Before reading, keep yourself prepared for an emotional roller coaster ride. Writing which I myself had a very tough time that I left it in the middle too many a times because I couldn't gather the courage to complete it. I still couldn't.

So here is just its PART 1.

(Ignore the typing errors)

"Arnavji, when will you be coming?" Khushi whined into the phone drumming her fingers impatiently at the table while waiting for him at the cafe on their usual time.

"I won't be able to come today Khushi. I am stuck with an urgent work. Sorry for today I guess." He sounded genuinely sorry.

Khushi pouted before huffing.

"Okay. Take care. Bye!" She cut the call making a face. A routine was set after her jiji and Akash ji's marriage, routine of meeting that Laad Governor in this cafe and skipping a day would means not seeing him either and that means spending the rest of the day in a spoiled mood. She already has started missing him.

The rest of her day was spent in a pissed off mood. At night, she rushed to reach for her phone as it rang. Another routine of them talking over the phone before going to sleep. She was hoping against hope he won't cancel it too and to her relief he didn't.

"Are you angry?" Came his query right after they greeted each other.

"Why would I be?"

"Because we couldn't meet today!"

She sighed.

"Should I say the truth Arnavji?"

"Of course I would prefer that only."

"I am not angry but disappointed. I was looking forward to meet you today bec-"

"What if we couldn't meet in the day. Now we can." He said and she could feel him smirking.

"What do you mean?"

"Bahir aa sakti ho? (Can you come outside?) At the end of your street?"

Khushi's eyes widened whilst she gasped.

"Arnavji, what are you doing here at this time of the night?" She came to the window, leaning forward caught the sight of his car at the end of the street as he said.

"Because I was looking forward to meet you too when that stupid meeting came up." He groaned.

She smiled feeling her eyes tearing up. She can't believe he was the same Laad Governor who once used to make her life hell by any means possible , who hated even a sight of her and more so blasted on her at any chance he got.

She didn't expect something this sweet from him.

"You must be tired. Go back home Arnavji. We will meet tomorrow for sure." She said softly.

"Come out now already Khushi. I am not going back without seeing you. So can you sneak out?"

She could feel his eyebrow quirking in challenge and she could never back off from any challenge coming from him.

Looks like some things won't change ever between them.

"Watch me!" She said and cutting the call came out of her room and then the home making sure not to make a sound and then she was running out in the street to reach him.

He has already come out of his car and gathered her in his arms staggering back as she crashed herself to him breathing heavily due to running so fast.

"I guess you missed me too." He teased her with his head against her cheek.

"Jab jaante hain toh poch kyun rahe hain?(When you know it why bother asking it?)" She mumbled against his shoulder, her hands wrapped around his waist.

"Maine socha poch lun. Tumhara kya bharosa kab mai phir se tumhe Laad Governor jaisa lagne lag jaon?(I thought why not ask you. Who knows when you start placing me in the Laad Governor catergory all over again?)" He smirked when she smacked him on his shoulder.

"Laad Governor jaise tab lagein gay na jab waisa behave karein gay. Agar waise hi hote na toh aaj humse itni raat ko milne nahi aate balke humein order dete k Khushi Kumari Gupta mujhse milne iss jagah issi waqt aa jao warna tumhare liye acha nahi hoga (Oh I'd perceive you as Laad Governor when you'd behave like one.If you had been like that then you wouldn't have come here at this time of the night just to meet me. Instead you would've ordered me to come over at a particular place and If I didn't come then it won't be good for me!)" She pulled back to smile at him knowingly.

"Wow. Bohat ache se janane lagi ho mujhe huh Khushi Kumari Gupta!(You have started knowing me well huh Khushi Kumari Gupta)" He tapped her nose dropping a peck on her temple.

He opened the door of the passenger seat and tilted his head asking her to get in.

"Where to?" She asked sitting in without any question. He smiled at her trust on him. It warmed him all over.

"I owe you a cup of coffee!" He took the driver seat.

"But the cafe would be closed at this time Arnavji." She reasoned.

"Who said we are going to the cafe?"

"Then?"

"You will see!" He smiled secretly and it formed a smile on Khushi's face too. She waited eagerly for his surprise and she didn't have to wait for long.

He stopped the car outside Shantivan.

Khushi looked at him confused.

"You sneaked out of your home for me. Now its my turn to sneak in mine for you." He winked.

Khushi giggled.

"You are becoming like me!" Khushi said enthusiastically."These crazy ideas come to my mind only."

"When you can start drinking coffee because I like it, why can't I behave somewhat like you too?" He said and Khushi stared at him speechless. Leaning in she kissed his cheek making him smile.

"I should get you surprises more often considering the reward I got today!" He said knowingly making her blush.

He extended his hand opening her side of the door. Slipping her hand in his she stepped out whilst he easily sneaked in the mansion with her right into his poolside attached to his room.

Khushi looked at him surprised as she found a table of two arranged besides the poolside.

"Just sit here and I will get the freshly made coffee for both of us." He pulled the chair for her and had to press her shoulders to make her sit as she was too surprised at his gestures.

"You will make it?" She blinked her eyes at him stupefied as he turned to leave.

He smirked turning back to her and rolling the chair to him leaned closer to her face placing his palms on the arm rests. Khushi swallowed at his proximity. The sexual tension built up which made them both feel to the edge.

"Yes!" His voice turned more huskier deeper due to the thick, palpable tension rising out there at the poolside.

"Today you will drink my hand made coffee made especially for you." He mumured eyeing her lips.

"Especially f-for m-me?" She blinked back the tears.

"Especially for you. Infact JUST for you!" He wiped the corner of her eyes and pressed a kiss on her head. She closed her eyes feeling overwhelmed.

He pulled back suddenly and so did she as to cut the tension building up more and more within and around them.

He left to fetch the coffees while she sat there regulating her heavy breathing and irregular heart beats.

In that moment, Khushi Kumari Gupta sent a prayer up to heavens to keep them like this forever.

To keep HIM like this forever. Because she just can't stay without him anymore. She won't be able to withstand it if god forbid they got separated. She shook her head shuddering.

"I won't ask for anything else!" She murmured emotionally looking up in the sky.

Pyar hai ya sazaa,

(Is this love or punishment)

Aye mere dil bata?

(Tell me, O my heart?)

Toot'ta kyun nahi dard ka silsila?

(Why doesn't this endless chain of pain not break?)

Iss pyaar mein ho kaise kaise imtihan

(How many tests and trials must this love endure?)

Yeh pyar likhe kaisi kaisi dastan!

(So many diverse stories are writ by this love!)

"First Shyam and now Nanhe ji huh Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada? Do you really think that you can easily hand me over to any man and I would simply oblige? No way!"

He paced the length of his room with his heart jumping up to his throat. Although she has left with NK to Australia but still nothing went as he planned it would. All of his plan to bring happiness in her life went in vain. She found out and it made her furious. Hell mad and angry. And that wasn't a healthy combination for already depressed Khushi Kumari Gupta.

"Khushi, NK ...He..loves you."

"I loved you too."

He closed his eyes in pain. How she has wished she hated him after all that he did but it was turning out to be hell for her, impossible for her to forget him and more so it was becoming a torturous prison for her while being in love with him in which she was falling deeper and deeper with no way out.

"Why didn't anyone dished YOU out before me in platter like that?" She croaked.

He bit back a sob.

She was angry, she was helpless, she was asking him why?

Why?

Why didn't she get to have him like he made Shyam have her in his life?

Why she wasn't made to chose for herself?

Why all the choices were taken away from her?

Why HE wasn't written in her fate that someone would just dish him out before her saying,

"Here have him. Have Arnav Singh Raizada. He is yours Khushi Kumari Gupta. Now it is up to you to love him the way you want to. Love him, hate him whatever you want to do to him!"

Despair fell on him shaking him from head to toe. She boarded the plane a day ago but ever since she did her words, her helplessness won't leave him.He refused to eat anything let alone having the medicines.

Akash has come many a times to bang on the door but he refused to come out.He has locked himself in his room and has walked to and fro for the whole day like a caged lion trying to find a solution out of it. For her. So that she get out of this hell hole and so could he.

But sill he couldn't come up with anything. He didn't know what to do.

"I will never let you win. I will never let you bring happiness in my life Arnavji. Never." She sobbed.

"I will never let you get peace of seeing me smile."

"Then come back to me." Arnav was ready to do anything to make her get out of it.Out of this pain.Even for asking the impossible.

"NEVER!!" This time shout was more profound.

"Please come back to me Khushi. I will heal you." Tears spilled over his cheeks.

"No." She choked.

"I love you Khushi. I have always did. I will always do." He managed in between his sobs.

"I hate you. I hate that I love you." Those were her last parting sobbing words before she cut the call.

"Khushi.." He whispered brokenly into the closed phone.

He sat on his bed interlinking his fingers restlessly whilst his swollen eyes has started aching now but all that didn't matter. She did.

"I challenge you today Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada. Find good guys for me and I assure you to reject each and everyone of them and i promise you that won't be pretty. I would make sure they would badmouth about me to everywhere they would go or see me.I would make sure to tarnish my image in Australia as well and i know AR isn't influential here that much to snatch the reporters cameras and make their mouth shut about the same!"

He splinted into sobs all over again burying his face into his hands.

"BHAI!" Akash has come over again and has started knocking harder this time. He seemed pissed.

"Why are you punishing us for your own faults?" Akash growled knowing very well his brother wouldn't budge otherwise. He has to hit his bleeding wounds to get him to listen and it worked.

Arnav pulled open the door and as he raised his head to look at his younger brother something gripped Akash's heart into a fist.

"What are you doing to yourself?" Akash asked throwing his arms around his brother.

Arnav pursed his lips with his hands on his sides.

"She knows. She knows Akash. She knows!" Arnav croaked.

"She knows what Bhai?" Akash asked pulling back even though he already knew what.

"About NK. Of how I got him here. That he loves her. That I want her to accept him, to move on." Arnav walked back into the room and sat on the bed with a thud, his hands over his nose.

"How do you know that? You didn't even come to the airport." Akash tried to distract him.

"She called me before boarding the flight." His lips trembled, his eyes filled up again. Akash placed his hand on his shoulder sitting besides him.

"What did she say?" Akash asked silently.

"That I can try as much as I want but she would not let me...bring happiness in her life." He managed to say in a torn whisper.

Akash closed his eyes swallowing past a lump. This was the expected reaction from Khushi upon knowing what his brother has planned for her. Considering the mental trauma and depression and upon that leaving the treatment in the middle the way she left the country, anything could be expected from her. This was in his opinion just a minute riposte to it.

He wondered how would she be behaving with NK after knowing about his true feelings now?

He had an idea about that too as he has talked to NK Bhai right after he has reached Australia with Khushi and things weren't going well there too. He hoped NK could come up with something to get to Khushi.

Shaking his head, he rubbed his temple feeling a headache coming. No wonder Bhai was a wreck.

"We can solve this matter with only a sane mind you know that Bhai don't you?" Akash spoke softly looking at his brother who was staring at a distance constantly with his eyes shining with tears.

"Can you take away my sane mind and plant it in her to get some sense into her?" His voice was just above a whisper but it reached Akash well and he gulped sensing the anguish in his words.

"I wish instead of me, she has recovered from that treatment. I don't want to have a healthy mind Akash if I have to see her suffer."

"Right. Great. You want that mind back due to which you destroyed that girl into two halves."

Arnav's head shot up to Akash shocked at his blunt reply shutting him up.

"Two halves huh?" His voice cracked.He bobbed his head. He sniffled before looking back at the floor as a tear slipped from his eye and rolled down his cheek. He brushed it off.

"True." He choked."Seriously true. I broke her into two halves. In fact I forced her to be broken into two. Despite herself, she has to leave half of herself with me and now it is becoming too difficult for her to live with a missing part of her, right?" He chuckled sadly.

"It must be too hard being torn in between for her, right?" Arnav added in a daze.

Akash cursed himself for being this harsh again with his brother. He was here to make him eat and have his medicines which he has skipped the whole day.

"Forget what I said earlier Bhai. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please eat something and have your medicines. Please?" Akash really pleaded.

"I don't feel like eating. Don't insist Akash." He was still burning in anguish.

"For me? Just a little?"

"Please leave me alone."

"If not for me or anyone else then for Khushi perhaps?" Akash tried the last tactic and it worked wonders because as soon as he said that, Arnav stood up silently and walked out of the room.

Akash followed him and saw him going into the kitchen. In a minute he was out with a filled plate and sat on the raised stool facing the kitchen placing the plate on the slab. He munched on the morsels one by one and ate in silence.

Heaving a sigh of relief Akash went into his room and came back with his medicines. Placing them besides the glass of water, he thumped his back and silently left him knowing that there was to a point his brother allows interference in his life and after that he wanted to be left alone. And now was his time to leave him to his thoughts. So he did.

By the time Arnav finished the plate, his throat was too constricted and his eyes were full of tears all over again as a certain memory came to the fore whispering something in his ear.

"Arnav ji you know how much of a bastard he is.You would give your Khushi to him?"

With one swipe he smashed the plate to the wall and then his eyes darted to his medicines.

"Don't.Please.Don't send me away from you Arnav ji.Punish me if you want but let me be with you."

"I would never go with him Arnav ji. You can't send your Khushi with this murderer.You can't do this to me." She grapped his collar and shook him sobbing.

"You need me after Anjali Di. You are left with no one of yours.Don't do this to yourself. Don't do this to .. me.Please.Please" She hiccupped.

Opening the pack, he placed them in his mouth and chewed on them eyeing the glass of water with vengeance feeling his insides churning. In a minute the glass was into pieces too. He fell back on the stool defeated.

"This will be the last favour I will be doing for you. I have done enough in the name of my love."

"So you are saying you don't love me anymore?"

"No, I am saying that I won't owe you my love anymore."

"Not even when I will need your love?"

He rubbed his temples rocking in the seat swallowing past the saliva. She hasn't replied. She hasn't said that she would love him anymore. She won't. She would never love him ever again. His eyes widened as if he just realized the gravity of the situation.

"I would hate you for the rest of my life...for doing this to me...for making me marry him...for making me...his bed mate.."

"You know what, you would stay with this guilt all your life that you punished me for no mistake of mine.That you gave me to the man who killed your Di."

"That you gave me to the man who never deserved me.You would stay with these thoughts in your mind that how I lived three months with a man who killed your sister.He wanted to have his way with me after killing Anjali ji and you let him.YOU LET HIM!"

He pressed his hands to his ears whimpering trying to stop the voices in his head.

"I-I did it?" He mumbled to himself.

"Me?" He pointed to himself.

"I-I-" He gulped."I gave my Khushi.. MY KHUSHI to him?"

He shook his head chuckling.

"No. Of course not. I can never. Arnav Singh Raizada can never give his most prized possession to someone else. He can never!"

Within a minute he was up to his feet pacing around restlessly with a heavy feeling settling in his chest that was increasing with every passing second until the weight on his chest grew too much that he gasped for breaths.

"I CAN'T DO THIS DID YOU HEAR ME!" He shouted to the walls.

"I CANNOT!" He bellowed moving anxiously around.

Akash came running to him.

"Bhai? What happened?"

"Akash. Look there. There!" He pointed ahead.

"That man is saying that I handed over MY Khushi to that bastard Shyam!" His hands shook as he pointed to the wall ahead where a wall length mirror was showing himself only shaking from head to toe.

"Can I?" He asked turning his widened eyes to a teary eyed Akash.

Akash engulfed his brother in a bear hug feeling his heart cutting seeing THE ASR unarmed. He was afraid that he might go back into the depression. So he rubbed his back and mumbled soothingly.

"Bhai, get a grip over yourself."

Arnav shoved him off.

"I asked you something Akash. Answer me!" He cried out.

"You really want me to..reply?" Akash asked silently looking at his brother concerned. He doesn't seem fine to him.

"Of course I do. Tell me. I didn't, right? Say that..that I didn't. Please refuse. Please say, no. I didn't.I can't." He choked at the end.

"You.. did!" He let out the words with great difficulty and saw a dark shadow passing across his brother's face and before he knew it, Arnav has started punching the same mirror in a sheer rage with his eyes spitting fire at his own self.

"I handed her over to Shyam!"

*Punch*

"I made her cry!"

*Punch*

"I pushed her away. Far away!"

"Bhai, what the hell are you doing? You are hurting yourself!" Akash shouted seeing his hands full of blood by now.

Arnav pushed him off him and by now was punching the wall behind the mirror with only cracks of mirror in between.

"Now again, I asked her to go marry that.. that NK. Fuck me! I am a bastard!" The blood has rushed to his eyes while Akash has tried his level best to break off his madness by in vain. It seemed like he was vexed.

At last, Akash stepped in between the wall and him and that's when Arnav stopped with his fisted bleeding hand just an inch away from his face.

Akash exhaled feeling his own heart about to leap out of his chest. He thanked heavens that he has moved in with Bhai at this time otherwise who knows how would he have coped with this alone without anything stopping him from going crazy.

"Pack your bags Akash and leave me ALONE!" Arnav shook his hand causing the blood to sprinkle on the floor.

Akash pushed the glasses up to his nose giving him a neutral look making him frustrated.

"Seems like now you have truly come to your senses Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada! There is my REAL brother!"

"Exactly Mr. Akash Singh Raizada. For who knows the REAL Arnav Singh Raizada, know this too that once a thing is mine then it IS mine!" His face was red and his nerves standing out.

"She is not a thing Bhai!" Akash reminded him sternly.

"I know what she is Akash. You don't have to remind me!" Arnav was even more stern.

"You have given NK Bhai the permission to marry her do you remember that?" Akash passed him a handkerchief which Arnav wrapped around his injured hand silently as a feeling of determination seeped into him.

"I do. I did give the permission but it was valid until she didn't know it. Now she won't allow it herself. So it isn't a matter of concern for me anymore."

"What if NK Bhai has already made his move?"

"I told you she won't allow it!" Arnav gritted riled up.

"She won't allow you too. Either!"

"She can't be with anyone else. Either!" Arnav retorted.

"We will see!" Akash shrugged.

"Are you my brother or hers?" Arnav burst out.

"In this matter I willl support her only. Whatever will be her decision, you will find me by her side Bhai. She has been through enough already. Let her be in peace now."

"Can't you see she is ruining herself and the only person who can make her come out of this depression is me. You know that too don't you?" He exclaimed.

"What exactly would you do to make her come out of it?" Akash neither negated nor agreed with him but asked anyway.

"I will give her for what she is pining for." Arnav said with his eyes shining with determination.

"What?"

"ME!"

"Ah. Great. She would throw this gift right on your face!" Akash couldn't resist the sarcasm.

Arnav ignored him.

"She wants Arnav Singh Raizada to be presented to her on platter. She would get exactly that."

Arnav has made up a solid, determined decision in his mind and he has a well made stretegy planned up to get to it too not realizing or maybe for that moment he forgot that,

There was someone out there in this same world, in some other country who knew how to pour a bucket of cold water over all of his plans and she did so very conveniently the very next day in a way that earth beneath him slipped bringing down on his knees messing everything around and in him badly...terribly making it impossible for him to come out of its catastrophe.

Kaisa hai safar wafa ki manzil ka,

(How arduous is the journey to reach love's destination)

Na hai koi hal dilon ki mushkil ka

(There are no solutions to the heart tribulations)

Dhadkan dhadkan bikhri ranjishein,

(Every heartbeat emanates sorrow)

Sansein sansein tooti bandhishein,

(Every breath breaks restraining bonds)

Sydney , Australia

NK eyed Khushi worriedly as she has straight away refused to come with him after they have checked out of the airport.

She has come out dragging her luggage and has sat on the bench across the road under the tree stubbornly covering her eyes with the goggles.

He took out his cellphone and informed her family and Akash that they have reached safely.

"No. She is not fine Akash. She told me very clearly that she would look after herself and I should leave her alone now."

"You won't listen to her NK Bhai.She is not in her right frame of mind and upon that she is in a city of which she has no idea about."

"Of course I won't let her be Akash. Don't you worry. I will figure something out."

"Keep me informed and if Bhai called you then don't say anything to him or he would take the first flight to Australia to further complicate things up. That will make Khushi more mad. Already he has locked himself in the room refusing to eat or have his medicines." Akash said rubbing his temple.

"I understand." He said cutting the call and crossed the road to approach the girl sitting aimlessly on the bench there.

He took the seat besides her keeping his distance and saw her turning her head to the other side.

"Khushi ji?"

She sniffled.

"I thought out of all the people at least you were honest with me. That you were a friend of mine but no, like all the men out there you have been hiding your true emotions for me." She chuckled sarcastically.

"I am still your friend Khushi ji. More than my feelings, your happiness matters to me. Otherwise why do you think would I leave Delhi when I got to know that you loved Nannav?"

Khushi took off the shades and looked at him surprised with her wet lashes.

"I am not like Shyam, Khushi ji that I would do terrible things to make you mine. I am not like Arnav too that I would take you for granted. I am not like any other men in your life Khushi ji. More than your lover, I want to be your friend with whom you can share anything. A friend who can make you smile and laugh and enjoy your life forgetting all your worries!"

Khushi blinked back the tears staring at him brokenly.

"What about the promise you made to your brother that you'd convince me to marry you?" She asked with bitterness automatically seeping into her as she thought of that man trying unnecessarily to mend which can never be the whole or the same again.

NK sighed looking over at her with a smile.

"Promises are meant to be broken Khushi ji. He broke so many promises he made to himself, to you then why can't I break just one of them?" He shrugged.

"Anyways, your happiness is far more important than any promises."

"Nanhe ji, there is no happiness anymore for me. You will waste your time for no reason." She choked.

NK swallowed.

"I have vowed to myself that I would never let him win. Never." She whimpered turning her head back to the road.

"Khushi ji, you will succeed only when you will work to win over your sadness not by making someone lose by sacrificing your peace."

"I told you Nanhe ji. Nothing will work on me." She said determined.

"Okay. Lets drop the topic for now. Shall we head home? You- Erm actually I am feeling jet lagged already. Have some pity on this poor friend of yours and come with him. Please?" He made a pitiful face that Khushi felt guilty for being this hard on him. He hadn't done anything to cross his limits and she trusted him enough to know that he wouldn't either.

She gulped then as another thing struck her hard.

She trusted him enough too though that he won't ever break her trust but he did. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the guards around her thickened some more suffocating her from within as NK started driving to his said home most probably relieved that he could get to her.

But his relief was short lived because as soon as he invited her in his house more like a mansion she asked something from him which made him dumbfounded and stunned. Apprehensive and sweaty too at the same time.

"Will you do that for me?" She asked hopefully looking more fragile and broken than ever.

"Khushi ji, it will shatter him beyond repair."

"And what do you think I want except for that?" She gritted.

"I know he did very wrong. But doing this you'd.."

"If you want me to stay with you then you'd do as I said. Otherwise I will go away and fend for myself and you know I can!" She said maniacally.

She seriously need to take her medicines because she was going insane. Thought NK already formulating a plan to make her have her medicines.

"Are you in or should I leave?" She said gripping her suitcase tightly.

"Okay. Whatever you say will happen." He didn't meet her eyes when he said that but he had to agree to keep her safe with him.

"So where is the kitchen?"

"On your left. Pass the corridor and the last door to the right will lead you inside the kitchen."

"Thanks!" She said and was about to head to the kitchen when a thought clicked her.

"Where are you parents Nanhe ji?"

"They are out of the town. Anyways, they don't live with me. This is my mansion and the next one joined to mine is their's." He informed.

"Oh okay." She didn't probe further because she was not that old Khushi anymore who would try to fix others life even at the expense of ruining herself.

At least that Raizada made her understand that you have to look after yourself first in this selfish world full of back stabbing people!

In a few minutes NK ran to the kitchen as he heard her blood curling scream and then the blast.

"KHUSHI JI!!"

Koi na sune sisakti aahon ko,

(No one hears the sobbing sighs)

Koi na dharre tadapti baahon ko

(No one allays the longing of tormented arms)

Aadhi aadhi poori khwahishein

(Raging desires only half-slaked)

Tooti phooti sab farmaishein...

(All hoped for happiness shattered into fragments)

India

Before Shashi, Madhumati and Garima could absorb the news Payal went into early labor due to the shock causing them all to rush to the hospital where Raizada family arrived too in a few minutes with similar expressions of worry and horror struck on their faces.

Akash was there with Payal in the labor room while the one who had no idea about all the chaos was working endlessly in his cabin so that he could leave India as early as possible and settle there where his love was ruining herself not having any idea that it might be a little too late.

Akash came out along with the doctor with a forlorn look on his face and every one prepared themselves to hear another bad news.

"Congratulations. Its a baby boy. Both the mother and son are fine now." Doctor informed before leaving with a smile. Instead of happiness it made everyone cry harder.

Payal was shifted to the private room along with her baby.

"Did NK inform Arnav too?" Manorama asked Akash taking him away from the crowd because she couldn't possibly take Arnav's name in front of the Guptas who considered Arnav responsible for what happened to their girl and they were rightly so.

"No. It was her last wish that nothing about her should be told to him and NK Bhai wants to abide by it. I can't go against her wishes too." Akash croaked pursing his lips to stop himself from crying.

Manorama blinked back her tears and took her son in her embrace and Akash broke down there and then.

"He would know it anyways so its better he does soon before reveling in other possibilities like hope for getting her back because he can't now even if he want to."

"No. I can't tell him Maa. I can't." He cried out against her shoulders hugging her desperately. She sobbed along with him.

"How would I handle my wife and brother both now when I can't gather myself itself?" Akash sobbed out.

"Khushi took the promise from NK not from you so you can tell him and you know that too don't you?" She cupped his cheeks pulling back wiping his tears.

He shook his head shaking with emotions.

"How could I tell Bhai that the only reason of him being alive is gone to never come back Maa? He has made a decision to win her over just yesterday and I saw life returning to his eyes first time after Di's death. How could I snatch the hope to live from him all over again?" He cried.

"The mother is awake now." The nurse informed.

Akash looked at his mother anxiously. She nodded reassuringly.

"How is she?" He asked.

"Stable." The nurse replied before leaving whilst he entered the room with his heart cutting into pieces.

He gave one look at his baby sleeping in the crib.

"Payal?" He called sitting besides her on the bed taking her hand in his.

"I want a divorce Akash and I want it as soon as possible!" Payal said firmly and he paled.

"P-Payal? What are you saying? We just became parents. We-"

"I am done with you and your family. The woman who made me accept you back is gone. That means the chances of our togetherness are past too!" Tears slipped her eyes as she mentioned about her sister. It wasn't long as she started crying profoundly.

Swallowing his own cries Akash raised her up against him to hug her. She cried harder out loud that it reached everyone standing out in the corridor who were already feeling torn too much at that and her cries added up to it that they all broke down along with her.

"Payal. Shh. Shh. Its not good for you in this condition." He croaked rubbing her back.

"Not good for me? Its not good for me?" She leaned her head back to look in his eyes with rage.

"MY SISTER IS NO MORE AKASH AND I CAN'T EVEN CRY?" She bellowed shoving him off. Akash held the bed for support.

Just then their son wailed out from the crib making Payal burst into more sobs before she let herself fall flat on her back sniffling.

"Take him with you. He is a Raizada too. I don't want to nurture another man of that family who might ruin another Khushi tomorrow!" She gritted out with vengeance making him look at her torn.

"He is your son too Payal." Akash choked looking over at his son.

"Take him away Akash or I will make him suffer for the things my sister went through because of Raizadas!" She bellowed. Everyone listened it with their heart clenching in their chest.

"If he stayed with me then he will remind me day and night that I am doing a favor to the family who destroyed my sister!" She cried out.

Akash wiped the moisture from his face.

"He is just a child Payal. Please. He needs you!"

"My sister was like a baby to me too. If I couldn't be there when she needed me then how could you expect that I would raise a Raizada's baby, the memer of the family because of whom my sister is not there with me today?" She spout venom through her words.

"I couldn't even see her properly the last time I did." She sobbed with her heart splitting into two.

"TAKE HIM AWAY. TAKE HIM AWAY. GET LOST YOU TOO!" Payal went berserk that Akash had to leave taking his son bleary eyed as her parents entered to calm her down. Garima hugged her to herself sobbing along with her while Shashi looked at the only daughter he was left with who seemed to be losing it already.

Despite his family insistence to let them take care of the baby he didn't leave him with them. Instead he came back to AR penthouse taking necessary things from the store all the while holding his few hours old crying child who must be looking for his mother to feed him which was his birth right.

Feeling choked with emotions Akash made the milk bottle for him reading the instructions and heaved a sigh of relief when the baby stopped crying drinking it. Kissing his head he murmured a heartiest sorry to his son.

"Mumma is just angry with your father baby. With your father's family. She will come around. She will have to."

"What do I do now?" Seeing the bottle finished he hugged his son to his chest horizontally. The boy hiccuped and he started wailing again burping out some of the milk on his shirt.

"Oh. I forgot. So sorry baby!" Akash mumbled now remembering the instructions to feed a baby he has read in a book months back.

Arnav entered the penthouse and the cries of the baby filled his ears. Frowning he went into the direction of the sound and found it coming from Akash's room. Pushing open the door he walked in.

Wiping the baby's face and his own shirt Akash held him vertically in his arms patting his back until he burped and fell asleep on his shoulder. Probably too tired after crying so much.

"Akash? W-What? I mean whose baby is this?" He exclaimed.

"Mine" Akash didn't meet his eyes.

Arnav's eyes widened.

"But there was still a week left for Payal's delivery. What happened? Where is Payal? Why aren't you with her?"

"Because she told me to get lost. She wants a divorce. She don't want to nurture another Raizada." Akash choked.

"What do you mean? Its her son. What the hell are you talking?"

"I AM TELLING THE TRUTH BHAI!" He shouted and closed his eyes when the boy squirmed at the noise.He mouthed wait to his brother before rocking his baby until he calmed down and fell back to sleep.

Placing him on the bed and arranging the pillows around him he walked out with Arnav following behind giving a glance of adoration to the new member of their family.

"Congrats I guess." Arnav made an attempt to smile and he succeeded somewhat giving his brother a hug.

Akash looked at his brother's lips quirked up into a genuine smile after so long with his heart cutting into pieces. He have to break this little happiness shining in his eyes. Even though he knew it might be his brother's penance but still he never thought that life would make ASR pay for it like this. By lifelong punishment.

"Akash?" He asked feeling strange as if.. as if.. he just don't want to think it.

Akash raised his head to his brother with his eyes pricking.

"Will you tell me now what happened? Payal said she would come with you after delivery didn't she? Then why did she ask you to go away?"

"Bhai-"

"I know. I know she might be still upset but don't give up okay?" He thumped his shoulder making Akash exasperated.

"You can sense it can't you Bhai? So let me say it. Okay? Don't interrupt." Akash exclaimed.

"I know this is just for a few days. Payal will come around w-won't she?" Arnav said unsure himself while Akash had had enough.

"Its over Bhai. OVER. She wants divorce. Everything is destroyed beyond repair." He shook his brother with his eyes wide.

Arnav blinked his eyes at him and then shook his head.

"Don't worry. Once Khushi will know it. She will make her jiji understand like she did before and then your wife will call you herself." Arnav said solemnly making Akash's heart burst with pain at Khushi's mention.

"That's the problem. She can't tell Khushi. Neither would she be able to ask Payal to give me a chance.Ever!"

Arnav pushed him rubbing his face and walked to the living room. Akash followed with his eyes filling up.

"Akash you are unnecessarily worrying. When Payal would miss her son she would call you okay.I told you she will!"

"NO. She won't. Don't you get it Bhai? DON'T YOU?"

"I DON'T GET WHAT DAMMIT?"

"KHUSHI IS NO MORE. SHE IS DEAD. DEAD!"

*PUNCH*

SHUT UP AKASH! I DON'T LIKE SUCH PATHETIC JOKES!" He grabbed his collars with his eyes spitting fire at him.

Akash wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Arnav paced around like a caged lion rubbing his chest with his face contorted in pain yet he refused to believe in it.

"I wish it was a joke. I wish it was." Akash cried hugging his brother to which Arnav shoved him off standing warning him raising his index finger to stay away.

"She died the same way Di did. NK Bhai's kitchen caught fire and she got burnt in it. The little bit which is left of her will be sent over by tomorrow so that we could perform her last rituals." Akash sobbed out and in return got another punch laid straight on his jaws.

"I know she wanted to punish me. I know she did. But she won't give me a lifelong punishment like this. Never! Ever! Did you get it?" His eyes shone with tears as he shoved him before storming off the same way he came in and then ran off the building as one by one the pain flowed out of his eyes.

"She loves me dammit. She can't see me in pain. She can't. No." He continuously rubbed his chest as he stepped on the road with his heart clenching in his chest. It felt like someone was squeezing it in his chest.

Walking along with breathing became too difficult that he had to stop at one point coughing bending over with his hands on his knees. Gasping for breaths his tears dropped unchecked.

"I know...I know how you are feeling..I am here...I will always be here for you.Please.Please.Look at me Arnavji."

"Don't do this Arnavji . Let me in."

"Tell them that all I said is true.Tell them that you love me too.I know you do."

Saliva dribbled from his mouth as his shoulder shook as he cried in the middle of the night on the deserted road shutting his eyes tight.

"I do. I swear I do."

"You are punishing me because I love you?" She sobbed out resting her head on his chin.

"Don't.Please.Don't send me away from you Arnav ji.Punish me if you want but let me be with you."

"Please be with me. Please. Don't leave me. Not you too Khushi. Not you too. I am sorry. I am so sorry!" He fell on his knees crying out loud.

"Goodbye Arnavji." She whispered as she walked around him to walk out with Shyam besides her in amidst her family cries and pleading behind asking her to stop, begging Arnav to stop her.

Letting out a howling scream he punched the ground several times with his already injured hand without a break until he couldn't feel any sensations in his hand anymore.

"Hisaab barabar karna tumhe khoob aata hai huh Khushi Kumari Gupta?(You very well know how to get even huh Khushi Kumari Gupta?)"

"Han!" She said proud of herself."Agar apne hamare sath kuch aisa waisa dhoka kiya na toh ap k sath bhi hisaab barabar kar k chode gay. Samjhe Mr.Raizada?(Yeah! And if you tried to outsmart me or ditch me then i will relax only after getting back at you.Do you get it Mr.Raizada?)"

His head shot up. Tears gathered at the corner of his eyes dropped down as he stood up staggering wiping his face, sniffling. Turning he came face to face with Akash standing behind him whose eyes weren't dry either.

"Is your denial over now?" Akash croaked placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I have to go to Australia. To meet her." Arnav said with his fist to his mouth.

"NK Bhai will be here with her dea--"

"No. I will myself go there to get her... remains!" He said determined.

"But NK Bhai has already boarded the flight back to India."

"Fine. Let him come. I will still go there." He wiped his eyes with his fisted hands before walking away leaving a confused Akash behind.

He thought that listening this news would break his brother beyond repair that he might have to consult Dr.Sinha for him once again but he took it rather strongly.

How come?

Either he was hiding his true feelings or there was something he was up to again.

"I would say that Arnav is in severe depression since his sister died and he wasn't sane enough to take any decision in that condition.His mind has got a severe blow after losing his sister and to let this man take any of the major decisions was a big mistake you guys made Akash."

Dr.Sinha has said about Arnav's condition when Di died and now...Khushi.

Is his mind back to that..phase?

Abnormal?

Akash made a run back to the AR building.

He won't make the same mistake again. No. He thought and followed his brother determined.

"Bhai don't you dare do something stupid. Open the damn door!" He banged the door frantically pushing at it feeling his heart drumming in his ears.

Rasping he went in as he heard the lock breaking with the force he was pushing it and found his brother lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Worried he rushed to him and pulling off the blanket checked him thoroughly for any sign of hurt before reaching for his pulse frantically.

Heaving a sigh of relief he dropped himself on the bed besides him. Arnav opened his eyes swollen with all the breakdown he had just had.

"Go and sleep. Your son needs you to be with him." Arnav mumbled.

Akash desperately cupped his cheeks.

"Bhai please. Don't. Don't. I don't.. have the strength to see another..Just.. Please. Don't." He pleaded with his shoulders shaking as he let his head fall on his chest.

Arnav blinked back the tears clenching his fingers in his hairs.

"O-Okay Akash. I got it. Man up now and stop crying!" Arnav said hoarsely thumping his back.

Akash stood up reluctantly to leave but didn't stop turning around to look at his brother until he was out of the door.

Kahin shak hai kahin nafrat ki deewar hai

(Somewhere a seed of suspicion, elsewhere a wall of hate)

Kahin jeet mein bhi shaamil pal pal haar hai

(Even in victory there is loss)

Pyar hai ya sazaa aye mere dil bata,

(Is this love or punishment?)

Toot'ta kyon nahi dard ka silsila?

(Why doesn't this endless chain of pain not break?)

Heart wrenching cries filled the confides of Gupta's household and around the surrounding the next morning as NK placed the casket down with the help of the neighbors. Garima cried hugging Shashi who silently let the tears fall holding on to his wife while Payal fell down against the grill with her gaze glued to the casket as they pulled open the casket and took off the body to shift it in the hall inside.

It was when she saw the hand slipping off the stretcher with the ring dug into the burnt finger, did her cries reverberated shaking everyone there.

"KHUSHI! NO KHUSHI! PLEASE COME BACK. PLEASE. I SWEAR I WILL GET YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT. DON'T DO THIS TO US. TO YOUR JIJI. You want that Riazada? I will get you him. I know your family couldn't fully support you but now we will. JUST COME BACK BABY. Come back choti. Come back to your family!" Heartrending sobs shook everyone there as it could be heard till the end of the street.

Listening to Payal, Garima and Madhumati couldn't control themselves either whilst Shashi slid against the wall with his fingers clenched in his hairs with tears dripping from his eyes.

Manorama, Devyani, Akash, Manohar and NK stood with tears in their eyes feeling their hearts shattering into pieces until the silence filled the air with just one shout.

"Stop mourning for someone who is still alive!"

All heads turned to the door only to find Arnav Singh Raizada standing there with his bloodshot eyes.

"YOU!" Payal stood up. Not only her but also all the Guptas with their eyes hurling accusations at him cutting him without even saying anything.

"She is not my Khushi. I am telling you she is not my Khushi." He pointed to it.

Payal stood up angrily with her bloodshot eyes and raged to him. Pushed him. Shoved him back.

"She wasn't your Khushi. She wasn't yours. Don't you dare take her name with that filthy mouth of yours. Go away. Just get the hell out of here. Go away!" She sobbed out pushing him until he was out of the door making her family cry out along with her.

Arnav's knees buckled up as he fell on the floor in the middle of the door and looked up at her with his shoulders defeated.

"Listen to me Payal. Its not your sister." Arnav choked wiping his eyes with his palms like a little boy.

"She told me she wants to see me in pain. Its one of her tactics to make me suffer. She will come back. Very soon."

"Just like your sister came back Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada?" She growled looking down at him.

"Did your Di come back? If she did then where is she? Why can't I see her?" She mocked him wiping her tears vengefully.

She has hit his raw throbbing nerve making him speechless.

He shook his head with his nostrils flaring.

"I will get Khushi back home. Give me some time." Arnav pleaded adamant blinking back the tears swallowing hard.

It made Payal gulp and fall on her knees too before him. His words were stirring hope in her which she didn't want to rise.

"How so? By avenging her? By making the people pay because of whom she died? Fine. Go ahead. Go on. Avenge her. But in that case her culprits are you only. You and your family. Get up and make plans to ruin them. To ruin yourself!" She pointed to the direction his family was standing making them swallow past the cry.

Arnav's head dropped in shame.

Neighbors and relatives who has came for Khushi's last rituals watched everything with sad teary eyes.

"If you ruined yourself and your family now. Even then you can't bring her back!" She sobbed breathing hard.

"Believe me Payal. She isn't dead." Arnav whispered as thick rim of tears filled his eyes.

"Oh really?" Defiance raged within her. She took his hand standing up and dragged him to the body covered with white sheets.

She left his hand and pulled down the sheets and everyone turned their heads not being able to look at the condition of the body. It slashed their hearts.

"She is here. Go on. Make her the way she was before. Make her whole. Make her b-beautiful!" Payal choked.

Arnav shook his head raising his wet lashes.

"She is not Khushi, Payal. She can't be." He was still firm even though deep down his faith was wavering somewhat but he wanted to hold on to the little bit of hope he had in his heart.

"HOW CAN SHE NOT BE HER?" Payal lost her cool.

"Because if it had been her then I would've felt it. I can always feel her presence. Right now I can't even while standing too near this.. this .. body!" He exclaimed angrily.

"THAT'S BECAUSE SHE ISN'T ALIVE ANYMORE. SHE ISN'T IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE. SHE ISN'T BREATHING TO BE SENSED AROUND e-either!" Payal bellowed frantically until her throat turned sore. Gloom followed her silence.

Akash rushed to pass a glass of water to Garima who stood up with great difficulty in amidst all the heartrending cries she herself was hiding within and made Payal have it.

Arnav stared at Payal stock still, dumbfounded as if her words took away his everything. The hope. The light. The breaths. The life.

Everyone heard the loud thump as he fell to a side lifelessly causing his family to shriek horror struck.

Na poocho dard mandon se,

(Don't ask the pain afflicted)

Hansi kaisi Khushi kaisi?

(What happiness is, what is laughter?)

Musibat sar pe rehti hai,

(Hardships hover over them)

Kabhi kaissi kabhi kaisi!

(In some form or the other!)

1 year later

"Here you go buddy!" Akash cooed at his son before making him stand up in front of him all ready in his blue baby romper and kissed his nose.

"Pa-Pa!" It was his thanks to his father with a giggle as he wrapped his tiny arms around his neck making Akash smile. The only time of the day when he relax or could smile was when he was with his son.Otherwise all the time tragedies happened to their families lurk around all over the atmosphere, even in the shadows.

"Happy Birthday Dhruv Singh Raizada!" Akash pulled him back to cup his cheeks and kissed his head.

Irritated the boy slapped his hands off scrunching his face just like his mother making his father's eyes prick.

"Now come. We have another important thing to do. You know that don't you?" He said composing himself.

"Baba?" He jutted his lower lip out.

"Yeah. Lets see what is your Baba doing? Is he ready or not?" He carried him up to which Dhruv insisted on putting him down.

"Okay. Fine buddy." Akash placed him down and offered him his hand. Dhruv wrapped his hand around his finger and grinned satisfied looking up at him. Shaking his head Akash walked along with his son to the next room.

Knocking once he entered only to find the room still dark and curtains still drawn over the windows.

"Bhai?" Akash called out switching on the lights. Leaving his hand Dhruv ran to the windows and pulled at the curtains to which his father came up to do the needful to open them to let the lights flow in.

But still there was no movement from the bed. Dhruv then ran to the bed and climbed up before sitting besides Arnav's head whose eyes were still closed.

Akash sighed.

"Bhai, I know you aren't sleeping so drop the facade."

Dhruv climbed over Arnav and jumped up and down giggling.

"You can't speak but you can listen very well Bhai. Stop behaving like Dhruv. At least my son behaves his age while you don't."

Arnav's eyes shot open and Dhruv clapped his hand exclaiming.

"Baba!"

Akash ran over to them knowing what would happen next.

Arnav removed the child off him rather rudely but the smile didn't waver from the little boy's face as Akash caught him in his arms.

What a life and with what destiny his son has got right from the minute he has come to this world. His mother refused to accept him since birth and his uncle whom he loves despite his rude behavior refused to treat him with love. He can't live with his maternal family nor with his paternal one because his father has to live separately for his brother's sake.

"You skipped your morning therapy again?" Akash looked at his brother sternly and his heart welled up when he saw that Dhruv was holding on to Arnav's hand still, whilst sitting in his lap.

"Bhai, my son just seeks for love. From everyone. At least you shouldn't tell him off. He has been deprived of his mother's love already for a year now!" Akash said exasperated when Arnav snatched back his hand causing Dhruv's face to fall before the child turned his head to hide his face in his father's chest. Caressing his hairs Akash placed him down facing him.

"Go and bring my wallet from our room. I forgot it there. Will you, for me buddy?"

The boy looked from Arnav's turned head to his father's expectant face and smiled nodding before running out of the room.

"Be careful!" Akash shouted from behind when Dhruv staggered on his steps falling to the floor and then crawled out of the door.

Turning to his brother he saw him staring at the ceiling at one point.

"Bhai, please get up now. Have a shower while I warm up water for the therapy hmm?"

Arnav sat up throwing his blanket. Taking the notepad he wrote.

Bugger off Akash. Leave me alone!

"With a little bit of efforts you can get your voice back which you lost for a year now then why don't you try and do the therapies regularly?" Akash gritted.

Functional Aphonia

Doctor has named his brother's condition when he woke up a week after he lost consciousness in Khushi's funeral an year back.

Doctor has said that it usually develop either due to emotional or traumatic occurrence or fear.

Akash concluded that the reason could be either the former or all of them for his brother's losing his voice all of a sudden.

Though he was physically fit but he couldn't speak at all. Not even when doctor tried so many strategies. He refused to learn sign language to talk as well when nothing worked.

"Either there is some hidden problem in his vocal cords which we couldn't decipher yet or his will power is zero to speak ever again. Otherwise the therapies should've worked." Doctor has said.

But still Akash didn't give up.

He learned everything from the doctor about the speech therapies from the doctor that can be done at home as Arnav refused to stay at hospital as soon as he woke up but deliberately his brother would skip therapies one or the other way and would act stubborn and tease him to the best of his limits that even his son Dhruv hasn't done ever. In fact Dhruv was more cooperative than his 31 years old brother.

He has even took him to Dr.Sinha to talk some sense into him but even that didn't work.

AR has become least important for Arnav Singh Raizada. He has caged himself in the confines of his penthouse but refused to go floors down to his office to handle anything that Akash had to take things into his hands. On his shoulders. In which Manohar helped him considering the situation.

He has thanked heavens when he ate and slept on time. At least in that he don't have to work hard to get to him.

With Guptas, the situation was still the same. No one from Gupta would ever come to RM but from RM one or other would surely visit despite the cold shoulder they get from that family. Akash was the only one who would go to Gupta House every day with his son since day one so as to melt the tough Payal and probably to wake the mother within her.

That didn't work though but only progress was that in this one year Garima, Shashi and Madhumati has softened up somewhat to him and as he would keep them informed about even a minute detail about Dhruv growth and activities, they started accepting him except that Payal has turned stone to overlook all that.

NK didn't come?

He saw the written question on the pad to which he shook his head and saw his brother clenching his jaws.

In this one year, his brother has become more closer to NK than ever. He would stay in contact with him whole day and not only that whenever NK visited India Arnav Singh Raizada won't trouble Akash with his therapies either. He would himself do it and that happened only two times during this year when NK visited.

Bhai won't meet his Nani, Mami or Mama ji either not even when they come over or stand in front of him. He would lock himself in his room until they won't leave dejected.

When would he? Did he tell you when?

"No Bhai. Anyways, its you who talk to him the most then how would I know?"

Arnav glared at him scribbling something angrily.

I couldn't reach him for days.That's why I asked you idiot.

Akash sighed.

"Do you want me to call Aman to reach NK Bhai?" He said sarcastically.

Do that. Please!

"I don't get it. What do you guys even talk about almost all the time? Don't your fingers get tired typing that much?"

Arnav gave him a piercing look to which he raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine. Consider it done." He said and got up to leave knowing that not his own health Bhai would prefer wasting his day talking to NK Bhai instead.

Why?

He couldn't figure out even after a whole freaking year.

"Pa-Pa!" Dhruv came running in straight into his father's arms raising the wallet proudly.

"Thanks buddy." He said taking and from his peripheral vision he saw his brother getting off the bed and leaving to bathroom shutting the door with a bang making the child jerk up scared.

Akash hugged his son and rubbed his back to calm him down.

"Its okay. Relax baby. It was just the door. Your Baba is angry like always!" He carried him up and talked to him until Dhruv was back to being the smiling baby.

Strapping Dhruv in rear facing car seat Akash kissed his head before taking the driving seat.

"Off to-"

"Mama!" Dhruv cut him excitedly.

Akash phone rang with a message right then.

I have to go to Australia Akash. Book me the nearest flight possible.

Why so? Akash replied. Is NK Bhai alright?

Yeah something like that. I have to go there as soon as possible.

Bhai, is there something I should know?

No. Not yet. Came the confusing reply

Okay Bhai. As you wish then.

Thanks Akash.

"What do you think your Baba is up to Dhruv?" Akash asked looking behind to his son who grinned at him.

"Oh-uh!" Dhruv said clapping his hands.

Akash shook his head before making a few phone calls to make arrangements for his Bhai's departure as it would be the first time ASR has made a decision to come out of the penthouse after being caged in that self inflicted prison for an year.

NK won't open his mouth as he has tried it several times the last year so he has to now find it out himself and for that he has to follow his brother in case he could stop him if he was up to something wrong again to harm himself. Or to inflict more pain to himself.

For god's sake he couldn't even talk now or show his ASR's attitude to ward people off. So there has to be someone to take care of him if he was faltering to keep up the courage.

Starting the car, he made another decision as he couldn't go with Dhruv alone. That would mean separating a mother from her child as he knew no matter how much Payal denies she lives for this time of the day when he would visit her with Dhruv to spend some time with her no matter how much she stays cold to them both.

He stopped the car in front of the Gupta house adjusting his glasses over the nose.

"I tried everything till now buddy." He said murmuring to his son while unstrapping him from the back seat before carrying him up in his arms.

"Nothing worked though. Now its time to try some reverse psychology with your mother. What say?" He kissed his cheek and met Payal coming out of the door with grocery bags in her hands probably going out to the nearby market.

Reality wasn't lost on him though. Today was Khushi's death anniversary as well and it might have raged the sadness more within his wife. He could tell by her red swollen eyes indicating that she has been crying.

So she must be going to buy necessary things for the pooja in the evening.

Dhruv was jumping in his arms to go to his mother who didn't spare him a glance but kept glaring at his father.

"Stop torturing yourself by keeping you away from your son Payal. Whatever happened to Khushi ji wasn't your fault. You couldn't have prevented it even if you wanted to. You did what you could even then!" He whispered cupping her cheek from his free hand.

"You can't save the one who was adamant to destroy their selves in love!"

She stepped back slapping his hand as tears rolled down her cheeks which she swiped with the back of her hands. Seeing which big fat tears formed in Dhruv's eyes as he cried out.

"Mama!" He raised his arms for her to take him.

Heaving a long sigh she didn't raise her head and walked past only to stop short when he said over Dhruv's sobs.

"This is the last time I and Dhruv are here. We won't trouble you by our torturing presence anymore." He croaked.

She whirled around to face him sniffling.

"We are going to Australia. Tomorrow!" Akash announced and came to stand facing her.

"If you want you can come with us or this is our final goodbye to you." He bent to kiss her head. Seeing which Dhruv bent too to kiss her under her eye causing her to whimper.

She raised her wet lashes to them. Akash was looking at her with misty eyes while a few tears were stuck to Dhruv's eyes still.

Swallowing she averted her eyes dashing his hopes.

"Remember, I am just a phone call away if you changed your mind." He murmured against her ear before pulling away.

"But you just have time till tonight. We have an afternoon flight tomorrow." He said swallowing and left without looking back.

She turned with a lump in her throat and caught the sight of his retreating back with Dhruv's moist eyes stuck to her with his chin resting on his father's shoulder.

Kahin toh har lamha honthon pe fariyaad hai

(Every moment somewhere plaintive lips sigh a complaint)

Kissi ki duniya chaahat mein barbaad hai

(Someone's world destorys itself for love)

Ya rabba de de koi jaan bhi agar,

(O God, Even if someone lays down one's life)

Dilbar pe ho na, dilbar pe ho na koi asar!

(It has no effect at all on the one so passionately loved!)

________

Precap:

"Still I can't find peace. Why?"

"Maaf kr do usse. Mil jaye ga(Forgive him and you'll feel peace like never before!)"

"Kaise kar doon? Itna bara dil nahi hai maira(How can I? I don't have that much of a bigger heart!)"

"Nahi hai toh banana pade ga. Apne liye nahi toh apne bachche k liye hi sahi!(You have to make it if its not. If not for yourself than for your baby!)"

____________________________

Everything is too broken to be told in just one part that there must be another chapter to cover it all. To mend some hearts. To break some perhaps. To get even with it all with the hope that someday it all could be put back together, all that are nothing but the splinted pieces of several shattered hearts ~ @AnonymousMe91