"Sheetal.." Arnav said surprised with her presence.

Khushi stood up from the bed while Aayu looked at Sheetal confused, "Who is she uncle?"

"She's a friend.." Arnav replied, then glanced at Sheetal who standing far from them, "Come here.. Why are you standing there?"

"But only Kushie is your friend!" Aayu pouted.

"Khushi is a special friend" Arnav whispered to him making the little boy satisfied with his answer.

Sheetal approached them and walked past Khushi, "Excuse me.." she sat on the bed facing Arnav. 

Khushi though tried to act normal but seeing another woman close to Arnav surely affected her. 

"I heard from Aman about your accident.." Sheetal said concernedly, she patted his cheek gently, "Are you okay?"

"How can she touch my Arnav like this?"  Khushi thought frowning.

"Yeah.. I'm fine.." Arnav replied startled with Sheetal's sudden touch.

"But how this accident happened?" Sheetal frowned slightly.

"Aayu let's go.. Your uncle is busy.." Khushi said extending her hand to Aayu. Aayu placed his hand on hers and jumped down the bed. Khushi took him out of the room with her.

Arnav stare at her going with slightly open mouth and a disbelief look. He didn't even asked her leave? How could she assume he was busy with Sheetal?

"ASR.." Sheetal called him seeing him lost in his thoughts, "How did this accident happened?"

Arnav shifted his gaze to her and shook his head, "It's nothing.. a car was about to crash with mine but then when I tried to escape from him,  banged with a tree instead.."

"Oh.. that's so sad.. you can't even walk now, right?" she asked staring back at his plastered leg. 

"Yeah.. it will take at least a month to recover.." Arnav sighed.

"Don't worry about the fashion show.. Aman will handle the work.." Arnav assured her.

"I'm not even worried about the show.. It's your health that I'm worried about.." Sheetal said glancing once at him, then she lowered her gaze to the floor.

"Really?" Arnav asked amused, "You don't even know much about me till yet.."

"Yes, I recently became your friend but I feel a special connection with you.. I don't know.. maybe because you're Advay's brother.. as I was his and Sana's really good friend.." Sheetal shrugged with a smile.

"Hmm.." Arnav nodded and kept quiet for a while.

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

At the living room..

"Kushie!" Aayu said staring at her. They were settled on the couch watching cartoons.

"I also felt jealous when I used to see my Mumma pampering another baby.. but I knew she loves me the most!" Aayu said, "Annav uncle is with his friend now.. But he said to me that you're his special friend!"

Khushi looked at Aayu flabbergasted. Talking with a kid like Aayu is way better than sharing your problems with an adult. They points are so clear and true. They explain things in an innocent and simple way to you. 

Khushi pulled him closer to her and cuddles to him tightly, showering his face with love filled kisses, "How are you so small baby but so intelligent? Tell me your secret to be this much small but behave like a big boy!"

Aayu giggled and squealed happily. Khushi smiled brightly, kissing his cheek once again, "My Baby Boo!"

Payal approached them and sat with them on the couch with a sweet shy smile.

"Hi.." Khushi smiled at her.

"Hi.." Payal said tucking her hair behind her ear gathering courage to speak to Khushi what she wants.

"Payal aunty are you looking for Akash uncle? He went to his office already.." Aayu said.

"No.. I actually wanted to talk with Khushi only.." Payal said.

"With me?" Khushi asked surprised.

"Yes.. actually my husband loved your masala channa.. he said it tasted different from the way other cooks.. I wanted.. woh.. Can you teach me? I mean can you share your special recipe with me?..  If you don't want.. then it's okay.. I totally understand.." Payal said biting her lips.

"Why not? Of course I can.." Khushi nodded smiling.

"But there's no guarantee it will be same to same as Kushie does.. she has magic in her hands!" Aayu said as matter of fact.

"Shh!" Khushi kept her index finger on his lips indicating him to keep quiet. Then she looked at Payal, "Let's go to the kitchen.."

Payal nodded.

"I'll also come.. I want to learn also.." Aayu said clutching Khushi's duppata in his small fist and following them. Khushi smiled at him shaking her head.

Mami watched her daughter in law bonding well with Khushi, standing at the corridor, "Hello hi bye bye.. My bahu friends with this cook? Nahin (No) way.. Neber (Never) I will let this happenwa!"

"What happened bahu?" Nana approached her.

Mami ran to the staircase escaping from Nana, "Hello hi bye bye.. Sasur ji doesn't spare his own ex-biwi.. then what going to happen to me only DM knows!"

Nana chuckled staring at her running away from him, "English Chicken!"

Anjali was passing by and stopped shocked staring at him. 

"Not you.. Your Mami!" Nana explained reading her expression.

"Oh!" Anjali nodded, then chuckled: You come up with funny names Nana ji..

Nana smiled, "I'm like this only.. but you seem upset.. what happened?"

"It's nothing.. I'm fine.." Anjali faked a smile.

"If you find a husband like Shyam, then you'll always have to fake happiness.." Nana said in serious tone.

"I just don't understand why are you all always finding a way to put all the blame on him" Anjali said annoyed.

"Why don't you start looking at him from our point of view? Anjali there's always a reason why we love or hate someone.. If so many people show their dislike towards your husband, then you should find out the reason.." Nana said, "I'll suggest you to visit your husband's office and talk with his employees.. and people around his office.. if he still behaves in same sweet and good way he does with you or not.. if not, it's time to open your eyes Anjali.."

Anjali sighed, "I'll visit his office today only.. but it doesn't mean anything.. Arnav is also rude and arrogant to his employees, does it mean he's a bad person? No, right?"

"I thought for you he is a bad person!" Nana faked a frown.

Anjali looked at him dumbfounded.

"Arnav is rude and arrogant to everyone until he allows that person to get close to him. Take Khushi as an example.. Earlier Aayu told me he treated her like any other employee but now you can see the difference.. but your husband is sweet and gentle to everyone according to you, but is he for real like that to everyone?" Nana asked.

"You know you speak a lot Nana ji.. but there's a logic in what you said.. I'll.. I'll talk with few of his employees.." Anjali nodded agreeing with him. 

"Great.. at least in this long conversation you admitted your little brother isn't a bad person!" Nana winked at her.

"He's not my brother.." Anjali frowned and went from there.

"He's Anjali.. He's your brother and soon you'll accept him as a member of Raizada family.." Nana smirked.

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

Sometimes later.. At the kitchen..

Khushi finished guiding Payal on how to make masala channa according to her special recipe.

"Khushi I've finished cooking for lunch and there's a special soup for Boss too.. I'll get going now.." Sahil said.

Khushi nodded, "But where are you going so early?"

"Anjali ma'am granted me a leave.. she will cook for dinner today.." Sahil said in hurry taking off his apron and started walking backwards leaving the kitchen, he winked at her and shouted: It's time to party now.. turn up the beet (beat)

"So you will meat (meet) with your special lady.." Khushi smirked.

Sahil nodded his head smiling, "Bye!"

"Bye.. Have a rice (nice) date" Khushi giggled.

Sahil laughed and went from there.
On his way, he found Anjali going out.

"Ma'am once again thank you so much.." Sahil said genuinely.

"Welcome.." Anjali smiled.

Meanwhile, at the kitchen Khushi winked at Payal: That's it.. Your husband will eat special masala channa made by you only..

Payal blushed deeply, "Thank you Khushi.."

"You're welcome.. Now let me serve the lunch for Sir.." Khushi said.

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

Arnav's room..

Khushi stood at the door frame with a tray in her hands, "Can I come in?"

Arnav and Sheetal looked at her side.

"Come Khushi.." Arnav said softly.

"I brought your food.. You need to have lunch so that you have your meds in time" Khushi said walking in the room as she sat on the bed and kept the tray on her lap.

"Give it to me.. I'll feed him.." Sheetal said.

Khushi frowned slightly clutching the tray.

"Sheetal she'll feed me.."

Sheetal stare at him confused. Why is he choosing a cook over his friend?

"I didn't introduce her to you properly yet.. Sheetal apart from being a cook here, she's my Khushi.. and I'm completely hers!" Arnav said. His tone was determined and confident making it clear and short for Sheetal to understand that Khushi is the woman of his life. 

"Oh.." Sheetal was taken aback. She took few seconds to register Arnav's words in her mind and understood what he meant by saying that. Upon realizing the meaning, she stood up taking her purse and faked a smile, "I'll get going then ASR.. Take care of yourself.."

Arnav nodded, "Bye Sheetal.. thanks for the visit.."

Sheetal went from there.

Khushi looked at Arnav smiling. Arnav glanced her, "What?"

"I like what you said.." Khushi said with the smile intact on her face.

Arnav smiled at her.

"Time to eat now.." Khushi said forgetting everything else and concentrated on feeding him his soup.

************************************************************************
5:30 pm..

"Arnav I'm going back home now.." Khushi informed him.

"Stay here!" Arnav whispered huskily.

"I didn't sleep yesterday home. Please understand.." Khushi pleaded biting her lips.

Arnav nodded his head, "Ask the driver to drop you home"

"Okay.." she said knowing very well he wouldn't let her go back home by rickshaw now. 

Khushi approached him who was laid on the bed, taking a rest. She bend and dropped a kiss on his forehead, "Take care of yourself.. Have you dinner and meds in time.. Don't try to walk alone.. If you need anything, then call your family.. and I'll call you later.."

"I'm not a baby!" he rolled his eyes.

"You're.. but only mine" she whispered and quickly ran towards the door.

Arnav smiled faintly.

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

Few minutes later..

"NK.. NK." Arnav shouted.

Anjali came running to his room worriedly, "What happened? Do you need something?"

"Just call NK." Arnav said pressing his lips and clutching his hand.

"NK is not home.." Anjali said, "Just tell me what you need..  I'll bring it for you"

"HP?"

"He's not home also!" Anjali replied, "Just tell me what is it? Why are you so stubborn? I'm here na.. I'll help you.. Tell me what you need?"

"Akash?" Arnav asked.

"TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED.." Anjali gritted her teeth stressing each word.

"I want to pee dammit.." Arnav too gritted his teeth, "Will you take me to the bathroom?"

Anjali bit her lips embarrassed. She went running to call Akash, hitting her forehead for her foolishness.