Chapter Sixteen

Dadi sat in her room patiently. She couldn't wait to see her heir, the one who would carry on the Raizada name.

It was around 10:30 when Arnav came in. She saw him holding the baby in his arms and she couldn't believe it.

"Is that... is that really...," Dadi said, tears pooling in her eyes.

Arnav nodded. "Yes."

Dadi smiled with joy, closing her eyes as tears came flowing down her cheeks.

"Let me see the little one's face," she said, opening her eyes.

Arnav went over to her and showed her the baby.

At the sight of the baby, Dadi's face dropped. She gasped and her eyes widened.

"But that's... that's...."

Arnav grinned devilishly. "Congratulation Dadi - you have a great-granddaughter, an heiress."

Dadi's eyes widened even more and she gasped. Suddenly, the machines around her that were connected to her, beeped like crazy. The doctor and nurses came rushing in and asked Arnav to leave the room. Arnav walked out and glanced through the small window on the door. He could see the doctors scurrying around Dadi.

Arnav turned and walked away. He made his way back to Khushi, not caring for a second of what would happen to his dadi. He knew that this wasn't what she had wanted. He remembered back to their conversation he had with her a few months back.

~

"Why do always speak of an heir," Arnav asked.

"Chote we have had this conversation-"

"No, I don't mean that because... nothing can be done to change what I did. I mean why do you always say you need an heir? Why not an heiress?"

Dadi looked at him wide eyed "Are you really asking this question?"

Arnav shrugged. "Why not?"

"Chote, an heir is the one that will continue our family line. Yes, I know that today's society doesn't care about that, but in our family, an heir continues the family line, not the heiress. Our family follows by old culture."

"Cudda fooled me," Arnav muttered.

But Dadi heard it anyways. "Chote, don't think that you're the only one who has impregnated a woman who is not your wife. Many have done that in this family in the past."

Arnav looked at her in shock.

Dadi nodded. "The last time this happened was with your great-great grandfather. But he had married her and all was well."

Arnav ignored what she said, not really finding this as the important factor. "What if Khushi were to give birth to an heiress?"

Dadi looked him straight in the eyes. "It wont be."

"How do you know?"

"It wont. There's a reason why I'm still alive and that is to see my great-grandson."

"What crap?!"

"I will see my great-grandson in your arms when Khushi has delivered, mark my words."

"And if its a girl," Arnav asked, cocking his eyebrow.

"It. Won't. Be."

Arnav smirked. "You're so arrogant.... Well, I hope that your hopes are shattered, and that I have a daughter instead."

"How dare you-"

"Oh I dare, I really do," Arnav sneered. "And when my daughter comes in my arms, I will cherish the expression on your face very much."

Arnav turned away and walked to the door.

"Do you want me dead," Dadi exclaimed. "Is that what you want?!"

Arnav paused at the door. "Perhaps," and then he left.

~

Arnav glanced down at his daughter and smiled at her. She was wide awake and quiet, gazing away at him. Arnav was beyond happy, completely ecstatic that he had a baby girl. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful daughter anyone could ask for!

Arnav entered the room Khushi had been shifted to. He saw Khushi talking to the nurse. The second they walked in, Khushi had looked at them and Arnav could tell that she wanted to hold her baby again. He went on over to her side and handed their daughter over to her. Khushi gazed away at her, still unable to believe that she was really her daughter.

Arnav sat down beside Khushi. "How are you feeling?"

Khushi looked at him. "I'm okay," she smiled softly.

"Where's Akash and Payal," he asked, glancing around for the two.

"They went out to get a bite."

Arnav nodded in acknowledgement.

"She's beautiful," Khushi beamed, running the back of her finger along her daughter's cheek.

"She is," Arnav smiled.

Their daughter looked up at Khushi, her eyes wide as she gazed away at her mama.

"She's so calm and attentive," Khushi said. "It's like she understands our words already."

The baby blinked and then she sneezed.

Khushi giggled. "Bless you baby."

Arnav got up and moved beside Khushi so that he could look at their daughter. Her hand was peeking out from under the baby blanket and he held his finger out. Immediately, she took hold of her father's finger. Arnav gasped and then he smiled, tears pooling in his eyes.

"Thank you Khushi," he said softly. "I couldn't be any happier!"

Khushi looked up at him. "No, thank you Arnav. Or I never would've had such a beautiful daughter like her," she smiled.

Arnav smiled and they looked back at their daughter, who was only looking at the two of them.

"She truly is beautiful," Khushi said, and she kissed her daughter's forehead.

"She is. She's the world's second most beautiful person."

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "Whose the first?"

"You."

Khushi looked up at him. She found him gazing at her and she was going to say something, when Payal and Akash came in.

"Ooh! Let me see my niece," Payal cooed, walking over to them.

Khushi handed Payal her daughter, and both Payal and Akash cooed at the baby. She just looked at them as they cooed away.

"What are you naming her," Akash asked.

"Well it took a long time to make up that decision," Aranv said, remembering back to all the constant arguments over the baby's name.

"What did you guys decide on," Payal asked, handing the baby back to Khushi.

"Yes, what did you decide on," Dr. Thomas said, who came walking into the room.

"Her name," Khushi began, "is Aditi."

"Aditi Kumari Raizada," Arnav smiled.

Dr. Thomas went to the baby's crib and picked up a notepad with documents on there. She wrote down the baby's name and she filled out the baby's information.

"I'll just make sure these records are put in," she smiled, and she left.

"That's such a cute name," Payal gushed.

Khushi beamed and looked at her daughter.

"We should get going," Akash said, looking at the clock. "It's past visiting hours and they'll kick us out soon."

"Already," Payal pouted.

Akash shrugged.

"Okay." Payal turned to Khushi. "I'll come back tomorrow."

Khushi nodded.

Payal and Akash said their goodbyes to the trio and then they left. Arnav sat beside Khushi, holding onto Aditi.

"Are you going to be comfortable sleeping there," Khushi asked.

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? It looks uncomfortable."

"I'm fine," Arnav smiled softly.

"I doubt that," Dr. Thomas said as she walked in.

"I can manage," he smiled up at her.

"I'm sure you can," she smiled. "But the bed next to Khushi is available, and there are a lot of empty rooms in the hospital, so you can sleep there."

"You sure?"

"Positive. Besides, you booked this delivery room - it's all yours."

Khushi gaped. "You booked this room?"

Arnav shrugged. "I didn't want any problems," he said innocently.

"Unbelievable," Khushi said.

Dr. Thomas smiled. "Well, it's time for your daughter to join the others.

Both Arnav and Khushi slightly pouted before Arnav placed Aditi back in her crib. The nurse came in and she took Aditi away.

"Goodnight you two," Dr. Thomas said as she left.

"Goodnight," both replied.

Arnav got in the bed next to Khushi once he shut the lights off. He laid down but he couldn't fall asleep. He looked at Khushi and saw that she was out like a light.

Arnav looked up at the ceiling. Why can't I sleep?