That day Akash appeared again in front of Payal
"Not again Akashji"
"No Payal..its Again and again.I will appear in front you again and again till you accept me. I agree me and my family did many thing horrible but I will be a fool to not take efforts to correct it and lose you. I will not lose you for anything or anyone. I will come again and again till you accept me. You are mine and I will make you mine." Akash said all smiling. The change of demure made Payal wonder. "What is he upto now"
"Akashji..please don't create a seen here. We have to live here."
"No Payal...It's leave... you have to leave here and come with me and live with me. But I am not in a hurry. I want to take you for dates, then marry you and live with you and make you mother of my children'
"Mr.raizada what is your problem ? Why are you disturbing me again?
"come lets go to your home Payal .. come with me'
"why?"
"Oh..I just wanted to ask your father your hand in marriage."
"Are you mad Akashji. Did you forget what I have said all these days. we will never suit"
"No payal.we will"
"What will your mother say if she comes to know how you are making effort for a poor girl.
"Ho she said she only want you as her Daughter in law. Asked me to speed up my process as she wants to be a grandmother soon"
"What the" there stood Khushi with wide open mouth who heard what Akash said.
"Ohh..Hi Salisahiba...How are you? How is your business?"
"Akashji what has got on you? Why are you behaving like this?"
"Payal,khushi ...I just quit being devdas. I won't sit at a corner drinking seeing you getting married to someone else. So let's go and talk to your babuji" Akash held Payal's hand and started walking
"wait. "Payal quickly release her hands and said" Babuji is resting. He is just back after his treatment."
"oh.. How is he?
"Why? So you can go there and propose" Khushi asked sarcastically
"Oh. No...It's not that I won't do that. I am that desperate to have Payal in my life but I will wait. Now tell me how is he. How is his health?" Akash asked genuinely concerned
"He is on an ayurvedic treatment. He is improving"
"Good...Okay Payalji .I will see you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow again but why?"
"Didn't I say you Payalji. Again and again. I will come till you accept me" Akash smiled and waved a bye and walked away.
Payal stood there with her mouth slightly open.
"What happened to Akashji? Did something fell on his head?" Payal was brought back by Khushi's loud laughter
"I don't know jiji. But seems like he is on mission to win you"
"Did I asked that loud" to which Khushi nodded
Payal smiled and shook her head. Don't know what is he up to?
Manorama talked to her family about her decision. Nani and Anjali was elated, Shyam was skeptical but Arnav remained silent. Shyam warned Raizadas that if they hurt Guptas in anyway, he will leave shanthivan and no amount of Anjali's coxing and tears won't bring him back. But what Amazed him was Arnav's replay
"No Jijaji. I or anyone from our family won't hurt to Guptas anymore. I apologize again for that day but I promise I will never ever hurt Khushi knowingly".Everyone present there knows ASR never apologized anyone for anything .But when it came so easily from his mouth it really made them wonder what made this change in him.
That day evening Raizadas again visited Gupta home. This time it was buaji who opened the door.
"Namasthe madhuji" Nani greeted.
"You all... here?" She then looked Shyam for answers.
"Buaji can we come in and talk" Shyam politely asked and buaji nodded and invited them. After settling them self in the small living room of Buaji's house Nani asked
"Madhuji, can you call Khushi Bitiya's Amma and Babujii. We would like to talk to you all"
Now buaji was all more confused but she still called them.
"How are you now Shashi ji? Akash bitwa and Shyam bitwa said you were on a treatment" Shashi nodded. There were improvements in his condition .He could move his hands and legs .Doctor has advised to continue his medicines for further improvements.
"He has some improvements but will take time .Have to go through treatment after 3 months again"
"Oh." after a pause she glanced her family. Then looked at Sasi again
"Sasiji, my family had been very cruel to you all in many ways. I apologize to you all for every misdeed happened from our side. We deeply regret our actions. Nani tried to put her regret in word
"That is past Devayaniji. We have moved forward. What is the use of bringing that again. You came here and apologized that day and we left that then and there" . Buaji said in stern tone being skeptical about their sudden visit again.
"We have to Madhuji. The matter we are here to speak first need your forgiveness." Nani again said to which Sasi nodded.
"Sasiji We are here to ask your daughter for our Akash Bitwa. Akash loves Payal and wants to marry her. If you all are okay with the proposal we will carry forward."
Garima who stood there silent first time spoke "I don't think it's a good idea Devayaniji after what happened in the past. I think both jiji and Sasiji will agree to me" both Buaji and Sasi nodded agreeing to what Garima said.
Akash who was silent till now stood from his seat and came and kneeled down near Sasi's wheel chair.
"Uncle,I love your daughter very much. I proposed Payal but she said we won't suit and rejected me. I know she rejected me because she couldn't trust me with her happiness which is very much in you all. My family and me have done some unforgivable mistake but I just wish you have it in you to forgive us for our foolishness and egoistic act. Some incidents in past left us so closed .There is no justification for anything we did but I Promise you Payal will be treated with respect and love. I assure you I will keep your daughter happy. Do anything to protect her." Akash said with at most sincerity
"We can't force Payal for anything bitwa" Garima again said
"No Garima ji. You don't have to force her. Payal refused Akash mainly because of my behavior in the past. I am really sorry for that. Akash has been in a very bad state for the past few days. It took my son words to open my eyes. I promise to be a mother to Payal. I assure you she will be happy in our home. She will be treated in our home not less than Akash bitwa. "Manorama assured but was interrupted by a voice
"Buaji...I am so happy" Came Khushi's voice from the door.
"Thum bhi na Khushi...Can't you wait till you enter the home to express your happiness" Payal said lightly smacking on Khushi's head.
"Did you see buaji...Keyse apki Ladi hamara aathyachar Karrahihe" (Did you see buaji how I am victimized)
That is when both the sister saw the Raizada troop. Their faces turned into horror.
"You" came an unanticipated voice from Payal. She gave Akash an angry glare .
"Khushi bitiya, Payal bitiya how are you both" Nani asked
Khushi cringed when she heard 'Bitiya' word from nani. It felt bitter remembering the endowments they gracefully showed her that day. She just nodded and asked her Amma buaji why they were here with her eyes. Understanding her question buaji answered.
"Thithiya... Raizadas are here with a proposal for Payaliya." Khushi nodded understandingly.
Manorama stood from her seat and came near Khushi and held her hands
"I am sorry bitiya for everything I did to you. I could never justify my actions. Bitiya I too was from a poor family. I didn't realize when this richness started blinding me. First I was against you because you made me remember myself .The hardships I had to face. The girl who took her family's responsibilities at teen age. Then somewhere I started finding fun in troubling you. I am really sorry for everything I did." Now Khushi was shocked. How come this lady apologize forgetting her status to her? What really happened. But her thoughts were ended when a familiar voice talked.
"Uncle day before yesterday when I talked to Khushi requesting her to talk to Payal. she voiced out her concern in believing us with Payal's happiness. I know our previous actions are the reason for this. Uncle,I want your family to know where we came from. What made us this closed." Arnav started speaking for the first time
"Chotte..."Came a cry of plea from Anjali to not to
"We have to..if Payal wanted to be a part of our family, she holds the right to know about us along with her family".Arnav assured. He won't say everything that happened in the past but only the things they definitely needed to know.
"Uncle I was fourteen . My parents suicided on the same day of di's marriage. Her marriage was called off and our Chacha threw us out of our own home ."Arnav said which earned gasps from Gupta ladies. They were shocked with Arnav's reveal. Arnav went near Manorama and side hugged her, a gesture of gratitude he never showed her. But now he was not reluctant after realizing his foolishness in driving Khushi away from him.
"Mami and mama were kind enough to take us in and give us the same love and care she has for Akash. She never differentiated between us. She sold everything she owned to fund my business at the start. Akash never once showed even a single glance of displeasure towards me or di" He heard voices of protest from Mami and Akash but he has to say this.
I told you all this just for you to know them for what they really are. How much they love their own. My actions caused you many trouble I sincerely apologize for that but don't deny Akash ,his love because of my actions." He saw tears in eyes of Gupta ladies .They knew what would have happened to a teen age boy who lost his world. They have firsthand experience with this. They have seen what Khushi went through.
After a long silence Garima looked at her family .She found answers in her husband eyes and with her sister in laws approval she said
"Bitwa we are sorry for what happened in your life. We will not hold any grudges of the past incidents while deciding in this proposal. Let me talk to my daughter and see. Would you all like to have a tea till I talk to her? Is that okay?"
"Sure aunty"
Garima looked at Khushi for her opinion and she got a positive nod.
Khushi took her Jiji to their room, Garima too joined them while buaji left to prepare tea for everyone. Soon Raizadas found their beloved damadji joining Buaji in Kitchen. They could see how comfortable he is in Gupta home which he never was in Raizada mansion. But everyone's surprise Manorama joined buaji to help her in Kitchen along with her damadji. Buaji was pleasantly surprised with her gesture.