Settled on the table number 15 of AR canteen, Gupta sisters stared at each other, one hesitant to share the reason that brought her to meet the sister she watched silently leaving their house and other wondering what is even left to talk about.

"Khushi," Payal initiated in a low tone, not having courage to raise her eyes to meet Khushi's.

"Hmm," Khushi waited, appearing calm but her heart beat abnormally and her mind couldn't stop but think of all the possibilities that brought her sister to her work place.

"After everything you did-"

"What I did?" Khushi frowned.

"You know-"

"No, I don't know Jiji. Why are you speaking as if I did something wrong? I just told you all Vihaan's truth and no one believed me," Khushi argued, looks like Arnav's genes are possessing her, "If you came here to talk about this and put the blame on me, then you can leave Jiji."

"No. Please listen to me," Payal cried, "Babu ji wants me to get married to Vihaan!"

Khushi surely didn't expect this move by her father and the numbness in her body and shock in her eyes gave it away, but she was quick to go back to her composed self, "So.. Why are you here Jiji? It's only up to you to decide whether you want to get married to him or not."

"That's why I'm here Khushi.. I.. I want.. I wanted to ask you.. if it's true.. everything you said about Vihaan," Payal opened up, a little hesitant and embarrassed, but she needed to talk with Khushi as the idea of getting married to a person who might not to be what you thought of him was scaring her to death.

"Oh," Khushi chuckled sarcastically, "Now I get it why you came here."

Payal frowned with moist eyes, "Don't talk to me as if I'm selfish and all.. You left home, abandoned your family and your fiance in such circumstances and I'm the one suffering with the consequences of your mistakes Khushi. I'm the one who will have to spend the rest of my life with a man like Vihaan."

"So you also believe that Vihaan is not a good man, still you wanted me to continue with this relationship," Khushi looked at her in disbelief.

"Because you're the one who fell in love with Vihaan and wanted to get married with him Khushi. Amma and Babu ji did everything for you and even arranged your marriage.. You had no right to make them go through this humiliation.. do you know they'll have to face questions of our society while you're enjoying your life with a rich man and I'll be stuck with a man like Vihaan for life time?" Payal spoke angrily.

"Oh please!" Khushi closed her eyes momentarily, standing up from her chair, "Just like you're worried about your happiness and your future with Vihaan, I also have the right to do same. Yes, I did a mistake by falling in love with him and bringing a man like him in our family, but I was unaware of his truth. As soon as I came to know his truth, I had to two options on how to move forward in my life, believe that Vihaan might change after marriage, cry all night and the next morning remain silent over everything I found about him and get married to him to keep my so called family and my in laws happy and the other was to end that relationship that was totally based on lies and move on in my life. I made my decision. And it's not because of me that you'll be stuck with a man like Vihaan for lifetime. It's because you want to be a good girl in front of your family and society's eyes that you're willing to sacrifice your happiness and get married to a disgust man like Vihaan.. but deep inside you, you're also scared to get married to him.. that's why you're here.. You're afraid to take a stand for yourself and the easiest thing to do is blame ME for the miseries of your life. Hain na?"

"It's not-nothing like that," Payal gulped, not wanting to admit the truth even to herself. She's not a coward. She's way too brave than Khushi, who left her family to handle the situation all by themselves, she will do anything for her parent's happiness and save them from humiliation and taunts of this society.

Payal stood up from her chair, staring at Khushi angrily, "I don't even know why I came here to meet you. Amma and Babu ji were right, Vihaan is good man only. Smoking is not a big deal and he also cleared that girlfriend issue with Amma and Babu ji. It's YOU who got crazy after seeing this big world filled with money, luxury and power and betrayed Vihaan. It's YOU who accepted to work with Prince Arnav Singh Raizada, the same man responsible for Vihaan's state today. It's YOU who abandoned us and chose this dirty path to fulfill your dreams. Amma, Babu ji and Buaji were right about you.. I was in doubt, but now seeing this cold and disrespectful behavior of yours after staying with these rich people, I can surely say that my family was right about you."

"You're free to think what you want about me Jiji.. I've already explained everything to you all and no one believed me. I've cried enough.. and I don't want to repeat this again," Khushi crossed her arms, staring calmly at Payal. She shouldn't let Payal's words affect or hurt her again, there are people (Arnav, Lavanya, Aman and Akash) who care a lot for her happiness and they wouldn't like to see tears in her eyes.

"You'll regret for your decisions Khushi," Payal shook her head mockingly and walked to leave from the canteen.

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Sometime later
Designing department.

Arnav walked in the room searching for Khushi, she didn't came back to his cabin after meeting Payal. And he was getting worried for her.

"ASR you're here. Any problem?" Sheetal approached him.

"No. I'm just looking for Khushi," Arnav replied.

"Oh," Sheetal rolled her eyes making sure Arnav doesn't see it, then replied, "She's not here but let me ask Pratik if he saw her.. She is mingling with him much these days. You see.. they're working in same team!"

Arnav knew Sheetal was lying about Khushi mingling with other men just to create a misunderstanding between him and Khushi. He shook his head, "No need to do that.. I'll find her myself."

Saying this he left from there making Sheetal shrug and continue her work.

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"Where were you? I was looking for you everywhere," Arnav frowned, sighing in relief, that he finally found her walking out of ladies washroom.

"I was here," Khushi replied slow, trying to figure out what happened that he was behaving like that.

"I can see that!" he said sarcastically, sighing to calm himself, he looked at her, "Are you okay? What was doing here? Did she say something to you?"

Now Khushi understood the reason of his behavior, she approached him with a small smile playing on her lips, feeling a strange beautiful warmth embracing her heart, after realizing that she actually has someone who truly cares for her, "I'm okay."

"Sachi?" he looked into her eyes to be sure.

"Muchi," Khushi blinked her eyes, smiling to him.

"And what about Payal?" he asked raising his brows.

"She's actually confused now.. Babu ji wants her to get married to Vihaan and she doesn't know whom to believe now.. my version of Vihaan's story with Riya or the one he told to her family. She is scared of ruining her life by getting married to Vihaan but she also wants to keep Amma and Babu ji happy.." Khushi sighed.

"See how some people in this world are.. when trouble is in their hands, they get worried, confused about what to do or not to do.. when trouble is in other people's hands, they're experts in telling people what they should or not do," Arnav said. 

"That's true," Khushi whispered, nodding her head cutely.

Arnav pinched her nose playfully, "You want ice cream?"

"No.. I've lot of work to complete today," Khushi shook her head.

"Achcha! (Oh really)," Arnav raised his brows smirking.

Khushi giggled, "I know you're the boss here.. but for your kind information, employees have more work to do than their employers!"

"Okay.. You won the argument this time," Arnav smiled softly, "You go and complete your work. When we go back home, I'll buy you an ice cream!" 

Khushi nodded smiling and went from there. Arnav looked back at her smiling widely. Khushi had changed since their last conversation when her mood was off because of her family. She didn't let herself be affected with the conversation she had with Payal.
And that is a huge victory for him, as he had thought she would be devastated again after meeting her sister.

"I gave her the right nickname.. Sherni!" he thought heading back to his cabin, with a huge smile on his lips.

His phone rang and his steps came to a halt, as he took his phone out of his pants pocket and picked it up, "Haan Anjali bolo.. what.. you're back.. why didn't you tell me earlier?.. Okay okay.. Of course.. I'll come to meet you. Bye.. See you soon!"

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I know it's a short update.. but guess in order to give regular updates, I'll have to keep it short. Hope you readers won't mind it. 🙈🙈

Thank you so much for everyone who send me get well soon messages. I'm better now ❤😘.

And here's the update for the reader who asked for Isqh Hua update first.

So this update was more to show the changes in Khushi, the confused state of Payal and last but not the least, the comeback of Anjali. Let's see what happens next 😉😉

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