Chapter 54

The next few days went off normally in RM till one morning the door bell rang. Khushi who was coming down went to open the door as no one was present in the hall. A man gave an envelope to Khushi and left. She opened the envelope and after going through the papers, she squealed so loud that every member of the house came out.

Anjali who had come out pushing Dadi's wheel chair enquired: "What happened Khushiji..? Why did you scream...?"

Arnav coming down: "What happened Khushi..? Any problem..?"

Mami: "What has happened..? Why did you shout so loud to disturb my beauty sleep..?"

Akash: "Yes Bhabi... what happened..?"

Khushi: "If only you all allow me then only I will tell..."

Arnav: "Say now..."

Without answering anyone she went to Payal and hugged her tight taking her by surprise. It was the first time after marriage that she was hugging her, Payal was confused to why Khushi was hugging her and wanted to push her away but since everyone was present she said sweetly: "What happened Khushi..? Why are you..?"

Khushi had forgotten all her resolve to stay away from Payal in the excitement and still hugging her said: "I am so happy Jiji... Congratulations..."

Mami: "Hello Hi Bye Bye... Why are you congratulating khoon bhari tang...?"

Khushi left Payal and hugging Mami said: "Because... Mamiji you are going to be a Dadi... I am so happy..."

Everyone's face lighted with smile and Mami both surprised and excited: "Really... I am going to be a Dadi... My Arnav bitwa is going to be a father..."

Anjali as usual wiping her tears: "Oh my god..!! I am going to be a bua... my chote and Khushiji's baby... (hugging Dadi) ... Dadi... you are going to be a par dadi now..."

Akash hugged Arnav who was confusingly looking at Khushi as he had never expected this news... a couple days back Khushi was saying no to having a baby and now all of a sudden... he was not able to understand.

Nani hugging Khushi: "I am so happy Bitiya... I can't tell you how happy I am..."

Khushi tried to say something but was taken into a hug by someone or other and was not able to speak, but finally she managed to say: "You all are thinking wrong... actually... it is Akashji who is going to be a father... Jiji is pregnant... (showing them a paper) ... the hospital person just delivered her report... she is a month pregnant."

Everyone together: "WHAT..!!"

Khushi: "Yes. That is what I was trying to say."

Nani walked to Payal and hugging her said: "Congratulations Bitiya... I am very happy that a new member will be coming home... my Akash Bitwa will be becoming a father... Stay happy... and take care of yourself."

Anjali: "In this case too I am becoming a bua..." Hugging Muskaan "...Did you hear dear, you are going to be elder sister of two kids... your Akash Mama is soon going to be Papa... isn't it nice?"

Muskaan too happy to get two younger siblings nodded her head vigorously. Arnav, NK and Mamaji congratulated Akash and he forcibly smiling in return walked off from there. No one in their excitement noticed it except Khushi. The whole day everyone kept on giving tips to Payal to take care of herself and Khushi asked her to rest and not to worry a bit about the household chores as she will look after everything.

Later in their room Khushi talked to Arnav. "Arnavji, I think there is something not right in the relationship between Akashji and Jiji... they..."

Arnav: "What not right..? Why do you think so..?"

Khushi: "Didn't you notice... Akashji didn't seem happy as he should have been... I mean he is going to be a father for the first time... there was something odd about his behaviour..."

Arnav: "He was happy... I didn't feel anything odd in his behaviour."

Khushi: "Okay... you tell me what would you have done if you would have come to know that you are becoming a father...?"

Arnav smirked at her and pulling her close huskily whispered in her ears: "I would have pulled you close and kissed you..." he was about to kiss her but Khushi pushed him. "Jab dekho tab suru ho jate hain..."

Arnav: "What..!! You asked what I would have done... I was letting you know..."

Khushi: "Arnavji... you would have been very happy... isn't it... you would have stayed there to share your happiness with everyone... but Akashji just left from there... without even saying a word to anyone..."

Arnav: "You know him Khushi... he is very shy... and..."

Khushi: "I don't think it has got to do anything with his shyness... there is something seriously wrong in their relationship..."

Arnav: "But... Ya... it might be because of the way the Guptas behaved with you and Muskaan... and you know how attached Akash is to Muskaan... probably that is why..."

Khushi: "But that is past Arnavji... and we all have seen how much Jiji cares about Muskaan... and even Buaji had said sorry to Muskaan... so why to hold on to the past... if that is the reason, then he needs to get off it... if not for anyone else then for his own baby atleast..."

Arnav: "Hmm... you are right... but don't worry. We should give them some time and if things don't improve then I will talk to him. Okay..?"

Khushi nodded and hugged Arnav resting her head on his chest. "I hope everything becomes fine."

In Akash's room, he was sitting on the bed confused when Payal came and sat beside him. "What are you thinking Akashji..? Thinking about our baby..? I am so happy that we are going to be parents..."

Akash screamed: "STOP... I SAID STOP... You know it very well Payal, we don't share the relationship of a normal husband and wife... and then how come this baby..."

Payal was now in tears because of the shock and the accusing tone of Akash: "What do you mean Akashji...? I agree we don't share a normal husband wife relationship... but did you forget what happened between us on holi day... (holding her tummy) ...this is the result of that... if you don't want the baby then..."

Akash too had felt bad the way he had talked to her and when she said about him not wanting the baby he said in hurry: "NO... I didn't mean that... take care of the baby. I don't want anything happening to my child because of your carelessness." Saying he left the room.

Payal sat down on the bed holding her stomach and crying. "Your Papa loves you dear... but he doesn't love me... don't know what to do so that he too begins to love me the same way that he used to before."

A month later, a very happy Arnav came into RM and not caring about who was around hugged Khushi, shocking her and making others smile except Shyam who had just returned from the trip.

Arnav kissing her forehead: "Thanks Khushi... you did it..."

Khushi embarrassed with him hugging and kissing her before the family moving out of the hug: "What did I do...?"

Arnav: "We got the project... AR construction got the project... your design was the best."

Akash who had come behind Arnav said: "Bhabi... you did it... I had no idea that you are such a great architect... I am proud of you Bhabi... hats off to you."

Khushi too happy to believe that her design had worked and they have got the project, tear beaming in her eyes said: "You... got... the... project... really...?"

Akash: "Yes Bhabi... you know all the other companies who had applied had no chance before your model... You know when Bhai said that you will be designing the model; I was not sure that you will be able to do it... but Bhai trusted you and now see the result... AR got the project... and once this project it completed AR construction will be the No.1 construction company of India."

Shyam who had felt as if he had drunk a glass of bitter juice seeing Arnav hug Khushi before him said: "What are you talking about Saale Sahab...? What did Khushiji design...?"

Dadi not liking Shyam talking in between her children said: "Chote, what did Khushi Bitiya design..? What model..?"

Arnav walked up to her and hugging and sitting beside her said: "Dadi, AR construction had to apply for a very big project but at the last moment the chief architect left the job... so we couldn't apply for it and the situation was so worse that we had to close AR construction... but that time Khushi came to our rescue... She is an architect and that too a very good one... which my whole team was not able to do in over a month... she did in a week and it is because of her that we have got the project..."

Dadi: "I am very happy... she is the perfect wife for you... when husband is in trouble the wife needs to rescue him and Khushi Bitiya did the same proving that she truly is your better half." She smiled at Khushi who came and sat beside her.

Anjali: "Chote... what are you saying..? Khushiji designed the model... I mean she an architect... but she... I mean..."

Arnav: "I know what you want to say Di... Khushi is an architect and passed with flying colors from one of the top universities of India... but she had to act like an uneducated girl because of some reasons... infact her actual name was Khushi Verma and she had to change her name to Khushi Kumari Gupta, so that she could get some odd job in Delhi."

Mamaji: "But why..? What was the reason..?"

This time Akash answered looking at Payal who was looking down with both anger and embarrassment: "It was because her Buaji feared that if people would come to know that Khushi Bhabi is more educated than Payal, then no one would agree to marry Payal and that is why they didn't even allow her to do the job as per her capability."

Mami: "Hello Hi Bye Bye... I have heard people converting uneducated person into educated ones... but Madhumati converted an educated girl into uneducated one... what sort of a person she is..?"

Anjali: "Anyways forget all that... the good news is AR got the project and that too for our Khushiji... this calls for a celebration."

NK: "You are right Di... we all should be going for a picnic... what say..?"

Mamaji: "This is a good idea..."

Akash: "No. Tomorrow there is a party at AR construction for getting this deal... We all need to be there."

Mami: "Party...!! ...need to go to the spa... make up kare ka padi... I will take appointment..." Saying she hurried off to her room.

The next day after the party, Khushi was sitting in her room drying her hair but her thoughts were at what had happened at the party. At the party venue all the Raizadas were present and so were all the staffs and share holders of AR construction. Arnav surprising everyone introduced Khushi as the new owner of AR construction, saying that it is only for her AR construction is still afloat and on its way to achieve the no.1 position. She came out of her thoughts when she felt two arms hugging her from behind.

Arnav: "What are you thinking..?"

Khushi: "Arnavji... can I ask you something..?"

Arnav: "Sure."

Khushi keeping the towel away: "Why did you make me the owner of AR construction..?"

Arnav rested his face on her shoulder and kissing her cheek said: "Because you deserve it... it is only for you that AR construction is still functional... I had decided to shut it down but you kept it afloat... so you are the actual owner..."

Khushi turned to face Arnav and said: "Look straight into my eyes and tell me, did the architect really left the job...? Were you really in problem...? Was the company really in danger..?"

Arnav not meeting her eyes: "Khushi... why...? the problem is solved... so... why...?"

Khushi holding his face and making him look at her. "Answer me Arnavji... I want to hear the truth."

Arnav inhaled deeply and said: "Khushi... you know that day when you told me about you being an architect I saw a longing in your eyes to pursue your career as an architect but you had lost you zeal... when I informed you about we applying for this project, I wanted to tell you that you will be the chief architect but... I couldn't because I knew if I tell you then you won't accept it... and that is why I thought of this plan... I knew you can never see me upset about something and I knew once you make that model your zeal will come back... and I trusted you... Akash wanted us to keep a back-up model so that we could apply if you fail to complete it... but I was confident that you will be able to it... so I didn't ask any architect to make the model... I was sure that with your model we will get the project."

Khushi with tears in her eyes and emotion chocking her voice: "You... trust... me so... much... I... don't know..."

Arnav: "I trust you more than I trust myself." Khushi hugged him and he said "Khushi, I want you to look after the project work completion."

Khushi: "I... don't have any experience... what if I do something wrong...?"

Arnav: "You won't... I know you will do everything right."

Khushi: "You will be there with me... won't you..?"

Arnav: "Always."

Khushi smiled: "By the way... I didn't know that you are such a good actor..."

Arnav: "But not as good as you..." Saying he took her lips for a passionate kiss.

Payal: "Yes Buaji... Khushi is now the owner of AR construction."

Buaji: "Hai re Nandkishore... first RM in the name of that Muskaan, now a company in Khushi's name... what will happen to you and your child...?"

Payal: "What do you mean Buaji..?"

Buaji: "Arnav has transferred the company in Khushi's name and the house in Muskaan's name... then when Anjali's baby will be born he will transfer some property to the child's name..? What will happen to Akash Babua..? He is too innocent... he considers Arnav and Anjali as his own siblings but they don't..."

Payal: "What to do Buaji..? Akashji is not listening to me... I am pregnant with his child... but instead of spending time with me, now he is with Muskaan... reading her bed time stories... I am really worried about my child's future."

Buaji: "You don't take tension... it is not good for you or the baby... we will think of something... it is already late... you sleep... we will talk later. Okay."

Payal: "Ji Buaji... Good night."

Shyam was pacing across the length and breadth of his room too angry... he couldn't tolerate the love between Arnav and Khushi... Khushi is supposed to be his and only he has right on her... how Arnav dare hug her, kiss her... he has no right... and how could Khushi respond with smile... he won't tolerate this.

Anjali came into the room with a cup of coffee and seeing Shyam pacing restlessly asked: "What happened Shyamji..? You seem so restless..."

Shyam: "Yes I am... how could Saale sahab transfer the whole company into Khushiji's name..?"

Anjali: "What was wrong in that...? Didn't you hear what Chote said... it is only because of Khushiji that AR construction got this project... and Khushiji is well capable, she will take care of the company and it will reach new heights."

Shyam: "But Rani Saheeba... Saale Sahab should have taken your opinion... you too are a director of AR group."

Anjali: "I am only a director Shyamji... but it was Chote who created and took AR to the position to where it is... and I have full trust on Chote, he will do what is good for the company."

Shyam: "But how can he transfer the whole company in someone else's name... if he wanted to transfer then he could have..."

Anjali cutting him: "What are you saying Shyamji..? Khushiji is not someone else... she is Chote's wife... the most important person in his life... don't you see how much he loves her."

Shyam: "But I thought you are the most important person in Saale sahab's life..."

Anjali: "I am his sister and I know that I am very important for him... but Khushiji is his life-partner... his better-half... she understands him much more than I do... and I am very happy that he has got Khushiji as his wife... she is perfect for him."

Shyam was now furious but still controlling himself said: "...but I still believe Saale sahab should not have made Khushiji the owner of..."

Anjali: "Shyamji... please... it is okay you said that before me but don't say anything before Chote... he will feel bad..." forwarding the cup to him said "Here, take your coffee... I am going to sleep and remember what I said... Good night." Saying she left the room and went to check on Muskaan before going to Dadi's room to retire for the day.

Shyam threw the cup in frustration and smirking evilly said: "I want the whole property of the Raizadas... won't let anyone take a penny out of it... and Khushiji... I will make you mine by hook or crook."