My Gap Year Epilogue

My Gap Year

6 years had come and gone time had flown by. Khushi went down every six weeks to the Sea Front. Juggling a demanding husband and three children was no mean feat.  Arnav and Khushi had loved them seen them through their nightmares till slowly the child from within blossomed. Arav ,now 10 had been an abused child but now after 4 years with Arnav and Khushi  knew what it meant to finally trust people He adored Arnav and Khusi.  Jay and Jiyah came to them a year and half after Arav .Jiyah was 6 mons old and a addict whilst Jay was 3 years and just neglected and malnourished.

Arav and  Arnav were very similar in character. Arav copied everything Arnav did . Khushi knew heroworship when she saw it . It always irked her that he was dad and she was Khushi. She knew that he loved them both. But that final hurdle he couldn’t overcome.  Khushi knew it was a matter of time with enough love that hurdle will be overcome. Jay at 6 and Jiyah aged 4  were a pair of scamps. But Jiyah temperament took after Khushi  and was the apple of everyones eye. Arav played the big brother to the hilt where she was concerned .

Arnav arrived home to find friday chaos reigning supreme  in his house . His children were covered in multicoloured paint and were being hosed down in the garden.

“Arav explain”

“Well Jiyah had painting homework and then some of it accidently kind of ended up on Jiyah”

“Dad ! Dad!”

“Stay away from me till you are all showered and dressed and dried. I want to know exactly what has been happening. OMG you have even painted poor Tiger. You kids are going to be in serious trouble with your mother”

He sensed her before he smelt jasmine being overpowered by …then he felt her hug him from behind . “You back  -missed you. I hate you going away for days” she whispered only for his ears.

“Missed you too but why are Jiyah and Jay laughing uncontrollably and why was Arav shaking his head “Dad you are a lost cause when it comes to Khushi- everytime Dad everytime when will you learn”

Arnav dropped his bag and pulled Khushi in front of him and looked at the back of his suit.

“You have more paint than the kids and look at my suit”

“I keep telling you that you need more colour in your wardrobe both you and Arav “

“Arav get the paint this means war!”

Screams of laughter filled the air.

Nani came outside to see what was happening – perfect she thought –this is how Shantivan should be like full of love and laughter. It looked as though Holi had come early to their house.  She thanked the day that Khushi wandered into their lives.

It was a long time later when all the children were showered and changed that they sat round the dinner table that Khush tentatively brought up the subject .

“Kids I have  my checkup tomorrow –who’s coming with me ?” She asked the same question twice a year and the answer was always the same –Arav refused everyone else went with her.

“Khushi don’t worry give him time “

“I know he loves me more than he realises but thats Ok one day”

Arnav realised that it Arav not calling Khushi  , mum like the others did hurt her he always kept something back –but as always she would say” in time”

Arnav always celebrated the 6 month anniversaries and the whole family went to the seafront to relax and have fun.

The one thing he loved to do that Khushi was better at than Arnav was surfing.  He would always go with her they would be the first to ride the waves and he would often sit with her watching the sunsets.

It was a few weeks later when Khushi was holding Jiyah that she felt slightly dizzy. She put her down and sat for a while and asked Jiyah to get Arav bhaiya.

Three times in one week she had dizzy spells that Arnav knew about and Khushi made him promise not to tell Arnav. When the dizzy spells became worse on a daily basis Arav took matters into his own hands.

“Khushi we need to go to the specialist if you are not going to tell dad “

“You worry too much Arav”

Arnav noticed that Arav had taken to hovering around Khushi not letting her do anything .

“What’s got into Arav he is acting mighty peculiar “

It was two days later that Arnav got a call that made his blood run cold  “ Dad please can I talk to you it’s about mum”

“Arav beta I’ll be home in 30 minutes OK”

Arav never called Khushi mum –there had to be something really really wrong.

Arav told Arnav about the dizzy spells. “This morning I found mum sitting in the bathroom not feeling well. Dad what if…. ” Arav’s  had tears streaming down his face.

“Arav – she has just had all her tests done so its not that. OK nothing is going to happen to mum that easily we love her to much for that. She has probably got an infection that needs treating.

“Shall we go find your stubborn mother,  stop worrying – you know that will make her angry”

Khushi was sitting by the pool drinking  tea thinking.  She looked up and saw Arav tear stained face and Arnav approach.  Khushi stood up and looked at Arav –“whats wrong?”  ,Khushi was really worried , Arav only cried when Arnav told him off.

Khushi pulled Arav into a hug and looked straight into Arnav’s eyes” what have you said ?”

“Me? This time it’s not me its you  that’s responsible  for these ?”

“Me ?I have not told Arav off , he’s a good boy – now Jiyah and Jay they are another matter – do you know what they did to Tiger?”

“Khushi !”

“Arav what’s wrong ?”

“Mmmum  are you sick again ?. Has the cancer c.c..cc..cc.ome “

He was pulled into a bear hug.

“You called me mum. Arnav he called me mum!”   Khushi looked at Arav with tears in her eyes.

She saw fresh tears threaten to fall from Arav . “No the cancer has not come back, I have not been well but I have been to the doctor they have run some tests and I am absolutely fine. It’s gonna take a little time to work through but I will be fine. Secondly Arnav never live like the big C is going to come back.  It is going to come back.”

“Mum!”

“Shhh that’s life, but it’s not going to stop me enjoying my time here with you.  Instead we live in a way that makes every moment count. Never be scared of the past so much so that it casts a shadow on tomorrow –look when you came to us. If you had not let go of those bad times would you be able to smile now ? it would constantly haunt you .  Do you ever think that I or your dad would let those people come and take you away from us ?”

“No ,you would probably kill them and Dad he would …I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes”

“We are a family – the same way whatever comes we stand together and we will face it together “

“Mum do you know I love you very much”

“OK serious stuff over shall we play ?”

“Not quite

Can I call you mum ?

“You can call me Khushi , Khush  KKG,mum whatever you like .I know that you love me , and that’s all that matters ,what you call me is irrelevant”

“How about jaan ,or darling ?”

“NO! They are what I call your mum”

“I know and it’s usually before you get all iky with mum!”

“What the….”

Khushi had turned bright red –she would really have to be more careful in front of the kids they were growing up.

“Arav I need to talk to your mum –no jaan or darling involved “

“You promised you wouldn’t  get angry when I told you “

“I’m not but I still need to talk to your mother ok”

“Khushi why didn’t you tell me you had not been feeling well? What have you picked up ?”

“ I was waiting for a few more tests to run then I was going to tell you but this is a good time as any .Arnav sit down stop standing over me you’re making me nervous”

“You’re worrying me !”

“Ok there is no easy way – I’m pregnant !”

Total silence followed. It seemed to stretch for eons.

“Say something Arnav?”

“Is it safe for you to have the baby? Will you be ok? , How did you get pregnant? Will the baby be OK?”

“Arnav as to how –really do I have to draw you a diagram! We seem to spend nearly all our spare time doing it. That reminds me we have to be more careful around the kids – no Jaan or Darling that’s probably what got me into this situation in the first place. As to the rest they have to run more test than normal.  Apparently  I can get pregnant that was my misunderstanding  and have a normal pregnancy and childbirth.”

“Khushi – Do you have any idea how much I love you and our family.

15 years later

Arnav , Jay,Jiyah ,Karishma  are you all ready ?

“You’re mum is never on time and today she is half an hour early”

“It’s her ladla’s graduation today .”

“you are all my ladla’s and ladlee’s” kissing each child in turn “but this one he is my boothdu” kissing Arnav .

“I love you too! Why do you want to be so early ?”

“I want to meet her !”

“Who ?”

“Her rrr!”

“Arnav you really are a boothdu- our future daughter –in –law”

“You looking for Arav ?” sounding even more confused.

“Will that light bulb ever switch on in your head –how did we ever get married I don’t know”

“I asked you said NO!”

“Mum ,dad this conversation is getting interesting  spill exactly how did you get married ?and what happened you always glaze over that part of your life”

“We are going to be late lets go”

Arnav drove the car and all of a sudden pulled the car to a sudden halt. “Jay you drive I don’t know how many more heart attacks your mother is going to give me today . Karishma you sit in the front Khushi come to the back we need to talk !”

“Now ?”

“Now!”

Jay drove the tension between the children was tangible.

“So how long has he been seeing her ?”

“The lights come on everyone “

“Khushi ! Jay ,jiyah  he tells you everthing”

“No he doesn’t “

“Karishma “

“Dad that’s not fair I promised Bhaiya I wouldn’t tell ,Ask Jiji or Jay Bhai “

“Don’t put this on my doorstep”

“Arnav stop- you are trying to break the kids promises I could have wheedled it out myself. He has been eating a lot of ice cream and taking his brothers and sisters out a lot. I was cleaning his room out and I found some stuff –so I knew – he is not one for casual relationships  like his dad used to be  or his brother for that matter .”

“Mum”

“I know all my kids really well – I know who has what reputation. Remember I still run the Seafront thats my baby –I find out everything that goes on there.”

“Mum she will fit in perfectly and she is just right for Arav –the right amount of seriousness tempered with madness”

Without realising it Arnav spent the rest of the journey holding Khusi hand ,the kids were used to it. They loved the way their parents carried on

Khushi scanned the crowds and spotted  Arav . He was laughing with a girl . She nudged Arnav thats her –who else can make my baby laugh.

“Khushi what else did you find in his room ?”

“A ticket ,a dried rose , scrawling on a piece of paper –we have a budding poet and ..some condoms”

“WHAT ?”

“Arnav remember …what were we like before marriage. We need to be supportive”

Arav saw his mother –“mum you’re early”

Each of his siblings came up and hugged him and whispered in his ear  “they know “

Arnav was staring at his son the scared silent child had grown into a confidant young man ready to take the world on. There was only love and happiness in his eyes. He was squaring up his shoulders to do battle and then he hugged his mum.

“Do you know how much happiness you have brought me over the years , you have tried my patience but you have given me so much over the years ,I shudder to think how empty our lives would be without you. You are my eldest and first born”

“And favourite” whispered Karishma

“You’re all special ”

“Mum and Dad I can’t say anything, where you took us from and what you have given us over the years –you’re the special ones”

Arnav looked at his son “enough or you will start your mum’s waterworks and then there will be no end” gruffly. His voice all choked up with emotion .He couldn’t imagine his life without his children and his wife.

“Anyone special going to join us after for dinner ?”

“Mum could Rhea and her family join us ?”

“Does Rhea ‘s family know  … about the meal ?”

“No mum they don’t know …. about the meal !”

His siblings were sniggering while he glared .

Karishma spoke up – “You can’t glare as well as dad does it – we just melt when he does it but you look funny”

“Karishma!” Arnav said her voice in a particular tone

“Sorry Bhayia  -see what i mean “

“So you’re Rhea – would you like to introduce me to your parents”

At dinner much much later ,in the middle of the laughter Khushi asked her son quietly “You sure ?“

“Yes Mum …. How did you know”

“I’m your mum !”

“Shrea , if your free  sometime this week say Saturday  can we come round for Rhea’s and Arav’s Roka .”

Nearly everyone choked at the table.

“I apologise for my wife”

“Don’t apologise for her – I knew these kids were up to something  I had to wear the right suit and coloured tie and Shrea’s sari  just had to be perfect.”

An explosion of conversation took place accusations, excuses and laughter.

“Arav she’s perfect for you” and kissed her son and looked at Rhea “You have just the right amount of madness for my son and our family –thank you for finding him”

Shrea looked at her daughter – this family had welcomed her with open arms and was brimming with love and laughter what more could a parent ask for .