Learning The Alphabet... Arshi Style! [COMPLETED] - Page 23

Nani had returned to Lucknow for a few days, to visit a niece of hers, whose husband had recently died. Akaash was currently in Bangalore with NK for a deal while Payal was staying at Buaji's till he returned. Mamiji had decided to join her husband for a couple of weeks since she was sorely missing his teasing humour. And Di had gone to a prayer, which had started fairly early in the morning and she would be away for most of the day. Which was why they would have to babysit her daughter.

He jogged up to their room to find the aunt very engaged in narrating a story in some kind of baby language since he understood only one tenth of it. But that was his crazy wife, he smirked. Had he ever really understand what she kept rambling about?

"Kya baatein kar rahi hai mami aur bhatiji?" he chuckled, sitting down beside them and planting a kiss on Khushi's cheek before he hauled the toddler onto his lap. This was one baby he had been able to like, apart from his own, of course. She was an angel like his sister, the reason why the family members had nicknamed her Pari. The baby beamed at him, her two front teeth showing. (What are the aunt and niece talking about?)

"Hum Pari ko kahaani suna rahe the!" Khushi cooed at her. "Hai, na, Pari?" (I was telling Pari a story! Right, Pari?)

A loud incomprehensible gurgle was the reply. Arnav smiled, wondering how his baby would turn out to be.

"Achha kaunsi?" he raised his brow at his wife. (Really? Which one?)

Khushi's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Shaitaan aur Sundari ki." (Beauty and the Beast.)

His eyes narrowed immediately. "You're not letting that go, are you?"

"Kya?" her voice dripped with fake innocence. (What?)

Arnav bent closer to her so as to whisper in her ear. "Khushi Kumaari Gupta Singh Raizada. Shukar manaao ke Pari meri godh mein hai, varna..." (... Consider yourself lucky to have Pari in your arms...)

"Varna kya?" came the defiant reply which almost made him growl. Not with rage, of course, with desire. (Or else?)

And as much as he loved his niece, he regretted volunteering to babysit her now. All he could do was watch his gargantuan-bellied but extremely beautiful wife waddle to the bathroom, laughing at his helplessness. He sighed and gazed at Pari once Khushi had closed the door.

"I think you need a nap, girl. Could you please sleep for, like, one hour or two and leave Mama and Mami alone some time?"

Curiously, Pari grinned at him, as if she understood him. But it was not at all an 'okay-i'll-do-it-mate' grin, it strangely resembled his Di's, the one full of mischief. Arnav felt his eyes widen.

"What the-?"

***

He ran a hand in his hair with frustration. It had been two hours already and Pari was not cooperating at all. She was keeping her aunt constantly busy.

"Arnavji," Khushi approached him with the girl on her hip. "Aap Pari ko sambhaaliye, hum abhi aate hain." (Will you hold Pari for a moment? I'll be right back.)

She didn't wait for his response to dump his niece into his arms. Arnav rolled his eyes and stared at Pari.

"You're not helping, Pari!"

The girl grinned at him sweetly, making him smile back. "Oggu!" she exclaimed.

"No, you're not!"

"Wakki gum bisht ga!"

He chuckled, lifting her into a standing position, and made a face at her. Pari laughed. "Jarra ditt gugga!" She clapped her hands gleefully. Arnav pulled her close and kissed her chubby cheek. the toddler frowned, her lips puckered in irritation, and she rubbed her cheek. "Ba! Ba! Mao gum!"

He smirked, an eyebrow quirked in amusement. "Meri daari chubhti hai?" (My stubble scratches you?)

Her eyes were full of accusation. "Gish!"

"Sorry, beta," he chuckled as he made her sit and caressed her cheek. "Main kya karoun? Tumhaari mami ko achhi lagti hai." (... What can I do? Your mami likes it.)

"What the-?"

His head snapped up to see a bright red Khushi with her eyes wide as saucers standing in the doorway. She strode in to lift her niece and held her on her bump.

"Kya aap bhi? Aapko sharam nahin aati? Bacche ke saamne aise-?" (What the-? Aren't you ashamed? In front of the child-?)

Arnav got to his feet to take Pari back. "I was just telling her truth!"

His wife turned several shades redder, causing his smirk to widen. "Khushi, relax. Usse kya samajh mein aayega." (... What will she understand?)

She smacked his arm before moving out, near the poolside. "Aap raakshas ke raakshas hi raheinge! Laad Governor! Shaitaan!" (You will always be a monster!)

He shot a sorry look at Pari and deposited her in her portable crib that had been transferred in their room for the day, patting her head. Then, he followed his cross wife out. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her, splaying his hands on her large bump and his lips pressed against the side of her neck.

"Iss rajkumari ka shaitaan houn. Sirf aur sirf issi ka." (I'm the monster of this princess. Only hers.)

She smiled softly, leaning back in his embrace. Only to be interrupted by their niece's hungry wails since it was her lunchtime.

Arnav sighed, his face buried in Khushi's hair. "Ek baat bataao? Humaara baccha bhi aisa hi hoga kya?" (Tell me one thing? Will our baby be like this too?)