'Mumma..' 'Mumma...' Atharav came shouting for Khushi in Living room where she was preparing notes for her students. 'What happen Atharav? Why are you shouting?' She asked in anxious voice. 'See my Thumb painting Mumma' 'Tell me how is it?' Atharav asked her in a cheerful voice showing his thumb painting. But Khushi just raised her left eyebrow. 'So much excitation!! Really Atharav??' She teased him in the way. Upon that he just pouted in a cutest way. He knows that his mumma was again teasing him because of thumb painting.
But before he can ask another question door bell rang of Khushi's apartment. A lady shouted from Kitchen for Khushi to open the door. 'Yeah Ma I was already going.' Khushi replied. She got up to open the door. Atharav too followed her as always. But the person on the other side scared him which made him to hide behind his mumma while hugging her leg tightly. 'Mumma..' Atharav's scared voice startled her. 'It's okay Avi' She tried to convince him but he was too much scared. She knows the reason. Which small 3yr child cannot be scared after seeing police? When that was the same person was once trying to create the distance between him and his mother, you will be more scared. 'Sir please give me a minute. I need to handle him.' Khushi informed Police inspector while picking up Avi.
Avi was really scared. He tried to hide in Khushi's embrace like a little baby. This action of him scared Khushi too. But she too can't help much in this because no one can change the past. She took him in bedroom and tucked him in bed while promising him that she will be back. 'I will be back there with you Avu' 'Please Baby... Let go of mumma for now. She will come here only.' He stopped being stubborn for a while and stayed there.
Khushi took a deep breath and entered Living room. She thought of having another argument with him. 'Is it time to knock on someone's door? Being a police man but acting like a jerk and scared my little baby.' She thought and entered Living room just to face him again at door but he was already sitting there. 'Ma... argh!! She really knows whom to welcome or not?' She thought angrily and gave him Don't-Act-Smart Look.
'Yeah Sir. What was the need that you are here at this time?' She asked that man ignoring all pleasantries for a guest. 'Actually S.P. Sir have sent some papers for you. These papers will help you in future if any problem will come up in future for Atharav's custody.' He replied after getting the hint that she wasn't in mood and gave her an envelope. She opened the envelope and found the some papers regarding Atharav's case. She smiled after reading the letter with signatures of various officers department of Police. She didn't expected help from them. 'Please say Thank you from me to Sir. I didn't expect this help. But I appreciate it. Thanks to you too' She replied in a cheerful voice. 'Hmm. Okay then I should leave' He left then.
She was the way too happy after that. Firstly she didn't expect this help. Secondly, it will secure her future with Atharav. She smiled to herself and started collecting notes from table.
'Khushi' she looked up for her mother. Her brows frowned after seeing that look on her mother's face. She knows very well that look which clearly says that 'I am up to something again'. But she was really not in mood to ruin the moment. She was happy after all.
'Yeah Ma. I am listening.'
'No you are not. Neither you listened me then nor you will now.' Garima told her angrily. 'I really don't know what you want Khushi. Again police came into this house because of that boy.' Khushi flinched at her mother's tone towards Atharav but tried to remain same.
'Why do love that boy? Or you love him more than us?'
'Ma please, he just came here to give some papers regarding Atharav's custody. And Ma what are saying? That boy?!' Khushi asked her mother. 'That boy is my son Ma. And no mother will listen against her son so neither I am going to. And Ma, he also calls you Nani and respects you... then how can you...?' she replied her mother. She was fed up defending Atharav.
'Why doesn't Ma care for him? At least for sake of his innocence' Khushi thought angrily. She left living room and didn't cared to answer her mother's twenty questions.
She kept the notes in her bag in the cupboard and then climbed on bed to sleep. After Atharav, both share bed as Atharav don't like to sleep alone being in small age. She kissed him on both cheeks and then forehead. But she felt some movement.
'No mumma! No No Mumma please... No. It tickles too much.' 'Stop Mumma' He laughed heartedly as Khushi tickled him hard. He tried to stop her but Khushi was Khushi.
'Mumma please... Please Please Please' He stopped her pleadingly.
'Why are you up Avi? I told you to sleep.' She asked him. 'I was waiting for you.' Atharav replied to Khushi in tensed voice.
'I was scared mumma. I thought...' But Khushi hugged him. 'No baby. See as I promised, I am here with you. I will never leave you. Mumma loves you Avi. Mumma loves you so much.' She replied while kissing him like he loves. He always loves her mumma kissing him. He felt loved and cherished. 'Then why was that devil was here at our home?' He enquired her. She raised one eyebrow at his choose words.
'Oh! He... Devil! He was here to give permanent license for you to live in this home with your mumma.' She told him in her cutest way. But Atharav got nothing from her riddles. He just shrugged his shoulders and hugged Khushi. He just wants to be with his mumma. Nothing more, nothing less! A baby always wants to stay under warmth of his mother. That what Atharav was getting from Khushi or say even more than that. They both got into deep slumber with new hopes in their innocent hearts.
A new morning will always come with new beginnings and many more. So always welcome it with open arms and take a look at your feet. So that you will never feel problem or difficulty before your elders while giving them respect. It really helps.
'Ma, we are leaving. Bye' Khushi told her mother while taking blessings from her father. Like always Atharav copied her.
He took blessing from both. 'Bye Nani ji, Bye Nana ji' He their leave from home with a smile and followed Khushi.
Atharav is in pre-nursery class. Khushi made him join co-ed school from start. She knows the value of education. She was herself a lecturer of Mathematics, so wanted best for her son.
On other side, Garima wasn't happy with going on events. She was already dejected from Khushi's decision. Now after last night's event, when that police man came in house at night gave her reason to crib more. In Indian society, when police come to anybody's house People got their means to only talk. They will never ask for any help if they needed. They will just talk about the reasons for which police can come to anybody's house.
Garima was upset. The things which were on her mind, she wanted to take out. She wants to discuss with her husband but she knows that Shashi will always first care for Khushi's feelings rather than her. So she took time to say things at an instance so that she will win. She is also a mother and wanted to see her children happy always, If not children then at least one child. She will not the backseat this time. So she took courage to talk to Shashi when someone's time home.
Shashi wanted some water so called for Garima. 'Can I have a glass of water?' 'Uhh I want to talk about something.' She said while giving him water. 'Or say about Khushi.' Shashi replied to Garima's words. She sighed. Now she knew that her husband had already sensed something fishy from her behaviour.
'Yeah it is about Khushi. But will you listen me once?' She retorted back on him. He was solving puzzle on paper.
Shashi was retired from his job 2 years back. He had worked as an engineer in electricity board commission. Being a government employ, he failed in public relations. But he had always loved his children. So what if his relations are not maintained with society, he really never cared. He was a conservative person from start. But he cared for his family because he knows that people know to talk, so they will just talk nothing more.
'Ask? What is it? But one thing is clear that I will not agree to any term just like that if that is related to Khushi.'
That's what Garima wanted. She knows if Khushi agreed means he will also agree. She hid her small smile. 'I know you won't listen to me. But let me tell you. This time I am not going to sit. People are talking that a police man came at night in their house...' Before Garima can say anything more, the door bell rang which announced that Khushi and Atharav are home now. She got up to open the door before giving the serious looks to Shashi. This time he was also in daze what to say?!...
'Hey Ma.' Khushi acknowledged Garima with a smile while Atharav did with 'Hey Nani.' In return she just smiled and welcome them in. when Khushi and Atharav were going into room to get fresh, she stopped Khushi.
'Stop there Khushi. We decided something.' Khushi thought that again her mother is going to start about last night. Before she will start a new fiasco, she really needs to stop her. So she turned around to clarify things Garima didn't let her say anything.
'No Khushi this time you have to agree to me. I have had enough. We are going to find a suitable groom for you. You had already taken many decisions after that unholy day. Now it is my turn.'
'This time even your father is not going to stop me. I can't see people taking about you. It is just enough now.' These words of Garima made Khushi so much angry that she herself didn't realized when words came out from her mouth. 'Okay then. I am also fine with it. Go and find again a suitable groom. I will agree again and will wait for what-will-happen-next?'
Khushi was angry too much angry. She was angry on her mother. She was angry on bl**dy society. She was unable to believe that her mother will think about society more than her. 'Is society so important for Ma?' she thought in her mind. Her heart was screaming. She didn't want to go through all that again. She was scared from the word 'Marriage'. She can never imagine that if her fear will ever overcome. That's why when her mother mentioned about groom, she didn't want to listen more. So she said 'yes' and left for her room with Atharav.
Atharav clearly didn't understand anything. 'What can a small child thought a daughter and her mother's angry talks?' He tried to run his small brain but failed. One thing he can do is ask from his mother.
'Mumma what was Nani talking about? What is groom?' Atharav asked Khushi in that cutest way that Khushi forget everything. She was helping him in changing clothes and was thinking deeply but his cuteness have that charm she always got awed. That was one of biggest reason that she loves her son. Atharav's love and innocence helped her to forget her fears for a time otherwise she was alone, all alone.
'Nothing Avi, You cannot understand this.' 'You tell me, how was your day? Did you again made your thumb painting or someone helped you?' she teased him while ignoring that topic. Atharav whined over that. 'Mumma don't tease me so much please.'
'Aww Avu...' Khushi caught him in a tight hug for his cuteness.
On the other side Garima was elated with the result. She was successful. She knew her daughter very well. Now Khushi already agreed, it means Shashi too agreed. Now she can also think about Khushi's future and will surely take precautions to don't want to repeat the same mistakes.
Note- Thank you for reading. Please BUDDY me for PMs. 😊
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