Arnav was sitting in the middle of an important meeting when his P.A. just barged into the room and disturbed it. Everyone sitting around the table averted their eyes to the door. Arnav already gritted his teeth. She can't just disturb a meeting like this. He would have shouted at her if she hadn't spoken her next words.

Miss - Am sorry sir. But, I got a call...it's about the twins.

She was so out of breathe he understood something was wrong. And he felt his throat going dry.

Nobody needed to say anything more. Arnav stood up immediately to rush out but looked at Aman once before who nodded already. He was there to handle everything.

*

He opened the door of his bedroom and found his wife sitting there on the bed and caressing twins' heads. Both of them were having bandages around their heads. He was to head to hospital but got to know from Anjali that they were taken back home already.

He hurried to their side and had a proper look at his two years old daughters. One had a scratch on her knee and the other had few scratches on her arm. He sat beside touching them carefully. They were sleeping peacefully.

He looked up at Khushi now who had been watching him ever since he entered.

Arnav - How did this happen? Why are there bandages around their head?

She looked down gulping and covered them with the blanket. The air conditioner has cooled down the room since the French windows are closed too.

Khushi - Woh...they were playing in the backyard and fell off the climber.

Arnav - The climber? What were they doing there? Why did you let them get on the climber? They are too small for that.

He looked at her in disbelief. She inhaled sharply.

Khushi - I- I wasn't there. They were alone, with Akshay.

He frowned turning his head in dubiety.

Arnav - You left our just-two-years-old twins alone with a four years old? In the backyard, with all those playground equipment where they can hurt themselves!

She could already sense the anger building up inside him.

Khushi - They were running and playing with a ball when I came up. I, I- just came up for five minutes.

Arnav - I DON'T CARE!!! How could you leave them alone there? What if something would have happened to them???

He gritted his teeth grabbing her by the upper arms. Khushi lowered her eyes as he shouted at her accusingly in the fit of rage.

He left her hearing them make noises in their sleep, probably due to his shouts having disturbed them. She quickly got beside and patted both with each hand. She didn't look at him. She knew he was throwing looks at her that could kill.

He was very protective of them. But he would never understand what hell she went through when she found her children lying unconscious with their heads bleeding. It was a nightmare for her. She almost stopped breathing.

*

He came out of the bathroom having changed in casuals and heard her sobbing. She stopped as soon she heard him and wiped her cheeks looking down. He looked at her as she fed their toddlers with bottles while they slept.

As soon he had realized his words and the tone he used with her, he felt bad. But he hadn't apologized for he knew she was wrong in leaving them alone. But now as she saw there sobbing, he comprehended the guilt she must be going through.

So taking a sigh, he walked over to her and sat down next to her. She looked at him through the corners of her eyes and back at twins.

Arnav - I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I'm sorry.

She gulped nodding in denial just, still not looking him in the eyes. He held her hand and pulled her chin to make her look up at him. Then only he saw the dried tears on her cheeks and her wet eyes.

He wiped her cheeks as freshly formed tears oozed out.

Arnav - Khushi, I'm really sorry. I' please-

Khushi - No. I', I should be sorry. Because of my carelessness they-

Arnav - No Khushi. I was just angry and...They are kids, and kids get hurt one or the other time.

She nodded in denial now breaking down in tears.

Khushi - I' I wasn't up for just five minutes. I had fallen asleep. *sob* I wanted some time, for myself. Akshay came up running, he told me they fell off the climber. *sob* they were unconscious when I- I' I am the worst mother. *sob* I, sometimes it's just, too much for me. *sob* They are two, at once and I- I am overwhelmed with everything. They, they don't listen. They run away and, just want to play all time. *sob* I get tired running behind them whole day. *sob* I' I am so sorry. It's my fault. *sob* I can't be a good mother. I' I am so so sorry. I really am.

He listened to her calmly as she poured her heart out to him. True, he had been aware of her tight and tiring schedule. The twins just became two years old and like most kids in the age they were full of energy, always on to discover each and everything they saw, were stubborn, challenged her authority. They were clingy the one minute and fiercely independent the next. They refused to eat and liked to run all the time as they have slowly started running properly and steadily. They like to throw things around, broke each and every vase they saw. And nobody could tame them. Everyone in the house was over-strained with them. Sometimes they needed to be changed multiple times a day. The only time Khushi could really rest is when they sleep. But even then she needs to clean after them and feed them milk with bottle because they won't drink else. And last but not least when they are sleeping, she dedicates her time to her responsibilities as the daughter-in-law of the house.

In the last few weeks she's always been tired and exhausted when he tried to come closer at night. It had been weeks since they last got intimate. And he had been patient and understanding.

But he was least aware of the emotional effect the overwhelming motherhood had on her. And now she let it all out finally. And he decided he'll be there for her.

Arnav - Hey, don't be sorry. You are a wonderful mother.

Khushi - No. I am not. I, I left my own children alone. *sob* I, I wanted to just lie down for few minutes and, then Akshay woke me up. Nobody was home. *sob* I am so bad. I don't deserve any children. *sob*

Arnav - Don's say so. They couldn't have gotten any better mother than you. Now stop crying, if they wake up and see you crying, they'll also start crying. You know we ASRs hate your tears.

She finally chuckled in between her sobs and hugged him. He rubbed her back kissing her head. But as if having heard their father, one of their daughters moved crankily and turned throwing her hands around, searching for her mother. Hearing her noises Arnav and Khushi withdrew the hug and she slipped closer to her baby. She carried her into her lap and patted her chest lightly. While the one calmed down and had her hand rested on her mother's breast, the other too made noises and moved waking up. Khushi gasped and leaned to pick her but Arnav came beforehand. He carried her and copied her move of patting them slowly.

Arnav - I'll take off few days and help you with them.

Khushi - No no. I'm ok, I can do this.

Arnav - I know you can. But I still want to be home and spend some time with my wife and kids.

He's taken her for granted for long enough he decided. He's just not an employer and a businessman anymore. He's a father too and he'll carry out his duties as one.

Khushi smiled at him. She'll be more than happy to have him at home as her helping hand.

Aarushi - Daddy.

They were both wide awake now. Arshi silently laid in her mother's lap while Aarushi parted from her father's hug and pouted pointing at her head.

Aarushi- Aua!

Arnav - Oh my poor baby, yes, I know. You got an aua.

He kissed her forehead lightly on the bandage and looked at Arshi who stared him awry.

Khushi got up carrying her and brought her closer to him so he could kiss her forehead too.

Khushi - Better now?

Arshi - Yesh.

She smiled wide at her. Khushi put her down on the bed and turned to go down to get some ice cream for them. But just then the family entered holding balloons and toys. Anjali got their favorite chocolate ice in cone.

She passed it to them and carried Arshi kissing them.

Anjali - How are my favorite girls now?

Nani - It isn't any serious injury na?

Nani, Mami and Mama had gone at a relative's place while Payal was gone out to get things for home temple and had left Akshay home with Khushi. Akash was at office and Anjali had been at NGO. After twins got injured, Khushi had out of fear called Anjali rather than Arnav and taken them to hospital. Anjali dropped Khushi and twins home afterwards and took Akshay with her to come back soon. Now after getting to know about the little accident, everyone had returned home out of concern and were showering twins with love.

Khushi watched her daughters with much elation as they giggled and clapped eating ice cream and playing with the balloons. That reduced her guilt to an extent and had her remember the perks of being their mother: the unlimited joy and satisfaction she felt when they smiled and laughed.

.

.

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Okay, I get it. It was less of twins. But I know you guys don't mind more of Arnav Khushi, so compensated I guess.

Also I wanna add that this shot is based on a prompt given by an I-F user.

I hope you liked it and understand how tiring and ungrateful the work of a mother is. Yet she never gives up on her children.