Arnav woke up in bed the next day feeling even more exhausted than he had when he'd gone to sleep last night. His and Khushi's conversation had taken a toll on him and drained him emotionally. It needed to be said, he needed to know what she was thinking, but he just wished they'd actually come to a resolve to their problems. Instead he's given her more time, Arnav still felt like Khushi didn't quite comprehend how much he missed being with her and having her as his wife. He shook away the thoughts and went to get ready, determined not to let Khushi plague his mind today and go to work and get work done. He showered, changed and looked in the mirror one time before he made his way downstairs. He was midway through the stairs when he heard it. It was unmistakable to his ears.
"Hai Devi Maiyaan!" Groaned Khushi aloud and Arnav's heart stopped for a second.
What the hell was she doing here? Was he imagining this? She'd finally done it, she'd made him insane, Arnav thought to himself. He quickened his pace and saw a disturbing sight in the living room. Di had her pre-natal yoga classes at home, this he was used to, he'd become used to seeing Di change her usual saree for gym clothes, what he was not used to was seeing Khushi trying to do Downwards facing dog in sweatpants and a hoodie. He didn't even know she owned gym clothes. Khushi pulled herself to sitting position and took deep breaths.
"Aur nahi, main aur nahi kaar sakti. Meri toh sasse tamjaoge!" Khushi said with quick breaths. Anjali smiled as she too sat on her yoga mat.
"I know Khushiji, shuroo shuroo main dikat hothi, lekin bache ki liye bohut ucha hota hai!" Anjali gushed, she was very happy to have a baby bump buddy to go through all this with. Since she didn't have a husband anymore she'd felt very alone, but now she could share all this with her Bhabi and that made up for it.
"What the fuck is this?" Arnav said, not even stopping himself this time as he was in genuine shock.
"Chotte! Aise baat nahi karte!" Anjali chided as she turned to see her brother, Khushi turned and looked up to meet Arnav's eyes, she gave him a meek smile and then looked away.
"Di yeh saab kya hai?" He asked his sister, confident Khushi would not give him an answer if he asked.
"Dekh nahi sakte, main aur Bhabi yoga karre, taan aur maan ki shanti ki liye." Anjali said with a cheesy grin. "Oh taan se yaad aya, Khushi Bhabi you have to stay for breakfast, Nani has been dying to stuff you with food since she heard the good news. Aapko rukh na parega." Anjali said and Khushi looked silightly apprehensive over this.
"Di, I don't know, Buaji meri raha dekhri hogi. Main auto lekhe ghar jaogi." Khushi said. Anjali grimaced.
"What nonesense, main tumhe khali pehet phar kahi nahi jaane dengi." Anjali said as she stood up. "Main abhi khi abhi khaana lagati hoon." She said as she went to the kitchen to instruct the servants to get the food ready.
Khushi felt odd, not because she was there with Arnav but because she was in these weird western clothes, Khushi hadn't felt like such a big cartoon in her life. She fidgeted dragging the sleeves of the black hoodie down and scrunching them in her hands. Her swetpants were black with a plain white stripe down the side. Anjali had given Khushi her old ones as they no longer fit Anjali. Khushi's hair was tied up into a ponytail and Arnav was able to notice the glow on Khushi's face. He'd always thought it was absolute crap about how women were meant to glow when pregnant, he assumed it was some poor attempt these women made to comfort themselves about gaining weight etc. during pregnancy. But his Khushi truly looked radiant, he drank in the sight of his wife, in their home, he'd missed being able to do that. He walked over to Khushi and grinned at her.
"Yeh kya, tum itne health concious kabse hui?" He asked and Khushi grimaced.
"Hum toh hameshaa se aise thi, lekin woh book ne kaha ki pregnancy ki waqt main aurat ko zyada dhyaan dehne chaiyhe sehet ko. Light exercise, good dieting, yeh saab faide ki baath hothi hai jab tum pregnant ho." Khushi said, practically reciting the book, Arnav raised his hand to his lips to cover his grin.
"Ucha meri Guru, uppar jao aur change karo. Varna Mami aapko dekhenge aur woh bhi yoga karna chahogi aur woh bhi inhi kapro main." Arnav joked. Khushi looked up at him with amusement, since when did ASR crack jokes? She smiled and grabbed her bag which had a loose fitting anarkali suit in it. Khushi was making her way to the washroom downstairs when Arnav stopped her.
"Khushi don't be stupid, our room is upstairs, go use it." He said, not asking or suggesting but ordering. He was back to his old self. Khushi rolled her eyes, smiled at him and made her way upstairs. Arnav went to the breakfast table smiling when he remembered what he'd said to himself today. No today was meant to be a work day. He'd been neglecting his work long enough on Khushi's behalf and couldn't let it suffer any more. He quickly ate his breakfast and headed out before Khushi made her way downstairs, he knew if he was around her any longer some new problem or activity would distract him. Khushi walked to the table to find him missing and she felt slightly stung by his absence, Di informed him that he'd gone to work but Akash Jiju was still at the table. What work was there that was so important?
"Actually Bhai has been meaning to catch up on all the time he took off after the wedding and after your accident. I mean of course the company is still doing well but he's the boss. He needs to be in control. Don't take it personally Bhabi." Akash said as he noted the dejected look on Khushi's face. Everyone had been so happy with the progress Arnav and Khushi were making, they were hopeful that Khushi would come home soon and didn't want anything to ruin that. Khushi nodded and smiled.
"Anyway, why fear Khushi Bhabi when NK is here? I'll keep you entertained and you will have so much fun ki aap Nanav ko bhuladenge!" NK said and Khushi smiled sincerely at her other brother-in-law.
Arnav had done what he said and spent the whole day working and didn't think of Khushi once, nor did he ring her. Di had let him know that Khushi had spent the day with the family and was still there. Arnav believed it was okay for him to duck out, it was six and he was the boss. He grabbed Akash and made his way home. They walked in when Arnav caught sight of her in the living room, she was in a navy blue anarkali, one of his favourite colours on Khushi, after red of course. He smiled as he handed his suitcase to JP, then his smile fell as he saw she was smiling at NK who was apparently doing an impression of Arnav.
"Aur phir, STOMP, STOMP, STOMP! NK WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? Yeh kya hai? What crap?" NK said and Khushi had tears in her eyes from how hard she was laughing. Oh really she found this funny did she? Khushi stood up.
"Nahi NK Bhai, apne ghulaat kaha. Woh what the hell itna nahi kehta. Woh toh, aise kehte. Dekho, aise. Khushi, what the-?!" Khushi said as she placed her hands on her hips and made a stern face. Akash snorted which directed everyone's attention to Akash and Arnav. Khushi's eyes bulged like a child who had been caught lying. She smiled nervously and walked over to him.
"Aap agaye? Todhi early agaye aaj?" She asked as she grasped his hand in hers hoping that would calm him down. As he was silent right now and that unsettled Khushi deeply. Arnav interlocked his hands with Khushi's and felt a satisfaction inwardly that he did not display.
"I thought I'd come home and spend some time with you. I didn't realise ki mere yaad main tum...yeh saab karoge." Arnav said as he tilted his head to NK and Khushi laughed nervously.
"Nahi, woh toh baas kuch nahi. Aapko bhook lagi hai? Mujhe toh zodh se arri. Chalo Pappa, Mummy aur Pappa ki princess saab milke kaathe aaj." Khushi said as she led him to the table and Arnav could see how badly Khushi was trying to butter him up. Really pulling the baby card and calling their unborn child princess. Someone should learn how to kiss up from Khushi, Arnav thought to himself. They sat down and ate with the family who all spoke generally of their day informing Arnav of all the antics that had gone on.
"Laxmi had eaten Mami's face pack that she had gotten from Europe, she's still upstairs crying over it." Anjali said and Arnav shook his head, making a note to tell Aman to get some shipped over ASAP. "Oh and I booked Khushi an appointment tomorrow with my doctor." Anjali said and Arnav looked up with alarm. "Arre, khabrane ki kohi baath nahi. You're supposed to go get checked up when you find out anyway. Don't worry Bhabi specified the appointment be in the evening so you can go." Anjali said and Arnav turned to look at Khushi, who gave him a sly smile, looking at him from the corner of her eyes. She winked at him and he had to cover a grin once more. What was he going to do with this girl?
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