The Raizadas had been standing at the door to welcome the Gupta family. Buaji and Garima entered rolling Shashi's wheelchair followed by Arnav and Khushi. If it were for Anjali, she would have had their Aarti done as a couple and carried out the Grah Pravesh ritual for her soon-to-be-Bhabhi right now.

'Namstey Madhumatiji. You took time in coming here.' Nani greeted them already engaging in a small talk

'What do I say Nand Kishore ? These girls nowadays.' Buaji complained looking at Khushi who dropped her jaw dramatically. 'This Sanka Devi took hours to get ready.'

'Anyway, here.' Buaji handed Nani a steel box. 'These are homemade laddoos. Payalia told how much you liked them when I sent them last.'

'Thank you Madhumitji. You make such delicious sweets, one can't have enough.' Nani smiled stating honestly.

Khushi looked at Arnav standing beside and motioned her eyes towards the ladies. He frowned his brows not understanding anything.

'Khushiji, why are you standing there? Come here, meet us.' Anjali called her with an excited smile plastered on her face.

Khushi moved to them and hugged both Anjali and Payal.

'You are looking so beautiful.' Anjali exclaimed pressing her hand and then giggled looking behind once at her brother whose eyes seemed to follow Khushi. 'You know, red suits you so much.'

Khushi lowered her eyes blushing a little. 'Thank you Anjaliji.'

Payal's eyes noticed something and she grabbed her hand frowning. 'Khushi, this...?'

'It's fake Jiji!' She pulled her hand back before Payal could examine it closely.

'Hello hi bye bye. Fakewa nahi hoga toh aur ka? Eh asli diamondwa lene ki aukat nahi hai ie Phati Sari ki haaa.' Manorama taunted at the opportunity and earned a glare from her mother-in-law. (What else if not fake? This Phati Sari can't afford a real diamond.)

Buaji grimaced at Mami insulting her niece while Garima pleaded her through her eyes to let it be.

'Arrey, why are you all still standing here? Come, let's sit.' Nani guided everyone towards the living area. Khushi threw a glance at Arnav and turned to move along with the rest but was pulled back by her sister.

'Khushi, what's the matter? You seem to have put some extra efforts into getting ready.' Payal examined her from head to toe and narrowed her eyes teasingly.

Khushi gulped and thinned her lips looking behind at Arnav. 'Um, no Jiji. You're mistaken. I just wanted to wear this new Sari, so...' She avoided Payal's expectant eyes and then composing herself pulled her Jiji's hands into her own.

'Leave me. Where's Jija ji? Is he hiding from his Saali Sahiba?' She snickered amusingly diverting Payal.

'He's in the room, will get down anytime.' She answered and then walked towards the others.

Khushi looked behind only to find him walk past her. Her eyes followed his trail with anticipation only to be met by dismay. He left for his room even looking back once.

'So Garima aunty, how is uncle's treatment going on?' Anjali asked while passing her a cup of tea.

The snacks and tea were served by Prakash brothers. Everyone from the Raizadas family including Akash and Mama excluding Arnav were sitting down in the living room. Mami was least taking part in any conversation. She was warned by Nani beforehand to keep her nonsense comments to herself.

'The physiotherapy has been going on bitiya. By God's grace soon he should be able to move.'

'I'm sure Garimaji, your husband will become fully well soon.'

Garima smiled at Nani who passed some assuring words to her. They drowned themselves into further talk and Anjali was to call HP for the purpose of giving Arnav tea but then another idea passed in her mind.

She waited for Khushi to finish her tea and then using the opportunity of elders being emerged in their conversation, she reached out to Khushi.

'Khushiji, woh, can you do one thing for me?'

'Of course Anjaliji.'

'Chote is in his room. Can you get him down please?'

Khushi's enthusiasm lessened at the task but she nodded nevertheless. It's not she didn't want to see him, but he had really disappointed her. On second thoughts she smiled realizing now under four eyes he will for sure remark something about the Sari.

So standing up she ascended the stairs in hurry holding her Sari, her face glowing at sudden.

*knock knock'

'Come in.' He permitted with his eyes still glued to the laptop.

Khushi pushed the door open and found him sitting on the recliner and typing something on his laptop. She grimaced as he didn't even care to see who's standing there at his door.

'Anjaliji is calling you down.'

It was her voice which finally drew his attention towards herself. He stared her wordlessly and she only gritted her teeth further.

Keeps staring me but won't say anything. Laad Governor. Huh.

She knew his intense staring was not any less than a bunch of compliments. But she didn't want compliments. She wanted him to acknowledge that she's wearing his gifted Sari. She wanted him to say something. Anything.

'If you're done staring at me, will you do me a favor and come down?' She asked sarcastically with a fake smile.

He amusingly reciprocated her taunt by shutting his laptop and walking past her to leave, much to her stupefaction who still had been awaiting few words out of him. She blocked his way coming ahead. He raised his brows in bewilderment.

'You'll just go like that?' She questioned energetically enthralled to a bewildered Arnav. 'Uh---ya!?'

'Won't say anything?' This time her toughness was met with his delightful selfdom as he flicked her peek. 'Your nose has turned red.'

'I don't mean my nose. Can't you notice anything?' She waved her hand pointing to her own self, turning more precise.

'What are you trying to do? You look appealing in red, I know. I'm aware of it. But you won't even let me kiss you, so--' He checked her out once again and grumbled crestfallen.

When he saw her in the red Sari earlier, of course he was also reminded of the two times she wore a red Sari before. The photo shoot and Diwali. The former he felt attracted to her for the first time and the latter he actually lost himself so much he was at the verge of kissing her. Khushi and red was a deadly combination for his male senses. Sure he was pulled to her otherwise too but in red she was nothing less than a seductress making him go crazy.

'Hey Devi Maiyya!' She snapped putting her hands above her ears. If she could read his mind, she would not be even standing here anymore. 'I'm not--not that. What do you think of me? Arnavji, I'm wearing your gift! And you won't even say anything!?'

'Gift? What did I gift you?' He wondered and then turned his scrutiny to her wrist. 'Those were different bangles I think.'

'I'm not talking about the bangles. I'm talking about the Sari.' She roared losing her patience with the man.

'Sari? When did I gift you this Sari?'

'You don't know?' She took in his confused state. 'Yesterday, the gift which I threw in the bin.'

'Oh--that! It was a Sari?'

'You--oh wait!' She paused for a moment as realization hit her. And in the next moment she barked at him with utter disbelief. 'Amanji got the gift, isn't i!?''

'Ya, I told him to get a gift for you.' He defended himself upon seeing her not so contented with him currently.

'So basically I'm wearing Amanji's choice and not yours.' She flared her nose and crossed her hands under her bosoms, giving him a chance to still deny and save himself in case she was just misunderstanding. 'I know his choice is good, that's why I--'

Uh uh. Not the answer she'd have rather. If only men knew women as well as they think they do.

'Accha Arnavji, tell me one thing.' She put on a radiant beam looking at him and asked sarcastically. 'When we marry, will you do the effort of coming yourself to the altar or will Amanji do that too for you?'

Arnav rolled his eyes clearly implying she's overreacting to which Khushi stormed out fuming.

He walked down and sat down beside Anjali. With his eyes fixated on her he waited for her to flash at him but she'd avert her eyes away as soon they land at him. Noticing the phone in her hands, he got his own out and typed a message.

The beep alerted her and unlocked her phone to read the message from Arnavji.

Angry with me?

Scowling at him she smiled at Anjali again whom she had been talking to.

Another beep disturbed her. Although she didn't want to check, she couldn't hold back her curiosity knowing well it was from him.

Won't talk to me?

Turning it on silent she kept her phone aside and shifted in the seat to emerge in talk with her Jiji.

He messaged again but her phone didn't beep. He peered at her thoughtfully before getting up.

'Uh, Di. I got a little work. I'll just come in a while.'

Hearing him her eyes automatically riveted to him.

'But Chote, you told you-' Anjali protested. She'd want him to stay home. She still was to talk to Khushi and him in private.

'Just 20 minutes Di. Won't take long. Be right back.' He assured before darting out.

'What the- what are you doing? Leave me.' She gasped as he pulled her behind a pillar remote to the family's eyes and ears.

'I got something for you.' He pinned her against the pillar before holding out a wrapped box.

'I don't need anything from you.' She denied straightaway sucking her teeth.

'This time I chose this gift myself. Just accept it.' He insisted testily and literally shoved it into her hands.

'Arnavji, why can't you understand it's not about the gift?' She grumbled pushing it back at him. When will he learn to understand her? 'Then what Khushi? First you get angry and now you won't accept it.'

He caged her between his arms and yelled low keeping the people sitting not far away in mind. She sighed not wanting to get angry. If both of them get mad at each other, chances if an argument will increase and they'll spend few days fighting for nothing.

'It's not about a gift Arnavji.' She said softly to sound more understanding. 'I don't want any gifts. I, I wore this Sari not because it was a gift but, I wore it for you. I thought you got it for me and wanted to see me in it.'

'Ok I get it. Now take this. This is my own choice and I want to see you in this.'

The softness on her face was soon replaced with a look displaying danger. Even after her efforts of staying calm he wasn't keeping his own arrogance aside. Why won't he understand she can't accept his gifts? She had taken the present yesterday only because she felt bad for throwing it in the bin and speculated he had gotten it so lovingly for her.

'No. I don't want it. I don't want any presents. Already about the Sari I lied that Amanji gifted it for welcome. Although now that I think about it, I didn't really lie.' She pushed him lightly shrugging her shoulders and marched to her original destination for a glass of water.

'Khushi, stop looking at Arnavji angrily. He isn't that bad either.' Payal snickered keeping the pan on the stove. Her sister was all time glaring at the two men sitting in their view. Since Akash was nowhere in her black list, it had to be her brother-in-law she was unhappy about. She wondered what he did now to piss her off but concluded perhaps at office since she works there now.

'Haan haan, of course you'll say that na. He's your jethji after all.' Khushi stood leaning against the slab deforming her mouth at Arnav.

'Arrey, you too na. He's been so nice to me. You know he is so caring towards everyone, especially Di. But neglects his own health.' Khushi frowned now abruptly turning to her sister. 'What do you mean, Jiji?'

'He was unwell yesterday. His blood sugar dropped drastically and he almost fainted.' Payal informed her eyeing her BIL pitifully.

'Hey Devi Maiyya. Why didn't you tell me before?' Her face changed intensely surprising Payal with her shock.

'I'll just come.' She excused herself as soon she noticed Payal's suspicious stare. The only thing she wanted to do right now was throw her arms around her Laad Governor for both choking him and hugging him. The former for he didn't tell her anything and doesn't care about his health, the latter for he was not well and she couldn't be with him.

'You weren't well. Why didn't you tell me?' She exploded as soon she reached poolside, not caring he was on a phone call. He motioned her to keep quiet and showed her the phone he was holding. She walked near him and examined his form. As soon he cut the call, she repeated herself in a low tone expressing her disappointment.

'My blood sugar just dropped a little. No big. I didn't want you to worry.' He placed his hand softly on her arm in assurance. She shrugged it away stepping back.

'Why? Don't I have the right to at least know about it? I can't express my care for you but you can at least share it with me.' She cried out feeling dejected and sidelined.

'Share?' He looked at her in disbelief. 'Khushi, you refused to share your issues and problems with me too. Didn't I have the same right?'

'Are you taunting me?' She wiped her eyes dolefully.

'No, listen. I just want to say, you see it hurts. I didn't tell you about me being unwell. You got to know and it hurt you.' He paused before continuing with a wobbling voice indicating his discomfort. 'It hurt me too when you didn't want to tell me the problems you and your family were facing. You wanted to rather break up and not take any help from me. Don't I have the right for this less?'

She took in his words and lowered her head not meeting his eyes. The situations might have been different but if she didn't want to share her issues with him then how can she expect him to share his issues with her. Be it however small or big.

Wanting to handle everything on her own and not taking his help was another matter but not telling him anything, keeping the troubles in her life to her own was not fair to him. They were connected now, their hearts and lives were entangled.

He reached for her hand which fidgeted with the pallu of her Sari and she slowly looked up at him with remorse shining in her eyes.

'I'm sorry. You have all the rights. I...please take care of yourself. If not for yourself, for me. You don't know what you mean to me. My life is with you.' She professed with tears dropping out of her eyes. Tears which prick his heart.

'Stop crying. I'm fit and fine.' He gently pulled her into his arms and lovingly caressed her hair. She hugged him back tight sobbing.

'Ok. I won't cry but from now on, no more hiding things from each other. I'll tell you if I am facing trouble and you too tell me if you have any kind of worries or tension and if you are unwell. Promise me, you will tell me.' She raised her head at him awaiting his reply who seemed to have shut off for a moment.

'I will.' He whispered huskily forcing a smile on his face.

She beamed then in satisfaction and rested her head on his chest again only to realize their proximity and position. She withdrew immediately startling him and straightened her hair again.

He didn't oppose her sudden act having understood her uneasiness. One thing he has learnt about her since yesterday, she will maintain physical distance between them until they are married and even if he wants nothing more than to take her in his arms and make sweet delicious love to her, he won't ever force her for anything she isn't comfortable with. It'll be difficult but he's willing to wait until they are married.

'Also you need to understand my signs.' She comprehended the seriousness of the atmosphere and attempted to lighten up. And she knew just the right topic for that. 'When Nani told Buaji makes delicious sweets you should have mentioned me, that I too make good sweets.'

'But Nani already knows that. You worked here for months, remember?' He murmured uncertain.

'I know but like my family needs to see you as a prospective groom your family too needs to see me as a prospective bride for you.' She argued back energetically as she considered with their history nobody would see these two as possible partners for each other. Hence their families need to look at the other in complete another way.

'But Khushi, my family knows you well. Especially Nani and Di.' He failed to understand her logic behind the drama they are supposed to put on. He knew Di and Nani were shipping for these two and how happy his Di was.

It was then he became aware of the fact that Khushi did not know any of this which is the reason she's worried. He completely forgot to tell her.

'Uh Khushi-'

'You have no idea about all these things Arnavji. You're so dumb. This won't work like that. We need a matchmaker.' She interrupted him even before he started and went on animatedly about his lack of knowledge in this field of marriage and matchmaking. He cross his arms amusingly watching her stress much about a go-between.

'Ahem-ahem'

The voice of a third person alerted them and both turned to the intruder standing at the window of his room. She walked in with a smile on the surface and came to stand right opposite to Khushi.

'Khushiji, what are you doing here...with Chote?' She asked acting innocent causing Khushi's eyes to bug out

'Uhm, Anjaliji!? I, I, uh---I was just' She panicked as her mind went totally blank. Anjali thinned her lips supressing a giggle as she watched her future SIL act like an exposed criminal.

'Oh stop it Di.' The man standing right behind Khushi ruined his sister's plans of having some more fun with a baffled Khushi.. 'She knows Khushi!'

A shocked Sanka Devi in her element turned to look at him and then at his sister, her heart pounding like a drum. She was somehow excited and frightened at the same time. It was another thing knowing Anjali as a genuine person but it was completely another feeling for her to stand there when she was aware of this thing going on between her and her brother. Arnav is her laadla brother, will she consider her good enough to be his wife?

'Anjaliji, I--' She spoke up anxiously, wanting to clarify herself even though she didn't have anything to say. What was she even supposed to say? What do you say in such a situtation? How much she loves her brother? That she'll always keep him happy?

'First of all drop that Anjali ji and call me Di. You're going to be my bhabhi.'

Her eyes shot up positively taken aback by Anjali's request cum order. Her heart raced even more with excitement and she smiled turning completely red before nodding 'Ji...Di.'

Arnav blissfully watched his sister and fiancée engage in a hearty embrace with happiness oozing out of their eyes.

'You have no idea how happy I am.' Anjali withdrew the hug and cupped Khushi's cheeks with a radiant smile. 'Ever since I noticed some sparks during Akash's wedding, I've wanted this only.'

Khushi was jumping inside not believing that Anjali noticed something was going on. She was thrilled to know she had been fearing in vain when Anjali herself has been rooting for them the whole time.

'Di, I'...I'm so..' She was tongue tied, not able to bring out any words. Overwhelmed she kept her palm on Anjali's hand who then noticed shining diamond on her finger.

'Wait, this' this is real.' She stated and then narrowed her eyes only to widen them again in shock. 'Hey DM, you both got engaged!?'

It was then Arnav realized he actually forgot to tell Anjali about this little detail too.

There you go. Hope you peeps liked the chapter. All Arshi!

Love,

Pari