ss-The Morning After The Night Before (Chapter 22)

 

 

 

 

SS- The morning after the Night before

Chapter 23

Khushi smiled as she waved bye to her boys – she adored them and as they were finally out of her line of sight -Arnav held a handkerchief out for her.

“I …don’t …need…it ..sniff sniff”

Arnav knew she was crying – he shook his head and smiled.

“Khushi it’s a good job we have three boys -can you imagine if they were girls how much would you cry at their bidai time, this is how many tears you have shed and we are only going away for four days!”

“I miss them!”

“I know – now use the handkerchief and smile or i might go back and get them”

“Would you ? please !’

“NO! Not after all the hoops i had to jump through  and everything that I- have had to agree to -get this time alone -may I remind you that you wanted to celebrate our anniversary alone.”

“By the way what did you agree to ?”

“Let me see -the boys – they want to have a party at heavenly desserts and no restrictions on the number of ice creams or puddings they can have and no dinner , they want a new basket ball hoop ,and a list of games including an 18+ game “

“Arnav you don’t agree-did you ?”

“Of course -it meant that i got you all to myself for four days -hmmm this is going to be so delicious -no interruptions -before -during or after lovemaking”

Both Khushi and Arnav thought back to a few nights ago when they were half way through he had never pulled himself out of her so quickly and tossed her a night gown and pulled his pyjama’s up so fast -that was record time -they both looked decent as Khushi opened the door to her youngest.

“Baby what’s wrong?”

Akhil had cried he wasn’t feeling well -his tummy hurt. Khushi had picked him up and laid him in their bed while she whispered a sweet story in his ear while she gently massaged his tummy and back until he fell asleep.

He remembered their conversation from that night -he had offered to take Akhil back to his bed as they had unfinished business to attend to. But Khushi was having none of it. Arnav had  looked down at his son-“what do you have against me son ? I do everything for you -Do you know Khushi I swear he has built in radar in case I get to close to his mother -even as a baby it was always Akhil who was stopping us. He smiled to remove the hardness of his words. This was a really close call. But let me tell you I am going to finish this in the morning -I am going to have a shower now!”

Khushi had laughed at Arnav’s frustrated status she was not fairing much better.

“Yup no interuptions! I am going to lock you up for four days and keep you naked in my bed Mrs Raizada!”

“Promises , Promises Mr Raizada- do you think you will manage to perform for such a long period – you have not been practising enough recently -do you think you will last through the marathon event ?”

“Whose fault is that Khushi ? Not enough practise? You know me anytime any place “

“Besharam! Arnav how could you have agreed to an 18 + game “

“Khushi – I agreed to an !8 + game -they didn’t specify the game – I will get them a board game of some kind not there grand theft auto!”

“Arnav that’s cheating !”

“No that’s training them-they will always remember to specify the small print in their deal”

“Arnav they are children -your children!”

“Whose side are you on – did you want time alone ?”

“Yes”

“Then be quiet women -and enjoy -the kids will be fine ; I’m not sure about Akash though and your dad -I saw them pack their nerf guns and they were discussing with their cousins which was the best knot to use to tie their dad up! He apparently is not as much fun as their Nana. They were deciding who was going to be on Nana ji ’s team and who was going to have to have Cha cha on their team”

“Please don’t tell me anymore -these boys -did they get a special helping of naughtiness when god was dispensing it out “

“No they had an extra helping if the Khushi gene”

“what else did you promise ?”

“Well… I will wear a pyjama Kurta to a pooja that Di is holding and I will be there for the preparations and the clearing away”

“Any small print I need to know about ?”

Arnav laughed “I was dealing with a Raizada -here -she made me sign a contract -which specified that i would wear what ever she wanted me to wear and be in attendance for the whole event -no mobile phone or electronic device in my hand unless so permitted and I had to see the whole event through without any comments accompanied with a smile”

“She drives a mean bargin”

“She’s a Raizada !”

“No !she is an expert when it comes to her brother’s devious mind. Anything else that I need to be aware of ?”

“No everyone else was easy -I just promised them a family dinner part y when we got back!”

“Arnav where are we going ?”

“The hell pad – we are going to Sheesmahal -is that ok ? You can fly  if you want to !”

“Oh yes”
Khushi looked at the flight plans and started the rotar blades -her stomach lurched slightly as the she took the chopper up into he sky. She loved flying and Arnav knew from the hours she logged that se was a competent pilot- he sat in the back allowing the pilot to sit next to her.

Khushi enjoyed every minute of the flight except her landing which left her slightly nauseous. But the adrenalin buzz that she got from her flight soon made her forget her nausea and the little cautionary voice at the back of her head. The white envelope was stilled to be opened – she would deal with it at the hotel -for now she was going to enjoy her time. Arnav and Khushi both slid into the waiting vehicle and were  driven to Sheeshmahal.

“Arnav -thankyou for that -I love flying”

He smiled -he would do anything to keep that smile on her face and that look in her eyes -it was meant for him just him. He could never resist her -he swooped down and claimed his rights to her lips.

Khushi startled pulled away -and then gave up realising that he was not letting go of her -when she she got her breath “everyone can see”

Arnav kept on kissing her taking short breaths “Let them”

“Arnav -the driver “

“Let him”

“Everyone outside “
“Let them “

“Arnav..”

“Khushi -shut up and kiss me right now I don’t care if the boys were watching !”

“Hawww…”

The rest was lost as they both lost in their kiss.

It was a while later that they both realised that their vehicle was at a standstill outside Sheeshmahal and the driver’s seat was empty. How long had the vehicle been standing -Arnav looked outside his window to see that it was blocked by the back of his chauffeur allowing them privacy to continue until they were ready to emerge to the waiting world.

Arnav smiled at Khushi -who now looked resembled rudolf the red nosed reindeer.

“Arnav -you have no shame -how long have we been here ?”

“No idea!” At least he had the decency to look sheepish. “Khushi -does it matter that i was lost in my wives lips -or that I am so in love with her that  i can’t keep my eyes or hands of her-do you know that it is a well known fact in the business world that I am totally and absolutely in love with you. Shall we ?”

Khushi arrived in their apartment , the only part of SheeshMahal that was not accessed by the public.

Arnav swept her up in her arms and carried her in. “our second honeymoon Mrs Raizada “

Khushi laughed until Arnav gave her a single red rose.

The smell made her heave she clamped her hand over her mouth as her stomach somersaulted and she felt the contents of her stomach rise want to make an exit the quickest way they could.

Arnav watched in disbelief -as he watched Khushi empty the contents of her stomach all over the entrance hall.

“NO,NO NO ! Khushi you Okay “-Arnav gently picked her up and carried her to the bathroom washed her face picked her up and laid her in bed.

Arnav called roomservice  to clean up the room.

He then nipped back into to check on Khushi -“feeling better? I think I just jinked our holiday by saying the magic words second honeymoon”

“I’m feeling a lot better as she sat up”
“Was it the flight or exhaustion from the journey Khush?

Khushi smiled at him – “I hope so. Get my bag Arnav  “

Did she really need to open that white envelope she already knew the answer -the smell of the rose -gave it away.

 

 

FF- The Morning After The Night Before (chapter 22)

 

The latest chapter in the series

The Morning After the Night Before

Chapter 22

Arnav sat in his office playing with a piece of paper and a pen. How many times had he started crossed out, screwed up the piece of paper and thrown it across the room.
Aman walked in and looked around the disaster site which in the morning had been ASR’s office now looked as though a paper fight had ensued in his absence.

“ASR have the boys been around without Khushi Ji “ as he looked around the room.
“No Aman this is all my own handy work! For once it’s not the boys but I have to say that I have created an impressive mess all by myself!”

“ Designer’s Block ?”
“Far worse – its our seventh wedding anniversary coming up and I am at a loss as to what to get Khushi. I thought I might design a special outfit -but I design a lot of clothes for her so that won’t be special. She has more jewellery than I can even remember and she doesn’t wear most of it.
She has got everything -shoes bags perfumes , she has visited most places in the last seven years”

“ASR may i suggest that you are going about this all wrong -you are trying to give her what everybody thinks should be given on a wedding anniversary. What you need to do is give something she would never expect as a present from anyone let alone you.”

“That’s the most perfect idea -now leave me I need to think !”
“Actually I came in fro a job …..I’ll come back later”
“No Aman it might actually distract me”

Khushu sat on her bed staring down at the envelope, chewing her nails. She had already downed a tubful of ice-cream and was n her second box.That envelope had seemed to grow disproportionally since it’s arrival. Initially she had hidden at the bottom of her draw thinking she would deal with after Arnav had left and the kids had gone to school. The kids ! what was the time , they would be back soon -demanding expecting and generally causing mayhem as only boys can do. She had about fifteen minutes before they came tumbling through the doors creating their own style of havoc. Khushi quickly put away her letter to deal with the impending chaos commonly known in RM as Raizada one ,two and three. Ayaan, AAshish and Akhil.
There door flung open and three boys came tumbling in laughing Aashish and Akhil were carrying Ayaan into the house by his arms and legs.
Khushi covered her eyes with both her hands and peeped through her fingers splaying them one at a time. She had already had had a stressful morning and now this -her boys were on form.
“Mohan Ji -what ?”
He fully understood what Khushi ji meant -these boys were loveable rogues -they got into mischief on a daily basis and were daily taken to task for it by their mum. If Arnav Bhaiya ever got involved in the discipline process there would only be two reasons -one the boys had crossed some unwritten line in the rule book which allowed them to be naughty up to a certain level after which he took over and that was not nice. The only other time was was when one of the boys said something to bring tears to Khushi Ji eyes . That was a horrible week he had never known a week like that.
Gone was Arnav the father and ASR had appeared and he had launched into those boys as if they were fully grown adults.

He had no concern for who was there or who was watching, their boys had the audacity to think they could speak to their mother like that and behave in a manner, that brought tears to her eyes.
He had not allowed anyone that right, not her father nor him, since she had become his wife . No one but no one was allowed to upset Khushi or say a wrong word against her. And here were her children playing up. They got the message loud and clear no one hurt Khushi not even them. They were lucky that they were standing there -had it been anyone else Arnav explained in no uncertain terms to them that he would have ripped them apart limb from limb leaving no evidence of the crime. It was his job and there’s to keep there mad mother safe, from all things that might hurt her or make her sad. That was a lesson that they would carry into adulthood and long after. No one messed with Khushi Raizada not even dad. That day a mutual pact was made between the four boys -naughtiness allowed ,to an extent ,teasing mischief allowed -but the first one of them or anyone else to cause tears in their mums eyes would pay a huge price ,even their dad. No one was excused from that rule.

“There was a minor disagreement at school and Ayaan to the other persons side, not Akhil’s hence he has to be punished-something about a promise that they made and Ayaan has broken it.”

“Boy’s put Aayan down wash your hands change your clothes and come and eat and we will discuss the breaking of another Raizada law of which I have no knowledge and then we will find a suitable punishment which does not involve the dislocation of arms from their shoulders and me spending the rest of the afternoon in the emergency ward.”

“Mom we were carrying him properly! we were not going to dedocate.. sisdocate….lateosis…remove his arms from his shoulder. I would have tied him proper mom if I had had a big stick and some rope, like they do when the hang up an animal from a big stick. Mom can you really remove someones arm as from their shoulders if you carry them like that ?”
“Yes you can and the word is DISLOCATE”
“I’ll remember that for the next time”
“Akhil please don’t -you get into the most trouble out of the three you really don’t need any advice from me -it come to you naturally”
Akhil grinned up at his mom “Come here “
Khushi bent down to her son’s level and received a big kiss -“Dad say’s i get 70 % of my genes from you thats why I get into so much trouble -he says it shadows me like it does you. I told him That I must have got 100% of my genes from you, as I keep getting into trouble with everyone…….Dad said that was not possible …I had to have got some genes from him….I told him I like to be the top at everything so 100 % must have have come from you. ……. soooo….if you are thinking of punishing me remember your only punishing yourself since i am 100% you!”
Khushi looked at him in disbelief at the logical argument, well as logical as an argument that you can get from a six year old.
“Akhil the way you have just put forward your argument stems from your fathers logic so you have to be carrying some of his genes! Go and change so that I can find out what you boys have been up to before I get a call from the principle or an irate parent complaint about the lack of manners and what kind of wild animals am i raising !”

As they all sat down to lunch Akhil gave his version of events – “Aayan took the girls side after I took the ball from her. I asked her nicely to give our ball back and she said only if she could play football with us. I said no and took the ball.”
“No mum , he snatched the ball and pushed her over. I took the ball back from Akhil and gave it back to Rhea.I also let Rhea play with us -tow of us against Ashish and Akhil.”
“Who won ?”
Akhil replied in a sullen voice “They did but mom its the family rule raizada’z against everybody we never split up we always support each”
“Akhil -not if you were being mean to Rhea -you pushed her and almost made her cry”
“She’s a girl -she doesn’t count!”
“Mum’s a girl and dad said he would tear us from limb to limb and bury us alive if we ever made her cry!
“Ayaan that’s meant to be a secret between the men of the family -dad said mum was not supposed to find out!”
“in this case Akhil ,Ayaan is right- you shouldn’t push anyone let alone girls”
“Well I said that she could play with us tomorrow because she doesn’t play like a girl and she can kick like a boy she like you mum!”
“I’ll take my compliments where i find them -you think I’m like a boy !”
She smiled she had to tell Arnav she had officially been designated as an honorary boy -how did he feel about that.
Ashish joined the conversation -“she not like mum, mum’s pretty and smells like mum! Rhea smells like a girl!”
Khushi replied “I think that’s a compliment you boys had better stop while I’m ahead.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a flurry of activity till six o’clock when Arnav arrived home.
Khushi loved watching him and the kids. Around them he became one. Before he would play with the boys he had a rule tea or coffee with mum and then he was theirs to command.

It was finally that Khushi spoke to Arnav later that night after everyone had gone to bed.

“Do you know that I have been given honorary status of being a boy and not smelling like a girl”
Arnav laughed “I’m dammed glad that your not a boy and don’t smell like a girl -you smell like my Khushi”
You know that we will have been married seven years next week “
“I know”
“If i ask you for some things will you do it for me?”
Arnav was perplexed “What’s going on in your bran Khushi? Not something stupid?”
“err no , well at least I don’t think so!”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Not have a party this year -please -just let it be us! Lets send the kids over to Dad and Payal ans Akash. Is it really bad that I don’t want to share the day with any body except you?”
“Khushi shall I translate what you have just asked ? No its perfect that you want to spend the day with means I would love it. I always do but what you’re really asking me to do is take the flack from all the family when I tell them that we are going away for one of our weekends. You also want me to bribe the boys into behaving so that we can go away without to much headache…….you know they will have a list of demands that I am going to have to comply with”
“ Mav it’s such a good job that you are an excellant negotiater. You have to watch out for Akhil -the way he seys his arguments out is actually quite clever”
“So if I do all this what are you going to give me ?….. oh…..mmm….I wasn’t expecting a return so soon …..mmm ….that’s so… Khushi ….stop….no don’t stop!…just slow down ….or I’ll be done before ….yyyyyyou …..have begun …..Slowly ……what the ….hell….jjjjust …..carrrry ..on”
“Shut up Mr Raizada and enjoy”
Khushi thought to herself about the letter that still lay unopened in her draw -that letter might lead to a barren period for both of them. She would look at it tomorrow.