A while later, Arnav called, "Khushi?"

"Hmmm?"

"I think it's finally time for you to know who I am," Arnav said.

"Huh?"

"Khushi before I explain, I just want you to know that... I hid my identity from you because I thought it was for the best at the time... But after our recent misunderstanding... I don't want to hide it from you anymore..."

Khushi was just getting more and more perplexed by the second. "Arnavji, you're scaring me. Can we please just get this over with without the suspense? What do you mean by you hid your identity? Wait... Are you not a police officer???!!!" Khushi asked, her eyes wide with the thought.

"No no no! I am a police officer - I didn't lie about that," cleared Arnav.

"Then?"

Arnav just took a deep breath before walking towards the elevator saying a quick, "Follow me."

Khushi hurried behind him as soon as she caught on with his words.

As they were going up, Khushi couldn't keep her curiosity at bay. She was pestering him with questions on what he had been hiding, but she got no answers to her utter disappointment.

When the elevator door opened, Khushi was a little taken aback seeing a cabin filled with what looked like work files.

Whatever she was expecting to see, it definitely wasn't this. What could a simple office have anything to do with his identity?

Khushi was busy looking around seeing what was inside the office. But it was only a few minutes later that she noticed what lay outside it.

Khushi gasped as she saw hundreds of people working in their cabins in the huge building. As though in a trance, she walked up to one of the glass walls and gaped at the number of people working.

"Where are we Arnavji?" she whispered, in utmost shock.

"In AR Designs," replied Arnav.

Khushi abruptly turned to face Arnav, her eyebrows shooting up to the sky. "KYA!!!"

Arnav just nodded in response.

"Voh toh uss... kapde waala dukhaan haina? Bohot badawaala? (That's that... clothes shop right? The really big one?)"

Again Arnav just nodded.

"Lekin yahaan toh koi kapde nahi hai...? Yeh amir log na, bohot ajeeb hai. Dukhaan kapde ki hain lekin dukhaan mein koi kapde nahi hai, (But there are no clothes her...? These rich people are so weird. The store is a clothes store, but there is no clothes in the store itself,)" she laughed."... Lekin phir unke paison kahaanse aathe hain? (... But then where does the money come from?)"

"Khushi-" He couldn't continue because Khushi's brain was on the run and she wouldn't rest until she got all her thoughts out.

"E-E-EK minute!!! Hum yahaan kya kar rahen hai? (O-O-One minute!!! What are we doing here?)" She looked at Arnav as though waiting for an answer.

But then before he had a chance to answer, she once again continued, "Oh I know! The owner must be your friend right?" she grinned at him, mentally patting herself for figuring it out. "After all you're a police officer, so you must have acquaintances everywhere. And after knowing our situation, being such a good friend he must have agreed to help us by giving us the penthouse right?" Khushi was so proud of herself for solving the puzzle.

But her glorious moment didn't last long because the very next second another thought hit her. "Wait... But then the tunnel... How could it lead to the penthouse - how can there be that many coincidences?" She was murmuring to herself but Arnav could hear what she was saying.

"If you allow me to speak, then I can clear your doubts Ma'am," he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Khushi smiled sheepishly before saying a quick sorry.

"V-voh... umm..." Arnav struggled. For the first time ever, Arnav was stammering in front of someone. But what to do? Khushi was too important in his life, for him to lose her because of something he hid from her. He just hoped that she doesn't get too upset that he hid this from her.

"First you complain that I don't let you speak, and now when I let you speak you just stammer. Are you going to tell me or what?" Khushi asked impatiently.

Arnav just glared at her in response. Here, he was struggling while being worried sick of what her reaction will be. And she was not even giving him a chance to put himself together!

Seeing his warning glare, Khushi mellowed down a little and started fiddling with her dupatta as she waited for him to start speaking.

Finally taking a deep breath, Arnav went straight for the kill. "I own this place."

Khushi was blank for a moment. Then after a few seconds, "Right, now this is not funny. Can you please just tell me what you wanted to tell me without these silly jokes. Because I'm sorry to tell you this Arnavji, but your sense of humour is pathetic."

Arnav was lost for words. He tells her the truth and she thinks he's joking. Now what?

"Khushi I'm serious," he said, keeping his face as serious as possible so that she will believe him.

Khushi was speechless. She wasn't sure if she believed him just yet, but she was truly lost for words.

"Khushi... Do you know the name of AR Designs' owner?" he asked.

Khushi remembered her friend Preeti had gone on and on about AR Designs once. And she had been absolutely crazy about the owner despite not knowing what he looked like.

"Isn't it something like... ASR?" Khushi replied.

"And what is mine?"

"Your what?" Khushi asked, suddenly lost.

"My name, Khushi," he replied.

"Kyun? Aap bhoolgaye kya? (Why? Have you forgotten it?)" she asked cheekily.

Arnav rolled his eyes. "Just answer the question Khushi."

"Arnav!" she answered, smiling.

Arnav lifted his eyebrows and gave a slight nod, gesturing her to finish his name.

"Arnav Singh Raizada..." Khushi said, still not getting it.

Arnav just waited, his face expectant.

A few moments later, Khushi's confusion cleared, "Arnav Singh Raizada. A... S... R...?!" Her mouth made a big O' while her eyes widened in shock.

Arnav nodded.

"But... How? You said you are a police officer... And now you're saying you're owner of AR Designs. Which one is real...? This is so confusing!" Khushi said, putting one hand on her head in confusion.

"Khushi I'm both. I'm ASR, CEO of AR Designs. And I'm also ACP Arnav Singh Raizada."

But the perplexed look on Khushi's face didn't change in the slightest. "But... I've heard that ASR is ruthless, arrogant and whatnot! And... you're nothing like that! I mean you're a little impulsive when it comes to your anger but... other than that, you are nothing like the ASR I've heard of..."

Arnav sighed. "Khushi I... my childhood wasn't exactly the easiest... And the things I had to go through weren't pleasant. Khushi this world is selfish and ruthless. And to live in this world you have to be able to take what you want and not ask for it. And that's exactly what I started to do. I learnt things the hard way, and that's what's made me what I am today."

"And yes, when it comes to business I am ruthless. I take what I want, and I don't leave any stones unturned to get my way. So yes Khushi, I am ruthless. And it's because of that, I am the best in the fashion industry. ASR is always the best and no one - and I mean NO ONE can beat him. Ever."

It was only in that moment that Khushi saw a hint of the arrogant ASR that everyone talked about. The strange glint in his eyes was so unfamiliar to her. And it scared her a little.

"Ok... but if you are ASR then you must be so rich. Then why do you need another job?"

"I don't. Khushi I wanted to be a police officer so I could fight for justice. So that I could put an end to some of the cruel beasts out there in this world," he replied determined. "So that I can stop innocent people from being sacrificed for those monsters' lust and hunger for power," he said looking at the wall with a faraway look.

Although Khushi felt proud of Arnav for his choice, she immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"What happened Arnavji? Are you ok?" Khushi asked, concerned.

But Arnav didn't hear her. He was lost in the memories of his horrible past...

Khushi walked up to Arnav and cupped his face in her hands, turning his face towards her, bringing him back to the present world.

"Arnavji are you ok?" she asked again.

He nodded, not meeting her eyes.

"Toh phir aap humse nazar kyun nai milwa paarahe hain? (Then why are you not meeting my eyes?)"

Arnav didn't reply.

"Arnavji?" Khushi tried to get to him to meet her eyes. And when she succeeded, she saw a sheen of unshed tears in his eyes.

"Arnavji, what's wrong?!"

He didn't reply but just kept looking into Khushi's eyes, silently pleading her to relieve him of his pain.

And as though she understood Khushi threw her arms around him, bringing him close, stroking his hair soothingly. "It's ok Arnavji. If you don't want to talk about it, it's ok. But just know that I'm here Arnavji. Hamesha, (Always,)" she promised in a soft voice.

Arnav buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking the comfort she gave like a starved child.

"I miss her Khushi," he said after a few moments of silence, his voice breaking.

Khushi didn't need him to spell it out for her to understand that he was speaking about his mother.

She pulled him closer, continuing to stroke his back with one hand and running her fingers through his hair with the other.

"I know Arnavji. I know... I understand..." she said. "Because I miss her too," she whispered, her own tears starting to fall. Arnav tightened his arms around her, knowing that she did understand, and that she needed comfort too.

After a few seconds she pulled away so that she could look at his face.

"It's ok to cry Arnavji," she said gently.

With that Arnav closed his eyes, and one lone tear came rolling down his cheek.

Despite telling him to cry herself, Khushi couldn't bear to see his tears.

She didn't know what came over her but slowly she cupped his face while getting on her tiptoes. Then, she gently kissed away his tear, sucking the droplet.

Arnav wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes still closed. The moment just felt so pure that he didn't want anything to tarnish it.

Khushi placed a light kiss on his forehead... then both his eyes... his nose... his left cheek... his right cheek... and just when she was about to kiss his chin, a shrill ring caused Khushi to jerk; and instead of pecking Arnav's cheek, she ended up pecking his lips!

Arnav's eyes snapped open to see a shocked Khushi staring back at him with her eyes slightly agape.

Both didn't know how to react and just stared at each other, hoping the other would say something.

Normally, Khushi would have run away by now, but now she had nowhere to go as she didn't know the office well enough. And to enter the elevator, she would need Arnav's fingerprint.

Arnav, as though still in a trance brought his hand up to touch his lips, still able to feel the sensation of her lips on his... "Khushi..." he whispered, still lost.

And seeing Arnav's gesture, Khushi couldn't hold in her blush. She looked down, unable to meet his eyes anymore.

Another shrill ring broke their awkward moment.

Arnav knew it was Akash at the door of the cabin, waiting for him to open the cabin door.

He cleared his throat. "Khushi... my manager is waiting to come into the cabin. Will you be ok for him to come in?" Arnav asked tentatively.

"If you trust him then I have no problem," she replied instantly.

Arnav nodded, and with that he pressed a button, letting Akash into the cabin.

Seeing a girl next to Arnav in his cabin, Akash instantly understood who she was.

"Namaste Khushiji," he greeted politely.

"Ji Namaste. Aapko kaise...? (Hello. How do you...?)" Khushi was so confused. She looked between Arnav and Akash, hoping someone would clear her doubts.

"Khushi, this is Akash, my manager-" Arnav started explaining only to be interrupted.

"And his best friend! And he's told me all about you!" added Akash, with a cheerful smile, while Arnav just glared at him for interrupting him mid-sentence. But Akash hardly cared - after all he knew all about Arnav's gussa by now, and he also knew that right now Arnav wasn't actually angry but just faking it for the sake of keeping up his ASR image.

"Oh! Hi Akashji, it's nice meeting you," Khushi replied, with an enthusiastic smile. She could just tell that she was going to get along with Akash very well. She then turned to Arnav and chided, "Arnavji! Aapko ek itne ache dosth hai or aapne hume inke baaremein bataaya tak nahi?! (Arnavji! You have such a nice friend and you didn't even tell me?!)"

"Aww it's ok Khushiji, ASR is just like that. You see, he is the best when it comes to business - in fact no one can beat him. But when it comes to matters of the heart, he has always been weak - whether that is friendship, or whether that is love. Right ASR?" Akash teased cheekily.

Before Arnav had a chance to reply Khushi answered. "Tell me about it Akashji! He is a complete zero with matters of the heart. Analysing people's words comes like breathing to him, but then when it comes to matters of the heart that lay right in front of him he doesn't even see it!"

"What the?!" exclaimed Arnav, seeing the two of his favourite people ganging up on him.

"Kya what the? Aapke yeh what the what the ko aapkeliya kaam karne waale se rakhiyega! Hamaare saath yeh sab nahi chalega - haina Akash bhai? (What what the? Keep your what the what the with your employees! They won't work on us - right Akash bhai?)" Khushi was having the time of her life teasing Arnav.

"Kya kaha aapne? (What did you say?)" Akash asked, his face turning soft.

Khushi was confused at his reaction. She didn't even realise that she'd called him bhai.' It had just come naturally for her, because she had instantly felt that brotherly connection with Akash when she saw him.

"You called me bhai?'" he asked, his eyes getting teary.

"Oh I'm so sorry! Have I offended you? I'm so so sorry!!! I didn't mean to! From next time I won't-"

"No no Khushiji! I... I liked it... Voh... I lost my parents a few years ago... and it was ASR who helped me in the times I needed it most... and even though he isn't blood-related to me, for me he is my brother. ASR has been my only family all these years. But now... hearing you call me bhai,' I feel like I've found the sister I've always wanted," he said, with a soft smile on his face.

"You know Khushiji, when I was younger I always used to bug my parents to give me a sister, but I never got one. But now... I feel like I've finally got her. Khushiji... if you don't mind... can you always call me bhai?"

Khushi frowned, dashing Akash's hopes. "How can I call you bhai' when you're still stuck on Khushiji?" she said. "If you call me Khushi, then I will call you bhai - ok?" she said, with a full smile.

"Ok Khushi," Akash replied, smiling happily.

"Now that's like my bhai!" replied Khushi cheerfully.

Arnav was smiling faintly seeing the scene before him. He felt good seeing the two most important people in his life getting on with each other so well.

But then being the ASR he was, he interrupted, "If you're brother-sister drama is over, then can we get to work Akash?"

They both turned to look at Arnav before Khushi murmured, "Laad governor kahi ka!"

"I heard that!"

"Good!"

"And THE Arnav Singh Raizada finally meets his match," murmured Akash quietly, but loud enough for the other two to hear.

Arnav and Khushi turned to him and asked, "What?!"

But Akash just shook his head in reply.

"Anyways ASR, here is the file you asked for," Akash said, gesturing towards Khushi silently before handing over the file.

Arnav knew that Akash would have found the information about Khushi's parents within two days while Aman would take a week. After all, Akash had worked with him for years and knew how to get his work done quickly and efficiently.

Arnav nodded, acknowledging his work and thanking him silently.

And with that Akash left the cabin bidding a quick bye to Khushi too.

"You two are hiding something from me right? Now what is it?" Khushi asked Arnav as soon as Akash was out of the cabin. "And if there's anything else that you are hiding from me, then please let me know now itself."

When Khushi had found out about Arnav being ASR she had been slightly hurt that he had hidden such a big fact from her. But she hadn't let it show because she didn't want to make it a big thing. But now knowing that there was more that was hidden from her, he couldn't hide her hurt.

"Khushi..." Arnav felt bad that she still hadn't quite forgiven him for hiding his identity as ASR from her. Yes she hasn't thrown a fit about it, but he could tell that she was little upset inside. "Please don't be upset Khushi," he said, taking a step closer to her.

"Then what else can I do? You hid such a big thing from me, Arnavji! And even now there seems to be something you are hiding from me! I'm just starting to realise that... maybe I don't mean as much to you, as you do for me," she said, really upset.

Arnav shook his head while reaching out to her so that he could make her understand. But Khushi backed away from his outstretched hand.

"I was just seeing what I wanted to see in you all these days. All those feelings... all those moments... anyway leave that,"Khushi felt like crying, but she controlled herself as she didn't want to cry in front of Arnav.

"Khushi meri baat- (Khushi listen to-)"

"Ek minute! (One minute!) Did you hide all this from me because you still think of me as a gold-digger? Isn't that what you said that day? That I was trying to steal your wealth by showing my care towards you?" Khushi questioned, appalled by the thought that he still thought so cheaply of her. "That's what you think of me even now isn't it? That's why you hid all this from me. Because you thought I would run behind your money."

"Of course not Khushi!" Arnav grabbed her shoulders and exclaimed, "Tumne aise soch bhi kaise liya?! (How could you even think that?!)"

"I'm just telling the truth Arnavji," Khushi replied.

"No no no! Khushi you KNOW that I didn't mean all of that that day. I was angry! And I even apologised to you for it after realising my mistake! So why are you bringing that up now? You know I don't think that way about you. We've come so far Khushi! And... you still think that I see you as a..." Arnav couldn't even say the word while thinking of Khushi.

Khushi instantly felt bad for saying all that. He was right. He had apologised to her that very day itself and he had never made her feel cheap after that day. In fact he had treated her like a princess - his princess.

But what could she do? She was just so lost in her hurt that she hadn't even realised who she was accusing and what she was accusing them of.

"You're right. I'm sorry for bringing that up and wrongly accusing you," she said to Arnav, making him feel relieved. But that relief didn't last long.

"But that doesn't mean that I was completely wrong Arnavji. Maybe you don't think of me as a gold-digger. But that doesn't mean that I mean anything to you either. If you had even considered me as a good friend, then you would have told me about yourself. Ok forget friends! If you had even an ounce of trust in me, then you would have