I hope that you will like this chapter

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Khushi opened her eyes and looked around. She found Arnav sitting beside her holding her hand.

"Khushi, how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. Is our baby fine?" She asked him.

"Yes, it's a baby girl, our Navika. She is in NICU now. Don't worry they are doing their best, she is a fighter." Arnav told her.

"Did you see her?"

"Yes, from outside the NICU. She is so small Khushi. So fragile and beautiful just like you. I want her to be alright and be with us." Arnav said as a thin layer of tears covered his eyes.

"I have trust on my devimaiyya, our Navika will be okay. Arnav, I want to see her." Khushi told him.

"Your wounds are still fresh Khushi. We can go after consulting with your doctor. For now take rest."

"Where are they all?" Khushi asked about their family.

"They all are outside. Don't worry. Is the wound paining a lot?" He enquired about the cesarean incision on her abdomen.

"No, may be because of the pain killer."

"Khushi, thanks for going through all these for bringing our Navika into this world." He kissed her knuckles.

"Don't thank me because this is the second best thing I have ever done. First being married to you." She squeezed his hand and they smiled at each other.

The nurse checked Khushi and told her not to strain much. Raizadas and Gupta visited them and saw little Navika lying in the NICU. They all hoped that she would able to overcome all the obstacles in her life.

Arnav and Akash visited the doc and she told them about the situation. Navika is been kept under NICU as she is premature baby. She have microtia(ear deformity), jaw deformity and cleft palate(open on upper portion of mouth). Because of microtia, right now their baby can't hear anything. Both of them will be discharged within a few days.

Arnav told everyone about what the doctor told him. Khushi got excited knowing that she can meet her baby soon. Arnav didn't told her what the doctor informed him.

The next day,

They wheeled Khushi to the NICU.

"That's our baby." Arnav said pointing at their bundle of joy. Her eyes started to get teary as she saw their baby lying on the little bed with wires attached on her body.

"She is beautiful Arnav. Our Navika is so beautiful." Khushi said with a smile and wiped her tears.

"She is, just like her mother." He said holding her closer to him. She hoped that her devimaiyya will protect her child from everything and give her to them.

Next day, they all were sitting in the room waiting for Navika's arrival. The nurse brought the baby into the room. They cried seeing the baby so close to them. The nurse placed Navika on her mother's arms. Khushi held her baby close and kissed her forehead. The baby wrapped her little fingers around her parents finger

"Hey, we are your parents." Khushi told as the baby stared at them.

"She have your eyes and lips, Khushi." Arnav said looking at the little miracle.

"We love you a lot. You have to fight for us and then be with us." She said lightly stroking the head of her sweet baby.

"How can we feed her?" Khushi asked the nurse knowing that she can't breastfeed her baby because of the cleft palate on her upper gum.

"The doctor told me to teach you that. Did you collect the milk?" The nurse has already informed them to collect some breast milk in advance.

"Yes, it's there." Khushi pointed at the bottle of milk placed on the table. The nurse taught them how to feed their baby with a syringe like feeding tool. She burp the baby after she drinks one ounce of milk

"You have to make sure that you burp often. Preferably between every half or one ounce of milk. You baby may swallow more air because of weak suction." She adviced them.

She asked Khushi to try feeding Navika. Carefully with utmost care Khushi feed her baby but got freaked out when some milk leaked out of Navika's nose.

"It's normal with cleft palate. Don't worry about it." The nurse assured the new mother sitting in front of her. Once Navika had a little milk, Arnav burped her on behalf of Khushi.

"You should do all these within half an hour, or else it will tire out the baby. Feed her in between every 2.5 to 3 hours."

"Anything else?" Arnav asked the nurse.

"Nothing, just be careful when you feed her." Saying this the nurse went from there leaving their baby in Khushi's hand. Raizadas and Gupta looked at sleeping baby in her hand.

"She is a little fighter." Arvind said holding the hand of his grandchildren.

"Yeah, just like her father." Shashi lightly stoked Navika's soft cheek. After spending some time with Arshi and the baby, they all left from there giving the little family their privacy.

Khushi sat on the bed leaning onto the head board. Navika is sleeping peacefully beside her with Arnav sitting below her.

"Arnav, are you okay?" Khushi called him who is staring at Navika.

"Will she hate me Khushi? Will she hate me knowing that I didn't want her when she was in your womb?" Arnav looked at Khushi with eyes full of regret.

"Come here Arnav." She called him and pointed at the chair beside her. He sat next to his wife and daughter. Khushi held his hand and kissed his knuckles.

"Arnav, you are her father and she is going to love you even more than me. You will be a good father, I don't have any doubt in that. Regarding her knowing about the initial tiff in our pregnancy, it happened within our family and nobody is going to tell this to her. Even if she gets to know about it, we will make her understand our situation and the love we have for her. You don't need to worry about her hating you. We are together in this Arnav." Khushi said with teary eyes. Arnav wiped their tears and kissed her forehead.

"Thanks for loving me enough to have our Navika with me." He told her.

"I deserve the best and I got the best husband. I only wanted you to be the father of my child. I won't change anything even if i get a chance." She looked at Navika who is sleeping silently between her parents.

"I will do everything to keep her happy and safe." Arnav said looking at his little daughter.

"We will, for sure."

Two days after, Khushi and Navika got discharged from the hospital. The doctor adviced them to make sure that the baby have enough milk. Arnav held the baby and Khushi stood next to him in front of the door while Ratna did aarti on three of them. She placed tikka and welcomed them into the house. They went to their room and placed Navika on the cradle.

"You should take rest Khushi." Arnav told Khushi and made her sit on the bed.

"Hug me Arnav." She said making him sit beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and she placed her head on his chest.

"I'm so happy Arnav. Happy that our gulaab is here, but I'm anxious about everything she have to face from here. Sometimes, I feel that I'm a cruel woman to put my child through all these ordeals."

"You are the best mother our daughter can ever have. I have no doubt that our gulaab will emerge into a strong girl just like her mother. We will face everything with her." Saying this he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep for sometime Khushi. You need rest." He disentangled from the hug and helped her to change the dress. She laid down on the bed and held his hand.

"Call me when it will be time to feed her." She told him.

"Sure. Sleep now." She stroked her cheeks and planted a kiss on her forehead. Arnav stood there looking at the two most important persons in his life sleeping peacefully in the room. He never imagined that he would become a husband and a father in his life. Those two things were nearly impossible in his life until he met her on that fateful day. He knew that Khushi loves him more than anything in this world. He used to wonder how he got lucky to have her in his life. He promised himself that he will keep both of them happy with everything he have.

From then, they dedicated their full time to take care of Navika. Every three hours, they kept feeding her and hardly slept during night as they had to feed her. Seeing this, Arvind and Ratna decided to help them by taking turns to feed the baby at night. If Arshi look after Navika at night, then on the next day it will be Ratna and Arvind who will be taking care of her at night. Raizadas and Mathurs helped them and keep visiting Navika.

Everyone surrounded Navika when she is awake. They all liked seeing her staring and moving her little limbs. Arshi couldn't stop kissing their precious baby. Arnav take care of his farm and rushed home as soon as the work get done. Khushi noticed the dark circles around his eyes. He have been taking care of everything without any rest since the time they returned from the hospital.

"Arnav." Khushi called him by holding his hand.

"Are you okay Khushi? Do you want something?" He asked her.

"Yes, but will you give it if I ask you something?" She questioned.

"What is it Khushi?"

"Promise me that you will do what I ask you." She forwarded her hand.

"Anything that won't harm you." He placed his hand on her hand.

"Then lie down on our bed and sleep now. You hardly sleep these days and I don't want you to jeopardize your health." Saying this she pulled him onto the bed.

"Sleep now Arnav. I don't want to argue with you. If you don't take ample rest how will you take care of both of us?" She asked pointing at her and Navika who is sleeping beside her. He smiled at his over dramatic wife and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Let me take our the mattress." He is about to take the floor bed which is placed under their bed. After returning from hospital, Arnav sleep on the floor considering the c-section wound in her stomach. Khushi hated the idea of him sleeping on the floor but he convinced her and promised to sleep beside when her wound get healed properly.

"You can sleep on the bed Arnav. I'm just sitting here."

"That's okay Khushi. I will sleep on the floor."

"Okay, do whatever you want. Who am I to say all these now? I'm just a ugly big fat helpless woman, why would you sleep next to a person like me? Why would you want to be near to a woman like me? It's true that after a pregnancy the husband lose interest in his wife. My bad luck." The ever dramatic Khushi pulled her stunt which brought a smile on his face. Arnav placed the flood bed back and made her look at him.

"I can't live without this dramaqueen." Saying this he pecked her lips bring a smile on her face.

"And I can't live without my dear hubby." She said and he laid down on the other side of the bed with Navika lying between them. Arnav took Navika's little hand and kissed it. He stroked her hair and turned his head towards Khushi.

"When did you fed her earlier?" He asked.

"Few minutes before your arrival. My laado is sleeping after feeling her tummy. Now she want papa to give her a company in sleeping." Khushi said holding her little hand. Arnav smiled and lightly squeezed his wife's hand.

"Call me if you want something." He said and drifted into sleep along with his daughter. Khushi stared at the two valuable treasures she have in her life. Arnav is everything she wanted in her dream man. He always know how to handle her eccentric nature. He understands her even without saying a word. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that someone like Arnav existed in this world. He is a perfect man, who only embrace the good things in life and always make sure that the people around him is comfortable. It always hurts her whenever someone shunned him away because of his look. Whenever she look at him, all she saw was the love and affection he have for her. His eyes and lips conveyed everything for her. Khushi vowed to herself that she won't let anyone hurt her Arnav and their baby.

Their neighbours paid visit to their home. Most of them were sympathetic and curious to knew if they already been aware of Navika's condition or not. A few of them were really happy for them and blessed Navika and Arshi. Some of them felt that they took a wrong decision by going on with this pregnant and giving birth to a child with genetical disorder.

Vimala, one of the gossip aunty who bullied Arnav on Anjali's marriage came to see Khushi and Navika. As soon as Khushi saw her, she stopped Vimala and placed her baby on the crib.

"Are you here to check if the baby looks like Arnav or not?" Khushi questioned her.

"What are you talking Khushi bitiya?"

"According to you, my husband can't make me pregnant and I had an affair in my college." Vimala stood there not knowing what to say. At that time Arnav entered the room and saw this.

"I won't allow you to see my baby now. You can leave from here." Khushi told her rudely. Vimala turned to move from there when Khushi called her again.

"Auntyji for your information, my husband is capable of making me pregnant for a thousand times. I know I shouldn't say this, but still I want to say that my sex life is too awesome." Khushi said wrapping her arms around her shy husband making Vimala run away from there. Once she is away from their sight, Arnav saw tears in her eyes.

"Khushi,what happened? Did she say something to you?" He asked wiping her tears.

"How can she think that I will cheat you?" More tears started to form in her eyes and she tried her best to overcome the pain she is feeling in her stomach and heart.

"Shhh, Khushi don't cry. It will only strain your body. It's not good for your body." He said making her sit on the bed.

"How can she think that you are not a good husband?" She questioned him.

"Shh, Khushi stop crying over that. You knew how she is. Leave it. You are hurting yourself and I can see that." He said seeing her closing her eyes because of the pain.

"I don't want my strong wife to cry over that lady. Can't you just smile for your hubby?" He asked knowing that she will do anything for him. She gave him a light smile and he wiped her tears.

"What about a kiss?" He eyed her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Before their lips touched eachother, Navika started crying.

"Seems like she is possessive of her papa. Mommy can't even give a kiss to papa now." Khushi teased knowing how Navika goes all smiley in his arms.

"You sit here, I will bring her here." Arnav said and brought Navika who woke up from the sleep and stared at her father.

"I just fed her now. Why is she awake now? Is it your play time laado?" Khushi asked caring the underdeveloped cheeks of her baby. Navika snuggled into her father's arms and kept looking at her parents.

"I can't wait for her to hear us." She said to Arnav. Navika will get a bone anchored hearing aid(BAHA) which will be wrapped around her head like a head band.

"We have to wait for two more weeks for that Khushi." He told her and lightly swayed his arms making Navika to slowly fell asleep. He placed her back on the crib and sit next to Khushi.

"Now mommy can kiss papa." Saying this she pulled him and kissed him.

"You know Arnav, everyone thinks that their Arnav beta is so calm and shy, but they don't know that he is a lion inside these four walls. One hell of a passionate lion." She teased making him smile.

"My lioness can be quite demanding." He replied back and she hugged him.

"Khushi, I must say that the answer you gave Vimala aunty is outstanding."

"I never knew that my shy hubby will love that answer." She asked.

"Side effect of being your husband." Khushi slapped his chest and hugged him again.

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Two weeks later Arshi went for their second check up. Navika is a month old now. This time she will be getting a hearing aid attached to a head band. The doctor is satisfied with her weight gain and metabolism. The nurse brought a head band which had two small equipments attached opposite to each other. The vibrator or sound processor of a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid(BAHA) is attached to the headband and is worn on the large bone you can feel behind your ear (the mastoid bone).
It vibrates in response to sound entering the microphone. The microphone picks up the sounds and the processor transmits vibrations through the bones of the skull to the cochlea where they're converted into sound in the usual way.

They already decided that it will be Arnav who will be talking to Navika first.
"Mr Raizada, say something once I put on this head band on your daughter." Doctor instructed them. Navika laid on her father's hand, silently staring at him.

"Gulab, can you hear papa?" Arnav asked his child who blinked at him and smiled widely.

"Can you hear me baby?" He asked again and she clapped her hand.

"Navika, my laado can you hear amma?" Khushi asked standing opposite to Arnav. Navika turned her head towards her mother and tears started to follow down from their face. She kept smiling at her parents filling their heart with joy.

"Let's make sure that it's working properly." Doctor told them and conducted test to ensure that she can hear with the help of hearing aid.

"You should make sure that the device touches the bone behind her ear." The doctor adviced them. They collected the medicine and came back home with a bright smile on their face.

From that day everyone kept calling Navika, trying to get her reaction. Her grandparents couldn't hold their tears seeing her innocent smile whenever they called her. Anjali held her niece in her lap and everyone kept calling her and she turned her head towards the source of the sound.

"Now it's my laado's feeding time." Khushi said bringing the bottle. With Anjali's help Khushi fed Navika who fell asleep as soon as her tummy got filled.

From that day onwards Arshi can't stop talking to their baby. Arnav and Khushi sat next to her, on opposite sides and kept talking to her.

"Can you hear amma baby? Do you know how happy we are to have you here with us?" Khushi said kissing her little hand and her baby smiled at them.

"We love you a lot." Arnav said stroking the head of their baby. Khushi loved to see her baby smiling. The downward slant of her eyes, gives her a sad expression and when she smiles it lit up her world.

Weeks passed, everything is talking extra care of the baby. On here six week checkup, they got the green signal to resume their physical relationship but her over concerned husband made her wait two more weeks. It's been two months since she gave birth to Navika. Arnav exited from the washroom after a shower and saw the empty crib.

"I always forget that maa and papa are taking care of gulab on alternative days." He said to himself and moved his eyes towards his wife who sat on the bed in her lingerie.

"Khushi." He called seeing her like that for the first time after the birth of their baby.

"I want you Arnav. I don't know if you will find me beautiful enough to make love to me. I know that I look like a huge whale, double the size than you. I can...." Her words got halted feeling his arms being wrapped around her waist. She looked at Arnav whose eyes were filled with love for her.

"You were beautiful when I first saw you on the road asking for a lift. You were beautiful when you became my friend. You were beautiful when you told me that you love me. You were beautiful when we became one. You were beautiful when you became my wife. You were beautiful when we created our baby. You were beautiful when you carried our baby. Believe me Khushi, you are even more beautiful as the mother of our baby and you will be always beautiful for me." Saying this he placed kisses on her eyes, cheeks, forehead and lips. Khushi stared at him with a smile on her face and teary eyes.

"You say that gulab is a miracle, but for me both of you are a miracle. I never imagined that a girl will love me like this. Love me enough to feel my kisses and touches on her. Love me enough to allow me to make love to her. Love me enough to marry me and bear my child in her. For me you are a miracle Khushi. I thought all the prayers I made during my childhood went unheard, but I realised that you and gulab are the result of all my prayers. I'm ready to go through all those humiliation and hardship again, if I get both of you in my life." He cupped her face and wiped her tears.

"I love you a lot Khushi. You and gulab are my life." Khushi brought her hand and wiped his tears.

"You and our baby are my world. Love me Arnav, show me all your love." Saying this she lean forward and they shared a passionate kiss with tears following down from their eyes. That night they conveyed their love to eachother through their actions.

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Few weeks Arnav and Khushi were standing in front of the temple with Navika in his arms. They stood in in front of the idol and prayed for their baby.

'Devimaiyya, you have bestowed me with a good husband and a baby who is the symbol of our love. I have full trust that you will never let our Navika to go through what my Arnav went through. Give us strength to overcome all the hurdles in front of us and protect our baby from every bad eyes.' Khushi prayed hard.

'I thought you turned away all my prayers and requests to have a normal face. I didn't knew that you were holding a miracle for me in the form of Khushi and our baby. Instead of a normal face, you turned my life into extraordinary by bringing Khushi and Gulab. I'm sorry for not seeing it all these years, I'm grateful that you send these two angels into my life. I only have a request to you, please keep my daughter safe and never let her go through what I have been through. I will do everything to ensure the happiness of these two people in my life. Always keep your blessings on my Khushi and gulab, keep them happy and safe. Thanks for giving me this wonderful life filled with happiness.' After a long time, Arnav opened his heart to the God without any hesitation or fear. The priest saw them and blessed three of them.

After that they went to the park. The three month old cutie pie observed the new surroundings. Arshi can sense a lot of eyes on them and they chose to ignore it like always. Arnav made Navika to sit on his lap as Khushi entertainment the baby who smiled at her mother's words. They were having some good time when one of the parent approached them with a one year old baby. At first, Khushi thought that they were hear to bully her baby but when she talked to them she understood that they were nice people. The little one year old boy played with Navika which brought a smile on Arshi's face. They hoped that in future too, their baby get friends like this. Arshi return home with a sleeping Navika on his shoulder.

After a few days, Arnav sat next to Khushi who is making Navika sleep. She placed the baby on the crib and sat next to him.

"Khushi, I want to talk to you."

"What's it Arnav?"

"Your guide called me. Your presentation is scheduled to happen after three months. He asked me if you are ready or not?" Arnav said entwining their fingers.

"I don't know Arnav. Gulab needs me and in between these....?" She asked with uncertainty shadowing her eyes.

"Can I suggest you something?"

"What is it?"

"We all are here to take care of Gulab. If you complete this presentation now, you will be free before her next two surgeries. So try to give the presentation now. It's only about a day and I think you can do this Khushi." Arnav tried to make her understand. Navika will be having a mandibular distraction surgery which will solve the problem with her undersized jaw, followed by cleft palate correction surgery.

From that day Khushi started tk work on her thesis presentation. Everytime she felt demotivated, she looked at her baby who lift up her spirit. Arnav and everyone took care of Navika, giving her time for the preparation. After three month, she presented her thesis in front of the university panel. Her whole family were there to see her presentation. Except Arnav, others were in awe seeing her confidently carrying our her presentation and answering the eminent professor who sat in front of her. Gupta's feel happy seeing their daughter chasing her dream with the support of her husband. Once the presentation got over, Khushi rushed towards her husband and daughter.

"You did a great job Khushi. Soon we have to change your name in our name plate into Dr Khushi Gupta Raizada." Arnav complimented her.

"All credit goes to my dear husband. Without you I wouldn't be standing here. I just hope that they approve my thesis." She said taking her baby in her arms.

"Did my laado missed amma?" Laado is the name Khushi uses to call Navika when she misses her a lot.

"My gulab missed her amma, but is very proud of her." Arnav answered on behalf of her making her smile.

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All of them were very vigilant as she started to grew up. Because of her undersized jaw and cheek, it will be dangerous if she out someone in her mouth. They all tried her best by not allowing her to put her hands or leg in her mouth while playing. Arshi encouraged her to talk. Her cleft palate restricted her speech but she babbled a few sounds making Arshi happy.

When Navika is 10 month old, the doctor suggested them of the mandibular distraction surgery which will correct her undersized jaw thus enabling her to breathe and eat without much difficulty in future. They admitted her in the hospital with a heavy heart and prayed for her wellbeing.

The day before the surgery, Arnav and Khushi are playing with Navika in their hospital room. Khushi looked at her baby who is smiling at both of them while clapping her little hands together. She couldn't control her tears and it started to follow down from her eyes. Navika saw this and get up holding onto Khushi. She touched her mother's cheek and kept staring at her. Arnav saw this scene and took his baby in his arms.

Navika looked at her father for answer who kissed her cheeks and pointed at Khushi's cheek. With an innocent smile she lean forward and left sloppy kisses on her mother's cheek making Khushi to burst into tears. She hugged Navika and stroked her head and back.

"Khushi, you are making her sad by crying like this. Now wipe your tears and smile." Arnav said talking his daughter in his arms.

"Let's fill your tummy now gulab. After that we can sleep." Arnav placed a kiss on the forehead of Navika and started to fed her using the bottle. Navika started to feel sleep once she had her tummy filled. He lightly swayed her in his arms and made her sleep on the bed after removing her hearing aid band.

All these time, Khushi sat beside the bed staring at Navika. Arnav sat next to her and pulled her into his arms. She started to cry being in his arms.

"I'm a terrible mother Arnav. Because of me our gulab is going to suffer a lot of pain. I knew that I have to face all these at some point of life but I can't see her in pain Arnav. I'm trying to stay strong but I can't Arnav. The mother in me can't see my child suffering all that pain." She cried hugging him.

"Shh, Khushi. I know it is hard but you shouldn't be like this. You are a strong woman Khushi, I need you in this. You told me that maa and Papa went to this same pain and there worth it by having me. Likewise all these pain and sufferings will be worth it Khushi. We will have a wonderful life with our gulab. Ineed my strong Khushi in this. The Khushi who went against everyone to marry me." He encouraged her.

"Can I do that?"

"Yes, you can. We will do that together. We have to be strong for her Khushi. For our Gulab." Saying this he kissed her forehead.

"Let's sleep Khushi,we have to get up earlier for the surgery." He told her. Arshi kissed Navika's forehead and stroked her head.

"You are a fighter Gulab. It's all for your goodness. Forgive your amma and papa for all the pain you are going to suffer from now." Khushi said to her daughter and laid down beside her. Arnav took the small bed placed opposite to their bed and laid down there. Both of them fell asleep while staring at their little baby.

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I will try to update the next part after updating the next chapter of Size.

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