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"So now, both of you may exchange the prizes you hold in your hands and then the runner up may announce the winner please."

Both Arnav and Khushi exchanged glances first and then the prizes. Both of them opened their gifts and were shocked.

Arnav walked up to the mike and said "This time its Verma Designs!!! Congratulations Khushi"

Khushi was still in shock. He had called her Khushi and not Ms. Verma. May be because he knows I'm still Mrs. Raizada she thought.

The ceremony ended and Khushi could still feel Arnav's gaze on her. She never moved from Viraat's side.

After coming downstage Khushi went for a walk, just to escape Arnav. But he was following her. She saw Viraat standing at a distance and went to him.

"Mr. Vadhera, could you please help me out?"

"Sure Ms. Verma. What do you need?"

"Actually can I stand here for some time? I feel like someone is following me"

"Sure , by the way meet my brother Viren, his wife Jeevika and his saali Maanvi."

She saw Maanvi winking at Viraat.

"Pleasure meeting you all. Sorry to barge in like this." Jeevika told her it was fine and asked her about her work.

She could feel Arnav coming closer. She was about to say something about that when she saw Viraat hugging none other than Arnav. She was dumbstruck. They knew each other. She was done for.

'What do I do Devi Maiyya?' she made a silent prayer to her best friend.

"Thanks Arnav bhai, if it wasn't for you, I would never have reached here"

"That is ok Viraat, you are like a brother to me." Arnav said while he glared at Viren.

"Sorry Arnav yaar. Please forget the things from the past. No point holding on to it. Past is past. I'm so sorry that I forgot to invite you to my wedding. And you took your revenge by not inviting me to your wedding." Viren had spoken up. Khushi felt like an intruder at that point.

"You are not forgiven Mr. Vadhera. My wedding was not well planned. Not planned at all in fact. It happened in a spur of the moment. I do plan to have a proper ceremony when I woo her back. I will not invite you to that and then we will be even."

Viren laughed and hugged Arnav, clearly making up and introduced to Jeevika and Maanvi to Arnav.

"Ah so, this is Maanvi!!!" Arnav said as he saw her. 

'Shouldn't he be asking Jeevika? Jeevika was his friend's wife. Why is he interested in Manvi?' - the little green monster inside her asked. 

"Yeah" saying this both Viraat and Maanvi blushed.

"So when are you guys getting married?"

"Soon enough.. Don't worry Arnav bhai, I will definitely invite you to my wedding."

Khushi now just wanted to escape from here. She got her answers and Arnav knew them well.

"I think I should leave now. Thanks" Khushi said before rushing out of there.

Arnav glanced at her as she left. The rest of the group was concerned at her sudden exit.

"Arnav what happened in your married life and who is she?" Viren asked, bringing the attention back to his friend. They were both busy in their respective fields and rarely got to catch up.

"What happened is a long story. But I can tell you who she is. The one wo just left us." Arnav said pointing in the direction Khushi disappeared to.

"What do you mean, Ms. Verma???" Viraat asked.

"Not Ms. Verma, it is as she eloquently puts it, Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. She won't accept it these days so I've got a lot of work to do there. I believe Kushal is also on my side, sending here here in front of me, after finding out our truth last week. So, I think that I will be able to win her back soon enough."

"Oh... I hope everything gets right in your life soon." Jeevika said, offering Arnav a tight smile.

"Thanks Jeevika,  Bye then, see you all soon."

"Bye, good night."

Arnav left the Vadheras and started searching for his Khushi.

Khushi was feeling embarrassed. She was trying to stick to Viraat just to show Arnav that there is something between them and now it has all turned out to be like this. And Arnav even knew that Viraat was in a relationship with Maanvi and she felt like an idiot.

"Khushi what if he loves you and...?" her heart told her. But her mind interrupted.

"No Khushi you can't give up that easily dear. You deserve a lot of happiness."

"What if he is repenting for his mistakes in the past????"

"What is done is done. He can't undo the pain you went through right???"

"But the pain is a part of love and I love him" her heart reasoned.

"Trust is also a part of love and he never trusted you Khushi"

"Everything is fair in love and war. And in every relationship, there will be ups and downs. I think Khushi you should give up"

"Not so easily Khushi"

Her phone rang indicating a call from Kushal.

"So my dear behna has done it. Finally we won. Arnav can take that"

"Yeah bhai, we won" Khushi's eyes welled up. After all, she could bring happiness to her brother. All these years he was very much concerned for her.

"You defeated the great Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada"

"I wish I could have" Khushi spoke without realising.

Kushal's eyes went wide.

"What did you just say Khushi???" he probed, not expecting a slip up like that from her. After all she had not given him a clue all these years.

"Nothing bhai, by the way where are my return tickets? You said you had sent it."

"Yeah, Khushi I've talked about that to Arnav. Don't worry he will take care of it."

"What ?"

"Yeah. Arnav was telling me he was coming to Mumbai from there. So I asked him to take care of yours as well. I've decided that I will give you a special treat for your win over ASR. So ASR, Anjali and Arjun will be here"

"What?"

"Yeah Khushi after all we won!"

"Ok bhai" Khushi finally gave in. Her brother was really excited about it and she did not want to tell him No. Also, she did not have the time or energy to think of excuses and that was another reason for giving in.

"Talk to him about the tickets. I think the flight is scheduled for the day after tomorrow or something. He will take you for shopping tomorrow. He is going to buy gift for me as part of a bet and I want you to select it for me"

"What?" she all but shouted.

"Oh come on Khushi do you know only the word 'what' huh? Whatever I say, you keep on asking what. Now I don't want to hear any excuses. You should go with him. That is an order. Now you have ruined my mood. I will talk to you later. Good night and take care. I love you. Bye"

"Good night bhai. I love you too."

'Bhai what kind of a situation have you put me in? You don't know anything. Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me to do this' Khushi thought out loud.

Kushal by now had called Arnav.

"So Arnav dude you have to buy me a gift."

"What???"

"Oh come on, why is everyone in London saying only the word 'what'?"

"I don't understand." Arnav said and he meant it.

"I was talking to Khushi now and to everything I said, she kept on asking me what."

"Oh that is it, I see, we have been separated for so long, still we are one."

"Yeah right." Sarcasm was evident on Kushal's tone, but Arnav chose to ignore it.

"Now buy me a gift just because I'm planning big things to bring you back together. I've told her that we have had a bet and now since I've won, technically she did, anyway, you will be getting me a gift and she has to select it on my behalf. Understood???"

"Oh yes... thanks Kushal. I dint know your brains worked!" Arnav smirked.

Kushal chose to be the bigger person and ignored that comment

"Well, I've booked the return tickets for the day after tomorrow. Till then try to gain her on your own. You are coming directly to Mumbai. We are planning something."

"Ok man, thanks. I don't know what I'd do without... "

"I know. What would you do without me." Kushal said.

"I meant Khushi." Kushal rolled his eyes at Arnav's comment, but the latter couldn't see that obviously.

"Anyway, tell her that it was you who booked the tickets and there is no flight to Mumbai tomorrow."

"Ok. Now let me go to meet my wife. Bye and Thank you."

"You are welcome. Good night."

"Good night"

Khushi heard a faint knock on her door. She opened it to find herself standing in front of Arnav.

"You? Why are you here and that too at this point of time???"

"At this point of time? Does that mean I can be here at other times Khushi?"

"I.. No.. you know ...that is not what I meant" Khushi stuttered between the words.

"Ok Khushi, just relax. I'm here just because Kushal asked me inform you about the return trip. Our flight is scheduled for day after tomorrow. And he must have told you about the shopping we need to do tomorrow."

"Look Mr. Raizada, just because my brother doesn't know about the relation we had in the past, he has trusted you with this. So please, don't try to take advantage of the situation, I'm sure he will kill you when he gets to know the truth. Please stay away from me. That would be the best in our interests."

Khushi could not control her emotions so she turned away.

"Is that so Khushi? Can you tell me that you don't' love me by looking straight at my eyes?"

He knew the answer. So did she. She could not do what he was asking. He chose to let it go.

"Khushi, please be ready by 10 in the morning tomorrow. I'll be here by then. Till then good night. Take care and dream about me"

"In your dreams Mr. Raizada"

"It happens, trust me."

She heard the door close.

"Thank god he is gone, or else I would not have been able to control myself." Saying this she turned to lock the door and saw Arnav standing there, leaning on the door. He had a smirk on his face. She did not expect this.

"I knew it Khushi"

"What ??? Why are you still here?"

"I was about to go when I heard you talk."

"No, I heard the door close. I spoke after."

"Well, po-tay-to - po-tah-to,  by the way, what were you saying Khushi?"

"That is none of your business. You better leave."

"You are mistaken Khushi. In fact, these days, that is my only business! Anyways I'm leaving now. Take care."

This time she saw him leave and locked the door behind him.

"Khushi you should have checked before pouring your heart out. Now he knows I'm weak. No Khushi you need to be strong. Strong enough to face him." She was determined to face the mighty Arnav Singh Raizada.

In the morning, Khushi was in front of the mirror getting ready when she felt Arnav behind her.

"How dare you enter my room without permission?"

"Khushi I'm legally your husband even today. So I have the right Khushi."

"No you don't. I don't consider you my husband and you cannot force me."

She was dressed in a plain white salwar kameez. She looked absolutely gorgeous. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Khushi, I'm sorry for not believing you all those years ago.. please forgive me Khushi."

"What do you think? I could forgive you so easily after all the pain you inflicted on me, no Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada NO."

"I know Khushi that it is not so easy especially after what I have done.. but still.." He went forwards reducing the distance and she as usual went backwards.

"Arnavji, please stay away!"

"No Khushi I cant.." and saying this he pinned her to the dressing table. She felt awkward but did not push him away. He bent forwards and captured her trembling rosy lips into a kiss. She did not reciprocate the kiss and so he was about to pull back when he found herself inadvertently responding to the kiss. He was taken aback. But soon, it turned into a wild passionate kiss. They pulled apart for air. Their breathing were heavy. He hugged her and she hid her face in his chest.

"Khushi I'm sorry.. I Love You."

"I love you too Arnav..."

Khushi woke up with a start .

"What was that Khushi??? Don't let him do something like that. No no no it can't happen. Not like that."

She was sweating hard. She got up and went to get ready before he came. She picked up a yellow sundress to go shopping. The past years had changed her a lot. Riana's style had influenced her clothing choices. She was no longer the old Khushi who used to only wear salwar suits with pom-poms.

At the other end, Arnav also had the same dream.

"Oh, how I wish it was true." He said to himself as he sat up on his bed.

He got ready immediately, excited to spend the day with Khushi. He chose to wear blue denims along with his signature white shirt. Exactly at ten, he reached Khushi's room. She was standing outside, ready to go.

He was smoking hot and his did not go unnoticed by her. But she tried to ignore her heart which was thinking only about him. He, on the other hand, had planned to do something along the lines of the dream if he could make it to her room, but she was a step ahead. After all she was Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada. He was not disappointed since he knew he would get loads of chances. Or Kushal would create them for him.

"Let's go Mr. Raizada, I have to be back at the earliest"

"Okay Khushi, lets go" the way she called him Mr. Raizada hurt him a lot. 

They rode off in a black BMW, which she assumed, he had rented for his stay in the foreign city.

"Riana, what do you think will be going on between them???" Kushal asked his wife as the four of them sat down for a late lunch in their Mumbai home.

"I think Arnav will be having a tough time, what do you think Anjali?"

"Yeah as far as I know, Chotte doesn't give up so easily and this is about Khushiji so he won't let her go easily, and as far as Khushiji is concerned she also won't express her feelings openly even if she cares for him. I really want both to be back here soon so that we will be able to watch the fun."

"What fun aunty?" little Rishi asked.

"Anjali you are just...Rishi beta Aunty is talking about a game going on between your bua and Arnav uncle" Arjun tried to explain to Rishi.

"What, bua is playing without Rishi? Let her come I won't talk to her. But uncle, what sort of game are they playing???"

"Something like Tom and Jerry!" four of them replied in unison and then burst out laughing.

Arnav and Khushi had gone to about three to four malls roaming around and looking for something Kushal would like. Each time she liked something, Arnav would call Kushal to ask whether that was Ok and then he would reject it.

It was around 1:30 in the afternoon when Arnav finally started a conversation. Till then they had only spoken a few times, about the gift.

"Khushi can we eat something?"

"No Mr. Raizada I'm not interested in eating out with you."

"Khushi please try and understand, we need to eat."

"I said No. If you want to then leave me here I will go back so that you can have whatever you want."

"Ok Khushi as you wish. We can continue."

"Great." Khushi felt happy for winning that round.

They went to the next shop and this time she selected a watch for her brother which she was sure he would like and this time Arnav didn't call Kushal. So they finalised the gift and Arnav paid the bill.

"Khushi can we something now at least?"

"Why don't you understand Mr. Raizada..." she stopped midway when she saw him losing his balance. She now got the reason why he was telling her to eat. He was about to fall when she held him. She took him to a nearby bench. She took the water bottle she had with her and sprinkled water on his face. He regained consciousness and she made him drink some water. She knew his sugar level had dropped. She searched her handbag and found a piece of chocolate in it and made him eat that. Now, she knew that he felt better..

"I'm really sorry Arnavji I didn't know.. you should have told me before itself" she felt pathetic. She knew about his condition, why was she adamant on refusing him? – oh yes- because of the pain he's caused you- she reminded herself.

"I tried to Khushi but you didn't listen..."

"I'm really sorry.. now get into the car. I'll drive"

"I am fine now, I'll..."

"Nothing is fine Arnavji I will drive and it is not up for debate." Arnav did not say anything. He liked this version of Khushi.

She drove to the nearby restaurant and they had lunch. Soon, according to Khushi, he was back to being his normal annoying self and he, on the other hand, was happy that even now she cared for him.

They reached their hotel and both went to their respective rooms. Khushal and Arnav had a video chat later in the night and Khushal was glad that Khushi cared for Arnav. Anjali on the other hand was a little worried for her Chotte's health but the others ensured her that she need not worry when Khushi was there.

Just then there was a knock on Arnav's door. He kept his laptop aside and went to open the door.

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Image of  Arjun Malhotra 

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