Arshi FF- A timeless love story (Thread 2) - Page 10

Arnav looked at Khushi as he changed gears. She was leaning against the passenger seat, fast asleep. He looked straight at the road ahead, smiling. Khushi and he had stayed up almost all night, hugging each other under the stars talking about every memory that they had shared; the pain, the anger, misunderstandings, but yet their love had survived all. The symbol of their love was fast asleep in the baby seat in the rear; Arnav looked in the rearview mirror at Arshi, who was smiling in her sleep. Khushi had purchased tickets for them to take the train to Lucknow, but Arnav had wanted to drive instead. They had given the tickets to Anjali and Rahul, who were going to take the train to Lucknow that night.

Arnav brought the car to a stop and turned to look at Khushi. She was still fast asleep. Arnav turned to look at Arshi to make sure she was asleep. He took off his seat belt and moved closer to Khushi. He placed a light kiss on her cheek; she shifted in her seat, with a smile on her face. He moved her hair behind her shoulder and placed kisses on her neck. Khushi said softly, "Arnavji, let me sleep". He sucked her shoulder and her eyes fluttered open. She turned to look at him; his face was close to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her lips. She looked around; they were outside a dhaba. People were walking by them, looking into the car. Khushi put her hands on his chest and tried to push him away. "What are you doing? People can see us." Arnav smirked, "So? I am kissing my wife. It's not a crime." Khushi made an annoyed face, but before she could say anything, Arshi started crying. Arnav moved away, to let Khushi take Arshi from the rear seat. "Is she hungry already?" Arnav asked, shaking his head. "She's just like her amma. Always hungry!" Arnav said, chuckling as he got out of the car. Khushi made an annoyed face. He walked to the passenger side and helped Khushi get out. They walked to the dhaba.

When Khushi walked out to the front of the dhaba, Arnav was sitting on a bench, looking at his mobile phone. He looked up as Khushi sat down next to him. Her eyes opened wide, as she saw the food he had ordered. She drooled looking at the bowls of steaming hot kadai paneer, dal and sarson ka saag with plates of jeera rice and butter naan. She looked at Arnav, and started saying something, "Khushi, I remembered what you liked from the last time we visited a dhaba. Do you need anything else?" Khushi smiled and shook her head. Arshi yawned; Khushi cuddled her more. Arnav smiled and asked, "Should I put her back in the car?" Khushi shook her head. "No, I think she should stay here." Khushi looked at the food and said with a disappointed face, "Why don't you eat, Arnavji? Maybe you can hold her after you eat and I will eat then." Arnav smiled. He broke off a piece of naan, dipped it in the sarson ka saag and brought it to Khushi's mouth. She looked at it, confused. Arnav raised his eyebrows, "What? Eat!" Khushi opened her mouth and Arnav fed her. As she ate, Arnav smiled; Khushi made an annoyed face. "Arnavji, it's .." "Shut up!" Arnav said, as he ate. Khushi remained quiet and had a faint smile on her face as Arnav fed her.

"Where are we, Arnavji?" Khushi asked as Arnav brought the car to a stop in front of a gate. "Ananda Ashram", Khushi read out loud, what was written on the board above the gate. "Come, I want to introduce you to someone." He helped Khushi out of the car; Arshi was sleeping in Khushi's arms. The watchman opened the gate and they walked in. Khushi looked around. People dressed in white sat around trees talking. Two young women walked past them, deep in thought. Far away, an old man sat under a tree meditating. Arnav walked towards a building; a board in front of it said 'Office'. Just as they reached the steps to the building, Arshi woke up and started crying. Arnav stopped and turned to Khushi, worried. "Khushi, is she fine? I have never seen her this restless before." Khushi smiled, "Arnavji, don't worry. She is just tired. This is the first time she is been outside the house for this long. You have spoilt her, making her sleep in an A/C room all the time". Arnav raised his eyebrows, "She is my princess! I have the right to spoil her!" Khushi made an annoyed face. "Laad Governor!" Arnav chuckled, "Huh? I haven't heard that in a while now!" Khushi smiled. Arnav touched her arm and asked, "Khushi, do you want to go back to the car? I can turn on the A/C." Khushi shook her head. "No, it's so beautiful outside. Also it's nice and breezy. We will wait for you here." Arnav nodded and walked into the building.

"Look, Arshi. Isn't this beautiful?" Khushi walked into a garden; flowers were blooming all around her. Arshi fluttered her eyelids and a smile appeared on her face. "Aah, so my baby doesn't need A/c all the time! She just needs her Amma, right?" Arshi giggled. "Oh, look Arshi. Look what amma found." Khushi moved closer to and smelled a white flower. "You know what flower this is Arshi?" Arshi looked at her, confused. Khushi smiled and said, slowly. "This is a parijat. A long time ago, Narada went to heaven and plucked a golden flower called Parijat and brought it back to the earth. He came across Lord Krishna. He gave him the flower and he asked him to give it the one he loved most dearly in this whole world. He gave it to his wife, Rukmini. You know who Amma will give this to?" Arshi giggled and clapped her hands together. Khushi blushed.

"Wah! You don't see mothers telling their babies mythological stories any more." Khushi looked up to see an old lady walk towards her. Khushi smiled as the old lady stopped next to her. "Namaste." Khushi greeted her. The old lady smiled. "Such a beautiful baby." The old lady caressed Arshi's head and asked, "What is her name?" "Arshi", Khushi turned around to see Arnav walking towards them. "I see you have met your great-granddaughter." Khushi raised her eyebrows and looked at the old lady in front of her. Arnav walked to them and touched the old lady's feet. She blessed Arnav, "Live a long life!" and as he stood up, she touched his arm and asked, "This.. this is my .." Arnav smiled, "Yes Dadi." "And.. this.. your wife?" Dadi turned to Khushi and asked. "Yes, this is Khushi. Khushi, this is my Dadi." Khushi bent down to touch Dadi's feet, but Dadi grabbed her arms to stop her. She touched her cheek and smiled. "May you be blessed with a happy married life." Khushi smiled and looked at Arnav. Arnav put his arm around her waist.

Dadi turned to Arnav, her face fuming with anger. "Why was I not informed of this wedding?" Arnav looked at her, confused. "Dadi, Nani and I came to meet you, but you refused to even see us". Dadi's face softened. She said softly, "I .. hmm.. never mind. I am glad you brought them here to meet me, Arnav". She looked at Khushi and her eyes teared up. "Devyani has chosen the perfect wife for you, beautiful, cultured and possessing good morals and values". Arnav smiled and pulled Khushi closer. "She is not Nani's choice, Dadi. She is my choice." Dadi's face clouded with anger. She was about to say something, when Arshi giggled. Dadi's face softened. She smiled and asked, "Can I hold her?" Arnav took the baby from Khushi and placed her in Dadi's arms. Arshi giggled again as Dadi held her and touched her nose again. Dadi laughed and looked at Khushi. "She is Arnav's daughter alright. Khushi bitiya, do you know Arnav did the same thing the first time he met me?" Khushi and Arnav looked at each other and smiled. Arshi giggled, as Dadi kissed her forehead.

"Why does Dadi live in an ashram? Why did you never tell me about Dadi?" Khushi asked, as they drove off from the ashram. Arnav smiled and said, "Dadi wanted to stay at the ashram. I didn't hide Dadi from you; her name never came up. We don't like to talk about her, because it brings back old memories. But today, we were going past the ashram, I thought she should know about.. about Arshi." Khushi raised her eyebrows, as she saw tears in Arnav's eyes. "Arnavji?" Khushi touched his arm. "Khushi, forget it. Let's just enjoy our trip. No more mention about Dadi. This trip is about you and me." Khushi smiled and raised her eyebrows. She turned to Arnav, "And Arshi?" Arnav had a naughty smile on his face, "Yes, and Arshi too. Maybe we should take complete advantage of this vacation and add someone else to the family." Khushi smiled and then opened her mouth wide as she realized what Arnav meant. She punched his arm and leaned closer to lay her head on his shoulder. He smiled. The car sped down the road to Lucknow.

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