Everyone including Aman and Akash were startled seeing Arnav race out of the building smiling and they both stared at each other confused wondering what had gotten him so bumped up and happy but before they could ask, they saw his Lexus zoom out of the building exit.

Meanwhile on the road Arnav had broken every road safety all in the pursuit to get to see Khushi.

As much as he was happy to hear from Khushi, he also wondered what the reason was as to why Khushi wanted to met him after so many years of no contact.

Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at his destination and rushed into the cafe where Khushi wanted to met him.

He was escorted to a private room at the top floor of the Bharosa Cafeteria.

"Wait, you look familiar. " Arnav said to the lady who was walking him to what looks like an office.

She turned and threw an angry look at Arnav who was taken aback finally remembering where he knew her from.

She was the woman at Preeto's house when he visited begging Preeto to know where Khushi was.

"You are Preeto's cousin Aditi. "

"Genius finally figured it out...... Only if you had used that brain in the past you would'nt have lost so much. " Aditi mocked with a smug expression as she opened the door for him ignoring the hurt look on his face.

He entered and heard it close behind him and in front of him sat his love, Khushi.

He smiled widely as he robotically moved and sat in front of her.

She looked so beautiful and different in a good way as she looked more matured than before but there was something that unnerved Arnav about her demeanour.

Gone was the sparkling look in her eyes which has been replaced by an icy cold look and he has never seen her looking so defiant and her lips which was always sporting a smile stood still as a statue.

Arnav breath in the new Khushi who looked bold, deadly and had the aura that exuded mess with me and I will kill you and on top of it all her outfits screamed wealth.

No matter what had happened, this wasn't the Khushi he knew and from this he deduced it won't be easy to win her back.

Khushi on the other hand observed Arnav and he has turned more handsome than before and his recent appearance in a business magazine didn't do his handsomeness and beauty justice.

His baby boyish look has been replaced by a more mature appearance and it looked like he was more relaxed and at ease than before.

There was no denying Arnav Singh Raidaza was not only eye candy but also exuded beauty that will make men question their sexuality and make women throw away their morals just to be with him.

Arnav who saw Khushi checking him out smirked but it quickly disappeared when Khushi shot him a glare.

"Khushi, how are you? " Arnav asked in a gentle and calm voice which took Khushi aback but she immediately composed herself and turned but to her icy expression.

"Still alive...... Why disappointed to see me alive. " Khushi exclaimed sarcastically and Arnav was taken aback and tried to retort but Khushi dismissed him. "I didn't call you here for useless formalities........ Unfortunately I would have never wished to cross paths with you if it was up to me but someone I love wants you and for her I will do anything even if it means speaking to a despicable man like you. "

Arnav confused hearing her but was also taken aback by the hatred in her voice and expression which he embraced as he knew he deserves it for all seh had been through because of him.

"Am sorry Khushi..... I really am. " Khushi rolled her eyes and scoffed at his apology and Arnav looked defeated which stunned Khushi as he didn't expect him to be this submissive and accepting.

"What the hell happened to him. " Khushi wondered staring at him but she snapped out of it and pushed an envelope towards him. "I want you to have a DNA test with this against yourself as soon possible. "

Arnav pulled out a buccal swap kit and widened his eyes as everything finally made sense.

They had a child and Khushi wanted him to get a DNA test and his eyes teared up with tears of joy as he realised he had a child with his love.

He looked up at Khushi who had a stoic expression on and said.

"I trust you Khushi. "

Khushi burst out laughing amused but not in a good way.

"The great ASR trust me? " Khushi scoffed and smirked knowing what she was about to say will hurt him but she didn't care. "Oh I get it....... Now that I look posh and polished you can trust me but would you have if I was the poor ugly orphan from four years ago..... The answer is no because in ASR's world, poor equals mistrust but worth trusting if that poor is associated to his master aka Anjali or affectionately call Di but the correct name for that filth you call a sister will be a snake....... Cut the crap and get the DNA test done........ If you dare defy me then get ready to never see my baby ever again and trust me ASR, compared to our wealth you can never compete left alone compare with the power I now possess ...... Call the number when you are done. "

Khushi stood up and walked to the door but halted and turned to face a hurt and ashamed looking Arnav.

"One more thing...... You better not tell anyone am here or about my baby or else you will face my wrath. "

Khushi turned on her heel and slammed the door loudly making Arnav flinch.

Khushi run to her car ignoring Aditi's call and she cried her heart out.

"I hate you Arnavji...... I hate the power you still have over me....... Why God?...... Why does that monster still hold a place for love in my heart?...... Why can't I rejoice seeing him hurt without feeling remorseful ?..... Just why? "

Khushi cried angrily but stopped after a few minutes seeing a defeated Arnav walking to his car but he broke down crying by the door.

"Am so sorry Khushi...... Am so sorry baby. "

Those were the words Khushi read from Arnav's lips as she sat in her car watching his breakdown.

After half an hour Arnav entered the car and a few seconds later, Khushi's phone binged and she read the message sent by Arnav.

"𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. "

Khushi was about to sent it but halted as her heart hardened and she replied.

"𝑵𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓...... 𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝑺𝑹. "

"𝑺𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓...... 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏. "

Arnav replied making Khushi sigh and she watch his Lexus drive out and waited for a few minutes before driving away.

RM.

Payal arrived with Kiki after picking her up from school and she was happily licking her ice cream making Payal smile as she remembered something who loved not only love this flavor but the type of ice cream as well.

Khushi Singh Raizada was not only humble but was kind for a little girl and from the status she came from, she never looked down on her less privilege friends.

Kiki was not only similar in mannerism to her aunt Khushi but was almost like her and everyone wondered how she became so much like her.

If Payal hadn't been really pregnant and gone through eleven hours of excruciating labor pain to have her, she could be easily said to be Khushi's child.

"Payal."

Payal snapped put of her reverie and threw a glare at the culprit who interrupted her reverie.

Payal kneeled and whispered something to Kiki who nodded smiling and run upstairs after greeting everyone.

"What do you want Mrs Kapoor? " Payal exclaimed in an irritated tone as she crossed her arms staring at a nervous Anjali.

"I just wanted to beg you to allow Naina and Kiki play...... She has been asking about Kiki for the past two days and why she is not allowed to play with her big sister....... I understand your reluctance to allow Kiki bond with us but please don't take it out on the innocent children."

Payal walked up to Anjali who was taken aback by her closeness.

"You are still the same snake you were in the past" Anjali shook her head in denial." You think you can use my daughter to facilitate your schemes to get on Arnav's good side and I will allow you. "

"No Payal..... That's not my intention. " Anjali retorted nearly on the verge of tears as she was being sincere in her words but Payal wasn't having it.

"Please better swallow those cheap tears because they don't scare me anymore and your minions behind you don't scare me too, neither does your in laws....... My daughter will not be weaponized to ease your fake guilt or use to get your daughter closer to Arnav....... The sick reign of Anjali over us ends with you....... Your daughter will not scheme her way to became another Anjali...... She may be an Anjali 2.0 to your Nani and Mami, but she will never exist to my daughter....... You think the Arnav you know now is the puppet who worshipped you at the expense of his happiness." Anjali shook her head crying which pissed Sheetal off and she wanted to defend Anjali but one glare from her mother halted her stance as Mami fumed and Nani looked distressed. "If you want the same treatment Arnav gives Kiki, then go to him straightforward and stop trying to use my daughter for your disgusting agenda. "

Payal walked away leaving Anjali devastated as this wasn't what she was trying to do.

In all sincerity, she really wanted the cousins to bond but she couldn't blame Payal as her actions has led to this mistrust.

Her conspiracy had ruined their lives and any opportunity for the young generations to come to ever bond.

"Hello hi bye bye, Sasuma, why didn't you say anything? " Mami exclaimed annoyed. "I get we were wrong but how long will she punish us...... I was okay with us not having a relationship with Kiki as I know we deserve it but was did Naina do to deserve all this hostility? ".

"She was born to your niece. " Shruti chided in and all heads snapped to her and Anjali knew she was about to taunt her. " Naina is paying for her mother, grand aunt and great grandmother's conspiracy, bias, greed and betrayal...... That's what Naina did..... She unfortunate to be born to her. " Pointing Anjali who bowed her head in shame as her mother in law never let any opportunity to rub her past in her face slide.

"Maa stop it...... Anjali di has repented and that woman is just being greedy.... She just wants her daughter to inherit all of this when ASR dies and is just pretending to be a good woman...... Deep down she is just greedy and selfish weaponizing her daughter for power. "

"Shut up Miss Kapoor. " Sheetal and everyone flinched hearing Akash's roar.

He walked predatorily towards them and glared at Anjali and back to Sheetal who gulped and hid behind her mother.

"Dare you taunt my wife....... She is not pretending as she is also reaping the consequences of her silence....... Her father wants nothing to do with her and only speaks to her when is has to do with Kiki...... She lost her sister and father and you think property is what she is going after?....... You all make me sick...... I have enough properties for my daughter to inherit and be comfortable for the rest of her life....... Anjali warn your sister in law because unlike her sensible mother, she clearly doesn't have sense..... And stay the fuck away from my wife and daughter. "

Akash strided upstairs leaving the women behind.

Shruti pushed Sheetal away and she pouted annoyed as the rest stayed silent and Anjali stood watching Akash disappear.

Akash who was fuming marched to his room but halted hearing Payal crying whilst video chatting Shashi.

"Please Papa, I can't stay here anymore..... I feel suffocated more and more each passing day........ I can't stand the Raizadas anymore especially now that Anjali is back" Payal cried out sounding helpless as Akash stood by the door with his eyes shimmering with unshed tears but what followed next shook him to his core.

"Good." Shashi replied in an icy cold voice. "You will stay with him as his wife for as long as I want....... You said you will do anything for my forgiveness so staying with Akash is the only way to prove that you are sorry....... Remember my condition, if you divorce Akash or leave him, I will kill myself and I doubt you want my death on your hands. "

Payal shook her head crying as Akash stood stunned realizing Payal didn't leave because of Kiki like he thought but it was because Shashi had blackmailed her to stay with him.

Aman's words rang in his ears as he realized Aman was indeed right.

Payal was not only emotionally gone from him but physically staying because of her father's blackmail.

"You forgave Arnav then why can't you forgive me your daughter." Payal cried out frustrated and Shashi scoffed.

"I forgave him because of the circumstances of his life which his own family too advantage of but you, what stopped you from standing up for your sister........ The same sister who sacrificed her morals and values to see you happy...... The same sister who endured so much for you. " Payal bowed her head ashamed. "Don't ever call me if it has nothing to do with my Kiki. "

Shashi ended the call abruptly as Payal burst into tears crying uncontrollably causing Akash to cry too.

"Payal! " Akash called out making Payal turn to face him and the hatred in her eyes sent chills down his spine.

Payal stood up and walked to the bathroom leaving Akash behind to wallow in his guilt.

Arnav's Penthouse.

Arnav sat in the lounge of his penthouse facing his laptop and after a few seconds, a face of a middle aged man popped up and he smiled at him.

"What can I do for you Mr Raizada? "

"She is back...... Khushi is back and she didn't come alone..... She came with our baby and I met her. " Arnav cried out and explained everything that happened to the man and he looked shocked for a moment but composed himself.

"It's a good thing...... So why are you crying? " He asked pretending not to grasp the real reasons why Arnav was distressed.

Arnav frown staring at the man who looked unfazed.

"Parth, What kind of a therapist are you?..... I told you what happened and you think it's a good thing. " Arnav exclaimed angrily but Parth was still unfazed. "Khushi is gone..... The woman I met was not my Khushi...... My actions have killed her. "

"And it's a good thing your actions killed that Khushi because the old Khushi was a doormat and deep down you wanted a glimpse of her which you could use to win her back."

Arnav looked shocked and offended by his insinuation.

"I would never do that..... I have learnt my lesson........ It's just that it hurts knowing I caused her to build a wall around herself to protect her heart. "

Parth sighed knowing he was telling the truth but being a therapist, he has learned to decipher the actions and words of people to know the results of what is to come next and he knew Arnav will fail miserably if he makes winning Khushi back his topmost priority.

"Arnav you have been my patient for the past two years and you know I will never sugarcoat reality to you but winning back Khushi must be last on your list..... An innocent child is now involved...... You have already failed as a lover, husband and a companion...... Do better as a father....... The child must be the first on your priority list....... I will recommend you some books and articles to help you navigate this new chapter of your life....... Maybe being a good father to your daughter can help make your relationship with Khushi cordial and civil....... Trust me when I say this, let circumstances decide the status of your relationship with Khushi....... Don't force it and go with the flow no matter how painful."

Arnav nodded and thanked his therapist.

"Have you done the DNA test? " Parth asked and Arnav nodded.

"It was the first thing I did before speaking to you...... It will be ready in eleven hours. " Arnav replied sounding defeated.

Eleven hours? " Parth sounded surprised making Arnav hummed and chuckled.

"Parth anything is possible if you have money...... What will takes days can be done in hours if you have money. "

"Good...... Now get ready for the hard part...... Fatherhood. " Parth chuckled and log out of the session.

Arnav fell back on the couch and let of a loud sigh and after a few seconds is was replaced by a smile.

"What does she look like and who does she take after?...... I wish she is just like Khushi but I guess I will find out soon and I promise to make it up to Khushi when the time is right."

Arnav closed his eyes as sleep over took him instantly as he thought of his daughter and for the first time in four years, Arnav slept without sleeping bills.

Meanwhile on the park of Prithviraj Road, Khushi watched her daughter playing football with the neighborhood girls and she had surprisingly adapted well with the weather and environment as Lucrezia's pediatrician had warned about her getting sick since her body is used to a certain type of weather which is different from the one in India but Lucrezia wasn't showing any signs which made Khushi relax.

"Mama."

Khushi broke out of her reverie hearing her daughter and she looked at her running to her with a ball in her hands.

She kneeled with her arms opened and Lulu immediately dropped the ball and hugged her and Khushi peppered her with kisses making her giggle uncontrollably.

Whilst mother and daughter were lost in their own world, someone stood in shock at the scene of a little girl calling Khushi mama.

To be continued.

Next update will be published tomorrow.

*Is Parth(Arnav's therapist) right about him prioritizing fatherhood over his relationship with Khushi?

*Who do you think saw Khushi and Lulu? "

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