ArYa FF: Dil Jaanta Hai - Thread 1 (chapt 1-10) - Page 22

A few weeks after Vidhi's visit, Prashant's tours started. He was determined to earn more, rent a larger, nay, a real house for Arti and himself. To do that, his job responsibilities had to change – and to get there, he had to meet more clients, with more face-to-face interactions. This involved many business-related trips, to the extent that he was often gone for 20 days each month.

After a couple of months of this, Arti finally got exasperated. Prashant was home that night. After dinner, as they got ready for bed she asked him "How long is this going to continue Prashant?"

"What?" he asked puzzled, his mind on the meeting next morning.

"Your business trips. I don't get to see you anymore" she complained.

Sitting down on the bed, Prashant pulled her to him. He had never told her why he was doing this – it was time to do so. "Arti, we both have good jobs, but we are not earning nearly enough."

"What do you mean? We live very comfortably" she was indignant.

He nodded. "Yes, but when we have kids? Schooling is so expensive. And I would really like us to be in a bigger house when we have kids. I am trying to move into management Arti – that will give me a significant salary boost. But to get there, I need to have enough client accounts. So – the trips to the clients."

She sighed. "I understand. But...I miss you Prashant. I miss us, being together."

He kissed her gently, "I know, I do too. But it's better to do this now when it's just the two of us, before we have kids. Hain na?"

She nodded, but her eyes remained downcast. He was right of course, but it didn't take away from the fact that they were barely together anymore.

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Vidhi's daughter was born a few months later. She was a beautiful, healthy girl with a head full of hair. Vidhi had gone back to Mumbai, to her parents' for the delivery and Arti had managed to get a few days leave. Since Prashant was away on one of his business trips anyway and she had leave pending, Arti planned to stay for at least a week with the Shankars.

She held the baby in her arms. The little bundle was red and crinkled up. Then she opened her eyes and it seemed to Arti as if the week-old baby smiled at her and Arti fell in love.

Awed, she said softly, "She's perfect! So very beautiful".

"Just like her mother", Pankaj said as he entered the room. Going to Vidhi, he dropped a kiss on her head. Arti noticed she seemed to ask him something with her eyes, and Pankaj nodded his head slightly.

Pankaj turned to Arti, "Can I?" he said holding out his arms.

Very carefully, Arti placed the baby in his arms. He held her tight, gazing at her adoringly.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Arti asked.

The parents exchanged looks and smiled. "Yes. She is Payal Arti Scindia" Pankaj replied, looking at Arti fondly.

Arti was overwhelmed! The tradition was to keep the middle name after a family member, but they had chosen her. Tearing now, she looked at Vidhi questioningly.

Vidhi answered the unspoken question "You are her Maasi Arti. My sister and my very best friend. If she becomes anything like you, she will be blessed."

Arti hugged her friend, openly crying now. Never had she felt so much love and acceptance.

Vidhi's delivery had been difficult and she was quite weak. As a result, Sunaina and Arti took care of Payal while Vidhi recovered. Holding Payal, caring for her had awakened a need in Arti, one she barely understood. By the time she returned to Delhi, the need blossomed into an overwhelming desire to have her own baby, a tiny perfect being all her own on whom she could shower the love she held within herself.

This time when Prashant returned from his trip Arti broached the subject.

"A baby? No!" Prashant exclaimed.

"Why Prashant? We have been married for nearly two years now. We both earn well, are settled. We both got promotions recently. So why not?" Arti cajoled.

"You know very well Arti I have to go on these trips. I am not at the position I want to be – I need at least one more year. Plus, we need to be in a bigger house, not this barsaati. No, we are not ready for a baby" Prashant said decisively. For him the discussion was over.

Arti was frustrated but she knew saying anything to Prashant now was useless. Seeing his determination, Arti made her own decision. She would stop taking the birth-control pills. Let fate decide.

Two months later when her periods were late, Arti finally allowed herself to hope. As usual, Prashant was on a business trip. She didn't say anything to him during their nightly calls. When two weeks passed and she still didn't have her periods she did an at-home pregnancy test – and it was positive! She was delighted – but there was a twinge of apprehension. She was nervous about Prashant's reaction.

Prashant was leaving the next morning for another business trip. Arti decided she had to tell him before he left. She spent the whole day in nervous tension. Zoya noticed during their usual lunch break but Arti didn't tell her the real reason – she wanted to tell Prashant before anyone else.

After dinner that night as Prashant sat in front of his computer, Arti placed his favourite ice-cream in front of him. Taking a spoonful Prashant asked her mischievously, "What's the occasion?"

Arti smiled nervously. "Well, finding out about one's first child is an occasion, isn't it?"

It took Prashant a moment to realize what she had said. "You mean...you are pregnant!?!" he exclaimed.

Arti nodded, twisting her dupatta in her hand.

"Damn it Arti!!" Prashant shouted. He hit the table with his fist so hard the ice-cream bowl jumped and then fell, splattering the melting dessert all over the floor. Arti stepped back alarmed, the glass-throwing incident flashing back in vivid intensity. Instinctively, her hand rested on her stomach in a protective gesture.

Standing up now he continued, "I told you we are not ready for a baby! But still you had to get pregnant. You stopped taking the pills, didn't you?" he added accusingly. Without waiting for a confirmation he continued, "Why? Why is it always about you? Always about what you want? We don't need a baby right now, damn it".

He stalked to the window and stood there, gripping the frame so hard his knuckles showed white.

After a few minutes of deafening silence, Arti took a tentative step forward. Very hesitantly she said, "Prashant?"

Without turning around, he bit out "This child is all yours Arti. Don't expect anything from me. You wanted a baby – you got yourself one."

That night was the loneliest night of Arti's life. Prashant lay on one edge of the bed, his back to her. He left early the next morning, without a word, without even their usual goodbye kiss, ignoring her very presence in the room.

Arti tried calling Prashant on his cell phone the next two days but when he rejected her calls and did not call her back, she finally stopped. His callous behavior hurt her more than anything he had ever done before. She wanted so much to be happy about the baby – but he was making her feel guilty. Guilty and depressed – for something that should have brought immense joy to both.

A few days later, Zoya found her in the office bathroom throwing up. Concern writ large, she held Arti as she had her spell. After Arti had cleaned up, Zoya handed her a glass of water and asked "Kya hua? Is everything all right?"

Arti nodded weakly "Just morning sickness, except it hits me every time I eat something."

"Morning sickness? Arti – you are pregnant? CONGRATULATIONS!!!" Zoya screamed the last bit out, her face suffused with joy.

Seeing her friend's reaction, Arti smiled weakly. Why, oh why couldn't Prashant react like this?

Her friend's smile told its own story to Zoya. Wrapping her arm around Arti, she took her out of the bathroom and to the bench in the garden where they usually had lunch. "Why so sad Arti? I thought you really wanted a baby?"

Arti looked at her in surprise. How did Zoya know? She had never said anything to her.

Reading her expression again, Zoya smiled at her "After you came back from Mumbai, all you could talk about was baby Payal. Your face lit up whenever you mentioned her. So, I figured you felt ready and wanted a baby of your own" she shrugged.

"Yes, I did…I do! I so want this baby Zoya" Arti said, reaching out to her friend, her hands involuntarily seeking the support she desperately needed.

Clutching her hand tightly, Zoya said "So, what's wrong Arti? Is it...is it Prashant? He doesn't want the baby?" the last was almost a statement, but Arti did not notice.

She nodded. "He was furious. He hasn't talked to me since...But Zoya" she added pleadingly, turning to her friend, desperately searching for reassurance, "Mera dil jaanta hai, this is the right thing for us. Our own baby Zoya, what could be better?...But he is so angry..." she petered out.

What a slime ball Zoya thought, her temper rising. She had never liked Prashant, but this was too much! Arti tolerated too much. The lawyer in her urged Zoya to brief Arti about her rights, but she knew Arti would not listen, not at this time at least.

"He will come around" she said instead. Changing direction she asked Arti, "Have you been to a doctor yet?"

Arti shook her head.

"Why ever not? What are you waiting for?" she asked, thinking to herself it's not as-if Mr. Slime ball will come crawling back and take you to the doctor! "Listen, my sister's gynec was great. If you are ok with that, should I get an appointment with her?"

When Arti nodded, Zoya immediately took out her cell phone and called home. Arti listened to the one-sided conversation, "Ammi, main Zoya. Arti is pregnant – can you help her get an appointment with Ayesha's doctor?...Ok, thanks...Yes, I will tell her...yes, of course" the last with a big smile on her face.

Hanging up she looked at Arti, "Ammi will get the appointment for you – she knows the doc really well. And she has demanded that you come home with me tonight and stay for dinner – no excuses allowed."

Arti smiled and nodded. Oh how she wished her own family, her Prashant showed her the same consideration...