No proofread.

Aditya laid on his bed staring at the ceiling reminiscing his encounters with Khushi in the past and the presence.

She was still the same bubbly girl she was in the past and he loved that about her.

For the past nine years he has been searching for his mentor's daughter which yielded no result even after all the best private detective agencies were hired to find her but by coincidence his baby sister was the one who led the road to find her.

Preeto had told him about a friend she had made a few months ago in school and he wasn't really pleased about it because she had been a target of fake friends since childhood but seeing a post Preeto made a few weeks ago calmed his senses and doubts but he was surprised by the effect a simple picture of his sister and friend on her Instagram had made him trust her.

He was in for surprise when a few days ago, his sister again posted a glow up picture of herself and Khushi.

It was the picture of his mentor's daughter he has been looking for all these years.

He dropped everything and immediately flew back to India from Dubai.

He knew his parents especially his mother who had short yet genuine friendship with Khushi's mother will weep tears of joy if she found out but he couldn't tell them now until he get rid of the threat that while loom over Khushi if her real identity is exposed.

Tomorrow he will get the full report of Khushi and her life for the past fourteen years.

His mind went back to the night he met an eight years old Khushi for the first time.

Flashback.

Aditya was sitting in the garden of the gigantic mansion of the Raichands frustrated by the happenings in their family for the past two years.

Mohan got into an accident two years ago and at the hospital under the influence of drugs, his aunt Maya and her late husband Jagdev had made Mohan sign a power of attorney of all their properties to them.

Unfortunately for them, when Mohan recovered, it was too late as Jagdev had lost almost ninety percent of the family wealth in a Ponzi scheme and he cowardly committed suicide leaving them to suffer the consequences of his actions.

Aditya was angry seeing his father begging people for lawyers and money to restart not only the business but hire lawyers to get the law enforcement to release some of the confiscated properties but no one wanted to help because they didn't want to risk being associated with them.

His mother who volunteered at an orphanage met the wife of his mentor, Shahida Raichand.

Her husband Naveen Raichand was a billionaire and well decorated architect who was respected all over the world and Aditya who loved anything architecture took him as his mentor.

A part of him felt angry to borrow money from his mentor as he hated being indepted to anyone but he knew Naveen was their last hope of ever getting everything his father worked hard for.

He was lost in thoughts when he felt a soft hand pat his head and he opened his eyes to find a little girl of at least eight years staring at him with concern but it turned to a smile.

She was holding a police doll smiling as he sat down by Aditya.

"Hi...... Am Khushi but maa, papa and everyone call me Kiki. "

She stretched out her hand and Aditya with a smile on his face shook it and introduced himself.

"I'm Aditya Kapoor but everyone calls me Adi...... Nice to meet you Kiki. "

Aditya looked around expecting someone to come for her as it was late but no one was around and he turned to Khushi who was fidgeting and humming to her doll and this brought a smile on Aditya's lips.

"Kiki? " Khushi looked up at Aditya smiling. "It's late why are you not in bed? "

"Why are you also not in bed if it's late? " Khushi counter questioned making Aditya chuckle.

"Because am old and can stay up late. " Aditya replied proudly.

"How old are you? " Khushi asked with a pout and her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Am fifteen years old and how old are you. "

Khushi placed her doll by her side and lifted eight fingers at Aditya.

"I had a nightmare and went to maa and Papa's but they weren't there....... I heard them speaking to some people and they looked really serious so I decided to go back to their bedroom and wait for them but then I saw you looking sad and came here....... When I am sad, maa and papa always keeps me company and I always feel better so I decided to keep you company....... Do you feel better now? " Khushi asked innocently and Aditya nodded smiling.

"Kiki ma'am what are doing here? " A voice asked and they both looked towards that direction to find a woman walking up to them.

"Am keeping my friend company. " Khushi replied as she stretched out her arms to the woman who happily carried her.

"Thank you Kiki for keeping me company..... Because of you I feel so much better. "

Khushi smiled widely at Aditya who reciprocated.

"You are welcome but remember....... No matter what makes you sad, always remember me and you will feel better and happy that's why my parents named me Khushi. "

"I always will Kiki. "

Khushi waved goodbye as the woman walked away with her and he smile and waved back at her.

Aditya stood up to leave when he saw a necklace on the floor and seeing the k, he realised it belonged to Khushi.

"I will return it when we meet again. "

Flashback ends.

Since his encounter with Khushi, the necklace has always been a comfort Aditya needed to be happy and achieve his goal.

That night he not only met Khushi but his father got the money he needed to start afresh without paying it back.

He was shocked when his father revealed Naveen had given him not only the funds needed to start over but gave them his legal team to get their properties back.

Naveen also gave Aditya his books to enhance his knowledge on architecture when he found out he wanted to be an architect.

Shahida also have him delicious jalebis to take home,some for himself and some for Preeto.

He left for boarding school a few days later and was eager to come back him to ask for permission from his parents to meet the Raichands especially Khushi but it was not to be when he arrived to find out that his mentor had died with his wife a few weeks after their meeting and his father has been searching for Khushi who seems to have disappeared from the surface of the earth.

He was devastated finding out about the Raichands death especially by Khushi's disappearance.

Due to the Raichands contribution, they were able to bounce back to their former glory but they all never stopped looking for Khushi and today she was finally with them.

"I am going to protect you will all that I have....... Even if you don't remember, I will protect you especially now that I have proof that your parents death was not an accident like the police claimed...... But first I have to find out how you got where you are and tomorrow, I will get the answers I need. " Aditya thought and closed his eyes waiting for tomorrow.

Two Days Later.

Arnav watched as Khushi entered Aditya's car driving away.

He felt angry and hurt seeing this because he wanted so badly to speak to Khushi but it was as if the Kapoor siblings have entwined to keep Khushi far away from him.

As of that wasn't enough, Sheetal refuse to give him his space.

He knew this was his fault as he had used Sheetal to try to make Khushi jealous but was stunned when instead of jealousy like he excepted from Khushi, he got only pity.

Sheetal taking advantage of this had clonged on to him like a pimple which irritated and angered Arnav but he composed himself from blowing up at her especially when he knew he was the cause of this.

"Chote?" Arnav snapped out of his trance and stared at Nani.

She looked nervous which made Arnav frown as he saw Anjali nudge Nani.

"We invited the Kapoors to live with us for a few days........ It seems Maya has problems with Naina so we invited them to stay with us for a few days. "

Anjali, Mami and Nani gulped expecting him to blow up at them but they were stunned when Arnav sighed and nodded.

He walked to his car and drove off leaving the women smiling.

"Hello hi bye bye........ He agreed. " Mami exclaimed enthusiastically and the others nodded.

"Now to have to put our plan into action........ After thinking about everything, I think Sheetal is the best choice for chote. " Anjali and Mami nodded at her words. "As for you Anjali, until your divorce with Shyam is over, you better stay away from Aditya or else he will think you are an immoral woman....... He may be hostile now but I know he will warm up to you after we become family through Arnav and Sheetal. "

Anjali didn't like this but nodded because as long as Khushi doesn't come back to their life she was okay not having Aditya but it didn't mean she will give up on him easily.

Unknown to the women, Arnav who watched their reaction through the rearview mirror was fuming understanding their plan.

"I won't give you three the satisfaction of controlling my life anymore........ Let see how you set me up with Sheetal if am not even in RM......... Am moving out immediately we arrive........ To win Khushi back, I have to prove I am no longer a slave of their whims. " Arnav thought as he drove to the airport determined to prove to Khushi, he can change for the better.

Payash's Mansion.

Khushi, Akash and Payal including Manohar, Shashi and Happy Singhs family sat by the pool side where Payal had laid out the table for a congratulation dinner for Khushi.

Payash had organized a dinner party for Khushi to congratulate her on her exams immediately she returned from her weekend vacation with the Kapoors.

It was a holiday and a perfect time to celebrate before everyone started their busy schedule the following day.

Khushi was surprised seeing this as she thought they should celebrate after her results were put but Payash wasn't having it and said every milestone of her life will be celebrated no matter how small.

Khushi teared up hearing this, stood up and rushed to Akash giving him a hug as he sat down at the table.

Everyone laughed seeing his antics but Shashi had heard in his eyes seeing his little girl getting all the love and praise she deserves.

Payal who was expecting her own hug and stunned when Khushi ignored her and went back to her chair.

Akash snickered seeing the shock look on his wife's face.

"Excuse me where is my hug. "

"Why will I hug you when bhai was the one who did all the hard work....... You brains is non existent to plan something as sweet and lovely like this. "

Payal gasped in shock as everyone laughed knowing Khushi was just teasing her big sister.

"I won't spare you, you brat. "

Payal jumped up and started chasing Khushi around the pool as they all laughed.

"Daughters, no matter how old they get, the child in them never leaves. " Everyone nodded as Shashi words as they watched the girls running around without a care in the world.

Manohar leaned in and held Akash's hand giving it a squeeze as he whispered.

"Am proud of you son. " Akash smiled and nodded

"Girls come on. " Shashi exclaimed as Payal carried Khushi who was laughing uncontrollably towards them.

Akash's phone binged and he saw an email from his personal assistant.

It was a confirmation about setting an appointment with Aditya Kapoor.

Akash was curious as to why Aditya Kapoor will want to met with him but he gave a go ahead for his PA to confirm the appointment.

The Next Day.

Akash's Office.

Akash sat in his chair stunned by what Aditya had revealed to him.

He knew Khushi was born to wealth parents but Payal said the company went bankrupt few years ago.

Was she lying to him, Akash shook his head angry at himself for thinking that about Payal.

"So Khushi is the heiress to the Raichand group of companies? " Aditya nodded.

"Am surprised you didn't know. " Aditya exclaimed sceptically.

"I didn't....... All I know is Shashi had adopted her when her parents died...... Payal said Shashi use to work for a rich man as a caterer at his company but I never asked which company....... But why are you helping Khushi...... What's in for you?......... If this is a ploy to acquire her company or usurp what rightfully belongs to my sister then get ready for a fight......... I don't care of I have to go bankrupt,I will protect my baby sister." Akash uttered angrily and Aditya smiled loving the protective side of Akash for his wife and sister in law.

"Am not here for that but I need you help to protect Khushi....... Not only against the real usurpers who have taken over her companies but also against your cousin ASR and his family. "

Akash was surprised and stunned hearing this.

He stood up and stretched out his hand to Aditya who did the same as the shook on it.

"To protecting Khushi. " Akash said and Aditya nodded.

RM.

Anjali was fuming seeing Shyam casually walk into the mansion with a devilish smile on his face.

"Hello hi bye bye...... What are doing here? " Mami asked more in shock than anger.

"Am here to see my wife or rather soon to be ex wife and thank her for making me cross path with the love of my life Khushi. " Shyam let out a maniacal laugh as Anjali fumed. "Don't be angry wifey....... If you hadn't asked Arnav to take revenge against your uncle for what he did to all of you then he wouldn't have bought Sheesh Mahal, met Khushi and do all the things he did that led me to her...... For that I thank you wifey. "

Shyam moved back and gasped pretentiously as if in shock when he saw Anjali's flat belly.

"You lost the baby.... What happened? " Shyam started laughing knowing exactly what happened.

Anjali had fallen down the stairs and lost not only the baby but he womb as well.

"Good that that bastard is gone....... He or she would have been a obstacle in my way to get Khushi and also I am no longer bound to you....... Am glad you lost that thing because now I don't have any obstacle in my way. "

Anjali replied to Shyam with a slap to his cheek which left him stunned for a moment but it turned to a smirk.

Back at ARD, Arnav was watching everything unfold in RM.

He had made Aman install cameras all over the mansion to monitor everyone.

Once upon a time he would have killed Shyam for what he said to Anjali but know he was enjoying seeing Anjali miserable.

Just like Shyam had his conditions before he divorces Anjali, Arnav also had his and it was for Shyam to come to RM and taunt Anjali where it hurts the most.

Shyam's presence to RM was all his plan to make Anjali pay for misleading him and making him lose Khushi.

"Anjali Singh Raizada aka Mrs Jha...... You took away my happiness and I will make you pay dearly for it. "

Arnav turned away from his laptop and stared at the file Shyam's lawyer had given to him.

It was a background check on Shyam and his activities which Anjali had ordered for herself.

He didn't believe it at first but Aman's men had confirmed it to the true.

It dated back a few days before Akash's wedding to Payal.

Anjali knew all along that Shyam cheated the Guptas but his numerous affair in and out of town and she kept quiet.

"If only you had revealed the truth, I wouldn't have doubted Khushi...... I lost Khushi because of you and now it's your turn to pay. " Arnav thought as he stared back at the laptop to find Anjali on the floor crying as Nani and Mami consoled her.

His phone binged and he checked the message from Shyam.

"It's done. "

To be continued.

Precap:Aditya ask for Khushi's hand in marriage.

Khushi humiliates Sheetal and Anjali.

Due to my busy schedule I won't be able to update until Monday or Tuesday.
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