Khushi cut her call and shut her eyes, letting the tears roll down her cheeks.

How could she have said that about her own family?

Swallowing tightly, she held her cell near her beating heart and breathed deeply to control her sobs. When she said family... she also meant her dear babuji (father).

The only man who made her feel at home.

How could she have said this about him? In Arnav's pain... was she turning like him? She closed her eyes for a brief second, fresh tears stinging her eyes as she recollected Arnav ruining her.

Sometimes a word was enough to destroy.

Was she that weak?

"Fine amma, but this is the last one!" Khushi snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Payal's voice from the living room.

"Arrey Khusi? What are you doing here, early in the morning? Where's your husband?" Garima welcomed her distraught daughter with questions instead of a glass of water.

"Uh..." Khushi fumbled for a reply while a suspicious Buaji (aunt; father's sister) leaned closer "Nandkisore (dear lord!)... you didn't run away from your house again, did you?"

Wasn't she even welcomed to her own home? Khushi cleared her throat and thought for an excuse when a heavily pregnant Payal got out, smiling at Khushi's arrival.

"Khushi! What a surprise!" Payal tried to hug Khushi, managing her 8 month baby bump. Khushi gently patted the growing child and smiled at her aunt and mother. "Arnavji sent me here. Since Jiji's (sister's) staying home for the last month, he said that I should be with her."

"Haye re Nandkisore... this Arnav babua (child) is as sweet as this Sankadevi's (mad goddess) jalebi. Well, to be honest, he does know how to pamper his sister, no wonder he sent you here. But where's babua?" Buaji gloated in praises and strained her neck to catch a glimpse of Arnav.

"Buaji, he had office, na! So he dropped me on the way, he had an important meeting and conveyed his apologies on not being able to stay for breakfast. Else you know, how much he loves your halwa puris (a sweet dish served with flatbread)." Khushi put on a fake giggle as her Buaji turned red in embarrassment of overfeeding Arnav.

"Khusi! God knows how your husband handles you! You haven't aged a year above nine." Garima fondly admonished and walked away while Khushi's smile remained glued on her face, her eyes telling a different story.

They never understood.

Gulping slightly, she turned aside to a disturbed Payal who smiled quickly and led Khushi inside. "I am glad you came! Agreed I am giving birth to twins but Khushi, please tell amma that there's no football team in my stomach that she serves me twelve people's food!" Payal whined while Khushi genuinely laughed.

"Who knows Jiji? At the rate you and Jiju (sister's husband) are going... very soon we might have our little Raizada team!" Khushi teased while Payal's eyes widened, and then lost their glimmer for a second. Coughing slightly, she twisted Khushi's ears "Sankadevi, who knows that once Jethji starts... then what will happen to our poor little sister! With the way he loves loving you... six kids are a minimum from your husband's end!"

A pang seeped in Khushi's heart as she thought of her children. Instead of happiness she found fear in her heart. What if Arnav refused Khushi to teach them - labelling her as brainless enough to not look after their kids.

"Khushi?" Payal asked while Khushi jumped out of her thoughts "Forget about my six, be prepared for your two now! What a scheme Jiji... one on one free!" Khushi squealed as Payal hobbled to give a tight slap to Khushi.

"Bitiya (sweet child)..." Babuji laughed slightly as Khushi bumped straight into him.

"Ee (this) toophani (tornado) express start! Madame tornado's one step and this house is full of madness!" Babuji chuckled as his sister groaned in the background. Having increased mobility with his hands, he pulled his younger one close to him and blessed her.

"Why did you come?" Khushi began to rant off her excuse when her Babuji placed his hand on hers and smiled sadly. Not knowing what to do, Khushi flung her arms around her Babuji.

Just like she had done when he had removed her from the mangled car, years ago.

He had understood, always.

And she had torn the relationship they had by labelling him as her uncle... not her father. How could she do that... at least for the sake of her father.

But she knew Arnav better.

Tucking her hair into a bun, Khushi turned around to find a shocked Garima. Khushi took a step back and looked aside hastily as tears rolled down Garima's cheeks. "You don't think I am your mother?"

Khushi looked up and tried to assure Garima, but found no words forming in her own head.

No, you aren't my mother.

Biting her lip, Khushi decided to fib when Garima wiped the corner of her eyes with the edge of her saree.

Anger, slap or a huge lecture of a fight - Khushi was prepared for all.

But when Garima held her hand with a startling gentleness and led her to the bed, making her sit like a little child... Khushi was dumbfounded.

"The truth is... I have never been your mother Khusi." Garima confessed and let the old age burden lift from her heart.

"No amma (maa)..." Khushi started but was stopped by Garima "I will never forgive myself for slapping you when you needed me the most, but the truth is I thought you had done the same mistake as me!"

Pausing to rethink her words, Garima continued "I was eighteen when Arvind came in my life. On the face he was better than Arnav, with saccharine words dripping off his mouth whenever we met. He charmed me to everything, I was a putty in his hands. And then I took one drastic decision... out of blind trust, faith and love, I... I gave myself to him."

Khushi gasped as she looked at a shamed Garima "Since I was pregnant, Arvind immediately wanted to marry me in a temple. But then I got to know that he had a wife, and two children. I was shattered and the heartbreak probably led to my difficult labour." Pausing to collect herself, Garima suppressed her sobs and looked at Khushi.

"The doctors told me my first baby was a stillborn and due to the difficult pregnancy, I couldn't bear a child again..."

"Amma!" Khuhi gasped, tears glistening in her own while her mother continued in a trance. "Later I got to know that he and his wife committed suicide... Khushi, when I saw you wedded with Arnav the only thing I thought was that how could you do the same mistake! I was disgusted with myself... and you." Garima stopped to wipe her tear, unable to look into Khushi's eyes.

"I knew you were infatuated with Arnav and that had scared me. That was the only reason why I pushed you with Shyam because even if Arnav changed his name into a Raizada, he was a Malik. These Maliks just play with lives and I feared that he would do the same to you, that's why I was happy when NK came round or Shyam wanted to marry you. But, your eyes never strayed from Arnav."

Oh amma, Arnav did play with my life. Khushi wished to say but she knew her mother's heart was too tender to bear that.

"I am sorry Khusi, I really am. Arnav turned out to be completely different and my selfishness and choi..."

"No amma, somethings are just fate! It's not like father like son. He's different... much different." Khushi strayed, looking into the distant. "Khusi, I never wanted to leave you alone." Garima whispered while Khushi, being the forgiving one, took her mother into her arms.

"I understand your fears amma, always have. Due to that stillborn you weren't fit to give Babuji a child of his own, right? That's why you favoured Payal jiji more so as to Babuji never found a mistake in you." Garima looked at Khushi, matured way beyond her years.

"Khu..."

"I understand amma." Khushi smiled while Garima cupped her cheek, tears rolling down her cheeks. Garima owed her past life to Khushi, she deserved to know. It would hurt Khushi on knowing but Garima had had enough of hiding her actions, even though she wasn't the best mother to Khushi, knowing that her past was about to ruin Khushi's marriage was a big shock.

"Thank you..." she whispered while Khushi nodded "But amma, please... please don't hide anything about Arnav's family from me. It would have made situations a lot more better."

Garima promised and left the minute Payal walked in, frowning at the teary woman.

"What's happening?" Payal asked while Khushi grinned "If I get emotional then even Shakespeare starts crying! Since I was missing amma, I was asking for our childhood memories and Amma turned into the infamous sentimental mother mode." Payal rolled her eyes while Garima took a deep breath, thanking Khushi for the cover up.

As Garima walked away, Shashi smiled at the maturity of his daughter to keep her continuous smiles - even if her mother's past pained her to no extent.

Yet, his heart stopped with fright as he caught the traces of sadness near Khushi's eyes.

How much has Arnav hurt her that the pain can't help but escape her act?

---

"Chote?" Arnav got up with a massive headache as Anjali, his sister, peered over him. A soft moan left his mouth as Anjali pressed his head gently, kneading the throbbing points.

"Khushi..." He struggled to get up, grabbing for her hand when his smile dimmed seeing his confused sister. "What have you done to yourself?" Anjali admonished and was taken aback as Arnav took Anjali into a fierce hug.

"Shush chote, I am here. What happened?" Panic threatened to break out but Anjali tried to keep her control. Running her hands soothingly into his hair, she waited for Arnav to calm down as he held her tightly, just like the day they lost their parents.

Arnav suddenly left his sister and moved back, giving a faint smile "Nothing Di, just..."

"Chote, either don't tell me or tell me the truth. Don't lie. I understand if you don't feel it's right to say anything." Anjali smiled and cupped her brother's stubbly cheeks, who looked at her in deep gratitude.

He turned away as Anjali brought a plate "Our butler said that you missed your breakfast. Now it's almost lunch... how can you be this careless chote? First your health could have been ruined! Second, Khushi would have eaten my head!"

"She won't care..." Arnav whispered, his heart breaking more and more.

It wasn't over... she didn't have to leave. Agreed he's imperfect, but they could have worked it out. Guess she didn't love him as much as she claimed.

"Of course she does! If Khushi had not call..."

"Khushi called?" Arnav whipped his head towards Anjali who gave him an obvious look. "You both fought and she left for Buaji's. This is the daily routine of Mr. and Mrs. Chote Raizada! Not only called but also text messaged me asking whether or not you ate. Now open your mouth!"

Too surprised to say anything, Arnav opened his mouth as Anjali stuffed a nice warm slice of pancake.

"What did she say?" Arnav asked between bites while Anjali shrugged her shoulders "The usual. Di don't worry, nothing happened. As usual there's a fight between your chote and me, so I am off to Buaji's. But please make sure he has something filling in his stomach as he might have missed breakfast. Lots of love, Khushi."

Anjali passed him a glass of water and tablets "Now it's enough Chote! You both have been married for almost a year and since day one you both are fighting like Tom and Jerry. Agreed I don't have much entertainment in the house but there's a good TV, I don't need you two!" Anjali giggled while Arnav stared at her with stony eyes.

"It's not funny." Anjali's smile vanished and she stared right back into his eyes.

"I know." Her voice sounded cold and detached.

"With Khushi's quivering voice, empty cupboard and your disastrous room - I know you both have done something wrong... terribly wrong. I may look blind but I am not." Anjali snapped while Arnav blinked a few times.

"Di I didn't mean to hurt you..." Arnav said softly while Anjali took a deep breath "I know chote, I just got upset and thought of distracting you. Anyways... What's the matter?" Arnav looked aside, fiddling with his thumbs as the past twenty four hours played in his mind.

"Am I bad Di?" Arnav looked up while Anjali smiled slightly and shook her head negatively.

"You are the best brother and son a man could ever have." Arnav relaxed against the bedrest. "But I don't know how you might be as a husband." Anjali's words caught his attention while Arnav looked on, hurt.

"No Chote, I do trust you of being the best man on this Earth but Shyam has taught me to not trust anyone blindly - not even myself." Anjali explained while a lost Arnav looked outside at a now destroyed garden.

On seeing Arnav's reluctance to answer anything, Anjali got up and began tidying his room. She would not involve herself in their matter, no matter what her heart said.

For once, Anjali felt anger bubble up at their parents... if only they had a properly married life. Anjali would have learnt to be confident of her relationships and Arnav would have been more temperamental, assuming that his temper had something to do with the fight.

"Di, I'll manage." Arnav stood up, slightly wobbling, but continuing to sort out his ruined room. Every broken piece chimed with Khushi, but for the sake of his sister he didn't let any pain reflect on his face.

It was over, probably.

"Bhai (brother)... woah, are you alright?" Akash stepped back, walking gingerly over the glass pieces. "Akash, what a pleasant surprise. When did you come?" Arnav asked, not realising that the dark circles and red rimmed eyes were a giveaway to his younger brother.

"Bhai, are you alright?" Akash placed a hand on Arnav's shoulder while Arnav flinched back. "Of course." Arnav swallowed, feeling the weight of Khushi's absence.

It took a minute for Akash to search for Khushi and realise that she wasn't there, and a storm had probably followed suit. Strange, even though the two brothers had married their respective wives out of love... neither of them ever seemed to attain peace.

Even a blind man would've recognized the signs of trouble in Arnav Khushi's marriage, and as far as Akash's own marriage was concerned - it had become a show marriage.

"Khushiji..."

"She left me." Akash was taken aback by Arnav's blunt answer, he wasn't a person to open up. Keeping the file aside, Akash tried to mask his shock.

Khushi leaving Arnav was impossible, even though the cracks were visible... Khushi would do anything to be tied to her husband. "Exactly!" Arnav replied, fidgeting with the end of his table as Akash voiced his doubts.

"We both love each other a lot Akash... but..." Arnav closed his eyes, hating at his inability to scream out his pain and feelings. Akash felt his own world spin on seeing his brother crumble right before his eyes. Arnav was Akash's pillar of strength, a role model and one of the few reasons why Akash still lived today.

If Arnav hadn't stepped in time when Akash had lost himself to bullying, depression and drugs... Akash would have been simply dead.

God, Arnav was Akash's God.

And Gods are perfect, always.

A helpless Akash looked at a surprisingly quiet Anjali who just sat next to her brother, rubbing his arm in soothing circles.

The value of silence was priceless.

"Bhai! This is impossible. Khushiji will come back... you don't worry bhai." Akash coaxed his brother while Arnav returned a weak smile. "It's over Akash."

Akash's eyes turned wild in panic. How can his God's world be in turmoil? Arnav always had attained perfection... if Arnav was destroyed by love then Akash would die, no matter what.

Anjali touched her cheeks marred by tears and lost herself to contemplation. She had lost the belief to fight in a marriage to make it work. So even if her brother would die without Khushi, all that Anjali could muster enough, was to just stand next to her brother.

A broken, weak and indecisive woman - Anjali... and for once, Anjali accepted who she was. Hiding her vulnerability under the innumerable prayers didn't make any further sense. She couldn't save her own marriage, how could she step in to save her Chote's relationship?

If on one end Anjali had decided to forego all hope and sit like a statue on getting to know her brother's heartbreak, Akash hyperventilated on seeing his idol crumble before his own eyes.

"This can't happen!" Arnav turned in surprise at the protest from Akash. "How can you be so sure?"

Akash jutted his arms forward "Of course! Unlike ours your marriage was based purely on infinite love... not bothering about rules or systems, just... just following your heart. Your marriage was everything our's wasn't. You have the perfect marriage bhai. From running away because all you wanted was have your love with you, safeguarding her from the world to marrying your wife the second time so as to she's accepted by all. Yours and Khushi's marriage was perfect, right from the start."

Arnav felt his heart break as Akash justified the farce of a marriage Arnav had in the beginning.

Yours and Khushi's marriage was perfect, right from the start.

The sentence sent a jolt of electricity up Arnav's spine. Their marriage was anything but perfect. Arnav's palms felt clammy, cold as the memories of dragging Khushi into the temple flashed before his eyes.

The reverence in Akash's eyes formed a lump in Arnav's throat.

Should he tell them?

"You... you don't know something..." Arnav started, his resolve faltering as his sister and brother looked at him in utter confusion - unaware of his misdeeds.

What's the use of hiding anyways....

Anjali felt her heart skip a beat in fear as Arnav almost shivered while passing them a file. The only time Arnav would feel afraid would be when he had done an unforgivable deed.

Tired. Exhausted. Fatigued.

Arnav couldn't take it anymore, he wanted to let out all his secrets open - no matter what the consequences were.

"Bhai, what's..." A pin drop silence followed as Akash read the documents in disbelief. Anjali had been too scared to even touch them. Her heart sank as Akash began to hyperventilate, his wheezing audible to a distraught Arnav.

Arnav looked up, scared to find his brother face a long lost panic attack. His brotherly instincts kicked in and in a flash he held up Akash, rubbing his back in soothing circles. "Akash, calm down. I know it's my mistake... I've screwed up with Khushi. But I'll make everything right, Akash BREATHE!" Anjali's hands trembled in fear as she passed a glass of water, the horrors of past playing before her eyes.

"AKASH!" Arnav's face twisted to pure terror as he ran towards a bleeding, limp Akash. "B..Bhai..." Akash croaked, his glasses broken and lips a pale blue. Holding a collapsing Akash in his hands, Arnav rushed to his car, placing a semi conscious Akash on Anjali's lap.

"Di, keep Akash conscious." Arnav said, his own hands shaking as he drove to the nearest hospital. "It's all fine Akash..." Anjali whispered and wiped Akash's sweaty forehead. Her heart stopped as a white liquid oozed out of Akash's mouth.

The moments were blurry, with Arnav screaming at the emergency wards and her staring at Akash's blood on her salwar kameez. A fierce Arnav broke down but held himself as he cared for Akash like his own child.

"Sir..." The Inspector walked in, a few hours later, along with the Doctor. "Details." Arnav spat out while the other two confirmed Arnav's suspicious on excessive bullying and drugs. Arnav closed his eyes and pressed his temples "Publicly shame each and every one of them - you know I don't take no as an answer. And within twenty four hours I not only want their future's destroyed... but also them behind the jails for as long as it takes. Am I clear?"

Even the ever forgiving Anjali didn't have it in her to argue for the fate of the bullies - they deserved it.

"Di..." Arnav whispered, asking for some privacy with Akash. "Of course Chote." She smiled, weakly, and headed off for the temple to pray for Akash's well being.

"Bb..." Akash breathed through the mask, staring at Arnav with all the hope he had. Arnav clasped his brother's hand and put on a brave smile "Tell me."

"Am I safe?" Akash cried as Arnav gripped his hand in an unending promise "Always little one, always."

"You'll protect me?" Akash rasped while Arnav felt his own tears falling "Till my end." Arnav promised while Akash relaxed on his bed, looking at Arnav.

"The drugs... am sorry..." "Shush, it's ok Akash, it really is." Arnav patted his head while Akash gave him a grateful smile. "Bhai..." Akash whispered, waiting as Arnav sat next to him, urging him to continue. "Help me build my life?" Arnav felt his own dam break and clasped his brother's hand tighter.

"Your life is mine Akash. You'll never see pain again."

"You promised."

Arnav looked up, taking the file away from Akash's hands while Akash looked straight into Arnav's guilty ones.

"Promised... yes, see I didn't mean to do all this with Khushi.." Arnav stopped as Akash ground his teeth and took Arnav's hand. "You promised to make MY life better!"

"I tr..."

"Liar!" Akash cried, standing up and pushing Arnav afar. "You promised my life was yours... you promised to protect me... HOW? By blackmailing the sister of the woman I love in marrying you for a scandalous six months? What after six months... and over that..."

Pausing to steady himself, Akash glared at Arnav "That one decision of yours RUINED my life! Maa kept on insulting Payal because she believed Khushi eloped with you. And I could do nothing to protect her! My Payal kept on getting hurt but I could not help her because I thought Maa was saying right! Khushi must have done something wrong... because Bhai is always right!"

Lunging towards Arnav, Akash pushed him further "Because Bhai wouldn't ruin my own wedding to elope with his lover, bhai has an important reason. My first night, to which Payal simply cried on my shoulder... honeymoon... every occassion of marital significance was ruined because of you but I never blamed you! Because you PROMISED! PROMISED TO MAKE MY LIFE BETTER!" Akash yelled as he threw away the glass of water.

Arnav felt himself shatter as Akash threw accusations at him. "No Akash! You're like my first son... I could..."

"NO! You do not put your son for bait... don't call me anything as your own. I don't even care what you did for Khushi... bhai... how could you use me? How could you legally force me to divorce Payal? Yes, I would leave Payal if you told me to not because I simply listen to you bhai... because I believed that you would do anything to make my life better."

Anjali stood horrified at the legal documents, her own faith crumbling as she looked at her Ch... Arnav. Was she so blind in her love for her brother that she never saw the terrible man he was growing into?

Wiping his tears furiously, Akash stared at Arnav and Anjali "Oh wait... everything was always for Di. I never counted... right? You promised me bhai... but you made me the scapegoat for your deal. You... you used me, took advantage of me."

Stopping himself, Akash turned away... unable to bear the emotions of a failure pour down on him. Payal's smiling face reflected before his eyes - the only person to have loved him for who he was. The one who never took advantage of his weaknesses, rather fell in love with him for them.

"I hate you bhai. You're just like them... strong, powerful and sickening." Akash snarled and stormed out of the room, his yells echoing off the walls.

"No Akash... no..." Arnav found himself croaking to himself as a distraught Anjali followed suit, leaving Arnav all alone.

He had just wanted to make sure... how difficult would it have been to have found the truth before taking any action? The intense pain in his heart broke the ever standing Arnav Singh Raizada as he slumped on his knees, crying hoarsely.

Feeling the blow of his actions hitting on him.

His emotionally abused wife left him, heartbroken.

The brother who worshipped him, titled him as the Satan.

For the sister he gave up his every happiness, turned away from him.

What had he done!