Arshi FF: Destined To Love #2 LINK TO#3 Pg151 - Page 10

Shalini's eyes wandered over the huge shelves which were full of wool balls of different colors. She touched the balls to feel their material, pushing back the ones which were rough and might prick the skin, she concentrated only on those which were soft. She rubbed the material against her cheek, satisfied that they would not hurt, she began choosing the desired colors. khushi frowned seeing shalini pick black, grey and various shades of blue. Resting her hands on her belly she walked up to shalini and handed her a brown color wool ball, this time shalini furrowed her brows in confusion.

" arnav ji...wears browns too." She reminded shalini thinking that she was picking up wool balls to knit sweaters for arnav.

Ironing out her brows, shalini let out a laugh and said pointing towards khushi's belly," silly , these are for the baby not arnav."

khushi bit the inside of her cheek, why did she have to always end up making a fool of herself in front of shalini. Nevertheless liking the shade of brown, shalini dropped it in her shopping basket and continued," moreover arnav wears waist coats. He doesn't need pullovers."

khushi shook her head in agreement then rolled her eyes thinking, anyways why would she bother to shop for him? She remembered shalini's words that he was happy with his four pairs of clothes. She glanced down at shalini's basket and felt that these colors wouldn't look good on a girl. She moved to the other side of the shelf and picked up red, pink, green, orange, all the possible vibrant colors that she could lay her eyes on.

Shalini grinned broadly seeing her hands full and questioned," what , you want me to buy all these too?" bubbling with excitement khushi nodded a yes and thought that he would be so happy to see his tiny little daughter in these beautiful colors. Just the thought of him being happy made a wave of joy run through her body.

Walking to another counter, shalini bought two pairs of knitting needles and asked her," you know how to knit?" khushi made a disappointing face and replied," no.". shalini held her hand in reassurance and said," don't worry...I'll teach you." khushi's face lit up, shalini wasn't bad when it came to the baby.

After paying off the bill both the ladies decided to stroll around before heading back home. The landscape was surprisingly lush, the winter rains had assisted the nature in that regard. The trees were stripped bare of their leaves and were sparsely located. On the way shalini spotted an old temple and stopped immediately to visit it.

" khushi, let's go there."

Temples were not one of khushi's favorite places to visit, a pang of discomfort always seeped through her whenever she crossed them. Gazing up the long stairs she turned her head and said," no di...I can't climb so many stairs .. you go." Shalini blinked her eyes in understanding and started climbing up the stairs.

khushi in the mean while made herself comfortable on one of the steps. The cold air ruffled her hair, winter was slowly making way for spring. She pulled her sweater closer to keep herself warm. Involuntarily her eyes travelled up the stairs once again and halted on the idol of Lord Ganpati. From where she was sitting she could only see His eyes. She stared into them for some time before dropping her gaze. It was dusk and the several brass bells that housed the place of worship rung loud. The aarti began and old verses in Sanskrit chanted by the priests filled the air. She knew most of those verses, her mother had taught her at a very young age. Unknowingly her lips started mouthing them softly as one of her hands rested on her stomach. Suddenly what she was reciting, hit her and her lips froze.

She shifted her position in a way that now her back was facing Him. She stayed like that for a while before leaning her back against the wall behind as she recalled her mother's words that one should never turn his back to Him.

Turning her neck to the right she observed the activities taking place outside the temple. Vendors lined the street, yelling out to invest in their wares. The already congested road had temporary stalls on its either sides selling small Ganpati statues, photo frames, fresh flowers and other items that could be offered to the deity. Children who were uninterested in the pooja remained outside chasing after black swallows. Their gay free spirited laughter echoed out into the evening. What did they know of tragedy? Of reality? Her mind went back to her mother's beliefs that she'd instilled in her long time back that if things happen as per your wish then its good but if they don't then its better because then its His will and lastly whatever happens, it happens for our best.

Shrugging her shoulders she smirked at those nave and innocent beliefs. Her wandering eyes trying hard to ignore His presence spotted another bunch of kids who were splashing water and throwing water balloons on each other. Her forehead creased as it struck her that holi was round the corner. Her lips stretched in a smile on remembering her childhood. The child who succeeded in coloring Bappa first early in the morning of holi day would get the chance to be the leader. She would always lead the huge army of children out on the streets armed with water pistols and gulal, waiting to lay their colored hands on anyone with a clean face. The shouts of ' happy holi' and frantic drum beats still echoed in her ears.

Lost in her memories she didn't realize when shalini stood beside her. She got up and before she could protest, shalini placed a tiny little tika on her forehead and held out a ladoo for her.

khushi rolled her eyes on seeing that sweet but then stuffed it in her mouth without grumbling. Both of them were slipping their feet in their respective pair of sandals when someone hit khushi with a colored balloon. Totally taken off guard she let out a cry seeing the yellow sari now turned orange. Clutching on to it she gazed at shalini for her reaction, after all the sari belonged to her and now it was completely ruined. Clenching her jaws, shalini turned around immediately and screamed," who did this?" the bunch of kids went all silent with no one owing up. Knitting her brows she asked once again, this time firmly," answer me ..who threw the balloon ?"

Slowly a boy of not more than five years hiding something behind him stepped forward. Bringing his hands forward he aimed the water pistol at shalini and replied glaring back at her " I did it.. SO?"

For the first time khushi saw shalini losing her temper, fearing she might harm the boy, khushi tugged her arm and said," let him go di..he's just a kid."

Both shalini and the boy were equally stubborn with neither of them moving an inch. Shalini parted her lips to speak but before that the boy emptied the pistol on her. khushi shut her eyes and thought, now he was dead. Suddenly she heard laughter, opening her eyes she found shalini throwing her head back and laughing heartily.

Picking up a laddo from her plate she gave it to the boy and said brushing her fingers through his hair," always stay like this. Strong and fearless."

Turning to her left she found a wide eyed khushi staring at her. Lifting her head she asked khushi," isn't he like arnav?" khushi pouted her lips and thought about it, yeah the boy kind of reminded of him.

" I want a boy just like arnav. Arrogant, stubborn, not caring a damn about what the world thought."

khushi was quite appalled hearing about the characteristics she wished to have in the child, true it would be wonderful if the child resembled him but not the way shalini was expecting. And one more thing, wasn't she hoping for a boy? khushi wanted to slap her head, could this couple ever agree on the same thing?

Looking down at her belly she thought, if he wanted a girl then she was longing for a boy. Shaking her head she believed now everything was in His hands, glancing up in His direction she began walking away slowly and wondered, would He listen to the father or the supposed mother? She prayed that this time He listened to the father...but then He had stopped answering her prayers long time back.

Engrossed in her thoughts she didn't realize when her foot hit a gravel and she was about to stumble but managed to lean her swaying body against a stall. Straightening herself she saw her colored hand brush over a small idol of lord Ganpati. Accidently after years today she'd put color over bappa.

She was still thinking about it when shalini pulled her hand and said," you must be tired. We'll take a rickshaw." She didn't know when khushi had stumbled behind her.

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With the guidance of shalini, she began her knitting then let out an audible sigh, who said, knitting was easy and therapeutic ? it was damn tough, she concluded as the wool was only entangling between the needles and she was failing miserably in creating the desired stitches on the needle. Not that she wasn't trying, she was trying hard but it wasn't coming out correctly. Shalini gave her a reassuring look and said," it's your first day...slowly you'll get the hang of it." She pursed her lips in agreement and went back to the needles.

Shalini's cell phone started ringing, she picked it up and said," yeah...arnav." Even before she picked up the call, khushi knew it was him. He called up daily, sometimes even twice or thrice in a day. What he talked and what they shared, she hardly knew and cared. Either shalini would move out of the place or she would leave on her own, giving the couple their much deserved privacy. But sometimes she overheard shlini telling him about her health and the baby. Like always today also khushi left the place and went to the kitchen. It had been more than fifteen days since they had moved out of RM and not even once did he visit them or she spoke to him. Not that she was dying to get a glimpse of him or hear his voice but still...

Feeling slightly grumpy and low she entered the kitchen and stood near the counter where laxmi was cooking dinner. Not knowing what to do, khushi began peeling off the peas. Seeing her all silent, laxmi asked," what brought you here?" without lifting her head, khushi replied dryly," di is talking to arnav ji." laxmi's heart tugged every time she thought of khushi living without a husband, she was pregnant and didn't have anybody to share this beautiful moment with.

She could well understand khushi's loneliness, a time when a woman needed her husband so much, khushi didn't have him around. Moreover she felt that the constant interaction between shalini and her husband reminded khushi of her empty life. With motherly affection in her eyes she told khushi," don't be upset, you're not alone in this world." And eyed towards her bulging stomach, at least she had this baby breathing inside her womb to look forward to.

khushi understood the deep meaning hidden behind those words, she knew that laxmi was right but some things are easier said than accepted. She silently a popped a few peas in her mouth. Caressing her head fondly laxmi added further," this baby will fill your life with happiness."

Following her gaze, khushi gave out a weak smile, little did the lady cooking before her knew that she'd already sold off the life growing inside her to have a better life for herself. Even after the baby would enter this world she'd still remain alone. Tears began to prick the corners of her eyes, she pushed them back and lifted her hand full of peas to have more. laxmi slapped her hand and said," don't eat raw peas ...your stomach will hurt." Her late mother also used to tell her the same when she was young. Attempting to push aside the negative and heavy thoughts that were occupying her mind, khushi asked enthusiastically," what's cooking tonight?"

" dal and stuffed potatoes ...you like them?" laxmi replied stirring the potatoes.

After spinach soup, stuffed potatoes was the first thing that she'd cooked for him. A smile adorned her lips as she remembered clearly how much he had enjoyed eating them.

" you want to make?" laxmi asked her, she shook her in negation and shrugged her shoulders before replying," who will I cook for ?"

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Pressing the back of his neck he stretched it both the sides. At the work front things were hectic but still moved speedily, just the way he'd planned. His eye lids were feeling the weight of his daily work load and threatened to drop any moment but deep down he was aware that sleep would not invade his territory till his dark pools drowned in those beautiful images. Like every night he took out that CD and inserted it in his laptop. The whole day's tiredness would dissipate just at the sight of his baby. Even though he'd watched the CD endless times still every time it managed to create that much amount of excitement and happiness within him. He slowly and carefully brushed his slender fingers over the image of the baby fearing that he might harm or hurt it in the process. The baby moved at his touch and his lips parted in surprise, he knew it was not responding to his touch still he liked to believe otherwise.

Women are so fortunate that God has given them the ability to nurture life inside them, men can connect with their child only once the child opens its eyes into this world whereas women they are bonded and can feel the child even when its breathing in their womb. Pursing his lips he thought, he only had this CD to interact with his child. In these fifteen days this new life must've grown bigger and somewhere he craved to see how it looked now. Some more deadlines to meet then he would definitely go to mahabaleshwar.

His eyes were glued to the monitor when the baby stopped moving. His brows drew together and his heart skipped several beats. The CD got stuck!

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khushi opened her drowsy eyes and glanced at her bed side table. The water jug was missing, maybe tonight mausi had forgotten to keep it. Her throat was dry, she looked down at laxmi who was lost in her sleep. Thinking not to disturb her, khushi flopped her feet on the floor and decided to have water herself. Switching on the kitchen light she turned the tap of the huge water drum placed next to the sink. Washed away dishes of the night were still drying up and the area around the sink along with the floor was slightly wet.

Pushing her head back khushi was drinking the water when her foot slipped on the wet floor. She tried to hold the counter with her left hand but it was too late, the glass dropped on the floor crashing the silence and she twisted her ankle as she fell on her back. She clutched her belly and cried in pain.

Hearing the glass drop, shalini came rushing to the kitchen. She felt the wind knocked out of her on seeing khushi lying on the floor. Shalini sat her up then slowly helped her to stand on her feet. Putting her weight on shalini, she staggered herself to the room.

Shalini's blood boiled on seeing the housekeeper snoring away to glory. She assisted khushi in getting to bed then switched on all the lights of the room.

" khushi, is it paining a lot?" she asked worriedly keeping her hand on pragya's stomach. pragya shook her head and replied," my back is hurting."

Shalini nodded her head, luckily she'd fallen on her back and not stomach, otherwise the consequences would have been serious.

" don't worry I'll get you a hot water bag."

Till then laxmi also got up rubbing her eyes and came to khushi's side instantly," what's wrong?" shalini narrowed her eyes and spoke through gritted teeth," mausi, you can happily and peacefully snore. I'll take care of khushi on my own" shalini stood up angrily and walked back to kitchen. A guilty laxmi, followed her behind. Shalini's eyes were spitting fire as water heated on the stove.

" I didn't realize when khushi got off the bed." laxmi said with lowered head.

" but why on earth did she have to get off? Why was the damn jug empty?" She scolded her while taking out the hot water bottle from the shelf.

laxmi stepped forward to help but shalini showed her palm, indicating to back off. Glancing at the wet floor, shalini clenched her jaws and added further," and to make things worse you left the floor wet."

laxmi had nothing to say in her defense, it was all her fault, how could she be so careless? She cursed herself. Without caring to give her second look, shalini hurriedly went to the room with the bottle.

Resting her hand on her belly, with closed eyes khushi hoped nothing happened to the baby. Shalini took out the moov spray from the first aid box, turned khushi slightly and then sprayed it on her back. Afterwards shalini placed the hot water bottle underneath khushi's back. She then pulled up the blanket and tucked her securely.

Caressing khushi's head she whispered," you'll feel better soon ..close your eyes and try to relax."

khushi gulped the pain and nodded silently. Shalini's gaze then fell on khushi's swollen ankle, there was only one hot water bottle in the house, scratching her head she thought of something. laxmi switched off all the lights except the bedside lamp and stood as a mute spectator at the end of the bed. Shalini took a hand towel and heated it with iron then wrapped it around khushi's ankle, who immediately pulled up her leg and protested," no di, I'm fine."

Shalini silenced her by pressing a finger on her own lips. khushi opened her mouth to speak but shalini nodded a no. In the mean time laxmi brought one more towel and heated it, she handed shalini the fresh hot one and took the previous one that had gotten cold to re heat but not without receiving ice cold glares from her mistress.

Both the ladies exchanged towels in silence, shalini noticed khushi's deep breathing maybe she had drifted off to sleep. The swelling on khushi's ankle had subsided. After spraying moov on the ankle shalini wrapped a bandage around it and began walking out of the room.

" please forgive me..this won't happen again ." She heard laxmi speak from behind. Turning around she replied coldly," I know it won't happen again because you're fired." Shocked to hear about her dismissal, laxmi folded her hands in forgiveness and cried before her," oh please don't do this .i need this job..my daughter is going to get married in two months ..i beg of you."

Shalini curled her lips as the lady before her begged further," I swear I won't give you any reason to complain."

Not bothering to reply shalini slammed the door shut on laxmi's face! She decided to call a doctor at home in the morning to get khushi checked up then glanced at the wall clock, it struck 2, she yawned lazily and thought, hopefully now she could crash on the bed. But just then her gaze fell on the cell phone, its green light was blinking. Ten missed calls from Arnav! What was wrong with him? Before she could do anything the phone started vibrating once again.

" hey arnav."

" where were you and why weren't you taking my calls?" he roared from the other side. Resting her hand on her waist she shook her head and answered," I was with khushi in her room." His breath caught in his throat, he feared something had definitely gone wrong with her.

" why, what happened to her ?" he asked impatiently. Shalini bit the inside of her cheek, she knew khushi was doing fine but still she didn't wish to tell him about this accident. On knowing he would without any delay ask them to come back to RM, she was sure of that.

" Nothing. We were just chatting."

arnav lifted his hand to look at his loosely hung watch, 2 in the morning and they were happily chatting? He was finding it hard to digest.

" when is her next check up?"

" coming monday." She informed. He pursed his lips and made a mental note this time he would also accompany her for the check up. He wanted to ensure that everything was fine with her because deep down he felt that something was surely going wrong somewhere.

" okay."

With that he disconnected the call and stared at the frozen monitor.

Thanks for reading

Rose