A/N:
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Thank you everyone for your love and support
As always, the photos are not mine. Found them on Pinterest. They are from one of my favorite Chinese dramas - The Love You Give Me
It's only Monday and my week is already going so shitty. 🙃
Let's hope it gets better soon
PS this chapter was written over the weekend and hence, seems happier than I'm at the moment. 😕
Please cheer me up in the comments.
Date published - 30 OCT 2023
(NOW BACK TO THE STORY)
(That night)
Khushi found her house to be lifeless as both Pluto and Aarav were staying the weekend at her brother's place.
'You are so strong'
'You are just a good mother'
'You should think about Aarav too. He needs a father."
She had heard it all in the past three years.
For once, she didn't want me to be the strong one or the one who adjusts to accommodate others.
She wanted to be carefree and conquer the weakness of being a widow. That stereotypical weakness of being weak and overly sensitive and pitiful.
She wanted to conquer the heaviness of the duty and responsibilities that fell on her shoulders.
She was tired from being strong. And she never realized how fragile she had become as she sat alone in the middle of the night, staring at the wall that had photographs of what was once a happy family.
She didn't sleep that night, not because of the mindless shows that were on the television which was running throughout the night. No, her thoughts kept her awake.
She sighed and thought to herself -"One day at a time."
In the next few months, Khushi and Arnav looked out for each other. In fact , the two realized that they were a mirror of each other, connected by loss of their partner but ultimately separated by fate.
Khushi too made many new work friends, especially in Aman, Akash, and Payal. Work friendships are a thing. Sometimes, the greatest friends are made when two people suffer under the regime of a ruthless manager or management.
Arnav loved learning new things about her. The fact that she likes baking. And is quite good from the cupcakes Tara bought home saying that Aarav gave her.
The two kiddies (Aarav & Tara) ended up becoming best friends so Arnav and Khushi ended up spending more time together as a consequence. Not that Khushi minded since in her own words 'Luckily, you're really cute'.
It was weekend and the kids wanted to go to the amusement park. And as Anjali and Shyam had to attend their friend's wedding, Arnav took Tara with him while Khushi and Aarav joined them.
In the amusement park, they played all sort of games and rides. From kid-friendly roller coasters and merry-go-rounds.
They played the throwing-the-rubber-rings at the which prize they wanted. Khushi won that game.
Khushi couldn't decide which soft toys to choose since they all were so cute.
Arnav who was slightly sulking since he didn't win, said - "I have got to hand it to you, you really know how to test your patience."
Khushi settled herself for a cute white sheep plushie.
Then they played shooting-the-balloon at which Tara was terrible at and Arnav won a prize for her.
For lunch, Khushi bought the kids some burgers and fries. The two adults had the same, enjoying the company of each other.
Later, they headed for a good old bumper car ride. It was Arnav-Aarav vs Khushi-Tara. Girls vs Boys. And much to the boy's dismay, the girls won that, giving maximum impact to the guys.
Tara wanted cotton candy and Arnav got them for both his princess and bud, although Khushi was not pleased since according to her, he already had way too many candies.
Surprisingly, it was the time of sunset and the four of them sat on a bench, admiring the scene.
The sunset was just the cherry on top, that they needed. Like literally a paid actor.
Arnav watched Khushi devouring a cotton candy herself, with the same level of excitement and joy of both Aarav and Tara combined.
There is a playground on the amusement and they went there, next.
As Aarav and Tara played around on the slides, Arnav and Khushi sat on the swings, keeping a careful eye on them.
Arnav tried to help Khushi by pushing the swing forward and Khushi did the same for her.
And in their own weird way, they began to swing with the same level of joy and excitement as that of a kid.
Arnav tried to push Khushi's swing from the side, in a playful manner.
Khushi - "Stop pushing my swing! I can do it on my own."
Arnav -"Were you always this independent?"
Khushi - "Not really. Rahul's death took a great toll on our lives and I had to step up for my son."
Rahul was her biggest cheerleader and with him, she felt that the world was her oyster and that she could simply go out there and win the world.
Arnav - "Ever wonder what your life would have been like if... (he was still alive)?"
Khushi understood what Arnav was getting at and replied - "Every damn day. What about you?"
Arnav too acknowledged - "Same. Every time I see kids running around who are about Aarav's age, I wonder what if..you know"
Khushi knew what he was going to say and nodded her head saying "Yea."
Arnav cleared his throat and said - "Sheetal would always fall back into my chest eventually, whenever she slept. It brought me comfort that she would be my constant and that was something I would look forward to almost every day. And it was supposed to last until the end of my times. And now, I wait in cold, abyss of silence, waiting and waiting. The coldness of the night without that sense of warmth that she brought."
For the first time in forever, his heart felt light. For the first time in what felt like forever, he found himself opening up to Khushi. She makes it easier for him, since he knows that she won't judge or pity him.
And that made it real and Khushi too felt at ease whenever they would talk. Especially outside of work.
Khushi - "My brother once told me.. after My Rahul died...that some people are going to leave but that's not the end of the story. And that... it's the end of their part in the story. I knew that his time was limited (since he has got cancer) and that our time together... our days were numbered. But a selfish little part of me wanted it to be forever. And now.."
She hesitated.
Arnav helped her - "And.... now?"
Khushi watched Aarav and Tara playing on the slides, running around.
Khushi - "And now.. he's always there with us. In everything we do." She raised her left hand and her engagement ring sparkled ever so slightly.
Khushi continued - "In Aarav. In me. With us"
Arnav - "thanks."
Khushi - "for what?"
Arnav - "for sharing that with me. it made me feel a little better."
Khushi - "you do know i'm here to listen, right? no judgment here..."
Arnav - "I really, really like spending time with you."
Khushi - "i like spending time with you too."
They noticed that silence between the two is comfortable rather than awkward.
Just then, Aarav called - "Maaa" breaking the silence, as he got stuck on the slide and needed her help.
Khushi got up from the swing and called out - "Coming!"
Spending time with the kids, who were a hurricane in the making, he couldn't help but wonder as to how Khushi managed it all. Being a doctor and a single mother post Rahul's death. A new ray of respect grew for her in his eyes. She's so strong and resilient - he thought.
One moment, she's all cute and vulnerable and the next second, she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulder. Arnav knew that this was not for the weak.
Later that night, Arnav dropped Khushi and Aarav home and took Tara to his parent's house.
As they had dinner, Arnav's mom was checking all the photos taken on the day, in Arnav's phone. His camera roll was mostly of Tara.
Tara on the other side of the table, was being fed by her grandfather (viz Arnav's dad) and she went gushing about how her day went with Aarav. What games they had played. And what rides they went.
Arnav's mom, checking the photos - "She's so cute!"
Arnav - "Of course, my princess is cute!" assuming that she's talking about Tara.
Arnav's mom - "I am not talking about your princess, Chote! I'm taking about Khushi."
Arnav's mom showed a picture of Khushi holding a floffy sheep plushie. Oh that! Arnav remembered that Tara was taking this picture while he was fighting over Aarav for something.
She IS cute - Arnav thought.
As Arnav continued his dinner, his mom showed a photo from his phone to his dad, which made him laugh out loud.
Curiously, Arnav peeked in and was slightly embarrassed at the photo.
With Tara behind the camera, Arnav, Aarav & Khushi were standing behind figurine cutouts making silly faces. It was meant for laughs and not for his parents to judge him.
His mom suddenly asked hopefully, catching him off guard - "You like her?" (referring to Khushi)
Arnav scoffed, rolling his eye at his mother, who was busy trying to set him up with someone.
(Back in Arnav's room- after dinner)
As Arnav looked at the room, he couldn't help but think about Khushi's words -
"And now.. he's always there with us. In everything we do. In Aarav. In me. With us"
And saw Sheetal in every nook and corner of the room. Her smile. Her laugh. He saw her all.
A few weeks later, it was a Diwali party at the hospital. Friends and family were invited and as predicted, the theme was ethnic wear, to suit the occasion.
Khushi brought Aarav and her brother and her sister-in-law to the party.
Arnav watched as Khushi walked into the auditorium dressed in a white beaded saree, her hair braided and flowers adorning it.
Her earring dangling as she moved. With Aarav in tow, who was dressed in cream kurta pyjama set alongside two others (Nk and Lavanya). Arnav was captivated and mesmerized by Khushi. Her eyes were soft and gentle, holding years of pain and loss and sorrow but always filled with awe and admiration and maybe even a little love when he looked at her. He may not admit his heart now but there was no doubt that he had began to fall for her.
Khushi spotted Arnav talking with Anjali and Shyam, with Tara in his arms. He was dressed in a cream kurta pajama set. Almost the same shade as Aarav and in fact slightly twinning with him.
Walking up to them, she introduced her family to his.
Khushi caught Arnav looking at her and cheekily asked - "How do I look?"
Arnav's heart was internally singing all praises for her - "You are the best human ever, I really really like you bordering on love. Do you like me back-?"
Arnav out loud replied - "I think you're mildly decent." and yet he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Shyam and Anjali rolled their eyes at his words thinking 'mildly decent, my ass'
Khushi laughed and replied - "And you?"
Arnav - "And me?"
Khushi - "Not ugly" which made Anjali laugh out loud. No one had dared to speak this freely in front of Arnav, other than his family members and Sheetal.
Arnav watched as Khushi joined in the group dance event, for which she and her colleagues have been practicing for a few weeks.
She danced as if she was the wind. The water. The air. The Earth. More beautiful than every sunset combined and every unicorn and rainbow.
He couldn't help but think back to the times he and Sheetal had danced together. At their engagement ceremony, Sangeet ceremony and many other party. The way she would smile whenever he used to twirl her.
(After the dance)
Khushi checked on Aarav and he was playing around with Tara and some othe kids.
Khushi walking to Arnav, who was sipping his drink in a corner alone and whispered - "You've been staring at me the whole night. Is everything alright or...?"
Arnav immediately felt embrassed and tried to collect her narrative- "I— I wasn't staring. I was observing. Big difference!"
Khushi - "Right, I belieeevee you!"
Khushi - "A photo lasts so much longer, you know?"
Arnav - "...Excuse me?"
Khushi - "I know I'm hot."
Arnav - "You really aren't that hot."
Khushi - "Your staring tells me otherwise."
And before Arnav could retaliate, she was called away and he watched her, being introduced to some guests by her manager.
And all this conversation was watched by Arnav's mom who was in other corner of the room, talking with some guests.
(A week later)
Arnav had stopped at the nearby supermarket (very close to the hospital) to grab snacks and something cold since it was too hot. The sun was literally draining his energy levels.
He found Khushi, sitting beside a pile of grocery bags and having some ice cream and scrolling her mobile at the same time.
Arnav went inside the store and bought himself an ice cream cone and sat next to her.
Arnav asked - "Planning to start a store of your own?" seeing the very many bags of things she bought from the store.
Khushi laughed and replied - "Oh that! Tara is coming home tomorrow for lunch and a movie. The kids wanted to bake pizza and cookies, so just getting some ingredients for that."
He offered to drop her home, since she had to carry many bags but she refused since her friend, Manvi was waiting for her at the bus stop along with Aarav.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
CHAPTER INSPIRATIONS
· "After my spouse died, you were the friend who helped me pick up the pieces and raise my child, but lately I've been looking at you... Differently."
· "Our kids are best friends, so we end up spending time together so that they can. Luckily, you're really cute."