Arshi FF | Arshi's Saviour; Lavanya | Chap 24 p 128 May 9th - Page 25

An 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.

...

Arnav pulled his daughter into his arms and kissed her chubby cheeks, making her giggle.

She slid out of Arnav's arms and crawled over Khushi's side. Sakshi touched Khushi's cheeks and babbled.

Khushi slightly opened her eyes to see her bubbly daughter in front of her. She pulled Sakshi into her arms and kissed her forehead.

Arnav turned to Khushi and smiled, "Good morning."

Khushi looked up and returned his smile, "Morning."

Arnav got up and moved into the wash. He returned and sat on the edge of the bed fiddling with his phone. When Khushi got up, Arnav voiced, "Hey, I thought we could get Sakshi ready today, like together if that's okay with you."

Khushi nodded, "Sure"

Arnav walked inside the bathroom. He took Sakshi's bath tub and settled it on the sink's counter. He filled it up while Khushi took off Sakshi's clothes on the changing table.

Khushi brought Sakshi up to the tub and placed her inside. Arnav held Sakshi's shoulders while Khushi soaped her. Sakshi splashed the water around the tub and spoke in her baby voice.

Khushi exclaimed, "All done!"

Khushi held the towel up and Arnav raised his wiggling daughter into the air. Khushi wrapped the towel around her and put her on the changing table. Arnav helped her to get Sakshi in her clothes.

Arnav took Sakshi into her arms and moved into the bedroom. He made her a bottle of milk and fed her while Khushi went for a bath. Khushi got ready and came out from the bathroom. She picked up Sakshi and went downstairs with her.

***

Khushi put Sakshi down so she could help Payal, Lavanya and Anjali in the kitchen. Soon after Khushi felt a tug on her shalwar. She looked down to see Sakshi covered in her apple juice. Khushi washed her hands and took Sakshi into her arms. She excused herself and went upstairs with Sakshi.

She put Sakshi down on the floor in the room and fished through the cupboard for the towel. She hit her hand against her head when she remembered the towel was in the bathroom. She entered the bathroom hastily and grabbed the towel from the rack. Just as she turned to leave they washroom she collided with a body.

She looked up to see Arnav staring right back at her. Arnav looked down and saw her hands holding his bare chest. Arnav touched her hands making her look at their hands on his chest.

She gulped when she realised he was shirtless. She turned to leave but as she stepped away from Arnav, she felt herself slip. She immediately closed her eyes anticipating the fall. But instead she felt two strong hands snake around her waist. She opened her eyes to meet his molten brown eyes.

Seconds, minutes... time stood still as they lost themselves in each other's eyes.

Out of the blue, they heard the sound of a clap. They turned to see Sakshi wobbling towards them clapping her tiny hands.

Arnav let go of Khushi and she straightened herself. He bent down and picked Sakshi up.

Arnav looked at Sakshi, "Didn't you just have a bath? Why do you have juice all over you?"

Sakshi flashed a mischievous smile.

He handed Sakshi to Khushi and he grabbed his shirt from the rack, putting it on.

Arnav left the bathroom while Khushi cleaned Sakshi up. She came out with Sakshi and put her on the bed.

Before Khushi changed Sakshi's clothes, Arnav looked up and said to her, "Get ready."

She asked, "Get ready for?"

He got up and sat on the bed next to Khushi, "I thought we could spend the day out with Sakshi."

Khushi nodded, "Okay."

She took out a pink dress and changed Sakshi into it. She combed Sakshi's hair and made her wear a pink ballerina shoe.

She moved to the cupboard and picked up her own clothes to change into. She turned to Arnav, "What time is Dhruvji coming?"

He answered, "Around 8 or 9pm. We'll be back before that. Vihaan is coming over too."

Khushi smiled and went into the wash to change. She came out in a pink shalwar. Arnav smiled and they went downstairs.

After having breakfast, Khushi brought down Sakshi's baby bag and Arnav picked up her stroller. After setting everything in the car, they announced they were leaving and they got into the car.

***

While driving Arnav kept glancing at Sakshi and Khushi in the back. Khushi and Sakshi were in their own little world. Arnav tapped his finger against the steering wheel when he heard a popular song begin.

Main Rang Sharbaton Ka.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnzZyGQi2ps[/YOUTUBE]

...

Khushi began humming the lyrics and Sakshi wiggled in her car seat to the music.
Khushi burst out in laughter seeing Sakshi dancing. Khushi took Sakshi's hands and started dancing with her. Arnav looked into the rear view mirror to see the scene in the backseat. Arnav chuckled and thought, 'Sakshi is just like Khushi.'

***

Arnav pulled into the car park of the mall and easily found a spot. He parked and got the stroller out of the trunk. Khushi had already gotten out and had Sakshi in her arms. Once Sakshi was secured into the stroller, they began moving towards the mall.

Arnav and Khushi both had a smile mirrored on their faces. Who would have thought a trip as easy as going to the mall would be such a big deal to them. It was indeed a very big deal, it was their first time going out as a family, a contented family.

As Arnav pushed the stroller inside the mall, Sakshi's head turned in every direction because she was unfamiliar with the new surroundings and it fascinated her.

Arnav turned to Khushi, "Where do you want to go?"
Khushi looked around and narrowed her eyes at one place. She pointed to Arnav, "There."

Arnav nodded and they walked in the direction of the Baby Store. Khushi held the door open as Arnav pushed the stroller inside. Khushi picked up a shopping basket and they started going through the lanes, not looking for anything in particular but in fact, anything that caught their eyes.

Khushi reached for a toy on one of the higher shelves. Just then she felt a hand brush past hers. She turned to see Arnav stretching for the toy. He put it inside the shopping basket and she smiled saying, "Thanks." He mirrored her smile.

Arnav moved to the clothes section and looked around. He picked up an outfit for Sakshi and turned to Khushi for her opinion. "Hmm... its really pretty." He smiled and added it in the basket.

They picked up a few other toys and clothes and headed for the counter to pay the cashier. They came out of the store and walked the corridor of the mall. "Khushi, lets go there." Arnav pointed.

Khushi nodded and veered the stroller in that direction as Arnav was holding the shopping bags. They entered the His & Hers Clothing Store. He turned to her and said,
"Go look around."
She nodded and left with Sakshi in the stroller.

He picked out a few t shirts and a couple of jeans. He started looking for Khushi and Sakshi. He found them in the corner of the store by the sun dresses section.
He walked up to them, "Did you find anything?"
She replied, "I like these, but I can't wear these in front of the family?"

He asked, "Would you wear them on vacation?"
"Vacation?" She inquired

"Hmm... I asked Aman to arrange tickets for us to go on a little trip."
She sounded surprised, "Really where are we going?"

"The Caribbean, you always wanted to go there right?"
She nodded, "You remember?"
"Yeah." He paused and then pointed to the dresses, "Now which ones do you want?"
She pointed to the ones she wanted and they moved to the counter and paid for his and her items.

***

Sakshi was getting fussy so they stopped and sat by one of the free tables in the food court.
Arnav took Sakshi into his arms while Khushi searched for her bottle of milk from the baby bag. Once she got it, she tested the milk on her hand and then took Sakshi from Arnav, cradling her in her arms. Arnav told her he was coming in a few minutes; she nodded and began feeding Sakshi.

Sakshi finished her bottle and Khushi burped her. She quickly checked her nappy but she didn't need a change. Khushi held Sakshi on her lap so Sakshi could see the surroundings. Arnav came back with a cup of ice cream; he sat next to her.

Khushi smiled and took the ice cream. She began eating it while speaking with Arnav. Sakshi tugged her mother's dupatta. Khushi looked down to see Sakshi's mouth open waiting for her share of ice cream. She chuckled and brought the spoon up to Sakshi's mouth.

Sakshi's dipped her finger in the cup of ice cream and smeared it onto Khushi's face as Khushi was taking long to give her another spoon of ice cream.

Khushi's widened her eyes, "Sakshi, you're getting naughty."

She put the cup on the table and took a napkin, wiping Sakshi's hands free of ice cream. She wiped most of it off her face. Just then Arnav pointed, "Khushi on your cheek."

Khushi passed her hand over her cheek but missed the spot. She asked, "Is it gone?"

Arnav shook his head and came closer to her. She was about to pass her hand over her cheek again, but Arnav held her hand, "Wait!"

Arnav took the napkin and gently wiped the ice cream off her face. His hands lingered on her face as he stared at her. Khushi looked down and Arnav became conscious of their position.

He whispered, "All done." She gave a slight smile.

Khushi fed Sakshi the remainder of the ice cream and then got up with her. She put her in the stroller and Arnav picked up their bags.

***

They walked into the Yours Sincerely' Jewellery Store. They walked in and looked around. Khushi spotted an anklet for Sakshi. She smiled and asked the attendant to show her it. The nice lady took it out and showed Khushi it. Arnav came next to her, "Wow this is pretty." He turned to the lady and said, "We'll take it." The lady left to pack it.

Arnav saw Khushi staring at an earring; he asked, "Do you want this?" She turned to him, "Err... no." She paused, "I'm taking Sakshi outside." Arnav nodded. He looked at Khushi's retreating figure and looked at the earring. He smiled and called the attendant lady.

He slipped the jewellery bag into one of the other bags he had in his hand. He came outside and met Khushi. "Are you ready to go?" He asked.

She nodded and they left for the car. Arnav set all the bags into the trunk. Khushi took Sakshi out of the stroller and put her on the seat. She changed Sakshi's nappy and then settled her into the car seat. Arnav put the stroller into the trunk and sat in the driver's seat.

He began driving but when Arnav went past Shantivan's street, Khushi looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Arnavji where are we?"

Before she could continue she saw Arnav pull up by a children's park.

He turned off the engine and turned to Khushi. "I usually bring her here, so I thought I would show you the place." He came out and took Sakshi into his arms. He spoke to Sakshi, "Its your first time with mama here." She giggled.

Khushi came out from the other side and they walked towards the entrance of the park. They moved towards the swings. Arnav settled Sakshi into the baby swing. Khushi went behind and pushed her. Arnav took out his phone and clicked some pictures of the mother daughter duo.

Arnav took over and began pushing Sakshi. Khushi took some pictures and then sat on one of the normal swings next to Sakshi. Khushi felt herself being pushed. She turned around to see Arnav behind her pushing her. She smiled and he alternately pushed Sakshi and Khushi.

The sun was dull in comparison to the bright faces of Sakshi, Khushi, what more could a father and husband want. Arnav smiled with a contented heart. Arnav didn't realise when Khushi got up and stood next to him.

Khushi held Arnav's hand, "Your turn." He came out of his bubble, "Huh?" Khushi motioned to the swing, "Sit."

He picked up Sakshi and sat on the swing. She gave him a push. He then pulled her to sit on the other normal swing on his left.

She smiled as she looked at her husband and her daughter. That's all she wanted; their happiness, it made her happy.

Arnav waved his hand in front of Khushi's face to draw her attention. "Hey where were you lost?" He continued, "Are you ready to go home?"

She wanted to say no, and that she never wanted this moment to end, their perfect little world. But she looked at her tired daughter and answered, "Yes."

Next Chapter 15

Finally its up... I made everyone wait so long... Sowwie 😭