Dark Paradise Chapter Forty Three

Khushi's bump was unmissable now, she was five months pregnant and Anjali was seven and a half months, two pregnant, hoarmonal women in the house- Arnav was beginning to wish he could live in the office. It was the only place he didn't have to deal with the constant whining Khushi did. He knew it was hard being pregnant and whatever but Di never complained. Yeah okay, one or two times she got annoyed when the baby was moving around a lot but that was nothing compared to Khushi. As soon as he got home she'd list off every time she felt sick, or was sick, then every time she got a craving, every time she felt dizzy, every time she had a head ache, every time she got a fever, every time her feet hurt and the worst everyday she'd ask the same question, "Arnav, do I look fat?" Was there even a right answer to that question at this time? Of course she'd gained weight, she had a child growing inside her, she wasn't exactly going to look like a stick now was she? If he said yes she'd practically kill him (he never said it) but every time he said no she accused him of being a liar. He really couldn't win! He took a deep breath as he entered their room readying himself for Madam's list of complaints for today. He put his briefcase down and sat on the green lounger as he shrugged his jacket off and loosened his tie. He'd worked late today and had dinner at the office, missing dinner with the family, Khushi wasn't saying anything so he assumed she was upset about that.
"Kya hua? No long list of complaints today or are we just angry with me?" He asked and Khushi shushed him from behind, Arnav turned to look at her. She was on the bed, her hands on her stomach, her eyes confused but focused and a small smile played on her lips. Arnav got up and looked at her.
"Khushi yeh kya-" He asked as he stood over her, she shushed him and then grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. Arnav was confused but let her do so, he waited and then felt it. He wasn't sure at first so he waited again and then it happened again. A forceful thud against Khushi's belly, he could feel the impact strongly, this kid had some zhor. His eyes widened and his lips broadened into a smile.
"Is that-" He began to ask and Khushi nodded excitedly. This was the first time the baby had ever kicked and here Arnav was experiencing it first hand with Khushi. He smiled and looked at her, she smiled back lovingly.
"By the way this baby's kicking I think we'll have a footballer not a princess." She said and Arnav shook his head and leant in gently kissing Khushi on the lips.

Arnav had showered and decided to join Khushi on the bed, he sprawled out and let out a sigh, he was exhausted. He'd been working intensively lately, it had dawned on him that he not only had his extended family to worry about but his own small one with Khushi which would expand soon. He needed to work hard to ensure their child would have a bright and happy life and he would give their child everything he never had. Khushi leant over and gently stroked his hair in her hands, Arnav closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Khushi smiled at her bholuji, he spent all day wearing his scary ASR mask, so when he got home he was always so tired, so vulnerable and just himself around her.
"Kya hua, aaj kuch zyaada se barkaar tukhe huye lagre hai." She speculated and Arnav stretched a little to loosen the strained muscles in his body.
"No Khushi, I'm fine, just work. Work's always like this and I don't like talking about work with you when I'm at home." He complained and she smiled to herself, she always complained to him about his work, he was just avoiding the topic because he knew it could lead to an argument. Khushi was about to drop the subject when Arnav's eyes suddenly flew open.
"Oh wait, I nearly forgot." He said, more to himself as he got up and took his hand out to Khushi who looked at him cautiously. "What don't you trust me?" He asked as he raised one eyebrow suggestively towards her. She bit her lip and gave her his hand. He took her hand in his own and grinned as he led her out into the hall.
"Arnav hum kaha jaare? Saab soye hue ya, kohi uttjayega Arnav." Khushi said and he rolled his eyes, it was his house he could do what he wanted. He took her to the room next to their's, it was a guest room, Khushi had hardly taken note of it. "Kya tumhe hum yeh dikhana chaate hai? If you think we're sleeping here tonight you've got another thing coming, I like our room, I don't want to move in here...are you trying to move me in here so you can sleep alone because that is a new level of selfish!" Khushi was like a motor-mouth, once you got her started you couldn't stop her.
"Khushi, shut up! Aur, close your eyes." He said, slightly angry now, she had to always dampen the mood. She groaned and closed her eyes. He covered his hand over her eyes to make sure and he guided her in. He lifted his hand off her eyes and whispered, "Open."

Khushi opened her eyes and was in shock. This was not a plain little guest room, it was...a nursery. The walls were a daffodil yellow, with cute little brown bears painted on the walls. There was a white crib against one wall, a changing table and hundreds of toys and teddies. Khushi smiled at the sight and then on the opposite wall she saw a picture of Arnav and Khushi, they'd had it taken after she and Arnav had come back from her pakh-phere rasam, Khushi in her red saree and Arnav in his suit. She'd never seen the picture, she remembered Anjali telling them to smile, they'd been sat on the sofa casually having a conversation when on the spur of the moment Anjali clicked the photo. Khushi looked at how happy she looked and then noticed something she'd never noticed before, Arnav had been looking at her, not in an angry or confused way but the way he looked at her now, with love. There was unashamed love as he plainly looked at Khushi. She smiled and turned to try and comprehend something to say to him when she noticed the stars mobile above the crib. That's it he'd done it, he knew she was hormonal, this pushed her over the edge and she began to cry, happy tears but tears nonetheless. Arnav slid his arms around her and smiled at his overly emotional wife.
"I didn't do all this for you so stop crying." He said and she pouted. "Well a little for you but I did it mostly for our baby. I want our baby to have a happy and fun life. I don't want it to be burdened by any sadness, anger or responsibility. If anything our baby should be just like you Jaan." He said and Khushi looked at him confused and he smiled. "Aakir aap hi toh humhe sikaaya tah khi kaisa haasna, don't take life to seriously, tumne mujhe pyar karna bhi sikaaya. Why wouldn't I want our baby to turn out like you? You're perfect to me Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, todhi pagal ho, but perfect for me." He said and she smiled and nuzzled into his embrace. She didn't have to say anything because he knew she felt what he felt also.

Read more of this here.