Khushi looked at Arnav overwhelmed, almost stunned – this was most unexpected.
In fact to tell the truth, she had forced herself to suggest Nani as a solution because she felt that this was what both Arnav and Anjali wanted but were too polite to say so to her face and she had felt selfish for thinking of only her convenience, hence she had felt constrained to suggest Nani.
Possibly never had his irritated sigh sounded like the sweetest RV or his glare evoked such a song in her heart – he actually considered her in the same breath as Di!
As the import of his words sank in, she lit up like a thousand bulbs and a glow suffused her face.
And what a liar she was! All these years she fooled herself into believing 'hume faraq nahi padta' and 'humara pyaar aur unka saath hi kaafi hai' but clearly kahin toh faraq padta hai dammit otherwise why would she want to break out into a jig at the thought that she mattered even where Di was concerned!
"Kya hua?" Arnav took in the sudden glow in her face, the sparkle in her eyes, her ethereal beauty tugging at his heart strings; she didn't reply but continued to glow a small smile curving her lips; he shook his head, "Tum sach main paagal ho! Yahan par main tumhe daant rahaa hoon aur tum ho ki," he threw up his hands in disgust.
She sank into his embrace for a few blissful moments before Ankit's woeful image intruded again, "Par Ankit ka kya hoga? Kitna chhota hai woh abhi," she knotted her fingers.
He seemed to be talking more to himself, convincing himself rather than Khushi, "Kya hua?" Khushi asked softly, he looked different –serious – not stern or upset perhaps a bit resigned, a little disappointed.
As they reached the poolside, their children came running eager to show off their new gifts especially the balloons. Arnav and Khushi dropped their conversation and attended to their demands and made appropriate interested noises, Khushi felt a sudden urge to cuddle them feeling a bit guilty, did they too miss her, pine for her? But then Devansh had a brainwave he wanted to ride his trike around with the balloons flying behind. He hopped on to it and called to his sister as well (she could finally be of some use – she could hold the balloons) and vanished just as suddenly from the scene.
Arnav sighed and sat on the swing pulling Khushi along with him, "Di talked to me about Ankit," he paused, "And that Khsitij feels she should be spending more time with Ankit while Di…" he hesitated and then fell silent.
Khushi's heart sank; uhho not good, pucca a storm was brewing and consequences could be far-reaching, yaad hai na last time, Khushi swallowed and castigated herself. Arnav ki to adat hai, to speak without thinking, I must remember not to get upset if he does pass a casual comment against Kishu Bhaiyya; she had a sudden urge to defend her brother, sahi toh keh rahein hain after all what could be more important than the happiness of your children?
'Kuch mat bol Khushi, kuch mat bol, khabardaar jo munh khola, pucca kuch galat keh degi aur phir jhagda ho jayega, remember this is Di we are talking about and of course Kishu bhaiyya,' she reminded herself sternly, she stole a look at his profile, he seemed disturbed somehow, 'pata nahi Arnav kya soch rahe hain?' Khushi bit her tongue, "Arnav?" she compromised and restricted herself to just that much.
"Kuch nahi Khushi," Arnav prevaricated, clearly unwilling to discuss his sister and perhaps implicate her.
"Par kuch toh soch hi rahe hai na?" Khushi prompted him.
"Pata hai Khushi, our thinking and understanding of our world, its people is based on our own experiences and our emotional reactions. As a child, I remember being extremely attached to my mother and thought the world of her. And so for my children too I assumed that they were only attached to you," he shrugged self-deprecatingly, "I always thought I was just a sort of a favorite armchair or a handy piggy back ride," his lips twisted.
"At your beck and call, hai na, kyonki hum sab aapke ghulam hai, haina?" Khushi teased him softly.
They were silent for a while, "Did Di tell you what she planned to do?" Khushi asked carefully choosing her words and tone.
Arnav shook his head, he sighed and shrugged rather helplessly, "I guess it is a very personal decision and a very personal choice and nobody really has the right to dictate what is right and what is not," yet Arnav's voice lacked conviction.
Interestingly, Arnav was quite calm and reflective about it, even detached. No clenched fists, no hissing, no agitated muscle tic on his cheek well perhaps a slight twist in his lips. Possibly he was growing up, or perhaps on this matter, he empathized more with Ankit and sided with Kshitij – a mother's place was by her child. But it was surely because it was his Di that he was willing to consider her dilemma and even made an attempt to understand her conflict and the difficulty of choosing between her career and child; but there was no doubt in his mind as to what that choice should be.
Even though the situation seemed to be under control at RM, it was a different story at GM where the strain in the air was palpable.
Aur aap logon ko kuch nahi kehna? Di ke for or against?
We have nothing against Anjalie..
The thing was we as a women understand the need to succed in professional front. I don't have the experience of juggling professional and family life.
I m a workaholic so i totally gets Anjalie's need in soaring high in her professional life.
But the thing was there is part of her who needs her time.. and scarifying your personal life for professional, what i have seen from my colleagues, the end result was not good and end of the day they says sacrificing family time over professional time is not worth it.
They says their first propriety should be family specially when there is children..
Arnav was so understanding, much more than Anjalie..