Being The Missus

Chapter 13: An Extended Letter

Arnav watched his wife hustle around and help his cousin.

Heart tumour

On one end the entire family sniffed into their kerchiefs, half wailing on the longevity of their bonny boy while Anjali fussed with Aman about the medical procedures that Akash would be requiring. And amidst of the chaos called family, Khushi calmly handled the crying relatives and cared for Akash the way any sister did.

He on the other hand, stayed away from Akash and booked his surgery with the best cardiologist. That was the best that he was capable of. No part of him could hug his brother, especially not when he felt vulnerable. From the corner Khushi flashed him a smile, lighting up the atmosphere with her wit and sensible reassurances.

Silly of him to want her for himself, especially when she bound the family together.

"Chote, don't worry Akash is going to be fine." Anjali patted his shoulder, suddenly feeling grateful for the way he sighed and kept his head on her shoulder. It had been long since her Chote called for affection.

Shanaya remained in the background, knowledgeable enough to keep her nerves.

It's a benign heart tumor - survival chance is 99%.

They say that something's important when it's irreplaceable. Looking at Khushi, Shanaya smiled wryly. She didn't have enough fingers to count the differences she saw in this household. Seven years ago;

Akash hesitated to speak with anyone in the house.

Nani was distant, even though Arnav was her favourite grandson.

Anjali tried fruitlessly to make her brother smile.

The house had an air of death and grievance, it's hauntedness growing with ASR's ruthlessness.

And Shanaya believed herself to be special, only because Arnav replied to her. Little did she know that Shantivan needed its happiness.

Literally.

Now as none of the members heeded to her nor her son as a flurry of doctors rushed to Akash to help him (irrespective of him screaming 'I'm absolutely fine and can walk to the hospital'), she felt ignored.

Replaceable

Shanaya's annoyance at Payal finding the medical reports and crying for help gave way to the pain at the way the entire family bound together to help the soft, surprisingly calm Akash.

Khushi

She just didn't make Arnav happy, she glued the spare pieces of the family together.

Her musings came to an end by a soft sniffle. Aarav dug his hands in his pocket, tears welling in his eyes as his gentle calls to Khushi went unheard. His lower lips trembled, his fingers clenching in anxiety.

Of course, this was their last day at the Roy mansion

"Let's leave Aarav, we'll see them a few days later at the launch-" Her words stopped as fear filled in his eyes. Aarav was her son, even if he was adopted. Agreed she was ignorant with the child, she had never given rise to hatred or terror.

"Khushi aunty..." Unaware of Akash's illness, Aarav called out for the last time as separation anxiety broke his heart. Shanaya looked on, suddenly hurt as Aarav disregarded her stretched palm.

He always held my hand

"Aarav, love..." Khushi ran towards him and took the tiny boy into a tight hug. Aarav flung his arms around Khushi's neck, murmuring to stay for a few more days.

"Of course,-" Khushi turned to Shanaya, handing Aarav to Arnav. "Shanaya, I thank you for thinking about leaving given that we can't be the best hosts due to Akash's illness. But we're both aware he'll be as fit as a fiddle, so don't hesitate to stay till the launch - haina Arnav?" Khushi smiled, passing a slight hand on his cheek.

Arnav played with Aarav's small fingers, humming in agreement. His eyes glinted back in happiness at Khushi's glowing face.

For a strange reason Shanaya felt her stomach sink as the baby she called her own, even in name, for six months found comfort at the arms of the woman who got everything in her world.

When the trio walked away, Shanaya laughed at herself.

Just because she couldn't see their love, it didn't mean it didn't exist.

Just because she saw Arnav ignoring his wife, it didn't mean he had forgotten her.

Just because she didn't show Aarav any love, it didn't mean she had no affection.

---

"Bankim! What a pleasant surprise!" Khushi smiled, hugging her friend as he carried a bunch of flowers and a basket of healthy fruit.

"Do give this to Akash, how is he?" Bankim tickled Aarav's belly, chuckling as the kid dropped from Khushi's arms and ran all the way to Arnav.

"I'm glad you accepted the invitation." Arnav stepped in, surprising Bankim with a hug. Khushi's jaw hung open as over the brunch the two men discussed about their lives and most importantly - Khushi.

"Shut up!" Khushi shot Bankim daggers as the latter recounted a story as to when Khushi shaved off her eyebrows by mistake. "And you stop laughing! I thought why waste 50 rupees for tweezing my eyebrows when I could shave them to shape. I didn't know that people don't shave their eyebrows." Khushi pouted, slapping a laughing Arnav's hand.

Arnav's grin grew wider as every few minutes Khushi paused to rub his arm or play with the tender skin on his wrist.

Being Hers

He scooted closer to her, shamelessly enjoying their mini PDA (public display of affection) moment. And secretly, he loved that she hadn't shied from being close to him.

"So Khushi, I realise your strengths are in cuisine and event management. I believe you need to hire an organization who handles the rest. Based on that, if you were to work along with my company I think it could be magic." Bankim suggested.

"Hey, why don't you both organize the Aura launch at Sheesh Mahal?" Khushi choked on her glass on water, her eyebrows high at his comment. "The last time I was at Sheesh Mahal-"

"There could be nothing better." Arnav whispered, his eyes bright with an unknown emotion.

"It's been a week, you don't have to-" Khushi whispered back when Arnav clenched her hand, shaking his head.

"It was never a one time thing." Arnav interrupted, pausing to relax in his chair as Bankim clapped.

"Perfect, that would be the precise location to establish the rest of our plan." Khushi frowned at Bankim's cheer. Even Arnav had a similar smile.

Bromance?

---

"Your wife has a splendid taste,"

"You are a indeed a lucky man,"

"Is that your wife! She's gorgeous,"

"Why do you only speak in Hindi?" Arnav stiffened, turning to find a nosy journalist peer at Khushi.

"No one hesitates to speak French in France, German in Germany or Mandarin in China. But in India if anyone speaks Hindi instead of English, there's a ruse. You're a journalist, could you answer that why speaking in just our mother tongue would be a matter of shame?”The journalist stammered at Khushi's question, a small smile forming on his lips at the clever woman.

"Interesting," Shanaya smirked, raising her hands in surrender as Arnav raised an eyebrow at her. "It was a compliment, and I'm too happy with the response anyways." Arnav had to agree with her. Aura's launch was a success.

And Aman just informed that their deal with Tyra Banks just got sealed.

"Excuse me," Arnav walked towards Khushi, wrapping an arm around her bare waist. Dressing her from the white bridal collection was a boon and a bane. Boon because she was a ravishing beauty tonight. Bane for the same reason.

"So sir, this is the first time that the dress code has been in Indian formals. What's the reason-"

"Sir why have you hidden your wife?-"

"Sir sir, isn't this the same woman televised last year to have spoiled your fashion show?-"

"Why does Shanaya ma'am's son look like you?-"

"Oh yes I'm the infamous woman! Can't forget that night... he left quite an impressionable impression on me." Khushi chuckled, caressing Arnav's hand. "-Also, Shanaya's adopted son is an absolute darling. He's taken so much to Arnav, wait a sec, I'll show you the cutiepie... Aarav!" The journalists looked in awe as a small child, wearing a bandhgala, ran all the way into Khushi's arms.

The hot story of an illegitimate son ran out of their heads the minute Aarav placed a sound kiss on Khushi's cheek. Arnav just stared at the duo, his eyes warm with fondness.

"And to answer your second question. My wife gave no hoots about the fact that I'm Arnav Sen Roy. So splashing us in the media even before we were together would definitely make her run in the opposite direction - if my temper hadn't!" Arnav laughed as Khushi slapped his chest.

For the last question Arnav didn't have to answer. AR launched it's first Chikan based Indian collection. The first design - a replica of the fifth Prince of Awadh*.

An irreplaceable design.

People screamed over the glory and intricacies of the long lost art.

But nothing could compare the tears of joy in his Khushi's eyes. The pre-collection, called Khushi, would be designed by none other than Khushi Sen Roy.

As reporters swarmed like bees around his wife, Arnav felt a strange emotion rise in his heart. Pride swelled in his heart and suddenly he realised, he liked being called as her husband.

---

Payal watched her sister buzz through the crowd, her hazel eyes never leaving her husband or little Aarav. Patting the swell of her tummy, Payal shook her head. Nothing would go forward unless she took a step.

Agreed she felt uncomfortable at the thought of engaging with Akash's office peers, it didn't mean that she couldn't try. How would the world know Akash is hers unless she made a move to show he's taken?

In spite of having gone through a surgery recently, Akash looked devastatingly handsome in his indigo coloured sherwani.

"Hi, I'm Mrs. Payal Roy." Akash turned, gawking at his shy pregnant wife introducing herself to his colleagues. Locking her fingers with his, Akash beamed at everyone who poured wishes for the baby.

"A pleasure to meet you," Payal smiled, leaning her head slightly against Akash's shoulder.

And suddenly he felt like the richest man in the world.

---

"Miss. Roy-"

"I think you know me enough to call me Anjali." Anjali blushed, pausing to check if the catering was to perfection. Aman followed her quietly to the empty pantry, pretending to assess the dishes. Settling on a chair, Anjali helped herself to a glass of fruit punch.

"As much as I love my brother-"

"-you hate gatherings." Aman completed her sentence, grinning at the suddenly shy woman.

Recently, through Arnav and Khushi's relationship, Anjali had learnt a key lesson about love. Many things could be solved simply through a sane conversation. Her hand trembled as she tried to reign her nerves.

"Through the past few months I've felt some signals from you. If I'm mistaken, please let me know before everything means more than it should." She whispered, playing nervously with her fingers. No way was she going to clear about her polio affected leg, miscarriage or broken marriage.

He'd seen it all.

So if he said yes, he'd know what it would mean.

Aman stood gobsmacked. A part of him wanting to kiss her senseless and the other part not believing his luck. It took him a few minutes to realise that his silence was misread.

Rushing past Anjali, he slammed his hand on the door and held her shoulders. "I'm afraid if this is how accurately you read my signals, you might not realise the extent of my feelings." He whispered. A wave of lust, love, anxiety and fear arose as Anjali closed her eyes and turned around, showing her back to him.

"Says the man who runs away at every given minute. What did you say that day... papers asked you-"

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Not if you're staying with me for a long time." Anjali whispered, her heart hitching as Aman gently pushed her hair aside, pressing his lips to her ear. "There's something else I've wanted to do," Anjali turned around, her eyes wide as his head leaned down, his lips brushing against hers. For the first time, Anjali literally saw the sparks.

No one from outside heard the soft sighs inside the steel pantry.

---

"Nannav Khushi, check. Kash Payal, check. Aman Anji Di, check." NK closed his little black book, sighing in happiness.

Arnav had even briefed to NK about Aarav which added a bigger smile on NK's face. That would be the best decision. Though where were Aman and Anji Di? NK shrugged, feeling slightly foolish for asking Khushi to change.

If she had to change for Nannav to love her, then no love existed in the first place. Feeling too wise, NK gulped a shot of tequila.

Everything was perfect

"Congrats Khushi!" NK turned to find a dimpled dusky lady wrap Khushi in a tight hug. That's when he realised he had dumped his drink on his shirt instead of drinking it. A pair of amused almind shaped eyes stared at him.

"Lavanya!" Khushi screamed, hugging the lady tight.

For the first time he understood why Nannav stared at Khushi like a hungry homeless man.

'Cause now he seemed to do the same.

---

Khushi and Bankim watched Shanaya drag Arnav into a corner, whispering furiously at him. Arnav's eyes widened with tears as he hugged her tight, talking back to her.

"What the hell-"

"Don't judge," Khushi broke Bankim off, having learnt well that situations were often different than what was assumed. However, being the fiercely protective friend that Bankim was, he only seethed in anger at Shanaya's advances.

A few minutes later Arnav, Khushi and Aarav left. Leaving Bankim alone with Shanaya. Just as he was about to snap, he noticed her sobbing.

"W-what happened?" Shanaya's eyes widened at his warm, grey eyes.

The last thing she expected was for him to sit next to her, offering her his kerchief.

"Everything will be fine." His eyes pierced to her oddly colored ones.

"It will be."

---

"Her contract has been terminated and my lawyers are handling this with minimum damage to our enterprise. Shanaya was pregnant with my kid." Arnav whispered, cursing himself as Khushi went rigid.

"And?"

"She aborted it-"

"So she faulted you for it?" Khushi mumbled, suddenly understanding the weird way Shanaya's head functioned. That's why the personal vendetta against him. To ruin his happiness.

"Yeah but... aren't you angry at me?" Arnav asked, surprised.

"You weren't my husband then," Khushi explained. Arnav sagged in relief, taking his wife into a tight hug.

"I thought I was about to lose you-"

"-you can't lose me because of someone else." Khushi cut him off, her eyes bright in spite of the tedious hours she put to pull the event off.

Her eyes drifted to a sleeping Aarav on their bed, his hands and legs twisted at an odd angle. Khushi shook her head and removed the child's shoes and socks - changing him into a comfortable nightwear.

"His social worker called. They found Shanaya inept for mothering Aarav hence they were taking him back. Apparently there was more than enough evidence of negligence." Arnav whispered, running a hand over the boy's head.

"Is his orphanage even a good place?" Khushi shivered, recollecting horror stories about them.

"I have no idea." Arnav waited as Khushi hugged the sleeping boy tightly, pressing kisses on his forehead. "We can't leave him there! We have to-"

"Shanaya paid them to put Aarav straight into a foster family." Khushi's eyes widened at the news. Foster family? No... how would they treat this boy? He was as delicate as a sweet flower.

"No, I will meet them and you better get a background check done. What if they-"

"You are with his foster parents Khushi..." Arnav interrupted, pausing to press a kiss on her startled lips. "You mean..." Khushi asked, her eyes welling with happy tears. Arnav embraced his wife, kissing her forehead as she cried into his chest. Wiping her eyes, careless about the smearing make-up, Khushi said; "I was so scared when suddenly I heard... but... Devi Maiyya!" She chuckled, hugging Arnav again.

Suddenly she broke off, a frown on her forehead "Arnav, even though we have a close connection with Aarav - we need to know if he wants to be with us."

And in that moment, at her concern, Arnav fell in love with Khushi - all over again.

"He knows. Why else did he sleep on your lap while coming home, and jump into our bed as if it's his?" Arnav patted Aarav's cheek, his heart melting as the little boy snuggled closer to him.

"You'll be a wonderful father." Khushi rested her head on his shoulder, settling Aarav between them. Arnav nodded, the shock settling in him.

I'm a father

---

Khushi woke up to Arnav staring at their son, his eyes trained on the boy's hand that rested on his chest. A smile flitted across his lips, for once she was happy that they had more than enough money and power to convert a process of months into hours.

Aarav twitched a little and Arnav held his breath, patting the little boy till he fell asleep.

Khushi checked her phone, it was 4 in the morning.

"Arnav, sleep" Her throat was dry, husky from sleep.

"Thank you," Arnav replied, his eyes moist as he kissed Aarav's fist. "For what?" Khushi, now wide awake, held his hand.

"If you weren't there... nothing would have happened."

"Arnav," Khushi sighed, walking to his side of the bed and taking him into a tight hug. "What's wrong?"

"I will make mistakes Khushi. But I'd kill myself if I hurt him the way I hurt you." He whispered, his throat clogging up with tears.

Khushi hugged him tight, knowing that days would come when she'd forget him for their kids or family. There would be days when he'd forget her for his work.

"Arnav, you won't hurt me again. That's all that matters." Khushi paused, kissing his lips briefly. She vowed quietly to herself, that irrespective of whatever, they'd resolve every fight before they slept.

Arnav saw the sudden flash of vulnerability in her eyes and hugged her closer, promising himself to remind her every night that she was his everything.

Realizing that she was still in her AR bridal lehenga, she headed to the bathroom. To her surprise, he followed her in. He just smiled at her as he locked the bathroom door.

Khushi felt waves of heat stain her cheeks, and gently looped her arms around his neck.

"I think I'm making a habit of this..." Arnav whispered, pressing a rolled piece of paper in her palm. Taken aback, she read through the piece and shook as Arnav kneeled before her, holding her hands in his.

"Even though this is pretty late, and it's in a bathroom..."

Khushi cut him off, crying into his embrace. Arnav held her close, fighting his own tears.

The first time I dragged,

The second time I decided,

But this time it's worth you,

Apart from hugs and kisses,

Be my missus?

---