Part 25 Motivation

Aman was horrified. Did Khushi threaten Sheetal? But why? Sheetal was not a woman who would silently listen to anyone's threat. Why did she fear? Aman tried to console himself. Maybe she was someone called Sheela, as Arnav said.

"We should not take women's talk seriously. Their mind won't be stable. They are emotionally weaker." Aman said, making up for himself.

If it had not been Aman, Arnav's handling of him and his answer would have been different.

"Yeah, I thought the same until I got close to Khushi. What a self-esteemed girl she is! So straightforward and so daring. I never saw fear in her eyes. The girl who is TRUE to herself can only be like that. My respect for women became tenfold because of her. I feel so proud of her! You don't even know her, but I'm talking about her to you. That's the effect!"

Aman immediately wanted to know if the girl was Sheetal or Sheela. He could have done that by showing Sheetal's photo to Arnav, but he didn't want Arnav to realise he connected with Khushi because he thought he could get some helpful information from Arnav about Khushi.

"Ok, Mr. Mathur. I have a work. I have to go."

"Call me Aman. Just Aman..."

"Ok, but with one condition... you, too, call me Arnav."

"Gladly..."

"See you."

"Bye," Arnav left Mathur Hospital with the satisfaction of seeding suspiciousness in Aman's mind.

He looked at the watch. He had to be at Aashi's school on time. He started the car and geared it up. He reached the school and headed to Aashi's class. He came there smilingly, but his smile vanished when he saw Aashi sitting with teary eyes. It was clear that she cried. Arnav was nervous seeing her like that.

"Aashiiii..." He called her.

In no time, Aashi rushed to him and hugged his legs. Arnav lifted her chin and was about to ask what happened; he saw a nail mark on her cheek. He caressed the mark, gritting his teeth.

"What's this?" he asked with shock.

"Naresh pinched me..." She sniffed.

Arnav looked at her class teacher wrathfully.

"What the hell is this? What were you doing until he pinched her?" he shouted, bringing all the teachers to Aashi's class.

"Sir, they are kids. They fight today and become friends tomorrow,"

"No, she won't become a friend of a boy who is unkind, and this is how you would look after our children? Why didn't you make the mischievous boy sit alone? Why did you let him near our child?" he lost his patience.

"Sir, not only Naresh, but many kids are like this... how could we concentrate on all of them?"

"If you could not do the work, you should resign from your job instead of giving silly excuses." He yelled.

"Sir, I will take care of her..."

"I'm talking about today's incident. If the school atmosphere were unpleasant, how would she like to attend school interestedly?"

"Kids will forget everything, sir."

"This is a highly irresponsible answer. We didn't pay a fee to get such an answer. I'm not going to leave this. I'm going to go to the principal..." Arnav shouted.

"Sir, please don't do that."

"Look at her face. How deep the nail mark is! How could I bear this? Can't you feel the child's pain?"

"Sir, please, sorry, sir. It will not happen again. Please don't go to the principal."

Arnav lifted Aashi and headed to the principal's room without paying attention to her. The teacher followed him nervously, pleading not to tell the Principal anything. He pushed the door, but it was locked. The peon came to him.

"What do you want, sir?"

"I want to meet the principal."

"Principal is left, sir. She will come tomorrow only."

Arnav walked out, annoyed. In all this, Aashi didn't take her eyes off Arnav. Arnav came to his car and made her sit on the seat. He caressed her hair lovingly.

"Why did you let him pinch you?"

"He pinched me suddenly. He pinches everyone."

"Didn't you do him anything?"

She nodded no, making a sad face.

"If anyone tries to harm you, you should defend yourself. At least, it would be best if you pushed him hard. Ok?"

"He will hit me..."

"Now also he hit you. However, he hit you. Didn't you see how your mom tried to hit Dragon Monkey? You are a brave girl. You should not cry; instead, you should fight. Ok?"

"Mmm..."

"OK, now, we will go to the mall..."

Aashi's face changed swiftly.

"Mall?"

"Yeah, we will eat ice cream..."

Aashi folded her lips and smiled. After having ice cream and playing games in the mall, they returned to RM.

Meanwhile,

Khushi got ready to go home after winding up her duty. That was when she got a call from an unknown number. She attended it.

"Is this Khushi, Aashi's mother?"

"Yes..."

"Ma'am, I'm Aashi's class teacher."

"Oh, tell me, madam, is everything all right?"

"I'm sorry, madam. A boy called Naresh is in our class; he is very mischievous. He pinched Aashi today."

"Whaaaat?"

"Sorry, madam. It happened in a blink of an eye. Aashi's father became so tensed seeing the mark."

Khushi was stuck. She understood whom the teacher addressed as Aashi's father.

"I can understand his anger, madam. Any father would lose his patience, but he said he would meet the principal. If he complains about me, I may lose my job, madam. Please ask him not to do that. Please. I promise it will not happen again. Our principal is very strict. She won't forgive us if she receives any complaints. Please, madam, help me. Please stop Aashi's father."

Khushi rolled her eyes, hearing her addressing Arnav as Aashi's father. Yet, she didn't tell her anything. She didn't want to explain to anyone.

"Please, madam"

"I don't know what the matter is. I will get to know about it and will talk to you."

"Thank you, madam."

Khushi disconnected the call thoughtfully. What would have happened if Arnav had gotten angry to the extent that Aashi's teacher had pleaded with her like that? Taking a cab, Khushi headed to RM.

When she came home, she saw Ratna in the living room.

"Good evening, Aunty"

"I think this is not a good evening..."

Khushi was taken aback.

"Means?"

"Both are angry like hell..." She said in a low tone.

"Who?"

"Yours and my Chottu," Ratna said seriously.

"Is it?"

"Yeah, it seems someone pinched Aashi in her class. Seeing the mark on her face, Chotte got angry and made Aashi also angry."

Khushi raised her brows. Arnav made Aashi angry?

"Where are they?"

"In Chotte's room. Let's go..."

Both headed to Arnav's room. They stopped hearing Arnav motivating Aashi. They slowly peeped the room and saw,

"Do you remember? You should be like your mother... just like a warrior. You should fight with those who tried to attack you..." Arnav said, shrinking his eyes.

Khushi felt proud of herself for hearing that. She saw Aashi's face become wrathful. Khushi bit her lip to control her laughter because Aashi looked so funny and had an angry expression. She fisted her fingers, gritting her teeth. Khushi chuckled, seeing that.

She knocked on the door, not to stand Aashi's overloaded cuteness. Seeing her, Arnav straightened himself.

"What's happening here?"

"Motivation..." Arnav said seriously.

"That's nice." She looked at Aashi, who was not out of her angry avatar.

"Aashi beta, tell Mumma what you will do if anyone tries to attack you," Arnav asked.

"I will push him. I will punch his stomach..." She growled, raising her hands like a warrior.

Arnav smiled proudly, but Aashi's next stance horrified him.

"I will cut his hand off..."

Arnav widened his eyes and looked at her shockingly as if he hadn't taught her that.

"I will break his face and kill him for sure..."

Arnav looked at Khushi from the corner of his eyes, who dropped her jaw.

"It seems she is overmotivated," Ratna said, controlling her laughter.

Khushi looked at Arnav mockingly.

"Trust me, this is not on my list." Arnav smiled awkwardly.

He kneeled before Aashi and held her hands.

"No, beta. It would be best not to talk like that because you are a good kid. Just protect yourself. It's enough. People will forget Naresh's deeds and scold you if you do such things, okay?"

"Ok, I will push him... ok?"

"Good..."

"You look so tired getting motivated. Come, I will give you something." Ratna said, clutching her hand.

Aashi looked at Arnav.

"Go and have something,"

Aashi nodded and left. Khushi looked at Arnav, folding her hands. Arnav scratched his forehead awkwardly.

"What atrocity have you done in her school?" She asked, smiling.

"Did you see her face? There is a nail mark."

"I saw that..."

"How could they be so lethargic? Why would we pay them? We believe they would care for our kid, but they are so careless, Khushi."

"Arnav, there are forty children in the class. Watching them every single second is not possible. It's all common between kids."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes... the teacher called me and pleaded with me."

"Oh... she can't stop me, so she was trying to take your support?"

"Yes, poor she; she thinks I will control you." Khushi chuckled. That made Arnav stuck.

"Leave it, Arnav. We can't babysit Aashi every time."

"She is indeed a baby." Arnav's voice was softer than before.

"Instead of babysitting her, we should teach her to handle the situation, and you have already done that, I suppose."

Arnav sighed.

"I never had seen Aashi with such a funny expression. She looked like a rabbit in anger. I felt like I was watching a cartoon." Khushi laughed at Arnav, who smiled, scratching his forehead.

"It seems you are making a next Jansi Ki Rani that she was even ready to kill her enemies..." She laughed more.

Arnav smiled awkwardly. Khushi wiped the tears her laughter caused, making Arnav gulp down.

To be continued...