She is eating her food from the hands of the person who's sitting in front of her, feeding her, tears rolled down her eyes as she's happy that at least someone is worried for her, and that someone is the one who's the least assumption in her list, even though her heart knows that he's the only one in her list.

" Khushi, do you want to eat more?" Arnav asked after finishing feeding her.

Khushi nodded her head as no. Only if.. Alas!

They heard footsteps approaching them. Khushi became afraid.

"Arnav Ji, What if someone sees you? Go from here." Khushi started to push him away.

" Let them come, Kushi."

"No, Arnav-ji. Please go, " Khushi pleaded him, pushing him away.

" Khushi, Liste—"

"No. No. No. Go. Go from here. I'm a married woman, Arnav-ji. It's not good for me or you to be in the same room. Please go from here. Please... " Khushi cried pushing him away from her hysterically.

Yes, Arnav! She's right. They can misunderstand Khushi. They may get a chance to taunt her, again. They may mistreat her, again. Can you afford that? No! Not even in his dreams. What happened to his family all of a sudden? They can be at least cordial with Khushi, can't they? He thought.

He remembered how her family disowned her, calling her names and whatnot. He recalled how his family, his Aunt(mami), Grand Mother(Nani) blamed her, hurt her. He can't let them hurt Khushi again. She is too precious and good to get hurt without any fault of hers.

The Lover in him cannot afford to see his only love getting hurt. And for that, he can do anything.

"Okay, Khushi. I'm going. But, if you need anything, I'm there for you, as always." the last two words were completed in his mind which he couldn't voice out loud.

Khushi looked up at him only to counter affection, and something else maybe she can name it out as love only if she isn't in a situation to even hope for the love as an another man's wife.

She became emotional with his words, again.

How can the person who hurt her before, be the only person who is comforting her when she is getting hurt with the world around her?

But, she forgot that he is the only person who healed her after hurting her. He's the only one she found her medicine with. He's the only one she wished to comfort her, unknown to herself.

" Okay, " she whispered brokenly overwhelmed with the emotions.
Pain, betrayal, hurt, relief, happiness.

" And Promise me, you won't cry. I'll go then. " he extended his hand looking at her trying hard keep his tears at bay, not wanting to cry in front of her. Seeing tears of hurt and pain in her beautiful and innocent orbs, he can't stop himself from wetting his eyes. He has to control. Keep his tears at bay.

More tears rolled down from her hazelnuts, nevertheless, she extended her hand completing the promise. Praying hard to let her keep the promise successfully.

Arnav gave a small smile. He has to know the truth.

But, before going back to his room, he went towards the cupboard and took up the First Aid Kit. He came towards Khushi and looked at her burnt hand with pain. As if he is the one who burnt his hand. He took her hand in his, caressing the burnt area not touching her skin, a millimetre away from her skin, as if he touches her, it will pain more. He tended her burnt hand with care as if she is a glass doll. His hands were shivering while tending her with an ointment. As if..And he went outside, almost ran away after tending her, afraid of betrayal, betrayal of his tears.

Khushi who was overwhelmed with his affection, fell on her knees, crying at her fate. Nevertheless, she remembered the promise, the promise she's given him. She tried hard to control her tears, yet failed miserably.

Terrace, Raizada Mansion.

" What the hell? " NK screamed at Shyam Manohar Jha in pain, clutching his stomach as Jha has punched him on his gut.

Shyam is furious, he's going to hit him again when NK ducked his head, instead hit Shyam on his stomach for hurting him.

" What did you do? You told me, Khushi will be mine if I do as you say. Why the hell did you marry her? " Shyam screamed at NK as his already-red eyes turned more red in fury.

NK smirked at him.

" Jeeju, You should know that you shouldn't believe anyone and everyone. After all, you are a lawyer, Aren't you?" NK threw his words with a snort while Shyam is in utter disbelief.

" I called Khushi-ji to terrace just because you said that it was right and she will become—" NK cut him off before he could complete his sentence.

" You shouldn't have believed me, Jeeju. It's your foolishness. You should have figured out that I was acting. You are such a fool, Jeeju!" NK smiled at him, the smile one can call as evil.

" You called me a fool? How dare you? " Shyam Manohar Jha's ego is damaged being called as a fool by NandhKishore Malhotra, who's actually poor in Hindi.

"Whoa Jeeju, I really don't have to anything. You have proven yourself as a fool now. After all that what I've said, you just heard the fool part?" NK's tone was mocking as he said this.

" You—" Shyam was cut off by NK.

"Bye, for now, Jeeju. My Dear Wife must be waiting for me, "saying that NK went down without listening to what Shyam had to say. He used Shyam. And he's no more needed, at least for a few months.

NK's Room

Khushi is at the poolside thinking about the wrong turn her life has taken all of a sudden. She started being a happy-go-lucky after she was adopted traditionally, they have given her love enough for her to stay happy. Even though it was less when compared to the love they have given Payal, except her former father. Did she complain? Had she had any complaints with the fact? No! Because she knows that it was meant to be that way. At least, she got a home to stay. It was enough for her. She was never their blood. She was aware of the fact which is why she never expected more from them. She started being happy with the fact, accepting and embracing the bitter truth, she can't get her real parents in the near future. Never. So, she started smiling. After all, who would want to cry when there's a chance to smile, for herself. Her sake. Her health. Her everything.

But then, everything destroyed, her promise was broken, even though for her, her promise was never broken. But for the world, the promise is broken, just like many others. Just because of that promise and incident, she had to change her identity. Her age. Her everything. And when she started to live her life the way she has to, her life turned upside down by this incident. What's happening with her? Is she that bad?

" What did I do to deserve this, devimayya? Why? " she cried sitting on the floor, her head on her knees hugging herself as if it will help in hiding from the world. Her body shaking with the sobs. She has failed the promise, just like many others.

" Khushi! " she heard a whisper from beside her.

Khushi recognized the voice, and as soon as she did, she was shocked. Her eyes wide open, a teardrop fell from her hazelnuts. It must be her imagination. Nothing else. Her mind is playing games with her. Nothing else. How can -? She shook her head as if getting rid of the voice in her head.

" Khushi? " She turned to her left only to gasp in shock. How's this possible?

The figure sitting beside her held her hand, caressing it from time to time. The figure has a tear in its eyes.

" You are strong. You can fight. You will win. You are always a winner. Remember that. I'm there with you. Always, " the figure whispered with pain in its eyes while Khushi's were never dry. Her lips started quivering.

" Ar—", before she could complete her sentence, or call the figure out, it disappeared in thin air as if it was never there.

"Khushi Darling? " Khushi heard the voice. It was his voice. The voice she hated very much.

She turned towards him after wiping her tears away. She won't cry in front of that disgusting man. She is strong. She will fight, for herself. When she can smile when had just enough love in her life, why can't she fight for the same smile now? She'll find love. For that, she has to fight. She has to be strong. She remembered the figure and smiled at the scenario. After a lot of drama, this is the first time she smiled, her eyes twinkled.

" What? " Khushi spat at him with a straight face.

" Whoa... Being tigress? Are we? Well, don't even try, you'd fail miserably." NK sneered at her while Khushi turned her face away not wanting to look at his disgusting face.

" Oh! Don't turn away your face, dear. You have to see this face for the next six months. Be prepared to look at me, darling. " NK mocked her and went away to have his lunch, not caring for her. As if he did before. Fantastic Bloody Actor!

Dining Table
Night

Day in RM was not very peaceful. Fully filled with Drama and Fights. While some were disappointed, some were in pain, some were more than happy, some were in disbelief, while some were just angry. The day has dawned welcoming the moon to take the sun's place and fill the darkness with the chilly warmth it has gotten along with it. It's just didn't bought the warmth in someone's night.

Everyone is sitting around the Dining Table eating their food in silence, giving a perfect name to the house. Shantivan. Well, everyone was there is except Khushi, the newly wedded run-away-bride.

Arnav who was silent till now with the absence of Khushi in Lunch and now Dinner had enough. He got a perfect chance to question NK.

" NK, where is your wife? We haven't seen her from morning?" Arnav asked narrowing his gaze. A perfect chance to squeeze out the truth in his eyes.

"She's in our Room, ", NK said nonchalantly.

"NK, your wife hasn't eaten anything from Morning. Do you really love her?" Arnav asked NK who is sitting on his chair having his dinner.

NK stumbled for a minute.

" Yes, I do love her. She is just not hungry."

NK eyes blazed in rage, his fist curled tight with the fury without any change in his body language. Nobody but Arnav noticed the small change.

"Anyway, I'll go and feed my wife. I'm done, " saying so, NK left the dining room ordering HP to bring the food to his room.

Arnav curled his fist at NK's well-done-act. He's sure NK is not any good to Khushi. He has to get her out from the sham of a marriage.

NK's Room

" Khushi Darling? " came a maniac voice from the other side of the room while Khushi sat on the floor in darkness on the other side of the room.

NK switched on the light not getting any reply while he moved to the other side of the room. He saw his wife sitting on the floor with a red face. Before he can go to her, he heard a knock on the door.

He opened the door slightly so that no one can see the other side of the room. It was HP with food. NK took the food plate from outside and closed the door behind him after dismissing HP.

Khushi eyes fell on the food plate. NK put the plate on the table and went towards her. His eyes held fury and madness. The madness of what? Maybe time can tell.

Khushi stood up as soon as he stepped in her territory.

" Looks like your Lover-boy is very worried for you, dear. Why don't you eat food?" NK told her smiling sweetly.

Khushi went towards the food and started eating. NK is bewildered. He thought she will fight. But, she didn't. It didn't settle well with him. Before she can eat the morsel she made, NK pushed her hand away while Khushi flared at him for throwing the food from her hand.

" Don't you want to know who's that Lover-boy of yours? " NK snorted at Khushi as he twisted her arm.

" No. I don't want to know or hear about my Lover-boy with that disgusting mouth of yours, Bloody Bastard! " Khushi yelled at him, punching him on his ribs with her elbow freeing her other arm from his hold.

" You Bit*ch!! " NK screamed slapping her cheek.

A slap landed on her cheek. She tried to soothe her pain by rubbing her cheek when all of a sudden she sensed another hand which is going to leave its mark on her other cheek. Before it can touch her, she ducked her head twisting his hand for trying to hurt her.

To be continued...

Precap-

" Bloody Idiot! Rascal!! How dare you touch me? " she started fighting back with him.