Mumbai,

Mumbai — city of dreams. Khushi had stepped into the city with the same thoughts, it was a city full of dreams and she wanted to fulfill one of them. She did, and although it took 2 years for her to settle down, she did and was happy with what she got. A job, a roof her over head, and food to have her stomach fill. She was standing on her legs, and being independent had given her different energy. Her chest breathed in pride every time her hard work paid off.

After three more years, Mumbai wasn't the same anymore. Her life had been disoriented recently. She's trying to hold the reins of it and trying her best the way she could. In her 27 years of life, she had never been this hurt, not even when her ex-husband Arnav Singh Raizada had called her the biggest mistake of his life.

She thought that would be the last time she'd be that hurt. Alas! Life has its way of throwing her on the spot and when she looked into the mirror, reality screamed back at her. There could be days where she could face more hurt and in a more intense way. Wasn't she experiencing the same now?

She did Bachelor's in Fine Arts before she joined AR. Since she was a graduate of a third-tier college and had no hands-on experience in digital arts, her degree was put in a corner, the arts she had done on canvas were discouraged by her family and her sister's marriage had only brought troubles for her. Her family, except her father never really believed in the course she chose, warding off her arts as nothing. It was only when came to Mumbai, she started her life afresh — with the money her real parents saved for her, her education, and her marriage. There was no use of that money since her marriage turned out to be a disaster. Education money was kept unused too since her studies had been completed on a scholarship. The money came to use when she enrolled herself in a Master's course, to updo her skills in fine arts, especially digital art since she had no idea how to do it on a computer. While she was doing her bachelor's, her lecturers never really concentrated on their skills for digital arts. She wanted to learn to have a career as Cartoonist. The thing she loved since her childhood. Tom and Jerry, Doremon, Shinchan, Mr. Bean, every cartoon she loved and she wanted to create something of her own. She was creative and she didn't lack skills, she started her artwork again as soon as she enrolled in her Master's course and participated in exhibitions, producing her piece of art in galleries for the best price it was worth. Although it took a year to pick up, her arts were recognized and she was earning well enough to rent a luxurious flat than a small single room in an area so narrow. That was the same time her Master's course had finished and she soon grabbed an internship in one of the reputed companies. She successfully completed her internship and was placed as a permanent employee — Cartoonist! Earning quite well than she thought she would.

Her art pieces in several galleries only added more to her income and her parent's saving, she was able to move out of the flat and buy a flat for herself by the end of the second year.

It's been three years since she bought the flat. She was happy at first that her life is at its best.

But her life.. she comes out of her thoughts, not wanting to indulge more in it, and make a mess of her head.

Her day had been busy with office work and she wanted to have a little relaxation. So, when she back home, she freshened up and was now here in the park, as usual, wanting to take a fresh breath and then the creature in her arms had only jumped in joy as the fresh waves hit her little face.

She put down the little baby in her arms as per her command in her cute voice. The little toad wanted to play catch and throw and getting down from her arms, she throw the little spongy ball away, her hands, though, a little, the throw was strong and it straightly went hitting someone on his back.

Khushi didn't notice what her daughter did as she was attending to a phone, her hand still in her daughter's hand. She was a little away from the man's sight, her daughter's back touching the back of her legs.

The little girl closed her eyes in reflex — same as her mother, as if people wouldn't be able to see her and scold her for her naughtiness, making a cute picture of her, her little naturally pink lips were pouted, as she whispered with the broken words, "Shhh..ayyiioo."

————————————

"Postpone tomorrow's meeting, Aman." Arnav warded off his Bluetooth after instructing his P. A to complete the needed. He was feeling a little under the weather and wanted nothing but to take in the vision of green. He loved plants. It could give him peace. A luxurious room in the five-star hotel wasn't able to give him that. Nothing was able to give him peace anymore since the day his wife had disappeared from his life.

He did everything possible to search for his wife, only that she wasn't able to be founded, millions of money he spent on PI did bring nothing to him. Not his wife for he was searching desperately until...

"What the!" he whispered and stopped in his place as soon as he felt something soft hitting on his back and turned towards the source finding a smiley ball, rolling on the ground. His gaze went towards the little girl's voice who was closing her eyes with her cute hands over them and blabbering with her little voice, "Mumma.." Though he couldn't hear her low voice, he observed her lip movement and know what she whispered. His lips curved a little, and the little baby girl's actions reminded him of his wife.

Khushi! His heart whispered, as a memory of two hazels peeking at him from the cupboard roaming in his head, making him feel warmer and a small smile curved up his face after a long time looking at the little baby. The baby was exactly like Khushi. He walked towards the baby with the ball in his hands and stopped sensing his heart racing butterflies. His gaze then followed the lady behind the baby girl, his heartbeat paced up in anticipation as he looked at a girl standing with a little baby's finger clutched in hers. Her back was facing him.

His heart was thudding in anxiety as he wobbled towards her, slowly. He was still in a daze as millions of thoughts run around his head. She's Khushi. Only in her presence, he'd feel his heart raising to the highest beats. 

Only she's capable of bringing the wayward emotions into his heart. 

Only she was capable to make his hands shiver.

Only she was able to bring tears to his eyes, either in happiness or sadness. 

Only his Khushi! His Khushi. 

He couldn't be more wrong, for, his eyes, turned moist when his gaze fell on the familiar figure,  she was wearing a saree, a red one. He looked at the woman turning towards the baby and hugging her close to her legs.

He was in a daze! And just when the woman looked his way, hearing her daughter pout and point his way, his heart thudded more when she met his gaze all of a sudden.

In the span of five years, there was never a day he didn't ever imagine all the scenarios possible while meeting her. Stay silent letting her slap him? Beg her for forgiveness while she tried to leave? Hug her tight and cry confessing how much he missed her. None of it it seemed possible to him when he saw Khushi who was initially shocked seeing him, recovering from it and came to him.

"Can I get the Ball?" she requested, even if she was shocked beyond the limit looking at him, it doesn't matter to her anymore. And her baby is the biggest proof of it. She had moved on, spooning her expressions, and she had asked for the ball in his hands.

"Huh?" Arnav wasn't out of his daze yet and only came out of it when he sensed a little tug on his pants. He looked down at the baby who was gazing at him with her big hazel innocent eyes. Her eyes were the replica of Khushi's. He heard the baby girl mutter, "Baalll!" She slurred and he never thought it would be the first question he'd ask her when he'd meet her, "Is she, my baby?"

Khushi was surprised at the question and quickly murmured, "No." Snatching the ball and her daughter towards her, she was about to walk away when he stopped her. He know she was lying.

"You're lying, I know she's mine," he still had his hands on her shoulders and when Khushi turned towards him, she warded off his hands and gritted her teeth in anger at his audacity, "No, Arnav. She isn't yours! She is mine!"

"Khushi, don't lie. She looks two years old, isn't she?" He doesn't wait for her response and continued, "I remember what happened in Nainital in the hotel three years ago. You just can't deny my baby to me."

He was frustrated looking at a Khushi who was shaking her head in denial again.

"Khushi, I'm again telling you, I'm sorry for that night five years ago. I...shouldn't have called you that! Don't take it on the baby, Khushi. Please, don't lie. The baby is mine, isn't she? The last time we met, it wasn't me who left you, it is you!" He made her remember the day in the Nainital, he did whatever he could to hold onto her that day in Nainital. But she just..left after a beautiful night!

Khushi couldn't help remembering the day when she left him.

"If sorry was a paper, I'd tear it into pieces and throw it in the dustbin!"

Arnav was reminded of her words that night, yet she never stopped caring for him, did she?

"Should I have stayed behind?" Khushi frowned, looking at him in wonder. Did he become delusional or what?

She could only think! 

————————————————

Shantivan,

Delhi

"Everything should be perfect!" Anjali instructed a few decorators who were decorating the whole house.

It's her brother's wedding in a few days and things should be perfect for the ceremony. She was happy that Shantivan is twinkling in happiness, and just then an employee passed through her.

She called out for him and checked the covers in his hands. There were sarees for the bride, and their bride — Sheetal Kapoor.

"Where are the men from Arnav's office?" she demanded, wondering if the clothes were here, why aren't the designers who were supposed to check with Sheetal if they are fitting her or not, or are there any changes she'd like?

"They will be here in a few minutes, Anjali Madam," the man said to her what he know. He was the assistant of the designer and he was instructed to go first and hand over the sarees to Sheetal while they'd follow soon.

"Good, but please take care of the sarees and make sure you fulfill whatever Sheetal Madam says to you!" she instructed, it was just not her brother's but Sheetal's wedding as well.

Aarav is lucky to witness his mother and father's wedding!

This wedding would be a big ceremony in Shantivan — which was about to happen in four more days.

Her excitement had no bounds!

To be continued..,

Three shots with an epilogue, only if readers demand. 

Let me know what you think of the update.

What do you think about their night in Nainital?

And the wedding?

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow for more! 

Regards,

polymath_land

21/01/2023