Dedicated to Swathz9

Standing infront of the mirror he ruffled his perfectly gelled hair. The thought of unleashing Shyam face itself seems disgusting. How'll his di take this truth?

He feel like to pluck out all his hairs. His nani is right. Why is it always happening with them? Why is it always girl from their family have to go through the same phase? Why?? I wrote my destiny right. Then why couldn't I write hers. Why couldn't I revise my di life? Why the bloody hell I trusted Shyam? How did I missed the clues many times?, He become restless by each passing minute.

"Chotte you're not ready yet?"

He stopped his actions and raised his eyes to the source. Anjali stood there with a fake stern glare.

His emotions went high seeing her happy in her world. His heart twisted in pain "Di.."

"What di? I was thinking that my other brother will also give me the news of getting hitched in marriage and in turn I would surprise him" She pouted in dismay oblivious to her brothers inner turmoil.

"Will I get the honour of seeing your marriage in this lifetime ever chotte?"

"Why are you dragging this now? Go and enjoy Aakash wedding" He averted his eyes not able to see her shining eyes which are going to shed tears in some hours. He's her brother who would do anything for his sister for crying out loud, but he couldn't do anything to stop her from facing the horrible truth of her life. It's better to know earlier than living in facade.

"Don't try to dodge this topic. And chalo, you have a surprise infact everyone have at the end of today... But... Since you're my lovely chotte, I thought to give you an offer..." She winked and took the perfume. When she met with silence, she herself initiated her half duplex talk.

"Won't you ask me what?" She literally bounced in joy spraying the perfume on him.

"What?" His lips asked for namesake whereas his heart was mouldering. He was heartless man only for outside world not for his inside world which consists of his family and especially his di.

"It's not fair rani Sahiba. Won't you tell me before revealing your surprise to your chotte?" Shyam entered eavesdropping their conversation.

Arnav fingers automatically curled into a fist. Blood rushed through his veins seeing him pouting on his di with his horrible face. He badly wish to smack his face. He need to shed some blood, what he shed few hours before and what her di going to shed in some hours.

"Why would she've to tell you first? Don't forget she's my di even before you came into her life" He told sternly. Probably he raised voice against him for very first time.

Shyam face changed in microseconds while Anjali looked at him in shock.

"Chotte... What is this?"

"I was just joking di. Can't I do that too? I thought you want me to change" He effortlessly shun Anjali doubts.

Shyam cleared his throat and held her hand "Err... It's getting later rani Sahiba. Come we've to go down"

Anjali nodded and throws a worried glance at Arnav and started to walk outside.

She took only two steps and stopped abruptly as she happened to felt a jerk. Frowning she turned back. Her another arm was held by Arnav who was holding onto her like a kid grabbing his mother dress.

Anjali finally noticed her brother's indifferent behaviour "Chotte... What happened to you? Are you ok?"

Shoving Shyam hand she cupped Arnav cheeks. He gulped trying to swallow the tears which are trying to spill out.

"I.. need your help. My tie is missing" He said the first thought came into his brain.

"Uff... You scared me chotte.." She smiled at him affectionately and turned towards to Shyam "I'll come down with chotte..."

Shyam gave a tight smile before excusing himself from there.

***

"I am scared Khushi"

"Oh jiji. What's there to get scared? You're going to tie nuptial with your pyari Aakashji.."

"Khushi I am scared about Shyam"

Khushi stopped her actions. Already her heart was on war about the same thing.

"Your concern should be on your marriage payalia" Came the voice from outside.

Both sisters turned towards the source.

"We hid the truth for two reasons. One for Anjali betiya and another for payalia. There was nothing that can make Anjali betiya life better than throwing Shyam out. But that was not in case with payalia. There are only few hours left for payalia to step into her new life. At least there should be a justification for our lie. Payalia marriage will have to happen without problem. Least we could satisfy ourselves for hiding the truth if her marriage happens without problems"

Khushi looked at buaji with uncertainty.

"Jiji is right Khushi betiya. Just few hours don't think anything other than Payal marriage. Adding to our strength now even Arnav bituwa and Aakash bituwa was aware of Shyam truth. Devayaniji called us and told that marriage would happen without any problem" Garima acknowledged and summed up buaji talks.

"But..." Payal opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Khushi.

"She's right jiji. Your forehead will be like four line notebook if you keep worrying about everything"

Payal giggled at her choice of words "I don't know how I'll cope up without you in my life in Raizada parivaar"

"Soon she will follow you payalia. Don't worry" Buaji squealed in her high pitched voice. Khushi averted her eyes trying hard to avoid the pink hue spreading across her cheeks.

Garima fondly caressed her daughter cheeks "Get ready girls..."

***

"Wow... You're looking gor.. nice khushiji" Nk greeted the Gupta's.

Khushi blushed slightly shaking her head in acceptance while buaji looked at him as if he was alien. Nani and Anjali who was arranging the thali looked up with a smile

"Payalji... khushiji..." Anjali shouted in  glee and shared a formal hug before circling the thali across Payal.

"Welcome would be Raizada bahu" Nani welcomed giving her blessings when the girls bend down touching her feet.

While the elders sharing the pleasantries couple of eyes searched for the particular someone.

"Khushiji are you searching for anyone?"

Khushi fiddled her fingers nervously for getting caught red handed. She forced a smile and nodded as no.

As everyone was escorted to their respective bride room which was allocated solely for Gupta's, Khushi stopped herself from joining them.

Nk who seemed to notice her aloofness came to her with a bag of flowers "Khushiji can you help me in fixing this decoration? You know I am having difficulty"

"Woh nanehji... I mean.. I have some other work.." She tried to escape from there. All her eyes wish to see was that certain Raizada. From the moment she stepped into Raizada mansion, she expected him to appear before her giving her his lopsided smile. Her heart went out for him. She knows he must be having hard time to cope up with the truth. And that snake being roaming around holding Anjali arms would add fuel to his rage. She feared his patience would snap soon and moreover the amount of pain his eyes showed was haunting her.

"Welcome khushiji.." A sneerful voice alarmed the both.

Khushi even felt disgusted to raise her eyes to meet him but along with that a fury begin to brew inside her as the accident flashed in the back of her mind. She gritted her teeth to avoid herself from pulling his collar and punching black and blue right across his face.

"Jijaji will you help me with this? No no you have to help me with this" Nk requested and then forcefully dragged Shyam away from Khushi.

Khushi sighed in relief. Drifting her eyes towards the direction of his room, she took hurried steps.

Pushed open the door she gasped at the scene. There stood he infront of the mirror trying to peel off the bandage from his forehead. Marched forward, she shoved his hands harshly.

"What the hell are you doing arnavji?"

Arnav who didn't expected her arrival was stunned by her raised voice. Before Arnav could answer, she stepped forward. Taking a cotton ball from first aid kit which was on the side table, she raised on her toes.

Arnav looked at her keenly noticing her every expressions waited for her next set of actions. Supporting herself by placing her left palm on his shoulder, she tiptoed and blew his wound which was half opened and exposed. He didn't flinch nor reacted. His eyes closed automatically. Her proximity started to play havoc with his harmones and her caring was not helping him.

"The wound was still fresh. Who asked you to open it?" She scolded him wiping the wound carefully taking in note to not hurt him by any means. Her shouts which helded love and concern made him to yearn for more. Not that he's not getting scolded. His di and Nani constantly showed displeasure on his way of living. Not a day passed in his life without hearing his di remark on his habits. But to his surprise he liked to be getting scolded and cared by Khushi. It's not a new revelation. Back then he always instigated Khushi to pick up a fight with him. He knows which word should be used to get Khushi Gupta in warrior mode.

"Speak up. Don't know how you maintain the business. You don't even know how to take care of yourself. Already your diabetes are not in control. This wound is going to take lot of time to heal for the same reason. And you dared to open the fresh wound. Don't think that no one will question you" She scolded him, making the bandage after putting ointments on the wound.

"Why are you silent now? You always love to shut everyone who care for you, then why this silence now?" She scoffed creating a little distance between after finishing her task.

"Because someone has come to take care of me and I am enjoying the care and affection" He whispered still being in stance.

Khushi opened her mouth to retort but it hunged midway as the realisation of his words sunk in.

'He does like my care and affection. He was enjoying it. It's perfect time to instigate him to say those words' Khushi mused and smirked.

"I don't see anyone caring for you. Where is the person? Tell me I need to congratulate the person's bravery" She said sarcastically pretending to search for a person in the room.

Arnav thinned his lips and crossed his arms across his chest presenting a cool posture as if saying Pretend as much as you want!

"Say na arnavji. Won't you introduce the person to me?" She asked raising her voice.

"You always proudly declare that you're smart, isn't it? Now you get a perfect chance to prove that. Search and find that person by yourself" He turned the tables smartly and gave his lopsided smirk.

Khushi muttered some incoherent words before turning her heels to outside. Is it easy to escape from the lion who was desperate to spend some time with his lioness?

"Wah... Khushi Gupta was afraid. Did she just accepted her defeat? Or Did she indirectly accepted that she's not that smart as she portrays herself?"

The target hit bulls eyes. Khushi was enraged beyond limits. Yet she's determined to not give in first. It's not that she's stereotyped which she expects him to confess first but it's their ego was playing adding spice to their already firecracking chemistry.

"I did not know that Arnav Singh Raizada was afraid of Khushi Gupta" She stated coolly. This time it's turn for Arnav ego to get affected.

"Don't you dare. I am not afraid of anyone" He said dangerously coming close to her.

"Prove that Raizada..."

Next moment she gasped in horror. Her back was plastered to the wall and her lips was captured by a strong addictive ones. For few seconds her mind was blocked. When it registered she has no strength to come out of it. Her principles, morals took a back seat being captivated in his web. His warm palms on her cheeks raised heat on her frame while her palms raised automatically to wound around his neck.

Seems like eternity he rested his forehead against hers. Both are panting heavily. Inhaling a sharp breath he lowered his head placing comfortably on her shoulder.

"You're right. I am afraid. Now my fear was related to di. She... she was saying she has surprise for everyone. I don't know what it was. She seems so happy khushi. How can we reveal the truth? Wouldn't it break her heart? She's so happy about something" He murmured wrapping his arms around her shoulder.

Her palms draw soothing circles on his back "Everything will be fine. Truth should come out one day right. Then why not today? Her life was at stake arnavji. Don't you think her life was precious than her heart? Half of her heart was with you. If one half broke there was you on other side who could make anything right for her life. Trust me"

"I trust you khushi..." With that he tightened his hold burying his face more into her skin.

Her heart synced in peace. What if he didn't admit in words, his actions are screaming his love for her. For anyone who would know Arnav Singh Raizada knows his incapability to put his heart into words. Khushi is one of them who knows him very well or she think so?

"Khushiji..."

Arnav and Khushi jumped out of their skin hearing the shout.

"Nk.." Arnav muttered coming out of the hug.

Nk voice neared them and Khushi hurriedly wiped Arnav lips with her dupatta. The frown on Arnav face ceased replacing a devilish smirk.

"Finally completed the incomplete task" He whispered for her to hear.

Khushi gave an angry stare and at the exact moment Nk entered there.

"I want to speak with you Khushiji"

Arnav furrowed his brows at the way Nk uttered the words.

____

Hope everyone was good. I bluntly admit that I was out of the track few days. Honestly I was writing this single Update from past FOUR days. Hope the update was at least good enough to read.

P. S: Coming to next topic I want to know, which story you want me to Update next?

And the last important one is, our story My Second Love has been nominated in IPK CHARM AWARDS under the category CHARMED PROTAGONIST MALE.

If you loved Arnav character in that story or if you think that story deserve the award please go to the book which was added in my reading list and give inline comment as +1 against the name MY SECOND LOVE under the category CHARMED PROTAGONIST MALE. Your votes will help the book to win.

Thanks a million for waiting for this story to get updated and to all who's going to vote and comment in this chapter💖