Arshi SS- The Moment Of Truth.

Part 8.

Clock showed past 7p.m. But Arnav was still inside the room since noon. Garima could not stop her motherly concern so as Sashi Gupta especially after Sashi telling Garima about the revelation of past regarding to Payal's biological parents.

"Ye lo garma garam chai Garima aur Sashi.. Pee lo."

Flashing her ever green enthusiastic smile Buaji placed three cups of steaming hot tea before then and took her seat. Buaji continued..

"Yee Arnav Babua.. Aaj darwaja kyun nehi khol rahe hai?? Office ka jyada kam aa gaya kya??"

"How will we know Jiji?? You know him, he shares nothing forget about telling his worry with us. (pause) Jiji.. you please go inside and talk to him.. We know you can make anyone listen to your words so Arnav Babua can't be an odd man out from the list.."

Garima said softly knowing if in that place Arnav was a bit easy with anyone to talk about then that was Madhu Bua.. Thinking for a moment Buaji agreed and got up from sofa. Sashi and Garima shared a look.

Knocking the door Buaji waited for the response..

"Yes.."

Buaji sighed in relief..

"Babua.. It is evening now.. You have not come out since long.. If you work for so long, then that might be a trouble for you.. Why don't you come out?? We can have some tea together.. If you agree to.."

Saying so Buaji waited, least expected Arnav to come outside and have tea with them. But proving her point wrong, door was opened. Buaji smiled warmly .

"Come.. I will fry some pakora.. Pakora with Adrak wali Chai is the best combination.. Come.. Come"

His eyes fell on Garima and Sashi before he took seat before them. Buaji was about to get up to prepare snacks but Garima stopped her and went ahead to kitchen asking her to chitchat.. Buaji also agreed to her.. Silently Arnav's eyes followed Garima who was busy to give her efforts to prepare the best food for her son-in-law. All these days of his staying, not for once Garima Gupta did try to talk to him about past, when ever he had found her talking to him her eyes did not reflect anything other than her care and affection for him.. As is that past never existed in her life ever, as if the past that meant so much to him was far away from the truth that Garima's pure affection conveys..

The truth that he has got to learn from Dadi and the truth that Garima Gupta's silence tries to convey go from opposite direction..

He cleared his throat.. Did anyone from there know this pregnancy news of Khushi??

He knew none did know.. Sticking to the words, Guptas stayed away from those two girls for whom they did everything.. Should he give them the chance to relive this happiness of their daughter's pregnancy?? Should they relish the taste of welcoming grand child in family??

The child..

His child..

"I have something to say.."

The sound of utensils stopped, so as Buaji's chattering. Babuji muted the TV. These felt odd, abnormal to Arnav. Taking the remote from Babuji's hand, Arnav unmute tv but kept volume low.

"Khushi..is.. I mean.. we are.."

"Thik hai Khoossiii?? Parmeswari ne phir se kuch kand kiya hai kya??"

"No.. No.. I want to say.."

His tongue refused to speak.. He was not an ideal person to share goodnews.. This moment felt tougher than controlling AR. Their questioning gaze and his silent lips fought battle.. He was going to share that news the happiness of which was not still fully absorbed by him.. He was unprepared to get to know something like this, the thick layer between Khushi and him hardly gave him any scope to think that such moment can come and that too like this..

"Khushi is pregnant.."

Holding his breath, he said at once..

First those confused expression then that breath taking smile.. He got a kiss on head as Buaji rushed to Devi Maiya's idol to lighten diya..

"Itni badi khus khabri.. Aaj to puri gali mein mithai bantegi.."

"Jalebi Jiji.. Meri Khushi ko jalebi pasand hai..", Sashi Gupta screamed from behind.. "Mubarak Ho.. Zindegi ki nayi dastak.."

He congratulated Arnav, smiling a little Arnav thanked him.

*****************

Darkness of the night helped Garima Gupta shed some tears silently, standing at corner she rejoiced the happy news of her little daughter going to be a mother.. She so wanted to run to Khushi, embrace her, kiss her and take care of her as well as that "Nanhi Si Jaan." But she was an unfortunate mother, who could not even share her daughter's happiness.. A wrong step from her side might bring more trouble for Khushi and Arnav's relationship.. 7 months separation from her daughters has made her strong enough to stay away from them for their happiness..

After so long this happiness of Khushi's should not be trashed, she should get all her portion of joy. She should stay away from her life..

"Garima??"

"Han Jiji.. Aayii.."

Wiping her face she ran inside.. Buaji stopped her..

"Tum ro rahi thi??"

"Ye to Khushi ki anshoo hai Jiji.. I am going to be Nani.."

But standing at corner, Arnav Singh Raizada had learnt the difference between tear of joy and tear of pain!! Today when he is going to be a father.. a thought has come in his mind making him restless.. What if anyone asks him to stay away from his kids?? How will that be felt?? What will be his kids' reaction?? Can he stay away from them?? Can he break that heart connection that is already knotted long before??

His angst for past.. Was that justify to restrain Khushi from her mother's affection and restrain Garima from her motherly feeling.. The feeling of parenthood is pure, beyond any limit, away from selfishness. That feeling should never be questioned?? That should not be demanded for proof of innocence..

******************

"Bhabi.."

"Han HPJI.."

"Chithi aayi hai.. Aap ke liye??"

Pressing her lips, Khushi slowly got up from bed. These morning sickness was making her feel weak these days as well as her lost appetite for food. This change in her body was new, this change in her body demanded her emotional and mental strength..

Taking the letter Khushi asked HP to go..

"You are right... Today no wrong no right mean anything, today there is no meaning of anything except our Present and that future that is growing slowly..

Nothing has changed Khushi.. we were never strangers.. I can read your thoughts miles away, just like you can understand me staying there..

Maine koshis ki wapan jane ki.. Par pata hai, tumhare kamre main ek kitab milgaya mujhe.. Use main padhta reh gaya aur sayad isi wajah se Train chut gaya..

Iss bar Train se safar hai mera, kyun ki us rasta mujhe bhi dikhna hai, mujhe wo har ek railway staion bhi rukna hai, wo thandi si hawa khidki se mujhe bhi mehsus karni hai.. Hume wapas milna jo hai..

Delhi wala kamra se kafi alag hai tumhara kamra yahan.. Lucknow mein!! Bas ek chiz same to same hai.. Aur wo Salman ka poster on the wall before me.. I tell you Khushi, after posting this letter I am going to remove this poster from this wall..

Love

Arnav"