Chapter 20
When Arnav Singh Raizada walked into his house after a day at the office nothing seemed to be to his want. His coffee was horrid, his day had been atrocious, even though he had set out in the morning deciding to be a little more accommodating, shout a little less, be a little kinder, and a lot less stringent nothing seemed to have worked out. He was just furious at the end of it all It was all one huge disappointment and so walking into a loud house where everyone was making noise was the last thing he wanted. His one roar silenced the bickering between family members, Aaravs run around the house, the TV noise, everything.
Khushi who walked in from the the kitchen with a glass of water for husband who had returned from work had been waiting for him she had waiting to speak to him all day but witnessed the goings on and knew something was wrong. She eyed Aakaash who stood beside Arnav his eyes seemed to warn her to be cautious but she knew her husband better than anyone.
Everyone had gone silent the only noise in the room was Khushi walking towards her husband and stopping before him with his water.
He looked down at her almost instantly ashamed of what he had done and left at once.
...
Khushi knew how to deal with her husband she knew exactly how much time to give him and knew how to find out what was wrong and when she finally did she found him in the newly decorated nursery.
Arnav was sitting on the raised potion of the floor in the nursery looking at pink and yellow walls of the room him and Khushi had decorated. They had chosen elephant prints to adorne the soft colors and give the room a infant feeling. The smell of paint still lingered in the air a little but it bought with it a sense of newness Arnav longed for.
Hearing someone at the door Arnav didn't bother to look up when he heard the door . to know Khushi had found him but she hadn't come empty handed she bought with her husbands favorite cup of coffee.
Taking a seat next to him ASR knew the routine, Aman had probably filled Khushi in and so the silence was okay.
A man had explained how ASR had been very unusual at work today, he as softer, kinder, a little less bossy overall it seemed as if AR had been sent gods gift but it hadn't quite worked because all that had happened was that all of ASR's annoyaces were jarred up and as witnessed by the family was the result of that. He sipped from the coffee she had bought him, the familiar taste was comforting as was her silent company. Of course she was going to initate the conversation but she had a way of doing so he didn't mind.
"Vakt lagega Arnavji " ----("It's going to take time Arnavji")
He turned to her his eyes carrying doubt for the first time in his life Arnav Singh Raizada was unsure about something and that Khushi could see but she didn't know how to comfort him further. Time would take time that's just the way it was.
He nodded but there was many a doubt in his mind.
HP interrupted them both polity, Khushi's bags were ready she was going to her mothers home, it was something Arnav had promised Khushi a long time ago that when she got pregnant she was free to stay wherever she felt comfortable during her pregnancy she had obviously chosen her parents home and he didn't blame her, an egotistic, angry, intolerant husband is the last thing a pregnant lady needed.
He watched her leave but he had one last thing to say that made her turn back.
"I want to be a good father Khushi."
She smiled at him..
"You already are and the rest will come with time. Out of all the places you could have gone ..you came here didn't you."
Arnav didn't expect Khushi to respond that way but after she left he looked around at the room contemplating on her words.
...
Khushi had spent five days at home' her parents home, it was comforting of course and she had images of her husband & Aarav dotted around her parents home she would come across now and again as reminders of them so she never felt completely away from him. It was a nice break, strange but nice she had her mother to pamper her, a familiar bedroom and home it was a break although you couldn't really stop being a wife or a mother or a bahu she still thought about them all but it was still nice to be just her mothers daughter for a change.
She was the one being looked after for a change more so then ever before. Every night Khushi would speak to Arnav over the phone but today khushi had been feeling especially worn out and had fallen asleep before their conversation.
When she opened her eyes without reason at 3 am with a urge for something something sweet she thought nothing of it. Last few days had struck her with pregnancy cravings. Climbing out of bed Khushi headed for the kitchen and as she walked through the lounge she assumed her mind was playing tricks on her. Why on earth was she seeing Arnav. Maybe the half a sleep state was the cause but even as she rubbed her eyes the vision didn't seem to correct as she expected. She ignored her silly self walked into the kitchen but to her surprise her eyes played the same trick on her return to.
Was she really missing him that much?? To her fortune her mother was walking out of the bathroom who provided a sanity check.
Khushi couldn't take her eyes off the sofa suite that her mother noticed.
Shaam ko ayey they ..jab ham ne kaha ke ham tume utha de toh mana kar diya..
(He came over last night but you'd already gone to sleep and he asked me not to wake you.)
Khushi's mum left her to it.. for a moment Khushi Kumari Gupta singh Raizada had gone all dreamy eyed but then she realized that maybe she was being too hopeful. Maybe was still having a really bad time at work with the whole change for the good thing. maybe its was something else more serious ... Aarav or something or maybe he just wanted her back. He was like that her husband probably missed her weighting one him hand and foot.
She took a seat on the arm rest of the sofa for a second to look over him he wasn't used to these conditions, they didn't have air conditioning and Khushi could see how warm he was with sweat beads forming on his forehead. She moved away his hair from over his face and admired him for a moment.
Khushi.. he stirred in his sleep.. and the words he used were Khushi.
It made her smile..
"Aap yaha kya kar rehe ho..?" She asked knowing that her husband was still very much asleep and probably had no clue that she was talking to him.
She got a slight mumble but then was avoided in her entirety when he turned around on the sofa awkwardly to carrying on sleeping. It was quite amusing she pulled a little bit of a face and then noticed some books on the coffee table infront of them.
They were pregnancy related books, Khushi turned to look at her husband for a second, she never thought that she would ever see him with such little things like this. The thought was very sweet.
she wasn't going to wake him now, she got up and was about to leave for her room but something got her attention which made her turn back.
The room was indeed very humid and if Khushi could feel it then Arnav could too.. she used one of the books to fan some air over him but instead of helping him sleep it had the opposite effect it woke him up!
His eyes were soon wide open ..tired but wide open non the less and first thing he saw was a slightly akward expression from his wife which so covered up with questions.
Aap yaha kya kar rahe hai..have you come to take me home. Khushi asked with upset. "No I came to check on you because didn't pick your phone up last night."
Whatever presumptions Khushi had made melted away into the cutest expression. Yes she had fallen asleep but he had come all the way here to check on her.?
"Ji Ham theekh hai". She said dropping her eyes with respect for him.
"I do miss you Khushi.. I worry about you. I think about how you are all the time, I wonder if you get up in the middle of the night and crave ice cream or if youre in pain.. or uncomfortable, a the little things, I want to be with you just in case."
As hear warming and loving his words were Khushi always had her view of this phase of their life something she had always shared her resvervations on and did so even now.
I miss you to but I don't want to be throwing up in raizada house over you paper work Arnavji.. I don't want you to be mad or late for work because I'm screaming for choclate icecream in the middle of the night. I don't want you to come home to a over emotional pregnant wife after a long day at work because I know your not that type of husband.
Arnav just listened because he knew that maybe a lot of that was true but there was only one way to find out. "Maybe I am"
His eyes full of conviction he was telling her that maybe she was wrong about him.
Ji ...? -- -she looked at him surprised.
Come home and you'll find out.. I don't want to miss this Khushi.. I want to be apart of it.
Khushi looked into those eyes of his that were so calm so comforting for a change. She didn't know what to say. She overwellemed but also unsure and changed the topic ever so slightly the way only a wife could.
"Atcha suniyey..I've been meaning to tell you something for a while, that day when I left ham tabhi aap ko kuch batana chahte they magar sahin mokha nahin mila."
Khushi was doing the quinesseintal Indian wife thing asking If it was okay for her to share something with him it was then that ASR knew it was something important.
Go on.. - he prompted her but there was a certain pause and hesitancy which ASR had seen many a time before in his wife. He gave her the time she needed and took her hand within his .. whilst he waitied.
"Beti hai Arnavji.."
"We're having a daughter Arnavji.."
Arnav couldn't believe his ears and asked Khushi to repeate herself she did and his eyes brimmed with joy and tears.
It was the best news he had heard in his life..they shared the most lovable moment one another that only each of the parents to be could understand. A Kiss so passionate and embrace so loving that it was like falling in love all over again but with an added little bit of sweetness. !
...
A few months closer to the due date of Khushi's pregnancy and Arnav Singh Raiazadas life had been turned upside down. He slowly became accustomed to a tempremental Khushi Singh Raizada whos mood swings were worse then his! So clashes were common, midnight trips to the supermarket for choclate icecream, lots hospital appointments and a lot more of comforting the wife.
The office desk was less of a home these days and his actual home everything.
At first it was difficult..
Khushi would make an unreasonable demand and he would shut her up..
But then she would get angier and start throwing things around and he could deal with that too he could raise his voice and be louder but then when he found that Khushi was so much more sensertive with the baby he melted like ice cream that was the common topic these days.
With it the pride & sterness took a back seat when required because some battles could be won with choclate iceream, cuddles and kisses!
...
Epilouge.
Mr Raizada hasn't replied to any of our emails or meeting requests mam we were wondering if everything is okay.
An AR board member asked from across the table Khushi had no choice but to answer.
Dressed in her office attire, she represented herself and the chairman of the company and was so extremely proffesional.
I am aware of Mr Raizada's absence from AR recently but I assure you he will be back very soon he's caught up in other bussniess related matters at the moment.
She smiled and hoped that he grey suits sat in front of her would not ask anymore questions and luckily they didn't.
...
she walked the corridors AR and walked into ASR's cabin to find him lying on the sofa with baby Aditi crawling over his chest she particually fond of Arnavs shirt pocket. The office looked like more of a nursey then the room of the company's CEO. There were soft toys and books all around the office floor and as adorable as the duo were Khushi wasn't exactly jumping for joy.
I've just had lie for you again.. she said in an irritated voice
I'll go to the next one I promise.. he said all the whilst being too engrossed in his daughter.
"Aap naa" ... she started but then gave up mid way .. "forget it .."
Arnav knew khushi was annoyed but father and daughter took it all too lightly.. puling faces at one another like It was a secret code lanuage between the two of them the mother need not know.
Per usual timing ASR's recently changed PA knocked at the door of the room asking if she was okay to enter with afternoon tea and coffee but even she had something to say.
"Erm why is it that you two can't have the same drink I mean that would be so much easier. ?!"
Khushi looked at the lady like that was the last sentence she ever wanted to here .
"Because not everything bitter is better sweet.. and not everything sweet is better bitter understand."
The lady didn't ..but Arnav Singh Raizada sure did. He looked towards Khushi with a smile and Khushi couldn't help but smile too.
...
NOTE: Thank you guys I think this was a little bit of an extention on my part for this ff because I did intend to end it a few chapters bac at chapter 18 and some of you may have left it there and some of you contined to read. Hope you've enjoyed this...if you like the idea of Arnav the father then I suggest my other SS colours of compassion although the storyline is very different that relationship is certainly key in that short story. Let me know what you think ..and keep a watch out for my posts. !
I have Colours of compulsion running and another SS on ETRETR so do give them ago if they appeal to you.
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