SS - Baby On Board - Ch 6 pg 124 - Ch 7 Thread#2 - Page 42

Loved the update! It's so sweet to see how they both interact with Ashi.. The depth of love there is obvious.. :)

Are we the best thing for her?

K: "But Mr. Jain, you said we'll get her back by the evening, but its 8:30pm now" she said looking at the huge wall clock, as she paced around the corridor talking to the Mayor over her phone.

May: I know… but Ms. Draupadi is creating a huge fuss about handing over Ashna's custody to the two of you…

K: but… just then Arnav snatched the phone from her and…

A: Mr. Jain, its Arnav here… is there a problem?

May: Yes, Ms. Draupadi…

A: "oh that Lady… (And he completed what the… mentally for the millionth time) I don't care about what she says… I just want Ashi back.

May: "well she is really a hard nut to crack…" he sighed

A: "what is she upto?" he asked angrily.

May: "why don't I fix up a meeting with her, tomorrow?"

A: "no… Ashi must be back at Raizada Mansion by tonite." He declared.

May: okkay… then… he paused for a moment… come over to my office now… I have thought of something which might give you Ashna's custody…

A: okkay…

Khushi looked at him with hope in her eyes as he handed over her phone…

A: the mayor's called us… let's go…

K: are we getting Ashi back?

A: hopefully.

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May: Ms. Draupadi… I really don't see any reason behind your denial to give them the child's custody… I mean they are her uncle and aunt. She is really accustomed to them…

D: sir, I don't have any problem in giving them the custody…

Arnav's eye brows shot up and he looked at her in awe.

A: really? He asked her with sarcasm in his voice…

D: yes… but both of them are busy people. I mean Mr. Raizada owns ARD which is famous, worldwide and Ms. Gupta owns Panache which is famous all over India, and this year she is planning to launch it in European countries.

K: how do you even know that? I haven't yet signed the deal.

D: I have done my home works Ms. Gupta, she said as she grinned at her.

May: come back to your point Ms. Draupadi…

D: yes sir, so I was saying that they won't be able to dedicate enough time to the baby

A: I told you we'll manage.

D: and how on the earth are you going to do that?

A: listen… he was about to yell…

K: we are the boss… she said it so calmly that even Arnav stopped to listen to what she was saying…

D: sorry?

K: I said, we are the boss…. We can stay back at home for days and still handle our employees and oversee everything that's going on in our companies….

D: but…

A: "Mr. Jain don't you think that's a strong enough point to get us Ashi's custody." And for the 1^st time Arnav smirked.

May: yes, I don't see any problem now…

D: there is one…

A: now what?

D: they are not married…

May: what are you Ms. Draupadi? He asked with a tone of disgust in his voice.

D: sorry?

Arnav's lip line increased to sport a smile while Khushi tried very hard to suppress one.

May: you don't run a marriage bureau, do you? I'll make sure that Ms. Gupta stays at Raizada Mansion… you should be bother about the kid and not involve yourself in matchmaking…

D: yes sir... she mumbled.

K: so we get Ashi's custody right?

May: yes Ms. Gupta, he then turned to CPS Devi, right Ms. Draupadi Raj?

D: yes… Well then, sign here… she gave them a bundle of papers…

Arnav and Khushi signed on the papers…

A: where's Ashi?

D: just a minute… we are not done yet…

K: why are you hell bent to keep Ashi away from us?

D: Ms. Gupta… you have to complete all the formalities to get her custody…

A: aren't we done yet…?

D: no, just one more paper to sign on…

K: can we have that…?

D: ok, we have a rule that a CPS Worker will visit your house to check if Ashna is doing okkay with you or not… if she finds anything out of place or any mistakes…we'll have every right to take Ashna away… the CPS worker will visit you thrice and by then you have to prove that you are the best thing for her… okkay?

A: yeah yeah… give us the paper…

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Ashi was howling at the top of her voice. Khushi had her on her lap…

K: stop crying baby…

She tried to soothe her… sang songs… paced around the house…

A: why is she crying? He asked as he followed Khushi around the house…

K: how will I know, Arnav?

Khushi went to the poolside but Ashi didn't stop crying.

A: Khushi… I think she is hungry… why don't we feed her?

K: she drank up a whole bottle of that lactogen thing… I don't think she is hungry…

A: fever?

Khushi checked Ashi's forehead, "uh-uh…no…no fever… I think she is tired…"

A: then why isn't she sleeping?

K: "I don't know…" Khushi was very tired due to the CPS thing.

A: "let me try…" he took Ashi from Khushi…

Ashi started crying even more loudly…

A: "Ashi, do you wanna sleep?" and with that he brought his face closer to Ashi's, Ashi grabbed his nose with her little palm and bit it…

A: "aoww…. Ashi…"

Khushi tried pulling Ashi, but Ashi was in a bad mood… She clutched onto Khushi's hair and pulled it hard… it made Khushi cry out loudly… "Ashi!!"

Arnav and Khushi struggled to release each other from Ashi, who had turned red due to excessive crying…

Finally Ashi stopped. Khushi made her drink some water.

Arnav and Khushi sat down on the poolside bench with Ashi sitting on Arnav's lap.

"I have never seen her behave in such a way… what's wrong?" Arnav asked as he rubbed his red nose.

"She should be asleep by now" Khushi had tied up her hair in a bun.

Arnav looked down at Ashi. She was sucking her thumb and her eyes were drooping down.

Arnav whispered, "Khushi I think she's about to go off to sleep."

Khushi nodded and picked up Ashi… her head rested on Khushi's shoulder and she gently patted her to sleep.

A: "do you really think we are the best thing for her? I mean we don't even understand the reason for her bad mood."

K: "Arnav, a child's family is the best thing for her." With that she left with Ashi.

She had said it all; Arnav and Khushi were her only family. They'll get used to her behaviours. He was sure they were the best thing for her.

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Ashi was sleeping with Khushi in her room. Khushi was not able to sleep a wink… A tear rolled down from the corner of her eye. Suddenly Ashi slammed her little hand on Khushi's stomach… She looked down and smiled at her…when she noticed Ashi's other hand… her little fingers curled up into a fist, the next moment they loosened up and began scratching the sheet… they moved randomly as if searching for something, or, someone…

Khushi realised that Ashi was used to having two people by her side… she was searching for the person who used to sleep on her left side, Aakash…

Ashi pouted in her sleep… her lips curled up as if she would begin to cry any moment now…

Khushi got up and ran out of the room…

Arnav's room was the one opposite to hers. She flung open the door. Arnav sat up, "what happened?"

"Come with me…now…"

"Why? What happened?"

"Come fast…"

Arnav jumped off his bed and followed Khushi to her room…

"see…" she said pointing towards Ashi's hands, both her hands searched for something

"what?" he said looking at Khushi with a question mark on his face.

Khushi sat down and placed Ashi's right hand on her lap… it clutched onto Khushi's kurti… but the other hand… it wandered restlessly on the empty side of the bed…

Khushi whispered, "Go and sit there and…"

Arnav gestured her to stop and signalled that he had understood what she wanted to say.

Arnav kept Ashi's hand on his thigh and she clutched onto his track pants…

Khushi and Arnav looked at Ashi who slept peacefully clutching onto Khushi's and Arnav's clothes.

They looked at each other and gave a sad smile.

K: will you…

A: I will….

They spoke up at the same moment.

A: I'll sleep here… and smiled…

Khushi and Arnav lied down on either sides of Ashi. Both Arnav and Khushi, who were not able to sleep till then, dozed off to sleep within a few seconds.

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Ashi giggled as Arnav lifted her high up and then brought her back down… Ashi was in a good mood; she didn't trouble Khushi and ate up her food, mashed rice and potatoes.

Khushi sat on the bed and saw Arnav play with Ashi…

Arnav placed Ashi on her mat with all her toys and went and sat next to Khushi…

A: "thanks…"

K: "for?"

A: "for staying by my side when I needed you the most…"

K: "then, even I should be thanking you…"

A: "hmm…"

They turned back to look at Ashi.

A" Khushi?"

K: "yeah…"

A: "now that we are staying here together… can we… I mean… now that we are parenting Ashi together I was thinking…"

K: "friends?" she said extending her hand towards her. A broad smile was playing on her tired face.

Arnav smiled and hugged her. The very next moment he shot back and looked down…

Khushi bent over and hugged him, "friends for ever…" saying this, Arnav hugged her back.

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A: "let's see some Sensex stuff…" he turned on the TV…and surfed for a business channel…

News Reporter: "US stocks are down by 5 points, Mumbai stocks down by 2…"

Ashi started crying…

A: "hmm… I know that means we are at a loss… thanks for your concern Ashi…"

Ashi kept on crying…

A: "what, you wanna watch something else?" he changed the channel… "Football?"

Ashi kept on crying…

A: "what is it that you wanna watch…?"