Chapter 5

SS: Storm Within by TINA!

Part 5--How far would you go for love?

*Finale*

The next morning..

"Khushiji, are you sure you'll be okay? Maybe I should stay back."

"No, Di," insisted Khushi, smiling. "I'll be just fine. Arnavji is here. And you all will be back from the wedding by tomorrow afternoon as it is. Don't worry."

N.K. pressed on the car's horn, motioning to them through the rain. "Time to go, Di!" he called.

Anjali nodded, hugging Khushi close. "Take care and call us if you need anything."

"I will," she promised, giving a quick hug to Payal. "And you all take care too, the storm seems to be worsening."

The sky was darkening overhead, clouds rolling in as an icy cold rain hurtled down. Anjali opened a striped umbrella, rushing with Payal to the car.

Khushi waved at them from the doorway, hurrying inside the minute the taillights disappeared in the fog. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing in some warmth.

She sensed her husband before she saw him. He was coming down the stairs, pausing mid-step the second he spied her.

"You're here still? I thought you were all going to some wedding?

Khushi shrugged. "I couldn't go. Not after.."

The memory of those feverish kisses the night before flashed between them. A heat warmed her cheeks. Arnav was the first to look away.

"I'll be in my study if you need me."

Khushi sighed, sitting down on the sofa. So her husband was back to being grumpy, was he? Well, she'd draw him out of that suffocating study if it was the last thing she did.

"Mummy can do it, right, baby?" she asked aloud as she carefully stood. "We can get Daddy to come downstairs, can't we?"

The baby kicked against her palm as if in answer. Khushi smiled. "Agreed, baby. Mummy and Daddy love you very much."

She headed to the kitchen, whipping up something in no time.

"ARNAVJI! Lunch is ready!"

"I'm not hungry!" he called from the study.

"I made you Italian! Please, love!"

Arnav sighed, setting his laptop aside. He hadn't been able to concentrate on work anyway. His heart squeezed as he arrived downstairs.

His wife stood smiling beside the dining table. She'd set the table for two, complete with lit candles and roses. It reminded him of romantic dinners long ago.. when they'd been so happy.. when death and loss had not come between them.

He swallowed thickly as he sat. "You shouldn't have done all this. You need to rest."

"I wanted to," Khushi murmured. It hurt to imagine that soon she wouldn't be able to care for him, to see if he ate or avoided sweets, slept on time or not.

She'd be so far from him and the baby. How would they manage without her? Please, Devi Maiyya, she whispered. Please, let me be one of those 5%. Arnavji and the baby need me. And I need them. I love them so much..

"Aren't you going to eat?"

Khushi's eyes snapped open. She'd thought Arnav would be already eating, but he wasn't. His plate lay untouched. He was instead staring at her with a troubled expression. At her silence, he lifted a forkful of pasta to her lips.

"Eat, Khushi."

Her heart threatened to burst as he fed her. She took the fork from him, making him eat too. "You've gotten so thin. It's unhealthy."

Arnav started to reply, but a loud rumble of thunder sounded just then. The lights blinked off around them.

"Well, it's a good thing I lit these candles," smiled Khushi.

Her husband stood, his brow furrowing. "I'll go check what's going on. You stay here."

She nodded, rising to the window. It was raining so heavily she could barely make out anything. The roads outside looked flooded.

And then everything changed. Her hands clamped on the countertop, a whimper escaping her lips.

"ARNAVJI! ARNAV!"

He was running to her, cupping her colorless face in his hands. "What is it? Are you okay?"

She took a deep, shuddering breath. "My water just broke."

His eyes widened with horror. "No.. No, it's too early. The baby's not due till the end of next month."

Khushi sagged against him, gripping him tightly. "The baby's coming, love."

He lifted her in his arms, darting to the front door. Rain was pounding down now. As he opened the door, it hit them like shards of ice.

He hurried through the downpour, settling Khushi in the passenger seat. "Khushi, don't worry. We'll be in the hospital in no time."

She nodded, gripping his hand tightly. "I trust you, Arnavji."

But it was like everything was against them. The jeep would not turn on. "No, dammit! NO!" Arnav slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "Come on!" The engine sputtered weakly before turning off.

"The car's not starting. I'll call an ambulance." But there was no signal on his phone. The storm had knocked out everything. He was close to panicking, but he could not. His wife needed him.

The first contraction hit her just then, startling her with its strength. "ARNAV!" she yelled out, flinching against the car seat.

"I'm here," he said, kissing her forehead, gripping her hand. "I'm with you. Khushi. The jeep's not starting. There's no point of sitting out here. I'm taking you back inside."

She was shaking as he took her in his arms, her hands clenching around him. Arnav took her straight to their bedroom. She felt cold in his arms.. too cold. Her lips were tinged with blue. He changed her clothes quickly, wrapping her in blankets.

"I'm going to get help," he told her. "I'll be right back."

Panic bloomed in her eyes. She grabbed his hand in a death grip. "No, please don't leave me. Please, don't."

His heart pounded with pain. "I'll be back as soon as I can, love. The baby is coming. Just hold on for me. Hold on." His mouth pressed to hers.

It was the hardest thing he'd ever done to leave her there. He ran down the stairs, out of Shantivan and into the storm. It was nothing compared to the storm raging within him.

From what he knew, a doctor lived nearby. It was his only hope. He entered the house without knocking, startling the family inside.

They gazed at him with astonishment. "Mr. Raizada?"

"My wife.." he managed, out of breath. "She's in labor. We need help."

*****

By the time they made it back to Shantivan, Arnav was close to losing complete control. Only his wife's thoughts got him through it.

He darted up the steps two at a time. Khushi was tossing and turning on the bed sheets, gripping the headboard tightly.

He rushed to her side, taking her hand in his. "The doctor's here. An ambulance should be coming too. You'll be okay now, Khushi. I'm with you."

"Don't leave me."

He kissed away her tears. "Never."

The next few hours were hell for both of them. Her each scream pierced his insides, her cries pulled at his heart.

"Where is the ambulance, dammit? It should be here by now." His patience had thinned out hours ago.

"I don't think they're coming," said the doctor, looking hassled. "The storm has knocked down power everywhere. The roads are clogged with traffic and accidents. The baby will have to be delivered here."

"Here?" Arnav froze with shock. "No, we need a hospital! This is a complicated pregnancy. Very complicated."

Khushi squeezed his hand. "Shh, love. Everything will be okay."

Would she ever cease to amaze him? He wondered. Here she was, comforting him when it was her who needed it the most. She was truly the most remarkable, most giving and kind woman he'd ever met.

It was the most hellish agony to sit beside her and watch her battle death itself. He'd never felt more useless. He could only murmur reassurances, wipe her sweaty forehead, and press kisses.

It seemed to help though. Through all the pain, Khushi would focus on him. He was her anchor.

"Tell me a story, Arnavji," she whispered as she felt consciousness slipping.

He only knew one. Their story.

Squeezing her hand, he told her about how they'd met, how she'd mesmerized him from that first, fiery glance, how they'd fallen in love, how'd they gone through so much, but always found their way to one another in the end.

"Don't give up now, Khushi. You can't leave me. I need you. Our child needs you."

Tears slipped out of her eyes, falling into her tangled hair. "Promise me.. Promise me, you'll let yourself love our child. I can't bear anything else. Promise me."

His tears mingled with hers as he pressed his cheek to hers. "I've always loved our baby. I always will. But we both need you, love. You need to fight. Do you hear me? You need to fight for our love."

She did fight--for a very long time. Around midnight, a baby's cry pierced the quiet. It hit Arnav hard; he couldn't quite believe it.

"It's a healthy baby boy," said the doctor. A thickly bundled, pink-faced baby was placed it in his arms.

Tears streaked his face as he held his child. "Look, Khushi, look at our son.."

His wife's eyes were closed. Her body was still.. too still..

"NO!" he screamed. "No!"

The doctor was rushing to check her.

"Is she--" He couldn't finish that gut-wrenching question.

"No, she's still alive, but just barely. She's sinking--and fast."

It felt as if everything was being snatched from him: love, hope, light, life itself. "No, Khushi. Open your eyes, love! Please, love. Open your eyes!"

Her face was blank, her chest unmoving.

"Breathe, Khushi. Breathe, dammit!"

She remained unresponsive, looking so small in the bed.. so young, so lifeless..

"You can't leave us! Khushi, love, wake up! Please, wake up!"

Nothing. Her hand slipped from his.

"No!" Arnav settled the baby beside his wife, cupping her too pale face in his palms. "Listen to me, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, you need to live! You must. You need to fight. I can't imagine a world without you. I can't bear to live without you. Please.. Please, don't leave me. I love you so much. I've always loved you."

He broke down, falling against her. His sobs were muffled against her chest.

And then, through the darkest depths of despair, he noticed something. Something faint, but real..

Her heartbeat.. it was weak but it was there. His head snapped up, his gaze froze on her dear face.

But it was not a figment of his imagination. She was waking up, her eyelids blinking open. And then he heard the most beautiful sound.. her voice..

"Arnav.."

He was both smiling and crying as he kissed her hands. "I'm here, Khushi. I'm with you. And our son is too. We're together."

She managed a weak smile, tears in her eyes. "Together.." Could there be a more beautiful word? "I felt myself slipping, I could feel myself weakening. It would have been easy to succumb to it, but I couldn't. I have every reason to live. Your voice, Arnavji.. your love never left me. I've always loved you too."

Their lips met, and for the first time in months, Arnav could breathe again. Could live again.

His world had been returned to him. Both his wife and child were alive and unharmed. He wanted nothing more. His eyes closed in prayer as he hugged both of them.

How far would you go for love? The answer was indefinable.. Something that went past the limits of life and death.

*****

November 2014

Khushi was reclining on a soft blanket, a serene smile on her face as she watched her husband and son. Arnav was kneeling on the grass beside her, his arms extended toward Arhaan.

The baby was waddling toward him on wobbly legs, flashing them a toothy smile.

"Come to Daddy," Arnav bid, wiggling his hands closer. He'd really taken to fatherhood. Most days he spent with them, no longer the workaholic he'd once been.

Khushi marveled over him now. Who would have guessed that ASR would one day be cooing baby-talk? Changing diapers?

Their son teetered on his feet, looking ready to give up and focus on the bright red ball to his right. Khushi knew just what to do.

She waved a jalebi at him, smiling wide. "Come to Mummy and Daddy, Arhaan!" she cajoled.

Their son's eyes lit up as he spotted his favorite treat. He was laughing as he crossed the last few steps, directly into their arms.

Arnav and Khushi laughed, each pressing a kiss to the baby's soft cheeks.

Hours later, they were still outside, lazing around on the picnic blanket. Khushi was curled against Arnav's side, her arm wound around his waist. Arhaan was asleep on his father's chest, looking adorable and cherub-like, his wavy hair flowing in the breeze.

He looked more like her, but he had his father's hair--as well as his temperament. Khushi called it the typical Raizada stubbornness while Arnav insisted it was more a case of determination. Of never giving up..

It reminded her of the hellish storm that had descended upon them just a year ago. Khushi shivered, clutching her husband closer.

He hugged her back, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Are you okay?"

"Yes.. I'm wonderful, love. That dark storm is finally over. There's only sunshine now. We're together.. As we're meant to be."

Her mouth pressed to his, and he deepened the kiss, needing her with that same powerful intensity as always.

"I love you, Khushi."

"And I love you, Arnavji.. always.."

I hope you liked reading this SS all at once.. looking forward to the comments!

Edit* 1/4/14 Small reply to all those who've commented so far on pg 36

--Tina