Khushi laughed as she applied colour on Arnav's cheek startling him, the pair of two away from the eyes of the crowd in his poolside garden. He spun around surprised to see her "Khushi"

Still chuckling "Happy Holi Arnav"

Surprised as he is seeing her here in his house, he could not contain the way his heart raced as he looked at his girl smiling. It always has been this way with her, his heart dancing in joy. Getting hold of her hand he tugged her towards himself smirking, soon followed by caressing his cheek with hers murmuring "Happy Holi Khushi", she stopped giggling looking in his eyes, caressing his cheek she leaned forward meeting him halfway for a kiss, soon everything got forgotten in their world.

What seemed to be minutes later he asked "how are you here?"

Raising her eyebrows "guess what my family was invited by your Di and Nani"

Muttering an "Oh" he watched as she fell silent and little serious, Arnav "What is it?"

Khushi shrugging "I don't think so your Di and Nani liked me"

"Khushi they don't know you, surely you cannot say in a single meeting if they like you. But how did you know I was here?"

"Oh, I was getting bored and knew you would not be outside knowing you don't play holi. So, I made excuse to go to washroom and of course managed to come alone and started looking at the rooms, guess what it was not very hard. Your room décor clearly pointed out the owner who is residing in it."

Chuckling he hugged her "I'm happy you are here sweet heart"

Khushi "I know, when yesterday Maa said we will be coming here I could not contain myself. It was hard for me to keep it secret from you."

Arnav "Love you"

Pecking his lip "Love you too"

Arnav "but how did our families know each other, they never said anything about it."

Khushi "I asked about it to Maa and was told they met few times in satsang and got along well."

Arnav "I should have guessed it knowing half the time my family attends one pooja after another." Khushi laughed at his exasperated tone, she knew how much he hated his sister's and Nani's as he put it blind traditional belief and how they drive him mad most of the times.

Chuckling with her, he pulled her towards the recliner by the poolside and sat, making her sit on his lap, cuddling her close. He sighed. How did such a fortune land on his life? He could not fathom but luck she did and he is grateful for that, because if not for Khushi he had lost all hope of real happiness.

Garima looked around trying to spot her younger daughter who should have returned by now, it is more than half an hour she is gone to use restroom and yet absent. Turning to her elder daughter Alisha "Did Khushi come back at all?"

Alisha, frowning little in a worry answered "Nahiin Maa, she is not back yet. I do not know what is taking her long."

Anjali standing beside them "I'll go look for her. Must have lost the way."

Alisha "I'll come with you." Both the ladies left to search for Khushi. Nani patted her arm "don't worry she will be fine."

Garima smiling little "I must be worrying too much but it is that in this crowd and with bhang flowing freely I cannot help but worry."

Nani "I understand, people will be hardly in their best behaviour under such condition. Be assured she will be inside the house. Why don't we too head inside and see?"

Garima "Ji" the two women too left from there, Manorama (Chachi) saw them walking towards the house from where she stood conversing with the few women, excusing herself from them she reached Garima and Nani.

Chachi "What happened?"

Nani "We are looking for Khushi. She said she is going to use the washroom and did not return back. We are worried and is going to check on her." Chachi too went along with them.

Anjali and Alisha had looked everywhere in the house, checked all the rooms but did not find Khushi anywhere, worried they walked inside Arnav's room which is the last place they expected to find Khushi, Anjali knowing too well Arnav did not take kindly to any stranger entering his room.

So, imaging the shock she got when she found the two kissing like there was no tomorrow. Her phone fell from her hand. Alisha beside her gasped loudly. All she could do was watch numbly as the two got to their feet looking at them as shocked as they were.

Alisha leaving the room, her steps hurried brought her out of the stupor she was in. Soon shock gave to anger as she looked at her brother. What had he done?

The three women who entered the house met Alisha on the way, who was crying. Garima panicked cupped her face asking "what happened? Why are you crying?"

Alisha hugged her, not able to erase the image of Arnav and Khushi kissing, she had never thought she would witness something like this today. She had been so happy to come here, but now it turned worst nightmare.

Nani "Betiya, you are worrying us. Tell us what happened?" exchanging worried glance with Manorama. Garima "Where is Khushi? Did something happen to her? Is it why?"

Shaking her head, crying more profusely she said "No.....she....she and Arnav...."

Nani "betiya calm down first and tell us clearly"

"I saw them......"

"Yes......"

"They both were in compromising........" she could not continue further and burst out in a sob. Three shocked eyes met hers. Nodding her head, she narrated them how she and Anjali walked in on them.

Anjali stared at Khushi, her eyes cold "Your mother is looking for you" Khushi stood indecisively, looking at Arnav. Anjali seeing her still not making move said sternly "Leave Ms. Gupta"

Arnav squeezed her hand nodding in assurance, Khushi left silently, feeling embarrassed and bad, for being caught kissing Arnav which she does not regret but for the way Anjali looked at her, her eyes were filled with disgust for her.

As soon as Khushi left the room his sister turned to him "how could you Arnav?"

"I'm sorry you had to see that. But why are you getting hyper."

Anjali looked at him in disbelief "Getting hyper? What do you think haan? Gupta family were guest here. And you were with one of their daughters, kissing her. What will they think? Here we are planning to tie your knot with Alisha and you were kissing her sister"

It was Arnav's turn to look at her in shock "What the hell?" How dare they plan something like this?

Anjali "Look Arnav Alisha is perfect girl......."

Arnav cut her saying sharply "I'm not going to marry her." He hardly knows the girl and beside he loves Khushi. Why will he go and marry anyone else when he already has his girl in his life?

Garima looked at Khushi sternly "Is it true?" Khushi looked at her mother and then at her sister, her back turned towards her. Beside her Arnav's grandmother and aunt standing, the former clearly with disgust in her eyes and the later clearly concerned at the turn of event. Leaving Arnav's room as she came down, she was met with her mother, one look at her and others she knew they had come to know what happened in Arnav's room.

This time her mother asked, her voice raised "Is it true Khushi? Were you with Arnav?"

Taking deep breath, she nodded her head in reply, the next she was rewarded with a tight slap from her mother.

One turned to two, and two turned to three.....she would have given more if not for.....

"Garima" her father's voice came surprised. Shashi and Manohar had just now entered, not even fathoming they would come upon something like this when HP had come searching them and said they are needed inside urgently.

He walked forward, pulling Khushi behind him, faced his furious wife, staring her down "Enough wife"

Garima turned her furious eyes at him "you don't know what happened? This girl......"

Shashi put a hand stopping her "Whatever happened? You should not have raised hand on grown woman and definitely not like this" his gaze taking in the occupants. Once again, he gave his attention to his wife saying "we should leave, we can talk in our home."

Garima tried to say something but he shakes his head "Not here", Shashi faced the three Raizada's and took their leave, holding Khushi's hand he walked out. Garima was too ashamed to look in their eyes followed her husband out after folding her hands before the elder lady. Alisha was too heartbroken to utter anything followed her parents out.

Khushi stood quietly as her mother narrated the entire incident to her father. His face expressionless, Garima at the end all but shouted "this girl ruined everything for Alisha" Khushi looked at her confused not understanding what has her sister got to do with all this.

Come to think of it her sister looked like she had been crying, but she was too lost in her own problem to be concerned about her.

"Alisha?"

"We were planning to tie the knot between Arnav bitwa and Alisha." Shaking her head, she glared at her biting out "now don't know what they will be thinking about us?"

Khushi shocked uttered "you cannot think to get her married to Arnav. Why? Arnav will never marry her."

Garima gasped "did you hear her? The nerve of this girl."

Shashi calmly asked "And why is that Khushi? How can you be so sure?"

Khushi bit her lip as she confessed the truth "Because Arnav loves me. We are dating each other from three years." Leaving her parents and Alisha stunned.

Arnav "I love Khushi. I can't even think about another girl in her place. I will marry only Khushi." Confessing it to his family he looked at them as they all gathered in his room. Anjali, Nani, Manorma stood stunned at the revelation, while Manohar was concerned at this as he knew things are not going to be good. Akash just kept quiet already knowing about his brother's relationship with Khushi, for he is fulling supporting him.

Anjali "How can you even think of that?"

Nani "That girl is not fit to be Raizada granddaughter in law."

Arnav "Why can't she be? What is lacking in her?"

Nani "She is too modern for one. Did you see the way she dressed? Few minutes she was with us I can say her belief is different from us."

Arnav "that is not valid reason Nani. Just because she has different thinking and approach does not mean she is not good enough."

Akash "Haan Nani, Khushi is very nice girl. I know her very well. She is best for bhai."

Anjali rounding on him "Do you know about them before?"

Akash "Yes, I knew it."

Nani "Chotte, I don't care what you say? We had already decided Alisha will be perfect for you."

Arnav "You can't decide about my life. And how did you even think I will even look at a girl like Alisha. She is not my type at all."

Anjali "What is lacking in her? She is beautiful and traditional."

Arnav "Just because she comes under your category you want me to marry her. Does my wish mean nothing to you guys?"

Akash "this is not fair Nani Di; you guys are not even giving Khushi a chance."

Seeing them so stubborn and prejudiced he said in firm tone "My marriage will happen with Khushi only either with your blessing or without it." Saying he left the room needing to get away from the suffocating environment.

Anjali "Nani now what are we going to do?"

Nani "let me think" saying she left to her room. Anjali glaring at Akash for hiding this information too left from there.

Akash shaking his head at them looked at his Chachi and Chacha "do you guys not have anything to say?"

Chachi looking at him "I never differentiated between NK and you, Arnav, Anjali. For me you are all my children. Bitwa, all I ever wanted is my children's happiness. If Khushi is Arnav's happiness then I'm with him."

Akash smiled at her "Thank you Chachi"

Chacha ji patting his arm "Don't worry I'll talk to Amma and Anjali betiya." Akash hugged them feeling relieved to see at least his brother has Manorma and Manohar's support.

Here, Akash is real sibling to Arnav and Anjali, not cousin. Manorama and Manohar are Chachi and Chacha to the three siblings, they have one son NK.

I am planning to keep this short story.

Please let me know how is it? Will be waiting for your reviews guys.

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Silent readers at least press Vote button.

I'll update Door Jaana Nahiin, Khushi later this night.