Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 55 - Repair

Arnav oscillated between resenting Payal for being the dark cloud in Khushi's life, and chiding himself for thinking that – because he knew she wasn't being unreasonable. It made perfect sense for her not to trust him, after everything he had done.

Khushi's unhappiness affected him, even as he tried to tell her she wasn't responsible for making other people happy. This wasn't something her song and dance trick would fix.

By now, the whole family had noticed Payal's anger, and her distance with Akash. Arnav hoped they wouldn't try to interfere and force a reconciliation, like they had done with him and Khushi before. Khushi would have tried herself if he hadn't stopped her – they needed time, and if ever they figured out a way to move on, it wouldn't be because of someone else.

Akash wore that gloomy face permanently. Neither he nor Payal spoke, and their mood dampened everyone else's. NK was the most valiant, speaking overly loud at breakfast, trying fruitlessly to cheer Khushi up, and mixing up his Hindi words far more frequently – on purpose, Arnav suspected. Sometimes it helped someone crack a small smile, and halfheartedly correct him.

Di hesitantly brought up her plan to work for the orphanage at the breakfast table.

"Absolutely not!" Nani said, that stubborn look on her face that Arnav knew all too well. "You cannot work in this condition, you're too far along..."

"Nani, the doctor told me it's fine..." Anjali, the obedient granddaughter, said. Arnav was the one who defied their grandmother. His clashes with Nani were legendary.

"Nani, I don't think we can stop Di from doing what she wants," he said, deciding to take the plunge. Di had asked him for support, after all. "She's an adult, she can make her own decisions."

Anjali gave him a smile, but her little frown gave away her anxiety. She hated his clashes with Nani. The rest of the family braced themselves.

"Chotay, you should be the one talking sense to your sister. Aren't you concerned for her health?" Nani fired back.

"Nani, if the doctor says it's fine, it should be fine. And if it makes Di happy," he reached over to pat her hand, "I am with her."

"Hello hi bye bye," Mami piped up. "I also think it's a good idea. Anjali, I think you will be very good. And you'll spend some time with children, it will make you happy. You love children."

Nani glared at Mami, but she knew she was losing.

"Yes, children love Anjali bitya too," Mamaji was saying now, glancing quickly at his mother.

"I can help you, Di!" NK said enthusiastically. "I can go with you to the orphanage — I'm trying to get some ideas for a documentary..."

"Well, it seems like the elders in this house no longer have a say," Nani said ungraciously, as everyone avoided her eye. "Om Prakash, please pour me some water." She raised her head regally, pointing her chin at her water glass.

The rest of the family wisely said nothing more.

After breakfast, Di came to Arnav's room to thank him.

"I thought you were going to start a war with Nani, like the one over Lavanya!"

Arnav puffed up his cheeks and blew out noisily. "I think we inherited Nani's stubbornness," he said, shaking his head.

"You mean you did," she said, smacking his head lightly. "And don't let her hear you say that... By the way, what is happening with Akash and Payal? Did you speak to them?"

Arnav opened his mouth, to tell Di maybe she could talk to Akash, when their brother appeared at the door.

"Akash. What's going on?" Arnav asked. Akash looked even more deflated than usual, if that was possible.

"I came to tell you something – good thing Di's here as well."

They looked at him expectantly.

"Payal is pregnant."

They both exclaimed, and went to him. "But that's good news Akash!" Di said. "What's wrong?"

Akash looked at Arnav beseechingly. Arnav nodded.

"Payal thinks Khushi should leave me because I am an abusive terror of a husband." Arnav said. "And she's angry at Akash for not doing anything to protect Khushi, at AR and later on." The quick and easy version. "And Akash is unhappy Payal didn't tell him about Shyam."

Di looked between her brothers with dismay.

"Oh, Akash," she said sadly. "But if you're going to have a baby, you have to fix things with her. It's not good for her to be so unhappy in her pregnancy.

"I don't know how to fix things."

"Let me talk to her once," Di said. "And maybe you two should go for marriage counseling."

Arnav was glad Di had never suggested this to him and Khushi. The idea of telling a stranger everything about their personal lives was... repulsive.

"Maybe you're right, Di." Akash was saying, nodding glumly.

"Don't look so sad, Akash," she said, giving his arm a squeeze. "You're going to be a father! That's amazing."

Akash gave her a small smile. "I know, I can't believe it."

"Does Khushi know?" Arnav asked.

"I don't think so. Payal just handed me the report. I don't think she told anyone."

"Oof. I don't think Khushi will be happy about finding out last," Arnav said. "Akash, can you please tell her – pretend she's the first person to know." He saw Anjali and Akash exchange glances. "What?"

"Nothing," they said in unison.