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Part 16

Raizada' s and Jha's waited at the doorsteps of Shantivan to greet Arnav and Khushi. Anjali was waiting for them with the Pooja Thal in her hand to welcome them. They were very anxious to meet them specially Arnav because what they have heard about AR status is not good and if it is correct then they don't know what to do further and every one has their plan, up in their sleeve to implement. They all for time being forgot about separating Arnav and Khushi because now they have to think about themselves first.

Instead of Arnav and Khushi it was Gupta's who came there.

"Amma, what are you three doing here? You didn't inform me that you are visiting us today, I thought you would come later to meet Khushi?" asked Payal to her amma, in front of all, near the doorsteps forgetting to invite them.

Before buaji could answer, Naniji said "First welcome them in the house Payal betiya, its not good to question them near the doorstep, what you mother and buaji will think of us that we will question our guest near the doorsteps" to Payal, she would have continued but Manorama who always find mistakes to taunt payal said " Of course sasuma (mother in law), thezz Khoone bhari thang don't knowz manners at all, alwayzz do mistakeia and cut our nozze in front of the people, she is just like her buaji who alwayzz speak near the doorstepzz who don't have manners, if elders have no manners then how she will have hello hi bye bye," taunted Manorama to an already embarrassed Payal.

Payal with a silent glare to her amma and buaji invited them. Buaji said "We actually want to see Khushi today, but before they come home we want to meet you all before meeting her."

Payal understood that her buaji is lying, if time permits, she will ask them for their untimely visit because meeting Khushi is just a joke, didn't she know what buaji and her amma think of Khushi then, why the untimely visit thought Payal.

They were all exchanging pleasantries, SUV zoomed into RM and stopped with a screeching sound and members of RM understood whose arrival it is. Arnav got down from his car and opened passenger door and carried Khushi in his arms, who asked to put her down which he royally ignored, and stood in front of Anjali who was at the doorstep to welcome them.

"Chote, you can put Khushiji down, we know you are finding excuses to carry her," said Anjali with a sweet coated tease and an underlying sarcastic taunt.

"No Di, if you have forgot, let me remind you Doctor said that Khushi should be very careful for next 6 weeks so I am not going to take any chance so if you want to do our Aarthi then do it, otherwise let me in." said Arnav seriously with no argument tone.

"OK, OK Chote, I will do your Aarthi, seriously you are no fun at all." Said Anjali and did their Aarthi and welcomed them.

Once they all sat in the living room Naniji asked "Khushi betiya, how is your health now? See who came to visit you."

"I am fine Naniji. I would have taken your blessing by touching your feet but doctor said I have to be very care so....." Asked Khushi with a fake smile.

"That's Ok betiya, we all understand, there is no need to touch our feet to take blessing, your health is more important, so take care ok" said Naniji and others nodded without any option left.

Payal went to kitchen to bring some tea and snacks for all and served them.

"How are you amma, buaji? I taught you will come here later but how ever it's so good to see you all here" said Khushi with fake enthusiasm.

"We are good nandakishore. It's good to see you with all the energy, you don't know titaliya how my heart squeezed to see you in such a state, actually we came here to take permission from Naniji and Damadji to take you home so that we can bring back you to health." Requested buaji. To which Naniji readily agreed so that they can talk to Arnav regarding AR. Buaji thought to take Khushi home in the name of taking care and take every last penny she had.

"What the...No, as I said before, I am not going to send Khushi anywhere, she will be here with me. That's all," said Arnav.

"How can you say that Chote, even buaji love Khushji so much, if she wants to take Khushiji to her home then she can, why are you opposing? Let Khushiji go to her maternal home and spend some time with them" reprimanded Anjali, no liking the way her Chote was behaving and taking care of Khushi, isn't not she who should be his priority and world then why her Chote is giving importance to this middle-class, cheap girl, thought Anjali.

"OK Di, if you say so" said arnav to which everyone rejoiced for their own reason which was short lived.

"But, along with Khushi I will also go to Gupta's house, before you question me, I will never leave Khushi alone. Where ever Khushi goes I will go along with her and vice-versa so if Buaji wants to take Khushi along with her then I am ready to go with her." Said Arnav.

"But Chote, you came home after so long and again you are going leaving me alone, I think now I am not your world any more, your actions are making me feel like you are finding excuses to go away from me, why Chote? Why are you doing this to me? How can you break mamma's promise and go with Khushi?" said Anjali and started her ever ready pout and crocodile tears.

To support Anjali, mami rubber her shoulders in a consoling manner and said, "Yess, yess, Arnav bitowa, how can you go behind your wife? What everyone will say that ASR became joru ka gulam after marriage?...." cutting her Arnav said "Enough mami what are you and Di saying huh? How come taking care of one's wife is called "Joru ka gulam"? So according you one should not take care of his wife when she is ill. Then why you always complaint to mamaji that when you are ill, he is not taking care of you? And Di, what's wrong with you, have you lost your sense or what? In a house full of people, you find your self alone. There is nani and mami who always pamper you like a glass doll and Akash and payal are there if you need any thing at all. Mamaji and NK are there, and above all your loving husband is there and I am alone not present and still you find yourself alone. What a joke? Are you even thinking before you speak or you just want me and Khushi to be separate you are doing this.

If you forgot then let me remind you, when you were married which I did not agree to it in the first place and later agreed because of your hunger-strike tantrum, you forgot you have a brother for whole year and you remembered me when you want money for your's and jija's expenses. And I got married just for hardly 3 months ago and you want me and khushi to leave separately when she is not healthy." Said a furious Arnav.

"What are you saying Chote? Why will I want you both separate with each other? I just want you to be with me but I did not say not to take care of Khushiji?" cried Anjali, she would have continued but Naniji and mamiji who were present on either sides of Anjali gave a squeeze to her hand asking her to keep quiet.

"Then stop using mamma's promise every single time you speak to me regarding Khushi. Now a days, you are using it more to blackmail me to stay away from Khushi. And one more thing never use mamma's promise again for every single thing, I know how to keep my promise you need not remind me of it." Said Arnav to a taken back Anjali, who started crying again.

"NO, Arnav bitwa, please don't fight with Anjali betiya because of us, if you want to stay with kusii I will not ask you again, but don't fight with her please, ayyee kusii, why are you silent, say sorry to Anjali betiya, because of you she is crying and arnav bitwa is fighting with her." Said buaji blaming khushi.

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This is a long chapter so i divided into 2 parts.

Here is the 1st part.

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