Chapter Sixty Three

Several weeks passed, Khushi becoming even more pregnant, Aarav growing day by day, Shalini fulfilling her dream with Ahana, and a new member arriving to the Raizada clan. Upon the arrival of NK's and Seema's son, the family had once again gotten crazy. There were parties every other day, gatherings every two, and nonstop fun.

But things were getting a bit hectic and Arnav thought a break was necessary. So he decided to take his wife and son away for a few days, getting away from all of the madness.

Arnav was driving down along the road, Khushi sitting in the back, cooing at Aarav as he waved his hands.

"I thought he was supposed to be asleep by now," Arnav chuckled, glancing into the rear-view mirror.

"He should be, but I guess my little boy is excited, isn't he? Isn't he," she cooed.

Aarav cooed and laughed, and Khushi nuzzled his cheek.

"Looks like mommy is excited too," Arnav grinned.

Khushi looked up at him. "To be honest, I am. This is the first time we're going away as a family. Plus, the last time we really went away like this was during our honeymoon."

Arnav sighed. "Feels like it was just the other day."

"Hmm," Khushi smiled softly, running the back of her thumb on her son's cheek.

Arnav glanced at the rear-view mirror.  "I love you babe."

Khushi smiled at him. "I love you too."

Arnav continued to drive down the road, when Khushi saw a mandhir. She asked Arnav if they could quickly make a stop, and Arnav obliged. Taking Aarav in her arms, Khushi got out of the car, Arnav following behind. They made their way to the mandhir and prayed, hoping for the best of their coming child and of their entire family. Once they were done praying, they decided to hand out some sweets to the poor, who were sitting outside of the mandhir. While Arnav held Aarav, Khushi handed out the sweets, everyone giving them their blessings.

Khushi came upon the last of the poor, who happened to be a couple.  As Khushi moved over to them, Aarav fussed in Arnav's arms.

"Uh, Khushi, I think he's hungry," Arnav said.

"Okay, I made sure to bring enough-"

Khushi paused, bringing Arnav's attention away from their son to her, causing him to pause as well. Sitting down on the ground was none other than Khushi's parents. Khushi looked at them in shock, stunned by their state. They were an absolute mess, their clothes torn and worn out. A dark blanket covered the two, but it was evident that it wasn't enough for them.

"A-amma? Babuji?"

The couple looked up, shocked by the sight of their daughter.

Khushi came down to her knees, meeting them at eye-level. She still couldn't believe that it was actually her parents, sitting here, in this state.

"What... what are you guys doing here? How...?"

Garima looked down in shame, Shashi wrapping his arm around her.

"What happened?"

Shashi looked down as well. "After... after what happened, it just wasn't possible to stay in town anymore... so we left everything behind ."

"But how- why didn't Shyam say anything?"

"He probably still doesn't even know. He never told us that he and Anjali wouldn't be staying with us, that they were going to be living separate from us. We had tried to contact him, at least they would have the house to themselves but...."

Khushi glanced back at Arnav, who had a stern expression, holding onto Aarav securely. Her eyes moved over to their 8 month-old son, who was cooing away, drooling on his fist.

"He's grown so much."

Khushi brought her attention away from her son and looked at her mother.

"You used to do the same when you were this little, always putting your fist in your mouth," she smiled sadly.

Khushi looked away. Given their history, she really didn't want to hear any baby stories of her, especially coming form the woman who had taken her son away for the first 4 months of his life. But Khushi, unlike her parents, wasn't cruel. Khushi looked up at Arnav and he looked at her. For a moment, neither said a word, but Arnav understood what she was trying to say. So he reached into his pocket and retrieved his wallet, and took out some bills. He handed it over to Khushi and Khushi held it out to her parents. Both Shashi and Garima looked at her with wide eyes.

Shashi shook his head. "Khushi we-"

"Take it."

Garima shook her head. "No, Khushi, not after what we-"

"Take it. I'm not just gonna leave my parents here with a few sweets to munch on, I'm not cruel."

Both Shashi and Garima looked down in shame.

"Take the money. Buy yourselves some real food. There isn't a shelter too far away from here, we passed it when we were driving. Do yourselves a favor, and go there, restart your lives. ...just don't ever come back into mine."

Garima opened her mouth to say something, but Khushi cut her off, taking her hand and placing the money in it. Without another word, Khushi got up and walked away, heading back to the car. For a moment, Arnav watched her, before turning his attention on his in-laws. They were looking at Khushi's departing figure, and to be honest, he thought that they deserved what they got, although he'd be much more happier pressing charges against them and putting them in jail. But in doing so, in a way, he'd be doing them a kind gesture. You see, in Arnav's point of view, putting them in jail gave them shelter and security. But out here, they had none of that - no proper home, the questioning of when they'd next have a decent meal. His wife may have bestowed some kindness on them, by telling them of the shelter, but that was his wife. If it was him in her position, then he wouldn't have said a word.

Arnav walked away from them, heading towards the car. He unlocked the car and placed Aarav in his seat, Khushi going around to sit as well. As Arnav got in the car and pulled away, he would glance back at his wife through the rear-view mirror. Khushi had taken Aarav's food out from his baby bag, and was feeding their son, Aarav distracted by his favorite giraffe plush toy, allowing for his mother to feed him in peace.

"Are you okay," he asked softly.

Khushi let out a sigh and glanced at her husband, before returning her attention back to their son. "I don't know," she replied softly, wiping away the bit of food Aarav had drooled out.

"You did them a kindness."

"I know....  I just... I never expected to see them like that. Granted, I had no idea that this was what their lives were like now, I mean after everything that had happened, there was no way I was ever going to reach out to them but... I just really don't know what to think, I'm just so in shock."

Arnav hummed in understanding. "You could've not told them about the shelter."

"I'm not cruel like them."

"I know."

Khushi glanced up at Arnav, who was glancing up at the rear-view mirror.

She let out a sigh. "Whatever, I don't want to think about them. We're on vacation, I want to have a clear mindset while I enjoy my time with my husband and my son, and that's all that matters, I don't want to think about anything else."

Arnav smiled. "With pleasure."