Part 42 What reason?

Khushi was stuck for a while. why did he panic as if he touched fire? He spoke a lot... flirted a lot... talked about having a girl baby. On the other side, apologized for touching her hand? WHY? what he was up to? What was there in his mind? She didn't know.

Khushi didn't sleep for long thinking about Arnav's weird behavior. She would not have thought about it seriously if they were still sticking into the friendship THING. She just had broken it too. Didn't she say they didn't have to be friends but can be husband and wife? Then why did he feel awkward when he touched her hand? He just touched her hand... nothing more than that. What was wrong with him?

Suddenly, something hit her mind. She became horrified by the thought that appeared in her mind. She bit her nail with nervousness. Was he still thinking about that? She looked at Arnav who was sleeping peacefully, putting his hand on Abhi. Her eyes pooled up. What will she do if he was still keeping her words in his mind? She didn't have an intention to hurt him but her words would have definitely hurt him. She knew that.

How was she going to repair the damage? Not that she wanted him to touch her. Keeping the bitterness n his mind was not good for the relationship. He could be without touching her and there was no complaint about it but she didn't want him to go with her words. She thought to talk to Arnav about it.

The next morning

Abhi was getting ready for school as usual. Khushi was in Kitchen, preparing breakfast and lunch for them. All of them gathered in the dining. Arnav's phone beeped with a message tone. He smiled, seeing the name of the sender. The message was from Sushma. He opened the WhatsApp and saw the photo sent by Sushma. His lips arched spilling a beautiful smile. Abhi peeped into his mobile and snatched the phone.

"Abhi, you should not snatch his mobile like this" Khushi chided Abhi.

"Relax, Khushi... he is a kid after all" Arnav consoled her.

"But, it's your mobile that has your personal thing"

"There is nothing called personal in it. and nothing is there to hide from my son and wife..." Arnav said cut and right.

"Mom, see, this is Dad's childhood photo..." Abhi said excitedly, extending the phone to Khushi.

She saw the photo without taking the mobile from Abhi's hand and smiled.

"Try to find who is with me..." Arnav said.

Abhi looked at the photo, making a weird face.

"Who's she Dad?" he pouted as he could not find the person.

"Let's see, whether MY WIFE can find it out or not," Arnav said.

Abhi kept the mobile on the table. Khushi gave it a look and smiled.

"Sushma Didi," she said.

"Is it, Dad?" Abhi asked.

Arnav nodded yes while dipping the roti in the mutter curry.

"She should have gotten the photo from our Home when she visited there," Arnav said.

"Mom, is not Dad looking like exactly me in his childhood?" Abhi said.

"Excuse me, big guy, you are the one who is looking like me" Arnav laughed.

Khushi smiled.

"We both are the same, Dad. (turning to Khushi) Am I right Mom?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Abhi, you are my son. So, you will be certainly like me" Pride was visible on his face.

"That means, will my sister be like Mom?" Abhi asked eagerly.

"Maybe..." Arnav smiled.

"Means, won't she be like Mom?" he frowned.

"Are all your friends looking alike to their mother and father or what?" Arnav asked.

Abhi nodded no.

"Likewise, a few children would not be like their parents" Arnav didn't want to increase his expectation.

"What should be done if we want the child to be like her parent?" Abhi asked the question.

"Many factors are there"

"How am I looking like you, Dad? What is the factor behind that?"

Arnav and Khushi spared a glance.

"The child gets the person's features about whom her mother always thinks when she carries a baby in her womb," Khushi said.

"Your Mom... I mean, MY WIFE should have thought about me all the time when you are in her womb" Arnav said with a deep meaning.

But as Arnav didn't expect, she nodded yes.

"Oh, my god... that means my sister won't be like mom?" Abhi pouted.

"Why won't she be like Khushi?" Arnav asked.

"Because Mom always thinks about me..." Abhi giggled.

"Then your sister will be like you," Arnav said.

"Really?"

"Yup"

"Or, she may also be like your Dad," Khushi said, giving a shock to Arnav.

"Mom, that means, will she be like a boy?" Abhi asked feeling nervous.

Arnav laughed.

"Am I looking like a boy?" Khushi asked.

"No, why...?"

"Because I'm like my father..."

"Really?"

"Yes..."

"Do you have your father's photo?" Abhi asked.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Show me, Mom"

"I will show you in the evening because I have to search for it in the old suitcase."

"Ok..."

Abhi rushed to the washbasin to wash his hand. Taking Abhi's bag, Arnav walked with him to send him off. Khushi stood a little aloof and waved her hands towards Abhi. Arnav came in after sending him off. Khushi stood looking at him. Arnav smiled at her casually. Khushi hesitated to talk to him as that was a sensitive matter. They have not started their life yet. They have not even started talking freely. Then how could she ask him 'why are you hesitating to touch me?'

Khushi went to the kitchen to think about it. She stuffed the food in their lunch boxes and packed them in a lunch bag. She turned around with the bag and jolted, seeing Arnav standing very close to her. It seemed he noticed her being disturbed.

"Ouch..." Khushi jerked and about to slip down, Arnav pulled her towards him, clutching her hand.

She banged on his chest and came to the composure.

"I'm sorry... I just..." Arnav again uttered those trademark dialogues.

"Why...?" Came from Khushi immediately.

Arnav looked at her awestruck.

"Why are you apologizing? You just saved me... what's wrong with that?" She asked.

"Yeah... but..."

"But what?"

"Nothing..."

"I'm noticing you... you are apologizing to me again and again for touching me" she said.

Arnav swallowed hard.

"I'm... sorry..." she said.

"Sorry for?"

"I know why are you doing this," She said.

Arnav gazed at her with penetrating eyes.

"I didn't mean in the way you think"

Arnav frowned. He didn't know what she was talking about.

"I said that just to avoid you...and..."

Cutting her,

"Khushi, I can't understand about what you are talking. Mind you tell me the matter?"

"I know you have not forgotten what I said the other day when you proposed to me," she said stammering.

Arnav was silently looking at her.

"I was not in the idea to marry you at that time. That's why I said..."

Cutting her,

"If you think you can sleep with me by uttering a few sugar-coated words..." Arnav stopped, telling that.

"I said that to..."

Again cutting her,

"avoid me... I know... trust me. I have forgotten that a long ago. There is nothing in my mind about that"

Khushi looked at him unbelievably.

"I know you were completely different that time. To avoid me only you would have uttered such words. You thought I will keep my distance from you getting angry with you for thinking low about me, right?"

She nodded yes.

"Certainly not Khushi... I'm not really thinking about it"

"Then why are you feeling awkward whenever you touch me?"

"It's because I really feel awkward..."

Khushi felt bad, hearing that.

"I really don't know how to move with you. Don't know whether you are ready to accept me or not. You agreed to marry me under a few conditions. I don't want to make you feel awkward by touching you casually. I just thought to make you feel relaxed. That's why I ask sorry. Nothing more than that."

Khushi didn't know what to say.

"Khushi, you should understand one thing. I will never be keeping a grudge in my mind because you are my wife. I'm not a cheap person to revenge on my wife for something she did unintentionally. Ok?"

She smiled feeling relief.

"I will take our relationship ahead only if you are fine with that. We have no other choice. Until you are getting IN, I will be OUT" he chuckled.

Khushi smiled mildly. She didn't know how their life was going to be. Did he want HER to touch first? Didn't he know it won't happen soon? Was he ready to wait till then?

Arnav's question made Khushi jerk.

"What did you think about bringing a sister for Abhi?"

Khushi looked at him shrinking her eyes and tilting her head. Arnav went to the washroom laughingly, leaving blushing Khushi.

To be continued...