Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

14. Saat Samundar Paar (Oceans Away)

It was a tough choice for Arnav Singh Raizada. Which role to play, 'Mr. Raizada the CEO of AR' or 'Arnav the husband and father'? The reason was a very crucial US travel that either him or Akash had to make. And since Payal was almost 3 months pregnant (due early next year), it became imperative he had to go.

And now, seating in a business class seat in a plane to Chicago, Arnav found himself restless and upset. And it was not even few hours since he last saw his wife or his kids! How was he going to live for five-freaking-days? In the last nine years he had never spent that much time away from home...and his Khushi. And after the twins' birth, not even a single day away from them!

He wished he could have gotten twins' passports made on time, then they all could have accompanied him. '125 hours Arnav, you can do it' he convinced himself.

--*--

Finally, after a long and tiring journey and completing the immigrations at the airport, he checked-in in his hotel. Sending a quick text to Khushi, telling he landed safely and will call in some time, he went to take a much-needed bath.

And as soon as he was done with shower, first thing he did was make a video call to Khushi.

"What? Mujhse baat kiye bina so gaye (they slept without talking to me)?" he was sad when Khushi told him that kids were already asleep

"Haan Arnav ji. Its almost midnight here. Besides they kissed me goodnight, so they were fine" Khushi said tongue in cheek. It was fun teasing him, implying kids didn't miss him. But his next sentence threw her off guard.

"Khushi bacche mujhe bhul toh nahi jayenge na?(our kids won't forget me no?)" he said making sad face

But she quickly remembered their little banter a few days ago, when they were teasing each other on who can't stay from each other the most

*Flashback- "Humein aisa kyun lag raha hain ki aap ek din bhi nahi reh payengey? (why do I feel you won't be able to stay away even for a day?)"

"Oh come on Khushi. I can manage, ok? In fact, tum log hi nahi reh paogey"

"Dekhte hain mr. Raizada. Kahin aisa na ho ki aap agli hi flight pakad ke wapas aa jao"

"Haha I am sure main reh lunga" - flashback end*

"Bilkul bhul jayenge. (of course, they will forget you) In fact just today Aru was asking mamma who's this man when she saw my phone's screensaver" Khushi still continued pulling his leg

But the silence on the other side alarmed her. She realized she probably went a bit too far. After all who other than her better understood about Arnav's insecurities about his place in her and their kids' hearts. He needed assurance that he was an integral part, of her as well as their babies' lives

"Arnavji hum Mazak kar rahe the (I was kidding). Wait, do you want me to wake up cheeku or Aru? I literally had to threaten them to sleep when they refused to do so without having goodnight kiss from you. And Pari even refused to eat properly. It was a task for me to pacify your kids"

"Sacchi?" he sounded hopeful. Who could say Mr.CEO actually only cared the most about most mundane things in his kids' lives?

"Haan baba, ekdum sacchi. Wait, let me quickly get-"

"nahi Khushi, let them sleep. Its just that I miss you all" he didn't want to disturb their sleeps either. Knowing they asked for him was enough.

"we miss you too Arnav ji. I miss you a lot too. Do you know how difficult it is for me to go to sleep without you besides me? But its just a week, that too one day passed already. You'll get through hmm?"