Dt:28/03/2020
Arnav and khushi reached home after enjoying their breakfast and walked into the home. They receive a big surprise seeing Arshad and aman.
“Papa!! Dad!!” said khushi and arnav.
Arshad who was busy talking with aman stood up hearing them. He walked towards khushi and hugged her.
“Happy birthday khushi beta,” said Arshad.
“Thank you, papa, When did you come and how?” asked khushi.
“I reached half an hour before and aman received me from the airport and how I came means it's obviously plain khushi,” said Arshad with a grin.
“She meant why dad,” asked Arnav on behalf of khushi seeing her pouting.
Khushi nodded agreeing with arnav.
“I came to celebrate my daughter's birthday,” said Arshad.
“Happy birthday khushi,” said aman.
“Thank you Aman Bhai,” said Khushi, feeling overwhelmed.
“I will bring tea for Papa and Aman bhai” saying she walked to the kitchen before they could stop her.
“So dad what you said to mom?” asked arnav.
“That I have work in Paris,” said Arshad with a grin.
Arnav shook his head thinking his dad is never going to change. “You could have said the truth dad?” asked arnav.
“I could have but then again your mom will force me to bring her and I don't want to spoil our celebration knowing her behaviour towards khushi” explained Arshad.
“Ok, Why you left Jiju then he must want to come here,” asked arnav.
“If I didn't leave him there who will cover-up my lie-in front of your mom and di” replied arnav.
“Poor Jiju, you made him scapegoat, they will eat his brain if they get any slight doubt,” said Arnav, feeling pity for his jiju.
“Sometimes it happens chotte, we have to be strong to face them,” said Arshad.
Arnav and Aman laughed hearing him.
“So aman when are you going to settle down, see Arnav also got married,” asked Arshad.
Meanwhile, khushi came with their tea and distributed it to them.
“Khushi bitiya I came from India to celebrate your birthday and here you are busy with your work, it's injustice,” said Arshad dramatically and pulled khushi to sit beside him.
“Dad, day by day you are behaving like a kid,” said arnav.
Khushi giggled hearing him but Arshad ignored him and concentrated on aman.
“Aman I asked you something,” asked Arshad.
“Uncle to settle down. I should find a girl and till now I haven't come across a girl and I hope I will meet her soon” replied aman.
“Don't worry you will meet her soon beta” said Arshad “And you should inform me first about your girl before Arnav” said Arshad.
“What dad!! He is my best friend. He will inform me first” said arnav.
“Arnav and uncle I will inform you guys in the conference call,” said aman.
“What a great idea aman, I am appreciating your idea,” said Arshad.
“Aman I am telling you, my dad is becoming a kid” whispered arnav.
“I think you are right but he has a better sense of humour than us,” said Aman, Arnav nodded in agreement.
In all these khushi was facing problems in controlling her laughter.
“You can laugh at us khushi , we don't mind it,” said Arshad observing her and she laughed.
“See we got ourself busy chatting, so khushi how do you want to celebrate your birthday?” asked Arshad.
“However you want papa. I am happy that you came to see me on my birthday. It means a lot” said khushi with a glint of tears.
“Don't, birthday girls shouldn't cry,” said Arshad.
She whipped her tears “ So I will prepare a cake for khushi” announced Arshad.
“Dad, you should prepare chicken biryani, she is a fan of it and she should taste your hand made biryani,” said arnav.
“Really, if that is then I will surely prepare,” said Arshad.
“Happy birthday cutie” Anya rushed to her while signing.
“Thank you Anya” she made her seat beside her.
“See cutie I made it for you” she forward a birthday wish card.
“It is beautiful, thank you, sweety,” said Khushi, pulling her in a hug.
“Hi uncle and amy,” said Anya.
“Oh you remember me, Anya,” asked Arshad.
“Yes, I ate almonds daily,” replied Anya.
Everyone laughed at her comment.
“Hi, Anya,” Aman pinched the bridge of her nose, earning a giggle from her.
“Come Chotte let us prepare for lunch and cake,” said Arshad.
“I will help you, papa,” said khushi.
“No, today you are not going to help us,” declared arnav.
Without waiting for her reply they walked into the kitchen and they got themselves busy in preparing chicken biryani and cake.
“So Chotte, when are you going to say khushi that you love her?” suddenly asked Arshad making Arnav to turn towards him.
“I don't know dad if it is love or not but ya I like her,” said arnav.
“Ok then when are you planning to say?” asked Arshad.
“Definitely not now she is becoming comfortable with me and I don't want to make things awkward but I will tell when I find the perfect time” replied arnav.
Arshad signed seeing his son. He knew his son is head over heels for his wife but still he is behaving like a confused person.
“Ok, Then what about you being ASR,” asked Arshad.
“That she has to find out herself, I am not going to tell,” said Arnav with a smile.
“I hope she doesn't end up fighting with you for hiding the truth,” said Arshad.
“I am telling the truth dad, she knew I work as head designer in AR which is true,” said Arnav with a grin.
Aman who was silent till now started laughing.
“Why are you laughing?” asked arnav.
“I was imagining khushi hitting you with a rolling pin,” said aman.
“What is it?” asked a confused Arshad.
“I will explain dad” saying he explained how aman got hit by khushi. Arshad laughed.
“Arnav, when is her college going to start?” asked Arshad.
“In fifteen days dad, I had a talk with them about her admission and tomorrow I am going to take her to submit the admission form” replied arnav.
Arshad nodded while talking and laughing, they finished preparing lunch and cake.
“Arnav call Khushi, I will arrange the table,” said Arshad.
Arnav walked into the garden searching for khushi. He finds her sitting in the garden and listening to anya talk.
“Khushi” he called her.
“Arnavji” she walked towards him.
“Come lunch is ready,” said arnav.
Nodding they started walking into the house. Arshad severed her against her protest.
“How is it khushi?” asked Arshad, taking a seat beside her.
“It's awesome papa, You are an amazing cook,” said khushi.
“He can only cook chicken biryani khushi because it is his favourite,” said arnav.
They had a stomach full of food then Arshad brought the cake and placed it infront of khushi. He lit the candle.
“Khushi blow the candle and make a wish,” said Arshad.
She blows the candle and wishes for her family to be safe and healthy.
They sang the birthday song along with anya causing her to feel she is a school going, kid. Her eyes filled with tears seeing Arshad she started loving and worshipping as her father, cutting the cake she went to Arshad and made him eat.
“Thank you, papa, for loving me as your own child,” said Khushi, hugging him.
“Don't cry beta, I don't like tears in my children's eyes” he wiped her tears “Now smile like a good girl” he ordered.
She smiled at him and offered cake to others.
After their little celebration Aman left to his house and Arshad along with Arnav and khushi seated in the living room.
Khushi thought to ask him permission regarding her studies as she wanted his blessings before starting the college.
“Papa can I ask you something?” asked khushi.
“Yes beta” replied Arshad.
“Arnavji brought an admission form of college for my further studies, he said you don't have any problem but still I want to ask you if you have any problem,” hesitantly asked Khushi.
“Why do you think I will have a problem?” asked Arshad seriously.
“I am your daughter in law that's why” replied khushi.
“You think I will oppose your studies because you are my DIL. I never expected this from you khushi” said Arshad.
Hearing him tears started flowing from her eyes.
“I am sorry papa, I just wanted to ask your permission” cried Khushi, Arnav was beside her within seconds.
“Khushi dad was just kidding, don't cry,” said Arnav, wiping her tears.
“I never thought that you cry for small things, now don't cry and yes I will be happy if you achieve your dreams and be successful in your life,” said Arshad.
“Thank you, papa,” said khushi.
“Ok, no more tears, get ready we are going for sightseeing and dinner at a restaurant. I have an early morning flight” said Arshad.
“Why are you leaving early dad?” asked arnav.
“I have meeting chotte, and shyam can't handle them longer,” said Arshad.
Arnav nodded.
To be continued....
✍keerthana