Part 40

Arnav and Khushi reached home with Aashi. Aashi stopped Khushi by clutching her wrist. She hugged Khushi and kissed her cheek making Khushi bewildered.

Aashi: Mom, I'm so sorry...

Khushi(confused): Sorry? For?

Aashi: I teased you a lot, without understanding your talent. I got to know, how talented you are. Please forgive me.

Khushi(overwhelmed): It's ok baby. You are my child. I never got upset with you.

Aashi: You are such a sweetheart mom. You know, I decided to study Math as I have a Math genius at my home.

Khushi(chuckled): What about AR? Didn't you say that you would look after AR?

Aashi: Dad will take care of it. From today onwards, I'm your devotee. Ok? She bowed her head.

Arnav (sternly): Aashi... it's already late go to sleep.

Aashi smiled inwardly. Seems like, it started burning.

Aashi: Dad, tomorrow is Sunday. So be cool. I want to talk to mom a lot. People asked me many questions about mom. So I want to know everything thoroughly. Please leave as for a while. If you feel sleepy then you can go.

That's it. Khushi sensed something was not right. She saw Arnav's expression was changing. Here, she didn't even solve Akash issue yet and adding to it Aashi is pouring oil in it?

Khushi: Aashi beta. I'm so tired. We will take tomorrow. ok?

Aashi: Mom, will you sleep with me? Please.... She pleaded.

Khushi was stunned. She saw Arnav was looking at Aashi with firm expression. Khushi wanted to smooth down the situation. She knew Arnav and also the consequences of his possessiveness.

Khushi: Beta please, you have to go to shuttle class tomorrow. Go to sleep.

Aashi(making face): Ok.

She left to her room.

Arnav: What happened to Aashi? She took "U" turn all of a sudden?

Khushi didn't say anything. Arnav dragged her towards him.

Arnav: I'm asking you something Khushi.

Khushi: I too asked you a lot throughout the way. Did you answer me? Why should I answer now?

Arnav: You know very well, what made me behave so.

Khushi: What's the big deal Arnav? Akash just greeted me. What do you want me to do?

Arnav: I don't mind what he spoke to you but why the hell you smiled at him?

Khushi sighed wearily.

Khushi: He said that his wife is working. I felt really glad. So...

Arnav(cutting her): So?

Khushi: Forget it. You just stay possessive.

Arnav: Of course Arnav will be Arnav... forever. Understood? And warn your daughter to be careful. If she took advantage then I will send her to the boarding school.

Khushi's eye popped out hearing that.

Khushi: What!!! Will you send my daughter to boarding school? How could you? Will you be without her? What so big possessiveness Arnav?

She looked at Arnav who was smirking. She gulped hard because his smirk means a lot... seriously. They heard knock. Khushi opened the door and saw Aashi standing in her night suit. She rushed inside pushing Khushi aside. Arnav was looking at her like what the...

Aashi: Mom, allow me to sleep here tonight.

Khushi looked at Arnav who was standing folding his hands looking at his daughter's drama. She started chanting Hey Devi Maiya automatically.

Khushi(stammering): What's this Aashi? Why are you behaving weird?

Aashi (holding Khushi's chin): Is it wrong to be with my mother?

Khushi: Aashi I told you that I'm tired.

Aashi: Me too Mom. So don't waste time. Come to sleep.

Khushi: Aashi beta, listen...

Arnav (cutting her): Let her sleep here.

Khushi was more surprise than Aashi. Only she knows how much Arnav researched "Turmeric powder" to sleep with her in "those days", just because he couldn't sleep without her. She knew what will be the consequences. She had no idea, what's running in his mind? He is so unpredictable these days. Mom and daughter were staring at Arnav like he was a ghost.

Arnav: After all, she is our baby. I will be in the living room. Make her comfortable with you.

Aashi was dissatisfied. She thought she can make her father jealous and it will be the best entertainment. But nothing happened like that. She was disappointed while Khushi felt dizzy. At the same time, Aashi was happy too because her father didn't feel jealous of her. So she is still special for her father no matter how much he loves her mother.

Aashi: Dad, you don't need to go. I'm going back to my room.

Arnav: Why beta? You wanted to be with your mother...

Aashi: It's ok Dad. Your back will pain if you sleep on the couch.

Saying she left the room. Khushi was staring at Arnav unbelievably. Actually what the hell is happening here?

Arnav(with his trademark lopsided smile): Why are you staring at me?

Khushi: How did you allow her to stay with us?

Arnav: Did she stay? He smiled.

Khushi: Means?

Arnav: What do you think? (pause) She wanted to irritate me like, she always does with you. If I would have opposed her, she would have been adamant in staying her. so I turned the table, acting super cool.

Khushi: What if your idea would have been flopped?

Arnav: No way. I had seen her hearing our talks about Akash.

Khushi was awe struck. She thought she would struggle in between her husband and daughter. Because that was the situation she never wanted to face. But Arnav handled it brilliantly.

Khushi (gulping): That's why you didn't react in Akash matter because Aashi got to know that?

Arnav: Pagal. We have come a long way. In that process, we got enough qualitative maturity to handle all the hard times.

Khushi was looking at him with wide-open eyes.

Arnav: Didn't you say I have changed? So I gave you a sample of my possessiveness. How did you feel darling? He smiled.

Khush(pouting): So, weren't you really that possessive? you disappointed me.

Arnav(teasingly): Haan... I had seen how your face drained its color when I was glaring at you.

Khushi(chuckled): I really scared seeing your face so rigid. I thought you were upset like "that day".

Arnav: I didn't get upset "that day" just because you spoke to Akash. You compared my love with him, that's what made me upset.

Khushi: Thanks to Devi Maiya.

Arnav: Did you forget, I had promised you that I won't wound myself again. Remember?

Khushi nodded yes.

Khushi: You really changed. She said pinching his cheek.

Arnav: But you are not. Same pout, same childishness, same youthfulness. (He caressed her ear lope making her breathing hard)

Khushi: You also didn't change in this matter. She said fiddling his shirt buttons.

Arnav: Ever.

Khushi: We are getting old, remember?

Arnav (frowned): Old? Who?

Khushi: We are...

Arnav: Our bodies may get old but not our feelings for each other.

Khushi: In fact, your feelings are getting younger than before.

Arnav: Why not, if my wife always keeps me happy? You are not giving a single chance to be sad or tension. If everyone gets tension free life then everyone will be like me.

Khushi ( Leaning on his shoulder): Don't praise me.

Arnav: Why?

Khushi: my love for you is increasing.

Arnav (huskily): So?

Khushi: Don't you know?

Arnav: of course I know. I want the same.

Khushi: Same?

Arnav: I would like to be a receiving end tonight.

Khushi hugged him to hide her blush.

Arnav: May I?

Khushi(whispering): If you keep the lights off.

Arnav tightened the hug while laughing wholeheartedly. No matter how many years they have crossed, Khushi will be Khushi. 

To be continued........