Arshi FF | Arshi's Saviour; Lavanya | Chap 24 p 128 May 9th - Page 22

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Arnav finished his call and walked back into the living room. He looked around and he heard Nani's voice, "They went upstairs." He nodded and sat next to Nani. Sakshi leaped into his arms as soon as he sat down. He fished out his phone and gave it to Sakshi. As her usual routine, she grabbed it and pretended to put it against her ear like she usually saw her daddy doing.

Sakshi tugged Arnav's shirt and he looked down at her. Once she got her daddy's attention, she showed him the phone and babbled into it. Arnav kissed the top of Sakshi's head and Nani smiled.

Nani asked, "Beta is everything..."

Arnav ran his hand through his hair and replied, "No, but I'll make it better, I promise you. For Sakshi I will." He looked down at his happy daughter.

Nani titled her head at her grandson, "I know you will for Sakshi, but what about you and Khushi?" Arnav shook his head and looked at Nani, "I know somewhere inside she still loves me and she knows I love her, but we have to give it time. I need to give her time, but right now our main focus is Sakshi."

Nani put a hand on Arnav's shoulder, "Everything will be okay Chotte." She got up and headed to her room.

***

Arnav looked down at his daughter, who was still imitating him with the phone. He chuckled and took her upstairs. Putting Sakshi on the bed, he walked over to the recliner and opened his laptop. He glanced over at Sakshi, who was sitting in the middle of the bed, still engrossed with the phone; he sighed and checked his emails. He reviewed a few files and then closed his laptop. Just then his phone started ringing, Arnav sprang up, but before he could get it from Sakshi, Sakshi herself pressed the answer button.

Sakshi babbled into the phone as she heard a voice on the other end of the line. Arnav let out a hearty laugh at his daughter's expressions. From a pout to then frown lines appearing on her little baby face as she tried to figure out the words of the person. He moved towards her and took the phone from her. She pouted again and turned away from Arnav.

Arnav looked at his angry daughter and spoke into the phone, "Yeah Aman, oh no... Sakshi was playing with it, yeah send it." There was a pause as Arnav listened to Aman's voice. Arnav then replied, "Err, you know what I'll swing by the office in that case... Okay bye."

He pulled Sakshi into his arms and gave her back the phone. A bright smile appeared on her face. She wiggled out of his arms and he got up. Arnav moved to his cupboard and got his office clothes.

Just then Khushi entered the room and sat down on the bed next to Sakshi.

Arnav moved into the wash and got ready. He came out in a black pants and black shirt along with his favourite silver tie.

Arnav glanced over at her, "I have to go to the office, I'll be back in an hour or so."

She nodded at him.

He moved towards the bed and took the phone out of Sakshi's hand. Sakshi's hand followed Arnav's, trying to get back the phone. He kissed her and said to her, "Baby I'll get you a toy phone but right now daddy needs this one." She nodded and started playing with the end of Khushi's dupatta.

He grabbed his laptop bag and pocketed his phone; he turned to Khushi and uttered, "Bye."

She reiterated, "Bye."

He glanced back at the mother daughter duo and then left for the office.

***

Arnav entered the house and went straight upstairs. He was exhausted; he couldn't get away from the piling up and pending work so he opted to stay for some extra hours, which in turn ended up being 7-8 hours. He checked his watch, "10pm." He loosened his tie and entered the bedroom. Khushi was on the bed with Sakshi, blowing raspberries on Sakshi's bare tummy. The sensation was making Sakshi writhe in laughter. She blew another raspberry and said, "Mumma loves you." Sakshi stroked Khushi's cheek with her hand and giggled. Khushi held Sakshi's palm and kissed it.

Arnav moved towards them and sat on the edge of the bed. Sakshi saw Arnav and toddled over to him. She blew a raspberry at Arnav, making Arnav and Khushi twist in laughter.

She stood up and said, "I'll just heat up dinner and bring it up."

He nodded and Khushi went downstairs. He took off his shoes and grabbed his laptop bag.

He took out the toy phone he had promised to get Sakshi. He made sure to buy it before he went to the office. She clapped her chubby hands as he removed it from the plastic.

"Here you go." He said as he gave the phone to Sakshi. She held it in front of her and played around with it. After a few seconds of exploring it, she took it and put it against her ear, babbling into it.

Khushi returned upstairs with Arnav's food and Sakshi's bottle. She gave Arnav his food on the recliner and sat on the bed to feed Sakshi. Arnav took his plate downstairs and then went into the bathroom to freshen up.

Arnav changed and came out to see Khushi putting Sakshi to sleep. He moved towards them and took Sakshi into his arms. He sat on the recliner with a drowsy Sakshi while Khushi made the bed.

Arnav turned to her and voiced, "I'll take the recliner; you can stay on the bed." She nodded and he handed Sakshi over to Khushi. He took a blanket and moved to the recliner.

Sakshi snuggled with her teddy bear and fell asleep. Khushi pulled the covers over Sakshi and herself and closed her eyes. Once Sakshi and Khushi were asleep, Arnav took off the lights and fell asleep on the recliner.

***

It was just after midnight; Arnav used the bathroom and came back into the bedroom. Just as he was walking back to the recliner, he saw Khushi's head moving side to side in her sleep as if trying to shake a bad dream away. In the next second, she jolted awake, causing her to sit up on the bed. She was breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

He raced over to her and caressed her back.

"Tum theek ho?"

Khushi didn't respond as she was trying to catch her breath.

He reached over to the nightstand and brought the glass of water to her lips. She sipped the water and relaxed a bit. He took the glass from her and made her lie on the bed. He pulled the covers up to her waist and got up.

He heard Khushi say in a light whisper, "No."

He turned around and half sat on the bed, "What's wrong?"

She held his hand, "Please don't go. I'm scared."

Arnav complied and laid down next to her on the bed.

He asked, "What was your nightmare about?"

"You and Sakshi. I couldn't find you both and I was alone in the dark, I..." She sobbed into her palms.

He whispered, "Shhh." He hugged her and said, "I'm here, Sakshi's here. We're not going anywhere." She nodded and pulled away. She turned to Sakshi's side and hugged her. Arnav put his arm around Khushi, hugging her from the back; making sure she knew he wasn't leaving her side.

***

Anjali and Payal walked past Arnav and Khushi's bedroom door and saw it slightly open. They peeked inside and saw Arnav hugging Khushi and Sakshi snuggled into her mother's arms, while to the right of Sakshi a few pillows were placed to the edge of the bed to prevent her from falling.

Lavanya came up behind Payal and Anjali. She angled her head, trying to see what her sister in laws were looking at. "Di, Payal." Lavanya was immediately hushed by her sister in laws. Payal whispered, "Speak softly." Di added and moved aside so Lavanya could see, "They're asleep." Lavanya smiled from ear to ear. She gushed, "Aww."

Lavanya gently pulled the door shut and pulled her sister in laws away from the room. "Come on; let's go before they wake up."

***

A hour or so later, Arnav felt soft kisses pressed on his face. He inwardly smiled and opened his eyes to meet her innocent eyes staring right back at him.

{To be continued...}😉

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