Donning a beautiful anarkali dress in her Arnavji's favourite colour with subtle makeup, minimal jewellery & hair left free down her waist just like her Arnavji loved, Khushi reached, Sheeshmahal. 

As soon as she entered the front garden, her eyes widened in a pleasant shock. The whole garden was lit with diyas, candles & fairy lights. Soft, romantic music could be heard playing somewhere in the background. Sweet smell from the roses & other fragrant flowers wafted through the air. 

There was a long pathway covered with red rose petals starting from the entrance to the right end of the garden where stood a beautiful gazebo decorated with colourful fairy lights & floral chains. A two seater dining table was placed underneath with two comfy chairs. The table was also decorated with candles & fresh flowers with a few covered bowls & dishes neatly placed on the table. 

A beautiful fountain stood right in the middle of the garden. The whole ambience appeared easy on the eye yet gave a warm & cozy feeling. 

She was busy admiring the beautifully decorated garden, when a warm hand slid around her waist from behind. She didn't get scared as she knew this touch. It was him. Her, Arnavji. 

"Hi.." he husked in her ear, nuzzling the tip of his nose on her shoulder, moving upwards. A thrilling shiver coursed through her. She breathed sharply, squeezing her eyes, revelling in his touch after days of longing for him. 

"I missed you," he murmured, rubbing his rough lips on her smooth cheek. His other free hand cupped her other cheek, caressing it delicately with the pad of his thumb. 

"I missed you so much, Khushi," he reiterated, closing his eyes, inhaling a lung full of her natural, sweet fragrance. 

Khushi could sense the pain & yearning behind his softly murmured words because she felt no different. 

Her throat felt clogged with tears she wanted to shed, hugging her Arnavji tight. But she didn't want to ruin their moment, too. 

Reigning in her emotions, she rested her head back on his strong shoulder just letting the feel of their togetherness sink in every fibre of her body. 

Arnav pulled her to his sturdy front, embracing her tight. His one hand wrapped around her flat stomach & the other circled around her upper body, whilst his desperate lips peppered feather light kisses on her shoulder blade, her svelte neck, her smooth cheek, on her ear lobe, her hair, wherever he could reach. 

Khushi's heart raced at an insane speed & her breathing laboured. She couldn't bear his sweet assault & turned around throwing her arms around his neck, hugged him tight. 

Arnav held her close to his heart. "I love you, Khushi." He confessed the three words he would never tire of confessing again & again. "I love you so damn much." 

A content smile broke on her lips hearing him confess his love again which he has been doing everyday over the phone calls, through messages & through his love missives he'd sent with the flowers & chocolates. But she never reciprocated back. She wanted to test his patience & escalate his desperation. He won her heart there, too. He never forced or demanded reciprocation to his confession. He respected her unresponsiveness. 

She rubbed her face on his shirt clad torso. He basked in her warmth, tightening his hold around her. 

"Khushi," he breathed, gliding his fingers through her silky tresses. 

"I love you, too, Arnavji & I missed you, too." There, she said it & Arnav's heart came alive all over again. 

He fisted her hair in a very gentle grip & raised her head from his chest. 

He looked down at her face with a myriad of emotions floating in his chocolaty orbs. 

The moment she had entered the gates of Sheeshmahal his eyes had noted every minute detail of hers. She looked resplendent in his favourite colour. The matching glass bangles, dangling jhumkis in her earlobes & the matching red bindi just added to her beauty. His eyes shone with pride & gratitude towards her seeing the bright red vermillion she had applied in her hair partition & the glimmering diamonds of the wedding chain around her delicate neck. His Khushi was any day the most beautiful woman inside out, on this planet & she was his; heart, body & soul. 

But the most prominent features in her face were her hazel eyes & her radiant smile. The allure of her deep, innocent eyes, attracted him to their hypnotic embrace & her smile had the power to lighten up his entire world & fill it with so many sparkling colours of happiness. And today, by reciprocating his love she has made him the happiest man alive. 

He was dying to hear her confess her love to him. But he didn't want to compel her or force her for the same. Gone was the dominant & shrewd ASR when it came to his Khushi. Now, she will have her loving, caring, patient & considerate Arnavji, only. But, now, when she has willingly confessed those three golden words to him then how can he settle at hearing them just once. He wants to hear them again and again and again and forever. 

"Say again, Khushi," he urged, framing her beautiful face between his hands.

Khushi smiled at his desperation. 

"I love you, Arnavji." 

His heart rollicked in his chest. 

"Again," he demanded gently, pressing her cheeks gently with his warm palms.

"I love you, Arnavji," she repeated, understanding his need to hear her confess her love for him. 

"Again. Please," he pleaded sotto voce. 

"I love you, Arnavji. I love you. I love you very very much."

Her incessant confession filled his heart with insurmountable joy & he crushed her delicate figure in his strong arms absorbing the overwhelming emotions.

They stayed that way for long, savouring the warmth of their love & hearing their hearts beating in sync when suddenly, Khushi pulled out herself from the confines of his protective arms & moved two steps back creating distance between them much to his dislike. 

"But you don't love me as much, Arnavji," she accused him, crossing her arms under her bosoms. Her lips formed a cute pout that pulled the strings to his self control, hard. 

Averting his eyes from her enticing pout he concentrated on her sudden change of mood. 

"& what makes you say that?" he asked, raising his one naughty eyebrow & crossing his arms at his chest copying her action. 

"Because you didn't phoned me last night & confessed your love nor you sent a love note with the flower bouquet you sent today morning like you have been doing since I came here to Lucknow," she gave the account of his grave mistakes, trying to raise one mocking eyebrow like him but failed miserably & seeing her cute antics a low rumble of laughter escaped his mouth. 

Khushi glared at him & he pursed his lips. 

Closing the distance he reached her & gently gripping her tiny waist he pulled her to himself. 

She placed her palms on his chest & turned her face away from his, showing her annoyance. 

He smooched her cheek hard & turned her face towards himself, holding her chin gently.

She smiled but schooled her expressions immediately & rubbed her cheek. "This won't work. I'm very angry with you, Arnavji. I was waiting for your phone call & for your love note so desperately," she hit her punny fists on his hard chest. 

He held her small hands in his large ones. 

"If I had phoned you last night then after hearing your sweet voice I wouldn't have been able to control myself from coming to you & carrying you to Sheeshmahal with me last night itself, Khushi," he revealed, kissing her knuckles. "and I didn't send the love note today because I wanted to convey my love, my feelings to you myself, face to face," he replied & bent to kiss her other cheek but she pushed him away from herself. 

"Hawwww," she exclaimed loudly. Her eyes & mouth rounded in shock in her usual Khushi-style. 

His heart somersaulted in his chest seeing the cute, shocked face she made & which has been her signature expression whenever she was around him. He just wanted to shower her face with innumerable kisses. 

"That means you reached Lucknow last night itself. Still you didn't come to see me or meet me? How could you do this to me, Arnavji?" Her naughty eyes turned moist. But before the tears rolled down he reached her & cradled her face between his rough palms. 

"I can't even begin to explain to you how I controlled myself from coming to you the moment I landed in Lucknow, Khushi. I had to exercise superhuman control for that." He kissed her forehead with utmost tenderness. 

"But why?" she asked, lowly. 

"I had promised you that I will rectify my mistakes, atone my sins, make amendments & prove myself worthy of your love," he reminded her looking into her glassy eyes. "This is the same place & the same city, where it all started & where I committed the most abhorrent sin of my life. I ruined you off your dignity. People made a mockery out of your self respect to the limit that you had to leave your own home, your own city because of my one reckless action." 

Remembering that horrifying past, tears dangled at her eyelids, threatening to fall. 

He gently wiped them, controlling his own emotions. 

"How could I face you here at this place again without redeeming my dastardly deeds? I wanted to clear your name, restore your self respect by owning my mistake in front of the same public who believed a two minute video clip that day instead of your innocence. Also, I wanted to put those bastards behind the bars who tried to molest you. I couldn't meet you before doing all that. My guilty conscience would have not let me meet eyes with you otherwise, Khushi." He choked in his words. His emotions were all over the place. 

It isn't easy to own your mistakes, to face your self-created demons that ruined that one person who has become your life. If it had been any other girl in his Khushi's place, then she would have been shattered beyond repair. But not his Khushi. She was made of sterner stuff. Her strong willpower & her mettlesome nature didn't let her lose her confidence & she rose from her own ashes like a phoenix & was standing in front of him with her head held high, pridefully. Any other girl wouldn't have dared to face herself, let alone him. But, again, if it hadn't been for Khushi, he would have never done all that he did. Only she holds the power of bringing out both; the monster and the prince charming in him since the day she fell in his arms right at this same place, till date, when they are again in each other's arms, without an ounce of fear in her eyes on seeing him or the anger he had felt on seeing her, that day.

Today, there's only love, love & just pure love between them & he would protect her & their love till his last breath. 

"Khushi, I'm really sorr.." but before he could complete his words she placed her palm on his mouth, shaking her head. 

"No, Arnavji. No more apologies. I had already forgiven you the day we had confronted each other at buaji's house in Delhi. That day, you had accepted your mistakes, revealed your troubled past & confessed your feelings to me & I had forgiven you. So, now, just let bygones be bygones & focus on our present & future together instead." 

She caressed his cheek delicately & placed a light kiss on his chin. 

He sucked in a sharp breath.

"I know, Khushi," he rested his forehead against hers. "The kind & generous soul you are, you can never hold grudges against anybody for long. But, please let me apologise this one last time, here, at this place where it all started. So that, I can free myself from the guilt I have been carrying since that day where I knew in my heart that you were absolutely innocent. Still, I let my mind overpower my heart & I unleashed the monster in me by scaring you, insulting you, belittling you, manhandling you. Please Khushi," he beseeched. 

Khushi nodded, understanding his plea. "Okay, Arnavji. If that gives you respite from your guilt then I won't stop you." 

"Thank you, Khushi," he kissed her forehead, lovingly. 

Holding her hand, he led her to the gazebo & made her sit in one of the two chairs. Without bothering about his expensive clothes, he sat on the ground near her feet, holding her hands in her lap. 

"Arnavji," 

"I'm fine, Khushi. Don't worry. Just.. just let me do this." she nodded. 

"Khushi," he pointed towards the huge edifice standing magnificently behind them. "This Sheeshmahal is the place where I was born & have spent a major part of my childhood. I had a very loving set of parents & a doting sister. I was a very happy & a joyful boy. My mamma was my world & my dad was my ideal of a perfect gentleman. Until the age of 14, I was the most blessed & the most fortunate child in the world. But, it took just a few hours for my blessed & fortunate life of 14 years to turn into a cursed misfortune. I lost my mamma because the man who was a paragon of virtue for me was nothing but a pathetic excuse of a human being."

Khushi tightened their handhold providing the much needed strength as she knew how hard it must be for him to visit the past that consists of the most painful memories of his life. Her eyes were already moist whereas he was struggling hard to control his tears. 

"That day, not only my mamma died but all the emotions in me died as well seeing the tragic end of my mamma's blind trust & unconditional love for her husband. I felt if this is what you get in return of your unwavering trust & unconditional love then I'm better off those feelings & I shut my heart that very moment. The happy & joyful boy turned into an unemotional & stone hearted man. Then there was no looking back. I just kept on thickening the walls I had created around my heart debarring it from falling prey to such useless emotions & feelings. For years I exercised to stay the same & it took you just a few minutes to cause a crack in my stone-heart." 

Khushi smiled through her teary eyes & Arnav's lips curved upwards at their own will. 

"The moment you fell in my arms I had heard the cracking of that concrete wall around my heart & I was determined not to let the crack widen. My foolish determination led me towards one mistake after the other & in the process I kept on hurting you emotionally & physically through my nasty words & abhorable actions. But believe me, Khushi, I felt every bit of hurt & pain I bestowed on you. Every tear that fell from your eyes felt like acid on my heart & corroded it, cruelly," he confessed looking into her eyes. 

She nodded her head as she already knew that fact. 

"I'm truly, deeply sorry for everything I put you through, Khushi. For each & every disgusting word I hurled at you. For each & every abominable action of mine that caused hurt to you. I apologise for all the hostility, every pain, every agony & for all the emotional & mental torture I inflicted on you. I'm sorry Khushi. I'm so sorry."

Finally, he couldn't control his tears as all the regret & remorse he poured out he had been holding inside since long. Laying his head in her lap, he cried his heart out. Bending her head over his, Khushi rested her cheek on his & cried with him, letting out whatever little bit of pain & grief was still sitting in her heart, through her tears that flowed down her cheeks onto his, mingling with his tears of repentance. 

Time was no restraint as both were set to get rid of their cursed past. 

Slowly Khushi raised her head. Wiping her own tears she caressed Arnav's head & gently raised it from her lap. Her heart pinched seeing him so vulnerable. She wiped his tears with her dupatta & kissed his forehead gently. 

Holding her wrists, he kissed her palms. "But I'm not that heartless monster anymore, Khushi. Your love has made me a better man & I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, by loving you & cherishing you the way you deserve. You believe me. Don't you, Khushi?" he asked like a lost child. 

Holding his damp face between her warm palms she said looking into his eyes, "I believe you Arnavji with all my heart. Words can lie, Arnavji but eyes never lie. Mind can deceive but the heart can never deceive. I trust your eyes & believe your heart, Arnavji." 

Serenity spread through his veins at her words & he let out a long, gratified sigh coupled with one of his rarest, heartwarming smile making her smile back.

She wiped the remnants of tears from his cheeks."Now, I want you to let go of all the regret & remorse you have been holding inside," she pointed at his heart. "Hereon, neither you would apologise for anything related to our past nor would you go down that memory lane ever again," she ordered, not so subtly. 

"I love you & you love me, Arnavji & that's what matters. Right?" 

He nodded, feeling overwhelmed by her generosity. 

"No, that's not all, Arnavji," she pouted, making Arnav frown at her sudden change of mood. 

He raised one inquisitive eyebrow. 

"Aur nahin to kya," she raised herself from the chair & Arnav followed suit, dusting his clothes. 

"What happened, Khushi?" he asked, grasping her elbow. 

"Love can fill our hearts but it can't fill our stomachs, Arnavji," she complained, caressing her flat stomach. "Only yummy food can satisfy our stomachs," she added, licking her lips & as if on cue, her stomach chose that exact moment to grumble. "See, my stomach also agrees," she commented with an embarrassing smile. 

Arnav was rendered speechless for a good one minute & when he understood the whole situation he broke into splits of laughter, throwing his head back. 

Khushi's heart filled with immense joy seeing him laughing heartily after ages. 

"Khushi. My dear Khushi." He held her through her forearms & hit his forehead to hers lightly, controlling his laughter. "Only you have the ability to turn a gloomy person cheery within minutes," he praised, pulling her soft cheeks. "Come. Let's fill your stomach before its grumble turns into full fledged screams."

She grinned at his levity. 

He sat her in a chair & moving the other chair near her he himself sat in it.

He removed the lids of all the hot-pots which were filled with all her favourite foods. Her eyes twinkled seeing all the sumptuous food which was still hot as it was served in hotpots. The delicious aroma made her mouth water. 

Arnav served everything in a plate & fed her the first morsel with his hand. Khushi followed suit & both enjoyed a hearty dinner, feeding each other amidst teasing & laughter. Their romantic dinner ended with her favourite dessert of jalebis. 

He then led her to the beautiful fountain that stood in the middle of the beautiful garden. Khushi was enthralled seeing the fountain. There was a statue of a fairy placed in the middle & water was pouring out in showers from her beautiful feathers. The fountain was decorated with colourful lights & other art pieces. Khushi was admiring it when she felt something cold touching her neck. 

She turned her face & saw her Arnavji clasping a pearl necklace around her neck. 

She touched it. "It's beautiful, Arnavji. Thank you," she smiled. "I love pearl ornaments," she said, caressing the pearls. 

"These are your pearls, Khushi," he replied, placing a kiss at the crook of her neck. 

"Huh!" she scrunched her eyes in confusion. 

"From the dori which I tore so brutally in our first meeting," he confessed, shamefully. 

Khushi gasped, recalling that terrifying moment. 

"But.. but how did you have them with you?" she queried, curiously. 

Taking a deep sigh he replied, "when I broke your pearl dori, the pearls had scattered on the ground & a few had found their way into the pocket of my jacket, out of my knowledge. My servant had gathered the fallen pearls from the ground in a pouch & had asked me whether he should throw them. I had ordered him to place the pouch in my car & the pearls which I found in my suit jacket I placed securely in my closet drawer. So, that's how all the pearls were with me all this while. I decided to make a necklace of these pearls & gift it to you at this same place."

"Why, Arnavji? Why did you keep them with you?" she asked. 

"Because they were yours," he stated, simply. 

She smiled, wrapping her arms around him. "This is one more amendment from your side, Arnavji. You converted the most horrifying moment into a precious one by making this necklace out of those same pearls. Thank you for keeping these pearls with you & for this thoughtful gesture as well," she said, kissing on his heart. 

His heart expanded with happiness as she understood the intention behind his gesture. 

"How could I not preserve anything that belongs to you, Khushi?" he spoke in her hair, enveloping his arms around her. "I have many such things of yours placed securely with me," he said knowing well that that would increase her curiosity. 

"Really?" she exclaimed, raising her head from his chest. 

"Yes, really," he replied, caressing his lips to her forehead. I will show you everything soon," he promised, kissing her hair partition which was filled with vermillion of his name. 

The crimson powder enhanced her beauty. Since the day he had forcefully filled the vermillion in her hair partition & clasped the mangalsutra around her neck, she has never forgotten to wear either of these two on her body. Neither when he was absolutely hostile towards her nor after she left Delhi & came to Lucknow. 

"Did I tell you how ethereal you look tonight, Khushi?" he asked, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. 

She blushed, shaking her head in negation. 

"You look lovely, Khushi," he kissed her forehead. "gorgeous," he murmured, kissing the tip of her nose. "Absolutely radiant," he kissed her chin. "in my favourite colour," he added, kissing both her cheeks one by one, creating havoc inside her body. "My beautiful Khushi," he whispered, brushing his rough lips lightly on her soft petals. 

Khushi blushed to all possible roots. The colour of her cheeks pleasantly matched with the colour of her dress. 

Their eyes spoke volumes of the heady sensations coursing through their bodies. 

The invigorating passion in his eyes stole her breath & she turned around not being able to control her senses which were going haywire. 

Arnav smiled at her bashfulness. 

He gently tugged at the end of her dupatta. She gently turned around still breathing heavily & eyes squeezed tight. 

"Open your eyes, sweetheart," he requested, softly. The endearment made her blush more. 

When she opened her eyes she found him kneeling before her holding a ring in his hand. 

A loud gasp of surprise left her. She clasped one hand on her wide open mouth & covered it with the other. 

Arnav chuckled at the expected reaction from her. 

"Arnavji," she whispered, removing her hands from her mouth & placing them on her racing heart. 

"Khushi, since the day you have fallen in my arms, you’ve turned my entire world upside down and for good. You made me a better man by turning me into a better version of myself. You are the most beautiful thing that has happened to me, ever. you mean more to me than anything else in my life. Words can’t even describe my love for you. My life is incomplete without you. So, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife and allow me to spend the rest of my life with you?" He proposed to her with all the love he has for her in his heart. "And this time I promise you to give you a wedding of your dreams with all the prewedding & post-wedding rituals celebrated with pomp & splendor amidst both our families' blessings & happiness." 

She was awestruck at his heartfelt confession & proposal. She sniffed as happy tears rolled down her eyes. 

"Yes, Arnavji. I will marry you because my life is also incomplete without you." She accepted, nodding her head vigorously. 

Arnav smiled wide, feeling on top of the world. 

He gently slid the ring in her ring finger & placed a warm kiss there. "Thank you, Khushi, for giving the world to me." Keeping her hand in his, he slowly rose to his feet & kissed her forehead with utmost tenderness, feeling blissful. 

"Did you like it, Khushi?" he asked, gesturing towards the ring he made her wear.

Khushi lovingly admired the star-shaped ring studded with colorful diamonds. She was in awe at his one more thoughtful gesture. He knows what significance the stars hold in her life & how much she loves bright, vibrant colours. He chose the ring accordingly, so not liking it was out of question. 

"Yes, Arnavji. I loved it. It's very beautiful & very precious to me," she replied, kissing the ring. 

Arnav smiled, feeling ecstatic that she liked his choice. 

"Khushi, the past few days without you have been the worst days of my life. It was one hell of a torchure," he said, holding her hand & sliding his fingers between her's. "Promise me, Khushi, you will never leave me again. Never ever. I can't live without you. I refuse to live without you, Khushi," he demanded like a child & Khushi's heart filled with more joy if possible. 

Gripping his shoulders, she kissed his cheek. "I promise, Arnavji. I won't go away from you ever again." She kissed his other cheek. "Because even I can't live without you." Mustering some courage she gently brushed her lips against his. 

Before she could retract, he held her face & locked their lips. 

He kissed her softly not wanting to scare her. "I love you, Khushi," he said, breaking their kiss. 

"I love you, too, Arnavji," she reciprocated, closing her eyes, too shy to open them. 

Arnav chuckled & kissed her eyes one by one & slowly whispered in her ear, "I've one more surprise for you, Khushi." 

Her eyes immediately fluttered open. "One more surprise?" she exclaimed. 

He nodded with a naughty grin. 

"Where is it?" she asked looking around the garden to locate the surprise. 

"It isn't here," he replied. 

"Then where is it?" she queried back. 

"There," he answered, pointing his index finger to the sky above their heads. 

"Huh!!" she frowned. 

Holding her chin he raised her face gently towards the starry sky & within seconds she could hear booming sounds bursting out from the fire crackers scaring her a bit. She held Arnav's hands tight but the next moment the whole sky was filled with multicolored fireworks exploding in the sky. Khushi was so shocked that her eyes were almost ready to pop out of their sockets & her jaw ready to drop to the floor. She was looking at the glorious sight without blinking her eyes. Her initial shock turned into euphoria & she was smiling joyfully seeing the enthralling fireworks. Arnav was looking at her luminous eyes & candescent face as the reflection of the colourful lights emitting from the fireworks was falling on her. More then the fireworks her dazzling face was a mesmerising spectacle to his eyes. 

But just when Khushi who was absolutely stunned and euphoric by the sight before her, and thought that this was one of the best fireworks she had seen so far, another colourful firecracker bursted in the sky with a louder sound and Khushi gaped at it with the brightest smile on her face reading "I Love You" spelt out from the firecracker. 

"Oh my God, Arnavji," she screamed loudly, not believing the sight in front of her eyes. 

She looked at him & he blinked his eyes at her, smiling proudly. Her smile broadened & she stared back at the three golden words spread in the illuminated sky, jumping in her place like a kid. She was happy beyond explanation & Arnav could do anything to see this kind of happiness on her face. 

As the firework-show ended & the sky again turned dark & the noises died down turning the garden silent as before, Khushi launched herself in Arnav's arms hugging him as tightly as possible for her rather delicate form. 

"That was beautiful beyond beautiful, Arnavji," she praised wholeheartedly. "and very thoughtful, too," she added, looking up at him. The radiant smile never left her face. 

"I'm glad you liked it," he said, nuzzling his nose with her's. 

"Liked?" she raised her eyebrows. "I loved it." She kissed the tip of his nose. "I loved every bit of it. Just like I love every bit of you, Arnavji." She smacked a loud kiss on his cheek. 

A lump of emotions stuck in his throat hearing her confess her love to him so easily without an ounce of anger or hatred for him. 

How did he get so lucky? He mused. 

"How can you love me so much Khushi even after everything I put you through?" he asked.

"Because that's what love is, Arnavji. Love is when nothing is ok & everything is hurting you a lot still, your heart yearns for the same person over & over again. That's love. And you are my that love, Arnavji," she replied, placing her hand on his heart. 

"Khushi," he uttered her name with overwhelming passion & smashed his lips on hers, hauling her delicate form to his hard chest. He kissed her fervently, passionately, overwhelmingly & she tried to reciprocate at her best. 

He kissed her to his heart's content until they ran out of breath & he had to part their lips. He showered her face with innumerable sloppy kisses & settled again on her rosy lips. He couldn't get enough of her soft, juicy lips. He could kiss them, suck on them for hours. But he knew it was getting late & her family must be waiting for her.

Detaching their lips unwillingly, he pulled her in his arms. This was where he belonged; in her arms. She was his home & he was home, finally. 

Later, he dropped her to her house half-heartedly, promising her to come to meet her parents & buaji, the following morning.

                  ******************

Next morning, Arnav reached Khushi's house Gomti Sadan & apologised to her parents & buaji touching their feet for all that he made them & their daughter suffer at his hands. They knew he was regretful & how much he loved their daughter. They also knew where their daughter's happiness lies & with whom. So they forgave him & blessed him heartily. Though buaji wanted to twist his ears & admonish him but her crazy niece had already warned her not to chastise her, Arnavji. So, buaji spared him the punishment & forgave him for her Sankadevi's happiness.

Arnav gave Khushi's babuji, his shop, Mishthan Bhandaar's papers which were mortgaged to arrange money for Payal's marriage which had later stood cancelled. After that many awful things happened in their lives which was again somewhere his own (Arnav's) doings & they couldn't redeem their shop. Shashi's self-respect didn't let him accept the papers from Arnav. But later he relented when Arnav told him that he respects his self esteem & would never hurt it. So, he can pay the redeeming amount at his convenience. 

The family thanked & blessed Arnav, crying buckets of happy tears on getting their shop back. They had a jovial breakfast together consisting of Arnav's favourite dishes made by Khushi. 

Later, Arnav took Khushi to the same Dargah where they had had their second unpleasant encounter. There, both of them together tied a mannat-ka-taala (a wish lock) wishing for their forever togetherness & Arnav placed the key securely in his wallet promising Khushi to never lose it. 

                     *************

So, that's the last part of this story. Now just left with the epilogue. I will try to update that ASAP.

Do let me know your views on this update through your votes & comments as usual.

Love
Kavita ❤️