Arshi FF: The Broken Hearts#2 NEW LINK ADDED pg 153 - Page 78

Chapter 20

It was dawn and rays of sunlight entered the room. Arnav squinted his eyes before rubbing them. He glanced at Sia, she opened and closed her tiny fist in her sleep. Khushi was not in the room.
Arnav went close to the bed and knelt down. He caressed her head and silently watched her. Thankfully she wasn't hot.
Sia fluttered her eyes open at his touch and peered up at Arnav.
" Sia, how are you shona?" He asked softly.
Sia blinked her innocent eyes and slowly stretched her lips to smile.
Arnav bent over and kissed her forehead. " you know shona, last night you scared the hell out of me." Her loud and helpless cries still rung in his ears.
Sia fisted his collar and pulled him down to rub her nose against his and then giggled making Arnav smile back. How much he missed her sound of laughter. " now don't you ever fall sick again." He pretended to be slightly firm but she giggled harder than before and sat up to throw her arms around his neck. Arnav hugged her close and buried his face in her hair.
" shona, I love you..I love you so much."

He pulled back slightly and took out his cellphone.
" selfie time." Sia dropped her head on his shoulder as he clicked their picture.
Khushi who was standing at the door with a bottle of milk, bit the inside of her lip to stop herself from getting teary. They both looked so adorable together!

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Arnav undid his robe and threw it on the pool chair. It was a bright sunny morning, he thought of spending some time in the pool to ease off last night's tension. Without thinking anymore, he dived into the pool , swimming strongly.
Though now Arnav was relaxing but unknowingly his tension had passed on to someone else...Khushi.
Holding Sia in her arms she was watching Arnav swim through her window. She had come to pull the curtain but before she could do that her feet froze to the spot as her gaze fell on Arnav.
His sleek, superbly toned body sliced through the water. Her heart raced rapidly and her breath hitched at the sight of him. Her mouth hung open and her eyes silently followed him as he swam from one end of the pool to the other and back again. Her spare hand that was holding the curtain, grabbed it tightly as her breath laboured. What was happening to her? Why was she unable to tear her gaze away from him? Somewhere in the vicinity of her heart, she felt a few aching twinges.
For God's sake he was married, she couldn't let him affect her like that.
But he was getting divorced.
So what? He was still her employer and she was here only to take care of the baby that was clinging to her neck.
She sucked in a deep breath, gathered the much needed strength and pulled the curtain to block her view.
She shook her head...this was wrong!

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Khushi filled the tub with warm water and placed Sia inside , where she washed Sia's hair with her Apple scented shampoo. It was funny to see Sia breathe in deep as the suds formed on her body. And it was more funny when she playfully splashed water on Khushi.
" no Sia, maasi has already taken a bath. Now it's your turn." But would Sia listen, no, she slammed her tiny fist in the water and splashed more water on Khushi and squealed in joy. Every morning she enjoyed wetting Khushi and today was no different.
" Sia, you're getting so naughty." Taking it as a compliment she jumped in the tub and clapped her hands making Khushi grin.
" okay, now enough of playing with water, let's get you dried up."
" how's she doing?" Arnav's sudden voice, startled Khushi. What was he doing here? She didn't turn to look back but caught a glimpse of him in the mirror and immediately squeezed her eyes shut. He was standing behind her, at the door in his bathrobe, smiling down at Sia.
" Sia..ah she's fine." But Khushi was far from being fine, her heart was jumping inside her chest.
" hmm. I can see, she's having fun." Seeing Arnav grin at her, she banged both her fists in water, throwing more water out of the tub.
" enough Sia." Khushi got up to get the towel but slipped on the wet floor and lost her balance.
" ahh." Khushi squealed.
However like always, Khushi didn't fall, Arnav was there to hold her.
Arnav looked down at her frightened face, she had her eyes closed, still believing that she'd fall flat on the floor. His lips curved in a smile, remembering the first time he had held her. She still looked the same, scared to get hurt ..She still felt the same, soft and delicate. Today having her in his arms he realized how much he missed her holding like this..close to him...close to his heart.
Nothing would have changed between them, he could have still had his happiness in his life..He could have still embraced his Khushi, his love...had he followed his heart instead of his mind. He could have showered all his love on her that was residing in his broken heart, had he not been blinded by his ambitions.
Why did he leave her? Why did he let go his beautiful life to chase his selfish dreams?
Droplets from his hair leisurely travelled down to land on her face, compelling her to open her eyes.
The guilt within him multiplied as he looked in to her innocent, vulnerable eyes. After promising her not to ever let her get hurt, how could he himself wound her wonderful heart. The thought made him hate himself!
Khushi's delicate pink lips parted to say something but words failed her. Water dripping down his face, the intensity in his eyes and this closeness...all were creating a storm inside her. She dropped her gaze to combat this storm but it didn't help. It only worsened as her eyes fell on his bare chest that poked out of the v neck. She gripped the lapels of his robe harder to steady her erratic heartbeat.
He was too sinfully gorgeous!
After what seemed eons, Arnav slowly pulled her up.
" I think, I'll change." His deep baritone voice, brought her out of her trance and she wordlessly dropped her hands and averted her gaze. After he left, Khushi caught her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks had turned scarlet and her chest was heaving up and down, taking in quick breaths. Her trembling fingers felt her face, it was burning...God, what was wrong with her?

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The servants had taken their monthly off. When Arnav would be alone it wouldn't be a problem, he would manage somehow however now with Sia and Khushi around he couldn't give together, both the servants an off.
After chopping onions, capsicum , mushrooms and coriander, Arnav whisked the eggs for the omelette.
Khushi frowned seeing Arnav in the kitchen as she carried Sia on her hip.
" Arnav ji, what's happening?"
Arnav flashed a proud grin on his face. " today I'm going to make breakfast."
" but why do you trouble yourself, I'll cook." Khushi protested.
" doing anything for you and Sia can never be a trouble for me." The sincerity in his words, stirred something in her heart. She quickly dropped her gaze.
" now tell me Sia, what do you want in your omelette?" He glanced at Khushi. " I think onions and coriander would be fine for her?" Khushi nodded in agreement. " Arnav ji, you must be getting late for the office, let me do it." Arnav shook his head. " my meeting is at eleven and there's plenty of time, so you just sit down with Sia and let me cook for my shona."
Sitting behind him, she watched him beat eggs, add salt, onions and coriander in a bowl. Then pored the mixture in a heated pan of olive oil. His hands moved swiftly without any confusion as if he was an expert at making omelettes. The thought made her giggle.
Arnav folded the omelette in half then with a quick flip of the wrist, turned the pan and slid the omelette onto the plate. She didn't know what but there was something special in watching a guy cook.. perhaps it made him appear more gentle and endearing.
Arnav snapped his fingers before Khushi. " penny for your thoughts?" Khushi swallowed hard and averted her gaze. This was so embarrassing.
Arnav kept the plate before Khushi. And soon Sia was jumping in her lap.
" seems like Sia just can't wait to dig in." Arnav smiled and turned to crack more eggs.
" now Khushi how do you want your omelette?"
" oh please Arnav ji, you don't need to do it."
" relax Khushi, by the time you finish feeding Sia, the omelette will be ready...now tell me what do you want?"
" whatever you like."
Arnav raised an eyebrow. " Khushi you need to make your own choices and not blindly follow anyone including me." Was she still the same old Khushi who hesitated in voicing her opinions, who would find it difficult to choose a simple cold coffee over a black coffee?
And marrying shyam, was it really her decision? Her choosing shyam as her life partner bothered him more than often.
" onions and mushrooms but no coriander. I don't like it." She broke his terrain of thoughts , bringing him from the past to the present.
Arnav threw her an appreciative glance. " good."
Minutes later the omelette was before her and this time she was only concentrating on the break fast , nothing else. However still she found Arnav looking down, no, staring down at her. What was wrong?
" what?" She asked softly.
" you tell me."
" it's nice." She chewed the omelette and slowly blinked her eyes.
" I know."
His unwavering gaze was making her nervous. Again she had no idea why someone could affect her like he did.
" then?"
Arnav nodded his head. " you know I've been noticing something." He kept the bowl on the counter and deposited his hands in his jeans pockets.
That serious look on his face was making Khushi jittery, she knew since morning she was behaving oddly around him ( he himself should be blamed for that), did he also happen to notice that?
" what?" She almost whispered.
" I think we should get a small chair for Sia, so that she can eat properly and independently instead of always sitting on our laps. I remember the first time, I had to tie her with a towel." He grinned as he spoke about it.
Khushi exhaled deeply. " oh you're talking about the chair." He had no idea how relieved she was.
Arnav shrugged his shoulders. " yeah. What were you thinking?"
" nothing..but it's a good idea." She tried to keep her tone normal.
" great then...there's a mall nearby, this Sunday we can go and buy the chair."
Khushi looked down at Sia . " hopefully she will be perfect by then." Arnav touched her forehead. " she's not had fever since morning and she's been eating well too. Surely she'll be fine." He pinched Sia's nose making her giggle. " what say Sia, ready for shopping?" Sia laughed and slammed her hands on the table to give her approval.
" girls can just not say no to shopping." Teased Arnav.
Khushi placed her down on the floor to crawl then took out a mug from the cabinet.
" what are you doing?" Arnav asked after flipping his omelette.
" making black coffee for you. I'm sure you'll be wanting it with the omelette."
She was right, he couldn't do without his black coffee.
As Khushi handed him the mug she once again found him looking at her.
" what's bothering you Khushi?"
Was he a mind reader or was she poor at hiding her feelings?
" nothing." She repeated.
" no, there's something..tell me." He insisted.
She looked around nervously. Now what could she say? She didn't want to lie to him but at the same she couldn't dare to express her thoughts.
" ah actually last night in your sleep you said something that surprised me." Now she wasn't lying, his apology did startle and worry her.
" what did I say?" He asked hesitantly. He had been upset because of Sia's sickness and then later on that bitter argument with Payal had angered and scraped his wounds. He only hoped he hadn't said something stupid.
" you said, I'm sorry Khushi."
His heart skipped a beat as he blankly stared back at her in disbelief.
" Arnav ji, why did you apologize?"
Arnav scratched his forehead thinking of another lie...what had he turned into...a liar!
" the doctors had advised you to not mentally stress yourself but because of Sia you were worried all day and night...I felt guilty, I couldn't do anything about it." Would this excuse work?
Khushi smiled. " please don't be sorry. Sia is like my baby."
Not like but she was actually your baby, Arnav wished he could correct her.

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After wrapping up his meeting, Arnav rushed back home, not just because Khushi and Sia were alone at home but nowadays he looked forward to getting back as soon as he finished work.
His house was no longer empty and silent. It had people residing in it..people who he loved. Sia's laughter and Khushi's voice filled his house and turned it into a home. A place that he wanted to be all the time.
Arnav parked the car in the driveway and was about to get into the house when he heard Sia squealing. He turned around and saw her playing with Khushi in the lawn.
His lips curled up in a smile as he took a moment to watch the two of them, enjoy with toys scattered around.
Back in New York, he would often go out to stroll on the streets, just to get rid of the loneliness that would attempt to swallow him in the empty house. Many a times he would stop by a children's park and watch them play with their parents. There would be many rides such as see-saw, slide, merry go round and swing. From a distance he would see parents gently pushing their kids on the swing and some joining them on the merry go round. The place filled with trees, laughter and joy would tug the corners of his heart. The craving to hold and play with his child would only deepen. After Lavanya aborted their child, he doubted his desire would ever get fulfilled. Though Sia was not his daughter and one day both Khushi and Sia would leave his house and life and he would rightly deserve that loneliness but still today just for this while, his heart wished to cherish these priceless moments.
Sia who was playing with a musical toy train, saw Arnav standing at a distance. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of him and she started waving at him. Arnav smiled back, he couldn't wait to take her in his arms.
" hey shona, missed me?" She grinned widely and made his heart ache with the kind of love that could melt any man.
Arnav tossed her into the air making her squeal in joy. She patted his cheeks asking him to do it again and Arnav did , making her laugh harder than before.
" careful Arnav ji, she's just had milk...she might throw up."
Arnav at once stopped and shook his head at Sia. " no more Sia. That's enough for today."
He put her down on the grass to play with her toys.
" Khushi, I think we should have a small slide and swing for her in the lawn."
" but isn't she a little young for slide and swing? I mean will she be able to manage?"
Just then Arnav found Sia fisting his trousers to help her stand on her feet. She wobbled but Arnav held her arms to steady.
He smiled at Khushi. " look, she's growing up so fast. Moreover we are here to help her with the swing and the slide."
Khushi nodded in agreement. " but she already has so many toys."
" so what? I want the best for my shona." He once again lifted her in his arms.
Khushi's heart always warmed up on seeing them together.
" I really like your calling her, shona. It's so sweet and endearing."
Arnav looked at Sia with love and sadness. " she's the shona I never had." He said softly.
His pain somewhere touched Khushi's heart. She could feel how much he desired to have a baby, then why didn't he? She was tempted to ask but fought the urge. Maybe it was not the right time.
" Arnav ji, I'll get Sia's medicine."
Arnav nodded.
When Khushi returned she saw Sia back on the grass, crawling but this time she was crawling really fast.
" Sia, stop baby, what's the hurry?" Khushi glanced at Arnav and moved her head, asking what's the matter. But Arnav simply smiled and casually shrugged his shoulders.
Khushi bent down to give Sia the medicine however when she straightened her posture, Arnav suddenly called out. " Khushi stop, don't move." She gaped , what was wrong with him? But she couldn't know as Arnav slowly walked toward her. She thought he would stop at a distance but he didn't. He continued to move closer. Khushi curled her fingers, squeezing the dupatta in her fists, to calm her racing nerves but it didn't seem to help.
Arnav stopped just centimetres away from her but his gaze still held her captive. God, why was he looking at her like that? She thought she would faint, when he leaned over. This was too much, she couldn't take it anymore and closed her eyes.
" you can breathe now." He whispered near her ear.
She didn't realize that she was actually holding her breath till he said that.
She exhaled deeply and slowly opened her eyes. He was now walking back. But what was all this?
" what?" Her voice shook as she asked.
He grinned and carefully opened his palms. There was a butterfly in his hands.
He kneeled down to show it to Sia, who tried to grab it but as expected it flew away. And once again Sia was chasing it.
" the butterfly that Sia was chasing sat on your shoulder." He pointed at her left shoulder.
Oh, so all this was for a butterfly, that almost gave her a heart attack.
Arnav turned to follow Sia who was still trying to catch the butterfly. He had taken a few steps away when his cellphone rang.
Payal? Now why was she calling.
" yeah." He said dryly.
" hi." There was silence, Arnav didn't respond. He was still upset with what she'd said.
" actually I called up to know about Sia. How's she?"
" why would I care? Her mother must be knowing better." After all he only pretended to care, he actually didn't worry about her.
" Khushi." Arnav called her. " Payal's on the line." Without saying another word, he handed the phone to Khushi and went behind Sia.

" Sia, the butterfly is too fast, we can't catch it. Come, I'll show you the new flowers that I have planted." He picked up Sia to show her the flowers.
Sia was delighted to see the colorful roses and jasmines. Perhaps like him she too enjoyed gardening.
" Arnav ji."
He turned around and saw Khushi with his phone, it was ringing. He furrowed. " who's it?"
Khushi extended her arm to give him the phone. " Lavanya." She replied without meeting his eyes.
Arnav pursed his lips and flared his nostrils at the mention of Lavanya.
Khushi handed him the phone and took back Sia from him, then left from there, giving him privacy.
" Lavanya, how dare you call me?" He asked through gritted teeth.
" hello... ASR." She tried to add sugar to her sexy tone.
" you didn't answer me." He raised his voice.
" why? Does a wife, need a reason to call her husband?" His arrogance infuriated her but she curbed it.
" ex wife." He reminded her.
" not yet." She corrected him.
" listen, I'm not in a mood to discuss our marital status. So come to the point." He was getting impatient.
" we need to negotiate."
Arnav sniggered. " after falsely accusing me of domestic violence, you want to negotiate? Have you LOST YOUR MIND." He snarled.
" STOP shouting ASR, otherwise.."
" Lavanya you're not in a position to threat me. So keep your mouth and phone shut." He decided to cut the call but Lavanya was not yet finished.
" you'll regret this." She twisted her face in anger.
" my life is full of regrets. One more, won't make a difference." This time he didn't wait and disconnected the call.
Lavanya smashed down her cellphone. " Damn you ASR!" She shouted at the broken cellphone.
Yes today things weren't in her favor but situations do change. She'd wait for her turn to strike back.
" ASR, you won't get rid of me so easily...not at least till I get what I want..AND I WILL." Lavanya vowed to herself.

Thanks for reading

Rose