Currently, Highest Rank #6 in Horror. Thanks to my dear readers for making this Possible ❤

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"Such a beautiful girl," praised one of the ladies who had come for Khushi's Mu dikhai.

"Rani Aparna, tell us too where you found this diamond," asked an old lady, referring to Khushi as a diamond.

Dadi, who heard all this praise, didn't like it one bit.

"I know where! She is the same girl whom Yuvraaj Arnav met and fell in love with when he went for some work in another village, right?" Another lady joined the conversation.

Though Rani Maa could stop her family from speaking about the past, she couldn't do the same with outsiders. Hence, she just nodded in reply so that she wouldn't have to reveal much.

"But in those days, we had heard that Yuvraaj Arnav's marriage was fixed with some royal princess. What happened to that?" asked the same lady, making Khushi raise her head.

"Yes. Actually, we didn't know that Arnav wanted to marry Khushi. Hence, we had fixed his marriage with Princess Sunaina. But we broke that alliance as soon as we found out about Arnav's love interest," replied Rani Maa, hoping they wouldn't ask any further questions.

"Then why was there such a delay in their marriage? And why did Yuvraaj Arnav have a hidden marriage?"

"Actually, Arnav had an accident after that, which caused him to lose his memory, and we could never find out who the girl he loved was. Though Arnav remembered Khushi's face, he couldn't remember much about her. So we had to wait for his recovery. But then, last week, Arnav saw her in the other village and recognized her. They wanted a quick and simple marriage. He called me, and I gave my approval," Rani Maa replied carefully.

Khushi just kept staring at Rani Maa. Was it this simple? No. The past was more painful than what was being portrayed. Well, she couldn't blame this lady.

"We can continue these talks after eating. Why don't you all join me in the dining room? Lunch is served," Manorama invited the ladies to the other side so they could close this topic of the past.

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"Khushi beta, you invited a lady from your village to sing, right? Where is she?" asked Rani Maa as soon as she got some time alone with her bahu.

"Shikha Mausi? I don't know," replied Khushi.

"It's alright. I will ask someone to find out," Rani Maa called a servant and instructed him about it, whereas Khushi cared less, fully confident that Shikha was not harmful to her.

Sometime later, the servant came back and informed Rani Maa that Shikha was bedridden, and doctors had said she was traumatized. In fact, she hadn't spoken a word since last evening. Rani Maa felt bad hearing this, whereas Khushi sat with no emotions.

You shouldn't have come in between my motives.

Before Rani Maa could reply to the servant, someone called her, and she went away.

The servant actually had a letter that was to be delivered to Rani Saheba. Confused now that Rani Maa had gone, he thought of handing the letter to Bahu Rani (Khushi), but other ladies started surrounding her. So, he went straight to Maharani, that is, Dadi, and handed her the letter, saying Shikha's husband wanted them to take a look at it.

Though Dadi didn't know who this Shikha was, Manorama, who was standing beside her, took a keen interest in knowing what was in the letter. She took it from her mother-in-law's hand and opened it hurriedly.

"Slowly, Manorama."

"You know, Maaji, how excited I get to open letters. And this seems like something mysterious," Manorama said comically.

However, after reading the contents, Manorama stood like a statue. Dadi placed a hand on her shoulder and asked what had happened. Manorama then told Dadi whatever was written in the letter.

"What type of joke is this? How can a dead girl live normally with us?" Dadi said in disbelief.

"Ghost… ghost… that means what Rags said was true?!" Manorama stuttered, and the next thing that happened was she fainted, remembering her daughter Ragini's words too.

"Manorama?" Dadi was shocked to see her bahu faint. She thanked God they were away from the crowd and no scene about the letter was created among the guests.

Dadi called some servants who helped take Manorama to a nearby room without the guests noticing.

A doctor was called to check on Manorama while Dadi sat thinking about the words in the letter, which said, "The girl who claims to be the Bahu Rani of Sheesh Mahal is already dead!"

Though Dadi didn't believe this because Khushi was as good as a normal human being with no signs of odd behavior, she remembered the previous evening when Khushi had stepped into the home. That evening was unnaturally stormy, and the lights, which had never gone out in the palace before, played a role too. And the breakfast Khushi made? That was too much for one person to make alone in such a short time. Dadi was also confused about Manorama's behavior.

Dadi then ordered one of the servants to call Ragini to the room so she could inquire about what Manorama had said before fainting.

"Ji, Dadi," Ragini entered the room with slow steps.

"What happened to you, Ragini? Why have you been behaving so oddly since morning? You didn't join us for breakfast, and now you weren't present for the function. May I know why?" Dadi asked, concerned for her only granddaughter.

"Nothing, Dadi. I just wasn't feeling too well," replied Ragini, thinking of her mother's word that she shouldn't reveal what she saw to anyone.

That's when she noticed her mother lying unconscious in bed.

"What happened to Mom?" Ragini sat beside her mother.

"Don't worry, doctor said she's fine!" replied Dadi, moving ahead and placing her hand on Ragini's head.

"Doctor? Suddenly?" Ragini was confused. Her mother was perfectly fine this morning. Then what happened to her now?

"Yes. She fainted due to shock. Someone sent a prank letter and…"

"Letter? Where is it, Dadi?" She interrupted her Dadi and took the letter after Dadi showed it to her.

Ragini sat down with a thud, reading the contents.

"Ragini, don't get scared, beta. We will soon find out who played this prank on us," Dadi's words fell on deaf ears.

"Dadi… Dadi," Ragini cried and hugged her.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" asked Dadi, confused.

That's when Ragini told Dadi everything she saw that morning in the kitchen.

Dadi was unsure whether to believe it or not. Could this be Ragini's hallucination? But how could everything point to the same thing?

Is Khushi really a ghost?

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Khushi sat removing her jewels, and when she was removing her necklace, another hand came from behind to help her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"So? What have you thought about my proposal?" Arnav sat in front of her, handing her the necklace.

Khushi smiled at his choice of words and replied, "Friends, then." She extended her hand, which he held with a smile.

"Only friends?" He teased her, to which she glared at him.

"Easy there, I was just kidding. Your glare is so horrific. Seriously. I wonder how I used to pacify you when we fought," Arnav asked with a naughty glint.

"We never fought!" She said as a matter of fact.

"We didn't? Well, that's surprising, considering my anger issues. I often get angry over the smallest things. But it seems I was lenient with you," he said, making her jaw drop.

"What do you mean by lenient? Were you in an exam hall or what?"

"I don't remember," he replied sarcastically.

"Don't know why I agreed to be friends with you!" She narrowed her eyes.

"Why do you keep getting angry? As far as I remember, we were always happy, having lovey-dovey moments!"

"Well, that's because back then you were in love. And now we are as good as strangers," she said, making a weird face.

"That can be for me! But what about you? When you remember everything, how can I be a stranger to you?" Arnav asked in his husky voice, making Khushi still.

"People from different worlds are never meant for each other," she whispered.

"You mean our different backgrounds? Have I not ever said in the past that it doesn't matter to me? Was I that much of a fool?" he asked, blaming himself.

"No… no… I didn't mean… anyway, leave all that. This is what happens when we talk about the past. So let's start afresh, like you said, being friends!" She smiled.

"Yes. Can I get a hug?" Arnav asked, getting another glare from her.

"Oh, come on. No glares. Can't a friend hug another?" He sounded so innocent that she couldn't help but give him a hug.

Arnav wrapped her in his arms and patted her head. Khushi then moved away, feeling a little uncomfortable. She gave him a hesitant smile and left the room.

"Very well, now that the fish is caught in the net, I have to play safe," smirked Arnav, thinking to himself.

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With love, ❤
Uzma.