Part 28: A Routine
The room had cleared soon after the video had ended. Anjali was gone to put Ishan in his crib and Aman had followed her. Angad was sitting with the kids in the dining room. Arnav was sitting on the couch, in his own thoughts when Kripa took a seat next to him.
"You certainly look happy." She noted the obvious.
Arnav turned to her with a smile on his face. "She thought of me...all that time ago...she thought of me when Amber and Adi were born!"
Kripa giggled. "Of course she did. They are your kids as much as hers. She doesn't neglect the fact that you're related to them. I thought you figured out that much from their names alone!"
"What?" Arnav looked at her, confused.
"Don't tell me...you seriously didn't realize? Both their initials are the same as yours. ASR. She made sure she found names that started with A and connected to yours in an odd way." Kripa looked appalled at the thought that this hadn't crossed his mind.
"Their names are connected to mine?" He questioned out loud.
"Arnav...really? Come on. I thought you were smarter than that. What does your name mean?"
"Arnav means the Sea..." Arnav stared, willing the gears in his mind to turn the same way as Kripa's.
"Amber means the Sky, and Aditya means the Sun. You three together, are her Sky, her Sun, and her Sea. They're the three things that surround her world. Three that seem to meet at the horizon everyday but never really do. At sunset, although seemingly one, great distances separate the sea from the sun and the sky. Represents you three quite clearly, doesn't it? You're their father, they're both a part of you but despite that...you were separated by distances..."
Arnav was quiet for a while as he considered this. What Kripa was saying made sense.
"And she told you this?" Arnav asked.
Kripa scoffed. "Of course not. This is what Angad and I philosophically came up with...owing to Khushi's obsessions with Sunsets and then finding out that her husband's name means the sea...the framed poem in her room which is pretty much about the sun, the sky, and the sea...it was like we found the missing piece in the puzzle. Angad's big on philosophies. Of course we could be completely off the mark here, but this is what we think anyway."
"I don't understand philosophies so I'm not surprised that this didn't cross my mind." Arnav chuckled.
"Kripa??" Angad walked in. "You may want to speak to your son...he's having jitters about school again."
Kripa sighed, stood up and left. Angad took her spot and nodded at Arnav.
"School time?" Arnav questioned.
"Yeah...they start kindergarten in two weeks. Sur's going into first grade..." Angad sighed.
"That's right...I keep forgetting she's older than Amber."
Angad laughed. "We all do. Amber acts older...she's upset that she's not going to first grade with Sur..."
"Oh damn...they start school too, don't they? Aditya and amber?"
"Yeah...Khushi didn't tell you?" Angad asked.
Arnav shook his head in a no. Angad chuckled lightly.
"She's been trying to avoid that topic. She doesn't relish the idea of her kids being away from her for so long, with strangers, every day. She's kept them close to loved ones all their life..."
And she left them with you for two days while she took care of Anjali. Arnav's brain quickly pointed out, making him smile.
-----
That night, Arnav and Khushi were yet again seated in another lavish restaurant, accompanied by Aditya and Amber. They were just as important to him as Khushi and although he wanted some alone time with Khushi, he wanted to do things together as a family too.
As the four of them sat there, talking over a hearty meal, a surreal feeling of peace settled in Arnav's heart. If Khushi and he overcome their past, then this is what the future held. The four of them would form a happy family, with smiles and laughter.
By the time dessert was served, Khushi had become an observer as Amber and Aditya swept away Arnav in an innocent conversation about their next hang out. Apparently the trio had planned a movie trip sans Khushi.
"You got to have dinner with him yesterday too!" Aditya had argued Khushi cutely, making Arnav choke on his beverage.
By the time the four walked out of the restaurant, the kids were practically jumping with excitement. Their chatter continued throughout the drive. Khushi noticed an instant change in Arnav's body language and behaviour when he talked to the kids. That was truly himself. The mask of ASR would slip away, the walls around his heart would crumble, and his lips would curve into a constant smile. If Khushi hadn't known him better, she would have thought that this was ASR's twin brother with a completely opposite personality.
"And we can try making jalebis again!" Aditya suggested. That simple statement snapped Khushi out of her thoughts.
"NO!" She said louder than expected. "Absolutely not. The three of you are not allowed to cook anything in my kitchen...especially not jalebis!"
Adi and Amby giggled in the back seat while Arnav winked at them through the rear-view mirror as everyone recalled the kitchen cum warzone incident from a few days ago.
"But mamma...you can teach him how to make jalebis! He's a very good learner!" Amber defended him. "I taught him how to play Chinese checkers and he learned like that" she tried snapping her fingers and failed.
Arnav stopped the car in front of Khushi's house; still chuckling at Amber's snapping attempts. He opened the doors for them and helped Aditya and Amber out of the SUV. The kids hugged Arnav, bid him a goodbye and ran towards the house after grabbing the keys from Khushi.
"You told the kids we went for dinner last night?" Arnav rounded on her right away.
"Yes I told them and they're too young to understand the concept of dating. Relax Arnav." Khushi suppressed a giggle at his anxiousness.
"Oh...Okay...uhh...well...You Know that you're welcome to join us tomorrow, right?" Arnav asked with a faint smile on his face.
Khushi chuckled. "That's okay. You can babysit the kids for an afternoon...it will give me time to relax. Maybe I'll go visit Anjali and Ishan..." Khushi rolled her tongue into her cheek seeing disappointment fleet across his face.
He covered it up soon enough and nodded solemnly. "Let me know if you change your mind...I'll pick them up around 3 in the afternoon."
Khushi nodded and he looked at her for a couple of seconds. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then...?" He trailed off.
Khushi raised an eyebrow. "Oh...um...didn't you want to come in for a coffee?"
Arnav rocked back and forth on his heels. "That is a very tempting invitation but I promised Akash and Payal a video call..."
"It's their wedding anniversary tomorrow." Khushi pointed out with a nod.
Arnav looked at her, slightly surprised. "You remember." He couldn't keep the hint of surprise out of his voice.
"Of course I do..." And ours is in three months from tomorrow. Khushi's mind added but she didn't put the thought in words. After seeing him break down yesterday, she wanted to be careful about what she said around him. But he took her by surprise when he spoke.
"Ours is in three months..." His voice sounded unsure, no doubt anticipating what her reaction would be.
Khushi smiled at him, glad that he'd been able to bring up the point. "Aditya and Amber's birthday is three weeks after our anniversary..."
She saw Arnav's eyes widen. From the look on his face, she could tell that he was doing some math, trying to figure out the date.
"I thought it would be four weeks after..." he started but Khushi interrupted.
"They were born a week early..." She explained.
Arnav nodded and silence fell between the two again. A couple minutes later, Arnav spoke again.
"I...I saw the video...the one that Kripa and Angad shot..." arnav said quietly, almost sounding sheepish as if he'd done something he wasn't supposed to.
"I know...Kripa told me. Did you watch the other videos she gave you?"
Arnav shook his head in a no' and then rolled his eyes. "Wow...you women really do talk about everything..."
Khushi giggled. "Not everything...but most things, yes. Anyway...I'll let you go...Akash won't be very happy if you're late..."
Arnav scoffed and Khushi shook her head. With a smile on her face, she took a couple of steps towards him and gave him a hug. His arms slowly wrapped around her and he rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her floral scent deeply yet subtly. Khushi smiled to herself, noticing the change in his response to her hugs.
-----
As expected, Arnav showed up exactly at 3 to pick up the kids the next day. After a quick hug for greeting and Khushi's instructions to the kids to behave, Khushi and Arnav stood at her doorstep, smiling at each other.
"I'll take care of them...I promise" He added quietly making her smile even more. "You're sure you don't want to come with us?"
"Yes, Arnav...I have things to do here, don't worry...I won't get bored." Khushi chuckled.
"Buddy! Let's go!" Aditya and Amber called out to him, leaning out of the car windows.
Khushi gestured him to go and gave him a quick hug to bid goodbye. The three of them waved at her from the car before he drove off and Khushi began her cooking preparation for the evening. When Arnav and the kids got back, there was a celebratory dinner, in the name of Akash and Payal's wedding anniversary, waiting for them.
As if it were an everyday routine, after dinner, Arnav helped Khushi with the dishes and then they together put the kids to bed. After a light chat over coffee, Arnav had taken leave. On his drive back, he was lost in thoughts of how normal and natural that routine felt. She didn't need to ask him to stay for a coffee after dinner; it was almost as if that was mutually decided. Somehow he'd become a part of the kids' bedtime routine in the last week or so. He'd been spending a lot of time at Khushi's place and reflecting back on tonight only made him more hopeful because this is what a future with Khushi, Amber, and Aditya would be like. Filled with smiles, laughter, affection, and happiness.
The next week, Arnav and Khushi were completely taken up at work. School was about to start and they had to finish paperwork for the enrolment of the kids who were of school age. Arnav, in the process of the work, found out that it had been Khushi who had managed to connect with a school in the vicinity and worked day and night to get the children in the orphanage education. She had even managed to hire a bus that would drive the children back and forth from the orphanage. He couldn't help the huge wave of pride that filled him at that moment. The amount of love and respect he had for her multiplied considerably.
He often found her in the yard, spending time with the children and he could tell that they loved her. When it came down to work, she was still Ms. No-nonsense. The staff members were still scared of her. She was still ruthless and dominating as the Manager of the organization. But he understood that. He, himself, used to be The ASR at AR Designs but at home, he was a lot calmer and nicer. In the cruel world, one had to be strong and sometimes ruthless to get your way in business. If anything, he was glad for this change. Not that she wasn't strong before, but now she had this aura that surrounded her that reached out to others and gave them her strength and confidence too.
Their dinners together had become just as natural as working together. Gone was the initial awkwardness of the first few dates for the most part. Greeting and departing hugs were also as natural for both. Even if their emotional bond became strong, physical intimacy, in their case, would come slowly and with Khushi taking the lead. That was very clear to both of them. Arnav could never muster enough courage to make the first move, fearing that he might upset her, and as usual, she seemed to understand him because she hinted her comfort level by making small gestures herself. Placing a hand on his shoulder, looping arms with him, holding his arm with her hand resting in the angle of his elbow, a quick side hug, or a dazzling smile.
It was the dazzling smile he was staring into as they sat at another restaurant, this time of Khushi's choice. Their fifth date! Arnav smiled, making Khushi's eyebrows shoot up in response.
"What? Why are you smiling like that?" Khushi demanded.
Arnav shook his head. "It's amusing watching you while you talk."
Khushi squinted at him playfully. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Arnav's lips twitched into a small smile but he didn't respond otherwise.
"So what's so amusing about me talking?" Khushi pressed.
Arnav looked at her, surprised. "What, you don't know? You're telling me you don't know that your face and our eyes talk more than you...your expressions make you look exceptionally beautiful." Arnav's voice sounded extra husky as he dropped it to just above a whisper.
Khushi felt heat rushing up to her cheeks and she saw him lean back against the chair even more.
"That's my favourite part..." Arnav gestured to her cheeks.
Her hand shot up and her finger tips touched her cheek, where she knew a deep shade of red was taking over.
"Now your cheeks match your dress." He smirked knowing exactly what her response would be.
Her gaze lowered shyly and she blushed even more, making him chuckle.
She gasped and playfully hit his arm when she realized that he was teasing her. "You are so bad!"
"I'm bad? Take a look around Khushi and tell me how many men are staring at you. Those men are here with their own dates but they'd rather at look at you." His voice had a very minor threatening edge to it.
Khushi's jaw dropped slightly but she discreetly scanned the left side of the room and almost immediately looked right back at him. He was right. He gave her a lopsided smile as her eyes widened.
"And it's not bothering you?" Khushi asked rhetorically.
"Oh...I could go and beat every single one of them. Right now." Arnav replied in a no nonsense tone.
Khushi giggled. "Well...I'm going to think about those poor souls and get you out of here."
Arnav looked away pointedly as Khushi motioned over the waiter with their cheque. Khushi shook her head at him.
"Come on Arnav...it's not a big deal." Khushi whispered once the waiter left knowing that the staring men were forgotten for now.
"Fine. Let me pay, if it's not a big deal." Arnav reached for the bill but Khushi snatched it off the table, out of his reach.
"No way! The deal was that I would only come to dinner if you let me pay. You promised. Besides...I believe in equality remember? Come on." Khushi nodded her head towards the door.
Arnav looked at the paybook warily before reluctantly getting up. Shaking her head, Khushi hooked her hand inside his elbow and started walking out before he decided to change his mind about the payment. They made their way to Arnav's car, planning out their next date. Just as they turned the corner, a couple of hooligans looked at Khushi, the clicks of her heels being the reason of attention initially.
The men, clearly drunk, sat on the bonnets of their car which was parked a couple of spaces from Arnav's. One of them wolf-whistled and Khushi felt Arnav's arm stiffen as he clenched a tight fist. Khushi moved her hand up and tightened her grip around his upper arm warningly, indicating him to keep walking.
"Whoa...she's hot man...hey baby! Come here!" The other called out.
Arnav's arm twitched and Khushi felt his flexed muscles under her tiny hands.
"Keep walking." Khushi muttered, pleading.
She could feel his arm shaking. She ran her hand down his arm to his hand and entwined her fingers with his. Her free arm automatically held on to his upper arm. She squeezed his hand lightly, trying to help him calm down his temper.
"We'll be more fun than him..." the one who wolf-whistled drawled before guffawing.
And before Arnav could do anything about it, Khushi had let go of his arm, turned on her heels, charged up to the men, and slapped them both. The sound of the impact seemed to echo in the silence that followed. She turned to leave just as one of them started laughing, rubbing his cheek.
"Feisty...Man, I don't think you'll be able to handle her alone...it will be an amazing foursome. But we'll take her if you're not interested!" He called out to Arnav who was already marching up to them, teeth and fists clenched tight. Khushi clenched her first, and turned, ready to hit the cheap goon but before she moved another muscle, a blur of a fist flashed in front of her eyes and the next second she saw one of the men fall off the bonnet, grunting in pain. A second after that, the second man yelped in pain as he sprawled on the bonnet, cupping a probably broken nose.
"She's my wife, you B******!" Arnav spat angrily.
Khushi whipped around and pressed the palm of one of her hands over Arnav's heart, clutching a bunch of his suit material at his waist with her other hand as she tried to stop him.
"Let's go Arnav." She pleaded.
Arnav looked at the men scathingly and tried to take a step forward but by some miraculous force, Khushi managed to push him backwards a few steps. His eyes shot daggers at the low lives as he possessively draped an arm around her shoulders and started walking to his car. Khushi let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and she walked along with him. Her right arm remained wound around his waist and her left hand continued to rest on his shoulder.
Anger was still rolling off of his skin in tangible ripples. She could feel the temperature rise in the car a bit as he started driving away as if his anger was emitting heat waves! There was a mad sort of fire dancing in his eyes. His jaw was clenched tightly. He drove with his right hand, his left hand balled into a fist, resting on his thigh. Even his breathing sounded angry.
Khushi sighed internally, reached over and covered his left fist with her tiny hand. She was well aware of his protective behaviour towards the ones he considered his own. She knew that he was probably contemplating turning around and beating those low-lives to pulp.
Eventually as he continued driving, under Khushi's gentle touch, the fist unclenched and his hand relaxed. Finding the opportunity, Khushi intertwined their fingers and pulled their hands into her lap, where she clasped his hand between both of hers. He gave absolutely no reaction to that and Khushi concluded that he was still too angry.
Happy Friday All you BEAUTIFUL people! Once again, special mention to all those wonderful readers who gave me a nice detailed comment for the last part. A big thank you to everyone who read/liked/commented at all and a small wala thank you to the silent readers too.š
Debate Mansion
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