chapter 11

Shashi and Garima stood outside their hotel room where they had left Arnav and Khushi to speak to each other and try to clear out their issues. And just as they were about to knock on the door, the door opened and a crying Khushi came out shocking them both. She went past her parents towards the elevator to go downstairs and Shashi signaled garima that he was going to talk to her while she should check with Arnav.

.

.

Garima saw that Arnav was as disturbed as her daughter and that vulnerable look in his eyes made her heart go out to him. She had always admired Arnav as her son-in-law. However, she also remembered how his one accusation and his insecurities had caused her daughter so much pain and then his reckless act of taking aaradhya away had broken Khushi. So, she decided to ensure he understood the enormity of his actions,

“Arnav. I don't know what you both just discussed. But I will tell you one thing, no matter how big the issues are, taking a one-sided decision is never the right thing. And what you did, son, leaving like that, that almost took Khushi's life away. Three years, Arnav, she spent 3 miserable years without her child. I have seen her cry for nights, wet her pillows with her tears, her heart always restless to meet you two. She had no idea where you were living Arnav and there was no way to find you either. You had left no trace behind. How was it fair, son?”

Arnav closed his eyes; he had no answer. Yes, he had believed she didn't want them but then, he could have at least tried to reach out again...right? If they hadn't met today, how long would it have taken him to finally give into aaradhya demands and go visit khushi? And now, hearing about how Khushi pined after her child, their child and how he was the reason for that made him realize the magnitude of his one wrong decision. He had made a mistake. And even if he did apologize to her previously, he knew she won't forgive him.

"I am sorry, Ma- erm, aunty." he said, not sure if he could still address her as maa, "excuse me." saying so he left before he broke down.

--*--

“How do I move on from this papa? I have lived for past 3 years blaming Arnav, accusing him solely for what happened but now I realize it was not only him, I share that blame too. I didn't realize how harsh my words; my actions were for him. Family and love were his weak points papa, and I used exactly the same words against him. He even felt sui-suicidal papa. What if he -" she held her sob at that thought, "I would have never forgiven myself, Papa. And radha, my baby, that whole day I left her by herself. I was so angry that i didn't even think of her despite knowing she was dependent on me. How did I became so blind in anger?" Khushi kept saying, crying in her father's arms and Shashi let her, "Papa, Arnav, aaradhya, you all and I myself, we all suffered because of me too. What do I do now? How do I turn back the time?"

Shashi caressed her head slowly, her cries subsiding a little bit, “beta, we can't turn back the time, but we can start a new life from the moment we realize our mistakes. It is only normal for humans to make mistakes khushi, but what makes you a great person is accepting them and willing to work on them."

She looked at her papa with hope filled eyes, "You think so?"

"I know so. And Arnav has done it, khushi. You know, it takes a lot of courage to accept one’s mistakes and plead guilty. He has shown that. Now it's your turn. It also takes a huge heart to forgive the other person who has been regretting. Holding on grudges and carrying on with bitterness takes you nowhere. You both are lucky that you both love each other so much, still love each other so much and have given that place to no other. And you are also blessed with a sweet child called Aaradhya, she is the strong bond between you two, right? Do it for her beta, do it for you two, because you deserve this second chance. You both do."

--*--

Later that night:

Arnav was patting aaradhya’s head to put her to sleep, and at the same time wanted to prepare his baby girl for meeting her mother the next day,

“Radha, sweetheart, do you remember what papa told you about your mamma?” he asked gently, and an almost sleepy radha woke up with a squeal at the mention of her mamma

“Yes. You told me how we lost her in a big, big city long ago. She left your hand and we lost her in the crowd in there, hai na?” she asked innocently, reiterating the story he had told her in a way to summarize what had caused her mother to be away from her. They indeed had lost her in that city!

Arnav smiled at his baby, “yes sweetheart. But turns out, it was not mamma who left our hand, it was papa who didn’t hold her hand tight enough.” he said, confessing his 'crime' to his baby girl.

“Oh.” Aaradhya said, looking down sadly.

“hmm. But baby, you know she has been looking for us, for you! And guess what, she has found us.” He broke the news, caressing her hair and watching with happiness as her face illuminated with abundant joy at that information.

“Really papa? Where is she? Why didn’t she come to our house? Did you lose her again?” she bombarded him with her innocent questions

“NO baby! you won't lose her again. In fact, you already met her. Do you remember how someone saved you from that car yesterday?”

Aaradhya gasped, “That sweet aunty!” she said

“Yes. She is your mamma who found you and saved you just in time. And she is just as excited to meet you again. We will go meet her tomorrow, ok?”

“Why tomorrow? Let’s go abhi(now)! Pls papa?” she pleaded

“radha, sweetie, it’s so late now and you don’t need to see mamma in sleepy state right? Let’s get rise-n-shiny; fresh and ready tomorrow and papa will take you there first thing in the morning.” he said, trying to keep his voice even to hide his emotions. And for what he had in mind after his talk with Khushi earlier that day, he needed to keep his emotions in check. No more messing up!

“yay!” she said, jumping to hug him and arnav engulfed his baby to his arms.

‘you will not lose anything else because of me anymore khushi.’ He said to himself and sometime much later that night, sleep caught his tired body.

--*--

‘I will be there around 8 with Aaradhya. Meet you at your hotel?’ Arnav's text came and Khushi replied the next minute in agreement. She was eager to meet her child and him. She had decided to do her part of clearing out her thoughts about their marriage and he deserved to know them.

.

.

And soon he reached there. They had decided to meet at the restaurant at ground floor of the hotel and Khushi was waiting at one table. As soon as she saw Arnav enter there, she stood up in anticipation. Her palms felt sweaty in nervousness of her child's reaction to see her after so many years...she hadn't even properly looked at Aaradhya yesterday, or maybe she could not have enough of seeing her baby...

Her eyes started looking for aaradhya.

And there, stepping from behind Arnav, holding his hand, was her baby. Aaradhya looked at her mamma curiously and then as she felt Khushi's unwavering affectionate gaze on her, she shied and hid behind her papa’s legs!

Khushi smiled at her gesture and extended her arms, calling her baby to her, something she used to do when radha had barely learnt to walk and khushi would sit at a distance then call her and a 1-year-old radha would run to her with her wobbly steps.

Not much unlike that, Aaradhya indeed ran to her mother’s arms with that subtle encouragement and Khushi engulfed her in her embrace...

Shashi and Garima who were standing at some distance away, felt their eyes water at this reunion of mother and daughter.

Khushi hugged her baby to her heart’s content and after many minutes, pulled her slightly away to look at her angelic face. Feeling overwhelmed with having her baby back to herself, she kissed radha’s forehead, just like she did when a newborn Aaradhya was handed to her soon after her birth!

"Mamma?" aaradhya tentatively said, and then khushi started crying once again!

.

.

Arnav watched them with a heavy heart. These two meant so much to him. No, these two meant everything to him. He had thought he had lost Khushi. But turns out his insecurities were big enough to make him push her away... and thus, separate his child from her mother.

Not anymore.

With that determination, he walked near the mother-daughter duo. By then, radha had told khushi how much she missed her and khushi in return showered her baby with kisses and hugs! After many minutes, when he let them have their fill of each other, he cleared his throat to gain Khushi's attention.

He had to do this.

"Khushi? Can we talk for a few minutes?" he asked and she slowly stood up, nodding her head. She herself wanted to talk to him, so she let him start.

“khushi, I thought a lot and realized my mistakes are indeed too big for you to forgive me. In fact, it is unfair of me to expect you to do so." He said and she looked at him listening to his words. This time, she wanted him to open up fully before she reacted in any way. They needed to do this, hear each other out completely and then 'react'.

Seeing her calm, he continued, "While I can’t correct other mistakes, I can rectify this one of separating you two. So, I am giving Aaradhya back to you, returning you what is yours.”

Khushi still didn't say anything. So, this is what he decided as their future, going by her reaction from yesterday. She waited for him to say anything else...

He then bent to Aaradhya’s level who was looking confused between her parents, “radha, sweetheart, remember what I told you last night? Do not give trouble to your mamma. Be like a good girl, ok?”

“But papa where are you going?” Aaradhya asked, confused. Arnav quickly wiped the corners of his eyes to stop the tears that were forming fast.

“Papa made a mistake baby. So, he has to stay away now.” saying so, he took a step back lest he felt weak.

And then, told Khushi, “I have told her that it was me who was responsible for your separation, Khushi. And trust me, she loves you a lot. Take care of her and you- yourself. bye.” he said, doing his best to stay strong. And saying so he turned to leave.

Khushi took a deep breath. Well, there was a lot of work to do here. But before she could say anything, she felt radha tug at her hand, “Mamma, please, stop papa. He said sorry right? Why is he leaving?"

Khushi didn't need any more reasons to do what she had decided anyway,

“Arnav ruko(wait).” she called him

Arnav stopped surprised and turned to face them, in fact hopeful that she wanted to stop him, and maybe take him back?

“Where are you going?” she asked, from the place where she stood.

He looked a bit confused at first and then composed himself, “I will be staying here only Khushi. at least for now.”

She walked towards him, leaving radha near her parents, “How will you live without radha?” she asked.

Oh. So, she was worried if he will do something silly to his life, “Don’t worry I will not harm myself.” he said with mirthless chuckle.

She glared at him but didn't say anything. He sighed and again turned to go, and her voice once again stopped him, “wait Arnav.’

He stood still but didn’t turn back. Why was she doing this, damn it? Making it so hard for him? He just couldn’t do this. Keep looking at the two people who were his world and yet, make himself go away from them. He was not that strong!

“You said you are returning everything that is mine. But you still haven’t returned everything Arnav. You still have something that belongs to me.” she said, as this time, she reached next to where he was...she had taken steps towards him!

She kept her hand on his shoulder, and made him face her, “I want my husband back, Arnav. You are taking him away and I believe he belongs to me. I want him, I want you!”

She said and looking at his tear-filled, dumbfounded yet obviously happy face, she hugged him tightly!

He did not need to hear anything else. Honestly, her one word of wanting him back was enough for him to go back to her, hold her in his arms again...and he did! Like two people who were kept away from a moment of peace for centuries, they held on to each other, seeking the same peace, same solace they always had in each other's arms.

But then, a scary thought stuck in his mind, and he pulled slightly away, cupping her hair over her neck, “But Khushi, what if I mess up again?”

She smiled through her tears. How did she really end up with this adorably confused mass of a man? But she knew the kind of baggage they had, and he had, would take a lot of time to go. Yet, she needed to clear something to him right away, something she wanted to say from the moment she realized her share of mistakes,

“Arnav, I want you to listen to me and trust me when I say this. What happened between us 3 years ago, it was not just you Arnav, I messed up too. I had reacted in a very immature and heartless manner." she said, as he gently started wiping her tears from her eye, that made her cry some more at his gesture, "Leaving you and radha that day and not coming back anytime sooner, was my biggest mistake and then, saying all those horrible things to you. I wish I could take them back." she said, closing her eyes. And then feeling him kiss her forehead opened her eyes again, "I am sorry Arnav" she said.

"But from now on, we both will be more careful and if one makes mistakes, the other will try to be patient with them ok?” she said, looking at the man who was her husband and she really wanted to make things work with him.

“Ok.” He said smiling through tears, “Because I really don’t want to lose you again.”

“You won't. We are done being stupid*. So, this is it. You and me and our baby.” she said, cupping his face as he mirrored her actions.

By then a gleefully crying Garima and Shashi walked closer to the duo along with Aaradhya.

“And if you both do made mistakes, I and Garima are here to ensure that you are brought on track. What are we here for?” Shashi said and Garima nodded making them all chuckle, the tensed atmosphere from a few minutes ago, made more lighter.

“And I will hold both of your hands tightly, so neither of you is lost again” Aaradhya said innocently, holding their hands with her tiny ones. And they looked at her with their hearts swelling in love and pride for their little one who was indeed a strong tie between them!

.

.

“I am not planning to move back to Mumbai, Khushi.” He said sometime later, as the family was done with their brunch and radha was spending time with shashi and garima, leaving arnav and khushi alone to discuss on few important things. Living arrangements being one!

“I won’t force you to, Arnav. I just want to be with you and Radha, wherever you stay.” She said, truthfully.

“khushi, you understand, that this means being away from your family, right?”

“My family is here Arnav, with you and Radha. So no, it does not mean staying away from my family, it means staying with my family.” her answer got a grateful smile from him and together, they started discussing about the new beginning that awaited them.

--*--

A/N – and that’s the curtain closer! I will upload epilogue soon; here itself unlike past stories of this book where I uploaded epilogues on my blog. Epilogue will close the loose ends around shyam’s redemption, nishant’s future and of course, arnav-khushi-aaradhya’s life in snippets! But yeah, please do leave your wonderful comments about this finale and if it gave you a sense of closure for this very special story. Thanks ❤

*- my fav dialogue of ross-rach from the finale episode of theirs when she got off the plane!

your reaction

5

nice

2

awesome!

9

loved

0

lol

0

omg

0

cry