Arshi OS - HO CHUKE JIJAJI PMs Later

ARSHI OS -HO CHUKE JIJAJI

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Arnav Singh Raizada was not a person who smiled at the drop of a hat.But,it has gone through a drastic change since his marriage.He was often found smiling these days,during his meetings,in important discussions and presentations and how could anyone be aloof to the instant change in his demaneor when Mrs Raizada was with him.

His employees and clients has gone from the state of extreme shock to being awestruck witnessing this side of him.But when what people thought made a difference to him.Neither he cared when people labelled him as an arrogant shrewd businessman nor their opinions mattered to him now.

For all the reasons,he was still the ASR for the outer world and that was how it was deemed to be.He was Khushi's Arnavji and Arnav only for his family.Buttoning up his coat,he smiled remembering the morning incident."CHEELE KA VIDESHI BHAI".Thats what she called pancakes.Only his wife was capable of coming up with such unique names.

He felt his heart overwhelmed by love for the extraordinary woman who always went that extra mile for him.Her every gesture,every action,every deed directly or indirectly was connected to him.It was her presence in his life that has instilled the warmness in his heart that held the ability to make him smile even in the worst of times.He shook his head when sudddenly realisation dawned upon him.

WAIT!!!.Didn't she tell him that she was going to fast the half day because it was Kanya Pooja today.His mind reeled back to their early morning conversation.He has tried but knowing Khushi's beliefs,he hadn't pestered her much.He would never force his wishes on her.

Khushi and fast,these two things didn't go together.Her love was food was simultaneous to his addiction to his laptop and Bluetooth.Certainly,not an very ideal example but that's what it was.They were weird in their own ways but what was most endearing was that they fit together perfectly,like the missing parts of the puzzle.

Last year,first he had come to know that the Pooja was held in his house of which his family hadn't let him get a clue off in all these years.What a day it had been,his smile elongating as the happenings of last year's Pooja rushed back.And if that hadn't been enough,the thought of her not eating the whole day had instantly gotten his instincts on alert.His concern overulling every sane thought,he has ran after her to see for himself,that she was fine.

When it came to Khushi,he has broken all his rules.She was the only exception and there was no way,he was going to leave her alone today. He will be home to keep an eye on her.Right that's what was he was going to do,atleast this way,he could be sure that she doesn't overwork herself and he wouldn't go sick in worry trying uselessly trying to accomplish some work in office,when his mind would be focussed on her all the time.

Grabbing his phone from his pocket,he made a quick call to Aman.Informing him that he is taking an day off today,he went on discussing all the details of his day making sure that there was nothing important which required his immediate presence .

His loyal assistant cum manager smiled at the other end as he heard his boss attentively.Working in close quarters with ASR since the inception of AR,he hadn't been averse to the golden heart his boss possessed and he could vouch for it with his life.His mentor was a man with an iron clad resolve who has risen from rags to riches on his own never compromising on his values.

Once the call ended,Arnav let out a loud "Khushi" standing at the top of stairs making her almost spill the contents of the box she was holding.Keeping the container aside,she marched up the stairs.

"Arnavji,what happened?.Do you need anything?.There are so many things that needs to be done,please hurry up".Khushi spoke up in one breath visibly annoyed at being disturbed.

"I just called you to inform that I'm not going to the office.Aman called up,there are no meetings scheduled for today".He lied with a straight face.

Khushi stared at him suspiciously as if contemplating something and after a moment,she rewarded him with a full blown smile melting him insides.He followed her downstairs and took a seat at the dining table indifferent to all the glances that were sent his way for his willing appearance during the Pooja forgetting all his defiances.

Finishing the cooking,Khushi asked Naniji if there was something else that needed to be done. Once assured that everything is in order,she glanced around for a glimpse for her husband but assuming he would have gotten some work,she made her way out for shopping for the gifts for the girls.

She was walking in her thoughts when someone caught her arm and turned her around.The touch way too familiar for her as she immediately relaxed in her husband's hold.She simply let him lead her.Arnav opened the door of his SUV gesturing her to get in while he took behind the wheels .The soft smile playing on Khushi's lips all the while during their journey.

Arnav Singh Raizada haven't ever thought that he would ever see the light of a day,where he would be standing in a toy shop.He had come with Khushi out of concern and here he has been practically dragged inside.He had told her that he would wait in the car but she hasn't heard a word of it,putting up that adorable pouting face,he could never say NO to.

The result he was here while his wife acted like she had all the time in the world as she wandered from one corner to another wanting to pick the best gift for the girls.

His gaze settling on a doll house that was aesthetically placed in a corner and suddenly his vision was clouded with A little girl sitting besides the doll house as she played with them showing all her prized possessions to his father as she crooned "Papa" to him in her sweet voice.Of them being in this same toy shop as they picked one toy after the other while Khushi passed furious glances at him for spoiling their daughter.

He was so lost in that enchanting vision that Khushi had to practically shook him to get his attention.A frowned creased his face as he realised it was an imagination.An imagination that he wished to be reality very soon.He saw Khushi holding an Barbie Doll in her hand asking his opinion.

He walked where the Doll House was placed,showing Khushi who liked it at the very moment,elated with his choice.Asking the salesperson to gift wrap them separately for all of them.

Back home,Arnav excused himself as he got a call from Aman who needed his approval on a presentation.The women of the house got engaged as the girls arrived for the Pooja.It was almost after an hour that he closed his laptop sending the final draft of the presentation to Aman.Opening the sliding door of the poolside,he stepped out to be welcomed with the sound of giggles.

There,he saw the little girls sprawled on the swing that he has gotten tailormade for Khushi.Seeing them,he realised ,they were the same girls who came last year too.They were too engrossed in themselves to notice his presence.

Khushi joined them scrouching down on her knees to be at level with them when he heard one of them spoke and an animated "What The"escaped his lips,hearing the girl ask Khushi.

"Didi,aaj aap humein yahan le ke aayi,pichli baar to aapne humein mana kiya tha".(You brought us here today Didi,Last year you had specially instructed us to not come here).Reminded the girl.

"Haan Didi,kyunki woh Rakshas Laad Governor yahan rehta hai,jo bacchoin ko khaa jaata hai".(Because here lives that devil,Laad Governor who swallows children).Provided the other girl.

Khushi heard the girls repeating like a parrot what she had told them last year on pretext of keeping them away from his room.How hard she had tried,to keep the girls away from his room but Alas! when had things gotten as wanted between them.

And she couldn't be more glad for it.It was truly the divine's intervention that they were together.How angry he had been as he had thought she was the one who spoiled his model,well he wasn't wrong completely she mused. At that time they both had been so confused about their feelings,that it was bound to happen.

Who on the earth said,he couldn't stand kids.Clearly,no one else has seen that facet of him.But She has and she rejoiced that it was only her for whom he has reserved it for.The moment was freezed in her heart forever.He has bought all the pigeons for that little girl.His innate goodness was his most heartwarming quality and she knew when time comes,he will be the best father to their children.

He was a Laad Governor but only her Laad Governor.She smiled to herself and found herself answering the girls who were eagerly waiting for her answer.

"Haan,humne kaha tha,par woh Shaitan nahi ek Rajkumar tha".(He wasn't the devil but a prince).Khushi explained softly.

"Rajkumar,jaise stories mein hotey hai?".(Like in the stories?).Came the question in loud chorus.

"Stories jaise nahi,use bhi ache,Hamare Rajkumar".(That's fiction,he is the real prince charming.My Prince Charming).Khushi finished in daze while the girls clapped in excitement.

Arnav saw Khushi as she patted her forehead clearly indicating that she has forgotten something.Shaking his head he walked forward to help the girls get down of swing carefully as all of them stared at him seeing him appear out of nowhere,when the youngest of them called him"JIJAJI".

He was taken aback at the addressal but he didn't hot an opportunity to answer as the girls got immersed in the clarification themselves.

"Nahin,yeh Jijaji nahin hai,".(He is not Jijaji).Announced the eldest one of them.

Hearing her,it occurred to him that how last year they have addressed him as "Jijaji" and he has only told them that he was not.Surely,these girls had great memory.Payal has never addressed him as Jijaji,but now hearing it from them,he realised he didn't mind being addressed.Things Love makes you do.

"Actually,Main Hoon".(Actually I am).The words left his mouth before he knew.

Seeing their confused faces,he confirmed."Main Jijaji hoon!!".(I am your Jijaji).

How difficult it was to explain the simple fact to them.If Khushi was their Didi,he was their Jijaji.He thought as he took in the look of the sheer disbelief on their faces.They called out to Khushi who came running to find Arnav standing with all the girls.

All the girls instantly circled Khushi and complaint.

"Didi,Didi,dekhiye naa,yeh uncle keh rahe hai ki yeh Jijaji hai".(See,this Uncle is saying that he is our Jijaji).

"UNBELIEVABLE".That was the only word he could utter.She was Didi and he was Uncle.Khushi couldn't control herself as she erupted into fits of laughter seeing him.

"Yeh Jijaji hi hai,aapke Ho Chuke Jijaji".(He is your already Jijaji).Khushi finally put a rest to Arnav's misery.

"Aur aapko pata hai aapke Jijaji ab hum sabke saath hide and seek khelengey".(And you know,Now your Jijaji is going to play hide and seek with us).She said making the girls clap their hands with excitement.

"What?".He let out immensely shocked,Did she even know what she was saying?.

"What nahi Arnavji,What the,par Bachoin ke saamne nahi".(What The Arnavji,but atleast be civil in front of the kids).Khushi spoke teasingly in his ears as she tied the blind fold around his eyes.

Never been the one to back out from anything,he readily participated,his inhibitions vanishing away in air as they both played along with them.They laughed,giggled,teased and relived their childhood,not realising where time passed stopping only by the call from downstairs as it was the time for Pooja.

The girls settled down as they took turns to wash their feet.Anjali passed the copper vessel filled with water to her.Her eyes sought his misting at their own accord.What did he think,she didn't know that why all off a sudden there were no meetings lined up for today nor she has missed the fond expression on his face in the toy store exactly knowing what he was envisioning then.

But she hasn't asked him nor disrupted that beautiful moment basking in the smile that has lit up his face.She was fasting and wanted him to be part of everything she did.There was never a you or me between them.It was only US as they were one entity.

Arnav stood up as he saw Khushi walking towards him and she wordlessly held his hand leading to him where all the girls were sitting.Understanding dawned on what she was trying to do,Arnav silently followed all her actions as he was well aware of her feelings behind it.

The moment was too pure to need any words as they performed each ordeal of the Pooja together while the rest of family members watched on fondly.Blessing the couple in their hearts,though they were teasing him,they were neither amused nor shocked.

The day he has entered DeviMaiyya's temple on his own and has went through all the rituals of marriage willingly,they have known,when it comes to Khushi,Arnav Singh Raizada was an entirely different person.

He helped Khushi in serving the food to girls and felt contentndess engulf him seeing them all squealing in joy at seeing their respective Doll House.Khushi was right,there was nothing more joyful in the world than seeing the innocent smile on their faces.

The girls were safely escorted back to their respective homes and Arnav made sure that Khushi ate properly as she broke her fast.She was sitting in the poolside when her husband emerged and piped a hot mouth watering Jalebi in her mouth.

Khushi relished in the sweetness of Jalebis and Arnav thought for a fleeting second but voiced out the question nonetheless.

"How many girls came today for the Kanya Pooja?".

"9".Khushi answered gobbling another Jalebi.

"Hmm".He nodded in response and asked again.

"Is it necessary that there should be 9 girls only?".

Khushi was perplexed at the sudden onslaught of questions and his sudden interest but she answered nevertheless.

"Arnavji.There should be minimum 9 girls because in Navratras we worship 9 Avatars of DeviMaiyya.Rest,it depends on a person's will".

"Good".He said satisfied with her answer but his wife was not the one to let go so easily as she eyed him to elaborate.

"Because,I want all those girls who came today,to come next year too,all of them".

Khushi appeared confuseddd and Arnav sighed as he picked her up in his arms closing the door of the poolside behind them before whispering huskily in her ears.

"Our daughter will sit in the Pooja next year too right".

Khushi hid her face in his chest,the underlying meaning of his words finally dawning on her as they got lost in a world of their own with the earnest wish of creating a life together.

Didi is Sister and Jijaji is Brother in Law,If anyone had any confusions.

About the Kanya Pooja.Its based on my knowledge of how its celebrated in my home.We fast during the Navratras and at the last day we have this Pooja.

PMs Later.

Waiting to hear your precious thoughts if you liked it.