Raizadas were seated around the dining table for dinner.

It has been ten hours since they returned from the Gupta House

Devayani could still remember the stunned silence in the room, when she asked for Kushi's hand in marriage for Arnav.

They had politely said that they will discuss with Kushi and let them know.

Devayani knew, they were too polite to say it to their face. That is why they said so.

Arnav Singh Raizada picked on his food.

Things didn't go according to his plan. But he was hopeful.

Once Guptas discuss the proposal in detail, they will realise that this is good for everyone.

The phone rang at the same time and everyone stared at it.

Hariprakash picked up the cordless receiver and handed it over to Devayani Raizada

"Hello. Who is this speaking" Devayani asked

"....."

"Oh. Nice to hear from you Madhumati ji" Devayani said and everyone looked up at her, waiting anxious for the response

"...."

"Oh. Is that so. That is alright Madhumati ji" Devayani said

"......"

"No. Don't worry. I understand" Devayani said and hung up the call

There was a silence around, which Arnav broke with his impatience.

"What did they say?" He asked

"They said No" Devayani said and continued having her dinner as if nothing happened

Arnav stared at his grandmother in disbelief

"No? Didn't they say anything else?" Arnav asked

"They said Kushi bitiya refused. Kushi bitiya is the younger daughter in the family. She refused to even think about marriage before Payal bitiya" Devayani said

"Oh. We can solve that easily. Akash" Anjali looked at Akash hopefully

Akash shook his head in denial

"No di. I'm sorry. Don't ask me that please" Akash said

"But, I thought you like her" Anjali said and Manorama let out a scandalised gasp

"I do. Very much. And that exactly is the reason why I wouldn't do it now. If we now go and ask for her hand in marriage, she will never believe that I want her for herself. Not as a compromise I made for my brother" Akash said and everyone looked at him on varying degrees of surprise

"Hello Hai Bye Bye. What is happenings here" Manorama asked and Akash sighed

Well, better now than later. It would give his mother time to adjust to the fact that he is in love with Payal.

"Akash likes Payal?" Arnav asked in surprise

"Uh yes" Akash answered and wondered what is wrong with him and his brother that they end up making a public spectacle of their feelings.

"And Payal?" Arnav asked and Akash sighed

"She avoids me. Pretends that I am not there to see her" Akash said with a shrug

"Hello Hai Bye Bye. These Gupta girls are trying to trap our Raizada boysss" Manorama said angrily

"Maa. If you weren't listening properly, Kushi ji just rejected bhai's proposal. And Payal has been rejecting all my advances ever since the beginning. So, No! The Gupta girls are not trying to trap us. In fact, we, the Raizada boys are trying to win them over" Akash said looking at his mother.

Manorama gaped at her son.

He had always been the silent obedient type

Since, when did he start to talk back like this?

"And honesty bhai? I don't understand how you even had the courage to take this proposal to Kushi ji. I mean, if I were in her place, my first doubt would be what new game you are playing" Akash said honestly

"Akash" Arnav whispered in surprise.

His brother has never talked to him like that

"Akash. Chotte is not that bad. Yes, they always fight. But she was always able to stand up for herself" Anjali tried to defend her brother.

"Di, you have only seen what happened in this house while she was training Lavanya. You haven't seen what he did with her before that" Akash said, without regret.

He should have told all this before they took the proposal to Gupta House.

But better late than never.

"What are you talking about?" Devayani asked

"Bhai, I think it is time you confessed your mistakes" Akash had to catch himself before using the term crime or sin instead of mistake.

"I.." Arnav didn't knew what to say

"Speak chotte. What is Akash bitwa talking about?" Devayani asked

And Arnav did what Akash asked him to do.

He confessed.

Everything right from the first meet where he locked her in Sheesh Mahal, leading to Payal's marriage getting cancelled.

Then be talked about what he did after their argument at the dargah. About how he released the video clips and ruined Kushi's reputation.

Then came his atrocities as a boss.

Dropping her down from the first floor, making her take measurements of male models, sending her out in rain to control traffic and then sending her away to the ruined building.

The only thing he held back from saying is the Diwali night.

That was too intimate, too personal to let another person in

Everyone stared at him as though he was a monster.

Well, he was a monster! No doubt in that

"And did you apologise for any of these before making that proposal bhai?" Akash asked the most important question and Arnav sucked in a breath.

"No"

Devayani shook her head in disappointment

"I am so disappointed in you chotte. I don't know how you expected her to agree to marry you" Devayani said

Anjali simply gave him the disappointed look, without saying anything.

Manorama was shocked

"You love her?" Manorama asked in daze

Arnav nodded awkwardly

"Hello Hai bye bye. If you did all these when you love her, I can't imagine what you would have done to her, if you actually hated her" Manorama said