Part 57 Action Speaks Volumes

Khushi stood looking at the closed washroom door. what did he just say? Did he want to be under her FEET? He wanted her to do that by KISSING him? She gulped down hard. She felt like her hands were shivering. Did he say that to coax her or was that a real statement? She became a statue without a movement.

Arnav came out of the washroom and saw her last. He smirked, understanding the reason. He came to her and flicked his fingers. Khushi looked at him jerking.

"Where were you last?"

She looked somewhere else suffocating.

"Do you think what I said is true or just a coaxing word?"

She looked at him perplexed. She was supposed to leave the room, but he held her hand and pulled her towards him.

"Why should you be confused? Just try it and get to know if it's really true?"

Khushi looked at him shrinking her eyes. Keeping her hands on her hips,

"What are you trying to do Mr. Raizada? Do you..."

Cutting her,

"I'm trying to make my wife understand that, she can keep me under her control... and I showed her a path too..."

Khushi was taken aback. She thought he said that in a flow but now, he uttered them clear-cut. Taking back steps, she left the room. Arnav smilingly followed her.

Khushi came to the dining and arranged the table with HP. She served dinner to the kids and took a seat.

"Khushi Didi, pass the water glass, please," Aarav asked.

Khushi gave him the water glass. All of their concentration went to Arnav when he called,

"Aarav..."

"yes, Dad"

"Who am I to you?"

He looked at others with confusion. Of course, others too, especially Khushi.

"You are my Dad..."

"Who is Khushi to me?"

"She is your wife"

"Then, why are you calling her DIDI? People will think she is my DAUGHTER" he said with a rigid face.

Shali and Shamli giggled, whereas Dadi and Nani controlled their smile. Khushi was looking at him stunningly, like, 'How did he want him to call her?'

"How should I call her...?" Aarav asked looking at Khushi.

"Call her Mom..."

All of them looked at Khushi who widened her eyes with an unnamed expression.

"Dad's wife must be Mom, right?'

Aarav nodded yes.

"My teacher also addressed her as our Mom... isn't it, Shalu?" Shamli asked.

Shali nodded yes.

"That's great... start calling her Mom" Arnav continued eating.

Khushi looked at the kids who were smiling at her.

"Mom..." Shali called and giggled closing her face with her palms.

Shamli joined her. In no time, Aarav got down from the chair and rushed to Khushi. He hugged her emotionally. Khushi caressed his back.

"I love you, Mom... I wanted to call you Mom even before your marriage but I was scared..." he said making her emotional.

Khushi pulled him from the hug.

"Why did you scare?"

"Because you are so young..."

Khushi chuckled softly.

"When she is ready to marry your father, she knew you would call her Mom. There is nothing to be scared... ok?" Arnav smiled.

Khushi didn't know how to take it. She kissed Aarav's forehead lovingly.

"I'm so happy," Aarav said.

"Me too..."

"Yeahhhh.... we got MOM" Aarav shouted in happiness.

"Celebrate it..." Arnav said.

All of them looked at him smilingly.

"Your Mom will prepare Pizzas for you" He said making all of them surprised.

Khushi looked at him plainly.

"I'm serious... this time, prepare it for me too," he said with a pleading face.

"Dad, will you really eat Pizza?" Shamli asked.

"Of course, if your Mom prepares it...! She will not cook anything harmful... am I right, Khushi?" Arnav asked looking at Khushi.

Khushi looked at Dadi and Nani and smiled awkwardly. Dadi and Nani looked at each other suppressing their smile. They knew Arnav was trying to console Khushi.

"Subhadra, I was thinking about going back to the Ashram but seeing these guys' antics, I think I will not feel like going back to the Ashram"

"Why should you go, Nani? Kids need you too. You can be here with Dadi. She will be happy if you are here" Arnav said.

"I would like to divert my mind in devotion, Chotte"

"You can do that from home also Naniji. The real spiritual is, doing our duty... making others happy... treating people equally...! Am I right?"

Nani nodded yes.

"Please be with us, Naniji. Arnavji will arrange whatever you want..."

Nani looked at Arnav who raised his brows pressing his lips. She nodded ok.

"Thank God... Devyani, to change your mind, our home needs a responsible Bahu, it seems" Dadi smiled at Khushi.

She smiled at her.

"You know Khushi, I requested, pleaded, fought with her to stay here but she never listened to me," Dadi said.

Khushi smiled with satisfaction.

"Good night, Mom," the kids said before leaving the dining.

"They are so happy to call you Mom," Nani said smilingly.

"After all, they are kids...they too have desires...!" Dadi said.

Khushi looked at Arnav suffocating.

"Khushi bitiya, kids like you so much..."

Cutting her,

"Don't worry, Nani, Khushi will not disappoint them. She might not have given birth to them but she is a mother no one could get"

Khushi was overwhelmed by Arnav's words. She went to her room thinking about it. Arnav followed her. He locked the door and turned behind, hearing,

"Thanks..."

Arnav raised his brows.

"Thanks for?"

"For recognising me"

"You deserve it"

"When did you realise it?"

"When you spoke highly of me to the kids... even after I made a blunder"

"Did you do that because you felt it good? Or, did you do that to convince me?"

"I felt it good... So, I wanted to convince you"

She walked to the bed. Arnav stopped her blocking her way, by extending his hand. Khushi looked at him.

"Are you still upset with me?"

She nodded no.

"Are you sure?"

She again nodded yes.

"But, there is no charm in your face... you look rigid... don't you know our actions speak volumes? How could I believe you are not upset with me, if you look dull?"

"Isn't my words enough? Do you want me to prove through my actions?"

"Yeah... your actions and words are different. You say you are not upset but you look upset. Don't I know how brisk, and fresh you are? You make the place lively...! See your face... you look like you have lost something"

"Oh... will you be satisfied if I smile?"

"Of course, your smile means a lot to me... I got to know that when you avoided looking at me" he said in a soft tone. It felt true.

"I thought something..."

"What?"

"I thought you wanted me to think about keeping you under my control," She said plainly.

Arnav looked at her stunned.

"I thought you were talking about that kind of ACTION"

Khushi saw him suffocating. He didn't know if he should say yes or no.

"I mean..." he gulped down.

Khushi saw an ant running on his shoulder. Taking a step close to him, she knocked the ant away and saw Arnav gazing at her.

"Action speaks volumes... right?" she asked.

Arnav gulped down. In no time, she touched his lips with hers, making him shattered. He thought she was talking about knocking the ant. It was neither a kiss nor a peck...! It was something, that could be a communication language, or, could be the ACTION Arnav needed.

Khushi just touched his lips with hers and pulled herself backwards to detach from him but Arnav pushed himself forward not wanting her to do it. He inserted his fingers in her nape and held her to continue what she started. He captured her lips while his left hand pulled her close to him. Everything had an end. So was their kiss. They broke the kiss and looked at each other. He moved to the bed taking her with him. he made her lay on the bed and took a place next to her.

"Action speaks volumes..." Arnav hugged her tight and caressed his face in the crook of her neck.

Though Arnav said he wanted to be under Khushi's control, it didn't seem so.

To be continued...