Keeping Khushi Thread 12 Part 121 (Last ) Page 126 - Page 17

res

Unres!!!

OH MY GOD!!!! I was not expecting the time leap...9 months pregnant and the water just broke!!!!! I was so not expecting it so soon...I haven't even read the whole update but my surprise took me here to comment!!!! 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

My heart is racing!!!!! 😕😕😕😕😕😕
😕

Shes in labor!!!! Can't wait to see if its a boy or girl.

OH God...she is in OP...cant wait,...

awesome update
khushi 9 month pregnant and now into labor too
continue soon

Part 114

Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation to Part 114.

This update is about an intermediate state or a condition of awaiting... LIMBO...

Khushi waddled around the table to give NK & Akash their favourite aloo parathas that she, Payal, & Aarti had prepared in the kitchen. She passed silver bowls of mango kheer around the table. The entire house was fragrant with the smell of delicious food being cooked by the bahuriyaas.

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well" ~ Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

"Khushi Bhabi, Khushi Bhabi, please don't walk. Please, please sit down.", NK pleaded.

"Haan, Khushi Bitiyaa, sit down. You have been standing too long in the kitchen.", Nani said, catching hold of Khushi's arm, and pointing her to a chair by Arnav.

"Activity and rest are two vital aspects of life. To find a balance in them is a skill in itself. Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have. Finding them in each other - activity in rest and rest in activity - is the ultimate freedom"

~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Celebrating Silence

"Khushi...", Arnav, the lion roared.

The lioness smiled. "I am feeling very good today, Arnavji, Naniji, NK Bhai... That's why..."

Nani looked at Arnav & NK, and Arnav glared at Khushi who smiled at all of them. Amma smiled, looking down at her plate.

"There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else's situation as you are about your own" ~ Morrie Schwartz

"Bhat ijj phor (for) breakphast?", asked Mami as she plonked herself into a chair at the table.

Nani glared at her.

"Kaa hua, Saasummaa, aisen kyon ghoor rehi ho? I didn't make anything, Saasummaa. I haven't burned anything...", Mami cleared her name fast.

Nani snorted.

"After the bahuriyaas came, I haven't set phoot (foot) in the kitchenwaa. Not even to get a glasswaa of bater (water)! Promise." She placed her hand on Mamaji's head.

"We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears"

~ Francois duc de la Rochefoucauld

"Manorama, look at your Khushi Bitiyaa!", Nani sighed, pointing to Khushi.

"Kaa hua Khushi Bitiyaa ko?", Mami looked at Khushi, inspecting her from head to toe. "She looks bootiphool in red. Just like her Mami.", Mami complimented her.

Nani sighed loudly while the others hid their smiles.

"Look at her stomach.", Nani said.

"Bhat happened to her stomach?", Mami asked anxiously.

"I tell you she doesn't know what it is. That's the heart of it. She's hasn't a clue"

~ Anna Godbersen, Envy

Nani grit her teeth. "Your Khushi Bitiyaa is just like you. Totally disobedient. She is working in the kitchen, making aloo paratha for the boys when she is nine months pregnant."

"Aloo paratha? I luuub aloo paratha!", Mami exclaimed.

"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of the human race than the discovery of a star" ~ Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Nani shut her eyes to avoid temptation to strangle her bahu.

Khushi giggled as she went to the kitchen, while Arnav, Akash, NK, & Mamaji smiled at each other.

"It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials"

~ John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

Mami eyed the half-eaten paratha on NK's plate, who quickly hid his plate under the table to save the paratha his Khushi Bhabi had made for him with so much love. Akash hid his bowl of mango kheer.

"I thought when we had three bahuriyaas at home, the boys would finally learn some discipline and manners! But, these 3 are competing to spoil them.", complained Nani to Amma & Mamaji, smiling.

"What is discipline?

Discipline means creating an order within you. As you are, you are a chaos"

~ Osho, Yoga: The Alpha and the Omega

"Haan, Amma. I thought when we had 3 bahuriyaas, they would teach Manorama a lesson. But..", Mamaji laughed, trying to dodge the napkin Mami threw at him.

"Enjoy when you can, and endure what you must"

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Two minutes later, Khushi flipped a paratha on the tawa, and felt her husband standing behind her. She turned to look at him. He was scowling.

Payal & Aarti hid their smiles.

"How many times must I ask you not to strain yourself, Khushi?", Arnav Singh Raizada fumed.

Khushi smiled and threw her arms around his cross figure, resting her head against his shoulder. "Sunday morning... when no one has to go to the office... getting up late, making aloo parathas and mango kheer... sitting and chatting around the table... Is there anything more relaxing than this, Arnavji?"

"When you are living the best version of yourself, you inspire others to live the best version of themselves" ~ Steve Maraboli

Arnav sighed, feeling a hand close around his heart. Such moments were truly to be treasured.

"A part of you has grown in me. And so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart"

"Your legs, Khushi...", he murmured, anxious.

"They are perfectly fine.", Khushi smiled at him. "How can they not be fine? Every few moments, I have my husband, my Nani, my Mami & Mamaji, my devars, & my devranis asking after them. Even HP asked me about my legs twice today morning!"

"You may have a lot of friends, but you only have one family" ~ Eugene Lebid

All smiled.

"Arnavji, I am fine today. Perfectly f...", The smile on Khushi's face vanished as if switched off. "Oh...", she murmured.

"Khushi, Khushi... kya hua? Tum theek ho?", Arnav asked anxiously, cupping her face in his palms.

"Worry divides the mind" ~ Max Lucado

Payal & Aarti rushed to them.

"Arnavji... I think my water just broke.", Khushi said calmly.

There was a moment of perfect silence & stillness.

"I will get the bags.", Payal said, before running out of the kitchen and up the stairs to Khushi's bedroom.

"I will inform the others.", said Aarti, walking out to the dining room.

Arnav hugged Khushi, holding her head close to his thundering heart.

"A silent hug means a thousand words to an unhappy heart"

"Khushi, Khushi, don't be scared...", his husky voice was a whisper. He seemed to be talking more to himself than to her.

"I am not scared, Arnavji.", Khushi smiled. "Why should I be scared when I have you?", she whispered against his heart.

"Oh the comfort!

The inexpressible comfort,

of feeling safe with you.

Having neither to weigh thoughts,

nor measure words,

but pouring them all right out,

just as they are"

Khushi cleaned up and changed her clothes to go to the hospital. Arnav, who had carried her up to their room, carried her down to the cars.

Nani, Mama, Mami, Akash, Payal, NK, Aarti, Amma, Gopi Kakka, & HP were standing near the vehicles. All fussed around Khushi. Akash quickly opened the doors so that Arnav could seat Khushi in. NK loaded her bags, and seated Mami, Mama, & Nani in the second car.

Arnav held a shaking hand out to Akash, silently asking him for the keys. Akash held out the car keys, his fingers trembling. Aarti snatched the key from him before Arnav could take them.

"Let me drive.", Aarti said. Arnav & Akash looked at her, relieved.

"Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking" ~ Malcolm Gladwell

Aarti drove one car & NK the other.

Arnav sat with Khushi, holding her hand firmly in his.

"I wouldn't do this if I didn't care, but you mean everything to me, and if this is what you need, then this is what you'll get"

~ Cherise Sinclair, The Dom's Dungeon

She sat smiling, chatting easily with Payal, Akash, & Aarti, her head against Arnav's shoulder. They reached the hospital soon, and as NK & Akash dealt with the formalities, Arnav and the ladies escorted Khushi to the doctor.

"Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home" ~ Mother Teresa

Nani, Buaji, Mami, Amma, Anand's Amma & Buaji, and Payal's parents sat in the waiting room, praying. Payal & Aarti looked anxiously at the shut doors of the Labour Room. Baba, Gopi Kakka, Mamaji, NK, & Akash stood leaning against the walls, fretting and looking anxiously around for some nurse to give them the good news that Khushi's torture had ended.

"...sitting and waiting is one of the most miserable occupations known to man - not that it usually is known to men; women do it much more often"

~ Diana Gabaldon, Dragonfly in Amber

Arnav was inside the room with Khushi, letting her squeeze the life out of his arm each time a contraction hit her.

"Does it hurt much, Khushi?", Arnav asked softly, feeling like crying, watching her smile through the pain.

"No, Arnavji... Not... not.. much...", she gasped, trying to smile at him while her fingers closed around his with superhuman strength.

"Fear not, for I am with you;

be not be dismayed,

for I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

l will cherish you.

I Love You"

Arnav said, "Remember what the doctor said, Khushi. Breathe deep. Like this." He breathed deep to show her, and both of them drew in some much needed air into their lungs.

NK whispered to Akash, "I am never having a kid, Akash. Never." He ran his fingers through his hair which now stood up like spikes.

Akash nodded. "I never knew... This is terrible... Khushi Bhabi...". He swallowed.

NK nodded.

"Do not be afraid; our fate

Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift"

~ Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Gopi Kakka handed over 2 cups of coffee to them, saying softly, "Your mothers too suffered like this when you were born."

"People are supposed to fear the unknown, but ignorance is bliss when knowledge is so damn frightening"

~ Laurell K. Hamilton, The Laughing Corpse

NK & Akash stared at him. Gopi Kakka smiled slightly.

Khushi who had completed her full term was quite an active lady. She was pampering her brothers-in-law serving them with the mouth watering aloo parathas. She, Payal and Aarti had prepared them lovingly knowing that was their favorite. It had mango kheer as side dish. NK seeing her exerting herself asked her to slow down and have a seat.

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it" ~ Sydney J. Harris

Nani too voiced out her dissatisfaction at Khushi hovering around the table. Even Arnav's admonition "Khushi..." was of no consequence. With a gentle smile she reassured them she is going about as she is feeling good. Just then Mami came to the table asking what was for breakfast, plonking herself in to a chair. Misunderstanding Nani's glare she said,

"Kaa hua, Saasummaa, aisen kyon ghoor rehi ho? I didn't make anything, Saasummaa. I haven't burned anything... After the bahuriyaas came, I haven't set phoot (foot) in the kitchenwaa. Not even to get a glasswaa of bater (water)! Promise." She placed her hand on Mamaji's head.

When Nani pointed to look at Khushi, not following her thoughts Mami complimented that Khushi looked beautiful in red just like herself

When Nani drew her attention to the full term stomach of Khushi still Mami was not able to grasp! Exasperated Nani told an obstuse Mami that, her Khushi Bitiya is just like her, disobedient, working in the kitchen and pampering the boys preparing aloo parathas even when she has completed full term! Mami being a foodie, once she heard aloo paratha nothing else but that registered in her mind and wanted to savour it!

"You are what you eat. What would YOU like to be?" ~ Julie Murphy, Nutrition Across A Lifetime

Nani was frustrated at her behavior! Khushi, Arnav, Akash, NK, and Mamaji were amused by it. Aloo paratha being Mami's favorite too, she tried to snatch what was left on NK's plate. NK being quick in his reaction hid it before Mami could grab it. Aakash too followed suit knowing his mother's fondness to mango kheer! Nani who observed all this sighed and said, with the three daughters-in-law in the house she had thought that the boys would learn to behave properly and follow the etiquette. But the girls were spoiling them. Agreeing with her statement Mamaji continued that, with the advent of the three girls in their life, he had thought that they would teach his wife a lesson. But it was very different he said with a laugh. His statement earned him a balled up napkin missile come flying towards him from his wife.

Arnav who was not happy with the amount of work Khushi was putting in, entered the kitchen and saw her engrossed in the preparation of parathas. Feeling his presence Khushi turned towards him, and found him scowling at her. His admonition for disobeying his requests to stop working was fruitless. It had her smile at him accompanied by a hug and say,

"Sunday morning... when no one has to go to the office... getting up late, making aloo parathas and mango kheer... sitting and chatting around the table... Is there anything more relaxing than this, Arnavji?"

"That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable" ~ Deb Caletti

Khushi knowing that Arnav was irritated for not heeding his advice, she had put her arms across him in a hug. Arnav was feeling happy to have her in his arms. That was the place where he always felt she was secure. For him it was a moment to treasure.

He was concerned about her legs, whether they could bear the weight for such a long time. When he voiced it out she told him that she was fine. With such a caring family around who would not be? With her husband, Nani, Mami, Mamaji, Brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law being concerned and enquiring her about it every other moment, she felt that she could be nothing but fine. Even their house help, HP had asked her twice since that morning. With the outpour of so much of concern and love, was there any way that she would be anything other than fine? This made all of them smile.

While she was reiterating her fitness, she had a changed expression and stopped in between. Seeing a twitch on her face Arnav asked her whether she was alright. Payal and Aarti rushed towards them. When she announced that her water broke, breaking the silence that followed, Payal rushed to get Khushi's bags for hospital and Aarti rushed out to inform the others.

Arnav held her close to his heart. Arnav who was always used to having things under control felt helpless. He tried to boost Khushi's morale but she was quite calm! In fact, all his talk was more for himself.

"Only 8% of our worry will come to pass. 92% of our worry is wasted. DON'T PANIC"

~ Mark Gorman

When he told her not to be scared her reply, that she was not when he was there showed both her calmness and her presence of mind to soothe him! Arnav carried her, to their room for freshening up and later, to the car.

All, knowing that she was going into labour soon, fussed around her. Seeing the nervousness in both, Arnav and Akash, Aarti took over the driving of the car taking Khushi. Arnav sat holding Khushi, along with Payal and Akash in one car. In the other car, NK reached the hospital along with Nani, Mami and Mama, bringing Khushi's baggage. Khushi was rushed to the labour room with Arnav in pursuit, while the rest were left to cool their heel outside. Soon the entire family joined them in their vigilance. They prayed for a safe delivery and the health of the mother and the baby.

Meanwhile, inside the labour room, Arnav had his eyes welled up seeing Khushi undergo the painful contractions. He kept reminding her to inhale deeply as instructed by her doctor. He was moved beyond words to see, Khushi smile at him, while braving her way through the pain.

NK and Akash who had seen the discomfort Khushi was in, were made to reassess their thoughts. NK said he would never think of having kids and Akash said he never knew so much of pain was involved. They both felt terrible that their Khushi Bhabhi had to undergo such a trial!

Gopi Kakka who heard their conversation said that, even their mothers had undergone the same, while giving birth to them.

"Don't be scared...Women can handle the worst kind of pain. You'll find out one day"

~ Gayle Forman, If I Stay

This left them stumped and their reaction, evoked a rare smile from Gopi Kakka

We see Nani, Arnav, Mamaji, NK and Akash in limbo when Khushi doesn't listen to their request to slow down.

Arnav goes into a limbo when he sees the water break.

Both Arnav and Akash are in a limbo making Aarti take the car keys from their uncertain hands.

We see all the family members in a condition of waiting to hear the birth of a new member to their family.

We see Arnav in a state of awaiting for Khushi to be free of pain and feel the joys of fatherhood.

We see Akash and NK in an intermediate state. They are at limbo on whether to have children or not. Though they had decided earlier not to have any Gopi Kakka's statement put them in limbo!

So it is LIMBO, awaiting for the arrival of the Baby Singh Raizada.

That's it from me. Hope you enjoy it!

Part 114 was Brilliant!!!