Chapter Seventeen

Khushi sat on the bed, sad, as Payal's friends messed around with Payal, teasing her about her suhag raat.

"Khushi, say something," one of Payal's friends said.

"Yeah! You should be teasing her as well," another one said.

"Khushi couldn't say a single thing because she doesn't know anything about it," Payal teased.

"Oh," the first girl said. "And you do?"

Payal blushed and all of her friends laughed.

Khushi needed to clear her head and all this talk about suhag raats wasn't helping her one bit. Khushi walked out, Payal trying to stop her, but Khushi walked out anyway. She walked down the halls when she heard Nani crying in her room. She saw Mama, Mami, Akash, and NK in there, trying to sooth her.

Khushi walked in. "Naniji, what's wrong?"

Everyone looked at Khushi and Nani continued to cry.

"Jejaji, what's wrong," Khushi asked Akash.

Akash went over to Khushi, looking upset. Looking at him, Khushi could tell that he had been crying.

"Di's been in an accident," Akash said.

Khushi's eyes shot wide, unable to believe what she heard. Akash told her as much as Nani had told him. Khushi couldn't believe a single word of it and scanned the room. She noticed that Arnav wasn't here.

"Where's Arnavji?"

"He went to the accident site."

Khushi shut her eyes, knowing that this would be very hard for Arnav. She really wished that she was by his side at that moment.

Khushi decided to leave the family be and that she should tell her family the breaking news. She walked out and was going to go to her parents and Buaji, when she saw Arnav heading to his room. She was about to go after him, when she saw Shyam walking in from the corner of her eyes. She saw him smirking evilly and in that instant, Khushi knew that he was behind the accident. Shyam saw Khushi and he smirked at her and that only confirmed her thoughts. Shyam went away and Khushi went after Arnav.

Khushi saw him standing in his room, in the dark, his back faced towards her. She knew that Arnav must be feeling terrible from the news, so she went up to him. She hesitated for moment, unsure of what to say. So instead of saying something, she reached up, slipped her arms between his and clutched his shoulders, hugging him from behind. Arnav flinched, his eyes shooting open, as he felt Khushi's tears. He clenched his jaw as he felt Khushi crying.

"I'm so sorry this happened Arnavji," Khushi cried.

Arnav shut his eyes. You didn't do anything, yet you're sorry. You care too much for me and I....

Khushi's grip on him tightened and Arnav reached up and held her hands. Khushi looked up at him as Arnav released himself from her. He turned and looked at her tear-stained face. He felt his heart clench and he couldn't stand the sight of it. Reaching up, Arnav wiped away her tears. Khushi's lower lip trembled and Arnav shook his head, not wanting her to cry. But Khushi couldn't help herself, knowing that even though Arnav was showing himself to be strong on the outside, inside he was cracking into bits. Reaching for him, she hugged him again, tears falling.

Arnav stood still at first and then hugged her back. A tear threatened to escape and finally letting go, he let the tear go, one after the other escaping. Khushi felt his tears and looked up at him. Her heart clenched at the sight of him and she shook her head. She had him sit on his bed and wiped away his tears.

"Please don't cry Arnavji, I can't stand it," she said, wiping away his tears, tilting his face up to hers.

Arnav reached out and held her waist, hugging her as he cried. Khushi was still for a moment, unable to believe that this strong man known as Arnav Singh Raizada, had cracked, broke into pieces, and was crying before her. Khushi wound her arms around him, holding him to her, placing her head atop of his.

A few moments passed and the tears were stopping. Arnav let go, wiping his tears away. Khushi went to the small table and got Arnav a glass of water. She handed it to him and sat down beside him.

Arnav took a sip and then looked down. "Khushi, we shouldn't get married."

Khushi's eyes shot wide, her world ready to crash down. "W-wh-what?"

"I don't deserve you," Arnav whispered.

"No, don't say that Arnavji!"

Khushi took the glass from his hands and put it on the table. She moved in front of him and crouched before him, cupping his face in her hands. "Why would you think that Aranvji?"

Arnav looked at her.

"I love you Arnavji. How could you possibly say that?!"

He just looked at her.

"Do you want to kill me with your words-"

"Khushi, don't say stuff like that!"

"Then why are you saying that," she cried.

Tears escaped from her eyes and Arnav shook his head, wiping her tears away. "Don't cry."

"Then why did you say that?"

Arnav looked down.

"Arnavji," she said, tilting his face so that he'd look at her. "Where on earth did you get such an idea? Did someone say something-?"

Khushi paused and Arnav looked at her. Khushi remembered how Shyam had come walking in moments after Arnav did just earlier. He was grinning evilly and Khushi knew he had something to do with this.

"Did that Shyam say something to you," she asked.

Arnav's eyes widening gave Khushi her answer.

She looked side to side. "What does he think of himself?! That disgusting, conniving man!"

Arnav clenched his jaw and fists, remembering his words. Khushi noticed and held his hands, causing him to release his grip.

"What did he say," Khushi asked.

Taking a deep breath, Arnav told Khushi everything that had happened. Khushi couldn't believe her own ears, shocked that Shyam was the reason behind Anjali's accident.

"I swear Khushi, I'm going to kill him-"

"Arnavji, don't say such things!"

Arnav was going to retort, when he heard Hari Prakash yelling out his name and the members of his family. Arnav and Khushi looked at each other and went running downstairs. Arnav and Khushi froze, their eyes widening as they saw Anjali standing there. Arnav went running to his Di as the rest of the family arrived, all shocked to see Anjali.

Arnav hugged Anjali tightly and then looked at her. "Di, are you okay?! Dammit, I thought I lost you," and he hugged her again.

Anjali hugged him back. "I'm okay Chote. I just hurt my head when I jumped out of the car."

Arnav noticed the bandage around her head. He looked at her, tears pooling in his eyes. "If I lost you today..." but he couldn't say anymore, the tears threatening to fall.

"I could never leave my Chote."

The family came rushing and asked millions of questions. Khushi went to Arnav's side and held his hand. She squeezed it slightly and Arnav smiled at her lightly. The two noticed Shyam from the corner of their eyes and how exasperated he looked. His plan had failed and they all knew it.

Anjali called out to Shyam and his acting began. Arnav was disgusted and hated to see his sister in tears for a man that had tried to kill her. He wanted to tell his Di, but he knew it would break his sister's heart. He felt torn in between, unsure of what to do. He clenched his fists again, and Khushi calmed him, rubbing his hand.

"Khushiji?"

Both Arnav and Khushi looked up to see Anjali standing before them.

"Thank you for being by Chote's side and for comforting him."

The two were confused as to how she knew. She gestured at their hands and they looked down and flinched apart.

Anjali giggled. "It's okay," she smiled. "You two are just too cute!"

Khushi blushed, and Arnav looked anywhere but at his family.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Hari Prakash opened the door, and in came a man. He had a file of some sort in his hand and gave it to Anjali.

"Thank you doctor," Anjali smiled.

"You're welcome, and do take extra care."

Anjali nodded and the doctor left. Once he did, Anjali went through it.

"What does it say," Nani asked.

Anjali went through the report and paused. Her eyes widened and everyone noticed the look on her face.

"Di, what's wrong," NK asked.

But Anjali was just too in shock to speak.

Mami went to Anjali. "Hello hi, bye bye, Anjali what's the problem?" She took the file in her hands and read it. She gasped. "Hello hi, bye bye!!"

"What," everyone asked.

"We're going to have a mini Anjali," Mami cried. "Hello hi, bye bye!!"

Nani's eyes shot wide as a wide grin grew on her face. "What?!"

Everyone couldn't believe what they were hearing, especially Shyam, Arnav, and Khushi. Everyone started to tease Anjali and Shyam, while Arnav and Khushi were still in shock. They looked at each other, Arnav unable to tolerate the news.

"Chote?"

Arnav looked up and saw his Di. She was beyond happy and Arnav felt really bad. She hugged him and he hugged her back. His Di was pregnant with the man that didn't even love her. He looked up and met Shyam's eyes. He smirked right at him and Arnav clenched his jaw.

This isn't over, Arnav promised.