Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

89. Twins & sickness -part 1

Quick note: The chapter will talk about a contagious viral disease found mainly in kids, called chickenpox. The disease is identified by high fever and blisters/rash on the body and is curable with medicines. Most of you might already know of it, but for the unawares, this is the context you need to know. Now read on:

--*--

The monsoon season in Delhi had been harsh this year. It rained cats and dogs for the last 2 weeks, and even this week the light drizzles still made their presence felt.

Khushi had picked up Arohi and Pari from their school at noon and as their driver, Mohan stopped the car in front of the short stairs that led to the porch of their residential mansion, Shantivan, Khushi quickly got hold of the umbrella. A point worth mentioning here, Arohi didn't like rain much, while Pari used to love watching the water droplets slide down their glass windows. Even though Khushi herself loved rain and would have loved to get drenched a bit- better still with Arnavji- right now, Khushi as a mother couldn't allow it!

She held umbrella with one hand while her other held Pari's. Mohan was helping Aru in a similar way. But just as they barely took 2 steps, her otherwise disciplined child Pari, left Khushi's hand and moved out of the safety of umbrella. She giggled as tiny raindrops touched her face and her hands.

"Pari! Don't do that, aapko bheegne se mana kiya tha na humne (I denied you from getting drenched in rain, right?)" Khushi said, all the while walking as fast as she could on the slippery ground, thanks to rainwater running there.

By the time Khushi reached Pari, and caught hold of her, she had successfully got herself a rain bath!

--*--

Later that night:

Arnav was busy working on something, he had AR's Bangalore branch team coming to meet him tomorrow and he was going to share his vision for AR's performance in south India. So, he had been pretty occupied after dinner and didn't spend much time with his kids either except for giving them their customary good night kisses.

"Mamma, aaj ka dinner bohot yummy tha(today's dinner was very yummy), will you make it again?" Chiku asked from where he was sitting on his bed, while Khushi was changing twins' clothes into their nightwear. Khushi smiled hearing the compliment. As it was raining and the whole atmosphere was quite calling for it, she had made onion pakodas(fritters) as a side while in main dinner, she had prepared kadhi-chawal. She had expected kids would love deep fried pakodas but when they loved that warm, soupy, a little spicy kadhi it was a pleasant surprise for her! No doubt, that recipe was a combination of tasty and healthy and she was happy chiku ate well. After all, seeing her kid well fed, fulfilled half of her appetite.

However, Aru and Pari hadn't eaten much. Aru, she knew, was going to opt for a simple fulka-sabzi(flatbread and veggie gravy) but Pari's lack of interest was surprising. Still wondering about it, she made Aru-Pari go and lie on their bed while she came near Chiku.

"Bilkul banayenge (Of course I will make it again). Par chalo abhi so jao(But go to sleep now), it's quite late, hmm?" she said pecking his head and securing the blanket around him.

After tucking him in, she came to the twins' bed pulling their tiny frames from her either side. As usual, she started patting their heads slowly, rubbing their backs and hands with a warm touch that only a mother has, and caressed their little tummies in small pattern. They had snuggled closer to her hiding their faces in her embrace. She sensed their even breathing into her bosom indicating they had fallen asleep, and very carefully made them lie back. She kissed Aru first, and then just as her lips touched Pari's forehead, she was alarmed. Pari's skin was warm, warmer than usual in fact.