No proofread.

Khushi's Mansion.

Preeto leaned on one of the pillars of the outdoor patio staring at Lulu raving on about her stay at Arnav's farmhouse and all the activities she and Arnav did and she felt so happy for Lulu but what surprised her the most was Khushi's demeanor.

She looked genuinely happy and no longer had the look of insecurity she did a few days ago and the guilt Preeto felt for betraying her dwindled as for the first time in years, she was seeing the old Khushi she thought she had lost when the name of Arnav comes up.

She prayed Khushi will forever stay this way forever but unfortunately for her, unsettled emotions will soon bring her back to the stoic person she was.

Lulu gasped seeing the time and run away from her mother to the living room to watch her favorite show as Preeto walked up to Khushi and sat down as Khushi stared at Lulu dancing to her favorite show from the living room glass.

"She looks more happy than before. "

Khushi turned to Preeto and nodded as she took a sip of her coffee.

"She is happy but that doesn't mean I will let my guard down because when  it comes to Arnav, you never know. " Khushi uttered in a serious tone.

"Well I think he can be trusted. " Khushi's head snapped up at Preeto with her eyes narrowed. "Well it the truth...... Didn't you say he opened up to you and was going to therapy which I did confirm and it's with the best in the country. " Khushi looked surprised at Preeto and smiled.

She stretched out her hand signalling Preeto to give hers out and she did.

"Thank you for always looking out for us........ You are the only person I know will never betray or hurt me. " Khushi uttered in a sincere and grateful tone which pricked Preeto's heart.

She was about to speak when Khushi's phone rang and she stood up to receive it leaving Preeto refilled with her guilt again.

"Am so sorry Khushi...... I hope you forgive me when you find out the truth one day. " Preeto thought staring at Khushi who had a serious expression on as she spoke to the person on the phone.

Her mind went down memory lane on when she started all her plotting against Khushi.

Flashback

Two years earlier.

Preeto rushed into Arese Shopping Center after realising she forgot her credit card at the jewelry shop.

Luckily she was able to get it back and on her way to her car, she bumped into a hard chest.

"Sor....." Preeto's eyes widened in shock seeing the person she bumped into.

"You? "

"Can we talk? "

"Am not interested in speaking to the likes of you Mr Aman Mathur. " Preeto walked past him but what he said next made her halt in her steps.

"I saw you, Khushi bhabhi and the little girl...... I know for sure she is Arnav's because she is the perfect combination of bhabhi and him. "

Preeto's body snapped back at him in shock and she was stuck not knowing what to do.

"You have ten minutes. " Aman beamed and they walked to one of the cafe's in the mall.

"How did you find out about us? "

"I saw you guys a few days ago and did a little investigation about you all. " Aman replied looking nervous especially seeing the anger in her eyes.

"So you have been stalking us. " Aman nodded nervously.

"But I swear ASR doesn't know about you guys....... I came to replace Akash who was supposed to sign a deal with Ansh selection in Brescia....... I wanted to do a little shopping for my mother and sister when I saw the three of you at the Piazza del Duomo....... It's true I have been stalking you for the past three days....... Please I need your help to get Khushi and ASR together...... He is changing and I know bhabhi loves him.......please help me. "

"What the hell makes you think I will betray my friend for you or your boss?...... He doesn't deserve her especially after everything he put her through. " Preeto yelled at him but luckily, they were in a private area.

"I stand my the truth that he loves Khushi but the trauma from his past makes him act impulsively. " Aman defended.

"Fuck off Aman..,..... We all have traumas but we didn't do half the shit your boss cum friend did. " Preeto retorted.

"You are from Lucknow and I bet you know about the Malik family from Sheesh Mahal. "

Preeto frown but nodded as the tragedy at the mansion is well known to the town.

"What has that got to do with any of this? "

"Arnav Singh Raizada was formerly known as Arnav Malik. " Preeto's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait, Arnav is the teenage boy who witnessed his mother shot herself in the head because of his father's cheating? "

Aman nodded as he took a sip of his tea to sooth the sudden dryness of his throat.

"His family never helped him heal from that trauma and they all focused on Anjali...... Anjali being the spitting image of her mother made Arnav see her as his mother....... It didn't help that his Nani and Mami gaslighted him into worshiping Anjali....... He may be a smart man when it comes to business and emotions pertaining to business, but when it comes to personal emotions, he is  a weak man...... The fear of Anjali ending up like his mother whom up until recently, he blames himself for not saving her on time....... That's why is extremely and unnecessarily over protective of Anjali and she milked it and used it for a own gains...... But the control is now totally broken thanks to Khushi leaving and his therapy appointments........ He is now a loner and I swear on the lives of my mother and sister that he has changed for good this time around. "

Preeto sighed not knowing how to feel. A part of her understood Arnav and his actions and wanted her old friend back but she was also scared Lulu might get hurt in the process so she decided this instead.

"I will keep in touch with you only for Lulu's sake..... Khushi deserves better and that's not your boss....... If Lulu ever asked for her father, I will help facilitate a situation when Khushi will be forced to let her existence to be known to Arnav..... If she doesn't ask of Arnav then we will pretend this meeting never happened..... This is my deal. "

Aman nodded and the shook hands on this and exchanged numbers going their seperate ways.

A year after that meeting, they lost Maximo Snr and Lulu began asking of her father which also always found excuse for causing Lulu to be sad.

Preeto unable to stand the cold change her best friend has cultivated call Aman and they planned to force Khushi to make the existence of Lulu be known to Arnav.

She bribed the parents of the boys who taunted Lulu and was able to manipulate Khushi to let her handle them.

As fate will have it, Aman discovered Sahil and old classmate of Arnav had worked with their company and together with Preeto, she managed to convince Khushi to create a fund raising with his help in India so that they won't be idle and it worked.

Flashback ends.

"I hope someday you will understand why I did this. " As Khushi walked towards her smiling and sat down as they both enjoyed their tea.

RM.

Siddharth got down from his car and was walking into the mansion but he couldn't forget his conversation with Arnav specially his request.

Flashback.

Siddharth had successfully escorted the ambassadors he was put in charge to protect for the ongoing world summit in India and they were all staying at the prestigious A&K penthouse the most luxurious and high-tech penthouse building in the country.

He got down to the parking lot after making sure all the ambassadors assigned to him were okay only to witness the most shocking scene.

A beautiful and cute little girl waving at his wealthy brother in law and calling him papa .

On top of that seeing the woman with the little girl, he immediately recognized her as Khushi, the wife of Arnav.

He had never seen Arnav smile left alone laugh and he unconsciously called out his name.

The icy reply from Arnav sent him back to his senses.

"You have a child with your wife and she is back? " Siddharth asked as if in a daze.

"You didn't answer my question..... What are you doing here? " His expression turned to rage as he roar. "Did Anjali put you up to this? "

Siddharth vigorously shook his head no and explained why he was here which changed Arnav's guard up demeanour.

"But why are you here? " He asked and Arnav hesitated but replied.

"I own the buildings. "Siddharth's eyes widen in shock. He knew Arnav was rich but not to this extent."A&K penthouses and multiple properties with the penthouse logos belongs to me...... Don't you know? " Arnav asked staring at him and he shook his head.

"I don't like being intrusive about people's life unless when  am working on a case against them. " Siddharth replied and Arnav nodded.

"No wonder she was able to easily trap you. "

"Excuse who? " Siddharth asked confuse and Arnav chuckled.

"Anjali....... I can't believe you dated, slept, got her pregnant and married her not knowing what she was like. " Arnav exclaimed in an unbelievable tone.

"I really didn't know she was the mastermind the conspiracy to ruin your marriage until the day my mother confronted your family about your favoritism of Payal and baby Kiki...... Akash's revelation that day was the first time I heard about her involvement in your ruined marriage...... The case file at the record room only mentions her as a victim who was conned by her ex husband and her being the one who outed Shyam Manohar Jha....... Trust me, it's the reason I had all the cases in my area command revisited and the records updated. "

It was the truth as he was shortly awarded for this as the policy exposed a lot of misinformation and wrongful documentation which the department immediately solved.

Arnav nodded and turned to leave but stopped and turned to face Siddharth.

"This better stay between us..... If I find out anyone especially your wife knows of this, I will destroy. " Arnav threatened in a dead serious tone and Siddharth chuckled which surprised Arnav.

"Your secret is save with me. " Siddharth laughed.

"Be careful of Anjali..... She is not as innocent as she looks...... If she can deceive for years and manipulate me for her whims, then you are an easy target....... If you love your daughter and want her to be a better person, you will be the one raising her not Anjali...... She is beginning to behave like her mother, entitled, using tears and tantrums to get what she wants and I have witnessed it first hand...... Don't get me wrong, it's normal for children to behave like that, but be careful especially with the fact that Anjali is the one raising her...... Be involved in her life or else she will grow to became a menace to society and innocent people. "

Arnav walked away leaving Siddharth in thought and he knew Arnav was right.

He immediately took a leave from his superiors stating a family emergency as the reason and he being a hard working man, he was immediately approved.

He went to the Raizada mansion after buying some gifts for Naina and the whole family.

Flashback ends.

Screams of a child from the mansion jerked Siddharth out of his trance and he rushed into the mansion to find his Naina crying in her mother's arms and Anjali speaking to Kiki who looked upset standing beside Hari Prakash but what Anjali said made his blood boil.

"Kiki stop being a spoiled brat and let Naina play with your doll. " Anjali scolded looking annoyed.

"No." Kiki yelled with rage. "She will ruin this like she did with my other plushy which she ruin this morning...... Big boss bought this for me and I won't let her ruin it. "

"Hello hi bye bye, your mother has made you selfish..... Shame on you. " Mami exclaimed looking disappointed but Kiki wasn't budging.

"Mami please stop....... This morning Naina destroyed one of her toys and now she wants another one again..... She will end up destroying it....... I have realised all the toys she brought, she had destroyed all of them so I don't blame Kiki for not wanting her to have this one. " HP tried to reason with them but Mami and Anjali glared at him.

"Shut up..... Don't you dare forget your place in this house...... You are nothing but a servant..... Stay in you lane. " Anjali insulted making HP bow his head hurt and this pissed Kiki off as she loved his Hari Prakash uncle.

Nani shook her head disappointed but said nothing as Mami supported Anjali by nodding and throwing a disgusted look at HP

"Don't you speak to my Hari Prakash uncle like that...... You are a bad woman
...... I know understand why big boss, papa and mama doesn't like you...... Hari Prakash uncle is family,you are not. " Kiki exclaimed and held HP's hand and smiled at him and this warmed his heart seeing his little boss love and respect for him.

Nani smiled at Kiki's bold replied as the others stood in shock but it turned to anger.

Naina who say no one giving her what she wanted wiggled out of Anjali's arms and tried to snatch the doll from Kiki but she run away and hid behind Siddharth.

Anjali gulped seeing her husband's raging expression towards her and she shuddered realising Siddharth witnessed everything.

She cursed herself for this and turned away but her gaze fell on Shruti who smirked and she realised Shruti knew about Siddharth's arrival.

"Naina come here. " Naina refused and run to her mother who picked her up and Siddharth sighed realising Naina is beginning to gravitate towards her mother due to his absence.

He turned to Kiki and kneeled smiling at her and she smiled back.

"Kiki...... I apologize for Naina's actions....... I will replace the one she destroyed and you can keep your doll...... Never share with anyone if you don't want to okay. "

Kiki bobbled her head and smiled at the good uncle and Siddharth also apologized to HP which pissed Mami and Anjali off.

"Where are her parents? " Siddharth asked HP because he knew Anjali and Mami wouldn't have been this bold if there were around.

"Payal bhabhi has gone for her monthly checkup and left Kiki with Akash bhai but an emergency came up at ARD and he wanted to take Kiki with him but she didn't want to go so he left her with me. " HP replied and Siddharth nodded.

"Take her out to the park or go shopping...... She needs fresh air especially after some disgusting people upset her. "

HP nodded and took Kiki's hand and they exited the door leaving the family alone.

"Damadji, you didn't tell us you were coming. " Nani said trying to defuse the tension but Siddharth didn't pay heed to her and walked pass her and straight to Anjali who gulped.

"In your room now....... Maa take Naina with you. " Siddharth commanded with his eyes other leaving Anjali and the finality in his voice left no room for argument.

Shruti snatched Naina away from Anjali and walked to her room as Siddharth dragged Anjali along as she started sobbing.

She turned for help only to find Nani holding Mami's hand.

"Hello hi bye bye...... Shouldn't we intervene. "

"No we won't..... She will reap what she sows and so will you when I tell Manohar about this. " Nani exclaimed leaving Mami stunned and scared knowing Manohar won't spare her.

She followed Nani pleading but Nani shut her door in her face and locked it.

Khushi's Mansion.

"And the beauty and beast lived happily ever after with their six children. " Arnav looked up from the screen to find Lulu sleeping soundly with a smile on her lips.

"Thank you. " Khushi whispered to Arnav and he looked taken aback but it changed go a smile.

"Anything for baby Lulu. " Arnav responded and they both stared silently at each other.

Lucrezia had insisted on her father reading her a bedtime story and Arnav whom Lulu had him wrapped over her finger immediately jumped to the command and told her his own made up version of the beauty and the beast with it ending with them living happily ever after with their six children.

"Khushi, can we talk? "

"About what? " Khushi asked rudely even though she knew exactly what he wanted to talk about.

Arnav watched as Khushi exited the Lulu's room and into the lounge.

"Hurry up Mr Raizada...... I am tired and need my beauty rest. "

Arnav sighed and braced himself for the worst.

"Where do we stand? " He asked nervously.

"As what? "

"I mean where do I and you stand.... Khushi you know exactly what am talking about. " Arnav uttered in a serious tone and Khushi glared at him.

"We only stand as two parents navigating parenthood for our daughter to grow up healthy and happy..... That's where we stand. " Khushi uttered firmly making Arnav sigh.

"What about us?" Arnav asked pitifully and this pissed Khushi off.

"There is no us and they will never be an us....,..... You destroyed that us when you called me the biggest mistake of your life......... You never deserved second chances but over and over again I gave you those chances only for you to shit on me and use me like your punching bag...... I will never forgive you Arnav Singh Raizada if that's what you are aiming at....... You don't deserve my forgiveness and you know it....... We better be cordial for Lulu's sake that where we stand...... Good night Mr Raizada. "

"Khushi wait. " Arnav stopped her when he realizes she was about to hung up on him. "Am sorry for upsetting you....... I didn't mean for it to go this far....... Punish me all you want but please don't let that hatred you have for me turn you into something your ar not...... Trust me Khushi I have been there and it's not a pleasant feeling......... You will only hurt yourself and your loved ones....... You can change without loosing yourself....... Please don't be me. "

Arnav hunged up leaving Khushi in deep thoughts as she stared at her reflection on the phone screen.

She knew Arnav wasn't wrong but she has been hurt and betrayed too many time and this is the only way for her to survive.

"Nice try Arnav. " Khushi laughed sarcastically as she snapped out of her stupor. "You nearly got me to let my guard down so that you can manipulate me again..... Will it will never happen....... You don't like the cold heartless me then deal with it because this Khushi is not going anywhere and will make sure you and your wretched family pay....... You are a self destructive man and I know you will definitely slip one day and Lulu will hate you and then I don't have to deal with you anymore. "

Khushi smirked devilishly and walked to her room as she started plotting her next move.

Three days later, Sheetal looked pissed as stood at the lounge waiting like the other employees to welcome the big shot who was joining the company for their new project.

She thought she will get a position where she could be close to Arnav but instead she was stuck waiting on her boss whom she deemed beneath her.

She tried using her status as an in law to the Raizadas but Akash immediately shut that down in front of her colleagues making her a laughing stock.

"OMG...... They are here. "

This alerted Sheetal who stared at the entrance but she like a lot of people were in for a shock of the lifetime when Khushi walked in looking classy and rich with her white on white ensemble.

𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑲𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒊 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔.

"Hi Mr Raizada...... I hope everything is ready. " Khushi exclaimed innocently with a smirk as she stared at Arnav and Akash who were stunned into silence as Sahil looked confused seeing their reaction to Khushi.

To be continued.

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