Namaskaram 🙏

Date of Update: 01.07.2023

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"Hello Miss. Annoying!" Laksh said entering into Ragini's room.

Ragini is getting ready when she heard him. She turned and glared him but her eyes had that shine as soon as she saw him. He chuckled and hugged her tight.

"Idiot!" She commented but hugged him back smiling.

"Two minutes we will leave!" Ragini said grabbing her lipstick.

"Wait!" Laksh pulled the lipstick from her hand.

"You put lots of lipstick yaar. A little looks more good on you!" he says and he himself applies to her.

Ragini kept staring at him lovingly.

"Take this tissue, put it between your lips and remove a little of lipstick!" he said passing the tissue to her.

She just did as he said.

"Perfect! Let's go!" He said holding her hand.

Ragini kept staring the way he is holding her hand. Laksh suddenly stopped.

"Where are your car keys? I don't have my car." He spoke turning to her.

She immediately looks at him and nods. She goes to her desk and gets her car keys.

"Why didn't you have a car? And how did you come then?" she asked as they walked out of the house.

"I came from office. You know I don't take car to office. And also bhayya's car was sent home since ma had some get together. I came through cab." He said as he took the driving seat.

Ragini nodded.

"We should get a saree to Kusum di. Also we have to plan something. I totally forgot about her birthday due to these exams." Laksh said as they entered the shopping mall.

"Arey haan! Even I forgot about it. Let's plan something for di." Ragini spoke.

Laksh nodded. Both of them got busy in shopping.

Kusum is working with whole concentration when she heard knock on her door. She asked the person to come in without looking above.

"Kusum ma'am you got a parcel!" said the peon of the office passing the parcel to her.

Kusum doesn't need to ask from whom it is. She knows. She took it and the peon left. She looked at the cleanly wrapped gift which had only the 'To' address. She caressed it lovingly. She then kept it in her bag carefully.

'Thank You!' she texted him.

Sanskar who is working looked at his phone. He could see the content of the text on his lock screen. He stared the text sent from her for a few moments and smiled a little. He sighed. Like every other year the special gift from him has reached her on time. He wouldn't miss sending it to her.

"Bhayya chalo!" Laksh started dragging Sanskar suddenly as he was working after some time.

"Lucky where are you dragging me bacha?" Sanskar asked.

"Bhayya it's your best friend's birthday. You have to make it special. But you are busy in working like always. So I took the charge and arranged everything for di. Atleast your presence should be there right." Laksh spoke stopping from dragging Sanskar.

Sanskar sighed. He cannot say no to Laksh and also it is about Kusum. Two things he can't say no about. He signed Laksh to move while he moved along with him. Everybody are standing in canteen waiting for Laksh. He had gathered all the staff in the canteen. Sanskar looked around and shook his head. His brother can sometimes go beyond limits.

"Everybody stay here. I will just bring di here. Ragu chalo." He pulled Ragini along with him.

"He doesn't need Ragini with him for this!" Dev whispered to Sanskar.

He didn't go from the office or say his sister hadn't let him go.

"You don't need to tell me what she means to him. I can see!" Sanskar whispered.

"You can see everything other than Kusum's pain in the world!" Dev whispered taunted.

"Dev please!" Sanskar spoke with pain in his voice.

Dev sighed.

RagLak barged into Kusum's cabin making her look above from the file startled.

"Di emergency! Come fast!" Laksh held her hand and started pulling her.

"Emergency? What happened? Did something happened to papa? Did something happened to ma?" Kusum spoke in worry.

Ragini hits Laksh's head a little. She made Laksh remove his grip from Kusum making him glare at her.

"Di calm down. Nothing has happened to anybody. Just will you come with us for few minutes? Not outside the office." Ragini spoke.

"Then emergency?" She asked confused looking at Laksh.

"He wanted to prank!" Ragini covered it up.

Laksh nodded cutely. Kusum sighed in relief. Ragini glared him while he looked away as if ignoring her glare.

"Where do you want me to come?" Kusum asked looking at Laksh and Ragini simultaneously.

"Close your eyes!" Laksh said chirping.

It's not difficult for Kusum to understand after that. She just smiled a little and did what he said. She had known Laksh and Ragini since kids. She can understand them especially Laksh. He held her hand and took her towards the canteen area. Ragini also held her other hand so that she could support while walking.

"Open your eyes di!" Laksh said excited.

Kusum opened her eyes and everybody shouted 'Surprise' as ordered by Laksh. Kusum looked at Laksh.

"Thank You so much Lucky!" She said caressing his cheek.

"But di you should get angry for not even wishing you. I am so sorry. I forgot about it due to these exams and stress. If it wasn't Buddy I would have forgot it. Happy Birthday di!" Laksh hugged her.

Kusum smiled.

"Thank You Lucky. I know my Lucky would remember it before the day would end. Even if Dev hadn't tell you." Kusum spoke.

Laksh smiled. Sanskar looked down smiling at his brother and Kusum. Ragini is smiling at Laksh.

"Let's cut the cake." Laksh said.

Kusum nodded. He took her towards the cake. Every step Kusum took towards the cake... Sanskar took a step behind him carefully moving away from everyone. Kusum stood in front of cake while Sanskar stood at a corner away from all but making sure he could see both his brother and Kusum. Dev turned side to look at Sanskar only to find him missing. He looked around to see him standing at a corner. He sighed and moved towards him.

"Dev please don't start now. I am already exhausted. Please!" Sanskar spoke.

Dev stood silent. Laksh is happily chirping around Kusum and making her laugh and giggle. Sanskar looked at that satisfied. Both the important people of his life are smiling with no fear and happiness. He promised himself that he would never let that smile go from neither of their faces. Kusum looked around to find him. Finding him standing away she kept the cake piece, which she wanted to feed him, away and just stood smiling at Laksh and his banter.

"Guys get back to work!" Sanskar said and left from there.

Everybody dispersed from there. Laksh entered Sanskar's cabin along with Ragini and Dev. Dev sat in front of Sanskar's table while Ragini and Laksh are standing and looking at each other.

"What happened to both of you?" Dev asked looking at them.

"Bhayya!" Laksh called Sanskar.

"Say!" Sanskar said still working.

"Why don't you grant half day leave for Kusum di. After all it's her birthday. She needs to enjoy!" Laksh said.

"Not possible Laksh. Go to work or go home. Stop disturbing me!" Sanskar said strictly making it clear to Laksh.

Laksh looked at Dev while he just shrugged his shoulder. Laksh looked at Ragini but she gulped and immediately shook her head as no.

"I... I am tired. I am going home. Bhai I am leaving!" Saying she ran from there before Laksh could speak anything.

Dev controlled his chuckle. Laksh looked helpless. He left from there to do some work.

"Sanskar!" Dev called him.

"Now what you want Dev?" Sanskar asked looking at him.

"Arey only if I want something I have to talk to my friend or what?" Dev asked.

"Tell me why didn't you go to office today and eating my brain since morning?" Sanskar spoke irritated.

"Arey yaar I want only good for you and you are getting irritated." Dev spoke.

"Why don't you go find someone for yourself?" Sanskar asked.

"Not until Ragu completes her studies and get into work!" Dev said.

"Then concentrate on work and leave me alone!" Sanskar said.

"Nah! You know you are my first love!" Dev irritated Sanskar more.

Sanskar sat holding his head.

"What do you want yaar Dev?" Sanskar asked.

"Come to vacation with me. I will not irritate you anymore." Dev said.

"Aghhh! Take Lucky with you if he wants to come. Take your sister with you she will also come along. But leave me. You know about the new project!" Sanskar said.

"What has happened to you yaar. You became very boring!" Dev whined.

"I was same since long. It's you that is changed. Something happened to you." Sanskar spoke.

Dev gave up. He understood that whatever may happen Sanskar would not budge in any matter. Not that he doesn't know but just trying in every way possible but still it's a no from Sanskar either it is for vacation or it is about Kusum.

"Okay! BYE!" He said loud and irritated and went from there.

Sanskar shook his head and continued working.

"Bhayya you are still working?" Laksh asked coming into his cabin when it's time to leave.

"Five minutes Lucky!" Sanskar said working.

Laksh sat on the chair there.

"I forgot to tell to Dev bhayya that I gave his gift to di. He went without giving to her." Laksh spoke.

"Okay!" Sanskar said closing the laptop.

"Lucky do you want to go on a vacation?" Sanskar asked as they got into the car.

"Both of us?" Laksh asked excited.

Sanskar smiled and shook his head.

"With Dev. May be Ragu would accompany." Sanskar said.

"Nope!" Laksh sat back leaving all the excitement.

"Arey why?" Sanskar asked.

"I don't want to go anywhere without you." Laksh said putting his head on Sanskar's shoulder.

Sanskar smiled.

"Why do you become khadoos suddenly?" Laksh asked looking at Sanskar innocently.

Sanskar glared him. Laksh pouted and kept his head back on Sanskar's shoulder.

"Atleast will you make something yummy for dinner?" Laksh asked.

Sanskar chuckled.

"Tell me what do you want to eat?" Sanskar asked.

"Would you make even if it is unhealthy?" Laksh asked excited.

"Then no unhealthy on Sunday. Deal?" Sanskar asked.

"Nope! Make whatever you want!" Laksh said huffing and getting down the car as they reached the house.

Sanskar just smiled and went inside. He directly went to meet his mother.

"Ma!" Sanskar went inside Annapurna's room.

She smiled looking at him.

"How was your get together?" Sanskar asked.

"Good! But..." she stopped.

"But?" Sanskar asked.

"Everybody are only asking about your marriage." Annapurna Maheshwari got the topic like every other day.

"Ma please!" Sanskar spoke exhausted.

Already since morning all Dev was trying to speak was about the same.

"Everyday same. Everybody in the sense everybody asks only this question as soon as they see me. Your every friend got married. Some of them are already fathers. You are not in your mid twenties Sanskar. You are 32." Annapurna spoke.

"Ma first thing... Not every friend of mine got married. Dev you see. Second thing I am not ready to talk about this topic atleast, then how do you expect me to get married? Please ma. Just please stop getting this topic every evening. I am very tired of this topic now." Sanskar spoke.

"Get married! I will stop getting the topic. It's high time. I think I also should use the emotional blackmail tool like every other Indian mother so that they can get their son married. Good! I will get some coaching from my friends. That would help!" Annapurna Maheshwari went out of her room angrily.

Sanskar sighed. Where did he get struck? He is not ready for any relationship atleast for now. He doesn't even know whether he would be getting ready for it any sooner. He rubbed his face and left to freshen up.

Sanskar entered the kitchen after sometime. He saw Kamala kaki working on something.

"Tea? At this time?" Sanskar asked.

"Ma'am has asked for tea Sanskar baba." Kamala kaki said.

Sanskar nodded.

"Once done. Give it to me kaki. I will take it to ma." Sanskar said.

Kaki nodded. Sanskar started taking necessary ingredients to make dinner. He makes dinner every day. He has dinner with Laksh while his breakfast with his mother. The dining room is just a show in their house and so is dining table. They never have their food together since Annapurna doesn't like Laksh's presence around. So Sanskar makes sure he gives his time for both of them. He has long back stopped asking his mother to accept Laksh but just waiting for a miracle to happen and she accepts him.

Sanskar looked at the tea Kamala kaki has given to Sanskar. Only thing his mother doesn't like of something he made is his tea. Kamala Kaki's tea is her favourite. She has always made sure she has it whenever she is upset other than the regular routine times. He knows she is upset and he has to make it up with her.

"Ma! Here is your favourite tea. I swear I didn't even put my finger while this has been made." He said forwarding the tea to her.

She didn't take it or say she didn't even look at his face and kept herself busy with her magazine. She is sitting in the garden and is reading a magazine in the garden light.

"Ma this light will effect your eyes. Let's go inside." Sanskar spoke.

Annapurna ignored him once again. Sanskar sighed. He kept the cup of tea on the table and went inside. Annapurna looked at the way he left. She looked at the tea, left it there and went from there.

Kusum sat on her bed and carefully opened the gift. She got mesmerised by the sketch the photo frame held. She knows this is what she is going to get. A beautiful sketch of hers made by him. He does that every year. It's actually his promise. He was always fond of drawing. And he had promised her he will sketch her and gift her for her every birthday. He said that when he was ten years old. And since then he never missed it. She smiled caressing the frame.

"Kusum beta!" she heard her father.

She immediately stood up and carefully placed the frame in a box where she had been safely preserving his gifts since long. She moved out of the room.

"Ji papa!" She replied moving towards his room.

"Go get the safe keys from your mother." Ramu kaka said.

Kusum nodded and moved inside the house from out house. When she was entering inside the kitchen she saw him cooking while her mother is helping. She stood at the entrance and stared him for few minutes before entering inside.

"Ma!" she called Kamala Kaki.

Sanskar looked at her. He stopped whatever he was doing and kept looking at her while she didn't even dare to give a glance to him. Taking what she needs from her mother she left from there making Sanskar get back to his work.

"Kaki you go. I will do the rest." Sanskar said.

"Arey baba you didn't complete atleast half of the cooking. It will take so much time for you. Let me complete cutting these..." Sanskar took the knife from her stopping her.

"Go Kaki. You can help me tomorrow for sure." He said.

Kaki gave up and nodded. She left to the outhouse. Sanskar sighed. He knows Kusum loves spending time with her family and atleast on her birthday he wants to fulfil her smallest wish.

"Bhayya!" Laksh came inside the kitchen sniffing the smell.

"Wow!" he exclaimed.

"What are you making? It smells so delicious." Laksh said.

Sanskar smiled.

"Definitely not something unhealthy and definitely not your favourite." Sanskar said.

"Is it? But still it smells so delicious. Only you can do that. Anyways what is it?" Laksh asked.

Sanskar pointed at the vegetable on the kitchen slab.

"Brinjal?" Laksh asked making an yuck face.

Sanskar chuckled.

"Bhayya just yesterday my exams got over. I thought I would get something yummy to eat happily after many days but you are making this Brinjal. How can you be so cruel to your amazing brother?" Laksh spoke dramatically.

"Oh! What was that you had in the morning. Are they all someone else's favourite?" Sanskar asked raising his eyebrow.

Laksh pouted.

"But bhayya why Brinjal? You can make anything else. Okra also would have been good." Laksh said whining and gulping looking at the cooking Brinjal.

"It is Brinjal for today Lucky!" Sanskar said.

Laksh huffed.

"Why do you become Khadoos suddenly?" Laksh asked like always.

Sanskar glared him like always. Laksh pouted and sat there bored seeing his brother cook. He could see his brother smiling a little while cooking.

"Bhayya why do you love cooking so much?" Laksh asked.

"It's like a therapy Lucky! After the stressful working hours at office I feel peace while cooking." Sanskar said smiling.

"You should have become a chef you know. You make even a boring Brinjal very tasty!" Laksh said.

"So you are going to have Brinjal just like you have your Aloo ka parantha. Right?" Sanskar spoke smirking at his brother.

"Even if you give me poison I will have it like Aloo ka Parantha bhayya!" Laksh said hugging his brother from behind.

Sanskar stopped his hand which was mixing the curry in the pan hearing to Laksh. Laksh just held him tight.

"Lucky!" Sanskar called him and turned to him breaking the hug.

"Is something wrong?" He asked cupping his face.

Laksh smiled and shook his head.

"Nothing is wrong bhayya." Laksh said.

"You are hiding something from me?" Sanskar asked.

"If there is something to hide I would bhayya. I swear there is nothing." Laksh said.

Sanskar stared at his brother in to his eyes and then nodded only after getting satisfied that his brother didn't take his eyes away from him. He turned to work again and Laksh once again hugged him. He smiled and did his work. Laksh kept looking at his brother's smiling peaceful face.

"I will just come to the room. You go taking the tray." Sanskar said passing the food tray to Laksh.

Laksh nodded and left to his room. Sanskar looked at the food tray he is holding. He moved towards his mother's room. He knocked the door as it's locked. She opened the door and moved aside letting him in.

"Ma atleast have the food. Also I have kept the medicine for your head ache have it." Sanskar said.

She didn't even looked at him nor responded to his words. Sanskar left from there hoping she would atleast have her food. She kept staring the way he went and sighed. She knows there is something that is bothering him and he is not ready to share it. He has been same since years. He never shares anything to anybody. It was only Dev he shares things but she knows even if she asks Dev he wouldn't say anything to her. She looked at the food tray. Brinjal! Her favourite. He knows how to cool her. She finally smiled and had her food. It's her who used to cook earlier but after Durga Prasad's death she has stopped doing it as she doesn't wants to remember her sweet moments with her husband she has spent in that kitchen. She hates him. She hates him to the core. All she wants is to stay away from every memory that remembers him. All she wants is her son's happiness. She wants him to have a happy life. She knows what it is to be being single. Not having anyone to share their feelings. Not having anyone to say that they are with them. She knows that hell! She doesn't want her son to face that. She has been trying to make her son understand it since years but he is not ready to come into her words and she is not ready to do something like every other mother. She doesn't want to emotionally blackmail him and get into the marriage. She knows marriage is something that has to be get into with all the heart but not by force.

Sanskar is feeding Laksh who is adamant to get fed by his brother. He is feeding his brother but his mind is near his mother. He is just worried whether she had food or not.

"Bhayya this is also tasty!" Laksh said bringing Sanskar out of his thoughts.

He smiled at his brother.

"So have some more!" Sanskar said.

"Nooo!" Laksh immediately made an unamused face.

Sanskar chuckled.

"It is tasty but not in becoming my favourite. I am done. You have food now." Laksh said as he saw his brother not had atleast a bite of his food while feeding him.

"I will have after sometime. You go for the walk in the garden. Go!" Sanskar said.

"Nope. Let me feed you." Laksh said and brought the spoon of rice near Sanskar's mouth.

Sanskar looked at his brother and he knows his brother wouldn't leave until he has his food. He opened his mouth and let his brother feed him. Annapurna who came to check whether he had his food or not left from there seeing Laksh feeding him.

"Now let's go for the walk!" Laksh said as he fed Sanskar completely.

Sanskar smiled.

"You go. I will check on ma and come." Sanskar said.

Laksh nodded and left towards garden while Sanskar moved towards Annapurna's room. He saw the room door open and looked inside.

"Ma!" he called her.

Annapurna looked at him from the file she is signing.

"Done signing. You can take the file." She said forwarding the file.

"You had food?" He asked taking the file.

She nodded. He sighed in relief.

"Medicine?" he asked.

She nodded again.

"Ma!" Sanskar sat there.

"Only I have to understand you. I know. You will not understand me. Never." Annapurna spoke.

"Ma it's not like that." Sanskar tried to explain.

"I am not a kid Sanskar. I don't know what is stopping you from agreeing to marry but I am not going to stop trying to convince you until I succeed. Let's put a break to this discussion for today. Go complete your walk and go to sleep." She spoke calmly.

Sanskar nodded and left from there wishing her 'Good Night'. He moved out of the house into the garden to see Laksh talking in his phone. He is laughing while Sanskar smiled seeing his happy brother.

"Okay Bye! Good Night!" he said seeing Sanskar there.

"Who is that person made my brother laugh so much?" Sanskar asked.

"Who else it can be? The most annoying person of my life." Laksh said smiling.

"Lucky!" Sanskar said strictly.

"Arey bhayya I call her like that with love. You don't get angry!" Laksh said hugging his brother.

"Love?" Sanskar intentionally spoke teasingly.

"Noooo... It is not that Love!" Laksh said horrified.

"It is just as in friend. God bhayya you also don't start like my friends. We are just friends, best friends." Laksh said huffing.

Sanskar just nodded. They are walking around the garden.

"Bhayya why didn't you gift anything to Kusum di. She is your best friend right." Laksh spoke.

Sanskar stopped walking. Laksh also stopped seeing his brother.

"That saree. It's from both Dev and me!" Sanskar said.

Laksh nodded.

"Bhayya did ma and you have an argument?" Laksh asked looking down sadly.

"Why? Why did you feel so?" Sanskar asked.

"I saw ma coming to check on you when I was feeding you. Generally it happens only when you both argue." Laksh said.

Sanskar looked down walking. He spoke nothing and just kept walking.

"Bhayya say na." Laksh asked again.

"I will look after it. You don't worry. Go to sleep." Sanskar said.

Laksh nodded and moved from there. But he came back and hugged Sanskar from behind.

"Stop arguing with ma Bhayya. Not everyone is lucky to have a mother." He says and runs from there without letting Sanskar speak.

Sanskar looked on while his eyes turned teary. He wiped off the tear that flew from his eye and hurried to Laksh's room. Laksh is sitting on the bed looking down. Sanskar moved inside and sat beside him. Sanskar held Laksh's hand.

"I am fine bhayya. You go to sleep. You must be tired." Laksh spoke not looking at him.

"I am sorry!" Sanskar said.

"Why are you sorry bhayya?" Laksh asked looking at him.

"That I am not able to give you the love you need." Sanskar said with teary eyes.

Laksh shook his head as his eyes turned teary.

"Bhayya I never meant to make you feel that way. You never left a stone to love me bhayya. But you know a mother and her love is always something which would never be enough for anyone. Her love.. I don't know na bhayya how it feels to be loved by a mother, so I just get emotional for every small thing related to mother. You know na... I didn't mean to hurt you, I just don't want to become the reason of yours and ma's arguments." Laksh spoke but his eyes kept flowing which he kept wiping.

Sanskar shook his head as no and spoke.

"No bacha, you were never the reason for our arguments. Never think that way." Sanskar spoke.

Laksh just nods but he knows many times it was because of him.

"I am not lying bacha!" Sanskar says as he understood his brother didn't believe him.

"Okay bhayya!" Laksh said.

Sanskar sighed. His brother is no more a kid. He can understand things more than he thought. He just took Laksh into his embrace and caressed his hair.

"Come on lay down." Sanskar said.

Laksh just laid down by putting his head on Sanskar's lap. Sanskar patted his head lovingly and Laksh went to sleep. Sanskar carefully made Laksh lay on the bed properly, covered him with a comforter and moved out of the room. He went to the garden and just kept walking around. He sighed and took his phone.

'Slept?' he texted.

'No!' he got the reply from her.

'You saw the gift?' He texted.

'Yes! Your sketches make me look more beautiful.' She replied.

He smiled a little.

'It's not the speciality of the sketches, it's the speciality of the person in the sketch!' he replied.

She smiled on the other side.

'Go to sleep Sanskar.' She replied.

'Good Night!' he texted.

'Good Night!' she replied back.

He took deep breathe and left to his room. Kusum just went through the conversation once again and closed her eyes letting the sleep consume her.

Sanskar sat near the study table in his room. He dragged the drawer and took a book. He opened his phone and started swiping various images he had kept for himself for reference images. He stopped at one thing and started painting in the book. He didn't know how much time he did it but once he felt he would be sleep deprived next day if he spend some more time on painting, he stopped it, arranged everything carefully back in it's place and went to sleep.

*****

Check out the 'Characters' part to know which actor is representing which character in the story and also there are few changes in the characters, a character has been added. Hope you like today's part. Don't forget to vote and comment.

Thank You for reading.

With Love

Dharani (Dhaరणि)