Arnav raised his brows in uncertain, seeing the place where the car has come to halt. Khushi has also pasted the same expression on her face.

"What are you looking for? Get down you both."

Arnav nods at Aakash voice & eyed Khushi to get down. She smoothed her saree, once got down and looked ahead at the temple. The same temple where she was almost forced to get married to an older man, but fortunately Arnav butted in snatching the scene.

Aakash put his hands on Arnav shoulder guiding him up and Riya took it on herself to give company to both Khushi and Meera. 

When they reached upstairs, they both got why are they for here. There was a set up for a marriage with havan and small decoration has been made to indicate the same. Arnav eyes instantly went to meet Khushi eyes to find any type of hesitancy or discomfort but found none instead he found her lowering her lashes as pink hues begun to raise on her cheeks. A serenity settled on his chest.

And while on the other hand, Khushi tried to get any reaction from him. She's happy to say understatement. She's excited and at the same time she's not sure of his feelings. Gulping, she moved her eyeballs and tried to take a peek into his eyes through her downcast head.

"Awww... Bhabhi is blushing." Khushi quickly averted her vision and looked up with bulged eyes.

"Now you both stop playing peek a boo. Since your wedding happened without proper rituals, we arranged a small Pooja along with a small wedding. Now come." Smita cleared the air and made them sit on the altar.

Arnav throws a bewitching smile at khushi and she lowered her head in shyness after meeting his eyes. But soon, his smile wiped off from his face and worry lines formed on his forehead. As if sensing him going stiff all of sudden, Khushi raised her lashes and followed his vision. Strange fear caught off her senses. Her heart began to race against her ribcage. She gulped visibly and send innumerous prayers to her goddess to ease of the situation.

"Relax... Breath out." She heard him saying it to her and she wondered how he's maintaining his cool seeing his parents practically spitting fire at Aakash parents. She saw him getting up on his feet but Aakash pressed his shoulders making him sit back again.

"Amma called them saying we're conducting Pooja. Their blessings is needed na, that's why. Don't worry bhabhi, she'll handle them." Riya murmured on Khushi ears.

Still, Khushi sat apprehensive of their reactions.

Arnav palms slides on hers and pressed it gently conveying silent message which somewhat soothed her aching nerves. True to Riya words, Smita somehow convinced the raging Rekha and a displeased Raj.

In no time, Khushi face beamed with joy as he ritually made her his following by all rituals. Unlike earlier time, Arnav took his own sweet time to tie the nuptial thread around her neck and fondled the soft skin underneath his fingers more than necessary, just to see her blushing smile.

"I never know hooking a small pin will take this much time." Aakash voice boomed on Arnav ears which he ignored casually and continued to use the given opportunity to it's fullest. Khushi felt half of her burden was lifted off from her heart when he trailed his vermillion covered finger on her partition. Followed by, they took rounds around fire promising themselves to be there for each other always. Arnav never left her palms on the whole process. When it come to take elders blessings, she almost damped in sweat fearing Arnav parents reaction. Applause to Smita's convincing skills that they give their blessings to newly wedded couple without much fuss.

"Mom... I am..." Arnav hesitantly started to speak but Rekha stopped him from finishing it.

"My blessings doesn't change anything between us. I am not that cruel to wish someone bad luck that too standing inside the temple. Let's go Raj ji." Raj solemnly followed Rekha leaving Arnav to taste the disappointment in his most important day of his life.

He looked at their retreating figure with hurt evident on his face. It's not easy for him to behave like he isn't hurt by his parents behaviour, whom he beloved. How easy is it for them to behave as if he does not exist? Has the love they showered on him all these years, a lie? It needed only seconds to disown him, whom they nurtured with all their life.

"Their excessive love only made them behave like this. Don't think much." He shook his head slowly as khushi drew soothing circles on his arm.

Isn't life a circle? Not even an hour passed, their role got reversed. Arnav who had been showering assurance and love on her was now in receiving end accepting everything she was bestowing upon him. She hugged his arm and placed her head on his shoulder, silently providing support not knowing how to erase the aching nerves on his heart.

Smita who has seen everything decided to break their moment. She cleared her throat and was successful in brought them back to Earth.

"Shall we go?"

Arnav nodded. His palms automatically went down to held her in his enclose. She gripped his hands and entwined it slowly.

After taking blessings from goddess, they left the premises only to stop at another building.

"Why are we here?" Khushi couldn't resist but voice out her doubt seeing the crowded office.

"To register our marriage." Arnav replied getting down. He frowned at Meera who has been looking here & there.

"Meera, anything you want?"

She darted her eyes "No."

Arnav found something suspicious but let it down to die as she excitedly clutched Khushi arms and whispered something on her ears which Khushi to look at Arnav with all the love in the world.

"Jiji I need to use washroom." Meera whispered while walking inside the office.

Khushi nods and mouthed "Careful."

Meera sprinted away in a blink clutching her sling bag close to her. Aakash and Arnav went inside whereas the family along with Khushi waited outside.

"Khushi, why didn't you told me earlier about your marriage preparations? I would've done something." Smita held Khushi arms expressing her displeasure.

"Papa..."

"Don't take that word. If I had known earlier, I would've tried to stop your wedding and send your father behind the bars. How dare he?"

Khushi bit her lips looking at the surroundings and the raising voice of Smita. "Leave it na ma..." Smita was not convinced and was about to continue when aakash came there with sulking face.

"We've to wait for few minutes to get our turn to be called."

"Oh, Let us sit inside." Smita said walking inside expelling a deep sigh.

"Amma, there's no enough space inside for everyone to sit." Aakash stopped her.

But Arnav said exact opposite "Aakash I saw three empty spaces inside. Take them there. Aunty cannot stand for long."

Aakash throws a scrutinizing glare at him. He can smell something brewing inside the brain of his friend.

"Why are you glaring him? See, how responsible he is." Smita scolded him making Arnav laugh under his breath.

Aakash sniffed and guided everyone inside. He kept glancing back until he disappear from the sight of Arnav and Khushi.

As soon as they were out of the sight, Arnav held Khushi hand "Khushi come..."

She get startled by his touch "Where?"

"What where? Won't you come with me without questioning?"

"No... No... I'll come." She admitted hurriedly before he could thing anything wrong about her which is nowhere in question at the first place.

Arnav pulled her close to him, entwining their fingers. He took her to a less crowded area and leaned against a tree as there is no sitting arrangements there. Khushi stood opposite to him, still fingers entwined with him.

His eyes took in the stunning look of his newly wedded wife. Adorned with mangalsutra shining on her smooth neck, her face also shined in joy. He felt ecstatic as he never seen anyone who could blush so much by his mere presence. Matching to her pink saree, her cheeks are pink and his eager eyes are stubborn to transform those pink into crimson.

"W..h...y are you looking at me like that..?" Finally she asked mustering all her courage blushing beetroot red leaving him to wonder, how many shades she has instilled within her. Maybe he can write Fifty Shades of Blush.

"You're beautiful." Words flowed out from his mouth like a butter & his fingers stroked her blushing cheeks.

"You jealous man, don't rub off the colour from my sister face."

Both got alarmed by the sudden intrusion. Khushi withdraw her hand immediately from his hold & Arnav fingers went back to it's place.

"What you said?" Arnav straightened himself throwing daggers at Aakash.

Aakash shrugged nonchalantly "Truth."

"Excuse me... Why would I get jealous?"

"My sister is more fair than you. You're no match to her Mr." Aakash said in a warning way.

"Nahi... Nahi... There's no other match  better than him." Khushi interrupted taking Aakash warning seriously.

"Heard... Now go, buy something for my wife aka your lovely sister. She must be hungry." Arnav dismissed him in no nonsense tone.

Aakash gaped at him and eyed Khushi expecting her to protest Arnav order like she did when he pointed Arnav. But alas! She kept quiet as if indirectly conveying him to leave them alone.

"Who asked you to interfere between a couple? See, what you got. You deserve it Aakash." Aakash pointed at himself and murmured enough for them to hear. Arnav chuckled.

"He got angry it seems." Khushi said worriedly fidgeting with the hem of her pallu.

Arnav awwed at the innocence she carried. He released her from fidgeting further by pulling the end of her saree. She gaped at horror as she crashed herself against him by the unexpected pull. Her breath laboured as his breath continued to dance on her cheeks. He naughtily roamed his nose on the expense of her cheeks. She clutched his sleeves. Something happening inside her making her feel ecstatic and fear at the same time. When his nose touched the corner of her lips, she couldn't hold back but stop him "Wh..at a.re yo..u doing? It's public."

Arnav stopped his act, craned his neck "So, is it okay if I do on our confines of room?"

Khushi blushed and kept her head on his chest hiding her lateritious face. Arnav chortled throwing his arm around her shoulder secured her in his embrace.

***

Aakash halted his steps abruptly seeing known face.

'Isn't she Meera? Khushi's sister. Why is she standing alone?' Aakash thought in mind taking steps towards her.

When he took a close look at her after reaching her, he got stunned. There she's standing close to a boy, who looks like a college boy. He stood hesitant to approach them. With what right, can he question them? How can she stay so close to him in public where anyone can walk at them look at them?

But nonetheless, he walked towards them & stood infront crossing his arms.

"Who are you? What are you both doing here?" He asked startling the duo.

Meera frowned and Abhay threw daggers at him and dare to question back "Who are you by the way? Look, leave from here."

"Meera, what is this?" Aakash asked not having heart to leave her alone with such an arrogant boy. It's his responsibility to look after his friend's saali. In fact when he says, Khushi is his sister, he didn't said it for namesake. He truly accepted her, that technically makes Meera his sister also.

"Jiji knows everything. So it'll be good, if you stop poking your nose on my matter." Meera replied rather harshly making Aakash to wonder on the contrast between the siblings.

'Is she saying truth? Does Khushi know this?' This question resonated at the corner of his brain.