Chapter Forty Eight

That night, both Arnav and Aryan didn't sleep in their rooms. Not once did they complain, although how could one complain if they refused to talk? Dinner was absolutely quiet, the ladies looking at their husbands, trying to figure out what was up. Once dinner was complete, the two men washed up and went to their individual rooms.

"This is odd," Khushi said.

"I really don't understand what they're up to, nor what their reasoning is for locking up those spare rooms."

"Wait, Ammu, you don't think they're...."

Shalini scrunched her eyebrows. "They're what?"

"Do you think they're making the babies' rooms?"

Shalini thought about it. "That would explain the teddy bears."

Khushi burst into a smile. "That's so sweet of them!"

"But why are they being so secretive," Shalini huffed.

"Hmm... that's a good question."

*~*

Later that night, Khushi was restless. She just couldn't fall asleep. So she got up and decided to head down to the kitchen and eat some cereal, since she was suddenly in the mood for it. As Khushi headed towards the stairs, she noticed Shalini walking down the end of the hall. Immediately, Khushi realize that she was going to where Aryan was sleeping.

Khushi headed down to the kitchen and when she entered, she saw Arnav sitting on the island, causing her to flinch.

Khushi held her chest. "You scared me."

Arnav simply gave a nod and continued eating his grilled cheese sandwich. Khushi picked up the smell of his sandwich and she walked towards it, as if it were curling its finger at here in a come-hither motion. Khushi stood in front of Arnav and eyed the other uneaten half of his grilled cheese. Arnav glanced down at the other half and then at her. It was clear from the look on her face that she wanted it, especially because she was slightly drooling.

"Arnav-"

"No."

Khushi's wide eyes shot up to his. "You would deny your pregnant wife of food?!"

Instead of answering her, Arnav got up, taking his plate with him. Khushi followed behind like a puppy eager for him to drop the sandwich.

Arnav opened up the fridge and handed her an apple.

"An apple? That's not filling!"

"It's healthy, eat it."

"A grilled cheese is healthy," she pouted with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest.

"There's a lot of butter in here, I don't want my kid to get fat."

Khushi scoffed. "He won't get fat from a little bit of butter."

"You've already had enough butter and oils today. No more."

"Arnav!"

"I said no."

"You're horrible!"

Arnav didn't say anything, so Khushi groaned and went to get the cinnamon toast crunch. She filled up her bowl with cereal and milk and grumpily ate. As she chewed grumpily, she stared down the back of Arnav's head, hoping she would somehow gain laser vision and would create a hole through his head, just to get the other half of the sandwich.

"Khushi stop it."

"I'm not doing anything," she said, still staring at him.

"I can feel it Khushi, stop."

Khushi huffed and dropped her spoon in the bowl with a clatter. "Good! Soon you'll feel a hole in your head too!"

Arnav turned to her, his expression reading really with humor. Khushi squinted and scrunched up her face, praying for laser vision to come to her now. Arnav could only chuckle and he finished the last bite of his sandwich. Khushi gasped dramatically and ran over to him, taking hold of his shirt into her fists.

"You ate it all,"she shrieked.

"Yes-"

"How could you?"

Khushi tried to pull his mouth open, tugging on his chin. Arnav was completely humored and continued to chew the last bite of the sandwich and gulped it down. Khushi stepped away with a gasp, her hand over her heart. She heard her stomach grumble and in a flash, her shock went away and was replaced with sorrow, Khushi beginning to cry.

"What the? Khushi-"

He had tried to reach out for her but Khushi pushed his hand away and continued to cry, wailing like a screaming banshee.

"Khushi, babe, please-"

Khushi wailed even louder, almost taking out Arnav's ears.

"Okay- okay! I'll make you another one, I'll make you another one!!"

Khushi hushed down a bit. "Really," she sniffled.  

"Yes, really."

Khushi sniffled and wiped away her tears with her sleeve and Arnav worked on making another grilled cheese sandwich. Khushi sat on the island and waited for her sandwich, bouncing like a little kid on the stool. Once the sandwich was prepped and given to her, Khushi dug in and Arnav watched his wife gulp down the entire sandwich and burp loudly like a fat truck driver. All she was missing was a cap and a beer in her hand, not to mention a gun.

Maybe the gun would be a bit too dangerous for her to handle... especially since she's pregnant, Arnav thought.

Khushi wiped off some cheese from the corner of her mouth. "What are you thinking about?"

Arnav shook his head and leaned over the island to wipe some crumbs off the tip of her nose. Khushi's eyes narrowed as he did and then she chuckled as he brushed it clean. Hearing her chuckle made Arnav smile softly. He rested his chin in his hand and watched her devour the sandwich. Even though she was getting crumbs all over her and cheese all over her face, he found her adorable more than anything.

Khushi paused on the finger she was licking clean. "What?"

Arnav shook his head again.

Khushi looked down and finished licking her finger clean. "You ignored me today," she said in a low voice.

Arnav straightened and tilted his head, crossing his arms. "I didn't ignore you."

"Y-yes you did."

"Khushi-"

Khushi's shoulder's began to quiver and Arnav knew she was about to start crying again. He went around the island and tugged at her chin, making her look at him.

"I didn't ignore you."

"Yes you did," she nearly whispered.

Arnav sighed and sat down in a stool beside her.

"You ignored me because you're mad at me because I agreed with Ammu and you and Papa avoided us all day because both of you were so mad at us that you're keeping secrets and-"

"Breathe Khushi, breathe."

Khushi's lower lip trembled and Arnav sighed. He stood up and Khushi's eyes shot up to his. Khushi reached out and grabbed his hand, not wanting him to leave. But Arnav wasn't leaving, at least, not alone. He picked her up and carried her in his arms. He walked through the house and went upstairs, taking them to their room. Closing the door with his foot, Arnav went over to the bed and laid her down.

"Get some sleep," he said softly.

Arnav pulled back but Khushi quickly took hold of his hand. "Don't go."

Arnav smiled softly. "I'm not going anywhere."

Pulling back the duvet, Arnav got in bed beside her and held her to him. Khushi buried her face into his chest and inhaled his scent. This was exactly what she needed - her husband, her love, right beside her. Her restlessness was gone and she could relax... somewhat.

Khushi still felt guilty for making Arnav feel the way he did earlier. She felt so guilty, that she started crying again.

Arnav pulled back slightly. "Khushi? Baby why are you crying," he asked softly.

Khushi sniffled. "Hormones."

Caressing her cheek, he made her look at him. "Just that?"

Khushi bit her quivering lip. "I'm sorry Arnav, I don't like it when you ignore me or are upset with me, I just don't," she cried.

"Hush," he soothed, pulling her back to him. "It was nothing Khushi, I wasn't mad at you nor ignoring you. Okay, yeah, maybe dad and I were upset a little bit in the beginning that you both felt that way, but we understand where you're coming from. In a way, you're right - you're carrying our baby and having so many struggles, and here we are, still normal."

Khushi sniffled.

"But I wasn't mad at you Khushi."

Khushi pulled back to look at him. "Then why didn't you open the door earlier to the baby's room?"

"Khushi, the fumes aren't good for you or our child, the room is a mess! I can't have you going in there."

"Really? You weren't ignoring me?"

Arnav sighed with a soft smile. "How could I keep myself away from you? When you tried to stay away from me, do you remember how hard it was? On me especially?"

Khushi remembered back to the old days when they were simply boyfriend and girlfriend. She remembered how hard she had tried to avoid him and how hard it was on the two of them.

"We've come a long way since then," Arnav said softly.

Khushi nodded and caressed his cheek.

Arnav placed his hand over Khushi's abdomen and kissed her forehead. "I love you Khushi, you know that, don't you?"

Khushi nodded. "I do," she whispered.

"Tell me you love me."

"I love you Arnav - more than anything in the entire world."

Arnav smiled and kissed her forehead again. Moving down, he placed his head over her abdomen. "Hear that princess? Your mom loves me more than anything. I love her too more than anything as well. But once you get here, well, we'll have to see."

Khushi smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

"And if you're not a princess but a prince, always remember that she loves me more than you."

"Arnav," Khushi chuckled.

Arnav held his hands up. "Hey, I'm innocent, I'm just saying the facts."

Khushi chuckled and got up, placing her hand over her abdomen. "I love you both equally, how about that?"

"No, you just said you love me more, no take backs."

Khushi frowned. "Things will change once he gets here."

"Well until then, I'm number one."

Khushi tossed her head back with laughter. "Oh Arnav. Okay fine, until then."

"And even after."

"Arnav!"

"What?"

Khushi was about to say something, when she paused then gasped. "Oh my gosh!"

Arnav's eyebrows met at the middle. "What's wrong?"

Khushi took his hand and placed it over her abdomen. "Did you feel that?"

"What-?" Arnav paused. "It... like a flutter...."

"That's our baby," Khushi grinned.

Arnav gasped. "No way." He put his ear against her tummy and felt the fluttering. "Whoa."

For the rest of the night, the couple spoke an marveled with their child, who even though wasn't out in the world yet, was already in their world.

While the young couple patched up in their own way, on the other side of the house, well, if Shalini wasn't pregnant all this time, she sure would be now.