Vidushi and Parth smiled to see the antics of the two children. Megami cooed happily as she sat on her mother's lap, enjoying her parents attention. An excited K2 spoke to them non-stop. He was delighted. His uncle and aunt had flown in from the US the previous night. Neither Sanyukta nor K2 had no inkling about their arrival. Harsh had not told them anything.

 Just then the doorbell rang and Sanyukta went to answer the door, imagining it was Randhir.

It wasn't Randhir. Rather, Arvind and Suniti Kasbekar stood at the door smiling at her. What was happening, Sanyukta wondered! How many surprises were being sprung on her today?

"My dear child, may we come in?"Suniti smiled at Sanyukta indulgently.

"Of course, Uncle, Aunty, this way!" She led them into the living room and Vidushi came forward to welcome them.

"See, I kept my word about not telling her!" Vidushi hugged Suniti while Parth shook hands with Arvind. Suketu was ecstatic, it was as if Diwali had come early this year. They never had so amny relatives calling on them before this.

"Suketu, do you recognise our guests?" Harsh asked him.

"Of course, they are Aaji and Ajoba!" K2 replied happily. Sanyukta had ensured that he knew about them. After all, the Kasbekars had cared for her like their own daughter when she was pregnant with Suketu.

"This is not fair! Parth, Vidushi, Aunty and Uncle! You could have given me some idea that you were coming to Mumbai! Gingerbread, calm down! K2, please tie him up!" Sanyukta nearly tripped over the puppy who was trying to make friends with the visitors. Arvind, who loved dogs, picked him up in his arms while Suniti fussed over the children.

"Sanyukta, don't worry about breakfast! Randhir has pre-ordered breakfast and lunch, just make some coffee!" Harsh instructed Sanyukta who was already in the kitchen wondering where Randhir was. He had left the apartment early in the morning while she was still sleeping.

As soon as the breakfast order was delivered Nanny helped Sanyukta set the table and everyone sat down to eat.

"Pure bliss! We should call for these more often, don't you think, Sanyukta?" Harsh tore a piece of aloo paratha and dipped it in some chilli pickle.

"Where is Randhir? Is not returning for breakfast?" Sanyukta tried to sound as casual as possible.

"I don't think so. He said he is occupied with some urgent work! Hope he comes back for lunch though!" Parth replied. 

After breakfast Parth,  Arvind and Suniti left to go somewhere with Harsh. They said they had to take care of some business matters. Vidushi decided to stay back with Sanyukta and the children.

"I hope you don't mind, but this bed looks very inviting!" Vidushi plonked down on Sanyukta's bed.

"Of course not, Vidushi! Why don't you get some sleep? You must be jet lagged! I'll get the kids to play in the living room!" Sanyukta said, trying to lead the children away. 

"No dear, Parth and I managed to sleep for over ten hours during the flight. Business class seats convert into a comfortable flat bed. So there is no jet lag at all!" Vidushi played with the children while Sanyukta gave Gingerbread a bath. 

"Abby, can I dry him with the blow dryer?" K2 asked. 

"Fine, but be careful, and let the heat setting be minimal!" K2 followed his mother's instructions and Gingerbread wagged his tail. He looked happy to be dry once more. 

"Such a cute puppy, and he smells nice too!" Vidushi patted Gingerbread gently on his head.

"By the way, Abby, I am sure you are wondering what brought us here suddenly!" Vidushi looked at Sanyukta. 

"I guess it has to be something very important, probably related to the business!" Sanyukta said. What else could bring them to Mumbai so abruptly?

"Actually, Randhir asked us to come over, for a rather personal reason!" Vidushi paused. She could see her words take effect on Sanyukta's expression.

"Personal?" Sanyukta tried to sound as dispassionate as she could.

"Randhir is getting married, Abby!" 

Sanyukta stared at Vidushi wondering if she had heard something wrong.

"What? When, and to whom? " Sanyukta looked at K2 to see if he had known anything, but clearly he did not.

"This evening! And he said you know the one he is marrying!" Vidushi sounded unruffled. 

"This evening? Are you serious? Is that why the Kasbekars flew down?" Sanyukta sat still. Her mind was racing. Randhir had told Vidushi that she know who the bride was. Was it Hetal? No, how could that be? Hetal would have told her. But if it was not Hetal then who else could it be?

"Randhir mentioned that he asked you to marry him but you declined. He said you had a very convincing reason to turn him down. Well, I guess he finally decided to settle down with someone suitable! What is the matter, are you feeling fine?" Vidushi could see that Sanyukta had turned pale.

"No, I am fine! Could be PMS. My period is near." She uttered the first excuse that came to her mind. How could Randhir be getting married to some girl? He had spoken about accepting K2's responsibility!

"You know what, Parth and I thought it was odd that Randhir was rushing into a commitment! Nevertheless we want him to be happy. And I am sure you want the same!" Vidushi explained.

"But he must have given either Dad or you some clue about who the girl is!" Sanyukta was trying to keep calm.

"All he said was we would know who it was when we got to the wedding venue. So why worry about that?" Vidushi caressed her daughter's hair.

"Abby, is Coach getting married to Hetal Aunty?" K2 asked. 

"I don't know, K2! He did not reveal anything!" Sanyukta sounded confused. 

"Dad and the others have gone to do some last minute shopping. The wedding may be a very private one but it is real! And we must look our best! I've  called for salon service here in the afternoon to help us get ready for the evening!" Vidushi looked enthusiastic. Sanyukta's heart sank a little more.

"But I don't have anything formal to wear!" She felt miserable. She had no inclination to witness Randhir getting married to a stranger.

"Suniti Aunty has got the perfect sarees, with ready to wear blouses, for both of us! So relax! Skipping the shaadi is not an option. We are his family, we have to be there!" Vidushi' s tone was benign but firm. Sanyukta chose not to respond. 

"But what about the kids? They have to be dressed formally too, and K2's kurta does not fit him anymore!" Sanyukta added.

Vidushi whipped out her phone and showed her pictures of a satin dress for Megami and a suit for K2, complete with accessories for both the kids. She had gotten a good deal on the clothes in the US. They were still in her suitcase because she had not unpacked yet.

"Don't mind if I ask you a personal question, but why did you reject Randhir' s proposal?" Vidushi knew the answer to the question but she had to be sure. She wanted Sanyukta to confirm it.

"Vidushi, you know how much Randhir' s Mom dislikes me. I cannot get into a relationship at the cost of my dignity, she will never accept K2 or me. Besides, Randhir never asked me to marry him then. And he only mentioned this casually after he found out that K2 was his son. I don't want a marriage based on a compromise. All this is moot now, I am sure Randhir has found the right one! Why else would he want to marry in such a hurry?" It was the hardest thing for Sanyukta to relate to what was happening. Randhir and Sanyukta could never be one. She wondered why he had kept the news of his wedding from her. She felt hurt but could not afford to make it obvious to Vidushi.

"But Randhir is K2's father! It will complicate things if he marries someone else. And it will be awkward for his wife if she discovers the truth about K2's paternity!" Vidushi voiced her apprehension.

"What choice do I have, Vidushi? Randhir has already made his decision, and I respect it! He proposed to me and I declined. There is nothing we can do now!" Sanyukta looked away. She did not want Vidushi to see her inner turmoil.

"I know I am being intrusive, but I have one last question! Do you still love him?" Vidushi could not wait to hear the response.

"I don't know what to tell you, except that love is not enough! I have never loved any other man, and you know that! But life is not so simple. For people to have a life together they must be well-matched! Vidushi,  I have to see about lunch, they will be hungry when they return!" Sanyukta stood up to mark the end of the conversation.

 As soon as she left the room, Vidushi tapped a message into her phone. She got a reply immediately. She put her phone aside quickly and went to help Sanyukta set the table for lunch.

 Suniti, Arvind and Parth were back in time for lunch. Harsh was not with them, instead he was with Randhir seeing to some last minute arrangements.  

The rest of the day passed in a blur. When the salon staff arrived Sanyukta simply let Vidushi take over and submitted herself to the service. She kept her eyes closed through most of the hair and makeup regime, although she did request the beautician to keep her look understated. The thought of the inevitable was becoming unbearable with every passing minute.

While Suniti was having her hair done, Sanyukta and Vidushi got the children ready for the occasion. As soon as the salon staff had finished their work Vidushi paid them and they left the apartment.

"Vidushi, Sanyukta, come here! You have to put on this jewellery!" Suniti handed them individual jewel boxes. Vidushi quickly put on the diamond necklace, earrings and bracelet that had been gifted by her in-laws after her wedding. On the other hand Sanyukta hesitated. 

"I am not sure I can carry off this set!" Sanyukta stared at the antique hansuli and chandbali set that Harsh had given her years ago, the one that he had insisted was rightfully hers. The sight of it brought back painful memories of her past.

"Harsh wants you to put it on, Sanyukta! And we must hurry, we are getting late. We don't want to keep Randhir and Harsh waiting!" Suniti helped Sanyukta put on the choker and earrings.

"How are we going to the venue?" Sanyukta asked softly.

"We take the elevator to go downstairs and then we just walk over to the apartment's clubhouse!" Suniti said simply.

 Sanyukta stopped breathing for a moment! Randhir was getting married in the clubhouse, and she had no idea about it at all!

As they headed downstairs the sight of their reflection in the elevator's mirror caught Sanyukta's eye. Suniti and Vidushi looked resplendent in their rich maroon and candy pink brocade sarees respectively. Her own saree was cream and gold, in contrast with their bright colours. It reminded her of Anju, also a widow, who mostly wore pastels. The thought made her nostalgic and her eyes became moist.

As they climbed the stairs to get to the clubhouse Sanyukta instinctively held Suketu's hand in her own. The clubhouse had been tastefully decorated with flowers and fairy lights. Sanyukta had no desire to follow the others inside. Just then Pebbles, dressed in a red and gold ghagra choli appeared at the clubhouse door and welcomed them with a bright sunshine smile! Sanyukta felt as if an icy cold dagger had pierced her vitals! Now she was even more certain that Randhir's bride-to-be was Hetal!