"Why would anyone want to frame us? How are you sure about that?" She asked unmindful of the slight knock on the door.

Reaching her in a blink, cupping her shoulders he started to speak "Because I too got an photo of yours with family and nk, stating you're happy only with them. Wait let me show you"

He rummaged his mobile and found that photo "See..." He raised the phone showing it to her.

She strode fast snatching the mobile from him. Her eyes dilated at the caption.

"Yey...Arnavji. This was taken yesterday. Me and nanheji went for salman khan movie" She blabbered on hurry immersing in the photo despite of her husband's bubbling anger.

He snatched it back gaining her attention on him "You've time to go for a stupid movie with him but can't have time for me" He yelled as yesterday events flashed before his eyes distracting him from the current problem.

"That is not the problem now arnavji. For god sake, keep aside your anger. Think rationally" She shouted back equally proving she is no less than ASR.

"How come that will not be a problem, when it was the start of everything we're facing now?" He yelled not caring for the loudest knock on the door.

Khushi glanced at the door and him. Within a microsecond her heart contemplated whether to open the door or continue the arguement with him.

As if sensing her thoughts he roared in cue "Don't ever think of opening the door. We're not going out until this..." The constant loud knocks didn't let him continue.

Squinting he strode angrily towards the door, opening it harshly he shouted at the same intensity without seeing the person only to regret later.

"Can't you know the manners? If we didn't open the door even after the constant knocks then you should understand we're not interested at the moment. I don't know why everyone is hell bent on knocking my room door now and then. What problem do you guys have with me, spending my time with my wife? Whenever I come home after a hectic day all I need to spend some quality time with my wife. But you guys never let that happen. Morning you'll need khushi to do pooja and to cook for you all when I need a cup of coffee from her hands and if it was not enough you guys occupy her with various works not leaving her alone a single minute even in night discussing some shits. If khushi has to do all the works then what was the need for servants in this house then? If by miracle she grant her precious time for me then you all have to drop at my room ruining the moment. I seriously doubt whether you guys have any idea about the word called PRIVACY. When I didn't want to marry you guys pestered me for marriage and when I married you guys are not even letting me to enjoy my married life. I am better as bachelor rather now. Still if you want then take her and don't expect us to behave like husband and wife" He bellowed without pause shrugging khushi's palm which rest on his shoulder in order to calm him.

"Cho..ttee.." Hearing anjali's broken whisper along with a muffled wail, his head shot up in bewilderment.

There stood his di with tears cascading down her eyes and the tear drops fell on little aashmi head.

"Di...I am sorry..." He whispered in shock trying to pick little aashmi from her who in turn buried her face into her mamma's neck in fear.

"No..I am sorry. I should not disturb you...but when I heard...loud noises I thought of check...I am sorry" Saying this in a meek voice she turned her side to leave.

He held her shoulders gently "Di..
Come inside.."

Khushi took a step forward to pick up the weeping aashmi in her arms. When aashmi peeked through arnav before jumping on khushi's waiting arms, khushi throws a accused stare before pointing at him "You scared her..."

Gulping at the scene he left his di as coming towards khushi.

"Give her to me" He asked seeing khushi patting aashmi back in attempt to calm her. Neither she forwarded nor she denied, when he asked aashmi.

"She'll be fine chotte. Sorry to disturb you" Anjali once again apologized taking aashmi in her arms. Even though anjali put facade an understanding smile arnav knows she was hurted by his words.

More than her, aashmi's little scared face churned his insides. She was the first child, he grew fond of. Till now he never shouted in front of her. He swore himself to be more careful in front of her. He doesn't want her to face the same fate as them. He doesn't want her to miss everyone's love including his though she's devoid of father love, he's trying his best to act like one to her. And seems like today he took a step back in his vow.

"I was in another tension di. Don't you know me? Give her to me, I don't want her to cry because of me" He forcefully took aashmi in his hands as khushi took his dress from the wardrobe handing him.

When aashmi's teared face came in contact with his skin he realised he was still bare chested and that bring back their earlier argument. He face palmed mentally and cursed himself for distracting from the main problem to another in blind anger or Is it jealousy?

Anjali left from their sighing and that soon turned into victory smile for intruding them in correct time.

When she reached the living room, from no where from lavanya squealed hugging her "Thank you so much di"

Anjali completed the hug smiling to the moon "No need to thank me. Oh, goodness I intruded them in correct time or else..." She stopped when payal made her appearance.

"Lavanya ji, when did you arrive?" Payal asked while lavanya artificially plastered a smile on her face. She doesn't need an intruder now.

"Morning. You were busy in your room, I suppose. Excuse me" Lavanya excused from there ignoring payal's frown.

"Call me when breakfast is ready. Oops... Don't work too much payal ji. Spend some time with aakash" Anjali said thinking arnav's words all the while. Lest she is ready to bear same treatment from aakash too one day.

Payal's frown increased further by her words but nonetheless she nodded before disperse to her room.

***

Entering the room, she made sure all the curtains are down and all doors are closed before taking her mobile.

Calling someone she waited for the other person to attend.

"I'll call you back" The person from another side said and end the call even before she could greet with hello. She groaned in annoyance. Sat with a thud in bed she brought her knees close to her chest waiting for the call.

***

"Wear your dress" Khushi thrust his dresses on his free arm not meeting his eyes.

Silently arnav obeyed shifting aashmi into khushi arms.

"Don't be scared baby. Mamu scared you na. Bad mamu...We'll beat him ok. Mami will teach you how to beat mamu" Khushi cooed making aashmi smile as if she is understanding what her mami says.

"Don't turn her into another sanki" Arnav took his seat beside aashmi who was sprawled on the middle of the bed.

Khushi glared at him while aashmi crawled fastly towards her seeing arnav ready to pick her.

"You only know how to scare peoples" Khushi muttered placing aashmi in her lap.

"Am I? But it doesn't look like that. Someone is never scared of me, infact she loves to back answer me" He voluntarily started the conversation kissing aashmi little fingers.

Aashmi snatches back her fingers and showed it to khushi blabbering incoherently complaining about her mamu. 

Arnav laughed pressing his lips on aashmi cheeks. She giggled due to the soft tickle caused by his stubble.

"Angry with mamu haan... Sorry baby, henceforth mamu will never shout his doll. Don't stay with your mami and hear her ideas, ok. Else you've to accompany her to asulyam" He chuckled taking aashmi in his arms who readily came to him.

Khushi slapped him playfully "You're having fun by teasing me"

"Any doubt?" He raised his brows amidst of his concentration on aashmi.

She pouted in reply. His face suddenly turned grim "Khushi, leaving aside all our grudges for a while, we have to find out who is trying to get nasty with us. By your words, someone from our family is helping them for sure"

"Hmm...Why always us?" Her voice cracked at end. Gulping the threatening tears she lean her head on his shoulder "Why was it always us? Why our love is being under test again and again? Can't we be normal like others, without worry?

"Because we're strong, only strong people are targeted. This time we're together. No need to worry. I am here na, I'll not let another shyam to interrupt on our lives" He assured cupping her cheeks.

Aashmi made a growl patting arnav cheeks frantically for attention. He bend down kissing her cute little nose.
"Just like her mumma" Arnav cooed the baby.

Khushi snapped her head towards him in shock "What do you said?"

He chortled making her shock manifold "Don't be shocked. I know and admit, Di is attention seeker. Toda se...But the whole credit goes to me. In the name of protecting her from the cruel world I faced, I failed to show her the basic awareness. Even mamma and that man made her like that...They never let any scratch on her skin and I followed their path. See now where it led. She chose wrong person for herself and at the end she had to see the cruel world more than I ever can imagine. I..Never...Let aashmi like that. I will show all the good and bad things to her and will guide her. I want her to be ASR in outer world and khushi in her own world" Khushi hugged him rounding her arms on her shoulders. She didn't miss the twinkle in his eyes. It had been long time they sat like that discussing things.

Aashmi too copied khushi trying to circle her arms around him but to fail miserably due to her small hands and flexibility.

Khushi laughed made her little hands circle his neck and she licked his cheeks when her little mouth came to contact with his cheek.

"It tickles khushi..." He giggled when she wet his cheeks with saliva.

Khushi circled her arms around both with a smile.

***

A pair of red eyes curled the fingers into a tight fist seeing the scene unfold. The knuckles turned white matching the eyes in intensity.

"Dreaming of a happy family ah? Let's see how you become family" Whispering the owner of the eyes disappeared.

***

"Don't be like di. Don't trust your husband blindly. What if the photo was true? After all I was toxicated, i did not know what had happened" Arnav whispered bending in khushi ear making the whole atmosphere tense contrary to the earlier.

Her eyes dilated and her arms automatically unwounded from his shoulders.

***

She saw her mobile started ringing with the same number she called few minutes before. Placing it on her ears "I am ready. What I have to do now?" She whispered clenching her fist.

"Wow... That's like a good girl. Brainwash khushi against ASR. I want them to split on their own" The voice end even before she could voice out  her doubts.

She groaned seeing the blank screen. How to separate them? How come they'll split on own when they started to smell the problem? It was a wrong move to hide the photo and envelope. Arghh...

_______

How was the update? Got any clue? Who can it be? If you want a hint then refer the title. That's only I can tell now.

I'll try to finish it on two chapters. Don't know why it keeps dragging
It was supposed to end by 5th or 6th chapter, alas! Hopefully it'll end by 7th chapter else 8th not more than that.

Don't forget to hit🌟🌟🌟 and share your thoughts in comments section, will be eagerly waiting!!!