Aryan took her hand in his and kissed her palm. "Hi."
Shalini chuckled lightly. "Hi."
"Kaki Ma," Akash, NK, and Lavanya shouted, and they went running towards her.
Aryan had jump back as his niece and nephews tackled his wife. "Hey!"
Shalini burst into laughter as they hugged her tightly. They eventually pulled back and she caressed their faces, all of the children in tears, as well as she. The family all came together, hugging and crying, all happy on Shalini's return. Shalini was introduced to the other two additions of the family and they all caught up.
Arnav stood on the side and watched his mother, a big smile plastered on her face. Khushi joined him by his side and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay," Khushi asked softly.
Arnav nodded then took Khushi's hand in his. "I'm sorry."
Khushi scrunched her eyebrows.
"You were right; I promised to be by your side forever, yet I wasn't."
Khushi smiled softly. "Arnav, that woman-"
"It doesn't matter what anyone else does. I should've been more supportive. I-"
"Stop that," she said taking hold of his other hand. "It's not your fault."
"But-"
"Hush, that's the end of it."
Arnav sighed. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Khushi smiled softly and kissed him on his cheek. "Now go to her."
Arnav looked at his mother and found her smiling softly at them. Arnav went to join her and Shalini held her hand out. He took her hand in his and sat beside her. Khushi watched as they all reconnected, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I believe there's a photo of them all just like this."
Khushi looked up to see Aryan.
"If memory serves right, they were in this exact position."
Khushi looked back at them. Arnav was sitting to his mother's right, while Akash sat on the floor in front of him, NK on Shalini's left, and Lavanya sitting on the floor in front of him.
"I think there is," Khushi said, remembering back to an old photo album she had once seen.
Aryan chuckled lightly before turning to Khushi. "Thank you for making this family whole again."
Khushi smiled softly. "I didn't do anything."
"Ah, but you did. You've brought happiness back into our lives. You truly do live up to your name," Aryan winked.
Khushi blushed with a smile and Aryan hugged her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
"Khushi?"
Khushi looked up at Shalini, who held her hand out.
"Come," she smiled.
Khushi nodded and she went over to her.
"Here, sit," she said, patting to her right.
"Uh, no, this is my spot," Arnav said.
"Chote!"
"What," he said, as if nothing were the matter.
Shalini shook her head. "You're such a child," she laughed.
"Am not!"
Are too," Akash, NK, and Lavanya piped up.
"Shut up!"
"Chote," Shalini scolded while laughing.
Arnav frowned while the others laughed. Payal and Seema came back into the room with snacks, some of the workers behind them with more trays in their hands.
"What are you two doing? Come here," Shalini said to them, and they went over to the group.
"Make space for my daughters," Shalini said, patting Arnav's and NK's thighs.
"No," both boys responded.
"See, now this is why I sit on the floor, I never have to move," Akash grinned proudly.
"Wrong," Shalini said, "you'll always have to move to make space for your wife."
"But-"
"No but's. Now come on children, make space."
All the boys complained while Lavanya laughed.
"Boy am I glad I'm not married," she laughed.
"At this rate, don't be glad for long," Arnav said.
Lavnya frowned and Shalini laughed.
"Okay, okay, no one has to move," Shalini laughed. "There's another way to solve this."
"And how's that," Aryan questioned, standing before them.
Shalini looked at her husband, a gleam in her eyes. She took Khushi's hand and had her sit in Arnav's lap, causing Khushi to gasp in surprise.
"Like that," Shalini winked.
Khushi blushed immediately while Arnav grinned deviously.
"Well if that's the plan," NK said, and he pulled on his wife's hand, bringing her down to his lap.
"Absolutely brilliant idea Kaki Ma," Akash grinned, and he tugged his wife down into his lap.
The three ladies were in complete shock while everyone else laughed. Aryan took out his phone, went onto the camera and took a picture. It came out perfect, everyone laughing and smiling, and above all, his wife was there. A loving smile tugged on his lips and he couldn't help himself but to smile. He looked back up and found his wife smiling at him. She got up and joined his side before kissing him on the cheek. Everyone looked at them and smiled softly.
Arnav softly nudged his wife and she looked at him curiously.
"Thank you," he smiled. "Thank you for everything."
*~*
The family stayed together till late into the night, however the elders understood Shalini needed her rest, and the children eventually understood as well.
"We have to throw a party for Kaki Ma," Lavanya grinned.
"Yes! We have to do that," Akash agreed.
"Something over the top," NK exclaimed.
"Whoa, slow down children," Shalini chuckled. "There's no need-"
"Up pup pup! We won't listen to another word," Lavanya said. "A party will be thrown and that's final."
"But-"
"Deal," Lavanya questioned, turning to the boys, holding her hand out.
Akash held his hand out. "Deal."
NK held out his hand as well. "Done deal, done."
The three looked at Arnav and he chuckled lightly, moving towards them.
"Deal," he smiled lightly.
"Awesome," Lavanya squealed. "Break!"
The four tossed their hands up in the air and Shalini shook her head.
"Who knows what these kids will do," she said, holding her forehead.
"That's something to look forward to," Lavanya winked.
Eventually, they all bid good night and the other Raizada's headed home. Knowing that his mother must be tired, Arnav let her go up her room with Aryan. Arnav and Khushi bid her good night and Aryan took Shalini up to their room.
When Shalini entered the room, she took in a deep breath. It had been long since she had entered the room in Aryan's presence. Of course she had been in this room several times while in hiding, but it definitely felt different being in here with her husband.
Aryan shut the doors behind him and held his wife around her waist. With a sigh, he nuzzled into her neck, never wanting to let her go.
Shalini entangled her fingers in his hair. "I never thought this moment would ever happen."
Aryan looked up at his jaaneman. "It has, and I'm never letting go of you. Not ever again."
Shalini smiled softly and faced her husband. "Again, you'll have me attached to your hip if you could have your way," she teased lightly.
Aryan pulled back and crossed his arms, going into thought. "Actually, come to the think of it, it would be a horrible idea."
Shalini cocked a brow. "Oh? And why is that?"
He looked straight into her eyes. "Making love might not be as pleasurable when you're stuck on the sides."
Shalini gasped and blushed.
"Of course, I could have some fun," he said, slowly moving up to her, moving his lips to her ear. "But I'd rather be buried deep within you."
Shalini turned away, clutching onto her husband's waistcoat. "You'll never change, will you?"
Aryan nipped at her ear. "Never," he whispered.
Shalini shuddered as her husband continued to drop soft kisses below her ear to her neck.
"Aryan, stop," she whispered, lost in passion.
"No," and he began to nibble on her neck.
"But Chote might come in."
This time Aryan did stop and he pulled back. "Really?"
Shalini looked up and saw the amusement in her husband's eyes.
"Jaaneman, he is 22 years old, not seven. So instead of coming in here to annoy me, I'm sure he's annoying Khushi."
Shalini laughed. "Hmm, like father, like son," she teased.
"Maybe. However I don't pester my woman."
Shalini couldn't help but to scoff. "You pestered me a lot, Mr. Raizada, or do I need to remind you of all those times you annoyed me back in school?"
Aryan smiled softly. "No. Those memories are very much vivid in my mind, as if they had only occurred yesterday."
"Hmm, that's what I thought," she said and then she twitched her lips and walked away.
Aryan followed behind her and reached out, grabbing her by her wrist and pulling her back to him.
Shalini gasped. "Aryan-"
But she could no longer continue as her husband had sealed her lips with his. She moaned into his mouth and Aryan began to walk them back towards the bed until they both fell back.
"Aryan-"
"Hush Jaaneman. I've been waiting for this moment ever since you left," he said softly, caressing her cheek.
Tears pooled into Shalini's eyes. "We were young when I was gone. You could have remarried-"
Aryan covered mouth with his hand. "Don't ever say such a thing! Shalini, I love you and have only loved you. Nothing and no one can ever change that. Not now, not ever."
Shalini simply looked up at him as her tears came free.
Aryan kissed her tears away. "Don't ever say such a thing again. It kills me-"
This time Shalini covered her mouth with her hand. "Don't."
Aryan took her hand and kissed the palm of it. "Promise me you'll never say such a thing again."
She nodded. "I promise," and she sealed it with a kiss, losing herself to her husband, something she had been longing to do for many, many years.
*~*
Arnav laid in the arms of his wife, sated and calm. Khushi ran her fingers through his hair as she held onto her husband.
"I still can't believe she's back," Arnav said.
Khushi smiled softly. "She is back. Right where she belongs."
Arnav looked up at her. "All thanks to you," he smiled.
Khushi looked down. "I always knew something was missing in the family. I didn't know what it was until I saw Ammu." Khushi leaned her head back against the headboard. "I guess in a way I was selfish."
Arnav scrunched his eyebrows and sat beside her. "How so?"
"Well... all I've ever wanted was to be loved. To know what it feels like to be loved by someone, to be loved by parents. I've learned of a father's love because of Papa, but a mother's love... I really wanted that."
Arnav smiled softly and caressed her chin so that she would look at him. "It's okay to want things Khushi. There's nothing wrong with that. And as for you being selfish, well, I guess you could say in a way it was. But with it came so many others' happiness. So thank you for being selfish," he smiled.
Khushi smiled softly and looked down.
Arnav sighed. "So now you know a father's love and a mother's love, considering this connection you two have already created. Is there any other type of love you're looking for," he teased.
Khushi looked up, as if she were going deep into thought. "Hmm... well there was one...."
"Which is?"
"Well... no, it's okay," she shrugged off.
"No? Why, what is it?"
"Oh nothing."
"Tell me!"
Khushi cocked an eyebrow. "Well if you insist.... I wanted to know the love of a father - got it. I wanted to know the love of a mother - I got that as well. But to be loved by a significant other...."
"Well that's-"
Khushi sighed dramatically. "It seems like I'll never know what that feels like," she pouted slightly, leaning back into the headboard with her arms crossed.
"What the?! Excuse me?"
Khushi sighed dramatically once more.
Arnav scowled and pulled her by her arm, turning them over until he had her pinned beneath her.
Khushi gasped. "Arnav-"
"I believe that last desire has been long fulfilled."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes," and he grinded his hip, Khushi feeling his hard on.
Khushi gasped and bit her lip. "Are you sure about that," she teased.
Arnav smirked. "It seems as if my sweet wife has gotten bold."
Khushi simply smirked and Arnav felt excitement build within him as if he were some damn teenager that had just discovered porn.
Arnav nuzzled her neck and Khushi turned away, giving him more access. She lifted her hips to meet him, grinding against him. Arnav groaned and without wasting another second, he entered her, causing Khushi to gasp.
Arnav slightly lifted himself up to get a good overview of his wife's pleasure. "Now, what was that you were saying," and he rolled his hips.
Khushi moaned and bit her lip. "Neanderthal," she smirked.
Arnav held her hands and entwined their fingers. "Oh baby, I'm just getting started."
And indeed he was ;)
