Next day..
Arshi's room..

Arnav rubbed his eyes and sat on the bed, he was having a terrible headache. He massaged his temple for a while, then looked at Khushi's side.

Panic rushed over him, her side of the bed was empty. Did she left home again?

In seconds, he rushed to the door but before he walked out of the room, his mind hinted towards the poolside and bathroom.

He went to check on the poolside and bathroom, but she wasn't there also.

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"Khushi.. Khushi.." he shouted her name making his way downstairs to the living room, then the dining room and ended up on the kitchen searching for his wife, "HP did you saw Khushi?

HP looked at him clueless. He stood numb for a while.

"Speak up dammit.." Arnav shouted.

"I see Khushi didi everyday.." HP replied innocently.

Arnav rolled his eyes sighing deeply.

He continued his search for his wife, yelling: Khushi.. Khushi..

On other side, Raizadas were praying in mandir and got disturbed hearing Arnav shouting non-stop for Khushi.

Nani frowned with her eyes closed, "One can't even pray peacefully in this house"

Just then Arnav passed from the temple and his eyes captured a glimpse of his wife's royal blue salwar.

He sighed in relief. Khushi had by that time turned to him glaring for disturbing not only hers, but everyone who was doing pooja.

"Do get your ears check up.." Arnav said sarcastically and about to take a step forward when the Raizadas yelled at him, "Stop!"

Arnav froze to the stop wondering what's wrong with them.

"You can't walk in the temple without taking shower" Khushi frowned.

"Then you come here" he ordered calling her.

"I'm not your maid" Khushi replied crossing her arms.

"You're my wife" he stressed.

"Khushi bitiya you go and see what he wants.. otherwise our pooja won't get completed today" Nani said shaking her head.

Khushi unwillingly nodded and went to Arnav.

"I searched for you whole house dammit" he scolded while walking with her towards the staircase.

"Like a mad man" Khushi added.

Arnav glared at her.

"Don't you know everyday in morning I join our family for pooja? Why are you panicking like this?" she asked.

Arnav looked at her dumbfounded.

"Don't worry.. I will never leave you ASR.." Khushi said in serious tone.

He felt good hearing her assuring him that she will never leave him, but the way she called him ASR felt like a taunt.

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Payash's room..

"Khushi I'm so happy that we're going to Sydney for honeymoon.. there Akash ji will surely do something.." Payal smiled brightly while Khushi helped her to pack her bags.

"Khushi are you listening to me?" Payal looked at her lost in her thoughts while folding the clothes.

Khushi looked at her startled, "Hmm.. yes.. I'm listening to you Jiji.."

"I'm sorry Khushi.. Here I'm sharing my happiness with you and you must be upset that Arnav ji refused to go for honeymoon.." Payal said guiltily and pulled Khushi to sit beside her on the bed.

"No Jiji.. I'm not upset about that.." Khushi shook her head.

"Then? Dare you say nothing Khushi.. I know something is bothering you.." Payal glared at her.

"Jiji.." Khushi shook her head again.

"Have you started lying to your Jiji now?" Payal asked hurt.

Khushi's eyes moistened on its own, "Jiji"

She rested her head on Payal's shoulder sobbing, "I wish I never married Arnav ji"

Arnav who came to say to Khushi that she should stay home and spend time with Payal and Akash as they're leaving tonight to Sydney, stood frozen at the door frame hearing those pricking words from Khushi's mouth.

The only thing that came instantly in his mind.. He failed.. Marriage wasn't his cup of tea.. He broke Khushi's heart just like his father broke his mother's heart..

Taking slow and silent steps back, he left Payash's room with tears rolling down his cheek.

"Chote see what I bought for Payal.. Isn't it beautiful dress?" Anjali found him on the way and thought to ask what he thinks about her gift before she gives it to Payal.

Arnav looked away not wanting her to notice his teary eyes.

But it was too late as he didn't had time to wipe the tears that had fallen to his cheek and Anjali noticed it.

She panicked and held him by his shoulder, "Chote what happened? Why are you crying?"

"Di please.. don't.. I need to be alone.." he managed to say and went from there leaving no chance for Anjali to speak something else.

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Payash room..

"Have you gone mad Khushi? Why are you talking like this? You so wished to marry him, right? What happened now?" Payal asked worried.

"I can't say.. Arnav ji doesn't like when I share our problems with others.." Khushi said wiping the tears away from her eyes.

Payal looked at her helpless. She wanted to help her little sister but she can't interfere in her marriage's matters.

"Everything will be alright okay.. Whatever problems you both are facing now will eventually get solved.. You both love and trust each other so much.. nothing can harm the beautiful and strong relation you both share with each other.." Payal said caressing Khushi's hair.

"He doesn't love me" Khushi thought to herself and looked down.

Anjali walked in the room making both sisters compose themselves.

"Di app.." Payal faked a smile.

"I wanted to gift you this dress.. Wear it in Sydney.. Akash will go crazy seeing you with this dress.." Anjali too faked a smile. After all, after seeing her Chote crying again, she was really upset.

Payal blushed a little and took the dress from Anjali's hand, "Thank you Di"

"Go and try to see if it's fit you or not" Anjali said.

Payal nodded and went to the bathroom to change.

Meanwhile Anjali sat beside Khushi.

"Khushi" Anjali called her softly.

Khushi looked at her side, "Haan Di"

"Chote made me promise to not tell you anything he said to me.. that's why I'm helpless.. but all I can say is he's upset with you.." Anjali said.

"He talked with you, Di?" Khushi blinked her eyes.

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Sometime later.. Garden..

Arnav was sitting under the tree crying his heart out.

"I told you before Ma.. I don't believe in love and marriage.. I should have stick in my belief instead of getting married to Khushi and spoil her life.. I broke her heart today.. just like that man (his father) broke yours.. when I saw her crying and saying to Payal she wished she never married me.. I felt so scared Ma.. what I did? I proved that at last I'm a Malik only.. I broke the heart of the woman who loves me.. He did the same thing with you, right? You loved him so much and he broke your heart and cheated on you.. but what could have I done? Ma.. I can't even tell you how much I tried to keep distance from Khushi in past and even kick her out of my life.. but I just couldn't.. I don't know why it's her.. But I never felt for other women, what I felt for her.. I needed her in my life.. I wanted to keep her happy with me.. I wanted to be a part of her life.. You know I don't believe in all this marriage rituals and all.. but for her happiness, I wanted to do all that.. I wanted to give love and marriage a chance in my life.. only and only because of Khushi.. because her cute innocent smile makes my heart find its peace.. Should I tell you a secret?" he caressed the tree he planted with his mother and Di in childhood with moist eyes.

"Perhaps she means to me way more than what Di means to me.. I have always said to you na.. that Di is my world and no one will ever take her place in this life.. that's what I believe before Khushi came in my life.. now Khushi is my life.. my everything!"

"But she hurt me a lot when she laughed with her parents about the plan they did to convince me to get married.. I really felt bad.. it seems like they were mocking my feelings.." Arnav said, "You already know your son Ma.. I don't even know how to share my pain with others in words.. that's why I don't want to talk to her about this.. I'm scared she will not understand my pain.. because she doesn't have the same fear of marriage and insecurities like me.. she might not even understand why it hurt me.. because I understand she was having a normal conversation with her family.. and probably even I would have laughed about the plan if my past wasn't so tragic.. probably I wouldn't react like this if my past was different Ma.." he looked down, a lone tear escaped from his eyes.

"I kept distance from her because I needed some time alone.. I was so much hurt with her that day.. I felt like she betrayed me.. and I preferred not to say a word to her.. because in anger I would have blurted out things that I don't even mean and that would break her heart completely.. like I did yesterday when she confessed her feelings to me.. and I said that I don't love her.. I really repented for being so rude to her Ma..those tears in her hazel eyes prick my heart so much.."

"But I guess I went to far with her to the point to make her regret of marrying me" he rested his head on the tree and shut his eyes tightly.

His phone rang and he took it out from his pocket and picked it up, clearing his throat: Yeah Aman.. Ok.. just give few minutes.. I'm coming

He glanced at the tree one last time and walked to leave. On his way, a rose fell on his feet.

He stopped on his track and glanced at the rose for a good time. Then knelt down and took the rose in his hand, staring at it, lost in his thoughts.

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Shantivan
At night..

Arnav walked in his room and saw Khushi brushing her hair.

When Khushi felt his presence, she glanced at him through the mirror and immediately took her purse and walked to leave the room.

Arnav held her hand in time, "I want to talk with you Khushi" he said huskily.

"But I don't want to talk with you ASR" Khushi said emotionlessly and shoved his hand away.

She walked out of the room and joined the family who were ready to drop Payash, NK and Lavanya at the airport.

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1. Who thinks Khushi was a part of Shashi's plan?

2. Why Khushi said she wished she never married Arnav?