The Beginning of a New End Completed G

Chapter 16- Dil ke rishtey 15+

By thetelleroftale (@thetelleroftale)

1886
86
1

"Khushi, that's enough" Arnav bellowed. "Mujhe sach me bahut gussa aa raha hai"

Wondering if she was subconsciously training him for the future, Arnav took a deep breath and prayed for patience.

She was standing on the sofa, her eyes darting about the room.

"This is my final warning" he said, "Neeche uthro nahi toh I'm going to catch you and I swear...'"

He broke off when she started giggling. He tried his best to look serious but ended up giving into a smile.

"Nahi toh aap kya karenge Laad Governorji?" she asked, raising both hands to her hips.

It took some quick thinking on his part to change tack. Forcing himself to stop smiling, Arnav looked into her eyes and turned on the heat.

"Khushi" he said, lowering his voice to the exact timbre that he knew affected her.

The effect was instantaneous, her cheeky smile slid off her face and she lowered her arms.

Careful not to take his eyes off her, Arnav approached, piercing her with an intense stare.

Forgetting to look for an escape route, Khushi lowered her eyes as a rosy tint stained her cheeks.

She didn't make any sound or movement when stopping right in front of her, he slid an arm around her waist and lowered her from the sofa gently.

Swallowing hard, she let the hand on his shoulder trail down his chest, eyes flickering from his eyes to his lips.

The unabashed lust in her eyes turned him on so much that the plan almost backfired on him. Fortunately, he remembered that it was a plan in the nick of time.

Tightening his grip on her, he brought his other hand forward.

"Khushi, chup chap dhoodh peelo, mujhe office ke liye der ho rahi hai"

She blinked for a few seconds before the look of indignation appeared of her face.

"Haaw!" she said, "Aap naatak kar rahe the...mmpff"

He brought the glass to her mouth and was preparing to pinch her nose next, if that's what it took, when she finally gave in.

Making all sorts of faces and gagging sounds, she took a sip and tried to push the glass away.

And if she hadn't been looking incredibly cute, Arnav would have lost his temper.

She was wearing his shirt over her salwar and her hair, which she'd tied into a knot, had come undone from the chase.

Glaring, he pushed the glass back towards her and held her firmly in place while she drank the milk with a tortured expression.

Arnav found himself thinking that if this was going to be a daily chore, soon he would start needing a glass of milk himself every morning.

But with a dull thud of his heart, he realized that he had no right to be complaining given how difficult this was already turning out for her.

Starting from the night of his birthday, her pregnancy was turning out to be an emotionally wringing experience for both of them.

He'd stormed back into the apartment to find her pacing the living room frantically.

She had momentarily gone still on seeing him.

"Khushi" he'd said, holding up the pregnancy kit.

Almost as if he'd broken a spell by saying her name, she broke into a run and threw herself in his arms. Curling her fingers into his shirt, she had been almost inconsolable.

"Aap toh hume achi tarah se jaanthe hai na, Arnavji" she'd said, between sobs. "Hum paglait hai, sirphire hai, kuch bhi keh dete hai"

Circling his arms around her, his own tears had seared his eyelids.

"Hume maaf kardijijye, humne pata nahi aapse kya kya keh diya" she'd said, placing haphazard kisses on his face. "Hume kahin nahi jaana, hume sirf aapke saath rehna hai. Aap hume daant dijiye, jo chahe saza dijiye lekin hume aise chod ke mat jaiye"

"Shhh" he'd finally said, feeling shaky on the inside himself.

"Hume bahut darr lagtha hai" she'd whispered, burying herself in his chest again. "Jab aap gusse me aise gaadi chalaathe hai, hume bahut darr lagtha hai"

Arnav's guilt had felt like a slap across his face. Wasn't it enough that he hurt her with his words and actions, why did he end up giving her even more pain unintentionally? Of course she was afraid of speeding cars.

"I'm sorry Khushi" he'd said, pulling back and cupping her face. "I'm so sorry sweetheart, I promise ki main kabhi aise nahi jaunga"

It had taken quite a while for the apologies and professions of love to give way to the other news.

Somehow they had ended up sitting on the ground with their backs to the sofa.

She admitted to having taken the test just that morning and even though they discussed making an appointment with the doctor for the following day, the enormity of it all had refused to sink in.

They'd talked about having kids, of course. And given that they had hardly bothered with any protection, it wasn't unexpected. But in the light of their first real fight after the wedding, it had felt surreal.

The doctor had confirmed that she was about ten weeks along and started her on the routine pre-natal supplements. He'd advised an additional glass of milk every morning as her calcium levels were on the lower side of normal.

And in doing that, it seemed he had discovered the only edible item in the universe that Khushi detested.

Pushing aside strands of hair falling on her face, Arnav's heart went out to her. She felt it worsened her morning sickness and every morning when he saw her rushing to the bathroom with her hand clamped tight over her mouth, he felt a noose tightening around his heart.

When she gulped down about half the milk, he leaned over the glass and kissed her forehead just as the door bell rang.

He let go but before he could formulate a warning, she put down the glass and took off.

Hurriedly buttoning his shirt, Arnav opened the front door.

The entire Raizada clan and NK stood at the threshold, all beaming identically.

They had waited for Khushi to complete twelve weeks before telling people. Arnav had called Di himself and he supposed that this surprise visit was a direct result of that peace offering.

Nani and Di both had tears in their eyes as he returned their hugs and led them into the living room.

Mami who was visiting for the first time, moved quickly from congratulations to commentary. It amazed him how she had something to say about everything from the cushion covers to the size of the TV.

"Khushiji kahan hai?" Di asked, looking around.

"Kahin chup rahi hogi" Arnav mumbled, without realizing what he was saying.

Everyone turned to him curiously.

"Nannav mere bhai" NK said, in his sing-song voice. "Kya Khushiji aur tum abhi se hide and seek khelne ki practice kar rahe ho?

Just as Arnav was about call her, he heard a delighted squeal and Khushi came bounding into the room.

The congratulatory hugs from Nani and Di turned teary again and Khushi almost hugged Mami before stopping herself.

"Congratulations, phati sad...I means to say Khusi bitiya" Mami said, holding out her hand.

Arnav and Akash glanced at each other, trying not to smile as a flummoxed Khushi shook Mami's hand and muttered her thanks.

"Khushiji, ek baat bataiye" NK said, when Di and Nani had asked after Khushi's health. "Aap Nannav ke saath lucha chupi kyon khel rahi thi?"

Akash covered his face with one hand while Arnav shook his head.

"Lucha chupi nahi, Nanheji" Khushi said, with an indulgent laugh. "Luka chupi, aur hum Arnavji se isliye chup rahe the kyunki voh humare saath zabardasti kar rahe the"

It was Arnav's turn to cover his face. Damn, this girl had absolutely no mental filter.

Predictably, everyone started exchanging smirks and guffawing.

She looked around the room confused for a few seconds before comprehension dawned. He wanted to warn her not to say anything further as it would only make things worse. But Khushi being Khushi, couldn't keep shut.

"Humara voh matlab nahi tha" she said, going pink. "Hum iss dhoodh ki baat kar rahe the, Arnavji zabardasthi hume yeh dhoodh pilaane ki koshish kar rahe the"

She pointed at the half-empty glass of milk on the table.

"Kyun bitiya, aapko dhoodh peena pasand nahi aavat hai?" Nani asked.

Khushi shook her head and went into a rant about how disgusting it tasted, how it worsened her morning sickness and how he was a heartless monster who forced her to drink it nonetheless.

"Chotey, aap jaake yeh dhoodh garam kijiye" Nani said, reaching for a largish bag she had brought along. "Hum bhi dekhat hai ki Khushi bitiya dhoodh kaise nahi peeyath hai"

He could hear her protesting as he took the glass and headed for the kitchen.

When he returned with the warm milk, all the contents of Nani's bag had been emptied on the center table. It included an assorted mix of bangles, jewelry boxes, sweet boxes and other things that he had no inkling about.

"Anjali bitiya, zara oo...Ah!" Nani said, as Di picked up what looked like a small jewelry box and handed it to her.

Looking thoroughly confused, Arnav watched as Nani added something to Khushi's milk.

"Hum sabke liye chai banake aate hai" Khushi said, jumping to her feet.

"Zara peeke toh dekhiye bitiya" Nani said, handing her the glass.

"Aur chai hum banaa dete hai" Di said, standing up. And on seeing Payal get to her feet as well, she added. "Aap bhi baitiye Payalji, hum banaa dete hai"

Unable to refuse Nani, Khushi took the glass throwing him a look of plea.

He was about to interrupt and ask Nani about the mysterious contents but Di hustled him to the kitchen to help with the tea.

He watched Khushi from over the kitchen counter and saw her expression change from dread to delight.

"Iska swaad toh bahut acha hai!" she exclaimed.

"Kesar hai Chotey" Di said, answering the question he was about to voice. "Dono maa aur baby ke liye acha hota hai"

Smiling his thanks, he showed her the tea things.

Turning back to Khushi, he felt a strange weight off his shoulders. His relief was certainly disproportionate to the discovery of a solution for her problem.

Sitting between Nani and Payal, she looked happier than he had seen her in a long time.

And denting his relief were the first twinges of self-doubt.

"Chotey"

He felt Di shaking his arm gently.

"Huh?" he said, turning to her.

"Chotey, tum theek toh ho?" Di asked, "Hum kabse pooch rahe hai ki cheeni kahan hai"

"Oh" Arnav said, scrambling for the sugar container.

"Chotey, hum tumse ek baat pooche?" Di said, adding different amounts of sugar to each of the cups after taking a quick survey of the living room.

Struck by her thoughtfulness, Arnav became aware of how much he had missed his sister in the last four months.

"Aise kya dekh rahe ho, hum tumse ghar vaapis aane ke liye nahi kahenge" Di said, with a playful smile.

He stared at her, trying to remember when he had last seen her smiling like this. There had been a time when Di couldn't go one day without teasing him about something or the other. His temper, his eating habits, his late nights at the office and eventually Khushi. He missed it all so much that he often repressed those memories to avoid the associated pain.

"Hum bus yeh pooch rahe the ki kya Khushiji ab bhi dabba service ka kaam karne tumhare saath office aathi hain?"

"Oh, nahi voh...morning sickness ke vajah se she's not able to make it" Arnav said, "Shuklaji sab sambhal rahe hai"

"Lekin Chotey, fourth month ke baad morning sickness kam ho jaathi hai" Di said.

"Haan, doctor ne bhi yehi kaha hai" he said, "We'll wait and see"

Di nodded thoughtfully. "Aur jab tum din bhar office me hote ho to Khushiji ghar me akeli rehti hai?"

She read his skeptical look accurately and said, "Relax Chotey, hum sirf isliye pooch rahe the taaki agar Khushiji ghar me akeli rahengi toh hum unse milne roz aaya karenge"

"Nahi Di, there's no need for that" Arnav said, handing her a tray. "Main kuch arrangem..."

He broke off when he saw the hurt look in Di's eyes.

"Chotey jab hum pregn...I mean, jab hum bimaar the tab Khushiji ne humari bahut seva ki thi" Di said, tears appearing in her eyes. "Tum chahe jo bhi soch lo, lekin hum voh sab nahi bhule. Khushiji ne humara khana, humari davai sab ka khayal rakha, yahan tak roz humare baalon me tel bhi laga deti thi"

"Di, I didn't mean..."

Embarrassed, he turned away again.

"Ab hume mauka mila hai Chotey unko yeh saabith karne ka ki kuch rishtey khoon se bhadkar hote hai, ki dil ke rishtey sabse badkar hote hai. Hum unki maddad karna chahthe hai, unko thoda bigaadna chahthe hai" she said, pausing to draw a breath. "Aur hum achi tarah se jaanthe hain ki tum jo chahe arrangement kar sakthe ho lekin tumhe ek baar Khushiji se pooch lena chahiye ki voh kya chahthi hai. Apne parivaar walon ka saath ya fir koi anjaan nurse ya care-taker"

"I'm sorry Di, mera voh matlab nahi tha" Arnav said, cringing inwardly at her words. "Of course aap aa sakthi hai, I know that will make Khushi very happy"

Di wiped her eyes and nodded, looking like she wanted to say more. But she picked up the tray and walked out of the kitchen.

As he predicted though, she stopped and turned around.

"Chotey tumhe yaad hai ghar chodke jaathe waqt tumne kaha thi ki tumhare khatir hi sahi hume Khushiji ko apnana chahiye tha" she said, "Tumne bilkul sahi kaha tha, aur aaj hum tumse keh rahe hai ki Khushiji ke khatir hi sahi tumhe hume maaf kar dena chahiye"

Disconcerted, Di's words brought home the fact that now Khushi wasn't the only one who seemed to think that his inability to forgive his family was more than just about her.

"Hum tumse ghar aane ke liye nahi kahenge Chotey" Di said, "Hum sirf tumhe sochne ke liye kahenge, apne baare me aur Khushiji ke baare me"

With that she turned around and headed for the living room.

Looking at Khushi chatting with his family, it was hard to believe that there had ever been any bad blood between them.

And it intensified his own doubt about whether Di and Khushi were right in thinking he was simply sulking like a child.

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"Di, aapke haathon me sach me jadoo hai" Khushi said, struggling to keep her eyes open as Di massaged her head with fragrant chameli ka tel.

They were sitting in the terrace as twilight set in, Di on a divan and Khushi on the ground in front of her.

For the past month, one or the other member of the family arrived to be with her through the day while Arnavji was at work.

Some days it was Jiji who said she wanted to help her with cooking but ended up doing it all herself. On others, Di arrived with raksha dhaaga and prasad from all the different temples she visited. When Naniji accompanied Di, Khushi loved hearing stories about Di and Arnavji's childhood.

Reveling in their pampering, Khushi had no desire to question the arrangement or face another confrontation with Arnavji about the same.

Especially now that she was slowly adjusting to her altered physical and mental state and his anxiety was easing up enough for them both to be actually excited.

Staying up late at night talking with Arnavji was soon becoming her favorite part of the day. And somehow they never got bored, not even when the discussion went in circles as it did more often than not. Boy or girl, name options in either case, would the baby grow up to be quiet like him or talkative like her, who would do the pampering and who would be the disciplinarian.

Other than categorically insisting that he wanted a girl, Arnavji gave in to most of her preferences. Or at least pretended to, she would have to wait to see.

"Khushiji, hum aapse ek baat pooche"

Di's voice pulled her out of her reverie.

"Ji?"

After a beat of hesitation, Di asked, "Kya aap ghar vaapis aana chahthi hain?"

Stunned, Khushi turned around.

"Aapne humse keh toh diya ki aapne hume maaf kardiya lekin kya aap ghar vaapis aana chahthi hain?" Di asked, setting aside the oil and wiping her hands with tissues.

Khushi blinked, wondering how to answer the question tactfully.

"Di, Arnavji'" she began.

"Haan baba, agar Chotey maan jae toh" Di said.

Khushi smiled. "Fir toh hum zaroor ghar aana chahenge Di"

"Aap bura na maane toh hum ek baat bataye?" Di said, helping her up.

Khushi sat beside her on the divan and nodded.

"Hum Chotey ko achi tarah se jaanthe hai" she said, "Voh ziddi zaroor hai, lekin jab baat kisi apne ki ho toh voh kuch bhi karne ke liye tayaar ho jaathe hai, apni zidd se peeche hatne ke liye bhi"

"Di, aap kya keh rahi hai?"

"Khushiji, agar aap Chotey se baat karengi toh voh zaroor maan jaenge" she said, with a hopeful expression. "Voh aapko na nahi keh paenge"

Khushi stared at Di, flinching as she remembered the night of his birthday.

"Khushiji, isme humara swarth zaroor hai lekin agar aap bhi ghar aana chahthi hai toh hum milke Chotey ko manaa sakthe hai" Di said.

Perhaps she read the conflict on Khushi's face because she rearranged her features to look offhand at once.

"Hum toh aise hi soch rahe the, aap pareshaan mat hoiye Khushiji" Di said, just as the doorbell rang. "Chotey honge, hum dekhthe hai"

Khushi closed her eyes as Di left.

Her heart went out to Di as she viewed her sufferings from a new perspective. A beautiful dream, nurtured with all the love in the world had been snatched away from her so brutally. Any woman would have fallen apart. Her craving to be a part of their lives and that of her new niece or nephew was almost heart-breaking.

And as far as Khushi was concerned, she would be the happiest person if Arnavji agreed to go home. This wasn't only because she missed everyone or her wish for their child to grow up surrounded by family. It was also because no one knew better than her how much Arnavji loved his family.

"Khushi"

Khushi's eyes flickered open as she heard him call out.

She stood up and hurried to the living room questioning nonetheless if what Di had suggested wasn't bordering on emotional blackmail.