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"Chotte, please get married again."

"Di, what are you saying? How could you even?"

"Chotte, I know how important Khushiji is to you. But, I really want to see you happy again. I just want you to have all the happiness in the world. "

"Di, You are right Di. It is not easy for me to forget Khushi. In fact, it is impossible for me to leave her behind. The thing is, I don't want to forget her. Di, Khushi is my everything. There is no moving on from her in this life. You know Di, I haven't trusted or loved anyone other than you and Maa in my life, but, I don't know how it happened, but Khushi has carved some space for herself in this heart. No one can ever take that place. Ever."

"But Chotte, listen to me once..."

"No Di. Please go downstairs and let me be for today. I just want to look at Khushi for a little more time."

"Okay Chotte. As you wish. Good night."

Anjali went down defeated. Not that she was against Khushi, she just wanted her brother to be happy. Now after seeing her brother's reaction to her proposal she felt bad thinking that she should not have said that to him. What's happened, happened. She could not amend the past now.

Arnav was now talking to Khushi's photo in his hand. He was sitting in the bed.

"Khushi Di wants me to get married again. You tell me how I can do that. Don't you know how much I love you? I have complete faith in our love that one day you'll return to me. You'll come back to me no Khushi? I will love and cherish you forever. Please come back Khushi." and he dozed of hugging her photo.

Khushi was unable to sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes the could see images of Arnav flashing in her head. She felt that he was longing for her. But no what about all the pain he had caused her. She can't forgive him like that. She was Khushi Verma and she had her own reasons for not forgiving Arnav Singh Raizada.

She had tried her best to tell Arnav what had happened in her life. If only he had chosen to believe her. How could she love a man who didn't trust her? - she questioned herself often. The heart wants what the heart wants. That was all she could reason.

The next day in Shantivan passed in a blur. The last minute preparations were going on in full swing. It was finally the day of the Shaadi. The baraat arrived. Arnav, Arjun and Kushal shared some time together before the rituals began. Everything went on smoothly.

Anjali and Arjun performed the pheras. Arjun tied the mangalsutra around her neck and finally filled Anjali's maang with sindoor. Arjun and Anjali were married. She had become Mrs. Anjali Arjun Malhotra.

Finally it was time for her bidaayi. Anjali hugged all the family members and also Riana. But again Arnav was missing. Khushal offered to search for him and Riana accompanied him. They headed towards Arnav's room.

Arnav came with a gift in his hand. He offered it to Anjali and asked her to open it after reaching her new home

"And Arjun please take care of my Di."

"Arnav, trust me, I know how much you adore your sister. I promise you, I will keep her happy always."

"And Chotte, please take care of yourself. Have your medicines on time. And please forgive me for what I said yesterday."

"Di, I have left that behind long back. I want you to happy, I will be content knowing that."

Anjali and Arjun left. Arnav stood there heartbroken. If only Khushi was here he would have felt better, she would have made him feel better.

Meanwhile, Khushal and Riana reached Arnav's room. The room was dark.

"I don't think ASR is here Khushal. We should leave."

"One minute Riana, we should make sure." saying this Khushal turned on the lights just to get the shock of his life.

It took some time for both Khushal and Riana to recover from the shock. The walls were adorned with photos of his sister Khushi and his best friend Arnav. Both were so close to him. He knew that both of them had awful pasts. But he never knew that both of them were linked to each other. Maybe even they didn't know. Now he could connect everything.

Arnav didn't know that Khushi was his sister whereas Khushi knew and that is the reason why she managed to escape this trip.

"Arnav is the guy who ruined my Khushi's life. She was so ful of life, always happy to meet people. What has she become. Because of Arnav. I am going to kill him Riana."

"Wait Khushal don't get too emotional." Riana was the voice of reason in his emotional turmoil.

"You know how much Arnav loves and misses his wife. They had a misunderstanding and he had been repenting for years"

"Yeah you are right, but,... Khushi, she's my sister.."

"Khushal I know you are very much concerned for her. I am too. But, I think we need to talk to them. Both of them. At least indirectly. We know Khushi has been stalling all our discussions regarding her marriage. Maybe she still loves him, deep inside her heart. We need to talk to Arnav first. But, we shouldn't let him know that our Khushi and his Khushi are one and the same."

"We need to talk to ASR now" Kushal agreed

"What do you both need to talk to me about?" Arnav asked as he entered his own room.

"You guys came to look for me and decided to stay here forever huh?"

"Arnav, can I ask you something?" Kushal started the conversation he was dreading.

"You can ask me anything man."

"Would you tell us about your marriage"

Arnav paused for a while.

"Yeah I know , I have never told you guys about that. Let me start from the beginning."

Arnav told them everything from those days when he met Khushi for the first time in Lucknow. How she ended up working for him in office at home and then how he fell for her. How he had misunderstood her on that fateful day and how he had treated her after their forced contract marriage. How she had told him the truth and how he had refused to believe her. How she had left exactly after the 6 months and how he had come to know that she was innocent on the next day after she left. How he had searched desperately for her and still was searching for her.

"I have searched for her in every nook and corner of Delhi and Lucknow. I don't know where she has disappeared to. I fell her sometime you know, near me. I know I will find her one days. She'll have to come out of hiding. For me, for our love which was left unsaid. I will bring her back Kushal."

"I know for a fact you'll get her back. Sooner than you think." Saying this Khushal went out of the room before Arnav could say something.

Riana just followed Khushal to their room and locked the door.

"What do you think Khushal???"

"My Khushi had to suffer through that, all that, she was so young... but..."

"But what Khushal?"

"I think Arnav should get a chance. He's repenting for more than three years. I'd seen him the initial days. ASR was shattered. Not the same ASR the world knew. I know he feels really bad about what he has done. Riana, I need to talk to Khushi about this. I need to know what she wants before letting Arnav know about anything."

"Yes Khushal, I completely agree with you. Now let's sleep. We have a flight to catch in the morning.

"Beta, next time do bring your son and sister along.:

"Ji Naaniji. ASR, you need to come to Mumbai soon" Khushal said .

"Khushal, are you hiding something from me?"

"ASR why would you think that?" Riana asked curious.

"Riana Bhabhi, don't know why, but I have a feeling he is hiding something."

"You are absolutely right Arnav" Riana supplied

Both Arnav and Khushal were shocked.

"But, I think you'll need to come to Mumbai to find out."

Khushal felt relieved.

"One minute Khushal, take this. " Arnav handed over a nicely wrapped gift to Khushal.

"What is this?"

"This is a small gift for your sister. Consider it as a token of appreciation for the Lehenga."

"Ok."

"By the way we are meeting next week no, our Indian fashion week, in London."

"Not very sure about that.. "

"Why not. Come on this is your year to win. Last year AR took the prize. Remember?"

"Of course, this year Verma Designs will win it."

"And you are suddenly sure about it, how?" Arnav asked with his signature smirk plastered on his face.

"Well, this time Khushi is representing Verma Designs."

"Ok then there are chances. I agree. She is way more talented than you"

Khushal and Riana bid bye to the Raizadas and left for the airport with Arnav.

Kushal rang the bell to his house and Khushi rushed to open the door.

"Bhai, Bhabhi, you guys are finally home.

"Hey there sister." Kushal said hugging his sister.

"I tell you, you should've been there. Anjali looked so pretty in your creation. Everyone was talking about it and asking for you. It was such a beautiful ceremony. And also, here is a special gift or you from ASR"

Khushi was shocked.

"Gift for me? Does he know it is me? How is that even possible. " Khushi was muttering under her breath.

"Khushi, did you say something." Kushal asked. He was focused on all of Khushi's actions. He needed to know how she felt about Arnav.

"Nothing bhai. Why do I get a gift?"

"ASR gave it as a return gift you know." he handed over the gift to her.

Khushi took it to her room and shut herself in. She opened the packet and found the most beautiful red saree ever. She could instantly make out that this was designed by Arnav. She held it close to her heart and let her tears flow.

After some time Khushal knocked on Khushi's door. She wiped her tears and opened the door plastering a smile on her face.

"Khushi, show us what did you get from ASR." Kushal asked coming in, Riana was right behind him.

Khushi showed him the saree in her hands.

"Wow Khushi I think this is a masterpiece from our great ASR." Khushi was overwhelmed with joy.

"I think he should get married again, don't you think so Khushal?"

"Yeah Riana I too think so. I think I should talk to him on that. He might listen to me. After seeing him so miserable, I think he should move on. If that girl truly loved him, she'd have come back by now."

"But, bhai, I thought he loved his wife way too much. " She seemed anxious and it did not go unnoticed.

"Yeah Khushi, that is true. But, what kind of a stubborn lady is that. She would know he is suffering no. It's been more than three years. ASR is slowly killing himself with pain and she doesn't care." Kushal was trying to provoke her.

"She's also have her reasons. There's always two sides to a story." Khushi did not like the topic of her Arnavji's remarriage.

"I agree Khushi. But, I still think Arnav shouldn't waste his life for a woman who doesn't love him as much as he loves her." Kushal said, focusing on the minor changes in Khushi's facial expressions.

"And Kushal, remember how much pain he was in when he was telling us about his marriage." Riana supplied wondering what would Khushi say next.

"Bhai, why are you so concerned about him? I think you need to focus on me." She realised her mistake as soon as she said that.

"Oh, I was waiting for this day. When are you getting married again?" Kushal asked grabbing the opportunity.

"Bhai?"

"Yeah Khushi, you just said you wanted us to talk about you. I know we have respected your privacy and not pressured you into telling us what happened to you. I won't ask you. But, you need to tell me, when will you want to get married again? I want to see you happy, with a family of your own."

"But bhai, I don't think I can ever marry anyone else"

"Why not Khushi?"

"I still love him bhai. I can never stop loving him. Even after what has happened, he is the only one. I won't be able to love anyone else, I won't be able to accept anyone else as my husband bhai. I am sorry. Please don't force me."

"Ok Khushi, I won't force you into anything. You know that. But, I do have another proposal for you."

"BHAI..PLEASE"

"Oh come on Khushi, listen to me first. I would like you to handle the Fashion week in London this time. You know it is scheduled for next week. I want to win this time and i am impressed with your work. I think you'll find this refreshing, a much needed change."

"Bhai are you serious???" Khushi couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Yeah of course"

"I would love to"

"Ok so decided right???? I will inform the authorities that you will be representing Verma Designs this time." Kushal said, happy with her response.

"Ok bhai.. I am super-excited. "

"Ok then prepare yourself. I'll get the tickets ready. Come on Riana. Take care Khushi. Good night"

"Good night"

After reaching their room Khushal was very much excited and happy.

"So Khushal, I know what you are playing at.?"

"I am so excited Riana. Those idiots don't know how much they love and care for each other. Khushi loves Arnav too. Poor thing doesn't know we know everything." Riana nodded in agreement.

"And one more thing Riana, make sure Khushi doesn't come to know of Arnav's presence in the show."

"She'll figure it out once she reaches there right?" Riana questioned. She hardly knew any details about the show. It was always Kushal who represented their company and Riana was happy to stay back and manage everything while he was gone.

"She won't get to know a thing."

"How?"

"As stupid as it sounds, the event starts off in four groups, that too in alphabetical order. A-F, G-M, N-S and T-Z. The first semi-finals will be between two groups each from A-F and G-M and similarly second semi-finals between N-S and T-Z. Four groups will go into the finals. That is when Arnav and Khushi come face to face. That will be the last day of the show and Arnav will be there only on that day. The main designer need not necessarily show up until then.

"It is stupid. I hope they don't realize the alphabetical order groups are stupid and change the format"

"Oh no Riana, don't jinx it. My whole plan rides on this format." Riana just laughed at her husband.

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Image of Kushal Verma

Here is an early update. Hope you liked it.

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