Part 9
Naina had been alone the whole day at the office as Soni had taken the day off...When Seema, Karan's secretary had come with her good news to her...She had been happy at first, and then had gotten sad...Cause she had been waiting and praying to conceive...But couldnt...She knew she had Prem...But she wasnt Prem's mom..Soni had been very generous in regard to him...Handing him to her when he had been born...Naina had loving accepted him as his son...But now she was scared...She was scared of loosing him...When and if Soni marries again..Then what???
She had come home and had found everyone at the dinner table... She had been sad the whole day and was so overwhelmed that she had just bursted it out and ran...Leaving behind a worried Karan, Khushi and a more worried Arnav...
Karan had excused himself and ran after her...Instructing Khushi to look after their guest...It had become very awkward to eat then...But she had just held her head low and was eating fast...She wanted to run away before Arnav could ask her any questions...He was as shocked as the rest...
Arnav...What was that all about?? I never thought Naina would react this strongly??
Khushi..Shes just a human...she can act irrationally sometime...Just ignore it...She didn't want to go in detail about this...NOT with Arnav...She ate fast and got up and said...Excuse me and ran...
Arnav tried to stop her...He wasnt done with her...He said...Run as far as you can Khushi...Im not leaving you now...
Khushi went pass the glass doors that looked out to the swimming pool...There she saw her shadow, sitting on the bench near the pool...She ran out to her and said...What is the matter with you?? Tired of us already??? Are you thinking of throwing us out??
Naina looked up and said...What?? What are you talking about?
Khushi could see the tears on her face...She went and sat beside her and said...Why are you crying? And why are you sad about Seema being pregnant?? Its her first baby...You should be happy about it... You already have your first baby...so why are you jealous...Haan??? And its not that you are sterile...You can have another baby...its just a matter of time...Thats all...
Naina shaking her head..I dont know whats wrong with me...Im crying at all the silly things these days...She sniffed...I...Im just scared...
Khushi...Scared of what??? Tell me...
Naina hugged Khushi and said...Since we have come back from UK, Karan has been telling me to adopt a baby...He has been telling me that I should not get too attached to Prem..In fact when I told you not to go to Delhi to work for Arnav...He got very angry at me...He said, If one day Prem's father comes to claim him then what??? How will you survive...
Naina with tears in her eyes looked at Khushi and asked...He is right...I shouldnt claim Prem to be ours...I want you to get married and have more kids...And if Prem's father come's then...He would want his son...
Khushi was just sitting there looking at her and then she said...Stop it?? What are you saying...Prem's father?? He will come and claim him?? With what right he will come to claim him??? No one has any rights on Prem other than Karan and you...Not even me...
Khushi...He threw me out without a second thought...He didnt even care for a second where I would go...If you and Karan hadnt come to my rescue...Prem and I wouldnt have existed...We both would have been long dead...
Naina covering Khushi's mouth with her hand...Shut up, dont say that...
Khushi removed her hand and said...Let me say it...I need to say it...When I was pregnant and so sick..You looked after me like a sister and a mother...When Prem was born, you took over...You looked after him, I didnt even know I was alive...You looked after both of us...And now someone else, who has no right should come and claim your son?? I wont allow that... I wont let that to happen... And im not going anywhere...Nor is Prem...He belongs to you...How can anyone take him away from you...
Naina smiled and hugged Khushi and said...You are very nice to say all this...I know our Prem is very lucky...He has two moms...But still, Soni...say someday...You ll fall in love...You should have more babies...Sometimes I wonder, if Karan's detectives hadnt found you...Maybe your husband might have...
Khushi...Huh...I dont think I will fall in love...once was enough to last a life time...What did I get from it ?? Nothing...In fact I lost everything...And as for him coming for me...His family is more important to him...Where is Karan? Have you upset him too??
Naina smiled and said...He had to take an imp phone call...He will be back...Did I scare Arnav? He must be wondering what happened to me...
Khushi..I told him you are just a human like the rest of us...
Naina smiled and said... He likes you...I can see that..His eyes follow you...And he likes Prem too...And have you noticed one thing...He calls you Khushi...I like it too...Dont know why you wanted to change it...
Khushi...Dont start please...Im not interested...And call me whatever you like...It doesnt matter...
Naina laughed and said..Where is our baby? I havent seen him the whole day today...
Khushi got up and said...Ill go and get him...He was missing you too...
Khushi went inside and walked into the sitting room...Arnav was walking out the room with Prem in his arms...They nearly collided... She saw Prem in his arms and she panicked...Before she could say anything he said...I was coming to give him to his mom...Where is Naina? Is she better now?
Prem saw Khushi and started to cry and extended his arms..Motioning her to take him...Khushi took him in her arms and Arnav said...After you give him to his mom, can we talk plz...
Khushi looked at him and started to move without answering him...He said...Please, I need to talk to you...Im leaving in the morning...Just one last talk before I go...
Khushi nodded and said...Let me give him to Naina and we can talk in the study...
Arnav ...Thanks, Ill wait there for you...
Khushi went and handed Prem to Naina and said...Take him hes crying for you...Ill see you both later... As she handed Prem to her, his hand got caught in the golden necklace...Naina saw it and said...Wow this is new...Where did you get it...Its beautiful...
Khushi...Its just...You take him and Ill be back soon ok...and dont worry now plz...Do one thing...think pregnant...you are fine...just think you are pregnant and then see what happens...
Naina laughed...
Khushi tucked her necklace inside her top and went to the study...She wanted to get this over with asap...She entered the study and closed the door...He was standing by the window...He didnt turn when she entered...He was silent for a while...Then he came near her and said...How is Naina??
Khushi..Shes fine now...
Arnav..Shes a human right? Humans can make mistakes and they should be forgiven...Right Khushi??
Khushi didnt know where he was going, but she said...Yes...
Arnav nodded and said...You are very generous...You think that somewhere in your heart there is still a soft place for me somewhere and you can forgive me too...Please Khushi...
Khushi was shocked...Out of all the things..She never expected Arnav Singh Raizada to ask for forgiveness...That also from her...
Khushi...What did you say??
Arnav...Im asking you to forgive me and give me one last chance...please...
Khushi was too shocked to say anything...She looked at him wide eyes and said...Why?? Why are you doing this?
Arnav...Cause I want you back...Back in my life...
Khushi cut in..Wait..wait a minute...I'm very well settled in my life...Im happy as Im...i dont want any change in it...And I definitely dont want you back in my life...I dont want to go to that hell called Raizada House...No way...
Arnav had his head down...he said...I understand what you are feeling...But..Give me one chance...please...One last chance...Come to Delhi for the engagement...Im not forcing you...Its just a request...Give me this one chance to show you that I care...
Khushi...I dont want you to care...You..You just let me go...Just like that...
Arnav...I came after you...But you were gone...
Khushi...You didnt try hard...
Arnav...Im trying now...
Both were silent, deep in their own thoughts...Then Arnav said...One chance...I deserve it...The balls in your court now...
With that he walked towards the door and opened it...Stood there for a while and said...IM sorry for last night...I just couldnt control it...What do I do?? ...Then with a long pause he turned to look straight into her eyes...His eyes piercing hers...he said...I love you, Khushi...I cant live without you...And he walked out closing the door behind him...
Khushi stood like that for a while...She didnt want to think or feel anything...Shaking her head she went in search of Naina and her baby...They both were in their room. Naina was changing his clothes and Meena was helping her...She picked him up and faced Khushi...Our baby is all ready to hit the sack...Did you hear...Arnav is leaving in the morning...Its so sad...
Khushi...Hmmm..Im sure his family needs him...
Naina..No, he said his office needs him...Ill miss him...Hes good company...
Khushi...Whatever...Shouldn't you go and pacify your husband??? He looked very worried...
Naina...Ya, I should...He says he should be enough for me...Sigh...Me and my demands...And she left...
After Prem was settled, Khushi lay in the bed and let her mind drift...She was avoiding the conversation she had with Arnav...But she couldnt..His words were ringing in her mind...
She curled herself into a ball, hugged her knees and started to cry...Why had he said he loved her...Why...Why???? She didnt want him to love her...She hated him...He never cared...Then why was he now after her...She was fine in her own world...Didnt want him at all...Then why was he back...She cried...Why now?? Why... Now, she could do nothing...She could never leave Karan and Naina for him...Could never part Prem from them...It wasnt fair...Life wasnt fair...What would she do??
She tossed and turned for a while...Then she remembered the day she had rescued him...It had been raining really hard...The visibility was very low...They both were wet and cold and had finally found refuge in a small, old hut...Thinking about it all made her sad...And she cried herself to sleep...
Next morning she woke up sulking...She was in no mood to go to the office, but she forced herself to go...Her brother was depending on her...She passed the whole morning burring her head in work...She tried not to think about him, but nothing helped...All the time she was conscious of the fact that he was gone...He wont be walking in on her unannounced...She told herself, it was good he was gone, now she can work in peace...So then why was she not at peace...She sighed and checked her cell...There were no msg or any missed calls...Was he avoiding her ...she thought...
Just then Naina walked in with Prem and asked...Are you missing Arnav?
Khushi looked at her and said...Why would I be missing him? Naina you are too much...
Naina...Im asking cause IM missing him...He's such nice company...Seriously Soni, you are too much...Anyway...Take Prem and Ill see you later...
Khushi took Prem in her arms and he touched her face with his small hand and was looking at her...She whispered...Are you missing him too?? I dont know what we are going to do...
Prem just smiled as if telling her...All will be fine...Dont worry so much...
Two days passed without a word from him...Khushi was very irritated...She didnt know why...Well she knew why, but didnt wanted to admit it to herself...She touched the gold necklace and wanted to remove it...But she couldnt...
At dinner time...Karan entered the dining room while talking to someone...He looked at Khushi and said...Ya we all are fine and I will ask her to pack all the designs...yes, of course she is coming...Im not letting her stay here alone...
Khushi and Naina were looking at Karan...He excused his caller and said...Khushi, Arnav is on line and he wants all the designs he saw...Please pack them, you can discuss it with him in Delhi...
Khushi looked at her brother and said...Im not coming...I dont even have clothes...
Karan...Oh Arnav heard that...He says his show rooms are full of designer suits...He will send them to the hotel...So now your problem is solved...No excuses...Im not leaving you here alone...He cut the call...
Khushi...But, how can I take clothes from his showroom?
Karan...We will buy them...Whats the problem Khushi...Chill...you are too much on edge...
Khushi remain silent after that...She knew she couldnt say no to Karan..So it was decided that they all would be leaving for Delhi tomorrow afternoon...One day before the engagement...
Khushi went out by the pool and stood there starring at the water...Her life was so peaceful and calm...Now all of a sudden it had taken a U turn...Nothing seemed right...How will she face them all...She wondered...Mami and Anjali...Not forgetting Buaji...She sighed...Nani ji was a nice person...but the rest of them...The best thing in all this will be meeting her parents and the worst...Shyam...She sighed...Hello Delhi...Here I come...
Arnav was standing by his pool...looking in to the calm water and smiling...She was coming...He was glad Karan had convinced her to come...Now he will have to make sure his family doesnt let him down...They all must address her as Karan's sister...Not as Arnav's wife...He sighed...He will try to win her again...Using his love for her...not force...
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