Warning : Religious Fanatics Step Away

Next week, Arshi went for scanning and the doctor told them that their baby is totally fine. Khushi stopped using the drain bag and started to use her left hand slowly. Arshi decided to pay a visit to both their home before her chemotherapy.

Arnav and Khushi stood in front of Rahman Manzil while his mother welcomed them after a little prayer. Hajra took Khushi's hand in her and let her enter the house. They stood in the hall while she ran her eyes all over the place. She looked at the family photos hanging on the wall. One of the pic seems to be taken 8 or 10 years back where he was a teenager. Two pics were the marriage of Amira and Hisham.

"We need to get a new family photo soon. I should have done this two years back." Rahman said to Khushi.

"That's okay Abbu."

"I agree with abbu too. We need to get a photo soon. Let everyone know that I'm not their little chote now. At least now, they will take me serious." Arnav said making everyone laugh. Being the youngest child, his cousin or siblings never took him serious.

"Well, that can be arranged. I have my camera with me and we only need a camera man now. " Hisham said to his brother.

"Then I will call Shyam, even though he is an idiot he is a fantastic photographer." Arnav said taking out his phone while Khushi jabbed his shoulder for mocking his best friend.

"We can do this later Arnav."

"This is your first day in my house Khushi. Lets do this today. We will take another pic after the arrival of our junior too. Like a big family picture." He said standing beside her. Khushi asked about the other pictures hanging on the wall and he told her about that picture.

"Now let me show you my room." Saying this he took her upstairs and entered his room.

"Your room looks nice." She said around the whole room. There were a lot of books neatly arranged in the shelf.

"Have you read all these books?" She walked upto his little library and took a book.

"Most of them." He said standing beside her and holding her hand. There were a lot of philosophical books among them.

"So you read a lot of philosophical books." She stated taking a book from the shelf named Man's Search For Meaning' by Viktor Frankl.

"Di studied philosophy and that's how I got interest in it." She turned the page and saw a few sentence being highlighted.

'We have little control over our circumstances, complete control over our attitude, and our ability to make meaning out of the things which happen to us.'

"I loved this quote. Isnt this what life?" Khushi asked him.

"Yes, the author was a holocaust survivor who later became a psychiatrist and neurologist. His experiences in the concentration camps inspired him to write this book." Arnav informed her

"Any way, I just hope that everything go well tomorrow." Khushi knew that tomorrow his extended families will be coming to meet both of them. His parents are hosting a small welcome party for Khushi.

"Everything will go well tomorrow. They all are going to praise me for my selection." He winked at her making her smile.

"Hmm, they won't be saying that if they see me after a few months from now. I will be looking like a zombie without any hairs." Khushi told making him go silent for a moment.

"I won't let you be a zombie. I will do everything to feed you well. You know it's not only about you anymore, you have to think about our junior." He said placing his hand on her baby bump.

"Also we can do twinning with our head by going hairless. You know couple goals." He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to speak.

"Sometimes I ruin everything by talking like this." She lean onto his body as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Yeah you do that a lot Khushi." They laughed as they stood hugging eachother.

Next morning

Arnav helped her to drape a saree as she can't use her left hand to full extend. After doing her hair, he went to take a shower. When he come out of the washroom, he saw her sitting on their bed.

"Get ready Khushi. They all will be here soon." He asked her.

"I'm ready, you should get ready now." She told him. Arnav nodded his head after staring at her for a few seconds.

"Shall we go now?" Arnav asked taking her hand in his hand.

"Yes, ammi called us for breakfast. Come." She thought they were going out but he took her to the dressing table. He made her sit in front of the mirror while she sat there with confusion.

"I'm ready Arnav. Come let's go."

"Did you see my wife?" Arnav asked looking at Khushi who have placed the saree pallu over her head. There is no bindi or vermilion on her face too.

"What are you asking Arnav?" She questioned him.

"I'm trying to find my wife who is living with me for the past two years."

"Arnav, what are you saying?"

"Let me find my wife then." Saying this he took and opened her make up box. He pinched a bit of vermilion and applied it on her forehead. Then he took a bindi and placed it in between her eyebrows. He moved the pallu from her head and he stared at her through the mirror.

"Now I can see my wife." Arnav said and she looked at him directly. He kneel down and held her hand in his hand.

"Khushi, I have never asked you to change. Just be who you are and don't worry about anything."

"But what about your relatives?" She asked him.

"It's their choice to accept me and you. If they can't see anything other than our religion it's their problem. You just be the girl whom I love the most." He kissed her knuckles while tears rolled down from her eyes.

"I'm so lucky."

"Yeah, to get a good husband like me. Now make me lucky by giving me my kiss." He winked looking at her lips. She gave him a shy smile and feathered kisses all over his face.

"I'm the luckiest man to get all these kisses." Saying this he placed a kiss on her bump and they went to the dining area. Soon after they had their breakfast, his relatives started to pouring in. Khushi met everyone and his relatives congratulated them on the arrival of the little member.

They were having a good time when one of his uncle raised the question about her getting converted.

"She is not getting converted uncle." Arnav told his uncle.

"It's going to be difficult when you and your child will be following a religion and your wife following another." His uncle who is in early sixties told him.

"Karim, it's their personal matter and we shouldn't interfere in it." Rahman tried to make his brother understand.

"That's okay Abbu. Well uncle, I don't see this problem when we got married or have this child. Its not going to be difficult because, all you need is to respect the other person's beliefs and opinions. Regarding our child's religion, trust me he or she will have the right to choose their religion."

"How can a child choose their religion?" His uncle asked.

"We have few things in our mind uncle. I and Khushi have talked about it and please don't worry about it." Saying this he turned to his mother.

"I think we should go and have food Ammi." Arnav suggested and they all went to have food.

Rahman came near to khushi and tried to apologise on behalf of Karim. She assured him that she and Arnav have already discussed these things and knew about it. Arshi knew that at some point of time, the religion of their child will be questioned by people and they know what to do. Arshi clicked a family picture with everyone in that small get together.

After spending time with his parents Arshi went to her house. This time Shashi and Garima along with her aunt welcomed Arshi wholeheartedly. Garima applied the vermilion on Khushi and moved next to Arnav. She gave him a smile and is about to drop her hand when Arnav leaned his head towards her giving his consent. Garima happily applied vermilion on her son in law's head and blessed both of them. They treated Arnav well and Shashi made a good rapport with him. Shashi felt easy to talk with Arnav than to Sidharth who speak minimal. Unlike his older son in law, Arnav interact with everyone without any inhibition or head weight.

Khushi held his hand as they entered into her room. It is a small room with a few furniture.

"I love that bed." Arnav said looking at the old four post double cot placed on the middle of the room.

"Me and jiji used to share this bed from our childhood." She said sitting on that bed.

"Well, from now I can give you a company on this bed." He sat beside her wrapping his arms around her.

"Also within a few months, our junior will be also here to give you a company." He said placing his hands on her almost 5 month belly.

"And our junior approves that by doing somersault inside me now." She teased him and leaned onto him.

"Arnav, I want to visit the devi maiyya temple near by. It's been long since I visited that temple."

"Okay, I will take you there tomorrow. I don't want you to go alone, so we will take amma and babuji to accompany you." She agreed to his idea and they spend time with her family. Garima and Madhumati made all her favourite dishes and pampered their pregnant daughter. For her family, they were stunned to see Arnav taking care of Khushi with utmost dedication. They saw him doing everything to alleviate her back pain and leg edema. The three elders are happy to fill their son in law's ears with the childhood stories of Khushi which he heard with much enthusiasm. Khushi tried to stop them whenever they mentioned something embarrassing which Arnav enjoyed a lot.

"He is not bad as I thought." Madhumati told Garima looking at Arnav who is busy in convincing Khushi to have the milk.

"Yes jiji, Arnav beta loves our Khushi so much. He takes care of her very well. Our Khushi is fortunate to have him as her husband." Garima said wiping her tears.

"She proved us all wrong Garima." They both stood there watching the happy face of Khushi.

Next day, Arnav waited outside the temple as he send Khushi along with her parents and aunt to the temple. He is leaning onto the driver's seat after playing the music when he heard a knock on the window. He saw Khushi and her father standing there. Arnav get out of the car seeing them who went to the temple 10 minutes ago.

"Did your pooja got over so quickly?" He asked not knowing the situation. Instead of replying, she get into the car and he looked at Shashi in confusion.

"The temple authority didn't let her enter the temple."

"Because of me?" Arnav questioned and Shashi nodded her head.

"We tried to convince them but they were not ready to let her entry just because she got married to you. I'm sorry Arnav."

"You don't have to be sorry babuji, it's not your fault. You should go and attend the pooja for her." Arnav adviced.

"Take her somewhere beta, we will leave in a taxi once the pooja get over. Khushi needs you now. She is so upset about it." Saying this Shashi left from there and Arnav entered into the car. He saw her looking at the temple with tear filled eyes.

"Khushi." He called her and held her hand. She turned around to face him and burst into tears.

"How can they say that devimaiyya don't want me to be there? How can they say that I will impure the temple? How can they say that I don't follow her? All my life I have been praying to her and this hurts a lot."

"It's okay Khushi. Don't take this into your heart. The problem with these people are that they consider God as someone like them who have flaws. They don't know that God only know to love each and every living beings than holding grudge against them. Also god is omnipresent, so you pray from here. Your devimaiyya will surely hear her favourite devotee's prayer."

"How do you know that I'm her favourite devotee?" She questioned as tears rolled down from her eyes.

"Because she gave you such an handsome and good husband who loves you a lot." He said cheekily making her smile lightly. She loved this about him, he know how to make her smile even in the worst situation.

"Pray now Khushi." He told her and she started praying sitting in the car. She looked at Arnav once she completed her prayers.

"Now let's go and find the god." Arnav said starting the car.

"What are you saying? What about amma babuji and buaji?" She asked him.

"Babuji said that they will go by taxi and want me to take my wife to somewhere. So we are leaving." Saying they ride away from there. He parked the car near a resturant and went inside leaving her confused. After a few minutes, she saw him walking towards the car.

"Why did you went to the restaurant? There is still an hour left for lunch time." She told him.

"You will know that my lady. Do you want me to buy something for you?" He asked him.

"No, I'm full." That's when she saw a man bring a big package to them.

"Sir here is your order." The man told Arnav and went from there.

"What is this Arnav?"

"Food."

"Why do we need so much food?"

"Because we are going to do something which the God likes." Saying this he entered the car.

"We are going to feed the needy people?" Khushi asked him and he nodded his head. Arnav stopped the car near street beggars and homeless people to distribute the food item which made her proud. She felt content seeing the smile on that people who thanked them wholeheartedly. Some of them were hungry for a few days and they were able to control their tears. A few of them told them that they don't knew what to repay this help. To that Arnav just asked them to keep his wife and baby in their prayer.

What made Khushi fell for Arnav was his positivity towards life. She have seen men treating their wives as trash. All she seeks out of a marriage was respect and equality than love. She knew a very few of her friends who were blessed with supportive husbands. She never thought that she would be blessed with such a pure soul as her husband who not only loves her but also respect and makes her an equal partner in their marriage. People like Arnav are rare and like he said her devimaiyya bestowed her with such a good husband. She touched her baby bump fondly and looked at Arnav.

"You are lucky to have him as your father baby." She said as the baby is busy in doing somersault in her belly. Arnav entered the car and started tk drive towards her house.

"Did you distribute all the food packets?" She asked him.

"Yup, there is nothing left in that box."

"I'm lucky to have you." Khushi said placing her hand on his thighs.

"I can also say the same. Are you happy now?" He asked her.

"I won't be this much happy even if I attend 10 Pooja in the temple. It's true that the best we can do for God is feeding a hungry person." She replied and leaned onto his shoulder.

After spend a few days with her parents, they returned back to their home. Khushi completed her five months and the baby is doing well. Now she is able to move her left hand without any pain or difficulties. It's only two week left for her first chemo. Arshi were in middle of a heated kiss, Khushi started to unbutton his shirt in hurry while he placed wet kisses on her neck. She is so lost in his kiss while running her hand all over his chest when she felt his hand on her right chest. She stilled for a moment and pulled herself away from him, leaving him in confusion. He looked at his unbuttoned shirt and understood her situation. He moved next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Is it about your breast?" He asked making her look at him.

"It's different now Arnav. It will be like you are making love to a man." She told him.

"That's great then. I can explore my bisexuality now." He teased her earning a light slap on his chest by her.

"Arnav, I'm serious. Hmm,the recent scar looks ugly."

"Tell me, who were giving you baths after you discharged from the hospital?"

"You."

"I have seen the whole journey of this scar and I think that looks awesome now. Khushi, forget about everything and answer this." He paused for a moment and held her hand.

"Do you want me to make love to you now? You can even nod you head as a yes." He gave her the easiest way to reply and waited for her answer. Khushi lightly nodded her head and in the next moment she saw him discarding his shirt. Arnav placed his hand on her baby bump and kneel down.

"Baby, your papa is here. Just go to sleep for now because today papa is going to do some somersault with you ammi. So co-operate a little bit with your papa." Said Arnav to her belly making her smile. He raised his head and kissed her on her lips passionately. Soon they got lost in their world of love and he made sweet gentle love to his wife.

Arnav lie down beside her placing his hand on her waist. He can't hug her because of her baby bump. Khushi stared at him as she laid down in her left side.

"It was still the same Khushi. I felt that I'm making love to a strong woman who happens to be my beloved wife." He said placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I wish I could hug you now." She told him.

"For that you have to wait for a few months but I can help you in another way." Saying this he get up form the bed and lie down behind her, hugging her from behind while she placed her head in his arms.

"This way at least I can hug you." He said placing a kiss on her forehead making her smile.

"Sleep Khushi, lets not wake up our junior." Both of them slept peacefully taking the warmth from eachother.

It's only a few days left for her chemo. They have already packed their stuffs which is to be taken to his house. They have decided to go to his house after the chemo session. They were lying on the bed after making love to eachother. Khushi pulled the blanket to her chest and sat on the bed leaning onto the headboard along with him. She looked at the blanket and smiled at her folly.

"I don't need to do this anymore." Saying this she left the blanket slip.

"Yeah, I have already seen everything." He said to lighten the mood making her smile. She lean onto his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his arm.

"Are you okay Khushi?" He asked after a few minutes.

"I'm okay now but what about day after tomorrow? All these are going to change." Khushi mentioned about her chemo.

"Everything will be same Khushi." He tried to assure her.

"You know we won't be able to make love to eachother after my chemo. What are you going to do about it?"