IPKKND FF: Trial by fire Part 33 updated on Pg 84 - Page 44

Nice!! Seems like another good news with Payash becoming parents😉

Part 30 -- Trial by fire

One part of Khushi was suspecting that her jiji might be expecting - Just because she herself had not had any symptoms did not mean she had not watched countless movies where the nausea and a faint signified the arrival of a little one. But the other part of her could not believe that she was fortunate enough to have so much happiness all at once. She felt a strange dread, a portent that something bad was going to happen. She quickly left the room and darted over to Devi Maiyya's mandir to offer a quick prayer for her jiji's wellbeing. Eyes tightly closed, Khushi recalled all the occassions that her Jiji had been there to protect her in the past and sincerely begged Devi Maiyya that there be nothing wrong with her beloved jiji. Her eyes opened and she sensed a presence next to her - It was Arnav. He had offered a quick prayer as well. For his part, he was remembering the non-judgemental way in which gentle Payal had forgiven him for wronging Khushi and had helped out so much with the reconciliation. She was his beloved Khushi's sister and anything that hurt or troubled Khushi, saddened him too. He opened his eyes around the same time and looked at his dear wife's tear-filled eyes. "Everything will be alright", his eyes seemed to say as he put his hands supportingly around her shoulders to lead her to the hallway. Around the same time, the doctor arrived and Arnav and Khushi led her to Payal and Akash's room.

***
The doctor had left Payal and Akash to convey the news to the rest of the family. Payal had regained consciousness by the time the doctor left. Akash was euphoric and the big smile on his face conveyed their happy news to the rest of the family who crowded into their room. Arnav and NK gave Akash a big hug before Akash went to his Dadi and Mom to get their blessings and wishes. "Akash bitwa ...Main yeh bataan deti hoon. Iss ghar ma ek hi Daadi ho sakthi hai -- Aur woh hai sasuma - tumhaari daadi. Tho main badi maa kehlaaoongi", declared a ecstatic Manorama. Everyone else shook their heads in wonder at how Manorama had wriggled out of being called daadi.

Both amma and buaji hugged Payal and congratulated her with tears in their eyes.

"Jijaji ...Yeh kya kiya aapne mere jiji ko...", Khushi asked in mock anger.

"Maine kya kiya...Maine kuch nahi kiya...", (What did I do, I didnt do anything?) Akash repudiated stunned and then realized Khushi had been pulling his leg as everyone burst into laughter.

"Jiji, main itna khush hoon, itna khush hoon, ki main aaj bataa nahi sakthi. hamaare bachhe saath mein khelenge. Main maasi banne waali hoon. Lavanya hamaari ghar aa rahi hai...main..main.." and Khushi burst into tears on her sister's shoulder. Her hormones and the happy news all mixed together to form a cocktail of overflowing emotions. Payal gently rubbed her younger sister's head - She understood.

Maamiji also rushed forward with tears - Now that she had seen that Khoon-bhari...Scratch that, Payal, was okay ...She recalled how horrible she had felt when she had seen her daughter-in-law lying in a dead faint; how she had prayed that she would treat her well if she recovered and there was no bad news. "Payal bitiya...maine tumhe itna sataaya hai..itne din. Humein maaf kar do ..Tum meri beti ho...Main kabhi tumhe takleef nahi doongi..", Manorama declared with tears in her eyes, her hand on Payal's head. Payal set a surprised and stunned Khushi aside to hold her mother-in-law's hands ..."Yeh kya saasuma...Aap kyon maafi maang rahi hai...Aap meri amma jaise hai aur aap ka haq banta hai. Main kuch galat socha nahi.",(Mother-in-law, what is this. Why are you asking for forgiveness. You are like my mom and you have the right. I did not take anything to heart), she said. Manorama was amazed at her bahu's genorosity and kindness and could only hug her tightly. She was very lucky to get such a daughter, she realized.

This was a happy day for the Raizadas and the Guptas...One happy news after the other. Naaniji talked to Lakshmi as she lay in bed at night, ruminating on the day's events. "Lakshmiji, Bhagvaan kare, mere parivaar pe ko bhoori nazar na lage..".

***

In the meanwhile, Shyam was at the end of his tether. He was reaching the end of his cash supply - money that he had hoarded and squirrelled away during his marriage to his richie-rich Rani Sahiba. It had been 3 months now since he had left Raizada mansion and since the failed kidnapping attempt. He had gnashed his teeth in fury when he had seen the interview that 'his' 'sati Savitri' Anjali had given the media. The subsequent plastering of his picture all over the news channels had meant that he had to disguise himself and go into hiding. He had taken whatever cash he had and escaped from Delhi to the remote North East. It had been hard to get by without an identity - Shyam Manohar Jha, the relatively successful lawyer, was now in cold storage. He had tried to establish a new identity as Kishen ...But the constant gnawing need for riches and Khushi prompted him to plot afresh - Mohammad of Ghazni had attacked India 17 times he remembered - Shyam was but going to try again...Maybe Lady Luck would favor him this time around.

***

Several weeks passed. NK and Lavanya's engagement was a fun affair with lots of dancing, teasing and laughter. NK could not keep his hands off Lavanya and Khushi along with Akash did her best in sabotaging every one of NK's moves. Frustrated NK finally succeeded in stealing La away in the late afternoon after getting Arnav to help distract Khushi.

Arnav could not keep his eyes off his pretty and pregnant wife dancing to the latest song "Aa re..pritam pyaare..." interpersed with Buaji's scoldings to her to behave. He moved through the crowd with the style of a panther and reached Khushi and gently tugged her away to the poolside.

"Khushi..Do you even realize that you are almost 7 months pregnant now? You have to rest in the afternoons. In 2 more months, you are going to have your hands full with two babies..." and his voice meandered away as he imagined Khushi as a mom with a baby in each hand, nursing them, dreamily. A shiver of desire went through him at the same time as Khushi thrust his hands away and moved.

"Really? So, just because I am having children means that I become boring and and that I should never have fun? How do you know that the babies are not enjoying this? They are dancing more than I am, inside my tummy, to this music. They have taken after me..Not after their staid, boring father who doesn't know to dance.", she retorted looking into his eyes, at his face, noticing the usual grey and white suit he was wearing. He looked sensational as always.

"Oh really?", Arnav smirked crossing his hands, "Who saved whom from the ignominy of losing the dance competition on Payal and Akash's sangeet?"

"I won that on my own merit. You dancing with me was just the cherry on top of the cake. Nobody says that the cherry tasted good, they say that the cake was good. Likewise, you were just an accessory in my victory that night!", Khushi declared heatedly.

"Oh really...? And who created these babies who are dancing inside...An accessory?", Arnav asked silkily moving towards Khushi who read the look in his eyes only too well. She blushed and moved backwards in a lock-step mode, in an age-old dance of dilly-dallying. She looked here and there and finally focused back on his face..."Your pleasure was for a few minutes. I am the one carrying them for nine months. So I am the one having a greater share in their creation!", she responded finally feeling the wall behind her.

"Let us ask the babies what they say okay?!", Arnav responded pulling her green dupatta out of its anchored position at her now, non-existent waist. Khushi was wearing a midnight blue and parrot green lehenga choli. He sank down on bended knees and loosened her lehenga, drawing it down and gently toched her belly, cupping it. Khushi was shocked..."Yeh kya kar rahe hai aap"..

"Shush...main hamaare bacchon se baat kar raha hoon", Arnav shushed. The "hamaare" attesting to his acceptance of Khushi's argument. He gently pressed his lips against the soft, taut skin of her tummy and blew kisses. He was feeling humbled at seeing what women went through, what his Khushi was going through with bringing a new life into the world. "Little ones...Your mommy is the best thing that happened to me ..Do you know that?! I want you both to be exactly like her so that I can spoil you both. Your mommy is staring at me with scolding eyes..I think she will be the disciplinarian between us. I am thinking you both will love your papa the best...especially if you are just like your Amma right?!", Arnav whispered.

"Bye babies...I will talk to you later...Your mom has convinced me that I need to have more fun in life.", he said ,neatly turning the tables on Khushi.

After a few heated moments, he stood up, swung his arms and lifted Khushi to bring her inside their bedroom and lay her down gently on their bed. He turned around quickly, closed the curtains, locked the doors (necessary precautions at Shantivan) and quickly unbuttoned his shirt. Khushi's breathing and heart-rate had gallopped and now seeing her husband's taut chest and firm abs, her breath almost stopped. The nights since their re-marriage had been passion-filled ...but her husband was insatiable and was now taking over the days as well, was her last coherent thought before she was lost to mindless passion.

***

That Saturday started sunny prompting Anjali and the rest of the clan to make a day trip to a distant temple at which Anjali and Payal had both offered prayers/vrat for a baby. Now that Anjali's wish had been fulfilled and Payal was on the way to getting her own baby, Nani, Maami, Mama, Anjali, Aarushi, Akash and Payal decided to make the trip. At the last minute, Karan and Suraj also joined the party and the group split into two cars with Naani, Anjali and Aarushi going in Karan's SUV while Akash's little family of his parents and Payal went in the other SUV. Arnav, who was working from home to keep Khushi company, waved the group off. Anjali had insisted Khushi stay home so that she could rest and did not have to make the tiresome trip. Her other plan was to also get together with the rest of the family to plan for a surprise 'godh bharaai' (baby shower) for Khushi so she had not wanted Arnav and Khushi to join.

NK and Lavanya had wanted to catch the latest Bollywood matinee and had begged off the temple visit. Khushi was almost 33 weeks now and both she and Arnav could feel the babies' kicks well. After lunch and a quick nap, Khushi sat in the living room trying out a pattern for a baby sweater. She was not good at this - Had no patience. Jiji was better...She had already made several sweaters for Khushi's babies. Arnav sat nearby, his legs sprawled on the cough, a laptop in his lap trying to balance some numbers for a planned acquisition. The day had turned slightly rainy and the sun hid behind the clouds. NK and Lavanya got back earlier than planned.

After a while of walking in the slight drizzle, La said "This is fun..I never realized. There is a clean fresh smell to everything and its like the rain is giving Mother Earth a shower. This is refreshing. Now, I feel like drinking hot masala tea and eating the garama garam pakode that Khushi makes".

"Chamkeeli -- Today you are going to eat my garama garam pakode. NK thinks I can't make any. I have to show him how well you have taught me.", La threw out, almost running towards the kitchen. NK sunk into the couch.

"Wait Lavanyaji, I will come and help you.", said Khushi trying to get off the couch.

"No Khushiji. This is Lavanya's bet. You are not going to help her. You sit here. If anything, let me go in there and make sure she is not tricking HP to make them for her.", said NK jumping up.

***

Karan answered his cellphone as he drove the SUV back from the temple. He was slowly winning Anjali's confidence and this trip had helped give Anjali a further look at Karan's personality. The party was still about an hour's drive away from Shantivan.

"Sir, This, this is Arjun. I am on duty today outside Shantivan and I have been shot. Shyam just arrived here and said that he was a courier. When we opened the gates, and before we could capture him, he started shooting. Shiva is also shot and I dont know how long he can hold on. I have already notified the police. We need reinforcements."