Part 6 Arnav and Aashi

Ratna called Arnav. he attended the call.

"Mom, did the physiotherapist come?"

"Yeah, she just left."

"That's great."

"Chotte, call me before you leave the office."

"Why, Mom?"

"I want you to bring a few things for me."

"Oh... do one thing, send me the list. I will bring them."

"Ok"

"Done"

Arnav disconnected the call.

Ratna sent the list of things. Arnav checked it and frowned.

"What the... Barbie Doll, Chocolates, Biscuits, Chocolate drink powder..." He didn't understand what had happened to his mother; she wanted all these children's things.

He called Ratna. She attended it.

"Mom, what list did you send me?"

"That's the things you want me to bring"

"But why?"

"Chotte, today a cute girl came to RM with the physiotherapist. You know how heartwarming her talks are...! I wanted to give her something, but nothing was in our home. Please bring them..."

Arnav rolled his eyes, smiling.

"Ok, I will bring them" Arnav disconnected the call smilingly.

Evening

Arnav again received a call from his mother. He attended it.

"Haan, Mom..."

"Chotte, did you leave the office?"

"Not, yet..."

"Ok, bring the things in the list I sent you."

"Ok, Mom"

"Chotte, don't forget."

"Mom... I said I won't..."

"Thank you, Chotte"

Ratna disconnected the call.

"She is getting crazy" Arnav nodded his head.

Winding his work, Arnav came to a shopping mall. He entered a kids' section and started picking things on the list. He walked to the toys section to pick Barbie Doll. His legs rooted seeing the same girl he met in the jewellery shop the other day. She was searching for someone. He remembered how she threatened the girl named Sheetal that day. Would she threaten someone today, also? He saw a smirking seeing someone.

Arnav walked to the toys section smilingly, but she came to the toys section and stood in front of someone. Arnav observed her while checking the toys. Arnav saw the same reaction on the woman's face.

"Looking dashing, BHABI," The girl said

The woman looked at her surroundings, wiping her face.

"What happened, Bhabi? Don't you expect me here? Or don't you expect me to be ALIVE???? Just like Sheetal?"

"I'm not interested in talking to a girl like you?"

"What do you mean, GIRL LIKE ME, Bhabi? Tell me, aren't you an expert to name a girl and provoke others' anger?"

The woman started walking.

"You can't walk away all the time, Bhabi. You have to answer one day. You can't run..." the girl said.

Arnav could see anger in his eyes but in her tone. He saw the girl taking a few puzzle games from the rack, which amazed him. How could she come to the composure as if nothing happened? He raised his brows. One more thing also wondered him. How did everything related to the girl happen where he presented?

She picked a few puzzle games. Arnav thought something. He, too, picked two puzzle games for the cute girl who visited RM.

RM

When Arnav entered the home, Ratna snatched the bag from his hand and checked it. Arnav looked at her oddly.

"Mom, what's wrong with you?"

Ratna pulled his hand and made him sit with her.

"Chotte, I have never seen such a cute and clever girl. She talks like putting mustard seeds in the hot oil...pop pop pop..." she laughed.

Arnav chuckled.

"Mom, control your excitement..."

"No, Chotte, she is so pretty...!"

"Ok ok... enjoy..."

She took the puzzle games and smiled, looking at Arnav.

"I think she talks a lot. These games will help her shut her mouth," Arnav laughed.

Ratna hit his shoulder with the box.

She sighed, "Mmm... if you had married, I would have had a granddaughter like her."

Arnav silent.

"I don't like you to be like this, Chotte..."

"Mom, I told you..."

"You don't want to cheat on your wife, but we can find a girl who is ready to marry you after knowing the truth that happened in your life."

"Are you going to tell others about what happened in my life? How many girls will you tell what I did?" he asked, horrified.

Ratna was silent.

"What do you think, Mom? Do you think girls are so generous? What will you do if they refuse to accept me after knowing the truth? To how many girls will you be telling that I was not at fault? Even though if someone accepted me, I should have to be under her control with regret... what if she will try to dominate me...?"

Ratna was silent. Arnav was not wrong. There were many chances for that to happen. People would take advantage of others' weaknesses for their benefit.

"Is there no solution to this problem?"

"This is not a problem but reality. Accept it..." Arnav walked to his room.

Ratna looked at the Devi Maiya idol.

"Don't punish my son for his mistake without his knowledge. Please give us a solution. He has regretted a lot already. Please forgive him..." she prayed, spilling tears.

The next day

Arnav went to the office as usual. Ratna waited for Khushi and Aashi.

Ratna's face lit up upon seeing Aashi with Khushi. Aashi smiled at Ratna and greeted her.

"Good morning, Mrs. Raizada," she said confidently.

"Good morning, Barbie," Ratna replied.

Aashi looked at Khushi with a playful smile and said,

"Mom, she calls me Barbie. Do I look like a Barbie or what?"

"You look more beautiful than Barbie," Khushi complimented her.

"If that's the case, why do you call me Barbie?" Aashi asked assertively.

"I don't know what else to call you," Ratna replied.

"Call me MBTB," Aashi suggested with a hint of confidence.

"What does that mean?" Ratna inquired.

"More beautiful than Barbie," Aashi explained.

Ratna laughed and coughed, catching the attention of Khushi and Aashi.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Khushi asked with concern.

"My throat has been aching since morning. Don't know why," Ratna explained.

"You should rest your voice. It would be best if you didn't talk," Aashi advised like a big girl.

"Don't you want to hear a story?" Ratna asked.

"I'll listen once you're feeling better," Aashi replied with concern.

"How wise she is! No bad eye should hit her," Ratna said, kissing Aashi's forehead.

"Aashi beta, go to the living room and watch TV," Khushi suggested, not wanting her to make Ratna speak.

"Ok," Aashi agreed readily.

In the living room, Aashi found HP switching on a cartoon channel and putting on Dora the Explorer. She sat on the couch, leaning her back, extended her legs, and started watching.

After five minutes, Arnav entered RM to take a file he forgot to take. He was surprised to see a cute girl watching a cartoon in his house. He remembered Ratna talking about the physiotherapist's daughter and realised she must be the one.

Seeing Arnav, Aashi got off the couch, straightened her dress, and sat back, which shocked him. He controlled his laughter, seeing her behave like a big girl.

"You can sit comfortably," Arnav said, smiling.

"No thanks. We can't be comfortable all the time. My mom said," she replied, tucking her hair with attitude.

Arnav raised his brows, awestruck.

"What's your mom doing?"

"She is treating Mrs Raizada..."

"Oh..." he smiled.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Arnav Singh Raizada... Mrs Raizada's son"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Raizada..."

"Nice to meet you, Ms...?" he inquired.

"Aashi. Means smile," she explained with confidence.

"Oh... Will you tell your name with the meaning?" Arnav asked.

"Some people ask me in a checking manner whether I know the meaning or not, so I always add the meaning," Aashi replied boldly.

Arnav chuckled. What his mother had told him about Aashi was not an exaggeration. She was indeed cute, he supposed.

That was when HP brought the chocolate drink to Aashi and gave it to her. Aashi took it from him. A few drops spilt on Aashi's knee as the glass was full.

"Ouch..." Aashi said.

"I'm sorry, beta..." HP took the hand towel from his shoulder and was supposed to wipe it,

Aashi stopped him.

"Don't... I don't like it if anyone BAD TOUCH me. I will wipe it." She snatched the towel and wiped it.

HP looked at her without blinking, whereas Arnav was thunderstruck. He felt like moving a little away from her. She was so smarter than her age kids. Who was her mother? He wanted to see her. At the same time, he saw Ratna coming with the same girl he met TWICE before...unexpectedly.

To be continued...