No Proofreading

Hope that you guys will like it.

Warning : Some image may be disturbing

*******

Arnav and Khushi got ready to go tk the hospital. She have to get admitted a day before her surgery. She stood in front of the mirror looking at her bare chest. There was a time, when she hated her breast and wanted to get rid of them. Right now, she is on her way to fully getting rid of them. For a woman, breast seems to be a trivial thing until they lose that. Just like any other ordinary girl, she too dreamt of getting married and having children' of her own. She too dreamt of looking after and caring her children. For a mother to be, it's an important organ in motherhood and tomorrow she will lose that part completely. Her thoughts were interrupted by his touch which wiped away her tears.

"Are you planning to make our child sad? You know baby wants to be happy and for that you should be happy too. You don't want our child to complaint that I didn't keep you happy?" He teased her trying to lift up her mood.

"Khushi, we are going to defeat this cancer and live happily forever with our baby." He said dropping a kiss on her forehead.

"And my strong wife is going to do that for three of us. Now give me that bright smile." He placed one of his hand on her baby bump. She smiled and hugged him tight.

"I love you a lot Arnav."

"We are together in this Khushi. I'm here for you and our baby." He said knowing what's going through in her mind. She disentangled from the hug and cupped his face with her hands.

"You will continue to love me after this, won't you?"

"I have already answered this question Khushi. If you want I'm ready to answer you again."

"I want to hear it then." She replied and he pulled her into his embrace.

"Nothing is going to change in our life Khushi. You will be the same girl with whom I fell in love. The one who will carrying our baby, the one who will be fighting for three of us. That will only make me love you more than what I do now. I'm on love with you Khushi, not just your breast or face. Having you besides me is enough for me." He said dropping a kiss on her head.

"Get ready Khushi, do you want me to help you?" He questioned and she nodded her head. 

Arnav helped her getting ready and went to place their stuff in the car. Both of them left to the hospital and got her admitted. They checked her vitals and scheduled the surgery on next day morning. Both their siblings with family visited them.

At night, after having their dinner Arnav told Khushi to sleep on the bed. There is a single bed for the bystander to sleep too. Khushi laid down on the bed and looked at Arnav who is busy in spreading the sheet on the single bed.

"Arnav, sleep beside me." She said making space for him.

"You sleep there comfortably. I'm okay here."

"Me and baby want you to sleep here, beside us." She replied placing her hand on her baby bump.

"Khushi, I want you to sleep comfortably." He moved towards her bed and held her hand.

"Arnav, after the surgery I won't be able to move my left hand for two weeks. I won't be able to hug you, so please sleep with me today." Khushi told him the reason and he nodded his head. He laid down beside her and she placed her head on his biceps, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Happy now?" He asked planting a kiss on the side of her forehead.

"Very much."

"Sleep Khushi, our baby is so sleepy now." 

"How do you know that?" She questioned with a smile.

"Thats a secret between me and our baby." 

"Hmm Arnav, do you want a girl or a boy?" Arnav placed his hand on her stomach and looked at her.

"I want a healthy baby who would be strong and sensible like his or her mother."

"I want our baby to be like you." She replied.

"Well, our baby will be a part of both of us. Our little Khushi or little Arnav." 

"Yeah, Junior Khushi or Arnav. I just hope that God keep our junior safe and secure in between all these ordeals."

"We have two God with us, they will keep both of you safe. Enough of talking, sleep Khushi." He placed a long kiss in her forehead and stroked her hair. She hugged him tight and slept peacefully in his embrace.

Next morning, Arnav woke up for the namaz and prayed for the wellbeing of his wife and baby. After a few hours, both of them get fresh and waited for their call. He sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't worry about anything Khushi. We will overcome this and live happily ever after." He pulled her close, placing her head on his chest.

"Last time, I was so much nervous and terrified about this surgery. Now I don't feel that much nervousness. I only started to live my life recently. All my life I have been following what others want me to do. I wanted to live Arnav, live a happy life with you and our baby. I won't let this cancer take that away from me."

"May be we can pass the resolution with a kiss." He winked making her smile. They lean forward and kissed eachother passionately.

After a few hours, Khushi changed into the hospital gown once they were satisfied with her vitals. He held her hand as they rolled into the operation theatre. 

"Khushi, come back after kicking out our enemy. I will be waiting for both of you." He said standing in front of the operation theatre holding her hand.

"Wait for us Arnav." She replied with a smile as tears rolled down from her eyes. Their hands got separated as they rolled her into the theatre. 

Arnav stood there staring at the closed door. He closed his eyes and took a deep breathe to control his emotions. He opened his eyes feeling a hands on his shoulder. His expression changed into shock seeing the person in front of him.

"Abbu?" Arnav whispered.

"She will be okay Chote, our prayers are with her and your child." Rahman said to his younger son and hugged him.

Rahman always thought that Arnav was a child man who don't take life seriously. Throughout his life, Arnav wasn't seriously took up anything like his brother and sister did. Being the youngest child in the whole family, everyone pampered Arnav more than what he needs. He had a job which paid him enough for his expenses. When Arnav showed up at his doorstep with a girl, he was shocked. He thought that Arnav would continue to be a irresponsible guy if he accept his relationship. He never thought that Arnav would be able to look after a girl and handle a household. It made him furious and forced him to say no to Arnav and his wife. 

All his imagine about Arnav changed as he came to know about his life after marriage. He got to know about the hardworking guy in his playful chote. The guy who worked hard to meet the daily expenses and look after his wife's needs and wants. As he came to know about him, he felt proud of his younger son who supported his wife and helped her to achieve her heights. He was aware about his family members meeting them. He was happy when he got to know about his new job. He was really happy for his son except his reluctant to meet him. He came to know about Khushi's condition from Amira while she was talking to Arnav. Knowing this, Rahman decided to let go of his ego and support his son and his little family.

Rahman disentangled from the hug and made him sit on the chair in front of the operation theatre.

"I'm so proud of you chote." Rahman said holding his son's hand. He told him what was his perspection about Arnav and how he changed it within these two years.

"You never hated Khushi?" Arnav asked his father.

"I never hated her chote. I thought I pitied her for choosing an irresponsible boy like you, but I was wrong. You proved me wrong and I'm totally happy about it." Arnav smiled hearing his reply.

"Did you tell this to ammi?"

"No, I will tell her later. Don't worry about anything. Just take care of my daughter in law and grand child." He adviced. His father's presence brought him peace.

After a few hours, the doctor came out of the operation theatre. He told them that he will shift Khushi to the ICU for observation as she is pregnant. The doctor assured him that there is nothing to worry. Hisham, Amira and her husband and Anandi and her husband were present there. Few minutes after they brought Khushi in a stretcher who is sleeping with wires attached to her body. He accompanied her till the ICU room.

They waited outside the ICU and after a few hours, the nurse called Arnav as she asked for him.

"How are you feeling Khushi?" He asked stroking her head.

"Good, it feels like I'm on the winning side." She told him. Arnav looked at the bag which drains out the excess fluids.

"Is our baby okay?" She asked.

"Yes, our junior is perfectly fine and working along with you." Saying this he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"I have a surprise for you." He told her.

"What's it?" 

"Give me a minute." He went from there and get the permission from the nurse to call one more person.

Khushi got shocked seeing his father accompanying him. Her eyes started to tear up realising that his father is here for them.

"Good girls don't cry bitiya." Rahman said wiping her tears.

"I'm happy that you are here for us, uncle." She said to him.

"Ammi, used to tell me that you will accept us one day." Khushi told him.

"I thought Arnav was an irresponsible boy and that's why I didn't welcomed you. I pitied you for trusting him, but never hold any grudge against you. Your husband proved me wrong and I'm happy for you." Khushi smiled hearing his words.

"I love you as much as I love Amira and Parveen."

"Thanks for making this day special uncle."

"You can call me Abbu like your husband does." Khushi gave him a smile and wiped her tears with her right hand.

"I'm happy that you are here Abbu."

"Don't worry about anything bitiya, our prayers are with you and the little one." Rahman left making her happy.

"Liked my surprise?" Arnav asked her.

"I'm so happy Arnav."

"Take some rest Khushi. We can talk once they shift you to the room." He placed a kiss on her forehead before going out.

Next day, they shifted her to the room. Khushi is happy to see her sister. Anandi told them that she couldn't convey the message about Khushi to her parents because of low connectivity. Shashi just told her that they will be back on next week. Without Khushi's knowledge, Arnav told Sidharth not to tell Khushi's condition to her parents through phone. He told him that he will visit them and tell about the situation himself. Hajra came to the hospital along with her husband. She tried her best not to cry in front of his children. She never thought that Arnav and Khushi will have to suffer all these. Hajra and Rahman wanted Arshi go stay with them but decided to leave that decision to Arnav and Khushi.

"What do you want Khushi?" Arnav asked her when they were alone in the hospital room.

"We would be staying with them if everything were good."

"Yeah, that's true. So do you want to stay in our quarters or at my home? Tell me what do you want." Arnav questioned.

"I like staying in our quarters, I got habitual with living with you alone. In this situation, i dont want to strain you a lot. You have to go to work and take care of me. It's good to have someone with me than making you worried for my wellbeing. What about ammi and abbu, will they be able to cope up with everything? I don't want to put them in worry Arnav."

"Trust me, ammi and abbu don't have any problem. They may even kick me out if you ask them to do that." He said with a smile.

"Then let's go and stay with them after my first chemo." He nodded his head and kissed her forehead.

After checking her vitals, the doctor discharged her on the next day. Arnav is on leave for two weeks to look after Khushi. His sister and sister in law helped him sometimes. It has been a week since her surgery and Khushi is in her 18th week of pregnancy. Now she have a prominent baby bump which she loves to rub. She loved being looked after by him. She felt lucky to have him as her husband who made very effort to keep her happy and comfortable.

It is such a day, where Arnav is giving her a sponge bath as her stitches are still fresh. She is continuously staring him while he wiped her body with the wet towel.

"I'm so lucky to have you and you are unlucky to have me in your life." She told him without thinking anything. Arnav looked at her and returned back to his current work. Once he gave her the sponge bath, he stood beside her and held her hand in his hand.

"So you will leave me if I'm sick?" He questioned.

"No, never…I didn't mean that"

"Then why did you say that I'm unlucky to have you in my life? I'm taking care of my pregnant wife. As your husband, isn't that my responsibility?"

"Yeah as my husband and the father of our baby it's your responsibility, but sometimes I get sad seeing you like this. When people of your age is enjoying their life, you are here working hard to provide a good life for two of us. If you didn't meet me, may be your life wouldn't be like this. You married me when you were just 25 and till now your are doing everything for both of us. I got a best husband but I can't say the same about myself."

"Khushi, tell me when did the last time I cooked for you?" She tried to recall but couldn't.

"Don't think too much, I have never cooked for you in two years of our marriage." He told her.

"That's because you were always busy with work Arnav."

"Who mortgaged the chain I gifted you on our first anniversary?"

"Arnav, it was need to repair your bike." She tried to justify it.

"When did we brought a TV?"

"Why are you asking all these?" She asked not understanding anything.

"Six months ago, we brought a TV. Who was washing my clothes till we brought that washing machine six months ago?"

"Arnav, why are you asking all these?" 

"Khushi, husband of your friends were able to give them a comfortable life. You know how your friends were living their life. Their husband provided them a house and all other amenities which I failed to give you for more than a year. You managed the house without any maid while you were studying too. Doesn't that make you unlucky to have me as your husband?" He questioned.

"It was just a phase Arnav."

"This is also a phase Khushi. This will also go away soon, then we will live happily with our junior." He said placing a kiss on her baby bump. Her eyes got teary hearing the way he made her understand his point.

"Any plan to change your statement?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

"We are lucky to have each other." She said with a smile.

"Finally your ammi got some sense..." He said looking at her bump.

"...and she deserves a kiss for that." Saying this he lightly pecked her lips.

"Sometimes you are too crazy for a woman 30 year old. How am I going to handle two kids at a time? I'm totally doomed." He teased her and she lightly pinched him with her right hand. 

"You are so dramatic Arnav." Soon she gasped for a moment and touched her baby bump making him panicked.

"You okay Khushi?"

"Arnav, our baby is moving. I can feel it inside me." Tears started to follow down from her eyes which he wiped away.

"It's so overwhelming Arnav. Seems like our junior don't like me teasing his or her father." She said squeezing his hand with her right hand lightly.

"Yes, we are a team."

"So I'm the odd one out?" She asked with a pout.

"You are our team leader." He said flickering his nose with her.

Few days passed by, unfortunately their maid Manorama had to take a leave for two days which made Arnav in charge of the kitchen. In all these years, he have never cooked anything himself. He used to help her around kitchen but never tried his hand in cooking. He used to be juggling between jobs and Khushi used to make sure that he took adequate rest when he was at home. Now it's his time to give rest to his wife and handle the kitchen. Early morning itself Arnav get into the kitchen to cook their breakfast. He decided to make roti and curry for breakfast. He prepared the dough and started to roll it. He tried it twice and couldn't get it right. That's when Khushi came there holding her drain bag in her right hand.

"Why can't I make a perfect circle? It all looked easy when you do this." He said looking at the African map like roti in front of him.

"Can you get the chickpea bottle from the top?" Khushi asked seeing his plight. He gave her the bottle and she asked him to open it. She asked him to hold her drain bag and he did it.She took the lid and placed it on the flat dough making a perfect round shaped roti to make.

"That's wonderful." He said pecking her cheeks.

"Arnav I need a hair wash. If you continue to cook alone, we will be having our breakfast at noon. I will also help you."

"No Khushi, you should take rest." 

"Arnav you don't want our junior to starve, do you? Let me help you. I'm capable of helping you with my right hand. I will make the roti while you roll it. Letsyget this over now Arnav." She convinced him. Arnav made her sit beside the stove and placed her drain bag securely near her. With her right hand, Khushi starts preparing the roti while he rolled it. In between this he made the curry following her instructions obediently.

"Now let me give you a hair wash." Saying this he went to the bathroom to arrange everything. Arnav took a bath first and called Khushi for hair wash. He is wearing a towel while giving her the hair wash. After a few minutes, they heard the calling bell ring.

"Who is at this time?" Arnav asked her.

"Must be Kajal, she want me to help her with the school project." Khushi told about their neighbor's little girl.

"Let me go and ask her to come later." Saying this he worn a pant and shirt in hurry. 

He opened the door and got shocked to see Shashi and Garima standing in front of him. Recovering from the quick shock, he invited them inside the house.

"Please be seated. Khushi is in the washroom."

"Arnav, don't make me wait or else I will get fever. Come soon." She called him from bathroom.

"We will wait." Shashi told him and he rushed to the bathroom to help her. 

"Is that Kajal?" She asked and he nodded his head. He dried her hair and helped her to get ready. Nowadays she wear shirts which covered her left hand. 

"Khushi, your parents are here." Arnav said once he buttoned up the shirt.

"What?" 

"They are here Khushi. Come." He took her to the hall. Tears started to follow from her eyes seeing her parents in front of her.

"Amma, babuji." She called her parents and Garima rushed near to her.

"Titaliya, we are so sorry." Garima hugged her daughter by one side and cried.

"No amma, you are not at fault. It was all because of circumstances."

"How far are you?" Garima asked looking at her five month pregnant belly.

"I completed four months two weeks back." Khushi said and saw her father coming towards her.

"Babuji."

"I'm proud of you bitiya. I feel ashamed knowing that I was about to ruin your life by marrying off to Rahul."

"It's okay babuji, you were looking out for my betterment." Shashi looked at Arnav who stood beside her with a smile on his face while holding her drain bag.

"We are sorry damadji(son in law). We were wrong about you." Shashi said bringing his hands together to ask forgiveness from Arnav.

"No sir, it's okay. As Khushi said, it was all due to circumstances. I'm glad that you are here for her now." Arnav told his in laws.

"Actually, it's her breakfast time. Do you mind if we move to the dining area?" Arnav asked Shashi who nodded his head. Khushi sat on the chair along with her parents.

"Did you both had breakfast?" Khushi asked her parents.

"We had bitiya." Garima told her. Shashi and Garima watched in awe as Arnav served the food for her. He shredded the roti in eatable pieces for her convenience. He also served his in laws tea and sat beside her.

"Arnav, you too have your breakfast." Khushi said.

"I will have it later."

"It's okay damadji, please have your breakfast." Arnav nodded his head and sat down to have his food. Garima volunteered to feed Khushi which she agreed with much happiness.

"Damadji, what did the doctor told about her condition?" Shashi asked after sometime. He wanted to know what's the condition of his daughter.

"Sir, please call me Arnav if you are comfortable. Hmm, she is in stage one of breast cancer which is non aggressive like earlier. The doctor told us that she only need two chemotherapy for this and it won't affect our baby. Regarding radiation, he told us to wait till her last chemo." 

"Babuji, I'm going to be okay. I'm happy that you all are here for us." Khushi assured her father while Garima kept feeding his daughter. After having their breakfast, Arnav asked Khushi to lie on the bed and be with her parents. He is busy in cleaning the dishes when Shashi came to the kitchen.

"Do you want something sir?" Arnav asked seeing Shashi in the kitchen.

"Nothing damadji."

"Please call me Arnav." Arnav politely asked him.

"Hmm, you didn't change her?" Shashi asked after a few seconds.

"I only wanted to add my name to her."

"What about your family?" Shashi questioned.

"My ammi and abbu adore your daughter more than me. So is my siblings and their family."

"Sir, I know that you have some worries. All I can say that our love is only based on feelings and emotions. As a person she have her own beliefs and opinions. I respect that. We do celebrate diwali and eid very grandly. It's all possible if there is love and respect." Arnav concluded his sentence and returned back to washing dishes.

"Damadji.. I mean Arnav, I hope that we can start fresh again. If you are okay with that, you can start calling me as babuji or uncle." Shashi offered.

"Sure babuji. You should go and be with Khushi. She missed you both a lot." He said with a smile.  Shashi went to see Khushi and they talked about her life so far with Arnav. They realised that they were so wrong about Arnav who took care of their daughter very well.

"Amma, babuji, what do you meant when you said that you were about to ruin my life by getting me married to Rahul?" Khushi asked her parents.

"We thought that he was a good person and a right choice for you. Rahul is in prison for domestic abuse and female foeticide. He married a girl much younger than you with hefty dowry. He and his family kept demanding for more money and abused her. They aborted his child when they came to know that it was a girl. I can't imagine what would have happened to you if you didn't go with Arnav on thag day. I'm so happy for you bitiya, happy that you got a husband who take care of you like this. Please forgive your babuji for all that."

"There is nothing to forgive babuji, you were only looking for my goodness. They projected themselves good in front of us. It's okay." Khushi told him.

"We couldn't forgive ourselves for doing that to you bitiya. We behaved very rudely when you saw us in that wedding. We knew that how much hurt we have given you by trying to force our decision on you. That's why we took this pilgrimage to seek forgiveness from God. Anandi told us about this few days back and we couldn't hold ourselves from seeing you. That's why we are here." Garima said between her sobs.

"It's okay amma, everything happens for a reason. Choosing Arnav was the best and difficult decision I have taken in my life." Khushi said leaning into the headrest of her bed. They were talking when she got a missed call from Arnav.

'Why is he calling me?' She asked herself and saw one message from him.

<Let's order lunch from outside. That will be safe for five of us 😬 Any suggestions my lady?> She read the message with a smile and replied him. Arnav made sure that she took her medicines on time. From the time they get to know that they are having a baby, Arnav made sure that she have juices which add upto her health. Garima and Shashi talk with Arnav who told them about his family and work. Both of them left in the evening, after inviting both of them for a stay over in Khushi's house.

Khushi turned towards Arnav while holding the drain bag in her right hand. She had a wide smile on her face along with misty eyes.

"I really wanted to hug you so tight." She said to him.

" When your stitches get healed, our junior won't let your hug me like that for now. So save all such hugs and gave me that after the arrival of our junior. Why don't you convert that hug into kisses for now?" Saying this he kneel a bit to face her. Khushi smiled lightly and feathered kisses all over his face.

"You are always welcomed to kiss me like this instead of hug." Saying this Arnav wrapped his arms around her shoulder and placed a kiss on her forehead.

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

Comment & Vote

Any name suggestions for Arshi's Junior? Can't reveal the gender though 😉