Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

58. Learn to say No

I am not back to regular updates but didn't want to keep the book on total hold. So here we go-

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It was true that Arnav Singh Raizada had always been a workaholic, who found it normal to prioritize a meeting over attending a family function, found it an easy choice to prefer staying late in office than coming back home early. But this was all before a certain Ms. Khushi Kumari Gupta(now-Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada) happened to him 11 years ago and then his kids shared another vast portion of his life...now he would find it easy to not work for his kids' birthday or prefer staying home if his child was in a mood to play with their father (and low-key, when he himself wanted to be around his beautiful wifey!)

Today however he was in a hurry to reach office for an important meeting. AR was working under tremendous pressure for upcoming festival season and Arnav personally chaired a few meetings with design head and marketing leaders at AR. So, when a very bouncy and 'I-am-in-a-mood-to-play' Arohi approached him, it was not a surprise he didn't reciprocate her enthusiasm the way he would usually do.

Now, it would be important to give some more background for those uninitiated, Arnav Singh Raizada NEVER said 'No' to his kids. In fact, it was his resolve that his kids would not have the sad childhood he had, they will not crave for their father's attention like he did. And Arnav did try to fulfil that promise he made to himself.

But today morning was a testing time. He knew he had to leave within next 10 minutes or he will be late for his meeting.

Most of the Raizadas were around in the hall that morning, as Payal had come out to say bye to akash, nani was chatting with Subhadra dadi who was visiting for Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami celebrations, Mamiji was making Piya's hair to get her ready for school and mamaji was playing with Palash. Arnav looked over at Khushi who was feeding Pari a mashed banana while Chiku was sitting on a chair beside her finishing his own breakfast.

Khushi nodded at her husband's silent plea as she too was aware of how important this meeting was and how Arnav and Akash were under a lot of work pressure these days. She got up carrying Pari in her arms and then handed her to Naniji as she made her way to duo ASR-Jr. ASR(Aru).

"Aru, beta, your dada is in a hurry today. Let him go to office, I will play with you, thik hain?" Khushi said, bending at Aru's level, caressing her face and wiping her lips which still had remnants of milk she had just been fed.

Aru pouted immediately. She was in a mood to play and only with her dada right now. Time to play with mamma was later, at least as per her 'routine'. And it wasn't like ASRs to compromise with their routines, be it senior ASR or his offspring!

"nu-uh. Alu(Aru) pway(play) with dada." she told khushi and tapped on her father's leg, "Dada, let's pway(play) Lion king, me Simba and you, King" she said, clapping her excitedly. This was her favorite game which Arnav invented for her when she started liking 'The Lion King'. So he would enact Lion King's part and Arohi would be his cub, Simba!

"Nahi shona. Dada has to go now. Chalo, aap hamare sath" Khushi said sternly and lifted Aru, who looked at her father with an angry and shocked expression. Her dada never refused her anything. This not only broke her trust on him, but her little heart also broke, and soon big fat tears started rolling through eyes as she looked at Arnav with hurt eyes.

That was it. Arnav couldn't take it anymore. He connected his Bluetooth to call Aman while at the same time he took Aru from Khushi's arms,

"Aman, see if we can postpone that meeting to later today. I will be late for office." he commanded his right-hand man, as he had already started caressing Aru's hair who had buried her face in his neck