OS: So how was Aarav conceived?

When Arnav entered the room he saw Khushi sitting with a box of jalebis chewing away to glory.

The fact that her mind was not even in making it told him she was very disturbed.

His heart went out to the woman in front of him. Correction. Child woman. Though she was a grown woman to the world, to him she was also a chid-sweet, innocent, trusting, gullible and absolutely mischievous----No wonder Sheetal had played havoc with her mind. He was sure it was Sheetal's doing, but he was upset with Khushi for trusting her more than him.

But whom was he kidding? Hadn't he done the same during Shyam's time? So what if he did not know her as well as he knew her now or love with the same intensity then. He should have known that a Khushi who held marriage in such high esteem would never break another person's marriage. If he had not known that basic nature of Khushi, how could he have claimed to love her even a little.

Today it hurt to know she was displaying the same distrust. But he was ASR. He was not going to give up without a fight.

So, with a plan in his mind he came and sat next to Khushi. The moment he sat next to her she was a bundle of nerves.

It always amused him to see the effect he had on her. She was so nervous and almost like a new bride, which she was, he corrected mentally.

'You are having jalebis?' he asked

'Yes'Khushi answered

'Why?'

'Just like that'

'You are stressed'

'No'

'Something is disturbing you'

'No'

'You are lying'

'No'

'It is Aarav right. You want me to admit he is my son'

'Mmm---yes. It is not the child's fault. He needs to know his Dad.'

'So you are convinced I am Aarav's Dad.'

'All evidences point to that.'

Arnav closed his eyes to swallow the pain and hurt. The only woman he loved did not believe him? Why?

And then he remembered his past. Lavanya. His idea of living together. His firm stance against marriage. Perhaps Khushi thought he had a colorful past due to his beliefs? But she should know better. He had not even shared a room with La even though he had planned to live in.

He had to prove it. Had to know if she thought he could have been physically intimate with any woman without the emotional attachment. Did she think he was that callous? He had to know if she thought that he had shared with other women the beautiful and magical passion he shared with her.

So he inched closer to her on the bed as she tried to inch away. But he trapped her in the circle of his arms.

'So, how do you think Aarav was conceived?" he asked.

'The normal way' Khushi said nervously licking her lips.

'You mean to say I kissed Sheetal like this?" he said kissing her eyelids.

'Or did this to her' he kissed the base of her neck.

'Or perhaps this?' he claimed her lips.

Khushi felt paralyzed in pain as the images of Sheetal and Arnav came up in her head. Arnav knew she was hurting. But he had to continue.

'Or do you think I murmured sweet nothings in her ears, like I do to you,' he said as he nuzzled her ears and murmured those secret words which were theirs alone.

'Or do you think I undressed her like this,' he said as his hands undid the buttons of her ridiculous night suit

'And sprawled her hair on the bed like this,' he said his voice thick with passion, but not once losing his focus---which was to convince Khushi that he could not share this with anyone else.

'Or told her how beautiful her body is as I kissed it,' he said as he kissed her neck down.

He kept on his lovemaking all the time asking her 'So do you think I did this with Sheetal?'

And at the final moment when they was about to bring the act to culmination he asked 'So do you think I would have done this for Aarav to be conceived?'

Khushi jolted upright and screamed

'Stop! Please stop! I know you would never have done that.

Your every touch worships me.

Speaks of your love.

The whole act has a meaning for you and you never do this just for physical desire.

Whenever you touch me I know it is to express your love and passion for me and not just causual.

You never even touched me till I let you.

You were decent with Lavanyaji even when she was ready to let you do much more.

For all your western ideas, I know you are not casual about such things.

I know Arnavji, you could never have done this with Sheetal even unconsciously.

You have too much of a strength of character to do something so casual.

I believe you Arnavji. I know Arnav is not yours' Khushi said.

Tears glistened in Arnav's eyes to have her say this.

He had wanted her trust without proof.

He had wanted his Khushi to believe in him.

He buried his head in her hair and hugged her close as if to never let go.

Khushi knew then that her laad governor may be insensitive sometimes to her feelings.

He may forget about her many times.

But his, heart, soul and body belonged to her and her alone----and always had been