Arnav sat on the floor of his cell with his knees flexed and head resting upon it. He had been waiting the whole day for Khushi's arrival but he had started getting worried when Khushi did not show up by the afternoon. She usually met him in the morning or rarely in the afternoon. And she'd inform him the earlier day if she'd be late. But today, she hadn't informed and neither did she show up till the evening. And that had had him worried.

He had requested the guard on-duty to call up Khushi. She hadn't picked up the call but he did get to know that she had been hospitalized through the newspaper. Khushi had been shot upon and she had injured her left arm.

The guard had secretly passed him the paper clipping that held the news of Khushi being shot.

The paper, now, stayed crushed between Arnav's fingers as he formed a fist in anger.

Wasn't this the same reason why he did not want Khushi to take up the case? He knew, now that he was involved, more bloodshed was to come. He has to meet Khushi. He has to warn her of the danger. He has to tell her about everything.

But he knew he was helpless until Khushi, herself, was strong enough to come and meet him. And that just increased his anger.

*

Khushi sat on the hospital bed with her left arm secured in a sling. She groaned in annoyance at not being able to move her arm.

The door opened, making Khushi look at the visitor.

"Hey, Aman!" Khushi said, surprised at Aman's visit.

"Hi! How are you?" Aman asked eyeing her injured arm.

"As fine as I can be with this sling." Khushi snorted making Aman chuckle.

"Take a seat, Aman." Khushi offered as she leaned on the bed for support.

Aman sat on the couch near Khushi's bed and asked, "How did it happen, Khushi?"

"Even I don't know. My car had broken down and I was looking around for some help when I heard the motorcycle arriving followed by the gunshots. Thankfully, only one hit me and that too in the arm. I was scared for a moment." Khushi described while Aman sat lost in his thoughts.

"Aman." Khushi called out for him bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Hmm, yeah."

"Can you please ask someone to take me to meet, Arnav?" Khushi asked knowing well that he'd help.

"Why someone? I'll come along with you, Khushi." Aman offered.

"So that Arnav scolds both you and me? Arnav doesn't want you to be in danger. He wouldn't like it." Khushi tried explaining Aman.

"It's of no use anymore. Now that you are attacked, I am sure whoever did it knows that I am involved too. So I'd rather be in danger while helping ASR instead of hiding. Anyways, when are you getting discharged?" Asked Aman, determined to meet ASR after so long.

"The doctor is getting the discharge papers ready."

Aman and Khushi sat in silence. Aman waited for the discharge papers to arrive while he made a call to Megha to cancel all of his appointments for the remaining day.

Khushi, on the other hand, racked her head on who could be suspected. She suspected Roy, of course. She has a very strong doubt on him. He has been a mysterious character for her. Next, she hasn't met Anjali yet, so she can't judge Anjali. She needs to meet Anjali soon. But before that she needs to meet Arnav and this time, get everything out of him.

It wasn't long before the doctor handed them the discharge paper and they walked out of the hospital.

Aman's phone rang, distracting them from their thoughts.

"Khushi, why don't you go and sit in the car 'til I complete this call?" Aman offered her, his car keys and watched Khushi walk away.

"Yes, Megha."

"Sir, actually there was a man who had had an appointment fixed with you yesterday in the afternoon. He had called me later to cancel the meeting."

"So? Why are you informing me this now, Megha?" Aman asked annoyed at being interrupted while going to meet ASR.

"Actually, he had asked me if Khushi Ma'am had come to meet you. And that made me doubtful of him, so thought to inform you about the same. It had slipped my mind yesterday. But the attack on Khushi Ma'am reminded me of it." Megha answered, scared.

Aman's eyes widened at the reply. "What was his name?"

"Wait a minute, sir. Yeah, his name was Mr. Manish Roy."

"Okay! Thanks!" Aman replied absentmindedly and cut the call.

Aman walked towards his car and occupied the driver's seat, still not acknowledging Khushi's presence.

"Aman, what's wrong?" Khushi asked worriedly, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Roy had taken an appointment to meet me in the afternoon, yesterday. But then he had cancelled it and asked if you had come to meet me." Aman replied, igniting his car and driving off to meet Arnav.

Khushi and Aman stayed silent throughout the journey, pushing their brain to work harder on every aspect of the case.

*

"Your lawyer has come to meet you." Informed the guard as he opened the door of the cell.

Arnav looked at him surprised. Khushi had come to see him. She had gotten shot just yesterday and the news in the paper said that she had been badly hurt in the arm. Did she get discharged? But then, why isn't she taking rest? Why isn't taking care of herself?

Questions revolved in Arnav's head abd he walked out of his cell to the waiting room to meet Khushi. He walked towards the room, determination to tell all the truth, that he knows, to Khushi.

Arnav pushed open the steel door and walked inside to stop dead in track, seeing Aman sitting along with Khushi on the chair.

Arnav jerked out of his thoughts as he felt arms being wrapped around him. His eyes filled with happiness as he hugged Aman back. So long, since he met Aman!

Khushi stood at the back watching the two friends meeting each other after a long period. Yes, they did not declare that they were friends but anyone can look at their happiness and say that they were friends, trustworthy friends. For a moment, Khushi felt jealous of their friendship. She never had such friends but maybe she'll get one.. Or maybe two.

"How are you, Aman?" Arnav asked breaking the hug.

"Just as fine as I can be, ASR." Aman replied and continued, "How are you? I missed you. AR misses ASR a lot."

Arnav's eyes filled with tears as he heard of AR. Oh, only he knows how much he misses his baby.

"I'm fine." Arnav replied with a gulp in his throat.

Khushi senaed the emotional state of the two friends and shook her head at seeing Arnav hiding his emotions.

She cleared her throat, grabbing their attention and said, "Well, Mr. Raizada, I have a few questions for you and this time, you are going to answer them, honestly. No missing out on a single point."

"How are you?" Asked Arnav as he walked towards the table and sat opposite to Khushi and Aman. Aman looked shocked at Arnav seeing him talking softly with Khushi.

"Well, I'm doing great as of now. Thankfully, I am alive. I swear, I'm not leaving the person who dared to hurt me." Khushi said determined.

"I'm not leaving him, either." Swore Arnav and Aman silently.

"So, tell me, you deliberately wanted me to meet Roy, isn't it?" Asked Khushi, narrowing her eyes at Arnav.

*

"What the hell! Why are you shouting at me? I did what you had asked for." Roy shouted over the phone.

"You did what I asked you to do? Seriously? I had asked you to fucking threaten that lawyer and not shoot at her. What if she would have died? You'd have been dead too, Roy." The voice across the phone snarled.

"Mind you, the day you get suspected would be your last day on this earth."

"You can't thre-" The line went dead and words left hanging in Roy's mouth.

Sweat formed on his forehead as he prayed God to not get suspicious. He had to save himself but he can't even use protection or he'd look suspicious.

*

"Yes, I did." Arnav replied as he continued, "It's no point hiding it now."

Khushi sighed in relief as she was convinced that finally Arnav would say the truth.

"So?" Khushi probed.

"The last time the case was going on, I had found out that Roy was working for someone. He was either hiding the facts or he was hindering them. I don't know what he did but the police failed to find the real evidences." Arnav said clenching his teeth in anger.

Khushi and Aman looked at him in shock as he revealed about his doubts.

"Why didn't you tell me then, ASR?" Aman asked, waiting for an answer. He was hurt. He felt as if ASR did not trust me enough to share it with him.

"You were already shot, Aman, and you expect me to put your life more into danger?" Arnav replied, stating his reason for hidding his doubts.

"Now, first answer me, why did you come here, Aman? Hadn't I denied you from coming?"

"I know you did. But Khushi wanted to meet you and now that the game has begun again, I'm not gonna step back and just watch everything happen all over again. This time, let him do whatever he wants, but the culprit is going to get punished." Aman answered with rage filling his insides.

"Her!" Arnav said.

~

I know, I know, I know, I'm so so so late in typing this up and I'm so very sorry for the same but trust me, being a medical student is not an easy task at all. It has been very very hectic, stressful and depressing for me. I apologize for the delay, though.

I hope you all liked the update. Thanks for your love.

Hit the star and comment below to let us know your views.

Love,
Saraa (xBadishx)
and
Shreya (Kiddo_Star)