Akash sat on his bed with a thud wondering what the hell he just saw and heard. One Dadi's wink with Khushi and second the revelation that Payal is not Shashi's daughter but a product of Garima's affair. He never in his life imagine a woman like Garima could cheat on a good man like Shashi but then he remembered Payal. And how looks can be deceiving.

"I must find out the truth..... But how..... Dammit.... The only one who can help me hates me..... Aman is the most loyal man on earth and after what I did to Arnav.... He will never help me.... I have to find another way.... But where and who? " Akash said to himself.

He was deep in thoughts when he felt a tug on his short. He looked down to find Shivani rubbing her eyes. She had just woken up from her nap.
Akash picked her up and she laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep again. Akash smiled and was happy Shivani is gradually changing because of his undivided attention and Payal's absence. And that how it was going to be from now on.

Dadi's cab.

"Garima thought I didn't see her..... She is just like her daughters.... And I did a big mistake hiding because of my sins.... I want to start over and the only way to do that is tell the truth to Arnav and Khushi..... I don't care if I lose them.... I have to tell him the truth..... He will break but it's for the best...... And his time he is not alone.... He has Khushi and Aarushi" Dadi whispered to herself and went down memory lane.

Flashback begins.

It was Anjali's wedding and Arvind has left no stone unturned to make the wedding the talk of the town for months to come. After all his favorite child was getting married.

Ratna and Dadi sat in the room of Arvind and Ratna arranging the gifts for Anjali's in law.

Ratna Malik.
38 years old.

Mother of Arnav and daughter in law of the Malik family and daughter of the Raizada family. A humble, respectful and kind woman.

"Maa..... Do you think they will like these gifts we are giving to them. " Ratna asked her mother in law.

"Of course they have to after all it was selected by my daughter. " Dadi said and playfully pinched Ratna's cheeks and she giggled

Within a few seconds a fourteen years old Arnav barged in looking handsome in his outfit. He run off to his grandmother and sat on her lap.
Dadi laughed at his action while Ratna rolled her eyes at Arnav. Ratna and Dadi knew he was about to ask for something only his Dadi will and allow him to have. Arnav snaked his arm around his grandmother's neck and kissed her cheek.

"Dadi...... Can I have some chocolates? " Arnav asked with a pouted lips and a puppy face. As he knew his mother won't let him have some because of his diabetes but with his dadi, he always gets his way.

"Of course..... See the box on your mother dressing mirror.... There are some chocolates in it.... Take it all. " Dadi said and Arnav immediately rushed there and took the box of chocolates and started munching on them.

Arnav saw his mother throwing daggers at him with her hand on her hips but cared less. He looked at his dadi who signalled him to pacify his mother.
Arnav placed the box of chocolates down and moved over to his mother and stood in front of her. He held his ears in front of her and pouted and said in a mischievous and funny tone.

"Am sorry maa.... Stop worrying..... In fact I did some research with Dadi and we found out chocolates are good and healthy for diabetic people like me.... " Arnav said and Ratna looked at her mother in law and she nodded and Ratna relaxed and pulled Arnav into a hug.

She then broke the hug and kiss Arnav on the forehead and Arnav held her hand and started waltzing with her around the room with Dadi clapping. Arnav let go of his mother and moved backwards only to hit against a hard chest. He went stiff and knew from the smell of the cologne it was his father.
He turned and saw him standing there with a stern look which he is used to but still scares him.

Arvind Malik.
40 years old.

Husband of Ratna. Son of the Malik family and son in law of the Raizada family. A heartless man.

"Arnav... Stop fooling around.... Your mother and grandmother have a lot of packaging to do and here you are wasting their time.... Grow up you are no longer a kid.... " Arvind said sternly before leaving not allowing anyone to retort.

Ratna was sad and after all these years, wondered why Arvind hated Arnav but loved Anjali and always shows it. Arnav who sensed his mother lost in thought said.

"Maa..... Dadi..... I think papa is pregnant..... His mood swings are becoming to much for this pretty  boy to handle...... " Arnav joked making his mother and grandma burst out in laugh making Arnav's heart swell in happiness. "I better go before he starts it again. "

He then took a bow at his mother and grandma and dashed out leaving them to behind in laughter.

"Ratna dear..... Our son is going to grow up into a fine young man..... And our future bahu will be the luckiest woman on earth. " Dadi exclaimed.

"You are right maa. " Ratna said in a joyful tone but it changed into sadness. "I hope that woman will give him all the love in the world.... Because my chote grew up without his father's love.... I know we were both drank when he was conceived and I know Arvind didn't want another child but he is just being unfair.... Anjali get away with all her mistakes but Arnav is always punished for every little mistake he does whether it him or her..... And I know that is the reason why he wants to go to boarding school. "

"He is a strong and he doesn't need Arvind's love.... He has our love and I know he is content with it unlike Anjali who always wants to be the center of attention because of her insecurities..... And I blame Arvind's over pampering..... Anjali must be made a strong woman especially because of her limp..... I fear she will end up being manipulative and this will lead to destructive consequences in the future. " Dadi said.

"You are right maa..... Let's forget it.... Today is a happy day.... I will go and call Arvind to come and check the gifts. " Ratna said but Dadi stopped her saying she will go instead.

Dadi looked for Arvind everywhere but couldn't find him so she asked on of their servant who said he saw him with a woman in the garden. Dadi knew something was off. So she went there and what she saw and heard made the ground slipped under her feet. In the garden stood Garima. The ex of Arvind whom he had promised his mother he had broken up with her.

"Arvind..... I can't take it anymore..... Tell Ratna the truth and let's leave..... You promised to divorce her and take our Anju away from her and live together.... Today my daughter is getting married but another woman have snatched my right.... I got pregnant with our Anju and had to run away from home to have her without anyone knowing..... When Ratna got pregnant too, you told me it was because of pressure from you parents.... I understood.... A day after I gave birth to our Anju, Ratna also gave birth to her still born baby and fell unconscious and you switched our Anju with her dead baby.... I understood because I didn't want Anju to be called illegitimate..... For three years I waited and thought after your father's death you will leave Ratna only for her to faint during your father's last rites and was discovered to be pregnant..... But I understood you when you said you were both drank.... I was forced to marry Shashi because of that..... But now our other daughter is leaving the life of a pauper when she should be leaving like princess just like her big sister..... Why all this injustice Arvind. "
A crying Garima said.

"It's alright my love..... I know your sacrifices.... Because of my mistake of getting Ratna pregnant.... You were forced to marry that Shashi and our princess is leaving like a pauper... But I promise after our Anju's wedding I will divorce Ratna..... After all I can't stand her anymore. " Arvind said and was about to kiss Garima when Sudhadra yelled.

"Arvind! "

Both stood shocked as they knew they have been caught.

"How would you do this to Ratna..... And what did I hear that Anjali is your daughter with her. " Dadi said in a shaking voice.

"Yes you heard us right.... You knew Arvind loved me... But forced him to marry Ratna by threatening to disinherit him.... We only pretended to break up but continued our affair and Anjali and Payal is the prove of our love. " Garima said without any remorse.

"Just shut up you gold digger.... Anjali is my Ratna and my son's daughter and not yours. " Dadi exclaimed with tears continually cascading down her cheeks and Garima scoffed at her

"She is tell the truth maa..... Anjali was born to I and Garima a day before Ratna went into labour..... Ratna and my child died and I switched her with Anjali..... This is all Papa's fault if he hadn't threatened to disinherit me I wouldn't have gotten married to Ratna nor gotten her pregnant just to prove to Papa I was happy. " Arvind said in his blind rage.

"How could you do this to Ratna..... She loves you and not your money unlike this gold digger who is married but still having an extra martial affair..... Now I understand why you always love Anjali and pampered her while you rejected Arnav..... I regret ever giving birth to you.... God will definitely punish both of you for what you've done to my Ratna."
Dadi said in tears.

Immediately she was done a shattering sound of a fallen silver platter was heard. All turned to find Ratna in tears and immediately knew she heard everything. She run away from there and Dadi turned to Arvind and Garima and was shocked not to find any remorse from both of them clearly indicating they cared less. She turned to leave to he daughter when a gun shot was heard filled by a scream from Arnav.
Dadi rushed to the direction from where the gun shot was heard only to find a dead Ratna whose head was lying on Arnav's lap with blood everywhere around them and Arvind's gun beside them.

Ratna had committed suicide leaving behind Arnav.

That night Anjali's wedding was called of after Anant the younger brother of Arvind exposed him in front of society for having an affair but omitting the girls conceived from it.

That night the lovable and prankster chose was lost forever.

The next day Ratna's boby was prepared for her last rite and an emotionless Arnav lit her pyre and they watched as the boby of  their angel in the form of Ratna burned. Dadi vowed revenge on Arvind and Garima

After the funeral dadi with much difficulty put Arnav to sleep and entered Arvind's study to find him pacing up and down. Immediately he saw his mother he rushed over to him and said.

"Have you seen what Anant did he exposed me because he has always been jealous of me.... And that stupid woman..... How dare she.... Because of her my Garima is broken..... It took me a lot of time to calm her down and now she is sleeping in the guest room. " Arvind said not at all affected by what he and Garima had done. Or the fact that he wasn't there at Ratna's funeral.

Dadi looked at him in disgust and knew what she was about to do was the right thing. She pulled the gun out of her saree and aimed at him.
Arvind moved backwards in fear at the madness in his mother eyes.

"Maa..... What are you doing? ..... Please put the gun down and let's talk." Arvind begged.

"No..... No talk will bring my Ratna back.... Because of you and that gold digging whore,I lost my daughter.... You don't deserve to live.... You deserve death. " Dadi said in tears before shooting Arvind in the head.

She cleaned her hand print on the gun and placed it in the hand of a dead Arvind.

She then fell on her knees and cried for her Ratna but the people who entered the room and saw her thought it was for her son. She then had Garima woke up and forced her to watch as Arvind's body was taken away.

"You see.... Arvind killed himself because he realized he never loved you... And now you are all alone.... Your daughters will suffer for you greed.... Now leave from her with your daughters and never come back. " Dadi said to a crying Garima and she run out of there.

After a few hours his body was also prepared for his last rite but Dadi refused and asked Anant to do it but he also refused so the police had no other choice than to do it themselves.

Anant taking this as an opportunity and kidnapped Dadi and sent her to an asylum and then kicked Arnav and Anjali out of the house. For twelve years she was trapped at the asylum until Arnav found her. And had her treated and nursed back to health. She found out what Anant had done and how he had told Arnav about me when Arnav suspected he had done something to her.

She was angry when she found out Anjali was still living a life she doesn't deserve and tries to talk Arnav out of pampering her sister but Arnav was too attached to Anjali and she gave up after numerous attempts.

Flashback ends.

Dadi opened her eyes only to find herself at Arnav's penthouse building.  She paid the driver and entered asked for the room number of Arnav from the receptionist. The receptionist asked her to take a seat while she called Arnav.
Within a few minutes she heard a cute little voice call her.

"Grampy. "

Dadi smiled seeing her great granddaughter running up to her.

She scooped her up and kissed her cheeks making her giggle.

"Welcome... Dadi. " Arnav said to his grandmother and hugged squishing Aarushi in the process.

"Daddy..... You squish me..... I no breath anymore.... I die. " Aarushi said dramatically and laid her head on Dadi's shoulder with her eyes closed pretending to be dead.

Dadi chuckled and Arnav burst out in laughter at her drama. Aarushi didn't like her father laughing at her and opened her eyes and frown.

"Daddy.... I no love you anymore.... You laugh..... See Grampy." (that's how Aarushi calls Dadi)... He laugh at me. " Aarushi said and glared at his father who laughed again at her and Dadi suppressed the laugh that was threatening to come out of her.  No matter how anger Aarushi was she still looked adorable and cute.

"Arnav..... Enough... Stop laughing at her.... And my cutie pie.... I brought you a big box of chocolates. " Dadi said to Aarushi who smiled hearing chocolates.

"Weally.*Aarushi asked and Dadi nodded and placed her down."... I want to see it now."

"Aaru.... Let get to the penthouse first. " Arnav said and Aarushi glared at him making Arnav say " What the! "

" Grampy.. Tell Daddy I no talk to him... I angly (angry) at you..... He laugh... Sho I no talk to him. " Aarushi said with her arms crossed and an angry pout.

Dadi turned to Arnav and said in a fake angry voice.

"Arnav.... Have you heard her.... She is not talking to you. "

Aarushi smirked at her father think she has an equally angry ally. Dadi then opened her bag and took at a box of chocolate and gave it to Aarushi who squealed in happiness and kissed the box of chocolates multiple times.

"Aaru.... Can I have some of your chocolates. " Arnav asked kneeling to her level but once an angry puppy always an angry puppy.

Aarushi hugged the box tightly as if she was about to lose it and glared at her father.

"No..... A no give you.... I angly (angry) at you..... I give Amy (Aman) Nanu and Grampy..... I no give because I angly(angry)  at you. " She said and flipped her hair dramatically before holding Dadi's hand and dragging her to the elevator.

Arnav shook his head at his drama queen and took Dadi's bag and followed them to the elevator.

To be continued.

Here is another update.
Don't forget to hit the ⭐🌟⭐🌠⭐ button and comment.

Stay home and be safe.

Bye for now.

xoxoxo.