Happy International Friendship day everyone.

Here's the update.

"I'm coming, Gupta," he said to himself.

NK who heard Anjali dumped his chips on the sofa and came running to the dining area.

"Di, why Nannav? He has an office, isn't it? I'll go and pick up Khushi-Ji and Payal-Ji," he said piping in between his Di and Arnav.

"NK, I think you have lost your brain somewhere," he said.

"What?" NK asked.

"What means what, your brain might carry the information that my office is in the process of Renovation. So, just go and get your brain. Meanwhile, I will go and get Khushi and Payal here," sarcasm is trickling down his words.

"Haww..Nannav, that was rude!" he started

"I know," he replied and got up from the breakfast table.

"Chotte, where are you going? Drink your juice at least," she said looking at him getting up without completing his breakfast.

"To pick up Payal and Khushi, Di. And I am full, anyway. I'll start now," he replied. Who knows if NK will jump into his way again if he will be late. His inner thought.

"Mhhmh..okay," Anjali said extremely confused looking at his brother's behaviour. However, when was ASR predictable? Anjali thought and shook her head at him continuing with her food.

With that said, Arnav went to his room to collect the keys and went away to his SUV.

Gupta House

Arnav stood in front of the home after ringing the bell when Garima opened the door.

"Arnav beta, come inside, please,"  Garima said surprised but was quick enough to hide it.

Arnav took off his cooling glasses and gave a small smile to her. Nobody would even get to know that he smiled. Such was the smile it is.

"Sit down, beta. I'll go and bring coffee for you." She showed the sofa offering him her greetings.

"No. No, Aunty. I'm fine. I don't want anything. I just came to pick Payal and Khushi for practice," he said with his husky voice.

"Beta, Payal and Jiji went to Temple. They will take at least another two hours to come home. Only Khushi is in her room. But she didn't wake up yet," she said.

"No problem, Aunty. For now, I'll pick up Khushi," he said to Garima while he fumed in his heart. She slept till late? When did she come back home last night? Idiot NK. Don't he have a sense?  How can he spend time with her late at night? He cursed NK in his mind not knowing that his crazy Khushi wakes up enough late. And that is according to Arnav's time sense.

"Okay, Beta," she said and went to Khushi's room to wake her up.

Arnav just nodded his head at her.

Khushi's Room

Khushi was sleeping peacefully on her bed, dreaming of her Salman Khan when she woke up with a jolt at the chillness that surrounded her face.

"Amma!" she screamed at her who stood there with a jug of water.

"Shhh, don't scream much, Khushi. Arnav beta is here," she said shushing her.

"What the-, Bade aaye laadgoverner. And just because that arrogant-stupid Raizada came, you woke me up and that too with a jug of water?" Kyushu fumed at Garima.

"Shut up, Paagal." She smacked Khushi on her head.

"Oww," she moaned rubbing the spot.

"Go and get ready fast," Khushi pouted at Garima and was going to sleep again when she felt a splash of water on her face again. And this time, all her sleepiness went away from the open window.

She glared at Garima and went to washroom cursing certain Raizada under her breath.

Hall, GH

"She is getting ready, Beta. I will bring your coffee in the meanwhile. She might take some time," she said. And Arnav nodded at Garima.

He sat on the cushion surfing through his emails.

After sometime,

Khushi came out of her room and stood in front of Arnav. Arnav sensing someone presence looked up, only to see Khushi standing in front of him in her bright pink chudidhaar.

Beautiful! His heart whispered and his mind agreed with his heart.

For a few minutes, he just sat staring at her as if she is a sculpture. She squirmed under his piercing gaze and Arnav came out of his reverie. He again wore his ASR mask and stood up.

"Come let's go," he said.

Khushi looked at him wide-eyed. Her uncomfortableness is all gone.

"What? What about my breakfast? I have to eat," she said looking at him while Arnav gritted his teeth. So much for him waiting. But she will be hungry if she doesn't eat. His caring side said. Where did that care come from? He thought and looked up to an innocent child in Khushi. Innocent? Someone told that she is not innocent, I guess. His conscience said. He shut him off as he had no answer.

"Anyway, you waited till now. What happens if you wait some more?" She raised her eyebrows at him and went running to the dining table to have her breakfast.

"Beta, you too have breakfast," Garima requested who came out of the kitchen.

"No, thanks, Aunty. I had coffee and that's enough."

"But beta, I insist, have a little bit," she said and Arnav couldn't say No. So, he too sat down and had some breakfast. While Arnav completed one poodi, Khushi completed five poodis. Arnav was not surprised as he know her appetite.

After breakfast, they both got up and went to SUV ad started their little journey towards RM.

But Destiny had some other plans. Arnav's dear car's tire got punctured and they both got down out of the car.

"What the- Dammit!" He screamed kicking his car tire.

"Kicking that tire will only hurt you, Arnav-Ji,"  Khushi said seriously while Arnav glared at her. His jealousy didn't left him till now.

"Accha, since you don't know to change the tire, I'll do the honours," she smiled and went to backside to open the door and get the extra wheel out. Arnav helped her having no other choice while Khushi controlled her smile. There is something that ASR doesn't know and KKG knows. A big blow to ASR's ego.

Soon, Khushi was engrossed in fixing the wheel while Arnav stood at aside. And that's when he heard someone commenting... on Khushi.

"Hey, dekh re, what a figure we've got," A guy from the gang of four people said. They were resting on the side of the road in their jeep when they caught Khushi.

"You said so right, yaar. What a figure! She is looking so hot," Arnav heard another one say. He fisted his hands as his nerves throbbed ready to burst any moment. It was not the jealousy he felt. He felt protective. As if to protect her from those dirt eyes.

"And look at her back, her—" he was cut off by a blow on his face. He fell down writhing in pain.

"What did you say? Huh?" Arnav lunged on that man besting him to black and blue. And Khushi who was almost completed with her work heard the screams, stood up. Only to look at Arnav fighting with some people on the other side of the Road.

"Arnav-Ji," she screamed and started running to his side not noticing a car coming towards her.

*Boom*

The fight stopped and the world around Arnav stopped rotating. His breath hitched looking at Khushi lying in a pool of blood. As if he can't breathe anymore. As if he is chocked to death. As if he was pushed down into a deep pit. Tears rolled down his eyes unknown to him.

Hospital
After a few hours,

"Doctor, how is she?" Arnav asked desperately. He couldn't sit straight. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. All he wants to do is, go and hug her and never let her go. Never. Those few minutes of her lying on the road is enough to accept that she meant not nothing to him. In fact, she meant everything to him. His care, possessiveness, protectiveness, fear and his feel of the void is enough to scream that he loves her.

"Who are you to her?" The doctor asked.

"I'm..her husband," Arnav said knowing that if he says friend, they won't say him the truth.

"Oh, Don't worry. She just had some minor injuries. Thank God, looks like, the car not at high speed and that might be the reason she had minor injuries. She just loses some blood as her head hit the road. She lost her consciousness because of the shock. Thankfully, no stitches we're needed as the injury was not that deep. She will be fine in a few weeks and if she takes proper rest, the result will be earlier. You can take her home after an hour." The doctor went away.

Arnav sighed in relief and released a breath he was holding from past few hours. What if something had happened to her today? What will he do? Could he breathe? Could he live? No.

Arnav then informed his Di about the situation and told her to not to worry.

After some time,

"Khushi," Arnav whispered. It is time for her to walk out of the hospital. Khushi sat on the bed looking at him. Her body looks tired. After all, she was on saline for the past few minutes. Although she doesn't have any saline now her head was bandaged and her elbow was bandaged as well. She gasped looking at his form. His shirt came untucked. His cuffs are not neat. His eyes are red. He's looking like a drunkard, to be honest.

"How are you?" His voice cracked.

"I'm fine, Arnav-Ji. But, are you fine?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said agreeing with her as her voice doesn't seem weak. But still, he can't ignore that she was on saline and had a bandage on the head. Khushi looked at him and then glared at him as she remembered what did Arnav do.

"Why the hell did you fight with those men?" she gritted her teeth.

"What?"

"That's what I am asking. What is what? Yesterday, you were fighting with me and NK and today, with them. What is wrong with you?"

"Khushi, don't. You don't know what they did," he said with gritted teeth.

"What they did? Whatever it is, was it worth fighting?" she asked.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it is not."

"You don't know what they said."

"I don't care and you shouldn't too."

"I bloody care. They were commenting on you. How can I leave them?" he said shouting.

"Oh!" Khushi whispered now embarrassed.

"Oh? That's it?" Arnav asked.

"That's it."

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"No, I mean yes. Why did it matter to you if they commented on me?" she asked.

"I...I..actually..." Arnav couldn't move his lips.

"I know. I know your ego is too big to accept the truth."

And that's when Arnav realised that due to his ego, how many times he had hurt Khushi. Starting from day one to the day he told her off to not to come to the party. He needs to apologise. In the meanwhile, Khushi stood up.

"I'm so sorry, Khushi," Arnav whispered, regretting his behaviour. Thanks to his big-time ego.

"That's it?" Khushi stood in front him, her hazelnuts glaring out at him as her hands reached her hip.

Arnav looked up dazed as he heard her question.

"That's it? That's it, what?" his dumb mind sent a signal to carry out those words.

"This is what you have to say and nothing more?" Khushi controlled herself from slapping him.

"What do you want more, Khushi?"

"Only if I can get my hands on him, bloody idiot. Doesn't he have any better word besides sorry?" she muttered and said aloud, "You have to say sorry to me. However, you can't use the word 'sorry'."

"Oh, that's it? Okay," he said.

"lo siento," he said bowing his down.

"Huh? What?" Khushi was left confused.

"You only said na, Khushi. That's why I didn't use the sorry word." Innocence was dripping from his voice.

"What?" she is still confused.

"Leave that what, Khushi. You said to apologise to you without using sorry. And I did," he said nonchalantly.

"You did?" She is more confused.

"Yeah, I did. And I want a present for the same," he said grinning.

"What's that?" She narrowed her eyes at him. He must be cooking something in his brain.

"This," he said taking her in his arms.

Khushi hugged him back pouting at his ways of pacifying her. He does win, always!

"Don't pout too much, Khushi. I'll kiss you, not even caring that it is a hospital," he said.

"Haaww," she said widening her eyes.

"Close your eyes and mouth, Khushi. Or else Mosquitoes will enter. And you know how possessive I'm. I won't let them enter your sweet mouth which is my right." He smirked looking at her closing her eyes and mouth immediately, blushing furiously at him. But then fury took over her senses as she thought, "He doesn't care if that mosquito bites me and I'll catch Malaria? How dare he?" She imagined the scenario in her mind as her eyes were closed. She raised her hands to beat him only to hit the air. She found no human body. As she opened her eyes, she didn't see Arnav and she panicked.

"I Love You, Khushi," he confessed standing on his knees. As Khushi heard his voice from below her, she looked down only to see him on his knees confessing his love.

She was shocked. Is it a dream? She thought and punched herself. She realised it is not a dream. Arnav-Ji really proposed to me. He did. She grinned at the thought. Arnav chuckled looking at her state.

"Khushi, I told you how I felt when you were lying on the hospital bed. You don't know and can't even predict how I felt, Khushi. As if someone was squeezing my heart. I couldn't breathe, Khushi. I couldn't take the next breath knowing that you are not fine. I literally died. I was. I just love you so much Khushi. I love you so much. I can't live without you. I'll just die. I'm so sorry for the I caused you, Khushi, " he confessed as tears rolled down his eyes.

"I understand," she whispered overwhelmed.

"No, you don't. You don't understand why I pushed you away, why I insulted you, why I hurt you every time. You don't know why I did that, Khushi. But I want you to know what I did and why I did that. Khushi, I was a person who doesn't believe in marriage. I was a person who doesn't care about feelings. I didn't like to feel, Khushi. Even if I did, I didn't like to show it. Even if I did show it, I'd like to hide it. Quickly. I wore a mask of indifference, Khushi. And you, out of all the people in the world, you came into my life. And the mask I wore, started fading away. I couldn't control it anymore. I was afraid that I will get hurt again. I'll become weak and anyone can take advantage of it. I wouldn't want that. And you were breaking the wall without many efforts. I started feeling. I started showing my feelings. I was not able to hide them. And I couldn't afford that. That's why I pushed you away, I hurt you. I know these reasons are not valid to the hurt you have gone through. But, I'm selfish, Khushi. I know I don't deserve forgiveness. But please forgive me. I won't say I won't hurt you ever. Because I might do that. I can't help with it. But, yeah, I promise to make it up to you to forgive me. I promise to make efforts for you to smile that you would just forgive the hurt. Please, forgive me. I love you so much," Arnav confessed and the hospital staff in that room was in awe looking at the ASR on his knees.

Khushi just nodded her head at him. Punishment, her mind screamed. Later to her heart content, her heart screamed. And then she hugged him bending to his level.

Khushi and Arnav hugged each other to their heart's content before Arnav decided to drop her in GH.

"Khushi, no need for dance practice. I'll drop you home and just take bed-rest," Arnav warned.

Khushi nodded at him as she is too exhausted and weak to even walk, let alone dance. She will take a rest today. She thought and smiled at Arnav. Thus, they as the discharge process proceeded, Arnav dropped off Khushi in her bedroom warning her to take rest and not step out of the bed again.

"Take care. I'll come at night. After all, it's new year eve," he said kissing in her forehead bidding her goodbye.

Khushi blushed bidding him off.

Night, GH

Khushi was on her waiting for Arnav to turn up after sending her Jiji with Jija-ji. She was tired. After Arnav dropped her at home. Her family was on their toes taking care of her. And then the whole Raizada clan turned up at their door. She assured them that she is fine. They had a talk and later, they went back. It's 11:49 PM. More 11 minutes to New Year. She is upset that she can't make Jalebi's like every year. She can't jump like every year. But she is also happy that she has Arnav-Ji this year. And that's when she felt a presence in the room.

"Arnav-Ji," she sensed his presence and screamed in Joy looking at him near her bed. Arnav chided himself for her foolishness. What if Bua-Ji hears? Let her hear, after all, she is the one who screamed.

"Where did you come from?" she asked giggling.

"Low down your voice, Khushi. And coming to your question, I came from the window."

"What?" she giggled imagining the scenario.

"Aree Oh Sankadevi, what happened? Why did you scream?" Bua-Ji banged on the door.

"Oh no, Bua-Ji." Khushi got down from the bed tensed while Arnav tried to calm her down.

"Aree Oh Sankadevi, open the door," Bua-Ji screamed.

"Oh, no. Bua-Ji, what to do, what to do? " she started chewing her nails pacing the room from one end to other.

Arnav, on the other side, was fed up with her nonsense. He came to her. And it's her fault that she screamed. He thought and reprimanded himself. It's better if he goes and tells her that he came for Khushi. He started walking towards the door. Khushi who noticed him going made her way into his.

"Oh, hello, Mr Raizada. Where are you going? Are you planning for Bua-Ji to catch us up?" she whispered gritting her teeth pushing him backwards.

"Sanka Devi!" Khushi jerked up listening to another scream.

"Arnav-Ji, Go and sleep on the bed, please. Please," she started pleading him pushing towards her bed.

"What the-, are you crazy?" he took her hands in his, off his chest.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm crazy," she said and pushed him again releasing her hands from him.

By the time she realised what has happened, Arnav fell on the bed.

Khushi was shocked and then grinned remembering her Devi Mayya.

"Look Arnav-Ji, Even Devimayya wanted you in my bed," she said innocently.

"What the f-" he said.

"Oh, my Khushi, what did you just say. I was just kidding with ASR in the morning. And you really want to have a lovemaking-". Arnav shushed his inner voice.

Remember, ASR and Arnav are same now. Both love Khushi. They both told each other.

Soon, Khushi went to open the door.

"What happened, Bua-Ji?" she asked.

"Why did you scream, Namdhakishore?"

"Woh, it's a new year na, that's why."

"Accha, Go and take rest now. Don't scream. Already you are injured, Parameswari. Don't forget that."

"Yeah. Yeah. I know, Bua-Ji." Madjumathi just shook her head and went away leaving Khushi relieved.

"Arnav-Ji, get up." Khushi shook him up who is under the blanket now.

He didn't wake up instead she was pulled under the blanket.

"What are you doing? " she asked blushing as both are now hugging each other under the blanket.

"Dekh raha hu."(Seeing you.) His husky voice sent a shiver down her spine.

"Why?" she managed to whisper. His closeness sending her heart on a marathon. On the other side, Arnav is not any different. His heart was beating furiously.

"Happy New year!" he wished as the clock trickled 12:00 AM. Opening the door of a new life for both them. A life which belonged to both of them.

"Happy New—" Arnav didn't let her say that.

"I don't want your wishes. I want your reply."

"What reply?" she blushed knowing that what he's implying.

"The same for which you are blushing furiously." He tugged her close to him.

Khushi lowered her eyes shying away.

"Khushi, promise me, you won't ever leave me. Just say that and I won't need anything," he said tightening his hold on her.

"I promise. I won't ever leave you." She promised.

"Even I hurt you," he asked.

"I'll punish you."

"But you didn't punish me today."

"I did." She smiled mischievously.

"When?" Arnav was confused.

"Think hard. After all, you are a Harvard Graduate."

"Khushi," he warned. Khushi laughed off.

The End