Chapter 1

Shashi Gupta was lying in the bed on the out-most room of the house. He was still feeling slight pain in his chest. But the pain was nothing compared to the worry that was fogging his thoughts. He checked the unfinished number written on his palm. That Shyam, he's the fish of deep sea. By the glare he gave Shashi while snatching his phone from the side-table, Shashi knew that he's got suspicious. 

"Ye Jjji bhi na." He felt thoroughly annoyed at his sister. Without any inquiry, without knowing anything, she's let a stranger stay at her house, that too when Payal & Khushi was staying here. And she wants an alliance between Khushi and Shyam. Shashi shook his head in displeasure. Forget marriage, he was already thinking of ways to make Shyam leave the house. 

But it didn't seem easy to him. From what he's figured out, Shyam was a dangerous fellow and he won't give up without a fight. Moreover, what's he going to tell his sister. He didn't have any concrete reason for not trusting Shyam. Madhumati was all praises about her Shyam Babua and probably won't understand or believe his instinctive feelings about him.

This confusing and worrisome thoughts made his pain increase. He held his chest, No, nothing should happen to me. I've to be strong for my daughter. Her life is in danger. 

At that moment, Khushi entered the room, prancing as always. He quickly let go of his chest, he didn't want to show Khushi that he was again in pain. Khushi had her dupatta tied across her waist as she always does when doing some work and chirped, "Babuji! Hum na apka man pasand khana bana rahe hain. Kya hua? Aap ka chehra itna utra hua sa kyun hain? Kahin phir se dard to nehi ho raha hain?" 

"Babuji, aap jhut bol rahe hain, hain na? Tell me, does it hurt? Look, here's the medicine doctor told you should have if pain arises again. Shyamji bought it before leaving for his work. He's such a nice person, hain na?"

Shashi observed Khushi closely as she spoke of Shyam. He's been doing it since he came from Lucknow. Khushi also seemed to be fond of Shyam, but she was a child herself. What knowledge does she have about life and people and what ugliness hides behind the curtain of sweet words? 

He was however glad that he didn't find even a slight hint of shyness or excitement as she spoke of him. She took his name with the same fondness she takes the name of one of her friends or distant relatives. If he was not mistaken, Khushi didn't harbour any romantic inclines towards Shyam. That was a relief. When she finds out about Shyams true colours (which even he himself doesn't know yet), she'll be hurt and betrayed but not heart-broken.

"Ae parmeshwari, kaha mar gaya?" Buaji's voice called loudly from the kitchen. Khushi let go of her father's hand and said, "You take rest Babuji, I'll just finish off kitchen's work and sit with you."

Shashi nodded and closed his eyes. The tormenting thoughts never leaving him. The doorbell suddenly rang twice and he tried to sit up hastily. He thought Shyam had come back and for some reasons, didn't want to face him at the moment. The movement made a sharp pain shot through his whole being. Clutching his chest again, he dropped back on the pillows. Payal came from inside saying, "It must be Shyamji.", not noticing the pained expression in her father's face. 

"Sha..Aap?" Payal looked on, shocked as she opened the door and came face to face with none other but Arnav Singh Raizada.

...

Arnav rubbed his back and half wished to flee from the place. A portion of him wished that no one would open the door. It was a mammoth task, he was not used to saying sorry. That to, to someone like Khushi Kumari Gupta. Her mere existence made him falter from his self-built untouchable, don't care attitude. 

Yet, he thought that this time she seriously deserved an apology from him. The last thing he wanted to do in his parent's death-day was to make someone feel upset over their own parents. When confirmed by Anjali that Khushi indeed was an orphan, raised up by her Mausi & Mausa, he's felt devastated for yelling at her regarding the issue.

He remembered an incident of his childhood. He was about 7/8 years old and had gotten into a harmless bickering with Anjali Di. The harmless bickering however turned nasty for some reasons and they both complained about each other to their mother. Her mother has taken his side, making him ecstatic and Anjali mad. She has said then, "Mamma, now that you've got Chote, you don't love me anymore, all my share of love is given to him.

His mother has made both of them sit near her and lovingly explained that, whenever a mother has another child, it doesn't mean that she has to divide the love within her heart in between her previous children and the new one. Cause God always provided enough love in a mother's heart to love all her children equally. 

May be it was same for children too. Maybe Khushi loved her foster parents with all her hearts but that would never stop her from loving and missing her own parents.

The thoughts made him yearn for his own parents more. He quickly put on his aviators, afraid that someone might see his thoughts through his eyes and thankfully so as Payal chose the exact moment to open the door. 

"Sha..Aap?" there was shock in her voice. 

"Is Khushi there?" He demanded in his regular voice, thankful that his voice didn't choke due to his emotional thoughts seconds ago.

Then her face tightened, "Dekhiye, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, if you've come to insult Khushi more, then.."

"Listen girl, I.." his expression changed as he looked beyond over the top of Payal's head and saw a man, whom he assumed to be Khushi's father, withering in pain. "What the.." he took off his aviators, pushed a bewildered Payal aside and stepped inside. "What's happened to him?"

Payal, also noticing her Babuji's state started to panic and rushed towards him and started to shake him, "Babuji! Babuji, open your eyes!" 

"Don't panic for heavens!" Arnav reprimanded her and almost yanked her aside by her grabbing her forearm. He bend down to look at Shashi's face and asked, "Is he a heart patient?" Payal who was now crying hysterically didn't answer. Arnav gave her a death glare and started to pull the excess of pillows from under his head. "Why are you lying on so many pillows?" he demanded and pushed them away keeping just one little one. 

"Keep your hands on your side, don't clasp the heart like this." he stated and helped him to lie down properly. "Now, move your head from left to right, can you, fine. Then try to spread your arms."

Shashi did as he was told and then spoke in a whisper, "Kaun ho tum Babua?"

"Main? Main Arnav." he replied and stood their in stunned silence as he realized that it was the first time in years that he was introducing himself as Arnav, instead of his usual growl of Arnav Singh Raizada. Quite flushed in the face he turned away from Shashi and addressed Payal, "He didn't have a stroke, just chest pain, doesn't he have any medicine or spray for this?" 

Payal kept sobbing and pointed towards something indistinguishable giving Arnav an urge to shake her violently. Ajeeb Sample hain, he thought exasperatedly, after all, Khushi ka behen hain. He  almost felt like scratching his head as he didn't know what to do and was kind of relieved when the Khushi's father mumbled for water. Feeling sure that Payal would be standing like a zombie he took the glass of water and helped the man to sip some, wondering where all the others were.

As if cued, Khushi entered the room flying. "Kya hua Jiji, hume laga ki humne unka awaaz suna..." she stopped abruptly as she took in the scene infront of her. She clutched the nearest chair to keep her balance as she saw Arnav helping her father drink water. 

She didn't know why but she felt like it was the most serene scene she's even seen in her life. He was wearing a plain white shirt and didn't look like the business tycoon who always held the 'dare you cross my road' attitude about him. He looked like a young, slightly lost person, his boyish features which he usually hid behind a scowl or frown completely visible. Was it really him? Her Lard Governor?

Khushi was so much awestruck that she didn't even notice the fact that she's labeled him as Hers in her thoughts.

As he stood up and placed the glass back on the table, she came back to realty and rushed forward. "Aap yahaan?" she asked looking at him straight in the eyes. He seemed a bit hesitant and then lied, "Di wanted you for something so I came to get you. But since your fathers' not well you don't need to come. I'll..I'll explain to Di."

He didn't meet her eyes and for some reasons she felt that he was lying. Kahin woh humse maafi mange to nehin aye? she wondered and then rebuked herself. Arnav Singh Raizada aur maafi? Huh!

They kept staring at each other like they usually do, forgetting that there were other people in the world too. While Payal didn't notice anything amiss and rushed inside to inform her mother and Buaji about the recent happenings, Shashi Gupta was observing the exchange between Arnav and Khushi closely. He's noticed Khushi's eyes, her voice, her attitude everything has changed the moment she saw him and same thing happened with Arnav as well. There was a certain amount of awkwardness between them and yet they looked surprisingly comfortable in each other's present.

The spell was broken as a loud Buaji & sobbing Amma entered the room. Arnav took a step back and softly said, "I'll leave now." He met Shashi's eyes and nodded slightly. Shashi's eyes were twinkling and Arnav almost ran out of the door. Damn, the man is like radar! Why was he scanning me like that!

Khushi placed her hand on her father's shoulder, "Babuji, thik hain na aap?"

Shashi nodded reassuringly and with his head indicated towards the door. Khushi looked back and saw his retreating form. "I'll be right back." she said in a rush whisper and ran after him. He had almost reached his car when she caught up with him and pulled at his shirt sleeve lightly, just like the little girl had done in the temple this morning. Surprised at her gesture, he turned. "What?"

"Why did you come here?" she asked, still holding his sleeve.

"I told you that Di.."

"Aap jhoot bol rahe hain." she stated confidently. She saw surprise in his face and then anger. "Look Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta, what do you think of yourself, why would I need to lie to you?"

" But you are lying, your nose is getting larger." she said solemnly and started to giggle when he immediately checked by touching his own nose.

"You dare to.." he said angrily and pulled her closed by holding her hand which was still clutching his sleeve. 

"You came here to apologize." she said, ignoring both his word and action. "As if I would." he scorned. But she didn't flinch. Looking straight at his eyes, she said, "Apology accepted." And they kept looking at each other for what seemed like eternity. 

"I'm sorry"

"Thank You"

Both of them uttered the words at the same time and looked at the other with wonder. They were just inches apart from each other and both felt the magic that engulfed them, shaking them out of their cores and beliefs. For that moment, only they mattered and everything else seemed inconsequential. It disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared and they let go of each other. He hurriedly got into his car and drove away while she stood there watching the SUV as long as she had it in view. 

...

I'm sorry...for all the harsh things I said today. You are different. I misjudged you. He thought as he reached home and locked himself in his room, lost in her thoughts.

...

When she could see his car no more, she slowly made her way inside, wondering what just happened. Thank you...for taking care of my Babuji. You're not what I thought you are. I judged you too soon. she gave some excuses and locked herself in the solitude of her own room.

...

Once Khushi was out of earshot, Shashi asked Payal who Arnav was. It was Buaji who replied. "Arre, Arnav Singh Raizada. He is a monster, didn't I tell you before? He's not a bit of humanity inside him..Don't you remember.."

Was he really? Shashi wondered as he closed his eyes. Well, the things he's heard about the elusive Arnav Singh Raizada and the boy he met today somehow didn't match. Neither does Khushi's claim to hate him and her reaction around him. He seemed much more deep than what he's heard of him. Most importantly, he had honesty and some inexplicable aura of trustworthiness in him. Unlike that Shyam.

Feeling contented for some unknown reasons, Shashi brushed away all the thoughts from his head for time being. He could half hear his sister still name calling and abusing Arnav loudly and shook his head, "Jijji bhi na, insaan ka bilkul pehchan nahin hain inhe."

Devi Ma, just give Khushi enough strength and understanding to place her faith in the right person... he prayed from his heart before dozing off to sleep.  

...