No proofread.

Mumbai.

Garima sat on her bed in the visitors quarters of the rehabilitation center where Shashi has been admitted holding a photo frame and caressing it as tears streamed down her face.

It was the picture of Khushi's parent together with a young Payal and Khushi which was taken during a vacation Payal had with them after her school break.

Her sister and brother in law had always dotted on Payal and treated her as equally as they did with Khushi.

If Khushi had two toys, her sister and brother in law made sure Payal had the same with equal quality and this made Payal love her sister and brother in law more than her and Shashi and their death really traumatized her but she had to swallow the pain to comfort Khushi.

Only if she knew the love she had for her supposed aunt and uncle was deeply rooted in their familiar blood.

"Am sorry Di...... I deprived you the chance of knowing your own daughter when I replaced her with my dead child...... It's because of me that you and Ajay lost you lives...... My affair with Arvind Malik caused so much hurt and deaths that I wish everyday I hadn't fell in his trap........ Am so sorry Payal, I snatched you away from your real mother but blood will always be connected because even though you don't know you are Ajay and Nimrat's child and Khushi's older sister, you still protected her from us and always stood up for her........ I can't let anyone find out the truth and it's something I will take to my grave. " Garima cried out and hugged the picture.

"Hey Nandkishore? " Garima jerked and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Buaji by the door.

"No... No.... No..... She heard me. " Garima thought staring at Buaji moving towards her dramatically holding her head as she sat by her and snatched the picture from her. "It's all over. " Garima thought afraid but it turned to confusion when Buaji smiled at her and hugged her.

"I know you miss your sister, brother in law and the girls but don't worry...... Immediately Shashi gets well, we will seen them soon...... You are a good mother and how Payal and Khushi grew up is all the proof one needs. " Buaji uttered rubbing her back and Garima relaxed realising she didn't hear her.

Buaji broke the hug and caressed her face as Garima smiled nervously.

Three Days Later,
Arnav's Penthouse.

"If you know what's good for you, you will find out who they are because ASR is growing impatient and you know what happens when he is filled with rage. " Aman shouted on the phone as Payal stared at him holding a tray filled with teapot, cup and a few snacks.

Aman smiled as Payal walked into his room and placed the tray on the centre table as she sat down.

She signalled Aman to sit and he didn't just that as he rubbed his forehead to relieve his migraine.

Payal poured him and cup of tea and he happily accepted and took and sip relishing the delicious burst of flavors of the tea.

"Wow....... You are Khushi must be crown the queens of tea...... It's delicious. " Aman complimented with and smile and Payal smiled back as she watched him eat.

A few minutes later Aman finished and thanked Payal.

"Is Khushi still not done with her exams? " Aman asked and Payal shook her head.

"It's a three hours exams and Arnav is monitoring her like a hawk. " Payal replied giggling and Aman following suit but it turned silent.

"Arnav has been on the edge for the last few days since he woke up....... Even though the university had allowed Khushi to take the exams online, he seems restless and I know he won't relax as long as we don't know who the person behind the attack is....... Luckily for us, they did hurt the girl the kidnapped and released her realising she wasn't Khushi. "

Payal sighed and Aman frown seeing her silent.

"Payal, you can talk to me right?" Aman said and Payal nodded.

"I know the police and the private detectives you hired still doesn't know who is behind it but I suspect someone. "

Aman snapped forward all ears and Payal sighed.

"I suspect Akash. "

Aman was dumbfounded hearing this bit what Payal revealed next shocked him.

Flashback.

It's been a day since the incident and Arnav immediately demanded Aman and Payal move in with them because he was afraid they might also be a target and he wasn't about to lose his only real family and to avoid him stressing, they all did.

In the middle of the night, Payal was woken up by her phone ringing and she immediately received the call.

"Hello Payal! "

Payal jerked put of bed hearing the familiar voice of Akash which pissed Payal off.

"How dare you call me and how did you get my number? " Payal yelled through the phone.

"Buaji gave me your number...... She wants us to fix our relationship and I think she is right...... Am sorry Payal, please reconsider and stop this divorce and I promise to make it up to you...... If you hadn't been out of RM, Khushi wouldn't have been kidnapped. "

Payal's eyes widened in shock hearing Akash's words.

"How did you know Khushi was kidnapped? " Payal whispered and she heard Akash gulped on the phone. "Answer me dammit. "

"I friend of mine is friends with the girl who got kidnapped and he knows about the family history. " Akash replied and Payal wasn't satisfied with his answer.

"Do I look like a fool to you, you are behind this ain't you? " Payal yelled.

"Stop accusing me Payal...... I am not that despicable to stoop so low...... Khushi is like a little sister to me and I will never hurt her...... I called to talk about us and not Khushi. " Payal flinched hearing this cold icy response and her hunger hearing Akash insulting and blaming Khushi.

Flashback ends.

"I have tried to recall who it could be but I know that friend is fake...... Akash is behind Khushi's failed kidnapping....... You have to investigate Akash as soon as possible and if he is behind this...... I won't spare him. "

Aman nodded and called his private detectives to monitor Akash.

Arnav' Room.

Khushi dancing was dancing like a maniac in Arnav's room.

Whilst Arnav laughed at her her.

Khushi frown and stopped dancing placing her hands on her hips with the look on annoyance on her face.

"What's so funny?...... I aced all the questions and am celebrating and instead of joining me, you are there laughing."

"Nothing...... I was just watching my wife dance like a lunatic. " Arnav teased and Khushi gasped in shock hearing Arnav's insult.

She looked around and saw a pillow on the recliner and threw it at Arnav who dodged and sticker out his tongue and this pissed Khushi off and she started chasing him around the room until she got hold of him and pushed him on the bed but but Arnav wasn't going down alone and he dragged her along falling on the bed together and they both stared at each other and started laughing.

After a few minutes, Arnav pulled Khushi closer to him by the waist and he brushed her hair covering her face and pecked her lips.

"You have no idea I scared I was thinking it was you with those monsters and you have no idea how relieved I was seeing it wasn't you....... I love Khushi and I don't want to ever lose you ever....... I fell in love with you the first time you fell into my arms and my stupidity made you hurt you not knowing it will be the best feeling in my life........ Your love made me a better person and I wish I had embraced it sooner......... Khushi I don't want to live in a world where you are not in and this might make be quite overwhelmingly protective but please don't ever take it as I am trying to control you...... It's all my love and until we find out who is behind this, you will not leave my sight. " Khushi smiled and kissed his forehead.

"Don't worry, I won't disobey you are seeing you are controlling, in fact, it's how you love and happy and loving this protective side of you...... I love you Arnav and I don't want anyone else but you. "

Arnav's eyes teared up and her kissed Khushi passionately and she equally reciprocated.

RM.

Akash barged into the mansion startling Anjali, Nani and Mami who were sitting in the hall sipping tea.

Anjali's eyes teared up seeing Akash drunk again and she couldn't help but blame herself.

"Well..... Well.... Well.... If it isn't the destroyers of my life...... Mrs Anjali Jha the chief manipulator and the hour glass doll of the family...... I bow to you. " Akash stumbled forward and kneeled in front of Anjali laughing as he kissed her feet and Anjali moved her feet away.

Akash lifted his gaze and laughed pointing to Nani who had tears streaming down her cheek.

"My beloved biased Dadi, the second in command and second destroyer of my life...... I salute you. " Akash stood up saluting Nani as he burst into laughter and then took a gulp of his alcohol.

Mami stood up in tears and tried to take the bottle away from him but he pushed her so hard she fell and hit her head on the center table making it bleed.

Anjali and Nani rushed up to her and picked her up as Nani yelled out for a first aid kit but no one came.

"You witch..... You demon..... You ruined my life and you dare touch me. " Akash yelled crying . " you were nothing but a cheap maid who trapped her madam's son but look at how you treated Payal...... She was somebody unlike you who was a nobody......... You think she was a gold digger like you that's why you didn't like her...... But I don't blame the three of you..... Like bhai, I had a choice and I chose you evil trio and look at me now...... My life is over...... It's all over and because of you two, I did something unforgivable but I don't regret...... I may have lost today, but I won't stop until Payal is mine. "

Chills run down the spine of the trio hearing his words and his maniac laughter and the cowered backwards in fear.

"She will be mine or no one else's..... Payal is mine. " Akash yelled and immediately lost consciousness as he fell to the floor with a thud and the women held each other afraid.

The Leela Palace.

A woman in a late forties sat in a huge armchair in the extravagant suite of the Leela Palace sipping on some tea watching the news of a student who was kidnapped a few days ago at the university of Delhi.

A in a well tailored suit man entered the room and whispered something to the woman whose calm demeanour turned into that of rage and she threw the glass on the floor scattering it into pieces.

"This is all your fault Arnav Singh Raizada..... Because of you my angel got nearly kidnapped........ I won't ever forgive you for this........ I will break you and my daughter up....... I once lost my husband because of your father ASR, and I would be dammed if I let you be the reason I lost my daughter....... Nimrat Gupta now has the power and connections to destroy you and let's see if Khushi will ever love the grandson of the man who killed her father and caused me to leave her all alone making her think she was an orphan...... Nimrat Gupta is back...... ASR and Garima Gupta, get ready to burn in my hell....... My face may have changed but the burning heart of a mother and a wife will never change and I will make all of you pay dearly....... Sanjay, get ready to strike. "

To be continued.

Next Update will be on Thursday.

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