Khushi's POV

I was lost, I could not see Vineet and Avni around. I moved to other shops to search for them but was unable to find them. "Bade papa Di kaha ho aap?" I almost cried.

I stood at the corner, I was feeling scared. I did not even had a phone to contract them. I remembered something.

One day I came to mall with my mother. We were purchasing groceries. I saw something and rushed to get it by the time I returned to the place my mother was not there. I began to search for her here and there.

Someone tapped my shoulder, I turned and it was my mother. I hugged her tightly.

She said "Khushi kaha chali gayi thi tum kabse dhundh rahi hun main aise mat jaya karo"

"Mumma wo main aapke liye aapka favourite fruit lene gayi thi" I replied.

She smiled a bit and said "Khushi phir kabhi aap kahi kho jao toh wapas usi jagah chale jaana jahan last time mere saath they mumma ya koi bhi aapko dhundta hua waha zaroor aayega thik hai"

I nodded "okay mumma"

I came out trance of my thoughts with someone tapping my shoulder. I looked, the person spoke "yahan aise kyun khadi ho?"

"Wo main kho gayi hun mere saath mere bade papa aur Avni Di they" I replied.

"Chalo aao mere saath dhudte hai unn dono ko" he said.

I denied and said "mumma kehti hai strangers ke saath nhi jaate hai"

He smiled and spoke "par main strange thodi hun? Main toh tumhara dost hun tumne mera wallet lautaya tha na"

I tried to recall and smiled "oh haan"

"Mera naam hai Aarav Malhotra aur tumhara?" he questioned.

"Khushi hai mera naam" I replied.

"Bahut hi pyara naam hai" he said.

"Mujhe malum hai mumma ne jo rakha hai mera naam" I said smilingly.

"Acha chalo ab dhundte hai tumhere bade papa aur Avni Di ko" he said while forwarding his hand.

I glanced at him for a moment, should I go with him? My mother denied going with anyone unknown.

"Are itna mat socho chalo" He said.

I agreed, I grabbed his hand and walked with him. He questioned "last time kaha thi tum unke saath?"

"Waha upar waali shop par" I said pointing towards the shop. He took me to the shop but Avni and Vineet were not there. I was tensed, he looked towards my dull face.

He said "udaas mat ho ek kaam karo mere phone se phone karlo" he took out his phone from his pocket and handed me.

I dialed Vineet's number.

Here, Vineet and Avni were searching for khushi. Avni sighed "kaha chali gayi ye ladki.."

"Avni beta tumse kaha tha maine uska haath mat chodna" Vineet said tensely.

"Sorry papa mera dhyan nhi raha" Avni said dejectedly.

His phone ranged, he picked it up "hello.."

I spoke "bade papa"

"Khushi kaha ho tum beta?" he asked

"Main wo.." I wanted to tell him but Aarav took the phone from me and said "Khushi mere saath hai safe hai ye mcdonald's ke paas hi khade hai hum aap aa jayie"

"Haan main abhi aata hun" He said and ended the call.

Avni asked "kaha hai khushi papa?"

"Upar hai chalo jaldi" he said and they were coming upstairs.

I looked at Aarav who was eating a chocolate, I questioned "Aap chocolate kaise kha sakte ho?"

He replied "kyuki mujhe pasand hai tumhe nhi hai?"

"Bahut hai.." I replied.

"Lo.. phir tum bhi khalo" he said while taking out few chocolates from his pocket.

I was shocked and asked "Aap itni sari chocolates rakhte ho apne paas"

He smiled and spoke "kya karun? Mere bhaiya ghar pe mujhe khane dete nhi hai yeh kahte hai bachcho ki khane ki cheez hai toh main unse chupke khata rehta hun"

I laughed at this "Aapko pata hai main bhi mumma se chupke khati hun hum dono kitne same same hai na"

"Ab dost hai toh same same honge hi" he said.

"Acha toh phir main aapko dost bulaungi uncle nahi" I replied.

"Beshak waise bhi main abhi toh jawan hua hun uncle acha bhi nhi lagaunga" he said making face.

I smiled, just then I saw Vineet and Avni approaching towards me. I ran and hugged Vineet.

"Khushi.. Thik ho na beta?" he asked.

"Haan bade papa khushi thik hai thanks to mere dost" I replied.

Vineet looked towards Aarav, he said "thank you"

"It is fine acha main chalta hun meri bhabhi wait kar rahi hogi mera" He said and left.

He came to the shop where Ahana was purchasing some dresses. She turned towards me and asked "Where were you Aarav? Mujhe bitha ke chale gaye tum"

He replied "bhabhi wo ek bachchi kho gayi thi toh uski madad kar raha tha main"

"Acha thik hai ab dekho tumhe kya lena hai isme se apne liye" Ahana said while picking up some shirts.

"Oh no bhabhi mujhe kuch nhi lena hai" he said.

"Dekho mere saamne toh natak karo mat tum, jaisa pati waisa bhai dono ke bahut nakhre ho gaye hai aajkal" she complained.

He smiled and asked innocently "kya kiya maine?"

"Exactly wahi main kahta hun Ahana ye bahut bachpana karta hai" Virat said while entering into the shop.

"Tumhe kya dikkat hai?" Ahana asked.

"Tumne hi toh kaha ye bahut nakhre karta hai" Virat said.

"Tumse kisine kuch pucha nahi Virat.. Nakhre tumhare zyada ho rahe hai fatafat se ye shirts try karo" she said while keeping shirts in his hand.

He was left with open mouth, he glanced at Aarav who passed him his most innocent look. Virat sighed and moved to the trial room.

"O mister innocent chalo tum bhi try karo phir ghar bhi jaana hai bahut kaam hai" Ahana said.

Aarav nodded and moved to try.

Ahana thought "pata nhi kya hoga iss ladke ka.."

I arrived home, Manvi was sitting down on the couch with laptop. I ran to her and hugged her tightly.

"Khushi.. Aa gayi mil gayi fursat mumma ke gale lagne ki" she said.

I looked up at her and smiled "kya mumma khushi toh hamesha aapke paas rehti hai"

"Wo toh hai acha batao kya kya khaya?" she asked..

I replied "pehle to humne chat khayi phir burger then shopping ki aur phir kh.." I paused. I looked at her and if I tell her about what happened today. She will scold me.

She asked "phir kya?"

"Kuch nahi mumma" I said and was about to leave.

She held my wrist and pulled me back, she looked towards me and asked "kya hua batao?"

Vineet and Avni entered inside and said "kuch nahi hua hai Manvi bas madam thoda sa kho gayi thi"

"Haan Maasi wo toh acha ho uss insan ka jisko khushi mil gayi aur papa ko call kiya" Avni said.

She looked towards me and said "Aise koi karta hai kya khushi? Kitni baar kaha hai na sabke saath raha karo"

"Are khushi saath hi thi par bade papa aur Avni Di hi aapke aur maasi ke liye kuch dekhne lag gaye aur khushi bore ho rahi thi toh idhar udhar dekhne lagi" I replied briefly.

She pats my cheek lightly "agli baar dhyan rakhna"

I nodded and smiled.

Ruhana was arranging dinner at the table, I moved there and asked "maasi kya hai khane mein?"

"Aaj toh biryani hai" she said.

I jumped in excitement "Woohu.." I grabbed the bowl filled with biryani.

Ruhana hits my hand "nahi.. Abhi nhi sab khayenge"

"Are par khushi ko bahut bhook lagi hai sab baad mein kha lenge" I replied naughtily.

Avni came to me and said "no khushi akele nahi mereko bhi khana hai"

"Offo tum dono bhi na pehle fresh hoke aau phir kha lena" Ruhana said interrupting.

I nodded and ran to the room followed by Avni. After the dinner, I moved towards my mother room.

She was sitting at the window slap. I moved to her and said "sorry mumma khushi ne pareshan kar diya bade papa aur Avni di ko"

She looked towards me and smiled. She kissed my forehead and said "koi baat nhi hai khushi.. Agli baar dhyan rakhna hmm"

I nodded and turned around. She pulled me into her embrace. I asked "Aap kya dekh rahi ho?"

She smiled a bit and said "Wo upar aasam mein sitare dekh rahi hun"

"Dont lie mumma aap papa ko miss kar rahi ho na aur unse baat kar rahi ho" I said.

She replied while looking at me "Sach kahun toh jabse tum aayi ho mujhe unhe miss karne ki zaroorat hai hi nahi.."

I smiled "ab khushi hai hi itni pyari.. Sab usko love karte hai dost bhi" I bit my tongue out.

She asked "kaun dost?"

"Hai koi.. Aap ye batao aapka office mein day kaisa tha?" I questioned trying to divert her mind.

She replied "thik tha.. Acha chalo ab soh jao kaafi raat ho gayi"

I nodded, we moved to bed. I lay down and she caressed my head. I hugged her and slept into her embrace. 

To be continued.