Not so innocent vixen - ArShi FF (completed)

S3 - Chapter1

Quick note - starts from show's epi #376 but I am changing a few things after that. Also, I use spellings shital and sheetal interchangeably, knowingly 😈

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Khushi watched the scene unfold in front of her, the game of basketball being enjoyed by her family members and some guests...She was disqualified saying she made a foul and then Arnav lifted Arav to do the final basket and their team won. Soon, Sheetal too joined them in cheering them, making Khushi feel more uncomfortable.

The thing was, Khushi was raised as a kind hearted, well-mannered girl, and then hailing from the town of Lucknow which is known for mehman-nawazi(welcoming the guests), so it was very natural of her to invite Arnav's friend from college to stay at their house.

What she did not expect was the events that unfolded later. She did not know that the said 'guest' was not 'just friend' of her husband but his ex-girlfriend, she did not know that the said friend's son had his habits which matched exactly with her husband's, she did not know that there was no mention of the child's father ever neither could she bring herself to ask that woman such a personal question, and finally, when she impulsively took a step to unearth the truth on her own by doing a DNA test, her husband got mad at her.

The only person who was somewhat cognizant of what was happening between this young couple was Devyani Raizada, Arnav's Nani! As a woman who had seen the world, she knew how a third person can disrupt a couple's normalcy. She also knew that there was some fault of her grandson's too and she was very displeased with it.

"Khushi you should have played more with us, then that foul would not have happened." Sheetal called out to Khushi and knowingly taunted her. She knew Arnav was suddenly being more friendly with her than earlier and that had boosted her confidence. Apart from that, she had eavesdropped on their conversation about DNA test earlier and was very relieved when Khushi tore that test report. The original test report, which would have proved Arav wasn't ASR's son. Now she would be able to make her move and as she had originally planned, place a fake DNA report in front of Khushi!

"Let it be Sheetal, she doesn't know how to be a sport and accept she needs to learn!" Arnav too joined sheetal in taunting Khushi. Not because he wanted to take sheetal's side and bully his wife, but he wanted to punish her for ever doubting on him...a small voice in his head was telling him, she had every right to take that doubt, but his egoistic side did not like that she did not trust him. Oh, the irony!

His reverie was broken by Nani's stern voice. He knew Nani did not like sheetal much.

"Our Khushi knows many other things shital bitiya, and chote, ghar lautne ke baad zara hamare kamre mein aayiyega (come to my room after returning home), I want to speak with you." nani ordered and Arnav squirmed under her gaze.

"For now, I am tired so I am going home and Khushi bitiya will accompany me." Nani said, calling out to Mohan to take them home

"nani what happened to you? I will drop you home-" Arnav immediately started looking for his car keys

"No need. I know who can take care of me very well, after all, taking care of elders is not a 'child's play'" Nani's further taunt made Sheetal and Arnav both look taken aback...

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"Khushi bitiya, come with me, I want to ask you something." Nani said as soon they reached home.

"Ji nani. But first, let me give you your medicines. Are you still feeling tired?"

"I am fine bitiya, but come here, seat with me. And tell me, how do you feel about Shital bitiya and Arav?" Nani directly broached the subject

"Ji? N-nani, why would I feel something different? she is Arnavji's friend, and they are reminiscing their friendship." Khushi said in a low voice

"(Humne dhoop mein baal safed nahi kiye) I haven't dyed my hair in sun bitiya, I have aged with experience. So now tell me honestly what you are feeling?" Nani's assuring gaze gave her the push and Khushi let her feelings outpour,

"Nani. hum kaise-how should I stop all this Naniji? She is always trying to stick to Arnavji and then he too becomes so friendly with her, at times ignores me. And then arav? he is so much like Arnavji...especially as Arnavji and shital were- urm-i mean (she did not want to tell Nani that Arnav and Shital shared a past) ...humein aisa nahi sochna chahiye, hai na ( I should not think like this, right)?" Khushi cried out. She was so confused. So angry. And so guilty. At one moment she felt she hated Shital and Arnav and even Arav. and then next moment she would feel guilty that probably this was all her imagination.

Nani sighed. Looking at this young daughter-in-law of hers who was most dear to her. And now she was so confused. But Nani wanted her to understand and fight for her own self. Only, she needed to encourage Khushi and guide her in right direction.

"Khushi bitiya, tell me honestly, do you believe a husband and wife have equal rights on each other? and a wife has full rights on her household?"

"haan Nani, bilkul (of course)."

"Toh haq koi samne se aakar nahi deta bitya, apna haq tumhe khud lena padta hain (no one will come and give you your rights Khushi bitiya, you have to get them yourselves)."

"aapka matlab Arnavji se-" she asked hesitantly,

"I mean from everyone who owes you respect as a daughter-in-law of this house, as a human! Rahi baat chote ki toh chote iss sb mein barabar ke hissedar hain. Hum unn logo me se nahi jo sirf ek aurat ko dosh de, mard bhi barabar zimmedar hote hain (Chote is equally responsible here for encouraging her, I am not from those people who only blame the other woman (for an affair))." Nani said and Khushi found herself gaining confidence on what she wanted to do next, that she was not wrong to feel insecure in what was happening, that had a right to fight for herself.

And then Nani continued, "But here I was talking about this house, your family, it's YOURS and if you give it up, people will happily take over! So tumhe khud ladhna hoga. How to do it, is something you have to decide. I know you are capable of that. After all, chote ke liye bohot pehle se aap hi hamari pehli pasand thi. Yaad hai na?" nani reminded her of how she always adored her even when arnav was in a relationship with Lavanya and nani had many times hinted at how Khushi was ideal daughter-in-law for this house.

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Precap - "Oh. I thought you were leaving house or something." Shital said smirking evilly

"Not at all shitalji. Ghar toh mehman chodkar jate hain, maalik nahi (Guests leave the house, not the owners)." Khushi's subtle insult hit its mark as even mamiji chuckled and nani looked on proudly at her

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A/N - A short one but I promised for an update today so kept it :) So, NSIV Khushi is getting ready with her armor 😎 Honestly, I haven't watched all episodes of this track as it was impossible to torture myself with that shital cr*p but I fast forwarded to watch arshi so, i might miss something here and there, bear with me.

About nani- she was only one initially, who was shown to realize shital's interference in their life and did not like it so thought to have her as a catalyst to bring out nsiv khushi. 

Scenes from 'ek jhalak' and precap will appear later, not in next chapter. Also, next chapter will be delayed, after 2 weeks or so. but make some noise for NSIV Khushi with huge response :D