Payel had been trying to rouse Khushi for what felt like the thousandth time, but Khushi seemed completely oblivious, lost in a deep sleep as if in a coma. After returning home so late from Nandini's house the previous night, Khushi was understandably exhausted, and her reluctance to wake up was apparent.
Growing frustrated and annoyed, Payel huffed with her hands on her hips, contemplating how to awaken her sister. Just then, a knock on the door caught her attention. Perplexed, Payel considered the oddity of the situation. If it were Buaji or their mother, they would have simply entered calling out their names. If it were their father, he would have called from outside. That left only one possibility.
Smiling, Payel called out, "Come in, Rajveer bhaiya!"
Rajveer opened the door and peeked inside, curious about how Payel had known it was him. Payel explained, "Amma and Buaji wouldn't have knocked, and Babuji would've just called us from outside."
"Smart!" Rajveer grinned before turning his attention to the still-sleeping Khushi. "She's still asleep? Well, I guess she's not used to sleeping late. We returned around 2 am last night."
"That makes sense, but she reminded me a hundred times that she had to wake up early today. She has something important going on at work," Payel informed.
Rajveer nodded and sat beside Khushi's head, gently running his fingers through her hair. "Khushi, my little one! Wake up, Ruhi! You have to go to work," he affectionately called out.
Observing the tender scene, Payel couldn't help but notice the paternal love Rajveer showered on his little sisters. Smiling to herself, she left the duo and headed to the kitchen.
"Will you go to the mandir[temple] with me?" Khushi mumbled, opening one eye to peer at her brother sleepily.
Rajveer smiled. "Of course. I'll even drop you off at work," he promised.
Excited, Khushi sat up, yawning and stretching her arms. Rajveer playfully ruffled her hair before leaving, instructing her to freshen up quickly as he was hungry and waiting for them to have breakfast together. Khushi, with a toothy grin, jumped out of bed and hurried to the bathroom.
Chuckling to himself, Rajveer remarked, "Buaji gave you the right name... Titliya [butterfly]," before leaving the room.
A few minutes later, it felt like a tornado had touched down inside the Gupta house. Rajveer and Shashi were seated at the dining table, thoroughly entertained by the lively chaos. Khushi, in her usual spirited manner, was on a rampage, darting around the house like a whirlwind. She skillfully stole hot food from the kitchen while simultaneously getting ready, leaving a trail of laughter and commotion in her wake. Garima, caught in the whirlwind, scolded her for her antics, while Payel, stationed at the stove, expertly fried puris for everyone.
"This girl will drive me crazy one day! Why do I have such unruly daughters? One won't let me cook in peace, and the other is behaving like a shape-shifting tornado," Garima complained aloud as she began setting the table.
Amused, Rajveer rose from his seat, nudged Garima to sit beside Shashi, and took charge of arranging the table. "Let them have their fun, Amma. One day, you'll miss these lively moments when they're married," he teased, wearing a mischievous smile.
"Don't encourage your sisters, Rajveer babuwa. They're already spoiled enough. They don't listen to me at all. Just look at how mischievous Khushi is, and Payel? She keeps on cheering her on," Garima pouted.
"Oh, my dear Amma! Don't be upset. You don't look good when you're upset," Khushi chimed in, embracing her mother from behind and playfully pinching her cheeks.
"YOU..."
"Garima ji, don't scold my Khushi. She's just happy," Shashi intervened, offering a warm smile to his younger daughter.
"You always take their sides," Garima playfully complained, her stern expression giving way to a hint of amusement. The lively banter continued, filling the house with joy and laughter.
... - - - - ...
Khushi concluded her prayers, lifting her head to offer a warm smile to her Devi Maiya [Goddess Durga]. "Please help us get our sister back. It's been too long since we siblings were together. Please let our family be complete," she pleaded, her heartfelt request echoing in the sanctum. In a softer tone, almost a whisper, she added, "And please, always protect my Rajveer bhaiya from all kinds of trouble," ensuring her words were audible only to the divine ears.
Rajveer, standing beside Khushi, also completed his prayers. He fervently prayed to the goddess, seeking protection for his Naina and his younger sisters. Strikingly, he made no requests for himself, believing that if the goddess granted the safety and well-being of the love of his life and sisters, he would lack nothing else.
The priest approached with the aarti thaal, offering prasad to Khushi and Rajveer. Inquisitively, he inquired, "Khushi bitiya, who is this? I didn't see him here before. Is this your to be..." before the priest could finish his words, both Rajveer and Khushi vehemently protested.
"NO!" they chorused.
"Panditji, remember how I told you that I was adopted?"
"Yes?"
"This is my biological older brother, Rajveer bhaiya. He found me after searching for me for many many years," Khushi proudly informed, a sense of triumph shining in her eyes.
The priest gasped in delight. "Devi Maiya Ki jai ho! This is truly amazing news! May Maa bless you both. I'm really happy for you both," he exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up his face.
"Thank you, panditji. Today, we're going to our younger sister's house, who was also lost at the same time as Khushi. Please pray for us that we get reunited with our sister," Rajveer politely requested.
"Absolutely, my son," the priest responded eagerly, ready to offer his blessings and prayers for the reunion of the long-lost siblings.
As they descended the stairs, Rajveer's observant eyes caught something that furrowed his brow. Without hesitation, he gently grabbed Khushi's wrist, concern etched on his face. "Khushi, why is there a handprint on your arm? Who grabbed you so hard that they left a mark?" he inquired, his protective instincts kicking in.
Startled, Khushi looked down at her arm, realizing that the mark was still visible after two days. "Um... Arnav ji... he was angry, so he grabbed me... hard," she stammered out, avoiding eye contact with Rajveer. The weight of the unspoken emotions lingered in the air, creating a moment of discomfort.
"Who is this 'Arnav ji'?" Rajveer inquired, the undertone of anger palpable in his voice.
"Um... he's... um..." Khushi began hesitatingly.
"It's okay. Relax. Take a deep breath and then tell me EVERYTHING," Rajveer instructed with a mild tone.
Taking a deep breath, Khushi recounted the entire situation to her brother. Rajveer listened attentively, his expression remaining neutral. Cupping her face gently afterward, he asked, "If there was an opportunity, would you leave this job?"
"Yes, I would, Bhaiya. But Raizada family members really love me, and Lavanya ji had become a really good friend. While I'm teaching her about our cultures, she's teaching me about the outer world that I didn't know existed. And there's still the matter of that contract that says that I have to pay Rs. 1 lac if I break this contract," Khushi explained softly.
"Babuji told me that due to some unfortunate events, you had to leave your studies. Would you be interested in going back to school? You don't have to stay a high school graduate. You have options now," Rajveer suggested. "And about that Rs. 1 lac, I'll give you that money. Pay them and leave this job if you don't want to be there. It's your decision. But remember, you're not that helpless Khushi anymore. You're Ruhani Singh Shikhawat. And you have an older brother to protect you," he added firmly.
Khushi nodded. "Can I think on it?" she asked.
"Of course, beta. Take your time," Rajveer reassured her, patting the top of her head affectionately. "Shall we go? Or you might get late?"
"Yeah," Khushi agreed, her mind beginning to churn. Her brother was correct. She was not alone anymore. There was someone she could call now if she wanted help. The feeling of safety and protection enveloped her heart and soul.
...-...
...-...
...-...
Around 6 am that morning, Ams called Nandini, informing her that she would be arriving at their house in a few hours. Nandini instantly woke up and alerted her uncle and aunt about this. They all knew that Nandini's grandma, Kishori Murthy, was very strict about a few things. As warned, she arrived around 9 am. Ignoring all suggestions to rest, she took a seat on the living room couch and instructed everyone to sit down as well. Then, she started taking out files and papers from her bags.
"Amma, what are all these?" Nandini's uncle asked curiously.
"I don't know if those people were Nandu's real siblings or not, but the fact is... our Nandu... Our Nandu was adopted," Nandini's grandma stated bluntly.
"Ams, what are you saying?" Nandini cried out in disbelief.
"Ajay was a scientist at NASA, and Disha was a housewife. They lived in the USA for years. It was after many years they came to India. Since they didn't know when they would get a chance to be back again, they decided to take the road and come to Mangalore while traveling the country at the same time. That's when they witnessed a car accident. The front tire of the car exploded, they said. They were in the car behind that. By the time Ajay was able to break and they could get out, the other car had fallen off the cliff and into a river. Ajay jumped in instantly to help those people trapped inside that car. He was able to save the toddler in the back seat while another man saved the teenager and the other toddler. Then some kind of confusion happened; I'm not really sure. But somehow Ajay and Disha got separated from the group and ended up in a different hospital. The baby was safe, but there was no one around. Somehow Ajay learned from the locals that the couple had died. That's when Disha took a decision. They had been having trouble conceiving. No treatment worked. So, they adopted that baby and named her Nandini Murthy. After everything was legalized, they came to Mangalore and told everyone that Nandini was their biological daughter. But Ajay told me the truth, as he never hid anything from me. Ajay and Disha never thought of you as someone else's child. For them, you were their gift from God," Kishori Murthy revealed the truth.
Nandini started crying, hiding her face in her palm. Her aunt sat beside her and hugged her tightly, assuring her that it doesn't change the fact that she was their niece. Rishav was also hugging Nandini at this point and crying silently.
"Amma, that Captain and his sister are coming this afternoon. You just came after a long journey. Please freshen up, eat, and then rest a little," Nandini's aunt requested.
Kishori Murthy nodded in agreement. "Nandu, don't cry, bachcha! This truth doesn't change anything. Even if those people turns out to be your siblings, you would still be our child," she assured her granddaughter.
"Amma is correct, Nandu! You were our child, you are our child, and you will always be our child," her uncle told her affectionately while discreetly wiping off his tears.
All of them continued making Nandini understand. After receiving their uncountable amount of love, Nandini's tears lessened a little. She managed to gather herself. Ams went upstairs to the guest room to freshen up as Nandini and Rishav started helping her aunt with breakfast. The Murthy family finished their breakfast while engaging in small conversations. However, Nandini remained silent, a storm raging through her head and heart.
Nandini made an excuse and went to her college. Lost in her thoughts about her family, memories—both good and bad—with her parents filled her mind. Suddenly, she bumped into someone. Startled, Nandini looked up and saw that it was none other than Dhruv. She greeted Dhruv politely, and he told her that he had been looking for her as he wanted to discuss something important. When Nandini inquired about the matter, Dhruv proposed to her. Nandini was shocked; she had always considered Dhruv her friend and had never seen him in a romantic light. Politely, she rejected him and explained that she never thought of him in a romantic partner sort of way.
Dhruv took Nandini's rejection in stride and didn't make her feel guilty about it. Nandini excused herself and went to look for Navya. Dhruv was sad, but he didn't want his feelings to be a burden on Nandini, so he decided to stay as her friend.
"What's happening in my life? The one I love does not love me. The one who loves me, I don't love him. My parents are not my real parents. And now two strangers are claiming to be my family. Why is God testing me like this? I don't understand. It's getting too much," Nandini muttered to herself, the weight of her emotions overwhelming her as tears streamed down her face.
Suddenly, she realized that all the students in the hallway were giving her strange looks, witnessing her crying openly. In an attempt to hide from their judgmental gazes, she hurriedly walked into one of the storerooms and began crying in solitude, using the small space to release the overwhelming pain within her. The sound of the door opening abruptly caught her attention, prompting her to hide behind one of the shelves. To her surprise, it was Manik, seemingly searching for something. Nandini stayed silent. Manik grabbed the rope he needed, and as he pulled the rope, which was tangled with Nandini's leg, it brought her forward. Manik was surprised to see her in the storeroom.
"What are you doing here?" he questioned.
Nandini, feeling a mix of emotions, replied, "What are YOU doing here? Anyway, forget that I even asked." She attempted to leave, but the tangled rope made her stumble.
Manik acted swiftly, grabbing her by the waist and preventing her from falling. After ensuring she was stable on her feet, he knelt down to untangle her leg from the rope. As he worked on freeing her, he noticed a few teardrops falling onto his hand. Manik looked up, finally taking in her red, swollen eyes and the tears rolling down her cheeks. A pang of guilt struck him, thinking that she was crying because of his betrayal. Nandini left without saying a word.
Staring after her, Manik whispered to himself, "How? How do I stop your tears, Nandini? Dhruv, you better make her smile again. She deserves to have the best."
... - - - - ...
Rajveer parked his jeep outside the Raizada house. "Khushi, I want to meet the Raizada family," he told his sister.
"Bhaiya, I'll handle this matter. You don't worry," Khushi replied hurriedly.
"Khushi, it's necessary for me to know what kind of people my sister works for," he replied sternly.
Khushi exhaled loudly before nodding her head. "Come with me then."
Rajveer parked his jeep at one side and followed Khushi in. Jay Prakash opened the door for them. Greeting him with a smile, Khushi entered the mansion. Rajveer followed her silently.
The Raizada ladies were seated in the living room, having just finished their breakfast, chatting amongst themselves. Seeing Khushi, Devyani Raizada, Arnav, Anjali, and Lavanya's grandmother, smiled widely. "Khushi bitiya is here. Now we can plan something properly," she stated cheerfully.
Khushi grinned and greeted everyone good morning before turning towards her brother. "Nani ji, Anjali ji, meet him. He's my older Brother. He came to drop me off and wanted to know where I work," Khushi introduced with a bright smile. "Rajveer bhaiya, this is Devyani Raizada, Arnav ji, Anjali ji, and Lavanya ji's grandmother. This is Anjali ji, Arnav ji's older sister. This is Mami ji, Arnav ji's uncle's wife. And this is Lavanya ji, Arnav ji's maternal cousin."
Rajveer gave his sister an amused look, and a slight smile bloomed at the corner of his lips. He turned towards the family and greeted them with a charming gentlemanly smile. "Namaste, I'm Rajveer. I'm Khushi's biological older brother. She praises you people a lot. That's why I wanted to meet you. Thank you for looking after my little one."
All the Raizada ladies almost melted like ice cream in the spot. "Arrey, beta! Khushi bitiya is our own. Of course, we would look after her. And why are you still standing? Come here and sit by me. Tell me more about you. You said you're Khushi bitiya's biological brother? What did you mean?" Devyani Raizada inquired, affectionately forcing Rajveer to join her on the couch.
Khushi sat beside Lavanya while Rajveer took a seat beside Devyani with a slight smile. Rajveer explained in short about their car accident and their separation and how he found his sisters again. Naniji and Manorama started pampering Rajveer, feeling broken-hearted about their past. Anjali had tears at the thought of all the suffering Rajveer must've gone through. Arnav and Anjali had also lost their parents many years ago, and their paternal uncle had thrown them out of their own house. Anjali was thankful that she had her younger brother with her and later her maternal family. But Rajveer didn't have anyone. This made her feel very sad for the man.
Lavanya playfully bumped Khushi's shoulder and whispered, "Wow, Khushi! Your brother is so handsome. I now regret dating Aman. I should've waited."
Khushi giggled in response. "That wouldn't have helped a bit. My brother already has a special someone," she teased with a wink.
"Ohhh!" Lavanya nodded, and the two friends started giggling like little girls, sharing a light-hearted moment.
In that moment, Arnav began descending the stairs while shouting for Jay Prakash. Devyani shook her head and told Rajveer, "That's my grandson, Arnav... Arnav Singh Raizada."
Rajveer nodded, observing the young man before him. The angry, grumpy look on the young man's face made it clear that this guy was short-tempered. Rajveer noticed how the man grumbled under his breath as he headed for the door, the laptop in his hands indicating he was on his way to the office.
"Chhote!" Anjali called out, "Come here for a moment, please."
Arnav exhaled sharply before turning towards his family. Seeing him, everyone stood up. Rajveer observed how Arnav discreetly gave Khushi a once-over before joining them in the living room area. Despite ample open space, Arnav stood a few feet away from Khushi.
As Arnav approached, Devyani introduced, "Arnav, this is Rajveer, Khushi's older brother who just arrived. Rajveer, meet Arnav, our grandson."
Arnav frowned and gave Khushi a question filled look. "Brother? As far as I know, Ms. Gupta only has a sister." he stated sternly.
"He's my biological older brother that I was telling you about the other night. He found me." Khushi answered, shooting a smile at her older brother.
Arnav blinked in surprise as he recalled Khushi's background. He nodded in acknowledgment.
Rajveer stepped up to Arnav and extended his hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Raizada." he said formally.
Arnav shook his hand but responded with a curt nod. "So, you're claiming to be her brother?" he asked sternly, raising his eyebrow. "What's the proof? You could be a crook for all we know." he added arrogantly.
Arnav's question hung in the air, leaving everyone stunned. Rajveer, taken aback by the audacity, replied, "Excuse me?" His disbelief was evident.
Ignoring Rajveer, Arnav turned his attention to Khushi, his tone laced with arrogance, "I knew you're an idiot. But shouldn't there be a limit to your idiocy? How could you just believe a random stranger just because he claimed to be your long-lost brother?" He scolded her sternly, causing the others to exchange bewildered glances.
Khushi, offended by Arnav's words, retorted, "I don't need any proof to recognize my brother."
Rolling his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, Arnav muttered, "What an utter moron!"
Sensing the tension, Anjali intervened, "Arnav, let's not argue. Rajveer ji, you must understand, Chhote just want to be cautious. Khushi is very dear to us."
Rajveer, keeping his composure, responded, "I completely understand the need for caution, but questioning the integrity of a family bond is a bit much. Don't you think?"
Arnav, however, was unrelenting. "We can't just take your word for it. The Gupta family might be a little too nice and easily convinced of whatever you claimed to be. But we need a DNA test to confirm your relation with Khushi," he declared coldly, his gaze piercing and unwavering.
Rajveer, maintaining his calm demeanor, replied, "If that's what it takes to establish the truth, I have no objections. I understand the importance of ensuring Khushi's safety and well-being."
Khushi, caught in the crossfire, felt a mix of emotions—anger at Arnav's skepticism and a subtle warmth at Rajveer's unwavering support. She interjected, "Arnav ji, this is not necessary. I believe my brother, and that should be enough."
Arnav, however, remained steadfast. "Belief is not evidence. We need to be certain," he asserted, his eyes holding a determination that seemed to stem from more than just skepticism.
Rajveer couldn't help but be amused by the turn of events. Behind Arnav's stern exterior, he sensed a protective nature, and a realization dawned on him: this arrogant young man was secretly in love with Khushi, and his protectiveness was driven by emotions he wasn't willing to express openly. A smirk played on Rajveer's lips as he considered the irony of the situation. Rajveer had come inside to warn Arnav against hurting his sister in any way. But here something completely opposite was happening. Here he himself was getting warned by Arnav.
"I'm calling the doctor," Arnav stated before pulling out his phone. He moved out of the living room to make the call. However, as he walked away, Khushi's dupatta got caught in Arnav's laptop, and he unknowingly dragged it away from her body.
A shocked gasp escaped Khushi as she realized what had happened. Arnav turned back, and embarrassment flashed across his face as he saw that he had inadvertently taken Khushi's dupatta with him.
Arnav picked up her dupatta and handed it to her silently. The whole scene unfolded before Rajveer's eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder if Khushi and Arnav were even aware of the other people present in the living room. The unspoken communication that transpired between Arnav and Khushi through their eyes didn't go unnoticed by Rajveer, Anjali, or Devyani.
Observing the duo carefully, Rajveer noted the exact moment when Arnav noticed the marks on Khushi's arm. The realization and guilt that followed on Arnav's face were as clear as water to Rajveer. He understood that Arnav might have grabbed Khushi in anger, unintentionally using more force than he realized. Now, seeing the mark, it seemed to have stunned Arnav.
"Sorry," Arnav mumbled to Khushi, avoiding eye contact, before stepping away to make the call.
Khushi watched him leave, surprised that Arnav Singh Raizada had apologized to her once again.
"Khushi ji, let Chhote do what he wants. Come here and tell us how you're feeling after gaining your brother back," Anjali urged, waving her closer.
An hour later, the Raizada family doctor arrived to collect DNA samples from both Khushi and Rajveer for the test. Arnav stayed at home until the procedure was completed, and afterward, he headed out. Rajveer bid his farewell and followed Arnav.
"Mr. Raizada?!" Rajveer called out just as Arnav was about to get into his car.
Arnav paused, turning to give Rajveer a confused look.
Rajveer walked up to him with his hands in his pants pocket and asked, "Do you know why I wanted to be introduced to the family my sister worked for?"
Arnav gave him an arrogant look and said, "No."
Taking another step that brought him into Arnav's personal space, Rajveer continued, "It was because of those marks on her arm." he stated sternly. Arnav's eyes widened as he realized what Rajveer might have assumed. He opened his mouth to clarify, but Rajveer raised his palm to stop him. "I was going to warn you against touching her again. But the stunned look on your face and the pure guilt I saw told me that you hadn't intended to hurt her like that. That's why I won't do anything about this. But make sure this doesn't happen again. Khushi might've been alone and helpless before. But now, she is not." Rajveer waited until Arnav nodded before stepping back from his personal space. "Have a good day, Mr. Raizada." he stated before leaving the driveway.
Arnav stared after Rajveer, feeling speechless. The warning was clear. Rajveer wouldn't be silent if Arnav harmed Khushi in any way again. "Khushi was right. There's no need for the DNA test. He really is Khushi's brother," Arnav said to himself.