FINE WINE Part 63

 Part 63

Khushi was standing in front of the mirror, looking at herself. Arnav opened his eyes and saw that. He sat on the bed smiling.

“What are you doing, Khushi?”

“I can’t believe I’m pregnant”

“You will believe when we do an ultrasound scan…”

She came to the bed and sat before Arnav.

“Do you see anything different on my face?”

Arnav read her face and said,

“Two eyes, two ears, one nose and mouth… everything is the same…” he smiled.

“I’m not talking about it. I heard, that when a girl gets pregnant, her face changes according to the baby in her womb”

“Means?”

“If the baby is a girl, mother’s face would shine…”

“Oh…”

“If the baby is a boy, the mother’s face becomes pale or dull”

“Is it?”

“Yes, my neighbour told me once”

“Oh…”

“Tell me, what does my face look like?”

“As always… beautiful and charming”

Khushi became sad hearing, AS ALWAYS.

“Khushi, the face indication is valid only after the seventh month I suppose”

“Is it?”

Arnav nodded yes.

Khushi sighed.

“Arnavji, how do you tell kids about the baby?”

“Khushi, just be relaxed. There is nothing to be serious. As time passes, they will accept the baby. I think we should not create a scene upon this matter”

“Won’t you tell them I’m pregnant?”

“They are kids… don’t make them feel like big guys. What will you do if they don’t want the baby? They should have to accept the baby. No choice. So, don’t give them a choice, let them be kids. We will get them on track”

That was when they heard,

“Arnav is right”  

They saw Dadi and Nani coming. Khushi stood up from the bed.

“You don’t have to bother about the kids. We will take care of them”

Khushi looked at Arnav, like, did they know?

“We knew” Dadi smiled.

“When we were small, people got more than ten kids. Did ever our parents get our permission.? Never… the kids would adopt elders’ decisions”

“But, this generation of kids are so smart, Dadi”

“Yes, they are smart. So, they will understand”

“Didn’t you guys go to the office?”

 “Yeah, we are going,” Khushi said.

“Go… be casual. Do your work as usual!”

“Before going to the office, we are going to the hospital for Khushi’s check-up,” Arnav said.

 “Yeah, do it and follow the doctor’s instructions”

 They left the place. Khushi looked at Arnav and asked,

“Arnavji, get ready”

“Yeah…” Arnav went to the washroom.

 

Getting ready, they came downstairs. Kids were having breakfast. Arnav and Khushi also came to them.

Suddenly, Khushi felt dizzy. Holding her head, she stood blinking her eyes.

“Khushi, what happened?” Arnav asked panicking.

“Feeling dizzy…”

“Sit…”

He made her sit on the chair. Kids stood from their chairs and looked at each other nervously.

 “What happened to Mom, Dad?” Shasli asked.

“Nothing… you guys sit and eat”

Arnav forwarded a glass of water. Khushi drank it.

“Khushi, are you in stress?” Arnav asked.

Khushi looked at him not knowing what to say because she didn't understand why he asked her so.

“Why are you stressing yourself? You should not be like this. It will affect your health. See, how dull you are looking… Look, Aarav, Shali and Shamli are here for you. They will help you”

Arnav looked at the kids and asked,

“Won’t you take care of Mom?”

“We will…” Came from them like a bullet.

“Mom, don’t stress yourself. We are here for you. we will do what you want” Aarav said.

“Thank you, Aarav” Khushi smiled at him.

“Didn’t I say? You are already weak. It’s not good for the BABY who is going to come to our family”

Arnav said noticing the kids from the corner of his eyes.

“Is a baby going to come to our family?” Shamli asked widening her eyes.

Arnav nodded yes.

“A small baby needs all of your concern and love. Will you be there for him?” Arnav asked.

“Arrey, what are you asking, Chotte? Don’t we know how understanding they are?” Nani asked.

“Are we going to get a BROTHER?” asked Aarav.

The word BROTHER brought a broad smile to the elders faces. Khushi nodded yes.

“Yes, you are going to get a brother or maybe a sister”

“Is it? Is a baby going to come to our family?” Shali asked excitedly.

“Mom, our classmate Pinky recently got a brother. Do you know how she flaunted?”

“It’s because we don’t have a brother,” Shamli said.

“Haan, now we also will flaunt” Shali giggled.

“But, we don’t decide yet even though Khushi likes babies”

“Why Mom?” Aarav asked.

“It’s because she thinks she cannot look after the baby in her busy schedule,” Arnav said.

“Mom, mom, please bring a baby to our house. Mom. We saw Pinky’s brother. Do you know how tiny his fingers were? We liked him very much but Pinky didn’t let us touch her brother”

“Haan, if we get a brother, we will take him to the school and show her him”

Arnav rolled his eyes and Khushi admired their cute attitude.

“Ok, but who will take care of YOUR brother?” Arnav asked.

“We will take care of him. Hai na, Shalu?”

“Haan, we will take care of him,” Shamli said.

“You both are kids. You don’t know how to lift a baby. So, I will take care of him. A boy will be with a boy”

“Why not he will be with girls? After all, we are his sisters” Shali said.

“Haan were not we together so far?” Shamli trapped Aarav.

“Then, why should we fight? We will take care of him together. What say?” he extended his hand. Shali and Shamli tapped his palm.

“Done”

“When will he come to our family?”

“In eight months”

“That’s great…”

The kids hopped from earth to sky.

“Now, go to school. Your brother should learn good habits from you, ok?”

“Ok…”

They ran to their room.

Arnav looked at Khushi folding his hands smilingly.

“You are unnecessarily scared about them. They are kids. Their world is different. Of course, it’s a beautiful world”

“You are right. I didn’t want those beautiful souls to get hurt. That’s why I wanted to be cautious because if they get hurt, the scar will last forever… I don’t want to leave such a scar in their hearts”

“Now, are you clear?”

“Mmm…”

“Let’s go to the office. We have an important work”

“what work?”

“I’m going to throw a party”

“For what?”

“For becoming a father…”

“No Arnavji”

“Why?” he frowned.

“It’s too early to announce my pregnancy. It’s just a starting stage. We will do it in the seventh month. Let the Baby become firm. Then, we can announce”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, what if people’s bad eyes hit the baby?”

Arnav rolled his eyes.

“Arnavji, if you don’t have faith in such things, just leave it. I don’t want to risk”

“Ok ok… we will announce only after the sixth month. Ok?”

“Mmm…”

“Are you all right now?”

“I’m all right”

“If you want to take a rest, you can”

“No, Arnavji. I can manage”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I can manage as you are with me”

“Always…” Arnav smiled.

To be continued…