Preeto and Khushi were laughing watching a movie while sitting in the family helicopter on their way to the Kapoor family island for the mini vacation.

Naina and Mohan Kapoor watched their introverted and shy daughter laughing freely with someone else for the first time ever.

They were so happy to have Khushi as their daughter's friend and seeing her made them realize the Raizadas were lying about her sister who was painted a villain by them but they knew who was the villain and it wasn't Payal but them.

The helicopter arrived on the island and landed as Khushi gushed about how beautiful the island was which made the Kapoors chuckled at her reaction.

The family got down and the girls run to Preeto's room to get ready and explore the island like they planned.

Naina and Mohan frown seeing another helicopter landing on the landing port and Naina groaned annoyed seeing her sister in law and her daughter.

"What are Maya and Sheetal doing here? " Naina angrily asked her husband who looked equally pissed but confused shrugged.

The mother and daughter duo arrogantly walked up to them with a smug expressions on their faces.

Maya yelled out rudely to the helps to take their bags to their rooms.

They were hesitant and stared at Naina who nodded giving them her approval.

Maya was pissed seeing this as the helps dragged their bags to their rooms.

"You didn't tell me you were coming. " Mohan exclaimed in a not so pleased tone and Maya scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"This belongs to the family...... I don't need anyone's permission to come here." Maya retorted arrogantly.

"Well it seems you have forgotten that my son Aditya is now the new owner of this island and has been for the past eight years when your late husband embezzled and conspired with your help, took away the family business and invested it in a Ponzi scheme which ended all of us on the street and Mohan in hospital because of your criminal husband....... My son tolied for years to raise the family name back to it glory and just because we haven't exposed your criminal husband and you for what you did doesn't mean we like you....... I'm warning you Maya, we are here to have peace and if you dare disturb that peace, I will have you dragged out together with your brat and I will personally make sure to let everyone know the truth about your late husband and your criminal deeds. "

Naina dragged her husband who threw a disgusted look at his sister before following his wife.

"Maa please compose yourself........ We have to win the Raizadas over and if they find out about what you and Papa did, they won't let me marry ASR. " Sheetal begged her mother who nodded but vowed to make them pay for the humiliation.

"Come on..... The Raizadas will be joining us soon...... I hope our plan to get you and Arnav together works and Anjali also wins over Aditya. "

Sheetal nodded beaming at the possibility of her being the wife of ASR.

She was tired of being a charity case for her uncle and her cousins whom she had vowed to make them miserable by using the title of being the wife of ASR.

What Sheetal didn't know was her cousin Aditya was out of Arnav's league in teams of wealth and power because unlike Arnav who love the public exposure of him being a billionaire and business man, Aditya was a silent man who was not only deadly but extremely powerful and rich and controlled not only the media, political and business figures but also some part of the law.

"Khushi another pose. " Preeto squeal as Khushi made different poses in her beautiful bikini.

"Did you get all the shot. " Khushi squealed as she run up to Preeto and sat by her.

Preeto nodded and showed her all the pictures and Khushi was pleased with it.

"Am so happy you came with us....... We both needed the rest after soo much stress because of the exams......... One more year to go and we will be done with school and off into the business world. "

Both girls laughed and laid on the sun sunbathing.

A few seconds later they heard someone clearing their throat and they both jerked up to find the least most favorable person standing arrogantly playing with her hair with a smug look on her face.

"Sheetal what are doing here? " Preeto asked annoyed and Khushi sighed finally meeting the arrogant cousin Preeto always speaks about and from her presence alone, Khushi knew she wasn't exaggerating how horrible she was.

She exuded the same arrogant aura like a forbidden person in her life.

The person she gags in disgust to think she was ever falling in love with but was pleased to have gotten rid of him.

"Hi cousin...... Is she one of your charity cases?...... How much did you pay her to be your friend since you have none. " Sheetal mocked and laughed as Khushi who was annoyed stood up and strided to Sheetal who was taken aback by her stance.

"I thought Preeto was exaggerating about how horrible you are but I can see she was right........ Unlike me who is the real charity case, I am a true friend which I doubt you know what it means since you whole friend group is filled with shallow minded people like you....... I will tolerate any insult against me but not against my bestie...... Try that again I will crush you. "

Sheetal was stunned into silence as Preeto burst out laughing.

Khushi walked back to her position and laid  by Preeto.

Sheetal stomped away seeing her cousin's friend was no push over and she didn't want to cause trouble that will affect her and her mother's plan but she now had another enemy and it was Khushi.

Delhi.

Payash's Mansion.

Akash got off the phone with his father who informed him about the family excluding him leaving for a vacation to one of Mami's friends island.

She informed Payal who look least interested about anything that has to do with that family except the fact that her father in law was visiting them the next day.

"I hope they never come back. " Payal exclaimed annoyed as Akash laughed and kissed her cheek as they sat by the pool staring at the night sky.

Payal's phone rang and she smiled seeing the name on the screen and so did Akash.

"Hi Kiki. "

"Good evening jiji...... Where is bhai?...... I have been calling him for a few minutes now but his line seems busy or not going through."

"Am right here Kiki. " Akash replied and Khushi. "I was speaking to Papa and just finished the call. "

"Oh I see. "

"Kiki am switching to video call. " Payal said and switched to video and she beamed seeing her favorite people in the world

"So how is your mini vacation? " Akash asked smiling.

"Amazing...... The island is so beautiful and serene...... Apart from Sheetal and her annoying mother, everything is fine....... Mr and Mrs Kapoor are amazing people and I can't wait to meet Mr Aditya Kapoor. " Khushi squealed happily making Akash and Payal stare at each other with a mischievous look on their faces.

"Khushi? " Akash called out and she hummed in response. "Are you in love with Aditya or admire him like a role model? "

"Bhai he is just a role model okay and I know what you and jiji are thinking...... I am not in love with him okay...... I just admire his work and you know I love architecture and want studied it...... He is the best in his field and I want to one day work with him. " Khushi retorted but they were not convinced.

"Yeah right. " A familiar voice exclaimed from the background and Khushi's bed dipped as Preeto came into view.

"God you are all annoying...... Just because I speak about him doesn't mean I love or like him okay. "

"Excuse me...... Does that mean my brother is not good enough for you. " Preeto exclaimed pretending to be annoyed as Akash and Payal laughed.

"That's it......am done with you three, there is no convincing you what I have for Mr Kapoor is only pure admiration nothing else. " Khushi defended and cut the call after bidding Payal and Akash goodbye.

"Preeto definitely ships her brother with Khushi. " Akash exclaimed smiling but it dropped which confused Payal and she touched his cheeks. "I just hope what Khushi feels for Aditya is admiration like she claims..... I will hate for him to be as arrogant as Arnav and mistreat Khushi of they ever meet. "

"Aditya was born of two good people and raised right unlike your brother...... I will prefer Aditya over Arnav any day and am happy he is staying away from us or else I won't spare him and the others. "

"Me too baby.... Me too. " Akash uttered and kissed Payal's cheek and they went back to staring at the night sky knowing their Khushi was happy and safe.

Fortunately and unfortunately for them, Khushi was about to face Arnav again but also meet the man who will send the rest of her life with.

Unfortunately for Arnav, he was about to meet a new version of Khushi who is no longer a doormat and deadly with words and he was about to also watch a romance blossom right in front of his eyes and he will not be able to do anything about it.

The Next Day.

The Raizadas arrived to the most shocking scene in front of them.

Sitting with the Kapoors was Khushi who stared confidently at them and gone was the shy and timid Khushi.

The Kapoors except Preeto who knows Khushi's history with the Raizadas looked on confused seeing the Raizadas staring at Khushi.

Arnav smiled lovely at Khushi who cringed but composed herself not wanting to discomfort the Kapoors.

Maya and Sheetal were fuming seeing Arnav's eyes on only Khushi even though he and Sheetal's arms were intertwined.

"Khushiji, what are you doing here? " Anjali asked in shock and Khushi rolled her eyes at her which shocked Anjali and she put on her victim persona.

"Khushi is my best friend and is here on vacation with us unlike some people who showed up unannounced. " Preeto replied in a rude tone taking everyone except Khushi aback.

"Preeto watch your tone..... They are my guests. " Maya chided and Preeto rolled her eyes. "They are my guest not yours. "

"Then tell your guests to know their place...... I , Akash bhai and jiji have no relationship with your guests but they seems not to know their boundaries because they think the world belongs to them and everyone has to dance to their tunes. " Khushi exclaimed rudely shocking not only the Raizadas but the Kapoors except Preeto who chuckled at the taunt.

That was when the rest of the Kapoors realised Khushi was related to Payal aka the villain who ruined their family according to Maya who was informed by Mami.

"Hello hi bye bye...... No need to insult us. " Mami uttered.

"Khushiji I understand you are angry but this doesn't give you the right to disrespect us. " Anjali scolded and Nani, Mami, Sheetal and Maya nodded but Arnav was frustrated seeing his family ruining his chance with khushi especially when Khushi scoffed at Anjali who was taken aback.

"Mrs Jha. " Khushi uttered intentionally and rejoiced seeing Anjali cringed but ignored her and continued. "Respect is earned but when it comes to you and your family, you don't deserve any....... You actions in the past proves it....... You shamelessly lived on your brother's money and his house even after four years of marriage....... Nani here always preach morals and values but forgets about them when it comes to the Raizada princess....... Mr Raizada aka ASR boost about being an intelligent man but behind closed doors he is nothing but a puppet of his Di and a fool who couldn't e en suspect a criminal living under his roof for years....... Imagine paying a woman to pretend to be your fiance just because you are too spineless to stand up to the nagging witches in your family. "

Everyone especially the Kapoors were shocked hearing this and Khushi went ahead and exposed the Raizadas and all that Arnav did to her since they met.

Arnav bowed his head ashamed as his sins were thrown at him.

Anjali looked petrified seeing the disgusted look Mohan and Naina were throwing at her and the family.

Nani and Mami prayed for the earth to swallow them but it didn't happen while Sheetal and Maya threw daggers at Khushi.

Maya was about to insult Khushi and Preeto saw this and said.

"Maa.... Papa, I and Khushi are going out to the mainland...... I hope you don't mind. "

Mohan and Naina shook their head not having any trouble with it and wanting Khushi to have a change of atmosphere after everything.

Mohan wanting them to be safe insisted on bodyguards which the girls agreed.

Arnav watched Khushi confidently walk away and he was not only shocked but mesmerised and his obsession with Khushi increased.

"You will be mine soon. "

Midnight, Khushi woke up thirsty only to find the mini fridge empty.

She walked out of their room and into the kitchen.

She pulled out a bottle of water and drank as she thought about the Raizadas and what happened and she felt proud putting them in their place.

She was afraid she had messed up and apologized to Mohan and Naina but was surprised when the praised her for standing up for herself, Akash and her sister.

She relaxed hearing this, she was at first shocked when she heard Sheetal speaking to Mami about their arrival in the evening and she mentally prepared herself to meet them after over seven months.

She was scared to lose her resolve but was stunned when she didn't feel anything but disgust seeing Arnav not even when she saw  Sheetal throwing herself all over Arnav as they walked in.

A groan broke Khushi's reverie and she saw the tall man with a hoodie and nose mask covering his face.

"A thief? " Khushi whispered and quietly pulled the drawer and pulled out a wooden laddle and slowly, quietly walked behind the man.

She raised the laddle to hit him when  the man swiftly turned and held her hand mid air.

He shook her hand making the laddle fall and Khushi took this opportunity and jumped on him pulling his hair and screaming on top of her lungs waking the entire family up.

Everyone rushed down stairs switched on the light to find Khushi holding a man in a choke hold and clearly the man would have hurt her if he wanted to due to his height and weight which made Khushi look like a feather in terms of weight.

Khushi looked up and smiled seeing her bestie and the family.

"Preeto call the police..... I caught this thief sneaking in. " Khushi exclaimed but Preeto burst out laughing.

"Khushi....... That thief is my son. " Naina revealed and that was when Khushi realised the man wasn't defending himself like a thief would have.

She let go and stepped away as Mohan, Preeto and Naina laughed and they others looked on either annoyed or confused.

"Good to know someone will defend my family even putting themselves in danger. " Aditya said and turned smiling.

The smile turned to a mesmerizing look as Aditya fell in love at first sight and his smile widened showing his beautiful white teeth.

Same happened to Khushi who couldn't stop smiling seeing Aditya.

To be continued.

Precap:

Shyam is bailed and set out to search for Khushi.

Arnav threatens Aditya.

Next Update: Sunday

Don't forget to hit the ⭐⭐⭐ button, comment and follow for more.

٩(ര̀ᴗര́)ᵇʸᵉ.

Xoxo xoxo.