Part 29 Call...

Lavanya wanted to go to the temple. She requested Khushi to accompany her. As Suman would be late that day, Khushi went with her. They came to the bus stand after finishing worshiping. The bus stand was next to a signal. They saw two third-gender persons asking for money from people. Lavanya hid behind Khushi, seeing them.

"What happened, Lavanya?"

"I'm scared about them," Lavanya said.

Khushi pulled her beside her.

"Why Lavanya? They are also like us... they are also human... they don't kill anyone"

"Don't know Khushi I feel scared about them"

"They are just ERRORS of nature. It's not their fault, Lavanya. Anyone can be pushed to their level because it's a hormone problem. We all are having hormones. Our sisters and brothers can also turn like them. Could you supersede your beloved ones if they turn like them?"

Khushi's question shook Lavanya because she loved her little brother like anything. She could not even imagine him in that condition.

"Poor them... they are already lost their life. They would not have been in this position if their family had understood their feelings. If we can't make them feel good, we can be without disappointing them at least"

Lavanya became thoughtful. She nodded yes.

"Respecting them is equal to worshiping Arthanareeswara." Khushi smiled.

Lavanya nodded yes.

"I'm sorry, Khushi. I never analyzed this issue in this way"

"That's ok..."

Lavanya looked in that direction and nagged Khushi.

"Look at them"

Khushi saw them talking with Arnav.

"What Arnav sir is talking with them?" Lavanya asked.

Khushi nodded no as she had no idea what Arnav was talking to them. Arnav was conversing with them, getting out of the car.

"Why are you guys asking for money? You can do a decent job..."

Cutting Arnav,

"Who will offer a job for us, sir? People feel insulted to even talk to us. Then how would they offer us the job?"

"Will you do the job if I (he stressed) give you the job?"

They looked at each other and then at Arnav.

"Tell me"

"Sure sir... I'm an M.com graduate" one of them said.

"Is it?"

"Yes, Sir... but in my certificate, my name was Pratheep... but now, it's Preethi"

"No problem. You can change it in your Adhar card later"

"But, I'm not a graduate," another one said hesitatingly.

"What do you know?"

"I was working as a driver in Saudi"

"Ok... come to my school and meet me tomorrow"

"School?" They were shocked.

"Why?"

"No, sir... you will face a severe problem if you appoint us"

"I will face it... are you ready to work or not?"

"We will surely work sir..."

"Done"

Arnav gave them his visiting card.

"Meet me the day after tomorrow... Preethi and?"

"Vishali"

"Ok... bye"

Arnav got inside the car and left. Preethi and Vishali were looking at his car, unbelievably.

Khushi and Lavanya left the place as their route bus arrived.

...........

Suman saw Khushi thinking intensely.

"What's cooking in your mind? Are you thinking about how Arnav is going to marry you?"

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Why? What's wrong I asked. Don't you think about it?"

Khushi nodded no.

"Then?"

"Today, Khushi asked for my permission to call me Mummy, in front of everyone in the staff room"

"Really?"

"Yes, I didn't expect that"

"What was the other's reaction?"

"All were stunned. Manju ma'am and Lavanya managed the situation."

"Manju would have done that because she knew your story... But how did Lavanya do it?"

"Lavanya thought Khushi yearns to call someone a mother"

"She was not wrong though"

"Mmm..."

"Did you agree?"

"Yes... She asked me the same a few days ago too"

"At that time, you were angry with Arnav"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Thank God, you went to Arnav's house. Or else, we would have been thinking about him wrong"

"Yes... If Fatima Chachi had not told me about his past, I would have still been angry with him" she said with regret.

"Relax..."

"No, Sumi... I should have trusted him. My mind failed to analyze the issue"

"Anyone would have done the same, Khushi. You were weary of seeing his wedding photo. Then, losing your faith in him is obvious. He would have at least cleared his stance"

"He would have thought not to break me down. I didn't understand him"

Suman never liked to see her sad. So, he thought to change the topic.

"I have a doubt"

"What?"

"Was that Khushi who wanted to call you Mummy or her Daddy?"

Khushi remembered baby Khushi's words she uttered once. Didn't she say, her father was the one who asked her to get her permission? She looked at Suman, biting her lip.

"So, it was baby's Daddy... And you know that" Suman asked her sarcastically.

Khushi nodded yes, pressing her lips.

In the meanwhile,

Baby Khushi finished eating dinner. She came to Arnav's room.

"What happened, beta? Don't you go to your room?"

"Daddy, daddy, shall I say good night to mummy?" She asked, pleading.

Arnav smiled and nodded ok.

"Could you give me your phone?"

Taking his phone, Arnav dialed Khushi's number and wait for her to pick, it up. It was Suman who took her mobile and smiled at her teasingly. Khushi raised her brows, asking him, WHO?

"Your prince charming..."

"Arnav?"

"Do you have any other prince charming?"

Khushi gritted her teeth and tried to take the mobile from him. He pulled his hand behind.

"Give the phone, Sumi... The call may get disconnected"

"Don't you know to dial back?

Swiping the green symbol, Suman said,

"Hello..."

Hearing Suman's voice, Arnav turned the speaker on and gestured for baby Khushi to talk.

"Hello..."

"Who is speaking?" Suman asked even though he knew it was baby Khushi.

"Sumi uncle, can't you recognize my voice? I'm Khushi..."

"Hi baby, how are you?"

"I'm fine... How are you, uncle?"

"I'm super fine"

"You would be fine because you are with Khushi mummy"

"Khushi mummy? From when did you start calling her mummy?" he asked, knowing the full scenario.

"From this evening"

"That's nice..."

"Could you pass the phone to mummy? I want to wish her good night"

"Oh... Sure..."

Suman passed the phone to Khushi smiling.

"Your baby wants to wish you good night"

Khushi took it with a smile.

"Hello, Khushi..."

"Hello, mummy..."

"Have you had dinner?"

"Oh yes... You?"

"Going to have..."

"I'm going to sleep. Before that, I want to wish you good night"

"So, sweet of you..."

"You too are so sweet and Sumi uncle also..."

"Really?"

"Haan... You allowed me to call you mummy..."

"It's because I like you"

"I too love you so much"

"Ok baby, it's already late. go to sleep..."

"Ok, mummy, good night, sweet dreams, sleep tight," Baby Khushi said cutely.

"Good night, baby" Khushi kissed the phone.

Khushi was about to disconnect the call, but she stopped hearing baby Khushi.

"Good night Daddy. You talk to mummy"

Khushi waited to know whether Arnav would talk to her. Arnav saw the call was on hold. Turning the speaker off, Arnav said,

"Khushi..."

"Haan, Arnav... Tell me" she asked as if she was not curious to talk to him.

"Khushi wanted to talk to her mummy before going to sleep," Arnav said smiling.

"Yeah, she told me"

"It didn't mean I don't want to talk to you"

Khushi smiled.

"But, you won't talk to someone's husband who is not at all someone's husband..."

"I will talk to someone's husband if the talk is normal"

"Normal means?" he asked purposely.

"Normal means normal..."

"That's what I'm asking"

"Arnav..." her voice sounded strict.

"Mmmm?"

"Stop it ok?"

"What do you want me to stop? My talks?"

"Teasing talks"

"When did I tease you?"

"Ok... I'm cutting the call"

"Ok cut"

Arnav smiled as she didn't cut the call.

"Ok, good night," he said.

"Good night" she smiled, keeping the phone on her ear.

"Did you cut the call?"

"Why didn't you cut the call?"

"When did I say I'm going to cut the call?" he asked.

Khushi was silent.

"I was... I'm... and I will never wish to CUT anything related to you, Khushi"

She gulped down.

"I would like to live the life that we wished to get... I will do it. It's hell to be without you Khushi"

Tears rolled down from her eyes.

"Don't cry... go to sleep. Good night" Arnav disconnected the call.

To be continued...