Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

139. Roothna and manana

This is for my passionate CSD reader, mpra0633699 on her request for ArShi-centric chapter. Hope you like it.❤️

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They were at Kavish's school for a cultural program organized by the school for Diwali. Kavish had taken part in a group performance and although it was not his first stage performance, Arnav and Khushi had been as excited as they were 5 years ago, when a 4-year-old Chiku had first graced the stage.

All the moms were backstage with their kids in the dressing room, helping them get ready, while all the dads, along with any other family members, were seated outside in the auditorium.

"Chiku, seedhe khade raho, humein baal banane do (Stand still, I am fixing your hair)." Khushi said as Kavish kept turning his head on this side and that, talking to his friends who were either too excited or too nervous for their performance.

Khushi herself was constantly getting interrupted by kavish's friends' moms, whether to help them with something or simply chatting with her. She was always popular amongst her kids' moms, thanks to her cheerful, friendly nature.

On the contrary, her husband and her kids' father, was barely surviving sitting outside with other dads. Some were too loud, and some were too nosy for him to mingle with them. Not that he was great at making small talk anyway, but today, there wasn't a single person he could even try to connect with. At least not until Khushi came out and saved him from the awkward silence.

His only friend in the usual parent crowd, Rucha's dad and his old Harvard classmate, Jatin, was out of the country and had missed the event. That left him with only one companion: his baby girl, Pari. And honestly, she was enough. Even though she wasn't saying much, he found comfort in talking to her, showing her things around the auditorium, or simply explaining how her bhaiyya was going to be on stage soon and they would both be cheering for him. But soon, she herself asked for her mother and he too started looking towards the backstage for Khushi to come out already.

"Mamma, bas, ho gaya (done)." Kavish said as Khushi finally managed to apply some light makeup on him. She wasn't fond of using any makeup on her kids, but Chiku was playing a character that needed it. So, reluctantly, she had used it.

Chiku looked around for a moment and quickly forwarded his cheek, asking for a 'good luck kiss'. Khushi chuckled and obliged him. He shyly returned one on her cheek, then gave another to his little sister, Arohi, who was busy on Khushi's phone, sitting by the side. And just like that, he was off to join his friends, already playing as they waited for their turn on stage.

Khushi was about to get up and go outside herself, knowing Arnav would be getting restless by now, when one of the moms came over and asked her for a recipe. Soon, two more ladies joined in, and the conversation continued.

"Khushi?" Her name being called pulled her attention, as well as everyone else's. And there stood her husband at the doorway with a poker face. "Isn't Kavish ready yet? How long are you going to take?"

A couple of the ladies chuckled, and Khushi looked around, embarrassed. This laad governor had no shame left. Who barges into a room full of women and, without blinking, asks his wife to come out?

"Hum aa rahe hain, Arnavji. Aap baithiye na (You wait in the auditorium)." she said, red-faced, trying to salvage the moment.

"No, I'll wait here. Tum aao." He adamantly said.

Seeing that, someone whispered far too loudly, "Looks like Mr. Raizada is missing Khushi. Jayiye, jayiye Khushi ji, unka man nahi lag raha hai."

Khushi was so flustered and so angry, she nearly stomped her foot, picked up her phone-busy daughter, and stormed out without even looking at her laad governor of a husband.