'Hey DM, you both got engaged!?'

Khushu swallowed hard at the shocked expression of her new sister and she looked at the man standing by her side. Didn't he tell her about this? What had he told her? That she was his girlfriend? What is worse? Having Anjali think of her as her brother's girlfriend or getting to know they both got engaged without even telling their families, let alone ask for their consent. This was India, after all. Here you don't just marry a girl your family doesn't approve of.

Arnav registered the displeased look on Khushi's face and understood her inner turmoil.

'I'm sorry Di, I guess I forgot to tell I proposed her.' He said casually as if it was most normal thing in the world. Well, in some parts of the world it was the most normal thing but not in India.

Anjali sighed shaking her head but eventually smiled at them.

'Now please don't elope too.' She joked with a comical grin. 'We have so many dreams regarding your wedding. Let us fulfil those.'

He just rolled his eyes at her statement. Why would they elope, he thought. He least had an idea that somewhere in an alternate universe they did elope and the outcome was catastrophical.

'This is really a beautiful ring. Suits you so much.' Anjali ran her finger across the stone and affectionately put a finger under Khushi's chin. 'I'm really happy for you two.'

Khushi smiled at the fact that not only was she accepted by her future sister-in-law but also admired and loved that much to having considered her a perfect match for him. Although with all the history, she wondered how anyone can even picture them as a couple. What was it that triggered them to think these two people who hate each other, are poles apart in thinking, behaving, treating people should get married to each other?

Her stomach knotted at the realization that others may have also noticed the things going on between them during the wedding. And her hand immediately went up to her cheek as the picture of him kissing her cheek here at the very poolside flashed across her mind.

'Khushiji, what happened?' Asked a concerned Anjali after noticing her act. Khushi just shook her head taking her hand down immediately. 'Erm, nothing.'

'Accha, then tell me, why won't you both marry right now? What are you two waiting for?' She dropped the bomb finally for which she had been waiting. He'd told her they wanted to wait but had not provided an explanation. She failed to see sense in this decision. This wasn't an arranged marriage. Khushi and Arnav know each other quite well and there are no educational or work hurdles stopping them from marrying yet.

Khushi's focus shifted and her face drained off colors. It was for her. She ought to be answering this since it's her who wants to wait. But should she just reveal about her family's condition? Surely she'll understand but some things are personal and uncomfortable to share with some people.

'There's nothing much to that Di. I don't want to marry right now. That's it.' Before she could even speak the knight in shining armour came to her rescue. She felt relieved but also bad for he took it upon himself. But that's what love is, to help each other, to complement each other and stand up for each other. She urged to him right not but held herself back.

Anjali wanted to protest but let it be. If Khushi was ok with his decision then she doesn't have anything to revolt. So she nodded with a frown but then straightened her face. 'Ok, I'll go down. You two also come. We're about to have dinner.'

She tenderly patted his cheek before turning round and walking out slowly. And as soon she was out of sight, Khushi swung to her Arnavji and crossed her arms on her chest.

'Why didn't you tell me that you told Di?' She wasn't mad about it but he ought to at least tell her.

'I couldn't hide it from her any longer. I wanted to ask you before but last night...I just had to tell her.'

She couldn't be upset with him after hearing the softness and tenderness in his voice. There were some hidden emotions in his tone and it didn't need her much to understand the guilt of hiding the most important thing in his life from his Di.

'You know I also feel guilty for hiding about us from Jiji. I wanted to tell her too.' She smiled at him appeased. 'But now that Di knows, I can't tell her. Because if they both start conversing about us and anyone hears...'

He reached for her hand to calm her down. She had this habit of overthinking and overanalyzing things which resulted in her getting worried for no real issue.

'Khushi, if you want to tell Payal then tell her. She's your sister.'

She looked at him and grimaced nodding uncertain. On one hand she craved for telling her sister, after all that what sisters do. But on the other side they could be busted and if the matter reaches Buaji and Amma, they'll feel bad for she refused to marry currently so she could provide them the much needed financial support. But that's what children are for., helping their parents in their old age. She's a girl doesn't mean her only ambition in life is to get married. Marriage is and never should be more important to many than the happiness and financial stability of their families. It's the society and the parents themselves who make it their life goals to marry their kids off as soon as possible even if it means they have to take loads of loans on their shoulders and pay those off for the rest of their lives.

'Khushi'

She broke the trance of her thoughts and darted her eyes at him who had closed the gap between them. She gasped and startled at the sudden proximity, took a step back only to be pulled back by him again. The warmth of hand on her waist sent shiver through her spine.

'A--Arnavji--' She opened her mouth to speak but felt at lack of words.

'Relax.' His husky voice just above her earlobe had the opposite effect on her, her heart. 'I know my boundaries. No kiss on the lips. But, cheek is allowed.'

She inhaled sharply and ran her eyes across his shifting face as he moved it away from her ear, past her lips and held his cheek right near her nose, waiting for a peck. She heaved and slowly snaked her hands up across his torso and rested them on his chest. He smiled as soon he felt her heated breathe on his surface.

But instead of a kiss, a push was what he got and as soon he steadied himself his eyes wandered to her escaping figure leaving trails of her giggles behind.

'I just want to bargain.' Shyam said with a vicious grin set on his face. But it wasn't enough to stare the person in front of him, not this time.

'Leave from here. Whatever you want to say, say in court.' Mehul tried to close the door but Shyam pushed it back with his hand.

'Mehul, I'm a lawyer. Do you think I'll have difficulties winning this case? You already have no money, stop wasting the bit you have on this case.' It was not a polite suggestion, it was a warning. He leaned dangerously close to the other man with a stern face, showing he wasn't just talking nonsense.

'Money is important to people like you. To me, it isn't more important than getting justice for my sister. I'll prove you killed her. I'll get you behind bars Shyam Jha. You'll get what you deserve.'

Shyam was stunned at his audacity. What had come over him at sudden? How did he become so brave and fearless? What had he gotten hold of to be threatening him like this? Were there evidences? Had Shyam somewhere unknowingly did some mistake? Had he failed at committing the perfect crime? Had he really left some trails behind? For a moment Shyam was scared of the person in front of him but not for long.

'You are making a terrible mistake.' Another attempt to frighten him but it didn't please Shyam, the confidence in his voice. Where did it come from?

'No. No. My biggest mistake was trusting you. I'm doing something right for the first time.'

Shyam's hand went down and Mehul closed the gate using the opportunity. He crushed the paper in his hand. This man needed to be silenced and put in his place. He can't take away from him the life he has build for himself and the life he will have soon.

'Madhumatiji, if you know any nice, suitable girl from Lucknow then do tell me.' Nani spoke with a smile directed at the woman sitting beside her. 'I'm thinking it's time Chote too settles down.'

Just as she was about to take another spoonful of the delicious Kheer her Jiji made, Nani's words hit her eardrums and she kept the spoon back in the bowl. Her excitement for food gone, her eyes and ears were attentively directed at the elderly woman.

Arnav glanced at Khushi shortly before looking at his grandmother again. He was not pleased with the way she just decides for herself what he should do and not. But the Gupta family was here and he didn't want to argue in front of them. 'Nani, please. Not now.'

He respected his grandmother who took them in when his father's family threw them on street. He'll be forever grateful of her for raising them and supporting them but elders need to understand they can't force people to do things against their will. They shouldn't. He never wanted to marry but now that he wants, he doesn't want them looking for girls when he has already chosen who he'll marry. Admitted, she doesn't know that. Still it should be left on him.

'Chote, I'm just asking Madhumatiji about a nice girl, not fixing your alliance.' She replied with authority.

'And you don't need to either. I won't just marry any girl served to me on a platter. I'm very well capable of getting a girl for myself on my own.' In his head he didn't sound as rude as in real.

Khushi anxiously moved her head between her fiancé and the matriarch of the house. Here she was dreaming of her family see him as a nice young man, suitable for her while he was keen on showing his true colors. Yes, she loves him the way he is and can handle him in his worst too but what will they think of someone who goes against his own grandmother? She could already see the discomfort on her Buaji and Amma's face.

This Laad Governor will destroy everything.

'Er, Buaji waise what have you thought about Khushiji's marriage?' Anjali asked in an attempt to change the atmosphere which had filled with tension. She could not undo the damage but successfully stopped it from increasing. Khushi took a sigh of relief.

'We'll marry her off once we find a nice, good charactered boy suitable for our Khusi bitiya.' Garima smiled at her before exchanging a look with her sister-in-law.

'So what do you think how should that boy be?' Anjali questioned further with her eyes then progressing towards her Chote sitting next to her. On his opposite sat Khushi whose cheeks turned pink.

'Simple, sorted, calm, soft-spoken and good-mannered.' Garima admired her daughter as responded to the question with dreams and hopes shining in her eyes.

Khushi eyed the person opposite to her with big eyes, sending a warning to the person who was least bothered about anything. He wasn't analysing Garima's word as thoroughly as his sister and fiancée did.

Simple? Neh.

Sorted? Uh. Uh.

Soft-spoken? Not happening.

Good-mannered? Questionable!

'And most importantly a boy who will understand and love our daughter the way she is.'

And now it was his turn to send a signal to her. She flared her nose at him as he passed her his signature smirk. Yes, he loved her the way she is and had grown to be understanding too but he clearly didn't meet the other requirements of a prospective groom for her.

But the grin on his face won't stay for long as Buaji had some thoughts of her own running through her mind.

'Akash babua, what do you know about that--he works at your office, what was his name--Aman! Yes. How is that guy? I mean, as a person?'

Akash exchanged a confused look with his brother Arnav before replying to his aunt-in-law. How come she was asking about Aman at sudden? 'Erm, nice. He's...ya...a nice man. Confident, ambitious and skilled.'

Buaji nodded at him not really able to make use of that information. His description was quite professional, not personal enough.

Although she let it rest but the person sitting opposite to her niece would not be at rest anymore. He stared at Khushi for answers as to why Buaji was showing interest in Aman but there was nothing she could say at current. Her looking away didn't help her avoid it though.

Her phone buzzed again and she picked it up without even glancing at the display. She needn't check. She knew who it was. It was her impatient fiancé who had been calling her ever since she left from Shantivan. They didn't get any chance to speak in private after dinner. Khushi couldn't sneak to his room again. And Nani asked Akash to drop them, so he couldn't steal any moment with her either.

She hadn't even reached home when he started calling. She had had to turn her phone on silent then. Once the Guptas retired to their respective rooms and she changed back into her comfortable night dress, she could now finally attend his eagerness.

'Why weren't you picking up damn it?' She distanced the phone for a moment as he barked right into her ear.

'I was with Amma and Buaji, couldn't pick up!' She answered equally frustrated as him.

'Why was Buaji asking about Aman? What's the matter?' His voice lowered but his anger didn't. He didn't even know who was angry at? The fact that Buaji could consider marrying Khushi to anyone else other than him disturbed him, stung him.

'What do you mean what's the matter?' She shouted back in annoyance. 'I told you about the gift, didn't I? I had to make an excuse that it was from Amanji, which it actually was. So she must be thinking...well, what would people think when a boy makes expensive gifts for a girl?'

She could hear him breathe out madly but it was not her fault. What was she supposed to say? It was the only thing she could come up with that time. And here he was, upsetting over something so trivial.

'Arnavji.' She called out softly. 'It's nothing. Buaji doesn't even know Amanji. This is no big. He'll be forgotten in few days. Don't get upset. Be my understanding fiancé na.'

She smiled and he could imagine it, her face clearly in front of him, shining bright. The imagination alone took away all the distress and he stared at the illuminating water in the pool, taking in the soothing serenity of the atmosphere.

'Why did you have speak against Naniji?' She kept her voice low, not wanting to sound harsh. She didn't want to fight, wasn't asking for an explanation either. She just wanted him to realize his mistake. That's the way women do.

'I didn't mean to be rude.' He replied calmly and she sighed sitting down on her bed. 'That's not done Arnavji. You need to control your temper. You can't behave like that with elders. We should respect them. They are our elders and-'

'Ok ok. I got it. Control my temper. Don't start a lecture.' She grimaced hearing out the teasing in his voice.

'Accha we should sleep now. It's quite late and I'm sleepy. Tomorrow we have to get to work too.' She said and he just hummed in response. His mind had drifted to something else.

'Good night Arnavji.' She wished and waited until he wished back. 'Ya, good night.'

They aborted the call but Khushi wondered why he had become so silent suddenly. What he was thinking about? Was something bothering him? But she brushed it off. He's like that only. Silent. Probably was just thinking about work or something minor or else he would have told her just as they promised to. And now her own mind took her off to a matter forgotten. She promised him she won't hide anything from now on. But she wasn't keeping it. The truth about Shyam was still hidden from him though she knew she has to tell him. It's not just about Shyam anymore. They will marry soon and if ever the truth comes out, he'll never trust her again. Or worse. He won't marry her.

She had seen it herself on Holi. There was no use of hiding Shyam's truth as he wasn't going to change. He'd gotten enough chances yet he didn't stop creeping around her. He still doesn't respect his wife the way he should. Anjaliji, now her Di, thinks she's with a man who loves her unconditionally but she's living a lie. And she has to tell Arnavji, she has to tell him everything. His sister is his life. But will he believe her?

Well, he loves her. He will trust her. He will believe her. Why would he think she's lying? There's no reason for her to lie. And the more time she keeps wasting, the angrier he will be knowing she hid it all from him. She is his fiancée and she doesn't want their relationship to start with lies.

'Tomorrow. I'll tell him everything about Shyamji. He'll be angry, but I'll woe him. I'll explain everything.'

She laid down on her bed taking a long deep breath but then a voice in her mind reminded her of the truth she'd been denying herself.

You didn't do it for Di only. You didn't hide his truth to protect Di from a heartbreak, you were protecting your sister from having another broken marriage.

She turned to her left as a shuddering feeling crept over chest. He's not a fool. He'll know why she kept quiet and then, will he start hating her?

No Khushi. Don't think like that. He loves you. Remember, he, who didn't used to believe in love and marriage proposed to you! He loves you. He'll understand. He has to.

She closed her eyes wanting to fall in slumber but it was clear sleep isn't coming any soon.