"Aashi baccha, please don't cry," Arnav muttered, softly rocking his little princess who was crying clinging to him.
"Papa you too," Aashi too whispered wiping her's as well as her papa's tear who was crying along with her.
Shyam Jha who was witnessing all the drama on repeat from the time they entered the hospital (as Khusi was rushed to ICU), could just roll his eyes.
It was like pause, rewind, and play, he thought. Arnav would ask Aashi to stop crying. Aashi would repeat his words wiping both of their tears and again they will start from the beginning.
"Shyamji." the voice of his wife finally allowed Shyam to sigh in relief.
Anjali Jha previously Raizada, was the only sister of Arnav Singh Raizada and lovely wife of Shyam. She had arrived at the hospital as soon as her husband had called informing her about Khusiji fainting.
"Thank god you are here. Please, please make them stop. They have been at it since office," Shyam pleaded to his wife. " I am sure some of the staff fainted seeing their devil boss crying like a baby. Make them stop or I will start myself."
Anjali eyed the crying duo who were still in their own world and then again at her husband and his swollen eyes.
"As if you didn't already..." Anjali affirmed knowing exactly how much her husband loved his sister in everything but blood. Like Arnav could do anything for his di, he could go at any length for Khusiji.
"It's not like that. It's just...I..." Shyam stammered.
"Yeah yeah, you were not crying. Just some dust went into your eyes," Shyam couldn't decide if she was teasing him or getting sarcastic.
"Anyway, you go bring something for Aashi. I will see them," Anjali spoke looking at the father-daughter duo who were still crying in each other's embrace.
Shyam nodded knowing his wife will do as she said. He moved away not before giving her a hug. He knew it wasn't easy for her too.
"Aashi," Anjali called softly after reaching the duo.
"Bua," Aashi flung herself at Anjali and cried harder clinging to Anjali. Anjali could understand the inner turmoil of the little girl who was seeing her mother in the hospital for the second time in just months.
"Princess, " Anjali whispered while stroking her hair, "Don' cry baccha. You will make yourself sick."
"Mamma..hiccup...Mamma..." Aashi couldn't even form a sentence.
"Mamma is fine baccha. She was a little weak so she fainted. Doctor uncle said there is nothing to worry about," Anjali reassured the crying child.
Aashi looked at her with hopeful eyes," Pakka."
"Pakka promise," Anjali replied while wiping little Aashi's tears.
Making sure Aashi was fine, Anjali turned towards her brother.
"Chote, instead of stopping aashi from crying, you are crying yourself."
Before Anjali could put some more sense in her brother, the doctor who was checking Khushi came out from the ICU.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Riddhima...Why are they crying ???" Riddhima asked seeing two people still sniffing slightly completely forgetting what she was about to say.
"Hello, Dr. Riddhima. I'm Anjali. They are my brother Arnav and his daughter Aashi. They are crying as Khusiji fainted." Anjali replied.
"Oh.." Riddhima sounded amused.
"How is my wife? Is she fine?" Arnav asked impatiently not knowing how his Khusi was doing.
"No need to worry Mr. Raizada. Your wife is all good." No sooner had those words left her mouth, a beautiful smile graced the face of two crying souls.
"In fact, I have good news for you Mr. Raizada," Riddhima smiled seeing a surprised expression on his face.
Riddhima paused letting the suspense built. Looking at the anxious look shot her way, she decided to end their misery.
"Congratulations Mr. Raizada, You are going to be a father."
She had expected them to jump in surprise, cry in happiness. She had thought they might even hug her. But, they exceeded her expectation with what followed next.
"But I'm already a father," Arnav responded looking completely confused.
"Yes, I'm his daughter." Aashi too nodded supporting her dad.
Anjali who was herself ready to jump with the news of being bua for the second time, stood there like a statue for seconds before she shared a look with the doctor in a similar predicament and both burst into fits of laughter.
"Oh god! You two are so cute. " Riddhima cooed between giggles.
"Top class fools you mean," Anjali supplied still laughing.
Two innocent souls stood there not knowing what was so funny.
"Di, what's funny?" Arnav asked getting annoyed. Here, his Khushi was unwell and he was not able to think properly in worry. On top of that, this doctor goes on congratulating him for being a father which he was already for years. And now these two are laughing like mad.
"Everything Chote, everything," Anjali replied now merely giggling looking at her brother getting annoyed. He still was a kid she thought, with a kid of himself. The thought again made her laugh.
Seeing him getting angry, Riddhima thought to end his misery.
"Mr. Raizada, you are a father already and we know that." She spoke calmly.
"But Chote who said you cannot be a father for a second time." Anjali who had finally calmed herself put some sense in his brother who just stops thinking if it's about his wife or daughter.
It didn't take Arnav to grasp what they were trying to say. His Khusi...His Khushi was pregnant. He was going to be a dad.
"Papa..." Aashi frowned at his father who was squealing as well as crying.
"Oh my god Aashi, you are going to be a big sister. I'm going to be a father again. There is a new member of the Raizada family on the way." Arnav said twirling Aashi in the air.
"Ohh...I am going to be a big sister." Aashi too yelped with enthusiasm.
"What happened to them? Have they gone crazy because of crying? " Shyam who just arrived frowned looking at aashi and Arnav jumping like frogs.
"Is Khusi fine?" he asked not knowing what caused that reaction.
"Shyamji, Khusiji is fine.They are just happy as they got the good news." Anjali patted her husband's arm to soothe his worry.
"Good news?" Shyam asked confused.
"You are going to be a mama," Anjali replied grinning widely.
"But I'm already mama," Shyam argued.
Anjali and Riddhima could just snicker again looking at the confused soul.
"Oh Anjali, I have to say, you have a very crazy family," Riddhima said.
"You haven't seen even the half of it, Dr. Rhidhima. They can make any sane person insane." the fondness in Anjali's voice while talking about her family wasn't missed by Riddhima.
"Rani Sahiba," Shyam called not knowing what was so funny.
"Shyamji, can't one be a mama again ?"Anjali asked the same question to her dear husband which she asked her brother.
" Oh...oh." Shyam expressed all ready to jump but thought better of it. Rather he turned towards the jumping duo to congratulate them only to see no one there.
"Where are they?" he asked looking at his wife confusedly.
"They went inside the room." Riddhima pointed towards the room from where she had come out.
◆◆◈◈◇◇◆◆
"Khushi, I'm going to be father, again." Arnav beamed at his wife who was now wide awake and thrilled with the news of being a mother for the second time.
"Oh, mamma I'm going to be a big sister." Aashi shared here papa's excitement.
"You both are happy right?" Khushi asked just to be sure. Though she was over the moon herself listening to the news of her pregnancy, she still wanted to confirm from them.
"Of course," the father-daughter duo replied while hugging her.
"Khushi..." Arnav started," from today no more work in the kitchen."
"But..." Khushi tried protesting only to stop at the two pairs of eyes glaring at her.
"Also, I think from tomorrow itself, I should be working from home." Arnav said in a calculative tone.
"Then I'll also study from home." Aashi jumped in nodding along with her papa's decision.
"Are you both out of your mind? I'm just one month pregnant. " Khusi yelled. "You, Mr. Raizada will be working from the office and little Raizada, you'll be going to school regularly."
Khushi warned the duo in a no-nonsense tone.
"Ok, mom."
"Ok, Khushi."
The father-daughter duo nodded readily but Khusi knew better. That was just for trying to end the topic but Khusi too knew the deal.
"I know you both are just agreeing here and will turn your back when we reach home," Khushi sniffed faking tears.
The duo looked like deer caught in a headlight.
"No, no Khushi, we would do no such thing. Don't cry, please. We will do as you say," Arnav agreed without a second thought.
"Yes, mamma Sorry. I'll also go to school regularly." Aashi too agreed instantly. Her mamma shouldn't cry, Aashi thought. Though she was papa's princess, she love her mom too much.
"Promise ?"Khushi asked. Her eyes were still glassy.
"Promise ." Both swore immediately.
Khushi felt like pulling their cheeks. They were just too innocent and easily manipulated.
She extended her both arms asking for a hug. The trio was having a family hug while Arnav placed a hand on Khusii's stomach making her smile.
Three people standing at the door could just smile at these crazy but sweet lovers.
Suddenly, someone entered inside the room like a hurricane pushing three people standing at the door out.
"Mami, what happened?"
