Description :
I do not own the characters and plots of the LRL, IPKKND, and KYY shows; I am merely utilizing the characters. But before reading this story, please please please watch all three of the shows, so that you're familiar with the characters and their back stories.
[Author's note: The story begins the day after Raina's visit to Point 1857, as depicted in Left Right Left episode 200.]
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Rajveer was heading out early, hoping to catch a moment with Naina before the cadets left for their mission. But time was tight. The night before, a mysterious caller had contacted him, claiming to have proof of Naveen's innocence. The condition was clear – Rajveer had to go to a specific place alone to get the evidence. Naveen, Rajveer's best friend, was declared a traitor, and Rajveer was determined to clear his name, willing to do whatever it took. It seemed that even his enemies were well aware of his commitment to the cause.
However, the truth was something only Rajveer knew. It wasn't just about proving Naveen's innocence anymore; it was also about helping Naina clear her brother's name. Rajveer wanted Naina to remember him as the man who proved Naveen's innocence, not as the one who took her brother away.
Donned in a laid-back ensemble of blue jeans, a sleeveless t-shirt, and a matching jeans jacket, Rajveer ascended into his jeep. Slipping on his sunglasses, Rajveer glanced at his wristwatch before starting the engine and setting off from the academy. However, as he drove towards the exit, Naina suddenly dashed in front of his jeep, forcing Rajveer to slam on the brakes.
Casting a disbelieving gaze at his protégé, Rajveer inquired, "Have you lost your mind, Cadet Singh? What possessed you to pull a stunt like this? You could have been seriously injured."
Naina approached the driver's side of the jeep, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Good morning, sir," she greeted.
Rajveer returned the smile, shaking his head. "Good morning, cadet. Now, tell me, is there a problem?"
"No. It's just..." Naina hesitated, "It was just... we were going for our mission, so I thought..." Her words trailed off.
"Did you want to ask me something?" he inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.
"Um... where are you going, sir?" Naina asked, opting to divert the question.
Rajveer sighed, adopting a slightly stern tone. "Why do you want to know?"
Her smile faded at his response. "Nothing... um... all the best," she told him.
He smiled in return. "Wish YOU all the best. You're going on the mission, not I," he pointed out. "Now, may I go?"
Naina shook her head.
Rajveer was on the verge of starting the jeep when Naina called out, "SIR! This..." She pulled a white handkerchief from her small bag and handed it to him. As soon as he took hold of the handkerchief, she swiftly added, "Bye," and turned around, intending to make a quick exit from the scene.
"HOLD IT, CADET SINGH!" Rajveer called out immediately before she could make her escape. He climbed out of the jeep, removing his sunglasses. Giving the handkerchief a curious look, he stepped up to Naina. "What is this?" he asked.
"It's a... gift, sir," Naina replied shyly. "Your initials are engraved at the corner of this," she added.
Rajveer opened the handkerchief and smiled upon seeing the engraving. Chuckling, he asked, "But what's the occasion for this gift?"
"Occasion? Um.. sir, one doesn't need occasions to give gifts," Naina answered hurriedly. "Sir, may I be dismissed?" she asked before turning to make a swift getaway once again.
"One minute, Cadet Singh," he stopped her again, this time with a slight knowing smile on his face. Taking her time, Naina turned around. "Stretch out your hand," he ordered.
Confused, she asked, "Why?"
"Stretch out your hand," he repeated.
Nodding, she stretched out her hand toward him. Rajveer removed his wristwatch and placed it on her palm. Naina was surprised by his action. She looked up and gave him a curious look.
"Take care of yourself and your time," he told her with a warm smile.
Naina smiled and nodded.
Giving her a warm, mysterious smile, Rajveer put his sunglasses back on and climbed into the jeep. He was about to start the car when his phone began to ring. With a frown, he retrieved his phone from his pocket. A very familiar number was calling. Instantly, his heart started racing in a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
Observing the shift in his expression, Naina moved closer. "Sir, is everything okay? You look worried," she inquired.
"Let's see," Rajveer replied before answering his phone, "Hello?"
"Captain sahab, I did it!" exclaimed the man on the other side of the phone. "I found them... both of them!" he added.
Rajveer felt his breath catch in his chest. For the past 17 years, he had been tirelessly searching for these two individuals. Finally, his wait was over. "Are you... are you sure it's them?" he asked tentatively. He didn't want to disrupt anyone's life unnecessarily.
"Yes, Captain. I called you after I got the DNA reports in my hand," the man replied smugly.
"Where are they? Are they okay?" Rajveer asked, tears gathering in his eyes.
Seeing him in tears, Naina felt like someone had put a knife through her chest. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a worried look.
"Both of them are living in Delhi at the moment. I'm sending you their addresses," the man told Rajveer.
"Yes, please. I can't wait anymore. I want to meet them today itself," Rajveer said urgently.
"Good luck, Captain." With that, the man hung up.
"Rajveer sir, what happened?" Naina asked, cupping his face as a tear rolled down his cheek from behind his sunglasses.
"Naina, I... I found my sisters. That was the private detective. He had been working on this for the last 8 years. Seventeen years ago, we got separated. I never forgot them. They were my baby sisters. After my parents, it was my responsibility to look after them. But I failed. I couldn't find them anywhere." Rajveer began to share, more tears rolling down his cheeks.
"How did you get separated?" Naina asked curiously.
"There were five members in my family: my parents, I, and my two younger sisters. After I was born, my parents had a rough time conceiving again. Years of fertility treatment later, my sister was born when I was 11 years old. Then two years later, I had another little sister. I loved them like my own daughters. Every day after school, I used to spend hours playing with them. I was 15 when everything changed. We were returning from our summer trip to my nani's [grandmother's] place. I was in the back seat with my sisters while my parents were in the front. The music was playing, and we were singing along. Suddenly, the front left side tire of our car exploded loudly. This caused our car to lose its balance. Before we knew it, our car rolled down a cliff and fell into the river below. I saw people jumping in to save us. I saw my sisters getting pulled out by people. They were only 4 and 2 at the time. Seeing them safe, I turned my attention towards my parents. Both of them were extremely injured due to being in the front. By the time people managed to get my parents out, they had passed away. I was grieving, but then I recalled my sisters. I turned around and saw that the people holding my sisters were gone. After asking around, I learned that they were taken to the hospital. Since then, I've been looking. Naina..." Rajveer was openly crying at this point.
Naina instinctively did the only thing that made sense to her in that moment – she pulled him into a tight hug. "Don't cry, Rajveer sir. You found them. Even if it took you years, you succeeded. Your parents would be really proud of you for your dedication," she told him encouragingly.
"What if they are disappointed that I lost them in the first place?" Rajveer asked with the vulnerability of a lost puppy.
"Oh please! As if anyone could stay angry with you. Everyone ends up falling in love with you in the end. I mean, look at me. I was also angry with you. In fact, I hated you at one point. But now I lo..." and she froze. In the flow of her speech, she almost revealed her feelings.
Rajveer's eyes widened in surprise as he realized what she had almost confessed. A shy but pleased smile bloomed on his face. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," he stated with a teasing smile.
Naina started blushing, looking down in disbelief that she almost confessed.
"Cadet Singh, didn't you have a mission to go to?" Rajveer reminded playfully.
Naina gasped, realizing she had completely forgotten about that. Rajveer chuckled, amused by her sheepish reaction.
"Will you do me a favor?" he asked softly.
"Yes, of course."
"Call Captain Abhimanyu. I need to tell him something before I head for Delhi," Rajveer instructed.
Nodding, Naina rushed off to call Abhimanyu. Rajveer, on the other hand, dialed Brigadier Chandok and informed him that he needed a few days off to deal with a personal issue.
"Is everything okay, Captain? I mean, you don't usually ask for vacation days," BC questioned curiously. He had known Rajveer since Rajveer was a cadet himself. He knew that, other than his Godfather, Lala Gehlot, there was no one in Rajveer's family.
"Actually sir, after many, many years, I found information about my long-lost family. I don't want to waste any more time from going to them," Rajveer shared. Then, he informed BC that he suspected that Col. Shakti had been missing, as Rajveer was unable to get in touch with him, something that had never happened before. Rajveer also told BC the truth about still looking for proof of Naveen's innocence and the phone call he received last night instructing him to go somewhere. "I was thinking about sending Captain Abhimanyu there as I really need to go to Delhi urgently," he explained.
After thinking things through, BC assured Rajveer that he would handle this matter with Abhimanyu and permitted Rajveer to go to Delhi without worry.
By then, Naina returned with an irritated Abhimanyu. Before Rajveer could start explaining, BC joined them, having headed in their direction when Rajveer called.
Rajveer and BC shared details about Col. Shakti and the proof. Abhimanyu, initially reluctant, agreed to accompany them upon BC's insistence.
"Cadet Singh, go and inform your fellow cadets that your outdoor mission has been postponed for now," BC ordered.
Naina saluted him and replied, "Yes, sir!"
BC and Abhimanyu left. Once they were out of sight, Naina stepped up to Rajveer and said, "Have a safe journey. I'll pray for your success. Please keep me updated."
Rajveer was touched that she was more concerned about him than the proofs that would exonerate Naveen. His Naina Ah. Singh had really changed. He smiled and nodded. "You also take care of yourself."
They found themselves lost in each other's eyes, the unspoken connection between them palpable. Time seemed to stretch, and Naina was the first to break the gaze, her cheeks tinted with a rosy hue.
"See you soon?" he asked, climbing back onto the jeep for the third time that morning.
"I'll miss you... ah... I mean, we... we will miss you," Naina stammered out.
Rajveer couldn't help but be amused at the sight of her blushing so much. "I didn't know my Cadet Naina Ah. Singh could blush as well," he teased, starting the car and heading out.
"I didn't know as well," Naina mumbled, smiling shyly. As the jeep drove away, she couldn't shake the warmth spreading through her, a feeling that lingered long after he was out of sight.
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[Author's note: Lavanya, Arnav's cousin sister through his maternal aunt, was dating Aman, Arnav's best friend and manager. Aman's mother preferred traditional Indian girls, so Lavanya's mother sent her to India to immerse herself in Indian culture. To facilitate this cultural experience, Anjali, Arnav's sister, decided to hire Khushi to train Lavanya. Oh, Shyam is not the bad guy. And he met Khushi in Raizada house as Anjali's husband and nothing more. The story picks up when Arnav is struggling to apologize to Khushi, and she decides to share the story of her parents with him.]
Lavanya had received an invitation to a party, and during their training period, she and Khushi had become friends. Eager to include Khushi in her social circle, Lavanya invited her to the party. Picking Khushi up from her house, they arrived at the venue, where Khushi looked around uneasily.
"Lavanya ji, you didn't mention it was this kind of party. I thought we were going for dinner with a few close friends when you invited me out," Khushi complained, observing the crowd dressed in western outfits.
"Offo, Khushi! It's just a casual party. Come on! We'll have fun," Lavanya urged excitedly.
"No, Lavanya ji, I don't want to go inside," Khushi firmly stated.
A few of Lavanya's friends called her from inside. "Okay. Take a moment to relax, and then come inside, okay? I'm going in," Lavanya told Khushi before heading indoors.
"I don't want to go inside," Khushi mumbled to herself. "But I also don't want to stand out here." She recalled Arnav's insult from the day before, where he expressed not wanting to see her face. "Why am I thinking about that Laad Governor now?" she asked herself, annoyed.
Shaking her head, Khushi turned to leave but was abruptly met with none other than Arnav Singh Raizada himself. Not wanting to engage in another argument or endure baseless insults, she ignored him and attempted to pass by when he called out to her.
"Khushi?"
Pausing, Khushi replied, "Lavanya ji is inside. You can go in too."
"Khushi, that's not..." Arnav attempted to explain, but Khushi interrupted.
"I don't have anything more to say to you, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. And stop calling my name like that in front of everyone," she told him sternly. "Go away. Lavanya ji is inside, as I told you," she added.
"What the...?! How dare you!" Arnav snarled angrily.
"Why can't I dare? Did you buy the word 'Dare'?"
"What nonsense!"
"You're nonsense! And along with you, your whole..." Khushi paused with her palm over her mouth. Removing her hand, she added, "Why are you after me now?"
"Are you out of your mind, Khushi Kumari Gupta? Did you really think I was here to talk to you? Just because I spoke to you in a softer tone doesn't mean you should forget your status. Understand?" Arnav told her angrily before turning around to leave.
However, he recalled the reason he came to the place – he wanted to apologize for his behavior the day before. Instead of apologizing, he insulted her further. He turned his head and saw tears had gathered in her eyes. Turning back, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I have to apologize to her. I have to say 'sorry,'" he reminded himself. Turning around, his eyes widened – Khushi was nowhere in sight.
Worried, Arnav began searching the entire venue for her. After scouring the surroundings, he eventually reached the terrace and discovered her standing, leaning against the banister, gazing up at the stars. Slowly, he walked up to her.
It was as if she sensed his approach. Turning around and seeing him, she began to walk away.
"Khushi, I need to talk to you about something," Arnav stated. Khushi paused but then continued walking, prompting him to grab her by her arms and pull her close to him. "How many times did I tell you not to leave when I'm talking to you?" he said angrily. "Don't you understand that I have something to say to you?" he added, shaking her a little.
Khushi gave him a scared look but argued back. "What?! What was that important thing you needed to tell me? Speak up!"
"I wanted to tell you that I shouldn't have spoken to you like that yesterday. If I knew the truth about your parents, then I wouldn't have said something like that. You got it?" he told her sternly, having learned the day before that Khushi was adopted and her real parents were dead.
Khushi gave him a bewildered look as she realized that he was attempting to apologize through scolding. She struggled against his hold, making him let go of her arms.
"So... you've been trying to say 'sorry'? It must've been very hard for you, wasn't it? Where's Arnav Singh Raizada, and where's Khushi Kumari Gupta? How could you say 'sorry' easily?" she stated mockingly. Snorting, she added with tears in her eyes, "It's not like you knew anything about me. You never bothered to learn. For you, only you and your family exist. Other people are just like those pieces of furniture in your house, whose existence doesn't matter to you at all."
Arnav wore a guilty expression on his face. He couldn't deny the truth in her words. Beyond his own pain and past, he had never taken the time to learn about others' life stories. The idea that others could be unhappy or in pain had never occurred to him. Even as he started developing feelings for Khushi, he unwittingly did everything he could to push her away. He had never bothered to delve into the pain hidden behind the ever-present smile on her face.
"That's okay. Let me share my story with you," she said, taking a deep breath before beginning.
"I was only 4 years old when my life took a drastic turn. Babuji [dad] explained that the car my family and I were in fell off a cliff and into a river below. He jumped into the river to rescue the people in the car. After pulling me out through the broken window and saving the teenage boy sitting beside me, he noticed another man pulling out a much younger baby from the other side. The boy started crying once he was assured that both I and the baby were safe. Babuji guessed he might've been my older brother. Suddenly, chaos ensued as people realized the couple in the front seats of the car had passed away from the impact. Babuji mentioned that I started turning blue, so he yelled to the other man holding the baby, letting him know he was taking me to the nearby hospital. Babuji handed me over to the doctors and waited for the others to arrive. However, no one came. I spent two days in that hospital because one of my lungs was punctured from the broken ribs I sustained in the accident. Babu kept checking on me, but when no one came forward for me, babuji and amma adopted me. Babuji later told me that, in the chaos, the bodies of my parents were taken to another hospital instead of the one I was in. I don't know what happened to my baby sibling. I don't even know if that was my little brother or sister." Khushi was crying bitterly at this point, the weight of her past evident in her tears.
Arnav stared at her in complete disbelief. "That means you have an older brother and a younger sibling out there, but you don't know where they are?" he asked.
"No, I don't know where they are. I don't remember much as I was only four. But I remember a few things. A lullaby, I think my Maa used to sing to me. I remember a boy carrying me around the house on his back. I remember feeling excited when the doorbell rang because I knew my dad was home." Khushi had a soft smile now. "You know, I still believe that my parents became stars after their death. That's why I hang stars over my bed," she told him tearfully.
"Now, you know everything about me. Say 'sorry' to me," she demanded. Then she chuckled, "That's okay. Let it be. You won't be able to do it," saying so, she turned to leave.
"Khushi?" Arnav called out.
Khushi looked back.
"I'm sorry," he stated, tears welling up in his eyes. She could see genuine remorse in his expression. "I'm really very sorry," he added as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Khushi didn't say anything. She just turned around and left the terrace, leaving the weight of his apology hanging in the air.
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Khushi left the party and hailed a taxi back home. Lost in thoughts of her past, she found herself once again attempting, for the nth time, to recall more memories. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pondered whether her brother had ever looked for her. She wondered about the fate of her little sibling—whether they were okay or not. How had her brother dealt with the overwhelming reality of losing his parents and siblings in a single incident? Were there any remaining family members who cared for him? The thought lingered—was her little sibling loved? The weight of these unanswered questions bore heavily on her heart.
The taxi came to a stop in front of the Gupta house. After paying the driver, Khushi looked up and furrowed her brow in confusion. A sense of bewilderment struck her as she noticed an army jeep parked outside the house.
Khushi rushed inside the house, her curiosity evident as she called out, "Amma, whose jeep is parked outside our house? Do one of our neighbors have relatives in the military?"
As she stepped into the living room, her gaze fell upon everyone in her family gathered and engaged in conversation with a handsome young man. Dressed in blue jeans, a t-shirt, and a matching jeans jacket, he looked up in surprise as Khushi entered. The room fell into a sudden hush. The stranger, seemingly shocked, quickly rose to his feet.
Khushi, a mixture of confusion and curiosity etching her features, turned her attention toward her family, seeking an explanation for the unexpected visitor. Her babu ji and amma had tears in their eyes, but these were not tears of sadness; the joy reflected in their eyes was unmistakable. Khushi furrowed her brow a little more before returning her gaze to the man's.
The moment, her eyes locked with the young man's, and the air seemed to hold a silent recognition. A gasp escaped from the man, as if he saw something unexpected. The revelation stretched across the years and the distance that had separated them—Rajveer had found his long-lost sister. The room buzzed with the weight of the moment, and the emotions of joy and astonishment danced in the air.
For a moment, time stood still as they absorbed each other's features. Khushi's eyes mirrored their mother's hazel green, and her facial features bore a striking resemblance to the woman they had both lost 17 years ago. The room, once filled with questions, now held an air of astonishment and the promise of long-lost connections being rekindled. Rajveer's eyes filled with tears of joy, and an affectionate smile bloomed on his face. Breaking the silence, he spoke, his voice thick with emotion, "Ruhani?"
Instantly, Khushi was pulled back into a long-forgotten memory of her past. She vaguely recalled a preteen boy running towards her, excitedly picking her up, saying, "Ruhaani! My little Ruhi will tie 'rakhi' to bhai today. YAY! What does my Ruhani baby want as a gift? Would you like some choc-choc?"
Khushi remembered feeling genuine happiness at his tone and the promise of a chocolate. Blinking rapidly, she snapped back to the present. Staring at the man in front of her, a moment of stunned silence hung in the air before she blurted out, "Who are you? How do you know this name?"
The young man took a deep breath, visibly moved by the sight of Khushi. "I'm Captain Rajveer Singh Shikhawat... and I know this name because... I'm your biological older brother," he replied through tears. The weight of his revelation hung in the air.
Khushi's hazel green eyes widened in realization, her breath catching in her throat as disbelief and astonishment played across her face. "My brother... You're... you're my brother?" she questioned, stammering in disbelief.
Rajveer nodded, a tear escaping his eye. "Yes, Ruhani. I'm your brother... and I finally found you," he replied.
"Khushi... I go by the name 'Khushi' now. Khushi Kumari Gupta," she told him, a hint of upset in her voice that it took him so long to find her.
Rajveer chuckled before approaching her slowly. "Then, I'll call you Khushi if that's the name you want to identify with. I'm sorry that it took me 17 years to find you. But trust me, little one, I've been searching for you since our car accident. I never lost hope of finding my little angels. The private detective that I hired to look for you and Riddhima informed me about you this morning. I swear I didn't waste a moment before rushing here. Please forgive this brother of yours. I'm sorry I got late," he said, holding his ears.
Khushi looked at him before promptly bursting into tears. Rajveer didn't waste a second more, pulling her into a warm embrace and cooing at her not to cry. In that moment, the family that had been separated for so many years began to find solace in the reunion they had longed for.
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A/N::: Welcome to my new story.
What did you think of the very first chapter of this story?
How will others in Khushi's life react to her finding her biological older brother.