"Are we going back home?" Khushi asked, glancing at Arnav driving back home, when he had said that he would take her to have ice cream after work.

"Yes," Arnav replied, then looked at her for few seconds as he remembered what he had promised to her, "Khushi.. I'm so sorry, we will have to keep this ice cream date for another day. I've to go somewhere so it's not possible for me today."

"Oh it's okay. You don't need to be sorry," Khushi smiled, "We'll go some other day."

Arnav nodded. Two minutes had passed by while driving and he was constantly glancing every now and then to her to make sure she isn't upset with him for cancelling their ice cream date.

She was silent and busy with her phone. She wasn't making an effort to talk with him which was making him feel restless now.

"I hope you're not upset with me," he spoke finally, unable to bear the silence and distance growing between them.

Khushi was surprised that he was still thinking about the ice cream matter when they already talked about it.

"Nahi.. nahi.. I'm not upset with you.. It's just ice cream na.. We can have it another day," she said, smiling lightly.

Arnav nodded much relieved. After dropping Khushi at his farm house, he left to meet Anjali at her house.

************************************

Anjali's house.

"How are you bhaiya?" Anjali asked with a small smile.

"How are you bhaiya?" Anjali asked with a small smile.

"I'm fine," he replied sitting with her on the couch. Then looked around the living room, "Where's everyone? Shyam and your in laws?"

"Shyam must be coming back from work. And Ma and Papa have out to visit their relatives," Anjali said.

"Okay," Arnav nodded acknowledgingly, he looked up to her with a smile on his lips, "Now you tell me.. How are you? How was your trip? Did you enjoy it?"

"I'm fine.. and I really enjoyed my trip with Shyam. I could forget everything bad that happened to me for a while," Anjali said, looking down, fidgeting her fingers.

"If staying away from here, helps you forget everything that happened to you and be happy, then you shift to another city with Shyam."

"No, I can't.. Shyam has his job here and he doesn't want to stay away from his family too," Anjali immediately shook her head in denial, "And it's okay.. I'll be fine. I'll learn to live with those bitter memories as long as no one gets to know what happened that night. I can handle it," she said assuringly.

Arnav gulped, he rubbed his hands together for a while, thinking how to initiate this conversation with her.

"Kya hua bhaiya? You look worried," Anjali asked finding him in a strange silence. They never had this kind of awkwardness between them, they can talk all day sharing everything to each other. Then why does he look worried and hesitant to speak today?

"I want to tell you something.. It's important," Arnav said without meeting his gaze to hers.

"Tell me.." Anjali whispered, looking at him seriously.

"I wanted to tell you the story of Khushi.."

"Khushi? The one that visits my orphanage?" Anjali asked frowning.

Arnav nodded his head.

Anjali gulped nervously, "Is this story related to Vihaan?"

"It is related to Vihaan. And please listen to me first Anjali.." he got up from his seat and sat beside Anjali, wrapping his arm around her shoulder to calm her down.

"Then I don't want to listen.. Why are you talking about Vihaan to me? You already know I don't like to speak about him.. I can't sleep, eat or have peace in my life when I hear about him," Anjali started sobbing, looking at him.

"I wouldn't even mention his name to you if it wasn't important Anjali. Please listen to me first.. just like I saved you, I need to save another girl's life from getting ruined."

"And why is it important for you to tell me about her story?"

"Because I want you to understand what she went through.. before I ask you something," he said serious.

Anjali nodded her head slowly, still confused.

***********************************************

Arnav's farm house.

"So what if we couldn't go to an ice cream date today? We can still have a special dinner date na," Khushi spoke to herself, smiling all the way to the dining room, where she was excitingly setting the table for the dinner date she was planning to have with Arnav.

She looked at her arrangements, analysing everything attentively, then smiled to herself proudly, "It's perfect.. I hope you like it Teddy Bear. And yeah, for desert tonight we'll have jalebis made by YOU only."

She giggled cutely, "Just imagine when I'll ask him to make jalebis for me.. He'll be like 'What the.. I told you I don't know how to make jalebis Khushi' and I'll reply 'No problem Teddy Bear.. I'll finally teach you how to make jalebis' and then we'll make jalebis together.. and.. I wish.."

"... I wish.. something romantic happens while we cook like in Bollywood movies that will bring us closer to each other," she confessed her wish, blushing profusely and bit her lips smiling shyly, lost in her thoughts.

"Didi I finished cleaning the kitchen. Will you need me for another work?" HP asked bringing Khushi to reality.

She looked at him numbly for few seconds, registering what he had said, then replied, "No.. thank you HP. You can go and rest now."

HP nodded and left from there silently.

Khushi hit her forehead smiling lightly, "What he must be thinking of me? I'm smiling alone here."

"Should I decorate the table with candles and roses?" Khushi asked to herself, "No no.. that'll be too much.. Arnav will find me weird then," she shook her head, dropping the idea.

Her eyes lit up when she came with another idea, "I can wear his clothes today.. he'll like it! Yes yes.. let me go upstairs and change my clothes.."

She rushed upstairs smiling like crazy, "I'll keep my hair open too.. and I'll apply make up too.. but no.. Arnav will find it weird that I'm wearing make up at night time with his home clothes.. It's a weird combination Khushi.. I guess just his clothes and open hair is fine.. and a little bit of eye kohl too."

***********************************************

Sheesh Mahal..

"Arvind I thought after knowing what your son is doing behind your back.. You'll do something about that girl.. but here you're interested in the treatment of that poor guy Vihaan!" Vidhya said irritated with her husband for not acting according to what she had thought.

"Just relax.. this poor guy Vihaan is the one who will do all the work and we'll just sit and enjoy the movie while eating popcorns!" Arvind chuckled, half laid on his king size bed.

"Arnav thinks he's too smart.. He doesn't know what his father is capable of doing till now. I'll make sure he regrets for spoiling my plans of getting him engaged to Meera and breaking my friendship with Rahul because of his foolishness."

"I hope you teach him a good lesson this time. And make sure this time he gets it that he's nothing with you and your name. He only has this attitude because he thinks he's a Prince.. spoilt brat.. he should know that if you hadn't fight for his custody then he would left with his good for nothing mother and die somewhere and no one would even bother about him," Vidhya said making a disgusting look.

"Enough Vidhya!" Arvind glared at her angrily, "Don't forget you're talking about my son, my blood, my prince.. A Raizada!"

Vidhya fake a smile gulping, "Of course.. I know he's your son.. I was just.. forget it.. let's talk about another topic now."

***********************************************

Anjali's home.

"It's really bad what happened with Khushi.. but I'm glad you saved her bhaiya.. she's safe now with you," Anjali said after hearing everything that happened with Khushi because of Vihaan.

"I know.. Anjali she saved herself.. she fought for herself.. she gained courage to tell her family about Vihaan's truth.. that's why she's with me, eating, sleeping and living peacefully. But you're not doing the same.. you want to hide the truth from everyone, even though you're the victim.. you're living with fear."

"Khushi didn't face what I did.. It's easier for her.. not for me.. you know if I say it to everyone, then what will happen to me.. Shyam might divorce me, I'll lose my love forever.. I'll lose my new family.. this society will not me live in this world," Anjali looked away with tears brimming in her eyes.

"It's not easy for Khushi too.. she's suffering the consequences of something that she's not even at fault.. she already lost her family and people are already talking rubbish about her."

"What do you want me to do bhaiya?" Anjali looked back at him questioningly.

Arnav took a deep breath before proceeding, "I want you to allow me to break the promise I made to you of maintaining a secret of what Vihaan did that night. I want you to let me expose his deeds to the world and make him pay for his crimes. Trust me Anjali, only your truth will save the lives of many girls who have been used by him. And only your truth will allow you to live peacefully."

"No!" she shook her head crying as she got up from the couch in panic, "No.. NO.. NO.. bhaiya you promise.. you promised me you wouldn't let anyone know what happened that night.. I trusted you.. you promised me.. my life will get ruined.. Shyam will leave me.. I will lose him.. No.. You can't do this with me.."

Arnav got up and held her by arms calmly while Anjali struggle to come out of his hold crying hysterically.

"Anjali please calm down.. Please listen to me and understand why I'm doing this.. it's better for everyone.."

"No, it's better only for Khushi.. not for me.. I'll lose everything.. everything.. my husband, my family, my friends, my respect.. I'll be ruined.. I'll die.." she cried shouting at him.

"Anjali.." Arnav sighed helplessly, he hugged her tightly, caressing her back, "Okay.. okay.. stop crying.. please stop crying.. I can't see you in this state.. please stop crying!"

They broke the hug when they heard the door getting knocked. Anjali quickly composed herself, "It must be Shyam!"

"You go and wash your face. I'll open the door," Arnav said patting her shoulder gesturing her to go to her room.

Anjali nodded and rushed to her room while Arnav went to open the door for Shyam, sighing defeatedly.

***********************************************

Sometime later..

Arnav's Farm house.

Khushi got up from her seat chirpily as soon as  she saw Arnav walking inside the house, she quickly switched off the TV and walked towards him.

But he didn't seem to notice her presence as he continued to walk as if he didn't saw her, she frowned a bit and called him out, "Arnav!"

Arnav stopped on his track and turned back to her, raising his brows questioningly, "What?"

"Umm.. voh.." she gulped, feeling cold vibes from him, "I.. I was waiting to have dinner with you!" she said with a weak smile.

"You go and eat.. I'm not hungry," he said in no-nonsense tone and walk away from her.

Khushi looked at him going upstairs sadly, "He didn't even smile seeing me with his clothes and open hair."

"Tu bhi na Khushi.. don't think too much. He might be stressed out because of work. Maybe if I insist him, he'll agree to eat something. We can leave the plan of making jalebis for some other day," Khushi thought, smiling hopefully.

***********************************************

"Khushi I already told you I'm not hungry.. Why did you bring food to my room?" he frowned watching her keeping the tray of food on the round table in front of his bed.

"I know you might be tired because of work.. that's why you're behaving like cranky baby today.. but please, have something.. it's not good to sleep with an empty stomach," Khushi turned to him trying to convince him to eat something.

"Plus I've cooked it.. and you won't be able to resist my food.. trust me.. it's yummy!" she licked her lips and caressed her tummy smiling excitedly at him.

"I'm not hungry Khushi.. I don't want to eat anything. Please take this food back to the kitchen," he said in no-nonsense tone.

"Okay.. so you want me to massage your head? It might make you feel better," she asked approaching him in each step she took.

"No! It won't.." he shook his head sideways.

"And this?" she stood closer to him and pecked his cheek, her heart beats increased as she took a step she never thought she would to make him feel better.

Arnav closed his eyes, feeling her moist lips on his cheek. He took a step back the moment Anjali's words rang in his ear. He's hiding something from Khushi. He can't start a relationship with Khushi like that. It suffocates him to not be able to tell her everything, to watch her family and the society badmouth Khushi when he can prove her innocence with his statement. It's just a promise to Anjali that's stopping him from doing what is right.

The moment he took a step back, Khushi felt her heart skip a beat, her eyes moistened as she watched him behaving so coldly with her.

And the moment Arnav saw tears in her eyes, he took a step ahead again without a second thought and cupped her face, caressing her cheeks with his palms lovingly.

"Khushi.." he spoke softly.

She hmm-ed, not wanting to look at his face.

"Today my mood is not good. I just want to be alone for now. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?" he whispered.

Khushi nodded her head trying her best to not fall weak this moment and start crying in front of him. She understood it's not his best day, still it hurt her the way he was behaving with her. When she walked to leave, he pulled her back suddenly and kissed her cheek softly.

Khushi pushed him back, frowning while looking at anywhere but him, "You don't need to kiss me because I kissed you."

She walked away from his room sobbing silently on her way, "Why am I doing this? I already got hurt by falling in love with Vihaan. I'm repeating the same mistake again. I should concentrate on myself and my career now. I need to work hard and earn money to buy myself a house. I can't live, eat and sleep here for free. Arnav won't take care of me for all my life. He also has his life. He'll also have his wife. His family. I cannot be a burden for him. Today I've realized that he doesn't feel the same way I'm starting to feel for him. He just does all these to make me feel better. Just like he kissed me because he saw me crying."

Happy Valentines Day for you all! I know the story update wasn't a Happy one for sure 😉🙈😂