ArHi SS: Love Countdown|| COMPLETED || - Page 53

A/N: Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on the last chapter. It was overwhelming.🤗 Though I had not planned to write an epilogue, I changed my mind after going through your comments. I could not find anything better to gift you all on this New Year. So this epilogue is dedicated to all the lovely readers of Love countdown.😃

May this New Year bring in all the success and and happiness in your lives. Happy New Year!🥳

Banner Credit: arnavini🤗

Epilogue

11:50 P.M.

Just 10 more minutes before another year passes. While the world is all set to welcome the new year, my friend is in the arms of her beloved ready to begin their own private celebration. Yes, this has been the tradition for the last three years.

Oh! Didn't I introduce myself? Well, all of you are very well acquainted with me. Through me, you have come to know about my friend's feelings.

I am, as you have guessed by now, Khushi's diary.

Khushi Gupta was just twelve years old when she first started writing in her diary. And before you wonder whether I have infinite number of pages, I will clear the confusion. My friend buys the diaries from the same manufacturer and she has kept each one of them. These stories are told by my predecessors. I am the current one in her life, the 21^st one.

My friend is possessive about us and the first thing that she does after bringing one of us home is admiring the contours while tracing her slender fingers over the cover and the blank creamy white pages with a sweet smile and then she writes her name in her beautiful handwriting on the first creamy white page.

Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, crazy thoughts- we have been witness to everything. From school fights to her first teenage crush, from nervousness of exams to the joy of achieving an important feat in her career, we know what goes inside her complex brain and the complicated heart of hers.

And so when Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada entered her life, we knew he was going to stay long. Sixth sense, you see. You all have been a part of the journey of my friend falling in love with him.

Mr. Raizada has a very different kind of equation with us. He resents us and of course has given a special name to us, "Sautan", and Khushi finds this amusing. The one thing that we have in common is our love for Khushi. Even though Mr. Raizada doesn't like us, he cares for us just because we are Khushi's friends. When Khushi falls asleep while sharing her thoughts with us, and we are placed in somewhat awkward positions, he picks us gently from her holds and keeps us in our assigned place with utmost care.

And there are times when this inquisitive man peeps inside us with the hope of finding something written about him. The fact that he does not know is that it is almost four years now that we are filled in with his thoughts only. He rules Khushi's heart and mind all the time.

But we are happy that he makes our workaholic friend take breaks from solving Mathematics equations. Over the years of her marriage, Khushi has started opening up and so she voices out her feelings to Mr. Raizada when were meant to be confined within our bounds earlier.

No, I am not complaining. It is just that she doesn't get enough time to spend with me. Earlier she would not sleep without penning down her thoughts. Well, we all know priorities change with time. And so has she. Now most of her nights are spent in the embrace of her husband. You know what I mean, right?

Khushi is just as possessive about her husband. Let me share a recent writing of her.

Hello Diary,

How many times have I told him not to enter my college? He just doesn't listen to me. I don't like when the girls drool over him. And these girls, don't they have any shame? Ogling at their Professor's husband! Huhh! And Mr. Raizada treats them with his most charming smile.

I am NOT talking to him today.

Well, well, pregnancy hormones have this effect on her. Mr. Raizada had to fry jalebis to make her talk to him. That was quite an interesting sight.

Yes, Mrs Khushi Singh Raizada is in the last trimester of her pregnancy. She was adamant at taking lectures till last month when all the family members forced her to take maternity leave. And now my pages are being filled writing various names of the new bundle of joy that she is about to welcome.

The new year has set in along with the fireworks. Khushi, however, is lost in the searing kisses showered on her by Mr. Raizada, their usual way of celebrating new year. This year, Mr. Raizada has decided to bring Khushi to the poolside of the Raizada Mansion, and her favourite place here.

I am eager to know what Khushi writes about her celebration today. Aren't you too? Oh I can see Arnav coming here. Where is Khushi?

**********

"Khushi, it is cold here. Let's get inside."

"But Arnav, I have not yet finished eating these jalebis and the cake."

"You can finish them inside. Don't worry I will carry them inside along with you."

Arnav lifted Khushi in his arms while she wrapped hers around his neck for support.

"I am heavy", Khushi said. "Yes, you are", said Arnav which earned him a swat. "Dil rakhne ke liye bhi toh kabhi kabhi jhoot bol sakte ho Arnav." He chuckled and replied, "You are cute. You know that, right?"

Entering the bedroom, he made her sit on the bed. He then brought the tray of jalebis and the cake. He knelt down in front of her and fed her a piece of jalebi. He placed a chaste kiss on her belly and looked up to meet her eyes. She could clearly see that he wanted to tell something, yet was holding back. Running a hand over his short hair, she asked him. "Tell me, Arnav."

"I have thought of a name for our child. Aashi.."

"Aashi? It is girl's name...How do you know that we will be blessed with a daughter?"

"I just know... and I wish to have one too." And the boyish smile that would melt her heart broke out on his face. He rose and sat next to her and continued, "And she will have the best smile just like her mother."

"Aashi..." She whispered and her lips broke into a smile. Arnav kissed her forehead said, "And she will always smile like my happiness." Both closed their eyes savoring those minutes of silence and warmth.

"Thank you Mrs. Raizada for bringing in so much of happiness in my life. I love you." She cupped his face and said, "I love you too, Mr. Raizada."

"But Khushi, didn't you want to name the baby?" A seemingly innocent question made her blush and turn beet red which confused Arnav.

"Um, I thought of Rounak." She told unable to look at the glint in his eyes, which she was sure would have appeared.

"So, boy is it? How are you sure?"

"I am the mother and I know few things."

"Well, if the mother or father fail, it wouldn't look good. So, either way we have two. Till both these names are used."

Her answer was the red hue that was back with vengeance. He grinned at her, making her swat his arm. He pulled her close and placed his lips on hers. Their lips met and tongues danced in the usual known rhythm as the countdown for their love story started again as the next phase of their love began.

**********

Originally posted by: Sadh123

Behen as I had said, A story is where you stop. I am glad you allowed your pen to flow further and give us such a fitting epilogue. I loved this one. It had only Arhi. Wow. And lo, we get the diary's thoughts here. Aww that was very New and interesting. I loved that part and then we move to a heavily pregnant Khushi. Now how cute was this scene. Aashi and Rounak.. should I tell how much I love these two names? You know it alright! And ending on the New countdown beginning. I totally fell in love with this ending and I am glad you did decide to write an epilogue. I will miss this story defo! In fact the run to res first time and your pinging on the story. Not to forget this little one shot brought us together.. I still remember urging you to write and You showing me a potential SS! Love you and a very Happy New Year 😃