Next day Morning

Arnav got up early due to his disturbed sleep. He saw Khushi sleeping on the recliner. Yesterday's events came back to him at once. He decided to finish his morning jog before Khushi got up. He freshened up and went for jogging. After one hour, he returned.

He didn't saw Khushi on recliner. Then heard water running in washroom and assumed that Khushi is inside. He waited for her outside. Khushi came out after few minutes in formal clothes. He realised she was getting ready to go to work. He decided to talk to her now itself.

"Khushi, I..." Arnav started to say. Just then both of them heard door knocking.

Both looked at each other. Sighing Arnav went to open the door. He saw Payal standing there. Payal gave a small smile to Arnav and asked for Khushi. Arnav let her in.

Khushi looked at Payal for a moment and resumed getting ready. "Khushi, today you have to make breakfast. HP is already there in the kitchen. I have told him what is to be made." Payal said this and started moving out but stopped hearing Khushi's words.

"I can't. I have important work at office. I have to reach early." Khushi said and started getting ready.

Payal frowned at Khushi. "You can't do this, Khushi. I have been hearing this same excuse for the last one week. Everyday you say the same thing. Work at office. For one week, I have been cooking the food all three times - breakfast, lunch and dinner. You don't even help. I am tired of this. Today, I don't want to hear any excuses. You have to cook breakfast and dinner." Payal said angrily.

Khushi rolled her eyes. Seriously, she is talking as if daily she makes three course meal for everyone from morning to evening. She hardly makes roti and one or two curries which her mother in law and husband likes, rest of the food is made by HP. Then when anyone questions her why she doesn't cook more dishes, she says I don't help.

When I makes food, she and the entire family expects me to make different different dishes for each and every person and then they starts criticising the food without reason. Before one month, I used to make food three times a day. That time, even HP wasn't there to help. They would very conveniently send HP to run their stupid errands. They didn't even cared if I was well or not.

And this sister of hers would be running behind her husband and mother in law trying to impress them. Or would be with their special guests pleasing them. Now when she has to cook for three times a day, she is throwing tantrums. Serves her right. I am not going to help. Khushi thought.

"I won't. I won't cook." Khushi answered to her demand.

"What do you mean by you won't cook." Payal asked angrily.

"I meant I won't cook in this house anymore. This is your sasural (husband's house). They are your in laws. So you cook for them. I am getting divorced. So I won't be cooking for them anymore." Khushi said shrugging.

Arnav and Payal looked at her shocked.

"Divorce?" Payal asked shocked and confused. "Khushi, are you serious about this? I thought this was one of your usual crazy pranks."

Khushi looked at her with a mocking smile. "Exactly. Everything Khushi does is only a crazy joke to everyone. When have anyone took it seriously?"

"Khushi, I didn't mean that. You..." Payal tried to say something.

But cutting her, Khushi said with an expressionless face. "Leave it. It's better you start taking responsibility of the household duties from now on. Because I won't be there to do it. This is your house now. Your family. What they want to eat. What you will cook for them? All this is your concern now. Don't include me in all this. " Khushi shrugged nonchalantly.

"But, how will I cook for everyone?" Payal was horrified by the thought.

"That's your problem. You find a solution. Take HPji's help. Or cook yourself. Your headache. Not my problem. And still if Raizadas have demands that they will eat only food made by daughter in laws. Then ask your Jethji to get a new jethani for you. I am sure he will be only happy to get you one." Khushi said carelessly and continued getting ready.

Arnav and Payal gaped at her shocked. Before both of them could get out of their shock, Khushi got ready and left for office. Frustrated, Payal went to cook. Arnav was confused how to tackle the situation. He decided to meet Mr Roy and ask him to send a reply for the divorce papers. He called Mr Roy to his office.

After that he immediately got ready and left to office. Mr Roy reached on time. Arnav told Mr Roy about the divorce papers. He gave it to Mr Roy. Mr Roy read the complete papers and told Arnav the options. Arnav clearly refused to go for divorce.

Then Mr Roy told him that they could file the petition in court as such. He also informed Arnav that since divorce is asked on the basis of incompatibility, it's likely divorce is not granted if he refuses. Then discussing about the further procedures some more, Mr Roy left.

But what Arnav missed was he didn't read the second page of divorce petition in which Khushi has mentioned about her pregnancy and want for custody. If he would have read that he would have found out about Khushi's pregnancy and the reason of her behaviour the previous night.

But unfortunately, Arnav didn't read it and moreover gave the divorce petition to Mr Roy. Since Arnav didn't wanted divorce, Mr Roy also didn't mention about the custody clause.

After Mr Roy left, Arnav felt better and he started thinking ways to sort things between him and Khushi. He started planning for a surprise to woo Khushi. He decided to take Khushi for a dinner and talk to her. He booked one of the most famous restaurant of Delhi exclusively for them for the entire night. He then arranged for all of Khushi's favourite food and some filmy entertainment.

He then picked up one of the best evening gowns from his personal designs, bought a solitaire ring, flowers and a gift for Khushi. By evening, he reached Shantivan with everything.

But then only he realised his blunder. He still doesn't have Khushi's new number. He couldn't contact her. He contemplated going to her office to pick her up. Then decided against it. He decided to wait for her in Shantivan itself.

He entered inside the house and saw his entire family alongwith Sheetal and Arav sitting in the living room having their evening tea and snacks.

Seeing him, Anjali asked, "Chote, where were you? Sheetalji said you left from office early without informing her. Also you didn't went to pick Arav. It was good Sheetalji called me and I send Mohan. Otherwise how she would have reached on time to pick up Arav. It was not done, Chote. You should have told Sheetalji before leaving."

Arnav frowned hearing his sister. It is true that in his excitement to surprise Khushi, he forgot about the mother-son duo. But he didn't like the way his sister scolded him.

"Di, I am not Sheetal's personal driver that I should pick and drop her and her son. Also, Sheetal is just a junior designer at AR, not my wife or secretary that I should inform her about my whereabouts. You know I don't like people interfering in my matters." Arnav said frowning.

"But..." Anjali tried to say something but Nani stopped her.

"Chote, I want to talk to you about yesterday. Come to my room." Nani said.

"Nani, please. I already told you I have everything under control. I will handle this matter. You please don't interfere." Arnav said not wanting to discuss the problems with anyone.

"Chote, it's not a small problem. I want to know what happened. What happened as such that Khushi Bitiya wants divorce. You can't just ignore my question." Nani said slightly angry.

"Nani, please. I told you I will handle it. Just trust me. Let me take care of it." Arnav said.

"Chote..." Nani tried to protest.

But cutting her, Arnav said, "Nani, I am tired and need to rest. I am going to my room. Di, please ask HP to bring my coffee to my room." Saying that, Arnav left upstairs.

Nani sighed irritated and left to her room.

Arnav reached his room and decided to freshen up. When he came out of the washroom, HP came with his coffee. HP gave him coffee and left from there silently. Arnav decided to get ready and wait for Khushi.

He did rehearsals how to ask Khushi for a date. He was really excited. But as time passed, he started getting frustrated. Minutes turned to hours, still there was no sign of Khushi. He sat on the recliner irritated.

When it was ten minutes to eight, Khushi entered the room. She frowned seeing Arnav sitting on recliner all ready to go somewhere. Must be going to some party with Sheetal. She ignored him and started keeping her things away.

Arnav frowned seeing her ignorance. He stood up and came near Khushi. "Where were you till now?" He asked annoyed.

Khushi looked at him for a moment and then answered carelessly, "Work."

"Till now?" He asked frowning.

"Yeah." Khushi shrugged.

"Don't you think your boss is making you overwork. I mean it's almost night. Who makes their employees work till now?" Arnav asked getting angry on her boss. Is he taking advantage of his naive wife.

Khushi looked at him surprised. Then composing herself answered, "We are working on a very important government project. The deadlines are pre-poned due to some political issues. So everyone is over working. We are getting paid for it. I am an integral part of the project, so I have to stay to finish the work."

Arnav nodded understanding. Then, he remembered about his plans. He decided to ask her for dinner. "Khushi, I have made dinner reservations in xyz restaurant for us." He said. OK. That didn't came out so well. But while waiting for her, he forgot all his ideas to ask her for date. He hoped she agrees.

"OK." Khushi said calmly.

"OK?" He asked confused. She agreed so easily. That's unbelievable.

"You have made reservations for you and Sheetal, right? So go. Why are you telling me all this. You never told me before today. You used to go, right. Then what is this new custom? You are going for dinner with Sheetal and Arav. Then go. When you started bothering about me and my opinions?" Khushi said casually.

Arnav felt like Khushi slapped him. He looked at her shocked and stood paralyzed at his place. Not even one word escaped from his mouth. He couldn't say anything. Khushi made faces at his weird behaviour and then shrugging, went to change.

Arnav felt like he fell from the top of Mount Everest. He gasped feeling difficult to breath. The complete weight of his mistake finally dawning on him. All these days, he was doing everything to hurt Khushi as he was hurt by Khushi's distrust on him. He felt like she compared him with his father by doing the DNA test.

He felt like she didn't trust him and indirectly calling him a cheat by doing the DNA test. So to hurt her and make her feel his pain, he started ignoring her and being close to Arav and Sheetal, entertaining them, taking them out, spending time with them.

He somewhere understood that he went overboard in his ignorance game when he received the divorce papers. But he was still not ready to accept that he ruined things to such an extend that there is no going back. He was trying to make himself believe that he can fix this.

But now when he asks himself, he doesn't have the answer. Can he actually fix this. It has been seven months since Sheetal came in this house. And it has been six months since his ignorance game started. First Khushi tried to manofy him. But he was not ready to relent.

Slowly Khushi stopped trying. She wanted to talk but he ignored her. Specially due to her indifference with Sheetal and Arav. He felt as if she still didn't trust him, so she was ignoring them. But then one day four months back, an argument happened between them and after that Khushi stopped talking to him.

She even went to Lakshmi Nagar without telling him. It angered him further. When she came back, she was changed. She didn't talk to him nor to anyone. Always kept to herself. The only interaction between them was their physical relationship. In fact unlike her usual nature, she initiated the intimacy.

He was angry with her for her ignorance and indifferent nature but the closeness between them gave him hope. It went on for sometime still nothing changed. Khushi was as distant as possible with him and the family except for the intimate time they had. She totally ignored the presence of Arav and Sheetal as if they were non existent.

He thought things would get fine with time. She would understand and leave her childishness. But then things started deteriorating. She started being more aloof from everyone. Not responding or talking to anyone. Just being silent.

And then things went completely downhill after that night one month back. They had an argument. Was it an argument, he doesn't know. But everything got ruined after that night. Khushi stopped being with him. There was no interaction between them.

Khushi completely stopped talking to anyone. She started sleeping on recliner. She ignored his presence. In fact she acted as if he doesn't exist. He knew he went overboard with his behaviour that night. He wanted to apologise but Khushi just didn't gave him a chance. She wouldn't stay 10m vicinity of him.

She left bedroom before he woke up. Slept before he came. Wouldn't participate in family time. Always locking herself in bedroom. And when he comes to bedroom, she leaves. It was like they were living in two different worlds.

Still he was hoping that things would become fine between them. Once they talk, everything will be fine. But the divorce papers were a reality check. Still he hoped that he could salvage the sinking ship of his marriage. He could save their relationship. But now seeing Khushi's behaviour, he couldn't understand what to do.

Did he ruined everything? Is there no way to save their marriage, their relationship, their love? Did Khushi really stopped loving him? Did their love really end?

No. It won't happen. He won't let their love die. He won't let their relationship to end. He won't let their marriage to break. He will fight. He will fight to save their love. He thought determined.

He saw Khushi coming out of washroom after freshening up. He took the dress he brought for Khushi and went near her.

"Khushi, I made the reservations for both of us. Us as in you and me. I have brought a dress for you. Please go and get ready in this. Then we will leave." Arnav said giving her the dress.

Khushi stiffened hearing him. A lot of memories started running in front of her eyes. She got reminded of the n number of times he went out with Sheetal and Arav, ignoring her. Not even bothering if she was fine or not, if she ate or not. She gulped the lump that formed in her throat and composed herself.

"I have already eaten my dinner. Plus I am really tired and not in a mood to go out. You can go if you want. I am feeling sleepy, so going to sleep." Khushi said nonchalantly and laid down on the recliner, ready to sleep.

Arnav stood there looking at Khushi, feeling hurt. He decided to cancel the reservations. He called the restaurant and cancelled the reservations and promised them to pay full amount. Then went to change his clothes.

He looked at the flowers kept on the vase. It had started withering. He contemplated giving the gown and ring to Khushi, but saw her lying with closed eyes. He stored them away in the closet hoping to give her later. He opened the gift which was a small bass Devi Mayya idol and kept it near her Devi Mayya idol.

He freshened up and changed his clothes. He didn't felt like eating. His appetite was already lost. He decided to sleep. He was going to lie down when he heard the knock on his bedroom door. He saw Khushi lying on the recliner probably asleep. He didn't wanted others to know about his marital issues, so decided not to open the door.

But the knocking continued. He stood there thinking what to do. Then saw Khushi getting up irritated. She glared at Arnav and went to open the door.

Opening the door, she saw Anjali standing there. She rolled her eyes. What the hell is this woman's problem. Why the hell does she keep knocking on their door.

"What!!!" Khushi asked not at all hiding her irritation. Arnav and Anjali were taken aback by her tone. They have never seen Khushi talking to anyone so harshly.

Anjali quickly composed herself and answered with a smile, "Woh, dinner is ready. I came to call you both."

Khushi sighed in irritation. She turned to Arnav and yelled at him, "Why are you standing there like a statue. Didn't you hear what she said. Dinner is ready. Go and have your dinner."

Arnav gaped at her shocked. He couldn't understand what's wrong with her. Why is she so annoyed.

"Will you stop staring at me like a hawk and get out?" Khushi asked sarcastically.

Arnav immediately moved towards Anjali. As soon as he stepped out of the bedroom, Khushi closed the door on both sibling's face. Arnav and Anjali looked at the closed door shocked.

"Is she alright?" Anjali asked still shocked.

"I think so." Arnav replied with a confused face.

"Dinner?"

"She said she already ate." Arnav replied. Anjali nodded her head and went downstairs. Arnav silently followed her. Inside Khushi cursed the brother sister duo and went to sleep.

Dinner was silent affair. Nobody said anything. All had dinner and went to their room to sleep as they were in no mood for entertainment or small talks.

OK. First of all I am sorry about the late update. I was a little busy for the past few days. Don't worry I will try to update next part soon.

So coming to the chapter. A small confrontation between Khushi and Payal. Arnav trying to woo Khushi but facing the backlash of his actions. And finally a small glimpse into the past from Arnav's POV.

Guys, this is only a start. The story has a long way to go. Every Character will go through a character development. So don't worry, rest assured. This story is going to be one hell of a ride. I am only setting the background. The real story will start soon.

So stay tuned. And give lots of votes and comments.