Chapter 3:: dtd 04.01.2019

I would like to blabber a bit before the story.

KUHU AND KHUSHI ARE DIFFERENT.
4th update occurs 16 years post 3rd update.
Gauri is the daughter of Avinash who is a distant relative of Arnav's dad Arvind. Arvind's dad took Avinash under his wings and gave him Raizada's name. So Avinash and Arvind stay at Sheesh Mahal, Lucknow.

Gauri is a Gupta now. Stays with her family in Delhi.
All the confusion arose was because of a teasing session that happened with my plot, planned and executed by my dear dearest.💕 Kavi Akka (suryakavi0912) and Pari (ArShi_Angel)

Now back to the story
------------------------

Delhi.

The Gupta's
Shiv Gupta, his wife Gauri Gupta
Payal Gupta(21) is the strong Mumma's strong elder daughter. Jaan of her little Khushi.
Khushi Shiv Gupta(15) Papa's laadli. Stubborn as hell. So obsessed with someone but kept it a secret from her mom.

"Mumma, Why can't I go to Lucknow for the school trip?" Khushi asked her mother Gauri Gupta. Gauri glared at Khushi. Khushi successfully pulled a ' sulking' face turned to her father who was having his tea and reading the newspaper in the morning.

Khushi snatched the paper from his hand and threw it to Payal who was giggling at Khushi's plight.

"Papa says something. . Your beloved isn't letting me go... Everyone is going. Even La too. You know na how much I want to go there! "

" Gauri..." Shiv Gupta began only to quickly take a completely different route seeing his wife's glare towards him..".. give me breakfast. I have an important meeting today. "

"Ma - Pa, I know you both are hand in glove. I'm warning you both either you both let me go or I will not have my meals today. And I am skipping school too."
Khushi angrily ran off to her room.

"Khushi, hear my dear. At least have your breakfast."

"Papa, we both know what a foodie she is. She will be here soon. Don't worry. Ma, I am going. Bye Mumma, bye Papa"

"Gauri, it's just a class trip. Let Khu go. Her entire class and teachers will be there."

"But Shivji, to Lucknow. .. u know how it is.."

"Gauri, it's been 15 years now. Can't we forget our past? Everyone had their fair share of fault."

" Wasn't I their daughter? Couldn't they trust me? Trust my choice. They didn't even hear us out. How could they, Shivji?" Gauri asked with teary eyes.

" Hey don't cry, you know what your tears do to me." He said wiping her tears. "Now smile. I will handle Khu. Will convince her not to go. Nothing is more important to me than you. Get me her and my plate. Today I will have breakfast with my daughter. U also have your breakfast."

"Your meeting? "

"Gauri, didn't I tell you nothing is more important for me than you?" He smiled patting Gauri's cheeks.

It's been 16 years everything happened. Gauri Raizada is now Gauri Gupta.
( Yes you were right Sumi 😊 Sumi_98 )

Sheesh Mahal, Lucknow.

"Anjali Di, Arnav bhaiyya is here..", Nandini, the housekeeper informed Anjali Singh Raizada. She is 31 now. Unmarried yet but engaged to Shyam Jha.

"Shyam, I will see you in the office tomorrow. Call me if something occurs. Chotte is here. Bye. Love you too. "

She hang up the call and went downstairs to receive her brother. Only because of her, does he steps foot in Sheesh Mahal, now and then when Anjali demands, after all, that happened 16 years back.

Nothing is the same as it was 16 years before. Arnav is still very protective and possessive of his Di. But with time these 16 years, he now admits his Di belongs to someone else too. His Humdard, partner in adversity, Shyam. The only one whom he believes bears the same pain as him. Who understands him. For Arnav people that matter now is just Shyam and Anjali. As per him his only family.

When Anjali came down she found Arnav in the garden where he usually sits whenever he arrives at Sheesh Mahal. He had built a small gazebo in the garden. A really beautiful one. Surrounded with blue roses, unique like his Kuhu. A small water body around the gazebo filled with lotus, pink ones like Kuhu's chubby pink cheeks.

Inhaling the mixed fragrance of lotus and Tulsi ( holy basil) he leaned back to the recliner closing his eyes. That's the way Anju found her Chotte. She never sees him this contend any other time. His face relaxed, with no frown lines, no trace of The ASR the world detests. He is her old Chotte when he is here at the gazebo.
Arnav turned to Anjali who came and sat by him with the refreshments.

"Thank you, Di, for taking care of these."

He put his head on her shoulder and she hugged him back sideways. Caressing his hair she enquired, "How's everything going there, Chotte?"

"Di, I know your spy is updating you. He is more of your PI than my CCO. It's because of you he never acts like the CCO he is supposed to be. He leaves me only when Aman is back from college. And Aman is becoming worse than Akash himself. He roams around me and keeps a close watch on me with his hawk eyes. Even if I burst out on him, he doesn't mind. This is ridiculous Di."

"Haha. Does the ASR get nervous around the 21 yr old college-going Aman? Haww don't tell me!"

"Very funny Di."

"I know I don't need to say this, but Chotte be a bit kind towards Aman. You know how Aman looks up to you."

"Ya Di. I told him to concentrate on his studies and he captured my cabin and turned it into his study room. He is good at designing too. But I think his managerial skills are better."

"It's his final year na, let's enroll him for MBA then. Maybe abroad. "

" Abroad? I am not that lucky Di. That tiny guy isn't gonna leave me and go abroad. He might prefer somewhere in Delhi. Anyway, let him do as he please."

"Are you staying for dinner tonight?"

"Anything special Di?"

"That..mm.. Uncle - aunty is coming for dinner. To discuss the marriage dates."

"You know what I feel about them Di. You all may find it childish. But I can't forgive them for what happened 16 years ago. For me, it's only Shyam and you."

" We understand you Chotte. He is ok with anything you please. But I would again say, let it all go Chotte. And move on."

"Diii.."

"Ok, I won't say anything more. Leave it. You change and come. We can go out and have some fun. Let me ask if Shyam wants to join too."

"Let him work at least now, Di. 24*7 you eat his ears with your blabbering. Let him breathe in peace for today."

"Chotte!!" Anjali stomped her feet watching her brother walking off teasing her.

The Mathur brothers
Akash Mathur (25)
- CCO of AR Corps. Friends with Arnav.

Aman Mathur (21)
- Part-time PA of ASR. Doing Grad. in Fashion Technology at Delhi Univ. A classmate of Payal Gupta.
The Mathur brothers are the spies Anjali found to update her on Arnav. Especially Aman who is her ladla.

***************************************************************

Hai, That's all for the 3rd chapter and the 4th update. 😊
So this is after a year leap of 16 years. A glimpse of what happened in the last 16 years. 😀
Even though the update is titled on Khushi, it was more about Arnav. 😉😁
And ya there are Mathur brothers too. Can't help not having Aman. 😆

So let me know how this one is.
Follow me or add the story to your library to keep in touch😙

Have a great year ahead. 🎉
Stay safe and enjoy.💖

LoVe AryaARshi 💕