Khushi turned back to hear Buaji’s reply and saw her Babuji sitting helplessly amidst the chaos. Her heart sank as tears rushed to her eyes, witnessing her family in turmoil.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot," Buaji whispered, lowering her eyes, her voice heavy with pain.

"Yes, Buaji is right. We won’t break any relationship with Amma and Khushi. If Akash wants, then he can..." Payal’s voice faltered as she began sobbing, unable to continue.

"Payal," Akash gasped, surprised by the strength in her words yet saddened to see her in tears.

Khushi stood frozen for a moment, her eyes scanning the faces around her.. each one etched with pain, confusion, and anger. But amidst them, one person stood apart, a malicious smile tugging at his lips. Shyam. His subtle nod of thanks to Dadi didn’t escape Khushi’s notice. Why was he smiling? Had Shyam manipulated Dadi into this drama? The pieces of the puzzle slowly began falling into place. She couldn't stand back and let him wreak havoc on her family again. She had to act.

Khushi’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of the chaos that had erupted around her. It had all been going well, too well. Dadi had accepted her, even given her the bangles. Arnav had shown her a side of his heart that no one else had ever seen. But now, everything was crumbling, and Khushi couldn’t shake the feeling that something or someone was behind it.

Shyam.

The thought of him made her blood boil. He had done it before, and he was capable of doing it again. She recollected every vile thing he had done, starting with the day he had wormed his way into her life, pretending to be a kind and noble man. He had engaged her under false pretenses, making her believe he was single, all the while being married to Anjali. He had manipulated her, deceived her, and almost destroyed her faith in love.

Then there was the kidnapping. Arnav had gone missing, and her world had been turned upside down. Khushi remembered the sheer terror she had felt during those days, searching desperately for him. And when the truth had come out, that Shyam had orchestrated the entire kidnapping just to get rid of Arnav and claim his wealth. It had shattered whatever remaining doubt she had about the kind of man Shyam truly was.

Every memory of his evil deeds flashed before her eyes. His obsessive pursuit of her, even after his lies had been exposed, his manipulative nature, the way he had played with Anjali’s emotions, pretending to be the perfect husband while plotting behind her back. Shyam was a man without a conscience, willing to do anything to get what he wanted. And now, it seemed he had found a new way to stir trouble, this time using Dadi as his pawn.

Khushi’s hands clenched into fists. Yes, Shyam was capable of this. He had always been cunning, always hiding behind a mask of innocence while pulling the strings from the shadows. And Dadi, blinded by her own prejudices, was the perfect tool for him to use. It all made sense now. The sudden shift in Dadi’s attitude, her blind hatred towards Khushi, the way she seemed determined to tear her and Arnav apart. It was Shyam. He was behind this, manipulating events as he always had, poisoning minds and turning family members against each other.

But Khushi wasn’t the same naive girl Shyam had once fooled. She was stronger now, wiser. She had learned from her past experiences, and this time, she wouldn’t let him win. She could feel a surge of determination rise within her, a fire that had been ignited by the sheer injustice of it all. She had Arnav by her side, she had the Raizada family who had accepted her, and most importantly, she had her own inner strength.

Khushi straightened her back, feeling the weight of her new role as Mrs. Raizada settle upon her shoulders. She was no longer just Khushi Kumari Gupta. She was Arnav Singh Raizada’s wife, and with that title came the responsibility to protect her family, her marriage, and herself. Shyam had underestimated her before, but this time she wouldn’t back down. She would tackle this problem with the smartness and resilience that had always been her strength.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Khushi vowed to bring the truth to light. She would expose Shyam for the manipulative snake he was and make sure he could never harm her family again. She would stand tall, bringing out the fierce, protective Mrs. Raizada within her, ready to face whatever challenges came her way. Shyam might have caused this drama, but Khushi was determined to end it on her terms.

Taking a deep breath, Khushi closed her eyes for a second, praying to Devi Maiya for strength. She knew what she had to do, even if it hurt.

"Enough!" she roared, her voice echoing with a rare intensity that startled everyone into silence. "Buaji, take Amma and Babuji home. I’ll handle everything here. Jiji, no one will break your marriage, and I won’t let anyone break mine either."

"But Khushi..." Garima began, her voice breaking as she looked at her daughter.

"Amma, please trust me. I know you’re innocent, and I’ll prove it. But right now, go home. Take care of Babuji," Khushi urged, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

Garima, with tears in her eyes, nodded and folded her hands in front of Nani and Anjali before leaving with Buaji and Shashi, who sat quietly in his wheelchair.

As they exited, Mami couldn’t resist sniping, "Have you lost your mind, phati sari? No one will accept you or your sister in this house now. Hello hi bye bye."

Khushi met her with an unwavering gaze. "Let Jijaji decide that, Mamiji."

She turned to Akash, standing tall, her eyes searching for support. "Jiju, do you still accept Jiji as your wife after all that’s happened?"

Akash looked at his mother, torn between her expectations and the love he had for Payal. After a pause, he took a deep breath and said, "Payal and you are not responsible for the past. I stand by my wife."

Payal felt incredibly fortunate to have Akash as her husband, someone who stood by her and spoke his mind without being swayed by his mother’s misconceptions. She smiled at Khushi, silently thanking her for making this moment possible.

"But Akash bitwa..." Mami tried to protest, but Nani quickly interrupted.

"Akash is right. This isn’t Khushi or Payal’s fault. They didn’t know about any of this."

Dadi, however, remained unmoved.

"Devyani, you can decide whatever you want for your grandson Akash, but I won’t let this girl ruin my Arnav’s life," Dadi said with clear bias.

"But Dadi, Chhote should be allowed to make his own decision, just as Akash has," Anjali chimed in, making Shyam angrily stare at her.

Dadi’s face twisted with anger. "Arnav will never accept this girl. She is the daughter of the woman responsible for his parents' deaths!"

Khushi flinched at the harsh words, but she stood her ground. "If you think so, then I’m sorry to say, Dadi, Arnavji will accept me. He will be the one to bring me back to Shantivan," Khushi said with determination.

"That will never happen," Dadi spat before turning to leave, signaling everyone else to follow her.

Payal clutched Khushi’s hand tightly, but Khushi, with a calm expression, reassured her. "Go home with Jijaji. I’ll bring Arnavji back with me."

NK hesitated, not wanting to leave Khushi alone, but after her insistence, he finally relented and followed the rest.

Just as they reached the door, Khushi called out, her voice steady and full of determination. "Wait, Jiji," Khushi called loudly, making everyone look back at her. "Keep the aarti thaal ready to welcome me and my husband," she said with a smile.

Akash, Payal, and NK smiled back at her, while Anjali and Nani silently prayed to Devi Maiya, hoping Khushi’s trust would not be broken. Mami, as usual, wore an annoyed expression. Shyam gave an evil look, and Dadi’s face reflected pure disgust for Khushi. They all returned to Shantivan, leaving Khushi alone at the wedding altar.

________________________

Meanwhile, Arnav sat alone in the garden, staring blankly at the roses his mother once nurtured. He was deep in thought that he could almost hear her voice, the memory clear as day.

"Kaante hamesha hame takleef dete rahe, lekin unki saza hum phoolon ko nahi de sakte." (The thorns always hurt us, but we cannot punish the flowers for it.)

Tears blurred his vision as he wiped his face. He had faced countless challenges, but the loss of his mother was a wound that never healed. And now, once again, the pain resurfaced, consuming him. He wasn’t usually this emotional, but when it came to his mother, the 14-year-old Arnav seemed to replace the strong ASR.

He felt someone’s hand on his shoulder. Unsurprisingly, it was Khushi, who instinctively knew where he would be.

Just two days ago, everything had seemed perfectly fine. Dadi, in a rare moment of affection, had given Khushi the bangles which heirlooms passed down through generations of Raizada women. It was a significant gesture, one that symbolized Khushi’s acceptance into the family. Arnav had watched the scene unfold with a quiet sense of satisfaction, thinking that maybe, just maybe, the storm in their lives had finally settled.

That evening, Arnav had taken Khushi to the very garden they are now in, his mother’s garden. It wasn’t just a patch of land with flowers; it was a sanctuary for Arnav, a place deeply rooted in his heart. His mother had adored this space, and in many ways, Arnav still felt her presence here. To him, this was not merely a garden, it was a living memory of her.

As they walked through the rows of roses and jasmine, Arnav had shared with Khushi stories of his childhood. He spoke of how his mother used to spend hours here, tending to the flowers, her touch gentle, almost magical, as if the blooms responded only to her. He told Khushi how, even after her death, he believed that she remained in this garden, watching over him, comforting him when no one else could.

"Whenever I’m upset, I come here," Arnav had confessed that day, his voice soft yet carrying the weight of years of pain. "It feels like she’s still here, waiting for me like she used to when I’d come back from school. I’d find her in this garden, sitting quietly, reading or just admiring the flowers."

He had paused then, his eyes scanning the greenery, almost as if he was looking for her still. "I wanted you to meet her," he had added, surprising Khushi with the depth of his vulnerability. "I know it sounds strange, but I feel like if you’re here, she’ll know you... she’ll know how much you mean to me."

Khushi had listened, her heart full as she understood the gravity of this place for him. It was more than a physical location; it was where Arnav came to feel the love he had lost, where he sought refuge when the weight of the world became too much to bear.

And so, when Arnav had disappeared after the confrontation with Dadi, Khushi instinctively knew where he would be. She knew he would retreat to the one place that had always been a source of comfort for him his mother’s garden. That’s why she had come looking for him here. Because Arnav, no matter how strong he appeared, still found solace in the memory of his mother, and in this garden, she still felt close to him.

She sat beside him, holding his hand in hers. They didn’t need to look at each other to communicate. Both of them sat upright, not facing each other. The silence between them spoke volumes. Khushi swallowed hard before beginning.

"Arnavji, I understand how you're feeling right now. I... I can't take your pain away, but I can share it with you." Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in his anguish.

He didn’t respond for sometime. His jaw clenched, and his eyes remained fixed on the flowers.

"Why?" he finally whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"Why is it that whenever we find a bit of happiness, it gets snatched away from us?" Arnav asked, his frustration spilling over.

Khushi turned to him, her heart breaking at the sight of his grief. This wasn’t her strong, confident Arnavji.. Today, the 14-year-old boy inside him had taken over. This was the boy who had been abandoned by fate too many times. Her Arnavji never complained about life, he always believed in shaping his own destiny.

"Everything will be alright again," she tried to reassure him.

"No, Khushi," Arnav choked. "It will never be the same. I... I lost her. I lost my mother. And now... now I might lose you too."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She had never seen him so broken.

"Go away, Khushi. Just... leave me," Arnav muttered, his voice filled with anguish.

Khushi’s eyes widened in shock. "Arnavji..." she began, but the hurt in his eyes silenced her.

_________________________

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Uzma.