Few days later

There was silence in Shantivan for the past few days. That day, after all the drama, Sheetal and Arav were asked to stay by Mami. But nobody bothered about them after that. Everyone behaved as if they were not there.

The whole house was silent for the past few days. Nobody talked to anyone. All stayed in their own rooms, doing their work. There was no family time, no eating together, no evening chats, nothing.

Nani was heartbroken and her health kept deteriorating. Anjali was trying to cope up with her emotions and feeling. Trying to figure out how to fix things and get her family to normal. Mami was lost in her own world. She couldn't understand or handle the tension at home. So she kept herself busy with beauty parlour and kitty parties.

Akash and Payal were confused how to handle the situation. Payal was busy in her own things. With nobody to help, the entire household chores fell on her head. She was struggling to manage everything. Akash didn't know what actually went wrong in his brother's life. He wanted to ask Arnav and help him. But was confused how to approach him.

NK was also lost. Shantivan was his safe heaven. Whenever he felt down or lonely, he came there. He loved spending time with Raizadas. Since the last one year, he was having a great time with his best friend, Khushi in Shantivan. He really loved spending time with her. She was different from his other friends.

She was mature, understanding at the same time innocent, bubbly, and happy go lucky person. They shared so many likes and dislikes that they clicked instantly. They became best friends, partners in crime. Their favourite past time was irritating his cousin brother.

Then, one day Sheetal and Arav entered Shantivan. Like every other Raizadas, he also got lost in their charms. His heart went out to the fatherless child. But Sheetal was an entirely different matter. The admiration for the smart, beautiful, single mother, soon turned into a crush.

He knew Sheetal was not ready for any commitment. Even he was not looking for a long term relationship. A casual fling, that was all he was seeking. He knew Sheetal was elder than him and was the mother of a 8 year old boy. He wasn't bothered about it.

He tried to pursue her. But she proved to be hard chase. Always evading him, ignoring his advances. It intrigued him. He did notice her easy camrade with his cousin, also her undue advances towards him. But he ignored it thinking it to be just her friendly nature.

In all this, he unknowingly started ignoring his best friend and constant companion. While running behind Sheetal, he forgot to understand the turmoil his best friend was going on. Infact, he forgot about her for a while. He regret to say this but he is also one of those people who had hurt her.

He was shocked when he came to know about Khushi applying for divorce. He never realized the tension or problems brewing in the household. He was the person who knew about Arnav and Khushi's relation most in this house. He has seen both their ups and downs. Unlike the other family members who had seen only the good phase of their relationship. He knew about the bad phases too. He had seen Khushi holding onto the relation even after going through hell because of Arnav. So it really confused and surprised him, when he came to know that Khushi wants to give upon the relationship. He couldn't understand what went wrong.

But when he came to know the reason, it was a slap on his face. The reality hit him hard. It was then the full gravity of the situation dawned on him. Like the entire family, it was then he also realized the other side of the entire matter. Like always, he and the Raizadas were lost in the blissful part of the situation. They happily ignored what it was causing to the other person. They didn't realise how it was affecting Khushi.

Now when they realised the situation, it is already beyond the stage of repair. He did tried to mend things. The past few days, he tried to talk to Khushi. But she ignored him. He tried to spend time with her, rekindle their friendship. He tried to coerce her to watch movies with him, go shopping with him. He purposely talked to her in wrong hindi hoping her to correct him. But nothing happened. She ignored his every attempts and evaded every interaction between them.

But he will not give up. He will keep trying. Hopefully, one day he will succeed and he will get Khushi's forgiveness, will have her trust and friendship back. He is determined.

Today was an important day for the inmates of Shantivan. The day which will decide the future of their family. As the first step of Arnav and Khushi's divorce matter, the court has asked the couple to go for a marriage counselling session. And try to solve their issue. If things go smoothly today, then they will have hope to salvage their relationship.

Arnav and Khushi got ready silently. Both were nervous. After getting ready, Arnav and Khushi came down. They saw the entire family waiting for them in living room. Seeing them, everyone stood up. Khushi ignored everyone and walked out of the house. All sighed seeing that.

Arnav stood there silently lost in his thoughts. He was actually scared. He didn't know what was going to happen with the counsellor today. Anjali came and kept her hand on his shoulder. That brought him out of his musing.

Sighing, he silently went to have his breakfast. After that, he got up to leave. Just then, Anjali came with a bowl of curd and sugar. She came near him ready to have an argument with Arnav over that. But Arnav silently let her feed him.

"Don't worry, Chote. Everything will be alright." Anjali said reassuringly.

Arnav didn't say anything. He silently left from there. Raizadas looked at him sadly.

"Devi Mayya, please make everything fine. Please shower your blessings on my children." Nani send a silent prayer.

After having breakfast at her usual restaurant, Khushi reached counsellor's office. She saw Gayathri waiting for her there.

"How are you?" Gayathri asked her gently.

Khushi nodded her head as OK.

"Relax. Don't worry. It's just a procedure. You just answer the questions honestly. And say your viewpoint. Everything will go smoothly." Gayathri said softly.

Khushi sighed and nodded her head. Just then, she saw Arnav coming in his car. He parked the car and got out. He looked at Gayathri curiously not recognising her. Even Gayathri was confused at first seeing him, then slowly recognized him. She twisted her mouth in displeasure.

Turning to Khushi, she said, "OK, Beta. I am leaving now. You come to my office after the session, then we will discuss about further things."

"OK." Khushi nodded her head.

After giving an angry glare at Arnav, Gayathri left. Arnav frowned at her behaviour. Then ignoring her, he came to Khushi. Soon, they both entered the counsellor's cabin.

The counsellor was a woman in her middle age. She had a warm welcoming smile on her face. She welcomed them and asked them to sit.

"Hello guys. I am Rashi Sanvi. I am your counsellor. Don't be nervous or anything. We will just be chatting. That's all." She introduced herself. "You guys must be..." She looked at the couple probing them to say their names.

"Arnav Singh Raizada." Arnav said in his usual confidence.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta...." Khushi said slowly not knowing whether she should add his name with hers or not.

"Singh Raizada." Arnav completed for her. Khushi frowned at him.

Rashi looked at the couple in amusement. "Well, that's a mouthful."

"She likes to call herself that." Arnav said shrugging.

Khushi frowned at him and said softly. "I didn't want to loose my identity."

"Hmm." Rashi said writing something on her notepad. "So, when did you got married?"

"14th February." Khushi answered.
"28th September." Arnav answered at the same time.

They both looked at each other. Arnav remembered how he has forcefully married Khushi blackmailing her with her sister's marriage. Khushi remembered how she and her whole family was humiliated in the mandap during their second marriage. How she and her mother were accused, called names and chastised in front of the whole world.

"Huh." Rashi looked at them confused hearing their contrasting answers.
"Usually, couples have difficulty remembering dates and all. But nobody has ever said two contrasting answers." She said frowning.

Khushi looked away hearing that. She doesn't even want to remember any of her marriages. Both times it was disastrous for her. Seeing Khushi silent, Arnav decided to answer.

"We got married twice. So both are our wedding dates." Arnav said softly.

"Married twice? I have heard about people renewing their vows after few years. But marrying twice with few months difference. Why?" Rashi asked curiously.

"First time, we married secretly. Sort of a runaway marriage. Our families were not present. Then we married again in front of everyone." Arnav said hesitantly.

Khushi gave him a sarcastic smile. "Why don't you tell the entire thing. First time, he married me forcefully because he misunderstood that I was having an affair with his brother in law. Later, he married me again to shut some people and to establish his rights over me." Khushi said looking at Arnav in disgust.

Arnav's head snapped at her hearing that. He felt his heart falling into the pit of his stomach. Is this how Khushi felt about him. The thought itself broke his heart to pieces.

"Married forcefully? Hmm. So can you say from the start? Where did you both met?" Rashi asked slightly frowning.

Arnav looked away hearing that. Khushi looked down and sighed. Then she started narrating about their first meet. Slowly Richa asked them about their story. Khushi narrated about their life. About how she met Arnav, later Shyam, how she started working for him, his tortures, her engagement with Shyam, how she found out Shyam's truth and broke the engagement, Arnav misunderstanding them, forced marriage, him blackmailing her, his kidnapping, her rescuing him, throwing Shyam out, Anjali's suicide drama, Arnav's outburst, everyone knowing their incomplete marriage, his Dadi, their parent's past, their remarriage, exposing Shyam till their happy moments after that.

Rashi heard everything patiently. Arnav sat silently. He was trying to gauge Khushi's feelings about the entire scenario. But she didn't express anything. Just said everything mechanically. As if saying a story. None of her feelings or emotions about anything could be felt in her words. Even Rashi noticed that.

She wanted to know Khushi's feelings about the entire scenario. But she looked rigid. As if she has no emotions left. In fact except sarcasm, she didn't express anything. She looked at Arnav. Even he looked rigid and lost in thoughts. He didn't try to say his version or defend himself. He didn't even looked towards Khushi for once while she was narrating the entire scenario.

Rashi sat silently observing them for few moments. Both were lost in thoughts. She couldn't understand them. She has never met such complicated personalities before. Honestly, she couldn't understand their relationship. There was not even one good thing about their relationship.

Since start, it was only filled with negativity, misunderstanding, fights, anguish, punishments, revenge, anger, sadness, pain, hurt, abuses, everything. The only good thing that she could see in their relationship was their love. She honestly couldn't understand how their marriage survived for so long on the basis of just love. They are poles apart. Like fire and water. How they managed to survive together is beyond her.

Yet, she decided to know more about them to find something worth salvaging in their relationship.
"So what happened after that. Shyam was out of your lives. Anjali was getting better. You both were happily married and together. Then, what went wrong?" Richa asked trying to know the problem that led to the divorce. If they could survive so much, then what happened so bad that now they are heading for divorce.

Khushi sighed. "You are right. We were happy. We had overcome all the problems in our lives. Our fairytale has ended in happily ever after. We were living our happily ever after. But every fairytale ends with the happily ever after. Our fairytale also ended there. Has anyone ever asked what happens after the happily ever after?" Khushi asked giving a mocking smile. Rashi looked at her curiously.

Sighing, she continued. "After the happily ever after, the reality strikes. The real life begins. Though in fairytales, relationship only need love to get the happily ever after. In real life, love is not enough for a relationship to survive. It needs much more than that. And our relationship only had love.

"A relationship should be mutual. But in ours, it was always one sided. One giving and the other taking. It needs both persons to have care, concern, respect and trust for each other. Our relationship was surviving only on love. And when real life began, it was not enough for the relationship to survive." Khushi said softly with a passive look.

Arnav looked at her in pain. "You think I don't care about you." He asked hurt.

Khushi looked at him blankly. "I don't know. Because I never felt it."

Arnav kept looking at her trying to absorb what she said. Did he really failed to show his care and concern for her.

Rashi frowned hearing them. "Khushi, why do you think he doesn't care about you? What happened which led you to take the decision of a divorce?" She asked gently.

Khushi looked down and gulped. Memories started running in front of her eyes. She fisted her hands tightly as she started feeling difficult to breath. She closed her eyes and tried to think about her Babies. Slowly, she calmed down and her breathing became normal.

She gulped down the water kept in front of her as she felt her throat go dry. She took deep breaths to calm herself. Arnav didn't notice the change in Khushi as he was lost in his thoughts. But Rashi did. She patiently waited for Khushi to compose herself.

After composing herself, Khushi started. "Everything was going fine in our life. Or rather it felt like that. We were in a happy bubble. Enjoying our married life. Then, one day I met a boy, Arav. He...he..." Khushi stopped once again feeling difficult to talk. Her vocal cords closed up as the painful memories started running in front of her eyes.

No, she can't talk about Arav. More than Sheetal, it was Arav who hurt her. Even the thought of him, makes her insides go numb. She could talk about Sheetal. She could talk about everything else. But Arav, she couldn't do it. Everytime, she thinks of the boy, her heart goes cold. She feels as if someone is brutally crushing her heart.

Arnav saw Khushi feeling difficulty to talk. It was then he realised what she was going through in this counselling section. She was reliving every bad memories of her. She was reliving every pain, she went through. He felt worried for her seeing her feeling difficult to talk.

He held her hand tightly to support her. Khushi jerked feeling him holding her hands. She looked up at him and immediately her eyes filled with tears as unbearable pain hit her hard. She tightly closed her eyes and turned her face away.

Arnav sighed. Guess he has to say the rest. "One day, Khushi met a boy, Arav, in a shop. The boy is exactly like me. You can say like a clone of me. He dressed like me, talked like me, his mannerisms, his likes, dislikes, everything is like me. And his name also is Arav SR, and he likes to call himself as ASR.

"And that was the start of everything. Khushi kept meeting that boy at different places. And then we came to know that he was my college mate, Sheetal's son. Sheetal was a single mother. They had recently shifted to India then. Sheetal was trying to find job and accommodation for themselves.

"When Khushi came to know about it, she invited them to stay at our house for few days till they found accommodation. But it was the biggest mistake of our lives. Everything toppled after that. Sheetal was my girlfriend in college days. A fling that lasted for a couple of weeks. I told Khushi about that. But it backfired. With Arav being exactly like me, Sheetal being my ex girlfriend and a single mother, Khushi started having insecurities.

"Even my family did the work of adding oil to the fire. They kept comparing Arav and me. It only worsened the situation. Khushi asked me once about my relationship with Sheetal but I was not comfortable talking about my ex girlfriends. So I just said that it was platonic. I had no idea what was going on inside Khushi's mind. I only thought of the comparison as a joke.

"But then one day, I saw her with a DNA report of me and Arav. I felt hurt. I felt like she was accusing me of cheating. It made me loose my cool. I lashed out on her. I was too much hurt by her distrust. I wanted to hurt her too like she hurt me. So I started ignoring her.

"I thought she will realise her mistake. But it didn't happened. She kept apologising initially but I was too much angry at that time. So I ignored it. It went on for few days. But then she stopped talking to me. Infact she started ignoring everyone. She completely avoided Sheetal and Arav. She stopped interacting with everyone.

"With time, things got worse. She became aloof from everyone. And we all also ignored her, though unintentional. It was as if we lived in two different worlds inside the same house. Our relationship was badly damaged. I wanted to talk to her, make things fine between us. But she ignored me like I didn't exist.

"It started hurting me. So I also kept my distance. In all this I don't know when we went so far away from each other. Now she wants divorce. I don't know how to make things better between us. I am really sorry for hurting her. I am ready to apologise for my whole life. I am ready to do anything. I don't want to loose her. I love her so much. I can't live without her." Arnav poured his heart out at the end. His eyes moistened. He felt helpless and defeated.

Khushi sat numb at her place. She was remembering the past six months of her life. Arnav said right. He doesn't know what went wrong in their relationship. How things became so bad that now they are on the verge of a divorce. He never realized his mistakes. He never realized when he killed their relationship.

Rashi sat silently for few minutes, giving both of them time to compose themselves and to comprehend the situation herself.

"Hmm. So, Sheetal and Arav are the problem. You feel Arnav cheated on you and had a child with another woman. That he is having an extramarital affair with Sheetal. So you want divorce from him." Rashi asked curiously trying to understand Khushi's stand in this matter.

Khushi chuckled slightly and shook her head with despairing look. "I don't understand why everyone thinks that Sheetal and Arav are the reason for this divorce. Yeah, they had a role in everything that happened. A big role. But they are not the reason for this divorce.

"Who are Arav and Sheetal? Nobody. An ex-girlfriend of my husband and her son. Do they have the power to make me divorce my husband. Absolutely not. Since everyone found out about this divorce matter, all are deducing that it is happening due to Sheetal and Arav. If they are taken out of our lives, then everything will be fine. It will not be. Yeah, they did triggered the reason for this divorce. But they are not the reason.

"I don't know why everyone thinks that it bothers me that Sheetal is his ex-girlfriend. That's not true. It doesn't bother me that she is his ex. I knew that he had women in his life before me. In fact, his last girlfriend is a very dear friend of mine. When I got married to him, I knew what I was sighing up for. I knew I was not the first woman in his life. I didn't even expect him to be a celibate even.

"I have seen world enough to not judge a person based on his previous relationships. That was a phase of his life that happened before he even knew that I existed. What he did then, or what happened in his life then, it is not my concern. That's his past. And it doesn't matter to me.

"And regarding Arav, I don't know if he is his son or not. In either case, it doesn't matter to me. It's his mess to clean up. Yeah, it would hurt me if he really turns out to be his son. Because like every woman, even I am possessive about my husband. It would hurt me to know that he fathered a child with another woman. But then, as I said, it's a matter of past and it doesn't mean anything to me." Khushi said her point of view.

"Then, why did you do the DNA test if it doesn't bother you?" Arnav asked confused. Rashi too nodded. It confused her as well.

Khushi sighed. Everything started at that point. "I didn't do it because it bothered me. In fact, I didn't even meant to do it. It was an impulsive thing. From the day, I met Arav. The only thing that confused me was his stark similarity to him. It was too much of a coincidence to ignore.

"Every single thing that Arav did, it was like Arnav. And after they came to live with us. It got worse. Everything he did, someone would say it's like Arnav. The way he eats, he drinks, he talks, he sleeps, everything is like him. He has diabetes like him. He loves basketball like him. He is short tempered like him. Even if he sneezed, then people would start saying it's like Arnav.

"The comparisons were horrible. As days passed, every moment I used to hear someone or other comparing them. Arav Bitwa is like Arnav Bitwa. Arav is mini version of Chote. Arav is Chota packet of Arnav. If Arnav had a child, then he will be like Arav. Arav is like a child version of Arnav.

"I wanted to ignore it. I tried so much. But The comparisons were so frequent that even if nobody is saying anything, I started feeling like someone is reciting the same thing in my ears. And the most intriguing thing is that the man himself, who was so obsessed with his image, never said anything.

"He never opposed when his family members kept comparing them. In fact, he was so happy and amused with it. And then the way, he bonded with Arav, it was too much. For a man, who never liked kids, his bonding with Arav was ineludible." Khushi said with a painful look.

"Wasn't it good thing that he was opening upto a kid. He was friendly with a kid?" Rashi asked curiously.

Khushi shook her head. "He... he never liked kids. Always kept saying they are troublesome and annoying. He was so rude to them always. Always shouting and being moody, when he was around kids. Arav was not the first child, he was interacting.

"Few days before Arav came, there was this pooja at home. We invited a few kids. He was so insolent with them, avoided them like plague. In fact, the way he used to get annoyed hearing kids, I was even scared to get pregnant at one point. I was worried whether he will even accept our baby or will ask me to..." Khushi trailed off not being able to say that.

Arnav sat shocked hearing that. He felt his heart dropping to the pit of his stomach. Khushi feared getting pregnant. She thought he would ask her to abort their child. He felt numb.

"Did you really thought I would ask you to ki... kill our child?" Arnav asked painfully.

Khushi looked down a bit guilty hearing his hurt words. "At one point, yes." Khushi answered honestly.

Arnav looked down feeling defeated. He closed his eyes in pain. Tears stung his eyes.

Khushi continued after a pause. "Then, Arav came. And I realized you really can love a child. It... it surprised me. I couldn't comprehend your connection with him. Then, everyone comparing you both. It was a nightmare. I couldn't understand anything. My mind was a mess. I just wanted those words continuously echoing in my head that Arav is like Arnav, to stop.

"I was trying to make myself believe that it was all a coincidence. But as everyone said the same thing again and again, it became too difficult to ignore. I wanted a closure. I wanted answers. I tried to ask you. But you didn't pay heed. I wanted to talk to someone, anyone who would assure me that it was just a coincidence. But there was none. All were busy in them. Nobody was bothered about me. Nobody cared how I would feel hearing that.

"I was thinking how to find a solution to that. Then, one day, I just saw something about the DNA test on TV. I don't know what came over me. I felt it would give me a closure. It was an impulsive decision. I wasn't thinking it through. In fact, I was not even thinking about Arnav. Whether, Arav is his son or not.

"It was for my peace of mind. I just wanted the comparison to stop affecting me. I wanted to make myself believe that whatever they were saying, had no other meaning. So I decided to do the DNA test. I was a science student. I knew a few things about inheritable traits. So, I was so sure that it would be negative. Still, I did it to make myself believe.

"I had no intention to do anything with it. All I planned to do was take a glimpse of it and tear it away, so that I could move on from the constant comparisons and have peace of mind. But it took the worst turn in my life. He saw me with the DNA reports and my life turned upside down. Like always, he assumed whatever he wanted and started punishing me.

"He keeps saying that he got hurt from my distrust. But the truth is he never trusted me. He never gave me enough importance to know my point of view or what I feel. Not even for once, he stopped to think why I took that step. What would have caused me to do it. My feelings, my emotions, what I am going through, it never mattered to him.

"Not on Sheetal's matter, neither on Shyam's matter. It was always about what he thought about the situation, that matters. Neither my situation nor my feelings, ever mattered. He sees something, he makes a story out of it inside his head, then he will be the judge and the prosecutor and finally he himself will give punishment also.

"My problem is not what Sheetal and Arav means to him. My problem is what I mean to him. Where I stand in his life. What is my priority in his life. Few days back, I asked him what if it was one of his family members in my place, who had done the DNA test. Then what would have he done. Would he have punished them.

"He had no answer. Because he couldn't. He clearly know he would have never punished his family members like he did to me, if they were in my place. Because they means something to him. They have a place in his life. But I. I don't know where I stand in his life.

"I have no importance in his life. In fact, I mean so less for him that I am such an easily disposable person for him. He and his family could ignore me for six months like I don't even exist. The truth is he never really respected me. I was just a trophy for him. A trophy that he won by competing with Shyam. And now that Shyam is out of our lives. My importance ended in his life." Khushi said with a tired face.

Arnav's eyes widened hearing that. "No. That's not true. I love you. I love you so much. I can't live without you. You're the most important person in my life." Arnav said panicking. No. No. That's not true. He loves her. He loves her.

"Still, you lived fine for six months without me, behaved as if I don't exist." Khushi said sarcastically.

Arnav looked down ashamed.

"Even if I believe that you love me. The truth still remains that you never respected me. You never considered me equal to you. Forget equal, you never considered me worthy enough that you never tried to understand me. My feeling, my emotions, my comfort, my dreams, nothing mattered to you.

"I was just an unpaid servant for you and your family who you kept at home to fulfill your and your family's whims and fancies. Who cared about the emotions of a servant. Servants are supposed to just do their work and take whatever shit you throw at them, right.

"You don't have to bother whether you hurt them. Isn't it. After all I have been that for you and your family since start. Earlier I used to work at your home as a servant. Now also I continued to do that and you people also treat me same. The only difference is, then I used to get paid for that, now since you have married me, you don't have to pay me.

"Nothing changed. Neither what I had to do nor how you people treat me. I am still that middle class nobody for you, with whose life you and your family can play with as they wish and nobody will be there to question you. I don't have anybody to stand up for me or ask questions to you if you people hurt me, so it's easy to hurt me. Nobody will question you nor you are answerable to anyone. You can treat me as you wish. Isn't it. How convenient." Khushi taunted with a smile.

"In fact, it was my fault. I was just so much in love with you that I stopped loving myself. I was so lost in that fairytale love that I ignored the every wrong that was happening to me. Sheetal and Arav were like an eye opener for me. After they came, my illusion broke and I was rudely awakened to the reality. Their presence showed me things that I always ignored.

"All throughout our marriage, there was never a moment when you or your family gave me the position and respect of being your wife. Except, taunts, accusations and abuses, I got nothing. But I was too lost in that small charitable bits of love, you showered on me, that I never realized how you people actually treated me. Or rather mistreated me.

"Even I was in fault here. Even since I got married to you, I stopped caring about myself. For me, my self respect was above everything. I never allowed anyone to play with my dignity and respect. But after marriage, I kind of stopped thinking about it. I stopped respecting myself. In my quest to keep everyone happy and maintain peace, I allowed you people to play with my emotions and respect.

"I stopped thinking about what was happening to me. I never thought how horribly you people treated me. Not even being considerate in front of guests atleast. I was so lost in love that I forgot to love myself. I forgot my dreams, ambitions, career, everything. It was all about you, your family, you people's comforts. Never about me." Khushi ended breathing heavily. Rashi offered her water, which she gulped down fast.

Arnav sat silently analysing everything Khushi said. He jogged his memories to find incidents to justify himself. But got none. He felt lost.

"So Khushi, you believe Arnav, right? You believe that Arnav didn't cheated on you." Rashi asked slowly trying to understand Khushi.

Khushi looked at her frowning. "Contrary to what you and everyone else think, I am not suspecting them of having an extramarital affair. I don't think that they have any physical relationship between them. Atleast not now. But yeah, I do believe that he has cheated on me with her while being married to me...." Khushi paused for a minute to gather her thoughts.

Arnav's eyes widened hearing that. "I never slept with her nor any woman other than you." Arnav said furious at the accusation.

"I didn't say you slept with her. I said you cheated on me with her. For me, cheating is not just having physical relationship with another woman. It's more than that. You have given her the privilege and rights, which only I was entitled to as your wife. Can you deny that. Can you deny that you gave her my place in your life?" Khushi asked angrily with tear filled eyes.

"Khushi, I... I... I was just..." Arnav looked down in regret.

"Not only me, you even gave away the place of our unborn child to Arav so easily. You were so happily playing the role of his father." Khushi said in disgust and anger. "Yet you say you never cheated on me. You cheated both me and my unborn children. I hate you for that."

"Khushi, I am sorry." Arnav said feeling disgusted of his own skin. Khushi scoffed and looked away.

Rashi looked at the couple tiredly. She couldn't find one good reason to help their marriage survive. She gave them coupld of minutes to calm down.

"OK. Since we never got to know more about both of you. Now let's get on with some general questions about both of you. How old are you? I know cliche question, but it's my job." Rashi tried to joke to diffuse the tension.

Both gave a weak smile.
"29." Arnav said shrugging.
"24." Khushi answered.

"What do you both do? What is your job?" Rashi asked casually.

Arnav went first. "I am the owner and MD of AR Groups." He said softly. He was too emotionally drained to show his usual arrogance and pride.

"I work as a junior architect in Oberoi Constructions." Khushi too said.

"Good. That's incredible. So both of you might be well educated as well. Where did you study and what?" Rashi asked noting down things.

"I studied Architecture and MBA from UCL, University College of London." Khushi said shrugging.

"I studied Fashion Designing and MBA from Harvard University." Arnav too followed.

"Wow. Great. So you both are financially stable. Hmm. You don't have any children, right?" Rashi asked looking at her notes.

Khushi stiffened hearing that. She rubbed her invisible tummy. "Not yet." She answered with a forlorn look.

Arnav felt a kick in his stomach. That question left an unknown pang in his heart. And he didn't know why.

Rashi looked at her and asked the next question to know both of their views on the topic. "If you had, you would have wanted their full custody, right?"

"Yes. I want the full custody of my children." Khushi said firmly.

Arnav frowned hearing that. Why are they discussing such a hypothetical question, when there is no children in the picture. He felt confused.

"And you, Mr Raizada? What about you? Would you have wanted the full custody of your children?" Rashi asked him to know his side as he looked completely aloof regarding the matter. Even Khushi was curious to know his stand in this matter.

Arnav looked at Rashi confused. Then, he started thinking. Children. He never thought about that aspect. Even he and Khushi never discussed it also. Earlier when Khushi said that she was afraid to get pregnant, he felt someone stabbed him on his heart.

He was not completely against the idea of having children like Khushi thought. Earlier, when he used to not believe in love, relationships and marriage, he was also against having kids. He felt that it's wrong to bring kids into this world, when parents are incapable of taking care of them or give them a good life.

With a ruined childhood and diabolical father like his, he doubted whether he could ever be a good father. So he was against the idea of having children. But after his marriage with Khushi, he did imagine having kids with her. He was sure that they would have children in future. With Khushi by his side, he believed that he could be a good father.

Many times, he dreamed of having their own children. He do want to have children with Khushi. But in a situation like this, what would he had done if they had children. He had no idea. Would he have fought for them. Would he have tried to take them away from Khushi? He began thinking.

Finally after few minutes, he sighed and answered. "If we had children, then I would have never tried to take them away from Khushi. I could never think of separating a child from it's mother. And Khushi. I know she would be a great mother. And even if I try, I doubt I could ever be as good a father as her.

"But yeah. I would love to be a part of my child's life. I would want him/her to know me. I want to give my child every happiness possible in this world. I never really had a good relation with my father, so I know how much a father is important in a child's life. I would never want my child to go through that. I would never want my child to be deprived of a father's love. I don't know how much of a good father, I would make. But still I would want my child to know me and would want to be part of my child's life." Arnav said his point of view. Towards the end, he was a bit emotional.

Khushi felt that. It made her doubt her decision for a moment. Is she really doing right separating Arnav from their children. But then, she remembered what happened in the past six months. How he ignored her and gave the rights of their child to Arav. That made her sure of her resolve. No. Arnav doesn't deserve to be a part of their children's life.

Rashi looked at Arnav thoughtfully and noted something down.

"Hmm. Now some personal questions. How is the intimacy between you two?" Rashi asked with a casual look.

That brought them out of their emotional moment. Both turned scarlet red hearing that. "Terrific." Arnav said smirking. Khushi's eyes widened hearing that. She gasped audibly at his audacity.

Rashi chuckled hearing that. "Khushi, you didn't answer." She teased a little.

"It is... um good." She said blushing slightly.

"So when did you got intimate last?" Rashi asked noting down something. That changed their demeanor. Both of them stiffened. Hearing no reply, Rashi looked up and saw both of them sitting with serious expressions, lost in thoughts.

"What happened?" Rashi asked frowning.

It was Khushi who answered. "Nothing. It was last month." Khushi answered slowly.

"Hmm. Why you didn't do it after that? Have you ever felt like doing it after that?" Rashi asked feeling something wrong.

Both sat silently feeling uncomfortable. Khushi decided to answer and end the topic. "I am having some medical issues. So doctor has advised to avoid intimacy. My medical reports are already submitted in court." Khushi said looking down.

Arnav looked at Khushi shocked. He didn't know about her medical condition. After what happened between them one month back, Khushi avoided him and slept in recliner. So he thought she was not comfortable with it and he too didn't bothered her. He had no idea she was going through some medical problems. He felt more remorseful.

Rashi looked at the couple. She couldn't understand why they looked disturbed by the matter. It seems something more is there in it, which both are not saying. She decided to probe a little more.

"You don't have a problem with that, do you?" Rashi asked Arnav to know his stand.

That question ticked him off. He glared at Rashi furiously. "What the hell. What do you think of me? Do you think of me as a sex starved teenager who would leave his wife just because I am not getting any action on bed. My wife is not a sex toy to me that I would leave her if she couldn't get intimate with me because of medical issues. I don't care if she could have sex with me or not. I am ready to be celibate all my life if she could be with me happy and healthy. I don't care if she can be intimate with me or not." Arnav thundered at Rashi.

Rashi sat shocked seeing his outburst. She had heard about his world famous anger. She was not completely clueless about the power of the man sitting in front of her. But From the time, both of them had walked into her chamber, Arnav has been calm. So she assumed him to be only short tempered in business world. But his outburst really shook her.

She took a few moments to compose herself. Then, she felt that she should apologise. It was a sensitive matter. She did accuse him unnecessarily.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you." Rashi said sincerely.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologise for my misconduct." Arnav too apologised realised he shouted on her unnecessarily.

Khushi sat numb. Though she was shaken by his anger. His words really soothed her heart. It really made her feel a bit better.

Rashi sighed and continued. "Now, I have a few questions for Khushi. And Khushi, I want you to answer it truthfully without any pressure. You don't have to worry about anything or fear anybody. If needed, we will provide protection for you. So answer truthfully." Rashi said encouragingly.

"Have you ever been abused during your married life?" Rashi asked the first question.

Just like that the few happy moments came to end. Once again reality dawned on her and her past started running in front of her.

"He has manhandled me a few times. Sometimes called me derogatory names. But has never beaten me or abused me physically." Khushi answered honestly.

"Hmm. OK." Rashi said noting something on her notepad. "How is your relationship with your in laws. How do they treat you. Have you ever faced domestic violence."

Khushi was confused how to answer the question. "It's complicated to answer. They do care for me. And are loving and good with me. I have never been abused physically. They are not cruel or anything. But then, it will be according to their mood. If they are in good mood. Then, they will be good to me, talk to me, have fun with me, include me in their lives. And if not. Then, they would simply ignore me. Behave as if I don't exist. Yeah, they have never respected me. They just see me as their middle class daughter in law who is supposed to fulfill all their whims and fancies." Khushi answered mechanically.

Arnav sat silently. He had nothing to say. He felt himself burning in shame, remorse and guilt. He didn't know what to do to rectify and correct his mistakes.

Rashi nodded at Khushi and continued. "Have you ever faced domestic violence?" She asked next.

"No. They have never tried to hurt me intentionally. As I said, they are not cruel people. They are just.... They are just full of themselves. That's all. If they are angry with me or anything, they would simply ignore me." Khushi said defending Raizadas. She doesn't want to lie or trouble Raizadas. She just wanted all this to end peacefully.

"Was there issues regarding dowry?" Rashi asked next.

"No. Never. They have never asked for anything from my family. On the contrary, they have given me everything I needed." Khushi immediately denied such allegations against Raizadas.

Arnav was thankful to Khushi for not putting any allegations on his family and hurting them, even though they had done nothing but hurt her and used her always.

"Khushi, you do realise the consequences of what you are going to do right? You both will be separated for ever. You will loose your relationship and support from each other. You will have to part ways from him. Live separately. You will have separate lives. Once it happens, it can't be undone. Khushi, divorce is a big thing. The procedure will be strenuous. And that too, in a contested case, it will be painful and excruciatingly difficult and long. So I will ask you again, are you sure about this decision of yours." Rashi asked seriously.

"Mam, I know you want to save this marriage. So you are saying all this. But, trust me Mam, I know what I am doing. I am cent percent sure about this decision of mine. It's not a decision taken on an impulse. I know what I am doing.

"Mam, I have given my everything for this relation. Have tried to save it sacrificing every single thing I got. But now I couldn't. I am tired. I am tired of trying to salvage it. I have loved him more than anything and anybody. I have given my everything to him. I lost myself in that. A part of me has died while loving him. I didn't have it in me to love him or keep this relation afloat anymore.

"My love for him. It has just died. I couldn't fight anymore for this relationship. I don't have the strength. And I am afraid if I keep going on like this, one day I will cease to exist. So only I decided to take divorce from him. It is my last resort. Only after thinking everything only, I came to this decision. And I am completely sure about it." Khushi said tiredly.

Rashi looked at the couple sadly. Her heart went out for Khushi. She did suffered a lot. But court proceedings can be horrendous sometimes. With her current condition, she doubted whether Khushi could survive that. Also, honestly she felt that there was still something worth saving in their relationship. She has seen so many cases. But them, they are unique. Their love is unique. Their relationship is unique. There is still love in between them. It is quite palpable. It could be salvaged if tried.

Arnav looked down tired, sad and guilty. The counselling only worsened the situation rather than salvaging it. He knew that. After this, saving their relationship will be more difficult. But he was determined. He was not going to give up. Till now, Khushi gave her everything to keep this relationship alive, now it is his turn. He will do everything in his power to save their relationship, to keep her happy.

"Arnav, you don't want this divorce, right?" Rashi asked him to confirm his stand.

"Yes. I don't want this divorce. And I will give my everything to save this relationship from breaking. I am ready to do anything and everything to save our love and marriage." Arnav said determined.

"Hmm. OK Guys. There ends our session. All the best for you guys. Hope you both get your happiness." Rashi said smiling.

Arnav and Khushi gave her small smile. After shaking hands with Rashi, they bid bye and left. Rashi sat on her seat looking through her notes. They both are two complicated people and their relationship is even more complicated. She couldn't get to a conclusion. So she decided to forward her findings to the court and let the court decide what is best for them.

So guys, next part is up. Long chapter. More than 8000 words. This time, I didn't wanted to make you all wait too much for the update. So updating early.

Coming to chapter. This is about Arshi having a marriage counseling before they actually go through the divorce case. I have no idea how a real marriage counseling is or what happens there. So this chapter is entirely my imagination. Don't bash me if I have made any mistakes regarding the counseling procedure or anything.

While I was researching about divorce procedure. I came across this marriage counseling thing. So I thought Arshi should also have an experience of it. Talking with a third party who has no idea about them. It will help them get an unbiased view and could communicate better.

This chapter is mostly about Arshi and their emotions regarding various aspects of their life. I hope you all will like this chapter.

Don't forget to vote and comment. I am really happy with all the love, I got in last chapter. I hope you all will keep showering the love and continue to vote and comment.

PS: I am not giving a face to Rashi (Counsellor) as her character is only for this chapter. You all can imagine whoever you wish to.