No one's POV

In Singhania house

Khushi and Lavanya arrive in the house with shopping bags in their hands.

Khushi (smiling) - I am so tired...

Lavanya laughs at her comment and goes to sit on the sofa when Nk stops her.

Nk (worried) - Can I talk to you?

Lavanya nods and they both head inside to talk while Khushi goes to play with her baby. She peeks into Aryan's room to see him drawing something on paper. As she goes closer quietly, she sees Aryan's drawing of a family. She could see that Aryan has drawn his mother and him... he has also drawn a guy wearing a suit. Khushi could see that Aryan wants a father... but she can't... she doesn't want to become weak again...

Khushi (fake smiling) - Aryan...

Aryan immediately turns around and goes to hug Khushi while trying to hide his drawing.

Khushi (fake smiling) - What are you hiding Aryan?

Aryan (upset) - Mummy... sorry...

Aryan shows his drawing to Khushi with a scarred face and in return, Khushi fake smiles at Aryan.

Khushi (fake smiling) - Aryan... don't you like your mummy? Don't you like your Nana & nanis?

Aryan (upset) - I don't like you mumma... I don't like nana and nanis... I love them... I love you, mummy...

Khushi (upset) - If you want a father then you will have to leave your mumma...

Aryan (upset) - No mumma... don't leave me...

Khushi (crying) - Maybe later you will have a father Aryan... for now... this mumma of yours is your mum and papa...

Aryan (smiling) - I love you mumma...

Khushi hugs Aryan emotionally while Aryan hugs back his mum with a smile.

Khushi's POV

I am so sorry Aryan ... I can't give you a dad as I am not ready to move on... but I promise you that I will give you the love that you deserve.

Dad - Khushi! Aryan!

Aryan immediately lets go of me and goes towards his grandfather who is behind me. I guess he has seen everything that happened before because he has some sort of sympathy for me. I smile at dad and leave to see Nanheji. I knock on their room and they immediately open the door. I could see that Lavanayji looked really upset while Nanheji looked very angry. I bet this is because of me, I shouldn't let Nanheji & Lavanya fight for me, they have only been married for four months. I can't let that happen.

Me (smiling) - You know Nanheji I am really happy that I am going to India... I will finally meet Amma, Bauji, Buaji Jiji and jiju.

Nanheji (upset) - Stop faking it Khushiji... I know you aren't happy...

Me (annoyed) - For how long will you protect me Nanheji? I don't need everyone to be so protective of me... I heard about the argument between dad and mum... I can't let this keep happening Nanheji... I am not 5... I am the mother of a 2-year-old son... I can handle things... I am no longer the Khushi Kumari Gupta who would be selfless...I am the Khushi Kumari Gupta that will not tolerate any violence... and stop blaming Lavanyaji for the problems... she isn't the cause...

Lavanyaji (upset) - It's fine chamk... I mean Khushi

Me (curious) - Why aren't you calling me chamkili? I liked that name better

Lavanya (upset) - I need to get something

Lavanya leaves the room to avoid the conversation while Nanheji looks at me feeling upset.

Me (smiling) - Lavanyaji is not at fault for anything... you need to stop being ASR... I want my old friend... who joked around with me... who wouldn't hurt a fly... please Nanheji... don't become the guy that I hate the most.

I leave the room feeling worried about Nanheji and Lavanyaji's relationship. Only I know the reality behind their marriage... everyone else in the family thinks that they love each other but in reality... they only married due to a compromise.

The Next Day - At the airport

I wave goodbye to mum and dad with tears in my eyes. It's true that I have only known them for 6 months... but they make me feel so valued. I don't know if dad and mum are pretending to love me or not... but I have started accepting them as my real parents. I wish I could tell the truth to dadaji & dadiji that I am not their real grandchild.

Nanheji (smiling and shaking me) - Let us go...

I carry a crying Aryan and we both head towards the boarding gates. I will miss you, mum... dad... after going through all the checking, I sit on my business class seat with a sleeping baby on my lap. Instead of sleeping, my brain starts to get into a flashback.

Flashback - 6 months ago

No one's POV

Khushi & Nk arrive in Australia with a heavy heart. Khushi has only got a visa for 1 year while Akshara, Naitik & Nk are citizens.

Akshara (smiling) - Welcome to Australia... or to be more specific... Welcome to Sydney...

Akshara & Naitik help Khushi with the security proceedings as Khushi has no idea how to speak English but in Australia, everyone speaks English to each other. After all the proceedings are over, they all head outside where they see an elderly couple. Naitik at once recognises them as his parents and rushes to take their blessings while Akshara, Khushi & Nk come with the trolley.

Raj (smiling) - Naitik beta...

Raj hugs Naitik while Gayatri hugs Akshara.
Gayatri (smiling) - Welcome to Australia...

Soon the elderly couple goes towards Khushi & Nk and hugs them with tears.

Raj (teary-eyed) - How are you both?

Khushi (smiling seeing the love) - Fine...

Gayatri (teary-eyed) - I hope your mum and dad have told you both who we are...

Khushi & Nk get shocked at the statement. Nk immediately tries to clear her misunderstanding.

Nk - I am Khushiji's friend... not her brother...

Gayatri (suspicious) - Are you sure? You both seem so close...

Nk (smiling) - Because we are best friends...

Soon, Naitik interrupts the conversation and all of them leave to go on the car. Khushi goes with Raj and Gayatri while Nk with Naitik & Akshara. The ride to the house was quite eventful for Khushi as Raj & Gayatri kept pampering her and even asked her about her past. Khushi, however, diverted the conversation and avoided it while Nk told Akshara & Naitik about how he met Khushi.

Flashback ends, Khushi's POV starts

Nanheji (shaking me) - Khushiji...

I jerked out of my flashback mode and as I look around, I realise that I am no longer in Australia but in India. The memories of my childhood return to me which makes me smile. Soon, my little baby tickles me which makes me smile wider. Why am I stating the obvious? Ever since Aryan entered my life, I have got nothing but happiness... I started to love life. Soon, we headed down the plane and after collecting the luggage, we head outside.

Nanheji (smiling) - Let's go to the hotel to check-in...

Me (nervous) - I need to see Amma & Bauji & Buaji... you guys go...

Naheji (smiling) - We can all come...

I look towards Lavanyaji who looks upset maybe because Nanheji isn't spending time with her. I need to do something.

Me (smiling) - No! I want to meet them by myself...

Nanheji's smile fades away while Lavanyaji smiles a little. Sorry Nanheji, you need to be with your wife. I head in a taxi with Aryan to go home while Nanheji & Lavanya head towards the hotel. As soon as I arrive at my old house, I rush out with Aryan after paying the taxi driver some money. I have missed my family. As soon as I head inside, I see Bauji walking around the house. Wow... when did Bauji start walking? I smile and head inside with an excited Aryan. Aryan has always seen Bauji on facetime, never seen them face to face. As soon as Bauji sees me, he smiles and opens his arms for a hug.

Me (smiling) - Bauji!

I rush with my Aryan and we both hug him. I could see that he has tears in eyes while hugging us. Which father wouldn't? He met me after 6 months... and I told him about the Raizada mansion a few days after I left India and at that point he was heartbroken... he wanted me back... he wanted to punish the Raizadas... but I told him I can't come back and I told him not to punish the Raizadas... as they will soon realise their mistakes... after all my husband... sorry, ex-husband... has married Sheetal... I don't want my revenge... as his marriage with Sheetal has broken me... I feel as if my marriage with him was a compromise for him... what if he married me because he felt guilty of torturing me? No! Khushi, stop it, stop wasting time thinking about  him

Amma (smiling) - Khushi!

I go towards Amma after passing an excited Aryan to his nana. Amma hugs me just like Bauji did. I feel the feelings of loved again... from the corner of my eye, I could see Buaji having tears in her eyes seeing me... but I can't go to her... she is mad at me as I left without telling anyone and I kept silent when I was going through all the tortures. She wants me to teach those Raizadas a lesson, but I can't... they don't need to be taught a lesson as Sheetal will teach them a lesson ... sooner or later on behalf of me after she kicks them out of the mansion... that family was never mine in the first place... they never treated me nor Jiji as how we should be treated... why am I wasting my time thinking about them?

Buaji (upset) - Haiyre Nandkishore... titaliya... your buaji can't stay mad at you for too long...

Buaji comes up to me and takes me in her arms, while Amma and Bauji smile at the scene.

Buaji (upset) - I may be mad at you for not telling me about your tortures but I am still your bua... unless you don't consider me as...

Me (upset) - I am sorry buaji... I should have told you all about the Raizadas... and buaji... you will always be my buaji no matter what... and Amma & Bauji will always be my parents... even before mum & dad...

Amma (teary-eyed) - you are so kind-hearted Khushi... even after how we treated you in the past... you have given us so much love and kindness...

Buaji (emotional) - yes titaliya...

Me (smiling) - You are my family ... and your values and upbringing taught me the meaning of a family... without all of you... I would have probably been in an orphanage...

Precap - Khushi meets Payal

Next Update: Thursday? 

Note: Arshi will meet on chapter 12