Chapter 30

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Part 30: Against All Odds

THREE YEARS LATER

Arnav felt like his heart was going to rip into two. The screams were agonizing. He couldn't take it anymore. His knuckles had turned white because of holding on to the bed too tightly.

"Stop it..! Make it stop" He turned at the doctor and the nurses who were hovering around the bed where lay a screaming Khushi.
Arnav looked at her pale face one more time and the sweat that coated her entire body.

"I said stop it. She is hurting" Arnav shouted at no one in particular.
"Arnav.." Khushi gasped in pain.
"Sir..Please be silent or we'll have to ask you to leave. You are upsetting the patient" said the doctor.
"It's okay, Arnav. I can bear this" said Khushi between another scream.
"No..You don't have to, Khushi. I don't want a baby. We don't need a baby if it hurts so much" Arnav was beyond rational.
"Sir, please. Let us do our job" said the nurse as she motioned for Arnav to leave but all Arnav could see was the absolute pain on his wife's face and her screams.
"The contractions are now going to be the strongest, Khushi. You have to push now" said the doctor and Khushi nodded.
Another scream left her lips as she pushed with all her power.
"No..Stop it. Make it stop" Arnav said, grabbing the collar of a fellow doctor.
"Sir..Please.."
"Escort Mr. Raizada out" the doctor who was attending Khushi said in an authoritative tone.
"No.Let him stay" cried Khushi while Arnav started to struggle against the grasp of two male nurses.
"Leave me. Khushi..Khushi.." Arnav bellowed and entire Raizada family crowded around him as he was locked out of the labour room.
"Chote..? What happened?" Asked Naniji and Anjali in unison, their faces worried.
"They'll kill her, Nani. She is in so much pain. I have to stop all this" Arnav rambled, looking desperate and out of his mind.
"Calm down Chote! This is natural. Don't you remember when Anjali bitiya went through the same?" Naniji tried to pacify him.
"No..This is not natural. She is screaming for god's sake! You haven't heard her, Nani. They are trying to kill her. I'll kill them all. I have to go back inside. I want my Khushi back" Arnav said, rushing back towards the room but Anjali reached him before.
"Stop it, Chote. Relax. Khushi ji will be alright. You'll soon have a baby. The baby that you love. Your baby" said Anjali, holding Arnav's face in her hands.
"My baby?" asked Arnav.
"Yes. You'll love it as much as you love Lakshya! He'll be small, cute, and just like you" said Anjali, dragging him away from the door.
"I know all that, Di. But this is worse. Why does it have to hurt her so much? I don't want a baby if Khushi has to go through that for one more minute. You didn't see her. She looks so frail!" countered Arnav, his legs once more taking him towards the door.
Anjali looked at her Nani for help but she was only smiling at her grandson's childishness but also slightly irritated.
"Arnav, do you want me to go inside and tell Khushi that you don't want the baby?" Abhay's voice relieved Anjali. Her face broke into a smile as she watched him walk closer, holding their three years old son's hand in his.
"Here's your mommy, champ" said Abhay to the kid who all but ran towards Anjali.
"And you, Mr. Brother-in-law, do you know just how much pissed Khushi is going to be when I tell her the father doesn't want the baby?" said Abhay, poking Arnav in the chest who just scowled.
"Of course I want the baby. And I dare you to go inside. Just try it" Arnav said, poking Abhay right back.
"Chote, Abhay beta, stop it now! I am going to hold my another grandson/granddaughter in my hands in a matter of minutes now. So, stop it" said Nani ji and Abhay nodded.
"I'll tell her once she is out of that room" whispered Abhay before going back to Anjali and his son.
Arnav glared after him.
He then leaned closer to the door and tried to hear.
He could still hear Khushi moaning in pain and he fisted his hands.
It was torture for him to hear it.
He walked away from the door and took a seat on the nearby bench.
He then ran a hand through his hair and exhaled.
Then he dropped his head in his hands and sat like that for a decade. At least that's how long it felt to him before he sensed his Nani's hand on his head.
He looked up at the understanding face of his Nani.
"All women go through this, chote. This is how it is supposed to be" said the old lady.
"I know, Nani, but it doesn't make it any pleasant" said Arnav, sounding resentful and helpless.
"No, it doesn't" she said, withholding her smile seeing her grandson caring so much.
Another two hours passed in utter silence before the doctor finally made an appearance.
Arnav was the first one on his feet already standing in the Doctor's face.
"Be calm, Mr. Raizada. Your wife and son are completely safe and healthy" the doctor broke the news without Arnav having to ask.
While squeals of joy erupted around Arnav, he was too overwhelmed by emotions to react.
"Can I see them now?" He asked, his throat raspy.
"Yes. We have shifted her in the maternity ward. A private room as you had asked. The nurse will take you to her" The doctor said and then headed off.
Arnav looked at the faces of his family and everyone motioned him to go first.
He smiled nervously and hurried after the nurse.
"In there" The nurse gestured and walked through the doors.
Arnav felt his palms grow sweaty and his stomach felt funny as he too walked in.
He was a father now. He has a child. A small, frail version of him and Khushi!
As he reached inside the moderately sized room, the first thing he noticed was his wife lying on the bed. She wore a hospital gown and looked so thin as compared to when Arnav had seen her earlier this morning. The baby bump was gone.
The baby.
Arnav's eyes scanned around the room and easily located the crib beside the bed.
"Arnavji" Khushi noticed him through her semi open eyes.
Intense emotions coursed through him and he quickly reached beside her.
"Khushi" He leaned on the bed, his gaze running everywhere on her body to see if she was okay.
She looked tired, but okay.
"I cannot tell you how much you had me freaked" He began, stroking her hair.
"Pardon me, Arnavji, but I think your son is way more stubborn you are. He just wasn't ready to come out easily" Khushi said in a weak voice and Arnav smiled.
"I love you so much, Khushi" He said, and placed a soft kiss of her forehead.
"So do we" Khushi replied, tilting her head towards the crib and Arnav moved towards it.
"Wait, let me help you with him" the nurse Arnav had forgotten was still in the room came to his aid.
He watched as she bent down and ever so carefully lifted the baby.
"Here, open your arms. One hand under his head and the other one under his lower back" the nurse directed as she handed him the baby.
Arnav looked at his boy and he thought he might cry. The feeling was so powerful, holding a part of him in his arms.
The baby was sleeping, his features too similar to Arnav's.
"Khushi..he's.." He slowly walked towards Khushi whose eyes had misted.
"He is you, Arnavji. All you" Khushi exclaimed, tears rolling down her eyes.
"Is that so bad? Why are you crying?" Arnav said, his eyes alight with humour and love.
"Don't worry, we'll make sure he gets your loud personality" He continued, gently placing him where Khushi patted the bed.
Then he bent down and kissed the tiny head of the baby.
"What will we call him?" Arnav asked fondly, his one hand lightly stroking the cheeks of his son.
"Laad Governor Jr." Khushi replied and Arnav smirked, amused by the series of memories flashing through his mind.
Gently placing the baby next to Khushi, he watched the two of them.
"What are you thinking?" asked Khushi.
"That everything I could possibly want in my life is right here, on this bed" said Arnav, taking out his cell phone and then taking a picture of his wife and his son.
"Thank you, Khushi" he said, putting away the phone and then kissing her forehead again while his eyes still on the baby that slept soundlessly.
"He is so small...and fragile..it's almost scary" he said and Khushi smiled.
"Let's go home" Arnav said suddenly.
"What?"
"Yes. I need to take care of you and the baby. And I don't like these hospital people. They are way too clinical and insensitive" said Arnav.
"Are you saying that because they made you leave the room?" Khushi asked, suppressing her smile.
"They had no right to do that. I needed to be there with you" Arnav said.
"It was okay, Arnav ji. I was glad they asked you to leave. I didn't want to see you so agitated. You were over reacting"
"OVER REACTING?" Arnav said incredulously and Khushi winced at his tone.
"You were in agony. The baby was nowhere to be seen. And those doctors were pretending like knew what they were doing" grumbled Arnav.

"Well, the doctors did know what they were doing, Arnavji" Khushi said with a small laugh, her heart growing large at her husband's childishness. Now she had two children to worry about. Only Devi Maiyya can help her.

"Good for them" muttered Arnav under his breath and then looked at the baby again who was sleeping silently. Khushi followed his gaze.

"We are parents" Arnav said softly, the feeling still sinking in.

"Yes. We have to be more responsible now. No more sneaking off to Nainital or Goa" Khushi said, looking deviously at her husband who grinned back in response.

"Although we may sneak off to the terrace once or twice" Khushi added and Arnav sidled closer to her.

"I'll hold you up to that, Mrs. Raizada" He whispered throatily in her ear before kissing her cheek. 
"Urghh..The father sounds like he desperately needs some alone time with you, Khushi" Abhay's voice had Arnav leaning away from his wife.
"Trust you to ruin the perfectly good ambiance, Abhay" Arnav said with a light scowl, as Abhay walked into the room with Anjali in tow.
"I wasn't wrong though, was I? I know how it feels to go celibate for months because..."
"Shut up, Abhay" Arnav, Khushi and Anjali said in unison.
"All right! All right. Who wants to talk to you people anyway? I am here to see my son's mother's brother's wife's son...aka my nephew" Abhay cleared his throat as he noticed the raised eyebrows of people around him.
"Here he is..My champ" Abhay said in a honeyed voice, peering down at the baby and making funny faces at him.
"What are you going to call him?" Abhay asked as he moved away and Anjali took her turn to see her nephew.
Khushi looked at Arnav who in turn looked at her.
"Khushi wants to call him Laad Governor junior" Arnav said with a smirk.
"No one is calling my grandson that" Naniji said strictly but in an amused tone as she joined them too.
Khushi turned sheepish and Arnav almost groaned inwardly at the sight of his adorable wife's expression.
The sooner he could be alone with his wife and son the better.
"We'll call him Dhruv" Naniji declared and Arnav looked at Khushi.
"Beautiful name" Payal crooned and Akash nodded too.
"I like it" Khushi replied, looking at Arnav and he smiled back.
He knew Khushi already had a short list of names in her mind but seeing her readily accepting the name given by Naniji made him love her all the more.
That's how his wife is! Always putting other's wishes before her own.
He hated it and he loved it.
**
The next few days at Raizada Mansion were days of celebration and merrymaking.
A party was organized under the headship of Payal and Anjali. Abhay and Akash were running errands all the time.
Arnav was spending time with Dhruv and Lakshya.
Khushi was under the experienced care of Naniji.
Mamiji had returned from her Sydney trip where she had spent the entire summer shopping with NK.
Mamaji was handling work.
In short, everyone has chores on their hands.
It was after the party had ended and most of the people had retired to their rooms, Abhay caught Anjali and dragged her all the way to the rooftop.
"Abhay" Anjali admonished him.
"I am so tired and then you make me climb all these stairs. What is it?" She asked but Abhay didn't reply, just continued gazing at his beautiful wife.
"Abhay?" Anjali repeated, this time meaningfully.
Abhay smiled.
"Sometimes I still can't believe I have you in my life. I am so lucky" he began, and Anjali smiled fondly, well aware what he was going to say further.
"Yes, I know. You were very disheartened the first time I refused your proposal to marry you right after Lakshya was born. But you were relentless and I had to say yes the next time you asked on Lakshya's first birthday" Anjali said, running her hand through Abhay's hair as he placed his head on her shoulder.
"I wasn't relentless. I was deep in love" Abhay replied, with a chuckle and then kissed her neck.
Anjali let out a shaky breath.
"And I was in love with you. Your constant care and attention, your support got me through that time, Abhay" Anjali replied, her hands resting on her husband's hips as she hugged him fully.
"And you saved me from ending up alone. After all those years of being all by myself, you were the one who I found myself connecting to" Abhay murmured.
"I wish I had met you sooner" Anjali whispered, the scars left behind by Shyam still bothered her sometimes.
"Later is better than never. It is so much better than never" Abhay told her and she smiled. He always had his eyes on the silver lining. That is how he had spotted her amidst those dark clouds and pulled her back into the beautiful, blue sky.
Later is indeed better than never. She told herself.

Six Months Later

"Just because now you have another handsome Raizada to dot upon doesn't make it fair for you to ignore me" Arnav complained, his eyes following the movements of his wife across the room.
"Shhh.. He's gonna wake up, Arnavji" Khushi chided her husband, gesturing towards the baby sleeping in the crib placed next to their bed.
"He is not. He sleeps well when he is put to bed by his super cool father" Arnav replied and as if to oppose him, the baby stirred and made a soft noise which had Khushi laughing softly.

"Shh..Daddy is here, Dhruv" Arnav crooned as he softly pushed the crib, making it swing slowly. The noise stopped and Arnav beamed at himself.

"See" He said to Khushi in a hushed voice who gave him a thumbs-up as she joined him on the bed. 
"Now admit that you don't love me anymore" Arnav said in the same hushed voice, pulling Khushi closer who nestled next to him, an arm around his torso and her head facing him.
"I love you, Arnavji" Khushi whispered, as her fingers travelled across his face, feeling his stubble.

"So much that, my heart starts to hurt sometimes. So much that I cannot imagine a life without you. So much that, every time I look at Dhruv my heart catches because he is so much like you. Is it enough?" She smiled, flicking his nose with her index finger.

"For today" he said against her lips, smiling.

"Thank you for Dhruv, Khushi" Arnav whispered after a moment, pulling back from her.

"All humour aside, you and Dhruv are two parts of my heart. A heart I didn't even know I had before I met you. This love that I feel...this love that you have taught me..I will keep it with me for as long as I live...And I'll love you. Against all and any odds" Arnav promised her and Khushi hugged her husband, murmuring the words back to him.

____________________________

This story could not have met its end if not for all those people who showed so much love and appreciation for it. Three years. That's how long I took to write three more chapters and it was not because I was too busy. It was because I knew whatever ending I might write, it will never be good enough. But all ends must be written to make way for new beginnings. I hope I gave this story the end it needed. I agree the story of Anjali and Abhay could have gone on for a few more chapters but sometimes, things are better left to imagination. 

So, thank you everyone for sticking around and giving this story your time and patience. I cannot thank you people enough. Love you all.   And Hugs! 

Kiran!

PS: 'Keep Loving Me, Will you?' will be updated within two days. 

For more, you can visit my Index: Kiran Ki Kahaniyan