Part 3

"Khushi"

Arnav got up and almost rushed to her. Khushi came into the hall by then. HP brought her luggage.

"Paa" Aashi called her father and threw her arms towards him.

Arnav took Aashi into his arms without any delay.

"Aashi. My baby" said Arnav and kissed Aashi all over her face.

Khushi looked at him frowning.. He didn't even acknowledged her presence.

Aashi in return patted her father's cheeks lovingly making him aware she too missed him.

The family is looking the father daughter's love in awe.. It is not new for them.

"Khushi. You said you will return tomorrow morning naa" asked Payal.

Khushi, along with Garima, Shashi and Buaji went to Lucknow to attend a marriage for two days. Payal too wanted to go but family didn't allowed her due to her pregnancy and also doctor warned them there are some complications in Payal's pregnancy. So, everyone are taking good care of her. Shashi can now walk with the help of stick and he can talk well.

Arnav came out of his daughter's trance.

"Haan Khushi. You came soo early" asked Arnav.

" The flight arrived early Arnavji. Amma and Buaji asked me to stay back tonight. But, I came to RM." Said Khushiji.

"You could have called me Khushi. I would have come to pick up you. Why did you travel alone in night ?"asked Arnav angrily.

"Haan Khushi Bitiya. Chote is right" said Nani.

"There is no need to fear Naniji. Actually Happy ji was coming in this area, so, I asked him to drop me and he did it." said Khushi.

Arnav, Nani and family relieved knowing it was Happy singh who dropped Khushi. They all trust him.

Khushi, then observed the two strangers in the hall.

Sensing it, Anjali said " Khushiji. She is Sheetal and he is her son Aarav. Sheetal is Chote's classmate in Harvard"

Then Anjali explained what happened in the evening.

" Are you Ok Now ?"asked Khushi to Sheetal.

"Yeah. I am fine now" said Sheetal faking a smile.

"Khushi Bitiya. How did the marriage went ?" asked Nani.

Khushi explained about the marriage sitting beside Arnav. Whole family is listening to her while Sheetal was bored off.

"Haan Maasi sent sweets for all of you" said Khushi.

She called HP, "HP ji. Can you bring a box on the top of my luggage ?"

Hp went to bring the box..

Aashi is now with Akash who is tickling her while Aashi is laughing out loud.

HP brought the sweets and Khushi was distributing them to all. Sheetal and Aarav took them faking a smile.

Payal was excited to take when Mami shouted NO.

"No Gupta one. You can't take that sweets. They are made in your middle class marriage. They are of low class and unhygiene. I don't want my grandchild to eat such foods" said Manorama. She doesn't have any grudges now with both Khushi and Payal. She loves them but won't show due to her attitude. She stopped calling them Khoon bari taang and Phati Saree. But she is not ready to call them even with their names. So, she introduced this names. Gupta one for Payal and Gupta two for Khushi.

Payal sulked hearing it while others gave an You won't change look to Manorama.

"Maa. One laddu won't harm the baby" said Akash.

"No. I don't listen to anyone in this matter. I know what is good for my grand child" said Manorama.

Payal left from there angrily while family including Akash sighed seeing it.

Aashi started to cry rubbing her eyes.

" Khushi. Seems like Aashi is sleepy. Let's go" said Arnav.

"Haan. Also it is already 10'o clock. Let's move to our rooms" said Anjali

Khushi took Aashi from Akash and everyone left to their rooms including Sheetal and Aarav.

In Arshi Room:

Khushi put Aashi to sleep and she came out of the washroom freshening up. Arnav came and hugged her.

"I miss you Khushi" said Arnav.

Khushi pushed him off and glared at him, "Liar"

"What the.. Liar!!" asked Arnav puzzled.

" You missed only your daughter not me. Everyone have seen how much you missed your daughter. You stopped missing me and caring for me from the time your daughter is born." Said Khushi.

Arnav smiled at her childishness. He came near her and tried to touch her but she backed off.

"Don't touch me" said Khushi.

"Khushi. I missed you too" said Arnav, " But how can I show everyone how much I missed you ?"

"Oh really, how you thought to show how you missed me ?"asked Khushi sarcastically.

Arnav pulled her into a deep kiss making Khushi gasp. He released her seeing her panting.

"What is this ?"asked Khushi panting.

"This is how I wished to show in the hall how much I missed you but I can't infront of whole family. Though I don't have any problem, it's you who will be teased later" said Arnav.

Khushi looked at him with narrowing eyes and smiled.

"ASR became a typical husband" said Khushi.

Arnav raised his eyebrow while Khushi hugged him then she remembered about Sheetal.

"Arnavji. Where is Sheetal ji's husband ?"asked Khushi.

Arnav explained her about what Sheetal said.

"Oh Poor her. How much difficult it will be for her to take care of a child alone ?" said Khushi.

"Honestly saying, I didn't like what Di did. What is the need to invite Sheetal to home ?" said Arnav.

"Di thought Sheetal ji lost her stay because of her, so she offered to stay in our house Arnavji" said Khushi.

"If it is so, I would have arranged Sheetal's stay in any hotel Khushi." Said Arnav.

"Leave it naa Arnavji. You know how Di is. She can't see anyone in trouble because of her" said Khushi.

Arnav sighed hearing it, " I need to say something to you Khushi"

"What is it Arnavji ?"asked Khushi.

Arnav hesitated for a minute, "Actually, Sheetal was my ex girl friend"

Khushi looked at him wide eyed and a disappointed look.

"NO Please, don't misunderstand me why I didn't said about Sheetal earlier. I don't even remember a girl named Sheetal was in my life until I saw her. I forgot her completely. Also, we just had dated for hardly three weeks. Then, we understood that we are not meant for each other and ended the relation."

Khushi didn't said anything and sat on the bed.

Seeing her silence, Arnav sat down on the floor before her on his knees. He took her hands, " Khushi. Sheetal means nothing to me. Neither then nor now. She was just my past which I forgot."

"Did you love her ?"asked Khushi.

"What the.. Love!! No way.. I dated Sheetal because few of our common friends pestered that we both make a great couple but that was proved wrong which even those friends accepted. The only girl whom I loved in my whole life in only you Khushi. It is you who taught me about love. I neither touched nor loved any girl in my life other than you. I swear on Aashi, there is nothing between me and Sheetal" said Arnav.

"I trust you Arnavji" said Khushi kissing his forehead.

"Thank you" said Arnav and placed his head in her lap. Khushi started ruffling his hairs lovingly.

In Payash Room:

Payal was sitting on the bed with a sulking face. She is getting irritated by her Mother in law's over protective nature. She won't allow her to eat anything from outside or Gupta house.

Akash entered the room very well aware of his wife's mood. From the time of pregnancy, the ever calm, composed Payal had became an angry young woman.. He had seen Khushi in pregnancy but she doesn't have this much mood swings but in the case of Payal, it was fully reverse. Her mood swings have taken a toll on her and she keeps him on his toes always. He was waiting for her delivery so that he can get back his ever calm, sweet Payal. He, even tried to talk with his mother but his mother is too stubborn. From the time doctor said Payal's pregnancy have complications, his mother became over cautious with Payal.

"Payal!!" called Akash with sweet voice.

Payal shot an angry look at him.

"What happened ?"asked Akash.

"Don't you know what happened Akash ?" asked Payal glaring at him,

" I don't have any freedom in this house to eat what I like" Payal sniffed at the end.

"It's not like that Payal. Maa is just worried for our baby" said Akash.

"Ohh. It means you are also saying that I don't know how to care for baby. I am a bad mother in your view. Isn't it ?" cried Payal.

"When did I said that ?"Akash asked horrified.

"Payal!!" Anjali entered the room with a small box in her hand.

"Di. See, your brother thinks I don't care for baby" said Payal crying.

"Di. I didn't. She is misunderstanding my words" said Akash.

Anjali asked him to stop by her eyes.

"See Payal, what I have brought for you ?" said Anjali and gave the box. Payal took out the box and saw laddus.

"Laddus!! For me" asked Payal with a happy face.

"Yeah. They are for you. They are the ones which your maasi sent from Lucknow. Me and Khushiji kept aside them to give you. We know Maami won't allow you to eat so I brought them secretly" said Anjali.

Payal hugged Anjali, " You are very good Di. I Love you soo much"

Anjali reciprocated the hug with a smile.

" I will leave now. Sleep" said Anjali and left from there.

Akash mouthed a thank you to his Di who smiled at him. He locked the door and turned to look at Payal who is relishing the taste of laddus.

"How are the laddus ?" asked Akash.

"They are very tasty Akash. Do you need one ?"asked Payal forwarding one laddu to him.

"No. You eat." Said Akash. It is very difficult to predict her mood.

"Your wish" said Payal and continued her laddu eating.

Thanks to those who have all voted and commented on previous update.

Next Part of the story is already in Inkitt.