Hey fellas..

Here's the third part of this story...

Quite many readers correctly guessed, why & where Arnav brought Khushi...

But Army385 was the first one to guess it & then noordina1 successfully decoded the whole secret... Awesome job sweeties 👏👏

I must say, my readers possess some real fertile brains 😜

Now here goes the update...

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"All her test reports are normal Mr. Raizada. Her body is absolutely ready for the surgery. We can operate her on the decided day, that is overmorrow. You need to admit her here by tomorrow evening. Just keep her stress free till then. After the surgery, she will be completely hale & hearty." The doctor said in his American accent, smiling reassuringly at a restless Arnav, who was sitting with Khushi beside him, in the lavish cabin of the best cardiologist of US.

Arnav was all attentive towards the doctor's words of assurance. But Khushi was not paying any heed to the doctor, as she was busy admiring the man, sitting beside her.

Arnav Singh Raizada, an enigma, who is very hard to decode, but has successfully managed to make his way through her punctured heart.

"CLEVELAND HEART CLINIC" was the board, she had read, the moment she had stood infront of the huge building, after landing in OHIO, U.S

Her weak heart had assessed everything immediately, that he knows about her disease & has got her here for her treatment.

But why?? Why did he lie to her?? Why did he lay such indecent proposal, when his motive was so genuine?? Why didn't he tell her the truth in India itself?? But the main question was, why was he doing all these for her?? Why was he ready to spent so much for her surgery?? Who was she to him, to do such huge obligation on her??

She had tried to ask him her doubts, but he had shushed her stating that he would answer all her questions once they are done with all her pre-surgery tests. Khushi had complied to his words & had let the doctor do all the required tests & now they are sitting in front of the cardiologist, who is going to operate her, day after tomorrow.

"These are some medicines you need to give her for these two days before the surgery. Also the dietary restrictions mentioned, should be followed strictly Mr. Raizada, to avoid any kind of hindrance in the surgery." The doctor instructed, handing the prescription & Khushi's file to Arnav.

Arnav nodded keeping the file carefully in his handbag & the prescription in his jacket pocket.

"Thanks doctor. I will follow all your instructions to the T." Arnav assured. Doctor nodded.

"We will see you tomorrow doc." Arnav shook hands with the doctor & stood up, expecting Khushi to follow suit.

But when he saw Khushi lost in her thoughts, unmindful of the surroundings, he slowly shook her by her shoulders, bringing her out of her reverie.

"Let's go Khushi." Arnav said, forwarding his hand towards her.

She looked at his face for a few seconds & then got up from her chair, holding his hand.

Giving a light smile to the doctor, who reciprocated nodding curtly at her, she walked out of the cabin, with Arnav.

The moment they were out of the hospital premises, Khushi tried to talk to him. But again Arnav hushed her, keeping his finger on her lips.

"We will talk after we reach home Khushi." He replied, moving his finger from her lips.

"Home??" She asked frowning.

He nodded. "Yes Khushi. I keep on coming here for business purpose. So I have purchased a small house here, for a homely stay during all my visit. We are going to stay there only tonight. Come." He ushered her towards the car, holding her hand.

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Once they reached home, he showed her the full house. The house was small yet cozy. There were two bedrooms, hall with open kitchen, small front yard & a beautiful garden in the backyard. The lavish interiors of the house, was screaming of Arnav Singh Raizada's taste. But right now nothing interested her more then the answers, she was eager to seek from him.

Seeing her eagerness to talk, he instructed her to finish with the dinner first, as she has to have her meds, prescribed by her doctor, which they had bought from the hospital medical.

They had their dinner prepared by his cook, according to his instructions, keeping her dietary restrictions in mind.

Now she was waiting for him in one of the bedrooms provided to her. He had asked her to get freshen up & change for the night, till he makes some important calls.

The bedroom door opened & he came in, changed in his night wear.

He handed her, her meds, which she gulped with water, without fussing.

Arnav then made her sit comfortably on the bed & sat opposite her.

It's time for confrontations & revelations.

"Khushi." He entwined their hands on her lap & moved closer to her. "As per your doctor's instructions, I need you to keep you stress free till your surgery. So I would have preferred to postpone our conversation till your surgery is done successfully. But I know, you would stay restless & highly stressed until you don't get your queries answered, which might hamper your health. So I'm ready to have this conversation now, to keep you stress free. But promise me Khushi, you will not get anxious or stressed up, at any point of time during our conversation??" Arnav kept his condition sternly, forwarding his hand.

Khushi immediately nodded like an obedient child, keeping her hand on his.

Arnav sighed, smiling mildly at her. "I will answer all your queries Khushi, but before that you tell me, how & when did you come to know about your disease?? Though I know mostly everything, still I want to hear from you." He told her softly.

She gulped painfully, remembering the day she had come to know about her disease.

"Arnavji.." She started. "That day after giving you my resignation letter at your house, I was returning home when suddenly I felt dizzy & nauseated on the road. My head started spinning terribly & I felt a pinching ache in my chest. I sat down for a while on a nearby house steps, holding my head." Arnav gripped her hand tight, feeling awful, of her being alone on the road, in such condition.

"Luckily, I was nearby the clinic of the same doctor, who had treated me the previous night, when you had got me home unconscious, saving from that dilapidated building. After feeling a bit better, I straightaway went to that doctor & filled him with whatever I was going through that time. He checked my heart beats & bp first & then asked me some details like since when & how often I experience those medical issues?? After initial hesitation, I had revealed to him with the secrets, which I never did to my family as well." She said looking at Arnav, who frowned at her.

"I was experiencing such blackouts since childhood. But they weren't these prominent as my parents used to seek medical attention immediately. But then after losing my parents, the intensity of those symptoms increased." Arnav's eyes widened in shock.

"But.. But your parents are very much.. alive Khushi!!" He asked his confusion.

"They are my maasi-masaji, who became amma-babuji for me, as they adopted me after my parents' demise." She replied with a sad smile.

Arnav felt a lump clogging his throat, which he gulped with great difficulty.

He was unable to form a word. With a slight bounce of his head, he gestured her to continue further.

"After I lost my parents, I used to faint more often. My foster family thought it to be due to the shock of my parents' demise. So they started giving more attention & love to me. Babuji used to give me his hand made jalebis & I used to get happy. Eventually I started getting better health wise, due to their kinship. But still sometimes I used to feel lightheaded & dizzy. But when I complained to them about the same, they used to think of it as my prank to get jalebis, which I used to get every time. So I also didn't bothered to make them believe my words, as I was getting jalebis to eat. Then as I got busy with my new family, my new school, new friends, I felt the symptoms lessening or may be I had learnt to neglect them. As I grew up, I myself had learnt to make jalebis. So, I completely stopped telling them about the symptoms which I used to still experience, but rarely." Khushi said with a distant look in her eyes, as if she was having flashes of those days.

Arnav caressed the back of her hand, bringing her attention back on him & their talk.

Khushi continued further.

"Then as time passed, I learnt living with such dizziness & blackouts. Though the frequency had lessened a lot. But suddenly since past few days, I'm experiencing those issues terribly." She said.

Arnav knows the reason why everything increased all of a sudden because her condition was getting more critical & somewhat due to his callous actions towards her as well.

"Then Khushi??" He prompted.

"After hearing everything patiently, the doctor suggested me to go through some tests. I asked him whether they were necessary. The doctor said to do them as soon as possible. His words were enough to understand that there's something terribly wrong inside my body, which is causing all these issues & only proper investigation can reveal the reason. I asked the doctor about the cost for those reports. 5000, he had replied. Then I left the clinic. I was stuck, how to arrange such a big amount. We hardly were able to manage our daily expenses. But I had to do those tests so with a heavy heart, I went to a jeweller & pawned my mother's anklets, the only remembrance of her, I had with me." She said looking down guiltily at her bare ankles, which had adorned her mother's anklets for a long time.

Understanding her emotional state, Arnav wiped the tears, dangling on her eyelids, threatening to fall. Moving forward, he kissed her forehead tenderly, lending his silent support.

"Next day under the pretext of going to the temple, I went to the lab suggested by my doctor, to get the reports done. I was supposed to get the reports in the evening. I was restless the whole day. In the evening, I somehow managed to sneak from the house alone & went to get the reports & then to my doctor. ASD, ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT...After going through the reports he had declared the name of the disease I was suffering from. I couldn't understand the medical term. So he explained to me in simple words which weren't that simple actually, as they literally pulled the ground beneath my feet." She gripped his hands tightly, to draw strength for herself, from him.

"He explained that I had a hole, in the wall between the two upper chambers of my heart & the reports clearly stated that I'm suffering from this disease since childhood. But the lack of medical investigation & my own negligence didn't let it to be revealed earlier, causing more damage to my already punctured heart. He then explained all the symptoms, causes & its repercussions. I couldn't understand anything he said except that, my heart is weakening day by day as the hole is widening constantly. An immediate ASD repair surgery is needed to fix the hole, which has become fatal for me. The sudden increase in frequency of me fainting, blackouts, weakness & all, were the cautionary symptoms that I'm nearing my death, if I'm not operated soon." The moment she said that, Arnav crushed her in his arms tightly.

"Don't Khushi...Don't you dare to say that ever again. I will not let anything happen to you ever." He promised fervently, dropping kisses in her hair.

Khushi smiled into his chest, seeing his concern for her.

She slowly raised her head & kissed lightly on his chin. "I trust you Arnavji." She said making him smile warmly at her.

Staying in his embrace, she continued further.

"Then I asked about the surgery cost & the amount he said, sucked the whatever leftover energy I had in me, after hearing about my disease. 6 lakhs Arnavji, 6 lakhs.. How on earth, a lower middle class family like mine was supposed to arrange such a huge amount?? We work hard day & night to meet the ends. Even if we sell everything we possess, won't be enough to collect such huge amount." She gripped his shirt tightly in her fists, at his back, feeling helpless & angry for the first time, on their poor financial status.

Arnav caressed her back with soothing circles.

"Then I asked the doctor that what if I don't get operated then?? His silence was my answer. I asked him how much time I had without the surgery?? 6 to 8 months, he replied & my breath left in a whoosh. Gathering some strength & requesting the doctor, to not to disclose anything to any of my family members, I returned home & hid the reports under my clothes, in my cupboard. Whole night I kept on crying & thinking about my condition & how to collect such huge amount needed for my surgery?? I knew our financial condition very well. Babuji's shop is already mortgaged. Buaji's pension has stopped suddenly. All we have of our own is our house in Lucknow & I knew if babuji would come to know about my disease, then he would sell every single thing for my treatment. But then what about my family's survival after that?? We would be on the roads & I can't be so selfish to bring the family on the roads, who took me under their wings. So after pondering over everything, I reached a conclusion that not to reveal anything to anybody nor I would go for any surgery. I thought that maybe it's time for me to meet my parents, so I accepted devi maiyya's decision." She smiled in his arms, remembering her parents' faces.

"Now I wanted to do only one thing & that is earn as much as possible for my family, till I'm alive & for that, I had to change buaji's decision of moving back to Lucknow, which was a herculean task for me. But again, you came to my aid Arnavji." She said looking mischievously at him, biting her lip.

"I.. How??" He asked curiously, pulling her lip out from between her teeth & caressing it with his thumb.

"I trapped buaji in my words stating that, if we leave Delhi, then that would mean one more win to Arnav Singh Raizada, just like he won in exiling us from Lucknow. Now again if we leave Delhi & go back to Lucknow will mean that we left fearing him. I know my buaji is not afraid of anybody. She can stand against anybody, even if it's Arnav Singh Raizada. Then some more words to pump up buaji's ego & my work was done. Though convincing jiji was another case altogether, but I succeeded there as well with flying colours" She winked naughtily at him & he chuckled.

"Crazy." He muttered, hitting his forehead playfully with hers.

"Uske baad Khushi?? (After that Khushi??)" He asked, adjusting her lose hair strand behind her ear.

"Then the very next day, I started with my job hunting. Seeing the ads in the newspaper, I went in some 3 companies for job. But due to my incomplete education, 2 of them didn't even consider me eligible for the job & the 3rd one did offer me one, but the salary they offered was nothing but peanuts in comparison to what I used to get in AR. So I refused them. Each passing day was important for me & I didn't want to waste a single day. So finally I decided to approach you again for a job. I was very much sure that you won't disappoint me as you will get a perfect chance to take your revenge on me. I knew, I would have to bear much more of insults, humiliation, taunts, torchures from you, then the last time, as I had hurt your ego badly by throwing my resignation right on your face. But I was ready to bore anything for my family & that's how I reached you & rest you know." She completed sighing hard.

He moved back & offered her a glass of water. She drank it, soothing her dry throat, from all the talking.

"Now it's your turn Arnavji, to tell me that how did you come to know about my disease & why did you lied to me to get me here, when your intentions were genuine ??" She asked handing him back the empty glass.

He cocooned her back, in his warm embrace.

"I was not able to digest the change you had brought in you Khushi, after rejoining AR. Initially your timidness & submissive behaviour, soothed my ego, but slowly it started to irk me, frustrate me to no limits. I started missing that strong & feisty Khushi Kumari Gupta, who was of no competition in front of me, still had managed to give headstrong & tough fight, everytime I crossed her path. I wanted that lioness Khushi back. So I increased my torchures & behaved more insolently with you, to make you retaliate, react the way Khushi Kumari Gupta should. But you were way too stubborn & unrelenting, so I played my final card & placed that indecent proposal with surety, that you won't be able to stay unaffected after that. But again you proved me wrong by accepting my proposal Khushi." He said looking down at her, with eyes full of guilt & regret.

"How could I not accept that offer Arnavji?? As it would solve all of my family's financial problems forever, for which I was ready to slog till my last breath." She replied smiling ruefully.

"But if that proposal was just one of your plans, then why did you made me sign that contract & how did you come to know about my disease??" She asked the question, she was dying to know the answer of.

He exhaled hard before replying. "The moment you walked out of my cabin accepting my proposal, shocking me to wit, I was confirmed that something is terribly wrong with you. Otherwise a self esteemed girl like you with high morals, can never ever accept such abhorrent proposal. So I immediately hired a private detective to investigate everything happened with you in past month. He efficiently got all the details about your disease & the surgery you need to undergo to cure that. That helped me to figure out your change in behaviour & your helplessness. He also got me duplicate copies of all your reports from the lab & I also met your doctor personally to know the details. That's how I got to know about your medical sufferings." He said caressing her cheek. His eyes glistening with tears he was controlling.

"About that contract.. The moment I got your details, I contacted this cardiologist here & faxed him your reports. He is the best cardiologist in the country. After referring to your reports, he did say that your condition is indeed serious but absolutely curable if you are operated as soon as possible. I was determined to bring you here for your surgery. But I was very much aware of your self-respect, which would never allow you to take my help & if I would have told you about my intentions, then there were high chances of you not trusting me at all, owing to my insolent behaviour towards you always. So I had to play safe without giving you a chance to back out. That's why I made you sign that contract to make you abide it at any cost & get you here under its pretext." He kissed her forehead as an assurity of his words.

She blinked her eyes at him in understanding.

"Then what about those ministrations, those seductive talks, you kept on whispering in my ears, every now & then?? You also gave me that cheap & flimsy piece of cloth, ordering me to wear it on our first time. What was the name of that excuse of a cloth, you told?? Chhee.. Chhee.. " She tried to remember "Chemise." He reminded her stifling his laughter. "Haan wohi. Chheeeemise" She deliberately pronounced it wrongly, making a face. "How can you give me to wear something like that??" She complained pouting cutely.

He chuckled at her expressions.

"All that was just to make your belief concrete on my proposal & contract thing. I didn't want to give you a single chance to doubt on that matter, which could fail my plans. But I always stayed in my limits Khushi. Never tried to take any disadvantage. Did I??" He asked eyeing her lips.

She understood his words & nodded in agreement, smiling at his thoughtfulness.

"Why Arnavji?? Why did you want that old feisty Khushi back?? Why did you want to know about my problem, that was bothering me?? Why did my disease affect you?? Why did you got me here for treatment?? Why are you ready to spend so much of your hard earned money, for my treatment?? Why are you so worried for my health?? Why do you want to make me hale & hearty when you hated me so much?? Why does it matter to you, whether I live or die Arnavji??" She shot a barrage of questions, catching him off-guard.

He looked at her face for a few minutes. He saw his reflection in her greenish pupils. That gave him a serene feeling of tranquility. As if he always wants to live there, in her eyes & that will eventually keep her in front of his eyes always. This serenity helped him to reply to her questions.

"I never hated you Khushi. I never did, I never can. I just wanted to keep you away from me, but at the same time I wanted to keep you very close to me." His words confused Khushi, but she was patient enough to let him speak without interrupting. "Khushi.. I don't have any proper answer to any of your questions, that why I did, whatever I did. All that I know is, when you told me about your departure from Delhi to Lucknow, I felt as if you were taking a part of me with you, leaving me incomplete. When you rejoined AR, I was the happiest man on this earth. But I didn't let it show on my face or my behaviour." He kissed the back of her hand & pulled her more into himself.

"I couldn't see you all weak & defeated in front of me. I just wanted you back in your original jubilant form, by hook or crook. So I did what I felt right. But when I learnt about your disease, I felt my own life slipping away from my hands. I just wanted to cocoon you in the safety of my arms, keeping you away from any kind of harm. If possible, away from this whole damn world. I just wanted to see you, full of life, like before. Bringing you here for your treatment is not a big thing Khushi. If it takes, I can create a whole new world for you, to bring a smile on your face because your smile gives life to my life Khushi & when I see tears in your eyes, I feel like burning down this whole world. I don't know why Khushi?? I just don't know." He said looking intently in her eyes. His eyes reflecting immense passion for her, potent enough to melt her in his arms.

Khushi's blood flowed exultantly through her veins, at the intensity of his words, his unbound passion & his unnamed yet profound feelings.

She kept her hand on his heart which was beating in tandem to hers. She smiled caressing it reverently & kissed there lovingly, thrilled with the knowledge of newly found feelings.

"But your heart knows Arnavji & so does mine." She rested her cheek there & wrapped her arms around him zealously.

He covered her delicate form with his strong arms, enveloping her warmly, safely, securely.

They sat cocooned in each other's arms, savouring the warmth of the moment, enjoying the heart warming silence.

"Khushi." Arnav broke the silence.

"Hmmm.." She mumbled with closed eyes.

"Is your family upset with you??" He asked & felt her going stiff in his arms.

He caressed her back, relaxing her.

"Yes Arnavji." She replied, still sticking to him like a creeper, looking for strength & support.

"Why??" He asked softly.

She inhaled & exhaled sharply. Her soft bosoms rubbing on the hard plains of his chest.

"They didn't want me to rejoin your company. But I joined AR going against their wish & that set the verbal war between buaji & me. She complained amma & babuji. Though amma agreed to buaji, but babuji showed his trust in me as always. But that didn't sit well with buaji. On top of that, I used to come very late in the evening from office, that too seven days a week, without a single holiday. Buaji started staying angry & infuriated with me. The moment I return in the evening, she used to shower me with taunts & with weird names in her dictionary. She thought that I just want to earn more money without bothering for their family's name & respect. Though jiji understood my concern that I wanted to earn for my family but she couldn't favour me going against buaji's words. Buaji started reminding me of all the obligations they did on me, since they got me in their family. I couldn't explain buaji that I was doing everything as a payback of those same obligations & to help my family financially, till I'm alive." She wiped her tears, rubbing her face on the soft fabric of his tee.

"This America trip was like petrol in the fire & buaji gave me an ultimatum that if I go on this trip with you, then she will break all ties with me & will never let me back in her house & family. But again I obstinately went against her ultimatum & came here with you." She said lowly.

"That's why nobody came out of the house to bid you goodbye, when we were leaving." It wasn't a question but a statement, which had pricked his heart then & now as well.

She nodded hugging him tight. Her heart pained, remembering her jiji's sad face, who wanted to come to see her off, but buaji's one glare & she had to stay back.

Arnav didn't apologise to Khushi for forcing her to go against her family's wishes, as her health is way more important to him than anything else in this world. Everything & everybody else can go to hell.

"But you know Arnavji, in such depressing situation if I could stay stable, then it was only because of you. The warmth of your proximity, the sense of security & belonging in your arms, saved me from breaking down & all that I used to yearn for, is to be with you, around you." She confessed unabashedly.

Arnav felt ecstatic to know that she was equally affected & wanted to be with him, just like he wanted to be with her always. Now he won't let anything or anybody come in between them. She belongs to him & will always stay with him, come what may. He promised himself.

He looked down at her & found her asleep in his arms. He smiled looking at her beautiful, innocent face.

He slowly moved back, to the headboard, adjusting her properly in his arms, without disturbing her sleep. He slowly pulled the duvet on them, covering her from the chillness of the AC. He kissed her forehead affectionately & drifted into the most peaceful slumber of his life, with his life in his arms.

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Khushi was being taken to the operation theatre, on a stretcher. She requested the ward boys to stop the stretcher near Arnav, who was standing outside the operation theatre. The ward boys obliged & waited a little away, giving the supposed couple some privacy.

Khushi tried to sit up on the stretcher. Arnav helped her with it.

She held his hands in hers. Arnav thought that she is scared. "Khushi don't be scared. Everything will be fine. You will be completely fine after this operation. Trust me." He assured her, providing the much needed strength.

"I trust you Arnavji & I'm not scared at all. Why should I be, when you are there for me." She smiled looking at him & he smiled back heartily.

"I just want to tell you something before I go in there." She said pointing towards the OT.

Arnav looked towards the pointed direction & then looked back at her frowning.

"What do you want to tell Khushi??" He asked politely.

"Arnavji.. You don't know why you are so much worried & concerned for me. Right?? You don't know why my tears bruise your heart & why my smile illuminates your world.. right??" She asked out of the blue.

Though confused with such questions from her at this moment, he still nodded his head in agreement.

"But I know why Arnavji. Do you also want to know??" She asked & he immediately bobbed his head vigorously, like an enthusiastic kid.

She cradled his face between her palms. "Because you love me Arnavji." She said stunning him & as if he was just waiting for this epiphany, a huge joyous smile broke on his lips & tears of happy realisation started rolling down his cheeks.

Khushi wiped his tears gently. "& you know what's more shocking Arnavji??" He raised his eyebrows in question. "That I love you too." She kissed his cheeks, smiling satisfactorily at her confession.

Arnav immediately embraced her, gently, carefully.

He was too overwhelmed to utter a word. Khushi understood his state as she was feeling the same.

Slowly moving back, he kissed her eyes one by one. "I also want to tell you something Khushi." He said & Khushi looked expectantly at him.

"But to know what it is, you will have to come back to me, hale & hearty."

Khushi pouted unhappily.

"I will wait for you Khushi." He kissed her forehead.

"I will come back to you Arnavji." She promised.

Arnav then gestured the ward boys to usher Khushi inside the OT.

Arnav & Khushi didn't break their eyelock till she was taken inside the OT & the doors were shut behind her, with the red light glowing above.

Arnav sat outside the OT, looking at the closed doors & the red bulb. Khushi's confession still reverberating in his mind & heart.

Yes.. He loves Khushi. If caring for her happiness is love, then yes, he loves Khushi. If her tears & smile affecting him is love, then yes, he loves Khushi. If wanting to live for her, with her is love, then yes, he loves Khushi.

Yes.. Yes.. Yes.. He loves Khushi. His Khushi. He kept chanting it like a mantra, filling his heart with joy.

After 3 hours, the OT door opened & the doctor came out. Arnav immediately rushed towards him.

"The operation is successful Mr. Raizada." The doctor said smiling, patting Arnav's shoulder.

Arnav let out a huge sigh of relief & thanked the doctor wholeheartedly.

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Khushi was shifted in ICU & now Arnav was sitting beside her bed, waiting for her to come to consciousness.

After 2 hours, Khushi's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Arnavji." was the first word to come out of her mouth.

Arnav rushed to her. "Khushi." He smiled with moist eyes. "I will call the doctor." He was about to go but Khushi again called him, stopping him.

"Arnavji. What.. what did you.. you wanted to tell.. me??" She asked feebly.

Arnav was absolutely amused to hear her question, right after she gained consciousness. But again, afterall she is his crazy Khushi so he shouldn't be that surprised at her desperateness. He smiled at his own musings.

He bent down towards her face & looked fervently into her waiting eyes. "I wanted to tell you that, YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE Khushi." He said pecking her lips for the first time.

Khushi smiled widely, which reached her eyes & Arnav knew that he has got his original Khushi back.

Khushi closed her eyes, slowly drifting into a pleasant slumber with Arnav's unique confession in her heart & dreams of a beautiful life with him in her eyes.

To be continued

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So, how's it..

Let me know your views through your votes & comments as always...

Love

Kavita ❤️