Part 43 Differentiation

After noticing Khushi was lost in some thought, Arnav slowed down the car's speed. They were on the way to Unique Software.

"Khushi, are you alright?"

Khushi looked at him and nodded yes sighing.

"It seems you drown in some deep thought?"

"I'm thinking about my Parents..."

Cutting her,

"Which parents?"

Khushi looked at him with a smile, understanding his question.

"They are not your parents. Don't lower the respect of the REAL parents by calling THEM parents" Arnav said seriously.

"Yeah... that makes sense"

"Tell me what were you thinking about them?"

"It's been two days since they met me. Neither I have received any reaction from them nor from Aditya's family. That's what I'm thinking about."

"They would have been shocked seeing you married to me. That might have made them think of not to do anything..."

"No way... they are not, NOT TO DO ANYTHING kind. I guess they are planning something big to hit me hard" She said thoughtfully.

"But, how could they hit you?"

"We can't say they can't"

"Even though they have your marriage registration certificate, it's not valuable today because Aditya died six years ago. They can't corner you with the help of law"

"No, they don't have our wedding registration certificate"

"Means?" Arnav frowned.

"When I fought with them for Abhi, they tore the wedding certificate and wedding album in front of my eyes and fired them. Then only they pushed me out of the house, breaking all the ties with me"

Arnav gulped hard.

"Why did you fight with them for Abhi?" he asked even though he knew the reason.

"They didn't want to keep the baby who is not their heir. They could not let him enjoy their property. I was carrying a nine-month baby. There was no possibility of aborting the child. So, they were planning to drop him in the orphanage. That's why I fought with them. They became furious when I didn't obey them. They said I will lose my place in their house. They did what they said"

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to be sorry for something you are not related to..."

"Do you really think I'm not related to it?" he asked meaningfully.

"If yes, then YES. If no, then NO" Khushi said.

Arnav nodded yes.

"It's all fate Arnavji..."

"You are right. It's our fate to be together. That's why you fought with them and kept Abhi with you. If you had not done that, we would have lost the only source to get together... Abhi. I would not have gotten my son and a woman to motivate my life" he smiled.

"Whom you are talking about?" she teased.

"She is someone who never shows to the world who she is"

Khushi looked out smilingly.

"One side, I want to thank you for not dropping Abhi in the orphanage. On the other side, I didn't get the courage to do that when I think about the struggle you faced to do that"

"I already told you, it's our fate. Abhi is destined to be with you. I agree I struggled a lot. But now, I'm feeling so relaxed."

Arnav looked at her feeling delighted. Khushi smiled. Maybe, she said that to make him delighted.

"I'm glad that you are feeling relaxed"

She nodded yes.

"I thought I will have to pass my entire life struggling. I almost fixed my mind in it." Khushi said.

"I know. That's why you were confused when I proposed to you"

She nodded yes again.

"I don't know how to console you..."

Cutting him,

"No need... my past is passed away... it died. I don't want to think about it anymore because it is full of bitterness" Khushi said not showing her bitterness.

'I'm happy at least Abhi escaped from the bitterness. He got what he wanted. (She stopped and looked at Arnav.) He has a lot of expectations towards you..."

Before she continued,

"I know and you don't have to have a doubt whether I will fulfill his expectations or not."

Khushi nodded ok. That's when her mobile rang. She saw the name of the caller and smiled.

"Preeto is calling"

"Oh..."

She attended it.

"Hello madam, how are you?" Preeto asked.

"Doing great"

"What about you Mr?"

"He is also fine... at present, driving the car... going to the office"

"Oh... then turn the speaker on"

"Why?"

"Just to convey something to both of you"

"Ok, wait"

Khushi turned the speaker on.

"Hello, Arnav"

"Hi, Preeto... how is Karan?"

"He is doing our marriage arrangements in the full swing" she chuckled.

"That means, he is doing an interesting job..."

"Undoubtedly..."

"Anything special?"

"Tomorrow is our Roka. You and your family are invited..."

"Ohh..." Arnav smiled at Khushi.

"Try to be there on time"

"With pleasure"

"Did Karan call you?"

"Not yet... I think it's not necessary as you called us on his behalf"

"So, nice. Khushi, I will be waiting for you"

"Stop lying, Preeto..." Khushi said.

"Lie? Do you think I'm lying?"

"Then what? How will you remember me when you will be waiting for Karan Bhai so excitedly?"

"Oh... just stop it ok?"

"I will stop it now... will continue tomorrow at the venue"

"Waiting" she disconnected the call smilingly.

Khushi kept the phone in her purse smilingly.

"Are you really going to tease her?" Arnav asked smilingly.

"Not exactly... but yes," she said controlling her laughter.

Arnav rolled his eyes smilingly.

"Girls are so mean..."

"We too say the same... guys are so mean..." she laughed.

"We will take Abhi with us," Arnav said.

"Of course, he is excitedly waiting to attend Preeto's wedding"

"We are going to attend the wedding as a family," he said feeling ecstatic.

Khushi nodded yes.

They reached the office and started working. That day went smoothly.

Evening

Abhi became happier when Khushi told him about Preeto's Roka function.

"Mom, what drees I will wear?" he asked, keeping the cupboard open.

"Anything you wish"

"Dad, do you have sherwani?"

Arnav nodded no, pressing his lips.

"I thought to wear as same as yours," Abhi said.

"We will wear the same dress at their wedding. We will wear the same color tomorrow. What say?" Arnav said.

"Okkkiii what color?"

"As per your wish"

"Abhi likes RED and GREEN... am I right, Abhi?" Khushi winked at him.

"RED and GREEN?" Arnav became horrified.

"Yes, Dad... that is my favorite color combination," he said understanding Khushi's gesture.

"Yeah, he always uses that combination in every drawing. Red shirt with Green pants and red shoes... is not it a deadly combination?" Khushi asked breathlessly.

Arnav dropped his jaw whereas Khushi controlled her laughter.

"Yes, Mom... We saw the same combination in an old movie, right?" Abhi said.

Arnav closed his eyes sighing. Khushi and Abhi burst out laughing. She sat on the couch and laughed. Abhi rushed to her and sat on her lap, giggling. Arnav looked at them awe struck. He bit his lower lip when they shared a hi-fi. So, these two were making fun of him...!

"Dad... did you think we will ask you to wear a Red shirt with Green pants?"

Arnav smiled folding his hands.

"I don't know you both are such evil pieces," he said smilingly and they again shared hi-fi.

"Much more to go, Dad..." Abhi cackled.

"Oh... really?"

Arnav pulled Abhi from Khushi but Khushi hugged Abhi tightly not letting him go.

"Is it?" Said Arnav and started tickling Abhi.

Abhi started hopping from Khushi's lap, giggling could not stand the sensation. In that, his head banged on Khushi's jaw.

"Ssss...." She hissed clutching her jaw.

Both the father and the son panicked.

"Khushiiii"

"Moooom..."

Khushi nodded her head like 'nothing is serious'. She stood up from the couch.

"I'm sorry, Mom" Abhi pulled her down to his level and kissed her jawline.

"I'm really sorry Mom"

"I'm sorry, Khushi..." Arnav said repenting.

"Dad, you too kiss her. That's what I always do" Abhi suggested making his parents awe-struck.

Didn't Khushi know what was there in Arnav's mind about touching her?

"It's ok, Abhi... I just..." Arnav suffocated.

"Dad, because of you I banged on her. She always says her pain will go vanishing if I kiss her. you to do it, Dad"

"Leave it, Abhi..." Khushi said and tried to go,

Abhi stopped her clutching her hand.

"Dad, don't make her upset..."

"I'm not upset..." She said and turned.

This time, she stopped sensing another one clutching her hand. She looked at her hand and then at Arnav. He got close to her making her heartbeat rush.

"I'm sorry..." saying that he kissed her jaw.

Khushi closed her eyes experiencing the first-ever kiss of a MAN.

Arnav gets apart, looking at her.

"I'm sorry..." he said whispering.

Khushi looked at him gulping down.

After that, they didn't interact. It was Abhi who blabbered a lot. Arnav lay down beside Abhi but faced his back to him. but we can't say he slept. Khushi touched the place where Arnav touched her with his lips. She closed her eyes feeling something erotic inside her.

She could differentiate her feelings. Arnav touched her when she fell into the pool the other day. that day it felt different... kind of averse. His touch created nervousness in her that day. But today... it was definitely not that kind. She saw Arnav slightly shaking his body. She closed her eyes immediately. He turned his head and saw her sleeping. He closed his eyes sighing.

The next morning

The awkwardness was carried forward the next morning too. Arnav and Khushi didn't talk to each other. Arnav turned the TV on and watched the news, changing the news channels one by one. His hand automatically stopped when he saw the particular news.

"A FAMOUS FERTILITY HOSPITAL MET WITH A FIRE ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT"

Khushi who had just come to the living room with Arnav's coffee also got stuck, seeing the same hospital that was related to their life.

To be continued...