Part 35 How?

Arnav held her hands and pulled her on his chest for a hug. Khushi tried to come out of his arm ring, but Arnav tightened his grip, not letting her do that, and said,

"I'm sorry, Khushi... I'm really sorry..."

Khushi hugged him, spilling tears.

"I made you restless but it's not intentional. I was put on the fire to prove myself. I should not have done that, but I didn't have a choice. Even though he touched my ego, I didn't do that to satisfy my EGO. I just wanted to shut his mouth. I wanted him to know how deep your love for me is. I wanted him to know money is not everything. I'm sorry..."

Breaking the hug, he cupped her face. He gulped down to see her fragile face.

"I'm really sorry..."

"I know... you were manipulated to be away from me intentionally. He knew I would identify you if you talked to me. That's why he challenged you not to talk to me."

Arnav looked at Akash who looked down.

"But, he couldn't cheat me... I find out that idiot Vinesh could not be Arnav."

"How did you get to know Vinesh is not me?"

"Did you think I could not find you because I had been blind?"

Arnav nodded NO hurriedly.

"Love can be blind, but not LOVERS can be... from the time Vinesh was introduced to me in the name of Arnav, I started doubting him because he was not like you. Everything happened like a drama. He didn't tell me what I looked like..."

"Did you ask him?"

"Of course, I did..."

Arnav chuckled. It was not hard for him to understand he would have blabbered something to flatter Khushi.

"My doubt strengthened when I saw you in the coffee shop."

Arnav controlled his smile. He met her in the coffee shop only to create doubt in her heart, right?

"You won't believe it if I say who I met in the coffee shop after you left the coffee shop."

"Who did you meet?" Arnav asked curiously.

"Bapita..."

Arnav raised his brows surprisingly.

"I didn't know who she was because I didn't SEE her before but she identified me and spoke to me."

"Do you know what did she ask me?"

"What?"

"She asked me when Arnav would come back to India. I was confused because Vinesh was in the coffee shop attending a call. She said he was my brother. My doubt increased that he is not Arnav. No matter how hard people tried to cheat me, God was with me in that. That's why she sent Bapita to the same coffee shop."

"How did you confirm I'm Arnav?" Arnav asked, expecting her to say, WHEN YOU TOUCHED ME but he was surprised to hear her reply.

"I dialled your number and heard your VOICE" she smiled.

Not only Arnav but also Akash and Garima were dumbfounded.

"Did you dial my number?" he wondered.

Khushi nodded yes.

"They said you lost your voice but I heard your voice when I dialled your number. Also, I saw your DP and learned that the man I met in the coffee shop is my Arnav."

"I know you would sense me. That's the challenge your brother threw at me. I truly didn't have the patience to be quiet, but I didn't want him to think differently. That's why I waited for you to identify me; I know you would find out the truth," Arnav smiled.

"I had no confusion about my brother and mother. I know them. They would have cheated me for money but I didn't know why you were silent. So, I called my friend Lavanya and asked her to meet Payal."

Akash was shocked. Did Khushi contact Payal?

"That's how I learned the reason for your silence."

"It seems Khushi worked hard behind our backs", Aman said, and Arnav nodded yes smilingly.

Khushi looked at Akshara and said,

"Thank you so much for your help. If you didn't tell me about Vinesh at the right time, I would not have known how dangerous he is."

Arnav looked at her surprisingly.

"Do you know her?" he asked.

Khushi smiled.

"She is the one who asked me to tell you everything about Vinesh," Akshara said.

"Is it?"

"Yes, Akshara told me about Vinesh. So, I decided to bring you into this. I asked Akshara to tell you about Vinesh, but I didn't expect him to fix the marriage quickly. Thank God, Akshara came for my help... otherwise, I didn't know what I would have done because no one would have believed me if I had told them about Vinesh," Khushi said, looking at Akash and Garima, who gulped down hard.

"If you want any help, you can ask me. If you are ready, I will arrange a job abroad," Arnav said to Akshara, who became emotional.

"Thank you so much, brother. I have important work in India that I should complete first," Akshara said.

"Oh...ok, tell me if you have an idea."

"Sure..."

Akshara looked at Khushi and said,

"I'm leaving. Call me if you want to know anything about Vinesh."

"Thank you," Khushi said.

"Let's go..."

Arnav looked at Akash and Garima.

"You don't have to look at them. From here on, I have no one called mother and brother," Khushi said without looking at them.

"Khushi..." Garima called.

"Will you take me or not?" Khushi asked Arnav wrathfully, not giving heed to Garima.

"I will take you but wait for a few minutes..."

"But why?" Khushi asked.

That was when they saw Payal entering the temple. Seeing her, Akash became nervous. Khushi looked at him and then at Payal. She rushed to Payal and hugged her.

"I'm sorry, Payal..." Khushi said.

"You don't have to be sorry. You and I were in the same condition. Thank God, WE escaped," Payal said, glaring at Akash.

"You are right. Rather than experiencing heartbreak, accepting reality is good. Don't feel bad, Payal. Feel happy that you are saved. Or else, he would have sold you, too," Khushi said furiously.

"Of course, I will not feel bad, but I have to give your brother something", Payal said, making Akash frown. What did she want to give him?

"What?"

Payal came to Akash. He looked down. In no time, Payal slapped him hard.

"I never thought you would be so cheap, who would even sell his sister for your happiness... you are not a good brother, friend, or boyfriend," she said, panting hard and looking at Garima with anger.

"Are you a mother? Do you know the meaning of mother? A mother should even die for her children's happiness, but you? You will even kill your children to be happy. What kind of woman you are? Look at your daughter... Do you dare look at her face? Thank God, I don't get you as my mother-in-law... be happy with your bloody son."

Payal wiped her cheek.

"Khushi, I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?" Khushi asked.

"Where else? To Goa to resume my work."

"We will go together. Till then, be with us," Khushi said.

"Yes, Payal. Khushi is right. How will you go now? It's already late. You won't get the ticket" Arnav said.

"It's ok, Arnav."

"Won't you listen to us?" Aman asked.

Payal blinked slowly.

"Let's go to my place. Take a rest. Then decide..." Aman said.

Payal nodded and walked with them.

Khushi looked at Arnav, who nodded. Entwining her fingers with his, she walked. Arnav followed her smilingly. Aman smiled at Arnav, raising his brows. He winked at him.

To be continued...