No proofread.

RM.

Khushi and Arnav kneeled in front of Anaisha who was sitting on the couch staring between her parents while munching on the jalebi Khushi used to bribe her to win their challenge.

Mohan had his phone filming the challenge between the couple more like Khushi desperately trying to make Anaisha say her name first.

"Now say mama. " Khushi exclaimed impatiently waiting since for the past two days Ana has been picking up words. "Come on say mama. " Ana stop munching on her and stared at her mother and Khushi turned to Arnav smirking.

They had made a bet as to whom Ana's first word will be and Khushi who was hopeful because she bribed Ana with her favorite jalebi was in for a shock when Ana blow strawberries at Khushi.

Arnav burst out laughing making Khushi glare at him.

"Khushi? " Arvind called out to her and she turned and smiled at her father in law who has become a big part of their lives for the past two months. "Give up because she will definitely chose Arnav over you...... Won't you Ana baby. "

Anaisha giggled and clapped making Khushi defeated and punched Arnav who was enjoying her misery.

Anaisha found it funny and started clapping and giggling again.

Khushi then proceeded to punch Arnav again.

"Woman stop assaulting me...... She will never say mama before Dada no matter how much you assault me and bribe her...... Dads will be her first word. " Arnav said laughing as Khushi sat on his stomach punching his chest.

"Mama."

Khushi's fist halted mid air and silence engulfed the hall with jaws dropped in shock except for Khushi whose eyes turned glassy and the giggling of Ana were heard in the hall of the mansion.

Khushi squealed and leaped off Arnav and picked up Ana throwing her into the air and catching her.

"Mama." Ana squealed again earning her multiple kisses from Khushi.

The family except a shocked Arnav gushed at the mother and daughter.

"I won. " Khushi said beaming with pride and honor and wiggled her tougue mockingly at Arnav.

"Sorry buddy...... You lose. " Ajay laughed as helped Arnav up.

Arnav smiled seeing how happy Khushi was and Ana kissing her mother on the lips.

Arnav went in and hugged his girls as Mohan cried taking the video.

"I love you both. " Arnav exclaimed and kissed Khushi's cheek which made Anaisha frown.

"Someone looks pissed at being ignored. " Garima said and Arnav realised Anaisha was now staring at him with squinted eyes.

He dropped multiple kisses on her making her giggle.

"She is really matured for her age. " Anjali exclaimed and they all nodded in agreement.

It's been two months since Arnav and Anjali met Arvind and the families healing process has been astronomically good.

Arvind was diagnosed with severe depression just like the family had suspected and he had been in therapy since even though he wasn't a huge fan of it but to make up for all the years he abandoned his children, Arvind agreed and he was happy because it had helped him deal with some of his fear and process his emotions well.

He was also happy to have witnessed the wedding between Arshi and Aman with Payal as they had also agreed to get married at the same time.

After a month, the wedding was still the talk of the town and people were gushing over Anaisha who was a special guest at the wedding.

Since then the family had received good news after good news.

From Mohan officially making his relationship with Nandini public to Isha and Arnav combining their fashion companies into one which has rivals defeated as they knew no one could defeat them.

Nani and Mami who had returned to the orphanage and were now official managers which had made Arnav proud and even though he had kept his distance from them, he didn't stop keeping tabs on them.

Isha and Garima were now cordial with each other and the girls were had forgiven her completely.

After a heart to heart talk with Shashi, Garima apologized and Shashi forgave her not wanting to go into his new relationship with hate in his heart.

Garima also got a chance to meet Maya, Shashi's soon to be wife and part owner of him and Ajay's sweet shop which was a fast growing business and has been expanding to other states.

They both got along really well and Maya who was once insecure and afraid Shashi still has feelings for Garima was now relaxed.

Maya Malhotra.
Shashi's soon to be wife and stepmom of Khushi and Payal and shashi and Ajay's business partner.

Anjali was still working at the orphanage and her ideas with funding from Arvind, Isha and Arnav had tremendously improved the lives of the children at the orphanage and Anjali was planning to buy more lands to build elderly homes for widows and divorced women which had the backing of Arnav, Isha and Arvind.

Everyone was so proud of her and she was also of herself.

The family was now more united more than ever and no one will ever tear them apart again.

Anjali's phone binged and she gulped reading the message which didn't go unnoticed by Arnav.

"Di?...... Are you okay? " Arnav asked worried as the family turned their attention to her and she nervously fidgetted with the phone in her hand making them more alert.

"There is someone coming here in a few hours to see all of you........ I have been seeing someone and he is here with his family to ask for my hand in marriage. "

The family were shocked by Anjali's revelation as they didn't know she was seeing someone left alone dating.

Arnav's shocked expression turned to anger as he handed Anaisha to Khushi.

"How long have you been seeing each other? " Arnav asked clearly pissed and so was Arvind which didn't go unnoticed by the family.

"Five months now. "

Arnav and the rest of the family looked stunned.

"You just met a man five months ago and all of a sudden you want to marry him?..... You can be serious....... I'm not accepting anyone........ Better tell him to met us later. " Arvind ordered and Arnav nodded in agreement making Anjali tear up.

"He is a good man Papa and he loves me for who I am. " Anjali defended.

"Just like Shyam right? " Arnav exclaimed sarcastically and Anjali gasped in shock and turned walking away.

Arnav felt remorseful at his words hit him realising he had just taken it too far.

"Arnav, you went to far. " Khushi scolded making him feel more horrible.

"Well it's a normal reaction because that's how she introduced Shyam. " The family looked surprised. "Shyam also showed up just like who ever is coming did....... No one knew she was dating him but the only difference is at least they didn't date for two months like she and Shyam did........ Arnav's reaction is normal especially given Anjali's history. " Aman defended and the family who didn't know this were stunned.

"Can I say something? " Maya asked and the family nodded. "Don't you think Anjali had proven she can make the right choices by now........ Yes she was wrong to hide her relationship status but knowing the history of this family it's normal for her to do so........ Anjali has been severely burnt once and you think she will do that again knowing she will now lose more than she did in the past........ Arnav, Arvindji....... Please meet this man and his family and if you don't want him for her, you can speak to her and convince her otherwise........ You both have nothing to lose but if you push him away, you might lose Anjali who is more important that who ever that man is. "

Arnav and Arvind realised Maya was right, Anjali was their their blood and they both didn't want the past repeating itself and had to approach this with caution.

"Arnie?....... You and Papa go speak to her and make her under this is a reaction to the past and that no matter what, you will both love her but also make sure you point out her mistakes without cornering her and making her feel attacked. " Khushi said and Arnav nodded and smiled at her.

She leaned closer and whispered sorry to him for what she said earlier.

Arvind and Arnav walked to Anjali's room and knocked on the door.

Anjali opened the door and let them in and Arvind proceeded to sit on her bed as Arnav stood by the door with his arms folded.

Arvind tapped the space beside him and Anjali limped up to them and sat by her father.

"Anju you know your brother and I love you right? " Anjali nodded fidgetting with her blouse. "We don't want you repeating what you did with Shyam....... You only knew him for a two months and never told the family and look at how it ended...... If Khushi hadn't come into your brother's life, you will still be living with that trash and it seems you are going on the same path...... We know nothing about that man or even his name....... No man with good intentions will show up to a woman's house and ask for her hand in marriage without knowing the family....... This is huge red flag........ We don't want you getting hurt again Anju. "

"Papa! chote, I know how I handled this was wrong but believe me, Sunil is a good man....... He really wanted to met the family but I didn't let him....... I guess he felt frustrated and wanted to come today" Arvind and Arnav were stunned by this and this didn't sit well with them which Anjali noticed. "He is not after money like Shyam...... He is a pediatrician at City Hospital and I know what am about to tell you will probably make all of you angry but trust me I can handle it....... Am no longer the weak Anjali I use to be. "

"What is it? " Arnav asked alerted and Anjali gulped knowing this could be a deal breaker for them.

"He is a divorcee and has two children with his ex wife. " Arnav glared at Anjali and she knew he wasn't going to consent to this. "Chote please don't say no to his request....... I promise he is a good man and we bonded over that fact that our former spouses just used us for money and ended up cheating on us. "

"Anjali I need more details than the brief on your are giving us which is not helping at all. " Arvind demanded sternly and Anjali knew her father was serious this time around.

"Sunil never wanted to marry his wife bit was forced by his mother who was friend's with his former mother in law...... He gave in after his mother went on hunger strike and married his ex wife Sujata........ She was a controlling and materialistic woman and made his life hell by always accusing him of cheating when he speaks to any woman....... He got fed up as it was also affecting his job because of the harassment his wife was putting his co workers and nurses through and he divorced her....... His family especially his mother didn't take it well and so did his wife who made false allegations of him cheating and his lawyer adviced him to have his ex wife investigated and through that, they found out she was the on cheating from the beginning of their marriage with her hoodlum ex....... She exposed her to the family and they finally apologised but his mother and children believed he set his ex wife up as revenge for losing his job but now they were getting on well after a lot of therapy and him having full custody of the children........ Please met him once and you will realise I wasn't wrong about him. "

Arvind and Arnav were sceptical about meeting him but agreed and Anjali hugged them happy.

Arnav and Arvind moved out but halted a few steps away from Anjali's room.

"Papa, I don't like this. " Arnav exclaimed concerned and Arvind sighed.

"We have to give him a chance....... I heard your brother in law Mohan is really good at finding out about people on the internet....... Aman would have been the go to person to do a background check of this Sunil but we don't have much time so we go with Mohan. "

Arnav nodded and called Mohan to do a little background check on him.

The women including Maya took over preparing snacks and welcome gifts for the guest since they had a few hours before they arrive.

Luckily for them, being rich had it perks and they got everything on time.

The men were left to deal with the background check as Aman ordered for another extensive background check on Sunil.

A few hours later, Sunil sat nervously in front of the men of the family who had their poker faces on.

Only the women smiled at them but they didn't like the snobbish nature of Sunil's mother who clearly didn't want to be here.

"Welcome to our family and how may we help you. " Ajay asked sternly which shocked Khushi and Payal as they have never heard their father be this stern but they knew it was because Anjali has become like another daughter to him.

Khushi and Payal knowing this was an adult talk took the children who had come with them away leaving only Isha, Garima and Maya with the men.

Khushi and Payal seeing how unhappy the children were did everything to please them but they just rolled their eyes and ignored Khushi and Payal which pissed them off but they controlled themselves.

This was noticed by Anjali who limped into the kitchen and greeted the children but they ignored her as of she didn't exist.

"God...... I don't know what Papa seeing in a disabled woman like you....... My mother is the only woman who will be accepted in our lives and of you think a useless limp like you will take her place then you have something coming...... I swear I and my grandmother including my brother will make your life and living hell....... We will make sure you never have a day off peace....... Limping trash. " Mansi the thirteen years old daughter of Sunil mocked ruthlessly making Anil his eleven years old brother laugh and Anjali smiled trying to hide her hurt but failed miserably.

Anjali who was about to give them a piece of her mind was cut off by Khushi.

"How dare you? " Khushi yelled making the children flinch and hold each other and Anjali smiled seeing Khushi looking like a mama bear.

This attracted the attention of the others who rushed to the kitchen.

Payal seeing them revealed everything to them.

Sunil glared at his kids who looked down ashamed but the guest seeing how pissed Arnav and Arvind were looked petrified by the angry state of the family especially the father and son duo.

"My sister is never marrying your son and will not be anyone's second wife and stepmother to those two brats." Arnav yelled terrifying the guests.

To be continued.

Do you think Sunil and Anjali's marriage will work with such hate from the children?

Was Arnav right to deny the marriage?

Should Anjali marry Sunil or stay single?

Next Update will be on Monday.

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