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"Ok. Tell me..." she lifted her head looking into his eyes.  He was still lost, absentmindedly stroking her cheek.

"Haan....?" he looked at her startled.  She sat up and cupped his face.

"Going away again....?" she asked intently.  He gazed away at distance.  She turned his face.

"I know..." she said understandingly.  He looked at her with moist eyes.

"But this time... please tell me where you are going..." she urged and gathered her in his arms.
"Khushi.... Regi..." he said and she broke away.

"What? What happened?" she asked worriedly keeping her hand on her chest, breathing heavily.  He shook his head slightly.

"His mother....is serious...." he uttered the words and she suddenly fell silent.

"You had promised her to meet her...." she said gravely after a while of silence.  He gave a remorseful nod.  She looked away.  He got up.

"I need to go, before its too late...." he said turning to go out. 

"I am coming with you..." she said firmly and he turned with a jerk.

"Are you crazy? You need to take rest..." he held her shoulders and pushed her gently on the bed.

"No.. " She said pushing him... "I am perfectly alright... and I am coming... that's final.. no arguments...." she moved to collect her things.  He gaped with astonishment... She again had sounded like him. 
"Khushi... No!" he tried to stop her but she had pulled his laptop....

"Come on.. book the tickets..." she ordered and went out. 

*******  ********
"Khushi... you ok?" he asked the 100th time and she exploded.

"Just.. stop showing concern, ok?" she raised her finger.  She had boarded the flight with Arnav, going against almost everyone in the family.  They all were worried about her health and she was worried about her Arnav ji, Regi Sir and his mother.

Take off and landing was really troublesome for her.  She felt the churn in her tummy and Arnav went berserk, holding her hand and muttering under his breath for bringing her along.  "Don't worry... I am fine..." she kept saying throughout the flight. They took a taxi from Kozhikode to Kannur...! She was already feeling weak and uncomfortable in that sultry, humid weather.

The taxi pulled over and anxious Regi dashed out, hugging ASR, he wiped his tears.  ASR took over.  Patting on his back lightly, he pushed Regi a bit and moved inside the house, forgetting that Khushi was with him.  Khushi looked around and Regi held her hand.  "Thanks Khushi..." he was grateful... Khushi just tried to smile.  Annie came out.  Khushi went inside with her.  Arnav had already reached the room.  Standing at the door, he tried to gather his courage to enter the room.  A completely bald - skin headed woman was lying on the bed with her back at the door. 

"Mom...." Regi called out softly.  There was no movement.  ASR went inside and keeping his hand under her neck, turned the old woman.  She was beyond recognition.  ASR gazed at her intently.  With efforts she opened her eyes. 

"Mom... your Aru has come...." Regi said leaning forward, little loudly.  She just gazed at the figure sitting by her side on the bed.  ASR took her fragile hand in his and turned his face to hide his tears. 

"You came..!" she spoke with great efforts.

"Shuu... Yes, I am here... Don't exert yourself..." ASR adjusted her duvet.  Her eyes smiled happily, but the smile didn't reach her lips.  She had recognized her Aru.  Khushi's figure appeared at the door and ASR beckoned her inside.

"My wife...." he said and Khushi sat on the chair beside.  Her eyes were fixed on Khushi for a long time.  No one spoke anything...!

"I am happy...!" Finally mother tried to lift her hand and Khushi leaned forward to kiss her hand. 
"Go..." mother said and Khushi looked at Arnav.  When both of them got up, she held his hand.  Her Aru stayed and  Khushi went out alone....!


"She has given up....!" Regi hung his head and Arnav looked away hopelessly.
"What do the doctors say?" he asked getting up.  Regi lost his words...!
"Let us go..." ASR strode out of the house and Regi went behind dragging his feet.  Khushi looked at Annie....

"She refuses to take medicines... She has given up.... This time refused to take her Chemo also..." Annie said gravely grabbing the junior Khushi who was trying to run away...! Robert was in Boarding School...! Annie was trying her best ...! Khushi waited for both Arnav and Regi to return.  Annie continued talking....!

"These Chemo cycles are very painful.  She doesn't want to take medicines... Doctor's say... it can be managed .. but she doesn't want to live.... Every time I enter her room, she begs  to let it go.... pleads to let her die peacefully... Regi can't take this stress... the entire house has become sick... We are so helpless... !" Annie looked away hiding her sob.  Khushi held her hand tightly and then making up her mind, got up.  She picked up junior khushi from Annie and said...

"Come.. Let us go!" Annie just nodded not knowing where Khushi was taking her.  Khushi went inside again to mother...!

"Aunty ji...!" she called out softly.  Mother opened her eyes.  Junior Khushi giggled when khushi tickled her lightly.  Smile appeared in Mother's eyes.  She let out a sigh.  Junior Khushi glanced at Mother and pouted her lower lip and started crying.

"Shuu... Stop Baby...!" Annie held her tightly to her heart.  Khushi smiled happily.  She took junior Khushi to the bed.

"Look.. Granny... Give her a kissy..." Khushi again tickled lightly and the baby giggled, this time touching granny's hand.  Granny just closed her eyes with satisfaction.

"You know, what? Another Aru or Another Khushi is in the making..." Khushi said giggling and Annie looked up surprised.  Mother gazed...

"Don't tell this to your Aru... but I think its another ASR..." Khushi made faces and Annie couldn't stop her laughter.  Khushi held mother's hand.

"Imagine... two, two ASRs in the house...! I am so scared... I don't know, how am I going to manage..." Khushi pulled mother's hand a bit and kept it on her tummy.  Mother, for the first time moved her palm over Khushi's tummy. 

"You know, what? We have decided..... you will name the child..." she said and before Mother could react, went ahead and said...
"No... no... not now... When the child is born..." Raising her eyebrows, Khushi winked at mother and Mother's lips parted with a smile.  She nodded a bit and encouraged by this, Khushi went ahead.

"Your Aru... Do you think he will help me in raising a child? No way... Your Aru is no less than a child himself..." Making sad face, Khushi said..." Imagine... two children ASRs to take care...Oh! God! The thought itself is so scary... I need your help, Aunty ji..." Mother nodded again smiling faintly.

"Yeah.. ok. ok... but please don't tell this to your Aru, Ok? He will eat me alive..." Khushi giggled, so did Annie and saw a happy smile on mother's face.  Khushi winked.  Annie brought medicine bottle and Mother closed her eyes....

"No...!" she said trying to look away, but Khushi blocked her vision.  She lifted Mother's hand and kept it on her tummy...!

"Can you feel the baby? I just can't feel anything... Its just six weeks, it seems..." Khushi went on and Mother gulped the medicine. 

"Ganny...." junior Khushi was trying to grab her attention climbing the bed from the other end.  Khushi giggled happily.

"Ganny... Ganny...Look who is calling you..." Mother tried to look at the other side..! Annie turned her on the side and junior Khushi moved closer to her ganny.  Khushi kept patting on her head gently and soon both ganny and baby were fast asleep on the same bed.  Annie wiped her eyes.

"Regi should have been here...!" she said...

"We are here..." Said Regi tip toeing into the room.  ASR smiled at his Khushi and Regi picked up his sleeping Khushi.