Chapter 12

The Morning After The Night Before

Chapter 12

"Arnav"

"Khushi let me sleep"

Two minutes later Arnav rolled over onto his side propped himself up on one arm and looked down at her -he could stare at her all day .

"What do you want ?"

" Surely that question should be the other way round, Khushi you woke me up" but there was laughter in his voice as he spoke .

"I have an appointment at 12.00 today for an ultrasound -would you like to come?"

Arnav thought about it for a couple of minutes

"Do you want me to come or do you feel that you have to ask me because you have to ask me ?"

Khushi open her mouth several time to say something but then closed it again.

"I would like you to be there"

Arnav got up and then bent down "I'd had better get to work early as I have to re jig my day- I'll be there and thank you for asking me" he bent down and took a long slow kiss.

Khushi smiled as he left. She wanted him there, not out of duty or obligation because he wanted to be there. She had noticed they took every opportunity to touch each other, kiss. He supported her in everything she wanted to do against his family. Going to work had been one of them. Nani wanted her at home to rest and not exert herself. Mami wanted her at home to make her life miserable. Anjali wanted her at home so she could have company for her pooja's.

She missed him when he wasn't there. He made her smile , she enjoyed their conversations ,she liked his touch and their kisses- she blushed just thinking what his kisses did to her. He stomach knotted her heart raced, the hair on the back of her neck stood up on end. She could break out in a cold sweat just thinking about them. She got out of bed just as Arnav cane out from the shower . She looked at him and her heart did a little flip , without realising what she was doing she ran her hands along his chest caressing his chest and then ran her hands along his back as she nestled into him .

Initially he stood as still as a rock with a sharp intake of breath his heart was racing and his body was responding to her touch as hard as he tried to control it. He was as hard as he could be. Discreetly he tried to disentangle himself from her. Khushi looked up and pulled his face down to hers .

Arnav gave up trying to hide what his traitorous body was doing - he was a lost cause when it came to her -his body had a mind of its own.

"Khushi we have to stop now ! or there will be no stopping"

Khushi looked up at him her eyes glazed with passion -she wanted him as much as he wanted her. They definitely had chemistry on their side. But he wanted the whole package . He wanted her to love him for him, not because he was just the baby's father and her husband.

Khushi stepped back and they each took a deep breath . Arnav turned round and went back to the bath room leaving a very confused Khush.

"Where are you going ?"

"A cold shower -very cold shower!" as she heard him call back.

It was much later on in the day Khushi was bursting to go to the loo, but she had to wait .

"Arnav that doctor had better hurry up or else I'll wet myself - who invented the ultrasound technique you have to have a full bladder for the baby to be seen and then they come along and squash you -that's just stupid!"

"Khushi stop! It won't be long - stop fretting"

Arnav thought to himself it was a stupid technique but that wouldn't help her- she needed a distraction to help her.

"Khushi I have a trip planned later tonight and I won't be back till Sunday -fancy coming along and keeping me company"

"NO!"

"What ? Why?" he hadn't expected such a quick firmative negative response.

"No more helicopter rides for me- do you remember the last one !"

Arnav looked at Khushi and they both laughed.

"I'm not flying -it's only an hour by car"

"Mrs Raizada"

Khushi was called in it was her turn .

Khushi lay there watching waiting the woman droned on about nothing -pressure, discomfort , perfectly safe -all Khushi could think of was hurry up i need to go to the toilet. She stopped pressing a perplexed look crossed her face "Nothing to worry about I'll just get the doctor "

Khushi almost felt her heart stop , she stopped breathing every negative thought flew through her head -what was wrong with her baby ? Something wasn't right. The way she left.

Similar emotions were mirrored in Arnav.

Khushi looked up at him her eyes filled with worry and fear. In a second he was by her side holding her hand, placing a reassuring kiss on the top of her head. "Khushi don't worry - it will be ok -I'm here nothing is going to happen -just relax -it's routine to get a doctor before she can give a confirmed diagnosis -after all this is a Raizada -Gupta baby "

Khushi looked up at him tears brimming threatening to fall.

Arnav thought to himself where was that bloody doctor she should have been here from the start -he would be sorting out all future appointments it would not be down to Khushi to sort out. How dare they worry them like this. He would be sorting this out later . He hated this feeling -he couldn't do anything for her -he was helpless -he was no longer in control. In his world he was in control. He was used to manipulating everything to suit him. People treated him like god. Everything ran like a well oiled machined -he never had to wait on people he always knew the outcome -since he had met Khushi-his life had been turned upside down -he was no longer in control. He was reliant on someone else -he was in love with her. She had somehow become the epicentre of his world. He would do anything for her.

Khushi saw the anger rising in his eyes she felt the tension in his body. She was learning to read his unsaid response his words didn't reflect what his eyes were saying or what his body told her. Somehow just him being here was reassuring comforting , she felt safe with him. Nothing could harm her. She looked up at him she was in love with , it hadn't been a lightning bolt just something that had quietly crept up on her he had wormed his way in insidiously, by his gentle caring and patience he showed her. It was the little things he did for her that made her heart soar. It wasn't the ring or jewellery he had bought her -but the channa , her drink ,the messages , the way he held her .

She was in love with him. However they had come together she was his ,she loved him. She felt the panic rising in him -he was no good at waiting. She was worried , so was he. She scuttled over and sit up .

"Arnav"

He sat on the corner and she leant against him. His arms started to go round her to pull her into him. Then he felt it cold slimy the gel. His hand withdrew as fast as it could .

"That will teach you to try and feel me up Mr Raizada" Khushi laughed to break the tension that was escalating in the room.

She grabbed a tissue wiped his hand and kissed his palm . Arnav felt the the warmth of her velvet lips send a electric shock through him . He pulled her towards him with his arm across the front of her shoulders and whispered "If I want to feel you up I will ,I won't try and hide it !" with that his his hand slipped to caress her breast and gently spoke in her ear . " Like this !" and then laid a soft kiss on the side of her neck.

Just then then a doctor entered with the technician "Arnav don't worry we are in this together"

"Sorry Khushi - I got held up"

"Hi Sheena - I had wondered why you weren't here"

"We have met you probably don't remember me ,Arnav. Let's get you flat Khushi so I can have a look. Arnav I was at your gun shot wedding. I'm surprised that you survived the meeting with uncle and that you lived to be here. I was sure when Khushi told me you would be sliced and diced and served to the vultures for breakfast. So you must be special for him to let you live!"

"Sheenu Shut UP! Focus ! Tell me what the P*** is wrong , why did your colleague give me the death stare and leave "

"Language ! Khushi Kumar Gupta!"

"Singh Raizada !"

"You will be always be Khushi to me -changing you surname is not going to change you !"

"Sheenu ! What the F*** is wrong ?"

"Arnav don't worry , I'll wash her mouth out with soap -later -she never swears only at me because she loves me !"

"Sheenu you will soon be dead !"

She turned the monitor to them " look"

Sheenu showed them a screen full of black and white dots then a really clear outline a sac and a little alien type of image in there .

"Now look"

A second sac with another funny looking alien.

"Keep looking"

Another sac appeared.

"That's why you have been so sick Khushi- you are gonna have triplets! Three for the price of one. From what I can tell they are all perfect and growing at the same rate for the present. Right i'm going to leave you both alone together for a while. Let you get over the shock "as she looked at two stunned and speechless individuals " I'll be back to discuss this with you with another member of my team OK"

Sheenu came over to Khushi and said "I have never seen you speechles! Ever! It took you Arnav to get her speechless! Really both of you on a serious note , we will work this out safely for the best possible outcome - Don't worry Khushi , I'm not about to let anything happen to my children."

Arnav looked at her questioningly. Khushi and i have been best friends since we were kids -her kids are mine. You two need to talk and then I will be back to answer all your questions."

"Three Khushi!"

"What are we going to do -three?"

Arnav's heart was singing -three children-he had seen their little heart beats , she carried three little angels . He was in love with her and now he felt as though he was going to burst with happiness -he didn't know how ,or understand it how could you love anymore but from somewhere in him he felt more than he thought was ever possible.

"Three Khushi" his eyes brimmed with tears of happiness . Sheena had said they would be all alright.

"Arnav three? Three ? THREE??"

Thoughts were flying through their minds three kids would they all be ok , would Khushi be Ok , what were the problems carrying three , delivering three? How was she going to carry three for nine months ,how would they all fit ?

"Khushi -we are in this together." Arnav knew he needed to reassure Khushi but he needed it as well. His perfectly planned controlled life had just gone south down the swanny . He wouldn't change a single thing. This was the happiest he had been since he had been a child.

"Khushi are you happy ?"

"Yes!"

"Then the rest we will work out" with that he kissed her. A long slow gentle reassuring kiss.