"He told, I am glad you came ..He said, he needed me ..." Ebu described his stay with his Father animatedly. "I told him, he can hold my hand ...and he took, Amma ...I wasn't afraid ..." He finished, chin up.
"There's nothing to be afraid, baby ... He is your Father..." Khushi said.
"Hmm hmm " Ebu nodded his head and climbed on his Mother's lap.
Khushi cuddled him close and kissed his hair. She was glad things were turning better between Father and Son. Atleast some good was happening. She knows Arnav ji loves Ebu. But here again his fear makes a rigid wall around him that doesn't allows him to reach to anyone or anyone else to reach him. But now he has no option but to reach out. He will have to allow Ebu in his heart without any reservations. He will have to understand what he is losing by giving precedence to his fear. His past demons aren't worth throwing away the beautiful relationship he can have with his Son. And by allowing Ebu to spend time with him, she is sure he will understand it.
After the conversation with Bua ji last night, she has started seeing things clearly, analyzing everyone's situation better. Her husband is strongly tied to his past demons. His fear of losing her is deep rooted. What she would have done in his place? What she would have done if there was a slightest possibility of losing him? Her heart stopped even at the thought of that. And he is living with that very fear day and night. No matter what she says and does to assure him, the point is, the fear is there. And he is living it. But the price he is asking to pay to eradicate his fear is beyond her. She won't, can't kill her own baby to take him out of the hell he has created for himself and is living in it.
But that doesn't mean she will allow him to do that to himself. She loves him too much to allow him to live in his self made hell. She will try her best to show him what a beautiful gift they have got to live. Too beautiful to toss it away for a possibility which isn't going to happen. She is not his sister, Anjali. She is Khushi Singh Raizada. She may look fragile, but she is stronger than him. Nothing is going to happen to her. He may do all in his power to stick to his fears, and she will do all in her power to show what beautiful things, feelings he is missing on by doing that. He may be the mighty, i-know-it-all, Arnav Singh Raizada. But he, too, knows, he stands no change against her.
With that new resolve made, she picked Ebu and stood up. Her mind already effective on the undertakings ahead.
"Amma, daddy is here!" Abeer announced, excited to do as his Mother had said.
"Hey devi maiya! Are we ready?" Khushi asked, excited and nervous both at the same.
"Yes!" Ebu declared and went out running to play his part.
"Daddy here!" Ebu stood in the verandah and waved at his Father.
Arnav got out of his SUV and acknowledged his Son with a nod of his head. Standing near his car, he gestured Abeer to come to him.
Ebu shook his head and copied his Father's action, asking him to come to him.
Arnav's brow frowned. He lifted his chin, asking his son whats the matter. For which he got the same answer. His son wanted him to come to him. But he don't want to go there. For there is a huge possibility he will see his wife. And his resolve of staying away from her will shake. Nothing he will do will make her change her decision, but he can do this. He can stay away from her and delusion himself in believing she is safe and will be back to him soon, and save her from further hurt. This arrangement will work for both of them. No matter how much he aches to see her beautiful face, to hold her, he will do this. This way atleast his sanity will be intact.
"Daddy ...come please!!" Abeer called.
Deciding to pick Abeer and turn away immediately, Arnav started towards his Son.
But his son had some other plans. As soon as he reached his son, he caught his hand and pulled him beside him, and inside the house.
"Will show you something funny, daddy... come .." Abeer pulled him to a window and asked him to peek inside. " See what's Amma doing ...Pick me up too..." the poor guy was unable to see what's happening inside himself.
Arnav obliged and looked in the room through the window.
"See Amma ..." Abeer whispered.
He need not tell his Father to do that, his eyes was already there, at his wife. She stood in front of the mirror, looking more beautiful than he remembered. He don't know how's that possible but she did. She was glowing! Wearing a baby pink suit, hair in a loose bun with few strands caressing her cheeks, she looked mesmerizing.
She stood there in front of the mirror, her kurti pulled up. She was inspecting her bare stomach. Where their child was growing. The child which can take her away from him.
He swallowed and turned away.
"Amma was acting funny, no, daddy?" Abeer asked as they left the house and started towards the car.
"No.." Arnav replied. Nothing about the situation he was thrown in was funny.
" No? ..I thought it was..." Abeer stared at his Father, expecting his Father to explain why he didn't find it funny. But all he got was, tucked in the seat and the door slammed shut.
Arnav took the seat and started the car. His expression blank. The storm was brewing inside him, but he squinched it. It will do nothing but scare his Son.
"Well..." Abeer, unknown to his Father's turmoil, thought of explaining why he found his Mother's action funny. " I find it funny because Nani-Bua told the tummy will start growing after 2-3 months... But Amma still checks it ... She is so exceeted ..." He giggled cutely. But the giggle stopped midway as a angry glare was directed towards him. But with a blink it was gone.
"Excited..."
"Uhh?" He looked at his father confused.
"You mean she is excited..."
"Yes..yes..." Abeer smiled broadly. "Are you excited..."
Silence prevailed at the question.
Entering the raizada mansion gate, Arnav parked the car . And then Abeer got his reply.
"No...I am scared. " he replied truthfully. Getting out of the car, he walked across and picked his Son.
"Scared?" Ebu circled his tiny hands around his Father's neck. His confused eyes looking at his Father.
"Yes ...scared... What do you want to eat today?" He changed the topic.
"Pizza" Abeer grinned.
"No.." Arnav refused with a shake of his head. " No pizza today ... "
Abeer pouted.
"We will have whatever HP has made.."
His Father said and and Abeer rested his head on his shoulder. "Hmm hmm"
"You were so funny, Amma" Abeer said into the phone.
Khushi giggled at her son's cute voice. She don't know what he finds so funny, but he always starts giggling whenever she examines her tummy.
"Well ... thank you... Now tell me, did Daddy found it funny, too?"
"No..." Ebu replied.
Khushi was expecting that. But she will keep trying till her husband sees some sense.
" He told me, he is scared. .."
She wasn't expecting that. He admitted that to Ebu?
"That's were we have to work, Ebu.. We will not allow him to feel scared ...we shouldn't... "
"Yes Amma..." Ebu replied, his voice excited.
Khushi smiled. Her boy was on a mission.
"Abeer where are you?"
"Daddy is calling, Amma ..."
"OK ...Good night ...sweet dreams..."
"Good night, Amma" Abeer disconnected the phone and ran inside the room.
"I am here, Daddy..."
"Time to sleep ..." Arnav said, already in the bed.
"Yes.." Abeer climbed into the bed and went to his Father's arms. Holding him tight, he said. " Don't be scared Daddy, Ebu is here..."
Arnav swallowed the lump in his throat and allowed his sweet boy to comfort him.
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Arshi FF- His Journey Towards Euphoria!-2
FanfictionA man scarred from inside, a gentle and loving lady ... we know what happens next