FF: Breathing Only Half of the Air - Chapter 17

Read all previous parts of this FF over here.

Please note I retain sole ownership of all these works of fiction on this blog so please do not reproduce or alter my work and claim it as your own.

Chapter 17

2 Years Later

Khushi picked up her phone perched on the arm of Arnav's seat where he was working away at his laptop. She tapped the fingers of her left hand nervously on his shoulder as she waited for the phone to be answered on the other side. Arnav looked up at her with a grin before pulling her off the arm of the chair and into his lap. He nuzzled her neck as Khushi squirmed and tried to get away.

'Hello?'

'Hello! Suraj, it's me Khushi!'

'Hi Khushi, how are you? How's Arnav? Has the honeymoon period ended yet? Do you hate him again? I'll consider giving you a second shot if it has.'

Khushi laughed and told Suraj just how happy she still was as she brought her free hand up to stroke Arnav's cheek. 'We're still very much in love but if that ever changes I'll be sure to give you a call.'

Arnav gave her a look of mock reproach, used to this kind of teasing from Khushi and Suraj and captured her hand in his, kissing her open palm before moving it down to his chest over his heart so she could remember just how much his life depended on her.

'Actually Suraj, I called to erm... I wanted to tell you something. Well you and Sharman but I want to tell you first and then we'll all explain to Sharman when Arnav and I visit next weekend.'

'Okay go on.'

'Well the thing is,' Khushi's hand automatically slid from Arnav's chest to her stomach, cradling the faint bump that had only recently started to appear. 'Arnav and I are... well we're going to...'

Arnav sighed and leaned towards the phone and shouted into the speaker, 'oh for God's sake, we're pregnant!'

Then followed a few minutes of shrieking although Arnav couldn't differentiate between Suraj's shrieks of excitement and Khushi's shrieks of displeasure at the way the news had been delivered. Eventually once the congratulations and offers of assistance had been settled normal conversation between Suraj and Khushi was resumed as she demanded an update of every minute of Sharman's life that had passed since she saw him last.

Since Khushi had moved to Delhi 2 years ago, she had seen Sharman at least once a month with Arnav more than happy to make frequent trips to Mumbai with her but the knowledge that as her pregnancy advanced she would have to cut back on the trips Khushi had been filled with a sense of melancholy which only increased when Suraj imparted his own news.

'I have some good news too. I've been offered a transfer. It's more money but it's quite far away and I'd have to sort out a whole new babysitting service for Sharman since the new place doesn't have a crche on site.'

'Oh,' was all Khushi could manage as she thought of Suraj and Sharman moving even further away from them and Arnav questioned her silently as to what was wrong as he rubbed her stomach lightly.

'So Khushi I was wondering if you'd be interested in the position of babysitter? 10 to 6 on weekdays and occasional weekends too.'

'Huh?!'

'My transfer is in Delhi. Khushi... I mean I can understand if you think you'll be too tired with the pregnancy...'

Suraj trailed off and although Khushi knew exactly what he was doing she jumped up immediately from Arnav's lap shocking him entirely as she screamed into the phone. 'Yes! Yes please! Oh when are you coming? This week? Have you got a house? Can you buy one near us? Arnav will help! Won't you Arnav?'

Arnav nodded although he was unsure as to what he was agreeing to but if it made his wife this happy, he would happily agree to anything. The conversation continued for a few minutes before Khushi gave a contented sigh and almost floated back to Arnav's lap clutching the phone to her chest.

'I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Suraj and Sharman are moving to Delhi?'

Instead of an answer he got Khushi engulfing him in a tight hug. 'I'm so happy Arnav! Aren't you?'

Arnav nodded and tightened his arms around her as she rested her head on his shoulder. 'Definitely. We all know Sharman loves me more than Suraj.'

Khushi laughed and kissed Arnav on the cheek, 'I love you as well.'

'I love you too Khushi,' Arnav said reaching a hand out to place over her stomach, 'and I love our baby already. Do you think it'll be a girl? Then we'll have one of each.'