Cafeteria..

"After you end this ice cream, we are going to buy clothes for you.." he said and concentrated on his phone.

"Why? Arnav I said I don't need to.." she replied.


"I will pay it Khushi! You're doing so much for my family. Today Akash and Mama are bonding well. While Di is with Mami. Then you also did a plan to reunite Akash and Payal. You deserve something.." he said.

"Okay.. Thank you.." she smiled shyly, and she wonders why is she behaving like that.

"Tell me when you're done.." he said with a smile on his face.

"Oh DM. Did he just SMILE in front of me? Am I drunk or what?" Khushi looked at him with big eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you seeing ghost here?" he waved his fingers near her face.

"Tum.. You're ghost only.." Khushi eat her ice cream.

"You really decided that every bad thing in this world is me only.." he raised his one eyebrow.

"Hmm.. Nahin, if seen properly then you're that beast in that princess's movie..Beauty and the beast, outside a beast and inside a prince.." she said chirpily.

Arnav shook his head, and concentrated on checking his emails.

He has changed himself into a beast only, a man who doesn't show his sentiment or emotions to anyone. Who suffered alone, and never let anyone enter in his dark world, after his parents and Nani death. He totally disconnected himself from the normal things people like Khushi do in this world. He just kept his focus on getting famous and rich enough to sustain his family at such a young age. Now it's more than difficult to express himself for others, which he doubts they will ever understand him. Only SHE. Khushi is an exception, and he didn't want to admit that, but she is the one who he feels he can share and she will listen to him without judging him! What an irony. The girl he thought he would hate more than anyone in this world for snatching his rights and torturing his family, is now the girl who he feels comfortable with!

"Do people send emails to you all the time? Don't they have any other work to do?" she glanced curiously at his phone.

"That's their work!" he replied.

"I finished my ice cream. Shall we go now? I'm getting irritated by seeing you working in Sunday! Seriously you're like a Robot.. alcoholic to workaholic!!" she pouted taking her purse as she stood up.

"What the.. I'm not alcoholic, I just drink in parties.." Arnav shook his head, and both went from the cafeteria to other shops.

"But I hate that smell! You know I promised to DM that I will never marry a man who drinks and smokes, because it's urghhh.." Khushi clenched her fist irritated.

"Second wish fulfilled! I don't smoke.." he grinned "This shop is full of your kind of dresses.. Let's get in.."

Both entered in the shop.

"Choose.." he said placing his hands on his pockets looking around.

"Should I buy the shop itself?" she asked sarcastically.

"If you want.." he smirked.

"What do you mean by choose? First I don't even know what I want.." she pouted.

"You need help even to choose clothes for yourself Khushi?" he looked at her in disbelief.

"Yeah I need! Ma used to help me choose.. I become very confused when it's to choose something for myself.." she said embarrassed.

Arnav looked at the shop keeper, "Can you show me the best salwars you have?"

The man nodded: Sure sir..

Arnav: It should be simple like she is wearing now.

The man smiled and ordered his employees to pick up the best salwars they have for ASR's girl.

Flashback..

"Raj please help me choose! Which sari should I buy?" Ratna whined staring at her husband, who was busy talking over the phone with his business partners.

"Mumma?" a four years old Arnav asked his mother hugging her legs.

Ratna looked at Anjali playing with her toys with Akash running around the shop. Then she looked at Arnav picking him from the floor, "What happened to my baby?"

Little Arnav smiled and pointed with his fingers to a sari for his mother..

"Take that sari Mumma.." he said grabbing the sari with his little hands.

"Aww I will surely buy it now.." Ratna kissed his cheeks.

Raj returned to them, after speaking over the phone.

"Yes wifey. What do you want?" he smiled.

"Go now! My son already helped his mother to choose sari and I'm taking it" Ratna pouted looking away.

Arnav giggled at his father's sad face when his mother ignored him.

Raj hugged Ratna from behind, and Arnav looked at his father placing his chin on his mother's shoulder to see what is his father doing.

"I'm sorry Princess. I know you get confused when it comes to choose things for yourself and I let you alone in that. But my baby boy did his father's duty today.." Raj said caressing Arnav's hair.

Flashback ends..

Arnav clutched the salwar in his hands with moist eyes.

"Should I take this one?" Khushi asked him.

Arnav composed himself and turned to her, "Take this blue and white salwar, I think it will suit you .."

Khushi nodded: Ok! I will just try it and come to show you..

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

Akash approached Payal, staring at her, he smiled: Payal!

Payal and Rahul turned to him.

Payal smiled: Akash you! What a surprise, you hate shopping! What are you doing here?

Akash: Actually Khushi wanted us to enjoy Sunday, se we all came here! Only you were missing..

Payal noted the upset tone he used to share the last line with her.

"I'm not missing! I'm here with Rahul.." she faked a smile.

"Hi Rahul.." Akash side hugged him surprising Payal.

"So you want to join us? We just finished selecting new shirts for me! And now it's time for my Payuu to choose.." Rahul said and pinched Payal's cheek.

Akash plastered a smile on his face, even though he wanted to punch hard this man.

"Payal I want to talk with you.." Akash whispered to her.

"Later Akash.. Now I can't leave Rahul alone.." she said.

"Ok! I will wait for you.. Khushi is planning to watch a movie in evening time, will you come?" he asked.

Payal nodded: I will come!

Akash walked back to Mama, and Payal kept staring at him.

"I want to forgive you Akash! But the pain you gave me, a sorry isn't enough!" she thought with tears in her eyes.

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

Anjali handled the bags to Mami, "Please hold this mami! I will just come back"

Mami: But bitiya I'm already tired of walking, why don't you give it to Arnav bitwa to keep it in the car?

Anjali sighed: Mami please. Go and sit somewhere to rest..

Mami nodded sideways: What will I do alone? Didn't I told you to bring Khushi with us? At least now I would have stayed with her waiting for you to come back..

Anjali rolled her eyes: Okay then! Go and stay with Chote and Khushi..

Mami: Where will I find them now?

Anjali irritated: Mami they must be somewhere!

Mami: You want to go to your friends and leave me alone here! I don't know why I accepted your company, Khushi was a better one.. She wouldn't leave me alone like this!

Anjali: Acha! You're choosing Khushi over me now?

Mami pouted and left her bags on the floor, "Yes! She wouldn't abandon me like this.."

Mami went from there looking for someone to stay with her.

Anjali clenched her fist irritated, she picked the bags from the floor and hurriedly went to meet Shyam before Shyam goes to talk with Arnav.

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

"Arnav..." she whispered his name appearing in front of him.

"Beautiful.." she heard two different voices complimenting her.

One Arnav's and the other, she turned to see..

"Mami ji!" Khushi exclaimed.

Mami smiled sheepishly: Anjali bitiya left me..

Khushi and Arnav looked at each other with a suspicious look.

"Where did she go?" Arnav asked.

"I think she left me to meet her friends!" Mami whispered.

Arnav nodded knowing very well who did she went to meet.

"Who choose this salwar for you Khushi?" Mami teased her, seeing only the two in the shop.

"Arnav.." Khushi replied smiling, but staring at Mami smirking, the smile on her face faded as she remembered today's morning conversation with Mami.

"Mami is here Khushi. Choose what you want with her, then call me when you're done.." he said.

"Where are you going?" she asked not wanting him to go.

"Nowhere.. I'll sit here waiting for you both.." he said.

"Okay then.." Khushi nodded and called Mami to choose salwars with her.

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

"Shyam have you gone mad? Why did you come here? Do you want to tell the truth to my brother?" Anjali scolded him.

"Excuse me Anju! I came here with my family.. Look there they are! I just messaged you that we are in the same shopping! Nothing else, why are you worried? Anju are you hiding something from me?" he looked at her suspiciously.

"No! I was just scared that you would say everything to Chote.." Anjali hugged him tightly.

Shyam hugged her back confused, "Okay! But I won't tell him, because I want you to say it to him.."

"Chote can't see you here Shyam. Otherwise he will be angry with me.." Anjali said breaking the hug with him.

"Come on Anju! Now I won't stop enjoying with my family here because your brother will see me here.." Shyam rolled his eyes.

"You don't care for me!" Anjali frowned.

"What!.. I do care for you Anjali, it's you who never understands my side.." he said hurt.

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

Evening:

Arnav and his family entered in the cinema hall.

Khushi excitedly sat with popcorn and cold drink, Arnav bought for her, even though first he was denying because they were many people there and he didn't want to stand in the line, but it was quite easy for him, as everyone recognized him as ASR, and let him go first.

Everyone sat on their respective seats, prepared to watch a Salman's Tubelight movie.

Akash glanced at Payal, she blinked her eyes and moved out of the hall followed by him.

Mama smiled, Mami looked at him: Why are you smiling? Flirting with other women here?

Mama nodded sideways: When my Madhuri Dixit is here, why should I flirt with other women?

Arnav glanced at both, and uttered his favorite "What the..".

Khushi giggled: Arnav let them romance na! Why are you poking your nose in their matters?

Mami and Mama blushed profusely, and thanked God that the lights were switched off, otherwise they wouldn't be able to face Arnav, with his stern look now.

Arnav leaned on his seat, and stayed silent staring at the screen.

He snatched the cold drink from Khushi's hand, and put in his straw.

"Awww that's mine! Give it back Arnav.." Khushi started her fight with him.

"I'm thirsty Khushi.." he said, melting her heart.

"Acha drink it then.." she said staring at Salman dreamily.

"We will share it!" he pointed to the two straws.

Khushi blushed thinking about the movies she used to watch, when hero and heroine share their drinks and popcorn in cinema romantically.

"If you don't want, it's okay.." Arnav shrugged his shoulders hearing no response from her.

"No! I want.. I mean.. I want it, it's mine after all.. I should be asking you if you want to share or not, not you!" she pouted.

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

Inside the car..

"I miss you.." he whispered staring at Payal.

Payal smiled astonished, but then she had to be strong.

"Hmm.."

"Payal are you angry with me?" he tried to make her speak.

"That time also passed Akash.. Not I don't feel anything.." she looked into his eyes.

Akash looked down: Payal I know I give a lot of importance for my work.. You have to understand that it's to secure our future..

Payal: You called me here to explain why you ignored me for three years of our marriage?

Akash nodded sideways: Payal wait.. Don't go! I'm sorry Payal..

Payal smiled faintly: Let's think now I'm Akash, and you're Payal. We both got married, and in one year everything went well, for you, Payal.. I, Akash was the best husband one could ever get, everyday I used to wake you up with kisses, whenever you cooked for me I used to kiss your lovely hands, when my mother scolded you, and you stayed upset I used to take you outside to make you feel better, when at night you were washing plates in the kitchen, I used to come and help you, only then we both went to sleep together!! And many other sweets things I used to do for you! Now think, after one years, I stopped doing all that, I start giving my attention to my work, to earn more and secure our future and in all this, I completely forget I have a wife, you Payal.. Payal you started staying alone all day, I let my mother treat you as a slave, I let you wash plates alone at night, and didn't even bother to give at least one look or a good night to you, and just went to sleep like that, I started avoiding your phone calls purposely as if she doesn't matter to me, or she doesn't want anything important, when you get sick, I just say "Go to hospital!!" and go to my office normally as if nothing happened. Tell me Payal, doesn't it hurt? Doesn't it prick your heart being ignored by the man you thought is the best husband you have? What made him change so much? Why doesn't he give you attention anymore when you give your life to him? Why suddenly he starts thinking that you're irritating? Why Payal, why? What wrong did you do to him? Did you find any answer? Bolo!

Akash nodded sideways.

Payal: Exactly! I also didn't had any answer, I didn't saw my fault, but there was na Akash?

Somewhere I was at fault, otherwise why would change drastically like this?

Akash cried and pulled her into a tight hug, "No Payal, it wasn't your fault.. It's was only my fault.. I'm sorry Jaan.. I'm so sorry.. I made you suffer so much.. (he kissed Payal's forehead, she closed her eyes while tears started flowing from her eyes) I'm sorry.. I will change into your Akash again..

She pushed him gently, "I don't want you to say sorry for me, I want you to earn this sorry! It's easy to say sorry for a mistake you committed for three years.."

Akash nodded, "I will Payal.. I will earn this sorry.. But will I get a positive response for it? Will you come back to me?"

"Don't worry, if the sorry is from your heart and you still truly love me, no one will stop us from being one again!" she blinked her eyes.

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

Khushi gulped feeling ticklish on her neck, his hair was responsible for it because he was sleeping on with his head rested on her shoulder.

She stare at him, and with trembling hands started brushing softly his hair away from her neck.

" Aww.. it's so soft hair.." she thought, and brushed her cheeks on his hair, enjoying the ticklish feeling now, she smiled happily.

Mami cleared her throat teasing Khushi, as she saw Khushi playing with Arnav's hair, while he is peacefully sleeping snuggled to her.

Khushi sat straight with wide eyes then, and didn't dare to look at Mami, she only stared at the screen now.

"What's wrong with me?" she thought frowning.