It's been five years since Khushi and Arnav married. One morning, Arnav finds his wife's image on the cover of a magazine. ----------------------- This one-shot story takes place five years after the events in my Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon fan-fiction "One Step Closer", which you can find on my profile. It works as a stand-alone read, but please know that the Arnav and Khushi in this little piece are the ones from "One Step Closer", so they've lived a different timeline than they did in the original show. I hope you like it! It's just a little epilogue on how I imagined Khushi's life would be after the events in my main story.

She Was Never Alone The world knew her as Khushi Kumari Gupta. A simple girl from Lucknow. A girl who smiled through every storm. A girl who always chose everyone else before herself. But what if that wasn't the whole truth? When Arnav Singh Raizada decides that his sister's happiness is worth more than Khushi's dignity, he believes he is cornering a helpless girl with nowhere to go. He is wrong. Some people mistake kindness for weakness. Some mistake silence for surrender. And some discover far too late that the person they underestimated was never alone to begin with. As old secrets begin to surface and long-buried truths refuse to stay hidden, the lives of two families become intertwined in ways neither of them could have imagined. But this isn't the story of a girl waiting for someone to save her. It's the story of a daughter. A sister. A granddaughter. A young woman who must choose between the life the world expected of her and the future she chooses for herself. Because sometimes, the greatest strength isn't found in revenge. It's found in walking away. And sometimes... The people standing quietly behind you are the reason you never fall. She was never alone. She just had to discover it.

The journey of a girl named Khushi from hell to heaven

When Delhi billionaire Arnav Kapoor runs away from boardrooms, shareholders, and one too many PowerPoint presentations, he accidentally crash lands in Khushi's cheerful seaside bakery in Kochi. Armed with endless pastries, unsolicited life advice, and zero respect for his ego, Khushi turns his escape into a recipe for chaos, laughter, and love. As nosy relatives, corporate sharks, and high society drama come knocking, the unlikely pair discover that the sweetest empire isn't built with billions, it's built with butter, banter, and the perfect cup of coffee.

They grew up in the same house, bound by walls that kept their secrets locked away from the rest of the world. To everyone else, they were just two children growing up side-by-side. But in the quiet, shadowed corners of their home, they were crafting a reality that belonged only to them. It was a world built on whispered promises, shared fears, and a bond that defied every rule they were ever taught. They thought they were untouchable-that their love was a sanctuary against the harshness of the outside world. But childhood is fleeting, and the dark always finds a way in. As the years pass and the boundaries between right and wrong begin to blur, they are forced to confront a truth they have been running from: some secrets are not meant to be kept, and some bonds are forged in shadows that eventually demand a price. In a story where the lines of loyalty and desire cross, how far will they go to protect the only thing that ever truly mattered? **⚠️ AUTHOR'S NOTE / CONTENT WARNING:** This story is a **dark romance** and contains themes and situations that may be emotionally distressing for some readers. It explores complex power dynamics, intense psychological themes, and sensitive subject matter. This work is intended for a mature audience. Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you are sensitive to darker narrative themes, please proceed with caution. #2 teenagelove

Keep your acquaintances close... but your enemies even closer. That's exactly what Khushi Singhania did. She got close to her rival. Her nemesis. Her storm. Arnav Singh Raizada. The name she was raised to hate. The man she was ordered to destroy. But no one warned her what happens when the enemy looks at you like you're his entire world. Or worse-when you start to look back. And everyone knows... You can never trust an enemy. Because when they backstab... they never miss the heart.

In a world where billion-dollar empires are built on silk and destroyed by secrets, every alliance has a price-and every throne demands a sacrifice.

Stay away from him. Do not let him touch you tonight." ​Those were the last words Khushi's mother whispered before the bedroom door unlocked. ​At seventeen, Khushi malik was supposed to be dreaming of her future. Instead, she is draped in a heavy bridal veil, sitting on the wedding bed of a ruthless, untouchable billionaire. Her older sister ran away to escape an arranged alliance, leaving Khushi to play the sacrificial lamb to save their family from ruin. ​The plan was simple: keep the veil down, stay in the shadows, and survive until morning when her family can replace her. ​But Arnav Raichand doesn't play by anyone's rules. He is a man who notices every breath, every tremor, and every lie. He didn't marry a ghost; he married a woman, and he expects his bride. ​As his slow, deliberate footsteps approach the bed, Khushi realizes a terrifying truth: ​The veil isn't protecting her secret. It's just trapping her in his cage. #1 teenagelove #2 mystery

#2 in historical out of 70.2k stories (9-12-25) ___ How far can one go to protect their love and relations? How far till that thread breaks or become stronger? ____ "SHE IS ARNAV SINGH RAICHAND'S PROPERTY. I OWN EVERY INCH OF HER. JUST LIKE I OWN THIS WHOLE DAMN KINGDOM!" . . . . "I SOLELY BELONG TO MY DEV. HE IS MY EVERYTHING. HE WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY ONLY LOVE. NO ONE ELSE!" ____ An ancient historical period romance tale of two lost souls living in their own destined tragedies. What would be the eventual fate of these two? Peace? Destruction? Or both?

a young couple tied in unknown circumstances and with bond the responsibility bearing