Chapter 1

A sharp jolt of pain crossed her abdomen and Khushi clutched it tightly. I am never going to have hopeless expectations of a man who can never meet them, because they surely lead way to unhappiness. Way better to stay independent and free of emotional pain. Thinking she caressed her baby bump. Only for you baby.

But then another sharp pain caughter. It was so strong that she had to stand still and cling to the railing of her bedpost. She realized she was in labour when the contractions became regular.

She tried to remain calm and time the contractions. Now call the hospital. Gasping she picked her phone.

'Come in now.. Who is with you..?' answered the voice at the other end.

'On my way..' replied Khushi.

*****

When she checked into the birthing suite at the hospital the nurse lay her on the bed and checked for her blood pressure.

'Is the father of the baby on the way Miss Gupta..?'

'No.' Khushi shook her head. 'He is out of town.'

'Does he know you are in labour?'

She thought about him seeing her like this. She wondered how her fate had brought them together. Hadn't she told him that she was independent and didn't actually need him? Well, it wasn't just a bluster' she'd meant it.

Khushi shook her head again. 'He doesn't know.'

'I can ask someone to call him and''

Her voice tailed off as Khushi shook her again. Biting her bottom lip she barked 'I don't want him here.'

She watched a look of disapproval cross the face of the nurse and also the doctor who had just entered the suite. Another pain came and it was so powerful that all the thoughts faded and she stopped wondering if she was being judged for her morals.

Hours passed by and she felt disoriented. Only her contractions and pain brought her back to reality. She tried to remember what she'd learnt in her antenatal classes and tried to bring them to practice. She paced across the room, tried not to gasp and breathe in deep. But the pain was so sharp this time that she yelped and the nurse announced that she crossed her first stage.

'I don't damn care about the stage. Just get this bloody baby out now..!' shouted Khushi.

The commotion at the door calmed her for a minute and she struggled to concentrate on the task that was laid for her right now. Safe and sound delivery. But she was damn sure that she had heard that unmistakable husky voice. She eyed through the transparent glass partition on the door and saw him. Of course it had to be him. How could she go wrong. That voice that had brought her to him like a moth to fire, still clinged into the pit of her stomach as if he'd touched her. Oh that touch. How could she even forget that? It was the result of that which she was going through. Not that she regretted it. In fact she had cherished and loved every moment of it. So did she love her baby. Her baby.

The day she had discovered that she was pregnant with his child she had made up her mind that she would not let him know about it. But when he had found out that his friend, his best friend was pregnant, he had reached up to her. He knew he was the father undoubtedly, because he knew he was the only man in her life, even though it had been for a night only. He had offered her marriage and she had straight away denied it. She did not want him to repent the sympathy that he was showing her then. As she knew though she loved him he never did. So she had told him that she was independent and didn't need him.

Her flashes of memory dazed as she heard the nurse asking her if she could let that man in. 'A man is requesting to see you right now. He says he is the father. His name is..' Before the nurse could complete her sentence Khushi screamed in pain and the door jolted open. She looked across the door to see him. He stood there. All tall and strength. Was it only her or if really his all powerful shoulders looked a little tensed. She din't have the strength to analyse it that moment.

Croaking 'Let him in.', she closed her eyes and next she realized was her hand clasped in his and his other hand on her forehead brushing a lock of her hair covered in sweat.

'I am here now,' he simply said.

'Is that supposed to make me feel better?'

'I hope it might.'

His words made her feel bad for reasons unknown. 'Rubble, I don't want to make ''

Rubble. How unique his name sounded from her mouth. He had heard it after so many months that he realized that he had actually forgotten his nick name. Khushi always called his first name. But whenever the strong and stubborn headed her was vulnerable, she called him by childhood name.

'Shh. I doesn't matter. I am here and that is all that matters.'

'It'hurts.' she whispered.

'Then hold on to me. As tight as you like. Hurt me if that makes you feel better.'

A faint smile curved up her lips as she realized her stupid friend trying to make talks so that she relaxed. She told herself that it was stupid of her to cling to him and cling so tight that he would never let her go. All her thoughts melted away as she felt her body shudder in pain. Her baby reminding her to think of it and its father at the moment.

'I am scared.' She puffed.

'Don't worry nothing is going to go wrong. Remember what you had told me how it was going to be.' He blew air on her forehead to cool her temperature. 'A perfectly natural procedure that women have been going through since the beginning of time.'

'Had I really said that?' She wondered. She wondered had she really sounded so stupidly confident then; when now she was such a bundle of nerves. God let this time pass quickly. She prayed.

He'd asked her about her decision. She'd wanted the baby, that she had made it clear to him. He had insisted that he was scared for her and she needed him at the delivery. She'd refused to budge saying "It is a perfectly natural procedure that women have been going through since the beginning of time."

Removing his coat and slumping it down on the floor carelessly he jerked his head in approval. When he took her hand again he felt her nails dug even deeper in his skin.

'Khushi I have something to tell. I know I am'I don't know how to put it'but'' he smiled sheepishly and dug his head for words that he did been practicing for weeks now but felt every damn thing had vanished off his head.

'Is that'really necessary?' Khushi shouted.

'Hmmm'Kind off'actually...its urgent'

'To hell with you and your urgency''

'It won't take much time'just two mins''

'You have already wasted enough time' I am in labour'incase you have forgotten''

'Khushi.I.LOVE.YOU..!' He shouted sensing the need to hurry and waited for an answer.

The doctor smiled at the lovely and nervous to-be-parents. The nurses watched the conversation as if they were witnessing a tennis match and the words were like a ball beaten across the net from one end to the other.

'I want to push!'

'What..? What kind of an answer is that..?'

'You heard me right dumbo. I.WANT.TO.PUSH!' and she slumped her head back on to the pillow.

He glanced at the doctor and she nodded. 'Then push sweetheart. Push with all the might. Think I am before you and you are kicking me for my stupid acts like old times.'

'Arrgh'!'

He felt helpless while she was writhed. Frustration washed over his face to see her in such pain. All he could do was smooth her hair and dab cool water on her forehead. That calmed her, but only for a moment.

The moment around them became brisk. If anything he could register was the slow motion movements of the doctor and nurses. He was slightly aware when the doctor tapped his shoulder to grab his attention. He moved his gaze from Khushi's face to look at her.

'Do you want to see your baby being born, Mr?'

He looked up at Khushi again and she nodded to approve. At first he had thought that she would disapprove, that she would deny him the right to baby. But she didn't. He was thrilled at the thought of seeing the baby and moved from her side. She closed her eyes again and screwed up her face to fierce concentration.

What appeared to be in slow motion suddenly became urgent. Khushi gave an almighty push and his breathe was caught in his throat as he saw a dark slick of hair appear. He felt his heart beat as he saw a bruised baby, all bloodied, yawn. Somebody announced 'It's a boy!'

As if on their own accord his hands cradled. The doctor put the baby in his arms as they cut the cord. He felt he could barely breathe. Tears threatened at the back of his eyes as he eyed his baby. His baby. His son. So tiny and fragile. Just like his Khushi.

He silently mouthed 'Thank you' and Khushi passed him a weak smile.

Was it just him or did he actually see a glimpse of his own when he eyed his son. The infant barely minutes old glared at him with the same famous ferocious eyes like his father. He moved to his son's ear and whispered 'Welcome to the world Junior.'

The nurse took the baby to clean him before placing him to Khushi's breast, where he began to suckle, eyes all fixed on his mother, as if they did known each other forever. He watched silently as Khushi touched a finger on his smooth cheek and passed him a smile which the Junior returned similarly. In that moment he realized that he never wanted her as much as he felt now. Of course the father in him was a tad bit jealous to see the unique bonding between the mother and son.

'Are you going to stare all day from far or will you make a move?' Khushi asked in a low voice, her gaze still fixed on her son.

'Ah'What?'

'Your son wants to be introduced to you'

Khushi buttoned her gown and placed her son on her lap as he slowly moved to her. Next she took his hand and put it in her son's tiny palm.

'Junior'This is your father'' She passed another secretive smile and Junior's eyes twinkled. It was then that he realized that his son although possessed his eyes the twinkle was defiantly his mother's gift to him.

'Khushi'He is like a baby lizard! Zees'

'Arnav'Shut up'' Saying she hit his arm playfully.

*****

A month later'

Khushi watched all amused as ASR was in deep concentration to finish his task. She smiled as his hands moved in complete professional attire. He was such a natural with his son. 'Arnav'I never thought I did see you change nappy someday.'

'Not a big deal for ASR, Khushi.' Arnav smiled as he finished the last bit of padding up and kissed Junior's forehead before putting him in the cradle. Tapping a finger on his nose 'Right Junior.' Junior only cooed at his father's confidence and chuckled.

Khushi rolled her eyes and walked to the two men in her life.

'What are you going to name him Khushi?'

'We'we are going to name him Arnav.'

Arnav's eyes suddenly teared up. Did he exactly hear what he thought he did. Slowly Khushi went on her knee and took his hand in hers and smiled.

'Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada'Will you give me the pleasure and honour to share your surname?'

'Excuse me? Are you proposing to me?' Arnav wondered.

'I think I did!'

'But it should have been me doing that. That is what the law of nature says, isn't it?'

'It naturally does. But we are different. We are unique.'

'Are you sure about it Khushi?'

'Never been so sure in my life about anything. Now you better give me the answer and answer fast because my knee hurts. And it better be a positive reply or get ready to face being clawed!'

'The pleasure is all mine sweetheart!' Her lips curved in the broadest stretch that he had ever seen. He pulled her into his embrace and twirled her off her feet.

'Arnav'Put me down!'

Arnav steadied her on her feet. 'What changed your mind?'

'About what?' asked Khushi as she fixed her hair which had messed in the twirl.

'About the proposal. I'd asked you twice and you had denied. Now how?'

'The moment you came to the labour room I had decided it then and there. I knew you came there for your responsibility. But your presence told me it was love.' Khushi kissed his knuckles. 'I am glad I din't answer then as it would show my vulnerability. But now there is no such thing. It is only about us now.'

'Khushi'I'' For the first time ever in his life Arnav Singh Raizada was rendered speechless.

'Now that Junior and me have tested you for over a month, we both have decided that we are incomplete without you as you are without us.' Khushi chuckled as tears jabbed at her eye lids.

Arnav moved his hands and cupped her face. 'I.LOVE.YOU.KHUSHI!' He punctuated each word kissing her tears.

'I LOVE YOU TOO ARNAV!' and she jumped in his embrace. Junior was very smart as he din't want the need to disturb his parent's cozy moment. He yawned as he saw his father whisper something in his mother's ear and his mother playfully hit his father's arm. 'Silly Adults!' He thought and drifted off to sleep.

*****

A year later'

Dear Adults/Friends,

With an immense pleasure Let me take the honour to invite you for a special dinner and dance on the occasion of my amazing and lovely parents Mrs Khushi and Mr Arnav Singh Raizada's first wedding anniversary. Your presence is highly appreciated.

Yours faithfully and handsome (no doubt)

Aarav Singh Raizada

*****

ARUSHI: Kya khayal hai..? Acchha lage toh like zaroor karna.. Aur bohot acchha lage toh comment toh banta hai boss 😉