Tired of waiting for an available rickshaw, Khushi sighed as she turned to go and sit on a bench near a tea stall to take a rest for a while. When she reached the tea stall, she was surprised to find Mohan Kaka sitting alone there, having his tea and snacks.

She smiled, sitting beside him, "Mohan Kaka.. Namaste! Aap kaise hain? (How are you?)"

Mohan Kaka turned his face away as if conveying that he didn't want to talk to her.

"What happened, Kaka?" Khushi looked at him confused.

"I'm upset with you," he replied.

"Why?" Khushi asked with a soft guilty tone, "What did I do to upset you? I really don't remember anything I could have possibly done to hurt you.. but I must have done something as nowadays I keep making mistakes after mistakes. I'm sorry if I did or said anything unintentionally, and it made you upset with me."

"Arey, don't take me seriously, bitiya. It's nothing serious," Mohan Kaka regretted making this girl feel sad and guilty even after knowing how her life turned upside down recently. 

"Really?" Khushi asked, still not satisfied.

"Haan sach mein (yes, it's true). It's just that I didn't like you called my Arnav beta a Rakshas.. isliye.. (that's why)," Mohan Kaka explained.

"Oh. So you can't hear a word against your Arnav beta?" Khushi asked with a realisation smile.

Mohan Kaka nodded his head innocently.

Khushi held her ears, "I'm sorry for calling him Rakshas then."

Mohan Kaka shook his head vigorously while gesturing her not to apologise by holding her ears, "It's okay, bitiya. You don't need to say sorry. I just wanted people to  know that he is not perfect, but he's not a monster either. I felt bad when Anjali bitiya agreed with you and called him a Rakshas. This means everyone thinks the worst of him. But he's not a bad person. I just wish I could go back in time and stay with him when he was sent abroad by his parents to a boarding school. How I wish I was there for that little boy when he was abandoned by his own parents. He was crying so much that day.. he didn't want to leave me.. he begged his parents to let him stay.. to forgive him.. he fainted in front of us.. still, it didn't melt his father's heart.. he was hell-bent on sending Arnav to a boarding school.. poor boy.. I couldn't sleep that night crying for him. I still remember that day when he was taken away from me... he went far away from me, his home, his family. His parents killed the lively, caring, and innocent boy he was. Now he looks so lifeless, he doesn't take care of his health and diet, he doesn't talk much with anyone, he doesn't have friends, he only keeps working every time."

Khushi had tears in her eyes listening to Mohan Kaka, who sounded so disturbed and helpless while sharing about his Arnav beta with her.

"But why did his parents do this cruelty with him? Why was only he forced to join a boarding school abroad and not Di?" Khushi asked.

"He was sent to boarding school under the pretext of being an unruly child who should be punished and send off to a boarding school to learn discipline. But the truth is that his father wanted to send Arnav beta away from us because he wanted to train Arnav beta to become a businessman like him. He believed Arnav beta should receive different treatment than Anjali bitiya as he's a boy. He shouldn't be treated with love and care, and we shouldn't pamper him a lot. He believed it's not good for boys to become emotionally attached and dependent on their families, so they should live far from family and become independent on their own. He didn't want Arnav beta to become a sensitive, loving type of person. He wanted Arnav beta to be like him, a cold, ruthless, fearless, sharp minded businessman. That's how he thinks a man should be like. On the other hand, as a daughter, Anjali bitiya was loved and pampered by him. He always smiled whenever she was around. He gave her everything she wanted. She was treated like a princess by her Arvind Malik, unlike Arnav beta," Mohan Kaka replied.

"Stupid, heartless man.. he destroyed his own son's life by imposing his ideologies on him," Khushi expressed her indignation, gritting her teeth and furrowing her brows.  She was already imagining herself punching that man hard on his face.

"Wahi toh,"

"But Kaka.. I understand Arnav sir's situation, but if they always treated Di like a princess, then why does she feel no one cares for her in that family now?" Khushi asked, confused, as from her perspective, these two siblings suffered the same way with their parents. But now, Mohan Kaka was telling a different story in which she got to know Anjali was more privileged than Arnav.

"Things changed for Anjali bitiya when she expressed her wish to follow her passion and become a professional photographer. Her parents weren't happy with her decision. That's when things started to get bitter between them. Though her father allowed her to take photography courses, he also ordered her to study BA so she could take over AR and work there as her main occupation and pursue photography as her hobby. But Anjali bitiya never had plans to join AR. She straightly denied working in AR, and her father also didn't give her permission to pursue photography as her profession," Mohan Kaka explained.

"Yes, she told me her parents didn't allow her to follow her passion in photography," Khushi nodded sadly.

She looked at Mohan Kaka, genuinely regretting the way she judged Arnav and called him a Rakshas without even knowing his past and the way it hurt his loved ones like Mohan Kaka to hear these things said about Arnav when he was witness to how much Arnav suffered as a child. She was feeling guilty as her parent's story taught her a valuable life lesson that she promised never to forget in her life. She promised herself never to judge a book by its cover, but she did with Arnav. Aman's company and words also influenced her to think like him.

"I'm genuinely sorry, Kaka. I know I thought bad of him. And I know how much it hurts to hear someone else say awful things about your family. But trust me, I think even I'm starting to look at your Arnav beta from your perspective. I decided not to call him Rakshas even before we met. I gave him another nickname, Mr. Cold Light. Because he comes in life like a light at the end of the tunnel but behaves coldly with me. Ek jugnu (firefly) hai voh, they emit cold light and only active in a dark cold night!" Khushi said.

Mohan Kaka chuckled at the meaning of the nickname she gave to Arnav, "Mr. Cold Light is okay. Rakshas no."

Khushi smiled a little, then she said, "And don't worry about Di. If it's because of me, she started to think her brother is a monster, then I'll clear it out. It was genuinely not my intention to make her think wrong of her brother. I would never want to influence someone against their own brother."

"I know. You're a sweet and good-hearted girl," Mohan Kaka blinked, his eyes assuring her that he wasn't blaming her anymore. He patted her head affectionately and looked at her sadly, "It's sad that your engagement broke. It's always good people who suffer a lot in this life." 

"Aiyoo Kaka.. don't think like that. It's sad that I was in a relationship with a man who didn't trust nor respect me, aggressive and manipulative. And it's not sad that I broke off our engagement. It's Devi Maiya and my parents who opened my eyes before it was too late. You know, I believe they sent your Arnav beta to me yesterday to clarify my doubts and make me confident about my decision," Khushi said, not wanting Mohan Kaka to feel pity of her because of her broken engagement.

"Accha.. I thought you were upset over your broken engagement," Mohan Kaka said.

Khushi shook her head with a small weak smile, "It was destined to happen."

Mohan Kaka thought to divert her mind from this topic, "You know, yesterday, Arnav beta took me to see that guest house. He really liked that house, and he wanted to gift me. I didn't want to accept it as I'm just a mere servant. I can't accept expensive huge gifts from my employers. But he insisted. He wanted to gift me that house, he doesn't say it.. but I know that he wants to fulfil the promise he made to me when he was just 5 years old. He was so cute boy then, he used to say to me.. Kaka, when I grow up one day.. I will buy one beautiful house for you with a beautiful garden.. and then you will take me to your house to play with you. But when he got to know that house belonged to your late parents. He said to me that the house might be a house to others, but for you, it's a home filled with memories of your family. He asked me to wait till he finds another house to gift me because he can't snatch that house from you."

Khushi was emotionally overwhelmed that she found it difficult to express her feelings in word at that moment. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. At the same time, her heart ached when she thought he must have felt the same pain when he was forced to leave his home to shift to another unknown place to him, that's why he didn't buy her house from Mr.Sinha to gift Mohan Kaka.

"Arey.. I shared this with you to cheer you up, and you're crying, bitiya. Please don't cry. I'm sorry.. I didn't want to make you cry," Mohan Kaka said guiltily.

Khushi shook her head, gesturing that she wasn't hurt or offended by anything he said. She wiped away her tears, whispering to him that she was fine. She just got emotional when she listened to what Arnav did for her.

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

Sometime later..

The rickshaw driver stopped by Raizada Mansion to drop Mohan Kaka first, then he would drive to Khushi's house.

Mohan Kaka and Khushi got down the rickshaw. When he wanted to pay the far for the ride, Khushi stopped him and insisted that she would pay for it.

"You paid for my tea. Now let me pay for this!"

Mohan Kaka sighed in defeat, smiling at her. He patted her cheek affectionately saying goodbye to her.

She smiled at him and waved her hands as she watched him enter through the main gate. She couldn't help but stand there for a few more minutes, admiring the huge classy modern-style mansion in front of her.

"Wow.. it's such a huge and beautiful house," she thought, staring in awe at the breathtaking sight she was presented to. Her admiring session was short-lived when her eyes fell on Arnav, who was walking out of the gate.

She closed her half-open mouth and immediately straightened up, disoriented for a moment because she didn't know whether to get into the rickshaw and run away or wait for him as he came towards her with a confused look, she could see him from a far even in the darkness, because that deep frown is always adorned on his forehead.

She decided to wait for him only, as she adjusted her bag on her shoulder and stood there awkwardly till he reached closer.

"What are you doing here, Miss Gupta?" he asked, frowning at her.

"Voh.. I met Mohan Kaka in a tea stall while I was waiting for an available rickshaw, we talked for a while, and then we called a rickshaw to take us home. I was just leaving when you came," Khushi explained.

"So you didn't find an available rickshaw even after leaving in a hurry and not wanting to waste time to read the contract?" Arnav asking in a mocking tone.

Khushi glared at him, "You really enjoy mocking and taunting me every time, right?"

Arnav didn't like her tone a little bit and audacity to misbehave with him. It seems like he's being too lenient with her, and she's taking him for granted now.

He took a step ahead closer to her, with only a few centimetres of distance between their faces, "Khushi, behave yourself," he said husky tone. It sounded even more intimidating since he called her with her first name for the first time.

Her breath hitched with their sudden proximity. She was nervous, and it reflected with the way she stammered while asking,
"Kyu behave karu main? (Why should I behave?). You're not my boss, and I'm not your PA now. So you can't scold me for speaking my mind now."

Arnav was stunned for a few seconds with her guts. Still, he was quick to school his features into his usual cold and serious facial expression before she caught him off guard.

"Yeah, right. Then I don't talk with strangers after office hours," he rolled his eyes and turned to leave, but her words made him halt on his steps.

"Let me remind you that you spoke with this stranger only yesterday night after office hours, and you made a deal with her, too," Khushi teased him. She won't let this man taste victory this soon.

He turned to face her again, smirking, "You're actually right. I shouldn't be signing deals with strangers. You can give me back the contract since you've not signed the documents yet."

"Nahin!" Khushi clutched her bag immediately, hiding it behind her back, walking backwards to get in her rickshaw behind her while shouting for him to hear,  "Accha.. fine.. I'm sorry.. I was just teasing you.. I didn't know you would take it seriously." 

Arnav shook his head and turned to walk to his car parked outside. The driver was already waiting for him.

"Suniye (Listen)," he heard her voice again and rolled his eyes as he turned back again with 'What do you want now?' Look.

Khushi came running to him, giggling, "Voh mujhe pata hai aap ne meri baat ko seriously nahi liya (I know you didn't take it seriously). You're a man of your word. And I also know you don't like it when I say thank you to you. But.. I just wanted to say.. dil se thank you.. I will never forget what you did for me in this life.. and I'll never be able to repay you also.. I know I've nothing that I can possibly help you with, but I promise if I ever need any help or support, you can always count on me, okay?"

Arnav looked away, feeling a lump in his throat. He wasn't used to letting people come this close to him and have this kind of conversation with him. He never had to count on anyone for emotional support in his life. He's used to dealing with his problems on his own now.

But he was late to hide his expressions, Khushi noticed the gloominess and uneasiness in his eyes. She felt her heart ache again and strong urge to take him in her arms and protect him from this cruel word, to ease the pain he hid from everyone and struggled to deal with this unbearable pain for years alone.

Khushi was now starting to understand him better and not to make him uncomfortable. She said, "Accha main chalti hu (I'll get going). Tomorrow, I'll be your PA again, so you better think properly if you have anything to say to me as Khushi, not your PA. It may be possible that you won't meet me as Khushi often in your life. Soch lo (Think about it)."

Khushi raised her brows, smiling at him.

"I don't need to think about it. Because right now, due to your lack of professionalism, there's no difference between my PA and Khushi," he glanced back at her, smirking. His tone wasn't laced with his usual sarcasm he used to talk with her. This time, he was actually teasing her.

"Training chal rahi hai na meri (my training is going on, right).. very soon, you will see me as a strictly professional and highly competent PA," Khushi spoke with her head held high.

"It might be possible that instead of training you, it's Miss Singhania who gets trained to become like you. But you won't change," Arnav shook his head, confident on his claim.

"Haww," Khushi's mouth opened in O shape, "We will see that," she glared at him challengingly.

"Bye Khushi.. it's getting late. Go home, bye!" he gestured her to go back to her rickshaw waiting for her.

Khushi pouted, slightly realising he was in a hurry to send her away, "Bye! It was not so nice to meet you, Arnav!"

She turned her back to him and rushed back to her rickshaw.

And it was the second time in a day, Miss Gupta.. no, this time, like she said, it was Khushi who brought a smile on his face.

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

Anjali was waiting for Aman, who planned to meet her in a restaurant. She was scrolling on her phone when he reached and took his seat on the opposite chair to hers, "Hi Anjali. Thank you so much for coming here to my request. And I'm extremely sorry for being late due to the heavy traffic on my way."

"It's okay. No problem," Anjali blinked her eyes, "Do you want to place your order now?"

"No, I'm not really hungry. I don't even feel like eating after what happened," he replied with a sad look.

Anjali nodded, "I understand. It's not an easy situation to deal with."

"And this is why I wanted to meet you. I need your help to get back together with Khushi," Aman said desperately.

"Aman, you already know this is her decision. What can I possibly do to help you now?" Anjali said with a tone that implied she couldn't help him now.

"Anjali, please trust me. I really love her. And I'm really guilty and ashamed of my deeds. I didn't want to lose control and speak nonsense to her in the heat of the moment. But I ended up doing exactly that, and I lost her. One mistake of mine and I lost her forever. See how God is being cruel with me, punishing me severely for hurting the girl I most love in this world. Do you really think I deserve this, Anjali? Do you really think this is how our story should end?" he asked, choking on his words.

"I really wanted to see you two together, but.."

"Then please help me, Di. We both know Khushi still loves me. She's upset with me, and rightly so. But it's like she's giving me death punishment by ending our relationship like this. I don't see any future without her. Please help me.. you're my last hope," he begged, crying in front of her. He was doing his best to convince Khushi's best friend to be on his side to help him.

"Okay, okay, fine. I'll help you, please, sambhalo apne aap ko Aman (pull yourself together)," Anjali said, pressing his hand firmly in a consoling manner, as she quickly ordered a bottle of water for him.

"Tell me.. how can I help you and Khushi to reunite?" Anjali asked once she noticed he calmed down.

"It's going to take time because I need to gain Khushi's trust back. I just need you to keep reminding her of me, of everything I used to do with her, of the moments we spent together for now. And as we keep progressing in the plan, I'll keep telling you what your role is in it," Aman explained.

Anjali nodded her head, "Okay."

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

Thank you so much for your response to this story. I'm really happy and grateful that you're enjoying the story so far. This update is dedicated to everyone who voted and commented on this story ❤️❤️🙏🙏.