The next morning, Khushi found herself cocooned in the warm embrace of her husband. Arnav had his arms wrapped around her small frame, cradling her to himself. Arnav stirred, pulling her closer, causing a smile to bloom on Khushi's face. She ran her fingers through his messed up hair, dropping a chaste kiss on his forehead. He looked like a child while sleeping, so carefree and innocent. Khushi felt her love for the man sleeping next to her overwhelming her. Carefully, she moved out of his hold, trying her best not to disturb his sleep. She glanced at her husband, smiled and pecked his lips softly whispering "I love you." in his ear making him smile in his sleep. She checked on Prisha, like she had been doing every three hours, the whole night. Thankfully, her princess was fast asleep in the crib for the time being, satisfied, she took her clothes and entered the washroom.

Arnav woke up a few minutes later, missing the warmth that had been engulfed in his arms for the most part of the last night and found the other end of the bed empty. He sighed, getting out of bed, towards his daughter's crib and found her sound asleep. He bent slightly and kissed his princess lightly on her forehead. Khushi came out of the bathroom wearing a simple black Kurti with white leggings, she was smiling at the endearing picture of her husband with their daughter.

"Good Morning Arnav." Khushi said softly, Arnav looked at her lovingly. "Good morning love. You look beautiful."

Khushi blushed, "It's the most non-special outfit that I've ever owned." She informed him, receiving a shrug from him in response. "What makes you think I would care about that sort of a thing?" He asked curiously.

Khushi shook her head at him fondly. Arnav grinned at her and pulled her into his arms. "I love you too." He whispered.

Khushi looked at him surprised, "You were awake?" She asked.

"Maybe?" Arnav answered, smiling mysteriously.

Khushi sighed and snuggled into his chest. Arnav kissed her hair. "Something on your mind, love?" He asked

Khushi nodded slightly, "Yesterday, you said you have questions. I.. think I have something that could help you find answers to at least some of your questions." Khushi said.

"What do you mean?" Arnav asked curiously.

Khushi stepped away from him, and looked around the room for a few minutes before making her way towards the bedside table. She opened the drawer and took out a thick black journal from it. She turned to Arnav with a smile on her face, "In your own words, this is one of my first and the most precious gifts to you." Khushi explained seeing Arnav's confused expression.

"A diary?" Arnav frowned cutely.

"Not the diary, but the habit of writing in a journal. I write.. actually- past tense, I used to write in my diary when I used to be upset or angry. It used to help me calm down, pour out my emotions and get them out of my head onto a paper. It has always worked for me. My diary was always there to listen to me when no one else was interested enough. Then, you came and you listened- well most of the time and I didn't feel the need to confide in my diary anymore. I write sometimes, although very rarely, you.. picked up on my habit of journaling shortly after we'd met. I.. think.. hope that you find something in there that can.. help you." Khushi said hopefully

Arnav took the diary form her hand, looked at it for a few minutes and then kept it on the bedside table. "I'll read it soon, but now let's go downstairs and have our breakfast before our family misunderstand the situation and we're both subjected to their relentless teasing sessions." Arnav said.

"I'm sure they'd understand." Khushi said, shrugging casually. Arnav smirked. "Really? So you don't want to go downstairs?" He asked mischievously.

Khushi shook her head- "No.. I-"

"I can think of quite a few things to do in here." Arnav said thoughtfully, walking up to Khushi "like.. this." He whispered teasingly in her ear, holding her firmly by her waist "this" he breathed, biting her earlobe. Khushi clutched his shoulder tightly, "Arnav.." She whispered, slightly breathless as Arnav dropped butterfly kisses down her neck. Khushi's eyes fluttered close, as he reached deeper into the curve of her neck. "Ar..Arnav." She whispered pleadingly.

Arnav tightened his hold on her, steadying her as he felt her nails clawing deeper into his back through the thin fabric of his T-Shirt. "Yes Khushi?" He asked her, gently nipping at the soft flesh of her neck, sending a jolt of sweet pain down her spine before kissing at the spot and soothing her pain. "Baby?"

Just as Arnav was about to lead her to the bed, Prisha stirs in her sleep, making small sounds of discomfort, attracting the attention of both of her parents who looked at each-other and blushed. Arnav kisses Khushi on her lips, one final time before rushing to the bathroom with his clothes making Khushi laugh at her husband's antics while she makes her way towards her daughter who was squirming in her place, her soft sobs on the verge of turning into loud wails. Khushi picked her up and began coo-ing at her in order to distract her.

***

Later that day, Arnav was sitting in his room, bent over a thick journal that Khushi had retrieved from the bedside table in the morning. Another notebook, of about the same shape and size was lying next to the diary that Arnav was currently engrossed in. The journal, true to the words of his wife, had answered many questions that he had been asking from himself and his family for months. His life had been an unsolved puzzle for the last few months, but the diary, his words and a few pictures that he found in his room, concerning the last few years of his life had provided to him many of the missing pieces of the puzzle that gave him a much better and clearer picture. He had just finished reading his journal, when Aman knocked on the door of his room, not wanting to startle or interrupt him, if he was doing something personal.

"Come in." Arnav said, distractedly. Aman entered the room and sat in front of his best friend. Arnav smiled at him.

"Didn't expect you to show up here." Arnav said, "I appreciate it nonetheless."

"What is it?" Arnav asked, looking up at Aman when he didn't hear him say anything for a moment too long. Aman smiled, "Khushi told me what happened. I just wanted to make sure that you were.. y'know fine." He said truthfully. Arnav nodded, "All things considered, it could've been worse. I'm okay." Arnav assured his best friend.

Aman sighed, "Right. If you have any questions, you can ask me." He said, softly. "I will answer them, if I can. If.. they'll not have an adverse effect on your health."

Arnav laughed. "I know that Aman." He said

"Where are your princess & your queen?" Aman asked curiously.

"I think Anjali di took my 'princess' with her to the garden about ten minutes ago and my 'queen' went to the kitchen to get me coffee." Arnav informed him.

Aman nodded, breathing in deeply. "Do you know something.. anything about Khushi's maternal family?" He asked, "Did Khushi get a chance to tell you about that?"

"Firoz & Rehan?" Arnav enquired. "Khushi didn't tell me about them, but there are quite a few references to them in her old diary."

Arnav gestured towards the other book lying on the table. Aman nodded, "So you know the basics, or do we have to start from the scratch?" he asked

"I know Khushi had a shitty childhood. Her father and brother forced her to marry one of their allies and she refused, ran from home and came to me." Arnav informed him. "Also I do remember quite a lot of things about them."

Aman nodded thoughtfully. "Firoz was complicated, he wasn't exactly an ideal father to either of his children. Firoz was never there for Khushi and she never got the love, the affection that she deserved from him. She was young when her mother died, and Firoz never remarried. Rehaan was Khushi's half brother. Firoz had killed Rehaan's mother shortly after he came to know about his son and brought him.. home. Khushi and Rehaan were close in the beginning, almost insaperable then Firoz messed Rehaan up, lured him into the gangster business and things got complicated between them. Rehaan became Firoz's favorite child, because he was the one who'd inherit the whole dark empire that Firoz had spent more than half his life building from scratch. Rehaan is the new king of the mafia after his father's fortunate demise." Aman was interrupted by a chuckle.

"Yes. They're essentially your words." Aman said.

"Go on." Arnav leaned back into the chair. Aman nodded "I had perceived Rehaan to be part of the problem when Khushi had come to you all those years, running away from home. I always thought that Rehaan wanted Khushi to be a part of their world just as much as his father did but it seems that's not the case after all.." Aman told him, making Arnav frown.

"When the news of your accident reached me, and eventually when Khushi too found out about it, the first person that we thought responsible, was Rehaan. He even visited you in the hospital and that should've solidified my conclusion but.."

***

Aman was sitting in the corridor outside Arnav's private room when he caught sight of a familiar face down the hall. The man was facing in the other direction, such that only a side of his face visible to Aman but that was enough for him to recognize him

Rehaan

Aman stood up from the chair, walking up to him. "Rehaan.." Aman smirked at him "Didn't think I'd find you here."

"I was fairly certain I would find you here, on the other hand." Rehaan smirked back, folding his arms on his chest. Aman rolled his eyes at Rehaan. "You won't try anything, not here, not in front of so many people." Aman said confidently.

Rehaan sighed, "I wasn't planning to. I know it's hard to believe but I don't want to hurt them." Rehaan said.

"Don't mind me if I don't believe you." Aman said sarcastically.

Rehaan chuckled, "I won't I guess but I need you to hear me out Aman, I need you to trust me."

Aman had an amused smile etched on his face. "Trust you?"

Rehaan groaned, "Aman, I was two and a half when Firoz killed my mother just because she refused to give me away, because she didn't want me to be a part of the life that my father had in store for me. I don't even know what she looked like when she was alive. Khushi is the closest thing that I have for a mother, a sister. I know that we don't exactly share that kind of bond anymore but once upon a time, Khushi was the one who held me through my nightmares after I witnessed our father killing someone in front of us, and that too when her own mother's death was still fresh in her mind. She was the one who distracted me whenever I needed a distraction. She used to sing lullabies for me, she did it long enough for me to remember all of them word for word. I know that I'm the one who drove a wedge between us. I'm the one who left but if not me, then it would have been her. The least that I can do for her, being her brother is to save her from becoming the one person that she hates, with all of her life. a murderer, the ruler of her father's world. Firoz is gone, I'm the new king, and I don't hate being the king. I don't love it but I don't hate it either."

"I left that day, knowing full well of the consequences that I would have to face. I was ready for them as long as they ensured that she'd stay out of it. I know I've hurt her and believe me I didn't want to, but I can't lose her too. Firoz didn't want her to leave the darkness that she had grown up in, and however selfish might I sound, when I say this but, I didn't either, but when I told Arnav that she belongs in our world. I was lying. I lied because Firoz wanted her back at any cost. He wanted to show Arnav that nothing he did was enough to prevent her from returning. I had two options, either I could bring her back or shoot her in her head. Kill her like he killed my mother. One bullet, straight through her head!" Rehaan shuddered, as if terrified of the possibility.

"I had two options, 1. I could bring her back to Firoz and watch her dying bit by bit in a world that she hated being a part of. 2. I could let her be in the world that made her happy and Firoz would drive a bullet through her head for abandoning the mafia and risking exposure. I chose the first option, or at least pretended to, I didn't think of anything else, tried to protect her from..- by pretending." Rehaan gulped, squeezing his eyes shut

Aman watched him, his gaze burning through Rehaan. "You've been douche Rehaan, you've been horrible to her. I've seen her cry, terrified for her life and Arnav's. Nothing you say is going to convince me that you are a good guy." He said, "So forgive me, if I don't buy this act."

Rehaan sighed, "I'm not a good guy Aman. I'm the villain, the murderer. I kill people, rule the mafia, and I have learned to enjoy every moment of it. I'm not a saint Aman, you're right but I will never hurt her. She is my sister. The only reason I pretended to want her back was because the other alternative was to see her dead. As long as I kept pretending to try and bring her back, I protected her from getting killed by her own father. Now that Firoz is dead, she is free. I will not take her freedom away from her, because I know that she doesn't want to have anything to do with the mafia or me." Rehaan said softly.

"She'd be much happier here, with her husband and child and so I will leave her here." He shrugged.

"Firoz died weeks ago, you are still stalking her." Aman said exasperated. "How do you want to explain that?"

Rehaan groned, losing his patience rapidly, "Yes. I'm stalking her. I know exactly where she is, I know exactly what she's doing. I know what people she meets with on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. I've known that for years Aman. I know that Arnav Singh Raizada is stronger than me, but If I really wanted to, I'd have snatched Khushi right out of Arnav's arms and dragged her back to hell and none of your so called security people could've stopped me, I just didn't want to." Rehaan said coolly.

"Firoz never doubted you?" Aman asked, surprised.

"It was difficult, but I'm a good pretender. I made you, Khushi and Arnav think, for years that I'm a threat to you, when I'm not in reality. I made Khushi believe that there's no use fighting for me, I made her give up on me, years ago, when she was the one who knew me better than she even knew herself." Rehaan said, smirking.

"You're not a threat.. to them?" Aman looked skeptical still.

"I am not. If you don't believe me, I'll happily provide you with every evidence that proves otherwise. I'm not going to hurt Khushi, Arnav or their family in any way. I, however, won't stop keeping tabs on her. She's my sister and while I know that she doesn't need me in her life, which is fair, but I need to know that she's safe. I just need to, like it's an impulse, a part of conscience. I won't intrude in her life, I promise and I don't need a clean slate from her. I don't want her to start caring about me. We're way past that but I need to know that my last family is safe. I need to know for sure." Rehaan said earnestly.

Aman considered him, thoughtfully. "What is to assure me that you won't turn this in your favor, hurt them. What is to assure me that whatever you said just now wasn't just a bunch of BS?" He asked.

"I told you I'd give you proof. If you don't believe me, you can get me arrested, I've done plenty of wrong things. You're Aman Mathur, I'm sure you can dig something up and get me out of their lives, keep them safe. I just want to have regular updates about my sister, nothing else. You'll always know what I'm upto I can't do anything when you're around either way. I haven't tried but I've learnt not to underestimate you. Khushi's pregnancy was a secret to me until two weeks ago." Rehaan sounded desperate.

"Arnav's lost his memory, you're trying to manipulate me-" Aman was stopped short by Rehaan. "What did you just say?"

"Stop pretending Rehaan! Stop bloody pretending that you care." Aman snapped.

"I do Aman, whether you believe it or not. Khushi is the most important person in my life. She's the only family that I have left!!" Rehaan snapped back, eyes burning in rage. "Now, what did you just say?"

"He's lost his memory.. he has amnesia. He doesn't remember the last three years of his life." Aman told him.

"Khushi will go insane. He is her whole life!" Rehaan looked terrified up at him.

***

"You believe him?" Arnav asked, surprised.

"I do now. I didn't, at that time. He worked hard. He gave me proof of his sincerity. I realized that while we were two steps ahead of him quite a few times, we were way far behind too, at times and he could have hurt any of you at that time, he didn't. Your security teams have his people. He has killed many of his father's trusted men when they were getting closer to Khushi. He's not got a clean slate. I'm not saying that he's all good but he is on our team when it comes to Khushi's safety." Aman told him.

"He had threatened to take Khushi away on more than one occasion. I remember that, at least." Arnav said.

Aman sighed. "I had the same doubt."

***

"Why would you threaten them when you weren't going to act up on the threats?" Aman asked curiously.

"I had to put up shows, an occasional intimidation or two, meetings here and there, meaningful leads kept Firoz from doubting me. It made it easier for me to keep her away from him with the combined help of your security and mine." Rehaan shrugged. "The other thing is, that I was never planning to show up here with all these explanations. I was going to stay the hell away and let y'all live your own life the way you wanted."

"What changed your mind?" Aman asked

"Arnav was hit by a truck. The truck was not supposed to be at that place, at that time. I know shady when I see shady Aman. This was not a normal accident." Rehaan said solemnly.

Aman frowned, "What do you mean?" He asked

***

"He thinks that my accident was planned?" Arnav asked, surprised.

"It was." Aman informed him. He stood up from the chair and walked up to a bookshelf. He extracted a file and walked back to Arnav. He kept the file on the table. "I brought this here, two days ago, to show it to Khushi so that we could reopen your hit and run case.. This is the official copy of the police investigation." Aman turned a few pages, showing him the official police report. "They closed the case, terming it as a simple hit and run, but-" He turned a few more pages, "Look here- The truck doesn't have a number plate. The people who brought you to the hospital testified about it and Rehaan tracked down the driver of this vehicle-" Aman showed him a photograph, "-from a small village near rohtak. He confessed to Rehaan that he was paid by a lady. He doesn't recognise the lady but there can't be too many ladies in this world who'd want you dead."

Arnav looked confused, but curious at the same time. "I know you Mathur, you're closer to cracking this than you're letting on." He said casually, Aman smirked.

"You really do know me too well.." Aman smirked.

"So.." Arnav raised his eyebrow at him.

"The evidence is clear enough for the police to carry the investigation forward, but they've taken the easy road ahead. The reasons that they've given are plain stupid." Aman said, skimming through the file, along with Arnav. "The police isn't that dumb, inspite of what popular opinion says. It's clear that they've been ordered to stop their investigation from a much higher authority."

Arnav nodded thoughtfully.

"That narrows our list down a tad bit. The people who are involved have strong contacts in all the right places." Aman added.

"You have names?" Arnav asked flatly.

Aman nodded, a smirk reappearing on his lips. "The Kapoors, or to be precise, Sheetal Kapoor."

Arnav frowned. "Why would she want me dead? I hardly know that woman." Arnav looked at Aman, surprised. "I mean as far as I can tell."

Aman's eyes softened at his best friend. The uncertainty, the doubt that he could see in Arnav's eyes made anger and disgust flare through his whole being.

Sheetal.. you b***

"You're right. You have met that woman three times in total. Out of which two times you were both invited at a common friend's party and the third time.." His expression turned rigid. "She fooled her way into your house."

At Arnav's questioning gaze, he recounted whatever he had gotten to know about the final meeting between Sheetal and Arnav from her father Anjali or Nani.

Arnav fumbled with his words, "Wha.. Seriously?"

Aman nodded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Yeah.. I know. I get it."

Arnav breathed in, as if trying to take it all in. Aman kept his hand on Arnav's, trying to reassure him.

"Khushi knows?" Arnav asked

Aman nodded, "I told her a few weeks back. She doesn't know about the part that Rehaan played in everything, which was what the man himself wanted, but she knows about Sheetal's involvement in your accident."

"Where is Sheetal Kapoor?" Arnav asked, frowning. "I mean, clearly you have done something about her after all, this is all in plain sight."

"She's in police custody. We had managed to get the driver of the truck to come and testify against her in the court and we also managed to get the case to restart and the investigation to move forward, this time, without any external pressures. Or maybe a little external pressure since the case had the direct involvement of a certain mafia princess, a mafia king and a fashion king, all at once. The police found enough evidence to put her behind the bars for a long time for trying to put your life in danger. She's also been recommended to go through therapy for the next few months, by the court." Aman explained to him.

"I can't believe all of this was happening and I had no idea." He chuckled wearily.

Aman took a deep breath, "You already had a lot on your plate. We were hoping to keep this quiet till you were in a better place both emotionally & mentally." He said.

The next few minutes passed in silence, both the men sat quietly in contemplation, their thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the room's door, Arnav looked up to find Khushi standing at the threshold of the room, smiling. She held a tray with three cups of coffee. Arnav smiled at her, gesturing for her to enter.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything serious." Khushi looked at the two men apprehensively. Arnav took the tray from her hands and kept it on the coffee table before pulling Khushi on his lap, earning a surprised squeal from her and a chuckle from the other man.

Arnav rolled his eyes at Aman and proceeded to pull his wife closer to himself, burying his face in her beautiful long hair. Khushi blushed, yet her hands reached almost instantly to his hair, running gently through his soft locks.

"I can't even tell you both to get a room!" Aman whined, teasing them. Arnav pulled away, leveled him with a glare and resumed his place in his wife's arms.

"You're shameless!" Khushi mumbled, chastising him cutely. "Whatever Khush." He responded, disinterested.

Aman laughed, "Let him be Khushi, I'm more than used to this side of him." He assured her.

Arnav looked curiously at him. "Really?"

"Yes. You always seem to have a problem with keeping your hands off your wife, even in public. It's like you're marking your territory." Aman said, rolling his eyes. "I've always been close by to witness you going all possessive for Khushi."

Arnav smirked. Khushi blushed slightly, "C..Coffee.. will get cold."

Arnav laughed and dropped a kiss on her cheek. "I love you so much Khushi."

"I love you too." Khushi replied.

Aman smiled at the couple, sending a thousand prayers to the God above for their and their family's well-being.

"What were you talking about?" Khushi asked.

"I was filling him in about what happened after the accident and the Sheetal-Situation." Aman informed Khushi. She nodded. "It wasn't difficult to get the evidence and get her imprisoned. She had done a horrible job at covering her tracks."

"Now she's gone for good. The court had asked for her medical reports and there are a few abnormalities in her mental state. The court has ordered for her to go through therapy for a few months. In conclusion, she'll just stay the hell out of your life for the betterment of her own." Aman said proudly.

Khushi smiled. Arnav joined their foreheads and pecked her lips softly. "Everything is fine now baby. I'll make sure it stays that way for the rest of our lives."

Khushi nodded. "I believe you." She whispered quietly.

***

I know its horrible manners keep you waiting for so long. I can't help it, honestly, I do have a pretty filled up schedule right about now. i'm sorry for keeping you all waiting. here's the last chapter for this story, it was meant to be the epilogue but the way it is structured it looked more like a chapter. There's nothing that is actually left with this story so, this is where it'll end. 

As I had said in the last chapter, I didn't really have much to offer with this story in the first place, it was meant to end between 5-10 parts. i have done everything that I could to make this story worth your while, I hope you share the same sentiments. 

i hope you like it. Don't forget to share your views.

Amazing
Good
Bad
Bearable

Vote
Comment
Follow [For More]

Love
Vinny