Khushi blushed as he slid the ring in her ring finger. All clapped for them. Arnav couldn't take his eyes off her. She was looking stunning in that green and red half Saree. Arnav didn't fail to notice the tear falling from the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it before anyone could notice. He took her palm in his.

"They don't deserve your tears." He said. He knew that she was missing the Guptas. The same Gupta's who didn't think before throwing her out of their house. Why should she cry for them? Payal gave the ring to Khushi. Khushi slid it on his finger. They shared an eye lock.

"Ahem! Ahem! Seems like they are lost in each other" Anjali teased them, "Khushiji, you have your whole lifetime to adore my brother" Khushi blushed more.

"So Khushi Kumari Gupta knows to blush, too?" He whispered. Her cheeks were tomato red, she was blushing like hell.

"Hello hi bye bye, if you are done with blushing, shall we continue the rituals?" Mami said.

The ring ceremony ended well. It was time for Khushi and Payal to Go to their home. Payal was the only one who had supported Khushi so far. She broke her ties with the Gupta family for her baby sister, and settled with Khushi. In this meanwhile, Arnav had bought a flat under Khushi's name. It was his gift for his would-be wife. Until they both get married, Khushi was ordered to stay in that flat along with Payal.

"Khushi, I will drop you and Payal." Arnav offered, looking at the time. It was 10.30pm.

"Bhai, why don't you and Khushiji go together? I will drop Payalji." Mami frowned listening to Akash. Arnav smirked. From the time Payal had entered their life, Akash was falling for her. Arnav had realized that. Anjali cleared her throat.

"Hello hi bye bye, is there any offer like 'choti ke saath badi free'?" Mami whispered, mama heard that.

"Manorama, will you stop?" He said .

"Akashji, its OK, we will manage" Payal said.

"Arey why? Akash is offering you, you shouldn't reject! And it's very late to catch an auto or taxi. Now Chhote got a good reason to spend some time with Khushiji" Anjali winked. Payal agreed.

*

In the car,

"So, finally we are engaged." said Arnav. There was some kind of glow in his face. He looked at Khushi.

"Why do you want to marry me?" Khushi asked. The topic was getting serious now. Arnav frowned.

"I mean, are you marrying me because I am carrying your baby or-" She stopped. He understood what she meant. He concentrated on the road. She somewhere expected him to say those three magical words. Did he really love her?

"Yes, baby is one of the reason, but I really want to marry you." Arnav said, "I think you are the best partner for me."

How unromantic Laad Governor! Khushi murmured under her breath.

"Khushi.." he parked the car aside, " I want to tell you something". Khushi's heart started beating faster than usual. Maybe the time has come. Maybe he will tell her those magical words and his feelings for her.

"Say Arnavji" She looked into his eyes.

"Did you take your medicines?" he asked. Her smile vanished. She sighed.

Khushi, you are a fool. Why do you think this Laad Governor will tell "I love you"? She thought.

"Yes Arnavji, I took my medicines." She said a bit angrily. Arnav chuckled. He loved to tease her. Khushi looked at the other side angrily.

Laad Governor! She murmured.

He touched her chin and made her look at him. Once she looked at him, he took her palm in his.

"Khushi I want you to know my past before you marry me." Khushi gave a confused look. Her heart beat started increasing. Khushi waited for him.

"My mom committed suicide when I was 14." He gulped his throat. Khushi's eyes became moist. Arnav was feeling terrible while continuing. "After maa committed suicide, my dad shot himself." Now this was another shock for Khushi. Her tears weren't stopping. She didn't know that he had so much pain within him.

"And the reason for this was my dad's extra marital affair with another woman. He was married, he had two kids yet he had another relationship. My mom couldn't bear his betrayal."

Khushi cupped his face. She tried to say something but Arnav stopped her.
"I didn't want the same to happen to our baby. I didn't want my ego to destroy our baby's future." Khushi frowned. Arnav looked at her, he understood what she felt.

"No I am not marrying you just for the sake of our baby. I am marrying you because...'' Khushi waited, "..because I love you Khushi. And I can't stay without you." He shut his eyes while he said that. Khushi's tears didn't stop. Khushi hugged him in no second.

"I love you too Arnavji" she said. Arnav hugged her back.

*

Khushi's hand was placed above Arnav's hand while the Pandit was enchanting the mantras. Arnav looked at her. Dressed in a white and red Saree she looked beautiful. He took a pinch of crimson and filled her partition, Khushi shut her eyes. He tied the mangalsutra around her neck. Arnav and Khushi were asked to get up and take the seven vows to seal their forever promises. Arnav looked at a tired Khushi. After all she would be tired. Arnav made her sit on a chair and asked Aakash to get some water. Making Khusgi drink water, Arnav cupped her face.

"Are you fine?" He asked her softly. Khushi nodded her head. After some time she got up.

Arshi took elders' blessings. Arnav and Khushi looked at each other. Their eyes were speaking. The Gupta's, except Payal were not invited. They had hurt Khushi and Arnav would never forgive them.

*
Anjali encircled the thaal around the newly married couple and welcomed them. Khushi finished all the rituals of entering the house.

"Khushiji there's one more ritual left" Khushi was surprised. She was tired by now. Now which ritual was left.

"Anjali bitiya leave it, Chhote can't do it." Nani said.

"What the! I can't do it?" Arnav asked.

"What can't he do?" Asked Khushi curiously.

"Aakash u are right, Chhote ke bas ki baat nahi hai, now Khushiji is even carrying his baby." The couple was highly curious now.

"Di, don't beat around the bush" Arnav said with a serious look.

"Chhote you have to pick your wife and take her till your room" said Anjali, "But I don't think u can do that" Anjali teased.

"Just because she has a gained a bit of weight doesn't mean that I can't pick her up" Arnav said.

"Arnavji can you do it?" Khushi asked. Arnav gave an "unbelievable" look. Arnav picked her in his arms, and took her till his room. All giggled, they had fun time teasing him. Arnav dropped her carefully on the bed and asked, "so could I?" Khushi nodded her head. He slowly brought his lips closer to hers, and pecked her.  Both were breathing heavily. Arnav broke the kiss when he remembered that she was tired.

"You should sleep." he said cupping her face.

Khushi parted her lips to say something while he placed his finger on her lips. "You need to rest" he said. Khushi nodded her head. She smiled. Finally she and Arnav were married. She got her love. He slid beside her and covered the blanket over them.

*

After a few months,

"Hawwww" Khushi said shocked. Arnav who was working on his laptop, immediately looked at her to see what happened. She was standing on the weighing scale. Arnav signed. Nothing serious.

"Khushi why did you scream?" Arnav asked curiously.

"Arnavji I gained more weight. Already I am so fat and upon that I look so ugly." Khushi said.

"You don't look ugly, and don't you dare call my baby's mother ugly." Arnav said. Arnav went towards her, she was looking at the mirror.

Women! Too conscious about their looks and figure! Arnav wondered.

Arnav hugged her from behind.

"Khushi you are in your ninth month, so obviously your belly would show." He tried to calm her. He had to handle her like a baby nowadays, she had so many mood swings that it was difficult for him to understand when her mood would change.

"I guess you are rig.." Khushi stopped when she started feeling some pain. "Aah.." She started screaming. Arnav got worried.

"Khushi what happened?" Arnav asked. Khushi held her tummy and started screaming. Hearing her scream all the family members came there.

"I guess she got in to labor" Nani said. Arnav and Aakash took Khushi till the car. The rest followed them. They drove to the hospital.

Arnav was standing outside the room, all tensed. He was walking here and there. He could hear her loud screams. She was screaming terribly. After a few seconds, she stopped screaming and they could hear the sound of the baby crying. A smile appeared on everyone's face. Arnav was the happiest person. All congratulated Arnav.

The doctor came out.

"Congratulations! It's a girl." he said and went.

The whole family went inside to see Khushi. Khushi was looking at the cradle in which her baby was sleeping. She had a smile on her face. The nurse handed the baby to Nani. All touched the baby.

"Hello hi bye bye! She is a complete xerox of Arnav bitua"

"Yeah Mami look at her eyes, just like Chhote's"

"And her lips are also like bhai"

"But her nose is like Khushi's" said Payal.

Arshi smiled. Nani handed the baby to Arnav. Arnav slowly picked his baby and kissed her forehead. She was just like a princess.

"Congrats Payalji aap mausi ban Gaye" said Akash.

"Congrats to you too. You became chacha" she said.

Shyam cleared his throat. The rest pressed their lips. Payash were blushing.

"Baby don't you think, it would be better if mausi becomes chachi. Its high time now" said Khushi excitedly.

"Hello hi bye bye, I was waiting from so many months for Aakash to tell about Payal, but looks like he wants to take sanyas"

"Maa do you like Payal? I thought you wouldn't agree." Akash asked astonished.

"For me nothing is more important than your happiness."

Aakash hugged his mom. Payal hugged Khushi. All congratulated them too. All left the room giving Arshi some privacy.

"Thank you Khushi for giving me such a beautiful princess" Arnav kissed her forehead. She smiled.

He handed the baby to her. She picked it carefully and kissed her baby. It held her finger. The baby was looking everywhere.

"She is so cute." said Khushi, "Our family seems so complete with her." Khushi said while cuddling her baby.

"Yes, she has brought happiness in our life. She is the one who made me realize my love." Arnav said looking at his baby.

"Our princess" they said together.

***********
The end

Our first collaboration has received lot of good responses. We had a wonderful time drafting Raabta. Hope you all enjoyed the story. Thank you for your support till the end. We are glad that you all liked this story. Thank you for the votes and comments. 

With loads of love,
Kid_Katt