offended.

Aryan who was listening to the conversation standing outside couldn't hold it anymore and burst out laughing and entered pushing the door open.

"Yeah. Yeah, Raghav. Don't you know? He is a MAN. A 30 years old 'man'. Right Arnav? " Aryan twitched his mouth.

Sahil looked like he would burst any moment from now. Ratna bit back a chuckle. Navera pressed her lips to hide the smile.

"Shut up you jackass." Arnav exclaimed frustrated. "Maa, ask them to get lost. I swear I will kill them both if they stayed here a second more." He complained more like whined without taking his eyes off Aryan and Raghav who hifived laughing. At HIM!

Morons!

Ratna who was reveling seeing her son back to somewhat his usual self she stood up reached Raghav and Aryan. At the same time she twisted both their ears from her either hands to which their laughter turned into yelps of 'Oww'

There at the bed Arnav leaned back on the pillow and looked at them smugly with a smirk adorning his face while Ratna took their class and kicked them out.

They left but before Arnav could go back to think of Khushi or the gloom surrounding him Ratna, Sahil and Navera distracted him with their indulging conversation and their happiness upon him going back home while they packed his things not knowing that just like they wanted to keep him from sadness he has only gathered himself to keep them from worrying as well.

Because there wasn't anything in this world which could distract or stop him from thinking of the woman who holds all the strings. Not only to his heart but also his life.

"Did you book the tickets?" Arnav asked as Sahil helped him from wheel chair into the car. Sahil's eyes met his mother's who nodded at him which went unnoticed by Arnav.

"I did, Bhai." Sahil said closing the backdoor before coming around the car to sit on the driving seat whilst Aryan folded the chair and placed it in the back of the car giving thumbs up to Sahil.

Navera has already settled on the passenger seat besides Sahil.

"Maa, would you do my packing?" Arnav turned to Ratna hopefully.

"Of course, dear." She caressed his head with a smile. A smile blossomed on his lips as well with the excitement to see her. It was so thrilling and alluring that it overcome all of his other emotions. Even sadness. And hurt.

"Thank you." Arnav leaned to drop a kiss on her head.

Sahil roared the engine to life and drove off while Aryan followed them in his car. Everyone else were at home to prepare for Arnav's grand welcome. He was in for a surprise not one but two. A good and a bad one. Now they have to wait and watch for his reaction at the either.

Upon reaching RM Sahil helped him back on the wheel chair while Arnav scowled hating to be dependent on someone else even if its his brother only. Sahil knew, they all did so they kept their behavior so casual and normal as to not make him feel it at all. He wasn't crippled. He just needed plenty of rest to restore his full strength. He just have to understand that.

"Welcome home, Bhai." Sahil said standing behind the wheel chair and bent to kiss him on his head.

Arnav turned his head and glared up at him to stop treating him like a kid. Sahil raised his hands in surrender while Ratna and Navera smiled seeing Arnav sulking.

Sahil pushed open the front door and wheeled the chair in whilst the darkness welcomed them. Arnav held the arm rest in fear as his mind drifted back to his dream of days ago.

Was he back to dream all over again?

Or

Was it all the dream all along he lived the last week?

Was he bound to stay in this limbo his whole life?

Is this his punishment to break the only woman he dearly loves so mercilessly that he was fated to keep hanging in between dreams and never return to reality?

He felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His hands trembled. Chills ran down his spine.

No. He don't want to go through it again. He doesn't have the strength to see Khushi appear in his arms one moment, bleeding in the next, vanish in the other and in the very next for her to appear again but sitting at altar altogether marrying that fucking Aiden.

NO!

"M-Maa? MAA?" He called out reaching over to the side where his mother was standing earlier and breathed in and out in sudden relief when her hand covered his and at the same time the lights came back.

Before he could understand what's happening he felt the flowers showered on him and,

"WELCOME BACK HOME!" Was said in unison that he almost jerked at his place.

Trying to gather his senses he looked ahead and found everyone standing in the decorated living room with big smiles on their faces with bouquets held in their hands.

He huffed narrowing his eyes at them. Unfazed they grinned back at him earning a scowl from him. They all knew he hated getting surprises and his reaction was as expected before them with a frown clear on his face.

On the top of it all Absara was leading the group which made Arnav tight lipped because he could never stop something which would make his princess happy.

Ignoring his reaction a smiling Sahil pulled his chair forward and came to the centre of the hall where everyone surrounded him much to Arnav's disbelief. Out of all things he didn't expect this welcome at all. And it clearly pissed him off.

He have no problem meeting them all. In fact they all have postponed everything in their life and stayed with his family in this tough phase for which he was grateful. Truly. But he hated the noise they were creating. Was it necessary to hoot and yell your lungs out?

If that wasn't enough, one by one everyone came up to him and hugged him much to his irritation as if, as if.. He sulked back in the chair with his hands folded on his chest,

It was only when Absara hugged him did he smile a bit.

"Don't you dare hug me, too!" He warned Aryan who looked ready to join the club.

All chuckled.

"Oh come on, buddy!" Aryan and would get scared of his empty threats? Never. So he stepped forward and gave him a bear hug. Arnav shoved him off disgusted when Aryan kissed his cheek causing everyone to burst into helpless chortles.

"Get off me, you dirty scum!" Arnav gritted rubbing his cheek muttering profanities for him in his mind glaring at him.

"Guilty as charged!" Aryan had the audacity to wink and bow royally before him proudly. Arnav grabbed the phone held in Sahil's hand and threw it at him in vengeance which Aryan caught and threw it back at Sahil who caught it laughing.

Aryan raised his hands in surrender seeing Arnav was ready to pounce on him and stepped out of his way and joined the line on his right where Sahil, Navera, Absara, Aiden and Lara were standing.

On his left Ratna, Sheetal, NK and Natasha were standing. In between them he was sitting waiting for them all to finish so someone could escort him to his room as suddenly his sulking mood turned gloomy because even though he knew she wasn't here yet his eyes scanned the hall for her. In every person who hugged and welcomed him home.

Everything bounced back whilst he vaguely heard everyone chatting, maybe to him but he didn't understand anything. He swallowed thickly whilst his eyes prickled as it hurt him all over again the fact that she left him.

The raw wound bled in him.

Everyone was here for him except for her. Everyone was worried for him except for her. Everyone missed him but her.

He pushed the forward button on his motorized wheel chair causing all the commotion to turn to silence and in that silence the noise of the glass door opening and closing rung in the atmosphere more loudly which made him look casually at the source and stole all his attention. A short gasp left him involuntarily. His mouth gaped open.

Everything stilled around. So did everyone including him. His hand froze over the button. His eyes widened because right there from the door she entered busy typing something in her cellphone.

"K-K-Khushi?" He croaked.

She stopped at once with her gaze still on the phone. Her face morphed in confusion. Her head shot up whilst a frown marred her forehead and her gaze landed on him with just a few steps of distance between them.

Not only him but also she froze right there for a moment. Air charged with so much emotions, tension and unsaid words that not only them but also everyone felt it difficult to breath.

He swallowed hard. His vision blurred to which he quickly swiped a hand across his eyes as to not miss any moment of this 'special' moment.

"Are you," He shook his head gulping. "Are you," He cleared his throat. "Are you -- really here?"

Please don't let it be a dream?

He cried in his heart.

"Yes," She said. And there, one word out of her and he was punched in the gut not because he was shocked finding her here. In his home. Still in his reach. But for the way she spoke. Coldly. Detached. As if she was talking to a stranger and that formed knots in his stomach. His heart dropped. A shiver of a familiar fear ran through his spine.

He hungrily looked at her while she pocketed her cell back and stood before him shoving her hands in her jean pockets with an eyebrow raised at him to tell her why he stopped her abruptly?

"You didn't leave me." It wasn't a question but a certain happy realization. They all felt it in his tone but it didn't succeed in cutting the tension lurking there in the air. As a silent, suffocating entity.

A shadow passed across Khushi's face before it was gone as quickly as it came.

"I knew it you won't." He exclaimed smiling bleary eyed. Everyone looked at each other because they know something he don't.

They all saw with bated breath as Khushi reduced the distance between them and came to stand before him just two steps away and crossed her arms over her chest. He felt his throat clogging. He raised his hand slowly to reach over and touch her to make himself believe that she was really here but he had to drop it in shock as he heard her and froze all over again.

"Welcome home, Mr. Raizada."

His eyes snapped up at her and glazed with fire. The intensity of which shook everyone there. Everyone but her.

She dropped her hands at her sides and pulled out her cellphone nonchalantly burning him some more. He felt like someone just lit up whole of his being on fire and it was growing within him with every passing second swearing to burn not only him but also the person responsible for it.

"I am sorry for not being here to welcome you with everyone. Actually I had got an important call so just went to attend it. Hence missed it." She said not even looking at him while swiping the screen on her cell as if it was more important than him. His blood boiled and he opened his mouth to shout but,

She walked around his wheel chair and headed to the exit leaving behind the gaping family and an angry raging lion.

Mr. Raizada? Not 'husband'. She freaking called me Mr Raizada!

How could she?

How DARE she?

HOW DARE SHE?

DAMMIT!

It was all that registered and stuck in his mind. That she addressed him by his surname. Neither Arnav nor husband. It rubbed him in such a wrong way that he forgot that he was the guilty one here or maybe her behavior was justified.

But did he ever give a damn to logic when it comes to her?

Never!

He clenched his jaws and curled his hands into fists in sheer rage and turned his wheel chair around. They all followed suit stupefied.

"MRS. KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA!" He bellowed causing everyone to jerk at their places and close their eyes in fear. Ratna shook her head. This was what she was dreading.

Khushi stopped at the door with her back to them. Her hand tightened on the door knob which no one noticed neither could they see.

The time for the big showdown has come which was most awaited for days now and no one had the audacity or the courage to stop it. They thought terrified.

"COME BACK RIGHT HERE!" He yelled and a sense of  déjà vu hit him as a familiar dream bounced back and struck his memory.

No. Don't let it be dream. NO! He pleaded in his heart. Again!

But then he realized he don't have to because really, really it wasn't dream but reality feeling his heart thumping loudly in his chest. So loud and so clear that he feel only when she was present in front of him in real. Also, in his dreams she didn't turn her back to him at all.

Not only that he could clearly feel her scent in the air. The same which he felt the day he woke up in the hospital. It was her. It was her all along. He wasn't wrong. Neither was his instinct about her.

Like always!

Finally he could differentiate between the dream and the reality very clearly.

With their breaths stuck up to their throats they waited for Khushi to turn and obey his command. She always had ever since she came back to India along with him.

For the second time their jaws hit the floor because neither did she turn nor obeyed him. Instead opened the door and walked out shutting the door with a bang on her way out. Everyone flinched but not Arnav.

From the door their stunned gaze traveled to Arnav who had his lips pursed and eyes red with emotions so dark and so intense that they themselves felt worried. Not for Arnav but Khushi. They waited for the volcano to burst and he didn't disappoint them. His punched his hand on the armrest and turned his eyes to his brother.

His face was a picture of both misery as well as rage which made him look like a deadly beast.

Sahil shuddered inwardly. Arnav exhaled in and out harshly.

"Sahil, get her back here in RM in the next five minutes or I will not care about anything else not even my condition and would do it myself. Trust me none of you would like it what I'd do to her then." He gritted out to which Sahil sprinted into action horrified of his threat because he knew that his brother always completed what he said especially when the matter is of Khushi.

They all stood waiting for him in the same position with Arnav swearing not to go inside until he don't see her back in here. Even Ratna's attempts failed.

Instead of five Sahil did his task in three minutes as they heard Khushi's loud yells at Sahil even before Sahil entered carrying her vertically in his arms with Khushi continuously struggling to get out of his hold flailing her legs.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME YOU JUNIOR RAIZADA!" Khushi bellowed looking down and slapping her hands on his arm around her stomach while Sahil held her as if she wasn't a grown up woman but a kid like Absara.

Sahil stopped upon reaching Arnav. A silent conversation passed through the brothers through eyes before Sahil opened his mouth to huff.

"I swear Bhai I am beginning to think now that you did right when you forced her to come back to RM years back. This woman is one stubborn being. Not only you but also she kept us all on our toes for the last whole week. Seven freaking days as well. I don't know what's gotten into her and I don't think anyone else does either. Here," Sahil said and placed the wriggling Khushi in Arnav's lap much to everyone bewilderment successfully stopping her protests. Gasps reverberated in the air.

"Only you could handle her. So kindly, do so." He finished and stepped aside.

While Khushi sat dumbstruck at the sudden turn of events. One moment she was running out of the mansion only to find herself grabbed, turned around and carried inside in the next by her friend cum brother cum brother-in-law in midst her struggles and in the very next dropped right on her husband's lap much to her disbelief that she couldn't even react for several moments.

This action of Sahil dissolved all the tension in the air as once the shock subsided teasing smiles adorned everyone lips while Absara giggled with her palm placed on her mouth.

It was when she felt his arms wrapping around her waist and pulled closer to his face did she react and jumped out of his lap with a start.

"Where do you think you are going?" Arnav grabbed her wrist.

At Ratna's gesture one by one all of them dispersed from the scene unnoticed by them. They were too much in their own world to notice anyone else, either.

The world where right now fog of insecurities, unrequited love and certain heart wrenching past events were lurking not only in the shadows but also in between them.

Khushi was passing him glare after glare while trying to free her hand and he, he was busy gawking at her face which was devoid of any emotion.

"I asked you something."

"I am not obliged to follow your every command. Nor do you deserve to have a word with." She snapped.

He tugged at her wrist still in his hand and she almost fell on him with a startled yelp. Just that on time she held the armrest from her free hand to prevent her fall. But it didn't prevent her to keep her distance from him. She was half leaning on him with her face inches away from his with her nose touching his.

He swallowed hard. As he gazed into her eyes his heart pinched with the realization because there weren't any emotions in them. They were blank. Even if she was feeling anything nothing showed on her face. On the top of that, for the first time ever Arnav Singh Raizada couldn't read his Khushi's eyes and it shook him to the core and he couldn't help but ask,

"What have you done to my wife? Dammit, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY KHUSHI?" He grabbed her arms and yanked her closer that her hand slipped from the arm rest and her knees dropped on his. Yet she didn't react the way his Khushi would have. Much to his disbelief she curled her hands on his lapels, raised her eyebrow at him as if to mock him before her lips curved into a sneering smile and she laughed shortly.

"Tch. Tch. Tch. I didn't do anything, Mr. Raizada. You did it." She whispered secretly causing his heart to throb in pain. His face contorted in torture as he couldn't decipher what was going on in her head and it was sucking him into a painful vertex.

If only he could read her then he would've known what to do to make her come back to normal.

If only!

"Anyways," She took advantage of his preoccupied state and removed his hands from her arms before getting off, straightened up and took three steps back lest he again reach out to grab her.

"I was going to do the last minute shopping before,"

"Before?" He frowned as alarm bells rung in his head.

"Before I leave for airport."

"Airport?" He gritted out with warning clear in his tone to hold back whatever he thinks she was talking about.

"Yeah, airport." There wasn't even a twitch on her face nor the fear at his tone and glares directed her way as she continued and pulled the rug off his feet announcing,

"I am leaving for US. Tonight."

Jitne lafz hain anjaane hain,

Tere ishq mai be-ganay hain,

Hum bhi kya karein deewane hain!

As the shock subsided his eyes flashed but her cold eyes sucked off all of his other emotions. His face contorted in pain to which he saw her averting her eyes for a split second. He took that moment to study her but came up with nothing. His every attempt failed which drained him and he had to do what he did next,

"Oh really?" If she was KASR then he was THE ASR. The master of all this games. Master of masking his emotions since the very beginning while she, she was just a naive, new student in this department who didn't know what would hit her when he would be done with her and defeat her in her own twisted game of indifference and nonchalance.

She raised her eyes to him causing his heart to drop into the pit of his stomach. They held each other gaze for several moments creating an aura of cutting sadness around them.

Tere ishq mai hum kahin mar na jayen,

Pila de zeher hum yuhi mar na jayen,

She released a breath. A hand clawed his heart. His eyes pleaded silently at her not to do this and stay with him like she always wanted to. In answer he saw a flicker of pain in her eyes which dropped his heart into the pit of his stomach and formed a knot there. That they both would stay incomplete without each other. They always had been. It's high time they come back together. It's high time they give a name to their love and fulfill their relationship. Their marriage which was just on papers till now. Till date.

She swallowed. So did he looking hopefully at her.

Tohe sang raina, Na hi ang chaina,

Mann mora laage nahi saaware!

It was her who broke their intense eyelock only to shuffle on her feet uneasily as even though she looked away but he didn't. He observed her keenly and somewhat succeeded to break her nonchalance by his unwavering gaze as he saw her rubbing the back of her neck before stealing a glance at him and quickly straightened up back to being the aloof one.

He inwardly smiled.

As his senses calmed a bit he could think rationally as he saw that even after many minutes she didn't answer what he asked.

Seems like she realized it too and stuttered,

"Y-Yes. I-I am going."

"Hmm." He scratched his stubble. "Ja pao gi? (Would you be able to?)" He arched an eyebrow.

Something snapped in her at that and he saw helplessly how she turned down all his effort to see a glimpse of his Khushi and stood before him back to her cold self without any emotions.

"Ja k dikhayen gay.(You'd see how I will!)" She hissed. "Yakeen nahi aata toh aaj raat ko khud dekh lijiye ga. (Don't believe me now but you will, tonight when you yourself see it with your own eyes)"

"Trust? Belief? I am beginning to think now that this 'word' has remained just a WORD only in our relation. I don't trust you and I myself crushed yours in my office that day. Remember?" He was clearly rubbing it in to make her react. Normally!

Above all, he has her right here in his home standing right in front him then why won't he get back all of his senses along with his all the time working alert mind?

He did and it helped him to control his heart which was beating erratically in terror of loosing her. So he recovered in moments and leaned back on the chair perching his one leg over the other with his intense eyes fixed on her holding her there. In his gaze. Under his spell.

For just a short moment he saw her charade dropping again whilst she swallowed past a lump but then shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest looking back at him fiercely.

"Yes, I remember. Everything!" She emphasized. "So?" She shrugged. "Anyways, it doesn't matter to me anymore whether you trust me or not, either."

His jaws clenched so hard and his hand pressed on the armrest which also touched the forward button which reduced the distance between them in a blink stunning Khushi for a moment.

He exhaled and grabbed both her wrists in a firm grip lest she move back.

"So it means it won't make a difference to you if I died, now? Wow! My hard word paid off." He said sarcastically which pushed her into action. She started twisting her hand in his hold but he was a man on mission. He kept holding her piercing his intense gaze in her soul.

At last she huffed and stopped struggling knowing that it was futile. She knew how much stubborn he could get when it comes to her.

"Is that a yes? Or no?" He asked smugly as he could see the cracks showing in her stance but before he could read her he saw her turning her head to the other side and stood silently before him. Neither saying anything nor trying to free herself.

He let out a sigh.

"I am sorry it came out like that. I just want you to react. I want to see my Khushi who beat me up in my office just because I planned her own wedding with someone else behind her back."

He saw her nostrils flaring, eyes squinting telling him that it was working.

"I want to see my wife. Would you call her back for me? Please?"

Her head whipped to him at that.

"Your wife died the day you made her wear the ring of the other man's name and then placed all the blame on her. Left her sobbing, pleading outside your house without looking back!" She growled leaning down to his level.

"I am sorry, baby." He choked leaving her hands and cupped her cheeks.

"I don't need your apologies." She stepped several steps back shrugging off his hands. "I need to get out of here. And I will. Tonight!" She declared firmly.

"You won't." He snapped trying to wriggle out of the guilt which engulfed him at her cruel reminder of the pain he inflicted on her.

"Why didn't you go when I wasn't awake? Why wait till I am fine and back home? I know you were worri-"

"That's because I couldn't leave my family in this condition when they needed me the most. I had to be there with them."

"Shut it Khushi. I know it very well that you must have been too shaken to help anyone let alone the whole family. In fact everyone must have taken care of you while I was in the hospital hanging between life and death." He retorted with his patience thinning.

She looked at him speechless for many moments and he reveled in his victory for putting her at her place.

"And by family, I know you meant ME." He said smugly. "You couldn't leave me in that condition. I needed you the most. You had to be there for me!" He put emphasis on every word to get it into her head using her own words against her.

Her hands trembled which she quickly shoved in her pockets but too late. He already caught the slip in her strong stance.

"You are imagining things, Mr. Raizada!" She tried to gather her wits.

Mr. Raizada? Again?

He grunted in annoyance.

"I know you are angry and hurt but this is not the way to behave, wife. This is not you. Talk to me and if you want beat me up then do so but let it all out. Will you?"

She scoffed.

"If you are done with your suggestions then I have work outside. So please excuse me!" She showed the height of indifference which evoked the beast in him.

She turned to leave.

"Try getting out of that door and I swear I would yank off the stitches behind my head right here. Right now then you would be showing this nonchalance to my dead body, Mrs. Raizada!" He chewed each word sending chills down her spine who stopped at once with her back to him.

She whirled around to face him with her eyes flashing. Then she was before him in milliseconds.

Holding the arm rests she hovered him with her face inches away from hers. He gulped.

"Yeah, try that. Try that and when you'd die I'd be the one going to police and accept that I did it. I killed you. Then soon, I would join you there IN THE HELL!" She hissed out fiercely making him dumbfounded. He started at her stunned.

She was breathing sharply and her breaths were fanning over his face. He closed his eyes in pain and shook his head feeling his eyes prickling and heart clawing. Seeing the defeat in his stance she pulled back.

"Now that's settled I'd take your leave now." She said in so normal tone that he couldn't help but look at her disbelief. How could she break him into pieces by her cruel words and act this way in the next moment?

Just like you has had. Remember?

It was your medicine which taste she is giving you now!

How does it taste by the way?

"Don't go." He pleaded from behind as she turned to leave again.

"Don't leave me." He croaked seeing her stopping with her back to him.

"Please, cancel your flight?" He asked earnestly. Hopefully.

"Please, wife?" He choked.

If only she would turn then could he see whether his pleads affected her or not?

As if she heard his heart's plead she turned. Faced him. But with poker face giving away nothing.

"I have made a decision. Nothing you said could change it now so save it. I am going back to Los Angeles and I WILL!" She finished determined.

Seeing her determination an answering fire rose in him which he burned all of his guilt to ashes and boiled his nerves so much that every other emotion left him except for anger and possessiveness.

"Yeah, try that. I dare you, wife. TRY THAT." He growled all of a sudden with his eyes shooting fire at her. She averted her eyes for a moment before looking back at him.

"FORGET. LEAVING. THE COUNTRY. YOU. WON'T. BE. ABLE. TO. EVEN. STEP. OUT. OF. THAT. DOOR. TONIGHT." He chewed each word pointing to the front door sending daggers her way through his eyes.

"I won't be able to?" She scoffed looking quite amused. "It's you who is on the wheel chair." She pointed to his wheelchair through her both hands. "It's you who can't walk on his own. Not me, Mr. Raizad,"

"STOP CALLING ME BY MY SURNAME!" He lost it.

"So it should be you who should have that concern of NOT BEING ABLE to go out. Not me. And please keep your threats to yourself. I know they are all empty. And if by any chance you acted on them then you'd see the worst of me, as well." She completed as if he didn't even interrupt her.

"Don't instigate me, Khushi. You know this very well that I can go to any length to keep you with me and I WILL."

"Good luck, then Mr. Raizada!" She patted his cheek leaning a bit closer but made sure to covers her hands on his lest he has some other plans to make her vulnerable.

He pressed his lips together because she didn't stay a moment more there and left not to the front door but upstairs. To the room. Seeing that he huffed out mentally chiding himself again and again to keep his calm. He has to. Has to keep it or else he won't be able to handle her.

Sahil was right. Something has gotten into her. Something which happened during his time at the hospital when he wasn't with her. When she couldn't see him nor could she talk to him let alone hug or feel him close. Something terrible. Something drastic which turned his Khushi's mind upside down. Not only her mind but whole of her.

Which reduced her from emotional, loving and never the giving up kind to emotionless, cold and this woman who wanted to leave the man without whom she has claimed she couldn't draw in a single breath. Didn't she? From time and time again?

"My happiness, my smiles, my sadness, my heartbeats, my everything is linked to you Arnav. Understand that and I won't have to cry. I will always smile then. But all that depends on your presence. On your..love."

Emotions hit him hard. He felt his eyes tear up. Swiping his hands on his eyes he pinched the bridge of his nose as a bit of realization struck him.

She was in this condition because she has almost lost him. Almost. To death. The fear, the knife which was breathing down their neck all the time in the last days has penetrated into her skin and has grazed her heart. Not for a minute or two but for fucking 24 hours continuously.

When someone would go through such pain, such agony then how could he stay the same again?

He couldn't.

She couldn't!

He pressed his palm on his bandaged head gripping the front of his hairs in fists whilst emotions racked through him and cut him deep. Trying and failing miserably to contain his sobs his vision blurred.

He did everything, EVERY DAMN THING for her. HER. And when she was in this condition even after all that then it means he took all the pain of the last many days for nothing? NOTHING?

He kept her in torture for.. for.. NOTHING?

NOTHING DAMMIT!

He dropped his head in between his hands whilst his shoulders dropped in defeat as the guilt took birth back in him and gnawed him. It wrapped like a noose around his neck and pressed it that he choked for breaths.

Raising his head he ran his hand all over his face breathing in and out to calm himself. He couldn't lose it. Not now. He has to bring her back. Her back. The old Khushi, back. The Khushi who fought him for her rights and never for once backed off. The Khushi who knew what she wanted and would go to any freaking length to do what's right. The Khushi who handled not only the beast in him perfectly but won over his misgivings as well.

In short, you want the Khushi who loved you crazily, madly back don't you? Someone chuckled from inside him which he royally ignored.

I want the Khushi back whose eyes weren't shady but a window to her soul! He countered back.

Same pinch, Raizada. You could only read Khushi's eyes because she bared open her heart to you. because she loved you!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'LOVED', 'LOVED' HUH? She STILL loves me! He screamed in his mind.

Does she? A doubt rose in his mind for the first time.

Of course she does. The heart replied back vengefully.

If she has had she wouldn't even in her wildest dream think of leaving you! His mind retorted and it silenced every other voice in him while his face changed color in moments. It whitened. Deadly pale.

He was so into his thoughts that he didn't realize that everyone were back in the hall and were surrounding him fussing over him. They didn't ask anything about his face-off with Khushi nor did they ask where was she now as they didn't have to because they had seen her entering into the lift and going upstairs.

Sahil tried to turn his wheel chair to drop him in his room as well but Arnav's firm grip on the button pressed on it didn't let him. It silenced them all. Sahil looked at his mother for help who nodded and asked him to step aside.

"Chote?" Ratna leaned and cupped his cheek and turned his face up to make him look at her. She stepped back with a start as his eyes met hers. Because right there in his eyes she saw the man returning to surface. The same man who once went against her and lying to Sahil scared the poor Khushi to hilt to make her agree to shift to RM. With him.

"I need a favor from you." Arnav addressed Sahil deliberately ignoring the look of stupor in his mother's stance because he knew what she was thinking. And she was absolutely right to be scared.

Years ago, he has made a horrendous bone chilling plan to bring Khushi to RM to fight with her fear once and for all.

And now, years later he has made something more appalling in his mind to not only keep Khushi in India but also to bring her back to her usual self. To him. This time, forever.

With no more separation. No misunderstanding. With none of them hanging in between love and hate. No fear of losing the other. Neither from his side nor hers. No sickening revenge games. Neither pining nor longing. No twisted confusions lurking in the shadows. And certainly not any thing else coming in between them. Either.

This time when they would reunite it would not be temporary but for an eternity.

Eternity? Someone laughed in him.

How do you know that you have an eternity to live, dude? A voice mocked him punching him in his gut.

And that too with this deadly disease eating you up every passing second?

Isn't your blood thickening and clogging in your veins the part of which could get stuck anywhere in your body, any freaking time?

His heart clenched hard in his chest.

Last time it was your heart in Scotland. Now, your brain. And next time? Which organ would it be?

He released a resigned sigh. He swallowed down the saliva gripping the blanket in fists. Just now when Maa and Sahil left him settling him in the room did he realize that there was no trace of her in the room at all. Not at the bed nor at the dressing table. All of her cosmetics were gone as well. He was sure if he checked the wardrobe he would find her side empty like his life would be without her.

Glaring up at the ceiling he rubbed his temples as his head throbbed with so much thinking. Even with eyes open he saw her image conjuring up in front of his eyes shattering him some more. He closed his eyes in pain whilst they brimmed with moisture.

Toot k bikhra para hun,

Saans lena bhi hai saza,

Jeene mai ab kya rakha hai?

Mar raha so dafa!

His head buzzed on the verge of bursting and it would have had if he hasn't felt the familiar presence and scent around. His eyes shot open and around the room before his gaze went to the poolside. He frowned not finding anyone, her, around.

Where is that woman hiding to keep an eye on him where neither would her facade break and she would make sure he is fine, too? Where, dammit?

He looked around at the walls as if they would answer him!

He shook his head. He would find her hiding place later on when he would be strong enough to walk around and catch her red handed.

Then what?

You'd love her?

Bring her back?

Give a name to your love?

Again, then what?

Leave her shattered in your wake?

DAMMIT SHUT UP!

He screamed in his mind.

Yeah, YEAH I WOULD LOVE HER. I WOULD!

This scream somewhat silenced the conflict in him.

No matter what. He has made a decision firm in his mind and heart both that he would win her back and spend the rest of his life with her. All that is left for him to live, of course.

For the life spent with her. In her love. Even if its short would be worth living.

He would shower all of his love on her which he has buried in him for ages in the limited time he have. He would love her so so , so very much that she would not be left with any longing or wish or any craving whatsoever in her life by the time he would be gone. And that's his promise to himself. To her.

Never would he ever get scared of loving her because he has learnt the hard way that it wasn't his aloofness which is the key to make her strong. Rather its his care.

And Love!

Zindagi bewafa hai ye maana magar,

Chod k raah mai jao gay tum magar,

Cheen laon ga aasman se tumhe,

Soona hoga na ye do dilon ka nagar!

____________________________________

First of all, a big thank you and bear hug to you all for so good response on the previous chapter. It was the very first chapter in Dillagi to have reached 800+ Votes. Wow! You guys are the best! Please keep showering the same love and I'd keep writing for you all I promise.

This chapter is one of my favorites in Dillagi. I am so very glad to be able to write it the way I pictured it. I hope you like it as much :)

I am really, really excited to complete its next part and join the pieces of the puzzle. You all are going to love what's coming up next ;) 

Q/A:

1. Which one is your favorite scene in 24A?

2. What has happened to Khushi? Why is she adamant on leaving him even when she knows everything?

3. What has Arnav planned?

4. Your favorite dialogue?

5. Your favorite chapter till now in Dillagi?

6. If you were at Arnav's place what would you have done?

7. Or if you were at Khushi's place what must you have thought?

8. Any other query or confusion?

I have dropped hints after hints in the chapter itself. Let's see how many of you could catch it. 

Target: 700+ Votes

Kindly don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT while I'd go and write the next updates. Waiting eagerly for your response :)

Cheers!