Zaroorat - Arshi FF

CHAPTER 10

It has been 3 days since they slept together, and three days of completely avoiding each other. Khushi would spend the whole day in her boutique, and when she came home, Arnav would quietly slip into his study and stay there until Khushi fell asleep.

Khushi turned over her comforter and slipped into the cold sheets. She lay awake for a few minutes, trying to retire for the night...but her mind wouldn't let her. There was too much to think about. There were times Khushi tried to approach Arnav...to say something...anything...to make the situation better. To know how he felt about what happened between them. Honestly...Khushi wasn't even sure how she felt about what happened. The sheets were cool against her skin...it was only a few nights ago that Arnav's warm body was sleeping next to her's...adding the much needed warmth to these now cold sheets.

Khushi knew she should feel extreme guilt for what happened. Arnav has always been Payal's...and he always will be. They made it clear between them that their marriage was strictly friendship....then where did this desire for him come from? She loved Yash...but then why did her heart skip a beat thinking about Arnav?

Khushi closed her eyes and images of their night together clouded her mind. His hands on her...his lips grazing her skin...his teeth leaving their mark...claiming her as his. When he was inside her...Khushi opened her eyes, the memory too much to handle. The desire she felt for him was still there...she still wanted him.

Khushi turned to her side, feeling ashamed at her thoughts. This wasn't right...was it? Is she even allowed to feel like this? Khushi closed her eyes again and an image of Arnav smiling entered her mind. He was holding Ahaana, and when he lifted her up in the air, he grinned up. One of those rare moments Arnav smiled from his heart.

A smile adorned Khushi's pretty face at that memory. A warm feeling entered her heart and she embraced it. Was she starting to develop feelings for Arnav? What was this feeling? Maybe this marriage wasn't hopeless after all...maybe...maybe things might be different between them.

With that image of Arnav and Ahaana in mind, sleep finally consumed Khushi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Khushi woke up the next day feeling refreshed. Feeling light for the first time since her wedding day, Khushi dressed for work and headed to the nursery.

When she entered, Ahaana was already awake and Devyani was cleaning the nursery. Khushi went straight to the bassinet and picked Ahaana up. "Hi baby" Khushi murmured and placed a loving kiss on Ahaana's forehead. Ahaana looked up with her big brown eyes and let out a cute gurgling noise at the affection she was getting.

Khushi felt the burst of love for this baby girl and placed another kiss on her forehead. Khushi held her close. She may not have given birth to Ahaana...but she was Khushi's. Khushi was ready to raise her...nurture her...fight for her...protect her...teach her...she was ready for it all...because she loved her unconditionally.

It was these moments Khushi cherished. No one could understand the love she had for Ahaana. There was a time when Khushi wanted children of her own. When she married Arnav, a part of her ached that it won't happen anymore. But now with the new development in their relationship, is more children a possibility? Does she still want more children? What would it be like to get pregnant? Would she be able to juggle work and more children? When the siblings fought...who's side would Khushi take? Khushi let her mind wonder as she secured the blanket over Ahaana.

In that moment, Ahaana took Khushi's index finger in her small chubby hands and squeezed...and Khushi's heart swelled. It dawned on Khushi that she didn't want more children if it meant giving less attention to Ahaana. If having more kids meant her having to choose between them...then Khushi didn't want that. No...it wouldn't matter if she never had children of her own...because this angel was all any mom can ask for. Khushi's eyes teared as she watched Ahaana yawn and her eyes droop. Emotional and unconditional love pouring for this little girl, Khushi picked up Ahaana and rocked her in her arms as Ahaana dosed off to sleep.