Part 5 Aashi

Arnav received a call from Payal.

"Hi, Payal, good morning"

"Good morning, Arnav... from today onwards, you will be free."

"Really? Are you going to take over AR's CEO post?" He teased.

"I have no problem being the CEO of the great company if the present CEO doesn't care about its downfall because it will happen if I take it over..." she laughed.

Arnav laughed loudly.

"Ok, jokes apart, what do you want to say?"

"From today onwards, a physiotherapist will come to RM."

"Wow... that's really great news. Thank you so much, Payal."

"I don't need your thanks. You should do what you said."

"What?"

"Didn't you say you will pay double? You should pay her double because she is my friend from London."

"Of course, Payal. I will gladly pay her double."

"Ok, she will be there at 10 o'clock."

"Ok, I will inform Mom"

"Done"

"Her name is KHUSHI."

"Oh... are you going to send my KHUSHI through Khushi?" he smiled.

"Haha... enjoy..."

"Bye..." Arnav disconnected the call smilingly.

He felt relieved as he didn't have to leave the office earlier. He could do his work relaxingly. Unaware of the truth, he thought he would run to RM in the future, leaving everything behind...!

..........

Disconnecting the call, Payal smiled at Khushi.

"Arnav is Payal's school friend. A gem of a person. He became a great businessman. Yet, no arrogance. You will be safe in his house," Akash certificated to Arnav.

"Oh..."

"Yes, Khushi. Akash usually doesn't like my boyfriends, but Arnav is exceptional," Payal teased.

"If everyone is like Arnav, why won't I like them?"

Akash looked at Khushi and said,

"Arnav is the only unmarried guy in her whole gang. And he is the only gentleman. All the others are married and horrible flirts," Akash said with annoyance.

Payal controlled her laughter, biting her lip.

"Have I ever entertained them?" She asked.

"I would have killed you if you had entertained those stupid," He said, heated up.

Khushi smiled at them.

"We will fight later. Khushi, you should be there at 10 o'clock."

"Thank you so much, guys."

"You are welcome."

"I don't know how Aashi will adapt to the Indian atmosphere," Akash said worriedly.

Khushi nodded yes. She had no idea how Aashi would cope because London was completely different from India. Their residence was in a calm and lonely area, but Delhi was highly populated.

"We will do her school admission on Monday."

Khushi nodded.

"I will take you to Arnav's house today..."

Cutting her,

"I will take a cab from tomorrow."

Payal nodded,

"What about Aashi? Is there any crèche nearby?" Khushi asked.

"Hey, it's my friend's house. You can take Aashi with you."

"No, Payal. Don't you see her? She won't shut her mouth and speaks like an old woman," Khushi said.

Payal and Akash laughed.

They saw Aashi standing at the doorstep, keeping her hands on her hips.

"Oh ffo... I'm done," Khushi murmured.

"Do you have a problem if I talk non-stop?" She asked.

Khushi bit her tongue.

"You are the one who prayed to God that I should speak well because I didn't speak for three years after my birth?"

Khushi could not answer.

"You prayed to God, and she gave you what you requested. Now, why are you blaming me?" She pouted cutely.

Payal and Akash could not control their laughter, whereas Khushi bit her nail.

"Tell me... what's my mistake?"

"Nothing... everything is my mistake. You can talk as much as you want," Khushi surrendered.

"Aashi, beta, come here", Payal called.

She rushed to her.

"You know what, we are going to meet a woman today. She knows many stories."

"What stories?" she became thoughtful.

"Monkey story, Lion story, Rabbit Story..."

"Does she know the fox story?"

"Oh yes... she knows... she will tell you if you become her friend."

"How can I become her friend?"

"Nothing. Just talk to her smiling."

Aashi looked at Khushi and said,

"But, Mom doesn't want me to talk..." She folded her lips cutely.

"The woman is exceptional. She is my friend's mom. She is a very nice woman. She will like your talks."

"Really?"

"Yes, if you don't like to talk to her, you don't have to..."

"Mom, shall I talk to her?"

Khushi nodded,

"Heeyyyy...." She hopped.

"What's her name?"

"Ratna Raizada"

"OK, I will talk to Mrs. Raizada. Now, I will get ready..." She went to dress up.

"So cute..." Payal smiled.

"I can't believe you had dared to have a child, Khushi! It's been five years since we got married. I still can't get the courage due to my busy schedule..." Payal said.

"Would you have thought of aborting the baby if you had become pregnant?"

Payal nodded no.

"That's what happened in my life. She formed unexpectedly. I didn't want to punish the child that was not at fault. She is my blood... how could I get the courage to abort her?"

"You would have missed the precious one if you had done that... Aashi is a divine kid," Akash said.

Khushi nodded yes and said,

"Let's go, we are getting late. You should go to the hospital after introducing me to your friend's mother."

Payal nodded yes.

"Akash, you go to the hospital. I will join you after dropping Khushi in RM."

Akash nodded ok.

........

Khushi and Aashi came to Raizada mansion with Payal. HP opened the door.

"Hello Hariprakashji, how are you?"

"Jee. I'm fine."

"Where is Aunty?"

"She is in her room waiting for you. You can go."

"Come, Khushi"

Payal headed to Ratna's room on the ground floor. Aashi looked at the ceiling, throwing her head back.

"Wow... how high this house is...!" She said.

They came to Ratna's room. She smiled at them.

"Hi, Aunty"

"Hi..." Ratna said, looking at Aashi, who looked cute in short pants and a sleeveless shirt. Khushi clipped her pop-cut hair on the right side.

"Aunty, she is Khushi. My friend"

"Namaste" Khushi joined her hands.

"Namaste, beta... is she your daughter?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"What's your name, beta?"

"Aashi... means smile," she said, and Ratna chuckled.

"Oh... I'm..."

Cutting her,

"I know... you are Mrs Raizada."

Ratna raised her brows.

"Won't you call me DADI?"

Aashi looked at Khushi.

"She is from London, Aunty. Everyone is Mr and Mrs there..." Payal said.

"Oh... are you from London?"

"Mmm"

"What's your father?" Ratna asked the common question, unaware of their story, but Aashi answered.

"He is in London with La Mom"

Ratna looked at Payal, frowning.

"Khushi is a SINGLE MOTHER...(she said in a low tone) They stayed with our friends in London. She used to call them Mom and Dad, who were a couple."

"Oh... I'm sorry, beta... I hurt you," Ratna apologised. Khushi liked it.

"I'm not hurt, Aunty. Don't worry" She smiled and looked at Payal.

"You carry on Payal..."

"Yeah, I'm leaving aunty. I have to go to the hospital."

Ratna nodded,

Khushi checked Ratna's reports and started the treatment. Aashi sat on a chair.

"I heard you know many stories..." Aashi asked.

Khushi bit her lip and continued her work.

"Do you like stories?" Ratna asked, smiling.

"Yes... Mom rarely tells me stories because she is busy. She didn't have time to tell me stories. She comes home late, and I sleep before she comes home. Then how would she tell me stories? Tell me, does she have time?"

Ratna nodded no, smiling. She circled her hands around Aashi in the air as if taking the evil eyes.

"How cutely she talks...! Shall I tell you a story?"

"Mmm..."

"What story do you want?"

"Fox"

"Oh... Fox...? There was a fox in a forest. He came to the town and slipped into the colour water tank. His colour changed into blue..."

"Mmm?" she asked interestingly.

Ratna completed the story.

"See how the fox cheated all the animals... if we cheat someone, God will punish us", Ratna said.

"Mom, is this why you said we should be careful with FOXY people?" Aashi asked Khushi.

Ratna looked at her thoughtfully. Khushi smiled, not showing her awkwardness.

"Hariprakash..." Ratna called.

HP ran to her room.

"Bring some salt and red chillies."

"Jee, Maji", he rushed to the kitchen.

Khushi looked at Ratna, awestruck. She knew what people would usually do with salt and red chillies. Her mother did that to remove a lousy vibe until she was alive.

HP gave the salt and red chillies to Ratna. She circled them around Aashi, who was taken aback.

"Nothing to get scared, beta... I'm removing BAD eyes from you," Ratna said.

Aashi looked at herself.

"There are no such eyes on my body."

Ratna chuckled.

"It's not like that, beta. It's about bad vibe... if we circled salt and red chillies, no illness would hit you."

"Didn't anyone circle them around you?"

"Around me? Means?"

"Because you are ill..."

Ratna burst out laughing.

"Khushi beta, I think you should take bad vibes with salt and chillies every hour... she talks so cute", Ratna smiled.

"We are leaving, Aunty", Khushi smiled.

"Ok, beta... will you come tomorrow?"

"Yeah..."

"Bring Aashi too."

Khushi smiled.

"Bye, beta"

"Bye, Mrs Raizada"

She walked with Khushi. Ratna stood looking at her longingly.

To be continued...