Next day morning.

Khushi wake up from the sleep and looked at the mirror. She couldn't control herself from blushing deeply. She is excited and nervous about everything that is going to happen today. She checked her phone and found a message from him.

<Ready to create some soul fusions today?> 

Khushi blushed and replied.

<What will be the final result of the fusion? >

Soon she got a reply from him.

<I promise you that it will be earth shattering may be a firework, that too with lot of fire and sound >

Khushi didn't reply anything and went downstairs. Arnav got ready and went to pick up Khushi. He called her phone which went unattended.

'She is too shy to take my call now?' He thought and called her again.

This time she attended the call.

"Arnav..." A loud sob followed after his name which shook him.

"Baby, are you okay??? Why are you crying?" Khushi shook her head and and continued to sob.

"Arnav...I..."

"Where are you now baby??? Damn it tell me what happened?" He shouted in frustration.

"Arnav...my Ammi... hospital...my ammi..."

"Baby, tell me where are you now?"

"Xyz hospital." Khushi said in a shaky voice.

"I will be there soon." Saying this he cut the call and drives towards the hospital she mentioned. Arnav enquired about mother and went towards the ICU.

Arnav saw her sitting on the chair. As soon as she saw him, she tried her best to run towards him. He rushed near to her and she hugged him tight, burying her face on his chest while wrapping her arms around his waist.

At that moment, all he cared about is her need for him. He don't care if anyone see them or not. He lightly stoked her hair and hugged her tight.

'My ammi....she fainted Arnav...her legs got burnt by boiled water....she is in lot of pain...I don't want to see her like that...my ammi..."

"Shhh baby...your ammi will be fine. Don't cry like this. Aren't you my strong girl?" He tried to console her as her tears wetted his t-shirt.

"I'm not strong enough to see my ammi like that." Arnav disentangled from the hug and cupped her face. He wiped her tears with his thumps.

"You are strong baby. You have to be strong for your family. Don't be a cry baby. You know what my maa used to say, that mothers can't tolerate the tears of their children. Your ammi won't like seeing her daughter crying like this." He tried his best to console her.

"She will be fine, won't she??' Khushi asked him. Arnav tucked the loose hair strand behind her ears.

"She will be fine, don't worry. No more tears from now." Khushi nodded her head and wiped her tears away.

"Where is your father and sister?'

"Abba went to buy the medicines and kesi don't know about it till now. She is attending her class. You should go now, Abba will be back soon." Arnav saw her father exiting out of the lift.

"Your father is here baby." Arnav told her.

"Then you should go now." Saying this she moved away from him. Arnav took the stairs and went down. She wanted him to be there, but her circumstances won't allow him to do that.

Soon she heard her phone beeping.

<I will be in the parking area, just call me whenever you want> Khushi smiled lightly reading the message.

For the whole day, when her father went to buy medicines, he went to see Khushi.

She told him what exactly happened to her mother. Elisa forgot to take her diabetes medicine and fainted when she was in the kitchen. Accidentally the boiling rice water fell down on her leg at that time. Both her legs are severely burnt because of that.

It was around evening, Khushi told her father that she will go and bring her sister to the hospital. Her father agreed and let her go. Khushi called Arnav and went to the parking area. They started their journey towards her sister's school.

Khushi leaned on to his shoulder while he lightly squeezed her hands.

"You are really strong Arnav. Now I know the gravity of the situation you went through. I'm glad that you are here with me." Arnav understood the emotions going through her mind. He had been through the same situation when he saw his mother struggling for breathe.

"Baby, you have to be strong for your sister. You have to make her understand that your mother is fine."

"I will try my best."

"Are you planning to going to your home to grab some stuffs?" He asked her.

"Yup, Abba told me to take Kasi to home and get her changed. I have to take some stuffs to the hospital."

"Hmm I will drop you at your sister's school, you both take a cab from there. I will be just behind you." Khushi nodded her head and continued to lean on his shoulder

Arnav stopped the car near to the school.

Khushi unclipp her seatbelt and hugged him.

"I know you don't want me to say thank you, but thanks a lot for being there for me. Thanks for telling that I'm stronger."

Arnav stroked her back and disentangled from the hug. 

He placed a kiss on her forehead and wiped away the tears.

Didn't I tell you not to shed tears?" He flicked her nose with his nose. Khushi smiled and nodded her head.

Khushi waiting inside the car till the school got dispersed. She went outside and waited for her sister.Arnav saw her trying to break the news to Kasi. Khushi tried her level best to assure Kasi that their mother is fine. She somehow managed her sister not to cry. She called a cab and went to her home while he followed them. Kasi got dressed and they went towards the hospital. 

Khushi looked for Arnav's car as she paid the money to the cab. She saw his car at a distance and went inside the hospital.

Kasi couldn't control her tears as she saw her father sitting next to the ICU. Davis consoled her daughter. He told them that Elisa is out of danger, but need to heal her burnt area.

Arnav decided to do something and went to the reception area. He sat there for sometime and decided something.  Khushi is sitting with her sister and father, when she saw him walking towards them

"Khushi, you here?" He asked standing next to her. Khushi looked at him, then at her father and sister. Arnav looked a her father and sister.

"Ohhh, I hope you remember me sir. We met when you came to drop her for the nature club tour."

"Yeah, I remember. Arnav???" Her father asked Arnav.

"Yes sir, Arnav Singh Raizada. What happened? You all in front of the ICU?" He acted like he is clueless.

"Her mother is in the ICU." Her father replied.

"What happened to her?" Davis replied to his question.

"What brings you here?" Her father asked him.

"Hmm, my dadi is admitted here. On the other side of this building."

"Ohhh, what happened to her?"

"Joint pain...arthritis..." Arnav talked with her father and Davis introduced Kasi to Arnav as a part of formality. He bid them bye and went to the other side of the building.

Soon Arnav got a message from her asking what just happened now. He replied her to trust him that nothing goes wrong. It was around evening when Arnav came towards the ICU. He saw Kasi and Khushi about to move to somewhere.

"Sir, do you know where is the cafeteria?" Arnav asked her father.

"It's in the ground floor."

"Ohhh, thank you. Are you guys going there?" Looking at Khushi and Kasi, he asked.

"Yeah, we are." Kasi replied to him.

"Do you mind if I join you both as I don't know where the cafeteria is?" Khushi looked at her father who seems to be very unsure. Arnav understood the reluctance in Davis and he didn't like it at all.

"Sir, I know that I indeed look like a playboy to you. I have sisters and I don't have any ill intention towards your daughters. It's okay if you don't want me to join them. I can understand that." Saying this he started to move away from there and he heard her father telling Khushi to show him the way to cafeteria.

Arnav smiled lightly and turned around.

"Khushi know the way to the cafeteria. She will take you there." Davis told to Arnav and sat down on the chair after giving some cash to her. Arnav waited for Khushi and Kasi. Three of them went to the cafeteria and placed their order.

It was Kasi who break the silence between them.

"I have seen your matches in TV. You played very well."

"Hmm, thanks Karissa. Which class are you studying?"

"Im in 11th. Hmm, what should I call you?"

"What do you usual call men of my age?"

"Bhaiyya???"

"So call me that." Arnav replied to her.

"Okay then. I thought you don't want me to call like that." Her sister said.

"Why would you think like that?"

"Well you are a celebrity who comes on TV. So I thought you won't like that."

"I'm just a football player Karissa, not a big shot celebrity." Arnav replied casually.

"Call me Kasi, that's what others call me."

Arnav nodded his head and looked at Khushi.

"Jiji, why aren't you asking anything to you senior?"

"Hmm, when will you go back home?" Khushi asked him all of a sudden.

"When my dadi get discharged." He replied. Soon the waiter came there with their order. 

Arnav could hear Kasi whispering something to Khushi.

"Jiji, does he use lens? His iris look like that of a cat."Khushi choked on the water she was drinking when she heard her sister's comment.

"It's not lens Kasi. I do have cat eyes." He replied with a smile while she looked at him with embarrassment. Khushi gave an angry glance to kesi for asking such question.

"What??? It was a small doubt." Kesi told her sister while her mouth filled with food.

"First swallow your food, then talk." Saying this Khushi concentrated on her food.

"You have beautiful eyes bhai." Kasi complimented Arnav.

"I know, someone have already told me that." He said looking at Khushi who started to choke again.

"Ohh...ohh...jiji...you always tell me to eat slowly and now you are doing that exact opposite. Here drink this water." Kasi patted her head and back. She brought a glass of water towards her mouth and made her drink it.

"So what's you future plans Kasi?" Arnav asked her sister.

"Civil service."

"That's really great. So you are going to be a topper like your sister?"

"I don't know that, the thing is I'm little bit weak in problem papers." Kasi replied.

"You can overcome that with your sister's help, can't you?"

"Yeah, that's sure. Do you know something?"

"What?" Arnav asked.

"Jiji is a pro in problem papers, but when it comes to theory she fell weak. I like history and geography while didi can run miles away from both the subject." Kasi said making Khushi to roll her eyes at her sister.

For Arnav, that was a new information.

"Kasi, you are talking too much." Khushi warned her sister.

"Jiji, he is your senior and you are not talking anything to him. So i was just giving him a company." She tried to justify her action.

"Did I embarrassed you?" Kasi whispered to Khushi while Arnav hide his smile.

"No, not at all, you are doing a wonderful job of praising me Kasi." Khushi told her sister.

"You know bhaiyya, my didi is an excellent painter. If you want any painting done, just contact her. She makes beautiful painting."

"Yeah, I know that. I have already brought one from your Jiji."

"Ohh...that's good. Were you also good at studies like my jiji?"

"Me and studies don't mix together well. I was really terrible." Arnav replied honestly.

"Kasi, don't ask anyone about their studies. It's not a good thing."

"It's not a big deal ba... Khushi. (he was about to call her baby and remembered their situation) Don't scold her."

Kasi gave 'see-he-don't have-a-problem' kind of look.

Arnav saw Khushi looking uncomfortable and turned around to see two boys staring at Kasi and Khushi.

He gave them a mean look which caught their attention.

"F**k off." He mouth it without making any sound making them lower their eyes.

Khushi saw all these and stared at him.

"Have your food Khushi. We have to leave. You father must be waiting for you both." Khushi shook her head and continued to have her food.

After paying the bill, they went towards the ICU. Khushi walked in between Arnav and Kasi. She held Kasi while her other hand caught his hand in her.

Arnav smiled and entwined his fingers with her fingers. He went into protective mode when they entered the lift. He made sure that both of them were safe and away from men.

Khushi couldn't smile see the over overprotective traits of her boyfriend. Arnav left her hand as the lift reached their floor. He walked towards the ICU and then went to the other building.

"Abba, Arnav bhaiyya is a good man. He even scared away two bad boys in the cafeteria before I can do something." Kasi compliant a little for losing her chance.

Davis smiled at her impulsive daughter.

"Was everything okay gudiya?" He asked Khushi in concern.

"Yes Abba, there were two perverts. Before our Jhansi ki Rani do something Arnav scared them away." Khushi teased her sister who light nudged her for saying that.

"Your ammi woke up from sedation. She is okay, but the doctor had to put her back to sleep." Davis told his daughters.

"What did the doctor said Abba?" Khushi asked him.

"Tomorrow I have to go and meet him."

"Can we see her?" Kasi asked him.

"No, she is prone to infections now. So they are not letting anyone inside. Don't worry beta, your ammi will be fine soon." Arnav messaged Khushi to know about her mother and she filled in the details.

Later at night.

Davis let Khushi and Kasi to go with Arnav for dinner. He don't want to leave them alone there and sending them with Arnav doesnt seems to be a bad idea.

Around midnight. Arnav came to the ICU area.

"Do you mind if I sit here for sometime?" Arnav asked her father before taking the seat.

"Sure, you can."

After a few minutes

"Who is there with your dadi?"

"Ohhh....my aunt is there. It's quite difficult for me to sleep in new places." Arnav tried to justify.

"Yeah, sometime it is." Arnav found Khushi and Kasi sleeping besides to Davis on the chair. Khushi is leaning onto her father's shoulder while Kasi leaned on to Khushi.

"Did the doctor tell you anything?" Arnav asked.

"Yeah her wounds are healing. The doctor suggest us to do so plastic surgery on her feet as it is severely affected."

"Did you tell them about it?" He asked Davis.

"No... Because the doctor are not sure about everything. Eli have diabetes and it's hard for the wound to heal. I think I will tell them later. Khushi can managed it , buy Kasi is too young for all of these.

Did I bored you Arnav?" Davis realised that he told him more than what he intend to tell.

"No sir, I'm glad that you told me this."

Davis got a call and started to speak in hebrew in a low voice.

"It was my sister who is in Israel." Davis told Arnav and patted Khushi's head which is placed on his shoulder.

"You have a beautiful family sir." Arnav couldn't control himself from uttering it. He admired the way Davis taking care of his daughters and family.

Davis smiled at Arnav and nodded his head.

"What about your family?" Davis asked him.

"Everyone is not lucky to have a family like the one you have sir. I had a family. I lost my mother when I was a teenager. Have a father for namesake who have his own new family. So that sum up about my non existent family." He ended with a sarcastic smile.

She felt a light pat on his shoulder by Davis.

"You miss your mother?" He asked and Arnav nodded his head.

"I know that feeling. We had lost Khushi's brother when he was six. If he were here now, he would be around your age or more probably. I used to wonder how it would be if he were here. What he would be studying? How would he look? Then I understood that by doing it I'm wasting my time and hurting me in the process. Now I believe that he is in some alternative universe. Living with a family like us who take care of him. It may sound mad, but it give me relief."

"Does your family know about this?"

"Elisa know about it, not my daughters."

That's when the nurse called Elisa's bystander. Arnav rushed near to the nurse and received the prescription.

"I will go and buy it sir."

"No, that's okay. I will go and buy it. Don't worry about it."

"I know it's safe here, but I will still insist you to be here with your daughters at this time sir." Davis looked at his sleeping daughters and nodded his head in agreement.

Arnav went to the pharmacy and brought the medicines. He gave it to Davis and went to the other side of the building. He don't want mess up with his lies, so he pretend to look over his dadi.

Arnav went to the other building and sat in the waiting area.

Next day, Davis came out of the doctor's room. They will carry out Elisa's surgery as the wound get almost healed.

Arnav came to the ICU and inform them them that his dadi got discharged in the morning itself. He told them that he would be going soon. Khushi know that he can't say here with her for a long time, but she wished him to be there.

Arnav looked at Khushi who gave him a sad smile. It was hard for him to leave her like that. He know that he can't continue this pretence for a few more days. He went downstairs and waited in the parking area. Khushi tried to call him, but his phone was switched off.

Khushi sat down on the chair with Kasi.

A few minutes later Arnav drives away from there knowing that there will be someone with his Khushi. Khushi heard someone calling her name and looked up to find Payal standing there. Khushi couldn't control her happiness and hugged her tight.

"Why didn't you call me brainy? Where does your nerdy cells went? You are such a bad girl." Payal scolded her friend for not calling her.

"How did you came to know about it?" Khushi asked her.

"Arre, when I called you yesterday, you sounded off. So I know that something is wrong." Payal said and moved next to Kasi. Davis is happy to find Payal there.

"Uncle, papa will come soon. I told him about aunt's situation."

After a few minutes later, Payal's father Shashi came there. He told Payal to take Khushi and kesi to their home so that they can get fresh. Davis too agreed to it.

At Payal's home.

Kasi is in washroom while Khushi pulled Payal to another room.

"Payal I don't remember you calling me yesterday, then how did you came to know about it."

"Yes I didn't call you, but I got an order in the early morning. I think you can guess from whom I got it?"

"Arnav called you?"

"He is totally mad Khushi... he called me 2 in the morning, ordered me to come here before noon itself. He told me what happened. After an hour he called me again to let me know that he booked a morning flight for me. What magic did you done on him that he is head and everything over heels in love with you?"

He didn't told me anything. Khushi told her.

"Anyway I'm glad that he told me to come here. Don't worry Khushi, aunty will be okay soon." Khushi didn't expect that he will do something like this. She suddenly felt the need to talk to him, to see him.

Khushi grabbed her phone and tried to call him which was switched off. Khushi left a message saying that she want to see and talk to him. After getting fresh, they left to the hospital. 

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

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