Arnav was still in his half-asleep-half-awake state when he felt something heavy on his chest. And that heavy "thing" was making it difficult for him to breathe. Opening his eyes with great difficulty, he saw Sam staring right back at him. "Daddy, wake up, wake up" he was patting his bearded cheeks with his tiny little hands. Arnav woke up and pulled Samrat into a bear hug. "Who wishes Daddy good morning that way?" Sam giggled as Arnav's beard tickled his neck. "Daddy I'll be late to school! Get up!" he said between giggles. Arnav looked at the watch and his eyes grew wide. "8'o clock?" he gasped and he scrambled out of bed, carrying Sam in his arms. "Did you brush?" Arnav asked, and Sam nodded. Placing him on the ground, he said, "Okay, then go and pick your clothes what you want to wear, okay?" "But Daddy, bath?" Sam called out to him. Arnav stopped and turned around. "Let's skip bath today. Get ready and come for breakfast soon." he said, and in a flash, Arnav was out of sight. Sam was more than happy. He hated bath time anyway. He eyed on his Daddy's bed, contemplating on whether to jump on it or not. Deciding on the latter, he ran to his room to pick out a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. By the time Arnav came out of his room dressed in black formal slacks and a blue shirt, Sam was ready too. By then, it was already 8.15A.M.
"Sorry buddy, but you'll have to adjust with cornflakes" Arnav said as he fetched the tetrapak from the fridge. "Daddy, honey loops for me!" Sam exclaimed. "okay, okay" Arnav muttered and pulled out two cereal boxes -cornflakes for him and honey loops for Sam. In a record time of three minutes, Arnav gulped the entire contents of his bowl. Sam was still eating, and Arnav hurried to make him his tiffin. He was thankful that he had purchased a pack of ready-to-eat paratha's that only required microwaving them. His saviour was Mrs. Kaur, for a change, who had sent a bowl of paneer makhani for the two of them, last night. In no time, Sam's tiffin was ready, and Arnav packed the school bag. "Hurry, Sam, it's 8.45 already. I've got to drop you and then rush to office. I have an important meeting at 9.30!" Sam finished his breakfast in his own sweet time, and Arnav dumped the bowls in the sink. Washing them now was out of the question; he would do it in the evening.
Khushi looked at the watch. It was 9.15 and still there was no sign of Samrat. Gauri noticed her worried expression, and instantly, she looked around to see if Samrat had come. She was right. Khushi was worried about the little boy who had not yet turned up. She walked to Khushi and knocked on her table. "Hello, Madam! What's bothering you?" Khushi furrowed her brows as she stood up. "It's 9.15 and Samrat isn't come to class yet. I bet that happy-go-lucky father of his must have delayed him. Even yesterday, he forgot his son at school! Can you believe it? Such irresponsible..." "Khushi!" Gauri spoke in a pitch louder. "Even if he is irresponsible, he is Samrat's Dad. I understand you find Sam cute, I mean, we all do! But don't you think you're getting too attached to him? Imagine someone comes and yells at you about your child, and calls you irresponsible! How would you feel? And I don't think it is right for anyone to judge anybody. Right?" Khushi opened her mouth to protest, but somewhere deep in her heart, she knew that Gauri was right. "Khushi, I suggest you keep some distance from that boy, and treat him just as your student. He does not have a mother and he will tend to seek affection from you. And it is quite natural for us, being women, to pamper a child. But don't make him so attached to you that..." Khushi's eyes shifted to the corridor and she saw a car entering the premises. She saw Samrat being driven by his father to school. "Samrat is here!" she cut Gauri's statement and went off to the entrance to bring him in. Whatever Gauri had been saying for the past five minutes had fallen on deaf ears. "Khushi, just don't end up complicating matters!" was all that she muttered, before she went back to the kids in her section.
Khushi reached the entrance and saw Samrat getting out of the vehicle, as his Dad held the door for him. Placing a kiss on his Daddy's cheek, he looked towards the entrance and beamed when he saw her standing. "Miss Khushi!" he screamed from far and ran towards her. "Sam, take your bag... Sam..." Arnav called out to his son who, by the way, was too focused on his teacher to turn back. God alone knew why, but Khushi knelt down and Samrat ran straight into her arms, and placed a tight kiss on her cheek. Arnav was taken by surprise when he saw this little display of affection, but decided to let it go when she shot daggers at him through her eyes. Panting for breath, Sam said, "We were late... Daddy... woke up late..." Khushi looked at Arnav, who was walking towards them. She tried hard not to roll her eyes at him. Arrogant Fool! "It's okay Samrat, you're only fifteen minutes late. Tell your Daddy to wake up early from tomorrow. Now run along inside. Abhimanyu has been asking for you since quite a few minutes" she said. Sam ran inside when he saw Abhi peeping from the class door, and forgot about the rest of the world as he hugged his best friend.
Khushi held out her hand and asked for Samrat's bag and water bottle. Arnav handed it over to her, "Sorry, we are late. Actually..." "Yes, you are fifteen minutes late!" she said, glaring at him. There goes the fire-breathing dragon trapped inside of Frosty! "You, Mr. Raizada, are supposed to set an example for Samrat. You are supposed to wake up early and give him a good example. But look at you. You delayed him." Arnav looked at her and yawned unintentionally. His head was already aching, and getting yelled at, that too from a pint-sized female, was not something that he was in the mood for, at this very moment. He felt like he was ten years old, where his Mother would give him an earful for waking up late and not getting ready for school in time. Khushi's eyes widened as he yawned, right in her face. "Urgh! There is no use talking to you!" she said and stormed inside the class. He frowned at her. What did I do now? And what is her problem? Why can't something pleasant come out of her mouth, ever? He could have given her left and right with his words, then and there. He did not need a tiny woman telling him how to treat his son and how he should be setting an example for him. But having a conversation with Frosty was like pouring water on a buffalo's back. There was no use in banging his head against the wall. Shaking his head at her, he got into the car and drove to office.
"What was that!" Gauri asked Khushi, who looked fiercer than a wild bull. "You look like you could kill! I guess, the next time Mr. Raizada comes here, I need to book a plot with the municipality for his burial! And what did you say to Mr. Hottie Raizada?" Khushi's eyes widened. "Hottie, my foot! He's just... I just... urgh! I cannot stand that man's sight!" Gauri furrowed her brows. "Why? What did he do?" Khushi rolled her eyes. "He just doesn't know to talk. For instance, last night he was standing in his balcony and smoking. So, like a fool, I told him that it is bad for health. And you know what he said? He said, I don't remember hiring you as my nanny to tell me what I am supposed to do. And just a few minutes back, I told him that he needs to set a good example for Samrat, and he yawned. On my face! That is so disrespectful! Jerk!" Gauri watched her complaining, and she almost imagined steam shooting out of Khushi's ears, as in those classics of Tom and Jerry!
"And yet I don't understand why you are so annoyed at Mr. Raizada!" she said and Khushi looked at Gauri with her jaw slightly open. "Have you been listening to what I just said Gauri, or were you lost in your own dreamland dreaming about your Hottie?" Gauri chuckled and then turned serious, "I did hear what you were saying, Khushi. But do you hear yourself? I don't understand why you are hunting reasons to dislike Mr. Raizada. Trust me when I say this, Khushi. I have seen many single parents, and Mr. Raizada is doing just fine." Khushi huffed. "Fine? He's doing fine? He almost forgot he had to pick up Samrat in the evening and..." "Khushi! Are you kidding me? You are still holding onto that? What about the fact that today he came half an hour early to pick his son? He learnt from his mistake and has rectified it today. Isn't that the important thing? That we learn from our mistakes? I mean, come on! Look at Priyanka over there" she said, pointing to a little girl in the corner, "That little one's mom left her for another man when she was an infant, and her dad does not even look at her face. She is raised by her grandmother, who is half the time busy with her social gatherings. Mr. Raizada is far better, much much better! And if you ask me, I'd say that you're getting too protective and attached to Samrat. As I have already told you, keep some distance from the boy. You are just his teacher, damn it! Don't try to behave like his mother!" Khushi nodded, with her eyes fixed on Samrat who was busy giggling and Gauri immediately knew that whatever she said went off in the air. "And more importantly, stop hating Mr. Raizada! He's too handsome and you cannot dislike such a hot dish!" Gauri said with a wink and Khushi rolled her eyes. She only smiled as Gauri walked away to manage her section.
Evening arrived, sooner than usual, or it seemed that way. At 4.00 PM, when Khushi peeked outside her class, she saw a familiar car parked outside. What was more familiar was the person standing next to the car. Arnav Singh Raizada! "What on earth is he doing here, half an hour before school hours finish?" she thought. She saw him looking at her and he immediately straightened his back when she walked towards him. "Mr. Raizada is fine... Far better... Keep distance from Samrat... You're just his teacher" Gauri's words rang in her mind and she knew she had to try her best from not getting irritated at Arnav. "Good evening, Mr. Raizada" she said in a calm voice, and in response, he nodded his head and greeted her, "Good evening, Miss Khushi" And before she could grill him and then yell at him for coming early to school, he said, "I wasn't sure if school hours were till four or four thirty. So I came a bit early to be on the safe side." "It's till four-thirty" she replied in the same cold tone. "Would it kill you to be a little polite, frosty? Maybe she's scared she'll drop her teeth if she smiles!" he thought to himself with a small smile. "There goes his goofy grin, again. I wonder what he finds so amusing!" she looked at him with a frown. Silence stretched and none of them spoke a word. Arnav shifted his weight uncomfortably from one leg to another, while she crossed her arms at her chest and watched his restless behaviour. "Okay then, I'll wait here till class is done" he said. She nodded her head and walked inside. Gauri smiled when she saw Khushi coming into the classroom. "what?" Khushi asked in irritation. "Nothing! I was just looking at Hottie." Gauri smiled. Coming close to Khushi, she whispered in her ear, "By the way, is it the pants or is his butt really that sexy? I'd like to spank that some day!" "Gosh Gauri! Too much!" Khushi said as she shook her head in disbelief, as Gauri laughed out loud.
"Daddyyy" Arnav was busy on a call from office when he heard a loud squeal behind him. He excused himself as he cut the call and turned around to see Samrat running towards him in top speed. "Whoa, slow down buddy!" he laughed as he carried Samrat into his arms and pulled him into a tight hug. "Daddy, you came to pick me!" he exclaimed between giggles as Arnav brushed his bearded cheek against his chin and neck. "Yes, I did!" Arnav said and continued, "By the way, I feel like having an ice cream! You want one?" Sam grinned at Arnav and raised his fingers, "I want two, Daddy! One chocolate and another black currant" "Black currant?" Arnav was surprised at his son's taste. Never had Sam had a black currant ice cream earlier. Moreover, that black currant brought back a million memories!
"Arnav, I hate butterscotch! Please order something else!" Arnav frowned at her. "Swathi, I love butterscotch. Try it once!" he said to her and she rolled her eyes while refusing butterscotch for a black currant ice cream. It was the second anniversary of their relationship and both of them were celebrating it by having an ice cream after a late dinner. Arnav had insisted on buying only one cone and sharing it. Apparently, love increases when you share food! Swathi too agreed. But their only argument was over which flavour to order. "Arnav, please. Not butterscotch! Please please please!" Looking at her pout, he gave in. How could he see her sad? That too on such a special day! "Alright! Bhaiyya, ek black currant ice cream dena" he said and Swathi clapped her hands like a five year old. She took the cone and both of them walked towards the car after Arnav paid. She offered him a bite but he denied as he watched her relishing the ice cream. "What?" she asked as she saw him staring at her while she ate. "You eat like a baby dinosaur!" he exclaimed and pointed to her fingers which were sticky with the cream dripping down her fingers. He pulled a wet tissue and she wiped her hands when she was done. "You did not eat at all just because I ordered for a black currant! So mean!" she said and pouted. Arnav grinned mischievously and inched closer to her. Her felt her breath turn rapid as he held her hands in his. Gently, he leaned in for a kiss and licked her lower lip as he ran his tongue round her mouth. "Black currant is truly awesome" he whispered and she blushed as he cupped her face for another kiss.
Sam's voice jerked him out of his thoughts. Damn you, Black Currant! "Yes, Daddy. Miss Khushi made me eat one. And I liked it. It tastes... ummm... different!" Arnav sighed when he saw his son's eyes glitter on the mere mention of Miss Khushi! Now this Miss Frosty has taken over his son's heart with some sort of pixie dust and even influenced him to have black currant. Great! Simply great! Damn you, Frosty! "Alright! Let's get a black currant for you and an almond one for me!" He crossed the road and entered the small ice cream parlour right across the street where several kids were buying milk sticks, after their classes, on their way back home. Some of the smaller kids couldn't reach the counter since the bigger kids had crowded earlier. Arnav bought Sam an ice cream and then asked him to wait aside, while he helped a few of the smaller ones to make their way to the front, to buy some sweets.
Khushi watched the whole scene between the father-son and smiled to herself. She wished she too had a dad who picked her up from school and bought her ice creams and candy. But her Dad was as good as dead. He abandoned her when he married again, and forgot about her existence once he had a family of his own. All she wanted was some love. She then thought about Rishi. He would have been a wonderful Dad if they had kids. After they were married, she would often see him playing with a few kids of her class when he would come to pick her up. Arnav was so similar to Rishi when it came to kids. Her smile vanished and she felt guilty. How could she compare this man to her Rishi? "I told you!" Gauri said, almost startling her, "Mr. Raizada is a fine Dad. Look at how he handled the younger kids!" Khushi chose not to respond, but Gauri knew that she did agree and was smart enough to not push her for a response. "Anyway Khushi, I'm going home in the school bus. See you tomorrow" Khushi nodded with a smile and went back into the classroom to bring her bag to leave for home.
Arnav and Sam had just come back after their ice cream, and Sam ran towards Khushi, who was just leaving the building. "Miss Khushi, are you going home?" he asked and she knelt down in front of him. "Yes Samrat, I am going home." Sam turned around and yelled, "Daddy, can Miss Khushi come with us in the car? We are going home anyway, right?" Arnav looked at Khushi and both exchanged an uncomfortable glance. "No Sam, I have to go elsewhere before heading towards home. You go along with your Daddy" Khushi lied. Sam's face fell small. "You don't want to come with me?" "No no Sam, it's just..." Khushi left her sentence incomplete with a sigh. "We will drop you home, Miss Khushi." She looked up and saw Arnav. She stood up and fidgeted with the edge of her dupatta. "But Mr. Raizada..." "I have never disappointed Sam, nor will I ever do that." he said, cutting her statement. "We are anyway heading home. We could drop you at the place you have some work." "No, I'm going home. I just said that to avoid... any trouble for you both" Arnav nodded. "I understand. But it's no trouble. You and I have the same destination and the same road to take. We all can go together. That is, if it is okay with you" Khushi thought for a minute. Arnav was right. Both of them had the same place to reach. "Okay" she said and looked at Sam. "I'll come with you" Sam jumped in excitement and opened the front door. "I'll sit on your lap" he exclaimed. "Sam, get in the back seat. You're not a small baby anymore, you're quite heavy" Arnav reprimanded. "No, it's okay" Khushi said softly. "I'm fine with him sitting on my lap" she said. The truth was, she felt odd sitting next to Arnav, alone. "Okay" Arnav said and got into the driver's seat.
The whole way Sam was busy chatting with Khushi, and for the first time, Arnav saw her laughing so openly. Of course, her laughter would turn dimmer when she would find him observing her conversation with Sam. Arnav's heart felt sad. This conversation should have been between Sam and his mother -Swathi, not with his kindergarten teacher. Swathi's name made him furious, causing him to increase his grip on the steering wheel, and Khushi noticed his knuckles turn white. Maybe, he did not like it that Samrat was so free with her. And so, during the rest of the drive, she stayed silent and only responded to Sam's questions. Samrat, of course, was oblivious to all of this. He was more than elated that he was driving home with his Miss Khushi.
Once they entered the building's main gate, Arnav parked his car and got off to open the door for Sam and Khushi. Sam hopped out and opened the back door to take his bag and water bottle. Khushi got off and looked at Arnav. For a few seconds, they said nothing but just looked at each other in silence. "Thank you" she mumbled and he nodded, "Please don't mention it" he said to her. Suddenly, she felt as if it was too crowded and she was standing too close to him. She took a step back. Arnav noticed this, and involuntarily, he too took a step back. "I'm sorry" she said, surprising Arnav. "What for?" he questioned her, completely clueless about what she was apologising for. Sam ran off towards the security uncle who called out to "Samrat Baaba". Khushi cleared her throat, "I noticed you were a little upset when you were driving. I understand that you may not like Samrat being close to me. I will keep my distance from your son." Arnav widened his eyes. That, of all the thoughts, was not at all in his head. In fact, it made him happy when he saw Samrat happy with his teacher. "No Miss Khushi, it's not like..." "It's okay, you needn't explain. People have their own beliefs and I've gotten used to it by now. No one wants anything bad for their own child." Her talk confused Arnav even more. "Miss Khushi, I don't think I get what you're trying to say" He noticed her eyes moisten and eventually tears welled up in her eyes. "As Mrs. Kaur says, it's bad luck for children to be with widows. I understand if you get upset with my closeness with Samrat..." "How could you think like that?" She looked up to see a furious Arnav. "I don't believe in all such crap. And comparing my thoughts to that of Kaur's is the last thing on earth that you should be doing. Look Miss Khushi, people talk. They find a reason to talk. But letting such talk affecting us is not a good thing to do. Once you start such things affecting you, you won't even realise when you start believing in their nonsensical talk. And then, your negativity takes over you and makes you weak." Arnav paused for a minute, "And if you were wondering about why I was upset, then I assure you it was due to a totally different reason. Seeing Sam with you makes me happy. I have never seen him happier. Maybe just two times earlier- once, when he saw our pet Bruno at my Mom's place for the first time, and second time when he came to know that you are our neighbour" Khushi smiled. "And another thing, the next time Mrs. Kaur says something to you, stand up to her. Being silent only encourages her to talk more. You are not weak, Miss Khushi. No one is."
"Daadiii" Sam screamed, causing Arnav and Khushi to look in the direction of his voice. They saw Ratna standing at the entrance of the building, watching them with a smile. "Ma?" Arnav said and walked towards his mother. Khushi too walked along. Hugging her, he kissed her forehead. "How are you Ma?" "I'm fine" she said. And looking at Khushi from teh corner of her eye, she whispered in his ears, "And I can see that you're more than fine. Driving with a lady by your side now, are you?" "Hush now" he whispered and pulled out of her hug. "Ma, this is Khushi Kumari Gupta - Sam's teacher and our neighbour. Khushi, this is my Mom" Ratna touched Khushi's cheek and smiled. "I know her, Arnav. I've met her earlier. How are you, Khushi?" "I'm fine, Ma'am. How about you?" "Oh, I'm good. Just came to see my Laddoo and my grown-up son" Khushi smiled when she saw Sam scrunching his nose at the nickname. "What did you bring for me, Daadi?" Sam asked as he tugged at Ratna's saree end. Before Ratna could respond, Khushi said to him, "Samrat, that is not manners. You don't ask anyone that way. Did you greet your grandmother first?" Ratna smiled in appreciation. If anything, Khushi was much like her own younger-self. Sam bit his tongue and grinned sheepishly. "Hi Daadi" he said and asked her to bend so that he could kiss her cheek. He slowly whispered into her ears, "If you have brought me chocolates, give me after Miss Khushi goes" all the three elders began to laugh as they entered the elevator to go to their floor. Once they reached, Khushi took their leave and Sam kissed her cheek. "see you later, Samrat" He only nodded and looked at her in admiration and pure love as she walked into her flat and closed the door. "Come in, Ma" Arnav said to Ratna, who was watching Laddoo looking at Miss Khushi with all the love in the world. She smiled as her mind began to weave a wonderful idea and she went inside her son's house with an intention of putting her thoughts into action. One step at a time she thought and closed the door behind her.
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