Khushi clutched his hand, while tears slipped from her eyes continuously, "Does such cruel person exist in this world??"

Arnav nodded looking down, "Never I thought, my Di would live with such persons.."

"You could have told your sister Arnav, and end this Shashi's game once and for all.. I'm sure she
deserved better than that man who assumed to be in love with her, and at the end didn't even
sacrifice a bit for his love.." said Khushi.

"Khushi I wasn't ASR that time, I was just a boy who loved his family so much and especially my both sisters, they were like my mothers.. and I just wanted their happiness no matter what, I knew it Sharanya Di loved Karan a lot, she respected and gave her life in his hand. If I told her what her
husband and father in law did to me, she would be completely broken and I feared that she would commit suicide like my mother did. Sharanya Di was selfless and innocent woman, never she would tell us that she's upset or in pain, always smiling to us, she's different from Anjali Di. Anjali Di is stronger and extrovert, and always voice out her feelings or thoughts. For Sharanya Di, her life meant
her husband and her unborn child, she was so happy with them that I feared at that time to snatch
that happiness from her.. yes, I should have told her everything but at that time I was helpless.. I
didn't had power.. I was only Arnav who was in his own world and was clueless about this cunning people.." he said.

"I understand.. it's your sister's happiness and her baby life that was at stake.." Khushi said caressing his hand.

"Then, one later week I got engaged with Meera. It was worst situation in my life, Shashi was
controlling me every time and I had to stay with Meera every time acting like I was in love with her, I couldn't even get angry on Meera because if she cried or stay upset and Shashi found out about it, then he and his wife would do something wrong with Di.. our marriage preparations started, and Di gave birth to her baby daughter, Aashi.." Arnav said and paused to look at Khushi's expression.

Khushi widened her eyes and her mouth was in big "O" shape.

"I know.. it's shocking!.. Aashi isn't my daughter, but my niece.." Arnav said with a small smile at
Khushi's expression.

"I'm so confused now.. Aashi isn't your daughter.. how's that possible?.. I .. can't believe this.." Khushi said holding her head with her hands.

Arnav chuckled, "It's not that complicated story, listen to the full story first.."

Khushi nodded letting him continue, then she would ask him as many questions that were running on her mind now.

"So, where I was?.. Haan, Di gave birth to her daughter, and two days later was my marriage with
Meera.. I asked them to give time at least for Sharanya Di to recover from her weakness and stay with
Aashi who had just two days of life.. but no, he started threatening me and getting insecure that I would leave Meera.. on the day of our marriage, everything ended.." said Arnav with moist eyes, as he
remembered the tragic past.

Flashback..

Arnav came outside his mansion, looking handsome with white and gold sherwani, but with an expressionless face. After all, he wasn't groom by his choice, he was being tied forcefully to someone he doesn't have feelings for.

As he was about to enter in the car, his eyes landed on a crowd on the way, people with worried faces and shouting for help, it seemed like an accident.

"What happened?" he asked to the driver.

"I don't know sir, seem like a lady met with an accident.." the driver shrugged.

"Okay, then go and bring her here.. we'll take her to hospital.." Arnav said, as he saw people calling for help but no one offered to the woman laid on the road with blood oozing out from her forehead.

"Sir, Shashi sir ordered me to take you from here directly to Mandir.. he asked me not to stop or hear your request on the way.." the driver looked down.

"Just go to hell.." Arnav shouted angrily, he got out of the car and went to crowd to help the lady.

He moved aside the people from his way, and gasped shocked seeing the lady's face, who was none other than his sister, Sharanya.

"Diiiiiiiiiii" Arnav shouted and knelt down, "Diii .. wake up.. Diiii.. what happened?.. Wake up Diiiiii..please.." he placed her head on his lap.

Sharanya opened her eyes slowly and weakly, hearing his voice. She smiled with her half opened eyes, staring at Arnav.

"I..ca..me..to you.. only.." she said, cupping his face. Arnav cried, and let her stain his cheeks with blood.

"Let's go to hospital.. don't close your eyes Di.. talk to me.." he said worriedly, and tried to lift her.

But she refused, "Ar..nav.. listen ..to me.. It's very..late.."

"Stop talking rubbish Di.." he shouted on her, and tried to lift her again but she didn't let him. She held his hand tightly, "Arnav.."

"What Di? I will not let anything happen to you.. are you listening to me? You can't give up.. you can't leave us, your baby.. Aashi.. think about her Di.. please, let me take you to hospital.. don't be stubborn.." he scolded her.

"That's why I came to you.. Arnav.. I don't.. have.. much time.. please.." she said crying, "Listen to me.. please Arnav.."

Arnav gulped, he didn't want his Di to leave him, "NO Dii.. please let's go to hospital.. you still have time... pleaseee.. don't do this to me.. don't leave me like mumma did.. please.. I love you a lot.. I can't lose you.."

She cried bitterly hearing him pleading like a child to her, but she could feel it, she will not survive and she needed to tell him that she knows everything and he doesn't have to sacrifice his happiness for her anymore. He doesn't need to marry Meera, because Shashi will not be able to threaten him anymore.

"Arnav I.. love .. you too my bacha.." she said smiling, through her tears, he buried his face on her belly crying more.

Sharanya closed her eyes, feeling so helpless to see him in his state, if only she could plead another chance to live and stay with him forever.

"I know.. everything.. how ..that disgusting man blackmailed.. you to marry.. Meera... and I want..to beat you so much for ..letting him.. make you suffer.. who..told .. you to make..sacrifices..for me ahn?.." she frowned.

Arnav looked at her, with shock written on his face.

"Haan.. I know it.. don't..marry her Bacha.. wait.. for.. your..dream girl.. Me and mumma..will be stars in the sky always watching over..you and Anjali.. if.. you marry Meera.. my.. soul will.. never rest.. in peace.." she said wiping Arnav's tears away.

"Di please don't talk like this.. I won't let anything happen to you.." he said kissing her forehead.

"One.. more thing.. Karan.. isn't what you think.. he is.. he doesn't love me Bacha.. he never..loved.. me.. he's not.. innocent and good man like he looks.. he's womanizer.. he married.. me.. only .. to take revenge.. because.. I reject him first.. it's all his acting.. he.. made.. me fall.. in love with him to destroy me.." she said crying.

Arnav was in shock now, he knew Karan would obey his father words always but he- always said he loves his sister, and now his sister is revealing another side of him.

"I just want to plead you one thing.. will you do it..for me?" she asked with hopeful tone.

"I'm ready to even sacrifice my life for you.. I'm ready to die in your place.. please Di.. just say it.." he said caressing her cheeks.

"Nahin.. don't even.. think to sacrifice your life.." she nodded sideways vigorously, "Arnav.. please make Aashi your daughter.. please.. take her away from Karan.. and his family.. they..will never..treat my baby well.. they..will.. kill her.. please..do anything in your hand.. but please.. be Aashi's father.. I don't want.. Aashi to know..about her..real father.. her father..is a monster.. I don't want.. his shadow near.. my daughter.. please.. protect my baby.. pleaseee Arnav.. don't leave Aashi... aur.." she pleaded him.

Arnav nodded crying, suddenly her body stopped reacting, her eyes closed. Arnav's heart skipped a beat, he patted her cheeks calling her softly, "Di..Di.. talk to me Di.."

Everyone looked at him with moist eyes, he kept patting her and shaking her body but no reaction from her side.

He shouted on top of his voice, crying like hell, "Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii noooooooooooooooo... aaahhhhhhhhhh.."

Flashback ends..

While on present, Arnav buried his face on Khushi's lap crying, and Khushi was also crying patting his back softly.

She wiped her tears quickly seeing him break down, she made him sit and wiped his tears, while he hugged her tightly.

"I lost my Di Khushi .." he said crying on her embrace.

"You can't cry now!! You're my strong chocolate na.." she caressed his hair, "Shh.. don't cry baba.. I can't see you like this.."

After sometime, Arnav calmed down, still he was hugging Khushi like a baby.

"You didn't marry Meera then.." she said to break the silence.

"Nahin, I told everyone that Shashi forced me to marry her using my Di. Meera got very angry and hurt with her father. She faced him later and both had a fight, to which she left her house and came to ours. She said to me that she left her parents, her house for me.. I told her clearly that I don't love her, and only accepted to marry her because of Shashi.. I was only acting when I used to spend time with her or say 'I love you' because I was being forced.. she got upset with this, and left in her car crying a lot. Later I just received a phone call, and got to know she had tried to commit suicide by falling off a cliff and was in coma.." Arnav said.

"That time the Arnav I was died.. I was only breathing, but I lost my will to live when Di died in front of my eyes and Meera tried to commit suicide because of me.. One side of me just wanted revenge from those responsible from my sister's death and other side lived with guilt for being the reason that someone was in between life and death.." he said.

Khushi felt bad hearing this, she was containing her tears after hearing his story.

"You're not at fault she tried to commit suicide because she was weak. She couldn't bear the fact you don't love her.." Khushi said.

"I know.. but I feel guilty.. I know the reason why she took this step is me.. I just pray she regain her conscious, and only then I will feel relieved.." he said breaking the hug.

"What did you do about Shashi?" Khushi asked.

"After taking AR to number one position in India, I was ten times more powerful than him, and only I could dominate him, so I made him sell his company and his mansion to me.. and asked him to send him and his son very far from my sight.. as I need to protect Aashi from them too.. and then I sent his wife to jail for ill-treating my sister during her marriage and the servants of that house were witness of that.." Arnav said.

"Why didn't you sent Shashi also to jail? He needed that, in fact more than that.. he and his son deserve hell only.." Khushi thought angrily.

"They are living hell right now Khushi.. because wealth, power and high status meant everything to both, and now leading a life struggling to even find the meal of a day.. is more than hell for them.." Arnav said.

"And Meera?" asked Khushi.

"Meera is in City hospital and I'm the one taking care of everything related to her.." Arnav said.

"You're using Meera's name as Aashi's mother?" Khushi asked raising her eyebrow.

"No! You remember I never told you about Aashi's mother, neither her name or anything about her.. that day you asked about Meera, and since you didn't know about anything that's why I said that she was my first wife.. but then I said, don't ask me anything.. because I never wanted to lie to you, but at that time I was really not prepared to share my past with you.." he said.

"I trust you.. do you?" he asked staring at the pool, now he could ask her this question which was more important for him than 'I love you'.

"I trust you too.." she said smiling faintly.

"I care for you.. I don't say or show it always, but you know I do.." he said.

"I also care for you.. and I will always say it and show it also.. but you never acknowledge it.." she pouted.

"I know you care for me.. Khushi.." he smiled, and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Acha?? Then don't come late from office from now on.. I don't like a bit to sleep without you in our room.." she said.

"I've better idea.. everday I will come late from office, I will ask driver to drop you at AR then you will stay with me.. I will romance my wife while working!" he teased.

Khushi giggled and slapped his arms softly, "Naughty chocolate.."

"Hmm.. I need you to live.. you know after di left me.. I closed the door of love in my life, I didn't want to be attached to anyone.. because now I get scared to lose that person.. I kept pushing you away, but you didn't give up na.. and you're so loveable, cute, innocent, pure, caring, you love my family like they are yours, selfless, strong.. you're one in a billion Khushi.. it's not easy to find someone with a golden heart like yours.. I've said this before.. that even if I wanted, I wouldn't be able to stay away from you.." he said, "I really need you in my life.."

Khushi stare at him with moist eyes and smile on her face, "I'm not that good.. don't praise me like this.."

"You're my baby.. even I fail to grab the right words to describe You!" he said nodding.

"I need you in my life too.. you know when Dadu told me that my parents abandoned me, I was very upset but then I always thought to be thankful to DM that my parents left me but I got Dadu, he's very special to me, I always thought my Dadu is my life, I need him only.. but after getting married you, I realized that not only him, you, our baby Aashi, our family are my life.." she said.

"Which position am I in your life?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"First position.. there's no one competing with you.." she giggled hugging him, he also hugged her back smiling, "But I should give you last one, you always keep fighting with me.. but my heart is stubborn, it's not hearing me.. it wants you in first only!"

"He didn't told you till yet, he has a new owner aka ASR.." Arnav asked. Khushi giggled, "Acha?You want to be owner of everything, even my heart.."

"Yes, especially your golden heart.." he said.

He stood up and helped her stand also, Khushi looked at him confused. She expected them, to reach the 'I love you' also, why is he torturing her?

"Arnav it's not fair..." she complained frowning, while Arnav signaled someone with his eyes to do his task.

"Shh.." he placed his finger on her lips, "Look there.." he pointed to the sky and she followed his gaze.

She smiled in glee seeing fireworks with heart shape bursting in the dark filled with stars sky.

Arnav hugged her from behind, and she leaned her back on his front, staring at sky smiling happily.

"I LOVE YOU KHUSHI KUMARI GUPTA SINGH RAIZADA.." he said huskily.

suna hai, suna hai..

ye rasm-e-wafa hai

jo dil pe nasha hai

wo pehli dafa hai

(I've heard, I've heard,

that this is the ritual of love.

the intoxication that is there on the heart,

it's for the first time.)

kabhi dard si, kabhi zard si

zindagi benaam thi

kaheen chahatein huin meherbaan

haath baRh ke thaamti...

(sometimes like a pain, sometimes sad,

my life was without an identity..

somewhere love became kind to me, coming up and holding my hand..)

Khushi looked at him, she was smiling still astonished that he really confessed he loves her!! This must be dream! Arnav also smiled staring at her.

"Thank you DM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My chocolate loves me also..." she jumped excitedly like a kid, who got a candy in hand.

Arnav rolled his eyes at her craziness.

She threw herself on his arms, "I LOVE YOU TOO MY CHOCOLATE BOY!!!"

"Arnav Singh Raizada is better Khushi.." he said wrapped his arms around her waist protectively, "Let me say like I want na.. we're not cracking deals here, but confessing our love to each other.." she complained pouting cutely.

"Okay fine!!" he said smiling, giving up of his baby wife!

"You remember you said first time we saw each other in our wedding night, that when you saw me fireworks burst in your heart.. hence I got this idea.."

Khushi smiled surprised, that he registered this on his mind till today. **************************************************************** Raizada mansion..
"Aashi.. come here.. play with aunty.." Meera said running behind Aashi, who was running away from her screaming.

"Nahin.." Aashi frowned, and ran to Nani's lap. Nani lifted her and made Aashi sit on her lap, Aashi was all scared of Meera's big nails, she buried her face on Nani's chest hiding from Meera.

"What's wrong baby??" Meera asked nearing her.

Nani wrapped her arms around Aashi as if protecting the little one, "It is said that babies recognize who has good or bad heart without any effort.. they judge better than we elders.."

Meera smiling, still confused: What are you trying to say Nani?

"You very well know Meera!" Nani said sarcastically, and took Aashi to her room. On the way, Aashi looked at Nani, "Where ale Mumma and Papa? Aashi is miching them.."

"They will come very soon baby.." Nani said. Aashi nodded, "Nani please call Mumma and Papa.. Aashi want to talk with them.."

Aashi pleaded so innocently that Nani couldn't deny, she closed the door of her room and called Arnav secretly.

"Nani.." Arnav replied, Nani smiled and put the phone on loudspeaker mode.

"Papaaaa.." Aashi squealed happily. Arnav smiled hearing her voice, he also put the phone on loudspeaker mode, for Khushi to hear.

"How's my baby??? You troubled Nani.. is she calling to complain??" he asked.

"Noo.. Aashi izzz good girly.. I didn't tlouble anyone.." she said smiling.

"Good.." he said.

"Aashi.. my baby.." Khushi snatched the phone from Arnav, "How are you? Did you eat?? Hmm.. did you watch your cartoons today?? Are you okay? Don't stay upset okay, Mumma will come back tomorrow okay?? Early in the morning, mumma will be with you.."

Aashi smiled happily, "I'm finey mumma.. I eat palatha with Anjali bua.."

"Acha!! I miss you so much.." Khushi said ready to cry now, she just wanted to hug Aashi tightly now.

"I also miched you mumma and papa a lottttt.." Aashi said, hugging Nani.

"Say good bye to mumma and papa now.." Nani said to Aashi, as she sensed someone coming to the room.

"Bye bye mumma and papa.. I loveeeeee youuuuuuuuuu" Aashi said kissing Nani's phone as if she's kissing her parents.

"Bye bye baby.. we love you too.." Arnav and Khushi said smiling. Arnav was hugging Khushi from behind, while Khushi kissed the phone same like Aashi did.