IMPORTANT:

This is not the last part because there are so many things to be sorted out till it could reach its conclusion and I don't want to rush things or give abrupt ending.

So 'A woman who loves' will possibly have 4-5 parts at least so I can give justice to every character and a logical explanation to every thing.

Here is the most awaited Part of Love-Hate series :)

(It's high on emotions. You have been duly warned)

__

"Khushi. Hey Khushi? Kahan ja rahi hai aur ro kyun rahi hai?(Where are you going and why are you crying?)" Payal called out to her as she burst open the front door and entered. Sobbing she went to her room and banged the door shut despite her calls.

Garima came running from the kitchen hearing her and got a glimpse of crying Khushi just before she entered her room. Worried she turned to Payal.

"What happened to her?"

Payal fidgeted with her veil of how could she explain it to her mother that maybe Khushi fought with Arnav ji because she has gone to meet him only.

"Amma, don't you know how she is. She can cry over anything or everything. Don't worry I'll handle her." Payal tried to cover it up.

"You really think I am that oblivious Payal huh? I am not interfering because I know Arnav bitwa is a good boy and he really cares for our Khushi. Otherwise I'd have prohibited her to meet the guy about whom I had had any doubt."

Payal gave up with a shake of her head.

"They don't want to disclose it just yet Amma. They want to be comfortable enough with each other before taking any step further." Payal said.

Garima nodded in understanding.

"Now, what do you think happened that made her cry?" Garima asked worriedly.

"As much as I am happy that she is going to be my jethani, I am worried too because living with Arnav Singh Raizada isn't going to be a cup of tea for a hopelessly romantic girl like our Khushi."

Garima sighed with another nod.

"Could you get it out of her before Akash bitwa comes to get you in the evening?"

"Oh sure Amma. I am on it already."

"And make sure she doesn't throw these tantrums in front of your Buaji. Otherwise she would not stay silent and will make it even with Arnav bitwa for making her titaliya cry."

"I will try my best Amma." Payal said with a smile.

Patting her head Garima went back to the kitchen and after a lot of pleading from Payal, Khushi opened the door. While she entered Khushi went back to the bed and laid on her stomach and resumed her crying session.

"Oh so he went back to his Laad Governor mode? With you?" Payal sat besides her placing her hand on her head. Khushi turned her head to the other side with a sniffle and gazed at nothing in particular out of the opened window.

"Khushi you know it very well he isn't any easy man to hang around with. Now that you have signed up for it then why don't you try and be a little patient. He loves you, you know?"

"He never said he loves me." Khushi mumbled.

"You didn't, either." Payal retorted.

"Why should I say it first? It should be him." She whined burying her head in the pillow.

Payal smiled shaking her head.

"Oh you're going to go the conventional way in your love story dear now do you? Then what would happen to your own declaration that you both are nothing like other 'normal' couples?"

With a sniffle, Khushi turned on her back and looked at her sister in the eye.

"Some times I really want us to be like any other normal couple. I really want us to go the conventional way where there is less pain and more happiness." She whispered wistfully.

"Normal and Arnav Singh Raizada? Nah. Not possible." Payal ran her fingers in her hairs.

"He shouted at me in front of his 250 employees. He told me to get out and let him work." She mumbled with a sob leaving her.

"And why were you in his office?" Payal asked with neutral expression.

"Because I was missing him. Like hell." She said sheepishly.

"Wasn't he going to meet you at your usual place at 3?"

"He was."

"Why couldn't you wait till then?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Because I just couldn't. He was gone out of town for two days and when I got to know he was back and in his office I couldn't hold back." She murmured aghast as his angry face full of frustration swam before her eyes.

"There is an explanation in your complain only. He was gone for work for whole two days and right after he came back he who must be hell tired had to attend the office again. He must really be on the edge due to the lack of rest. You know Di was telling us yesterday he barely got 6 hours sleep in the last two days."

With a whimper she turned her head back to the window.

"Is it always has to be me who has to understand him?" She choked.

"Now there you are being too hard on him aren't you sister? Just a few days ago you told me how he himself made coffee for you to make up for not being able to meet you due to his workload. Wasn't it you who very excitedly told the whole story how he came to Laxmi Nagar late at night, took you to RM, sneaked you in his poolside--his room and treated you like a princess?" Payal wiggled her eyebrows. Khushi stayed silent as she couldn't deny that.

"It isn't just you. He is trying too, Khushi. Cut him some slack would you?" Payal said softly.

With a sigh, Khushi covered her face with her hands.

"Uffo Jiji. You practically melted my anger on him!"

"I am glad I did."

"But still I am not talking to him until he make up for shouting at me in front of his whole office. It was like I was back in those days when I worked in AR and he would throw challenges at me and try to make me lose my vigor." There the Sanka Devi spoke.

"Now don't you tell me he isn't calling you ever since and you aren't picking up his calls?" Payal narrowed her eyes as she saw her phone screen to lit up with the name 'Laad Governor'.

Oh she changed his name on her contact list again?

Till yesterday, it was 'My missing man!'

Before that, 'My Love'

Even before that, 'Arnav ji'

And now that, her Arnav ji, her missing man, her love was back to being 'Laad Governor'.

Payal shook her head when she refused to answer.

"When you'll make up with him what would you name him?" Payal asked amused.

"Rakshas!" She fumed.

Payal couldn't help but chuckle.

"I bet either it would be back to 'My Love' or it might turn into something more passionate from your side. 'My bittersweet man' maybe?" Payal teased and saw Khushi pursing her lips to stop herself from smiling. Although the blush on her cheeks gave away her feelings.

"How about 'bitter gourd'?" Khushi smirked naughtily.

Payal heaved a sigh inwardly for bringing a smile back on her sister's face.

"Has he ever heard or seen the colorful names you gave him?"

"About Laad Governor and Arnav ji? He already knows. About 'My love' and 'My missing man', no." Khushi said wistfully.

"Don't get your ego be in the way of confessing your feelings for him. Even if you had to take the first step, take it. I know jeth ji this much that expressing his inner feelings isn't his forte at all. So there, you have to understand and make a bridge to get through that or him for that matter."

"Oh that I know. Very well." Khushi murmured more to herself than her sister.

Payal saw messages popping up one after the other on her sister's phone. Smiling knowingly at her, she ruffled her hairs and got up.

"At least reply Khushi. Be angry however you want after that."

Khushi nodded in gratitude at her and as soon as she was alone she took her cell and opened the messages. Instead, reading them brought back all the pent up anger to the fore as none of the texts included even anything remotely close to 'Sorry'.

~I hope our coffee time isn't cancelled.

~Is it Khushi?

~Don't you dare not come to the cafe.

~Khushi I am serious and pissed.

~Pick up my calls.

~I can't handle both the stress of you being mad at me and work at the same time.

~REPLY DAMMIT.

~If you didn't reply then I swear I'll come barging to your home and won't care if your family got to know about us.

~You have thirteen seconds before I will get into my car and drag you out in front of your whole damn neighborhood!

Couldn't he say a simple sorry but no, he was being a pompous ass.

Pissed? He is pissed? And what am I? Happy? Jumping? Ugh!

But the last two messages made the breaths leave her in a whoosh. She quickly typed a reply with her trembling fingers and hit SEND.

Will meet you at the cafe. It said just that.

Feeling restless like never before she typed another text as she has sensed his concern by his several texts.

We will talk when we will meet. Work stress free till then.

She released a breath after placing her phone back on the table. Out of nowhere tears brimmed in her eyes all over again.

What is she becoming in his love? Love sick and utterly hopeless. She can't stay mad at him for more than an hour neither could she see him worried even if he treated her like nobody in front of his whole office.

Her phone beeped right then.

I didn't had much of a sleep Khushi in the last two days. Coming back to Delhi I had to attend back to back meetings. I was exhausted. In fact I am exhausted. Don't hold it against me.

Swallowing past a lump reading his explanation she exhaled. Didn't it clearly tell how much this relationship mean to him. He lost control and he wasn't denying he have outrun it.

Her jiji was right. She shouldn't be so hard on him. So she took her sister's advice and cut him some slack.

After your meetings go back home Arnav ji and rest. We can meet tomorrow.

I didn't say all that for you to postpone our usual time together. We are meeting. That's it. Came his reply which meant he won't listen a word about it.

Shaking her head she typed a reply.

Go home Arnav ji. I will meet you there.

You will? She knew she surprised him.

Of course. You yourself showed me the secret passage into your home right into your room. I guess it's time to make use of that knowledge ;)

Well then, I want you in my room before I get home. And that is three hours away. If I didn't then I promise I'd come to your home and haul you up in my arms to get you all for myself. Am I clear, Ms. Gupta?

Crystal clear, Mr. Raizada.

Good!

She was smiling like an idiot at the end of their text conversation before she realized she was supposed to be angry at him. But for the next three hours despite wanting to, she couldn't go back to being all hurt and pissed at him. He said sorry only two times to her. One, when he lashed out at her on his parents death anniversary when he didn't know she was an orphan too. Second, a few days ago when he couldn't come to the cafe due to an urgent meeting. When he could say sorry then why not now?

But try as might she couldn't dwell on it much. By the time she sneaked into his poolside she had no anger left in her neither was any hurt which prickled her when she saw a glimpse of a ruthless ASR in his office. The fact that hurt her the most was that look was directed at her.

Shaking her head she silently pulled the glass door aside and entered in his room. Just then the door opened and before she could hide someone entered.

"Oh it's you." She sighed in relief seeing it's him.

He silently closed the door behind him and leaned against it. She gulped nervously as he bore holes into her being by his unwavering gaze scrutinizing her from head to toe.

"Come here!" He ordered extending his hand forward.

She released a breath she has been holding all along as air thickened with unbridled tension.

When she didn't move from her place he pushed himself off the door and walked to her with his eyes never leaving hers. She stepped back when he reached an arm length away. He raised his eyebrow disapprovingly.

He stepped forward stubbornly. She took another step back in nervousness. His eyes narrowed. She swallowed and moved back once again when he moved forward. Now, his face clearly showed his irritation when she continued moving away. Her eyes widened when she felt the cold glass of the cupboard behind her.

"Now. Now, Ms. Gupta. How will you escape?" While saying this he brought his hands up and placed his palms on either sides of her pinning her there.

She shuddered visibly.

"Dekhiye, Mr. Raizada. Humein iss tarah se daraiye mat.(Don't scare me like this!)" She warned as her insides warmed.

"Kis tarah se?(Like what?)" He asked innocently.

"I-Iss tarah.Hamare itne qareeb aa k. Humein i-iss tarah dekh k.(Like this. By coming this closer to me. By looking at me like that!)" She whispered feeling her cheeks warming up to his stare.

In reply he touched his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. She gasped softly.

"I missed you, too." He removed his hand from the cupboard and trailed his palm down to her arms. She felt her stomach knot and heart pace up.

"Are you sorry?" She murmured as his breath caused the goosebumps to erupt.

"For missing you? Hell, no."

"No. For shouting at me in front of your whole office."

She felt him shrug his shoulders.

"Maybe." Came his husky voice full of desire as he ran the tip of his nose alongside her cheek.

"What do you mean by 'maybe'?" She shoved him off. "You should be sorry!"

"Right now I am just exhausted and .. happy that you are here. If shouting at you in front of my employees will get you here in my room all alone then I am not sorry at all."

She gritted her teeth and pursed her lips to stop herself from lashing out at him. She knew how much workload he was facing. She don't want to say some harsh words that would take away his sleep. No. She was Khsuhi. Not Arnav Singh Raizada.

So she silently walked past him to leave before she lose control.

He stepped in her way. He didn't let her escape as she made many attempts and she couldn't hold it anymore inside.

"It'd have been you who should have come to pacify me. Instead here I am trying to get a simple sorry out of you." She lost it.

"It was you who insisted on coming here." He stated as a matter of fact.

It resulted in a rounds of angry punches on his chest which he bore without a word as she kept shoving him back after every hit with her small fists making him amused.

"Done, Ms. Gupta?" He scratched his stubble when she gripped his collars breathing harshly after a minute.

"I am so not done with you, Mr. Raizada!" She said fiercely and mellowed down when she saw how tired he looked. It seemed he didn't get the time to shave even.

"I am glad to hear that." He took it another meaning.

"Shut up!" She cupped his jaws and caressed his thick stubble.

"I am alright Khushi." He whispered placing his hands over hers.

"And I am sorry for troubling you when you're already having a bad day and no rest for days." She blinked back the tears.

His tired eyes softened. He removed her hands from his face and kissed her fingers.

"You should know that apologizing and-"

"--Accepting your mistakes isn't you. I know." She said knowingly.

He smiled sheepishly.

"I will make up for being an arse any way possible. Expect actions from me rather than words. And you know what they say. Actions speak louder than words."

"You really know how to turn the situation in your favor don't you?" She shook her head while he leaned to kiss her cheek.

"I may umm even in future yell at you because you know about my temper. I can't promise of not yelling at you ever. Because that's impossible. But I can promise you one thing that if I ever hurt you by anything, my temper, my words I would make up to you for sure in the best way possible. You just have to have a little bit patience with me. I know you have plenty of that already for putting up with a man like me. But still for the sake of saying. Don't give up on me just because I have temper issues."

She smiled when he added.

"And please. Don't ever get too upset with me. I won't be able to take it. No matter what you'll always be the one for me. Forever. Hamesha."

She blinked her eyes at him with tears shining in them.

"On one side you say you aren't good with words and on another you are telling your feelings so fluently. That's a first."

He chuckled.

"Blame yourself."

"Huh? It should've been 'thank yourself'." She interjected.

He twitched his mouth.

"Thanks and sorrys aren't in my dictionary."

She huffed.

"Laad governor."

He chuckled and so did she resting her head on his shoulder.

"Promise me you won't stay upset at me for long. Not more than a day. Warna mai bardasht nahi kar paon ga.(Otherwise I won't be able to bear it at all) And please at least answer your phone when I am calling or texting you. You don't know how I spent the entire day knowing that you're upset and I am the reason behind it."

"I can't promise. That's impossible." She threw his words back at him making him chuckle.

"You are turning smart huh."

'What to do? I am spending most of my time with the smartest man in the world. I got his germs."

He raised his eyebrows as his eyes twinkled indicating that he has took it in another meaning.

She pushed him understanding that look.

"You are such a pervert Arnav ji."

He laughed hard before pulling her back in his arms.

"Can't help there being with you."

"Once a Laad Governor always a Laad Governor!" She muttered.

He tightened his hold around her looking in her eyes with compassion. Her heart melted at the look he was sending her way despite the red lines of tiredness now lining his chocolate brown eyes.

Feeling guilty she took his hand and pulled him towards his bed. He followed without a word. When she gestured for him to get into the blanket and he did she turned to leave he gripped her hand tightly and moved a bit to make some place for her. She smiled feeling her heart tugging in her chest as she saw his eyelids drooping as he kept looking at her expectantly trying to ward off the sleep which now was taking a toll on him.

Her heart went out to him and she sat besides him giving him a lingering kiss on his temple. He moved and placed his head on her lap stumping her. Her eyes teared up when he closed his eyes at once after placing one of her hand over his chest covered with his.

"I am sorry." He murmured just before he went to sleep while she was conscious enough to hear it well and good.

"I know and it's okay." She whispered running her fingers in his thick mane till he was in deep sleep. Then she shifted his head back to the pillow carefully and prying her hand from his she stood up as an idea struck her. Entering his washroom she searched for the items she needed and once she found she gathered them in a transparent plastic box and came back in the room before sitting besides him arranging the things on the bedside table.

Taking her cellphone she dropped it on her lap attaching it to the headset before putting the plugs in her ear. Hearing and seeing the instructions on the internet, very smoothly she trimmed his beard until he looked all fresh and the very charming ASR all over again. Not that he wasn't in his thick stubble but she knew he hated looking tired and the beard was making him look hell exhausted including the redness in his eyes.

When she was done she wiped his face with a wet towel and marveled at the thought that he didn't twitch nor move once at all otherwise it wouldn't have been easy for her to do her work.

Placing the box back in the bathroom she came back to sit besides him and gazed at him satisfied with the outcome of the shaving. His aftershave smell was driving her crazy. She should leave before she lose control of herself and her desires. Pecking on his cheeks she stood up and turned to leave. She stopped short when she felt a tug on her duppata.

Whirling around with her hand on her veil around the neck she saw him holding the end of her veil with his eyes half open drowsy with sleep.

"Thank you." He whispered in a daze before closing his eyes back again.

And he says sorry and thank yous don't exist in his dictionary!

"You're most welcome." She whispered swallowing feeling so much unadulterated love on him that she felt her insides shaking with the intensity. Blinking back the tears she freed her duppata and turned to leave but not before giving him one last glance full of love.

Later that night after coming back home, Khushi grabbed her cell and opening his contact entered EDIT. Pressing back space she wrote with a smile lingering on her lips before saving it proudly.

'My bittersweet man'

Saving the contact she turned to one side and closed her eyes with a content look on her face.

❝ Iss Qadar lamhon se lar lar kar thak chuka hun mai

Wo mujhe mai jee raha hai jispe mar chuka hun mai ❞

- Unknown

Dhruv continued to blabber something or the other to get his mother's attention who was looking outside the window while Akash was trying to divert his son's attention off her which seemed impossible because it was the first time Dhruv has actually been with his mother for this long time otherwise he only visited his mother for an hour or two. Now it has been five hours already since they have boarded AR private plane.

Akash had an idea why Payal refused to acknowledge them apart from the obvious reasons. He hid the fact that his brother would be traveling with them and that she got to know it when they were all settled and were waiting for the plane to take off. To be precise, when there was no way out for her. It was his own plan to make sure she doesn't change her mind or run away and he and his son again lose their chance to be with her.

He gazed at his wife while sitting on the comfy chair across her. Dhruv was sitting on the leather chair besides him all strapped in while his Bhai was sitting at the lounge chair at the end of the cabin and he knew why. His brother knew he won't be welcomed by Payal at all and to add to it he could read that Bhai wanted to give him space to spend a quality time with his family in the flight which was pretty long one. About 12 hours and 30 minutes. That was more than half of a day.

He don't know how and who convinced Payal to accompany them to Sydney and he didn't care either because he was satisfied with the outcome. She was here with him, with their son and that's all that matters.

"There is an attached suite to this cabin. When you feel tired you can rest in there." Akash said trying to start a conversation. In answer she turned her eyes to him and he found her barely holding her tears.

Five hours is a long time to stay silent while having so much buried inside you. Forget five hours, it has already been an year since she has been all silent boring everything even the separation from her son without a word. A time would come when she would have to shed the facade of indifference and let it go.

"Pa-pa. Shweet?(Suite)" Dhruv's eyes twinkled in excitement as he misinterpret the meaning of the word his father uttered.

Akash saw Payal's eyes darting to Dhruv who was blinking his sparkling innocent eyes at his father. He noticed her lips trembling as a tear trickled down her eyes whilst she sniffled turning her gaze back to the window.

"Your Mama has shweets." Akash said and Payal's eyes shot to him stumped while he avoided her stare.

"Mama?" Dhruv asked with his chubby cheeks lifting up into a most adorable smile Payal has ever seen. Mesmerized she kept staring. In the last one year she avoided looking at him whenever Akash came with him. She didn't spare him more than a glance lest she melt. But now, she couldn't take her eyes off him. He has his father's eyes while all of his other features resembled hers.

She wondered how did Akash cope with living with him and get reminded of her everyday and still look calm as if he wasn't breaking?

If Dhruv had been living with her then she would've died every day seeing the pair of shiny black eyes staring back at her similar to the man she once loved to bits.

"Mama? Shweet?" He was now extending his tiny upturned palm towards her trying to reach her while strapped in through the seat belt. Akash eased off his concern and unstrapping him placed him on the floor. Waddling, Dhruv reached his mother and placed his little hands on her knees while grinning toothily up at her showing his fresh only two teeth to his mother. Payal gulped thickly.

How much of his growth she has missed!

Tears blurred her vision.

Giggling he climbed on her lap and sat comfortably before looking back in her eyes and found her in tears.

"Pa-pa!" He exclaimed turning his head to his father with his eyes widened.

"Mama--cry." No sooner than he said that his own eyes formed big fat tears while looking at Akash who swallowed shaking his head bleary eyed asking his son not to cry.

"Your Mama is angry with your father, your Baba, your Dadu, Dadi and with your Badi Dadi too. She is hurt. Can you do something to relieve her pain?"

Though Dhruv hardly could understand the whole meaning of what his father said but all he could catch was that his mother was in pain and he has to do something about it.

"Tahan dard ho laha Mama?(Where does it hurt Mama?)" He asked placing his palm on her cheek clumsily wiping her face as much as his tiny hand could allow.

Payal whimpered placing her palm over her mouth.

"Heale? (Here?)" He pointed to her hand over her mouth and kissed her hand. "Or heale?" He pointed to her cheek and pecked her cheek too. "Or heale?" He poked his little finger on her forehead, nose and eyes followed by the sloppy kisses making Payal cry more.

"Here!" Payal finally spoke pointing towards her heart looking brokenly at her son.

Dhruv scowled not liking a bit that he wasn't able to catch his mother's pain himself before he raised his tiny arms and wrapped them around her neck.

"Pa-pa hurt too. Theale(There). Dhruv hug pa-pa and he shmile(smile)." He cooed resting his head on her shoulder making Payal raise her eyes to her husband who was looking at the reunion of the two most important person in his life with tears in his eyes.

Arnav too witnessed it all through the mirror on the wall at some distance behind Akash's seat and heaved a sigh of relief but that was short lived as he witnessed what happened next.

Akash saw with anguish as Payal raised her hand to place it on Dhruv's back but dropped it at the last moment as her eyes hardened and she pried Dhruv's arms and pulling him back glared at him so intensely that the boy cowered in his shoes.

"Mama?" He tried to hug her back but she didn't let him and passed Akash a warning stare who quickly stood up and carried Dhruv in his arms before kissing his cheek one by one as he started crying extending his arms towards Payal who was now sobbing silently turning her head back to the window.

Akash's eyes widened when he saw his Bhai striding towards Payal.

"Bhai!" Akash exclaimed but Arnav listened to none as he crouched down in front of Payal and taking out the notepad from his breast pocket scribbled something before throwing it on her lap.

Glaring at his audacity Payal threw the page back on his face spitting fire at him.

READ. He mouthed now placing the notepad on her palm while Dhruv kept sobbing in background.

READ IF YOU WANT ME TO GO AWAY. He wrote on his hand and showed her.

Gritting her teeth she turned her eyes to the notepad.

If you kept behaving like this then one day people would stop calling you Payal but address you a Raizada only because you so are behaving like one. Like ME.

"I am not like you!" She snapped blinking back the tears.

Snatching the notepad from her he scribbled with his nostrils flaring while Akash stood like a statue witnessing it all while Dhruv's cries has turned to hiccups by now.

Yes, you are. I killed your sister's baby and if you kept pushing Dhruv away you'd kill him too one day. That would definitely prove you to be another Arnav Singh Raizada!

As soon as Payal read it she raised her hand and slapped him right across his cheek causing Akash to blink his eyes in shock while Dhruv's cries started once again seeing his mother slapping his Baba.

The echo of the slap brought Akash back from stupor and he quickly rested his son's head on his chest and turned to the other side in order to prevent Dhruv from witnessing all this and rocked his child to calm him down.

"Nothing will happen to my baby and I will prove it you that I am not you. I am not Arnav Singh Raizada!" She stood up whilst Arnav moved back to give her space and closed his eyes in relief when he saw her strode to Akash and snatch Dhruv from him who instantly calmed down and clung to his mother sniffling with his lips trembling while Akash looked at his brother still sitting on the floor with the gratitude who was now running his hand all over his face whilst his hands trembled.

Swallowing thickly Arnav stood up and silently went back to his seat.

Hiding himself in his mother's chest Dhruv fell asleep no sooner than Payal sat back on her chair and kept him cocooned in her arms showering kisses on his head, hairs, nose, cheeks, chin, his little fingers and his eyes. The rim of tears behind Akash's eyes thickened as he saw how Dhruv has both of his tiny fist clenched on Payal's clothes as if he was afraid even in sleep that if he let go his mother might vanish.

Looking in between Payal and his son, Akash's eyes wondered to his brother looking outside the window with a hollow look on his face.

Satisfied with the progress Payal made with Dhruv, Akash walked to his brother and this time he crouched down in front of his brother making Arnav to look at him in question.

Taking both of his hands in his Akash kissed them.

"What I couldn't do in an year, you did it within minutes. Thank you so much Bhai. Thank you so much." Akash choked.

Slipping his hands from under him, Arnav wrote something on his notepad and passed it to him.

For making her understand you had to be an Arnav Singh Raizada. You had to destroy a Khushi to say to her all that I did to make Payal relent. So don't thank me. But be thankful to yourself that you haven't turned out to be me.

Reading which Akash shook his head.

"You already got your punishment by not getting another chance to rectify your mistakes Bhai. It is going to be your life long penance without Khushi. At least you can make it a little bit easier by not hating yourself."

I don't hate myself. That is an understatement. I feel revolted in my own presence surrounded by me every single moment.

Akash winced reading it while his brother has turned his face to the window indicating that this discussion was over.

"Bhai."

Arnav's eyes snapped to his and he glared at him asking him to go away. When he didn't budge Arnav mouthed.

LET ME BE.

Nodding Akash stood up and went back to his seat. Immediately the anguish somewhat relieved as he witnessed his son and wife sleeping sounding with Payal's head on Dhruv's while the boy has his arms wrapped around her waist. Kissing both of them on their heads he took the seat across them and kept gazing at them and occasionally his glance would fall on his brother bringing back the wreck in him.

He wished he could do something to relieve some of his brother's pain but he knew he can't because the woman who could give him reprieve from the over-powering guilt and incomplete love was long gone to a place from where no one has ever come back.

NK was there at the airport to receive them. He was pleasantly surprised seeing Dhruv giggling and chirping in Payal's arms. Last time he visited India the situation was still bad between Akash and Payal and so was with Payal and Dhruv.

He looked at Akash with question who hugged him and whispered.

"Thanks to Bhai. Payal is trying."

With a smile he reached over to Payal and side hugged her dropping a kiss on Dhruv's cheek who cared less about his surrounding but only the feel of his mother's arms around him. The little guy would blabber incoherently, place his head on his mother's shoulder for a moment and then in another he would raise his head to look at his Mama's face as if to make himself belief this was all real.

This all made Payal overwhelmed and .. guilty that she couldn't meet her own son's eyes.

NK and Akash looked like they would go in another round of hugs and greetings which Arnav couldn't take at all so he yanked them both apart flaring his nostrils. When they both looked at him shocked he gestured to the exit sternly ordering them to 'Get the hell out of here right now!'

Shaking their heads they proceeded outside the airport and settled in the car.

You didn't call or text. Arnav wrote on his notepad and threw it on NK's lap rudely when the driver started the car. NK sitting in between Arnav and Payal at the back seat sighed whilst his eyes met Akash who was looking back to check on them especially his brother from the passenger seat.

"It's good. I got you out of not only of your penthouse but India too!" He replied out loud.

Arnav gritted his teeth and turning his head to NK glared furiously which Dhruv sitting on Payal's lap on the seats behind them caught and dug his face in his mother's chest scared.

"Mama, Baba angly(angry)!" He mumbled loud enough for everyone in the car to hear.

NK frowned.

"See? Even without your voice you succeed in scaring people off. Including the children. Take it easy Nannav!" He patted his arm which Arnav shrugged rudely before turning his head to the window feeling like an idiot now falling for NK's trick to get him out of his penthouse.

Rest of the drive went in silence until the driver stopped the car outside NK's mansion. Driver honked and the gates were opened quickly. The car door's were opened by the gatekeepers and one by one everyone came out before looking at the grandeur mansion.

"You renovated your house!" Akash commented.

"Oh you have no idea." NK said with a mysterious smirk.

Holding the sleeping Dhruv in her arms Payal's heart jumped up to her mouth feeling uneasiness seeping in to her out of nowhere as if something was about to happen. Akash brought her out of the reverie by tapping on her shoulder. She turned to him with question.

"Let me hold him now. You must be tired." He said softly.

"No!" She stepped back much to his' astonishment. "I-I am fine." She swallowed with her eyes prickling tightening her hold around her baby.

Akash quickly composed himself but before he could say anything further they had to turn hearing loud steps moving away from them with NK following behind shouting.

"Nannav? Nannav? What's wrong with you? Slow down!"

But he didn't. He stormed inside from the front door followed by NK and Akash and Payal frowning at his behavior.

Arnav breathed hard looking at every corner of the lavish hall before his eyes settled on NK who averted his eyes reading the question in them.

Akash saw with apprehension how his brother's face contorted in sheer helplessness as his stance screamed of desperation.

"What's going on?" Akash asked urgently looking from his brother to NK.

"Nothing." NK stuttered.

"Okay NK I am going to work but you have to do something about-" She stopped seeing the new faces while coming down the stairs before it settled on a familiar one.

NK heaved a sigh of relief.

"Oh everyone meet Sheetal Kapoor, my friend. And Sheetal, they are-"

"Arnav?" Sheetal said pleasantly surprised.

Sheetal came to him to greet him with a smile but Arnav took a sharp turn feeling suffocated by now was about to make a run for the stairs when the trio stopped breathing altogether hearing another voice and another person almost running downstairs in its own accord.

"Oh please NK. Ask your friend that I am all right. She needs to rela-"

NK closed his eyes while Arnav, Akash and Payal's eyes widened. No sooner than that Arnav's knees buckled up and he fell down on his knees bringing Akash out of shock.

Akash opened and closed his mouth like a fish while Payal soon mimicked Arnav's position with Dhruv in her arms.

Sheetal shocked by their reaction looked at NK for answers who looked like he would break down like them any moment from now.

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

"Khushi ji!" He shouted over the smoke and felt a hand grabbing his wrist pulling him out as the sprinkles in the kitchen showered over the fire to douse it.

Horrified he looked at the person in front of him only to find her laughing madly.

"Don't be scared. I just made this drama more real. Now you don't have to lie for which you were so worried. I know you were." She said in between her laughs while NK looked at her clearly pissed.

"What if you'd had hurt yourself in this spree to make it real Khushi ji?" He rarely got angry but the woman in front of him has just did something that had blown his mind away.

"So what?" She shrugged."It wouldn't have been bad if I had died."

"SHUT UP KHUSHI JI. JUST SHUT UP! YOUR LIFE ISN'T THAT UNIMPORTANT THAT YOU LOSE IT TO TEACH SOMEONE A LESSON!" He bellowed shaking her hard.

"I don't want to live Nanhe ji. It would be good if death found me by any excuse because I am too a coward to commit suicide myself!" Her shout was more profound than his. Her lips trembled with emotions raging in her bleary eyed.

"Pray for my death Nanhe ji because a weak woman like me don't deserve to live. Because I still..still miss him!" She cried out throwing her head back to sob.

"I miss him Nanhe ji. I MISS HIM!"

Blinking back the tears he hugged her.

"After everything he did I still.. love him." She sobbed against his chest whilst he patted her head as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"I miss him Nanhe ji. I miss him. I love him Nanhe ji. I LOVE HIM!" She sobbed out loud before dropping on her knees making NK choke with emotions. It took all of his strength not to join her in mourning.

It is difficult to see your love going away from you but it is more difficult to see the person you love getting ruined in front of your very eyes when nothing you do could prevent it.

"What have you done to her Nannav? What have you done to that bubbly, chirpy, always optimistic girl?" NK said which didn't reach Khushi's ears at all because she looked oblivious to everything. Even herself!

In that moment he made up his mind that he would do whatever she wants if that is the only way to make her come out of it.

If hurting Nannav would give her peace then so be it. He would get hurt. Beyond repair!

But what about others? Not the Raizadas, he was worried about the Guptas.

In a spree to get even with Arnav, Khushi wasn't realizing that she would be doing the same thing with her family which Arnav did to her.

But for her sake and her sanity, he would do anything even it meant joining her in her heart rending plan which would shake the foundation of both Gupta and Raizada's lives.

"Khushi.." Akash croaked blinking back the moisture whilst he heard his wife splinting into muffled sobs seeing whom Dhruv started crying too patting his little hand on his mother's cheek and trying and failing to stop her from crying.

He looked to his left where his brother was sitting gobsmacked on the floor with not even a slightest twitch in his stance. He was just gaping wide eyed at the person in front of him.

Khushi's condition wasn't any better. From inside all the pieces she has just gathered and stitched within her bled open seeing him and seeing her sister, her insides cried for the devastation she has caused her loved ones in order to teach a monster a lesson.

It was another thing that nothing showed on her face. Not a single emotion.

"Jiji?" Khushi said softly before walking to her and crouching down to her level. Dhruv's cries were only notching higher seeing his mother sobbing brokenly.

"Pa-pa. Mama, cry." Dhruv hiccuped looking up at his father.

Swallowing past a lump Akash knelt to his level before extracting him out of Payal's hold giving a teary look to Khushi who couldn't stay nonchalant to Akash either.

"I am sorry Jiju." She choked.

Akash shook his head.

"I am not the one who owe this apology, Khushi." Akash said silently eyeing his devastated wife with pain whose cries weren't stopping. Getting the hint Khushi turned to her sister while Akash turned to his brother to at least bring him out of the shock whose gaze was fixed on Khushi yet he looked frozen in the moment. Akash was afraid his brother might as well have a nervous breakdown if he didn't react.

"Jiji, I am so sorry." Khushi took her face in between her palms. Payal opened her closed eyes and shrugging her hands stood up wobbling. Khushi followed desperately seeing the anger in her sister's eyes.

"Jiji, please?" She cried out extending her hands to hug her only to be shoved away and a tight slap landed on her cheek the echo of which resonated in the hall. Sheetal's eyes widened while NK ran his hand over his face in agitation. This turned out to be more catastrophic than he thought it would be. The revelation.

The slap not only shook NK, Sheetal, Akash, Dhruv but also Arnav. He sprang up from his position much to Akash's relief and was besides Payal and Khushi in no time.

"Jiji, I am sorry. Please-"

Payal raised her hand again only to be caught by Arnav in mid air whilst he spitted fire at her.

"Bhai!" Akash handed over Dhruv to Sheetal who taking the seriousness of the situation took the crying kid upstairs.

"KEEP. YOUR. HANDS. OFF. HER!" Arnav bellowed glaring at Payal with full intensity while Akash, Payal and NK were gobsmacked hearing him speak after a whole one year with the same ASR attitude which got lost somewhere when he thought he has lost Khushi forever.

Payal quickly recovered while Khushi couldn't understand why were everyone behaving as if they were hearing Mr. Raizada speak after ages?

If only she knew!

Payal snatched back her hand vengefully and turning to Khushi again slapped her on her other cheek. Khushi whimpered.

Payal was in full mood to reward her another slap but Arnav stepped in between.

"If you badly want to beat the crap out of someone then beat me. Slap me!" Arnav growled hearing Khushi's soft cries standing behind him with a stone on his heart. If Payal wasn't her sister, he would've made her pay for hitting her.

"You stay out of it!" Payal bellowed walking around him to face her sister again.

Arnav gritted his teeth and was in full mood to step in between them again but Akash caught his elbow.

"Bhai. Let them be. It's between two sisters!" Akash whispered.

"But your wife is in full mood to beat the hell out of her." Arnav cried over protectively.

Akash swallowed past a lump.

"It's good to hear you again, Bhai." Akash croaked bleary eyed.

"I-I don't know how the words flowed out of me just now. All I know is that for the last one year there was something stuck in my throat that was hindering me to produce even a word but seeing her, it all just vanished. Just.. just like that." Arnav whispered with his gaze fixed on her who was now trying to hug Payal but she kept shoving her off while sobbing.

"Kya samajhti hai tu khud ko? Tujhe pata bhi hai k hum sab pe kya guzri wo jali hui laash dekh kar? Aur ye samajh kar k tu nahi rahi?(What do you think of yourself? Do you have any freaking idea what it did to us seeing your burned dead body and knowing that you are no more alive?)" Payal cried out. Khushi sniffled.

"If you wanted to punish that monster then only he deserved that heartbreak not your family. Not us!" She shrugged her hands when Khushi tried to cup her cheeks.

"Jiji, at least let me hug you. I missed you!" Khushi pleaded.

"No. You miss me now that I know. What about the last one year when we died every day without you? Thinking that you're in a place from where we would never get you back? NO.Stay away from me. Don't come near me!" Payal raised her hands in air gesturing her to stay away crying nonetheless.

"Jiji, please?" Khushi cried and Arnav couldn't take it anymore. Releasing himself from Akash's hold he reached them.

"Are you going to do the same to your sister which you did to your son? Push her away? For other people's mistakes?" Arnav was blunt to the extremes causing Payal's head to shot to her as she felt the sting of his words.

"You heard her Mr. Raizada. Stay out of it." Khushi addressed him for the first time causing his heart to flutter and clench at the same time. Swallowing thickly he raised his eyes to hers and found her looking at him so vehemently that his insides churned with pain.

"Don't look at me like that." He choked.

She averted her eyes.

"Leave us alone!" She demanded.

"Khushi. Please?" He pleaded feeling his eyes burning with unshed tears.

"It's Ms. Gupta for you!" She shrieked harder. "Now. Leave!"

"You heard her. Leave!" Payal spoke this time.

"Let it be Jiji. He is Arnav Singh Raizada. He isn't use to take orders. You come with me." Taking Payal's hand she pulled her along to the direction of the stairs only for her other hand to get caught by him charging the atmosphere with thick tension.

NK and Akash looked at each other worriedly because they knew it won't end well.

Khushi whirled around to face him sharply and was in full mood to lash out but the minute she turned to him he fell to the ground on his knees with her hand grasped tightly in his before he let his head fall on her hand and splitted into helpless sobs.

"Don't go. Don't go. Please don't go. Don't leave me. Not again. I have just got you back from death. I can't lose you again. Please. Please."

His heartrending sobs wrenched everyone present there including Payal and for a record Khushi too. Blinking back the tears she looked at NK accusingly before glancing at Akash for help who nodded with his own tears on the verge of falling.

Walking to his brother Akash knelt to his side and placing his palms on his shoulders tried to pull him back but he won't let go and also due to the force he was holding on to Khushi and tugged to keep grasping it landed her on her knees right before him.

Floodgates opened and the mighty ASR cried like a baby with his head still on her hand. He hasn't cried on her funeral neither let any drop fall off his eyes in the last one year but seeing her the dam in him broke loose and then there was no going back.

Everyone saw how in order to avenge his sister he broke the only person who meant the world to him and not only that he broke himself too along with her. Into tiny pieces!

Like that shattered mirror which can never be put back to its original glory!

"Arnav ji?" Khushi called softly this time lowering her head a bit to look at his face hidden in her hand. She could feel the wetness on her skin and his tears falling like a waterfall.

He raised his head with his bloodshot eyes and red tears stained cheeks to her. Akash had to look away because no matter what he could never see his brother this broken.

"I am here." She said firmly before her stance changed.

"I am not going to die. Not until I don't make you pay for everything you did to me. Whatever you suffered in the last one year is nothing compared to what would follow!" She gritted before snatching back her hand ruthlessly and scurrying off with her sister leaving a stunned Arnav behind right there sitting on the floor with his broken demeanor.

Khushi Gupta maybe alive but his Khushi has died long ago!

On the day when he handed her over to his biggest enemy!

On the very day when he married her to a murderer and let him have his way with her!

The news of her death might be a lie for everyone but he knew in his heart that it was nothing but the truth.

So how could he hold it against her at all?

No. He couldn't.

If only Payal could understand what he has had. Just now!

India

"He is becoming more and more paranoid every day." Inspector spoke seeing the man behind the bars sitting at a corner with his head buried in his knees from where he would occasionally look as if to make sure someone wasn't there. Someone who he thought was there to harm him even though in his cell apart from him no one was there.

"He is referred to a psychiatrist by the authorities whose report would then decide what should be done with him thereafter." Another one spoke eyeing the plate of food lying untouched in front of him.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE. GET ME OUT OF HERE!" He stood up all of a sudden and running to the iron bars started pulling at them looking behind him petrified as if someone was chasing after him. Looking in between inspectors and behind him, he shouted for help.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE OR SHE- THEY WILL KILL ME!" He pulled at the bars forcefully making screeching noise.

"Who?" One of the inspectors asked curiously of what exactly he was seeing.

"Rani Sahiba." He pointed to a corner of the cell. "He--my baby whom I killed." He pointed to another spot at the wall. "There- is Mohan who-who died in that blast too."

"And there- there- another baby is crying." He gestured besides him. "She is asking me why didn't I save her?" He cried out before pleading yet again.

"Please. Please. Get me out of here or I'll die. They will take me with them and punish me hell. I-" He started hitting his head on the iron bars to get free causing the inspectors to jump into action. Quickly unlocking the cell they ran in shouting for sub-inspectors who came running to help them to restrain him.

His shouts and pleads for help stopped only when he lost consciousness.

"He has lost it Sir. If he stayed here he might as well kill himself." Inspector informed the commissioner who was told that the situation was very bad with the prisoner named Shyam Manohar Jha.

"Hmm. Make arrangements to send him to Delhi Mental Institution."

"Right away, Sir." He said and scurried off.

"Till then make sure he doesn't die." He instructed others. "He sure doesn't deserve such an easy death after killing his own pregnant wife with a freaking time bomb."

"Yes, Sir." They saluted while the commissioner marched out taking strong steps with only one goal in mind.

To inform Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada that his sister's murderer was finally getting what he truly deserved!

Sydney, Australia

"Arnav ji?"

"I am here." She said firmly before her stance changed.

"I am not going to die. Not until I don't make you pay for everything you did to me. Whatever you suffered in the last one year is nothing compared to what would follow!"

Restlessly he took sharp intake of breaths as her face, her words, her features, her presence, her scent lingered in the air. In his being. He would turn everything, everything over and over again in his mind to make himself believe that she was alive. She wasn't gone forever. She was there. Hating him but here. Alive. Breathing!

Placing his hands over his nose he leaned forward hoping the movement would lessen a bit of the pain in his chest but nothing helped. It was a great.. great relief seeing her in front of him after an year. But the contempt in her eyes were his undoing. It slit through every cell of his body and made him bleed and cry from within.

"I told you all. I told everyone that Khushi is alive. I shouted at everyone but nobody listened. I told Payal that give me some time and I'd bring Khushi back but her words killed all the hopes in me. Made me believe that I was breathing while Khushi wasn't." He choked looking at Akash who has followed him to the room after his emotional breakdown downstairs. He wasn't done yet.

"Bhai. Listen-"

"No Akash. NO." He shook his head blinking back the tears. "If she wants to continue hating me, she should. Because I deserve nothing less. But .. but the way she is punishing herself by keeping away from her family.. it.. it is killing me. She is making everyone pay for what I put her through."

"Just like you did." Akash said. Arnav's head shot to him in bewilderment.

"W-What do you mean?" Arnav whispered even though he understood it all.

"She is taking a leaf out of your life to hurt you the same way once you did with her when you-"

"When I wasn't normal. When Di died. When I was a merciless beast to her to punish myself. To see her in pain so that I could atone for not being able to save my sister." Arnav swallowed past a lump swiping a hand across his eyes.

"Exactly. Otherwise you tell me the Khushi Kumari Gupta you knew would she ever do something like that to her own family. To the people she dearly loves just to teach someone a lesson?"

"Never. Khushi Kumari Gupta won't but the Khushi who loved me, who is deeply hurt by my betrayal would." He croaked silently.

"This isn't normal Bhai. She isn't normal. Nothing of her behavior is. She shouldn't have quit the therapy, counseling and the medicines. Now it's been an year. We can't even imagine how bad in a state she must be in right now."

Pursing his lips Arnav raised his bloodshot eyes ahead interwining his fingers together firmly but didn't say anything. His throat was too constricted to produce a word.

"When you didn't know Khushi was alive then what did you keep talking to NK Bhai?" Akash diverted the topic seeing how his brother's face contorted in pain every passing moment.

"Nothing." Arnav whispered.

Akash sighed taking the hint his Bhai didn't want to talk about it. There was a silence for several moments as the two brothers sat lost in their own thoughts before Arnav breathed harshly before opening his mouth.

"Do you really think NK wouldn't have done something in this whole one year to bring Khushi back to normal? Maybe she agreed to have a therapy. Maybe she is taking her medicines again. Maybe she is in a recovery phase?" He choked at the end.

While Akash didn't know what to say because he certainly had no answers.

"Why don't you ask NK Bhai itself?"

"Not from NK. I would talk directly to her." He said whilst his Adam's apple bobbed.

He didn't wait anymore and standing up marched out of the room. Apprehensively, Akash followed. In amidst, Arnav's phone beeped in his pocket which he royally ignored and stopped short just outside her room. The double doors were completely ajar.

Then, he couldn't find it in himself to knock even when he heard.

"You are right. Thank you for reminding me that it's been two years since his sister was burned and he made sure to burn me along with her. It's been two years!"

There it was that contempt again in her voice. He couldn't bear to move let alone produce a sound.

Akash placed a hand on his shoulder to which Arnav closed his eyes and taking a deep breath forcibly uttered the name stuck in his throat.

"K-Khushi?"

NK entered her room opening the door wife after knocking only to find her sitting stock still at her place on the bed. Sitting besides her silently he waited for her to speak and she did.

"Jiji won't talk to me." She whispered aghast. "She is hurt and so angry." She cried out. Turning her head to him she asked hurt.

"Why? Why did you get them all here? Especially.. especially.. him?" She choked at the end.

"I had had enough Khushi. It's been an year. Not only him everyone has suffered enough accepting the lie that you are no more."

"You'd have told anyone, anyone but him." She gritted.

"Try to understand Kh-"

"NO!" She stood up angrily and started pacing.

"I know you are more angry on yourself than him. For still caring for him. For still feeling for him. I get it. But now you need to let go. Of everything. You have to stop torturing yourself. Either you are going to accept him back or not. There is nothing in between. Don't let yourself hang in between. You have to make a decision now. It's high time you do. And for that you have to face the reality. You had to .. have to face him!" NK finished in one breath before inhaling sharply.

Khushi stared at him stumped for a moment before saying vengefully.

"If I am going to hang in between, he will too." She hissed.

NK was about to say something but she cut him rudely.

"I told you he is not to know about me being alive. Now you will be responsible for showing your loyalty to your brother because too bad if me being dead was a lie an year ago then soon, it won't remain a lie anymore if your brother didn't leave this place right away!" She yelled breathing hard.

Scared NK shrieked.

"Shut up! You won't do anything stupid." He said sternly.

"Who will stop me? You?" She scoffed. "You too are like all of them. You don't care about me but your brother and his peace!" Not her but her hurt spoke.

He ran his fingers in his hairs before he mellowed down as he saw her lips trembling in an effort to contain her sobs.

"Khushi, Please? Don't say that. I have been a loyal friend to you more than I have been a brother to him. I lied to my family, your family, him, to everyone about your death. Do you know how difficult it was for me to stand there in between your parents, your sister, Buaji while they cried and mourned over you. Over a stranger's dead body? You have no idea how I withstood all of that and still kept mum. Still I curbed the urge to shout that you are alive and safe with me. But in amidst all of this while he suffered like you wanted him to would you tell me what was your family's fault that they got crushed in between you two?"

Khushi cried silently looking apologetically at her friend for spouting venom to him when he did nothing but support her throughout.

Sighing in defeat NK stood up and coming over to her hugged her.

"I am not asking you to forgive him neither I am forcing you to do anything against your wishes but just.. don't doubt my loyalty to you. Please I can't see you like this anymore. I can't. You have to make a decision to bring yourself out of this or you will lose much more than you might gain in your revenge." He caressed her hairs cupping the back of her head.

"My sister isn't talking to me. She won't let me hold my nephew. But all I could think of is how he cried sitting on his knees holding onto me desperately." She mumbled in a choke after many minutes of silence causing NK's heart to clench in pain.

"I am worried more for him than my strained relationship with my Jiji!" She sobbed clutching on to his shirt.

"Two years is a long time Khushi ji. It's been two years since Di died."

Khushi cried harder at that.

"Two years since you both are paying the price of the obsession of that Shyam Manohar Jha. Let it go now. Please. Forgive him because only letting go of everything would give you peace."

"I promised him that I'd never be in peace. I would never be!" She pulled back and wiped her tears determined.

"You are right. Thank you for reminding me that it's been two years since his sister was burned and he made sure to burn me along with her. It's been two years!" She whispered with something akin to a defiance shining in her eyes.

"K-Khushi?"

They both turned startled at the familiar voice. He was there standing at the door looking at her or say gawking at her.

Khushi's expressions morphed in seconds. In resilience. While NK who has been expecting him to try to talk to Khushi didn't know he would gather courage this soon to face her.

"Can I- we talk?" Not only his voice, his whole demeanor screamed his plight.

"About?" The broken Khushi who has been crying over her emotions and feelings for this man to her friend was gone replaced by a stoic, hard and ruthless one.

"A-Anything. S-So many things." With each of the syllable there was a wrenched catch in his voice. Khushi looked at NK and her strong stance changed to brokenness and she pleaded to him with her eyes to get her out of this situation. Before NK could do something, they heard her.

"What are you doing here?" Payal barged in and faced Arnav with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I-I-" He blinked back the moisture turning his head on either sides in restlessness. "I-I need to talk to her." He croaked badly.

For a moment, pity for him overflowed Payal's senses before some familiar screams and begging buzzed in her ears taking away all of her sympathy.

"NO! PLEASE. NO!"

Payal sprang up from her sleep and saw her sister tossing and turning in the bed with sweat covering her whole body.

"Don't do this to me Arnav ji. Don't do this. I love you. I LOVE YOU!" She clutched the bedsheets tighter on either sides of her in her oblivion.

It has been just a day since her sister came back from Shyam's house after he was arrested and Khushi lost her baby.

"Please don't send me with him. I LOVE YOU. I WILL MISS YOU. I MISS YOU!" Her cries were only notching higher and so did Payal's attempt to wake her from the nightmare. At last when nothing worked she slapped her hard on her cheek which jolted Khushi up from the dream and then what followed awoke the entire Gupta house as Khushi's heartrending sobs filled the air.

Payal trembled and burst into sobs as her parents and Buaji came running in.

They all saw her writhing painfully on the bed as if it was hurting her physically. Burying her face into the pillows Khushi screamed harder clenching everyone's heart into fists while they saw helplessly because neither did she let anyone console her nor could they give her for what she was pining for.

"STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!" Payal yelled before shutting the door on his face and leaning against it looked at her sister.

"Thank you Jiji." Khushi whispered.

Payal shook her head blinking back the tears.

"When would you stop running from your problems Khushi?" Payal growled stunning Khushi but Payal put a stone on her heart to continue in a firm voice.

She just got her sister back from dead. Yeah, she was alive all along but not for them. For them, in the world she died an year ago and seeing your loved one all of a sudden alive and breathing after accepting that they were dead is nothing but a miracle for her and she won't let this miracle be snatched away from her ever again. Never!

"If you want me to forgive you then you'd have to do something about yourself and suck it up. If you want me to talk to you then either you are going to work to get him out of your mind or you are going to forgive him to move on because in between I am not going to accept you back as my sister." Payal was stern.

"Jiji, neither am I going to forgive him nor can I move on. I-I can't. You know it I can't. I tried and see where it has landed me. Away from you all." She cried out.

Payal's lips trembled because she knew it herself that her sister could never seem to move on from him but trying won't harm would it? Again and again until she would succeed. She has to. She was all game for it if she could get back even half of her old Khushi, her sister, Buaji's SankaDevi and titaliya back!

So she stayed defiant and said confidently.

"Fine. If that's your decision to keep wallowing in self-pity then I am leaving back to India tomorrow itself and no, you aren't coming with me. I can't let Babu ji, Amma and Buaji's hopes high seeing you only for you to pull another stunt to hurt them beyond repair just because you can't get over a pathetic excuse of a man who destroyed you so much that now you can't seem to understand what's right or what's bloody wrong."

"Payal-" NK was rudely cut by Payal's glare.

"You know what I think of your stupid idea of revenge and all Khushi?" Payal seethed. "It's your own way to keep clinging to him not because you want to punish him but because you don't want to let go. At all. You just want to stay in this pain because it connects you to him. You just want to keep feeling something, anything for him even if it's hate, disgust, hurt, pain and all sorts of dark things he make you feel!"

Stumped Khushi stared at her sister as her words hit home.

"You both have killed each other in the name of love and along with that you made sure to kill and cut each and every person for whom you both are important." She hissed out.

"So, no. No way you are getting back in our lives until you decide whether you really want to move on or just play the living and dying game with him, with us. Because that's what you have made it. A game of winning and losing. And you are crushing every relation in the middle of it. Just like he had." Payal cried out with tears pouring on her cheeks.

"Jiji!" Khushi cried out running behind her but she pulled open the door and stormed out banging it shut behind leaving her messed up sister in her wake.

Outside Payal saw Akash and Arnav standing against the railings. By the look on their faces it seemed they heard it all.

"Since you heard it Akash can you make arrangements for my departure?" She said sternly.

"And yeah Dhruv is coming with me." She added after a minute when Akash couldn't produce a word.

"What about your sister? Me? Bhai?" Akash asked silently.

"Your Bhai and my sister has some unfinished business. Now as far as you are concerned I know you won't leave your precious Bhai alone so just stay here for all I-"

"Care?" Akash scoffed.

She huffed.

"You have become so bitter do you know that Mrs. Raizada?" Akash said suggestively.

"It's Payal Gupta for you. Just because you didn't sign the divorce papers doesn't mean I am still in to that relation with which we were done long ago!" She said bitterly.

"If I had signed the papers then you'd have lost your rights on Dhruv as well dammit. I saved you from pining to be with our son."

"How could a sign on a paper make a mother lose her rights on her son huh Akash? They are just your lame excuses not to give what I want."

"Not excuses. It is true because if I had divorced you then I wouldn't have let you even a mile near my son!" He blasted all of a sudden taking off his glasses rudely, standing nose to nose to her leaving Payal dumbfounded at his bluntness.

Their voices were so shrill that NK and Khushi and Sheetal came running while Arnav watched their exchange with his hands in his pockets with unfathomable look on his face.

"W-What did you say?" Payal asked swallowing her tears.

"You heard me. It was you who abandoned our son to punish a little baby of a few hours for the mistakes he never committed. You loathe my Bhai because he made your sister pay even when she was innocent and look here, what you did? You shouldn't blame my brother anymore because you did the same to your son by depriving him from the motherly affections which are his birth rights!" He bellowed on her face freezing her on the spot.

"How could you stay detached to the being whom you nurtured inside of you for long nine months?" He whispered glaring at her and one by one tears rolled down her cheeks as the air thickened with more tension.

Seems like Akash was up to his neck while burying everything inside for the last one year taking care of not only his severely depressed mute brother but also his child and his wife without any complaints but there was a limit to a person's endurance as well. Looks like Akash has reached to the brim of his.

Payal blinked her eyes at him tongue tied.

"Jiju?" Khushi choked.

Akash raised his swollen tear filled eyes to hers before closing them in regret. He didn't want to bring his life problems in front of Khushi at all when he knew how much difficult it was for her already. He didn't want to add more. He just got his sister back. Yeah, he remember he gave her the place of his Anjali Di and he has promised himself he would protect her from the atrocities in the world. He would.

"Jiji, don't tell me you aren't back with Akash jiju yet? You promised me." Khushi cried out.

That's it. Arnav couldn't stay silent anymore when he saw the hurt and pain shining in Khushi's eyes for her sister when Payal refused to acknowledge her let alone answer her.

"You want divorce from Akash, Payal? Fine, you would get it." It was Arnav who dropped the bomb on everyone.

Akash's head shot to his brother and an year of dealing with his silent brother and understanding his gestures has made Akash read him very well to know what he wanted to say. So even if he wanted to argue on his suggestion he didn't seeing the look in his brother's eyes.

"How dare you?" Khushi faced him spitting fire at him. Payal grabbed her elbow and pulled her behind her while Khushi continued to glare at him who avoided looking in her eyes.

"Before that you should know not only would the property be divided between you two but also Dhruv. Only one of you would get his custody and considering your history with abandoning Dhruv and Akash taking a very good care of him all along, you very well know what would be the court's decision. But even if court still decided to give you a benefit of doubt then they would see who could give Dhruv all the luxuries of a good life, education and upbringing and I need not tell you who would win in that trial too. So go ahead, sister-in-law. File for a divorce and I swear if you did then I'd be the one hiring the best lawyer to make sure my brother wins!"

Prickling silence followed as Arnav finished while Akash gaped at his brother.

Why didn't he think of it before?

It was there before him all the time!

Maybe, because his brother was right.

He wasn't Arnav Singh Raizada to think it through the way to turn things into his favor!

Arnav raised his eyes finally to Khushi, locked his intense gaze on hers before saying vehemently.

"Because those who understand me knows very well that I never lose!"

Khushi gritted her teeth as his gaze burned her all over and so did his heartlessness.

"Jiji, don't listen to him. He is just instigating you to take the wrong step. You won't file for a divorce anyway, right?" Khushi placed her hands on her Payal's shoulders standing from behind while Payal was looking at Akash with so much hurt because of which Akash was avoiding her eyes before he turned and stormed off not negating his brother neither defending her.

Maybe he was tired working on a relationship she keeps throwing on his face!

The thought was enough to suck Payal's breaths. Her shoulders slumped. Shrugging Khushi's hands she ran across the hall and disappeared in her room leaving NK, Sheetal, Khushi and Arnav silent and worried behind.

Khushi took a step to follow her only for her hand to be grasped in a firm grip causing the atmosphere to charge with more tension.

"Let her be. She needs to clear her head about what does she really want." Arnav said softly looking at the side of her face.

"Get your hands off me!" Khushi shrieked snatching back her hand before placing her palms flat on his chest and gave him a rough push.

"How could you do something like that to my sister? How could you suggest a divorce to her?"

"I did what I had to." He murmured swallowing.

"NO. You did what you always do. You ruin things. You ruined me and now you want to ruin my sister's marriage!" She pushed him again. His nostrils flared in anger.

"If you were so keen on saving her marriage then you shouldn't have made everyone believe you are d-dead!" He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her closer. "Because if you haven't then your sister wouldn't have let go of her son calling him another Raizada who would destroy another Khushi one day when he grew up. If you hadn't lied then she wouldn't have punished Dhruv for the crimes I committed towards you!"

Khushi stared at him speechless for the whole minute.

Hearing the heated argument between her sister and Akash jiju she got to know Jiji abandoned Dhruv on the very day he was born. Why? She just got to know by this taciturn man's mouth and it pierced her heart that she was responsible for so many things happening wrong in her sister's life just because of her one lie.

She was guilty. Yes, but this man need not know it all. So, she jerked herself out of the guilt trip.

"So now you are playing the blame game here? You think I am responsible for her almost broken marriage?" She gritted.

"I am saying I am bloody responsible. If you had restricted yourself to only punishing me not others then all this wouldn't have happened!" He countered.

"If you had restricted yourself to only punishing your sister's culprit not me too to feel that oh-so-great pain to punish yourself and I for loving you unconditionally then all this wouldn't have happened either. Either way, only you are responsible for everything that has gone wrong in our lives!" She breathed hard shrugging him away with tears forming in her eyes which she didn't let out. She would die rather than show him her weakness that he still affect her like.. like he did the first day they met.

NK and Sheetal shared a worried glance as Khushi stood with her hand buried in her hairs while Arnav stood stock still at his place after her outburst.

It was just an hour ago NK has filled up a few apparent connections between Khushi and Arnav while Sheetal indulged the information about Arnav being her classmate in Harvard. She was obviously angry that she stayed with them for months yet neither of them bothered to tell her what Khushi has been through.

"I am not denying anything Khushi. I just want to rectify what I-"

"What you -- broke?" She mocked turning to him before laughing hard terrifying Arnav who looked at NK petrified.

"She has been taking medicines hasn't she?" Arnav asked scared and it sucked off all of her laughter. Before NK could reply she beat him into it.

"What did I say when I left India?" She faced him with her eyes glinting with something akin to madness frightening the hell out of him.

"That I would never be in calm, in peace nor would I let you be!" She hissed out. It rose the restlessness in him that has been a part of him for a while now.

She was about to storm back to her room but a sudden, strong pull landed her in his arms.

"How dare you?" She wriggled.

"Enough!" He growled.

"Nannav!" NK warned stepping to them.

"Shut up NK!" Arnav said out loud without breaking his gaze from hers.

"Let go, Mr. Raizada!" She pushed at him through her arms sandwiched in between them but nothing worked. He held on with a steel grip of his arms on her waist.

"You don't want to be fine. All right. Let's enjoy being in this pain. We both will. Together!"

"We are not together." She cried out.

"We will be. Because you'd get rid of me only when you will be fully sane and healthy not only physically but mentally as well!"

"I am not crazy if that's what you are implying!" She protested more forcefully.

"Yeah you are not. Except that you just declare yourself death for sport, right?" He scoffed.

"I SAID LET GO OF ME!" She struggled in vain while NK couldn't take it anymore.

This was enough interaction between the duo for the day. If they talked more, only destruction would follow. So, he intervened and separated Khushi from Arnav who then ran in the room and locked the door from inside before breathing hard leaning against the door with her hand over her erratically beating heart.

Outside Arnav gasped for breaths while pacing every inch of the corridor running his fingers through his hairs every other minute.

"I want every single detail of her stay here in Sydney. Every single, damn detail NK!" Arnav demanded coming to stand before his cousin brother.

"I don't think she-"

"I DON'T CARE. I don't care if she doesn't want me to know. If you truly care about her and want her to be fully fine then you'd tell me everything from Day-1. EVERYTHING!"

_____________________

First off all thank you so much guys for so much love and so much reads to make this series such a huge success. Considering how emotional and tragic the concept is, I didn't expect such a response. But you guys are the best to support me in every single story💕

Secondly, writing this series is emotionally draining like I told from the start. So I do take many breaks in between writing it. Hence the delay. But still you guys wait both patiently and sometimes impatiently too, thank you so much in either case. Because it tells me how much you love my story.

Let's have the very first Q/A session of 'Love-Hate series'.

Q/A:

1. What was it Arnav and NK talked throughout the last year when Arnav didn't know about Khushi being alive?

2. What would you say about Payal's choices and decisions?

3. What about Akash and his situation?

4. Did Khushi do right by lying to everyone and forcing NK to lie too?

5. What would happen next?

6. Any idea how it all would conclude?

7. Is there any chance for the tangled mess to be solved?

8. What about Arnav's interference in Akash and Payal's life?

9. What was your most favorite scene and dialogue of Love-Hate series?

10. Any question(s) or query(s) you want to ask?

Waiting for your feedback. Everyone who is reading kindly press the 'star' button to VOTE and please COMMENT to encourage me to write more.

Silent readers at least VOTE so that I know who are reading the story.

Stay tuned till the next Part.

Cheers!