Holi of 2022 brought a lot of excitement in Raizada mansion. Amidst the contagious excitement of Khushi Singh Raizada who liked to be prepared for Holi a week in advance and who was going to be celebrating it properly after 2 years (last year twins were very small, and year before that she was pregnant with them), this year they also had another reason to celebrate.
Payal-Akash's new baby! Payal had delivered a healthy baby boy just 1 week ago and was busy with the baby. Needless to say, responsibility of managing other 4 Raizada kids fell on Khushi!
She had just gotten Pari ready for the day and was walking by the poolside balancing Pari on her hips, when she spotted other 3 kids huddled in a group and doing something secretively,
"Ye kya ho raha hain yaha (what's happening here)?" she asked going near and the 3 small heads jumped in surprise. She put Pari on ground so she could go near her siblings.
"oui, mamma, no-nothing, we are just playing" chiku nervously said and Piya too hurriedly nodded, "yes maasi, we're just playing" as they hid their hands behind them.
Khushi narrowed her eyes, "Hmm, so no one includes me in their secrets, hai na Pari?" she said pouting, as she kneeled on the floor near the group, while Pari smiled probably knowing her maa's plan.
Seeing her antics, Piya and chiku didn't budge but Aru immediately went near khushi, keeping her hands on her face and cupping it like her dada does, "No mamma." she said and chiku and piya facepalmed as Aru gave in and opened their secret. Aru's color-filled hands now colored Khushi's cheeks!
Khushi touched her cheek and looked back at the kids, and for a moment they all were scared. And then they heard her, "hamare bina holi ki taiyyari (holi preparations without me)?" as she broke into a grin making Piya and chiku relieved. But Arohi didn't understand what just happened. She pouted sadly looking at her mamma. Khushi laughed picking her and cuddled her near herself,
"Aru, color toh holi pe lagate hain, aapne humpe pehle hi color laga diya (colors are applied on Holi, you colored me before that)." Khushi said making her baby comfortable in her lap and then asked the other two, "ok, what've we got?"
"Yay! come on mamma, lets decide which colors we want to pick, I want blue!" Chiku pointed out to the main task at hands and the group spent next half an hour deciding and picking their favorite colors to use for Holi, while also playing a pre-Holi of sorts!
Hearing clearing of throat from behind her, Khushi turned, only to see Arnav standing there with amused expressions on his face, "If you kids are done playing Holi in advance, go and get cleaned and dried up. I don't want anyone falling sick on holi."
"haww, I am not a kid Arnavji." Khushi said and Arnav lifted his one eyebrow, bent his head slightly on a side, in his signature gesture which meant "really?" and khushi gave up the fight
--*--
Holi went well and everyone including Arnav participated in it with much zest. The colors they had used were herbal colors made from plants/flowers like every year and overall every safely precaution was taken to ensure none of the kids had any issues. If only they knew...
"Aachoo" Arnav sneezed for the 20th time in last hour, and Kavish said, "bless you, papa" just as many. Khushi was fumbling with the medicine box to find a tablet for his cold, as she looked up worried. Arnav was lying down on their bed, while Kavish was standing nearby worried for him,
"Kavish, go to your room or play with Piya downstairs, Papa is not well baby, aapko bhi sardi ho jayegi!" Arnav told Kavish, and sneezed again, "Aachoo!" followed by a 'dammit!' and 'sorry'.
Khushi sighed. Arnav generally never fell sick, but if and when that time came, he behaved worst than a laad governor(himself)!
"Where are you going?" he asked Khushi, as he saw she was following Chiku
"Offo, kahi nahi, just getting warm water for you. lete rahiye (lie down)."
"Jaldi aana (come soon), don't get busy with someone downstairs." he said making a face and Khushi shook her head dismissively
Soon a doctor was called at home and a mandatory covid test was done, which thankfully came back as negative. But still, it was a viral cold and Arnav was told to take bedrest along with lots of fluids, warm water, meds and NO WORK!
Khushi mentally prepared herself for an upcoming war-at-home, since it was impossible to keep ASR away from him work...
--*--
Next day:
The bedside table in their bedroom was filled with Kleenex(tissue papers), vaporubs, and tablets. Thankfully Arnav didn't have temperature but Khushi had still kept a thermometer handy, just in case.
And now she was sitting in front him, watching the picture he made with his nose red due to constant sneezing and wiping.
"Yuck, I am not gonna drink that potion." Arnav made a face as Khushi extended a bowl of some home-remedy to him.
"its a kadha (ayurvedic medicine), and you don't have choice Arnavji, Buaji has said this kadha is the best cure of common cold." she tried once again but he refused to even look at it.
She thought for a while and finally figured something to work
"Hamare haath se bhi nahi piyenge (won't you have it even if I feed you)?" she asked using her sweetest voice she usually reserved to coax her kids and that finally worked! He looked at her and the spoon in her hand near his mouth and accepted it. As she fed him the liquid spoon-by-spoon and kept chatting about random things so he didn't realize when he finished it!
One job done!
Next was food!
"khushi, NO! I won't eat that thing!" he said and legit pushed the tray away.
"that 'thing' is called khichdi and stop being so difficult, Arnav!" the name Arnav in her stern voice did its job as he at least mellowed down a bit. "Even our kids when sick, are better to handle than you. Aapko yahi khana padega kyunki aap beemar ho. It should be done before I get back checking on kids and then you have to take medicines." she commanded him and then left to check on kids. When she turned on her way out, she saw Arnav had been sulking but he took the plate and was eating. She smiled in relief.
--*--
Keeping kids away from their father was another task. Telling Chiku was still easy but twins had literally never been away from their father, that too being in the same house! Aru wanted to run to her dada every now n then and Pari too asked "Da?", telling that she wanted her father.
And in addition to all this, there was a new baby at home and Payal needed someone with her too. That left only mamiji, mamaji, Akash and Nani. Nani had own limitations due to old age and mamaji and Akash had AR to take care of. In short, there were limited people who could take care of the ones on bed-rest!
Khushi's amma and buaji had been coming over too but now buaji herself was getting old while shashi too had been having health issues so Garima couldn't do much, despite being in town, as they had come from Lucknow.
So they decided mamiji will be with Payal and the baby, Naniji will take care of kids while Khushi would be taking care of Arnav and other things needed in the house. In short, it was testing time for Khushi! It was a good thing that she always passed these tests with flying colors!!!
-
Also, she was hoping her husband would get back to health as soon as possible too! She knew Arnav too felt bad that he was not able to help her. But he wasn't doing it willingly. She knew from experience that common cold was anything but common! It drains people's energy and leaves them exhausted! Onlookers might feel 'its mere cold' but only sufferer knows how bad continuous sneezing is!
--*--
Keeping him away from work surprisingly didn't take as many efforts though. Aman easily managed most of ASR's work which he delegated to him while Akash and Mamaji were there to look at their own work plus some of additional tasks from the projects Arnav was handling.
Still at times, Khushi had caught him checking emails on his cell phone or answering work calls and then she would have to scold him like an undisciplined kid!
"If you don't put your phone away now Arnavji, I am going to snatch it and destroy it, samjhe aap?" she finally said one day and he was taken aback at her outburst. "Just get well soon Arnavji, then I wont stop even if you want be with your work all day long" she said in frustration and Arnav felt bad for testing her patience like that. He put the phone away and got under covers.
--*--
Finally after 1 full week, Arnav was fully recovered from his viral cold! And his biggest relief was he finally could go close to his wife and kids. After spending quality time with their 3 kids, he tucked them in their bed for the night and excitedly entered their bedroom. It was time to romance with wifey after a week long abstinence!
Khushi was making the bed, adjusting the pillows as Arnav crept from behind and hugged her, burying his head in her neck. Khushi was started initially at sudden hug, but soon smiled. She too had missed him so much!
But now that he was fit as a fiddle, she thought to give some payback for all the hard time he gave her last week,
"eww, don't breathe on me, you sneezing-Raizada!" she pushed him away lightly, and bit her cheek playfully
Arnav stumbled back, looking aghast at her, until he caught her playful expressions! So she was teasing with him? very well!
"accha? who will stop me? tum? lets see Mrs. Raizada" saying so he pulled her closer and started rubbing his nose more and more on her cheeks, neck, face, anywhere he could get access to while she was giggling, and pushing him away simultaneously.
"Urgh! Arnavji! go away!" she said amidst the laughter, running away
"not so easily Mrs. ASR! kya kaha tha tumne (what did you say?), I am more difficult to handle right? I am just doing that." he said taking predatory steps and pulled her to him again,
"Arnavji chodiye na! I haven't even changed in night clothes yet." she said trying to get out of his hold but he did the opposite as he picked her saying, "no need for that" and then threw her on their bed.
For rest of the night, sounds of love and laughter kept emerging from their bedroom!
--*--
A/N – How was it? This was originally planned as 'when khushi falls sick' but then I changed it. I've something else planned for her. Anyway, this chapter was all about mighty strong ASR falling sick and then throwing worst tantrums than his kids lol. Again based on many very real scenarios in life, hope you all liked it :D
Did you all miss CSD? We're back now! 😎