Hey my lovely readers...

I'm here on this story after 1 full year... I myself don't know how & why it took me so long to update this story when this is my favorite story amongst all my stories...

Anyways, better late than never. So here's the next part of this story. Hope you all haven't forgotten the plot. If yes, then pls reread it. Though I know, nobody has forgotten it as I kept on getting messages from my ardent readers that they have been reading this story repeatedly & are waiting impatiently for it to get updated.

So here's the next part.. Enjoy.

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Khushi was dropping everything one after the other from her hands while working in the canteen kitchen. She was mixing things & ingredients in the wrong proportion, unknowingly. She was spreading everything on the kitchen top & on her clothes, turning everything messy. Looking at her frantic movements & unmindfulness in her work, anybody could deduce that she is under some kind of stress or anxiety which was so unlike a very skillful, attentive & dexterous Khushi & so was understood by Manjuji. She slowly went behind Khushi & kept her hand on her shoulder gently, calling out her name. 

A startled Khushi dropped a big steel bowl from her hand, which noise echoed in the small space of the canteen kitchen & which reached to the other helpers' ears working outside, who looked at each other curiously, as this was the first time their kitchen was rocking like a discotheque with various types of sounds in varied frequency since 2 hours. 

"Khushi.. Are you okay beta??" Manjuji asked with motherly concern. 

Khushi slowly & cautiously turned towards Manjuji. 

"Ji" She gave a monosyllabic reply coupled with an effortful smile to hide her haywire thoughts from showing up on her face. 

"Khushi.. Are you feeling feverish beta??" Manjuji asked, touching Khushi's forehead with the back of her fingers. 

"No." Khushi replied, shaking her head. "I'm fine Manjuji."

"Then why is your face all red??" Manjuji was not the one to let go. 

Khushi swallowed as she knew the reason but she can't reveal it to the kind hearted Manjuji. All thanks to Arnavji & his… She swallowed thickly again, remembering the warm touch of his rough lips on the smooth expanse of her cheek.. .. She chastised his sinful lips inwardly for putting her in this situation. 

She touched her cheek where Arnav had kissed her some 2 hours back in his cabin but she could still feel the tingling sensation of his rough lips on her smooth cheek & the red hue which Manjuji is noticing right now is just due to the after effects of that kiss & so is her clumsiness & unmindfulness in her work today. 

Before Manjuji can inquire further, Khushi left from there stating that she would help the others on the front counter. 

Manjuji frowned but then shrugged the topic, not wanting to force Khushi.

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Arnav wasn't feeling normal either, since Khushi left leaving her fragrance in his cabin & smoothness of her soft cheek lingering on his rough lips. 

He was sitting on his revolving chair, with his head resting back, eyes closed, reminiscing Khushi's beautiful & shy face after he had kissed her cheek. She was a vision to behold. The best example of beauty with simplicity. 

His lips curved into a smile remembering the way Khushi had fled after the kiss. He chuckled, shaking his head.

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Khushi was handling the front counter, taking snacks orders & providing the same to the customers but her eyes were every minute gazing upwards, towards Arnav's cabin. She was feeling a very different type of dhak dhak in her chest. Usually it's lub dub but suddenly her heart has changed its course of beating into dhak dhak & definitely has increased its speed as well. 

Is my heart planning to give me a heart attack?? 

Isn't Arnavji & his actions enough to do that?? She chided herself inwardly. 

"Khushi.. I have ordered a mini pizza & you are giving me a burger??" One of the staff member's remarks broke her monologue. 

Khushi gasped covering her mouth. "I'm so sorry. It happened by mistake. I will get your right order." She apologised & went inside to get the mini pizza. 

After completing the order she stood holding the counter top tightly. 

"What are you doing Khushi?? You will ruin your mamaji's name this way by messing with your work." She chastised herself but her heart was nowhere under her control. 

She kept a hand on her heart trying to pacify it to get normal again & let her work normally without making a fool out of herself. 

Unknown to Khushi everything was noticed by Aman who was trying to gauge Khushi's expressions, praying inwardly that whatever he is thinking regarding his boss & Khushi doesn't turn out to be true. 

Gulping his worries he climbed the stairs towards his boss' cabin with a few files in his hand. 

He knocked several times for his boss' permission to enter but when he didn't get any reply, he slowly opened the door a little bit & peeped inside to witness an unexpected scene where his boss was sitting all relaxed with eyes closed, probably thinking something pleasant which brought a smile on his face followed by a chuckle. 

His boss sitting idle in working hours was a wonder in itself, upon that he is smiling & chuckling all alone is no less than a miracle but for him it's definitely a warning alarm. 

Here boss' unexpected reactions & there Khushi's lost expressions definitely scream for a future connection. "Aman Mathur.. Agar ye sach hua, to teri prem ki naiyya to tairne se pehle hi doob jayegi." (Aman Mathur.. If this comes out to be true then your ship of love would sink even before it sets out to sail) He surmised, removing his hanky from his pocket & dabbed the sweat from his forehead. 

Clearing his throat he called out to his boss who came back from his Khushi-world & sat straight schooling his then soft expressions into a stern bossy countenance. 

"Yes Aman.." Arnav asked in a bossy tone, opening his laptop. 

Aman entered & kept the files on his boss' desk. 

"Boss we were to discuss the Bridal fashion show venue, sub themes & models." Arnav reminded his boss. 

Arnav nodded & gestured Aman to occupy the chair. 

Shrugging all other thoughts out, Arnav got engrossed in the discussion for the grand show where his company would be showcasing only Indian outfits for the first time with ethnic bridal collection on the top, whose showstopper dress would be designed by him only. 

Soon they were joined by Akash & Adi as well. 

Adi had joined the office in the second half as his college had started from today. He had been attending an important meeting with Akash & now both were sitting with their bhai & Aman, discussing their new bridal wear. All were busy discussing the new ideas but Arnav could feel his little brother Adi was lost in some other thoughts. Though he was physically present there but mentally he was somewhere else. He was playfully twirling the pen in his hand & the mysterious & unrequired smile on his lips during such serious discussion was proof of his unmindfulness in work. 

"Adi.." Arnav called out but Adi didn't respond. 

Arnav squinted his eyes & called out his name again, a bit louder this time. "Adi.." 

Adi has as if, turned deaf. He was still lost in his world. But Aman & Akash looked up towards Arnav, then at Adi & then back to Arnav. 

Arnav raised a quizzical eyebrow at Akash who immediately nudged his elbow in Adi's ribs bringing him back from his lost world. 

"Where are you lost Adi??" Akash inquired. 

"Squirrel.." Adi squeaked involuntarily & then bit the insides of his cheeks for his slip of tongue. 

"What??" Arnav, Akash & Aman asked together in confusion. 

"Umm.. Nothing.." Adi smiled sheepishly but seeing his bhai's questioning gaze he searched for a convincing answer. "Wo.. Wo bhai.. There was a squirrel at the outside panel of your window bhai." Adi replied, gesturing towards the window behind Arnav's chair. 

Fortunately Arnav believed his words as numerous squirrels kept on running here & there in the office premises & across their office building the whole day. 

Arnav nodded & motioned him to concentrate on the work. 

Adi immediately looked down at the file in his hand. "Control Adi or this squirrel will make you run from your office." He mumbled to himself to which Akash heard. 

"Don't tell me you are now interested in squirrels instead of girls Adi." Akash whispered to Adi making fun of him but Adi thought that his Akashbhai was referring to Anvesha whom he calls squirrel. 

"How do you know Akash bhai??" Adi asked flabbergasted. 

"Huh!!" Now it was Akash's turn to be astonished. 

"Have you gone nuts Adi??" Akash whispered back. "Quite possible," Akash himself answered, shrugging. "because squirrels like nuts very much." Akash added guffawing. That's when Adi understood that Akash was just making fun of him & it ain't what he thought. 

Adi glared at his Akash bhai who pursed his lips stifling his guffaws. 

"What's going on??" came a stern voice of their bhai which made them straighten on their seats. 

"Nothing bhai. Just that Adi is hungry so he was willing to order some snacks & coffee from our canteen. Right Adi??" Akash looked at Adi motioning him to affirm with his words. 

"yeah.. bhai.. I'm really hungry." He replied, closing the file in his hand. 

Arnav's heart had already picked up its pace just at the mention of 'canteen' by Akash. 

"I will order for snacks & coffee." Aman volunteered lifting the intercom receiver on Arnav's desk. 

Arnav immediately snatched the receiver from his hands, startling him. 

"I will do it myself Aman." Arnav said sternly, making Aman gulp. 

Giving a look to his brothers who got busy in some conversation, Arnav slowly turned his revolving chair to the other side, a bit away from their hearing zone. 

He dialed the canteen number & crossed his fingers, wishing for Khushi to receive on the other end & his wish got fulfilled as he heard a sweet 'hello' from his sweet Khushi's mouth. 

He inhaled hard as if trying to inhale her fragrance through the phone. 

"Khushi.." He husked. 

Khushi's cheeks immediately turned scarlet as if his titillating voice had caressed them. She gripped the phone tight. 

"Ji..ji.." She stammered, shyly. 

A proud smirk formed on Arnav's face on his capability of unnerving her without even appearing in front of her. 

"Khushi.. How are you?? I'm sure you must be biting your lips out of shyness now, remembering my kiss." He whispered softly, looking at his brothers from his peripheral vision. They were busy in themselves. 

Khushi immediately touched her cheek he had kissed & could feel it warmed up. 

"Am I right Khushi??" He asked cheekily but she remained silent, not able to form a word due to shyness. 

"Ok.. Don't reply because I know that I'm absolutely right because I can see your red cheeks through the phone." He said tongue in cheek, smiling naughtily. 

Khushi pouted at the other end instead of replying, as she knew he was just teasing her. 

Not wanting his brothers to doubt on him, he dropped the idea of teasing her more & came straight to the point. 

He cleared his throat. "Khushi.. Can you please send some snacks & 4 cups of coffee to my cabin??" He asked softly. 

"Yeah.. Sure Arnavji." She replied with equal softness. 

Arnav smiled contently, hearing his name from her sweet mouth. 

"& yes Khushi.." He hurried to inform more before she ended the call. "Send the refreshments with a peon." He supplied. 

"Ok Khushi??" Not getting any reply from her he urged. 

"Ji Arnavji." Came her warm reply indicating that she understood why he doesn't want her to get the snacks & coffee to his cabin. 

Arnav smiled thankfully. He was proud that in such a short span Khushi & he had developed a good understanding between them that they don't need words to convey their thoughts to the other at times like this. 

Both ended the call with a sad sigh as they wanted to just keep on talking & hearing to the other. 

The moment Arnav turned his revolving chair back at its original place he found Aman leaning forward from his seat & his ears perked up as if to hear his boss' conversation. 

Arnav frowned at Aman who was embarrassed on getting caught. So he tried to cover up by placing the properly placed intercom receiver more properly, smiling sheepishly at his boss. 

Arnav shook his head at his assistant's growing weirdness & concentrated on the file he was reading before. 

After 15 minutes a peon entered after knocking, carrying a tray with their refreshments. 

He placed 2 full plates of spring rolls with bowls of green chutney in the middle of the desk, water filled glasses & a coffee mug each near all the four men. While placing Arnav's coffee mug near him, the peon specially mentioned that this is his coffee. Arnav understood that Khushi must have specially instructed him to not to hand him another mug by mistake. 

Arnav smiled nodding at the peon who left the cabin after that. 

All the four men picked a spring roll each from the plate, dipped it in the green chutney & stuffed it in their mouths, relishing its taste. 

"Wow.. Spring rolls from our canteen never tasted this tasty." Akash complimented chewing. 

"Can't agree more Akashbhai." Adi seconded. "It's damn tasty." He added licking his fingers. 

Arnav's chest swelled with pride hearing the compliments for HIS KHUSHI. He lifted his coffee mug & took a swig of the freshly brewed coffee & closed his eyes in ecstasy. 

None of his reactions went unnoticed by Aman who was looking at his boss with hawk eyes & his heart felt low every second as his doubts on his boss regarding Khushi were getting concrete. 

"I'm sure none of our regular chefs but Khushi has made this spring rolls bhai." Adi said, picking another piece of spring roll from the plate, dipped it in the chutney & was about to stuff it in his mouth. 

"Adi…" Arnav shouted suddenly, startling Adi & the spring roll fell from his hand in his lap. Even Aman & Akash stopped eating at that. 

They looked at Arnav quizzically. 

"Where are your manners Adi??" Arnav snapped, keeping his mug back on the desk, clearly angry with Adi 

But poor lad Adi didn't know when & how did he misbehave. But then his eyes fell on the spring roll piece fallen on his lap. 

"Oh bhai, you are talking about this." He said pointing towards the mess in his lap. "Wo bhai.. You suddenly shouted my name & I got startled & the spring roll fell from my hand, on my lap." He reasoned picking the fallen spring roll & popping it in his mouth. 

Arnav gritted his teeth. "I'm not talking about that Adi." 

"Then what else did I do." Adi mumbled to himself, scratching his head trying to remember his mistakes if he did any. "Did bhai come to know about that squirrel??" He was still mumbling & the other three men were looking at him, narrowing their eyes, trying to understand his blabber. 

Adi smiled at them sheepishly. "Then what did I do bhai??" He asked, cautiously. 

"How can you call Khushi by her name Adi??" Arnav revealed his mistake. 

"Because that's her name bhai." Adi stated simply, shrugging his shoulders. 

"Yes.. But she is elder to you & calling elders with their names is bad manners. Didn't our elders teach us that??" Arnav asked, raising his eyebrows. 

"But bhai.. How do you know that Khushi is older than Adi?? I mean, she might be younger as well." Akash asked curiously. 

Aman was looking at his boss with equal curiosity for the answer. 

"Wo..I.. I" ASR stammered but composed himself immediately. "I know it through her biodata." He replied & both his brothers seemed convinced but his assistant was still staring at him in disbelief. 

How can sir see Khushi's biodata when she hasn't submitted one yet?? was the thought going in Aman's mind but he couldn't voice it. 

"Yeah.. You are right bhai. If she is older to me then I shouldn't call her by her name. I'm sorry bhai." He apologized genuinely. 

Arnav nodded smiling lightly at his brother. 

"I guess I should call her Khushi didi then??" He asked, looking at his bhai whose smile immediately vanished at that. 

The ASR's calculative mind started ticking. 

"Didi.. Means sister..If Khushi would become Adi's sister then Adi being my brother Khushi would become my sist…" He couldn't complete it even in his mind. He started hiccuping. Nooooo… This ain't at all acceptable to him. 

Akash immediately offered him water interrupting his bhai's musings. 

Arnav drank it & kept the glass back. 

"Bhai.. Are you ok??" Akash asked, concerned. 

Arnav nodded. Then he looked at Adi & said, "Adi.. You can't call her didi as well." 

Adi frowned & asked, "Why bhai??" 

"That's because.." Arnav searched for a befitting excuse & came up with one too. "Because we should never get involved personally with our staff as that might hinder their performance & our authority also can get restricted with them." 

Arnav knew that that's an absolutely lame excuse but his brains could produce only that for now. 

Akash & Adi agreed to his bhai's reasonings without any protest but Aman knew the real reason very well. 

"So then what should I call her bhai??" Adi asked. 

BHABHI.. ASR's heart screamed but his brains stopped him from uttering it in reality or he would be responsible for three unconscious men lying in his cabin the very next moment. 

"Khushi-ji??" Arnav's man Friday suggested thoughtfully. 

Arnav's face immediately lit up at that. 

"Khushiji.." He murmured. Khushi calls him Arnavji & now these people would call her Khushiji. 

Arnavji & Khushiji - perfect match.

Arnav smiled wide at the thought itself. 

The astute entrepreneur Arnav Singh Raizada, now turned into a hopelessly romantic Arnavji was finding pleasure in the silliest of things related to Khushi. 

"Yes… That's perfect." Arnav agreed. " & very respectful too." He added smiling & for the first time since morning he appreciated Aman inwardly for doing something that pleased him & not irritated him. 

His brothers smiled nodding. Both were thinking that their bhai is so thoughtful for a girl's respect who still isn't their official employ yet. Their love & respect towards their bhai grew manifolds. Only if they knew their bhai's real intentions behind his thoughtfulness, then to that same Khushiji's horror, they both would have immediately parceled her to RM, to give their bhai his love & themselves a bhabhi, they are yearning for, since long. 

Once done with all the official & unofficial discussions Akash & Adi left for home on Arnav's insistence as he would have to stay back for an hour more as he had to sign the salary checks of his staff to be submitted the next day. Aman stayed back to assist his boss for the same. 

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It was around 6:45 in the evening when Arnav drove his car out of his office gate for home when his eyes fell on the stealer of his heart, standing at the opposite side of the road, probably waiting for an auto. 

Arnav thanked his Gods for this unexpected & very pleasant opportunity & stopped his car near Khushi. 

He immediately alighted his car & came to her.

"Arnavji!!" She mumbled, smiling broadly at him. Absolutely elated for this serendipitous meet. 

He reciprocated with an equally bright smile. 

"Waiting for an auto??" He asked. 

"Ji.." She replied softly. 

"Come.. I will drop you." He offered & moved towards the front passenger seat door & opened it for her to sit. 

"No no Arnavji. I will hire an auto. You please don't bother." She denied courteously, hesitant to travel with him in his car. 

"Come Khushi." He said authoritatively, not paying any heed to her hesitant refusal. 

His commanding voice somehow felt warm & intimate to her & she found her feet making way to the opened door. 

He helped her to sit & closed the door. He then literally jogged back to his driving seat. Opening the door he sucked sharp intakes of breath & let out in the form of joyful sighs seeing Khushi sitting in his car, on the seat beside him. His God is giving him signals that his thoughts, his minds & his heart is on the right path, with the right person. 

Taking the charge of the steering, he drove off towards Khushi's home. 

Khushi was sitting quietly with her small purse in her lap. From the corner of his eyes he could see her rolling & unrolling her dupatta around her index finger with her eyes darted on the road. She was seemingly comfortable but he knew that she must be a bundle of nerves right now & her heart must be hammering in her chest at his close proximity, in the confines of his car. 

His heart was palpitating as well to get hold of her hand in his. 

He waited for her to talk to him in her sweet voice but ultimately he himself had to break the irking silence. 

"Why are you so late Khushi?? Canteen hours end at 6 pm." He asked furrowing his brows with his eyes on the road. 

"Wo.. Nowadays there's too much rush at the canteen in the evening time. So I got late finishing all the orders." She supplied, turning her face towards him. 

"That's because my staff is getting very delicious food nowadays made by a special Lucknawi chef." He praised her & she lowered her eyes shyly. 

"You travel with your mamaji on his bike.. Right??" He asked & she nodded. "Then how come you are alone today, though I'm very happy to get you alone right now." He smirked when she averted her eyes bashfully. "But still, I want to know ??" He insisted. 

"Actually mamaji has caught a cold. He was having a terrible headache as well due to continuous sneezing. So I insisted him to take a half day & go home & rest." She informed & he nodded understanding. "But he did inform the concerned authorities." She cleared, not wanting him to think that they are taking any kind of leverage against his generosity. 

He smiled nodding. 

Their conversation was interrupted by a call on Khushi's mobile. She took out her mobile from her purse & received the call which was from her home. 

"Ji mamiji??" Khushi asked softly. 

Mami asked whether she left for home or not??

"Ji mamiji I'm on my way. I will reach soon." Khushi replied smiling at her mamiji's concern. 

Mami asked did she get proper transport?? 

"Ji mamiji. I'm travelling in the safest transport right now." Khushi replied glancing at Arnav, who smiled heartily hearing her trustful words for him. 

Asking after her mamaji's health, Khushi disconnected the call & was about to keep her mobile back in her purse when she heard Arnav reciting some numbers which seemed to be a mobile number. 

Khushi looked at him confused. 

"That's my number. You can save it in your phone so that you can contact me in case of any emergency." Arnav said plainly but Khushi understood his intention & pursed her smile. 

He saw her unlocking her phone. So he repeated his number & she saved it. 

"Ummm.. Khushi.. Why don't you give a ring on my number so that I can save your number so that.. that" He scratched his chin looking for an excuse. "Haan… So that if the canteen number is not available anytime then I can directly call you on your number." He said with a serious face, trying to sound utmost genuine. 

Khushi was staring at him trying hard to stifle her laughter at his lame excuse. 

"What??" He asked. "I'm serious Khushi." He tried again. 

Khushi nodded compressing her lips & glanced back at the road. 

Within a few seconds, a loud laughter erupted in the car. Both were laughing hard at Arnav's expense. 

After the laughter subsided, Arnav suddenly caught Khushi's hands on her lap with his one hand & continued driving with the other. 

Khushi looked at him. 

"Please Khushi." He beseeched. 

She blinked her eyes in affirmation. How can she refuse to such an innocent demand??

She tried to free her hands to use her phone. But he freed just her left hand from his grip & kept on holding the right one. 

Khushi dialed his number with her free hand & disconnected after two rings. 

"Thank you." He mouthed happily. 

Khushi smiled warmly. 

Arnav didn't ask her the address of her mamaji's house but still he was driving on the exact roads, taking accurate turns in the direction towards her mamaji's house. 

"Arnavji.. How do you know where my mamaji's house is situated??" She asked with a cute frown between her shapely brows. 

Arnav smirked, taking another turn towards her house. 

"Bas pata hai." He shrugged his shoulders & pressed her hand he was holding in her lap. 

Khushi pouted at this stubborn reply of his, he keeps on giving her every now & then. 

Arnav gripped the steering tightly seeing her cute, kissable pout. He badly needs some distraction. 

"Khushi.. My brothers & Aman liked the spring rolls very much you had sent for snacks." He changed the subject abruptly. 

"& you?? Didn't you like them??" She asked, expecting praises from him which had unexpectedly become of great matter to her. 

"I loooovvveedddd them." He deliberately emphasised on the second word making her cheeks blush, which he could clearly imagine even though his eyes were on the road. 

He would leave her hand while changing the gears & once done, he would hold her hand back. 

He caressed the inside of her wrist with his thumb. She looked down at their entwined hands on her lap. He slowly raised their joined hands & brought to his lips. He kissed her hand warmly. 

Khushi inhaled a sharp breath & her blush spreaded more on her face. 

"This is for making such tasty spring rolls & the awesome coffee." He said, glancing at her who lowered her lashes shyly. 

He then rested their joined hands on his thigh. 

Khushi gulped hard as his touch was affecting her beyond measures. She was getting drawn to him unintentionally. She was scared & thrilled both at the same time. His modesty, his generosity, his down to earth nature, his innocence, everything was paving way for him to her heart just like she was paving way to his heart by her hand made food & may be something more. 

The car came to a halt & so did her thoughts. 

Her destination has arrived & now they need to break their handhold which either of them didn't want to. 

Reluctantly she tried to free her hand from his but he tightened his grip. He was looking at her unblinkingly as if getting his fill of her to survive till the next day. 

She was scared if anybody sees them that way then it would be very difficult for her to answer. 

"Please Arnavji." She requested half heartedly. 

Arnav swallowed nodding & released her hand from his firm grip feeling the void already. 

She couldn't bear to see his fallen face. 

"Bye Arnavji." She said looking into his deep eyes. "& thank you for the lift." She added giving a contagious smile which forced him to smile back at her. 

"The pleasure was mine Khushi." He replied. 

She was about to alight from his car when he stopped her holding her elbow.

She turned her face towards him. 

"I'm desperately waiting for Sunday to come Khushi." He said. The desperation clearly palpable in his eyes & voice. 

"Me too." She replied, blinking her eyes. 

His smile grew broader on his face & she left his car capturing his smiling face in her hazel orbs. 

Arnav waited till she entered her house & then he drove towards his own house where his family was waiting for him for dinner. 

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The Raizadas were having ice cream after dinner, sitting in the huge living room of their house. 

They were sharing the happenings of their day to each other. 

"You know what happened today in my class??" Anjali chirped suddenly. 

Everybody looked at her curiously. 

"A student of mine proposed to me today for marriage & you know how & what did he say??" She increased everybody's curiosity. 

"He came to me in the staff-room during recess time where all my colleagues were also present & sat on his knees before me with a rose in his hand." She started narrating. 

Everybody looked at her wide eyed. 

"Then he said 'Ma'am.. You are very beautiful & I love you very much. Let's get married before my exams start & then if we don't feel compatible, we can get divorced after my results.' She imitated him exactly & everybody's mouth fell open but then they burst out laughing & so did Anjali. 

Everybody resumed relishing their ice cream. But Anjali's father Amar was fuming. 

"How dare that guy propose something so preposterous to my daughter?? I will sue his father." The protective father snapped clenching his fists. 

Everybody went silent instantly. 

"Oh dad. Don't get all worked up. I handled him well, then & there itself." Anjali tried to calm her hyper father. 

"How??" He asked back. 

"I accepted his rose." She said & saw her father's mouth agape. He was about to interrupt when she continued further. "I told him that yes, I would like to marry him before the exams but then I would resign from my job that same day & when we would part ways after the exams, I would rejoin my job. Simple." She informed, with a careless wave of her hand & resumed eating her ice cream. 

Everybody except her father laughed uproariously as they deciphered the whole picture but Amar was displaying an unbelievable look on his face for all who were laughing like crazy. 

"Anju just confessed of accepting an absurd proposal & instead of freaking out, you all are laughing like hyenas. Can anybody tell me what's there to laugh in that??" Amar snorted at everybody. 

"Dad.. That means dii gave him tit for tat." Arnav replied looking at his dii proudly. 

"Huh??" Amar was more confused now. 

"Badepapa.. I will explain to you??" Adi volunteered. "It means that that boy must be continuously failing in dii's subject. So indirectly he was just trying to cajole dii in passing him this time. But dii countered him in his own language. That's it." He shrugged.

Amar looked at his daughter who nodded & his eyebrows skyrocketed. 

"Relax dad. These kids nowadays behave more like friends with their professors instead of students & that's what makes college life more interesting & entertaining." She reassured him. 

Amar exhaled relieved at that but Dadi let out an upset sigh which didn't go unnoticed by her favourite grandson Arnav who was sitting next to her. He got alerted with concern. 

"Dadi.. What happened?? Why do you look upset??" He asked keeping his ice cream bowl aside, concentrating on his dadi. 

Others had got engaged in hearing more tales from Anjali of her weird students. 

"What do I say Chhote??" Dadi said, maintaining her sad face. 

"Dadi.. You know you can share anything with me.. Right??" He asked, holding her hand. 

Dadi nodded. 

"Then tell me dadi what's bothering you??" Arnav insisted. 

"My life is just melting away like this ice scream Chhote." Dadi replied, swirling the now melted icecream in her bowl with her spoon. 

Arnav frowned. "What are you saying dadi??"

"Then what Chhote. There is no entertainment in my life. My life has become so boring." Dadi complained pouting like a kid. 

Arnav narrowed his eyes at his dadi as he was now understanding the meaning behind dadi's words. 

"Dadi, let it be. Why do you want chachu to get beaten up by chachi??" Arnav said, taking his ice cream bowl back & resumed eating. 

Dadi got annoyed with his disinterest on the topic. 

She turned towards him. "Chhote, it's been days we witnessed the live TOM & JERRY SHOW. I'm missing the fun. I want to see our Tom Ankush & Jerry Radhika's cute banter & only you can make that happen Chhote." Dadi coaxed her grandson who exhaled looking at his dadi & was about to deny when dadi made a cute puppy face. "Please Chhote." Dadi wheedled caressing Arnav's hair who shook his head at his dadi's dramatic coaxing & finally agreed. 

Dadi smiled excitedly. "Thank you Chhote." Dadi pinched Arnav's cheek & sat straight expecting the fun to begin. 

Everything was noticed by others but they couldn't hear what the dadi-grandson duo were discussing. So Radhika volunteered to ask. 

"What's going on between dadi & her dear grandson??" 

"Nothing much chachi." Arnav replied. "Actually I was asking dadi that why suddenly we have mango flavour ice cream today because usually we get chocolate or strawberry flavour as that's everybody's favourite in our family??" 

Chachi smiled & replied, "That's because your chachu insisted for mango flavour today." 

Arnav nodded but he already knew this as he had heard his chachi telling this to HP while sending him to get the ice cream from the parlour. 

Ankush smiled affectionately at his wife for giving importance to his preference. 

Radhika blushed. 

"I must say Chachu.. Your secretary's taste is rubbing quite well on you." Arnav commented looking at his chachu & then bit his tongue as if he said something he shouldn't & then resumed eating his ice cream. 

But his chachu stopped eating with his spoon held in his mouth only. 

Everybody looked at Arnav trying to decipher his words. 

Radhika was looking between Arnav & her husband, back & fro. 

Arnav winked at his dii & his brothers, who understood his plan & also understood who is the main culprit behind this. 

They winked back at Arnav & showed thumbs up to dadi who smiled wickedly in return. 

Amar sighed hard knowing that Radhika is gonna fall in the ruse made by their naughty children & their naughtiest grandmother & his poor brother Ankush will have to bear the consequences. 

"What does that mean Arnav??" Radhika asked, shifting forward on her seat, almost sitting on the edge as if getting ready for a fight. 

Ankush immediately understood that he was again going to be the target of their children's naughty prank. He swallowed but he felt as if the ice cream had turned into pebbles & was stuck in his throat.

"Nothing chachi. Nothing." Arnav shrugged his shoulders, smiling sheepishly, acting accurately as if he was trying to hide some facts. 

"No no Arnav. You mentioned something about your chachu's secretary & her taste rubbing on your chachu. What does that mean??" Radhika probed Arnav. 

"It's absolutely nothing chachi." Arnav reiterated to his chachi who's patience was wearing thin. 

"Bhai.. I got your point." Adi chirped in. 

Now Radhika looked at her son expectantly. 

"Bhai meant that dad's secretary Miss. Patel likes mango flavored ice cream very much so dad has also started liking it. Right bhai??" He asked feigning innocence. 

Radhika's jaws hit the floor & her eyes competed with saucers as she turned to her husband flaring her nostrils. 

Ankush, who was still holding the spoon between his teeth praying inwardly for this unexpected storm to pass calmly, shook his head sideways vigorously & the spoon got dropped in the ice cream bowl in his hand, splashing the melted ice cream on his face. 

Everybody except Radhika who was burning with anger now, had to control hard to stifle their guffaws. 

Dadi sat comfortably on the sofa folding both her legs, gesturing HP to serve her more ice cream as the show has just begun & she wants to enjoy it to the fullest. 

"Yes I remember bhai." Akash took his turn. "Last time at our office party, I had seen Miss. Patel gorging on mango ice cream like crazy. In fact I had seen dad serving her 2-3 times." He added fuel to the fire. 

Ankush mentally slapped his palm on his forehead for again being the target of his children's naughtiness. 

"Ankushhhhhh." Radhika yelled standing up. 

Ankush craned his neck upwards at his fuming wife. 

"So that's the reason behind your sudden liking for mango flavour ice cream." She gritted with her hands on her hips. 

"No. No Radhu." Ankush stood up too. "It's nothing like that." He tried to hold her hand but she jerked his hand away.

"Radhu.. I just felt like eating mango ice cream today so I asked you to get that flavour. It has nothing to do with Miss. Patel. In fact Miss. Patel is aller…. " He couldn't complete it as his Radhu shouted fisting her palms. "Stop chanting that Gujju dhokla's name Ankush." 

Ankush could see his two sons, his nephew, his niece clasping their mouths & laughing at his expense but the most excited seemed his own mother. He glared at all of them but it had a zero effect. 

"Radhika.. Listen to me." Suddenly dadi said standing up & came near the couple. 

Ankush heaved a relaxed sigh thinking that his mother came to his rescue. 

"Radhika.. You remember last year during summers, Ankush had got 10 extra boxes of mangoes than our usual order??" Dadi asked Radhika who thought for a while & then nodded her head as she did remember. 

"When we had asked him about the same then he had replied that he got them to give to his friend. I wonder if that friend was Miss. Patel??" Dadi said keeping her index finger on her chin, faking an innocent look. 

"Oh my God." Radhika yelled. 

Now it was Ankush's jaws that hit the floor. "Maa.. What are you saying??" He asked unbelievably. 

"I was just guessing beta." Dadi said with a fake smile. "As it is, you didn't mention your friend's name that time." Dadi shrugged & went back to her place to sit after adding spark to the already burning fire. 

Amar mouthed a "Maa" in annoyance to his mother from his seat for troubling his brother unnecessarily. In return dadi just winked at her elder son who had to shake his head on his mother's cute stubbornness. 

All the grandchildren showed a thumbs up to their dadi. 

Radhika turned towards her mother in law. "You are right maaji. I remember correctly. Ankush had not told us his friend's name for whom he had got those extra boxes of mangoes & now I'm very sure that he had got them for that gujja dhokla." Radhika assessed & then turned back towards her husband fuming in doubled anger now. 

"How could you do this Ankush??" She held Ankush's shirt collars. "How could you play with my feelings?? How could you betray me for that Gujju?? You got mangoes for her. You are now eating mango flavour ice cream which is her favourite flavour. What else do you do to make her happy, Ankush?? Tell me Ankush, just tell me." She kept on shaking him furiously with every sentence. 

Ankush held her hands in his." Radhu.. Radhu listen to me." He urged. 

"Don't try to manipulate me as always Ankush." She pulled her hands from his with a jerk. "I'm not going to stay here a minute more. I'm going to my parents' house & you go to your Gujju dhokla & then both together make dhoklas & eat or do whatever you want to do. But I'm not going to stay here with you. That's final." She pointed her index finger at her husband angrily. 

Ankush quickly held that finger & pulled her to him. "Radhu listen to me. I haven't done anything like you think. Those extra mango boxes I had got, were for our office peons & their families." He revealed. 

"Oh really??" Radhika mocked folding her hands at her front & tilting her head in attitude. "Then why didn't you tell us that time??" She asked, not believing her husband's words. 

Everybody was listening attentively to Ankush. 

"That's because I don't like propagating about any kind of donations or help we do & you know that, Right??" He asked softly. 

Radhika nodded slowly. 

"Still if you don't believe me then you can ask Amar bhai as that was our joint idea of giving the mangoes to our peons." Ankush said looking at his brother who nodded affirmatively. 

"& about having mango ice cream today, then I was just bored of our usual chocolate & strawberry flavours so I felt like having some other flavour & as we all love mangoes, I opted for mango flavour so that we all can enjoy it." Ankush said, trying to convince his doubting wife. 

"Okay then what would you say about being a waiter to that Gujju dhokla & serving her ice cream in our office party??" Radhika won't let go that easily. 

Ankush sighed hard looking at his sons who had woven a false story to trap their father. His sons winked at him. 

"What happened now Ankush?? Cat got your tongue or that Miss. Patel got it??" She mocked narrowing her eyes at him & the others except Ankush couldn't hold their laughter at that. 

Radhika looked at them quizzically & then looked at her husband. 

"What happened?? Why are you all laughing??" She asked innocently. 

"Because you fell into their ruse as usual & blew up on me as usual." Ankush replied pointing towards his naughty children who stood up from their places & came to Ankush & Radhika. 

"Means??" Radhika asked again, still not getting the point. 

"Means.. Nothing of the sort happened at our office party, Radhu. It's all made up story of these three musketeers along with their naughty dii & grand mother." Ankush replied pulling ears of all the three brothers & slapping Anjali's cheek playfully. 

"In fact Miss. Patel is allergic to mangoes so she can't eat neither mangoes nor any other thing made from mangoes then how can I serve her mango ice cream?? In Fact, why would I serve her in the first place?? She is my assistant & not vice versa. If I would ever become a waiter, then that would be only for my Radhu & nobody else." Ankush said, circling his hand around Radhika's shoulder. 

"Don't try to butter me Ankush." She jerked his hand from her shoulder. "First tell me how do you know that she is allergic to mangoes?? Do you keep a tab on everything related to her??" Radhika asked, chewing each word angrily. 

Ankush looked at her incredulously. Out of all the things he said, she caught on to just that detail. 

"Yes.. Yes Radhika, ask him??" Dadi came to them, trying to ignite the almost doused fire. 

"Maa you are absolutely incorrigible." Ankush commented, hitting his palm to his forehead. 

"Don't try to deviate from the topic chachu. Tell chachi, how do you know about Miss. Patel's allergy??" Arnav said, wiggling his eyebrows. 

"That's because I have read it in the health detail column of her biodata while interviewing her & mango allergy is a very rare kind of allergy so that wasn't hard to remember." Ankush said looking hopefully at his wife that she would be satisfied with his replies. 

"So all these was again a trap to fool me??" Radhika asked. 

Everybody bobbed their heads together, laughing. 

Radhika huffed, annoyed with herself for becoming a fool once again at her children's hands. 

"What do you all get by making me fight with Ankush always??" She asked her children, glaring at them. 

"Oh chachi." Arnav side hugged his chachi. "You already know that, how much we enjoy chachu & your cute Tom & Jerry fight." 

"Yes.. That's so much fun & way more entertaining than the real Tom & Jerry cartoon on tv." Dadi exclaimed, clapping excitedly like a kid. 

Radhika pouted cutely. 

"Maa you are impossible." Ankush whined, shaking his head. "One day you & your grandchildren would definitely get us divorced." he said, pointing towards Radhika & himself & everybody again had a good round of laughter at Ankush & Radhika's expense. 

Everybody then retired to their rooms, calling it a day. 

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After reaching home Khushi straightly went to her mamaji's room to ask after his health. Mami was also there serving him a homemade kadha to cure his cold. 

They both smiled at her & mamaji assured her that he was feeling much better. 

"Hope you didn't have any difficulty in getting an auto beta, as it was a peak hour when you left the office??" Mamaji asked. 

"No mamaji." Khushi replied, shaking her head gently. "Actually I didn't have to find an auto as," She paused for a brief second. "Arnavji had offered me a lift & I came with him in his car." She didn't lie. 

"Arnavji??" Mami asked. "You mean Arnav Singh Raizada??" She asked. 

Khushi nodded slowly. 

Mamaji smiled. "Arnav sir is such a gentleman & a very generous boss as well." Mamaji praised ASR & Khushi's heart fluttered with happiness. 

"Yes, you are right." Mami seconded mamaji's words. "Even after being so rich & successful, he is so much down to earth & very thoughtful as well towards his staff. The girl who would marry him would be the luckiest on this planet." Mami commented genuinely. 

Khushi's heart was now hammering in her chest. She was struggling to not blush in front of her mama-mami. 

"But I'm definitely the most unlucky man on this earth as I have a heartless wife who makes her ill husband drink this bitter kadha." Mamaji said making faces, after smelling the kadha. 

Mami glared at him. "Don't whine like a child." 

"Then don't make me drink this bitter concoction." Mamaji pleaded like a kid, holding the glass away from his face. 

Mami crossed her hands at her chest. 

"You are Meghu's father & not her younger brother to throw tantrums like kids." Mami fake mocked, & pushed the glass back near his mouth. "Now just drink it fast or I will call Anu & Meghu to hold your hands & then I will pour the kadha down your throat forcefully." Mami threatened, glaring. 

"Khushi see how your mami is dominating your poor mamaji." mama complained to his niece. 

Khushi chuckled at that. "Mami is doing right mamaji. You will get rid of this cold sooner than the medicines with this kadha. So please drink it mamaji." Khushi requested softly & how can mamaji deny anything to his sweet niece. 

He drank the kadha in a go & gave back the empty glass to his wife, making funny faces due to the bitterness in his mouth. 

Mami & Khushi chortled at that & left the room ordering him to rest till they prepare dinner. 

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After dinner the three sisters were in their room where Khushi was applying oil in Anu's hair & motor mouth Anu was blabbering about her day in the college. 

She & Meghu told Khushi about their encounter with Rohan who wanted to rag them & how Anu had slapped him. 

Khushi praised her sisters for being strong & not bending towards the senior students who think that they can do anything with juniors, especially girls in the name of ragging. 

Anu raised her imaginary collar in attitude, making her sisters chuckle. 

Meghu then went ahead & told Khushi about Adi whom Anu had called a monkey, on his face. 

"Anu.. This isn't right." Khushi said sternly. "That boy didn't do anything wrong to you then why did you call him a monkey?? That's bad manners." Khushi scolded, massaging Anu's scalp. 

"That's because he had called me a squirrel so I called him a monkey." Anu countered. 

"No didu.. First Anu called him a monkey then he called her a squirrel." Meghu supplied, earning a scowl from Anu. 

Khushi pulled Anu's ear gently with her oily fingers. 

"Anu.. You are becoming very naughty. You go to college to study & not for naming other students. Poor boy must have been so embarrassed in front of his friends when you called him a monkey." Khushi said leaving Anu's ear & continuing to massage her scalp. 

"Hawwwww didu." Anu turned her head  back. "I'm your sister. He isn't your brother or brother in law that you are taking his side." Anu whined, pouting. 

Khushi hit her palm gently on Anu's head at her careless words. "I'm not taking anybody's side Anu. I'm just saying that it's good to be strong & unyielding but not good to fall into unnecessary quarrels with other students. Understood??" She asked, looking at both her sisters who bobbed their heads, understanding. 

"Good girls." She smiled warmly at her sisters. 

"Okay now yours is done so get up & let Meghu sit for her hair massage." Khushi said, pushing Anu gently to stand up. 

Meghu replaced Anu & pulled out her hair band, leaving her hair open to enjoy a hair massage by her didu. 

Khushi took some oil in her hand & rubbed it between her palms & started massaging Meghu's hair. 

"How's it going in your canteen, didu??" Meghu asked with her eyes closed. 

Khushi's hands stilled at that for a moment, then she continued with the massage. 

"It's good. I'm enjoying working in the AR canteen." Khushi replied. 

"The whole staff must be full of praises for you to get to eat such delicious food made by you. Isn't it didu??" Meghu queried again. 

But instead of Khushi Anu replied. "You know na Meghu that didu doesn't like to hear her praises from anyone. She just enjoys doing her work. Right didu??" 

Khushi nodded half heartedly as that's not the complete truth nowadays. She does like to hear praises but only from one man with deep eyes which threaten to drown her in them & a baritone which is hazardous to her heart still she yearns to hear it. 

She glanced at her mobile lying on the table & breathed. 

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Arnav was pacing in his room, clutching his mobile in his fist, fighting with conflicting emotions. 

His heart wants to call Khushi & hear her voice but his mind was refusing to adhere to his heart's wish as it doesn't want to put Khushi on the spot in front of her family if they come to know. 

After battling for long between his heart & mind, Arnav decided to just leave a message on her WhatsApp. 

Khushi was lying on the bed with Anu & Meghu fast asleep cuddling her on either side. 

She was holding her mobile tight between her hands. She had turned it on the silent mode, not wanting her sisters' sleep to get disturbed nor she wanted them to get any hint if Arnavji calls or messages her. 

She was desperately expecting at least a message from Arnavji if not a call. 

Her mobile vibrated in her hands. She carefully unlocked it & smiled seeing that it's Arnavji's message. She read it. 

"I had to struggle hard against my desire to call you Khushi as I didn't want to make you uncomfortable in front of your family. But I couldn't stop my fingers from messaging you. Hope you don't mind that??" 

She blushed knowing that he was equally desperate to hear her voice. Also she was thankful at his thoughtfulness for not calling her directly & sending a message instead. 

She messaged him back. 

"Thank you for being so thoughtful Arnavji."

Arnav smiled reading her reply. 

"But it's really difficult Khushi. I'm so  desperate to talk to you right now." He typed & sent. 

Her heart accelerated reading his reply. 

"We can talk in your cabin tomorrow Arnavji. You work so hard the whole day. You need to get proper rest. Please go to sleep." She sent the reply. 

His heart swelled reading her concern for him. 

He laid down on his bed, with his mobile in his hands & typed. 

"You also need to rest Khushi. I don't want your beautiful eyes to have dark circles." 

Khushi bit her lower lip shyly. She had no reply for that but Arnavji was not in dearth of one as she got his next message immediately. 

"By the way Khushi, your dp is nice but it could be more beautiful if you set your own pic there. Just a suggestion otherwise I'm cool with this dp as well." 

Khushi knotted her eyebrows trying to remember her dp. Yes, it's the pic of a beautiful red rose with dew drops on it. She has not set her own pic as her dp for a long time. It's either a pic related to nature or her favourite diety's pic. Even her sisters keep on pestering her to set her own pic as dp but she doesn't listen to them. 

Arnav was getting impatient as she wasn't replying even though she was online & was reading his messages. 

Did his openness offend her in any way?? No no.. That's not possible. She didn't show any signs of dislike or offence towards his actions or words till now. 

His cogitation was replaced by a full bloom smile on his face & he sat up on his bed, ecstatic. 

"So what do you think about my new dp Arnavji??" He read her message & immediately clicked on her dp which zoomed in immediately. 

His breath got stuck somewhere in his chest. His heart bounced & shifted from its place. 

He was looking at her pic unblinkingly. She was wearing a red chiffon Anarkali with golden borders. Her silky traces left open straight down her waist. Her beautiful face, devoid of any artificial make up. Just a thick stroke of kajal in her hazel orbs, cherry lip gloss on her shapely lips & a small round red bindi on her forehead was the only makeup she was wearing & she was looking beautiful beyond beautiful in his favourite colour. She was elegantly holding a small diya in her red bangles filled hands. But the most prominent beauty on her face was her enticing smile. 

If she could stop his world just through her pic in his favourite colour then what would happen when she herself would be in front of him wearing red??

He released a desperate sigh. 

"Arnavji, this pic was taken by my sister on last Diwali. Hope I'm looking okay in this??" She typed & paused for a few seconds before sending it. 

She crossed her fingers waiting for his reply. She has never done this before. Never yearned for praises from anyone but with Arnavji, her expectations to hear praises from him keep on increasing. She loves when he showers her with praises. 

Arnav got her next message asking for a reply. 

He caressed her pic & kissed it before typing a reply. 

"I was right Khushi. You look ravishing in red." 

Khushi was so flustered reading that, that she kept her phone on her chest & covered her face with her palms as if he was watching her through the phone. 

Her phone vibrated on her chest indicating a new message. 

She slowly lifted it & read the message. 

"Khushi, my desire to see you in red in person has increased manifolds. Will you fulfill my desire in our Sunday meet??" 

He wanted to write 'on their DATE on Sunday' but he didn't want her to feel awkward so he settled with the word 'MEET' instead of 'DATE'. 

Khushi clicked on his dp. He was looking handsome as ever in his three piece suit. The pic seems to be taken in his cabin. She caressed her thumb on his jawline in the pic & inhaled a deep breath. 

She then typed a reply he was so desperately waiting for. 

"Yes Arnavji. I will." 

In reply Arnav sent an emoji with a wide smile. 

😁

Khushi smiled seeing that. 

She felt Anu moving beside her & got alerted. Luckily Anu went to sleep again snuggling more closer to her didu. 

Khushi sighed in relief. 

"Arnavji.. It's too late. You should go to sleep." Khushi typed & sent. 

"Yeah.. 😟" He replied, attaching a sad face emoji with it. 

Khushi chuckled & typed. 

"Good night Arnavji. Sleep well." She greeted him. 

"Good night Khushi. Sleep well, dream about me & don't forget to come in my dreams 😉" He replied, with a winking emoji. 

Khushi giggled reading that, clasping her mouth. 

She exited whatsapp, locked her mobile & kept it beside her pillow. 

She closed her eyes trying to get some sleep which seemed impossible as she started getting flashes of her meets with Arnavji, his kisses on her hands & cheek, his heartwarming talks & their recent message conversation. All these just increased the desperation in her for their meet on Sunday. 

He has said that he wants to take her to a very special place & wants to tell her something very important. Somewhere her heart knows what that could be but still she is very excited & eager to hear that from him. 

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Arnav was just admiring Khushi's pic. How effortlessly this enticing beauty has captured his heart?? He has no control over his feelings when it comes to her & he has been displaying them to her openly without any filters, just pure & genuine. He is equally shocked & thrilled that how they both came so close in such a short span without any special efforts or planning. Two pairs of eyes & a pair of hearts is all that they needed to convey their feelings wordlessly. Now he is just waiting for Sunday to come so that he can open his heart completely to her & make her his forever. After that he will make sure that she wears red more often. He chuckled at his crazy musings, kissed Khushi's pic one more time & closed his eyes to get some much needed sleep. 

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Next morning as soon as Arnav woke up he sent a good morning message to Khushi who greeted him back after a few minutes. 

All these was so new for both of them but still both were enjoying it with equal excitement & anticipation. 

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"Meghu .. Keep your mobile aside & start eating your breakfast or you will get late for college." Meghu's mother scolded Meghu who was engrossed in her mobile, sitting at the breakfast table. 

"Mamma.. Just 2 minutes." Meghu requested showing her two fingers. "I will reply to my friend's message & keep it aside." 

Mamaji shook his head in annoyance. "Children these days can't stay away from their mobile even for a minute." He muttered, having his breakfast of gobhi paratha with pickle. 

Taking the opportunity to tease Meghu, Anu who was sitting beside Meghu, chirped in. "Mamaji.. That's not true. See I don't have my mobile with me. It's upstairs in my room. I'm not addicted to my mobile like Meghu." She sneered looking at Meghu who scowled at her. 

"Don't act smart Anu as if you don't use your mobile at all." Meghu gritted. "You spend much more time on your mobile then me."

"You know papa sometimes she uses her mobile during an ongoing class as well." Meghu complained to her father. 

"No mamaji, she is lying." Anu retorted. 

"No I'm not." Meghu countered back. 

Mamaji was enjoying their banter sipping his masala tea made by his favourite niece Khushi. 

"Stop it you two." Mami yelled & both the girls shut their mouths instantly. "Now shut your mouth & complete your breakfast." Mami ordered. 

"Mamiji.. How can we eat, keeping our mouths shut??" Anu humoured, making her mamaji & Meghu chuckle but mamiji glared at her & she continued eating, looking down at her plate. 

Meghu was about to shut her mobile when she suddenly screamed loudly looking at something in her mobile, startling her parents & Anu. Khushi who was packing her sisters' tiffin in the kitchen came running to the dining table, scared. 

"What happened Meghu??" Anu asked, looking into Meghu's mobile. 

Meghu immediately showed her something & now it was Anu who screamed in happiness. 

"What happened?? Why are you both screaming your lungs out??" Khushi asked her sisters. 

Suddenly Meghu & Anu stood up from their chairs & hugged Khushi from either side confusing her & mama-mami. 

"Didu.. You have set your own pic as your WhatsApp dp. How did this miracle happen??" Anu asked. 

"Yes didu.. How did this happen?? We have been pestering you for that since long but you didn't listen to us then what happened suddenly??" Meghu too voiced her curiosity. 

Khushi bit her cheeks inwardly. She had changed her dp on Arnavji's demand but had absolutely forgotten that she would be showered with queries on the same by her sisters. 

"Tell na didu." Anu insisted. 

Mama-mami were just listening keenly to the sisters. 

"Wo.. Wo.. I just.." Khushi stammered. "I just felt like.." She trailed away. 

She looked at her sisters. "If it isn't looking good then I will delete it." She asked, hesitantly. 

"Nooooooo." Anu-Meghu again screamed together. "You are looking very beautiful in that pic dii & why won't you?? Afterall I have clicked that pic of yours." Anu said, raising her imaginary collars. 

Meghu twitched her nose at her. 

"You know didu, our common friends from Lucknow messaged me that didu is looking fabulous in her dp. See this." Meghu showed the messages on her mobile. 

Khushi knows that as she has been getting messages on her mobile from her friends & relatives since she woke up.

"We are so happy, didu." Meghu-Anu kissed Khushi on her cheeks. 

Khushi smiled warmly at her sisters. 

Mama-mami looked at each other & smiled with moist eyes. They were happy as well, knowing that their Khushi was finally coming out of her shell. They blinked their eyes conveying that everything will be fine soon. 

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The rest of the week passed in a blur with Arnav & Khushi spending time together in Arnav's cabin during lunch hour & evening tea time. Arnav gave a detailed review to Khushi about his family. Khushi also told him about her mama-mami & sisters. They both were getting to know each other better. Arnav enjoyed teasing her & making her blush beetroot red. They didn't go beyond holding hands or Arnav kissing her fleetingly on her hands & cheeks. They were loving to spend time together. Khushi's admiration & respect for Arnav was increasing with every moment she spent with him & so were increasing Arnav's feelings & desires for her. Arnav was cautious enough not to catch anybody's eyes until he confesses his feelings to Khushi on Sunday. He doesn't want Khushi to face any adversities in the office.

But nothing was hidden from Aman's hawk eyes. His doubts on his boss & Khushi's closeness were turning into reality. He was happy for his boss that he got a girl his heart always desired, but at the same time he has to break his own heart & he is ready for that for his boss.

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Finally the much awaited Sunday arrived. The day, the two loving souls were desperately waiting for. The day that would decide their destiny. The day that would either unite them for ever or would separate them even before they could unite. 

To be continued....

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So, how's it??

Let me know through your votes & comments as usual.

Stay home, stay safe. Take care of yourselves & your families.

Love
Kavita ❤️