"I Believe in You" | *v slow updates*

Prelude Two

"Jiji, muharat nikal wa letein hain na!"

[trans. sister, we should get the date and time for the auspicious moment]

"Koi farak nahi padta. Shaadi muharat se huwi gi na." Madhumati exclaimed thrusting a ring in Khushi's hand.

[trans. Doesn't matter. We will get the auspicious moment necessary for the wedding!]

Just as Khushi put her hand forward, the bell on the door rang with all its might. Shashi felt his breath calming at the interruption.

"Kon aa giya Naandekishore!"

[trans. Who is it Naadekishore!]

Payal walked over towards the door and pulled it open. "Arnav Ji?"

Shyam's attention shifted from the soft hand in front of him towards the door where his brother-in-law stood. He backed away a few steps when he felt himself colliding with Bua ji herself who looked at him with a questioning face.

Arnav's eyes looked at her tear-stained face. Her minutes-ago empty hand now adorned a simple diamond ring while holding up a ring.

"Khushi? Jija Ji?" he questioned walking in.

An overwhelmed Khushi dropped the ring in her hands to the floor letting her feet giveaway. She was tired and she didn't need him barging in at this moment. For a minute she felt as if she had seen his lips move, telling something extremely important before the dizziness took hold of her and she felt herself collapsing against a familiar warm body.

He gently placed her on the sofa behind her, kneeling down to shake her up. Payal rushed by her sister's side before Arnav stood up and stood nose-to-nose with Shyam.

"He's Di's husband. What was he doing here?" he questioned the Gupta ladies who seemed startled by the sudden remark.

"What are you saying bitwa. This is the paying guest Shyam. Your sister and Nani are familiar with his stay at our house."

"Then why was he just now getting engaged to Khushi?" he asked, "If Nani and Di know that he stays here. If they know that there Damad stays here then WHY THE HELL WAS HE GETTING ENGAGED!!" he bellowed. "This man is already married!"

"Khushi isn't waking up," Payal muttered from behind. "Amma, Khushi isn't waking up." panic was obvious in her tone as she tried to jolt her sister back into reality.

*

"What are you saying? How can he be married?" Bua Ji exclaimed, "ARE YOU MARRIED!" she bellowed. She stood torn at her decision and what was coming out as truth and as a lie.

"I can call my entire family here, and I can bring several witnesses to tell you that he is indeed Di's husband."

"Enough!" Shyam scoffed. "Enough, both of you. Yes, I am married but the only reason I am standing here is that I am in love with Khushi Ji."

"Believe me Bua Ji, I'm going to divorce Rani Sahiba in this week itself."

Gobsmacked by the words ensued by the man whom she had been holding at her highest esteem, she slapped him across the face which led his steps to falter. "Don't you dare utter the name of my niece! Don't you dare!!"

*

"Where is ASR!" Lavanya whined walking across the halls of Shantivan while Anjali looked on amusedly.

"Seriously Di, where is he?"

"Lavanya Ji, patience. I know you are way too excited for you guys to be officially together now but you have to be patient." Anjali responded as Lavanya sat beside her.

"Di."

"hmm?"

"I feel...I mean this could be really absurd but then deep down I feel that ASR only said this today because he felt revoked by something. Till yesterday he was strictly against the idea of marriage."

"You're over-thinking that Lavanya Ji. Chotte probably thought it over and over before taking a step so drastic."

"Are you sure?"

"Hundred percent."

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A/N; this chapter was rewritten in 2014 from the version I had in 2011. Since then I've made considerable changes within the narrative I want to take this forward however for the sake of nostalgia and me re-sharing all my ipkknd related fan work, I've decided to utilize this chapter as it was written the second time I tried bringing this story back. apologies for the smaller update! I'll try to make the next one worth it! Thanks for all the votes to everyone reading this. I would also really appreciate feedback if possible.