76. Keeping Khushi (Part 119-)

                       (THANK YOU, SADI)

Part 119

Arnav, Akash, & NK walked into the house, leaving their bags and making a beeline for the small padded mattress laid out on the living room floor.

Gouri lay on her back on it, her arms and legs in the air, gurgling and cooing, smiling at her mother and two aunts leaning over her and teasing her.

“Gouri!”, Arnav called softly.

The baby turned her head to look at him, and moved her limbs vigorously, trying to get to him. Khushi smiled at Arnav who dropped a kiss on her hair, breathing in her jasmine scent and filling his lungs with it.

“She knows her father is here!”, Khushi said softly. Nani and the others nodded, smiling.

“Gouri, my chweet, chweet girl!”, Akash called her.

Gouri cooed.

“Gouri…My Gouri Baby!”, NK went to lift her.

Mami hit him lightly on his arm.

“Wash your hands before touching our Gouri Bitiyaa, Hello Hi Bye Bye!”, Mami admonished him.

“Maasi, I was in the office. I was not digging holes or playing in the mud!”, NK protested.

Mami pointed to the washroom, her eyebrow raised imperiously. Like sheep, the three men went to wash their hands.

They returned soon, and Arnav lifted Gouri from the mattress, cuddling her close. 

NK & Akash played with her nose and kissed her rosy, plump cheeks while the ladies watched, all smiles.

“Guess what happened today!”, Payal said.

The men looked towards her in anticipation. The ladies smiled.

“Gouri crawled today.”, Aarti smiled.

Khushi laughed to see the astonishment & pride on the faces of the men. The other ladies joined in the laughter.

All lavished high praise on Gouri, hugging & kissing her for her achievement.

“Is it the right time, Khushi?”, Arnav asked, a frown on his face.

Payal & Aarti looked away to hide their laughter.

“Ji. She is 7 months old. It is time.”, Khushi smiled.

Arnav sighed in relief. He was too unused to happiness that he feared it would be taken away from him at any moment. Khushi threw her arm around his shoulder & hugged him.

They placed Gouri on the mattress.

NK said, “Gouri, crawl for us. See like this…” NK crawled on the ground to show her how experts did it. 

Gouri blew a raspberry.

Aarti & the others burst out laughing.

“See what the baby thinks of your crawling skills, NK Bhai!”, Akash teased him.

“Crawl, baby, crawl…crawl for Chachu….”, NK exhorted her.

The baby smiled at him.

Arnav chuckled, looking at Khushi who was leaning over his shoulder to look at Gouri.

“Please, Gouri…once..crawl once for us……”, Akash pleaded.

The ladies bit their lips to stop giggling as the baby cooed.

Arnav’s phone rang.

“Oh, Aman…Just a moment…”, Arnav muttered as he left the group and moved away. Standing facing the huge glass windows, he listened to Aman and gave him the necessary instructions.

The laughter died away. There was perfect silence in the living room. Arnav frowned. Ever since Khushi had married him, his house resounded with laughter. The silence was eerie. He cut the call, pushed the phone into his pocket, and turned around. He gulped.

His daughter, missing him, was crawling towards him on tiny unsteady hands and knees. Nani, Amma, Mami, Payal, Aarti, Khushi, Akash, & NK were staring at her.

“Sshh…”, Arnav rushed forward to pick her up. “You will hurt yourself…Gouri…..Why should you crawl? We are all here to carry you around……Gouri…Gouri…” He kissed her cheeks repeatedly, breathing in the milk and baby powder scent of his daughter, feeling his heart hurt and his throat choke.

That night at dinner, Aarti said softly, “Arnavji…..Err….I was thinking….”, she shrugged.

Arnav looked at her, listening with attention. Aarti rarely voiced an opinion. But when she did, it paid to listen to her.

“I was talking to Amma & reading up on babies .....….. So… Uumm…Gouri is going to sit and stand up soon.....”

Arnav nodded, looking at her, waiting.

“The electrical sockets…..She will be able to reach many of them that are fixed low…”

All paled. Arnav nodded.

“And the pool….”, Payal said softly. She did not want to alarm all of them. But this had to be said. “If it had railings around it…”

Arnav nodded, unable to even swallow. Mami dropped her spoon with a clatter.

Akash & NK panicked. 

“Nannav, we need to get an electrician in. And fix railings…”, NK was sweating.

“Shall I phone him, Bhai?”, Akash asked.

Arnav nodded, looking at Khushi’s pale face. He held her hand tight. “Ask him to come over now.”, he said. The ladies nodded.

That night, no one slept in RM. Ten electricians and eight men worked all night. By morning, the sockets were all up in the air and a wall of railings closed the pool to the most intrepid of invaders.

Gouri slept through it all, a sweet smile on her lips.

 Part 120

Meri Jaan Jaa Rahi He Sanam (Lucky)

Keeping Khushi is coming to its end. I think we can wind it up in a few more parts. 

Lots and lots of Love to all the readers who stayed the course with me & Rulama (Rashmi).

Khushi walked into their room, dressed in a red nightgown.

Arnav was sitting on their bed, looking into the cradle that held Gouri. She was fast asleep, the fingers of her left hand curled around a toy lion made of cloth. Its proud ears and mane were now all floppy, unable to withstand the concerted efforts of their owner to chew them into a soggy mess.

As Khushi watched, Arnav caressed the rosy, plump cheek of his daughter, his full focus on the miracle lying in the cosy confines of her swinging bed.

Khushi came to sit by him. Arnav looked at her and smiled.

“She looks like an angel when asleep, doesn’t she?”, asked Khushi.

“She is an angel even when she is awake.”, declared her fond father.

Khushi laughed. “I am sure NK Bhai didn’t think so when she pulled his hair today evening.”

Arnav smiled. He put his arm around Khushi’s shoulders.

“Thank you.” He was direct and his gratitude was heart-felt.

Khushi frowned. “For what? The apple pie?”

Arnav smiled, his eyes showering love on her.

“For Gouri.”

Khushi laughed softly. “Half the credit goes to you, Mr. Raizada.”

Arnav looked at her laughing face, the love in her eyes, the lush fall of hair dancing in the breeze….

He scooped her up in his arms and placed her on his lap. He then closed her surprised mouth with his eager lips.

Gouri Raizada slept peacefully as her father showed her mother how much he loved and worshipped her.

Payal felt dizzy while at the clinic. As the attendant offered her sweet tea, she felt like throwing up. Being a doctor and a very smart lady, she took a pregnancy test.

Akash looked at the stick with wide eyes. He was speechless with wonder and anxiety.

Payal giggled.

“Payal…”, he finally managed.

“Ji?”

“Payal…”

“Ji?”

“Payal….”

That was the sum total of their conversation as Payal finally took matters into her own hands and hugged her shell-shocked husband.

Payal’s parents & Buaji came for dinner. It was a jolly affair.

“Badhai ho, Manoramaji! You are going to be a grandmother a second time, Nandkisore!”, Buaji wished her.

Mami looked at her image in the mirror anxiously. Had any wrinkle dared to make its appearance?

“Don’t worry, Nandkisore! You don’t look a day older than 30.”, Buaji comforted her, laughing.

NK toasted Akash with his orange juice.

“To Akash. Who is finally going to be a father!”

Akash blushed.

Khushi, Anjali, and Aarti hugged Payal.

“And to Payal Bhabi. She will make a wonderful mother!” NK was all smiles.

Buaji caught him by his ear.

“Hai Re Nandkisore! Sitting here and congratulating others on becoming parents, hein? When are you going to give my Aarti Bitiyaa a child?”

Aarti blushed.

“Amma, Amma…”, whined NK. “Buaji is hurting me….”

Amma & the others laughed.

“And you!”, Buaji turned on Anand. “I don’t have the time to search for your ear in that forest, Nandkisore! But don’t think you can fool your Buaji. When are you going to give our Anjali Bitiyaa a child?”

Anand guffawed. “I am trying, Buaji. I am trying very hard…..”

All laughed while Anjali blushed beet red.

A gift VM:

Je Hove Ijazat (And no, I don't know Punjabi even though I love listening to Punjabi songs!)

Part 121

Arnav walked into the house, tired from a day of negotiations and meetings at the office. HP opened the door. Arnav handed over his bag to him, and muttered, “Black tea with lemon, HP.”

“Ji, Arnav Bhaiyya.”, replied HP.

“And a pill for headache.” He rubbed his forehead.

“Ji, Arnav Bhaiyya.”

Arnav walked only two more steps before he was stopped by a pair of hands encircling his trouser-clad legs.

He sighed, smiling, and looked down. His 3-year old daughter, looking like a fairy in the pink dress Khushi had made for her, had her arms around his legs and was looking up at his face, smiling, expecting to be hugged and kissed.

Arnva bent, kneeling to hug her tight. Gouri threw her tiny arms around her father’s shoulders, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

“Papa….you smell so schweet…”

Arnav smiled. This was usually Khushi’s line.

“Papa, I was waiting…and waiting…and waiting for you……”, she complained, her lips in a pout.

Arnav kissed her cheek. “Papa has to work, Gouri….and work…and work…..”, he crooned. “What did you do all day?”

Gouri opened her mouth to reply, but couldn’t. 

Three pairs of arms came around Arnav and Gouri’s shoulders. Akash’s, NK’s, & Anjali’s sons had finally managed to waddle, crawl, & make their wobbly way to their Chachu/ Mamu & Di.

“Nannav Chachu, kissie…”, demanded Akash’s son. Arnav obliged with a smile.

“Nannav Mamu, me too…”, said Anjali’s son. Arnav dropped a kiss on his forehead.

“Nannav Chachu….”, demanded the youngest of the lot, NK’s son. Arnav kissed his rosy cheek. He pulled Arnav’s nose.

“Arnavji, me too…”, came the next plea.

Arnav looked over the heads of the children to see Khushi kneeling by him. Arnav smiled. Her hair was in a single plait, the jasmine flowers that he had picked for her from his garden adorning it. The violet sari lent a glow to her already glowing face.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek thoroughly, leaving it rosy and blushing. Gouri giggled.

The tea and the pill for headache remained forgotten on the silver tray on the low table in the living room as Arnav sat with Khushi, Nani, Mami, Amma, Anjali, Payal, & Aarti, watching and laughing at the children’s antics.

Arnav looked down at the floor, his laptop & work forgotten for a moment.

Gouri was lying on the carpet at his feet, drawing and colouring pictures. Khushi was folding clothes.

“What did you do today, Papa?”, Gouri asked as she did everyday.

“Meeting with the finance manager till noon….” He looked at her rapt face, her eyes fixed on his face, listening even though she understood little. “… Then we hired three designers after interviews that went upto 4 in the evening….. And then discussions on the Singhania project….And you?”

“I prayed. Had breakfast. Milk…yuck…..I hate milk…..Then I asked Amma to phone Vivek Bhaiyya for me. I talked to him. I looove Vivek Bhaiyya….And Chotu Bhaiyya…..And Simi Di…and Nidhi Di….Babaji….and the others….”

Arnav smiled, nodding. The children at Omkar adored her too.

“Then Rani grandmother called to talk to Nani. Then she talked to me.” Rani & Raj Kisore had shifted to Delhi, winding up their concerns in Australia the moment they heard that Aarti was pregnant.

“Then I went to Badi grandmother’s room and put on her bluuuush….”

Arnav bit his lip, looking at Khushi who was trying hard not to laugh.

“Choti grandmother was making malas of flowers. She taught me to make knots around flowers…”

Arnav nodded. Aarti's Amma loved Gouri.

“I watched Animal Planet with Naniji….Papa, do you know that dogs love children?”

Arnav swallowed, sharing his amusement with Khushi through his twinkling eyes.

“No, I didn’t. It looks like my education has been sadly neglected.”, Arnav said mildly, smiling at his wife.

“And children too love dogs.”, Gouri assured him earnestly.

“Oh!”, said Arnav.

“I love dogs.”, Gouri came to the point.

Khushi looked away to stop her chuckles. Arnav nodded at Gouri, smiling.

“And then I slept on Amma’s lap as she taught songs to her students…and then I helped Amma make roti for dinner.”

“Really?”, Arnav asked.

“Really. Amma, I helped you make roti, didn’t I?”, Gouri asked her mother.

“Haan, haan, she helped me make rotis.”, Khushi vouched for her. “She watched while I kneaded the dough, she made small balls of them, I rolled them into rotis, she put them on the tawa, and I took them off it….”, Khushi smiled.

“My two girls have been working very hard all day. You deserve a holiday!”, Arnav said softly.

“Papa!”, Gouri clapped her hands, all thrilled.

Khushi raised her eyebrow.

“Let’s go to Shimla for 3 days.”, suggested Arnav, his eyes on Khushi’s, both of them remembering the idyllic honeymoon they had spent in their cottage there. Khushi blushed.

“Yes!”, Gouri jumped up and down in excitement.

“Why don’t you help your Amma make a list of everything you need for your holiday?”, Arnav suggested.

Arnav sat watching his excited daughter list out all the things she needed to be happy.

“Papa…Amma….NK Chachu…Akash Chachu…Payal Chachi….Aarti Chachi….the 3 Chotus….Babaji….Anand Chachu…..Anjali Chachi…Gopi Kakka…..Chotu Bhaiyya…Vivek Bhaiyya..Buaji…Nani…two grandmothers…..HP Chacha….Chota grandfather…..”

The Raizadas, the Kisores, the Dwivedis, the Sinhas, Amma, Gopi Kakka, Baba, the children from Omkar, HP……all of them reached Shimla, drawing in the cold, clean air to fill their lungs. Arnav had purchased all the cottages in the resort he had spent his honeymoon in, and turned them over to Akash, NK, Mamaji, Baba, Anand Jiju, & Payal’s parents. He retained only the one he & Khushi had used four years back.

Amidst a lot of laughter and jokes, the huge family left the cottages to go to the main building of the resort for dinner. Arnav looked at their laughing faces and felt contented, at peace. 

He was not his father. He was not irresponsible like him. He had kept his family together, added to it, kept them safe, secure…….And he had Khushi with him. For always. A sigh of relief left him.

“Papa!”

He turned to see Khushi walk towards him, a smile on her beautiful face, their daughter in her arms.

As she reached him, Gouri leaped from her Amma’s arms into his. He caught her expertly, cuddling her protectively against his shoulder.

“Khushi?” His husky voice saying her name always made her heart thud.

“Ji?”

“Khushi, I love you. More than life.”, he whispered.

Khushi hugged him. His free hand came around her to hold her as close as humanly possible.

“I love you too, Arnavji.”, Khushi whispered.

“Hey, you love birds…..Aren’t you coming down for dinner?”, NK teased.

All laughed.

“Love on an empty stomach, hein?”, teased Mamiji.

NK sang,

Mujhe neend na aaye, mujhe chain na aaye
Koi jaaye zara dhoondke laaye

Na jaane kahan bhook kho gaya...Na jaane kahan bhook kho gaya….

Aarti shut her ears to keep out NK’s besura song, laughing at the look on Arnav & Khushi’s faces. NK ran after Aarti, chasing her to make her listen to his song.

Arnav kissed Khushi on her cheek, caught hold of her hand, and walked down with his wife & daughter. Life had come full circle.

The End 

A gift VM
Tere Mere Pyaar (Movie: David)

I am thinking of writing a series of One Shots on some tracks in the serial, IPKKND, which left me feeling that they could have been done differently.

And maybe on different ways in which Arnav & Khushi could have met...... 

Would you be interested in reading them? Let me know.