Chapter 7
Arnav shifted under the warmth of the heavy, woolen duvet as he felt his phone buzz against his ear and he reached for the annoying device, checking for any notifications with half-open eyes. Even though he had always been a light sleeper, recently even the slightest noise had started to disturb him awake.
At least this was one thing about fatherhood that he had already seemed to master: staying awake well into the night.
He sighed. The fact that Khushi had began to feel increasingly uncomfortable over the past week had been one of the major reasons for this relentless insomnia, coupled with the pressure from work that had suddenly seemed to have befallen over him.
Scrolling down, he glanced at the several mails he had received over the past three hours -- when he had finally gone to bed after wrapping up an international video conference. Then there was his updated schedule for the coming week, a bright red and green reminder that read 'Merry Christmas' and a few personal, text messages. A couple from his sister, one from Akash inquiring about his health, and one that was a single line -- as was usual.
I hope you're taking care of my sister and the babies. - P.
Over the past month, he had asked Aman to make sure that his family believed that he was staying at Sheesh Mahal in Lucknow, still on the lookout for Khushi. With them having to endure his obsession to find her ever since he had been able stand on his own two-feet after partially recovering from the accident, it hadn't been too difficult to make them believe that was the truth. With a few phone calls to his sister and eventually Akash filling them up about his return to the business, he knew that his family would be satisfied enough to not pay him any surprise visits.
However, he had known that it wouldn't be easy to hide it from his brother. He deserved better than to be blatantly lied to. So, he hadn't tried. In the silence that had stretched between them when Akash had finally inquired him about his actual whereabouts and well-being, Arnav had asked him for time. And the younger man had understood -- perhaps if not about Khushi, then his need for space to collect the pieces of his life.
But the one person he hadn't had the heart and the will to hide it from had been Payal. One week into discovering Khushi at the caf, he had called her. He distinctly remembered her voice quivering into the phone as she had asked to speak to her sister after learning of her pregnancy from him.
He had blamed himself then for the situation that they were all in, for Khushi's separation from her family, and for Payal not being able to support her own sister during this phase of her life. But he had also known that Khushi wasn't ready to welcome anyone else from her life in Delhi anymore than she already had.
He had felt utterly selfish as he had refused to grant her what she wanted. Perhaps, he wasn't the one who should have been part of her life of all the people who deserved to be. But he had accepted his weaknesses and he couldn't bear to be away from her. Not now, not ever again. And a part of him had realised that she need him too, to be with her and their growing family.
Arnav had also understood her need for escape better than anyone else. He understood where it had come from, and he had seen it in her reluctance to voice it out loud. With everything that had happened in their lives in the past months, she had learnt to support herself and to cherish her new-found independence. And she wasn't ready to give it up, at least not yet.
While her ideals had always remained deeply rooted in her being and he knew she missed her family every day, he was also aware that their presence in her present life would suffocate her. She had made a choice for herself and her children, which she knew wouldn't be appreciated by the traditional views held by her family. They were different, she had accepted it. But this change in her and her eventual decision had come after a lot of thought and she didn't want anyone's interference for once in her life. After everything, she couldn't just give it up.
However, Arnav had realised that he couldn't have expected Payal to understand his silence after he had refused to let Khushi know he had told her. And so, he had explained everything to her. It wasn't something that he would do normally, but he knew that their situation was far from being normal at the very least.
He had quietly heard every accusation she had thrown at him, sensed the anger and helplessness in her voice and then, he had caught on the disappointment as she had trailed off and chosen to respect her sister's decision if not completely accept it when she had finally cut the phone-call.
Eventually, she had resigned to inquiring about Khushi over text messages that he had responded to regularly, updating her about Khushi's health and the progress of her pregnancy, even attaching a few pictures each time. For he had known that with each text he sent to her, Payal had felt closer to her sister than she had in months and that she patiently waited for the one call where she would get to hear Khushi's voice.
As he finished typing his reply, he felt Khushi's movement under the thick covers and concern swept over him as he carelessly threw his phone aside and shifted closer to her, partially sitting up. He almost expected her to suddenly get off the bed as fast as her body allowed her to and rush to the bathroom as a result of the increased bouts of morning sickness.
However, she only turned towards him in her sleep and he saw a faint smile on her lips as she continued to sleep peacefully. Sheer relief washed over him and he noticed that her hair was spread against his pillow. His lips curved up softly as vignettes from before reeled in his mind, and out of habit he began to lean in. She looked beautiful.
Just as he was about to press his lips against her cheek, his eyes fell on a ring dangling from the thin chain she wore around her neck, and he immediately stilled. Their engagement ring.
It wasn't the first time that he had noticed it. But its presence had always remained unsaid acknowledgement between them for he hadn't wanted to bring it up with Khushi and force an answer out of her. Their unfulfilled wedding was still a sensitive subject and he had decided not to prod it, considering that she had remained sentimentally attached to that particular piece of jewelry.
But as he watched it sparkle against the dim light that had begun to filter into the room through the sheer curtains, he felt a rush of affection course through his veins. Suddenly, he wanted the ring to be back on her finger, where it had always belonged.
Arnav was brought out of his thoughts as he felt her stir slightly. Instantly, he knew that she would wake soon and he slipped back under the covers, seeking her touch. His hand began to caress her warm skin, his thumb rubbing gently against her cheek before it travelled to her neck and then slowly curved around the growing length of her waist.
As he had often done in the past weeks, he marveled at the strength her seemingly lithe frame possessed to have carried their babies. She wasn't the petite; fluttering girl she had been only a few months ago. She was a now a woman an exhausted one at that who was carrying their two babies.
He had learnt from Grace that even though there hadn't been any significant complications with her pregnancy, the doctor had been concerned about a woman of her size being able to comfortably carry twins.
The physical effects had been far great than they would have been in a single pregnancy she had had to gain more weight, was exhausted faster, suffered from continuous morning sickness, and at one point had even stopped eating much in agitation of her raging hormones and constant need to pee.
But to everyone's amazement, she had managed it with more grace than had been expected of her while she had continued working at the caf. It was only recently that she had thought of reducing her work hours as her body had continuously ached and the strain had started to wear her out.
Even her hormones had been acting up lately and he shuddered at the memory when a few days ago, Suhana had dropped her home from work and just as he had closed the door, she had broken into sudden and unexplained tears. She had clutched at his jacket and continued to cry for a good half hour while he had looked on weakly, realising that there was nothing he could have done besides listening to her, and holding her in his embrace.
Later, he had tucked her into bed as she had murmured in a muffled voice about how she had been unable to bake or do anything productive in the kitchen, how agitated she had been with it and how impossible everything seemed now. He had continued to comfort her until she had fallen asleep, tired and in urgent need of rest.
He felt Khushi rest her hand on his arm as she buried her face in the crook of his neck and she hummed against his skin. In response; he tightened his hands around her waist, knowing she was awake.
"Good morning, you, he pushed a strand of hair from her face," his tender gaze fixed on her.
"What time is it?" he heard her groggy voice.
Oddly, he had always found this heaviness that came over her voice incredibly attractive. There was something exceptionally sensual and raw about it. And he felt a rush of desire flood through him at the feel of her lips pressed against his neck. He had missed this intimacy, this companionship between them, and this familiar ache in his muscles when he was with her. Somehow, it had just felt right.
He had wanted to kiss her then, and with the present state of her hormones he knew she wouldn't resist. More than once in the past days, he had caught her staring at him when she thought he wasn't looking, the familiar, delicious blush spread across her skin. But he knew better than to rush this. He wanted to make her comfortable with the idea of their rekindled intimacy, and so he had decided to take it one step at a time.
"Enough for you to go back to sleep and wake up again in an hour or two before you start getting ready for the Christmas brunch at the cafe."
He placed a light kiss in her hair and felt her nod as she looked up at him, flashing a sleepy smile at him. She started to trace her fingers over the light stubble that had formed over his cheek before dragging them down to his chest and set her hand over his heart that was now beating gently to her tune.
"Merry Christmas, Arnav."
"Merry Christmas, Khushi," he grinned back at her. "I see you're feeling better, today."
"Ah, I think our babies have decided to give their mum a Christmas present, already."
She looked radiant against the dark shade of the duvet, and he could see that she was already in a pleasant mood as she snuggled up against him.
"Well, I think you should make the most of it then. Go on, go back to sleep. As it is, the last few days have exhausted you enough," his eyebrows knit into a slight frown at that.
"Aren't you sleeping in too? What time did you come to bed?"
He looked sheepishly at her as he answered, "At three-maybe four in the morning."
Her gasp at that was indication enough for him about what was to come next, and he braced himself for it.
"Sleep, Arnav," she ordered sternly, and he shook his head as he gave into his own temptation and pulled the covers over their heads, evoking playful giggles from her before both of them returned to a blissful slumber in each other's arms.
***
Khushi placed the pie carefully on to the table before she pulled out a chair for herself and settled into it, needing the rest. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed her surroundings, and watched the beautifully decorated interior of the caf. Suhana and Grace had really outdone themselves, adding delightfully to the warmth of the little space.
She beamed at Meera, who had just finished setting up the cutlery and was already racing back into the kitchen. Probably to prevent any further mess than had already been created.
It being a holiday, Emma had decided to host an extravagant Christmas brunch at the caf and all of them had volunteered to prepare for it, together.
The tables had been adjoined to form one large dining table that she saw was now being fast filled-up with the traditional delicacies that they had all whipped up. The boys too had volunteered to help, and she chuckled to herself as she recalled the good-natured ruckus they had been causing in the kitchen, much to Suhana's annoyance who had been ready to kick them out if not for an amused Emma's interference.
While it had snowed through the night, the weather had fortunately become better by daytime. Enough for them to be able to walk to the caf. And right after she had arrived with Arnav, she had marched straight into the kitchen, wanting to cook especially for the occasion and had stayed there even since.
While everyone had tried their best to dissuade her from exerting herself in the process, she had been determined not to give in and had got down to working as she had ignored all of them and took command of the place.
It had felt exhilarating to be able to work without being tired or in pain, after almost a week of relentless service. And to be able to finally cook for herself. With the holiday season dawning upon them in full swing, they had been on their toes all week following Suhana's birthday, catering to one customer and the next.
The caf had bustled with people at all hours and at one point she had been extremely close to a breakdown. The crowd pouring into the caf had seemed never-ending and they had suddenly run out of brownies and cupcakes, together!
It had been the first time since she had been working at the caf and even perhaps its conception -- she had later learnt from Emma -- that they had had to make people wait for them to be able to eat inside the caf. Grace had seemed to suspect that the heavier crowds had been due to positive reviews that their little patisserie had garnered in the cities. And while they had all been delighted by the news the rush had equally worn them all out and that they had realised that they were in severe need of practice for them to be able to handle it.
All the continuous activity had taken its toll on her health too, the nausea had worsened and her body had been exhausted to the extent that she had fainted while she had been taking her mid-day break. It had sent Arnav into a fit of worry, and while she had managed to calm him down, she had decided to reduce her hours of work, fearing for her own health and that of her children.
So Khushi had finally felt the cheer of the season in her veins when she had been able to sleep in peacefully. That had significantly uplifted her mood, and added to it was that she had been woken up by Arnav's gentle touch instead of the distressing urge to dash into the bathroom and purge the contents of her stomach.
In that moment, she had felt her affection for him fill her heart as she realised that she had missed being able to wrap herself in his embrace and seek comfort from it. She could see their relationship being re-built with each passing day, and she knew now that she wanted to move forward, and with him by her side.
Because frankly, she had started to feel hot and bothered around him, and she didn't know whether she would be able to reign in her urges for too long.
Khushi was brought out of reverie as she heard the chatter that had filled up the pleasant silence she had previously been sitting in, and Khushi smiled as Arnav placed a hand over hers, slipping into the seat next to her while the dishes were brought out, glasses were filled and everyone toasted to a successful and happy Christmas as they began to indulge in food, laughter, and jovial chit-chat.
Soon enough, the topic had shifted to Samarth's upcoming proposal and his to-be fiance's impending visit to the hills where they would all get to finally meet her. The man's eyes seemed to twinkle as he indulgently accepted well-meaning advice from everyone across the room -- starting from aunt Emma to little bundle of energy, Ruhaan. It was evident that he was a man in love, who couldn't wait to begin the journey he had decided to embark upon.
Khushi felt genuine happiness for Samarth, who had now began a dramatic narration of his own idea to the group and had already received cheers from them, urging him on. He had spoken to her about his ladylove in the past, and she had seen the pure, unadulterated love his eyes had held for her. She had recognised that look all too well when he spoke of her, and wished that it would never change for them.
Unconsciously, her hand reached for the ring strung in a chain around her neck and she began to play with it as she half-listened to Emma talk about her own, long marriage as her thoughts shifted to her wedding day.
Her wedding to Armav, both times had resulted in dramatic consequences. And even though their marriage hadn't turned out the way they had both expected it to -- driven by unfavourable circumstances -- it had been instrumental in giving them a real chance at their relationship, away from any shadows of the past that could affect them negatively. She knew that there was a part of her that would always remain incomplete without him, a void that could only be filled by him.
Khushi suddenly started as she felt Arnav's hand rest on her thigh. He had caught her unawares and she dropped the ring in a reflex action as she glanced at him in surprise.
And her breath hitched in her throat, as she saw his darkened gaze trained at the ring before it traveled up to meet her eyes. There was distinct glint in them, and she could clearly read the determination written all over his face. She felt her ears begin to heat and her cheeks burn as his hand caught hers and he turned to focus on the conversation, well aware that she had caught on the rare glimmer -- if not entirely understood its meaning. She knew that he had wanted it that way.
However, the intensity in his eyes had unnerved her. She hadn't seen that look in a long time and but she that it held promise. He had made some kind of a decision. And she felt her heart thud against her chest as she tried to calm down her nerves and begin to guess what it was.
But the way his hand was now drawing circles against her own, she knew that the man she loved had decide to distract her and thus, she decided to wait.
In time, she would know. All in good time.
A/N - Hello, folks! All your reviews and comments had me moved and encouraged to write this chapter sooner. Your love encourages me to write, and I'm overwhelmed that this story remained in your thoughts for almost a year.
Thank you so much for all the love and wishes! Please keep sharing your views, you know how I love reading them <3
P.S. - The update schedule is tentative at the moment, but you can expect updates on either Saturdays or Sundays. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
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See you all, very soon!
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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