Getting down his car, Arnav started looking for Mohan Kaka at the dhaba he had recommended the last time Khushi fainted.

Two hours ago, he had locked himself in his room, angry and agitated due to his heated argument with Anjali, and after calming himself down, his mind recalled the way he yelled at Mohan Kaka and he regretted for venting out his frustration and anger on Mohan Kaka during that moment.

He left his room and searched for Mohan Kaka in the servants' quarters, where he got information that Mohan Kaka wasn't inside the mansion. He had left. And the servants didn't know where he went.

And here he is looking for him in the places he remembers Mohan Kaka telling him about.

He looked around hastily, scanning the entire place through his restless eyes before he spotted Mohan Kaka sitting in a corner table alone. His eyes softened as he dragged his tranquillized self towards that table and sat on the bench opposite Mohan Kaka.

Mohan Kaka sat straight as soon as he realised Arnav's presence. He looked at Arnav, surprised, "Beta.. aap yahan? (You here?)"

"I guess we've exchanged roles now. You're behaving like me when I was 5. I yelled at you, and you came here to sulk in a corner," Arnav said, staring at him sternly.

"Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai beta (It's nothing like that). I came here to breathe fresh air and have my tea and snacks. I can never be upset or angry with you, beta. Who am I to even feel like that? A servant like me has no right to feel upset or offended by his Malik's scolding," Mohan Kaka said, his eyes lowered and a respectful low tone.

"It's ironic how you call me beta and malik in the same sentence."

The reflection of pain in his eyes made Mohan Kaka feel the necessity to explain the meaning behind his words, "It's true that I consider you as my son only. But I can't forget that you're my Malik's son. And that makes you my Malik, too. I'm here to serve you and Anjali bitiya as I did for your parents."

"I'm not here as your Malik. Can we stop this nonsense now?" Arnav asked with a frown, adorning his forehead.

Mohan Kaka nodded his head, looking down.

Arnav sighed as he struggled to find words to explain his feelings or express to Mohan Kaka that he was feeling guilty for yelling at him when he wasn't at fault, "Main gusse mein tha.. sorry. (I was angry)."

That's all he managed to express at the moment.

Mohan Kaka shook his head, "Don't do this beta. You don't need to apologise. I'm really not upset with you."

"Maine kaha na.. (I said right). I'm not here as your Malik, so let me say what I want as the person you consider as your son. That's if you really consider me as one," Arnav said, taunting him at the end.

Mohan Kaka's eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by his emotions. He extended his hands to reach Arnav's and held them in his firmly, "Of course, I look at you as my son. I've never treated you, Payal, and Anjali bitiya differently. You three are precious to me."

"Payal theek hai? (Is Payal fine?)" Arnav asked.

Mohan Kaka noticed how quick he was to change the topic when the conversation between them took an emotional turn. He nodded his head, "Yes, she's fine."

"Mujhse milne kyu nahi aayi voh? (Why didn't she come to meet me?)," Arnav asked.

Mohan Kaka gulped. He had plans to send his daughter to Arnav as she needed to thank him for  helping them financially during her marriage. But he was reluctant to send his daughter to meet him because of his changed behaviour ever since he returned from London. He didn't know how this Arnav would react. Hence, he decided not to mention his daughter until Arnav asked or showed any interest in talking to her.

"Whenever you've time, I'll ask her to come and meet you beta," Mohan Kaka said.

"Send her to my office tomorrow," Arnav said in his business man like tone, surprising Kaka how he manages to show his vulnerable side for few seconds and the next moment, he's back to his usual cold and emotionless demeanor.

Mohan Kaka nodded his head. As his mind alerted him about Arnav's dinner time, he asked, "Beta, you had dinner? Don't you want to eat something here?"

Arnav shook his head, "No. But I won't eat anything here. It's unhealthy and unhygienic. You should stop your habit of eating in these dhabas, too. Ghar pe ye chai aur snacks nahi bante jo yahan aa jate ho? (Don't they make tea and snacks at home that you need to come here for it?)"

Mohan Kaka smiled a little, "I don’t just come here to drink tea and snacks. We come here to breathe fresh air and socialize with other people, make new friends... and the affordable menu prices also help. That day you also eat here because of your friend, right?"

"Kaka, Khushi is not my friend. She's my personal assistant. She works for me," Arnav corrected him, narrowing his eyes at him.

"Then who is your friend?" Mohan Kaka asked curiously.

"Koi nahi (no one). I don't have friends," Arnav shrugged.

Mohan Kaka felt his heart ache, and he looked at Arnav with moist eyes, "Why don't you make new friends beta? We need friends in our lives to share our happiness with them. They can be our emotional support and help us during difficult situations in life."

"I don't need anyone," he replied in a cold, arrogant tone.

"We all need at least one friend beta. Why don't you make Khushi bitiya your friend? She talks a lot.. you won't have to worry about talking to your friend as she can speak for herself and on your behalf too," Mohan Kaka said jokingly, trying to lighten Arnav's mood.

Arnav shook his head with a half smile, playing on his lips. Just as he was looking at his surroundings, he came across a familiar face. His eyes instantly looked back at the table he had spotted the familiar face and confirmed it was indeed someone known to him.

"Speak of the chatterbox, and the chatterbox is here," he said, signalling Mohan Kaka to look behind him. Mohan Kaka followed his gaze and saw Khushi, and another man sat on a table with two meters distance from theirs. His smile widened as he shouted, "Khushi bitiya!"

Arnav shut his eyes momentarily before he whined, "Kaka, what are you doing? There's no need to call her here."

While on Khushi's table, she got alerted when she heard her name, Shyam also looked at her with an expression that confirmed someone indeed called her. So the two looked behind to check who called her.

"It's your boss there," Shyam told her. He only recognised Arnav as he didn't have a chance to meet Mohan Kaka yet.

Khushi's eyes twinkled, and she smiled brightly, surprised with his presence in the same place as she was. She waved her hand at them, shouting at Arnav, "Genie!"

Looking back at Shyam while giggling excitedly, "Main dono se milkar aati hu bhaiya (I will go meet them)."

Shyam nodded at her, and she went hopping like a small bunny towards Arnav and Mohan Kaka's table.

When she reached their table, she smiled mischievously as she cleared her throat dramatically, then raised her chin up, "Arz kiya hai."

Arnav and Mohan Kaka stare at her clueless, wondering what she was up to now.

"Arz kiya hai!" Khushi repeated, widening her eyes incredulously at them, waiting for them to encourage her to start her shayari.

Mohan Kaka raised his hand with a 'Go on' gesture as he said, "Irshad.. Irshad!"

"What the.." Arnav looked at Mohan Kaka in disbelief.

Khushi raised her phone near her lips and pretended it was her microphone as she gazed at Arnav, smiling brightly, "What the bolne wala tota.. ye shayari aapke liye hai.. (Parrot that speaks What the.. this poem is dedicated to you).

She started, "Tu mera hukum ka ikka.."

"Waah waah!" Mohan Kaka cheered for her while Arnav stared at her with a poker face.

"Tu mera hukum ka ikka..
tu hi meri cricket ka chhakka
(You are my ace of spades,
You are the six of my cricket)"

"Arey wah.."

"Main aladdin, tu mera jinn
main adhoora tere bin…
(I'm aladdin. You are my genie,
I'm incomplete without you.)"

She finished her shayari giggling and wiggling her brows, "Kaisa laga? (How did you like it?)

"Bakwas (nonsense)," Arnav caressed his temple as he looked at his phone down on the table, ignoring her completely.

"I was so excited and surprised to see you here. You know I was talking to my bhaiya about you, and then suddenly Mohan Kaka called me and I saw you.. I thought of this song and decided to dedicate -"

"Khushi, shut up," he looked up at her, frowning, his expression saying he was getting headache because of her non-stop talks. 

Khushi pouted, giving him an offended look before she turned to Mohan Kaka, "Kaka aap theek hai na?"

"Haan bitiya.. main bilkul theek hoon. Tum batao?" Mohan Kaka asked.

"I'm fine," Khushi replied, "I'll get going now.. my brother is waiting for me. It seems like someone is not happy with my presence, and I don't want to bother you two," she said aloud while glancing at him.

Even though he heard what she said, he didn't react to it as he shifted his attention to his phone.

"Don't mind him. Aaj uska mood accha nahi hai (His mood is off today)," Mohan Kaka said in a whisper tone to Khushi, but Arnav heard it and frowned at him, annoyed that Mohan Kaka was sharing this with Khushi.

Khushi's eyes softened towards him, and she asked worriedly, "What happened?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself while I go and give your brother company?" Mohan Kaka said as he hurriedly got up from his bench and escaped from to give time for Arnav and Khushi to interact with each other and become friends.

Khushi stood, still wondering if she should go to her brother or stay with him.

"Sit Khushi," his command startled her. She moved her eyes side to side with a growing surprised smile on her lips.

Khushi sat on the opposite bench to his, resting her folding arms on the top of the table. He still had his eyes fixed on his phone as he typed something fast, not giving attention to the person he invited to sit with him. She pouted and said with a demanding tone, "Meri taaraf dekho warna main ja rahi hu (Look at my side or else I'm going)."

She expected him to say "Go" in his usual sarcastic tone but got shocked when he obeyed her and raised his attractive yet intimidating dark chocolate eyes to meet hers.

Her facial expressions changed. She almost let out a gasp the way he looked at her as if his dark eyes were penetrating the deepest layer of her skin and reached her soul. The intensity of his gaze sent shivers down her spine, and it made her feel weak on her knees. Luckily, she was already sitting on a bench to support herself.

Ankhiyan Teri Mere Dil Pe Var Kare
(Your eyes attack my heart)
Teri Ye Ada Janiye Tujhe Na Pata
(Your style, darling, you don’t know)
Janiye Hai Aisa Nasha Janiye
(Darling, it is like intoxication)
Mere Dil Ko Paar Kare
(It hits me on my heart)

Arnav raised his one eyebrow questioningly.

"Uh.." Khushi gulped, feeling a little disoriented, "Voh.. yeah.. Kaka.. Mohan Kaka was saying you're not in a good mood. But if I ask you what happened, then you're not going to tell me," she raised her brows at him with a "I know you" look.

"I'm glad you know that," he smirked at her.

"Yes. It's only me who shares my personal problems with you. You never share anything with me."

"I never told or forced you to share anything with me," he shrugged.

Khushi forced a smile on her face, "Haan main hi pagal hu jo ek ajnabi se apni personal problems share karti hu (Yes, I'm the mad one who shares her personal problems with a stranger)."

"Did you have any doubt about this?" Arnav asked in a mocking tone. He enjoyed teasing her and watching her pouting and her defeated expression when she couldn't come up with a befitting reply to him.

Just like now, her jaws dropped in disbelief as he asked if she had any doubt that she's a mad girl, and then she looked away with her folded arms across her chest with a sulking pout on her face.

"Do you want to order anything?" Arnav asked. This time, his tone softened as he asked her casually what she wanted to eat or drink in this dhaba.

Khushi's eyes grew wide in astonishment. This khadoos was actually being sweet to her and asking her what she wanted to order. Unfortunately, she had her brother as her company tonight, and she couldn't abandon him to sit here with Arnav for a long time.

"Nahi.. voh.. bhaiya is waiting for me," she replied apologetically while pointing to the table behind to show him that she was with her brother.

Arnav nodded his head at her.

"Main chalti hu fir (I'll get going then)," Khushi said as she got up from her seat.

"See you tomorrow."

Khushi nodded her head, "Bye Arnav ji. See you tomorrow."

The way she called him Arnav Ji seemed so different. It brought within him a feeling of belonging, as if someone considered him as their loved one.

He watched her leaving with a heavy heart. Maybe he should have told her about what happened that turned his mood off. But he just doesn't know how to share his feelings with others. It has been years since he actually had someone he trusted to share his feelings with. Now, he prefers to deal with his problems on his own without anyone's help. He didn't even share with Mohan Kaka what exactly happened between him and Anjali. He's used to bottling up his emotions now.

Khushi, too, dragged herself with a heavy heart back to her table. This is the first time he took an initiative and talked to her normally. She didn't want to leave him like this. Maybe if she stayed a little longer, he would have opened up to her.

She reached her table, and Mohan Kaka looked at her hopefully, "Did you talk to him, bitiya?"

Khushi nodded with a sad expression, "He spoke less, and he didn't even say what happened that spoiled his mood." 

"Even I don't know.. but the security guard said he was talking with Anjali bitiya, I don't know what they spoke that made him furious. He went straight to his room. I met him on the way, and he yelled at me. He just locked himself in his room. He didn't want to talk to anyone," Mohan Kaka explained worriedly.

"It looks like Anjali was on a mission to spoil everyone's mood today," Shyam sighed.

"Then it's something related to me only," Khushi concluded with a realisation tone, "I told him everything that Di is trying to convince me to give a second chance to Aman. Please wait a little more, bhaiya.. I need to talk to him."

"Khushi, if he doesn't talk, then why are you insisting? Do you want him to scold and yell at you here in public like he did with Kaka?" Shyam frowned slightly, disapprovingly.

"Because it's about me.."

Shyam cut her off with a stern tone, "No. You don't know if they fought because of you or not. It's just an assumption you're making."

Mohan Kaka wanted Khushi to go and talk to Arnav but didn't dare to say anything as her brother already denied and he had more rights on her than anyone else. He got up from his seat, "Main chalta hu.. Arnav beta must be waiting for me."

Shyam softened his features as he looked at Kaka with a polite smile and stood up to hug Kaka, "It was nice meeting you, Kaka. Hope we meet again on another occasion."

Mohan Kaka reciprocated the hug, patting Shyam's back gently. Then he looked at Khushi and patted her head gently, "Bye bitiya."

"Bye, Kaka," Khushi said with a sad smile as she watched him walk towards Arnav's table.

"Let's go. I paid the bill already," Shyam said, holding Khushi's hand and dragging her with him out of the dhaba.

Mohan Kaka also reached the table and looked at Arnav, "Let's go back home beta. It's getting late, and you didn't even have your dinner and meds yet."

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

While Arnav was driving back home, he noticed Khushi and her brother walking on the sidewalk.

He stopped the car near them and said while he pushed the button on his side to put down the window, "Tell them to get in.. I'll drop them at home."

Kaka nodded as he turned to Khushi and Shyam and shouted, calling them, "Khushi bitiya come.. Arnav beta will drop you two home."

Shyam and Khushi halted their steps. Shyam looked at Khushi and gestured her to deny the offer. Khushi looked ahead at Kaka, "Thank you, but it's not necessary, Kaka.. we'll be able to get home on foot. It's not too far."

"Maine kaha na I'll drop you.. get in the car now," Arnav said with a commanding tone, staring at her impatiently.

Khushi glanced at her brother hesitantly, "Chalein bhaiya? If he's insisting.. then.. we should go with them.."

Shyam had to give in to the pressure. He nodded his head, "Let's go."

They got inside the car. Arnav drove to their house. The journey towards Khushi's house wasn't filled with an awkward silence thanks to Khushi, who kept them entertained with her talks regarding Tiger 3, her favourite actot Salman Khan's new movie that she cannot wait for the weekend to watch it.

Arnav heard her share stories of her favourite actor in silence, while Shyam and Mohan Kaka commented on a few things every now and then to keep the conversation going.

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

When they reached Khushi's house, Shyam and Khushi got down the car. Shyam was the first one to bid goodbye to them, and he said thank you to Arnav for dropping them home.

Arnav responded with an acknowledging nod. Then Shyam went upstairs, and Khushi stayed back. She approached Arnav near his window and looked at him with pleading eyes, "May I have a few minutes of your time, Arnav ji?"

Arnav gazed intently at her before signalling her to move aside as he wanted to open the door of his car to get down. Her  way of addressing him as Arnav Ji was doing unexplainable things to him.

Once he was out of his car, he stood near her and waited for her to speak.

Khushi fidgeted his fingers nervously before speaking with less confidence in her tone, "Actually.. I don't know.. I may be wrong, but I guess you had an argument with Di because of what I told you earlier in the morning about her asking me to give Aman a second chance and how it affected me."

Arnav stared at her with a poker face, neither confirming nor denying her assumption.

"Kuch toh bolo! (Say something)," Khushi huffed, "I feel like I'm interacting with a mummy when I'm talking to you."

"Why should I say anything? It's you who wanted a few minutes of my time, not me. So use the time I'm giving you in my life  wisely," he shrugged, folding his arms across his chest.

Khushi resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his words. She continued speaking what she had in her mind genuinely, "I just want to say that I don't want you and Di to fight because of me. Don't be angry with each other. This is my and Aman's matter. I've already moved on, and I'll continue my efforts to stay firm on my decision no matter what others around me say or think I did something wrong by breaking my engagement. I just don't want you and Di to spoil your relationship because of me. You have already spent a lot of time in your lives apart from each other. I don't want you to be arguing now, I want you to be friends with each other, be each other's strength, and have a strong and beautiful sibling bond."

"Aur kuch? (Anything else?)," he asked.

Khushi shook her head in disbelief, wondering how this man managed to keep a straight face in every situation.

"Haan.. thank you for dropping us home," she added, teasing him, knowing he never responds to her thank you's.

"Let's go... I'll walk you to the door of your house," he said, putting his hands on his pants pocket as he gestured her to walk ahead and he followed her.

Mohan Kaka watched their retreating figures with a faint smile playing on his lips, "Khushi bitiya is the only person that manages to bring out this side of him. He behaves a little differently when he's around her."

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

When Arnav walked Khushi to the door of her house and she rang the doorbell, he said, "Don't think too much about me and Di.. I know what I'm doing."

Khushi blinked her eyes lids, surprised. So, the battery of this robot is finally working. He decided to speak now.

She looked at his side and opened her mouth to speak, but at the same time, Shyam opened the door for her.

"Good night!" That's the last words she heard from him as he turned to walk away.

She ran towards him and came to stand in front of him, blocking his way on the corridor of her floor, "Rukiye! (Wait)."

Shyam, who watched the scene silently standing at the door of their house, was confused with his sister antics. He wondered why she ran back to her boss, who was leaving already.

"If you wish someone good night, then you should wait for them to wish you back and not turn to leave like you did without letting me speak," Khushi said in a scolding tone, as if she was teaching manners to a five year old kid.

Arnav stared at her, amused, "Oh okay.. I didn't know that. Dead body jo hoon na.. ek mummy ko manners aur etiquettes ka kya pata hoga (after all, I'm a dead body.. a mummy wouldn't know about manners and etiquettes)."

Khushi laughed heartily, clapping her hands, "Tussi bade mazakiya ho (You're very funny)."

Arnav smirked, "If you don't wish me a good night now, when I go down, I'll find Mohan Kaka snoring in the car."

Khushi giggled, "Okay, bye.. Good night.  Now you can go!" she moved aside, extended her hand, allowing him to go.

When Arnav left, she walked to her brother with shock written all over her face, "Did you see that bhaiya? He was joking and talking normally with me."

"I don't know what you see in him, Khushi. I still agree with Anjali.. he always sound arrogant and full of himself," Shyam shook his head as he gestured to her to walk inside their home, "Didn't you hear what Mohan Kaka said? He yelled at him when he was angry with Anjali. It means he vented out his anger on an elder man with no fault of his."

Khushi face fell for a second before she found a way to defend Arnav again, "Yes, he's wrong. But then he was with Kaka there na.. I'm sure he was there to apologise for his deeds only. He is not someone to frequent dhabas. He was there for Mohan Kaka only."

"Khushi!" Shyam looked at her in disbelief, "We'll talk about this tomorrow, okay? Now I'm tired.. tomorrow is work day too!"

"This is the second time you're meeting him, and because you all are used to looking at him as if he's a movie villain, you forgot to thank him for giving us opportunity to get our parents home back," Khushi pouted sadly.

Shyam shut his eyes momentarily, hitting his forehead, "Oh yes.. why didn't you remind me then?"

"Let it be.. no one cares for his good deeds anyway. You all only know how to point fingers at him and forget how he sent away from his family and his home when he was a little kid. We don't even know how much he suffered or what he hides from us, still we always jump to judge him," Khushi said, upset.

"Good night, bhaiya!" she said in a low disappointed tone, as she left straight to her room, not wanting to talk anymore.

Shyam stood there feeling guilty that he didn't express his gratitude to Arnav for what he did for them. It was something he had in mind, but he ended up forgetting that moment. Now, his baby sister is also upset with him.

He went to his room thinking that tomorrow he needed to do something to pacify her.