Perfectly Flawed (Complete) (Under Editing)

Chapter Ten

It had taken a million misunderstandings, a hundred abuses and a few days apart to hate him, for once.

But it took a single sight to love him, again.

Breath knocked out of her lungs as she watched her husband take measured steps to her, his hand making his way to her shoulders. Without another word he had her pulled against him, his heart hammering in his chest.

"I am sorry Khushi." He whispered, his eyes closed, too scared to her reaction. Yet just as sweetly, Khushi remained in his arms. Breaking to look into his eyes, Khushi flashed a barely there smile to Arnav and led him inside.

The family looked on, the elders half embarrassed yet relieved by the intimate hug exchange between their daughter and son in law. Akash on the other hand was not feeling nearly as generous as he immediately hovered over Khushi, standing as a firm barrier between the two of them.

"Bh..."

"Khushi, let's head to the balcony." Akash gestured to him, Arnav and Khushi. Pausing to look back, he smiled at the worried frown on Payal's face and cleared his throat "Payal, serve us some snacks please. I need to have a chat as to why did he leave my lovely sister alone here." Payal smiled back at Akash's forced one and excused herself, she knew that for whatever reasons concerned - they needed their privacy.

Arnav looked up, not liking a bit of the distance between him and Khushi as Akash planted himself right in between them. "Ak..." Arnav broke off, taking a moment to calm himself.

"I'm sorry Akash. I didn't mean to,"

"That doesn't make a difference. Just tell me, you did know right that such contractual papers don't give a legal name to marriage?" Khushi gasped, half glaring at Akash to stop right away as he rudely probed Arnav.

Growling at his bruised ego, Arnav snarled at the question. "Akash, I said I'm sorry."

"I don..."

"Bhai (brother) please!" Khushi cut in, her eyes flaming with anger. "Don't you remember what I said?"

"Akash bhai, promise me that you won't push Arnav to the edge about this." Khushi looked to find an incredulous look on Akash's face. "W... what? Why? Do you think he would have kept quiet if someone played like this with Anjali Di?"

"Bhai! He is nowhere close to Shyam, we both know that! Over that, this is something that Arnav and I need to resolve. I tried fixing your marriage, what happened?" Khushi yanked his arm while Akash gritted his teeth furiously, she was right. Knowing Akash's insecurities, Khushi brightened slightly and turned his face to meet hers.

"We all need you Bhai. Trust me, I'll be an utterly shameless little sister demanding for your attention and help, but only when time says."

"Fine." Akash grumbled, recalling Khushi's words. Finding Arnav confused on Khushi's referral to Akash as Bhai, he turned towards Arnav and cleared his throat.

"I am Khushi's cousin."

Without another word Akash walked away, a part of him still frightened to disclose his birth to his brother while Arnav mutely looked on, his eyes widening in realisation.

If Akash was his step brother and Khushi's cousin... Garima had been impregnated by his father.

----

"The kids might take up some time together, I say let us have lunch." Garima hinted at the need for the kids privacy as Madhumati and Shashi wisely agreed.