Dark Paradise Chapter Forty Five

Khushi was sat downstairs with Anjali going through photos that Anjali was putting into an album, she had so much free time recently and Anjali had always meant to put these photos into an album but she always got distracted. Khushi was smiling as she began to get an insight into the Raizada parivaar pre-Khushi. There were many of Mamiji posing and a few Anjali had snapped on the sly of Mamiji when she is most herself, when she is eating. Khushi laughed as she looked at all the goofy pictures of Akash, she turned to Payal.
"Jiji its a good thing you met Jiju now and not ten years ago, sach mein, he grew into his looks didn't he?" Khushi asked whilst laughing at Akash who was gangly, had braces and big black spectacles. Payal gave Khushi a reproachful look, Khushi attempted to sober her mood but it was too funny, she'd have to talk to Akash about this photo. Khushi handed the photo to Anjali who placed it in the album.
"Hah hum sab tumhari taara lucky nahi hosakte, I mean not all of us get such a dashing man like my brother." Anjali said as she joked and Khushi turned confused. Anjali smiled and passed Khushi a stack of photos of Arnav. Khushi smiled broadly as she saw one of him with Akash posing in a very James Bond manner, both brothers attempting to look suave, another of Arnav looking angry his hand out in front ready to probably grab the camera, another of Arnav casually reading, his graduation photo stuck out to Khushi. Instead of smiling like most people would Arnav had an air of arrogance to him, his chin stuck up and his eyes pierced through the photo as if to send a warning to anyone that saw it, "I am ASR." it screamed to Khushi, she didn't like it and pushed it back. Then she came across one that confused her.
"Di, yeh...yeh meri photo kaha se agaaye?" Khushi asked as she looked and recalled the one photoshoot she'd done for AR. Arnav never used the photos so why were they in a stack of photos of him?
"Dikhao mujhe." Anjali said, Khushi passed it over and Anjali grinned at it. "Oh toh yeh thi raaz." Anjali said and Khushi still looked perplexed. "Arnav a few months back demanded he wanted to keep all his photos himself, he was acting very odd that day, I was sure he was hiding something but I couldn't figure out what. Today when I went to get his photos from his cupboard this was under all them. Chup chup ke dekhta apni biwi ki photos." Anjali said as she giggled at how secretive and elaborate her brother is. Most people kept a photo of their significant other on a bedside table, in a wallet or on their office desk. Arnav hid his wife's photo under a pile of other photos to maintain his image. Khushi scrunched her nose as Di passed the photo back to her, of course, her Bholuji could never show the love he felt in his heart for everyone to see. That would be too much, na? Khushi shook her head and decided she would talk to him about this tonight, she'd made him promise he'd come home early today.

Arnav had just gotten in and made it to his room when he set his eyes on a strange sight.
"What the-?" He said aloud as he looked around at numerous photos now dotted around the room, he'd adjusted to the photo of the two of them at the haldi being in their room but now on all the walls there were photos. There was a photo of Arnav and Akash posing in Bond style Arnav recalled they'd done that after they'd watched the latest Bond film at the time, another of him when he was trying to shove the camera out of his face, one of him reading, it creeped him out. He knew what he looked like and he didn't need a reminder, that's what mirrors are for.
"KHUSHI!" He shouted and Khushi came slowly waddling out of the bathroom, she had just changed into her pyjamas. Usually he'd smile at Khushi's penguin-esque gait but today he was not amused.
"Kya hua?" She asked.
"Yeh saab kya hai?" He asked pointing his photos to the walls.
"Oh yeh, kuch nahi. Di and I were going through some photos today, we put most of them in an album but we put up a few. You should be grateful I didn't put any bad ones up, I convinced Jiji to put this one of Akash in their room-" Khushi didn't get a chance to finish her story.
"Wait these photos, where did you get them from?" He asked as realisation flashed on his face, Khushi bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.
"Di got them from our cupboard, why?" She asked and Arnav's eyes widened as he went to the cupboard, he opened it to find the photos gone. He turned to see Khushi twirling her hair and smiling at him.
"Mujhe nahi patta tah ki tum mujhe chup chup ke dekha karte teh. Honestly Arnav that's kind of creepy." She said mockingly and Arnav groaned and rolled his eyes as he saw Khushi had the AR photos in her hand.
"Khushi aisa kuch nahi hai, you are too filmy for life. I kept those photos for business purposes, if we ever needed to use them at least they were safe. Stop making me seem like a creep, just because you like to think I pine for you 24/7 doesn't mean I do. I'm not this filmy hero like your Salman Khan. Got it?" He said and he went to go grab the photos but Khushi pulled them away. "Khushi I am not in the mood for this, give them back to me." He said and Khushi smiled as she pulled them away further.
"If its all for the business then you wont have any issue with me giving them to Aman to store away." She said and Arnav groaned. "Unless, you kept these photos because...oh I don't know, you think I'm beautfiul, when you look at these photos you remember how you felt then." Khushi said and she leaned in towards Arnav, although Khushi now had a bump Arnav was used to holding her with this addition. She smiled and looped her arms around his neck. "You remember how you stopped in the midst of your anger because you were so swept away by me. You remember how your heart was beating so fast and you couldn't understand why. You remember how you left quickly because you didn't like the confusion but then you felt restless afterwards." Khushi said and Arnav was in awe, how did she know all this?
"Yeah...right, dream on Gupta." He said and he was about to pull away when Khushi gently kissed him, he responded and as the kiss began to deepen and feelings awaken Khushi pulled away.
"I'm not dreaming, I know because no one kisses like that unless they feel deeply and lets face it, aggar meri life picture hothi toh tum uska hero hote. Tik hai?" Khushi said and Arnav exhaled deeply.
"Yeah whatever." He said and turned away. Khushi smiled, he could deny it as much as he wanted but at the heart Arnav Singh Raizada was a romantic.


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Dark Paradise Chapter Forty Four

Khushi sat around downstairs waiting for Arnav, recently he'd been working so hard that she never saw him, he always came home late, told her to go to sleep and she had been doing so to avoid him getting worried about her health. But enough was enough, she missed spending time with him and seeing him, he should give some time to his wife! She sat at the dinner table, it was reaching eleven 'o' clock in the evening and Khushi's eyes felt heavy, her body was becoming slack and the drowsiness was taking over.
"Ouch!" Khushi said as her hands automatically went to her bump, the baby had kicked her extremely hard. "Lagta hai ek hor laad governer aane-wala hai, don't worry baby I'm going to spend time with pappa no matter what. Tumhe mujhe marne ki zuroorat nahi, I'll stay awake." She said to her bump, she grabbed some water from her glass and splashed it on her face to keep her awake. Everyone had told her again and again to go to bed, it wasn't good for the baby etc etc. But Khushi was adamant, the past few days Arnav came in when she was asleep and left before she woke up and this was not how Khushi wanted it to be. Arnav came in and began to undo his tie, he was exhausted, everyone he seemed to be working with was incompetent and lazy. Everyone always was in awe over how he rose to the top at such a young age when really it was very simple he worked hard and wasn't an idiot, that's all there was to it in his opinion. He walked towards the dining room to go warm up his food when he was startled by the sight of Khushi. Khushi who was impatiently tapping her spoon on her plate and staring off into the distance. Arnav smiled as he realised she was waiting for him but then grew angry as he realised she must have stayed angry this whole time. He cleared his throat which drew Khushi's attention towards him. She smiled and then frowned.
"Is this a time to be coming home?" She asked him angrily and Arnav looked at her with shock.
"Excuse me?" He asked and Khushi gave him a disgruntled look.
"I have been waiting for hours to spend a little time with you, aur tum, gyaara vaaje aaye. Okay work is work but what's the point in work if you can't even live?" She asked and Arnav rolled his eyes.
"I think I'm the one who should be lecturing you here. I didn't ask you to stay up this late and by doing so you've not only made yourself cranky but also deprived our baby in the process." He said, Khushi realised he had her there and smiled at him.
"Chorro na, mein khaana laga deti hoon." She said sweetly as she went to heat up the dinner.

Arnav smiled to himself, she had a habit of changing the subject when she was losing a fight, completely dismissing it, he pulled the chair out and sat down. Khushi came in with the food and they both sat down and began to eat. At first neither spoke because they were both too busy trying to satiate their hunger. After a while Arnav broke the silence.
"So what did I miss today?" He asked and Khushi smiled as she finished off her food, she wiped her hands and face and then began.
"Well we started to plan Di's godh barhaai today, it got me thinking about mine, it'll come up soon wont it so obviously I started thinking about it. Then I thought about you at work and how you miss out on everything." She said bitterly and Arnav gave her a reproachful look. "Anyway then I thought that what will happen when I go into labour." She said and Arnav looked confused.
"You have the baby, what else do you expect to happen?" He asked wandering why she was saying such stupid things.
"No I mean, you will be at work. What happens if you get stuck in traffic or you don't get my calls, I can't have this baby alone. I wont have this baby alone. If I have to go through all that pain you have to be there too." She said and Arnav looked at her with slight worry. She had a point, traffic in Delhi was always nightmare-ish and there was no way he could justify taking all this time off.
"Khushi don't worry I'll be there." Arnav said with conviction but Khushi was not convinced.
"Arnav! You are not God that if you say something it will happen. What happens if you're not there and you miss it? Or what if...what if something goes wrong?" Khushi asked, fear clear in her voice. Arnav looked at her, her lips trembling and her face pale. He quickly wiped his hands and face and walked over to Khushi, he knelt down beside her and clasped her hand into his own, with the other hand he guided her face gently to look at his.
"Khushi, there is no way anything bad is going to happen to you or our baby and as for me missing it. There isn't a force in heaven or hell that could stop me from being there." He said with such honesty that even Khushi couldn't challenge him. He smiled at her and tilted his head.
"Chale? I'm really tired Khushi." He said, Khushi noted the dark circles and the weariness on his face, she was sure her worries weren't helping him right now. She nodded, he helped her get up, giving her both his hands and then wrapping one hand around her waist just so his hand touched the growing bump and the other hand held one of hers. Arnav smiled.
"What?" Khushi asked as they made their way upstairs.
"If you carry on like this you can forget me ever lifting or catching you again." He said as he began to laugh, Khushi hit him playfully, he was being mean but he had laughed and as much as she hated it she loved his laugh and would even let herself be made ridicule just to hear it.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Forty Three

Khushi's bump was unmissable now, she was five months pregnant and Anjali was seven and a half months, two pregnant, hoarmonal women in the house- Arnav was beginning to wish he could live in the office. It was the only place he didn't have to deal with the constant whining Khushi did. He knew it was hard being pregnant and whatever but Di never complained. Yeah okay, one or two times she got annoyed when the baby was moving around a lot but that was nothing compared to Khushi. As soon as he got home she'd list off every time she felt sick, or was sick, then every time she got a craving, every time she felt dizzy, every time she had a head ache, every time she got a fever, every time her feet hurt and the worst everyday she'd ask the same question, "Arnav, do I look fat?" Was there even a right answer to that question at this time? Of course she'd gained weight, she had a child growing inside her, she wasn't exactly going to look like a stick now was she? If he said yes she'd practically kill him (he never said it) but every time he said no she accused him of being a liar. He really couldn't win! He took a deep breath as he entered their room readying himself for Madam's list of complaints for today. He put his briefcase down and sat on the green lounger as he shrugged his jacket off and loosened his tie. He'd worked late today and had dinner at the office, missing dinner with the family, Khushi wasn't saying anything so he assumed she was upset about that.
"Kya hua? No long list of complaints today or are we just angry with me?" He asked and Khushi shushed him from behind, Arnav turned to look at her. She was on the bed, her hands on her stomach, her eyes confused but focused and a small smile played on her lips. Arnav got up and looked at her.
"Khushi yeh kya-" He asked as he stood over her, she shushed him and then grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. Arnav was confused but let her do so, he waited and then felt it. He wasn't sure at first so he waited again and then it happened again. A forceful thud against Khushi's belly, he could feel the impact strongly, this kid had some zhor. His eyes widened and his lips broadened into a smile.
"Is that-" He began to ask and Khushi nodded excitedly. This was the first time the baby had ever kicked and here Arnav was experiencing it first hand with Khushi. He smiled and looked at her, she smiled back lovingly.
"By the way this baby's kicking I think we'll have a footballer not a princess." She said and Arnav shook his head and leant in gently kissing Khushi on the lips.

Arnav had showered and decided to join Khushi on the bed, he sprawled out and let out a sigh, he was exhausted. He'd been working intensively lately, it had dawned on him that he not only had his extended family to worry about but his own small one with Khushi which would expand soon. He needed to work hard to ensure their child would have a bright and happy life and he would give their child everything he never had. Khushi leant over and gently stroked his hair in her hands, Arnav closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Khushi smiled at her bholuji, he spent all day wearing his scary ASR mask, so when he got home he was always so tired, so vulnerable and just himself around her.
"Kya hua, aaj kuch zyaada se barkaar tukhe huye lagre hai." She speculated and Arnav stretched a little to loosen the strained muscles in his body.
"No Khushi, I'm fine, just work. Work's always like this and I don't like talking about work with you when I'm at home." He complained and she smiled to herself, she always complained to him about his work, he was just avoiding the topic because he knew it could lead to an argument. Khushi was about to drop the subject when Arnav's eyes suddenly flew open.
"Oh wait, I nearly forgot." He said, more to himself as he got up and took his hand out to Khushi who looked at him cautiously. "What don't you trust me?" He asked as he raised one eyebrow suggestively towards her. She bit her lip and gave her his hand. He took her hand in his own and grinned as he led her out into the hall.
"Arnav hum kaha jaare? Saab soye hue ya, kohi uttjayega Arnav." Khushi said and he rolled his eyes, it was his house he could do what he wanted. He took her to the room next to their's, it was a guest room, Khushi had hardly taken note of it. "Kya tumhe hum yeh dikhana chaate hai? If you think we're sleeping here tonight you've got another thing coming, I like our room, I don't want to move in here...are you trying to move me in here so you can sleep alone because that is a new level of selfish!" Khushi was like a motor-mouth, once you got her started you couldn't stop her.
"Khushi, shut up! Aur, close your eyes." He said, slightly angry now, she had to always dampen the mood. She groaned and closed her eyes. He covered his hand over her eyes to make sure and he guided her in. He lifted his hand off her eyes and whispered, "Open."

Khushi opened her eyes and was in shock. This was not a plain little guest room, it was...a nursery. The walls were a daffodil yellow, with cute little brown bears painted on the walls. There was a white crib against one wall, a changing table and hundreds of toys and teddies. Khushi smiled at the sight and then on the opposite wall she saw a picture of Arnav and Khushi, they'd had it taken after she and Arnav had come back from her pakh-phere rasam, Khushi in her red saree and Arnav in his suit. She'd never seen the picture, she remembered Anjali telling them to smile, they'd been sat on the sofa casually having a conversation when on the spur of the moment Anjali clicked the photo. Khushi looked at how happy she looked and then noticed something she'd never noticed before, Arnav had been looking at her, not in an angry or confused way but the way he looked at her now, with love. There was unashamed love as he plainly looked at Khushi. She smiled and turned to try and comprehend something to say to him when she noticed the stars mobile above the crib. That's it he'd done it, he knew she was hormonal, this pushed her over the edge and she began to cry, happy tears but tears nonetheless. Arnav slid his arms around her and smiled at his overly emotional wife.
"I didn't do all this for you so stop crying." He said and she pouted. "Well a little for you but I did it mostly for our baby. I want our baby to have a happy and fun life. I don't want it to be burdened by any sadness, anger or responsibility. If anything our baby should be just like you Jaan." He said and Khushi looked at him confused and he smiled. "Aakir aap hi toh humhe sikaaya tah khi kaisa haasna, don't take life to seriously, tumne mujhe pyar karna bhi sikaaya. Why wouldn't I want our baby to turn out like you? You're perfect to me Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, todhi pagal ho, but perfect for me." He said and she smiled and nuzzled into his embrace. She didn't have to say anything because he knew she felt what he felt also.

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Agneepath - An ASR story Chapter One

Arnav Malik was dead. From the ashes of Arnav Malik rose Arnav Singh Raizada. It was a difficult task to rise up as he did but he did it. Why? This question was often posed to him. Why would a fifteen year old fight tooth and nail to rise up amongst the ranks of criminals as he did? Why didn't he just go with his Mamma and Nani and live a peaceful and easy life? It was a simple answer and could be summarised in one word. Revenge. In Arnav there was a fire that could not be quenched until he had one man's blood smeared on his hands. His Chacha's, Kanchan Malik. Ten years ago Arnav had to flee Lucknow, Arnav his sister and what little family he had left. His Chacha was a greedy man, Arnav's father had been an honest and kind man. He had always shared everything with his brother, but once his daughter was to be married Ashwin Malik (Arnav's father) decided it was time to share out his wealth equally between his two children. Arnav's Chacha could not handle this insult and so on Anjali's wedding day he killed Arnav and Anjali's mother with a fatal gunshot wound, he placed the gun in Ashwin's hand and all believed Ashwin had done this. Arnav had seen it all and tried to speak against it but his Chacha was cunning and a good actor. He claimed that Ashwin had been unfaithful and she had found out and so this had happened. Ashwin could not bare the accusations being thrown at him but they continued. Anjali's baraat left and Ashwin was defamed before all, he had fallen and his wife was dead. Ashwin was broken and on top of all this his brother Kanchan was instigating those few remaining people against Ashwin. They banded together and decided to teach Ashwin a lesson, Arnav had been consoling Anjali and telling his Nani and Mama what had really happened when he heard his father's cries. He ran out of the room and looked down to see how they were beating his father senseless, a pool of blood gathered around Ashwin's head. Arnav was in shock at first but he began to run towards his father. By the time he reached the ground floor of the Mahal, they had begun to drag Ashwin outside. Arnav ran after them crying out, "Babba!" He shouted, his voice straining and failing to reach them. Arnav reached where they were and witnessed his own Chacha hang his father. Arnav cried out, his father had taught him three things in life, one: Always live your life with honesty and integrity, never bow down or go on your knees for anyone, live a life that should mean you shouldn't have to. Two: Be strong in life, never let your dear ones see you cry, instead you should wipe their tears. Three: Rage is a senseless and poisonous emotion, never let it cover your senses and never hang onto it. That night Arnav abandoned all three of his father's teachings. He went on his knees and begged for them to let his father go, he cried as he watched his father struggle against the rope as it cut off his breathing and he vowed to never let go of the anger he felt as he watched his father die and then had to watch as his uncle seized all the wealth and property kicking Anjali and Arnav out onto the streets. This was how Arnav Malik died and how Arnav Singh Raizada was born.


Ten years ago he left Lucknow but vowed in his heart he would return, he would re-claim Sheesh Mahal, clear his father's name and kill Kanchan. His Nani didn't have a lot of money when they came to Mumbai and so they lived in a chawal. It was dirty and small and not at all what Arnav was used to. This only enraged him more. He hated it, the only thing he had that lifted his spirits was Anjali, but when Kanchan kicked them out he had beaten them quite badly, Anjali was sick and needed to go to a Hospital. They couldn't afford it and Arnav knew it was up to him to sort this out. That's when he met Shyam Manohar Jha, Mumbai's drug-lord, not only that but he also dealt in trafficking girls also (you're general scum-bag). Arnav had seen his Chacha in Mumbai one day and followed him, it turned out Kanchan needed the wealth and property to fund his drugs business, however Shyam was not interested. It was from that moment Arnav decided he'd have to shake hands with Shyam and join his business if he was ever going to get even with Kanchan. So it was Shyam who helped create Arnav Singh Raizada, he used him as a go to man to clean up murders and commit them also. Soon Arnav was his top hit-man. When Nani realised what Arnav was doing she left taking Anjali with her. She wanted to go somewhere more civilised where she could look after her granddaughter in peace. By this point Arnav had raised the money to pay for her hospital fees and so he gave the money to Anjali making her promise that she'd go and get her treatment. She did and the two parted tearfully. There was little joy in Arnav's life after that point, well of course apart from Khushi.

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Present day, the chawal 


It was a time of festivities across India and in the Chawal all the members of this small but close knit community were celebrating it with full pomp. There was a column of young men stacked high, they were all standing on each others shoulders leading up to a rope that on it was tied a small clay pot full of milk, next to which there was a coconut also tied to the rope with string. The aim was that one man, was to climb above the rest and smash that pot with the coconut. Arnav rubbed red raang across his forehead and readied himself to take the challenge when his eyes widened as he saw red dye fly from a bucket and hit him with a force. He used his arm to shield his eyes and then looked up to see who dared do this to Arnav Singh Raizada. He looked and saw Khushi grinning, her eyebrows wiggling up and down, her smile plastered across her face and her eyes alive with mischief. Arnav grinned inwardly and began to make his run up. Khushi danced along to beat of numerous dhols, her hips swaying to and fro as she did so. She was completely lost in the music until Arnav wrenched he dupatta off her and tied it around his waist. He did not turn as he could imagine the shock on her face and the way she'd try to cover her now bare midriff. He had to get her back somehow and he knew she wouldn't mind. It may as well have been common knowledge, Khushi had been smitten with Arnav since the day he stopped a police officer from beating her mother. Khushi had been orphaned at a young age and left on the streets. If it hadn't been for her Aai, she would never have survived, it was true her Aai was a prostitute but not by choice and she vowed she would never let Khushi sell herself to earn a living. Her Aai was being beaten by a "customer" shortly after Arnav's family had deserted him, Arnav couldn't bare the sight of a woman being beaten, not after what had happened to his mother and sister and so he beat the man off of her until he was unable to use his hands again. Khushi had become smitten with him since then, the respect he had for women was something she'd never seen. Although you'd never guess he respected women from the way he acted with Khushi, but he only ever acted that way with Khushi and she liked it that way. Arnav climbed up the columns of men and Khushi shrieked at him, "Maaro Arnav, vaar karo abh!" She shouted. He tore the coconut and smashed the pot and everyone cheered. Arnav could hear Khushi's shouts above everyone else and smiled. He didn't have his family, he didn't have his revenge but at least for now he had Khushi.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Forty Two

Khushi smiled as she walked hand in hand with Arnav downstairs to the living room where the rest of the family had congregated. Arnav made sure Khushi was sat down comfortably before he took the seat by her side.
"Kya baat hai Khushi Bhabi, aapne itne jaaldi Chotte ko maanake agaye? If this had been me it would have taken at least another thirty if not forty minutes to calm him down." Anjali said and Arnav rolled his eyes, he hated when Di said this kind of stuff. He hated the unnecessary attention he was receiving as a result of it. Khushi smiled proudly and gripped Arnav's hand.
"Of course, after all pyar kiya toh nibhana parega." Khushi said in full filmy style. Arnav felt uncomfortable and slightly disgusted, it was such a cheap and overused line. This is why he hated bollywood films, life was nothing like them and they just portrayed in his opinion, crap.
"What rubbish, you all spend too much time watching movies and not enough time in the real world. I did this because I felt like it not because I needed to fulfil the obligations that come with love. That's not what love's about anyway." Arnav said and everyone was slightly shocked, Arnav lecturing them about love? Someone needed to pinch everyone in the room as they couldn't believe it. Arnav looked at how perplexed everyone looked and he himself became confused. "What?" He asked and they all snapped out of their daze.
"Chotte tum humhe gyaan derhe, pyar ki barein mein. This is too good, toh phir batao naa, what is love about?" Anjali asked and everyone tried to hide their smiles as Arnav became more uncomfortable. Khushi wasn't smiling, she looked up at Arnav with genuine curiosity, she too would like to know what the definition of love was in Arnav Singh Raizada's dictionary.
"Oh come on Di. Don't get all sentimental. I was just saying that love isn't like how it is in these cheesy movies. Its a lot more complex than boy meets girl." He said and Khushi looked at him confused.
"Lekin humaare saath aisa hua." She said and Arnav now became confused.
"Really? Do you remember how we met?" He asked reffering to the Lucknow fashion show. She scoffed.
"Of course, kaise bhoolsakti, you had it on every t.v. station. Mera jeena mushkil kiya tumne." She said and Arnav smiled.
"Exactly we met, love didn't happen initially." He said feeling proud he'd made his point.
"Nahin, not straight away lekin woh sari filmy baatein toh hogaye." She said and Arnav looked at her again confused, none of the family intruded as they noticed how wrapped up they were in their argument.

"What do you mean? I don't remember running in a field with you and singing songs." He said and Khushi grinned at the idea of him doing that.
"No but you did dance with me at the sangeet, even after you'd said to everyone how you don't dance." She said and Arnav was silenced, she had him there. Khushi smiled as she decided to add more to the list. "Aur tumhe yaad hai, at the Fashion show when I fell you caught me. Aur jaab tumne mujhe uss building mein pehja, kaise tum hero banke ayaa aur apne heroine ko bachaya." She said, Arnav was lowering his head now feeling exposed and vulnerable as Khushi shared intimate moments in front of the whole family. "Aur, aur, aur, jab Teej hoi aur tumne mujhe uttaya jab mein behosh hui thi aur tumne mera vrat todha. Aur kitne baad tumne mujhe girne se bachadiya. Aur ek baad phool bhi giddhe jaab mein tumhari bahon mein thi." She said and Anjali looked at the two with a big grin, she had no idea how romantic her brother was.
"Kya baath hai Chotte, tum toh ek number ki cheesy romantic nikle!" Anjali said which caused everyone to laugh, Arnav felt annoyed. He didn't want his family to know about that side of him.
"Haa! Toh Khushi bhi kuch kam nahin!" Arnav accused and Khushi gasped.
"Kya matlaab?" She asked and Arnav smiled.
"Tumne hamesha se mere peeche padi thi!" He accused and Khushi's eyes widened with shock.
"Itna bada jhoot! Sharam nahin aathi kya?!" Khushi said to her husband and he only grinned at her.
"Who followed me from Lucknow to Delhi? You. Who got a job at AR to be closer to me? You. Who then got a job at my house and won over my family's heart? You. Who got the letter "A" in their mehendi before they had even gotten into a relationship with me? You. Who kissed me? You." He said and everyone looked at Khushi with awe. Yes she'd kissed Arnav on the day of the Haldi, everyone had seen but he kissed her first.
"Nahin! I mean haan yeh saab such hain. Lekin aapne mujhe kiss pehle kiya tah!" Khushi said trying to remind him of the Mehendi day. Arnav hadn't forgotten that but he knew she'd never talk about in front of the family.
"Oh really kaab? I only remember you kissing me on the Haldi day." He said and Khushi was about to reveal what he'd done on the Mehendi when she looked around at everyone's eager faces and then stopped herself. "What's wrong Khushi? Bhol naa, go on say. Kyun bholthi baand hogaye?" He asked and Khushi gave him a seething look to which Arnav replied with a wink.
"Mujhe yaad nahin." She said and turned away from him. Naniji smiled to herself.
"Ucha tik hai abh bohut hogaya tum dono baas bhi kijiye." Naniji said trying to mediate the situation. Khushi nodded, got up and went upstairs.

Khushi had stayed upstairs for most of the day, she'd even had her food sent upstairs. She was upset with Arnav for embarrassing her like that. He knew she wasn't that kind of girl who chased men and pursued them but that's what he made her out to be. Arnav too had avoided Khushi, he'd hoped that time would cool her anger, normal Khushi probably would have realised she started it and she should forgive Arnav. Pregnant Khushi however was less likely to do so. Arnav walked in and got an icy cold look from Khushi.
"Oh come on Khushi it's not that bad." He said.
"Not that bad, saab mujphe haasre hoge." She said and looked away from him. Arnav took a deep breath and then joined Khushi on the bed.
"Jaan." He said softly but Khushi refused to look at him. "Okay fine, if you wont talk to me then I'll talk to my princess." He said and he leant over Khushi and directed his head towards her abdomen. "Hi princess." He said and Khushi scoffed. "Mamma is very angry with Pappa today. You know why?... Okay I'll tell you. Aaj we were all talking when Mamma decided it was a good idea to tell everyone about how romantic Pappa is, even though she knows how hard he's worked to make a reputation for himself so that he can command a little respect." He said and Khushi chewed her cheek feeling slightly guilty but not enough to talk to him. Arnav proceeded on to guilt trip Khushi. "Anyway, I think Mamma forgot that Pappa only acts that way with Mamma and Mamma only. He doesn't like to show that side to anyone else and he doesn't want to share that with anyone. Its reserved for Mamma and Mamma only." He said and Khushi looked down at him and smiled. "Its up to Mamma now whether or not she forgives me, if she doesn't this could be a lonely life if she can't argue with me." He said and turned to get up when Khushi tugged at his arm.
"Aap itne bhi bhoore nahin. Chalo maaf kiya." She said with a small smile on her lips, Arnav grinned, then turned, he leaned in and kissed Khushi.
"Thanks." He said and then grabbed his stuff and headed for the shower.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Forty One

It was a Saturday and Khushi knew that today Arnav had nothing on at the office, but it never stopped him from working at home. So, before he woke up she got out of bed, took his laptop, bluetooth and mobile and hid it in Di's room. Di was aware of this plan and fully supported it, Anjali locked the belongings in her cupboard and Khushi smiled. Khushi quickly made her way back to her room, got into the bed and snuggled up to Arnav as had been her position before she woke up. Arnav got up after a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Khushi who was looking back at him.
"What?" He asked, baffled by his wife's amused expression.
"Nothing I just love the weekend." She said with a smile, Arnav took his hand that was wrapped around her and shook her hair.
"Tum pagal hoon." He said and she slapped his hands away.
"Jaanti hoon, aur tum ek pagal se pyaar karte hoon." She said and lightly kissed him on the lips before she scampered off to the bathroom. Arnav stretched and smiled, he loved weekends too, especially when he woke up to Khushi being in this kind of a mood.
Khushi was downstairs at the dining table sipping on some juice when she heard it.
"What the?! HARI PRAKASH!" Arnav shouted, Khushi and Anjali shared a look and then hid their smiles. Arnav thundered down the stairs and all the family members looked towards him shocked.
"Kya hua Bhai?" Akash asked and Arnav looked at Akash with a dark look.
"Akash, my phone, laptop, bluetooth all of its missing." He said and everyone excluding Khushi and Anjali looked shocked.
"Kya! Gharma mein choriwa hogaye! Hello Hi bye bye. Mujhe apna jewellerywa ko check karega pari." Mamiji said as she began to get up and Khushi decided to fess up.
"Uski kohi zuroorat nahi Mamiji. Maine hi Arnav ka samaan chupake rakha." Khushi said and Mamiji sat back down to witness what she hoped would be today's entertainment.

"What the hell Khushi? Tumne...okay ha ha very funny abh vapaas karo." He said and Khushi shook her head. Arnav looked at her with a fiery look. "Khushi I'm not joking, give me my stuff back." He said through gritted teeth.
"Hah, toh hum kaha muzaaq karre? I don't think you remember you promised me that after I got better after my accident you would take me to the country house. Tumne aisa kiya? Nahi na? I never said anything. You forced me to come back before I was ready, I didn't say anything. Now I'm trying to spend some time with you and all you want to do is work. Well fine if you want your stuff back so badly I'll go get it. I'll just spend the day with Umma and Bauji, waise bhi kafi din hogaye unse milne mein." Khushi said and Arnav rolled his eyes. He hated when she used going to her Bua's as a threat. She knew he hated when she wasn't around him, even if he was working he preferred having her nearby and she knew that very well.
"FINE! Whatever, you do whatever you want. Its not like anyone listens to me anymore anyway!" Arnav complained as he retreated upstairs. Khushi smiled, when it dawned on her he hadn't eaten. Okay he can go in as many moods as he wants, be as angry as he wants but he can't ignore his meals. He was diabetic and if his blood sugar levels dropped- no, this was not acceptable. Khushi got up and grabbed some toast, juice and fruit. She put it on a tray and headed upstairs to go placate her Laad Governor.
Khushi walked into their room, to find Arnav missing, she put the tray down, turned and saw him cutting ferociously at his plants.
"Samajthi hai apne aap ko kya? Miss World? Mera samaan churati hai, aur phir mujhe emotional blackmail karti hai." He muttered aloud and Khushi gulped. He was in a foul mood today. She cleared her throat, he stopped snipping, looked at her, his lips twitched into a deeper frown and he proceeded to cut away.
"Apne naashta nahi kiya. Isilye maine yahaan rakh diya." She said, Arnav did not respond, his icy silence made Khushi uncomfortable. "Aap kaalijiye naa. Aap mujse naraaz hai, khaane se nahi." She said, Arnav ignored her. Khushi became upset. She walked up to him and Arnav continued to snip. Khushi pushed Arnav to try and get a reaction, he hadn't expected that and he lost his balance briefly. He dropped the shears and Khushi jumped back briefly, the shears just missed her. Arnav ran up to Khushi immediately.
"Khushi tum tik hoon na? Why did you do that, do you even understand something could have happened to you, you could have hurt yourself?!" Arnav shouted and Khushi shoved him off of her.
"Toh, tumse kya? I'm the worst human being on the earth aren't I? I wanted to spend some time with my husband so I deserve to be punished. I deserve worse than this don't I?!" She shouted back at him and Arnav clenched his jaw.
"Khushi I never said that and you know I'd never want that." He said trying to remain calm unlike Khushi who had begun to cry.
"Nahi I'm the one whose wrong. Everything is my fault, na? Tum haamesha sahi hoon aur mein gulaat. Maaf kijiye Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, humse bhul hogaye abh dobara nahi hoga!" Khushi said.

Arnav groaned, he hated her when she talked like that, bringing back all those stupid things he'd said to her in the past. He went to wipe away her tears but she pushed his hand away. Arnav took a deep breath and turned Khushi to him, wiping her tears away and then he cupped her face.
"Look Khushi, you know me. Khabbi khabbi I say things, the wrong things that I don't mean. You know I usually take my time to cool down and then I regret it. You caught me in the middle of my anger and I just- I didn't mean to make you upset. Its perfectly right for you to want to spend time with me because Jaan I always want to spend time with you. Lekin aap bhi puchsakti thi na? What was the need to steal all my stuff?" He asked and Khushi sniffed and looked up at him.
"Woh humne socha khi shahid aap manna kardenge isilye humne yeh saab kiya takhi aap majbooran hum saab ki saath waqt guzarna parega." She said innocently and Arnav grinned.
"Khushi you don't need to force me to spend time with you, I love you. Ek bhaar pyaar se puchdethi toh main khabi inquaar nahi karta." Arnav said and Khushi blushed.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Forty

Arnav strode into the house and made his way to his room, he was five minutes late and he was sure he would receive an hour long lecture from his Mrs. because of it. He opened the door to find Khushi sat on the bed with her head low, she looked up at him and flashed a brief smile before she stood up and ran over to him. She flung her arms around him and Arnav hesitated for a moment, after which he wrapped his arms around Khushi.
"Khushi, what's wrong?" He asked, assuming by her strange behaviour something must be up. She looked up at him, her eyes were now beginning to turn red as she fought hard not to cry.
"Woh kya hai nah, main kuch khaas pehna chaathi thi aaj, lekin woh weight ki vaaje se kuch fit toh karhi nai tah. So I found this and it was red and I know how much you love red, so I put it on and zipped it up...lekin....lekin....zipper stuck hogaya tah aur abh main issi baand nahi kaarsakti...aur hum bahaar nahi jaasakte!" Khushi wailed dramatically and Arnav had to hide his laughter. She was crying because the zipper to her anarkali was stuck....only Khushi. He pulled her from himself and smiled as he noted how beautiful she was looking in her anarkali.
"Let me look Khushi." He said as he began to turn her slightly when she smacked his hands away.
"Nahi! Main abh moti hogi, tum jaon naa, apni patli patli, gori gori models ke paas jaa na! Poore din unke ssath hote hain, jaane kyun tum vapaas yahaan athe hai, apni mothi biwi ke paas? Who would want to come home to a fat whale like me-eeeee!" Khushi said as she began to cry again, this girl is too ridiculous for words Arnav thought to himself. She wasn't even fat, sure she'd swell up as the baby grew but that was expected. Arnav ignored her and turned her around...just like he thought. Khushi sniffed.
"Kya hua, apne dekha main kitne mot-" Khushi was interrupted as she felt Arnav slide the zipper up. Khushi turned to him shocked, after he'd finished and Arnav smiled. "Yeh, tumne kaise kiya?" She asked and Arnav's grin grew.
"Khushi the material got stuck in the zipper, you are not fat and you fit into this dress perfectly, abh chale?" He asked and Khushi shook her head, he pulled his arm around her waist, looked down at her and smiled. "Oh yeah, aaj aap kafi uchi lagti hai."He said, she'd gone through all this melodrama for him, it was the least he could do.

They got to the restaurant, Arnav had them open up a VIP section for them which was secluded and away from the crowds of tables where everyone else was. Khushi smiled as he pulled her chair out for him and they sat down. Khushi opened the menu and began to read it when her face fell. There was nothing here she particularly wanted to eat. What she felt like was todha samosa, todha chaane, todhi si paneer. Khushi's stomach rumbled at the idea of it. Oh and for dessert Kheer and Jalebis. That was what she really wanted. Not this Italian food, she was sure it was tasty but Khushi really fancied some Desi style khaana.
"Khushi." Arnav said and Khushi snapped out of her food dream. "I said are you ready to order, main waiter ko bhula deta hoon." Arnav said and Khushi gave a strange half smile which let Arnav know something was up.
"What's wrong now?" He asked and Khushi became even stranger.
"Nahi, kuch nahi, kuch nahi wrong. Tum order karo naa, hum kaate hai, tumhari problem kya hai?" She jibed back and Arnav made a face at her.
"Mera problem? I'm not the one behaving so strangely. Kyun tumhe Italian food pasaand nahi?" He asked and Khushi frowned. Of course she didn't, she grew up on dahl and puris not pasta. She needed to comfort eat not try these weird foreign foods. Arnav narrowed his eyes. "Tik hai, we'll go home." He said and he got up. Khushi made a face, great she'd ruined the one time Arnav had made the effort to take her out. Oh god, he was going to be angry now wasn't he? Khushi could feel the upcoming freeze out she'd get from Arnav. She began to get up, when Arnav placed his hand towards her and lifted her up once she placed her hand in his. He held her hand as they walked out of the restaurant. They got into the car and Arnav began to drive, when something caught Khushi's eyes.
"DHABBA!" Khushi squealed and Arnav braked not having fully comprehended what she'd said. "Arnav, dhabba, chalo nah, bohut din hogaye dhabba gaye nahi." She pleaded as she pulled on his arm.
"No way Khushi, its in the middle of nowhere, probably doesn't even pass a basic hygine code. No, no way am I letting you eat that crap its bad for our baby." He said sternly and Khushi rolled her eyes.
"Maine apni life main kohi assi dhabba par nahi gaye jaha mera tabiyaat kraab hua, toh aap meherbaani karke chup hoja aur chalo." She said and Khushi got out of the car. Arnav groaned, parked up and went to go follow Khushi.

They sat down and Khushi ordered everything she'd wanted previously and Arnav just asked for a bottle of water. Khushi rolled her eyes at him and then when Arnav needed to attend to a call she asked the guy who had served them to get Arnav the same as what Khushi had ordered. Arnav sat down and found a plate of puris, paaneer and dahl in front of him. Khushi smiled at him and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Uchi kushboo arri na?" She asked and Arnav shook his head but his stomach growled and betrayed him. Khushi laughed. "Look your stomach is saying something, you should listen to it Mr. Raizada." She said and then dug into her food. Arnav looked in wonder at her, she was a tiny thing with the hunger of ten men. He had to admit it though, the food looked pretty good and he was starving and so he dug in also. Arnav had cleared the taal clean and Khushi looked at him proudly, Arnav looked up at her and Khushi smiled as she leant across the table and wiped a little paneer from his mouth and Arnav looked away embarrassed.
"Okay if you're quite done?" He said and Khushi sat down. "Chale abh?" He asked and Khushi smiled as she nodded and got up. They got into the car and Khushi looked too smug for Arnav's liking.
"You know you wont always get your way Khushi." He said and Khsuhi turned to him with a suspicious expression. "Just wait until my princess arrives, everything will go her way and she'll be just like her pappa." He said confidently and Khushi scoffed.
"I wouldn't be too sure, when my son gets here everything will go his way and he'll be just like his mamma." She said with matched confidence. Arnav rolled his eyes.
"We'll see in six months then." He said and Khushi turned to him with a look of arrogance on her face.
"Yes, we will see."

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Nine

Khushi woke up to see a plate of jalebis on the table and she bit her lips feeling guilty. How'd he got them? Did he wake up some poor mithaai-wala? She shook her head, when she realised they'd slept together for the first time in a long time. She felt his arm around her waist, she turned and saw his sleeping face. How could someone so arrogant be so sweet? She almost felt sorry for all the stuff she put him through last night but that was a fleeting emotion. She removed his heavy arm from her waist and gently dropped it by his side. She stood up smiling, grabbed the glass of water on her bedside table and threw it over him. Arnav woke up shocked, Khushi smiled until he looked at her then she gasped.
"What the hell Khushi?!" He asked enraged, wiping the water from his face and shaking his t-shirt to stop it from clinging to him. Khushi used all her acting skills.
"Sorry, woh main paani peena si, aur phir chaakhar agaya tah, toh phir...paani." Khushi said looking worried and Arnav's attention immediately diverted to the fact that Khushi had been having a dizzy spell. He practically jumped out of the bed and ran over to her immediately.
"Khushi kyan hua?" He asked panicked. "Saab kuch tik hai, na? Tum aur baby...humhe hospital jaana chaiye." He decided and he was about to run to throw a jacket on and some shoes, giving no regard to the fact that he was completely soaked.
"Nahi, uski kohi zurroorath nahi hai. Hum bilkul tik hai. Yeh saab uksaar hota hai." Khushi said as she felt bad about worrying him, her intention was to make him feel a little stressed not to scare him. He held onto her and looked at her intensely.
"Are you sure?" He asked and she smiled and touched his cheek.
"Ha, babba. Chalo abh mujhe tayaar hona hai, bohut saare kham hai, pooja karni hai, aur naashta bhi tayaar karna hai. Arre, haatiye na!" She said as she pulled him off her and went to go get ready. It was once she was in the bathroom that Arnav realised he was still damp.
"Great." He muttered to himself.

Arnav was restless at work, his attention was back at home. All he could think about was, if Khushi was okay, has she eaten, she better not be running around too much, what if something major has happened with the baby and he's missing it? After the childhood Arnav had experienced he wanted so much better for his own children. He'd promised himself that long ago, before he'd become "ASR", before all the ideas of love, marriage and family had left his head. Well until Khushi came along. She'd really snuck up on him, he can't really place when he started to fall for her but he knew for certain he had. She had bought him back to the healthy happy person he'd once been, long before all the problems entered his life. He was glad to have her back now, but he worried so much that he'd lose her. He'd come so close to losing her so many times, he couldn't bear it he really lost her. He shut his laptop and sighed, he was tired and stressed all because of one person.
"Khushi." He said aloud.
Khushi on the other hand was at home eating fruits and relaxing in the living room with Di. Nani said that the two of them should just rest from now on. They were discussing colours for Di's baby's room.
"Di I think these softer colours would go nicely, you don't want to scare the kid with bright colours everywhere? Woh kaise sojaonga aggar itne distractions hai?" Khushi said and Anjali laughed.
"Oh yaad ayaa, Bhabi aap zara Chotte koh phone kardonge please. Unse poochiye khi woh aaj khanaa ghar pe khayega ya office mein?" Anjali said and Khushi nodded. She put down the plate of apples and went upstairs to ring Arnav on her phone, she'd left it upstairs this morning. She sat lazily on the bed and dialled his number.
"Ha Khushi bhol." He said abruptly and Khushi gawked.
"Yeh kohi tarikha hai apni biwi se baath karne ka? Na kohi hello, tum kaisi hoon? Baas "Ha Khushi bhol."" Khushi complained and Arnav sighed.
"Khushi mere paas bohut kaam hai, so get to the point." He said, exasperated.
"Ha tik hai, waise mujhe tumse baat karne ka kohi shok nahi, woh Di poochri thi ki aap khaana ghar se ghayege yah office mein?" She asked and Arnav grinned.
"Erm hum bhaar jayenge." He said and Khushi became confused.
"Hum?" Khushi asked.
"Tum aur main, ek chotthe se dinner ki liye." He said and Khushi smiled on her end.
"Kya baath hai, aaj toh bhara pyaar arra hai? Aaj kya kohi nahi Valentines day hai?" She asked and Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Tum tayaar rehna, I'll pick you up at 6:30 sharp." He said.
"Ha tik hai." She said and they both hung up.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Eight

Khushi went into their room after dinner, she'd spent some time in Di's room before she decided to venture into her room. She walked in to see Arnav working on his laptop, obviously trying to make up for the day's work he'd missed by doing this drama. Khushi smiled to herself, if he's going to be dramatic, then so was she. She walked in and sat on the bed, Arnav registered her entering the room with a side glance and then went back to work. Khushi hid her smile as she started her plan.
"Uff, hai Devi Maiyaan, kitnaa dukraa hai!" She complained and Arnav looked up to see Khushi gripping herself, eyes shut tight and face pained.
"Kya hua Khushi? Is everything okay? Is it the baby? Do you want me to call the doctor?" Arnav asked as he made his way to Khushi, kneeling beside the bed, next to her.
"Nahi Arnav uski kohi zuroorath nahi. Bhaas mere pherr bohut dukre hai. Woh kya hai, aaj maine apke liye bohut bhaag dhor kiya tah. Now me and the baby are paying the price of your little drama." She said trying to force guilt out of him. Arnav did feel guilty.
"Sorry Khushi, is there anything I can-" He hadn't even finished when Khushi interrupted him, her mood turning from morose to merry in seconds. She pulled her feet towards him.
"Dabao." She said and Arnav looked perplexed. "Urre, sharmao maath, tum mere pathi hoon, ek massage toh banta hai. Kijiye na!" Khushi said and Arnav looked at her sceptically.
"No way." He said bluntly and Khushi frowned at him and then turned away.
"See this is why I wanted more time away. Main jaanti thi, you don't really love me, yeh saab ek dikava hai. Tum toh sirf apke hoonewale bucha se pyaar hai. Main kya hai? Main toh kuch bhi nahi hai? Mera kohi dard yah mushkquil ko tumse kya?" Khushi cried over dramatically, she had to bite her cheeks to stop her from smiling as she heard him sigh. She knew that sigh was the sign of her winning. He made his way to where she was on the bed, sat in front of her and looked her in the eyes.
"If this is what it takes, then fine." He said as he grabbed her feet, this was so wrong. She should be doing this for him not the other way round. Khushi smiled as he gently pressed her feet.
"Urre zara zhor lagake kharo, tumhare haaton mein mehendi hai kya? Tik se kharo." Khushi chided and Arnav looked at her darkly, Khushi simply smiled back cheerily in response. Arnav had to remind himself that she was worth it.

After a good half an hour she let him get back to work, she got ready for bed and then lay down. She was going to go to sleep when she decided this wasn't enough for one night. All the stress and worry she'd been through he deserved a little worse. She looked at the clock, it was near twelve and Khushi smiled to herself. As she pretended to go to sleep. After twenty minutes Khushi got up dramatically flinging the duvet to one side which caught Arnav's attention immediately.
"What the-?! Ab kya hai? Khushi kya hua?" He asked as he stood up and Khushi looked around and then wiped her forehead dramatically as though she were wiping away sweat.
"Arnav maine ek bohut hi khoobsurat sapna dekhi thi." She said and Arnav was intrigued.
"Really? Kiske baare mein?" He asked as he left his laptop and walked over seductively to his wife. Khushi smiled up at him and then looked away bashfully as he sat down beside her. Arnav took her hands in his own. "Go on Jaan, kaisa sharmaana tum meri patni hoon, itna toh haq banta hai." He said paraphrasing what Khushi had said earlier.
"Tik hai...maine Jalebion wala sapna dekha." Khushi said bashfully.
"What?!" Arnav asked angrily, he'd left his project proposal mid-way for this crap?
"Hah, kitna khoobsurat tah. Charo taraf jalebia hi jalebia thi. Ai hai, moon mein paani agaye. Arnav mujhe jalebia lekhe de nah?" Khushi pleaded and Arnav looked at her with pure amusement, she was joking right, it was nearly one in the morning now and she wanted Jalebis?
"No way Khushi. Iss waqt? Not happening. Go to sleep and I'll get someone to get some in the morning for you." He said as he got up to leave, he began to let go of Khushi's hand when she pulled him back.
"Nahi Arnav! Main abh kuch nahi jaanti! I wont be able to get to sleep. Mujhe woh hogaya. Woh...woh...woh? Arre kya kehte hai?" Khushi asked Arnav and he shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. Woh kya?" He asked, confused himself.
"Hah! Cravings, mujhe nah bohut badi craving hai jalebion ki liye." Khushi said and Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Tumhe toh har waqt jalebion ki cravings hothi hai. Now stop being dramatic and go to sleep." He said as he stroked her cheek and Khushi pushed his hand away.
"Ajeeb pathi ho tum. Main kuch mangri hoon aur tum toh khoshish karne se bhi inquar karre. I mean most husbands would be so happy to fulfill their wife's first craving, aur tum...choro aur bhi kya umeed tha?" She said and she let go of Arnav and turned around and gripped her stomach to highlight her need for Jalebis. Arnav groaned, so much for work, this girl really would leave him insane.

Arnav grabbed his keys and phone and headed downstairs. He rang Aman asking him to try and get some mithaai-wale to open up and give him some Jalebis. But all refused after all what harm could ASR do to a mithaai shop? Arnav groaned and threw his Bluetooth across the living room.
"Dammit." He muttered when he heard some rustling from the Kitchen. He went to go see when he caught Anjali with a big pot of Kheer and a spoon.
"Di?" He asked and Anjali looked at him shocked.
"Chotte aap?" Anjali said through her already full mouth.
"Yeh aap, kya kari?" He asked and Anjali quickly devoured her Kheer.
"Woh kya hai Chotte, mujhe naa zodh si Kheer ki craving aya tah. Toh isiliye. I tell you Chotte, there is nothing worse than when you're pregnant and you have a craving. It feels like life and death if you don't get it its so bad. Meri kismaat uchi hai ki Payal neh aaj Kheer banaya." She said whilst smiling and Arnav's face fell even more as he realised Khushi wasn't being overdramatic. She really couldn't help it. "Kya hua?" She asked her brother and Arnav frowned deeper.
"Khushi wants jalebis, usko bhi craving aya. Abh tum bataon main iss waqt kaha se leaon?" He asked his sister and Anjali understood his problem.
"Uggar tum jalebi ko nahi lasaakte toh aap banasakte hai, kyun?" She asked Arnav and he looked up at her questioningly. Sure he could make them but it was late and he was tired. "Khushi Bhabi ki liye itna toh tum karsakte hai na?" She asked, Arnav rolled his eyes and Anjali smiled. "Tik hai, main teri maddhat karti hoon." She said and Arnav and Anjali got to work on making Khushi jalebia.
Arnav walked up to the room with a plate of jalebia, it was three in the morning now and she had better enjoy these. He got in the room when he saw Khushi was fast asleep. He was in shock and then he got angry.
"I can't sleep, I need jalebis, I don't care just get me jalebis now!" He muttered to himself as he put the plate on the table in their room. "Nautanki kahi ki." He muttered and then got changed. There was no point in trying to get anything done now, he needed to be up in a bit. God knows what she got from doing all that. Arnav went to bed exhaused, stressed and angry. "God knows how I'll deal with this for another six months." He said, she was only three months along and she was this much work. Khushi turned over in her sleep and nuzzled up close to Arnav, lying her head on his chest. Arnav rolled his eyes and enveloped his arms around her letting go of his anger and enjoying the feeling of having his wife in his arms once again.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Seven

Khushi practically ran towards the doors of Shantivaan, feeling as though her feet weren't carrying her fast enough. Her mind flooded with memories of when she'd seen Arnav collapse previously when his sugar levels had dropped. That in itself had nearly scared her to death, now she knew he was ill but she didn't know why and she didn't know what state she was in. She pushed the doors open and ran in when her foot hit something hard. She looked as she saw the copper jar fall, scattering rice on the ground. Khushi looked at it confused, what was this doing here? Then she heard it, Arnav cleared his throat, Khushi looked up to see him standing proud on the stairs of his home. Khushi was half-shocked and half-angry. She should have suspected something was up. Arnav practically skipped down the stairs, that's how excellent his health was. The smug smile was clear on his face. He walked up to Khushi who looked away.
"Maine kahata na? Tum yahaan keeche chale ayegee. Apke phir se swagaat hoon ghar main, Khushi." He said softly to her and Khushi couldn't control herself any longer. She focused all her anger as she took her hand and smacked it across Arnav's face. He looked back at her with rage and shock.
"Aapko zara sa bhi khyaal hai khi main kiss haal main thi? Main joh three months pregnant hoon, yahaan bhaage dhoree ayeen si, main jiske sassein tumnewali thi, tumhare liye, kyunki main daargaye thi woh bhi ek mazaaq ki liye..." Khushi said disgustedly and Arnav looked at her with anger.
"Tumne aur kya chaara chora mere liye? You wouldn't come back after all my appeals so I got you back here by hook or crook." He said as though he'd not done anything wrong. She grabbed him by the collar.
"Aapko yeh saab ek khel samjake rakha hai? Main itne daargaye thi khi main tunko bataa bhi nahi sakti. Aur tum ho khi..." Khushi couldn't even finish her sentence as hot tears began to run down her cheeks, she let go of him and looked away as she frantically wiped away her tears.
"Oh shit." Arnav muttered to himself as he realised how much he'd actually terrorised his wife by doing this drama. That's the last time he listens to Di when it comes to Khushi. He walked over to her and turned him to face her. "I...I'm sorry Khushi." He said and Khushi looked up at him. "I didn't mean to get you so upset. I didn't think you would get so worried." He said and Khushi shot him another shocked look.
"You thought I wouldn't be worried? Arre khab tumhaare samaj main ayega? I LOVE YOU, YOU IDIOT! Of course I'd be worried! Main tumhari patni hoon, dushmaan nahi!" She shouted at him and even though she was throwing insults at him Arnav didn't care because she'd said she was his wife and that she loved him. "Aur apko kya laga, ki when I see you're fine I'd be so happy that I'd just stay here? Wrong. Main jaari hoon." Khushi said as she turned to leave.

"Rukho Khushi bitiya." Said a familiar voice and Khushi turned shocked.
"Buaji, app...yahaan?" She asked as her Bua and the rest of her family came into the living room from the dining room with the rest of the Raizada family in tow. "Yeh hum saab ka plan tah, toh aggar tum Arnav Bitua se rhooti hoon toh hum saab se bhi hoon. Aur ek aur baat abh tum vapaas mere ghar mein nahi asakti." Buaji said and Khushi felt upset. They were all in on this?
"Buaji? Hum kaise-" Khushi began but her mother interrupted.
"Khushi beta, jaab tumhare aur damaatji ke beech mushkilein thi toh humne aapko vapaas annedhe. Lekin abh, tum dono tik hai aur tum Maa baanewali hai, yeh saab tik nahi hai Khushi. Aapko yahaan apne sasuraal main honichaiye." Garima said lovingly as she cupped her daughter's face. Khushi frowned but had to give it to Arnav he had planned this out beautifully, trapping her completely. Tik hai, if he wants her back, if he wants her to stay with her, to look after her during her pregnancy, then she wouldn't stop him...oh no she'd enjoy this. She smiled and squeezed her mother's hands and removed them from her face.
"Tik hai, Umma, Buaji abh hum aur waqt barbaad nahi karegein. Hum yahaan phir se rahogee." She said and everyone smiled. Nani was the first to embrace Khushi, then Anjali, Payal and Akash awkwardly hald hugged Khushi. Then NK drowned Khushi in a strong hug.
"I'm so happy Khushi Bhabi! Aap Nanav ke ghar mein vapaas ayee." He said and Arnav grimaced, Khushi saw this and smiled to herself.
"Arre hum todhi unkeliye kiya, maine to tum sabh ki liye kiya, maine aap sabh ko bohut yaad kiya, khaas ki Laxmiji." Khushi said and everyone started laughing, Khushi snuck a look at her Laad governor who simply stood on the sidelines, letting her say as much rubbish as she wanted. He was content, she was back in the house, that was the first step to getting them back on track, now he just had to earn her trust back. Which, since she'd made such a fuss over this, Arnav could see would be difficult, but there was nothing Arnav Singh Raizada loved more than a challenge. Khushi went to her room to find her stuff had already been shifted over here, she was going to question it but then she remembered this was Arnav Singh Raizada she was talking about "voh toh namumkin koh mumkin banaata." She shook her head and flopped onto the bed, her feet hurt so bad from the amount of running she'd done and she had such a migraine from all the worrying and arguing she'd been doing. All she wanted to do was sleep.

"I guess I won after all." He said smugly as he stood by the poolside entrance to their room. Khushi groaned and closed her eyes trying to block him out. "Oh come on Jaan, its not that bad being back here...with me." He said as he joined her on the bed, Arnav didn't lie down, he leant on the crook of his arm so that he could survey Khushi's face. First she frowned and then opened her eyes and sat up to look him square in the face.
"Har baat haar jeet se link nahi. Kuch baatein toh baas aisi hojate." Khushi said and Arnav looked back at her confused. "Maine samajdari ki kadam utaya yahaan vapaas aanein mein. Meri kohi haar nahi hoi, toh tumhara jeet kaise hua?" She asked and Arnav was stumped, if she didn't see this as a loss then he didn't win did he? He smiled.
"Tik hai, you've got me there, but you did what I wanted in the end didn't you?" He asked and Khushi smiled.
"The rest of the family wanted this also, that doesn't mean I did it just for you. In fact you didn't cross my mind while making this decision." She lied, Arnav could tell, Khushi always went overly flamboyant with her gestures when she lied. He smiled to himself and turned to her as he touched the cheek Khushi had slapped.
"You know Khushi, I'll remember that slap always." He said and Khushi smiled.
"Patta hai, it must have hurt a lot." She said, smiling.
"No I didn't really feel the pain, I focused more on the emotions behind it. What was it you were saying? I love you...I'm you're wife of course I care, or something like that." He said with a knowing smile and Khushi frowned again.
"You left out me calling you an idiot!" She said angrily and he smiled as he placed his arms on her shoulders.
"Yes but you still admitted you still love me." He said and Khushi pulled his arms off of her.
"Love is blind and deaf apparently." She said as she got up, deciding to go to Jiji's room to rest. Arnav smirked.
"Go, go, go. We've got an entire lifetime together for this." He said and Khushi groaned aloud. Oh sure she loved him but not this side of him, if she didn't bring him down a peg or two her name wasn't Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Six

Khushi sat on the chair waiting for the Doctor to come in to start her scan, all her other tests had been okay. They just wanted to check the progress of the baby and the heartbeat. Khushi was waiting eagerly and Arnav stood next to her, he was excited too but as usual he didn't want to show it, in-case it ruined his "image".
"Kohi moody hona toh aapse seekhe." Khushi commented and Arnav turned to her confused. "Main yahaan itne excited hoon ki meri heartbeat toh 120 se barkaar hogi. Aur tum wahaan gum sum se khaare hoon." Khushi complained and Arnav sighed.
"What do you want me to do, dance? We're not all as open as you. We're in a hospital, its not very fitting." He said ridgidly and Khushi grimaced. The father's like this, god only knows what the child will be like. Arnav looked at his wife's now anxious face and began to regret what he said. He raised his hand and took Khushi's in his and smiled.
"I'm very happy and excited Khushi. Just because I don't say it 100 times a day doesn't mean its not true." He said and Khushi looked up at him with a smile that she wished she didn't have. He always knew how to make it up to her. He leaned in and put his forehead against hers and they both closed their eyes, trying to put this feeling they had here to memory. It was only when the Doctor cleared her throat that they broke away, Arnav still held onto her hand. The Doctor got the equipment ready for the ultrasound.
"This may be cold Mrs. Raizada." She said as she put the gel agent on Khushi for the scan. Khushi let out a slight gasp and Arnav smiled at her. She looked up at him with a frown, she was on the verge of picking another fight with him when the Doctor interrupted.
"Mr and Mrs. Raizada, would you like to see your baby?" Doctor Malhotra asked and they both turned to face her with an eagerness clear on their faces. She smiled and turned the screen to them. "That there, that's your baby." She said pointing it out for them. Khushi was in awe, that was her baby, so small and fragile, it was growing inside of her at this moment. It was amazing. Arnav was experiencing similar feelings, he felt instinctivly protective of this foetus, even though it was so small, even though it hadn't been born yet, Arnav realised his responsibilities to his child immediately. He placed another hand over his and Khushi's already interlocked hands and that turned Khushi's attention to him. They looked at each other with pure love in their eyes and nothing else. They both were thinking the same thing, they did that, they made that small life and they were both in awe over how much of an impact this little jaan had on them.

Khushi got dressed and the Doctor gave Khushi a copy of the ultrasound, one on DVD and the other was a photograph. Khushi smiled.
"Yeh toh hum apne tazveer ke saath lagadonge." She said proudly and then she looked at Arnav who looked slightly sombre. It wasn't that he was unhappy, he was extremely happy, its just that now Khushi would go back to her house and he his. He'd just felt a strong attatchment to their unborn child and now he was being distanced from it already, this whole situation was turning Arnav into a half-ass Father before he'd even gotten the chance. Khushi walked up to him.
"Kya hua?" She asked with genuine concern, he'd been so happy only a little while ago.
"Kuch nahi. Chale?" He asked and Khushi nodded. Arnav snaked his arm around Khushi's waist, craving to be closer to her, if only for a little while and he led her out to the car. The drive to Khushi's Bua's home wasn't long and Arnav hadn't gotten a chance to get out of this horrible mood and Khushi wasn't so blind, she did notice this. She unbuckled her seat belt as he stopped the car and she leant over towards him.
"Kya hua?" She asked once more but Arnav shook his head, Khushi pursed her lips and then raised her hands, cupping his face, turning it lightly so that he would face her. She looked at him again questioningly and Arnav placed his hands on hers.
"Khushi its nothing I promise." He said, it was nothing, it wasn't a matter of life and death, she needn't get stressed over this.
"Pukka?" She asked and he nodded."Undaar aogein?" She asked and he shook his head. "Kyun?" She asked offended.
"Khushi, its late. Di will be worried. I'll see you another time." He said and Khushi understood but didn't like it. She hadn't seen Arnav all day until now, she wanted to have more time with him, what happened to him going above and beyond to make it up to her?
"Ucha, tik hai. Oh you take this though." She said handing him the ultrasound DVD. "Humare paas toh DVD shevd hain nahin toh phir tum lejao aur saab ko dikhao. I have this picture, main issi se kham chaloenge." Khushi said with a smile and Arnav took the disc from her hand.
"You know Khushi we wouldn't need to be splitting this stuff up if you'd just come home, that way we could spend more time together too." He said with that half-smile that always made her heartbeat Dhak Dhak to the max. Now she saw what he was doing, he was trying to guilt trip her into coming home.
"Nahi, main assi itne asaani se pathne-wali nahi! Main jaaree hoon, aur hah phone karna maat bhulna. Aaj ek bhi call nahi ayi thi!" Khushi complained and Arnav shook his head.
"No." He said simply and Khushi opened her mouth from shock.
"Kya?!" She asked in shock.
"N. O. No." He said and Khushi looked, shocked to her core, back at him. "I've done a lot of bhag dhor for you Mrs. Raizada abh baas. I'm not doing anything until you come home." He said, adamant.
"Nahi, dekhiye aap aise nahi kaarsakte." Khushi warned and he smiled accepting the challenge she posed.
"I can and I will, I'm Arnav Singh Raizada." He said pompously.
"Hah! Toh main bhi Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada hoon aur yeh meri zidh hai khi main vapaas nahi aoge." She said, the truth was Khushi wouldn't mind going back to Shantivaan but not when he was acting like this.
"Tum dekhna Khushi, haar baar ki tara tumhari kismaat ki dhor tumhein keeche leyeagein mere paas. Yeh bhi meri zidh hai ki kaal ki shyaam tak tum vapaas ghar agaye hogeen." He said and Khushi fumed, she grabbed his collar.
"Tum intazaar karte rahoon, main toh yahaan rahoge." She said and Arnav smiled as he removed Khushi's hands from his shirt collar.
"We will see." He said, that was the final nail in the coffin for Khushi and she went inside, enraged.

Khushi sat around in the living room, Bua, Umma and Bauji had gone to the Mandhir, but told Khushi to stay at home as she'd been throwing up all morning. She was fine now but she was just angry, muttering to herself as she saw the clock tick. It was nearly six in the evening.
"Dekha, main apne ghar main hoon. Patta nahi woh kya samjada hai apne aap ko, kohi pundit hai joh meri puri bhavishyaa ke bharein mein patha hoon. He was so confident last night that I would definately come home. Aur dekh, main araam se beteen hoon." She said happily, trying to convince herself that this was a good decision. That was until the phone rang, Khushi went to pick it up assuming it was Arnav.
"Hello, apne haar ka maataam manane ki liye phone kiya?" She said jokingly into the phone.
"Khushi?" Payal asked and Khushi's face fell.
"Jiji aap? Maine socha ki Arnav-" Khushi didn't get a chance to finish her sentence.
"Khushi tum abhi ki abhi ghar ajaon!" Payal said frantically, oh he was good, getting to her sister.
"Nahi Jiji yeh meri jung hai, aap isme maath aon toh better hai-" Payal cut Khushi off once again.
"Khushi meri baath suno toh! Mujhe nahi patta ki tum aur Bhai ki beech mein kya hua, lekin Bhai ko apke zuroorat hai!" Payal said with genuine worry that made Khushi worry also.
"Kya hua unko?" Khushi asked the words flying out of her mouth as she forgot all else.
"Patta nahi, ek minute woh tik teh, aur phir woh office seh ghar aya aur suddenly he became unconcious. Doctors ko bulaiya, lekin woh saab ko bhi pataa nahi ki kya hua. Khushi main kuch nahi jaanti, tum baas aon!" Payal said and Khushi felt her as though her heart had sunk into the pit of her stomach.
"Main abhi ayee Jiji! Baas main nikloge." She said and hung up. Khushi quickly put on some shoes, grabbed some money for the rickshaw and she ran frantically out of the house. She hailed for numerous rickshaws but they all passed her. Khushi felt as though she may break down. She remembered how they had fought yesterday, how it had been her being stubborn and immature. They were married, they were having a baby and they were in love for god's sake! So why was she acting like this? A rickshaw finally stopped and Khushi got in telling the driver to take her to Shantivaan as fast as possible. If anything happened to him, Khushi would never forgive herself.

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Dark Paradise Chapter Thirty Five

Arnav woke up in bed the next day feeling even more exhausted than he had when he'd gone to sleep last night. His and Khushi's conversation had taken a toll on him and drained him emotionally. It needed to be said, he needed to know what she was thinking, but he just wished they'd actually come to a resolve to their problems. Instead he's given her more time, Arnav still felt like Khushi didn't quite comprehend how much he missed being with her and having her as his wife. He shook away the thoughts and went to get ready, determined not to let Khushi plague his mind today and go to work and get work done. He showered, changed and looked in the mirror one time before he made his way downstairs. He was midway through the stairs when he heard it. It was unmistakable to his ears.
"Hai Devi Maiyaan!" Groaned Khushi aloud and Arnav's heart stopped for a second.
What the hell was she doing here? Was he imagining this? She'd finally done it, she'd made him insane, Arnav thought to himself. He quickened his pace and saw a disturbing sight in the living room. Di had her pre-natal yoga classes at home, this he was used to, he'd become used to seeing Di change her usual saree for gym clothes, what he was not used to was seeing Khushi trying to do Downwards facing dog in sweatpants and a hoodie. He didn't even know she owned gym clothes. Khushi pulled herself to sitting position and took deep breaths.
"Aur nahi, main aur nahi kaar sakti. Meri toh sasse tamjaoge!" Khushi said with quick breaths. Anjali smiled as she too sat on her yoga mat.
"I know Khushiji, shuroo shuroo main dikat hothi, lekin bache ki liye bohut ucha hota hai!" Anjali gushed, she was very happy to have a baby bump buddy to go through all this with. Since she didn't have a husband anymore she'd felt very alone, but now she could share all this with her Bhabi and that made up for it.
"What the fuck is this?" Arnav said, not even stopping himself this time as he was in genuine shock.
"Chotte! Aise baat nahi karte!" Anjali chided as she turned to see her brother, Khushi turned and looked up to meet Arnav's eyes, she gave him a meek smile and then looked away.
"Di yeh saab kya hai?" He asked his sister, confident Khushi would not give him an answer if he asked.
"Dekh nahi sakte, main aur Bhabi yoga karre, taan aur maan ki shanti ki liye." Anjali said with a cheesy grin. "Oh taan se yaad aya, Khushi Bhabi you have to stay for breakfast, Nani has been dying to stuff you with food since she heard the good news. Aapko rukh na parega." Anjali said and Khushi looked silightly apprehensive over this.
"Di, I don't know, Buaji meri raha dekhri hogi. Main auto lekhe ghar jaogi." Khushi said. Anjali grimaced.
"What nonesense, main tumhe khali pehet phar kahi nahi jaane dengi." Anjali said as she stood up. "Main abhi khi abhi khaana lagati hoon." She said as she went to the kitchen to instruct the servants to get the food ready.

Khushi felt odd, not because she was there with Arnav but because she was in these weird western clothes, Khushi hadn't felt like such a big cartoon in her life. She fidgeted dragging the sleeves of the black hoodie down and scrunching them in her hands. Her swetpants were black with a plain white stripe down the side. Anjali had given Khushi her old ones as they no longer fit Anjali. Khushi's hair was tied up into a ponytail and Arnav was able to notice the glow on Khushi's face. He'd always thought it was absolute crap about how women were meant to glow when pregnant, he assumed it was some poor attempt these women made to comfort themselves about gaining weight etc. during pregnancy. But his Khushi truly looked radiant, he drank in the sight of his wife, in their home, he'd missed being able to do that. He walked over to Khushi and grinned at her.
"Yeh kya, tum itne health concious kabse hui?" He asked and Khushi grimaced.
"Hum toh hameshaa se aise thi, lekin woh book ne kaha ki pregnancy ki waqt main aurat ko zyada dhyaan dehne chaiyhe sehet ko. Light exercise, good dieting, yeh saab faide ki baath hothi hai jab tum pregnant ho." Khushi said, practically reciting the book, Arnav raised his hand to his lips to cover his grin.
"Ucha meri Guru, uppar jao aur change karo. Varna Mami aapko dekhenge aur woh bhi yoga karna chahogi aur woh bhi inhi kapro main." Arnav joked. Khushi looked up at him with amusement, since when did ASR crack jokes? She smiled and grabbed her bag which had a loose fitting anarkali suit in it. Khushi was making her way to the washroom downstairs when Arnav stopped her.
"Khushi don't be stupid, our room is upstairs, go use it." He said, not asking or suggesting but ordering. He was back to his old self. Khushi rolled her eyes, smiled at him and made her way upstairs. Arnav went to the breakfast table smiling when he remembered what he'd said to himself today. No today was meant to be a work day. He'd been neglecting his work long enough on Khushi's behalf and couldn't let it suffer any more. He quickly ate his breakfast and headed out before Khushi made her way downstairs, he knew if he was around her any longer some new problem or activity would distract him. Khushi walked to the table to find him missing and she felt slightly stung by his absence, Di informed him that he'd gone to work but Akash Jiju was still at the table. What work was there that was so important?
"Actually Bhai has been meaning to catch up on all the time he took off after the wedding and after your accident. I mean of course the company is still doing well but he's the boss. He needs to be in control. Don't take it personally Bhabi." Akash said as he noted the dejected look on Khushi's face. Everyone had been so happy with the progress Arnav and Khushi were making, they were hopeful that Khushi would come home soon and didn't want anything to ruin that. Khushi nodded and smiled.
"Anyway, why fear Khushi Bhabi when NK is here? I'll keep you entertained and you will have so much fun ki aap Nanav ko bhuladenge!" NK said and Khushi smiled sincerely at her other brother-in-law.

Arnav had done what he said and spent the whole day working and didn't think of Khushi once, nor did he ring her. Di had let him know that Khushi had spent the day with the family and was still there. Arnav believed it was okay for him to duck out, it was six and he was the boss. He grabbed Akash and made his way home. They walked in when Arnav caught sight of her in the living room, she was in a navy blue anarkali, one of his favourite colours on Khushi, after red of course. He smiled as he handed his suitcase to JP, then his smile fell as he saw she was smiling at NK who was apparently doing an impression of Arnav.
"Aur phir, STOMP, STOMP, STOMP! NK WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? Yeh kya hai? What crap?" NK said and Khushi had tears in her eyes from how hard she was laughing. Oh really she found this funny did she? Khushi stood up.
"Nahi NK Bhai, apne ghulaat kaha. Woh what the hell itna nahi kehta. Woh toh, aise kehte. Dekho, aise. Khushi, what the-?!" Khushi said as she placed her hands on her hips and made a stern face. Akash snorted which directed everyone's attention to Akash and Arnav. Khushi's eyes bulged like a child who had been caught lying. She smiled nervously and walked over to him.
"Aap agaye? Todhi early agaye aaj?" She asked as she grasped his hand in hers hoping that would calm him down. As he was silent right now and that unsettled Khushi deeply. Arnav interlocked his hands with Khushi's and felt a satisfaction inwardly that he did not display.
"I thought I'd come home and spend some time with you. I didn't realise ki mere yaad main tum...yeh saab karoge." Arnav said as he tilted his head to NK and Khushi laughed nervously.
"Nahi, woh toh baas kuch nahi. Aapko bhook lagi hai? Mujhe toh zodh se arri. Chalo Pappa, Mummy aur Pappa ki princess saab milke kaathe aaj." Khushi said as she led him to the table and Arnav could see how badly Khushi was trying to butter him up. Really pulling the baby card and calling their unborn child princess. Someone should learn how to kiss up from Khushi, Arnav thought to himself. They sat down and ate with the family who all spoke generally of their day informing Arnav of all the antics that had gone on.
"Laxmi had eaten Mami's face pack that she had gotten from Europe, she's still upstairs crying over it." Anjali said and Arnav shook his head, making a note to tell Aman to get some shipped over ASAP. "Oh and I booked Khushi an appointment tomorrow with my doctor." Anjali said and Arnav looked up with alarm. "Arre, khabrane ki kohi baath nahi. You're supposed to go get checked up when you find out anyway. Don't worry Bhabi specified the appointment be in the evening so you can go." Anjali said and Arnav turned to look at Khushi, who gave him a sly smile, looking at him from the corner of her eyes. She winked at him and he had to cover a grin once more. What was he going to do with this girl?

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