Note: Ayan's name changed to Sahil on a reader's request as it would make confusion between Aayu/Ayan.

Aayu's room..

When Arnav left the room, Khushi opened her eyes and sat on the bed carefully detaching herself from Aayu to not disturb his sleep.

She looked at the door sadly and shut her eyes tightly, muttering to herself: No Khushi.. Be strong.. Don't fall into this.. he'll again leave you and you'll end up hurting yourself again..

Aayu opened his one eye and pouted, "I knew it!"

Khushi gasped and looked at him startled, "Aayu! You were awake.. Gosh! I almost had an heart attack!"

Aayu sat on the bed, "Kushie you lied to me.. You're upset with Annav uncle.. He hurt you? But he told me you're upset with him.. You both are hurt with each other then?"

"Aayu this is something I don't know how to explain to you.. when you grow up you'll understand it.." Khushi said stroking his hair.

"Are you telling me that you and Annav uncle aren't friends anymore?" Aayu asked sadly.

"Only you're my best friend now.." Khushi pulled him closer to her and hugged him tightly.

Aayu shut his eyes tightly hugging Khushi back, he started sobbing.

"Aayu please don't cry.." Khushi pleaded with moist eyes. She kissed his hair many times trying to console him.

"Aren't you happy that I'm just your friend? You won't have to share me with anyone else.." Khushi said patting his back. 

Aayu looked up to her with tears rolling down to his cheek and nodded sideways.

"If I do something to make you both friends again like last time, will it work?" he asked innocently.

Khushi wiped the tears from his cheek with her palms feeling helpless to see him crying like this, "What you did last time?"

"I said Annav uncle that I wanted to go to your home and also refused NK uncle from joining us so that you both be friends again.. then on our way back home I noticed that you both weren't talking to each other.. and I asked Annav uncle to buy ice cream for us.." Aayu revealed in desperation to unite his Kushie and Annav uncle.

"Aayu.." Khushi looked at him amused not knowing what to say. This kid notice everything around him, he's way smarter than any adult!

"Can't I do something like this again?" he asked.

Khushi nodded sideways, "No baby.. You need not to do this.."

"If I ask Annav uncle to say sorry to you, then?" he asked with hope.

"Aayu sometimes one sorry is not enough.." Khushi said. 

"I know.." Aayu sighed sadly, "Mumma said to me that sometimes people hurt you a lot that one sorry is not enough to forgive them.. It takes time na? When my mumma used to be hurt with Papa, she didn't talk with him for few days.. she used to sleep with me in my room.. Papa used to pamper her and run behind her all day asking for forgiveness.."

"Mumma used to be angry with Papa for some 3 or 4 days.. How many days will it take for you to forgive Annav uncle Kushie?" Aayu asked innocently.

"Aayu I.."

"Okay I won't force you.. Be angry with Annav uncle.. Mumma also said that we only get angry and hurt with those who we love so much!" Aayu pouted.

"Thank you for understanding me!" Khushi blinked her eyes with a sigh of relief.

"That means you love Annav uncle like Mumma loved my Papa, na?" Aayu asked suspiciously.

Khushi stood up from the bed and lifted him in her arms, taking him to the bathroom, "Enough of your questions! Are you a kid or a bomb?"

Aayu giggled and kissed her cheek, "Kushie.. Mumma used to say that I'm very smart.. so don't try to hide anything from me.. because I know when you're really happy and when you're upset!"

Khushi nodded smiling, "Okay my little boss.. I won't hide anything from you now.."

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Sometime later..

Aayu descended the stairs with Khushi. She took him to the dining hall, Aayu smiled surprised seeing all his family having breakfast together.

"Anjali bua!" Aayu exclaimed smiling, then he looked at Khushi asking for permission to go to Anjali through his eyes.

Khushi nodded her head and he went running to Anjali, hugging her sideways.

"Alee.. my baby.. how are you?" Anjali smiled caressing his hair.

Aayu smiled, "I'm fine Anjali bua.."

"Won't you greet your Par Dadi?" Nani asked smiling calling Aayu.

Aayu went to her and took blessings from her as taught by his parents. Then he greeted Mami, Mama, Akash and Payal. He skipped greeting Shyam  and ran to Arnav, hugging Arnav tightly as he got scared of Shyam.

Arnav made Aayu sit on his lap and started serving food for him.

Khushi went to the kitchen.

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At the kitchen..

"Sahil you cooked for the breakfast alone?" Khushi asked.

Sahil nodded, he was sitting on the kitchen slab playing with the apples.

"But took little help of my Aarti aunty to know about what they usually have for breakfast.." Sahil said.

"I'm really sorry.. I was supposed to help you but end up spending time with Aayu and completely forgot about this.." Khushi apologized genuinely.

"It's okay Khushi.." Sahil smiled. 

Dai ma walked in the kitchen and widened her eyes seeing her nephew sat on the kitchen slab, "Sahil what's  wrong with you? Just get down from there.. Are you a kid or what? This is not your aunty's place.. this is your Boss's house understood?"

Sahil bit his tongue and climbed down the kitchen slab, "Sorry Aarti aunty.. this won't happen again!"

"You'll lose your job if you don't behave!" Dai ma frowned scolding him. 

Khushi smiled shaking her head.

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At the dining hall..

"Are you happy Aayu? Your family is here with you.." NK asked.

Aayu nodded smiling, "I've so many people to play video games with me now when Kushie isn't with me.."

Everyone giggled.

"Kushie? Who is she?" Nani asked confused.

"A very pretty girl unlike you!" Nana mocked.

Nani glared at him.

"Nani he means to say Khushi.. the cook.. she's his best friend also.." Anjali replied.

Nani nodded in acknowledgement.

"Not only Aayu's best friend.. Khushi seems to be closer to Sale Sahab too.." Shyam smirked, "Hain na Sale Sahab?"

"That's none of your business!" Arnav replied gritting his teeth and clutching his fist under the table.

"You don't need to be rude Arnav.." Anjali frowned.

"My uncle is not rude.. He's scary!" Aayu pouted and hide his face on the crook of Arnav's neck.

Arnav caressed his back and whispered to him, "You don't need to be scared of anyone Aayu.. I'm here na.."

"Aree.. Aayu look at me baby.. Am I scary? Is it because of my beard? I'll shave it right now to be same as your Arnav uncle.." Shyam said trying to sound sweet to Aayu.

Aayu didn't reply to him, just snuggle more to Arnav.

"Okay.. I'll come to talk with you after shaving only.." Shyam said smiling.

"I'll have to go to office Aayu.. You'll be okay na?" Arnav asked.

Aayu looked at him and nodded his head, "Kushie is here na!"

"Hmm.. stay with Khushi all the time only till I come back from office ok" Arnav whispered on his ear.

Aayu nodded and whispered back, "Okay.."

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At the kitchen..

Before leaving to AR, Arnav walked in the kitchen and opened the fridge, taking the bottle of water but his eyes were fixed on Khushi and Sahil's moves.

Khushi and Sahil were busy discussing what they will cook for lunch and also sharing their cooking experiences and their love and passion for the profession.

"I'm so lucky to have you here Khushi.. We make a Pearfect (Perfect) team!" Sahil winked smiling.

"We were mint (meant) to be Pearfect Partners!" Khushi grinned catching Sahil's code language.

Arnav let out a mocking chuckle finding it absolutely ridiculous as he poured water on his glass.

"Haters gonna hate, I don't carrot (care at) all.." Khushi said aloud for Arnav to hear.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"I like it Khushi! Very good" Sahil smiled amused but he didn't get Khushi was actually saying it to Arnav.

"My turn.. You must be a banana because I find you a-peeling (appealing)" Sahil said. 

"Stop this nonsense!" Arnav shouted frowning.

Khushi and Sahil looked at his side.

"Oh no Boss.. I wasn't saying to you this line.. it was for Khushi only.." Sahil said shaking his head in no. 

"What the.." Arnav looked at him angrily and Khushi had to intervene.

"Sir please.. he was just kidding with me!" she said staring at Arnav, "There's no need for you to be angry as you don't have any rights on me.."

"But I won't let any man flirt with you like this, do you get that?" Arnav asked furrowing his brows.

"I wasn't flirting.." Sahil said trying to defend himself.

"Oh really!" Arnav crossed his arms and raised his brows.

"So what if he was flirting with me? Should it matter to you? Don't forget you're just my Boss!" Khushi asked sarcastically.

"What is happening here? Arnav beta did Sahil do something wrong?" Dai ma walked in the kitchen tensed and worried.

"Nothing Dai ma.." Arnav said and left from there.

"Sahil.." Dai ma glared at him when Arnav left. Khushi nodded sideways, "He didn't do anything wrong Dai ma.."

Dai ma nodded and left from there also.

Sahil looked at Khushi, "Thanks for saving me! Isn't Boss weird? He gets angry so easily.. I mean just a funny line made him so angry, imagine the day I add too much salt in food! He'll send me to jail directly!"

Khushi giggled, "Tum bhi na Sahil!"

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Two hours later.. AR..

Arnav's cabin

"Hi ASR.. How are you?" Sheetal asked smiling.

Arnav pulled the chair for her and gestured her to sit, "I'm fine Miss Kapoor and you?"

"I'm also fine.." Sheetal said taking her seat while Arnav went to sit on his chair.

"So what made you remember me early in morning?" Sheetal asked.

"There's a upcoming fashion show we're planning for next month.. I went through few of your works and decided you to be the showstopper" Arnav said. 

"Already decided?" Sheetal asked amused.

"I'm always 99.9% sure that I get what I want to.. so that much confidence makes me comfortable to use this word (decided)" Arnav leaned on his chair smirking.

"What if I deny?" Sheetal asked.

"Is there a valid reason to deny to be a part of ASR Fashion show? It's your loss, if you refused to be a part of the show.." Arnav shrugged.

"Advay really left someone worth to be handling his business.." Sheetal said impressed, "I accept to work with you ASR.."

"Great.." Arnav said.

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Shantivan.. Living room..

"Why you put so much make up on your face?" Aayu asked sitting on Mami's lap, he rubbed his index finger on her cheek.

"Hello hi bye bye.. to look beautiful!" Mami said pulling his cheek.

"Try to use less make up like my Kushie.. You'll look beautiful then.." Aayu said.

"Listen to this child please!" Mama pleaded Mami. 

"Beautiful is your Par Dadi Aayu.. hain na? She looks like a Doll.." Nana said teasingly.

Aayu smiled.

Nani looked at him suspiciously, but she did blush deep inside that he called her a Doll.  "Thank you!" she replied sternly.

"You're welcome Annabelle (Scary Doll)!" Nana smiled.

"My name is Devyani.. So you're thinking about your Annabelle.. your girlfriend in London?" Nani asked narrowing her eyes at him.

"Par Dadi Annabelle is a scary doll.. I don't even have courage to look at her in movie" Aayu said.

Mami, Mama and Payal burst out laughing at Nani. Nani fumed staring at Nana who winked at her.

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At the kitchen..

"Can I do it?" Anjali asked staring at Khushi chopping the vegetables.

Khushi looked at her and nodded handed the knife to her.

Khushi noticed how Anjali enjoyed cooking. She was doing everything calmly, dedicated and full attention to every step while cooking.

"Wow we've another person to our cooking team!" Sahil said smiling.

"I just love cooking.. in Sheesh Mahal I used to cook with help of servants everyday.. but here we already have you both.. so I won't be needed that much.." Anjali said. 

"You can join us Anjali ma'am.. That's not a problem.." Khushi said. Her love for cooking was the first thing Khushi found real in Anjali till now, that's why she had no problem in sharing the kitchen with Anjali. 

"Yes of course Khushi is right.." Sahil nodded.

Anjali nodded with small smile, "Okay.."

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At night.. Arnav's room..

Aayu sat on Arnav's belly sharing to his uncle what happened the whole day in the house.

Arnav was laid on the bed hearing his stories.

"Annav uncle! Kushie said she's hurt you.. why don't you do something to pacify her and be friends with her again?" Aayu asked.

"We already forgave each other Aayu..  but we're not that much friends anymore.. and I'm not doing anything to pacify her.. because I want things to be like this between us for now" Arnav said.

"Why?" Aayu asked.

"I'm scared to hurt your Khushi again and I don't want to get hurt also.. So it's better we stay as Boss and Cook, rather than friends.." Arnav said.

"What if Kushie finds another friend? Won't you be jealous?" Aayu asked.

"My God.. Aayu! Are you sure you're just five?" Arnav sighed in disbelief tickling Aayu's belly.

Aayu giggled and held Arnav's hand trying to stop him.

He rested his head on Arnav's chest, "Annav uncle don't you miss Kushie as your friend?"

"I do Aayu.. I miss her a lot!" Arnav wrapped his arms around Aayu's body protectively.