Part 27 I'm your Dad...

Arnav and Khushi were shocked, seeing Abhi with a bewildered expression. His next question made them thunder stuck.

"Are you my Dad?" he asked looking at Arnav.

Khushi took a step toward him to give him the answer. Arnav clutched her hand and stopped her. He walked towards Abhi and kneeled down in front of him. Abhi's eyes were wandering on his face.

"Tell me MT, are you my Dad?" he asked with expectations.

"Haan... I'm your Dad. Just now I got to know the truth..."

Cutting him,

"Why did you leave us alone? Do you know how much mom suffered all alone?" he asked in a fighting manner.

Arnav was stuck whereas Khushi was shocked. Abhi was fixing Arnav as the protagonist of the story created by Khushi. He was thinking, Arnav was not only his father but also Khushi's husband who went to the Gulf country fighting with his mother. of course, it was obvious if he thought so. How did a small kid understand that there could be something beyond his knowledge, like, a fertility clinic, test-tube baby, sperm donation, and all? According to him, his father must be his mother's husband. More than that, he could not think anything... he didn't think. Arnav and Khushi understood that. Khushi again tried to say something but she was dumbfounded by Arnav's reply.

"I'm sorry Abhi... I'm really sorry for leaving you and your mother. I didn't know I would have a son like you. I would not have fought with your mother if I had known your mother is pregnant. I made a mistake. I didn't realize my mistake would trouble your mother a lot. I'm sorry. I searched for your mother for many days to get her forgiveness. Today, I found her. I'm happy that you are my son. I hope I will get your and your mother's forgiveness. I want to be with you but, your mom is still angry with me. It seems, she is not ready to forgive me" he said holding Abhi's hands together.

Khushi was looking at him like, he was a ghost. What was he doing? He was putting all the blame on him. Was he doing that only to get Abhi's forgiveness? Not at all...

"Will you leave us again if Mom fights with you?" Abhi asked painfully.

Arnav nodded his head left to right.

"No... not at all... I have already suffered a lot without your mother and you. How could I even think of leaving my son and WIFE again? I promise... I will never leave you again even though she fights with me"

Abhi looked at Khushi.

"Mom, he says he won't leave us again. Shall we forgive him?" he asked pleadingly yet, curiously.

Khushi swallowed hard. What the hell was happening here? Arnav was taking her husband's place... in front of Abhi... in fact, Abhi was the one who created the path for Arnav.

"If you accept me, she will also accept me," Arnav said looking at Khushi with a deep meaning.

"Mom, forgive him, mom. He will teach me many things and also swim... there is a swimming pool in his house you know..." Abhi said delightedly.

"It's OUR house, Abhi" Arnav insisted.

"Is that OUR house?" Abhi asked excitedly.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Will you take us to your house?"

"Yes... you will be with me in OUR house" Arnav stressed again.

Abhi hugged Arnav and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, Dad..."

Arnav was overwhelmed, hearing DAD from Abhi. According to that declaration, Abhi was the first official relationship of Arnav's life. Arnav hugged Abhi emotionally. Khushi felt like something was choking in her throat. She knew why. Arnav looked at Khushi, holding a lot of meanings in his eyes. Breaking the hug, Abhi rushed to Khushi.

"Mom, please talk to Dad... Please, forgive him..."

Khushi gulped down. Abhi rushed to Arnav and pulled him towards Khushi. Clutching her hand, he made Arnav hold her hand.

"Please, forget your fight and both of you become friends again... at least for me" he pleaded.

Khushi tried to pull her hand off but Arnav clutched it firm. She looked at him shockingly.

"You don't have to be scared of anything anymore because Abhi accepted HIS FATHER. Now, you have to accept the father of your son"

"Dad, shall I pack my bags?" Abhi asked.

Arnav looked at Khushi who widened her eyes with a shock. Abhi was rushing very fast. After all, he was a kid.

"I will take all your things from here soon, hiring people. Now, go and change your uniform. We will go to OUR home"

"Ohhh hooo... Mom, you to get ready..."

"I have some work," she said looking somewhere.

"You go, Abhi..." Arnav said.

Abhi nodded ok and went to his room. Khushi gaped at him.

"Let's go to our home, Khushi"

Khushi looked somewhere. She was shocked when Arnav knelt in front of her. She took a step back and looked at him bewildered.

"Abhi cleared all the problems which were frightening you. You have suffered a lot in the past... if that was your fate, the fate itself is clearing your path now. Please don't ignore that, Khushi. Take a step forward... you can reach the place that was waiting for your entry. If you feel you don't want anyone to support YOU, please support me. I need you in my life. Just think like, you are adopting an orphan who is longing for your love. Adopt me, Khushi..." he extended his hand towards her, asking her to hold it.

Khushi was struggling to control her tears. ADOPT? Like really? A woman can even adopt a man as her HUSBAND? She fisted her fingers, bowing down. She could not stand the man's heart-wrenching plea.

Arnav stood up hearing Abhi's footsteps whereas Khushi stood embarrassingly. Abhi rushed to Arnav.

"Dad, how am I looking?"

"Great"

"You know, my friends told me I'm looking like you"

Arnav looked at Khushi who was also spared his glance.

"I so wanted you to be my father. Now, you are truly my father..." he floated in happiness.

"Mom, you too come with us" Abhi pleaded.

"I... I have some work" she stammered whereas Abhi pouted.

She told the same a few minutes ago but Arnav felt the difference. She sounded lower than the first time.

"Dad, shall we have dinner together?"

"I don't know whether your mother feeds me or not," He said embarrassingly.

"She will feed you. Am I right, Mom?" Abhi asked.

Without any choice, she nodded yes. after all, she was already doing that...

"Dad, ask what you want"

"She cooks aloo and Poori well. Ask her to cook them" Arnav said.

"Dad, how do you know that?"

Arnav smiled without answering.

"Yeah... you would have eaten her handmade food when you were together. Do you remember everything?" Abhi asked smiling.

Arnav smiled pleasantly.

"I like her handmade food very much," Arnav said looking at her.

How everything was falling in its place perfectly...! Arnav wondered.

"Let's go, Dad"

Abhi walked dragging Arnav, waving his hand at Khushi. She could feel the true happiness in Abhi's face.

Arnav and Abhi came out of the house. Abhi saw his friend Kishan crossing his house.

"Kishan, look here" he called.

Kishan looked at him and then Arnav.

"He is my Dad..." he shouted.

A few people who were on the road also looked at them.

"He?" Kishan asked.

"Yes. He and my mom fought with each other. Now they become friends again. We are going to be together from here on"

Kishan smiled at Arnav who reciprocated him. Undoubtedly, Khushi heard that. She sighed. Within a week, the whole of Delhi will get to know who was Abhi's father if Abhi continued his propaganda. Khushi thought.

Arnav started the car. Abhi waved his hand again to take Khushi's leave. Arnav drove off Khushi's house with his son... with a new feel... with a new expectation...

To be continued...