Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

107. Mysteries of past -1

Quick note: CSD is not changing its genre to suspense, however, this chapter is written in that tone for a special reason. See if you can guess by the end of it :)

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This weekend was supposed to be busy for Raizada power couple, Arnav, and Khushi. To begin with they had PTMs (Parent teacher meeting) to attend on Saturday- for Chiku in the morning and for Aru and Pari in the early afternoon. And then Arnav had to go to AR despite it being a Saturday (the last time ASR regularly worked on weekends was before 2012!) as he had to review the summer collection for youth which was set to launch next week. Khushi too had to go to Lakshmi Nagar as Bua ji had called her to help in making aam ka aachar (mango pickle) which she yearly made for both families, Guptas and Raizadas... and then Sundays which were usually reserved for ensuring laundry was done for them and kids, for instructing Prakash brothers on any supplies needed in the kitchen and cooking special lunch menu for everyone's liking, but this Sunday turned even busier as Nisha (Chiku's friend Rucha's mother and Arnav's friend Jatin's wife) had invited Payal and Khushi for an evening tea gathering along with some other ladies in their common friend circle (mostly moms of their kids' friends).

In short, they had no time to spare for each other, let alone for anyone else this weekend!

And perhaps that was why when Arnav received a call from an unknown number, as he was just taking his SUV out of the parking lot of his kids' school, he ignored it.

Not realizing what this was going cost him over the next few days!

His phone was connected to the car's Bluetooth and thus, the incoming call had flashed on car's dashboard screen which Khushi saw.

"Kiska call tha? Aapne uthaya kyun nahi? (Whose call was it? Why didn't you answer)?" she asked as she settled on the seat beside him, after securely settling Chiku, Arohi and Pari in the back seat. Arnav bent to fasten her seat belt on habit, even if she very well could do it herself now, having just done it for their kids.

"I don't have time to listen to some credit card rep or some car dealer right now." he said while looking in rear view mirror to ensure his kids were safely seated.

"It could have been important too."

"Then they will call Aman. Or akash." he said as he turned on the key and maneuvered the vehicle out of parking.

.

.

They totally forgot about the call by the time they reached home and like other parents, were busy discussing what was told in today's PTMs about their kids. Academic performance was never an issue for them, Chiku being amongst the star kids of his class and Aru and Pari were doing good given their age and expectations from kindergarten kids. The only improvement for Chiku was that he talked a lot (!) and his class teacher Ms. Prerna mentioned she often had told him to reserve the chit-chat for recess. Arnav had looked at Khushi at that, his smirk telling her he attributed this quality of their son to her, and she had given him a mild glare. On the other hand, Arohi and Pari's teacher Ms. Akshata had mentioned that while Aru mingled with other kids, she often bossed them around and Pari didn't talk to anyone except only her twin sister Arohi. Khushi had immediately told both the teachers that she would ensure she would work on those suggestions for her kids while Arnav had brushed off his kids needed any such things as 'improvements', they were perfect in his view. So, during their car ride back home, Khushi and he got into an argument with Khushi insisting him to admit that their kids needed to be taught a few things if teachers were saying so and him saying let anyone say anything, their kids did not need any more discipline!

So, they stayed miffed at each other during most of the lunch and even as they put kids for their afternoon nap while finishing some of their own chores.