“ Ba..Bl..J..Gi..owww…”

Khushi smiled in her sleep hearing her baby’s babbles. Lately, he began to make these sounds a lot these days. It has been three months, they are blessed with this small bundle of joy yet they never grew tired of cradling him in their cocoon despite of him growing and turning active to remain in one place. Since the mummy raizada is sleeping immune to her baby’s need of his play time, aarush as a mommy’s puppet whipped his head to other side and tried to gain his daddy’s attention who is sound asleep. Well, that’s what everyone do at the midnight.

“Grr.. Gaaa..” Aarush waved his hands in air hoping to get someone attention which went futile.

As a result of continuous failed attempts, aarush got tired & took solace in licking his thumb. His big round balls wandered in it's permitted vicinity trying to catch something appealing which would pass his time. But unfortunately, daddy Raizada's black and white decor doesn't seem enticing the junior Raizada, period.

As the impatience runs in Raizada blood, aarush couldn't keep his calm for so long that he flipped to his left and slowly shifted his weight to his small arms. In no time, his small body rolled fully and laid completely on tummy.

A joyful grugle escaped his mouth, exulting his first victory. His small fist easily went over to Arnav as he lay nearest. At once, his small fingers of right hand curled into a fist taking a portion of Arnav's tee on his grip. Wagging his hands, he made incoherent noises letting his saliva to drip down his chin. And his joy short lived as his head drooped on soft mattress as he couldn't hold his head strong for long time. But the repercussion, made the parents to jolt up startled. Although the hit was soft, aarush small frame couldn't bear the sting on his nose that he let out a loud wail grabbing his parents attention at once.

Arnav and Khushi jerked up from their sleep and was shocked to see their little bundle yelling his lungs out lying on his stomach.

“Arey baccha… Shh… shh… Mamma is here Jalebi.” Khushi immediately lifted him on her arms & patted his back softly. His fist still had the part of Arnav tee in his tight grip. Arnav moved closer to both and kept his palm above Khushi's which run up and down on aarush back.

“What happened? He's sleeping right?” Asked Arnav with worry frown etched on his face.

Next moment Khushi lips stretched wide, a cosmic excitement caught her frame “ARNAVJIIIII…”

“What?” He jerked in shock by her loud voice. Her loud voice also disturbed the mellowed aarush who started another round of wailing. Arnav glared her taking aarush in his arms.

“It's ok aru baby… Your mamma is nutcase. Ignore her.” He cooed time to time giving pecks on his head. Khushi's face already had her 3’O trademark. She playfully hit his arm and leaned on his shoulder, throwing a secure arm around aarush.

“He flipped around on his own. He's growing arnavji.” The excitement actually belittled Arnav's comment  else aarush would've witnessed another round of tom and jerry fight.

Arnav eyes widen at new information. He looked down at his chest, recalling the moment he woke up by aarush yells. She's right! He was lying on his stomach when they jolted up from their sleep. At that moment, all their concentration laid on shushing aarush, that they clearly missed to see his new stunt. Bending down, he firmly pressed his lips on aarush head followed by Khushi.

“Thankfully, he showed some reaction other than staring us lying on same position.” Arnav heaved a sigh passing him to Khushi.

He's crestfallen and euphoric at the same time regarding aarush growth. He's happy that they can cradle aarush in their arms anytime they wish yet he's feeling sad on getting less response or no response whenever he spoke to aarush. Aarush either stare at him, blink at him or sometimes smiles when he spoke or does something. Now his first step towards his growth is indeed a big achievement for them. He felt as if he bagged the first deal in his life.

Meanwhile, Khushi nuzzled her nose on aarush tummy making him laugh softly. She pecked his small nose as he tried to captivate her cheeks in his small palms. She hit her head softly against his before putting him down on bed hoping to see him roll down again.

“Arnavji what're you thinking? You're the one who kept asking about his next step. When he did, where you lost?” She asked pressing his shoulder blade.

“Huh… I was thinking how fast he has grown.”

“What the!” She uttered in sheer shock. She is seeing different arnavji from past three months yet sometimes she gets baffled by his actions like now. Aarush just showed improvement, there's more in store for them. And he's saying aarush has grown fast. Sometimes she would think that he's taking revenge on her. All the times she had annoyed him with her antics, she's getting back now though not up to her level.

“Come on Khushi. You're using this phrase a lot these days after menacing me to not use this before aru.” He whined falling back on bed beside aarush.

“Hawwww… You laadgo..ve..rn..or.” Her words come out with lapse as her eyes glued on enthusiastically waving aarush who's half way to roll down again.

“Khushi… Khushi… Come here… wait lemme fetch the camera.” Arnav urged Khushi to lie down & made a run to closet. It's another new addition in their closet. Arnav literally pestered NK to bring best, high resolution camera. From then, it took permanent place in ASR drawer. Neither he nor Khushi is fond of calling photographers all the time to capture each and every phase of his life. Plus, it's an instant moment that makes one incident memorable than getting anxious about photoshoot preparations, preparing aarush for it and waiting for particular moment to happen. Though they've planned for yearly photoshoot with whole family.  And probably, this is the only thing Arnav and Khushi accepted without putting up any fight.

Coming back, Arnav took few solo snaps of aarush before setting self timer & settled himself beside aarush. As the clock went past the time, it flashed light capturing the moment in it's digital space. The picture was like Khushi kissing aarush cheeks who laid on his tummy and Arnav lying down on other side with his cheeks pressed on pillow near aarush head with his eyes fixed on giggling aarush. An alluring family picture perfect has been made. The night turned into day light only for the particular four confines and the giggles and laughs filled the room.

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