Anjali and Dadi arrived from the trial's final hearing, but Anjali wouldn't face jail time.

Fortunately, it would go on her record, and she was supposed to pay a large sum of money to ARD within two months or face six months in jail, but she did not have that kind of money, and Manohar refused to help her, so Dadi and her called Siddharth to help her pay, but the condition Siddharth put forth shocked them.

"Why are you surprised?....... I can only give you the money if you sign the divorce papers and give me full custody of Naina, with you receiving two hour of supervised visitation per week regulated by Sheetal." Siddharth exclaimed seriously, while Shruti smirked from the other end of the lounge.

"What nonsense is this, Damadji?Anjali is your wife, and you are blackmailing her.......You are a commander who is breaking the law by blackmailing her." Dadi yelled, seeing this as a failure in her plan because she would not be able to get the kids if Anjali was only allowed to have supervised visits.

Siddharth shrugged and stood up to walk away, but then stopped and turned to Anjali, who was numb from the shock.

"I will give you two weeks to think about it..... And, for the time being, I am moving to the guest room, and I better not find you using alienating languages around Naina or I will sue the hell out of you, and good luck getting out of this."

He walked away, leaving Dadi fuming and Anjali in tears.

"Devi, you are not going to say anything." Dadi chastised Nani, who shrugged as she pet Laxmi.

"She brought this on herself, and I have already done enough for that brat...... It is about time she faced the consequences of her actions..... If she agrees to the divorce, I doubt Siddharth will leave her empty-handed. Her debts will be paid, and she will also receive alimony.... And let us be honest here...... It is not like she genuinely cares about Naina..... Since they arrived, Sheetal and Shrutiji have been caring for Naina........ Even after long hours at ARD, Sheetal always finds time to play with Naina and help Shrutiji care for her, whereas your granddaughter here only plays with her for a few minutes, takes pictures to post on her social media, and goes out to have fun with her friends........ Thank goodness her limp has been fixed; otherwise, she would have used it as an excuse...... Please, Subhadra Malik, I have done my best for Anjali, and it is time for you to do the same." Nani spoke firmly and returned to petting Laxmi.

"Thank God, my son will soon be free from your granddaughter." Shruti exclaimed mockingly as she walked upstairs, a smug expression on her face.

"Dadi, what should we do now?" Anjali cried out, and Dadi smiled as she took her hands.

"We will find a solution...... Let me think about it for a few days." Dadi answered, and Anjali nodded. "Go to your room and refresh yourself while I prepare something delicious for you."

Anjali smiled and walked away, while Dadi stood up and glared at Nani, who appeared unaffected.

"I can not let Anjali divorce her husband because it would ruin everything...... I need to see Anant immediately...... He is good at stealing and can assist us in obtaining compensation and paying for a divorce lawyer. "It is the small sacrifice we have to make for the big reward." Dadi contemplated as she walked to the kitchen.

Back at Laxmi Nagar, Khushi was in the kitchen with Payal, glaring at Arnav, who had Lulu on his lap, and from the exchange of glances between them, she knew they were gossiping about her, especially the smug expression on Arnav's face when Lulu turned to look at her and giggled.

Payal chuckled as she observed the three's interaction.

"That is how fathers and daughters behave..... I had to be prepared at all times because Akash and Kiki were always ganging up on me, and Kiki believed her father could do no wrong." Payal said and Khushi chuckled as the same happens with Lulu.

"How is your relationship with Akash?" Khushi inquired sincerely, and Payal smiled broadly as she recognized her concern and the fact that she was speaking to her without awkwardness.

"We are going for counselling at Arnav's suggestion, and it has helped a lot...... We both share childhood grievances that have shaped who we are today, and we are learning to work on our flaws in order to make our marriage work....... We had put  the divorce on hold at the moment. " Khushi was surprised to learn about the counselling and divorce, particularly Arnav's assistance in making their relationship work, and Payal understood what she was thinking. "Khushi, bhai has really changed." Payal said, and Khushi looked surprised when she heard her call Arnav bhai.

"When did you start calling him Bhai?" She asked surprised and Payal chuckled.

" Two years ago...... He changed in ways I never thought possible...... From greeting employees to chatting with them and hearing their problems directly from them, he has become more sympathetic to people's feelings and expresses himself in a healthier manner."

Khushi nodded, remembering how the workers at ARD made him feel at ease, and how the atmosphere was more friendly and welcoming than it had been in the past.

She would be a bad person if she did not acknowledge that Arnav has changed from the cold, emotionless man he once was.

"I am relieved that Preeto and Sahil have resolved their issues."

Khushi frowned and stared at Payal, who realized Khushi was unaware, so she revealed what had happened at the success show.

"Good they resolved whatever it was...... Sahil looks like a good man, and she deserves to be happy." Khushi said, and Payal nodded as she wiped her hand. They walked to the dining table, where the girls and their fathers were laughing and chatting away.

"So what were you and your father talking about? " Khushi asked Lulu as she sat down.

"This is a secret between Papa and me." Lulu responded, and Arnav smirked and nodded with a pout, making Lulu and Kiki giggle.

Shashi joined them after speaking with a client and Khushi immediately felt uncomfortable which they all saw.

"Akash, please bring us to the mall for ice cream." Payal said, and the girls cheered.

"Are you coming too, Papa?" Lulu asked and Akash beat him to it.

"No, dear, he and Mummy are having an important conversation with Grandpa...... Perhaps we can all get together tomorrow."

"Including grandpa Manohar and great granny and great grandpa? " Kiki asked and Akash nodded with a smile and she turned to a smiling Lulu. "I will show you to my great grandmother and grandfather..... They are adorable and cute."

Lulu nodded and kissed Arnav, Khushi, and Shashi, as did Kiki, before they departed.

Their departure brought the dining room to a sudden halt.

"I know the truth about my parents." Khushi broke the silence, and Shashi looked down, ashamed, as they realized he knew and that Payal might have confronted him.

Khushi was surprised when Arnav told her two days ago about her parents from Preeto.

"Payal confronted me about it a few days ago. Khushi I know I was wrong, but believe me when I say I genuinely love you...... I didn't take you because of guilt..... Actually, I have something to show you."

Shashi stood up and went to his room; after a minute, he came out and handed Khushi a brown envelope.

She opened it, and both she and Arnav began reading it, both stunned by the contents.

In her parents' will, Shashi was named as Khushi's guardian and trustee of the trust fund her parents had left for her.

He then handed them another, which she opened to discover that all of the money was still intact, except for a large sum of interest.

"I know I was wrong not to spend the money on you and provide you with a better education, and I will never forgive myself for that...... I wanted you to leave the house before I told you about all the money your parents left you and revealed the truth to you." Shashi opened up.

"That is why you wanted me to move out after Payal married Abhishek." Khushi realized what was happening, and Shashi nodded.

"I did not want them to emotionally blackmail you into sharing, and they would have succeeded because of your selflessness...... I wanted you to leave, and I knew telling you the truth about why your parents died would make you hate them."

Khushi began crying as she realised how wrong she was about Shashi, and Arnav rubbed her to comfort her, but he did not stop her from crying.

Garima and Buaji were shocked and ashamed because they had unknowingly heard everything.

"Why didn't you divorce Garima and kick Buaji out and maybe we would have had a better life? " Khushi questioned why they worked so hard when they could have been content with her trust fund.

"I tried to divorce Garima and even kicked her and Madhu out, but dealing with Payal, the sweet shop, and an emotionally fragile you was difficult, so I brought them back to help you and Payal, and I did not want to focus on the money because it belongs to you, and only you.......I, Payal, or anyone else has no right to spend it, no matter what the situation was." Khushi was about to respond, but Shashi interrupted her. "Trust me, Khushi, I was content with what I had...... I know I have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but believe me when I say I genuinely loved you like you were my flesh and blood."

"I am sorry, babuji..... I am so sorry for doubting you and humiliating you in that way...... I was just so angry about everything." Khushi cried, and Shashi pulled his baby into a hug, which she returned as Arnav smiled.

"My dear, do not apologize." Shashi said as he pulled out of the hug and looked Khushi directly in the eyes, and she saw nothing but love in his eyes. "I made a mistake, as did you...... All that matters is that we are finally together, but please promise not to leave without informing me." Khushi nodded, and Shashi smiled broadly.

"I miss you so much, babuji."

"I missed you too, Jalebi." Khushi laughed at Shashi's nickname for her and hugged him back.

Meanwhile, Aman walked into the house where Anant had been kept since yesterday.

He walked in to find the men pouring cold water on Anant, who was crying and pleading with them to stop.

"If you want them to stop, you better tell me what you and that arrogant old hag you call a mother are up to, or prepare to be tortured and cured..... But rest assured that I will force them to torture and cure you again..... The cycle will continue until you are dead." Aman said coldly as he sat down in front of Anant, who was crying.

"I will tell you, but please promise to let me go first." Anant pleaded, and Aman chuckled.

"It depends on how valuable the information is. "

"It is very valuable." Anant cut in, making Aman frown. "Subhadra Malik intends to kidnap the three girls, demand a ransom from their fathers, and then murder them to exact revenge on Arnav and Anjali."

Hearing this, Aman's eyes widened in surprise because he did not believe they were capable of such things.

"She went to Raizada Mansion to get closer to Anjali in order to gain access to the girls with Anjali's assistance."

"Why in the hell would you want revenge on Arnav and Anjali?" Aman asked angrily as he took predatory steps toward Anant, who gulped in fear.

"Maa blames Anjali for our expulsion, as well as the fashion show held in her honor the following day...... She wants to make them suffer." Anant confessed fearfully.

Aman's phone rang, interrupting his reverie, and Sheetal's name appeared on the screen.

He instructed his men to cover his mouth and took the call.

"Aman, I retrieved the phone from Anjali's safe. Sheetal squealed with delight.

"Good Sheetal, please meet me at my penthouse."

"Aman, I am not sure where you live?" Sheetal argued, and Aman realised his mistake.

"Sorry about that.... I will send you the coordinates and meet you there." Aman apologized, hung up the phone, and directed her to his penthouse address.

He turned to his men and ordered them to lock up Anant, who looked shocked.

"You promised you would let me go." Anant cried out, but Aman gave him a smug expression.

"I lied."

He walked away, leaving behind a crying Anant and his men.

"It is time to get rid of all the garbage people in Arnav's life." Aman murmured as he drove away to meet Sheetal.

Arnav and Akash surprised everyone when they arrived at the Raizada mansion.

Arnav dropped Khushi and Lulu off, tucked Lulu into bed, and kissed Khushi goodnight.

Kiki wished to remain with Lulu, so she and Payal were dropped off at Khushi's mansion.

The men were shocked by the news they received from Aman, and they knew they had to put an end to the evil in their lives once and for all.

Meanwhile, at Khushi's mansion, Payal and Khushi sat in the lounge, eating ice cream that Payash had brought from the mall.

"Khushi, don't you think Akash and Arnav were acting strangely?" Payal asked and Khushi nodded.

"I assumed I was overthinking..... Something is definitely wrong, and they do not want us to know. " Khushi replied, and Payal nodded, both wondering what it was.

Bact at the Raizada mansion, Arnav and Akash gathered the entire family, including the Kapoors, and a few seconds later, Aman and Sheetal arrived, confusing Siddharth, who noticed Sheetal glaring at Anjali, which irritated Shruti.

"What exactly is that girl doing with that servant?..... She better not be interested in him." Shruti thought as she stared at them.

"Arnav, is everything okay?" Manohar expressed his confusion.

"Mama, I wish it were, but it will be soon." Arnav responded in his ASR voice, and Manohar and the others realized something significant had occurred.

Anjali gulped, wondering if she had been discovered, as Mami's phone, which she had hidden, was now missing.

"Allow him to enter." Arnav yelled, and Aman's men dragged a badly bruised Anant into the hall, leaving Dadi frozen as she saw her son.

"Anant Malik?" Manohar exclaimed in shock as Siddharth sent a message on his phone.

He had called for backup because he suspected this would result in an arrest.

"Yes papa..... Anant Malik and Subhadra Malik can explain why he is here or should we allow your son explain why he is here.." Dadi flinched as Akash spoke in a deadly tone, as she had not expected to see this side of him.

"Am sorry maa, I couldn't take the torture anymore and told them the truth. " Anant confessed, and Dadi's eyes widened in shock.

"Uncle, you see, Dadi's appearance here is not by chance..... It is a plot to kidnap and kill the girls for ransom and vengeance." Arnav yelled as gasps and shocks erupted throughout the hall. "Subhadra Malik has not been living in the hermitage like she told us...... She is been living in Sheesh Mahal for years. She is come to exact revenge on me and Anjali because she blames us for her loss of lifestyle."

A loud slap erupted as Dadi held her abused cheek and looked up to find Manohar fuming and towering over her.

"Uncle, please stop..... There has to be an explanation for this." Anjali defended as everyone stared at her in shock.

"Of course, one criminal must defend another criminal." Sheetal yelled, startling everyone as Anjali flinched.

Sheetal shook with rage, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"A rapist and murderer like you would undoubtedly defend a woman like that old hag."

Sheetal's words shocked Anjali, causing her eyes to widen.

Sheetal cried in front of her brother, and Siddharth appeared perplexed by his sister's condition as she wasn't the type to cry in front of people.

"Bhai, she drugged and raped you, and Naina is the result of the rape."

Siddharth's eyes widened in shock as he realized this was not a lie because his sister had always supported Anjali but was now turning against her proves she was indeed telling the truth.

"Your end has come, Subhadra Malik and Anjali." Arnav thought as he stared at his grandmother and sister.

To be continued.

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