Hey my lovely readers 🙋‍♀️

M back with ur favourite story 🤷‍♀️

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Also thanks for ur valuable votes & awesome comments on the previous chapter which crossed 700 vote mark 🙏

Now here's the update...

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Mom.. Are you happy with me that I completed your given task efficiently?? Arav asked laying in his mother's embrace on the bed.

Yes baby, I am very happy. Sheetal replied smilingly, caressing her son's head.

But baby, how did you manage to skip the breakfast?? I mean I did give you the whole idea of what to do & how to do. But I was worried that Anjali aunty loves you very much so she won't let you skip the breakfast then how did you manage it baby?? Sheetal asked her confusion.

Mom, yesterday night when you explained me the whole plan I was ready to execute it as per your instructions. So in the morning I was looking for a perfect excuse to skip the breakfast which was provided to me by Khushi aunty herself. Arav supplied looking at his mom. .

How?? She asked furrowing her brows.

In the morning I heard her telling HP not to bring any bread today as they had enough bread to make toast for me. So I decided to ask for something made out of bread only to eat. So I demanded for garlic bread & as Khushi aunty had already used the limited bread for my toast I couldn't get my garlic bread & so I told Anjali aunty that we would have garlic bread at Starbucks & she agreed. Then everything I did as per your instructions only mom. Arav stated smiling proudly at her mom.

I am so proud of you my baby. Sheetal praised him with a kiss on his forehead.

But I am sorry too my baby for putting you through so much. For asking you to starve, to skip your medicines so you would faint. I am a very bad mom. Sheetal said sadly feeling guilty.

No mom. You are not bad because you only gave me the idea to ask Anjali aunty to stay at her friend's house nearby my school so that she could reach me as soon as possible. You did that because you love me & didn't want me to suffer more. Arav said, not liking his mother feeling guilty.

Thanks for understanding me baby. She kissed his hairs.

But mom, why was ASR not wanting to bring you back with him from Mumbai?? Arav asked.

As I told you earlier Khushi doesn't like both of us & she wants to throw both of us out of this house as soon as possible. It wasn't ASR's decision but she had only asked him to leave me in Mumbai only & then she would have sent you also to me after a few days. That's why I had called you last night, told you about ASR's decision & had asked you to do all the drama so that ASR has no other option then bringing me back to you with him. Sheetal lied unabashedly traducing Khushi more in Arav's eyes.

Arav gritted his teeth hard.

I hate that Khushi aunty, mom. He said angrily.

I too hate her baby but we have to keep our anger in check until we find a concrete idea to throw her out of this house & ASR's life. Till then you continue with your tantrums & harrowing Khushi the way you are doing. Ok baby. She said cupping his cheek.

Ok mom. Arav agreed.

Ok now it's quite late. We should sleep. Comeon close your eyes. She ordered & Arav obliged by closing his eyes & hugging his mother's waist.

Sheetal stuck him close to her & started patting his head, lulling him to sleep.

In no time Arav was asleep.

Sheetal smirked proudly at the success of her plan.

Yesterday after all her failed attempts of convincing Arnav to let her come back to Delhi with him she had called Arav on Anjali's mobile after coming back to AR apartments. Anjali had left his room after handing Arav her mobile. Sheetal had then told him that Arnav is not going to bring her back to Delhi to him. She had not given him the exact reason & had told that she doesn't want to stay there & wants to come back to him, to her son. He had gotten upset after hearing it & had asked her to come back to him any how. So she had asked Arav to stage all the drama & plan his fainting episode. Arav had performed brilliantly as per her instructions & after gaining consciousness he had persisted Anjali to call his mother back soon from Mumbai. Anjali had immediately called Sheetal on mobile & had told him about Arav's ill health. Sheetal had started crying on the phone & had told Anjali to take care of Arav as she would not be returning to Delhi. Upon asking the reason she had told Anjali that about Arnav's adamancy on keeping her in Mumbai branch. Listening to that, as ecpected Anjali had then called Arnav & had told him about Arav & had literally ordered him to get Sheetal back with him to Delhi & here she is back to Delhi with Arnav in RM where she should be to execute her further plans  towards fulfilling her real motive behind landing in India, in RM, in Raizada family, in Arnav's life.

Tch tch tch... I am so sorry Khushi. You can't get rid of me this easily. Not until I fulfill my real motive. She mused smiling viciously.

Pulling the blanket over Arav & herself, she closed her eyes with a satisfactory smile & drifted to sleep hugging her son tight to herself.
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Sitting on his green dull recliner, with his face buried in his hands, the great Arnav Singh Raizada  was feeling himself getting drowned in the sea of guilt & shame, feeling lower than a worm.

Raising his head he saw his wife, his Khushi sleeping on their bed, on her side, curled up in the blanket.

Her beautiful face looked pale & exhausted due to the verbal storm they both faced & fought a few hours ago.

He struggled to swallow as each & every word said by her resonated in his head.

Her every word bathed in her tears, clenched his heart painfully, reminding him of all the deeds that redound to his discredit that he had made her suffer.

His heart hurt thinking of her weeping because of him & his unbridled tongue & thoughtless actions.

The knowledge of the pain & the hurt his Khushi had been enduring due to his callous actions & words since the day they met in Sheeshmahal till date was cutting him like a knife, lacerating his heart, making his insides bleed.

His ego, anger, arrogance, impulsiveness, prejudiced view, bitterness all these has collectively ruined their relationship which was though built on the foundation of hatred & distrust but eventually had developed with their love.

She is so damn right. It was always her at the receiving end, right from the day one.

Just to prove his point he had aired their clipping with a cheap commentary insinuating her in a bad light which had left her exposed to the attack of goons & the rogue Shyam had got entry in her life as a saviour & a PG in her buaji’s house.

But that was not all.

His razor sharp tongue had always made her walk on the burning coals of insult & humiliation every time they met. Wherever they met.

Be it on the road, in his office, in his house, in her house, everywhere at every opportunity he never ceased to taunt her, insult her, bring tears in her eyes. But her tears would corrode his heart with guilt & then just to get rid of that guilt he would strike back with more vigour cutting her more into smithereens just to stop her from breaking the concrete walls he had built around his pumping organ to save himself from falling for a beautiful face who could ruin him in the name of love.

But slowly & gradually, the little minx Khushi Kumari Gupta had effortlessly pulverised those concrete walls making way for herself in his heart which was no more just a blood pumping organ for him.

They had started coming closer, enjoying the new found yet unnamed feelings which were growing in their hearts.

He had felt them & somewhere he knew she did too.

He was about to confess but one half heard conversation coated with Shyam's lies & manipulation again brought him to square one with Khushi & again she bore the consequences in the form of a forced contract marriage followed by his taunts, torchures, manhandling, accusations throughout the period.

He remembered the way he had ruthlessly flung the mangalsutra around her neck & had smeared the sindoor in her hair partition crushing all her dreams of having a full fledged traditional wedding.

He felt like strangling himself to death for making her life hell.

But even after going through hell by his hands she had sensed his kidnap & had almost lost her life in saving him from the kidnappers.

His kidnapping episode had changed the complete course of their lives & they had gotten closer than before.

But again one impulsive move from his dii & he had showered his wife with heart wrenching words & had called her the biggest mistake of his life when in real she was & is the most beautiful thing happened to him.

After that, they had been through so much together & she had always stood by him at every step, supporting him shoulder to shoulder.

Dadi's attempts to separate them, facing their past on their remarriage day, bringing Shyam's truth in front of dii, bringing dii out of her despair, everything they had faced & fought together.

She had been his strength throughout.

Even after his uncountable mistakes & unbearable sufferings she has always showered immense love on him.

Arnav felt his heart constrict with the comprehension that the reason behind the distance between them is his thoughtless & mindless gesture to punish Khushi for her one action taken due to her fear & insecurities. Otherwise her love for him is unconditional, unmistakable & immeasurable.

How she must have felt seeing him spending time with Arav & Sheetal distancing himself from her, to hurt her, to punish her.

Though being with Sheetal was never his idea but Sheetal kind of came in package whenever he was with Arav.

But when he saw Khushi feeling more hurt seeing Sheetal with him he had gone with the flow.

How could he do this with his wife. His Khushi. His love. His life.

& for what?? Just to punish her for the mistake she did out of vulnerability!!

Didn't she then tried to apologise to him several times in several ways??

But he was on a different ego trip that time which didn't let him melt until she accepts her mistake.

How could he?? Just how could he?? He flagellated himself.

He couldn't bear when today she went out with NK without informing him.

He wasn't jelous because he knows his Khushi loves only him & he knows his brother NK too very well who treats Khushi as his best friend.

He was angry as Khushi didn't adhere to his wish to come & meet him in the room immediately.

He couldn't bear the wait of few hours & she has been enduring all these from days as he was busy behaving as a douchebag of a husband.

She is right. If she could forgive him for his mistakes akin to sins then why couldn't he forgive her for her one mistake she committed out of her fear & insecurities??

Infact what rights he had to punish her for the mistake which she did due to his own ignorance & aloofness towards her??

In hindsight he realized the folly of his impulsive actions & prejudiced decisions.

Arnav Singh Raizada himself is his worst enemy who lets his ego & impulsiveness rule his decisions which made his Khushi doubt his love for him.

He felt disgusted at his inability to show her his love for her & make her believe her importance in his life.

But now when he has realized the extent of damage his ego & impulsiveness has done, his sense to right the wrong has prevailed widely opening his eyes he had shut towards the consequences occured due to his obstinacy & rash decisions.

The shock of old mistakes & foolishness crumbled & new determinations took their place for better present & future with his Khushi.

He can't change whatever has happened or whatever he did.

But he can change their present by trusting her with all his heart, giving her the respect she has earned & rightfully deserves, by supporting her at every step just like a husband should, by showering her with all the love he has for her in his heart, by showing her what & how much she meant to him.

He stood up from the recliner, moved towards the bed & sat besides his sleeping beauty on the bed.

He looked at her face with moist eyes.

The face which had gotten etched in his heart & mind the moment she had felt in his arms in Sheeshmahal.

The eyes which had cast a spell on him giving him restless days & sleepless nights until he had made her his in all possible way.

The lips which had brought peace to his burning heart after his mother's suicide.

The beautiful face which possesses an equally beautiful heart which taught him to love & to be loved. How could he punish this beautiful face with beautiful heart & let it drown in the pool of despair, loneliness & sorrow??

He caressed her face softly without disturbing her sleep.

I am so sorry Khushi for making you go through all the hurt & pain you didn't deserve. I am sorry for not trusting you when the fault was mine that I couldn't give you enough confidence to trust me & my love by being ignorant & unaffected towards you & your insecurities. But I promise Khushi, I won't repeat my mistakes again. I would never hurt you again the way I did. I would trust you more then myself. I would work hard to gain back your trust I lost due to my own foolishness. I love you very much. You are my life. You are the reason behind my existence Khushi. Arnav is nothing without his Khushi & I will prove it to you this time by living up to your expectations the way you want. It's a promise from Arnav Singh Raizada to his lovely wife Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. He confessed & promised softly with all his heart to his wife who according to him was sleeping but who was very much awake behind her closed eyes & was listening to his heartfelt apologies & promises.

She had to exercise superhuman control to not to sit up, pull him in her warm embrace, soothe his guilt ridden heart & kiss his tears away which he had wiped carefully but couldn't stop a few drops from falling on her face when he bent down to kiss her forehead, lingering his lips there for a bit longer.

Caressing her cheek one more time, covering her properly with the blanket, he stood up went around the bed to his side & joined her in the blanket.

He wants to sleep taking her warm figure in his embrace but he doesn't want to exercise his rights on her against her will or as per his convenience.

He moved his pillow near hers & held her hand softly just like he used to do during their contract marriage.

I will win you back Khushi along with your love & trust. He promised again & let his lashes fall over his eyes.
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As Arnav woke up the next morning with Khushi's name on his lips, his eyes instinctively searched for her, when he found her side of bed vacant.

She wasn't in the room & he needs to see her.

He immediately went to the bathroom to get ready & move down to see his Khushi.

To start his day with her.

To start doing rights the wrong he had done in his ego & obstinacy.
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Moving towards the dining table Arnav saw Sheetal about to sit on the chair besides his.

The chair & the place which belongs to his Khushi.

The chair on which his Khushi use to sit since their marriage.

Besides him. Near him. Close to him.

They have so many beautiful memories attatched with their chairs on the dining table.

They both always had all their meals together sitting on those chairs besides each other.

He has teased her several times by holding her hand under the table & then putting her in embarrassing situation when caught by the family.

She always use to pester him to eat properly & serve him more food even after his denial sitting on those chairs.

They have teased each other by putting food in the other's plate from their own when the other isn't looking.

He has stolen kisses from her, earning smacks from her, sitting on those same chairs

They have shared smiles, laughter, happiness during meals with each other & family as well sitting on those chairs, close to each other.

Since their contract marriage, even when they were at logger heads neither had he let anybody else sit on her chair nor had she herself sat on any other chair except beside his.

Both those chairs had become their customary chairs & belonged to only them till a few days back when one day Sheetal had come & sat on his Khushi's chair.

Khushi had politely asked her to move from her chair & sit on other chair but Sheetal had laughed out stating that Khushi is acting possesive for a mere chair & had occupied Khushi's chair herself.

Khushi's face had dropped & she had looked for support towards him, her husband who was then stubbornly angry on her for DNA reports so he had also asked her to not make fuss for a chair & go & sit on any other vaccant chair.

Khushi had done exactly that. She had gone & sat on the farthest vaccant chair from his at the dining table.

The moment she had sat away from him he had felt a pinch at his heart sensing a wave of loss & regret. He wanted to ask her to come & sit on her regualr chair, besides him. But the egoistic ASR in him that time had shut the regretful Arnav in him.

Since that day Khushi has been sitting on the same farthest chair, away from him.

The stubbornly obstinate & mulish he was that time was waiting for her to accept her mistake, ask forgiveness from him & then he would ask her to come back to her chair besides him.

You distanced yourself from me & everything that belongs to me you devoted to your friend & her son. Your time, your concentration, your smiles, your concern, your attention, my place besides you on the dining table & in the car, everything was given to them generously without thinking of the hurt it was causing me. Khushi's hurt filled words from their yesterday's emotional dispute were resonating in the back of his mind.

He felt like kicking himself for causing so much of pain to his love just to prove himself right & her wrong.

Yes, he was hurt. But in return he has hurt her beyond limit.

But it's time to rectify his mistakes & prove himself worthy of his Khushi's love & trust. He will do it starting from now itself.

No Khushi. Nobody can take your place in my heart, in my life & nor any other place besides me.

Taking strong determined steps he went to the dining table where all were already seated & waiting for him to start their breakfast.

He came & stood near his Khushi's chair beside his which Sheetal has occupied since a few days.

Sheetal.. He called her who was busy doing something on her phone.

She immediately looked upto him keeping her mobile down.

Good morning Arnav. She greeted flashing a wide smile.

He didn't bother to respond, wiping the smile from Sheetal's face seeing his stern face.

Sheetal, get up from this chair. He literally ordered in crisp words & got the desired result at once. Sheetal stood up immediately, scared of his tone.

Everybody else including Khushi were looking at them with confused expressions.

Though Khushi had a fair idea what her Arnavji was trying to do. But still she chose to appear unaware like others.

What happened Arnav?? Sheetal asked softly, scared of Arnav's reaction.

Sheetal, this is my wife's chair. It belongs to her. She deserves & has rights to sit on this chair. So you go & sit on some other chair. Khushi will come & sit here where she belongs. To me. Besides me. He said last two lines looking intently at Khushi. His eyes delineating his guilt, regret, his attempts to amendments & above all his love for her.

Khushi could see & feel his every emotion in his eyes & voice but chose to stay silent.

Nani, Payal & NK too understood what & why he was doing. They were happy that he is taking steps towards amendments with his wife & is standing for her which he should have done way before. But better late then never.

Three of them shared a glance & turned back their attention towards Arnav.

What happened Chhote?? Why are you asking Sheetalji to shift?? Anjali asked, not being able to understand her Chhote's sudden fuss on a mere chair.

Yes Arnav. What happen?? Why are you asking me to shift from this chair?? Is anything wrong because I am sitting on this same chair since many days but you never stopped me. Sheetal dared to ask following  Anjali's query as it would be less risky.

Sheetal, I don't need to give you any explaination why I want you to leave this chair. Just understand that this place belongs to my wife & she will only sit here. He replied sternly & then without waiting for her reply he moved towards where Khushi was sitting.

Reaching her, he slowly made her stand from her chair, holding her elbow.

Khushi looked at him with moist eyes & he swallowed hard.

Arnav knew that she is remembering the day when she had to leave her own place & sit away from her husband, her Arnavji.

He felt ashamed, terrible, gruesome.

Khushi, come & sit on your rightful place. On the chair which is yours & only yours. The place which belongs only to you. Besides me. With me. Near me. He said with an assuring smile & started pulling her to be stopped by Khushi herself holding his hand on her elbow.

No Arnavji, I won't. She refused shaking her head.

I am not a puppet whose strings are in your hands & you can pull me, push me, towards you, away from you, the way you like, whenever you like. She said removing his hand from her elbow & taking a step back from him creating distance between them much to his dislike.

That chair is a non-living thing which won't mind if its occupants keep on changing. She said pointing towards the chair in discussion But I am a very much living & breathing humanbeing, who feels pain when my rights & place are snatched without bothering of the hurt it may cause to me. She said gulping hard, wiping her tears surreptitiously from the others but Arnav did notice & felt those tears burning & pricking his own eyes.

She sat back on the chair she has been sitting since the day Sheetal snatched her original chair.

Arnav clenched & unclenched his fists.

Khushi was expecting him to blow up on her but what he did was unexpected.

NK... He called out NK who was sitting on the chair next to Khushi's.

NK looked up at him inquiringly.

Can you please go & sit on my chair as I want to sit besides my wife?? Arnav requested NK politely unlike the Arnav Singh Raizada who would just order to anybody to get things done in his way.

Ofcourse Nannav. With pleasure. NK replied with a pleasant smile & stood up from his chair immediately, vacating it for his brother & went & set on Arnav's chair.

Arnav silently sat on the chair besides his Khushi.

Khushi gulped hard feeling emotional.

Arnav's eyes were on Khushi's face taking his fill to start his day.

Although the day didn't start the way he had wished but its Khushi who matters to him & she is here, right besides him & he is also here where he belongs right besides her.

Khushi was elated with Arnav's this unexpected gesture.

She couldn't stop herself from looking at him with soft eyes that filled his heart with serenity.

He held her hand softly which was on her lap.

Khushi uptil now I have tried to pull you according to my will & convenience & you have always adhered to all my wishes proving yourself to be a perfect wife to me. But now its time I prove myself to be atleast a good husband if not perfect to you. I will try to leave up to your expectations at every step Khushi. Chairs doesn't matter  Khushi but sitting with you, besides you is of great matter to me. He said with utmost honesty & genuine eyes.

Khushi wanted to take him in bear hug & express her happiness.

But she controlled her emotions & just nodded her head at him with a warm smile making him smile in return.

Chhote... What's the matter?? Why did you go & sit there leaving your usual chair?? Anjali asked not liking the sudden changes occured in sitting arrangement on the dining table as her Chhote always sits near to her & now he is sitting on the opposite side, almost four chairs far from her.

Dii.. It's nothing to worry about. I wanted to sit near my wife so I came & sat here. Now please no more discussions. I am very hungry & I am sure you all must be too. So lets start with the breakfast. He said & looked towards Khushi, wanting her to serve him which she hadn't done since days due to his own foolishness.

Khushi understood his look & started serving him.

Payal, NK & nani were happy with the first positive change in Arnav & Khushi's stretched relationship.

They three alongwith Khushi blinked eyes at each other & started to have their breakfast.

Sheetal was fuming in jelousy & rage with this unexpected & bad start of her morning.

She clutched the spoon tightly to the limit of bending it but seeing NK's eyes on her she controlled her anger with a fake smile & started with her breakfast.

I don't want to eat this garlic bread. Suddenly Arav said loudly, pushing his plate, grabbing everybody's attention.

Arav beta. What happened?? Why don't you want to eat this?? Anjali who was sitting next to him & had herself served him garlic bread asked him surprised.

Because I want to eat something else & not this. He replied arrogantly.

Payal, Khushi, NK & nani shook their head at his usual tantrum & continued with their breakfast without paying any heed to his nonsense demands.

Arav beta what happened?? You like garlic bread then why are you denying to eat it?? Aren't you feeling well yet baby?? Sheetal asked showing her concern to gain attention & sympathy from all.

Mom I want to eat cheese sandwhich. Arav replied pushing his plate more away, expecting Anjali to ask Khushi to make sandwiches for him in the middle of the breakfast as usual.

But Arav beta yesterday you wanted to have garlic bread which we couldn't make for you as there was no bread in the house. Anjali said looking at Khushi with cold eyes which didn't go unnotice by Arnav but Khushi stayed unaffected.

So that's why today I asked HPji to get fresh bread & made garlic bread for you to eat in the breakfast. Anjali said expectedly.

Sheetal & Arav's eyes widened in surprise.

You made it Anjali aunty?? Arav asked.

Anjali nodded her head.

Then I will eat. I thought Khushi aunty made so I was.... But he stopped abruptly as Sheetal pinched him on his thigh without anybody noticing.

Arav started having Anjali's made garlic bread happily making Anjali smile heartily & she served him some more garlic bread.

But apart from mami & Akash who were busy in their breakfast & Anjali who was happy that Arav would eat her made garlic bread, everybody else heard Arav's slip of tongue.

Khushi, NK, nani & Payal looked at each other. Their assumptions of Sheetal & Arav doing everything deliberately were getting concrete now.

But the most shocked was Arnav who heard Arav saying that he refused to eat as he thought it was made by Khushi. But the moment his dii said its made by her he readily agreed to eat & started eating as well without throwing any tantrum.

What is the meaning of this?? What did Arav meant by what he said but stopped abruptly??

He has been throwing such tantrums almost everyday by demanding different food then the one made & either Khushi or Payal had to fulfill his demand everyday leaving their own breakfasts.

But today what he saw & heard had shocked him.

Is there anything more to it or he is just reading more between the lines.

He looked at Khushi who was already looking at him, knowing very well what he is thinking.

Isn't it strange Arnavji!! The boy who whines everyday on the breakfast table had done the same today too. But the moment he knew it wasn't me who made the breakfast for him he gladly ate without any complains. So does that mean he has personal grudges with me only?? But why?? What have I done to him?? Or is it he is doing under anybody else's influence?? She said & then looked towards Sheetal. Arnav who was listening to her intently followed her line of vision & saw Sheetal glaring at Arav now & then while having breakfast.

This can't be to berate him for throwing tantrums because that he does daily & she never stops him that he has noticed.

Then what is all these?? Is he really missing something big??

He was lost in deep thoughts to notice Nani, NK, Khushi & Payal showing thumbs up to each other.

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A/N

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