Boy Friend

Part 1 Naughty Arnav

Delhi

Shashi entered the marriage hall with his wife, Garima, and daughters, Anjali and Khushi. It was his cousin’s daughter’s wedding. He came from Lucknow to attend the wedding.

That was when they heard,

“Garimaaaa...”

She looked behind. Her face brightened.

“Arvind...!” She advanced towards him, extending her hand, and they shook hands.

“How are you, man!” She shouted in joy.

“I’m doing great. What are you doing here?”

“Bride is my husband’s cousin’s daughter...”

“Oh... Groom is our neighbour...”

“I see... Do you know how much we searched for you?”

“Why?”

“To add you to our college group...”

“Ohh... Did you guys create a group?”

“Yeah, then what’s the use of using WhatsApp and all?”

“Did you find all our friends?”

“Almost... Two or three guys are remaining. You are also found... Our guys will be damn happy. We are planning to arrange a get-together. We want you to attend it. That’s why we searched for you. Finally, I met you...”

“Wow... Are we going to meet our friends?” She was so excited.

“Yes...You have no idea how much we searched for you! We searched for you on Facebook too, but we could not find you.”

“My husband and I use the same account... Our account name is GASHI...”

“Oh... That’s nice...” Arvind wondered because he understood Garima had a good understanding with her husband.

“Give your phone number; I will add you to our collage group. You must attend the get-together.”

“Oh, sure...” Garima told him her phone number.

Garima looked at Shashi, who was smiling at them.

“Arvind, he is my husband, Shashi Gupta...”

“Hello, sir...” Arvind extended his hand for a handshake.

Shashi shook hands with him.

“Didn’t I tell you about my classmate, Arvind?”

“The one who always came to class late... ”

Shashi smiled.

“Exactly...” Garima laughed.

Arvind grinned awkwardly.

“Can’t you tell him about my good character?”

“Not only about you, she told me everything. You guys decided to visit everyone’s house before your farewell. When she invited you to your house, you guys made her house like Srilanka destroyed by Hanuman, by plucking fruits and coconuts from trees in her house.”

Arvind scratched his forehead, embarrassed.

“Did you tell them what your mother said about their visit?” Shashi asked.

Garima nodded no, laughingly.

“What did she say?” Arvind asked.

“No one should enter our house from here on... And she named you Kishkinda creatures...” Garima laughed.

Fourteen-year-old Anjali controlled their laughter, whereas six-year-old Khushi was busy making a plait for her Barbie doll.

“Thank God, my sons are not here to hear you...” Arvind said, looking at a particular place where his sons were sitting with their mother.

“Oh... Where are they?” Garima asked.

“Ratna…” Arvind called and beckoned to her.

She came with their sons, Shyam and Arnav. Shyam was sixteen, and Arnav was ten.

“Ratna, she is Garima, my college mate…”

“Namaste jee…” Ratna greeted.

“No jee and all. You can call me Garima. You are Arvind’s wife. So, you are my friend too…” Garima said, smiling.

“Are you working, Garima?”

“Yes, I’m working in a bank…”

“That’s great…”

Arvind looked at Ratna and said,

“Garima was our school people leader and also the captain of our college Kabaddi team…”

Ratna looked at her, stunned.

“Now also she is playing Kabaddi if she gets angry…” Shashi laughed.

Shyam smiled at Anjali, who smiled mildly in return. Arnav saw Khushi combing the doll’s hair with a tiny play comb. He smiled, seeing her, who looked bubbly and chubby. He went to her and stood next to her. He tapped her on the head and made her look back. When she looked back, he pulled the doll’s plait, making it messy. He moved from the place immediately. Khushi looked at her doll and whined. Arnav controlled his smile. But Arvind and Ratna saw what he did.

“Chotte, what are you doing?” Arvind chided.

Arnav bowed down and looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

“This is not done, Chotte. Is this how you will make a little girl cry? Say, sorry…”

“Sorry…” he said with no choice.

Khushi hit Arnav with the doll, making him chuckle.

“It didn’t pain…” he laughed.

“Babuji, hit him…” Khushi again whined.

“Babuji, hit him…” Arnav mimicked her while pinching her cheek. Khushi shrugged his hand.

“Chotte…” Shyam’s strict voice made him stop laughing. Arnav stood straight.

“What will they think about us? Won’t they think our parents don’t raise us well…”

“She looked cute with chubby cheeks, Bhai…” Arnav said.

“It doesn’t mean you should make her cry.”

“Sorry, Bhai…”

Shashi and Garima wondered.

Shyam extended his hands towards Khushi and said,

“Come, I will give you ice cream…”

Khushi looked at Shashi, expecting his permission. He gestured to her to go. Khushi raised her hands, asking him to pick her up. Shyam lifted her on his shoulder.

“Di, you too come…” Khushi held Anjali’s hand.

Before Anjali could hold her hand, Arnav held it.

“I will also come with you…”

“Go… don’t come…” She shrugged his hand.

Arnav chuckled, and Anjali looked at him sharply. Arnav looked down, pressing his lips.

*I don’t know why you’re fussing over her…* Anjali said in a feeble tone.

“Just for fun…” Arnav said.

They went to the ice cream counter.

“Chotte likes kids so much, but he doesn’t know how to play with them…” Arvind said.

“Shyam gets his control… right?”

“Yes, both are opposite poles, but Chotte obeys his brother more than us,” Arvind said.

“He is a small boy. As time passes, he will understand everything.” Garima said.

“Yeah, this is all common at this age…” Shashi said.

“By the way, when are you going to arrange for a get-together?” Garima said.

“We haven’t finalised the date yet.”

“I can come only if you tell me the date in advance.”

“We will announce fifteen days prior. Is that fine?”

“Yeah…”

“Done…” ……

Shyam brought them to the ice cream counter, got an ice cream, and gave it to Khushi. Arnav pretended to snatch it from her.

“Bhaiya…he is snatching my ice cream…” Khushi yelled.

Shyam clutched Arnav’s nape and shook.

“Aa..aa..aa..aa…” Arnav made a sound.

Khushi giggled seeing that.

“Oi… are you laughing at me? Wait, I will throw a lizard at you…” Arnav ran from there laughingly.

“Bhaiya, he will throw a lizard at me…” Khushi cried.

“No, baby, he won’t do that because he is afraid of lizards…” Shyam said.

Khushi didn’t believe it and continued crying in fear.

“I won’t let him do that. I will take care of him. You don’t worry…”

“Mmm…” She ate the ice cream.

“Is he always like this?” Anjali asked.

“He is a little naughty, but I don’t know why he is acting too much today… I think he likes Khushi…”

“Does he nag the person whom he likes?” Anjali asked.

“No… he’s just trying to get her attention. He likes to play with kids, but he doesn’t know how to do it smoothly.”

Anjali raised her brows.

That was when Khushi dropped the doll from her hand. Anjali tried to take it, but before that, Arnav took it and ran.

“Chotte… stop running…” Shyam shouted, but Arnav didn’t.

Shyam sighed irritably. A few minutes later, Arnav came with the doll and gave it to Khushi, making a plait nicely.

To be continued…