PRECAP: Arnav and Khushi are acquaintances for sixteen months, who smile at each other every morning, unaware of the fact that they both harbor mutual feelings for each other. They live in the same building, merely three doors apart and have adhered to their ritual of smiling at each other for more than 1½ year when suddenly, Khushi stops showing up at the door, unaware of how her smile mate, Arnav would be affected by her unannounced disappearance. After waiting for one whole week and not getting an explanation of her absence, Arnav decided to pay her a visit which turned out to be the starting point of a relationship that none of them had thought plausible. In an intriguing twist, Arnav is not the middle class IT Guy that he had initially introduced himself as, to Khushi but the son of Khushi's boss, Dr. Arvind Raizada. Fearing her withdrawal, Arnav has not yet mustered up the courage to come clean to Khushi about his identity. All this while, their relationship has grown leaps and bounds, with Arnav and Khushi growing closer and closer to each-other with every meeting. Over the next few weeks, Arnav and Khushi met and talked daily, with Arnav dropping her to (their) office and them texting constantly with one another. In the last chapter, Arnav brings Khushi home after an impromptu dinner date, the next morning Khushi ends up cooking and having her breakfast at Arnav's place. They talk a little about Khushi's parents and she becomes understandably upset, only to be soothed by her smile mate. Another week later, Arnav is at Khushi's place watching a movie when Khushi requests him to stay over for the night. As the night comes to a close, Khushi ends up confessing her feelings for Arnav and Arnav reciprocates equally. After their confession, Arnav realises that he couldn't keep lying to her about who he really is and decides that it was finally time to tell her, no matter the consequences. Arnav visits his father for perspective and ends up becoming even more sure about telling Khushi everything about himself.

NOW:

Arnav sat on the dining table, glaring blankly at the laptop sitting open in front of him. His forehead was contorted in a frown, lip held between his teeth. He looked, at best, troubled. Khushi walked into the dining area, dropping her belongings on the couch, along the way. "Arnav?" Her voice was gentle, almost concerned. "Are you okay?"

Arnav looked at her, startled. "Hey sweetheart."

"You looked busy." Khushi slipped into the chair next to him. "Is.. everything okay?"

Arnav smiled, tugged at her slightly, pulling her closer. "I missed you baby." He whispered, kissing her forehead affectionately.

"You saw me.. like-- hours ago." Khushi looked at him mischievously. "Can't be too much."

"It was hours ago." Arnav deadpanned. Khushi giggled at his response, his honest, mischievous, adoring eyes glittering with mirth as he talked about her.

Khushi never really knew the kind of adoration that she was being showered with by the people that she had the good fortune of surrounding herself with. Dr. Raizada, Arnav, Anjali Di..

She smiled at the thought, "What's running in here?" Arnav asked curiously, tapping the side of her head.

"I met Anjali Di today.." Khushi answered, instinctively. Arnav frowned. "What?"

Khushi sighed, "Dr. Raizada's eldest daughter. Anjali Raizada. She came to the office and.. to my utter bewilderment asked for me to be let out." Arnav's frown deepened, "I don't.. understand."

Khushi nodded, agreeing with him. "I know. I didn't, at first either."

Arnav looked intrigued, "It was bizarre. Anjali di came to the office and called Dr. Raizada to let me out for the day and we went shopping. I was late in the morning too and I just.." She recounted the whole thing to him cheerfully. Arnav stared at her, at a loss of words.

Khushi laughed at his expression, "Yes, I would've had the exact same reaction if I were you but Anjali Di is amazing. She made me feel right at home, throughout the said outing she made me buy a few clothes, we had lunch together. I helped her in picking out a gift for Dr. Raizada's birthday, next week and we had a fun time." She explained to him. Arnav smiled, "You had a fun day today, then?"

"I did. It was a good day." Khushi confirmed, with a beaming face. Arnav nodded. "Anjali Di told me that Dr. Raizada talks about me all the time, at home. She didn't feel like a stranger to me. She practically knew me like I was a part of her family for years now." Khushi added, happily.

"You are his family. You're practically another daughter to him. I mean.. I'm know for a fact, he doesn't treat anything less than that." Arnav said softly. Khushi nodded, agreeing with him. "He.. doesn't."

Arnav interlaced his fingers through hers, smiling warmly at her. Khushi shook her head, blowing out air in a tired huff, "Enough about me, Arnav. You were home earlier than usual and you seemed troubled about something." She said softly.

Arnav chuckled, "I was thinking about you, actually. I.." He exhaled softly, "I have to tell you something, but before I do that, I need you to know that I really wanted to tell you about everything way earlier but I just never found the right time. I need you to know that I would never hurt you. I.."

Khushi interrupted him, "Woah, Arnav. You're--- you're scaring me. What is it?" She exclaimed her eyes widened slightly,

"I lied to you. My name is actually– it's Arnav Singh Raizada. I had lied to you the day you had asked for my last name, because I didn't want things to change between us." He told her truthfully and waited for her reaction with a bated breath.

Khushi blinked, "You.. are Arnav Singh Raizada. Dr. Arvind Raizada's son." She looked questioningly at him, but her words didn't quite sound like a question.

Arnav bit on his lower lip, "Yes."

"So you do exist." Khushi chuckled, while Arnav groaned. "Khushi, please!"

"What? It's a running joke in the office. You never come out of your cabin. We almost thought that cabin was empty." She grinned.

Arnav rolled his eyes at her.

Khushi stopped laughing, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" She asked genuinely.

Arnav closed his eyes for a moment before replying "You were the first girl that I really noticed and you were the first girl who didn't throw herself on me for fame or money or.. I don't know-- sexual pleasure. You were so naive, innocent and I loved that about you. You kept to yourself, were helpful, cheerful. When you saw me, you didn't see the son of a rich businessman, you saw the man that I was, the one that really wanted the world to know. You knew Arnav Singh Raizada the way he wanted to be known, even before you knew his name. You saw a smile mate, a friend. I was scared that once you found out who I really was, I'd lose that." He said genuinely. "I was scared I'd lose you."

Khushi didn't say anything for a few seconds. Arnav watched her patiently, "Did you think I'll manipulate you for money, if I knew?" She asked, her eyes were filled with uncertainty.

Arnav gasped, "Nahi jaan, of course not. I didn't mean it that way. I didn't want to scare you or.. intimidate you. I just.. I thought you'd distance yourself from me and I didn't want that. I don't want you to think that I am in any way a different person just because.. I am the son of wealthy parents." He said hopefully.

Khushi sighed, "I lied to you too, when I stopped showing up at the doorstep for a week. It was not because I was not in Mumbai, it was because I.. was scared. Obviously, I didn't know that you were Dr. Raizada's son, but I did know that you were.. rich. You own a bloody Mercedes for god's sake and.. I didn't want you to think that I was a gold digger. We had barely talked for a few minutes at a time and it was stupid but I didn't want you to think that I was behind your money. You were always a distant dream for me, up until the day you showed up at home and asked what was wrong. I realised that I was just as much a part of your life as you were of mine and I couldn't single handedly decide for the two of us. I convinced myself to take a leap of faith and see where it'd lead me." She told him. "So, I guess I won't blame you for assuming that way. You weren't entirely wrong, anyway."

"You do know me.." She chuckled. "I am sorry.. for not.. being honest with you too."

Arnav smiled, "I knew that you were lying to me, just not the reason and I wanted to give you time to open up to me. I knew you'd eventually come around and tell me. I need you to understand Khushi, that my financial situation doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the fact that when I saw you for the first time, I lost my heart to your mere presence. It doesn't change the fact that you are, were and will always be the best thing to have happened to me. It will not change the fact that I love you with every fiber of my being and I will forever do so, with all that I have." Arnav confessed, "I wanted you to know everything today, because I can't keep lying to the one person that I love about who I am. I am so sorry I didn't do it sooner. I didn't mean to stall for so long. I didn't.. I just didn't want to lose you to something like.. this!"

Khushi smiled. Arnav caressed her cheek gently, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I love you baby, never doubt that." He whispered to her, his eyes vouching for his truthfulness.

Khushi nodded.

"Arvind Sir.. ko pata hai?" Khushi asked him, hesitantly. Arnav nodded. "I told him today, he really put everything in perspective. He practically lit up! He was very.. He's very happy for us." He said comfortingly.

"He's happy?"

"Very happy love. He can officially call you his daughter. What more do you think he needs?" He asked, with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Khushi giggled, "Nothing, I guess."

"It won't change anything between us, right?" Arnav asked softly.

Khushi shook her head. "The only family I really.. really have is you and Arvind uncle. I do need to come to terms with the fact that I'm in love with a billionaire but.. other than that--- you're Arnav, my Arnav and I love you. I love you so much."

Arnav smiled. "See.. you see me for myself." He grinned. "You're my happy pill.. my Khushi."

***

Khushi was sitting on the bed, writing in her journal when Arnav knocked on the door of the room causing her to look at the source of interruption. "Hey, come in." She said with a small smile.

Arnav entered the room and threw himself on the bed. "I didn't know you wrote a journal." He confessed, frowning at the thick book in her lap.

Khushi shrugged, "I don't, normally. It's for days when I miss home." She said.

Arnav moved closer to her, "You miss home?"

Khushi sighed, "It's complicated. My parents have been dead for a very long time now and I've grown used to their not being there. When I was little, I had a beautiful home, a beautiful family with them and sometimes on days like this, I miss having that. I miss coming back to my mother's lap after a long day at school. I miss sneaking into their room and slipping between my parents when I had nightmares. I.." She stopped mid-sentence and inhaled. Arnav squeezed her hand gently, she smiled. "So when I'm overwhelmed, I write."

Arnav nodded. Khushi shut her journal and kept it in the drawer next to the bed. "I didn't mean to be gloomy."

Arnav shook his head, "It's perfectly okay. You're allowed to be sad every once in a while, as long as you promise that you'll let me help you feel better." He said softly.

"I have no one else I'd rather do this with Arnav. It's always you." Khushi said quietly. Arnav pulled her closer to himself wrapping a protective arm around her. "Tell me more." He said quietly.

"'bout my parents?" Khushi asked and Arnav nodded, "What were they like?"

"They were good people, cheerful, happy go lucky. I remember them in bits and pieces but I do remember this, they were both hopelessly in love with each other. I always wanted to have in my relationship what they had in theirs. My father had a temper that only my mother could keep in check. They loved me, I think but I never got much time with them. Dad was busy with work, mom was busy with family.." Khushi sighed, smiling sadly. "Then an accident happened, they died and they never came back."

"My father had an elder brother who took me in at fourteen after my parents' death and they did everything they had to, in order to ensure that I was okay. I still had a family, but they were not mine and they had a family of their own." She said quietly.

Arnav ran his fingers through her hair, "Did they.."

Khushi shook her head, "No. They never mistreated me in any way. I just never felt welcomed in their family. I was an obligation to them. They treated me well but didn't love me." She told him.

"It's okay." Arnav whispered to her, not knowing what else he could say.

Khushi chuckled, "Dr. Raizada says they were idiots, because they couldn't see what they're missing."

Arnav nodded, "He's right. They're idiots, brainless and heartless idiots because it's impossible for someone to know you and not love you with all of their hearts. I can't imagine doing that, I bet neither can my father." He said kissing her hair.

Khushi nodded. "Thank you."

"You're more than welcome baby." Arnav said softly.

"Do you want to ditch office tomorrow and go meet Mumma?" Arnav asked hopefully.

Khushi rolled her eyes, "It's barely been two hours that you've told my boss/your father about us and you're already taking advantage." She leveled him with a stern glare.

"We give our employees paid leave, sweetheart and you haven't used even one in the last one and a half years." Arnav retorted back, "It's about time, you take a much deserved day off."

Khushi pouted, "Okay, I'll tell you tomorrow, I'm sleepy now." She said slipping into the bed covers. Arnav slipped in beside her, pulled her into his arms and kissed her hair. "Good night my love."

"Good night Arnav."

***

It's been forever. I promise I will at least finish this story because I've finally managed to finish writing it. I will try to post more chapters quickly if I have enough time to edit them a little.

Do let me know what you think of this chapter.

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