"I need all the information about Khushi. Her past, present, future. Everything Aman!!" Arnav had barked into his bluetooth headset.

"Is everything okay sir?" Aman asked

"Yes Aman, everything is fine. I need to know her background." Arnav said calmly.

"Is it because of what Sheetal has been telling you ASR?" Aman asked "She's a opportunist bitch ASR and you know that."

"Aman.."

"ASR, Sheetal cannot affect you. I know she's your friend but Khushi is not the girl she's presenting her to be. Khushi would never take undue advantage of your and your family's love and affection." Aman said rather frantically.

"Aman.. listen to me stop ranting. I know Khushi, and I probably understand her more than you could ever do Aman Mathur. I would never harbour any negative thoughts about that girl. Where did Sheetal even come from?" Arnav asked surprised at his manager cum personal assistant's sudden outburst.

"I'm sorry ASR." Aman spoke quietly.

"It's okay." Arnav said calmly.

"I just don't get a good feeling out of this. Sheetal's attitude has always pricked me, and she's being overly difficult in Khushi's matter. I just didn't want you to misunderstand her." Aman said.

Arnav smiled, "I didn't know you'll grow so fond of her without even meeting her once, just on the basis of what I have been telling you." Arnav remarked amused.

"It's not just you. Anjali Di and Jija-ji have been speaking of her very fondly too." Aman informed him.

"I can believe you on that." Arnav said "Getting back to the reason I'd called you."

"Yes Arnav."

"Aman.. You remember I had once told you about my doll?" Arnav asked "My Khushi."

"Yes, I do remember. Shyam Jija-ji's sister. She had died in a car accident along with her parents years ago." Aman recalled all the details about the said Khushi he had gotten to hear from his boss cum best friend.

"Right. I don't think Aman that she's dead. I think Khushi is alive, My doll is alive and healthy and breathing." Arnav said softly

"Arnav.."

"Right in front of me." Arnav added, not noticing the way Aman's breath hitched in his throat.

"Wh--What-?" Aman gasped.

"I don't know Aman, I've been trying to shake this feeling off. I've been trying not to be hopeful but my heart doesn't seem to want to obey me." Arnav said chuckling slightly.

"I don't even know how to explain all of this to you Aman. I just know that she's very important to me.. More than anything and anyone else. She's the breath of my life Aman and I.. I believe that She's My Khushi.. My doll." Arnav said firmly.

Aman sighed at the other end of the call. "Will these feelings remain, even if she isn't your doll?" He asked

"Of course Aman!" Arnav answered without missing a beat. "She will still be Khushi, She will still be the same chirpy crazy butterfly that she is."

Aman smiled.

"You'll have it on your table in the next 2 days." Aman said, referring to the information he had asked for. "I'll pray.. with all my heart that you get your doll back."

"Thank you Aman." Arnav whispered

"Anything for you."

The next day morning, Khushi came out of her room dressed in a simple baby pink salwaar kameez topped with a white dupatta. Anjali was instructing some workers who were busy doing some arrangements.

"Di What's going on?" Khushi asked

"Khushi.. Actually aaj Shyam-ji ke parents aur sister ki death anniversary hai, That is what we are preparing for. (It's Shyam-ji's parents' and sister's death anniversary)" Anjali told her.

"Death Anniversary" Khushi whispered, her eyes caught a huge photograph of a couple.

Khushi walked up to the raised platform on which the picture was placed. A tear escaped the confines of her eyes.

"How.. How did they die?" Khushi asked

"It was an accident." Arnav informed her, coming to stand next to her. "Malini Maa and Vihaan Baba died in a car crash."

Khushi blinked. A blurred image flashed in front of her eyes making her stumble backwards.

"Khushi!" Arnav steadied her. "Careful."  

Anjali looked at them concerned.

"Khushi, Are you okay?"  She asked cupping her face.

Khushi nodded slightly.

Arnav looked at her, she was still looking a little disturbed. He led her to the couch and made her sit.

"I'm fine Arnav-ji." Khushi said in an attempt to ease his worries.

"I know.. I know you are." Arnav handed her a glass half filled with water.

Khushi smiled, "I'm not a glass doll."

Arnav chuckled, "Yeah Right."

Khushi pouted.

"You call them Malini Maa and Vihaan Baba, Why?" Khushi asked after a few minutes.

"Malini Maa was our mumma's college best friend while Vihaan Baba and our father were business associates. Both the families knew each-other too well." Arnav explained to her, a small mirthless smile formed on his lips.

"I'm sorry I don't think it's a good time for such.. questions." Khushi sighed.

"It's okay, You're allowed to ask as many questions as you like." Arnav said cupping her face.

Khushi smiled.

Shyam entered the hall carrying a basket full of fresh fruits, Arnav took the basket and put it on the raised platform on which the veneration was to take place.

"Kya khichdi pakk rahi hai aap dono ke beech mein? (What's going on between the two of you?)" Shyam asked

"Nothing, It's just Khushi being her curious self." Arnav said playfully.

Khushi chuckled softly.

"Don't put her photo here." Arnav said glancing at Shyam who understood what he was referring to.

Shyam nodded "She's was too young when she died, We don't hold her Barsi anyway.. And you know that. Why do you keep reminding us?"

"I don't know.. But it doesn't feel right. It never does."

"You're not coming for the veneration Arnav-ji?" Khushi asked entering his room.

Arnav shook his head, working on his laptop. "Not my thing."

Khushi sighed, walking up to his bed. "You must really miss them right?"

"A lot." The words rolled out of his mouth on their own accord.

"I understand, I really do." Khushi said softly

Arnav looked at the girl sitting next to him and smiled.

"You know..It seem Maa and Baba were the ones binding my family together. When they were around, Everything was fine, Everyone was happy. Anjali Di and Shyam Jija-ji, Doll and I." Arnav said quietly.

"After their death, Everything just fell apart. My family.. Their happiness, their peace, my happiness, my only best friend all of it was robbed. We were robbed."  Arnav continued as a couple of tears rolled down his cheeks.

"What had happened?" Khushi asked, "If you don't mind telling me."

Arnav smiled, "We had had a beautiful childhood, loving parents, Amazing family. Vihaan Baba and Maa were just like an icing on the cake. Di and Jiju were already best of friends by the time I got my Khushi."

"Khushi?"

"I had named her Khushi because she was my happiness. When I had first seen her.. I had realised that I really had a heart and it had literally melted like a Dairy Milk Silk when she opened her hazel brown eyes for the first time. She was this little thing wrapped in a pink blanket, so cute so small, so soft and gentle and.." Arnav sighed as he heard the sound of Khushi's laughter.

"You really loved her didn't you?" She asked him.

"You have no idea" He whispered, looking at her intently.

"She was the life of our families, But then.. The happy bubble burst, Suddenly Khushi vanished and took with her the happiness of the house, the peace of my family." Arnav said sadly.

"I'm-"

"No don't.. don't apologise." Arnav cut her off gently.

Khushi took his hand in her own and gave it a small gentle squeeze. "Everything will be fine." She assured him.

"After the deaths of the Jhas, Dad busied himself in his office, mom got busy with the household. We got busy with trying to adapt to the sudden changes, and trying to get ourselves out of the trauma. Di was constantly supportive of her Shyam while Mumma was trying her best to manage her time between the household, her husband and me." Arnav spoke solemnly "I think that's where the trouble began."

Khushi tightened her hold on his hand

"Dad got into a relationship with his personal assistant, It went on for 6 years. In the words of my Grandmother, Jab biwi pati ko satisfy nahi kar paaye, Toh woh apni zarooratein bahar se poori karne par majboor ho jaata hai (When a wife fails to satisfy her husband, He is forced to turn to other woman.)" Arnav recalled the horrendous words with a bitter smile.

"That's not true Khushi.. A real man would never cheat on his wife." Arnav rasped softly.

Khushi nodded, her eyes brimming with tears witnessing her ever so strong Arnav-ji in such a vulnerable state.

"If Baba had been there, He wouldn't have let him deviate like this. He would've helped Mr. Mallik to see right from wrong." Arnav said confidently.  

"You must be getting bored.. I mean-" Arnav whispered in realization.

"Shh.. You can talk to me, Always." Khushi said with a smile which was shortly reciprocated.

Arnav sighed pulling Khushi into a hug. "Always?"

Khushi nodded, wrapping her arms around him pulling him closer. "Always."

They stayed like that for another few minutes, both relishing the feeling of peace that the other provided.

"You know how they died.." Arnav spoke cutting through the silence of the room.

"Stop Arnav-ji, Can't you see how much it's hurting you?" Khushi whispered disapprovingly.

"I'll never be able to open up like this again Khushi, It's today or never." Arnav said breaking the hug.

Khushi sighed.

"It was Di's wedding day, both Di and Jija-ji were glowing with happiness. I was teasing them both.." Arnav chuckled "When I saw Mumma running towards Mr. Raizada's study."

"Normally I wouldn't have bothered, but that day I decided to follow her and see what had happened." Arnav recalled the events of that day.

"Apparently, A woman had blackmailed Mr. Raizada for a particular sum of money, and had warned that if he failed to comply with her demands.. She will tell the family the truth about his extramarital affair with his personal assistant. Mr. Raizada thought she was bluffing and didn't pay attention to her words but.." Arnav trailed off with a mirthless chuckle.

Khushi gasped.

"Mumma was shocked to learn the truth and heartbroken. She confronted him, and he accepted his deeds, guiltily. And then.. She shot herself dead unable to bear her husband's treachery." Arnav concluded.

"Arnav-ji.."

"Minutes later, When Mr. Mallik recovered from the shock, He took the gun from her hand and shot himself. I lost both of my parents within ten minutes. None of them paused to think about their children." Arnav whispered sadly.

Khushi cupped her face with her palm, stopping the sobs from escaping her throat.

"I'm sorry.."  Arnav whispered wiping her tears. "Shh. Stop crying."

"I..-"

"I know.. It's okay." Arnav pulled her back into his arms, shushing her.

"The wedding.." Khushi asked in a whisper.

"The wedding happened. Though not that day. You think Jiju would let anyone badmouth me or Di? He fought the whole family, all the relatives. They got married two years later, in a small ceremony after we came to Delhi." Arnav said softly.

Khushi smiled.

"Any more questions?" Arnav asked.

Khushi shook her head.

Arnav kissed her forehead. "Thank you for listening. I really needed to let all this out."

"Anytime."

Another update.

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