Chapter 35

Arnav brought her out of the bathroom after Kushi gained little composure. Making her to sit on bed, he asked her to relax before storming out of the room. After few minutes, He returned to the room with fresh lemon juice. After so many days, today, Kushi had thrown up twice. 'Damn the whole mango cake she ate' he thought.

He was unsure whether he can give her lemon juice or not as what she was suffering is due mango cake she had. But seeing her pant, he understood that her blood pressure is going down and decided to feed her juice. Kneeling down in front of her, he made her to drink it. Feeling little better she raised her head to see his face.

"You must be having nice time watching me suffer, right?" She questioned him in sarcastic tone and made a face while Arnav smiled in response. He expected this for three reasons. First, she is MAD. Second, she is a WIFE. Third, she is PREGNANT. He shook his head slightly looking down trying to hide his smile. But he was late as she already noticed it.

"STOP SMILING! Everything is your fault!" She screamed at high pitch she could reach with her left out energy. Arnav looked amused hearing her new charges on him and then nodded his head acceptingly. "Yeah, it's my fault. I was the one who ate whole mango cake!" he said in mocking tone, pursing his lips together controlling himself from smirking.

"What? Why are you dragging my mango cake in between? I vomited because I am pregnant. That's because of you! What did my poor mango cake do? Mango cakes and jelabies are the best thing in the world! I love them both!" She said dreamily lost in memories how they both tasted when she eats them. Her thoughts did nothing good to her currently empty stomach which began to grumble.

"Arnav!" He raised his head to look at her after hearing her serious tone. "What happened, Kushi?" He asked in alarmed tone cupping her face after noticing the lost look in her face. Kushi gulped and announced "I want to eat mango cake! Now!"

"What the?!?" He shouted in shock as he got up from the floor and then looked down at his wife's face who gave him innocent look. "Are you out of your mind? You vomited because of that cake and now you want to eat it! Seriously?" He questioned her in unbelievable tone. "i feel hungry. I really want to eat mango cake now!" She reasoned out naively.

"What the..." He began to yell but composed himself by closing eyes for few seconds. "Forget today. You are not going to touch that cake any time soon. Understood?" He warned her furiously. "But Arnav..." Kushi sounded offended and got up from bed.

"What's there in that Kushi? Jelabi's are little acceptable. But mango cake?!? I feel like throwing up just by seeing that colour. It's sour and sweet...you can't even tell how it tastes in particular!..." Arnav made different faces. For every word he spoke, kushi's desire to eat it got tripled.

She held his hand and stopped him from talking. She said "Arnav I badly want to eat it." He shook his head firmly. "Please!" She made a puppy-dog face and looked at him pleadingly. He stared at her melting in her sweetness but quickly gathered himself and shook his head. Knowing very well that if he stays here she will make him bend to her wants, he decided to leave for some time.

"You are the worst husband in the world!" She pouted watching him leave. "Let me be!" She heard his voice and fumed in anger. "I hate you!"

Arnav sat on the bed totally frustrated. He looked like he was ready to kill at least ten members. From the corner of his eyes, he checked Kushi angrily. She too looked at him and gave sheepish grin before looping her arm around his neck and pecked his cheek. Arnav growled and then wiped the mango cake from his cheek with his palm.

"You are the best husband in the world! Thanks! I love you!" Arnav raised his brow hearing her contradicting statement. "ummaaa." She kissed his cheeks again but this time making sound. Arnav heaved a sigh before wiping his cheeks again. Damn the mango cake! He was not frustrated with Kushi. But he frustrated with himself.

Why can't he just withstand her pleases? He is ASR after all. He decided not to buy mango cake only for her sake. But all he could think in last one hour was her puppy-dog face. And to add more misery, her voice kept echoing in his ears. Please. He then looked at his wife who was busy licking the spoon and then her fingers.

She had finished half kg cake just in ten minutes. Arnav patted himself for not buying one kilogram cake. He smiled observing how she was eating. His frustrations begin to vanish soon. But he learnt one thing today. He can never say no to her; especially when she utters that one magical word. Please!

"Actually I expected you to be little more fat...you know, during pregnancy women gains weight. But you still look same except your stomach. Why? Didn't your husband feed you properly?" Lavanya asked Kushi as she stirred the daal on cooker. Kushi shook her head and gulped down jelabi in her mouth to answer Lavanya.

"No, he takes care of me so well. You know about him, don't you?" Kushi smiled remembering how he had brought her mango cake yesterday night. "Are you girls talking about me?" They both turned to towards kitchen's entrance where Arnav was standing. "Arnav!" Kushi called him in delight. She had been missing him terribly today and a glance at him made her heart to fly.

"Kushi, what are you doing sitting there? Get down! Wait...what the hell are you eating? I told you not to eat..." As Arnav started to scold her, Kushi hastily hid the plate full of jelabi behind her and tried to jump off the counter where she was sitting. "Careful! Kushi!" Arnav ran to her and held her shoulder as she got down.

"Why are you sitting here? How on the earth you got up there? Why did you jump like that? What if something happens? Can't you be more careful? And you were eating jelabi?!? As if yesterday night was not enough! Who made jelabi? Who gave it to you?" Arnav shot her with series of question while two girls looked at him with open mouth.

"Arnav, breathe!" Kushi said eloquently looking at him. Giving deathly glare to Kushi, he turned to Lavanya. "Lavanya, who made jelabi? Why did you give to her? Do you know that she vomited five times yesterday night?" He questioned Lavanya who looked back at him with widened eyes. "Arnav stop it!" Kushi pulled Arnav's hand in embarrassment.

Arnav turned to her fiercely. Yesterday night she threw up trice after eating cake for second time. He was angry on her and also on him for buying it. Whole day in office he had been worrying about her and here she is sitting on counter top and munching away jelabi happily. "First of all, what are you doing in kitchen? Have I not told you not to come here?" he asked her showing his displeasure.

"I didn't do anything, Arnav. i was just sitting. Lavanya was cooking and i thought i will give her some company." Kushi reasoned out making Arnav to turn to Lavanya. "Lavanya, why are you cooking? Where is hari prakash?" Arnav asked her while she heaved a sigh. "Is it your family dialogue? In last one hour, all four of you asked me this question! Why are you cooking? Where is hari prakash? "

All three of them chuckled before Lavanya explained "I got bored, so thought of cooking! Chill yaar! Don't worry! Remember i am not a bad cook!" Arnav grinned at her. "Arnav, actually..." Kushi began to talk looping her arm around his when they heard Anjali's voice. "chotey, you are home? Nani wanted to talk with you about something important! First go and meet her!"

"haan di. I will meet her. i will come back Kushi." he said before stepping out of kitchen not noticing Kushi's disapproved looks. Kushi was sitting with Anjali in living room, waiting for Arnav to come out of his grandmother's room. She looked expectantly on the door when it got opened and Arnav stepped out. Before she could smile, he walked to Anjali.

"Di, did you sign the documents which i gave you in the morning?" Anjali bit her tongue and replied "sorry, chotey, i forgot! It's in study. Come with me, i will sign and give it to you now." Arnav left with Anjali much to Kushi's annoyance. After ten minutes, Lavanya came to living room and asked "where is arnav? i wanted to talk to him! He said he will give his land for our organisation to build orphanage."

"Great!" Kushi exclaimed and got up. "He is in study. Go and talk to him!" Saying so she left for her room, while Lavanya wondered what suddenly made Kushi so much annoyed. Kushi walked to the pool and sat there grumpily. "He is such a responsible family man who cares for his family so much, but has no time for his wife!" She muttered cursing him under her breath. She wanted to spend time with him from the morning. She was so happy when he came home earlier than usual but.

"Kushi!" Arnav called out for her as soon as he noticed her absence in their room. "Wow...finally he remembered he has a wife!" Kushi murmured to the pigeon she was holding. "Kushi." she again heard his voice from room. "First he forgets me and then comes calling Kushi...Kushi..." She mimicked his tone before dropping kiss on pigeon.

"Tomorrow I will set you free!" she smiled.

"Kushi... i have been calling you for so long! Why you didn't even reply to me?" He enquired her as soon as she entered their room but she ignored him and moved to closet to pick his night clothes. "What happened?" sensing something is wrong, he asked walking towards her. "Mama!" Arnav turned back hearing cheerful voice while Kushi heaved a sigh.

'And here comes the queen of disturbance!' She thought gruffly and dropped all clothes back in the closet. 'Let him take it, if he wants.' She decided angrily and turned to witness uncle and niece evergreen drama. "So what my princess did today?" Arnav asked picking Pia in his arms. Pia explained everything happened today sitting on his lap. Then she got down and straightened herself.

"Good morning! My name is Pia Manohar Jha. My father name is Shyam Manohor Jha. I have elder brother Prem. When I grow up, I want to become a doctor..." Pia rendered her speech, in babyish tone, which she was supposed to tell in school tomorrow. "Superb princess!" Arnav clapped his hands making Pia to jump in excitement. She began her chatter once again settling on his lap.

Kushi really got irritated after ten minutes. She only taught this speech to Pia. She already heard it many times. But it didn't irritate her like it did now. Actually today everything seemed infuriating. She just wanted to spend some time alone with Arnav. That's it. Deciding to take matter in her hands, she stood in front of the duo. "Pia!" She called gaining the twosome's attention.

"Good morning!" She said in measured tone. Even before Arnav could give his 'what-the' look to Kushi, Pia jumped off from his lap and stood in attention position. "Good morning! My name is Pia Manohar Jha. My father name is Shyam Manohor Jha..." Arnav looked at the small girl with open mouth until she finished off her speech. When Pia looked at him expectantly waiting for his remarks, he commented "well...good... i mean very good..."

"Morning!" Kushi completed his sentence controlling her laughter. "Good morning! My name is Pia Manohar Jha. My father name is Shyam Manohor Jha..." Pia began her speech once again. "What the?!?" Arnav got up from the bed but pia was deeply engrossed in her speech and didn't stop it until her speech was over. "Pia, did you tell this to Lavanya?" Kushi enquired pia in serious tone.

Pia shook her head with equal seriousness. "What are you waiting for? Go and tell it to her!" Kushi advised Pia who nodded innocently. "Good morning! My name is Pia Manohar Jha. My father name is Shyam Manohor Jha..." Pia recited as she ran out to find Lavanya. "What have you done to my poor baby?" Arnav asked in incredible tone before both of them burst into laughter.

After laughing his head out, he stated "well, I withdrew all my comments regarding you becoming world's best mother. I really pity our daughter." Kushi fumed in anger hearing him. "Oh, if that is the case, then divorce me and marry the one who will be the best mother to your daughter!" She spitted out and turned to other side. Arnav smiled and hugged her from backwards.

"Why my beautiful wife seems to be very angry today?" he asked dropping kisses on her neck. When she didn't reply, he became concerned and again questioned her. "What happened, Kushi? In Kitchen you were about to say something when di interrupted? What's the matter?"

She removed his hands from her and turned to him. "So you remember it? You knew I wanted to talk with you; even then you came to me so late? Do you even have any idea what was I going through today? What I was feeling? " She emitted out all her built up anger while Arnav stood shocked.

"i missed you!" Her voice was low, her eyes was down casted. "Even though I tried not to, i missed you terribly! Playing with pia, watching my serials, talking with others, eating jelabi's...nothing worked. All i could think about was only you and you. Don't know what happened to me!" she let off her emotions with her eyes filled with tears.

Arnav smiled looking at her with so much love. Holding her wrist, he pulled her into his arms. Resting on him, she deeply inhaled his scent which filled her with warmth and solace. She felt home. Burying her face on his chest, she declared "I missed you!" a shiver of bliss ran down his spine as he heard her say it again. He felt so content. Her sincere words gave his heart another reason to continue beating.

He wanted to thank her. He wanted to express his love for her. He wanted to say he too missed her. He wanted to kiss her. "Kushi." he called in husky voice and Kushi blushed understanding his tone. "Kushi, look at me!" he ordered her impatiently trying to pull her out of his embrace but she buried her face more on his chest. That's when he noticed her smile.

Understanding her teasing intention, he slid his hands under her shirt slowly and began to tickle her. "arn..." Her pout went incomplete as he captured her lips in his. Kiss was urgent and wild as he tried to enter her mouth with force but still she felt his love for her. He broke the kiss when he realised that she will not be able to take it anymore.

Resting his forehead on hers, he caressed her red lips with his thumb. "This is for not listening to me! When I say look, then look at me!" he cautioned her making her to open her eyes. Next moment, he again captured her lips but this time in very soft and lingering kiss. Slowly and steadily he tasted every nook and corner of her mouth taking his own time, relishing her.

"And what's this for?" She asked in between her irregular breath after they broke their kiss. "i missed you!" He said with a smile and then pecked on her forehead before releasing her from his embrace. But she held his hands and said "wait Arnav! Remember I too missed you." He smirked at her before she came forward and repeated her husband's action which he did few minutes ago.

"Lavanya mami!" Arnav and Kushi pulled apart hearing Pia's voice and spotted lavanya standing at door, looking at them in shock. "lavanya mami, I was searching for you in whole house." Pia came to halt next to Lavanya breathing heavily due to running. Lavanya looked at pia, then at the couple. "i came...here...to call you both for dinner. Come on Pia, let's go!" She stammered.

Arnav nodded and looked at them as they disappeared. "Next time, remind me to close the door." He stated walking towards their closet while Kushi suppressed her grin and settled on bed. "Arnav! Why do prem and pia address Lavanya as mami?" She questioned lost in thoughts.

"When Lavanya used to live here, di taught them to call her like that! That time she was supposed to be their mami, right?" He said as a matter of fact grabbing his clothes from closet. Turning his heals, he noticed Kushi lost look. "Oops, looks like someone is feeling jealous?" He stated.

"Why should be i? I don't have any problem with kids calling her as mami! I don't even mind it but Lavanya? I mean she must have dreamt of marrying you and becoming their mami. Every time, they call her it might hurt her!" She said covering up her mistake.

"How much my wife worries for others? In that at least 10 percent, worry for yourself and your health. Stop eating those rubbish things and follow proper diet. Go for dinner, i will come after freshening up." he closed the bathroom door while Kushi struck her tongue out at closed door.

Arnav folded his sleeves as he walked out of his room. Looking up, he spotted Kushi and Lavanya on other side. It seemed like they are having a heated argument. Lavanya noticed Arnav walking towards them. As he came to audible distance, she spoke in little raised tone. "How do i look to you? A fool who believes everything you say! You had lied to me, Kushi!"

"i didn't..." Kushi tried to say something but stopped figuring arnav's presence. She quickly wiped her tears which threatened to fall. "What happened?" Arnav asked rolling his eyes from one person to other. "Nothing! We were just talking!" Kushi answered him. "Lavanya, what happened?" Arnav asked Lavanya while she gave him disinterested look and gazed down.

"Arnav, i said nothing! Come on lets go for dinner! I am hungry!" Kushi tried to pull him away and then added "please!" Lavanya looked at the couple as they both descended the steps. The look Arnav turned and gave her, explained her that her plan was working. she knew he will surely ask Kushi about this. "Let's see, what lies she will tell him now!" She muttered and then patted herself for good job.

If her plan works out, then she can leave this place and go back to her life; her love; her true love. That single thought made her excited and she thanked all her gods and prayed this should work.