Heir Of Darkness

The Right Choice

Months passed by without any awkwardness. Best friends parting away due to a confession of love was rather common but it was a relief that bond shared between me and Arnav only deepened after my confession. While I hoped that his shower of affections on me were not a consequence of the guilt he was enduring for rejecting me, I knew better of him to know that he was a genuine person. If he wanted to break the heart, he would do it in a straight manner not crooked and that was enough for me.

"Hey Khushi! How are you feeling today? Honestly, your due date is drawing near and you are working here. You should be resting at home," he advised as he came over and took his seat opposite to me. The concern in his voice made me smile at him. But that smile soon faded away. It was getting more and more difficult to work with every passing day.

Hormones, stress, reaching deadlines, the environment around me, everything was taking a toll on me. But I knew I had to work. There was no other way out since I need to have money to ensure the best treatment to my baby once it enters the world.

"I love to work, Arnav. It makes me feel rejuvenated. Moreover, I need to do this, isn't it?" I say, with a weak smile knowing that he would try to argue with me.

"But Khushi.."

"You know, the baby missed you a lot!" I say, to divert the conversation towards something more pleasant and consequential.

The very mention of the baby made Arnav smile in an endearing manner. He had grown to be very attached to the baby and was more excited than my mother about the arrival of the baby.

His hands moved towards my swollen belly and touched it gently to feel the baby kick. Every time Arnav tried to feel the baby, my baby made sure that it made its presence known and it manages to make Arnav smile and wonder every time. Even before my baby was born I knew that these two would be each others' favorites.

"Even I missed my prince a lot! How are you baby?" he whispered to my belly while I wondered why was Arnav sure that I was carrying a baby boy.

"What makes you so confident that I am carrying a baby boy, Arnav? It could be a princess for all you know," I say, while he groaned at being questioned about the same thing again.

"Something called sixth sense, darling. Something makes me feel that you will have a son and you will make him the best man in the whole world," he said, still caressing my belly. His confidence in me comes at moment where I was not sure of myself. My child will have so many questions, so many demands, will I be able to look into all of them? Will I be a good mother?

A bigger question was if I would be a good enough mother than he would not require a father in his life.

"You really think I would be a good mother, Arnav? I am scared. I am scared that if I have a son and I don't raise him up properly and he goes on to be like his father. I am scared that if I have daughter, she will be as gullible as me. I don't want that to happen, Arnav. I am so scared," I reveal my fears to him finally knowing that if anyone could thwart my fears away, it was him.

His carefree and teasing look fades away as he listens to my question. I feel guilty for taking away his momentary happiness and burdening him with my questions and worries.

"Never ever think that, Khushi. I am sure you will be the best mother in the world. You know why?" he asked me, with that affectionate and assuring smile of his which never fails to set my heart straight on its path.

"Why?"

"Because it was the love for your child that made you fight against death. Do you have any idea how difficult it is? You fought against coma to ensure that your child stays fit. You fought your inner devils to make your child's life better. You struggle everyday here knowing that you should be on maternity leave to secure your child's future. When you have the will, Khushi, everything sets itself straight. Destiny will provide you with options to set everything straight. Don't be scared, Khushi. The only thing to be feared is fear itself. I am always with you. Always," he assures me, holding my hand in his in a grip which brings solace like nothing could ever bring.

He took me into a firm embrace and rested his chin over my head. The rhythm of his heart beats was the most soothing lullaby, which compelled my heart to synchronize with it.

"And don't ever think that you are burdening me like you are thinking right now, because that's what friends are for. To share your sorrows and happiness. It is not a burden, it's a pleasure to be the shoulder of a woman so strong that she fought the world for what she wants," he whispered softly into my hair as one of his hands rested against my belly and the other rested on my shoulder, caressing me into a peaceful sleep.

That moment I knew that I had finally made the right choice in my life; the choice to love him.

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Sorry for vanishing without a word! I was caught up with too much of work and since my exams were inching closer I could not post anything new. I will post updates for all my stories, at least once, after my exams get over. Thank you so much for your love and affection and sorry for the inconvenience!