Chapter Fifty Six

Arnav and Khushi didn't waste another moment and quickly got ready. Aryan had contacted the police and according to the police commissioner, there were only three orphanages outside the west of the town. Shyam and Anjali decided to help by going to one of them, as well as Aryan. Shalini wanted to help too, but they told her to stay behind and keep watch of Ahana. Of course she fussed, but they eventually convinced her to stay behind.

The police commissioner arrived to Raizada mansion and offered to escort Arnav and Khushi to one of the orphanages. After contacting the orphanages, one of them seemed most likely to be the one holding their son, so the commissioner would take them there. The others would check out the other two just in case their lead didn't work.

Both Arnav and Khushi got into the car and followed behind the commissioner's car. They sped through town, everyone moving out of the way at the sound of the sirens. It took quite some time before they reached the west end of the town. Following the commissioner down the road, Khushi prayed that they would find their son, safe and sound.

Eventually they arrived to the orphanage and the owner came out, looking at them with confusion.

The commissioner went up to the owner and began asking her questions. Arnav and Khushi had just stepped out of the car, when Shyam called Arnav on his phone. He let them know that the orphanage he and Anjali had gone to did not received a baby boy at that time. It somewhat satisfied the couple, marking one of three locations off, but neither would be in peace until they had their son in their arms.

"...um, yes, we did," the couple overheard the owner say. "As a matter of fact, we had two boys and a girl arrive to the orphanage four months ago."

Khushi dashed forward to the woman, Arnav following behind her. "You have my son? Please tell me that you do, did anyone adopt him?"

"None of the three were adopted-"

"Take me to him please! Return him to me!"

"Mrs. Raizada, please, relax," the commissioner said. "We'll find him and return him to you, just relax."

"I would be more than happy to help," the owner said. "No children deserves to be abandoned, nor stolen from their parents. Please, come with me."

The woman led them into the orphanage. It was actually just a simple, cute, little house, off the road. When Khushi got inside, she could see how child-friendly the home was. She could hear a few of the children singing and laughing, but it did nothing to calm her heart.

"Most of these children were abandoned on my doorstep. Some were found by others and brought here," the owner explained.

"How were the three infants from four months ago discovered," the commissioner asked.

"The girl was found by the gas station four miles up ahead. One of the boys was dropped off at my door, and the other was... left by a dumpster," she said sadly.

Khushi gasped and Arnav placed his hands on her shoulder.

"It's a good thing I was in town that day; I found him myself."

The owner led them through her home and led the into a nursery. Many cribs surrounded the yellow room, reminding Arnav and Khushi of their son's room, back home. After loosing him, neither had courage to go into that room.

The Raizada's and the commissioner were taken over to three cribs.

"I always have them placed in the order they're found," she explained.

Arnav and Khushi stepped closer and looked down at three cribs, one containing a girl, the others containing a boy each. But Khushi's eyes could only focus on the brown-eyed, dark-haired little boy, with chubby cheeks and furrowed brows, fussing in the middle. The owner spoke, but Khushi paid no attention. She reached down and picked the child up. The others looked at her as Khushi gazed down at the baby. The fussy baby had calmed down and was looking up at Khushi with wide eyes, waving its little arms.

Khushi's breath caught in her throat. "A-Arnav...."

Arnav held her and looked at the child over her shoulder. For a moment, it felt as if he was looking at a miniature version of himself and at that moment, he felt his heart pick up from the pit it had dug itself in to. "Khushi...."

Khushi broke into tears and held the little baby to her. She kissed him all over his tiny little face, and the baby groaned. "Oh my sweet little baby boy, my Aarav, we've found you!"

Even Arnav broke into tears and wrapped his arms around the two, placing his hand over the child's head. "We really have found him."

The couple looked at each other and back down at their baby boy. In the few months that had passed, their son had changed so much, but it was very clear who had gone towards.

"I told you I'd have a tiny version of you," Khushi smiled.

Arnav nodded. "You were right Khushi." He placed a kiss on her head. "You were right."

The commissioner cleared his throat and the couple looked up at him. "I understand that this is a very big and emotional moment for you, but we still must do things according to procedure. We have to run DNA tests between you and the infants to see if he really is your son."

"Of course he's my son," Khushi exclaimed, holding the baby closer to her. "He's my son and I think I would know better as to who my son is, not some stupid test!"

"I understand Mrs. Raizada, but we must follow procedure."

"To hell with your procedure! Arnav-!"

"Khushi, he has a point," Arnav tried to explain. "It's important that we do this."

"But he looks just like you-!"

"I know baby, I know. But we still have to do it, hmm? It won't take long."

"But we've missed almost five months with him."

"And we'll have him for the rest of our lives," he smiled softly.

Khushi opened her mouth to argue, but she understood that what needed to be done, needed to be done. So she agreed, but only if she could hold onto him, until they reached the hospital and could do the blood work. The commissioner agreed and notified the hospital in town. While he did that, Aryan alerted the couple that one boy was brought to the orphanage at the time, but he was much too old to be their child. Arnav let them know that they had found their son, and everyone headed to the hospital. Khushi refused to let go of the infant, cooing away at him. Arnav couldn't help but to smile and was very happy to have his son back and to see his wife smiling with all her heart.

Both infants had their blood drawn, as well as Arnav and Khushi. As it was a police matter, the lab got right down to work to determine which of the two infants were their son. The couple was told it would take about a day or two, and Khushi refused to leave her son for another moment. But Arnav reasoned with her and managed to get her to leave the hospital with him. The following day, Khushi went to the hospital, first thing in the morning. More of their situation was told to the commissioner and the commissioner had gotten a warrant to look through the hospital security footage. Arnav and Khushi wanted to know what had happened to their son moments after he was born the commissioner agreed to let them see it.

In the hospital's security room, the security footage of that day was played. Everyone watched as their son Aarav was placed in his little cot, sleeping. They forwarded through the footage and saw that deep into the night, a nurse allowed Shashi and Garima into the nursery. Shashi stood out and watched, as Garima and the nurse entered the room, the nurse holding a baby. Garima picked up Aarav, and the nurse placed down the other infant, then they quickly escaped the room. Again they fast forwarded through the tape and saw another nurse come rushing into the room, checking on the child who had been placed in Aarav's spot. Khushi turned away, not wanting to see this, and the commissioner stopped the footage. He ordered for the nurse to be found and to find the doctor who had delivered Khushi's son.

It was later found out that not only the nurse, but the doctor had been paid by someone anonymously, to help get rid of Khushi's child. Neither saw the person's face and had agreed only because of the large sum of money they would be receiving. Khushi was absolutely disgusted and both the doctor and the nurse were arrested.

"How could they do such a thing? Did it not hurt their conscience at all," Khushi asked as her husband held her, watching the nurse and doctor get handcuffed and taken away.

"People like them have no conscience."

Arnav ran his hands over Khushi, for if he didn't, they'd go flying to the nurse's and doctor's faces. Of course he'd never hit a woman, but after what they had done, they couldn't be considered human, not at all in Arnav's point of view.

A few more hours passed when finally, the results arrived. Khushi was right; she didn't need a test to prove that this infant was her son, she knew because she was his mother.

All Khushi wanted now was to take her baby home. Arnav felt the same, and neither waited a moment to get back to the house. When they arrived, they found the whole family there, even Shyam and Anjali, all waiting at the door to greet the new member of the family. Once they were given their blessings, the new family of three entered the house and everyone crowded around them.

"Oh my gosh, he's so cute," Shalini gushed.

"He has gone absolutely towards his father," Aryan grinned.

"No way, there's a bit of Bhabi too," Akash said.

"I agree," NK said. "He's gonna be a mama's boy," he grinned.

"And be like you? Absolutely not," Arnav frowned.

Khushi giggled and nuzzle her little boy's cheek, and the infant fussed, waving it's little hands.

"Aww," Lavanya gushed.

"He is just adorable," Seema exclaimed.

"What's his name," Payal asked.

Khushi looked up at Arnav with a smile then looked down at their son. "Aarav."

Arnav placed one hand over his son's head, placing the other on his wife's shoulder. "Aarav Singh Raizada."

Everyone gushed around them and Shyam came forward. "I wanna carry him."

"Me too," Anjali chirped.

Everyone began to fuss about holding Aarav, and Khushi clasped onto him. Shalini had noticed her gesture and had understood it immediately.

"I think it's best to let Khushi hold onto him for now," she smiled softly. 

Everyone looked at Shalini, but she kept her eyes on Khushi. She stepped forward, holding Ahana in her arms. "She hasn't had him for almost five months," she said, placing a hand on Khushi's cheek. "You guys understand, don't you?"

Everyone nodded, understanding the overwhelming feelings Khushi must be feeling.

"Good. And Khushi?"

"Yes Ammu?"

"After everything that has happened, understand that Aarav is here, and he'll never be away from you. No one can ever take him from you, never again."

A lump grew in Khushi's throat and she forced back her tears. Unable to reply, she simply nodded and Arnav led her upstairs. They both went into their room and Khushi set down their son on their bed. Khushi laid down besides Aarav and watched him coo and throw his hands in the air.

"He's beautiful," Khushi whispered, tears pooling in her eyes.

Arnav couldn't agree any more. He was about to join the two, when he remembered something. He headed straight to the closet and rummaged through it, and Khushi slightly picked herself up to see what he was up to. Arnav returned with a book in hand and a yellow rattle. He laid down on the other side of Aarav and shook the rattle over him. The little one smiled and cooed, reaching out to it. His parents gushed at the sight and were even more surprised when the infant managed to roll himself over.

"He can do that," Khushi gasped.

"I had no clue."

Arnav handed his son the rattle, and his tiny little fists gripped it instantly. He shook it and placed it in his mouth, Khushi smiling at the sight. Arnav looked at the book he had brought, which turned out to be an infant's development book. He looked up four month old infants, and read through it quickly.

"Apparently he can," Arnav said. "He should be making sounds, which he does, and can arch his back when he's on his tummy."

"Well he most definitely is doing that," Khushi smiled softly, running her hand over his back. Suddenly her smile dropped and her hand paused. "And so much more."

Arnav looked up at her.

"He's learned so much and has changed so much... and we missed it all."

Arnav reached out and placed his hand over Khushi's, and her eyes met his. "Not all of it, just a few."

"We'll never get them back."

"We won't but... we can't dwell on that forever. After all..." Arnav reached out and placed his hand over Khushi's abdomen. "There's someone else coming who we can experience that with."

"But we'll never be able to with Aarav."

"And there's nothing we can do about it."

Khushi looked down at their little boy, who was drooling all over the rattle. Arnav caressed her cheek and had her look at him. 

"Don't, baby."

"But-"

"Don't. What's done is done Khushi, and you can't do anything to change it."

"But-"

"All we have now is today, and the future with him. What's in the past is in the past."

"How can you say that so easily," Khushi whispered, a tear escaping from her eyes.

"Because it's the truth Khushi."

Khushi tried to gulp back the lump in her throat.

"And you need to accept it."

Khushi looked down at Aarav and wrapped her arms around him. She laid the infant on his side and brought him closer to her, placing a kiss atop of his head. The little one continued to shake the rattle and drooled over it. Arnav smiled and ran his finger over the little one's cheek.

"I never want to let him go," Khushi whispered.

"Me neither," Arnav whispered back. "But he will need his space, eventually."

"Can he stay with us for now? Sleep in here?"

Arnav looked at his wife and caressed her cheek. "If that's what you want."

Khushi nodded and Arnav smiled softly. He reached over and kissed her forehead, before laying back down beside their son and cooing away at him. Khushi watched and smiled at the two.

Everything was just right.