Keeping Khushi Thread 12 Part 121 (Last ) Page 126 - Page 27

Originally posted by: AJlovesArshi

Fantastic updates di.. :)

Loved part 114 and 115.. :)

Continue soon.. :)

Smita,😊

Here is my interpretation for Part 115.

This update is all about parturition ... child birth that has people filled with beholdenness, acknowledgement, appreciation, gratefulness, giving thanks. ...GRATITUDE...

NK quickly pulled out his phone, and called his mother.

"Mom..."

"Haan, NK Beta. How are you?", Rani asked, munching peanuts.

"Mom... I just called to say..."

"Haan, beta? How is Aarti Bitiyaa? Are you looking after our bahuriyaa well?", Rani swallowed her peanuts.

"Haan. She is fine. I am looking after her... Mom.."

"I know you will look after her well...", Rani laughed. "How is Khushi Bitiyaa? How is her health?"

"Nobody is so busy that they can't make time for the people they really care about"

~ Leila Sales, Past Perfect

"Mom, she is in the hospital..."

He heard a gasp loud enough to break his eardrums. He heard his mother shout, "Raj, Raj, Khushi Bitiyaa is in the hospital!" She was loud enough to stop traffic. NK held the phone away from his ear.

"How is she?", Rani asked, clutching her heart.

"We are friends

When we care for each other, near or far"

"Khushi Bhabi is in the labour room..."

His father took over. "How is Khushi Bitiyaa?"

"In the labour room... Dad, it has been a long time... We haven't got any news yet...", NK's throat closed. He could barely get the words out.

"Patience is learned through waiting"

~ Eyen A. Gardner

"She will be fine. She will be fine. Nothing will happen to her.", Raj comforted his son.

"Dad, did you... like Nannav...", NK whispered.

"Haan, Beta! I am afraid it is the fate of all fathers to panic and suffer while their wives struggle to give birth.", NK could hear a smile in his father's voice.

"Maybe it just means that love can be stronger than fear" ~ L.J. Smith, The Forbidden Game

Rani snatched the phone from her husband's hand.

"Your father almost had a heart attack.", Rani smiled. "The doctor was worried that he would have to admit your father too as a patient."

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

~ Gayle Forman, If I Stay

"Mom...Thank you...", NK said softly.

"For what? I didn't do anything... I haven't even sent the jewellery set for Aarti Bitiyaa yet. I will be sending it only on Wednesday. So what...?, Rani was confused.

"For giving birth to me?", NK suggested. "For going through so much pain... just for me..."

Tears trailed down Rani's cheeks.

"You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth" ~ Kahlil Gibran

"The pain was all worth it, Beta...We got you..."

Raj nodded.

"Love seeketh not itself to please,

nor for itself hath any care,

but for another gives its ease,

and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair"

~ William Blake,

Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience

Akash looked at his colourful mother. She was sitting by Dadi who was praying with Aarti's mother. Anjali Di & Anand Jiju had just arrived, and Buaji was giving them the latest news.

His mother was holding Dadi's hand in her lap, patting it at intervals. The blue eyeshadow and bright red lipstick, the rouge and the bright red sari made her pale face look bloodless. She was

looking anxiously at the glass doors leading to the labour room.

"Never be so busy as not to think of others"

~Mother Teresa

Akash walked up to her, and kissed her on her cheek.

"He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark"

~ J.K. Rowling,

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

His mother looked at him with rounded eyes lined with a load of kajal that made everyone's heart ghayal.

"Thank you, Maate!", he whispered in her ear.

"To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love" ~ Oscar Wilde

"Phor bhat?", asked Mami.

"For going through so much pain to give birth to me.", Akash said softly.

"I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom"

Mami looked at him, left speechless. Akash flicked her rosy cheek, and went to stand by a smiling Payal.

"We are loving

Only when our love knows no boundaries"

"Arnavji..."

"Haan, Khushi..." His arm was numb, his fingers crushed by her death hold on them, but Arnav felt nothing except Khushi's pain and fatigue.

"The others...", she gasped.

"One word

Frees us of all the weight and pain of life:

That word is love"

~ Sophocles

"They are outside.", Arnav stated, knowing that the ladies must be praying and the men pacing the floor anxiously.

"Baba..."

"He is outside.", Arnav smiled slightly.

Another strong contraction racked her body. Arnav dropped a kiss on her cheek as she crested the wave of pain.

"How.. long.. has it ... been, Arnavji?"

"Time is an old firmly rooted tree; we are the breeze rustling its leaves" ~ Terri Guillemets

"We came in the morning. It is evening now." Arnav rubbed her fingers, comforting her.

She nodded. "They must be tired... Arnavji, Naniji should... go home and rest..."

"We are selfless

When we forsake ourselves for others"

Arnav caressed her wet cheek with his finger. "Do you really think she will leave you here and go home?"

The next contraction hit her hard. Khushi clutched Arnav, biting her lip to stop herself from moaning.

"Not longer now.", the lady doctor said, smiling. "You are doing well, Mrs. Raizada."

Khushi hummed a tune. She had been humming it all through the day, in between contractions.

"Pain is only what you allow it to be"

~ Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes

She sang softly,

Raadhe, Kiyo... Kaun Tap...

She leaned her head against Arnav's shoulder as the next contraction hit.

Panting at its end, she sang, Vasha... Kinho... Ree... Nand Nandana...

Arnav kissed her hair. "In which raag is this?"

"Gauri..."

"Face your life

Its pain,

Its pleasure,

Leave no path untaken"

~ Neil Gaiman

The next contraction took a lot out of Khushi. She lay panting against Arnav at the end of it. "It is... coming faster, Arnavji... stronger...", she whispered.

Arnav hugged her, and looked at the doctor. She nodded that it was time.

"Hugs should be available at the medical stores 24/7. Sometimes, they are the best healers for almost everything" ~ Minhal Mehdi

Arnav tried to distract Khushi. "Why have you been humming this raag all day, Khushi?"

"I... I... don't know.", she gasped. "It is... an evening raag... Arnavji..."

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed,

Soothes the mind and gives it rest,

Heals the heart and makes it whole,

Flows from heaven to the soul"

The next contraction was very powerful, almost flooring Khushi.

"Arnavji... I... feel... like... pushing...", she gasped.

"Push", instructed the doctor.

The next contraction made Khushi squirm and hang on to Arnavji for dear life.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me" ~ Jarod Kintz

"Khushi... Khushi... it will be over soon... Khushi...", Arnav whispered, praying like he had never prayed before... for his wife's well-being...

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays"

~ Soren Kierkegaard

"Push... Push...", ordered the doctor.

The next contraction was the biggest of all. Midway through it, with a plop, the baby slid into the waiting doctor's arms.

The pain stopped. Arnav and Khushi looked at the loud bundle in the doctor's arms. She was cleaning the crying baby.

"You know what the great thing about babies is? They are like little bundles of hope. Like the future in a basket" ~ Lish McBride, Hold Me Closer

"Congratulations! You have a beautiful daughter with good lungs." She placed the infant in a panting Khushi's arms with a smile.

"A wee bit of Heaven

drifted down from above

a handful of happiness

a heartful of love.

Precious and priceless

so loveable too

the world's sweetest miracle

is a baby like you"

Khushi and Arnav looked at the baby. Golden skin. Dark hair on her head. Her father's strong nose. Light eyes...

"She is just like you, Arnavji...", Khushi said, smiling softly.

Khushi kissed the baby on her cheek, tears filling her eyes at the feel of her baby's silky soft skin against her lips.

"Tears are words that heart can't express"

Arnav leaned across Khushi's arm, and kissed his daughter's cheek. A tear of joy fell from his eye on to his daughter's nose. The baby flickered her eye lashes, as though wondering why her parents were crying at such a happy event.

"Be like a star,

Shine bright enough for people to look up to you"

Arnav & Khushi laughed, holding their daughter close.

"You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug"

Arnav looked at Khushi. She looked tired. But happy...

Arnav showered Khushi's wet face with kisses, murmuring, "I love you, Khushi... I love you, Khushi..."

"Thank you... for gracing my life with your lovely presence, for adding the sweet measure of your soul to my existence"

~ Richard Matheson, What Dreams May Come

NK who along with Akash was in a contemplative mood about the pain, that their mother's whom they take for granted had undergone, just to see them have a wonderful life on this beautiful green planet called Mother Earth, called his mother. Before he could voice out what he wanted to convey, his mother started enquiring about Aarti and her well being. When she was reassured, she enquired about Khushi. She was told by NK that Khushi was in the hospital that made her speak loudly to her husband informing him about it. She had forgotten that she was on call and her son took the brunt of the high decibels travelling across.

Feeling the pain that Khushi must be undergoing, Rani asked how she was faring. When he was about to tell, he realized that his father had taken over the receiver and he too wanted to know. NK told them she was in the labor room for a long time and had not received any news yet. NK was very nervous, as he didn't know what was going on. His father reassured him that his sister-in-law would be fine and not to get worried. NK asked his father whether he too felt the same as his Nannav? His father told him that, he too had undergone the same emotional upheaval and panic attacks and it is a bane, that all fathers go through while their wives struggle to give birth. Though while undergoing those feelings, he had felt deep pain and helpless, but now, when he looked back upon it, it is a pleasant memory bringing with it a smile! Rani snatched the receiver from her husband and told NK that, at that time Raj had the doctors worried. They had nearly admitted him in the hospital to be treated.

Hearing it, NK thanked his mother. She couldn't fathom as to why he would do so. She hadn't sent the particular piece of jewellery for Aarti that she wanted to give. So she asked him the reason. NK quietly told her, it was for giving birth to him taking all the trouble and pains. Rani was so moved that with tears flowing down her cheeks she said it was worth it, every bit of it as they got him. His father too concurred with her.

"Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep"

~ Felix Frankfurter

Akash looked at his mother who was sitting with his Dadi. Buaji was updating Anjali and Anand with the latest news.

His mother was always dolled up. She was, an epitome of indulgence but, possessed with a heart of gold. She was anxiously looking at the closed doors for any news. Akash walked up to her and kissed her on her cheeks, taking her by surprise and just whispered his heartfelt thanks. When she asked what was that for, he replied that it was for all the pains and discomforts that she underwent just to bring him into this world making Manorama speechless in the process! Making Manorama speechless was a wonder by itself! With a loving gesture of flicking her cheek he stood by his wife Payal, who was all smiles.

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others" ~ Cicero

Khushi, who had been getting the intermittent spasms of pain, had Arnav by her side all the time. Even while undergoing pain, she was worried that Nani might be tired and voiced out that it would be better for Nani to go home and rest. Arnav countered her request with whether Nani would do so with Khushi in labour? When she wanted to know where Baba was she was told he was right outside waiting. She knew Baba would be worried for her wellbeing as he had lost his wife while she was carrying his child! That is why she had asked about Baba, sensing his helplessness. Khushi had always derived strength from Baba's quiet presence. The contractions began to come intensely, at closer intervals by the evening .When one hit her, she withstood it bravely without a whimper; was encouraged and told by her doctor that it was nearly the time.

Khushi hummed a tune that she had been humming all day long. Even with the contractions that were coming stronger and faster she kept on humming. Hugging Khushi when the contraction wracked her, Arnav looked at the doctor who nodded that it was the time. Seeing it Arnav asked her which raag was she singing? She told that it was Raag Gauri.

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach the destination"

In order to distract her, he asked was there any particular reason for singing it she said no but it was an evening raag. Raag Gauri is assigned to autumn and the mood is contemplative. It is one of the most used raag and is extensively used in compositions of Gurbani of the Sikhs and Bhagatbani composed by Kabir, Namdev and Ravidas. It is a female raag that has been used in compositions that deals with fear, consciousness, soul and salvation.

Arnav who felt very helpless prayed for his wife's well-being and encouraged her to push.

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way" ~ Native American Saying

When a huge one was felt Khushi at the advice of the doctor pushed forcefully holding on to her husband's arms. With it came the birth of the baby girl - the recepient of the love of Arnav and Khushi. The doctor placed the healthy infant who had good vocal chords in Khushi's arms and the proud parents had their first glimpse of their progeny. She was endowed with golden skin, dark hair, nose like her father and light eyes. Khushi was ecstatic to have a baby who looked like her Arnavji.

"She is just like you, Arnavji...", Khushi said, smiling softly.

Her eyes welled up while kissing the baby, at the feel of the soft skin, a part of her and Arnav. Arnav too was overcome with joy and while kissing his daughter reverently, a tear fell on her nose. The baby too had its first glimpse of her parents whose voice she used to hear but now visible for the first time. She was observing them too.

"A new born baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, and a dream of possibilities"

~ Eda J.Le Shan

Both Arnav and Khushi were beyond words to express their happiness. Khushi, he found though tired, was brimming with happiness with tears, streaming down her cheeks. Seeing her happiness he was filled with pride, love and gratitude. He murmured "I love you, Khushi... I love you, Khushi..." showering her with kisses.

"The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature" ~ Abbe Prevost, Manon Lescaut

In this update we see all thoughts are linked to parturition... the child birth.

We see NK and Akash who had not given it a thought, now undergoing a sea of change at the way they view their mother's. Looking at all the pain and discomfort that Khushi is undergoing with a smile, they realize from Gopi Kakka's remark that their mother's too had undergone the same while giving birth to them.

That is why they were grateful to them and appreciate their efforts. That they express by saying,

"GRATIAS TIBI AGO MATER"

(THANK YOU MOTHER)

We see Rani and Raj vocal in their feelings. They acknowledge and express that they were blessed to have such a wonderful son as NK.

Arnav who is grateful to God for getting Khushi, as partner in his life, is filled with helplessness to see her struggling through the labor pains, without a whimper. He is filled with gratitude. When the final contractions come he prays to God for her wellbeing along with their child. He is a relieved man when the child comes out and she is relieved off the pains. He is grateful to God for having bestowed with a wife who is beautiful inside-out and a healthy child. He recognizes that his wife in order to keep her mind away from the pangs of pain kept on humming a song in the raag... Gauri.

Khushi fought her fears without vocalizing it singing softly in the raag Gauri. She is grateful for the support of her husband and her family.

It's a

"DEO GRATIAS"

(THANKS TO GOD)

from both for having blessed them with a cute, healthy baby girl, a princess of their dreams.

Arnav Singh Raizada is equally beholden to his wife, for having graced his life!

That's why it is ...GRATITUDE...

I'll end this with a bit of poetry titled

"UNTIL I MET YOU"

"Before I met you,

I thought I was happy,

and I was,

but I had never known

the rich contentment,

deep satisfaction,

and total fulfillment

you brought to me

when you came into my life.

Before I met you,

I felt a lot of things,

good things,

but I had never experienced

the indescribably intense

feelings I have for you.

Before I met you,

I thought I knew myself,

and I did,

but you looked deep inside me

and found fresh new things

for us to share.

Before I met you,

I thought I knew about love,

but I didn't,

until I met you"

~ Joanna Fuchs

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