Chapter6::dtd 23/03/2019

"Khushi after you left, life wasn't the same anymore. The fun and my craziness too left me when you left. I missed you too. Papa's business wasn't going well adding to the void you left. Aman was there. But you were you. I  had no other go than to concentrate on my studies.
College was nearing its end. Then came the night which changed my whole life."

His eyes met Khushi's. And she spoke out what his eyes conveyed to her. 'Arush'

"Hmm. Yes. Him. It was a rainy night. While coming back home from Aman's I took an auto. On the way, I saw a heavily pregnant lady asking for a lift to the hospital. I got down and sat alongside the driver giving her space to sit back. Her contractions had started. When we reached the hospital she was taken straight to the labor room. I didn't felt to leave her alone there. After some hours the nurse came out and knowing I was with the lady she shows me the newborn baby boy. When I held him, thunder stroke. And he cried aloud gripping my shirt's button. Even when the nurse tried to take him he still had held the shirt tight with his tiny hands. I paid up the bill. And visited the lady and baby when they were shifted to the room. I left for home after arranging necessities for her and the baby. After college when I came back to check, they had already left.

2 months went by. It was the farewell night. On the way back home with Aman, I again saw the lady. This time she was doing something around the garbage bin. When she saw me I smiled at her. And told Aman that she was the lady I met back then. I asked her about the baby and she stammered. She tensed up. I queried if there was a problem. In any way, I can help her. She said nothing and tried to avoid me and bid bye. When we too took some steps to go our way I heard a muffled cry. We both turned around and saw the lady sweating and getting more tensed up. We heard the cry again this time from the garbage bin. We ran to it and found a baby wrapped tightly in an old cloth. I took him up and unwrapped the cloth. The baby was struggling to breathe. He had bruises and cuts along his tiny body.
Shocking us more we found the lady running away. I and Aman had no idea what to do. We immediately took the baby to the hospital.
The doctor told us about the blood loss and asked us to arrange blood for him immediately. They couldn't use the blood from the blood bank as he was just months old. Luckily his and mine were the same." Khushi felt Arnav shivering beside her. She took his hands in hers.

He continued " It took almost a day to transfuse blood to him. He was this tiny and they said they can't transfuse more than 5ml per hour. Those hours were the longest in my life. Aman had informed the police and they took our statement. I send Aman to inform my home. Ma Papa came to the hospital. Within the next few hours, police arrested the lady and brought her to the hospital.
I gave my statement against her. But she then turned the table against me saying I took away and tortured her baby. The way she blamed and accused me... She gave her statement that I... I tried to... mis. misbehave with her and when she resisted I harmed her baby. "
Arnav had tears running down his cheeks.

Khushi caressed his hands.
"Shhh... Arnav... You don't have to tell me if you aren't comfortable"

"No Khushi I need to get this out of me. ..The lady,  her filthy words are still ringing in my ears, Khushi. My parents were still there. They had to hear all that crap she threw my way. There were people around. People who knew me, ma, Papa. The disgust I saw in their eyes... You know I can never do that. Right, Khushi? I swear Khushi I am nothing like what she blamed me off. You know me right? Would you have trusted me If you were there.? Tell me Khushi?  You would have trusted me Right?" Arnav questioned desperately not noticing Khushi nodding yes to him. She cupped his face and forced him to meet her eyes.
" Yes, Arnav I trust you. I know you can Never misbehave like that with a lady. "

"But Khushi, then apart from my parents no one believed me. Aman was also not there. No one to side me. They believed her.  Why? Just because she was a woman and me a man?  Everything turned against me. I had nothing to prove myself of my innocence. I was about to get arrested. For what? I saved a tiny baby. Brought him back to life. Informed the police about the lady who ran away abandoning her baby to die in a garbage bin. And this the accusation, the arrest, humiliation were all I got in return for my deed."

Arnav cried reliving the helplessness he felt then.  Khushi hugged him tightly trying to give him her support. She knew then that he didn't tell her the exact picture of what would have transpired then. If after all these years, the incident can break a strong man like Arnav to this extend, she bet there was more to the story. She gave him water.

When he calmed down, he continued, "they handcuffed me. But then the doctor who attended the baby when he was brought into hospital came up. She had gone back to her quarters as her shift ended. She had come to the hospital for something else and noticed the commotion happening. Knowing the situation, she came up and talked to the police. She reported in favour of me. She told the police that some bruises are days old. The baby was beaten and was abused for months. She also told the police how I took care of the baby. The nurse remembered me when I had brought the lady during her delivery, how after being a mere stranger I helped her. Their statements in favour of me confused the police. They questioned the lady again. Thankfully they noticed her behaviour and contradictions in her statements. Finally, after a thorough investigation, the lady admitted I did nothing other than helping her months back. She didn't want to baby. She didn't want to take up his responsibility. She never fed him enough. Beaten him when she got annoyed. And when she had enough, she decided to abandon the baby to die.

Police took her way. But her accusations had done enough to destroy us. To defame us. Because of the ordeal, Papa had a cardiac arrest and passed away the same day. Police took the baby under their protection and handed over him to the child care center.
Ma too left me within a month of Papa's death. Papa's death had sucked her life out. " 

He paused for a second. Then taking in a deep breath he continued, "After some time I took up Papa's business and gave my whole focus to it. Aman joined me. The only thing I was bothered about other than work was the baby. I just couldn't get him out of me. My thoughts wandered around him. About his welfare. I visited him once or twice. The authorities weren't pleased with my interference in his matters. They wanted me to stop visiting him. But I couldn't. Finally, when I had enough of staying away, I thought to adopt him. Even though it was difficult, the baby being boy gave me slight hope.  Aman's parents guaranteed for me. His dad had enough influence to help me. After a lot of struggles, I won him." Arnav smiled wholeheartedly for the first time talking about his past. Khushi noticed the happiness emitting from him. The happiness of having someone to live his life for. Arush is his reason to live, to fight, to survive.
Then he talked with Khushi about the happy times. How he worked hard to reach where he is now at. How mere thought of Arush and his well-being motivated him to achieve more. How with Arush's mere sight threw way all his tiredness. He shared with her his dreams for Arush. She thanked her Devi Maiyya for bringing Arush into Arnav's life.

They went down to the kitchen for a midnight meal. While having the noodles Arnav out of blue asked Khushi. "Will Arush leave me if he comes to know about the truth about him?"

"What?" Khushi didn't understand his thought process.

"What if he also misunderstands me and thinks that I separated him from his mother?"
"What nonsense!" Khushi spoke shocked.

" Khushi. Should I tell him about... No, what if he leaves me?" He stood up from his seat and turned Khushi to face him. "Khushi, promise me you will never tell him anything about her. For every child, his mother is so dear. Arush ask me a lot about his mother. Always I avoid the topic. But he is growing up. He will find the truth. Then he will leave me and go to her. He will hate me for separating him from his mother."

"Oh shut the hell up Arnav. What the hell are you thinking about? Have you lost it? Are you even hearing yourself? He will hate You and leave You for Her? Like really?" Khushi shouted to him hearing his nonsense talks.

"Arnav, look. You saved him Arnav. You gave your blood and flesh for him. All these years you lived for him. He knows how important he is for you. He is a child Arnav. Children are not complex like us. All they recognize is love. Arush is your son. It's your blood running in his veins. He will never abandon you, especially for that lady. She left her baby to die. I am so glad you took him in. Imagine what if you hadn't encountered that lady that night. What would have happened to Arush?"

"Khushi No," Arnav spoke suddenly closing her mouth with her hands.
Khushi smiled slightly. She removed his hands and held his in hers "Arush is where he is meant to be. He is safe and happy with you Arnav. That lady doesn't deserve Arush. She doesn't deserve to be a mother. You are his father. Only you have right on him. He will understand everything when he comes to know in the future. So stop thinking rubbish and live your life with Arush. None can ever separate you from Arush. You both are bound by love. He will be always there with you. As your son. As your Arush. Only yours." She assured caressing his cheeks.

"Dad!" Arush came down calling for Arnav. "Yes, Aru. I am here." Arnav ran to where he hears Arush.

"Where did you go? I came looking for you." Arush said rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Nowhere. Come let's sleep." He picked up Arush. Before moving upstairs with Arush Arnav turned to Khushi "You not coming?"

"In a minute after keeping the plates. You carry on Arnav. Good night."

"Ok Good night Khushi. "

Exchanging a smile at each other Arnav went upstairs with a sleepy Arush while Khushi went to keep the plates back in the kitchen.

The End.

A sequel published
"New Dawn"

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