"Khushi? " Garima asks Khushi (also known as Myra) as she pours more oil into her hair,she had been giving Khushi a champi.

"Haan amma?" Khushi asks lazily. It feels so damn amazing. To be with family,soak in the love and warmth.
It's been three days since Khushi and Aarav had moved in with the Guptas. To say that seeing Khushi come back after all these years that too with a child was a huge shock for the Gupta family would be an understatement. The past few days, the both party has exchanged news about the years that had gone by. Khushi was overjoyed when she learned that she had become a maasi. Garima was awed that her crazy daughter had become an independent business owner, that too in a different country working from scratch, while going through a pregnancy alone and bringing up a baby. Babuji could not be prouder of his favourite daughter and buwaji made it her quest to make as many special dishes she can and feed Aarav, growing up kids must eat a lot, she declared. And Aarav? He was like a happy puppy, running around his nani and nani buwa and nanaji.
"Ae Khushi, when are you meeting the Raizadas? They would be so happy to see you and Aarav." Amma pokes Khushi gently.
"Uffo amma, I need time to think. I can't just knock there and stand. And Aarav is happy here. We will think of something."
Khushi dodges her mother's quiry for the umpteenth time.
"But.."
"Meri pyaari amma, do you think I don't want to see Arnav ji, didi, nani ji , anjali di again? I am dying for Aarav to meet them. But I am also scared amma. I don't know what I want. " Khushi says.
And it's true. Khushis's family has accepted her and she is glad to be home but she had made a life for herself and Aarav back in the states and the new Myra is not sure if she's ready to give it all up. And she has not faced Arnav yet. She had promised Aarav that she would take him to his dad but now that she is so close to him, she's dreading the confrontation. Even her family has not mentioned anything about the Raizada's at all in front of her. Is it possible that Arnavji has moved on and her family is worried that she won't be able to take it and is that why they have been avoiding it? And she has held back herself from asking about him too. But she can't always pretend that he does not exist and stay in her parent's house hiding forever. If not for her sake, she has to make the right decision for Aarav. No matter what happened.
I am strong. Myra thinks. I love you but I am not here searching for my happy ending. I gave up on you the day I broke off our wedding and no matter who you are with, I will always wish you well. But my son, our son, I will have to keep my promise to him. I owe this to him and you Arnavji. I will take him to see you tomorrow and then we will go back. No more complications.
-
"Aarav?"
"Yes mom?"
"Get dressed, we are going to your dad's house"

Khushi wipes her sweaty palms on her jeans. Her heart is beating so loudly she is afraid that her son who is sitiing next to her in the cab woud hear her. That he would know that behind his mom's calm exterior she is falling apart with every passing moment. When she woke up this morning, the house was empty. She did not want to do this alone but before she could bail out again, she had woken up her still asleep son, rented a cab and started for Raizada Masion.
The cab stopped in front of the gorgeous house. Just standing in front of it, Khushi was overwhelmed with the memories that she had there, with the people who were probably just inside.
"Come Aarav" Khushi takes Aarav"s hand and with a deep breath she steps inside. She in immediately assaulted with people and flowers and decorations?
Is today some festival? Khushi wonders but she can't remember anything. Aarav is standing beside her in a stunned silence, too awed to talk.
She sees a waiter passing by and grabs him "Bhai sahab? What is this celebration? "
"Madam today is the ring ceremony of Sir" the waiter says.
"Sir? Which sir? Akash is married " Khushi weakly replies.
Maybe there's some mistake- the voice inside her head still hopes.
"Nahi Madam ji. Not that Sir. He toh already married naa. His bitiya is so sweet. The other sir, the one who studied in foreign? It's his engagement. With Lavanya madam, arrey dekhiye madam as bhi gayee" the waiter chirps in happily and points her towards the huge staircase.
Lavanya is coming down. Didi and Anjali di are holding her. Lavanya is smiling, she looks beautiful beyond words.
Khushi has trouble standing up.
I was too late.
"Who's she mom? What is going on? Who's getting engaged, is it dad?" Aarav asks her, his voice laced with worry. Hearing her son speak the ominous words hits Khushi like a bucket of ice cold water.
"Aarav let's go. We should not be here today. Not a single question" she turns back and walks in a daze.
Of course. It will be Lavanya. She was here when I left him. It was always supposed to be her. I was just a phase.
Tears flow down Khushi's face and she doesn't try to wipe them up. She remembered how Lavanya had gone awaya and she found out that Arnav loved her and not Lavanya. Lavanya had given her love and now she is getting it back. It's only the circle of life. But why does it feel as if her heart would burst open? She is over him. She has not even heard of him all these years. Then why does the thought of losing him for good is killing her. She prepared herself for this. And yet here she is, broken hearted like some stupid love sick girl.
Khushi does not remember how she and Aarav reached home. She does not remember what Aarav had been asking her on the way back. She simply told him that they will go back to Seattle immediately. Now's not the right time.
In her heart, Khushi knows she can never return to India again. This journey, Aarav will have to make on his own.
May be one day when he is grown up enough..Khushi thinks gloomily.
She pays the cabbie and reach for the key.
"Mom the door is open" Aarav exclaims "Nana nani and nani buwa returned !"
Aarav starts to go inside but Khushi stops him. She now realizes why her parents and buwaji had gone out in the morning without telling her. They had not gone to temple or market, they were probably at the Mansion. And of course, they should be . Its Payal di's sasural too. Why would their lives be complicated because of what she had done.
I should not have come back. The realization hits Khushi.
Everyone has moved on. There's nothing left for me here. Or my son. A fresh wave of grief washes over her.
And now buwaji probably got robbed. She thinks looking at the open door.
"Aarav stay here, let me go look first." She picks up a iron rodlying on the ground. Its probably from the nearby garage.
"But mom.."
"If I shout or not come back in 5 minutes, call the police. Its .."
"100 for the police, I know mom. Be safe" Aarav cuts her off. And for a moment Khushi feels a fierce pride for her son. She can spend her life with this. Just her and Aarav. Right?
She steps into the house and there he is.
-

A thousand emotions play through Khushi's mind as she sees Arnav Singh Raizada sit on the sofa in buwaji's sitting room. He just sits there and looks at her and Khushi melts under his piercing gaze.
She is Khushi Kunari Gupta again and he is her Arnav Singh Raizada.
She is riding a scooter and hits his car...
She is in the Raizada Mansion and fighting with him...
She is the rain and he saves her from getting hit by a car...
Its diwali and he is tying her anklet...
She is unconscious and he is carrying her in her arms...
He laughs like a child when he sees her face covered in atta and besan and haldi and Khushi thinks it's the most beautiful sound...
He puts his hand over her head when she is crying in the hospital waiting room...
He marries her in the temple forcefully in that fateful night...
They get lost in each other under a sky full of stars...
"Khushi?" A simple word and it steers something deep inside Khushi.
"Khushi why did you come away from the house?" Arnav asks her as he starts getting up and Khushi panicks. She does not know if she can stand the proximity, of being so close to him when he has gone so far from her.
"Why are you here? Lavanya ji must be waiting." Khushi stammers.
Arnav closes off the distance between them and he now touches Khushi's chin raising her face to him. Her skin is warm, she is blusing.
"I am sure she is" he says throatily, his voice raw with emotions. This is the woman he loves, he has always loved.
"You should not be here" Khushi tries to push him away, but he is strong.
"Why? Don't you want me to be with you?" Arnav asks, his face clouded with confusion.
"That does not matter anymore. You belong with Lavanya ji now. People must be waiting. You should go back" Khushi somehow managed to say without completely losing it.
"I don't. I belong with you, unless you don't want me and I am not going back, I am not marrying Lavanya" Arnav moves his finger across Khushi's face, tracing her cheek, her jaw, her neck.
Khushi shivers under his touch.
"No no no, you can't. You can't break Lavanya ji's heart again. You will have to marry her. " Khushi backs out of Arnav's reach.
Arnav laughs.
"You think its a joke?" Khushi's anger boils. She pushes him hard. Arnav catches her arms and doesn't let go.
"Khushi,let NK worry about Lavanya. I am not letting you out of my sight"
Khushi can't think straight.
"NK ji? " She asks. She feels butterflies in her stomach. Could this be?
"Yes, NK made Lavanya fall for him and they are getting engaged today. Can you believe, NK and Lavanya? " Arnav asks Khushi as he puts his hands around her waist.
"As for me, I am already married and my wife is finally home" Arnav says huskily.
He burries his face in Khushi's hair
"I have missed you khushi, don't ever leave me again."
Khushi places her hands on Arnav's back and at that moment, in Arnav's embrace, she feels every missing part of her becoming whole again.
I am finally home she thinks as a smile of pure joy lits up her face.
"Mom!" Aarva's voice catches both Khushi and Arnav off guard. Khushi takes Arnav's hand and pulls him out side
"Don't you want to meet your son? He has waiting all his life to see you" she asks Arnav, he nods his head, and together they walks towards their son.