"No, you haven't done anything wrong, babua." They—Arnav and Aman—looked at the source of the voices and saw Dadi standing there with Khushi's father and aunt. Dadi had asked them to come in because Khushi's family wanted to speak to Arnav.
"I'm glad you did, bitwa. Shashi babua told me everything on the way here, and I am so relieved to have my titaliya in good hands now. Now, she has somebody to protect her from those wicked witches. You have no idea how relieved I am. Now Shashi and I can die peacefully," Buaji folded her hands in gratitude to him.
"Arey... arey... what are you doing, Buaji? Whatever I did, I did for my own sake. I love your daughter, which means protecting her is my responsibility and my duty. I did nothing special," he told Buaji straightforwardly.
"Jiji was very anxious for Khushi, bitwa. She thought I deceived you all and married you to Khushi instead of Sheetal and now you and your family would punish my Khushi for Sheetal's sins. I had to tell her the truth," Shashi let Arnav know how Madhumati came to know.
"That's alright, Mr. Gupta. She had a right to know what was going on. Now, I feel like I made a mistake. I shouldn't have done it," he sighed painfully. Buaji and Shashi Gupta shook their heads zealously.
"What are you saying, bitwa? Were you regretting marrying my Khushi?" Shashi Gupta's voice shook. Buaji's eyes teared up. Aman and Buaji looked at him incredulously.
"What the... no, never! What are you talking about? Why would I regret marrying the one I've loved since childhood and had been looking for?" he was shocked by their assumptions.
"Then what the hell are YOU saying, Arnie?" Aman almost shouted at his friend.
"What I meant was, I'm regretting the WAY I did it. I'm scared of what would happen when she finds out the truth. She already treats it like a temporary marriage, and her health is of concern as well. How is she supposed to accept the truth? I should have done it another way," he breathed hard.
"No bitwa, you don't worry at all. Whatever you did, you did for Khushi. You did everything to protect her from those two. She will not misunderstand you. Trust me," Shashi Gupta assured him.
"I am ashamed to even think I have any relation with such people. Anyway, I will talk to Khushi if you're worried. Don't worry," he added.
Buaji frowned, unable to understand her brother's extreme dislike toward his wife and daughter. Their behavior was always problematic, so what had made him this disgusted?
