"Why are you speaking as if you deliberately did that? I doubted you..Seeing you with someone else is something that I can never digest. So I acted like you...Act without analysing the things..." She passed letting out a chuckle and continued further "But that was until your outburst. I realised how you must have felt when..you saw me with shyam. For your eyes that was true like my eyes were true when I saw you in that photo, when the truth was something else. Moreover I know you Arnavji, you never lie. If you deliberately did that then you'll oust me or put an facade of hate. Nothing like that happened even if it had happened it has to be without your notice and there's no point of holding any grudge against you. I believe that is what mature love is" She maturedly making him wonder how lucky he was to get an innocent yet matured partner.

"I can't remember anything. After seeing the message, I have no mood to stay there, so I thought to reach home and wait for you. Alas! My eyes blurred and head spinned when I stood up. Someone came to help me. I don't remember anything after that. When I opened my eyes this morning, I realized I was in a room and that turned out be the hotel where I attended the party" He sighed taking a breath while his brain was recalling yesterday events.

"Woh..Arnavji..That photo.." She spoke reluctantly not able to ask him her thoughts. She doesn't know is it shy or disgust?

"What?.."

"Pjiwjn.." Aashmi made noise seeing the two persons around her neglecting her.

"What the! Doll see mamu and mami are discussing, don't disturb us ok" He stated earning a glare from his wife.

Khushi made aashmi lie on bed and gave some toys to distract her. Aashmi being child grabbed the toy started to play with that forgetting her anger.

"This is how you should distract her" Khushi eyed aashmi whose whole concentration was on the new toy. Yep, a new toy which arnav buys for each week after getting an earful from everyone as he bought new toy everyday.

Arnav smiled and moved back with a frown when khushi tried to place her hand on his.

Khushi perplexed at his actions "Arnavji.."

"Where are we?" He purposely cleared his throat.

When khushi looked at him with same perplexion he initiated the topic.

"From your earlier actions it was sure something... Something..More intimate was...in that photo. That's why you behaved frantically. We have to find out what had happened. I believe that's what you want to tell" He said and shuddered at his thoughts picturing himself with a women, god knows how it had taken.

He don't want to make her sad asking minute details. Even if she says the details he don't know how he's going to tolerate that, lest he think of khushi's emotions. Seeing the hesitancy on khushi's voice and her actions sometime before, he can feel the intensity. It disgust him fearing Khushi's right could've been shared. If it had happened then he can never ever face khushi. His conscience itself will kill him. And he does not want khushi to act as puppets in anyone hands, not even him. For that he'll prove the truth but if yesterday something had happened then there is no future for them. He was determined on that.

Gulping at his thoughts he added "I'll ask aman to investigate" His voice slowed down. Zillion thoughts were buzzing around his brain. Had it been old ASR, he would turn the world upside down for khushi's doubt on him. But now he believe if he can doubt her with shyam then she have right to doubt him. Fortunately or unfortunately the well-wisher did one good thing, after reading the caption he concluded some known person is getting nasty with him. That distracted him from earlier anger and frustration on khushi. He is not ready to let another shyam nor his ego in between their relationship.

Khushi's mouth zipped as arnav mentioned about intimate photo. Though she acted nonchalant while explaining to him, it hurts. It pains to realise someone is so close to him in the name of separating them. It would be better if they tried another ways, but... Like any other girl she too expected her husband's first love would be only her. Later on facing the real world especially when she fall hard for a man like ASR, she murdered few of her fantasies. Even when she slowly accustomed to his style she didn't like those parties he attends. Some of the parties would be so atrocious that too if the party was at night.

Suddenly an awkward silence filled the room. Pondering over his question earlier when he asked before di arrives, she got her answer now. If she had attended the party with him then they wouldn't have to face this issue now. No one ever tried to mess with them if they had gone as a couple. If anything happens, either of us would control the situation. Alas!!!

Arnav cleared his throat bringing her out of thoughts "I need coffee and breakfast"

Khushi snapped in worry "Oh I totally forget, wait I'll bring here or do you want to come down?"

"I'll come down" He got up and held aashmi safely in his arms.

A thought crossed his mind and he stretched his arms to halt her by arms but to bring back the instant when guilt surfaced his soul.

"Khushi.." He called her instead. She turned in dart as if she sense the guilt in his voice.

"We need to keep eye on everyone. Someone from our family is helping them. And I mean EVERYONE. No sentiments, I know when the truth is out we are going to be the most painful souls. Keep it in mind"

Khushi nodded digesting the fact that anyone could be from the family is involved.

Arnav followed her. When he was in last step anjali took aashmi from his arms without meeting his eyes. Another wave of guilt added to his collection. When he opened his mouth to speak a soft body crashed on his chest followed by a squeal.

"ASR! Good to meet you and I missed you like hell"

Khushi's eyes dilated and her brows scrunched in agitation. Her scrutinizing gaze absorbed lavanya's cosiness with arnav that too in living room. She had seen lavanya hugging arnav before when they're engaged but now it was different. She didn't expect this from her now.

She also noticed how arnav wriggle in discomfort. Dismay to his efforts of breaking the hug lavanya tightened her hold. Khushi gritted her teeth ready to pull her away from her husband. But she stopped in her tracks when arnav wounded his arms around her shoulders as she whispered something in his ears. Khushi's blood boiled seeing the closeness they share in the middle of the living room unmindful of the visitors, hell he has wife waiting for him.

After good five minutes lavanya reluctantly broke the hug.

"I missed you lavanya" He said eyeing khushi from the corner of his eyes.

"Aww...You missed me, don't lie after chamikili came you forgot me. You didn't invite me after you married" Lavanya pouted, khushi badly wanted to smack her face with something. Curling her fist she called him rather shouted gaining everyone attention on her "Arnavji...Breakfast is ready"

She glared and gestured him to follow her. He gulped visibly and glanced at lavanya before following her.

Anjali who was silent till now came near lavanya "Chotte is married Lavanyaji, moreover this is not London. You can't hug him like that before his wife. Hope you know your limits. Thankfully not everyone saw you behaving like that, be careful next time" Whispering this she made her way towards dining area.

Lavanya blinked her eyes following her.

"Hello hi bye bye..What happened phatisaari? Angrywa on morning. Arnav bituwa be careful" Mami sniffed eyeing khushi who was busy placing the vessels making a noise.

"Khushi..." Payal's loud voice brought back her to the world.

"Khushiji you seems tensed. Anything bothering you?" Anjali asked guessing it would be the result of lavanya's action.

"Woh.. Nothing di. I.." Khushi assured them covering her feeling.

"Have breakfast khushiji. Chotte why are you not saying anything?" Anjali shifted her attention to arnav who was staring his plate as if that was the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Yeah khushi sit" He looked up eyeing khushi to take her seat.

Khushi tried to read his eyes while taking her seat. Like his face his eyes also void of emotions. Khushi couldn't decipher what he was thinking. She felt a change in his behaviour.

Keeping aside her thoughts she forwarded her hand in order to serve him.

"I'll serve myself" His curt voice was subsided by nk.

"Hey...Good morning di, masi, nannav, khushiji and..." Nk cheered the atmosphere by his greeting and his brow scrunched seeing the new face.

Sensing his gaze on her lavanya introduced herself "Lavanya Kashyap, ASR friend"

Nk smiled cheekily completing the handshake "Nice to meet you lavanya"

"Why all of you looks gloomy? Khushiji you too?" Nk asked  dramatically especially seeing khushi.
"Nothing nanehji. Sit, have breakfast"
Khushi shrugged nonchalantly.

"Di, you know yesterday me and khushiji went for a movie. Salman khan movie..."

"Stop it NK. Dining table was not for discussing, if you want to speak then do it in your room or on living room" Arnav roared out of annoyance. The more yesterday talks happen the more he got disturbed.

"Spoilt sport...You missed the fun nannav" Nk sulked taking his place beside lavanya.

"Friends..." Nk diverted his attention on lavanya.

Lavanya hesitated and glanced at arnav before accepting his offer.

"What do you do Lavanyaji?" Nk asked filling his plate while others immersed on their breakfast except arnav who in the name of eating examining others.

"Working at London AR branch" She smiled taking a morsel of food.

"Don't say me you're like ASR, my eyes and ears bleed hearing his what the!!" He mimicked making others laugh at his facial expression.

"Shut up NK" Arnav bit out the words through gritted teeth.

Nk innocently put his index finger on his mouth and what followed was another fits of laughter amidst of three restless souls.

"Even school kids are more mature than him, excuse me" He muttered excusing himself from there.

"Chotte don't forget to take medicine" Anjali shouted feeding aashmi on the meantime.

Khushi too stood up after few seconds "I'll check on him"

"Hey chamikili, empty your plate. Half of the food is still there, now I can see how you look so slim" Lavanya made her to sit back.

"I am full Lavanyaji..." Khushi tried to get up. Payal sprang up from her seat "Khushi eat, you are looking pale"

Nk snapped his head hearing the word pale. He opened his mouth ask why but cut short by anjali voice who pestered khushi too eat.

***

"Khushiji..." Nk called her as climbing the stairs.

Khushi who reached up stopped on her tracks.

"Any problem? You looks pale khushiji" Nk asked now reaching khushi.

Khushi fiddled with her fingers contemplating whether to share her worry with him or not. She knows whenever she is in distress nk was always there to help her. If anyone she can trust with her secrets then it was Nk. Even when arnav showed distrust on shyam matter at first, Nk trusted her without a question.

"Yes" She nodded meekly.

"Come with me khushiji, not here we can talk on garden" Nk said remembering how she looks distracted from the time they came home. He mentally slapped himself for not asking her problem earlier.

When they reached garden khushi recited whatever happened till now without delay.

"I don't know what to do nanehji. Again someone is trying to separate us. They sent a photo but it disappeared within minutes. It's hard to believe someone from our family is doing this or helping the culprit. I can't digest it...How can I look everyone with doubt? I was clueless..." She buried her face on her palms.

"Khushiji, we'll find the person. Don't cry. I was with you, we'll find the person like last time" Nk consoled placing his hands on her shoulder.

"Who can it be? Di? Nani? Mami? Mama? Aakash jeejaji? Payal jiji..No they'll not do anything like that. I don't know nanehji" A stream of tears left her eyes.

"Khushiji. What if it was shyam?" Khushi looked up in shock "How can he be? He's in jail"

"Khushi...Khushi" Payal voice alerted them. Khushi quickly wiped the trace of tears.

"Someone is calling you, You left your phone in dining table" Informing this payal handed her the mobile and left back to room as aakash is sleeping still. She have to wake him.

Khushi smiled thankfully and attended it "Hello.."

"You didn't trust the proof right. Here is another proof, and this time a live show. Go to your room, see yourself what your Casanova husband is doing- Trust this well-wisher"

The voice ended not giving her a chance to speak. Her heart galloped fearing for the worst. Nk noticed her grim expression "Khushiji.."

Khushi ignored him and started running inside like a maniac. Panting heavily she reached her room only to get horrified. If not for the hold of Nk who run behind her she must have slumped on the ground.

______

What makes khushi shocked? What arnav did this time? What about your thoughts on anjali and lavanya? Will they be involved?

Stay tuned for answers!

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