Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

69. Anjali's daughter -part2

"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown, and she took a deep breath,

"Arnavji, I understand Di's feelings. As a mother, I can relate to her pain, her emotions. And I wouldn't have objected to-"and there he lost it again. Why was she saying all this?

"I can't believe this. Khushi, if you are tired of handling 3 kids like Sarita aunty was saying, let me know. I can very well look after my kids, ok? I don't need to send them "away", hell, I wouldn't let anyone do that!"

"When will you stop assuming worst of me without even let me complete, Arnavji? How many more years I have to be patient?" she asked, agitated.

Arnav just looked away, he had no right answer and her answers weren't satisfying him.

But Khushi had enough now.

"You know what? She is your Di, you need to handle this situation. And about my reaction to anyone trying to take my baby away, I'd just take my kids and go away from all this drama."

"Khushi please-" her outburst finally made him see her hurt and how his words did it again!

"No! kuch mat kahiye (dont say anything). You have spoken enough" she said, ready to go out

"Khushi. I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just, I got so panicked when Sarita aunty suggested that she would like to take Arohi away, and I didn't think straight." he bared his heart, confessed his fears and she forgave the father that was speaking to her, not husband. And decided to let him know her stand too

"Nothing new for me. Bacchon ke sath pita ka naam juda hota hai toh unhe lagta hain sirf unka haq hai (fathers think it's only their right as their name is added to kids' names), while for a mother her baby is a part of her. She is my baby Arnavji, I made her, seen her grow from a peanut size heart to her today's form, uss ki pehli aahat se lekar uske pehli dhadkan tak, uske pehli karvat se leke uske pehli pareshani tak (from her first presence, her first heartbeat, her first movement to her first pain), I felt it within myself. She took her first breath within me, when her eyes saw their first dream, her pillow and mattress was my body. So of course, I will always be possessive about her! And Pari, and Chiku! There is no question of distancing them from me. Ever."

"Khushi. You yourself said you were ok with this"

"No I didn't, Sarita aunty assumed it. I was saying I understand di's emotions and her attachment to Arohi and she can come and be with Aru, here at our home, when she wishes. But nothing more than that." Khushi said sternly making Arnav finally relax and smile.

"Ok. and did I say I am proud of you? And I love you?"

"Hmm. I know. Now go bring Aru, she hasn't even changed her clothes after coming back."

--*--

"Aru, bua ki Rajkumari, bua ke sath lucknow chalogi na (you will go with bua to Lucknow, right)? Bua will love you so much and never let you go." Anjali was telling Arohi who was busy playing a game on Anjali's mobile.

And then, Arnav's voice boomed in the room, rather his angry tone!

"She is NOT your Rajkumari di, she is mine." he said, coming further in the room and Aru smiled looking at her Dada, but continued with her game. The tension between elders didnt percolate to her, thankfully.

"She stays happy with me Chote" Anjali tried to make a point, she had to make Arnav believe that Aru was as happy with her as with them

"What are you talking about Di?" he asked, his tone still stiff, rarely used with his Di earlier but recently quite a few times!

"Chote, why are you making this such a big deal? See, it's only about a week, right? I will take her and bring her back safely. And if she likes staying us, she can also stay longer, what's wrong in that?" as she slowly started making her plans evident, Arnav-the-brother totally let Arnav-the-father take a full control!