Yeah, so well after Moonshine I seem to be in a sort of limbo and haven’t been posting or writing half as much as I would like to. Even this story has been simmering on the back-burner for weeks now. I thought that perhaps if I began posting it, I might get the necessary impetus to finish it. Look forward to your (vocal) support in this 6 part (completed) story.
A quick word (or two) of clarification for those who are not familiar with the characters. This story is about Arnav Singh Raizada also known as ASR and his wife (kam eternal sparring partner zyada) Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada (KKGSR) and their two children – Devansh aka Deva, Da, Guddu and Angelika aka Angel, Chotti. Thanks for reading π

Part I
βDaddeeee!β Ponytail and skirt flying Chotti ran out of the school gates and into her fatherβs arms.
βWhoa!β Arnavβs face softened and creased as he gathered her into his arms. βWhereβs Deva?β
βMust have sneaked off to the playground for a bit of football,β Chotti sniffed disparagingly.
βGo and call him.β Arnav was uncomfortable among the milling crowd of children and mothers. βWe are getting late.β
βYou know him right Daddy?β Chotti spread her hands expressively and in a manner belying her age. βHe wonβt come before heβs scored at least 3 goals. Even Mamma canβtβ¦β she paused, βwhereβs Mamma?β
Arnav cleared his throat and passed a finger around his neck, feeling rather hot under his trademark three-piece suit. βSheβs busy.β
βHey Da!β she waved frantically.
Deva dragged his feet and satchel, shirttail sticking out of his shorts. βWhereβs Mom?β
βSheβs busy. Come on now hurry.β He hustled them, feeling a bit put out at Devaβs lack of reaction. After all ASR had cancelled his meeting just toβ¦oh well at least Angel was happy to see him.
βWhy isnβt there anybody at home?β Deva asked. βNot even Nani?β
βI told you. They are busy. Wash up quick and come for lunch.β He waved his hand at the lunch laid out on the table.
Chotti took a sneak preview and backed off. βIβm not hungry.β
βAngel!β Arnav called sternly.
Chastened, she came back. βOnly if you tell me a story.β she bargained
βI donβt want this goop,β Deva stirred the hornetβs nest.
Predictably Arnavβs brow darkened. βExcuse me?β
Deva excused himself.
βDa is a bad boy.β Angel crowed, βIsnt he Daddy?β She sidled close to him.
Arnav patted her head distractedly. Now what? He was getting late dammit.
Chotti tugged ASRβs hand. βForget him Daddy. Heβll come down when heβs hungry. No need to pamper him like Mamma does.β
Arnav grunted.
βWhich story are you going to tell me Daddy?β She shook him. βDonβt worry about him Daddy, he always does this! I wonβt eat this I wonβt eat that,β expressive hand gestures accompanied her passable imitation of her sibling, βand then Mamma always has to bribe him with something special.β
βSomething special?!β Arnav asked. βLike what?β
Chotti shrugged. βThis and that. Sometimes Maggi, sometimes burger, sometimes mango shake,β she turned to him struck, βDaddy can I have a mango shake?β
βNo Angel.β Arnav was firm. βYouβve got to eat this.β He quickly served her and placed her on the chair. βNow be a good little girl and eat up. Iβll just go and check up onβ¦.”
Chottiβs lower lip trembled. βArenβt you going to tell me a story?β
βAhh Angel,β An increasingly frazzled Arnav cast a helpless glance upstairs, βI donβt know any storyβ¦β
βDonβt worry about that!β Chotti was all smiles as she beckoned him and pointed to the chair in front of her. βYou can tell me about how Grandmamaji went to Mars and set up shop there.β
ASR hissed in frustration as he disconnected Amanβs phone for the nth time. βSweetheart, why donβt you start eating? Iβll just go and get Devansh,β his voice hardened.
Devansh!
Daddy was mad.
Chotti nodded angelically and delicately tore off a tiny piece of the roti, dipped it in the rajma and popped it into her mouth. βDaddy can I come and watch while you get Da?β she asked with morbid pleasure.
βNo!β
Angelβs eyes swam with tears.
Arnav hastily softened his tone. βIβll be right back sweetie. Finish your food.β He dropped a kiss on her head. Satisfied, Chotti stayed put her eyes glued to the stairs.
She could imagine Daddy dragging a kicking and screaming Da by the ears. She shivered with dreadful anticipation and gory relish.
βDevansh,β Arnav cracked the whip, βcome on now and eat your lunch. I am late for my meeting.β
βIβm not hungry.β Devansh said sullenly.
βOf course you are.β Arnav was starving. This was not how he had imagined he would be spending Monday. A fun-filled afternoon, with adoring grateful children hanging on to his words with each of them vying to do his command was how he had visualized it.
And bragged about it to Khushi as well.
βWhy are you always in the kitchen?β He had grumbled. βWhat do you pay HP for?β
βTo run errands while I stir the pot and whip up stuff on the that ever growing list,β Khushi wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her wrist.
βYou spoil the kids rotten.β Arnav frowned. βYou shouldnβt pamper them so much. Give them one thing and thatβs it. How many days wonβt they eat? One day, two days? Sooner or later they will come to the table and eat whatever is served.β
βYeah right.β Khushi rolled her eyes. βBeen there done that,β she sighed resignedly, βand got my head chewed off for being such a lazy slacker of a mother.β
Arnav frowned. βWhat theβ¦! Who dare say such a thing to you?β
βYou my darling laad governor,β she flicked his nose with her floury hands before running them under the tap.
βNonsense!β Arnav denied hotly. βI never said such a thing to you.β
βYes you did.β Khushi insisted wiping her hands, βWhen Chotti was having repeated chest infections and the doctor said she was malnourishedβ¦.β Khushi watched with satisfaction as a dull color suffused ASR cheeks.
βOh that?β He looked away.
βYes that.β Khushi crossed her arms and nodded.
βThat was ages ago,β Arnav dismissed, βChotti was just 6β¦.β
ββ¦.and now sheβs just 8 and Guddu is underweightβ¦β
βWhatever,β Arnav waved his hand impatiently, βall I am saying is that the children are becoming spoiled brats and need to learn some discipline. You shouldnβt give into their demands so much.β
*** to be continued ***
A/N Next update is tomorrow. Do let me know your thoughts and if you would like to take more sneak peeks into their lives click here – From DM’s Desk
Click here for Part II
I must confess I’m getting a lot of ghoulish pleasure reading about this frazzled ASR! I wouldn’t expect anything less from the offspring of ASR and KKGSR π
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ah Ruchi I am glad to hear that! I was worried kahin phir se bechara Arnav haar gaya toh anjaam achcha nahi hoga π π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sometimes, only sometimes, he does deserve taking down a peg or two π
Much as it pains me to admit π
LikeLiked by 3 people
Unbelievable!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
ha ha ha! Am I detecting a chink in the armor Ruchi… π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perish the thought R!!! Mine is the hameshwala ishq βΊοΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh my my my! Down goes the drain…. My miniscule of a thought of having a lateral chance.. π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Arnav as a frazzled dad brought a grin to my face.
Exactly what I needed today so thanks.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! Thank you π
LikeLike
Really enjoyed reading this piece. Looking forward to more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much π
LikeLike
Very nice ! Look forward to reading more…..ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLike
Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. Mum runs around trying to coax her kids to eat something and gives in to their demands. Arnav thinks he can manage better. So Khushi has left him to deal with his lovely kids. Enjoying the story and welcome back. Missed you. Looking forward to more of Arnav/Khushi saga beyond IPK.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Ferdi – woh kya hai na, unke bina toh jaise koi baat hi nahi banti π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love reading about them, i knew it….it was Arnav…..it was so fulfilling to read about them…looking forward to reading more…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jyotsna π
LikeLike
Waiting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like it…especially Khushi, and the little Angel… Well told…π€ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – especially for the specifics!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the update, Dahlia. We were missing you.
—
Arnav always thought he could be the better parent, but his idea of parenthood is very selfish (obedient children waiting to serve him?). He seems to love the child that loves him more (Angel) and is not a very understanding or mature father. Sadly, a lot of parents have children for the wrong reasons (to take over business, to make their lives less lonely etc.)
—
I love your Arnav and Khushi and now Angel and Guddu, Dahlia. Please share more on them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much for your lovely comment Annaπ
LikeLike
This looks like a page right out of my life, except i dont have so many kids. One is enough to keep me busy. Thoroughly relatable and enjoyable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you could relate to it! Thanks π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely take to their relationship, loved their bonding and an undercurrent bonding can be felt in all arenas they share with each other, IPKKND is like a past and silver streaks is like a time capsule..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks π
LikeLike
These little hellions are a delight to read just like their parents. I am so glad you are writing about them and oh, I love reading the younger version of Chotti as much as I love reading the older. She has her own place in my heart.
Reading ASR as a dad is just β€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ravens!!! So happy to see you here π Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I am happy to read your work after so long β€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you so much! What about you – posted anything?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing yet. But I finally writing a story I wanted to write for the longest time (I also had a light bulb moment with it π )
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is really great! All the best – look forward to reading it when you’re done with it π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
this is so true – everyone other than mother thinks they can handle kids better then mother
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly π Thanks for visiting
LikeLike
Arnav ko kaha kuchh yaad rahata hain? Biwi jo itini jaldee maaf kar detee hein.
Loving these munchkins. I know, Deva is about 10 years old, but, still, Arshi ka beta hein, to hamesha cute lagega. Angel is angel. Does Arnav ever get mad at his angel?
Is Arnav doing this to prove a point?
Cheers………
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers π
LikeLiked by 1 person