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Arnav came forward.

"Grandmother, calm down! She is my wife!" he tried to pacify her. She went on ranting between her sobs. Arnav held her tightly. Papaji had pulled Khushi back and was holding her in his arms, protectively to save her from the wrath. 

"She... She?" sobbed grandmother. "Yes, she is HER granddaughter!" Arnav said with a steady voice holding his grandmother around her shoulders. 

“Grandmaa… We know everything…” He whispered patting on her back, holding her supportively.  She looked aghast. Then amazement spread over her face. She took a step forward. Papaji tightened his grip on Khushi, but Arnav came forward and pulled Khushi out of papaji's embrace. 

"Look at her!" he said calmly. Grandmother gazed at Khushi for a long time, Khushi got more and more nervous as the time passed; and then smile appeared on grandmother's face. She touched Khushi's cheek "You .. you look like her! I had seen her photo, taken in some Mela! She was young ... she looked like you!" said grandmother incoherently. Khushi smiled. For a long time Grandmother kept gazing at the couple and then turning to Arnav, 

"Love... love played magic! You two are finally united..." she blurted holding his hand and then turning to Khushi said…

“He… my husband.. loved you… I mean… your…!” she broke into tears.  Khushi cupped her fragile face.  She took a step back. . 

"Grandmother, I know, you did not get what you deserved!" started off Arnav in a sorrowful voice.

"Grandfather couldn't give you the love you deserved! I know … Injustice..." he confessed.
"Injustice?....Injustice…!!” Grandmother shook her head solemnly deep into thoughts.  She had gone back to her youth.  Then looking up at the couple she said, 

“No!.... I didn't deserve it. I got what I deserved. I got your father, a son from him~" she said gravely.
"What?" Arnav was shocked. 

"Yes..." she paused for a while shook her head and then continued her confession….

"Your grandfather did not betray me. Before our marriage, he told everything to me and my family and asked me not to marry him. But we saw his fame and wealth and I was proud of my beauty… I married him.! He gave me what I wanted, what the family wanted… a child! I... I thought I will be able to hold him back with my beauty and love, after marriage....!" she said in a trembling voice. Arnav put his arm around her shoulder "Grandmother...!" he eyes were moist. Khushi came forward and took her hand. She actually smiled at Khushi. 

“He didn’t betray me… He had told me everything… He was hers all along… he laid his life for her.. and… “She sobbed harder.  

“She was all his.. They couldn’t stay together but they chose to die together… never to part again…” Grandmother smiled a relief as if a huge burden was taken off her shoulders.
“Through out my life I cursed myself ….But now… you two… “ She touched Khushi’s cheeks… 

“You look like her… vibrant, bright, smiling…” Grandmother went on.

“I tried everything… all the tricks to turn him in…. but he only had her in his heart.  No one could take that place… Finally I gave up… I compromised with my life, cursed myself for ruining his love…. I was a sinner… I was the one who …” She sobbed hard.

“No.. Grandmother… No.. Shuuu… Stop…” Khushi pulled her in her embrace.  Grandmother broke down.  

“You know what? I had a plan to kill her… But then… they both had plan too .. to end their lives together ….” She chocked.  The funerals on either banks of the River flashed and Khushi’s grip tightened.  She cried in anguish.  Arnav turned his face sending back his tears…! 

"I am Khushi's papaji!" Papaji introduced himself joining his hands. Grandmother nodded happily. 

She looked at Khushi "Come, let me mend your wound!" she said. Khushi hugged grandmother. She patted on Khushi's back. Arnav wiped off his eyes, so did papaji.

They heard Krishna Kant screaming....!

He came on to Arnav and bashed him. Arnav lost his balance initially. But then he retaliated! He did not bother about Krishna Kant's age! Khushi screamed in fright so did grandmother. Papaji came forward and pulling both of them aside, said. "Take her inside, Khushi... Go!" Khushi looked at the scene and took the old lady inside. Arnav was surrounded by other Thakurs. Now it was their turn to pay back. Papaji ran forward but was brought down by a young Thakur. He was pinned down to the ground.

Arnav fought out and pulled himself away from them. The Thakurs were bent on finishing him off. They pinned him down again and punched him. Khushi left grandmother with the other women and requested them to take care of her. She ran back to the hall to see Arnav down and was getting beaten up. She screamed and ran forward. Someone pulled her back and banged her head on the wall. Arnav with all his might got up and looked around.

Someone came running fiercefully and bashed the person pinning Balwindar Singh. He helped papaji get up. Papaji looked at him in surprised. Ramani nodded. Papaji had a smile. "You..?" he whispered. "Yes..!" he said. "I had to!" he went ahead. Papaji looked at him gratefully and said "Thank you!"

Ramani vanished.

Police had arrested the culprits. The unidentified bodies of the cameraman and another person were taken away. Sham was to be taken to the hospital… he had bleak chances for survival… his bleeding body limped lifelessly when they were carrying him on stretcher.  He would be soon declared dead in police encounter...! That’s what everyone hoped…!! 

The House search was going on! Rattan was trapped and was on his way of confession. All his bank accounts, his moveable and immovable properties were seized. A big police operation was over with the help of Arnav Singh Raizada.

The commissioner came forward. "Let us take these two to the hospital!" he said shaking hands with Balwindar Singh. Arnav and Khushi were holding on to each other. Khushi looked at Arnav.

"Khushi, take me home!" said Arnav putting his arm around her shoulder, with bleeding nose and bruises all over his face. Khushi nodded sobbing hard.

"I am airlifting them to Kolkata directly!" declared Papaji. He dialed for helicopter. The media was kept away. Papaji managed everything and within half an hour they were in the helicopter flying towards Kolkata. Khushi and Arnav were resting in each other's arms with first aid being given to them in the flight itself.

********* *****

Everybody had gathered in Papaji's mansion in Kolkata. Raizadas and Guptas didn't stop asking questions to Arnav and Khushi. They both were completely exhausted. She felt weak and dizzy.

Papaji had banned Arnav and Khushi from watching the TV. Papaji wanted no news to be seen or heard. But the scoop had spread over everywhere. Media had nothing else to show...! Thakur's regime was overthrown. He resigned ... was put behind bars. All his corruption got exposed and black money was getting counted relentlessly. Arnav had finished them off. He became a hero overnight. Media never stopped praising him. They showed his bravery, his courage and called him a real hero. 

Family members were eager to know from both Arnav and Khushi. Arnav only said ... "Khushi saved me...!" to everybody's astonishment. Mummiji had a smile on her face. She knew Khushi's worth in Arnav's life. They both meant the world to each other. 

"Ok. There is another news! " Papaji roared. Everyone looked at him. He took his wife's hand and said... "Now that everything is settled. We two are going back to 'our pind' our village...!" he declared holding his wife's hand. She nodded smiling at him. 

"What? How can you do that? That's not possible!" Khushi screamed getting up from her place. She looked at everyone. Everyone was equally shocked at papaji's decision. But papaji looked firm on his decision. "No.. not possible...." Khushi started off.

Dasgupta barged in. "Khooki...!" he called out. She looked at him all lost.
"Khooki..!" Dasgupta pulled her closer and said in his husky voice.."Thank you! Finally she agreed!" Khushi smiled broadly.

"What? What is the news?" asked papaji narrowing his eyes.

"NEWS?" Khushi came back breaking apart from Dasgupta. She fidgeted restlessly biting her nails...

"News!... Arnav ji... " she looked at him in fright.

"What?" he asked her in surprise...
"I... I forgot!! " she started pulling his hand. "What?" he got up. She pulled him out of the hall and took him to her room.

"What?" asked papaji in astonishment. "Khushi's new tantrum...!" Anjali shook her head laughing...! 

"She must be upto something silly again this time...!" blurted papaji.
"Or must have broken something important to Chote..!" predicted Anjali laughing.
"Das, what was that you wanted Khushi's help for?" asked papaji getting flared up. He was upset that they both did something behind his back, without informing anyone.
"Oh! Nothing much... as she helped you reunite with Raj, She helped me!" said Dasgupta happily.

"What?" papaji was confused.
"Yes! She helped me with Karuna.. my daughter!" said Dasgupta..

"You know she was living with that colleague of hers, Mr. Chari for six years in Canada. They were not serious about their marriage.. Khushi helped her to realize and now they are getting married next month...!" said Dasgupta.

"Great!" Papaji thumped on Dasgupta's shoulder. "See? My Khushi can do anything.. She has a magic wand...!" papaji said with a glint.

"Yeah Magic Wand! She can wreck havoc with that!" said Anjali pointing at Khushi's room. They heard arguments and screams from the room. Papaji dashed forward.. 

"Now what? What are they fighting for?" Asked Shondeep helping Anjali get up. They all moved towards Khushi's room.

Khushi and Arnav were screaming at each other at the top of their voices. Arnav had grabbed her shoulders tightly giving her pain. She was trying to defend herself.

"How could you do this? What if something happened? Khushi... have you lost it? You brainless git!!" Arnav was screaming holding her tight. 

She had held his collar in full fighting spirit.

"What? I did everything.. and what about you? Why didn't you tell me where you were going? Why didn't you call me?" she retorted back.

"Why did not you tell me Khushi? Why did you take the risk..?" he was asking her.
"Shh... leave me! You are hurting me.. ! and when did you call? How do you expect me to tell this to you when I didn't even know where you were?" she yelled back at him.

"What? Tell what, Khushi puttar?" intervened papaji separating the bickering couple.
"That she is pregnant!" yelled Arnav. 

"What?" papaji roared. Initial shock appeared on everybody's face and then joy and happiness took over. Khushi blushed and ran into papaji's arms. 

"Oh God! Such a good news... and why were you bickering about?" Asked Anjali in surprise.
"Good Bless the child!" Papaji shook his head hopelessly. Arnav was embarrassed.

"See? How can you go to your pind with this kind of would be mother?" asked Arnav flaring up again.

"And what about you..? you, would be father?" retorted Khushi coming on to Arnav.
Arnav smiled and pulled her in his arms and said.. "I am sure, we are going to be great parents!" Khushi blushed in his arms.

"Bhai, congratulations...!" Aakash hugged his bhai. Arnav nodded looking at blushing Khushi.
Nani joined hands to pray .. so did Mummiji. Shondeep congratulated them both. 

Papaji had tears in his eyes... "hmm.. we have to rethink on our decision...!" he said smiling..
Arnav took Khushi's hand and they both went out of the room.

"What should I call this love? Iss Pyaar ko kya naam doon?" he asked looking up in heaven.
"LOVE!" came a calm voice of Mummiji.
"What?" everyone asked...
"Yes. L.O.V.E. Light Of Vanishing Ego!" she said smiling. 

************* *********** **************

To be continued….
The story does not end here….Its got a long way to go… will post the updates soon… but please please write your comments… and give your feedback….!

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NOTE: I ended the story on MeD here at this point… despite having many more episodes … so now thought of giving you the uncut version of this story…
Phantesy to Verity Will continue…