CH 24: ON HIS DEMAND

CHAPTER 24

"Thank you Arnav Ji!" she said as she looked at him.

***MUSIC***

Abhi mujh mein kahin, 

baaki thodi si hai zindagi...

Arnav looked at her and smiled. That's how much intensity she had in her smile, just enough to go from her face to touch his heart. Khushi had no idea what her smile meant to him. The smile so innocent, full of hopes, that only filled his heart with overwhelmed emotions. There was no cliche in the statement or the feelings that he had for her. And just to bring that beautiful smile on her face, he had happily given his whole life to her.

Jagi dhadkan nayi, 

jaana zinda hoon main to abhi...

 After so many years, happiness had knocked the door of his heart and that's when he knew he was living. He could now feel his heartbeat. The happiness that Khushi gave him and his family, assured him that still there is a life remaining in him.

Kuch aisi lagan 

is lamhe mein hai

Yeh lamha kahaan tha mera...

Just like her name "Khushi" her name meant happiness, a source of joy in his life. There was a tenacity in the moment, that he wondered where it was before. That's when he knew the moment was missing because she was missing from his life and when she came she brought all the positive energy in his life. He wondered why he just couldn't correct all the misunderstandings before everything went wrong. 

Ab hai saamne, ise chhoo loon zara

Mar jaaun ya jee loon zara

Khushiyaan choom loon

Ya ro loon zara

Mar jaaun ya jee loon zara

The moment he had always wished for, was right in front of him. He had his heart in front of him, his Khushi and within that heart there was his breath, his child. The guilt he had carried was lacerating him, but he wanted to move forward, he wanted to feel the touch of the joy in his life, he wanted to devour the precious moment. Tears had bellowed down his cheeks and he turned around to wipe them. 

Ho abhi mujh mein kahin, 

baaki thodi si hai zindagi...

Her presence was still the same, that she had the moment he had laid his eyes on his wife. The first time he saw wasn't her beauty, but for the person she was. That's when he knew there still somewhere inside him, was a little life remaining. Because he got reasons to live for.

Ho.. dhoop mein jalte hue tann ko, 

chhaya ped ki mil gayi

Roothe bachche ki hansi jaise, 

phuslaane se phir khil gayi

Kuch aisa hi ab mehsoos dil ko ho raha hai

Barson ke puraane zakhmon pe marham laga sa hai

Somewhere he thought that it was his life that always been angry with him. For a long time he was battling with himself, his soul was burning down in the sun, Khushi came as a shade that relieved him of all his internal pains. 

Kuch aisa reham is lamhe mein hai

Ye lamha kahaan tha mera

Ab hai saamne, ise chhoo loon zara

Mar jaaun ya jee loon zara

Khushiyan choom loon

Ya ro loon zara

Mar jaaun ya jee loon zara

And this relieved he had never felt before.

That was how he was feeling, it was like years of wounds were nothing in front of the happiness he has gotten now. 

Dor se tooti patang jaisi, 

thi yeh zindagani meri

Aaj hoon kal ho mera na ho

Har din thi kahaani meri

Ek bandhan naya peechhe se ab mujhko bulaaye

Aane wale kal ki kyun fikar mujhko sataa jaaye

Ik aisi chubhan, is lamhe mein hai

Yeh lamha kahaan tha mera

Ab hai saamne, isse chhoo loon zara

Marr jaaun ya jee loon zara

Khushiyaan choom loon

Ya ro loon zara

Marr jaaun ya jee loon zara..

His life was a like a kite with broken string. And he didn't know how would he live his life. He was now uncertain how different would his life would have been without her. It was hard to imagine but one thing he was certain about that his life wouldn't have been the same filled with happiness.

***

"Okay, guys let her sit for a while now!" Mama ji said.

"Khushi bitiya you could go and rest for a while!"

"It's okay Nani ji!"

"Khushi, you could have a nap if you are tired!"

"It's really fine, Arnav ji!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, Chote we can postpone the plan to go to the farmhouse."

"No, Nani ji there is really no need of that," Khushi told her. 

"It's in fact good ma she could go out and now we could stay there for a while longer. It will be a nice outing for her and she will feel fresh!"

"Yes, dad is right!" Akaash answered. "What say bhai?"

"Exactly, if Khushi really wants to go there should not be any problem."

Khushi was awed at his statement. She was glad that Arnav was caring but he wasn't one of the husband's that treat pregnancy as a disease, that she has to resting like 24 hours and do nothing. 

"Okay, so Khushi I will help you packing your stuff then!" Payal assured.

"Sure bhabi!"

Everyone was in the middle of their talk when Payal's phone rang and it was her mom's. She excused herself and went to her room to talk.

"Hello, hi mom!"

"Hi, payal bitiya how are you? And everyone in the family?"

"I am good mom and everyone in the family is good too."

"How are you? How is dad?"

"I am good and your dad is good too!"

"Actually you have called at the very auspicious time!" Payal said excitedly.

"What happen?"

"Mom, Khushi is pregnant!"

"Oh wow, that's an awesome news. It is in fact at a very good I have called. Congratulate her from my side."

"I know and yes I will! Okay now tell how did you call?"

"Oh yeah, I called you to know about la! Where is she? I haven't heard from her from last 2 weeks. I am just too worried about her."

"Even I haven't mom, but she is in fact in London!"

"What she is in London and I don't know?"

"Yeah, mom she might be busy in her work. There are few fashion shows coming up so she has to look after everything!"

"Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know. I was just too worried. It was a very difficult phase for her, first Arnav married Khushi and now she is pregnant."

"I know even I am worried how would she just accept all this."

"But listen one thing it's your responsibility to make her understand that Arnav wasn't meant to be with her," Payal's mom have her piece of advice. "And there should not be any kinds of problems between you or Khushi!"

"Yes, mom you don't worry mom Khushi is a very nice girl. I will call lavanya and will ask her to call you and tell you about her whereabouts."

"I am proud of my daughters. Congratulations ones again take care of Khushi and yourself."

"Thank you and yes I will take care of her...Bye mom!" Payal said before she hung the phone. But she herself worried about her how would she make her understand. 

@Living Room!

"Ma!" both Gavy and Addy came screaming and running in the living room. 

"Hey, champs!" NK said and made both of them to sit on his laps.

"Chachu we want to eat ice-cream!" Addy said.

"Kids there is a lot of ice cream at home!" Payal told them.

"No, we want to go out and eat!"

"It's okay payal," Akaash said.

"Yeah, bhabi we could take kids out, we are free anyways!" Dhruv assured.

"Okay, you guys do whatever you feel like!"

Khushi smiled seeing the kids and how NK and Dhruv just got ready to take them. In another less than 9 months her little baby would also be the part of the family and just a thought about that made her overjoyed. 

"Arnav chachu let's go!" Addy babbled as he got up from came running towards him.

"Hey champ!" he said as he made him sit in his lap.

Khushi's lips curled into a big grin the way he made him sit in his lap. She was aware that how much he loves kids, but still his little gestured would leave her surprised. She was in love every side of him but especially in this one.

"You don't go with us!" Addy complained.

"I know right. Okay, so let's go today then!"

"Thank you chachu!" Addy leaned and kissed his cheek.

"Khushi, do you want to go?" he asked.

"Yeah sure!" She answered excitedly. 

"Okay, then we will all go then?" Akaash said.

"We would have loved to join you kids!" mami ji said "but we have to go out at sasu ma's friends function, you all could go!"

"Okay, mom!"

"So let's go kids!" Dhruv said as he hold both of their fingers.

***

@At Mother Dairy Ice cream parlour.

"Hello everyone!" the waitress wished as she came at their table for their orders.

"Okay so two Swiss chocolate," Akaash ordered it for himself and Payal and for kids he ordered their favourite "Mango ice cream!"

NK and Dhruv ordered "Rhubarb!"

When it came to Khushi she was having hard time deciding.

"Okay, now for the very special person our bhabi. Tell us bhabi what would you like to have?" Dhruv asked.

"I don't know!"

"Strawberry, Vanilla dream, raspberry, Passion fruit and Mango? Anything?" Arnav asked.

"I actual don't feel like having it!0

"Are you sure, Khushi?" Akaash asked. "You know when Payal was pregnant she used to eat like kilos of ice creams!"

Payal's mouth wide opened in a perfect "O", but she shortly laughed and everyone else too. "Actually he is right!" she admitted. 

"Okay, I would go with fraise!" 

"Okay one fraise..." Arnav told the waitress.

"and one sugar free cafe!" Khushi ordered for Arnav and he couldn't resist but smile. 

"Anything else, sir?"

"That's it I guess!"

"Okay, sir gave us five minutes!"

"Sure!"

In the mean time, all of them had good talks and in between cracked jokes at each other. All in 

all Khushi was having good time. 

"Here you go sir, 2 Swiss chocolate, 2 mango ice creams, 2 Rhubarb, 1 fraise and I sugar free cafe!"

"Thank you so much!" Akaash said. 

"Here you go Khushi, your fraise!"

Khushi although had ordered the ice cream but didn't really want to eat it and felt she would throw up. "Khushi what happen are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just don't feel like eating it!" she said and her voice was choked as she would cry.

"Khushi? What happen?" Arnav asked and kept his hand on his. 

"I am sorry!"

Arnav immediately hugged her and rubbed her back. "It's alright if you don't really feel like eating it!"

Whereas everyone else looked at her with concern, especially kids got scared. 

"Dad, what happen to chachi?" (Guys I think chacha, chachi sounds more cute! Isn't? Well to me yes, so let's just stick to that!")

"Nothing baby."

"Khushi please don't cry see kids are scared!"

"I am sorry!" she apologized and wiped her tears. 

"Khushi no worries, it's normal!" Payal said as she knew its nothing but fluctuation of her hormones that's taking toll on her moods.

"Okay, Khushi let's go we could go our for a little walk meanwhile, everyone finish with their ice-creams."

"Your ice-cream?"

"Don't worry, even I don't feel like eating it, come!" Arnav told her and Khushi put her arm in his. "See you guys, we will be just outside," Arnav said.

"Sure!" Akaash whispered. 

***

"I am sorry Arnav Ji. I just ruined everything!"

"Come on Khushi, don't be sorry and haven't ruined anything. Do you get that?" he asked as he looked into her eyes. 

She nodded in reply and they both walked hand in hand, for a while and decided to sit at one of the benches. Arnav gently helped her to sit and himself sat closed to her as the both enjoyed the sea view.

"Are you liking it here?" Arnav asked.

"Very much!" she replied as she snuggled in his arms and she nestled her head on his shoulder.

They didn't say anything as they were devouring their surroundings, inhaling the sweet salt smell of the sea water and enjoyed the sound of sea waves, more than that feeling each other's presence. 

"You know what Arnav ji?" Khushi finally broke the silence in between them. "When I was the age of Adi and Gavy, babuji always used to take me to the ice cream shops whenever I used to ask him," Arnav couldn't able to take the pain in her voice and tightly shut his eyes. 

He felt soul ripping pain. "But you also know what I should be missing him, but I am not you know why?" She asked as she slowly looked up in his pain filled eyes "because you are with me!" she said and cupped his face.

He couldn't say anything but smile. Khushi leaned in and placed her lips on his and she slightly moved towards him to have a better access. It was a gentle kiss, and Khushi's way to thank him for being on her side. She was a shy girl, but when it came expressing her feelings for Arnav she wasn't going to back up. Arnav had returned the kiss with equal gentleness. That's he always wanted his kiss to be, always filled with tender and in anyways he didn't want to hurt her. They slowly pulled away from kiss, but their maintained the eye contact. 

"Khushi, I will always be there with you!" he promised and in reply he was rewarded with a smile. And Khushi again nestled her head on his shoulder and her arms in his. And they both continued to admire the nature and feel each other's love. Most of the times now they didn't need to talk, it was their heart that understood each other so well. Most of the time, it was unspoken words that were understood through their eyes.

After a while, Akaash came.

"Hey, bhai!" he lightly patted his shoulder. "Let's go, home!"

"Yeah sure...Khushi!" he said as he looked at her but she had dozed off.

He then gently took her head from his shoulder and carefully picked her in his arms and drove her home. 

***

"Okay, guys my packing is done!" NK said.

"Mine too!" Dhruv replied.

"Where you guys are going?" Lavanya asked as she stood at the entrance. 

"Just keep my luggage, inside my room!" she then ordered the servant.

"Hey la, you back!" NK said as he went towards her and hugged her.

"How were the shows?" 

"They were all great!"

"Well, come in first then we will tell you where we are going!"

Lavanya comes in and hug everyone. 

"Hey, la come there is also a very good news waiting for you!"

"Good news?" Lavanya asked Dhruv.

"Yeah, here you go  bhai and bhabi is here too!" NK said as both Arnav and Khushi came downstairs, when Khushi had just woke up from her sleep.

When she saw Lavanya she got  nervous. She was scared as she had no idea how would she react to her pregnancy. 

"Guess what will be the good news?" NK asked.

Lavanya's heart beat went wild, she herself was scared to know, what she was thinking was the actual news he would be giving her.

"I don't know," she answered.

NK then went close to Khushi and wrapped his arms around Khushi and Arnav. 

"Our Nanav bhai and Khushi bhabi!" NK said as he looked at both of them and then at Lavanya...There was a complete silence before NK continued "are going to be parents soon!"

Lavanya's world stopped in its track. Her eyes widened in shock, her fears were true. 

Khushi swallowed the hard lump in her throat and the only thing she knew was she would collapse. 

On the other hand, La wasn't angry at the moment, but she was broken from inside. 

Khushi held Arnav's hand tightly as she looked at lavanaya's face. 

"What happen, la? You are surprised too right? I know we all were!" NK said just ignorant of the situation in which la was.

It took little time for la to register and "Congratulations!" hardly came out of her mouth. "Congratulations Mr. Raizada and Mrs. Raizada!" came a very formal wish from her side.

"Thank you!" Arnav said with a smile but he was nervous and he didn't know how he would face her and Khushi has sensed not only his, but Payal's nervous tone.

"Isn't a great good news!" Payal said tried to sound excited but Khushi had sensed underlined 

nervousness in her voice. 

 As a human being, she could very well imagine how it would feel like the person you loved, was not in love with you and top of that the woman he got married with is pregnant with his child. 

She felt truly bad, as she knew if she was in her place she would have felt the same.

"La you must be really tired just go and get fresh!" Akaash said. 

La didn't reply but just left from there and Payal followed her. 

"Hey, la! You were in London didn't you tell about it to mom...you know what she was worried!" She asked as she was trying to just divert her mood.

"No, I just didn't get time to talk to her. I was busy with my work!" she answered as she angrily tossed her suitcase on the bed.

"Oh okay, you should call her and tell her!" 

"I am not in mood of talking please go from here!" she retorted.

"Look la...I know why are you mad! But just please forget that Arnav was in your life, just think that he never existed in your life."

Lavanya propelled the perfume bottle on the floor furiously.

"Is it that easy for you to say? What if the same had happened with you?"

"La calm down. I know it's not hard what you have to forget him, you have to just accept that he is married to Khushi and soon going to be a father of her child!"

"What kind off sister you are? Instead of taking my side you are taking that woman's side who snatched my ASR from me?"

"I am your sister, but with Khushi I have a relationship too. We don't get everything that we want!"

"We don't get those things because we don't try to get those things. We just accept the fact that we can't get them. By hook or by crook I would get my ASR back!"

"La you would do nothing that would hurt my family members!"

"Oh, now this is your family and I mean nothing to you?"

"No, you keep as much importance to me as this house family members do. But don't forget this is my actual house. I had became Mrs. Payal Akaash Singh Raizada the day I got married. And don't forget that you are living in this house just because you are my sister,"Payal bitterly said.

Although, she had no intentions to say, but anyhow she had to force her to go out of the house. 

She wanted her to start her new life with somebody else. 

Lavanya didn't say anything, she just furiously took her clothes and went to the washroom.

Payal sat up on the bed crying, but she froze when she saw Khushi's image in the mirror, as she stood at the door.

"Hey, Khushi!" she said cheerful, but again her voice betrayed her and she quickly wiped her tears, before she turned around and faced her.

"Bhabi, is everything alright?" 

"Yeah, everything is awesome! Come dinner is ready and you and the little one must be hungry," she said as she maintained a smile on her face and took her from there. 

_________________________________________________________________

TO LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE WE MUST LOOSE OUR FEAR OF BEING WRONG! 

 

Stay safe!

 

 

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