"Babu ji don't you trust me? You believe in an outsider and not your daughter. I thought after telling you all about Vihaan's truth, you would stay by my side and call off this marriage, protect me from him and motivate me to move on in my life. But after knowing the truth, you're asking me to leave this house!" Khushi half-smiled sadly, her eyes showed disbelief towards her family reaction.

"Vihaan is our son also. And I trust him completely. He is the one who helped us with financial difficulties we faced, he's the one who takes Jiji to the hospital, he's the one who takes Garima to the market and temples whenever she needed and I wasn't there, he's the one who drop and pick you up from college, he's the one who take care of each one of us without complaining or asking anything in return. While you're the one who always welcome problems and trouble in our life, one problem is never enough for you, you had to stubbornly file a complaint against Prince Arnav, even after knowing who he is, just to increase the problems in our life. They could have killed us and Vihaan, but you didn't care at all.. You just got a chance to play the actress of some Bollywood movies and fight for his justice, right?!" Shashi retorted, his tone filled with seriousness and anger.

Khushi had enough for the day. She didn't know what to say or how to respond to their accusations. She didn't expect that going against their decision would make them show their worst side to her.

"If I'm the one who always brings problems home, then I should leave from here," Khushi said as she started walking towards her room.

"No Khushi," Payal whispered crying, she tried to grab Khushi's arm to stop her but failed as Khushi was already three steps away from her.

"Think before you make your last decision Khushi," Garima said warning tone making Khushi halt on her steps, she turned to face Garima.

"We are the ones who adopted you and brought you home when your parents left this world. We provided you with a place to live, food, education, clothes and most important, a family which you had lost. You father worked day and night to raise you and Payal. It wasn't easy for us to take responsibility of two kids when we were also not financially stable. But your father always said that you're his late sister's daughter, so you're his daughter as well. It's because of us, that you're going to graduate in your fashion designing course soom, it's because of us that you have a bed to sleep, you get to eat three meals a day, your father gives you money for shopping and buying tickets to watch your favorite movies.. and even the clothes you wear were bought with you father's money, not yours! You're what you are today only because of US Khushi, otherwise you would have been on the roads begging money to eat something today. You should be grateful to us.. getting married to Vihaan is the only to repay us for everything we did for you."

"Amma please.. don't say such things," Payal shook her head in disapproval with her mother's words.

"Why not? This ungrateful girl should hear the truth only. We have pampered her way too much that's why she's doing this with us today," Buaji taunted.

"Why are you silent Khushi? Tell us your decision. You will get married to Vihaan, right?" Garima asked.

"Of course she will.. She has to get married to Vihaan. After all, we need to start focusing on Payalia's marriage also," Buaji said.

"No," Khushi said firmly, staring at her so called family members.

Buaji widened her eyes, fuming in anger. Garima and Shashi stared at her angrily. Even after hearing everything they did to her, she's still being ungrateful.

"I won't get married to Vihaan. I'm really thankful for everything you did for me during all these years. I will never forget it. And I will definitely find a way to repay you, but marrying Vihaan is not the option," Khushi said, her eyes were filled with pain, her heart was aching as if it got pricked with countless pieces of glass.

Unable to look into their eyes anymore, she ran towards the door and left to house, only then she was able to breath fresh air when her eyes found Arnav standing outside her house, leaned on his chair with his concentration on his phone.

She heard her phone ringing, hidden somewhere in her bag, but she care less as she dropped her bag on the way and ran towards him.

Arnav looked at her side, he cancelled the call that he was making to her and before he could keep his phone back to his pants pocket, she had reached him and hugged him tightly, sobbing in his arms.

He circled his arms around her waist protectively, he was ready with a rain of questions in his mind to know the reason of the tears in her eyes, but in that moment, he chose to keep quiet and comfort her with the warmth of his arms.

"Khushi.. please don't-" Payal shouted as she ran behind her sister but as soon as she reached near them, she stood confused seeing Arnav there.

"What are you doing here? Leave my sister," she glared shouting at Arnav.

Khushi reacted opposite to her sister's words, she tightened the hug, burying her face in the crook of Arnav's neck and clutching the back of his shirt.

Aman and Akash, who were inside the car, looked at each other confused and clueless about what was going on there.

"Why did you even step in our lives? Everything changed for bad after you came in our life.. We were so happy but you ruined my Khushi's life," Payal sobbed, staring with her red eyes filled with anger at Arnav.

Arnav frowned at her words, but didn't reply.

"He's not at fault.. Nothing wrong happened in my life because of him," Khushi's quavering voice reached to their ears. She was clung tightly to Arnav like a baby who feels protected in the arms of their parents.

"Shh.. You don't need to say anything. Her words don't affect me," Arnav whispered to Khushi, as he raised his hand to caress her hair.

"Amma and Babu ji were right about you Khushi," Payal shook her head in disbelief, with moist eyes she walked back to her home. Khushi was hugging Arnav as if they were in a relationship and even replied back to her, defending Arnav despite everything he did to them. Maybe her parents were right, Khushi always wanted to be a successful fashion designer and to achieve her dreams she chose to take the lift instead of climbing up the stairs to success.

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

Arnav's Farm house.

After sharing what happened at her home, Khushi was settled in the middle of Arnav's bed crying continuously, hugging her knees close to her chest.

Akash and Aman were seated on each side of the bed, trying their best to calm her down as Arnav had instructed them to console her, something he considered himself not good at.

Akash brought the Pooh teddy bear that his first girlfriend had gifted him in school and he kept safely in Arnav's farm house till today.

"Please don't cry Khushi.. see this Pooh doesn't like to see you crying," Akash said shaking the teddy bear with his hands and bringing it closer to her face.

Arnav, who was seated on the recliner, watching them trying their best to change Khushi's mood, rolled his eyes at Akash's attempt.

Akash pouted seeing Khushi was still crying, his eyes moistened. He glanced at Aman, "Do something.. I don't know how to make a girl stop crying.. whenever my first girlfriend was upset, I used to cry along with her."

"You're asking me? I never had any girlfriend in my life and the person I console when he's upset doesn't even shed a tear from his eyes! All my life I spent consoling a person whose eyes's water tap doesn't even function!" Aman spoke sarcastically glancing at Arnav.

"I have experience of consoling someone by crying with that person and you've experience of consoling a person who doesn't cry. How will we make Khushi stop crying?" Akash cried.

Arnav was about to scold both for talking rubbish instead of consoling Khushi, when her cute giggles reached his ears.

Khushi giggled continuously after hearing Aman and Akash's banter that she found it funny.

Akash and Aman widened their eyes, gasping: She smiled.. she smiled!!

They got up from the bed and started dancing happily as if India won a cricket match, making her laugh even more loudly.

Arnav smiled lost in her laughing, clutching her stomach cutely watching Aman and Akash's crazy dance.

Aman and Akash rushed to Arnav asking him join the dance, but one glare from Arnav and both stood straight with serious look.

"You both can leave now. Enough of dancing like monkeys who drank bhang," Arnav said sternly.

Khushi giggled covering her mouth with her palms.

Akash and Aman pouted staring at each other as they left from there embarrassed.

Arnav walked to Khushi and sat on the bed facing her, "Tomorrow Sherni can join the drunk monkeys for a jungle party. For now, you need to eat something and rest."

He gestured her to eat the food placed on a tray at the side table.

"I'm not hungry," Khushi shook her head in denial. The smile on her face faded away, but her heart was calm now around Arnav.

"I won't let you sleep with an empty stomach Khushi," Arnav said serious.

"But.. I really don't feel like to eat anything," Khushi whispered, looking down at her feet.

"Do you want me to call Akash and Aman-"

"No.. I'm fine with you," Khushi interrupted. Aman and Akash for sure changed her mood, but it was him she needed to feel better.

"Then eat this food. I woke up a servant to cook this for you. You can't let someone efforts go in waste," he spoke in loving manner, convincing her to eat.

Khushi nodded. She picked the tray from the side table and placed it on her lap. After she finished her food, Arnav took the tray and empty plate and glass downstairs at the kitchen while Khushi went to wash her hands.

He came back to the room to check on her and found her sitting on the, resting her head against the headboard, lost in her world.

He knocked the door gaining her attention, Khushi looked at his side startled, "Arnav.."

Arnav walked in the room and sat on the edge of the bed, facing her: Not resting yet?

"I don't think I'll be able to rest today.. everytime I close my eyes.. I remember of everything Amma, Babu ji and Buaji said to me today.. I can still hear their words in my mind," Khushi whispered to him, her eyes were lowered as she felt them moistening again and she didn't want Arnav to see her crying again.

"You've to be strong Khushi.. and the truth will come out.. they will realize what grave mistake they did," Arnav said looking for the right words to express himself, "See I'm not great at consoling people.. but you can make me your teddy bear right now.. talk to me, share what's in your heart with me, cry your heart out with me, punch me, cuddle with me, hug me, kiss me.. do whatever you want with me, I will be here in silence with you."

He started in loving tone but as the option of what she could do with a teddy bear kept flowing out of his mouth and he realized what it was actually sounding like, he couldn't help but press his lips to suppress the naughty smirk threatening to appear on his lips.

Khushi hugged him in a swift move surprising him as she didn't scold him today for flirting with her.

"Why they always do this with me? They always hurt me when I need them the most. They always say they don't differentiate between me and Jiji, but whenever I do something against their wish, they remind me that I'm not their daughter. They never trusted me because they think I keep making mistakes and welcome trouble in my life. That's why today they chose to trust Vihaan over me. It hurt me a lot when Amma was saying everything they did for me as if I was burden to them.. Babu ji made me feel so unwanted today.. as if he kept bearing me because I was his sister's daughter.. and Amma said I had to repay everything they did for me by marrying Vihaan," Khushi whispered brokenly, hiding her face in the crook of Arnav's neck.

"They're mad people.. forget everything they said.. You don't have to suffer for such people in your life," Arnav frowned deeply, stroking her hair.

"They're my family Arnav.. that's why it hurts," Khushi said in soft yet filled with pain tone.

"Family my f-" Arnav shut his eyes controlling himself for not bursting in anger, "I'm better in silence otherwise I will use every swear word I know for your family."

Khushi didn't reply, she just stayed silent in his arms. The warmth of his hug made her feel like there's at least someone in her life that would save her from the darkness she most feared.

"Do you want me to buy jalebis for you?" he asked after few minutes of silence from Khushi.

"Doesn't this teddy bear know how to make jalebis?" she asked playing with his shirt button.

"No," he shook his head smiling.

"I will teach you someday," Khushi mumbled sleepy, snuggling in his arms.

"Okay," he glanced down at her, realizing that she was falling asleep, he made her lay on the bed but she opened her eyes frowning as if complaining through her eyes to him for snatching from her the warmth of his hug.

"Sleep," he whispered patting her head lovingly, in the process his eyes fell on the Pooh teddy bear laid on floor, that might have fallen when Akash and Aman were dancing like crazy, with his other free hand, he picked it up and gave it to her.

"I don't want Akash's first girlfriend teddy bear.. I want my teddy bear to stay with me!" Khushi whispered, her sleepy eyes fixed on his handsome face.

Arnav smiled lightly, "I'm here only. You sleep!"

Khushi nodded slightly, her eyes closing on its own as sleep took over her. Arnav covered her properly with the blanket, then he took one pillow from the bed and walked towards the recliner, settling himself to sleep.

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

Next day.

Khushi descended the stairs and headed towards the dining room from where she could hear sounds of people talking.

When she reached there, Akash and Aman paused their conversation to stare at her from top to bottom with astonished looks. Khushi uncomfortable with their gaze, tucked her hair behind her ear, looking down at herself, then at them, "Woh.. after taking a bath, I realized that I didn't have my clothes here.. so I wore these clothes. I found them in the closet. Is it looking too big for me?"

Akash and Aman shook their heads, "NO!"

"Interestingly these clothes look good on you Khushi," Akash smiled, staring at her dressed in an oversized red t-shirt and black track pants.

"Sit Khushi. Have breakfast with us," Aman said.

Khushi nodded and took her seat, she bit her lips pondering whether to clear her doubt or not.

"What happened Khushi?" Akash asked.

"This T-shirt and pants," she pointed with her index finger to the clothes she wore, "They belong to Arnav, right? I saw his pictures hanged on the wall, so I guessed that is his room and these are his clothes."

"Yes, these are Bhai's clothes only," Akash nodded smiling making Khushi sigh in relief.

"If it was our clothes, then?" Aman asked teasingly.

Khushi immediately took bread and jam ignoring Aman's teasings embarrassedly.

"Then she wouldn't wear them Aman," Akash smirked.

Khushi looked at Akash pouting, "At least you don't tease me Akash!"

"Okay okay," Akash giggled, raising his hands as if surrendering.

Aman and Akash smiled to each other as they successfully distracted Khushi's mind from thinking about last night incidents.

"Where is Arnav?" Khushi asked after some two minutes, sipping her juice.

Aman and Akash stole glances at each other as they cleared their throats teasingly.

Khushi groaned, "Stop teasing me you both. I'm just asking!"

"He went on a long drive with his girlfriend," Aman said with a lop sided smile.

"He doesn't have any girlfriend," Khushi shook her head knowing that they're teasing her again.

"He does.. And he loves her so much! Whenever he's upset, he goes to her," Akash added.

Khushi shrugged smiling, "It doesn't make any difference to me."

Just then Arnav walked in the dining room with Lavanya by his side.

The three turned their heads towards them. Khushi gasped shocked, "This is not possible."

"You're wearing my clothes?" Arnav asked amused.

Khushi thought he didn't like it as Lavanya was there and she didn't even know how, when and why, but they were in a relationship. She thought Aman and Akash were just teasing her.

"You're his girlfriend, Lavanya?" she asked to confirm. She wanted to hear it from them that they were in a relationship. Lavanya hated Arnav, then how was it possible for them to be dating. Looks like she won't get peace in her life so soon, she's been receiving shock after shock in her life in last few weeks.

Arnav looked at Khushi confused. Aman and Akash face palmed as they realized their little prank just transformed in a misunderstanding.

"What are you doing here Khushi?" Lavanya asked shocked.

Khushi frowned as she misunderstood Lavanya's reaction as the fear and shock of being caught. She stood up from her chair and left the dining room upset.

"What is going on here?" Arnav asked cluelessly.

"What am I doing here? What is Khushi doing here? WHY ARE WE HERE?" Lavanya screamed dramatically even more clueless than Arnav.

Aman and Akash looked at each other with crying faces.