Khushi strode inside the office to find it empty and dark. Fighting her fear of darkness, Khushi walked up the stairs to Arnav's cabin but she found the cabin empty.

Hey Devi Maiyaa, where is Arnav-ji?

Khushi hurried her steps towards the parking lot getting reminded of Ramesh-ji saying if not seeing Arnav-ji's driving out.

Please let him be there.

Khushi walkes into the parking area and sighed in relief. The lights of the parking lot set her fear for darkness aside. She walked a few steps towards where Arnav usually parked his car.

Khushi saw Arnav's white SUV still parked and walked hastily towards the car only to gasp in shock as she saw Arnav sunk to the ground with his back supported against the car's door.

"Arnav-ji" Khushi screamed looking at Arnav's condition. All her anger and frustration laid forgotten in front of a weak Arnav.

Khushi knelt beside him and cupped his face, "Arnav-ji? Arnav-ji, open your eyes, please."

Khushi pleaded Arnav to open his eyes but he seemed to be too weak to listen to her.

"Please open your eyes, Arnav-ji. You are scaring me." Tears flowed down her eyes, seeing Arnav not responding to her.

Khushi rummaged through her purse and got hold of a chocolate. Unwrapping it, Khushi made Arnav open his mouth and pushed it inside his mouth.

"Arnav-ji, please open your eyes." Khushi pleaded in a defeated voice.

Khushi wanted to go and call Ramesh but she did not want to leave Arnav alone in this condition. His weak demeanor scared the hell out of her.

Arnav chewed onto the chocolate and managed to, subconsciously, open his eyes. He looked at Khushi and smiled sadly at her.

"Khu-shi!" Arnav tried to speak but his voice came out as a whisper.

Khushi's head jerked up to see Arnav trying to open his eyes.

"Yes, yes, Arnav-ji, please open your eyes." Khushi encouraged Arnav but stopped short as she felt his palm over her face, wiping off her tears.

"I swear Khushi, I did not know you were pregnant. Please trust me. I can never be like my father. I will never abandon my child." Arnav whispered in a defeated tone making Khushi's heart cry in pain.

"Arn-"

"Please trust me Khushi. I did not know you are pregnant with my baby." Arnav said in a feeble voice. His eyes shed tears of pain.

Khushi cried seeing Arnav in such a condition.

Khushi did not know what to do. It was raining heavily outside and Raizada Mansion was far away from AR.

Deciding to take Arnav to her house, Khushi tried pulling up a weak Arnav but to no avail.

Laad Governor! He is weak yet so strong. Argh! Get up, Laad Governor!

"Arnav-ji, please try getting up. We need to get out of here, please." Khushi said still trying to pull him up.

Arnav, who had gained back his conscious, got on his feet and tried walking only to stumble a little after a few steps. Khushi wound Arnav's right arm around her neck and supported his back by her left arm.

Arnav looked at Khushi. Khushi looked back at his eyes filled with regret, apology and admiration.

Khushi passed him an encouraging smile and blinked her eyes at him as if assuring him that she was there with him, right beside him.

Khushi helped Arnav walk till the gate and tried stopping an auto. Arnav suggested Ramesh take the car and drop them to their respective homes. But the furious rain indicated the opposite and hence, Ramesh dropped Khushi and Arnav to Khushi's house and then parking the car, he left for his own house by Arnav's permission.

Khushi's guided Arnav inside her house while Arnav looked around the house. It was a small house with only one room and a small attached kitchen.

Khushi who looked at Arnav misunderstood his scrunched eyes as disgust and said, "I am sorry but you will have to adjust in my house for this night."

Arnav looked at Khushi shocked. He knew she had misunderstood him and before he could explain her, she was already on her way calling.

"Hello, Shyam Jiju? Arnav-ji is with me. He had low sugar so he had fainted in the parking lot."

"..."

"Don't worry, jiju. It's raining heavily outside so I took him to my house. You should go back to Shantivan."

"..."

"Jiju, I'll take care of him. Bye."

Khushi dropped the call and then informed the same to Anjali, relieving Anjali of her worries for her Chhote.

Arnav kept looking at Khushi all the while. Khushi felt a strong gaze at her back and turned around to see Arnav looking at her intently. Khushi could fins something in his eyes, the same something which she had witnessed in Arnav's eyes in Nainital. But she hated having her hopes high.

Khushi walked towards her small closet and brought a towel along with her. Handing it to Arnav, she said, "I am going to change. Till then dry yourself up. I don't have anything that you could change into."

Arnav felt hurt when Khushi didnot look at him but somewhere he realized that he deserved that.

Arnav saw Khushi walk into the washroom with her spare clothes and then he busied himself in drying his hair and the clothes.

Recalling something, Arnav started looking around the low table placed in front of him. Khushi found Arnav messing the table and she asked, "What are doing, Mr. Raizada?"

"Khushi, where's my phone?" Arnav asked still looking for it.

"How am I supposed to know? You did not even pick anyone's call."

Arnav sighed dejectedly at Khushi's stern voice and asked slowly, "Can I get your mobile? I need to make an urgent call."

"Laad Governor, you were drenched in rain for god knows how long. You worried everyone unnecessarily and yet all you can think of is of your urgent work." Khushi scolded angrily while Arnav gaped at her.

"Khushi, I need to call the security and ask them to get ready with CCTV footage of my cabin tomorrow morning. I need to know who had dared to send you that message on my behalf." Arnav gritted his teeth and vowed to himself to not spare the person who dared to pull such a cheap stunt.

Khushi kept looking at Arnav in his eyes and tried searching for his lie but found none.

But then who would dare to message from 'the' ASR's phone?

Khushi mused but shrugging away the thought, Khushi walked into the kitchen and started preparing some food for them.

Arnav walked behind her into the kitchen and looked at her boiling potatoes and cutting onion.

Snatching the knife from Khushi's hand, Arnav pointed towards the chair and said, "Go and sit there. I will cook."

"Excuse me? Are you ordering me?" Khushi asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I am." Arnav answered and continued, "You are pregnant and yet you show your braveness of walking in heavy rain till the office. What had you thought before stepping out of the house?"

Khushi turned her face away from Arnav's, not answering his question.

"Do you even know how risky it is to get out in the rain and that too in this condition? What if you get an infection, dammit?" Arnav asked raising his voice by a notch.

Khushi knew Arnav was right but he did not have the right to scold her for not caring for her baby. She cared and that's why the baby is still living inside her.

"Who are you to care about me and my baby, Mr. Raizada? 'til I remember, that night at Nainital was a mistake for you and so everything related to that night is a mistake too. So why are you caring so much about a mistake, huh?" Khushi asked sarcastically.

Arnav's anger raised and he grabbed Khushi by her shoulders. Bringing her close to him, he gritted, "Don't you ever dare call our child as a mistake." Placing a hand over her flat stomach, he continued, "This is my baby, our baby and no it is not a mistake."

Khushi's eyes blurred with tears as she whispered, "But you said that it was a mistake."

Arnav's eyes softened and he hated himself knowing his words had hurt her to a large extent.

Wiping the tears from below his eyes, Arnav said, "I am sorry."

Khushi looked at him with her eyes turned wide. She was shocked as he apologized to her, for the second time.

Khushi gulped as he continued, "I am sorry, Khushi. It was my mistake. I shouldn't have said those words. I didn't mean them. That night - that night was just as special to me as it was for you."

"Then why did you tell me that it was a mistake?" Khushi asked innocently unable to believe that the special night was special for Arnav too.

"I wasn't able to accept it, Khushi. I wasn't able to accept that even in drunken state, I took away your virginity. I knew how much you would have wished for your first time to be special. And I just couldn't believe that like every other time, I, once again, broke your trust and your dreams. I am sorry. Please forgive me." Arnav said, his eyes turning moist.

Khushi looked at him with her eyes shedding tears. She had never thought things from his point of view. She never had imagined that he would feel guilty for ruining her dream of having her first time in a decorated room with red and white rose petal scattered everywhere and scented candles illuminating every corner of the room.

Unable to control herself, Khushi wrapped her arms around Arnav's torso and hugged him tightly.

Arnav's arms wrapped around her pulling her closer. Khushi, willingly, snuggled into him in a desperate need of assurance and support.

They broke the hug satisfied that finally the misunderstanding between them was cleared.

Arnav gestured Khushi to sit on the chair when she spoke, "But I need to cook. I am hungry and you too would be hungry."

"Yea, I know. But I'll cook. You take rest." Arnav replied.

"What? You would cook? You? The great Arnav Singh Raizada? Do you even know how to cook?" Khushi asked surprisingly.

"Of course, I can cook. Why can't I know how to cook? I learnt cooking while I stayed in Boston." Arnav said as a matter of fact.

"What about your reputation? What will the media say when they'll get to know that you are cooking food and that too for m- I mean us." Khushi asked smirking playfully.

"So what if they know? I am cooking for my baby and my future wife." Arnav said shrugging his shoulders, shocking Khushi.

"What did you say?" Khushi asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.

"What?" Arnav turned to Khushi and saw her looking at him shocked.

"What happened?" Arnav asked bringing Khushi back from her thoughts.

"Did you just say future wife?" Asked Khushi wanting to confirm his words.

"Yes! I did." Arnav said feeling awkward at such a obvious question.

"Hey Devi Maiyaa! How could you say that? I mean, you are getting married in a few days. You are engaged to Lavanya-ji." Khushi shrieked.

"So you want me to marry Lavanya and abandon you and our baby?" Arnav asked raising his eyebrow. His eyes spat fire daring her to say a yes.

Khushi gulped seeing anger increasing inside him.

"But you-you love her." Khushi stuttered, her heart hurting as she realized that Arnav was going to be hers.

"What the! Who said that I love Lavanya?" Arnav asked shocked hearing Khushi.

Has his girl lost it? Who told her I love Lavanya?

"You are marrying her, so you love her." Khushi said.

"And from where did you learn this logic that marrying someone means you love that person?" Arnav asked trying to control himself from bursting at her stupid logics.

"For the first and the last time, I do not love Lavanya. And I am nit marrying her. We both would be getting married as soon as possible." Arnav declared and got back to cooking food.

Khushi sat on the chair digesting the fact she got to know. She was confused if she should be happy that Arnav was not marrying Lavanya or should she be sad that her best friend would not marry her love.

Why am I feeling satisfied? Shouldn't I be sad?

Khushi brushed away her thoughts, keeping in mind that she shouldn't stress much.

But her Laad Governor made her worried.

Khushi watched Arnav place the two plates on the low table and settled beside Khushi.

They both stayed silent and ate food. Khushi forwarded her hand asking him to give her his plate to wash. But Arnav snatched her plate and stood up saying, "Take rest!"

Khushi sat gaping at him. She never knew he could be this caring with someone other than Anjali-ji. But she loved his caring side.

After a few minutes, Arnav came towards Khushi and saw her making a bed on the ground.

"What are you doing, Khushi?" Asked Arnav confused.

"Arnav-ji, you sleep on the sofa and I'll sleep on the floor." Khushi said placing the pillow at one end.

And that was when Arnav realized again that this was not Khushi's house. This was not even Laxminagar.

"Khushi!" Arnav held Khushi by her elbow and stopped her from lying down.

Crossing his legs, Arnav sat in front of Khushi and asked, "Khushi, whose house is this? And what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Buaji's house?"

Khushi gulped her unshed tears and said heavily, "This is my house. I don't stay at Laxminagar anymore."

Arnav looked at Khushi confused and placing his finger below her chin, he made her look at him. Her distraught face suddenly sent a knowing shock through him as he realized the reason behind her not staying at Laxminagar.

"Khushi -"

"No! It wasn't anyone's fault. They were angry and upset with me so they didn't let me in the house. And I didn't want to jeopardize our baby's health so I bought this house with my friend's help and shifted here till everyone forgives me." Khushi said staying strong. She didn't want Arnav to know that it hurt her to stay away from her family. She knew he'd blame himself and she didn't want that.

Arnav gulped his throat. Khushi is trying to not make him feel guilty. He knew that very well. It was his fault, because of him she was thrown out. He shut his eyes as he imagined the way she must have been thrown out to the streets. His Khushi bore all the insults her family threw on her.

"I am...Sorry Khushi" he said looking at her with painful voice. She looked at him with shock. This was the second time he apologized her tonight. She cupped his face.

"You need not say sorry" she said with moist eyes. He kept his palms over her hands which were cupping his cheeks.

" I need to..because of me you are staying here I" he was cut in middle.

"Shhhh! It wasn't just your fault, it was my fault too. Even I am equally responsible for whatever happened that night. But this baby is not a mistake"

"Yes Khushi this baby is very special for us" he said. He wiped her tears.

"So now, for our baby's sake, you sleep on the sofa, I will sleep on the floor" he didn't let her a chance to speak. He made her lie on the sofa and covered her with a blanket. She was touched.

"How will you sleep on the floor?"

" I will manage, I can sleep" he assured her.

He slept on the floor but sleep was far away from him. He kept looking at Khushi. Her face was visible in the moonlight. He adored her beautiful face. Thank fully she was asleep. He closed his eyes, trying to sleep. He was much concerned about Khushi. He kept waking in the middle of night, to just check on Khushi. She was alright, and sound asleep. And finally he slept.

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

It was morning. Arnav woke up before Khushi. He adjusted her blanket and washed his face. He needs to go to RM. Di must be worried. At the same time Khushi woke up. She looked quite refreshed and relaxed. Arnavji never betrayed her. She felt so relaxed n happy when he cleared the misunderstanding. Who might that person be, who sent her such dirty message?

"Khushi, I need to leave now" he said bringing her out of her thoughts

" Have something n then leave. I will just prepare some.." She was cut in middle

"Khushi its OK, I will eat in home" he said.

If u make something for me then there will be nothing left for u. I have noticed that yesterday when I was cooking,
He thought.

He went towards the door when the doorbell rang. He took a parcel, and came inside. He handed that parcel to her. Khushi looked astonished.

"What's this?"

"Your breakfast" he said, "I know there is nothing much in the kitchen. Whatever you had brought yesterday from the market was wasted for me"

"But.."

"No ifs or buts. Have it. I need to leave." Khushi took the parcel from him and he walked out.

She was about to close the door, but he came back, kissed her forehead and asked her to take care. Even Arnav was surprised by the caring nature he showed her, whereas Khushi was overwhelmed. She never saw this gesture of his. He used to care only for Anjali, but maybe Khushi made a place for herself in his heart.

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

Sorry for the late update. N thank you for waiting. Kiddo is alright now. Hope you enjoyed the update. This was a real collab update between Kiddo and Katty! We both have written half of the updates and we are very very very happy for this.

Thank you for the votes n comments.
Kid_Katt