SOLID SOUL - THREAD 2 - CHAPTER 30 / PAGE 49 - Page 18

Very long time ive found u updating the story... found the last 3 chapters only now. thanks for the update... lovely descriptions of each and every scenes... thanks. do update me on ur future updates.

CHAPTER XXV

Kesar: Acchi hai. Ek do ghanton mein discharge de denge. Dhanywaad ''''..aap (She will be discharged in a couple of hours. Thanks'..for).

ASR: Kuch mat kaho. Agar main yahan nahin hota, to tum manage kar leti. (Don't say anything. Had I not been here, you still would have managed.)

Kesar: Haan sambhaal lete, lekin'' (Yes, I would have managed, but''..)

Before Kesar/Khushi could complete the sentence; she was enveloped in a bear hug by ASR. This public display of emotion by ASR was an anathema to Khushi/Kesar. ASR was always a tower of strength and a demonstrative ASR was unheard of. She stood stiffly in his embrace unable to comprehend what should be her next course of action. She could feel his breathing tickle the apex of her neck and his five o'clock shadowed (stubble) chin resting on her collar-bone was not helping either. The warmth of the palms that rested on the small of her back seared through her blouse. She curtailed her wayward thoughts and reactions of her body and paved way to the nurturer within her to surface. She returned the hug. She used both her hands to comfort ASR's back. For ASR this was a gigantic lifeline. For the first time, letting his gut rule his head had yielded Khushi in his arms who at present was neither indifferent nor antagonistic to him. It had been ages since anyone had careesed him.

He reminisced his mom caressing his mop of hair at twelve. He had agitatedly swept aside his mother's hand and told her that he did not need her babying anymore. Till date he regretted making that statement. Fate had granted him his wish and within two years, the mother he adored was no more and overnight he had grown up. Life had continued to dish out punishing lessons teaching him to rely on no one but himself. The tryannical facade he put up to keep the world at bay from getting emotionally hurt, had become second nature and his own family had started to tread very carefully around him. Over time he had gotten so used to having his way, becoming an unstoppable force. But sparks had flown when this unstoppable force called ASR encountered an immovable object in the form of KKG.

He could have stayed in her embrace but for the interruption from the nurse.

Nurse: Mr and Mrs. Gupta, excuse me''',

Khushi/Kesar: But he is not Mr. Gu''.

Without giving her a chance to complete the sentence, the nurse continued to rattle off,

Nurse: The doctor thinks, you should be able to take your daughter home. I am processing all the paperwork. You should be good to go soon after she wakes up.

Rohan: Yippee'''. bhai we are going home.

Both the children were elated to go home. ASR watched Khushi murmur thanks to the nurse, but her expression remained pensive as she followed nurse. She moved away from him dialing furiously using her cell phone keypad. Who was she trying to call? He started following her.

Khushi/Kesar: Pick up, pickup. One more to go. Pick up''''. please pick up.

ASR: Kisse phone kar rahi ho? (Who are you trying to call?)

Khushi/Kesar: Gaadi mangwa rahi hoon. (I am calling for a car)

ASR (agitatedly): What the, meri gaadi hai na''.? ( What the''.. I have my car)

Khushi/Kesar: Aapki gaadi mein bacchon ke car seats nahi hai? (Your car does not have kids' car seats)

ASR: Huh''''. Car seats?

Khushi: Car seats ke bina bacchon ko jaane nahi denge. Ab ya to ek taxi nahi to''' (Without the car seats, they will not let you take the child. Now it is either a taxi or''')

Before she could finish her thought,

Nurse: Mrs. Gupta, here are your discharge papers. You are all set. Kiran should be coming out of the anesthesia in less than an hour and should be good to go.

ASR: Nahi to kya''..(else what ?)

Murmuring her thanks to the nurse, Khushi dug into her bag and retrieved a bunch of keys. She extricated her car keys from the key bunch.

Khushi: Aap meri gaadi yahan la denge ? Silver color ki Buick Enclave aur gaadi ka number hai KMRZ KAR. Mason School ka sticker chipkaya hai fender per. (Can you bring my car? It is a silver Buick Enclave and is parked in the company car park. The rear fender has a mason schoool sticker and the car's license plate reads KMRZ KAR).

ASR did not know whether to be elated or otherwise. On one hand, he was happy that Khushi trusted him with her car keys. But his ego was taking a major hit for not being entrusted with the entire bunch of keys particularly when his entire household and AR Industies depended on him and entrusted him with a lot of things. Guess it was time to earn her trust. And if he was to look from her perspective, he had given her very little reason to trust him with anything.

"Sure", he said and just grabbed the keys and took off. As he walked down the corridor, he turned around and gave her his trademark look indicating that the discussion was far from over. But the thought rankled as he drove towards Cotton Earth, Inc. In less than twenty minutes, he was in the company car park and spotted Khushi's silver Buick Enclave. He was still mulling over the keys as he drove back for twenty minutes to the hospital. He reached the emergency area to find Kiran in Khushi's arms. Kiran was awake and had her arms tightly wound around Khushi's neck.

Kiran: Mumma, lets go home''''..I am hungry. Mohit Bhai and Rohan?

Khushi: Yeah, yeah''.. I am taking you home and will feed you soon. And your bhais are here in the waiting area. Come on baby, seedhi baito (sit straight), lets get you out of this hospital gown and get you into your own clothes.

Kiran: Abhi, I want to walk and go to them. Now ''..Mumma, please Mumma ''.ghar chalo na (take me home)

Khushi: Kiran''..hang on a sec''..wait a minute, lets finish you buttoning you up and

But Kiran was unstoppable, she launched herself on to Khushi and Khushi had no choice but heft Kiran on her hip. ASR tried to distract the child unsuccessfully,

ASR: How is my Ray of Light?

From the caccoon of her mother's arms, Kiran timidly looked at ASR and gave him a very shy smile.

" Good ", she said and homed onto Khushi's shoulder.

ASR: Just good, you should be more chirpy after all that rest. Now that you are all dressed up, come on lets take you to your brothers.

ASR could see the little tyke was least bit tempted, however, Khushi tried to make it easier for him.

Khushi: Go along, I will be with you. I need to talk to the doctors, get your prescription and gather all the things before we leave.

Kiran: No, I want you Mumma.

Khushi : Ok sit here and give me five minutes to wrap this up.

ASR felt that his daughter was not going to abandon her mom, so he traced his steps to the waiting room to join the boys.

Khushi rang the bell for the nurse. While she waited, she glanced around the room if there was anything that needed to go with her. Since they had come to the ER with their clothes on, there was nothing to collect. The nurse came in and handed over the Dr.'s prescription for Kiran and Khushi completed the discharge formalities. The discharge orderly was just waiting with the wheelchair for Kiran. But the little tyke was not even tempted. So Khushi dropped her bag on the wheelchair and hefted Kiran in her arms. In her zeal to anchor herself, Kiran put her foot through the gap between the last two buttons of Khushi's blouse. Khushi felt one of the buttons pop but with Kiran firmly plastered across her front, she felt she had adequate cover.

They passed through the long corridor to the visiting area where ASR and the boys were waiting. The reunion between the siblings was emotional. ASR realized that he had not spoken to his Di for a while and he intended to rectify the matter with an update later that evening. The discharge orderly requested that the car be brought around to the patient exit ramp. ASR who had not relinquished the keys to the vehicle, marched out of the parking lot. Within a few minutes, he brought the car to a halt. Khushi swung open the passenger door and let the boys in first. Then she proceeded to strap-in Kiran. Just as she got done, she extricated herself out of the vehicle, but to her horror found the second botton pop leaving her midriff bare giving ASR an eyefull. Khushi yanked the sides her blouse together, shut the passenger door and took the front passenger seat.

Khushi: Hum gaadi chala sakten hain (I can drive...)

ASR: Its Ok'...Shall we?

Kiran: Oh goody, you are coming to our house? And will you stay for dinner also?

Khushi: Na

ASR: YES to both

Khushi: Nahi, office chaliye, hum aapko chhod deten hain. (Get back to the office, I will drop you to your hotel and then take the kids home)

ASR: Khushi stop this, I don't want to do this in front of the children. I don't need you to provide me with the directions, I can turn on this navigation system and it will lead me to your home.

He set the car in motion and turned on the navigation system and punched on the "Home" icon. In 20 minutes, he found himself outside his wife's two storey house. Khushi pointed to the garage open button on the dashboard.

The boys disembarked the vehicle without any assistance and were eager to help out Kiran. But Kiran still wanted her mother necessitating Khushi to heft Kiran in her arms. The two adults and the three children stepped into the house.

The kids and ASR homed into the family room and turned on the TV. The kids launched themselves on the massive three-seater sofa and pulled out the recliners. She let them be and went straight upstairs to her bedroom. A quick shower washed away the fatigue and the change of comfy clothes made her invigorated to take on dinner preparation. She marched purposefully into the kitchen and checked the refrigerator contents. She took out four cucumbers and a head of cabbage. The rice cooker was soon plugged in for cooking three cups of rice. Then she added 3 cups of wheat flour in a large shallow bowl and proceeded to knead the bread (roti) dough. She turned on the stove-top and placed a pressure cooker with the lentils (daal) for cooking. Methodically she shredded the cabbage and seasoned the same in a wok (kadhai) on the third burner. The cucumbers were peeled and added to the seasoned yogurt. Within record time, she had dinner under control.

Unknown to Khushi, ASR had been watching her movements surreptitiously from the recliner. He had yanked out his phone and at the pretext of checking his voice messages and e-mails, he had been taking pictures of the children and Khushi. He quickly mailed them to his personal account and copied them to Di and Akash. He sat back smugly on the recliner, and started to enjoy the Tom & Jerry Show along with the children.

Khushi stepped out of the kitchen and shepherded the children upstairs.

Khushi: Chalo Kiran oopar, naha-dhokar neeche aate hain. Mohit bete, aap aur Rohan bhi naha lo. (Kiran get upstairs, finish your bath and come down. Mohit lead the way and take Rohan with you).

Khushi turned towards ASR

Khushi: Aap

ASR jumped: Sure, I would like to freshen up too.

He tagged behind Khushi happily as she ascended the stairs. Well, access to the upper floor would give him a privy into his wife's personal space. All the feeling of smugness flew right out of the window when she handed him a pair of sports pants and t-shirt and turned right around and walked down the stairs. So unused to being usurped, ASR had questions galore on the tip of his tongue and all he could do was to stare at his wife's retreating figure. Any other time, he would have bounded after her and yanked her unceremoniously and demanded answers. His feet itched to jump down the dozen stairs and follow through with his thought process. But he halted mid-stride and looked at the t-shirt.

ASR: Change of clothes? Aha just as Mami says ...Hello Hai homemade bed, bye bye hotel bed.

Whistling a wayward tune, he entered the bathroom and took a long and leisure shower. When he sauntered down fifteen minutes later; he found the kid cavalry setting the dining table with dishes and silverware. Soon dinner was under way. ASR watched the kids wolf down their food; and he too followed suit. Other than the kids incessant chatter, dinner was a quite affair. Khushi could see that the kids were ravenous so there were no complaints around the dinner table. The kids proceeded to pack their back-packs in preparation of school next day, while Khushi started to clear the dining area and kitchen. Systematically the dishwasher was being unloaded for the evening's load of dirty dishes. Mohit stepped in with a towel to help with the drying the washed pots and pans. ASR snagged the towel from Mohit and joined Khushi near the sink. Skeptically Khushi watched ASR dexterously wipe the pans, while the children helped rack them. The task was done in minimal amount of time, and it was time to retire upstairs.

Khushi knew she was going to hold Kiran back at home, but decided to tell her in the morning. But now it was time for her to drop ASR back to his hotel. Easier said than done.

Khushi: Chaliye, hum chaabi lekar aate hain aur aapko chhod dete hain. (Come on let me get my keys and I will drop you off)

ASR mumbled: Yeah story of my life'''..(jab marzi, sabne chhod diya). (Yeah just like that, DROP me off at the drop of a hat.)

Khushi: Haan? (pause) Kuch kaha aapne? (Did you say something?)

ASR: Haan, mujhe tumse kuch, (pause) nahi, bahut kuch kehna hai. (I need to talk to you).

Khushi: Abhi? (Now ?)

ASR: Haan, (Yes)'' is there a problem?

Khushi: Haan ''' sone se pehle main bacchon ke saath hoti hoon. Aur phir uske baad mujhe kaafi saari cheezen khatam karni hai. (Yes, before the kids retire for the night, I spend time with them. And after that I have to catch up and complete a bunch of things.)

ASR: Main bhi to yehi keh raha hoon, kaafi saari cheezen catch up karni hai. Jaisse tumne kaha, waisse hi kartein hain, bacchon ke sone se pehle unke saath time spend kar lein? (My sentiments exactly, I too have a lot to catch up. Come on lead the way, let us start with spending time with the kids before they retire for the night, right?)

Khushi/Kesar: Lekin'. (but)

Kiran/Mohit/Rohan: Mumma, story and lori (lullaby).

ASR (with an amused smirk on his face): Tum kuch keh rahi thi? (Yes'.you were saying?)

ASR watched the kids zoom after Khushi in the master bedroom and he followed suit. The sprawling room boasted of two queen beds joined together. The bay windows were adorned with filmy curtains that filtered the moonlight through the partially open blinds. The kids arranged themselves around her and demanded for a bed time story and a lullaby. The younger two nodded off almost as soon as Khushi finished the story. Mohit was still wide-awake and was resisting sleep.

Khushi/Kesar: Chalo, raat bahut ho gayee so jao, kal school nahi jana kya? (It is pretty late, you need to sleep to go to school tomorrow.)

Mohit: I can't Mom. Kiran is OK''right? What would have happened if you had not been there''..?

Khushi knew why Mohit could not sleep. He had been young, when they had lost his mother, Mohini, to cancer. So if anyone was sick in the house, Mohit would be the first one to be affected by it. Being an introvert, Mohit tended to bottle his feelings.

Khushi/Kesar: Nothing will happen to Kiran. And now what did you say you CAN'T? '..what do you mean you can't? Do you want to sleep in your room, we can go there if you feel you don't have space here.

Mohit: No, Mumma what if Kiran went away from us''''.

Kesar/Khushi: (firmly) Well nothing like that happened, did it? She is well and I am glad that we were able to get her the help that she needed so soon. Is that all?

Mohit: But what happens if her father comes and takes you all away. Then what will happen to me, I won't be able to stay with you all together.

Khushi/Kesar recollected the counselor who had counseled Mohit after Mohini's death. She had indicated that the separation anxiety would trouble the child a lot, since he had undergone very painful separation from his biological father and then shortly from his biological mother too. The last few years had been very steady, but today's episode had brought back troubled memories.

Khushi/Kesar: Well when he comes here, we will deal with him. Why bother about it now?

Mohit: Sure but what if he comes and he says he does not want me because I am not your child. And then didn't you say that Kiran and Rohan's dad also did not like children. He sounds just like my dad, who did not like children.

Khushi/Kesar: Mohit, even if something like that happens, I am not going to let you go. And do you think Kiran and Rohan will let you go? Well we are a family, you, Kiran, Mohit, Nani, Dadu, Paddybua and Hiteshmama.

Mohit: and you too'..

Khushi/Kesar: Yes me too'.

Mohit hugged Khushi tightly and let out all his bottled emotions. Across the bedroom, ASR sat on the plush rocking chair taking in the conversation of the mother son duo and was ignoring the incoming text messages and phone calls on his cell phone. He could empathize with Mohit's state of mind. But Mohit's reference to him (ASR) as a child-hater did not sit well on ASR's shoulder. That statement would have been true five or six years ago. He remembered how he had blasted Khushi and the young nine girls at Shantivan during the Kanyapuja for damaging the Nainital project model. But now he badly wanted to belong to his family that he had created.

In the meanwhile,

Kesar/Khushi: Come on Mohit, are we ok now. Go to sleep now, it is too late.

The young lad soon fell asleep and now ASR was ready to make his move, but the incessant calls from India necessitated him to excuse himself to take the call from Di.

ASR: Haan Di''

Khushi watched ASR move out of the bedroom and take a call. She knew it was either a call from India or from Ms. Pam. ASR's departure seemed a good time to shut the bedroom door and go to sleep. But postponing things would only make matters worse; so she decided to meet him head on.

OMG...that was a huge surprise... m grinning like a fool .hehehehe

OMG You updated! wonderful surprise after more than an year! Thank you and the chapter was fabulous! I cant wait to read the rest of the story!

I glad you updated this is one of my favorites .please continue ,and would love to see how they come together .

WELCOME BACK DEAR I WAITED YOU TO CONTINUE THANX A LOT.

Finally you updated i cant tell you how happy I was seeing your pm of update
and update is great
arnav got to see the kids and khushi's life
and he also got to see Mohit's fear and insecurity
continue soon

Omg omg omg pinch me
U r back i m glad u will update this.
Just few days back i was missing this ff i was like writer nay puri he nahi likhi though plot was too good.
Thankyou for continuing it.

Lovely update.
Aww here doesnt fit into place as if he doesnt belong to this world but i guess he deserve it the way he treated her, he didnt trusted her and trusted that shyam.

Loved it how he is trying to get into picture.
Please do continue soon

wow wat a surprise... i had thought u had abondoned the ff. nice chapter hope Khushi forgives ASR.