Entry #4: Miracles

This OS is Entry #4 in the IPKKND 10th Anniversary OS Contest

It is written by just-do-it

Perched at the foot of the bed that she had just prepared for the night, Khushi Singh Raizada looked over as Arnav Singh Raizada, her husband shrugged into a T-shirt for the night. She ran an appreciative glance over his freshly showered, lean, muscular torso as she tried to insert the pillows and throw pillows into fresh covers.

“So, Khushi?” He hesitated watching her. “How does a trip sound?”

Khushi glanced at him in surprise, “what trip?”

“Dad, are you going to take us to Universal?” Dhruv, their 7 year old son asked from where he sat playing with his 4 year old sister, Tara. Well, he was playing with his racing track and Tara, who adored her elder brother, hovered around him trying to fit in. Dhruv, who adored her right back tried to include and indulge her as much as he could.

Arnav turned his head to look at his son’s brightened face and said, “Not this time, Dhruv. Let’s keep that for your summer holidays.”

“Okay,” he shrugged and went back to playing while Arnav opened his bag and handed Khushi the travel brochures that the agency sent over when he had enquired. Turning to the mirror in the dressing table to fix his hair, he met her gaze in it and said, “Pick a place.”

While Khushi briefly sifted through them and kept shuffling, Arnav came to sit beside her, “let’s both go have some fun. Australia?” He asked casually, holding up the first one in the list.

“I don’t want to roam the streets with Kangaroos. There are probably more of them than people.”

He lifted his brows slightly at that. “Let’s see what else there is.”

“Dubai? Shopping? Burj Khalifa?”

“Delhi Ki garmi kya kam hai? Dubai mein surya snan nahi lena humein (Is Delhi any less hot? I don’t want to sun bath in Dubai).”

“What— oh sun bath?” He chuckled and she bobbed her head getting up to arrange the pillows at the head of the bed.

“Paris? You can’t say no to Paris.”

“I hear thieving and burglary is too prevalent—

“How about the moon?” Arnav asked,  not-so-effectively trying to convey his displeasure at her non-enthusiasm as he heard her gasp with her mouth open, “Can we go to the moon now? I — She began but Arnav finally snapped, “Kya farak padhta hai? I’m sure you’ll find a reason as to why one shouldn’t visit.”

She gazed at him, utterly chagrined. “Arnavji, Between the tiffin service, children, school, homework and ghar ka kaam, I seem to be doing million things in a day.”

Arnav frowned. “You’re entitled to a little rest, you know? Let’s go some place serene and relax in a resort.”

Khushi shook her head. “I already live in one. Shantivan is no less than a resort. What else do I need? I am lucky and happy where I am.”

“Khushi it’s just a change of scene. A weekend at the most.”

Khushi walked over to Arnav and pressed an unexpected kiss to his cheek. “You thought of planning something and it made me so happy. Thank you, Arnavji. Now I need to give Nani her medicine and then put the kids to bed. I’ll be right back.”

“Khush—

But she was gone.

Dhruv looked at Arnav’s scowling face hearing him mutter. “What the hell am I supposed to do with her?”

“Dad, language!” He said, imitating what his parents usually told him when he used a naughty word.

“Sorry,” he said to him and to himself he said, “Why did I even think this was a good idea?”

“Did you want to plan a surprise for her?” Dhruv asked and Arnav gave a slight nod.

Arnav turned curious eyes to meet his son’s as the latter casually commented, “There’s a place she would never say no to.”

Two days passed and Arnav did not say a word about the vacation to her. And he was perfectly polite and civil to her. His laad governor behavior she could take but this was quite alarming.

“Are you angry?” Khushi broached later that night when she had settled in bed.

“Why would I be?” He said coolly and brushing back the covers on the bed, got in. He turned to his side, switched off the lamp and  tried to sleep. Reaching up, Khushi tugged at his T-shirt in an attempt to make him turn towards her, which he did. She reached her arms around his neck, drawing him closer.

“Ab theek hai,” she said kissing his neck and in spite of himself, Arnav grinned but caught himself before she could see.

“Are you going to keep scowling? It does look good on you but—

“Khushi, shut up. I know you’re trying to distract me.”

“I was doing no such thing. Even if I were trying, I don’t think it’s working anyway,” she retorted with a humph.

“It might if you did a better job of it. But you’re only getting on my nerves now.”

“Yeh laad governor wala chehra humein mat dikhana. Hum aapke nachane se naachne walon main se nahi hai, samhje aap? (Don’t show me this lord governor face. I am not one to dance to your tunes, you understand?)”

“Nahi ho? (Are you not?)” His brows rose in amusement as he sang in a low tone, “bheethar bheethar aag jale!”

And her hands immediately came up to cover his mouth, “Shh, Arnavji!”

He moved her hands away swiftly, “What happened? Does that remind you of something?”

Her lips curved into an embarrassed smile.

“Arnavji, I know you’re trying to plan something for our anniversary.”

“You had a problem when I didn’t remember it. And you have a problem when I try to take you away for a vacation?” He asked, his voice resonating with hurt. “You know most wives would readily switch places with you.”

“When did I say I’m not excited. It’s just that—

A knock sounded on their door followed by the crying voice of their daughter, “Amma, Papa, the door is locked.”

While Tara had loved the idea of having her own bed to sleep and sharing room with her bhai, she almost always ended up going to her parents’ room midway through the night.

Arnav sighed and jumped out of bed to open the door, “Hey, baby?” He cajoled, lofting her up and bringing her in and handing her over to her mother.

And the conversation was dropped.

The following morning, Payal caught Khushi aside and asked, “Khushi, Arnavji was saying you don’t want to go on a vacation with us. Why not?”

“What? You’re also going?” Khushi looked surprised. 

“Yes. Akash ji told me we will all go so I thought it will be fun.”

“And the kids?”

“Pagli. What are you asking? Of course, they’ll come with us. I thought we’ll have so much fun. Now that we are going to stay at sheesh Mahal. You love the place— 

“We’re staying at sheesh Mahal?”

Laad governor. He didn’t tell her anything! 

“Aapne bataya nahi we are not going alone. You could have told me Jiji and Jiju are coming and we’re taking the kids.”

Arnav gave a disinterested shrug, “Does it matter? I thought I matter enough to you for you to be convinced about going on a holiday with me.”

“Arnavji, I thought... when you said let’s go and have some fun...”

“You’re not the only one that loves the children, Khushi. I was only trying to prank you the other day. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong in us taking some time off. You’ve become so busy that you don’t have time for me anymore? Can there be no plans that includes only us?”

She stared at him, her eyes tearing up. She didn’t know why she was emotional. “It’s not that. You know you are my whole world. I don’t want you to think otherwise. How could you think that?”

“Khushi...”

“I just... It’s probably just me. I have never really left them since they were born. And Tara is only four. She still needs me to go to sleep. And Dhruv, he always comes running to me after school with all these stories...”

Arnav smiled softly as he watched her. This was his Khushi. Little things mattered to her more than anything. He knew her happiness was with him and yet it would never be complete without their children.

He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her softly on the lips. “We’re not leaving them, Khushi. I never intended to. Not this time at least...”

She smiled through her tears, “you’re not  upset with me?”

He shook his head in a no.

“Promise?”

He kissed her softly rubbing a finger down her cheek, “So, are we doing this?”

He looked at her face intently and saw quiet joy lit up the wide hazel of her eyes.

“Yes,” she whispered quietly just before his mouth covered hers.

Standing near the balustrade on the rooftop deck in Sheesh Mahal, Arnav looked in admiration at the majestic gardens where Khushi and their daughter kneeled, watering the flowers. He had a full time gardener in place to keep the gardens his mother had been so fond of, in pristine condition. And Tara, since the moment they had arrived earlier that day had been fascinated by it. The mother-daughter duo, so similar to each other, seemed to be having an intense conversation where Khushi was telling her something and her little head was bobbing, listening to whatever her mother was saying with apt concentration.

His son, who people said could have been his identical twin had they been of the same age, had just ridden off on his new bike that he drove everywhere in and out of the estate. Arnav chuckled to himself remembering how he had tried so hard to explain that he may not be able to ride it well right away only to have him get on and fly.

If he had any reservations about visiting, he now knew it was pointless for he felt nothing but peace.

Later that evening, there was a small celebration held at the estate with all the family and the Guptas. A week ago when Dhruv had said Khushi would never say no to Sheesh Mahal, Arnav had been surprised. He would never have guessed it. It wouldn’t even be in the last place if he had prepared a list.

So he had asked, “why so?”

“Because that’s where she met you.”

Of course! But that’s not what he wanted to remember right now. Leave it to her to romanticize something that should be erased from history.

“She always says, the place is very special to her despite what memories it might hold. And when we go to stay with Nana and Nani, we always go there. But she wishes you’d come with her one day. Because you won’t as you don’t like the place for some reason she said I can know when I’m old enough.”

Arnav had been taken aback that she had mentioned it to Dhruv and not him. But then why would she?

He mentioned that to Khushi later that night as they took a stroll around the house after everyone else had retired and the kids had gone to sleep.

His wife tipped her face up to his, her eyes so full of emotions as she said, “Thank you for bringing me here...” but stopped seeing him shake his head. He took their clasped hands towards his mouth and gently kissed it and in a voice constricted with emotions, said, “Thank you for bringing me here and allowing me to make new memories. I didn’t even realize I needed it.”

She smiled, tightening her hands convulsively on his and turned her face, “Happy anniversary, Arnavji.”

“Happy anniversary, Khushi,” he said and in a flash, swept her up in his arms.

She squealed in surprise, “Arnavji, what are you doing?”

“Something I should have done ten years ago when you fell right into my arms. Or when you told me that even if I was writing my own destiny, it must be Devi Mayya who was holding my hand. Fool that I was, I refused to believe in miracles then.”

“So now you believe in miracles?” She persisted as he walked towards the house.

“I had to.”

“Acha, why?”

“After the way we met and after everything I have done, I sometimes cannot believe that we are here now. Khushi, I was lucky to have had an incredible family even after I lost my parents.  But you... you loved me when I didn’t love me. When I gave you no reason to. You have given me hope and two wonderful children. You represent goodness, love and every happiness I have ever known...”

His words filled her with so much contentment that Khushi thought she would burst with it. Arnav looked into the infinite depths of her eyes where he saw only sweet love and glee and he said, “this right here is my miracle...”