Part 29 Family

After spending his valuable time with Abhi, Arnav said,

"Abhi, let's go somewhere..."

"Are we going outing?" he asked elatedly.

"Yeah..."

"Ohhh hoooo... Let's go" he got ready.

Arnav took Abhi to a coffee shop. Abhi frowned.

"Dad... I don't like coffee. Mom, won't give me a coffee" he said hurriedly.

"But, you like this kind of coffee... Come" Arnav joined his hand with Abhi's and walked in.

"What kind of coffee is available here?"

"These do not taste like coffee but differently..."

Abhi looked at him confused. He could not come to the conclusion about what different coffees could have. Yet, he waited. Arnav ordered.

"Two, Caffe mocha"

The bearer nodded ok and left the place.

"Won't you drink coffee?" Arnav asked.

"No... Milk and milkshakes... That's all" Abhi answered.

"If there is anything that your mother restricts you from eating, tell me."

"Why Dad.?"

"I don't want to get scolded..." He smiled.

"You too are scared of mom?"

"What does that mean YOU TOO?"

"I watched many movies. Husbands are scared of their wives... but I thought you won't scare of Mom" he said seriously.

"Why did you think so?" Arnav smiled.

"It's because you fought with her before getting separated from her. People won't fight with the person with whom they are scared of"

"Yeah... You are right. I think I should get scared of your mother from here on. So that we won't get separated again" he chuckled.

"Thanks, Dad..." he said happily

Caffe Mocha arrived. Arnav gestured him to have. Abhi tasted it. His facial expression changed.

"Mmmm... It's good"

Arnav smiled leaning on the chair. That's when they heard someone calling,

"Abhi..."

Abhi and Arnav looked in the direction and saw Preeto standing with a surprised expression and also with a shopping bag.

"Massiiiii...." Abhi rushed to her and hugged her.

Preeto caressed his hair.

"You here?" She asked looking at Arnav as if she didn't know Arnav.

She thought Arnav would have brought Abhi to the coffee shop as usual. But, Abhi's next stance made her eyes wider.

"Dad brought me here"

"Dad?" She mumbled.

Abhi dragged her to the table at which Arnav was sitting.

"He is my Dad... Dad, she is Preeto Massi"

"Hi..." Arnav said.

Preeto stood, could not understand anything. How did Abhi call Arnav Dad? Did Arnav tell him the truth? What about Khushi?

"Is he your Dad?" Preeto asked.

"Yes, maasi, he and mom fought with each other and got separated. He went to Canada because he didn't know about me at that time. When he came back to India to search for mom, she was not at the address. So, he went back to Canada again. Today, he found mom and me." He smiled whereas Preeto was standing like a statue.

Abhi was thinking Arnav was Khushi's husband. But, how? What happened between them that Abhi came to the conclusion? She saw Arnav, who was looking at her silently.

"We are going to have dinner together tonight. Dad asked mom to prepare aloo and poori" Abhi added.

Preeto nodded her head with a smile even though she didn't get anything.

"Ok, enjoy your day with your dad"

Preeto looked at Arnav.

"Thank you, sir, for simplifying the toughest issue"

"It's me who should thank you. Thank you so much for making me aware of the truth. You had done something that anyone hesitates to do..."

"Maybe... According to the hospital rule, I'm wrong... But according to my heart, I'm not because I just want Khushi to be happy. She deserves happiness. She had faced a terrible phase in her life that anyone can withstand. She faced only betrayal and humiliation. Seemingly she is alright but she too has emotions and she needs someone's shoulder to lean on"

Arnav nodded yes.

"I have understood my responsibility. I will take care of her"

"Thank you... I'm leaving... Bye Abhi..."

"Bye massi" Abhi waved his hand.

Preeto left the coffee shop and got into the car. She dialed Khushi. Khushi, who was preparing aloo poori, attended the call.

"How are you Khushi?"

"I'm fine"

"Abhi?"

"Yeah, he is also fine" Khushi tried to cover up that Abhi went with Arnav.

"That's good... Where is he? I left your place without bidding bye to him the other day. Call him"

"Oh... he is not at home"

"Where's he? Usually, he won't go anywhere if you are at home...!" Preeto asked.

"Yeah... His friend wanted to give him a party today... That's why he went"

"Oh... What's his friend's name? Arnav?"

Khushi was stuck...

"Are you there, Khushi?"

"Did you see them?"

"Yeah, in the coffee shop... Abhi addressed Arnav as not a friend but Dad..."

Khushi gulped down.

"I want to meet you immediately but I heard you guys have some dinner plans. I don't want you to ruin your family gathering. That's why I called you"

Khushi sighed.

"I can't believe Abhi accepted Arnav as his Dad so easily"

"He is thinking Arnav is my husband..."

"But how?"

Khushi explained how it happened.

"It seems God wants to end all your struggle. He is on your side Khushi. See, how smoothly he solved the toughest issue of your life!"

"I can't understand anything, Preeto."

"There is nothing to be confused about, Khushi. Didn't you see how happy Abhi is? Apart from everything, you too will be happy if you fit yourself into the new life. Just think about yourself. Did you ever think about your future after Abhi? He too will have a personal life, Khushi. He may also get busy with his wife and children in the future. What after that? Don't you want someone to hold on? Please, Khushi... Please accept Arnav... No urgency... Take your own time and do it"

Khushi closed her eyes.

"I never thought I will face this phase in my life, Preeto. This is unexpected. I'm not prepared for this. I don't know what to do... Let me think about it"

Preeto sighed in relief. Khushi's point made sense.

"I'm glad to hear such hopeful words from you Khushi. Hope you will choose well..."

"Mmm"

"Will meet you soon. Bye"

"Bye"

Preeto disconnected the call with satisfaction. Khushi was not wrong. This was an unexpected situation in her life. How could she have expected everything to fall in the right place? Just Khushi's part is to be completed... A yes from her was needed. She needed time. Let her think.

Khushi finished cooking. Taking bath, she waited for Abhi and of course, for Arnav. They came home at 7 o'clock. Abhi gave her a sweet box.

"Mom, your favorite sweet"

Khushi took it from Abhi because she knew Abhi was the one who would have selected it as Arnav didn't know about her favorite sweet. Khushi was about to go to the kitchen with the sweet box,

"Mom, don't you eat the sweet?" He asked.

"I will eat later"

"Eat at least one, mom"

Opening the box, she took her favorite jalebi out and tasted it.

"How is that?"

"Nice"

"Dad bought it for you," Abhi said proudly.

Khushi looked at Arnav perplexed who had a soft smile on his face. How did he know about her favorite sweet? She never told him about it...!

"Wash your face and come. We will have dinner" Khushi said composing.

"Come on, Dad... let's wash our face"

Clutching Arnav's hand, Abhi dragged him to their bedroom.

"Wait, I will wash my face first..." Abhi went to the washroom.

Arnav ran his eyes in the neatly maintained room. He saw a photo of Khushi and Abhi in which they were smiling brightly. That was the only photo of Khushi in the whole house. He saw Abhi rushing out.

"Dad, you go"

Arnav went in rolling his pants up. He came out within a few minutes, washing his face. Abhi was waiting for him with a towel. He passed it to Arnav.

"Thank you" Arnav took it from him.

They came to the dining. Khushi was standing near the table after arranging it.

"Mom, you too sit with us" Abhi pulled her.

Khushi sat next to Abhi. Khushi gave the plate to Abhi after filling it. To her surprise, Abhi passed it to Arnav. Arnav smiled at him pleasantly. That was how a family functions? It was a great feeling to have someone to look after us. That was the first time, Arnav experienced it. He so wanted to continue it. That family setup gave him a pleasurable sensation that he never felt before. Arnav started eating thinking those... That was the best food Arnav ever had.

To be continued...