Siyanshi: My beloved

34

Arjun sat at the divan proudly with his youngest children on his lap and his beloved wife besides him on his left. Prabhavati and Prabhavan sat on the right divan on their father's side whereas Ruchiparvan was seated on the left divan to their mother's side.

Arjun chuckled as he let the two girls touch his face and jewelry as he patiently answered their questions no matter how painfully naive or comical they were. "And when will we meet our tatshree, jyesth mata, pitamahi, bhratashree, jyestha bhagini and the long line of people that bhagini Prabhavati goes on and on and one about?" Arnima questioned turning her father's face towards her.  

"Soon, very soon. We will be leaving for the Virat Kingdom very soon." Arjuna smiled at the older of the twins. "I don't want to leave home." Arunima mumbled fiddling with Arjun's jewelry. "You are yet to be home, putri. My heart aches that you two haven't seen, played and slept in the bhavan that Prabhavati, Prabhavan and Parvan have. The bhavan that I and your mata made home." Arjuna caressed Arunima's head, his hand smoothening out her hair.

"When will we go home then?" Arunima asked. "I don't have a fixed answer but I hope that it's soon." Arjun answered. "If so then want the brightest room when we return home!" Arnima was the first to call dibs. "As you wish, Rajkumari sa." Arjun chuckled.

"I still don't want to leave matamahi and matamah though." Arunima mumbled reaching out to her mother now, seeking the comfort of her lap. "You can visit them every once in a while, Aru." Siyanshi said taking her youngest in her lap. "I still don't want to." Arunima whined and looked at Ruchiparvan seeking for his support. 

Ruchiparvan being the ever so indulgent older brother to his younger siblings sighed and took Arunima in his arms. "Monkey" he commented as Arunima reached out for him. Arjuna quietly watched Ruchiparvan pacify Arunima and smiled. Arjun was proud at how much of a caring older brother Ruchiparvan was, Arjun knew distance had grown between him and Ruchiparvan and the boy was no longer a child that Arjun used to carry around in the bazar of Indraprastha but his heart still longed to pull his youngest son to his chest and cradle him like the old times.

Siyanshi noticed the look on her husband's face and quietly nudged him. Arjuna tore away his gaze from Ruchiparvan and offered a smile to his wife. "Do I get a loving welcome tonight, my Rati?" Arjuna's finger tapped her nose ring making it chime. He couldn't help but grin wider at the sound it made, his ears had longed to hear it again for the past decade. "If my husband deserves it." Siyanshi whispered. "Oh I think I do deserve it. Very vey much." Arjun whispered. 

"How?" Arnima chimed in, the girl had been eavesdropping the entire time oblivious to the nature of the conversation. "Eavesdropping is not a good habit, that too especially on your mata and pitashree." Arjuna gently pinched Arnima's nose making her scrunch her face. 

"But she does have a good point, swami. How come you deserve it?" Siyanshi smiled at the little girl's reaction. "I did marry you again this morning, didn't I?" Arjuna's free hand reached for Siyanshi's chin turning her face towards him. "I believe it's my right." He tilted her face upwards, looking in her eyes, making the message clear.

"Why wasn't I invited?" Arnima chimed again. The couple laughed seeing her offended expression which caught the attention of the other children. "What trouble are you causing now?" Ruchiparvan looked at Arnima's expression and her hands on her hips. "Bhratashreee!!" Arnima hopped off her father's lap and went straight to Ruchiparvan. "I and Aru weren't invited to mata and pitashree's wedding this morning. How rude is that!" Arnima plopped down besides Ruchiparvan. "A wedding? I didn't know of it! I want a wedding as well!" Arunima joined in. She too felt it was unfair.

"I doubt that our mata knew of it either." Prabhavan chuckled. "Don't worry, we too were not invited." he added. "Mata? What will you wear at the bhoj matamah and matamahi have organized tonight to welcome pitashree? We can match." Prabhavati leaned forward. Arjuna smiled at how Prabhavati's liking to dress up like her mother hadn't changed even now.