Chapter 34

Usually I don't dedicate any update to any of my favorite reader more than once. But today I am making an exception with this dedication.

This update is dedicated to Azra for redefining the word reader' for me. She always supported me, waited for my update and gave me comments which left me blushing. She chatted with me, treating me with utmost respect and understanding. Further, she checks during night to see if I have updated my story, a gesture which touched my heart.

I couldn't thank you enough in words Azra...Love you dear 🤗 !!!

ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 28

Tapping her foot against the floor restlessly, Khushi kept squirming while looking back. She felt so nervous and angry at the same time that she didn't know how she was supposed to react. Ever since Payal has called, her mind has wandered at the every possible situation which scared her to death, to the least.

She looked back and sighed audibly when her eyes spotted Arnav walking towards her, looking adorably confused.

"Khushi, what are we doing here exactly? Tell me now, atleast." Arnav looked around in disapproval the moment he spotted his wife looking at him. They both were standing in front of an apartment of a posh building located in the heart of Delhi, Green Park.

Arnav was engrossed in the office work when Khushi barged inside his cabin and then dragged him here, refusing to tell him anything. He was concerned to see her looking impatient, her eyes carrying traces of fear and apprehension. The moment his driver stopped the car, she bolted out telling him the apartment number and then asking him to be there soon.

"This is Payal Jiji and Akash Jiju's apartment. Jiji called me in the morning, asked me to be here around lunch time. She said that she want to tell me something important." Khushi informed, looking down nibbling on her lower lip in worry.

Raising an eyebrow, Arnav walked forward and pressed the doorbell "Okay, then what am I doing here?"

"She asked me to bring you along. Jiji sounded a bit worried so I guess it must be something important or bad. I didn't want to be alone at the particular moment. I am sorry for dragging you here like this." Khushi explained tiredly making Arnav smile.

He stepped closer, ran the back of his palm against her cheek and murmured "It's alright, Khushi."

As Khushi smiled back, the door opened revealing a tall, lean man in his mid-thirties standing at the threshold, dressed in a casual white shirt and black jeans. His eyes behind his spectacles lit up in happiness the moment they fell on Khushi as he smiled "Khushi. Finally my lady is here."

Arnav's eyes narrowed identifying him as Akash, Payal's husband. Khushi barely registered Arnav stiffening beside her when she jumped to hug Akash, grinning ear to ear "Jiju how are you?"

"Miserable without you." Akash winked down at her, making Arnav fume when Khushi laughed loudly. Khushi never looked this comfortable with him. Why on the earth is Akash flirting with her? He cleared his throat loudly making Khushi look back at him, smiling sheepishly.

Pulling back from the hug, Akash walked towards him and said "Hi, Arnav."

Arnav nodded in return not saying anything while Khushi's eyes watched their interaction carefully before turning to Akash "Jiju, where is Jiji? She called me this morning and told me to meet her as soon as possible. She totally freaked me out."

"Umm coming to that, Khushi I think I should tell you something. Whatever your sister is going to tell you, please don't get angry. She did everything to not worry you." Akash said with a straight face making Khushi worry as Arnav looked on.

"You are scaring me, Jiju. Where is Jiji?" Khushi stepped away from them, looking around the room in concern.

"I am here, Khushi." Everyone looked as Payal emerged from one of the room, dressed in a loose pale pink kurta and salwar, her hairs tied in a messy bun. Her face looked tired but there was a certain glow on it. Khushi stilled the moment her eyes fell on Payal's hand curled over her slightly swollen stomach in a protective gesture.

Khushi gasped, her eyes just stuck there "Oh my god!!!"

Akash chuckled, walking to put his hands around Payal's waist looking down at her lovingly "Yeah you guessed it right. Payal is pregnant."

Khushi's breath was caught in her throat while Arnav's eyes widened as he looked a bit uncomfortable being there. It wasn't like he still hate Payal or something but in past, he never made any attempt to get along with Gupta Siblings ever. They always deserved a heated gaze from him- full of dislike and hatred.

Agreed, things have changed between him and Khushi but still he was trying to get used to it. As clinched as it may sound, the moment he got over his insane reason of hating Khushi he has started seeing her as his wife, not as a friend or something else. His scrutinized and calculative assessment of Khushi has always portrayed her as a traditional girl with good family values. Yes, she has a wild and stubborn streak to her docile character which interested him always.

She is the perfect life partner for him, he knew. But his heart which has grown accustomed to his family growing distant from him, didn't wanted to hurry things in their marriage. In past few weeks, he has started feeling comfortable around Khushi as his wife has accepted him with wide, open arms in her life but when it came to Payal, things were different.

She was the only person who has never backed down from arguing with him, ever. And now as much as he hated to admit it, being a part of such an important moment of Payal's life made him uncomfortable.

Not that everyone else around him felt the same. Payal and Akash looked at ease with his presence in their house.

Arnav was abruptly pulled out of his thoughts when Khushi squeaked loudly, finally getting over from her momentary state of shock. He smiled fondly, watching his wife hopping her way to Payal, pulling her in a hug careful of her present state.

Khushi started congratulating Payal and Akash immediately in a single breath making Arnav smile meeting Akash's eyes.

His smile faltered a bit the moment his eyes met Payal's alerted ones. He watched in apprehension as Khushi pulled back from the hug and questioned "But Jiji since when do you know about your pregnancy and why on the earth you didn't told me? Whenever I called, you barely chatted with me. And why now only you are telling me?"

Looking a bit guilty, Payal only said "I know this since a week before your marriage but the doctor said that the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is critical and I might lose my baby. I wanted to be sure before telling you, Khushi. Now that the first trimester of pregnancy is over and my doctor said that my baby is safe, I wanted to tell you. I am sorry Khushi, but I didn't want you to worry."

Khushi's eyes moistened as she shushed Payal in her apology tirade and said "You don't have to apologize to me, Jiji. I can understand. I am so happy for you and Jiju. Finally after three years of your marriage, you both have decided to start a family."

Looking grateful to her sister for understanding her, Payal hugged Khushi sniffing a bit "I knew that you will understand me, Khushi."

As the sisters continued their chatter, Arnav moved towards Akash and said "Congratulations."

Akash smiled "Thanks, man. You know when Khushi first told me that you are a very good person, I didn't believe her for a second. Now when I see her happy, I can understand what she meant back then."

Arnav stared at him in astonishment not knowing what to say. His eyes softened as he finally understood what made his wife the wonderful person that she is. It was her ability to see good in every person when no one else did.

He smiled in relief just when Khushi joined them, dragging Akash to the kitchen to feed something sweet to everyone.

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"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Startled, Arnav looked up from his phone to see Payal standing in front of him. He looked past her to see Khushi and Akash setting table for lunch.

"Sure." Arnav replied, helping her to sit beside him on the sofa. As Payal settled beside him comfortably, Arnav stuck his eyes back to his phone waiting anxiously for Payal to start.

"I know we haven't been exactly on talking terms ever. You hated me and my sister, I hated you back in return. Even then, I knew that you were right in your place for hating us. I never wanted my sister to marry you but she felt obliged to everything that your parents have done for us. I was worried for her. I thought maybe in your hatred, you might hurt her and never care for her. I wanted a normal married life for her." Arnav closed his eyes the moment Payal said all this. Regret and guilt filled his heart for being an ass to two innocent peoples.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them as Payal kept quiet. Arnav jerked his eyes open and stared at her eyes full of gratitude as she continued "But you always took care of her no matter how much you hated her. If you wouldn't have been there, I would have lost my sister a long time ago. I could never thank you enough for saving her. I don't know if I would have survived after losing her. So, thank you."

"Payal you don't have to..." Not used to hearing praises for his deeds, Arnav interrupted in between looking completely uncomfortable. Payal held her hand up stopping Arnav from speaking further.

"Please let me speak, Arnav. I have always been worried for Khushi. She was so devastated after what had happened. But now when I see her, I can feel she is happy and content with what she have in her life now. I just want your words that you will take care of her. Please promise me that you will be always there for her. She will never be alone."

"Payal why are you talking like this? I will obviously take care of her. She is my wife." A bewildered looking Arnav answered, sensing that there was something that Payal wasn't telling him. He looked on as Payal tried to avoid meeting his eyes and fumbled with words looking torn between whether to say anything further or not.

She cleared her throat and looked at Arnav with her eyes full of unshed tears " We were trying for a baby since last year. Akash was so happy when he came to know that I am pregnant. But there are some complications with my pregnancy. My doctor said that I might die while giving birth to the baby. She wanted me to abort the baby but I couldn't. This is my shot to happiness in our life and I want to take the risk. So far everything looks positive. But if I couldn't make it, I want you to handle everything and make sure of my sister's happiness. Can you promise me that?"

"Payal we should talk to good doctors. I can help with that. You don't have to sound so resigned about everything and there is no way you are going to die. You should tell Akash and Khushi about this. They will be heartbroken " Arnav argued, already rummaging through his phone to call his family doctor for further consultation.

Payal shook her head in denial as she replied "I tried everything I can. If I am going to die, I want to close my eyes while remembering their happy faces. There is nothing you can do except giving me your words. I won't give up."

As Arnav looked in her eyes, he was startled to find a steely determination in it like she would do anything to win her life against the horrible fear of death. He leaned back involuntarily the moment she looked up at him in something akin to...hope.

He felt terrible for her, wondering how is he going to handle all this alone? Just when everything was going good and now, he didn't know when will he be at peace again?

"You will handle everything, don't you?"

His heart and mind struggled for the shredded piece of sanity, threatening to disappear any moment.

Against his own best judgement, he found himself nodding. Making another promise.

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"Sir if you just talk to Khushi Mam, she might agree to be the showstopper. She is perfect for it." Aman rambled on making Arnav roll his eyes in exasperation.

"I told you Aman that she won't be a part of it. I don't want any unwanted attention of the media on her by doing this. Got it?" Arnav said curtly making Aman purse his lips in frustration.

"I am sorry but only one day is left for the show and I don't think we will be able to get any good model to hire as our showstopper. And your approach to the solution of this problem is completely..." Aman said heatedly, his anger getting the worst out of him. He stopped abruptly the moment he realized what he was going to say.

"Unprofessional?" Arnav offered arrogantly, quirking an eyebrow up. He looked least affected of his accusation. As Aman's face flushed in embarrassment, Arnav continued "I am not going to make Khushi our show stopper Aman. We should look for some other model. Besides, I don't think she even want to do it in first place."

"I'll do it."

Can't tell how busy I am nowadays. I was on the verge of putting a note about taking a break but I don't want to delay the end of ATCM further. Will try to update soon,

Aditi