Chapter 16

The Morning After The Night Before

Chapter 16

After two weeks Khushi was allowed home on the pretext that she did absolutely nothing.

A prescription that her entire band of followers ensured was followed to the letter- especially Arnav. She was not allowed to step out of bed and it was slowly killing Khushi.

Inactivity was not something she did well but the goal -three health babies was the incentive. She knew she would toe the line. There was no bending of rules or skirting round the issue. Bedrest was needed and resting was what she was doing but nowhere in the prescription did it say that boredom was a requirement.

She rand Arnav at the office

"Everything OK Khushi ?"

"Fine what you doing ?"

"Trying to work -inspite of interruptions"

"What work ?"

" I am are currently negotiating a deal with some buyers to purchase some fabric for a particular line to make it financially viable"

"Arnaaav ..."

"mmm" she could hear the laughter in his voice ,he knew the inactivity was killing her but there was nothing he could do. He had brought her every Salam Khan Film and watched them all with her a task well above and beyond the call of duty. He had watched re runs with her and knew the dialogues of by heart as he heard her repeat them. She only stretched his name out like that when she wanted something he was not going to agree to.

"Khushi , I love you but before you ask the answer is NO!!"

"What ? How did you know that I was going to ask anything ? Anyway how about you send me"

"No Khushi not listening if you are OK I am going to get back to work see you in the evening and you know I am only doing this for your own good"

"How about ..."

"Khushi I love you but the answer is still no, take care of yourself and unless you want me to be late ,I suggest you get of this line and let me work on this problem."

A very moody and sullen Khushi said "Bye Ill think about loving you"

He laughed as he put the phone. How was he going to get her through the next six weeks. She was going to drive him certifiably insane and in the process herself.

He needed to get help to keep her in bed -ordinarily that wouldn't be a problem but that kind of exercise was not on the books. Arnav told himself off for his brain was wandering too.

Definitely re-enforcements were needed.

"Hi, Dad "

"Arnav everything OK ?"

"Fine Dad . Err it's like this , you see Khushi is .."

Shashi was laughing down the line "I thought you would manage at least one week by yourself but she has managed to break you on the third day - Shame on you Arnav. What insane demands is she making ?"

"None dad , I just don't know how to keep her in bed for the six weeks ? Six weeks dad she will send me insane"

"Arnav let me work on it do you know all we have to do is to give her a problem to solve, let her get a teeth into it and work out a plan to solve it - you or I must have something in our archives that had so many problems we must have thought it was not a worthwhile consideration and rejected it. Give that to her -to reconstruct to make it a financially viable option. That will keep her in bed, her brain occupied and off your back and mine and because I have seen every single Khan Film I can take ! You are just on the Salam Khan's, would you like me to tell you how many Khan s she like's?"

"No dad I'll start looking in the archives now -and thanks dad"

Both men distracted were frantically searching their archives for about half an hour when they rang each other. Both companies had considered a takeover on a small fabric production company that was struggling but restructuring it was going to make it a non viable profit making company. It was the perfect problem .

Together they hatched a plan -Shashi would approach Khushi , she would ask permission from Arnav who would initially refuse and then relent and that would keep her in bed and brain occupied and all concerned would be happy. This was a win win plan.

Shashi popped in the afternoon as he usually did to eat lunch with Khushi.

Khushi noticed that he was unusually silent. Eventually she dug it out of her father.

They agreed if Arnav agreed she could work on the project.

Khushi excitedly rand Arnav "Hi ,I'm,fine. I just found the most amazing way of saving your brain and protecting you from anymore Salaman Khan re runs-although body guard was good , but I am side tracking. I promise to wake up at a reasonable hour and rest and go to bed at proper time. Please let me do it?"

"First Khushi breathe, and do what you have spoken nonstop and not actually told me anything"

Khushi explained her father's proposition -and Arnav listened attentively like any concerned husband would ,not having had any hand in the plan. He raised objections where he should and finally said she would have to clear it with Sheenu.

That evening her father brought the documents over and Khushi notice the strange silent communication between them the glint in both men's eyes as though the cat had got a bowlful of cream. But she didn't pay attention for long she had a new project to work on.

Things improved after that Khushi hunted her way through columns of figures and puzzling her way through the documents looking at the cost implication of new machinery to continue production of the same type of fabric.

Between her new project and scans and regular visits to the hospital time flew 4 weeks flew by.

It was early one morning when Arnav starltled by his name being screamed sat up in bed and leapt out of bed straight into the bathroom.

"Khushi ? Is it time?"

She had tears flowing down her face . "the towel doesn't meet anymore in the middle I think I exploded overnight. I can't even see my feet" Khushi wailed even more.

"Khushi are you Ok ?"

"How can I be OK -this bath towel doesn't go round me anymore, I can't see my feet, I know I have them because I hear the bells on my anklets."

Arnav only just noticed the state of undress due to the insurmountable worry his neurones were processing. This girl was going to be the death of him. He fully appreciated what Shashi was going through, one side the worry over Khushi and the other side his three babies.

"Khushi - look another towel and I'm telling you that you have very pretty feet and you're not fat and haven't exploded overnight. You are extremely pregnant and radiantly beautiful and has a husband who would normaly have his wicked way with you if it were not for three children."

He scooped her up and placed her on their bed gently and proceeded to kiss her.

"feeling better"

"Am I fat ?"

Arnav thought what do I say ? I am a dead man either way -she was huge Khushi's stomach had grown at a ridiculous rate in the last four weeks. How she managed to stay standing without toppling over was amazing.

To extricate himself from his current situation that was his current problem.

If he said yes he was doomed if he said no he was doomed -he needed a reply fast.

"Khushi you're not fat only my babies are" now please stop talking for two minutes and let me talk to my children.

"When are you three planning your entry into my world- please remember fifty percent of your genes are from me - I would like a quiet uneventful entry, the exact opposite of your mother who is currently holding the number one position at trying to claim my life insurance by sending me to an early death or at the very least to a mental asylum. What will you three do to me - remember that I am your father -please be gentle with me I'm not sure how much more can I take."

Khushi smiled at him -"they will love you as much as I do "