Two Weeks Later
Shergill mansion
Arjun was getting ready in the morning. Today they had to go for nikky's admission and everyone was excited to see the new school. May be just too excited. Everyone from both the families wanted to go for his admission and they had a lengthy, tiring, logically twisted discussions about it but at the end gayatri put her foot down and it was decided that only arjun, arhaan and anirudh will go today and rest can have their turn one after the other by accompanying arjun in the PTM's to be held in future. Although the jaisingh's weren't happy about it but there was nothing they can do once gayatri was done dictating the law.
Arjun was happily remembering how gayatri almost asked jeet and tanu to go to their room whereas jai was actually sent to his room after his rant about the never-ending injustice towards him just cause he is the most creative one among them. Maan as usual read the room and stayed quiet once he saw gayatri getting irritated.
Last two weeks has prooved to be the happiest time of arjun's life. Many things happened, many changes took place. Meeting with each other was done more than before cause everyone wants to meet nikky everyday.
Now that Nikky has so many people to interact with his language skills were improving with each passing day. He started calling arhaan chachu and tanu bua. Maan and jai still remained bhaiyu and jb but jeet's name of address was still not fixed. They were still working on it and nikky was having alot of fun in it by teasing jeet with different names.
Arhaan started his college and to arjun's relief he wanted to join the same course as abhimaan and both are classmates now along with rohan. Rohan grew closer to both shergill and jaisingh family. Once arhaan started his college and arjun resumed his office they realised that nikky also wanted company of his own age so it was decided that now is the right time to get him enrolled in a school. Although he never went to school before but he was smart and arhaan has almost kept him at par with other school going kids his age.
Arjun was just thinking of this when arhaan once again made his way inside arjun's room unannounced. Over the past two weeks arjun has told him to knock before coming in numerous times but arhaan being himself never followed this particular instruction. As soon as he came in Arjun gave him an irritated look. Arhaan gave him a brilliant smile in return and knocked the door from inside "lijiye kar diya knock, ab theek hai?"
Arjun rolled his eyes at him and turned to look in the mirror to check his attire "nikky ready hai?"
Arhaan "wo to kabse ready hai, he is super excited. Subah se 10 baar pooch chuka hai school kab jayenge."
Arjun "achchi baat hai, he will settle in easily, unlike you."
Arhaan "arre ye main beech me kahan se aa gaya? Aur maine college meine settle hone me kaunsi problem create ki?"
Arjun "college me nahi beta school me. Tujhe jab school me daala tha na to kitne dino tak rota raha tu school jaane me pata hai."
Arhaan "aur fir bhi aap bhejte the na. Daya nahi aayi aapko chote se bachhe par."
Arjun "main nahi, dad aur maa bhejte the."
Arhaan "haan to aap bacha nahi sakte the?"
Arjun was about to reply when he heard anirudh calling out to him. Arhaan palmed his face, anirudh sent him to call arjun downstairs and he got busy chatting with him.
Arhaan "jaldi chaliye, dad kabse bula rahe hai aapko."
Arjun "kabse bula rahe hai matlab, abhi abhi to awaaz di dad ne."
Arhaan "haan wo dad ne mujhe bhi bheja tha aapko bulane main baato baato me kehna bhool gaya, he said with a goofy grin on his face.
Arjun whacked him lightly "aaj fir se subah subah daant padegi." He said.
They just moved towards the door only to find nikky glaring at them with his hands folded at his chest just like anirudh. "Baba calling down, come fast." He said in his sweet stern voice.
Arjun couldn't help but scoop him in his arms and place a kiss on his cheek "sorry baby, we were just coming down."
Nikky kissed him back "its okay deda. Chachu late." He said
Aru "chup kar, deda ka chamcha."
Arjun "aru, bachcha hai wo abhi."
Aru "ye bachcha na kuch jyada hi bigad raha hai. Hamesha aapko save karta hai aur jab dekho mujhe aur jeeju ko tease karta rehta hai."
Arjun "haan to tum dono ki harkatein aise hi hai." He said and moved downstairs in the living area where anirudh was sitting with another man.
The man smiled at arjun as soon as he came in view. Arjun smiled back and moved towards him and touched his feet.
Arjun "kaise hai aap uncle, kitne dino baad aaye hai aap."
Mr. Gupta "main kam se kam aa to gaya beta, tu to saalo se nahi aaya. Wo to bhaisahab hi hai jo aana jaana kar rahe hai nahi to tu aur jeet to sabko bhool gaye ho apne kaam ke chakkar me."
Arjun "sorry uncle, sach me bohut din ho gaye mujhe aapse mile, lekin ab jarur aaunga."
Mr. Gupta "ab to tujhe aana hi padega beta, tere dost ki shadi hai."
Arjun "gaurav ki shadi hai?" He asked happily
Anirudh "haan beta samajhdar log time se shadi bhi kar lete hai." He said not hiding the taunt he just gave to arjun
Mr. Gupta laughed "arre ye bhi kar lega bhaisahab, iske liye kaunsa ladkiyon ki kami hai. Ham sabke bachcho me sabse laayak aur samajhdar aapka arjun hi hai."
Anirudh "rehne dijiye gupta ji pehle hi aap logon ne isse ye sab keh keh kar sar chadha rakha hai. Ab aap hi bataiye gaurav kuch 4 - 6 mahine chhota hi hoga isse aur ab uski bhi shadi hai aur ek ye hai ki......................."
Arjun didn't wanted this topic to stretch any further so he interrupted in between "aap aru se mile uncle, aru yahan aa."
Arhaan came forward and touched mr. Gupta's feet as well. "Khush raho beta. Kitna bada ho gaya hai. Kaise ho beta?"
Arhaan "main theek hu uncle, shadi me mujhe bhi aana hai na?"
Mr. Gupta "lo ye bhi koi poochne wali baat hai, bilkul aana hai."
Arhaan "haan uncle, ab kahin to jaun, bhaiya to shadi kar nahi rahe." He said giving a teasing smile to arjun
Arjun glared at him for a moment and spoke the very next "breakfast lag gaya hoga. Aaiye uncle breakfast kar lete hai."
Mr. Gupta " nahi beta, main nikalta hu, aur bhi bohut jagah jaana hai aaj. Bohut saare cards dene hai. Theek hai bhaisahab, shaadi me sab jarur aaiyega." Saying that he moved towards the door. Arjun escorted him out both as a habit and as a precaution to not let anirudh discuss the matter any longer.
After escorting mr. Gupta out Arjun came to the dining area and sit down silently and started to have his breakfast without even looking at anyone. He was hoping he could get through this breakfast without any discussion about his marriage and then all of them can busy their minds with nikky's admission. But fate or rather arhaan had other plans.
Arhaan lightly kicked arjun under the table and spoke "gaurav bhai ki shadi ka card kitna achcha hai na dad?" He said pushing the card towards anirudh.
Anirudh didn't disappoint arhaan either and started "card hi nahi wo ladka bhi bohut achcha hai. Gupta sahab ne ek baar kaha aur taurant shadi ke liye taiyaar ho gaya wo. Aur ek ye tera bhai hai, kab se keh raha hu par ye sune to na. Kuwanra baap bana ghoom raha hai. Arre kuch aur nahi to ye hi soch le nikky ab school jayega jab teacher isse what is your mother's name puchhegi to ye kya bolega? Pending? Aur wo us din tu kaunsa ped wala assignment bol raha tha arhaan?" He asked trying to remember
Arhaan "family tree dad." He replied happily
Anirudh "haan wo hi, kiski photo lagayega bachcha us assignment me? Socha hai tune?" He asked arjun irritated
Arjun palmed his face "ab ek class assignment ke liye main shadi kar lu dad?"
Anirudh whacked him "baat sirf class assignment ki nahi hai. Umar nikal rahi hai teri. 29 saal ka ho jayega tu kuch dino me. Aise hi time nikalta gaya to kisi ki ladki ka rishta maangte bhi sharam aayegi."
Arjun "haan to mat maangiye na dad." He said gently trying to shut the topic
Arhaan jumped in "arre aise kaise? Khud to aap kuch kar nahi rahe kam se kam dad ko to mana mat kijiye." He said not wanting his brother's plight to come to an end
Anirudh "arre isse kya hi samjhaana. Itni akal hoti isme to isse pata chalta ki chaar log hamare baare me kya baatein karte hai."
Arjun confused "kaun kya baatein karta hai dad?"
Anirudh "tujhe kya lagta hai, tujhse kisi ne kuch kaha nahi to koi kehta nahi hoga. 4 aas paas ke log milte honge to sabhi sochte honge ki hamare ghar me koi dikkat hai tabhi ek bhi ladki nahi hai yahan. Pehle kam se kam tanu thi par ab dekho, uski shadi ke baad is ghar me koi ladki nahi aayi. Aise ghar me koi tarakki nahi hoti jisme laxmi ke roop me bahu beti na rahe."
Arjun "haan to tanu ko bula lete hai."
Arhaan "arre par tanu di ko apna ghar bhi to dekhna hai na bhaiya." He said with a teasing smile
Arjun was at his wits end by now, he whacked arhaan hard enough to yelp "tu chup kar."
Anirudh "haan chup kara de tu sabko. Especially agar koi akal ki baat karta ho to usse to is ghar me bolne ka adhikar hi nahi hai. Theek hai bhai hum sab chup ho jaate hai, tu kar le apne mann ki."
Arjun "maine aapko kab chup rehne ke liye kaha dad. Aap kahiye jo kehna hai."
Anirudh "kya kahu main, aur kahunga bhi to kaunsa tu sun hi lega meri baat. Aur jab tune sunni hi nahi hai to main kyun kuch bolu. Bas ek baat samjh le ghar me barkat usme rehne wali aurton se hi hoti hai."
Arjun tried to joke to lighten the situation "haan to hamare ghar me bhi itna saara female staff hai to."
Anirudh glared at him and twisted his ear "ek baat kaan khol kar sun le, ya to tu koi ladki mujhe bata de nahi to main teri raaye pooche bina teri shadi kahin kara dunga. Samjh gaya?"
Arjun was squirming in pain by now "ji dad samajh gaya. Aap jab jisse kahoge main shadi kar lunga."
Anirudh left him and got up from his place. "Jaldi khao, aisa na ho hum admission karane hi late pohunche." He said and left from there.
Arhaan burst out laughing the moment anirudh was out of earshot. Arjun glared at him "bohut maja aata hai na tujhe meri class lagwa kar?"
Arjun "ek hi sawaal kitni baar puchhoge bhaiya? Aur aapne hi to kaha tha ki aapko dad se daant khane ki itni aadat ho gayi hai ki iske bina din poora nahi hota."
Arjun "haan to aadat daant khane ki thi, kaan khichwane aur maar khane ki nahi. Jab se dada bane sari dadagiri mujh par hi karte hai." He said still rubbing his poor ear.
Nikky who by now came near arjun from his place asked "deda hurting?" He said pointing towards arjun's ear.
Arjun at once removed his hand from his ear, it was one thing to get reprimanded but getting such treatment in front of his son and then cribbing in front of him was way too embarrassing for arjun.
Arjun powered through his embarrassment and forced himself to smile "nahi bachcha, i am fine. It isn't hurting." He said making nikky sit besides him.
Nikky "deda naughty, baba scold deda. No being naughty, bad habit." He said trying to make arjun understand.
Arjun smiled at his child again "i'll keep that in mind beta. Now finish your breakfast, we need to go to your school."
Nikky nodded excitedly and started eating. Arjun shifted his gaze back to his elder child who was still laughing shamelessly. Arjun swiftly caught his ear and twisted it.
Arhaan hissed at once "ahhhh bhaiya, kya kar rahe ho?"
Arjun "trying to get you to stop laughing beta."
Arhaan "mission accomplished bhaiya, please chhod do dukh raha hai."
Arjun left his ear "agar aage se ye aag me ghee daalne wala kaam kiya na aru to bohut maar khayega tu."
Arhaan "haan to dad ki baat sun lo na, kar lo shadi. Waise bhi main tanu di ki shadi me nahi tha atleast aapki shadi hogi to kuch achcha khane ko milega."
Arjun "you want me to get married so that you can have a feast? What is with you and dad? He wants me to get married so that nikky can do his assignment and you want it so that you can have a fancy meal."
Arhaan "arre not just one meal bhaiya, we will make sure ki kitchen me bhabhi hamare jaisi nahi mannu jaise ho. Unhe khana banana bhi aata ho aur mannu ki tarah khana banane ke shouk bhi ho. Sachchi kaash mannu ladki hota, to hum ussi se aapki shadi kara dete ."
Arjun "shutup arhaan."
Arhaan "arre jara socho bhaiya, wo bilkul perfect candidate hai. Dekho wo bohut mature hai to aap aur wo bohut compatible rahoge, wo bado ki izzat karta hai to dad ke saath bhi achche se adjust kar lega, wo mujhe bhi jyada shararte nahi karne deta so thats also a point in his favour and last but not the least he is great with kids and nikky loves him. Sach me maan se better prospect aapke liye ho hi nahi sakta."
Arjun "tera analysis bohut achcha hai beta bas is plan me na ek choti si problem hai."
Arhaan "kya?"
Arjun "wo ladka hai you idiot. I can't get married to a boy."
Arhaan "thank god you said that. Mujhe aapse yahi ummeed thi. Kyunki No offence to anybody's personal preference par sach me 2 dads will really push that family tree assignment over the edge."
Arjun got up to whack arhaan but the brat knew him inside out so he ran even before arjun could touch him.
Arjun took deep breaths to calm himself down when he heard nikky "deda marry bhaiyu?"
Arjun shocked "no beta, Don't say that, it's bad."
Nikky "bhaiyu bad? No marry deda?"
Arjun palmed his face. How to make his baby understand that he can't go around saying such things. He knelt in front of nikky and cupped his face "nikky bachcha i don't want you to talk about all this again, it's a big people talk, so you don't say anything like this again. Okay?"
Nikky understood but got a little scared "sorry deda." He said scared.
Arjun sighed, nikky gets scared so very often after the whole birla episode. Anyhow his boy was too innocent and sensitive to start with now that episode has scared him further. How will he ever be able to correct him if does something wrong, arjun thought for a moment then caressed nikky's cheek "I am not scolding you meri jaan and you don't need to apologise." He said and gave him a quick hug when arjun pulled away he asked "are you ready to go to school bachcha?"
Nikky smiled at the mention of school "yes deda. Nikky go school, have lots of fun."
Arjun "that's like my brave boy." He said high-fiving with nikky. "Come let's go, baba and chachu must me waiting for us." With that they went out and soon all of them were driving towards the school.
Once they reached the school, the staff showed them around the school. Nikky loved the different activity areas in the school but what he loved the most was the swimming pool and the little petting zoo that the school offered. Everyone asked many questions regarding everything. Though nikky was quite up to mark in his learning but it was his first time to go to a school making all of them nervous. They even met the school counselor regarding nikky's speech who spoke to nikky for sometime and then assured them that nikky will be able to handle the experience and that regular interaction with kids his age will only help him. Once satisfied they completed the admission formalities and took his uniforms and other stuff. Although arjun wanted nikky to commute with their security and driver but both anirudh and arhaan thought it to be better for him to use the school transportation with other kids as it will ease him in to the process. It was also decided that nikky will join the school from the very next day.
Once done with all the formalities anirudh took nikky back home while arjun dropped arhaan at college and went to his office thereafter. The moment he entered his cabin jeet came there and bombarded him with questions.
Jeet "how was it? Did he liked the school? I think hume abhi 2-3 school aur dekh lene chahiye. Aur usse next session se hi school bhejte hai na, wo bohut chota hai abhi arjun. Aur next session tak hamara office day care bhi start ho jayega, he can go there. Atleast wahan hoga to hume sab pata rahega."
Jeet was going on and on while arjun was just smiling looking at him. His friend was getting softer with every single child getting added to their family. The younger the child the mushier he becomes. He just couldn't wait for him to have kids of him own, arjun was sure jeet would himself cry everytime the child would. He was lost in his thoughts when jeet shook him not so gently.
Jeet "sun bhi raha hai tu kya pooch raha hu main?"
Arjun smiled at him "sab sun raha hu. The school is great jeet. It's one of the best in city and it's very near-by. Nikky also loves it. Aur wo itna bhi chota nahi hai, he is 5 years old, kids nowadays start schooling when they are just 2 years plus. Aur school jayega to apne saath ke bachcho se interact karega, it can work wonders for his speech. They do have a live camera access so we will know what all is happening. Aur in case kuch kami lagi to next session se apne yahan hi shift kara lenge. Theek hai?"
Jeet "haan, whatever. Tu itna calm kaise hai? It's such a big change. Anyways Kab se join kar raha hai wo?"
Arjun "kal se."
Jeet "whom are you considering driving him to and from school?"
Arjun "wo school transportation se aayega jaayega."
All hell broke loose when jeet heard that "are you mad arjun? It's not safe. Wo school services nahi use karega, he will go by our own car and that too with security. Tune abhi koi nahi socha to main dev ko bolta hu, he knows all of our security staff like the back of his hand, he will suggest people who are good with kids his age."
Arjun "ye dad aur aru ka decision hai. They think its better if he goes with other kids."
Jeet "arre uncle ko tany mana legi aur aru khud bachcha hai abhi, usse ye sab nahi pata, don't listen to him...........
Arjun "nikky ki kisi bhi cheez ko le kar aru ka opinion matter karta hai jeet. I will always give priority to his opinions regarding nikky. Nikky has my name but he has come in my life because of aru. Wo mera bachcha aaj bana hai, aru ka bachcha wo tabse hai jabse mujhe uske baare me pata bhi nahi tha."
Jeet understood his point well "i understand yaar. And you are right, nikky ko le kar arhaan ke opinions matters the most. But it's just that ki hamare sare bachche aise security ke saath apni hi gadiyon se jaate hai to shayad aadat ho gayi hai. And it just feels weird that nikky is being treated differently."
Arjun " i know, i told them the same thing par dono baap bete mere peeche pad gaye. Dekh I know you are worried about nikky and no matter how calm i am looking, trust me i am as nervous as anyone about all this but its something that can no longer be postponed. Okay?"
Jeet "let's do one thing, usse school cab se jaane de but atleast appoint a guard or two who can keep an eye on him while he is out."
Arjun himself was thinking of doing the same so he nodded "that we can do but make sure it stays between us only."
Jeet "haan haan. Aur tanu se baat kar le, subah se 6 baar call aa gaya hai uska ye poochne ke liye ki tu office aaya ya nahi abhi tak." He just finished saying when his phone rang again. Jeet looked at her name on the phone screen and passed the phone to arjun and went to his cabin.
Arjun picked the call and answered all the questions which jeet asked him just a few minutes back. He was not done talking with tanu when his own phone rang showing gayatri's name on the screen. Arjun quickly finished talking to tanu and hung up and then happily repeated his answers to gayatri. They all loved each other but his son is the apple of everyone's eyes. He is loved, pampered and cared for the most.
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Hey readers
Happy holi to you all.
I wanted to upload the chapter tomorrow but i'll be too busy playing holi so here you go.
I hope you like the chapter.
Please shower it will all your love, votes and comments.
And please suggest what nikky should call jeet.
Happy reading. 😊