Love, am I not worth it ?
Chapter 19
Two years later, London.
Arnav entered the room slowly. Khushi was sitting on the bed smiling. He came near her bed. Slowly lifting his hand he caressed her face. She got lost in his touch. Sitting on the bed he leaned on her.
Khushi lied on the bed. Arnav slowly kissed her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks and finally her lips. Taking her lower lip between his lips he nibbled it, sucked it, bit it and finally licked it to sooth her pain. He did the same to her upper lip also. Then he slowly entered his tongue inside her and tasted every nook and corner of her mouth. He kissed till both of them breathless.
Finally pulling out of the kiss, he moved downwards. Slowly kissing her neck and shoulder, he unpinned her pallu. Soon both their clothes were on the ground. Hovering over her he kissed her forehead and coming down he gently bit her shoulder.
Khushi woke up from her slumber breathing heavily. She was sweating all over. Switching on the bedside lamp, she took the water jug and gulped down the whole content in one go. After sometime, her breathing became normal.
Slowly getting out of the bed, she came near the window and looked at the sky. It had been two years she came from that place which snatched her everything. Leaving all her past and all those people behind who were related to her. It had been two years since she came to this city for a new beginning.
But still the memories of the past haunted her. The more she tried to overcome those painful moments of her life, it came back with more force. Every night she tried to sleep without thinking about those memories, but still it crept into her dreams.
No. She won't fall weak this time. The more those memories haunted her the more she became determined to punish those people who had pushed her into this pain. She won't never forgive anyone of them for what they had done to her. They will pay for each and every sin they had committed. They had to pay the price of each drop of tear she had shed due to them. They won't be spared this time.
Looking at the sky she spotted the bright star towards North, her Kavya Tai.
"Tai, look how fast the time had ran away. I can't believe that it had been two years to all those happenings. Two years since everything changed in my life. Since my life had taken a new turn. I had started a new life in this city. True, those past still haunted me but now I had learned to live with it. I had changed a lot in this two years. So much that I couldn't even recognize myself. I don't even remember how that soft spoken, loving, caring and smiling Khushi went away. Now I am a changed person who is rude, arrogant and little bit selfish also. I can't help it Tai. My past had taught me that being selfless and loving never gave you anything. But it only snatched everything from you. I don't regret my change Tai because this change gave me confidence, a way to make a new life for myself and my babies. I can't let people hurt me and my babies due to my nature anymore. More than me, I had to stay strong for my babies. In this two years, I had seen how cruelly this world treated a single mother and fatherless kids. I can't let that happen to my kids. If my change gave a new life to my kids then I am ready to take any pain to give them a good future."
Turning around she saw her Ponies sleeping peacefully on the bed. Two years have passed. Her Ponies is now two years and nine month old. They had grown up really fast. Everything changed in this two years. But seeing her Ponies, she didn't realize when time flew away so fast. Her Ponies had become big not by age but by behavior and nature.
They understood everything. They were very intelligent. You can call them Child Prodigies. They understood all the things happening around. They haven't even completed three year old but already in first grade.
She sighed. God had gifted her with such beautiful and understanding kids. They knew about their father. When three months before they started school, they saw their classmates coming with their fathers and questioned her about him. She was prepared for it. She knew her kids are growing fast and they would soon realize the absence of their father in their lives.
She explained as simple as possible about why their father was not with them, how he left her and them for another woman, how he was manipulated by his family, how didn't know about their existence, everything. Her Ponies heard everything patiently. At the end instead of crying, they were consoling her. They asked her not to cry for that man.
She didn't know how much her babies understood the gravity of the situation. How much they understood about all those things that she told them. But one thing she knew was her babies accepted the fact that they had to live without their father. From that day they never questioned about their father. May be because it hurt her and they didn't wanted it or may be because they weren't interested in knowing about their father. She didn't knew.
Her kids were so close to her. All three loved her to bits. They shared all their secrets, their happiness everything with her. More than a mother she was their best friend. Her kids were really naughty. They usually played pranks on others. But she loved all their shades.
Her three sons resembled their father so much. All three of them had looks similar to their father. Even some characters resembled their father like sleeping with open mouth etc. Nevertheless her three sons are different. She loved them to bits. Now she lived for them and they are her biggest supports.
She chuckled to herself looking at them. They looked cute while sleeping. Smiling she slipped into the bed beside them. Automatically all three cuddled up to her. A small chuckle escaped her mouth. Hugging them close wrapping her hands around their tiny figures she closed her eyes falling into a peaceful slumber.
Hours later
Khushi was making breakfast in the kitchen. Neha was helping her. It was holiday for Ponies for few days due to some function in their school. So they were coming with her to office that day. Jules was in the living room reading newspaper sipping his coffee.
After finishing making breakfast, Khushi and Neha went to get ready one by one. Then Khushi went to see her Ponies who were getting ready in their room. Even though they slept with her they had their own room. Entering inside the room she saw her sons ready in t-shirts and jeans with a blazer over it.
They were arguing over something. But seeing her they fell silent. She looked at them with narrowed eyes. Turning to Aryan who was the more matured among the three, she asked about the matter.
Coming near her, Aryan looked at her and said, "Mamma, they are arguing about where we should go. Bhai(Arav) is saying that we should go to office along with you but Ashu(Arush) is saying that we should go to park. Now they wants me to support them."
"But Mamma, you said yesterday that we are going to office with you. That only I was saying." Now turning to Arush. "Also if we go to office we will know about the work going on there. We can learn it and also help Mamma when we grow up. We will know more about office and business and also how to work there." Arav quipped in.
"But we don't have to study all these now. We have plenty of time for that. Now we can go to park and beach and enjoy there. There will be lot of people and we can have lots of fun. And by the way who wants to go to boring office." Arush made a face.
Khushi looked at both her sons. Sometimes they are a bunch to handle. They opinions usually doesn't match. If one is east, then other is west. She looked at her second son, Aryan. He was looking at his brothers with a worried expression. In his brothers fight he usually get sandwiched. Both want him to side with them.
But it was also good at times. Because being mature, he always chose the correct thing, so when he sided with one of his brother then the other would automatically back down and join his brothers.
So Khushi turned to Aryan, "Ayu, baby, where you want to go?"
Looking at both his brothers, then thinking for a while he said, "Mamma, we will come with you to office. You have work at office na, so you won't be able to take us out. If we go out with somebody else then you will be worried thinking about us all the time."
Trust her son to say such thoughtful words. She felt proud of him.
"OK then we will go to office." Arush agreed.
"Fine. First we will go to office now. Then in the evening we will go to Mr. Hansen's party." Khushi said smiling.
Hearing party's name, Arush's eyes twinkled. He just love parties. On the other hand Arav sulked. He hated parties. For him parties means waste of time, money and energy. He hate loud and crowdy places.
"Mamma, is it necessary to go to party." Arav asked making an annoyed face.
"Yes baby, it is necessary. It is a business party and we have to go." Khushi said calmly. Arav slowly nodded his head.
"OK. Now let's go for breakfast. Then we have to go to office. Mamma have lots of work today." Khushi quickly ushered her kids to the dining table.
After helping them settling in their high chairs, Khushi sat on her seat to have food. Jules and Neha were already there after getting ready. Breakfast was a joyous event. It went with jokes, Ponies' cute antics and everything. After breakfast, they set out for office.
The day went away with Khushi engrossed in her work in between checking on her ponies. Ponies sometimes moved around the office, or just sat at one place looking around or talking to each other. Sometimes they played pranks on others or they were engrossed in their new i-pads. They had lunch with their mother and went home in the evening.
By six o'clock, everyone was ready to go to the party. Khushi was in a beautiful simple black evening gown. Arav was in a perfect business party in a black tuxedo. Aryan was in a simple white shirt and blue jeans with a cream colored blazer. Arush was in complete looks to kill. He was wearing a black T-shirt with a cream colored pants and orange blazer.
Neha was in a simple party attire with a knee length dress. Jules were also in his casuals like Arush.
Together they went to the party. When they entered everyone looked at them, some with envy and others with admiration. Party was in its full swing. Khushi met Mr. Hansen and congratulated him. She was talking with her other business associates and friends when Mrs. Joshi came there.
Mr and Mrs Joshi were Indians who had settled in London for business purposes. They always envied Khushi for her achievements. Khushi never minded them much. She knew how to keep such people in their places. She kept minimum contact with them that too only for business purposes. They were jealous of her for her new achievement in a construction project in which they also had an eye.
Coming near Khushi, Mrs. Joshi started looking at her from head to toe. Khushi felt uncomfortable by her gaze.
"You are looking beautiful." Mrs. Joshi complemented her with a sly smile.
Looking around her, she started searching for something. Khushi frowned. Something was fishy. She was definitely up to something.
Smiling fakely, Mrs Joshi asked, "Didn't your husband come. Your kids are here. Even your friends are here. But your husband isn't seen anywhere."
Khushi froze. Why is this woman talking. How can she ask such question. Mrs Joshi very well knew she was a single mother. She gritted her teeth. Damn this woman. She felt anger rising in her. She could very well understand what she was up to.
Looking around she saw people looking at them. No she can't make a scene here. Taking a deep breath she calmed her nerves. Smiling slightly she answered, "No he didn't come. We are not together anymore. I am a single mother This is my small family my kids and my brother Julian and my sister Neha." She answered with head held high.
"Oh I didn't knew. I am sorry." Mrs Joshi said with fake sympathy. Smiling to herself for the success of her plan she went away. She wanted to get back at Khushi ever since Khushi had managed to grab that project they wanted. So that only purposely asked that question. She knew the answer very well. But she wanted to demean Khushi in front of everyone.
Looking at her retreating figure Khushi took a deep breath and turned to her clients. She chatted with them for sometime.
After sometime everyone heard loud noises. They saw Mrs Joshi running out of the party hall screaming. Her dress were dirty, hair messed up and face looked like a colorful painting.
Khushi looked at her side. She knew who was behind it but decided to remain quiet. Bidding bye to the clients she reached home with Jules, Neha and Ponies.
Entering inside the house, she stood in the living room with folded hands and narrowed eyes. The culprits stood in front of her with bowed heads. Looking at her sons' cute faces she wanted to burst out laughing and take them in her arms. But being a mother, she can't give her sons wrong teaching. So she decided to act tough.
"Now tell me what happened at the party. How Mrs Joshi was in that state?" Khushi asked firmly. She knew that if someone said anything to her that would hurt her then her sons won't leave them. True they were different in their nature. But in this one matter they were alike. They loved their mother so much. If someone hutted her then they have to face hell. They will make sure of it.
Ponies looked at each other and then at their Mamma. They went near her and took her to the long sofa. Settling her in the middle they sat on her either sides hugging her and started narrating the story. Jules and Neha also settled in the single sofas to hear it.
Flashback
After Mrs Joshi's little stunt to demean Khushi. Everyone started engrossing in their work. Khushi started talking to clients. But nobody noticed the three souls standing their with anger evident in their small eyes.
The three little devils got their new target. Nobody gets away hurting their mother. They smirked evilly as an idea came in their mind. Mrs Joshi, your time is up.
As their mother's attention shifted from them, the little devils slipped away from beside their mother. Moving around the party they spotted Mrs Joshi sitting in one of the seats sipping her juice.
They went near the bearer who was serving the cake. They got slices of cake from him. In one piece of cake, they kept the dummy cockroach toy that they always carry with themselves. They then went near Mrs Joshi and started talking with her and made her fall with their innocent charms.
Then they offered her the cake with the cockroach in it. After taking few bites from the cake she spotted the fake cockroach in it. Assuming it to be original she ran away to vomit.
After emptying the whole content in her stomach she came back. The Ponies had taken the cockroach away by then. They then offered her the juice in which they had already added hand wash. Drinking it she ran away to toilet.
After sometime she came back with a pale face and messed up hair. But the Ponies weren't done. They took some cake they had earlier took from the waiter and kept it on the seat. Then they made her sit on it. They also managed to spread some cake on her face.
She went away to wash her face and dress. While she was washing her face, they sneaked into the bathroom and added some curry in the water she had taken to wash her face. Due to burning sensation from the chilly she started screaming.
Ponies quickly ran away and went and stood beside their mother. Mrs Joshi ran away from the party not being able to take anymore. Ponies silently enjoyed her state.
Flashback ends
As soon as they finished their story everyone was laughing out loud. Khushi also help but laugh. Controlling her laugh, she said, "But Ponies you shouldn't have done that she is elder to you na."
"But she hurt you Mumma." Soon came their reply. She sighed. Her boys are too stubborn in this matter.
"But still. You should apologize." She tried to make them understand.
"We already did."
"When?"
"When she was running away from the party we gave a sorry note to a waiter to give her which he did. But we didn't kept name in that." They answered her.
"Its OK. But don't repeat it."
They looked at each other but didn't said anything. They all went to their room. Ponies slept after sometime. Khushi looked at the sky for sometime talking to her Tai, then she also slept.
After few hours, in another part of the world (India)
A man stood by the window looking at the sky. He looked pale and weak. Dark circles were under his eyes. Sleep evaded him. It had been two years he slept peacefully. Two years since life was ruined. Two years since he lost his happiness.
Looking at the sky, he closed his eyes. A lone tear escaped from the corner of his eyes.
"Come back soon Angel. Come back soon. I love you. Please come back. It had been two years. Please come back soon." He whispered brokenly.
Moving towards the bed he lied to spend one more sleepless night lost in her memories.
Precap: Coming back
So that's for this part. From now a new beginning. I know some of you are disappointed with the leap. But it was necessary. I wanted to give proper screen space to Ponies. They are also an important part of this story. Whatever happens in parents' life affect children' s life also. So they will be important characters in this story.
Also they will be Khushi's biggest strength. True Neha and Jules are there. But for a mother her biggest strength will be her children so Ponies will be Khushi's strength.
Regarding doubt you have asked me
1. Who was Girish and Sumitra?
And: Girish and Sumitra are like parents for Khushi. They don't have children so they consider Khushi as their own. For details read chapter 10. How Khushi met Girish and Sumitra. How they came into her life. What happened between them All these answers will come in next chapters. Some more past is left but they are not completely sad ones.
Thank you for your support. Please keep commenting.
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