Presents
The clock struck twelve.
It was Arnav Ji's 30th birthday today.
Khushi slowly snaked her hand around Arnav's waist, under the white soft fluffy quilt. They were both on their bed with only the bedside nightlight on Arnav's side on. He wasn't sleeping. He was eyeing the intricate grey-black pattern on the lampshade, waiting for the last few minutes to pass quickly so that his birthday could finally arrive.
He chuckled to himself as he reflected upon how the times had changed. There he was, just a couple of years ago, who hated his birthday. Not much had changed though. He didn't like it when others pushed themselves on him. He just awaited his Khushi's gift, the entire year.
As the watch beeped twelve, he felt a slender arm slide in on his waist. Smiling, he turned to face Khushi.
"Janamdin mubarakho, Arnav Ji" she whispered, as her fingers trailed down his stubble. Her pink lips and twinkling eyes, Arnav could never get enough of them. He cupped her face and leaned in closer as her eyes slowly fluttered close in anticipation. He smiled. She was his salvation; the angel who had brought him back to life. Leisurely, Arnav took her lips and drenched himself in her love. Her soft sweet lips, he suckled on them. His hands twined around her body clad in her pink night salwaar, snuggling her warmly against his body.
Khushi's hand wound around his neck as her fingers found their place in his hair, pulling him in closer. They had wasted so much time. "There's still much left" Khushi had once consoled him. He could never imagine the ecstasy he felt right now. What had he ever done to deserve this, he questioned. There was no urgency in their kiss. Their tongues danced to the beat of their hearts. They were relishing it. He was tasting it as much as he could.
Moments passed, Khushi finally broke the kiss. Her hands were still around him. Arnav was leaning in again when Khushi placed a hand on his shoulder, asking him to halt for some time. "Aapka toufa" (your gift) she said with a huge smile on her face. As she made her way out of the warm quilt and towards their wardrobe, a relaxed Arnav sat up and rested against the headboard.
She slid open her side of the cupboard and started rummaging through it. She had her back towards him when she heard him speak. "Khushi, iski koi zarurat nehi thi. Tumne abhi jo mujhe diya, its more than enough" he said, with a genuine smile on his lips. Their kiss reminded him why he was alive today. (Khushi, it's not really necessary. Whatever happened just now was more than enough for me)
As Khushi turned around, Arnav melted in her beauty. Her hair was let loose and the short flick on her forehead made her look adorable. Her nose ring shimmered rainbow in the incandescent light and her bright smile reached her eyes, bringing out her innocence just in the right way.
"Achcha?" she asked with the tone. "Agar wohi kaafi tha, toh phir aap isko dekh ke kya kahenge?" (If the kiss was more than enough, what would you term this as?) she said with laughter in her voice as she waved a white envelope in the air, signalling it to be his gift for the night.
"What is that?" he mumbled as curiosity crept its way onto his eyebrows. Khushi walked back towards him and Arnav eyed the way she moved her hips. He smirked sexily.
"Ye leejiye" (Here it is) she said, as she plopped down beside and him with the white envelope resting on her two tray-like palms.
"Aur ye kya hai?"(And what is it?) he asked in an amused tone as he took it from her and opened the flap to check what was inside.. He could never guess what present Khushi had in store for him ever. He could guess Di's or anyone else's as a matter of fact but never Khushi's but that's what made it more special, he guessed.
"Dekhiye toh sahi!" (Check it out!) she replied with excitement and impatience playing in her voice. "Pagal" he muttered under his breath.
"Suna maine" retorted Khushi. (I heard that)
"Achcha kiya" he joked back. (Good for you)
It was so nice to see to her Laad Governor playing back. Who would've guessed Arnav Singh Raizada was so soft on the inside, she smiled to herself. He looked adorable with his ruffled hair, almost like a little boy. How would he react? Would he like it? Of course he would. How could he not.
Khushi knew how he would react and thus there was no such anticipation of response in her. She watched him take the neatly folded piece of paper out of the envelope and unfold it to get the surprise of his life. She only anticipated love.
When he saw the envelope, he expected tickets probably to Derby or to some English movie but most definitely not this. They were trying for a baby for so long. There were some medical complications but that did not hinder them. The doctor never said that there was absolutely no chance. Placing their faith only on a play of words, they had never given up.
Tears welled up in Arnav's eyes. Their dream was finally coming true. He looked up to face Khushi. There were tears in her eyes too but this time, they were happy ones. She was smiling through her tears.
"Janamdin mubarakho, Arnav Ji. Ap papa banne wale ho" she smiled as she said and drowned in the momentous hug which followed thereafter.
(Happy Birthday, Arnav Ji. You're going to be a father)
~
Eight months had passed. Khushi had now grown and it took Arnav a lot of effort to keep his wife in check. Khushi supposedly had the knack for walking in on trouble, that is how Arnav had learnt to put it. She didn't like the maternity clothes which Arnav had got for her. She resorted to saree instead and at nights, she would snuggle into Arnav's old shirts, which were much too large in length and salwaar. Whenever Arnav was away, his Di was threatened to be on high alert which his Di did much obligingly. The entire family was having the time of their lives as Khushi waddled around the house, cribbing as no one let her do as much as lifting a knife.
"I waddle?" she cried out loud to her Jeeja Ji as Arnav teased her over the dinner table.
As the early morn sun ray flared up the room suddenly, Arnav cringed in his sleep. Trying to find his peace, he turned over to hug his pregnant wife's belly. As his hand swooshed around thin air and landed on an empty side of the bed, Arnav's eyes flew open as his heart skipped a beat. Khushi was missing.
He promptly propped on his elbows and scanned the room for his eccentric wife. His eyes rested on a view which melted his heart and made his day. There she was, his Pagal with a big belly and clad in his large white fullshirt, standing by the French windows enjoying the rays of a new day, with her one hand on the curtain that she had just moved and the other on her face, covering her mouth as she yawned.
His fear was replaced by a soft smile. She looked so innocent, so adorable as her hair reflected off the sun rays. They were happy. Most importantly, she was happy and finally, all was well.
~
A/N: I really don't like proofreading.. So, Kindly ignoređ
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