May 20 2012
"Is it possible?" the man in the chair opposite Dr. Yash Malhotra asked, his words almost too faint to be heard.
Yash nodded, indicating the test results, "there is no ambiguity here, Mr. Raizada. I can understand your surprise, but contraceptive failures are common--"
"--No!" Arnav shot out of his seat, and took a few steps towards the door and then returned back to the desk. "That's not what I mean." He ran a rough trembling hand through his hair, his eyes wide with disbelief. He looked Yash dead in the eye, leaned his hands on the desktop and asked again, "Is it possible? Is it possible that so much happiness could belong to one man? I have Khushi. And now...now, I am to have this...I am to have this as well?! F**!"
It was the most sincere demonstration of rejoicing that Yash had witnessed to date. To call it male bonding would be overdoing it, but Yash felt something akin to warmth for this poor man struggling to take in his embarrassment of riches. Yash smiled, leaned back in his chair and said in his most solemn doctorly tone, "yes. I'm afraid so. You better become accustomed to this much happiness."
There were few moments in a physician's career--especially one who practiced primarily in emergency care--to deliver good news. Yash knew that he would never forget this day when he had the privilege of informing Arnav Singh Raizada that he was to be a father. It occurred to Yash that Arnav might orchestrate happiness for those he loved, but he had not as yet learnt to expect it for himself. It made him happy for that whole family. Yash knew enough of Anjali Raizada to know that this would make her exuberantly happy. Niece or nephew--that child would be welcomed by a beautiful, gentle, attentive Bua.
"Is that why she fainted?" Arnav was now asking, having recovered from his initial shock.
"Perhaps. Again, it may be a confluence of factors. For now, we should address her low red blood cell count," Yash elaborated, tapping the report with the tip of his pen. He dashed off a prescription, and handed it to Arnav. "I want to see her on iron supplements immediately. That prescription is doubled as your sister would benefit from the same. An iron-rich diet for both."
Arnav asked, "what else?"
Yash said, "it may sound trite, but a happy woman makes for a happy pregnancy. Again, same advice for your sister."
Yash was not unaware that he was referencing Anjali more than was required--after all, he was not Anjali's physician. But, he solaced himself by arguing that as Arnav was responsible for both women, Yash was simply helping him meet his duty to both. 'Yeah, tell yourself that if you want,' his inner voice taunted him.
Arnav pocketed the prescription and said, "will you discharge her now?"
Yash nodded and picked up the phone to inform the nurse-in-charge.
"Dr. Malhotra?" Arnav said, just as he stepped out of the door. "Let's keep this news between us."
"For how long? I'm bound to inform my patients--"
"--I'll let you know." Arnav gave a quick nod and left before Yash could protest.
---------
In a mixture of English, Hindi and Spanish, Little Khushi had informed her grandmother, Mrs Malhotra, that Khushi had taken ill and was at the hospital. The girl had come to this accurate conclusion because of what she had heard. Small ears are nothing more than small sponges. After dropping Shashi at the house, her father was taking her to visit the creche which she would be soon attending daily. They were enroute when she had heard her father take Arnav's frantic call. Yash had been forced to turn back, leave his daughter with his mother and immediately return to the hospital. Not one to keep such tasty news to herself, Mrs Malhotra had scurried over--with Little Khushi in tow as witness--to see Buaji and Garima. Whether Mrs Malhotra went to share her gripping news or to receive further juicy details was difficult to assess.
So, while Khushi was waiting for her husband to return to the room, she picked up her phone to discover that there were three messages from Arnav and half a dozen from Buaji. Making the correct assumptions, Khushi dialed her family home to put everyone at ease.
"Ji ha, Buaji--we'll come," she was saying when Arnav returned. "Yes, I'll tell Di. No--you don't have to call her. I'll inform her. Theek hai. I'm putting the phone down..."
She ended the call, removed the blanket and slipped off the bed. Arnav came to assist her. Straightening her saree, she asked, "am I fine?"
Arnav replied, "no. You're severely anemic."
Khushi dismissed his words, "oh, I've been told that by doctors since I was twelve."
"Then isn't it high time you pay attention?" he replied.
She noticed he had a small smile on his lips. "Why are you smiling?" she asked suspiciously. "I worry when you are happy. Our history shows that when you are happy, I usually suffer."
"True," he admitted. "You are going to suffer an iron-rich diet for the foreseeable future."
The idea of food reminded her how famished she was. "I'm starved," she told her husband. "Will you please feed me?"
"Come," he took her hand and led her out.
In the parking lot, they met Yash. He kissed her cheek and said, "Khush, I know these are wasted words, but take good care of yourself. Or, at least, allow your husband to take care of you."
"I will," she smiled. "Thank you for everything. See you this evening."
"This evening?" Yash turned back with a questioning look.
"Yes, Buaji and Ammaji are welcoming themselves back into the neighbourhood by throwing a dinner party this evening. We'll be there. So will you. You'll be informed when you get home," she added with a laugh.
"No doubt," he replied, and climbed into his car. Khushi could not read her friend's expression. She had sensed in the car this morning that the conversation between him and Di had left him in a vexatious mood. She wondered how Di had fared.
Arnav was helping her into the passenger seat. He was saying, "Khushi, we're not attending this party. Do I have to remind you that you lost consciousness for twenty minutes this morning?"
"We must go," she explained, as he buckled her in. "If I hadn't agreed, my family would have thought I was truly ill. Mrs Malhotra gave them the impression that I was on death's doorstep."
Her husband caught her face in his hands and said, "on one condition, then. After lunch, I'm taking you home to bed where you will spend no less than four hours."
"Oh! Yes, please," she said saucily.
"That's not what I meant, shameless hussy!" he laughed, shut the door and slipped into the driver's seat.
"I'll find someone else if you are no longer keen on me," she continued teasing him, sliding her hand possessively on his thigh.
"Oh, really?" he lifted an eyebrow.
Khushi replied with a smile, "consider yourself warned."
-----------
The Guptas' impromptu dinner party brought joy to many quarters--but, nobody was happier than Anjali Raizada. Her Bhabhi had told her that Little Khushi would be there; therefore, implying that Little Khushi's father would also be present. She felt that this was an opportunity to remedy the conversation from this morning. His final words had suggested--nay, implied strongly--that he held back because of some concept of propriety. She had to tell him that she was a woman beyond that limited view. But, how? How does one tell a man that she wants to be in his life on terms that may condemn her to the world, but liberate her to herself?
What gave her courage was a text she received from the gentleman in question just as she, Arnav and Khushi were piling into the car.
It read: Guptas' party? Attending?
She replied: Yes.
He: Would you prefer my absence?
She: I have no preference.
He: Ouch!
She: Rejection hurts.
He: I didn't reject you.
She: Oh?
He: I saved you.
She: From?
He: Us.
She: There is no US.
He: There is. I'll see you tonight.
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Edited by Inked - 13 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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