Tere Sang Yaara
Chapter One

. . .

Back Home

Beneath the grey cloudy sky, where the sun was kept hidden and the birds were nowhere to be seen, the door of a white pristine mansion was being pushed open.

He was covered with his luggage, two suitcases in each of his hands, one shoulder bag around his neck and one mini rucksack hung on his back. He was tired, sleepy and drowsy, taking more steps towards the entrance were being a little difficult for him.

Inside the mansion, the staff were wondering around with different items in their hands and they only stop in front of one woman, who was dressed in a blue Saree which covered her head.

"Take this there and Ramdeen, you take that to the stairs." The two nod and walk away, following the order set by the lady.

She moves her gazes to instruct few more staff but looses that motivation to utter as her eyes fall on a long white line drawn down the hall, her gazes follow the line to the end, which had divided the mansion into two sides.

"Annapurna." She glances towards the person who said her voice and sees her husband walking down the stairs and towards her. "Are the arrangements done?" He asks and she nods her head to respond.

"Just the flower basket is left to come and then everything would be ready Ji." She utters with a faint smile which had curled up her lips.

"Hmm." He hums understandingly, "The guests should be here any minute, has Lakshya returned?"

Annapurna was about to reply to her husband, Durga Prasad, but stops as soon as her eyes land on a figure stumbling on the stairs, looking drained and exhausted. It was as if life is being sucked out of him and he could drop any minute now. He exhaled and inhaled, catching his breath.

"He's right behind you." She softly said and Durga Prasad turned, seeing his son Lakshya, drop his bags and wiped his hand over his forehead to wipe the sweat.

As he was exhaling, his eyes fall on the white line that was dividing the house into two sides. 'This means Uttu was right, the house has really been divided.' Lakshya thinks in his mind, surprised, saddened and curious to know what went wrong.

"Why are you standing there?" Durga Prasad's strict tone brought him back from his thoughts and his gaze shift to his father. "Go get changed!" He ordered in his stern tone, making Lakshya sigh.

"Instead of saying 'go take rest beta' you're telling me to get changed?" Durga Prasad ignores his words and Lakshya grabs onto his luggage once again, dragging himself and the bags up the stairs as he heads towards his room. "What was I expecting, I thought they would welcome me back with hugs but no." He complained to himself bitterly and frowned.

Annapurna, who had a faint smile curled on her lips realises something. "Ji. . ." She called and Durga Prasad turns towards her. "Are you sure he would agree? Why don't we just tell him and. . ." Annapurna continues but stops as she senses Durga Prasad's dismay.

"Now do I need to learn from you? Would you like to teach me what I need to do and what I don't?" Durga Prasad raised his tone while he uttered, looking down on his wife Annapurna, embarrassing her.

Annapurna lowered her gaze and shook her head negatively, embarrassed and ashamed to meet his eyes. His behaviour was no shock to her anymore, as this was how he had been since the first day of their marriage. It did hurt her several times during the first year of marriage, she had no choice but to adjust and compromise, and now him speaking like that merely causes an embarrassment. She had never been respected by Durga Prasad, yet still hopes that one day he would.

"Now go get your son ready and bring him down!" Durga Prasad ordered and walked away, she reluctantly followed his command and headed towards the stairs, turning her frown into a smile as she was going to talk to her son after a long time.

. . .

Lakshya was laying on his bed, closing his eyes and relaxing comfortably. He inhales a deep breath, sniffing the air of his bedroom which he had missed. Two years away from home wasn't a small thing for him, he nearly missed the feeling of owning and possessing things which really belonged to him, for instance his bedroom, wardrobe, cupboard, bathroom and everything that is in his room. He was glad there was no more of a sharing to do. He found his room in the same state he had left in, despite the fact that it's much cleaner than he kept it.

"Lakshya." He opened his eyes after hearing Annapurna's excited tone, watching her enter his room with a wide smile, "Ji Maa?" He sat up and responded, smiling back at her.

She caressed his hair and took a seat next to him, "my son." She lovingly uttered and gave him a hug. Tears flowed down her eyes, "after so long. I missed you so much beta." He hugged her back tightly and closed his eyes, realising that he missed his mother the most.

Nothing in life can ever replace a mother, all the loneliness had slowly been filled with comfort and warmth, all he needed was his mother, his befriend.

"I should've taken you with me Maa. If you had been there with me I would've been happier and less homesick."

She breaks the hug and cups his face, "how have you been?" He takes her hands and holds them, smiling widely at her "I've been good, but now I'm better. All my exhaustion disappeared after you hugged me. Two years without you was so hard for me, I missed your food!" He responded and she tightened her grip while holding his hands too.

"You've lost so much weight." Lakshya scoffed at her remark and she held his cheek. "Maa, did you miss me?"

She shook her head negatively at his response and he stared at her with confusion, "you didn't?" He asked and she shook her head negatively again.

"We miss the people we forget and I don't think I ever forgot you, you've always been in my heart and you know a mother right, she would never forget her child."

He smiled again, "Awww Maa, don't make me emotional. I don't want to cry."

She stood up and smiled, "Now get changed quickly and come down." He sighed as soon as he heard that, frowning.

"Maa. . ." His voice changed and he continued "your son came back from a long journey and instead of saying 'take rest' you're saying get changed? Why? Is there a function going on?"

Annapurna felt bad, of course she would want her tired son to rest, but she also knew if they don't do what Durga Prasad wants then an explosive volcano might erupt. She felt bad for herself and her son, not knowing how long they would have to cope with this. 'Will there ever be a day he would change?' She thought and curled a small smile over her lips.

"I will answer your questions later but for now, get changed and come down fast." She pleaded and he nodded his head. "I'm slightly occupied with other work that are left to do but if you need anything then just call me, okay?" She adds and he nods his head again.

Annapurna then exited the room and Lakshya laid back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Weird. Why are Maa and Mr D-Prasad persisting on me getting changed? Could it be a surprise welcome? And what happened which caused a drift in our family? Damn, I missed out on a lot of drama!" Lakshya sighs to himself and shakes his head, yawning and unwillingly getting away from his bed in order to get changed.

. . .

Annapurna walks inside the kitchen, seeming a little anxious and impatient, "Parineeta, is the food ready?" She asks as she walks up to her eldest daughter-in-law, Parineeta.

"Ji Maa, I finished cooking." Parineeta utters with a smile, turning the gas stove off.

Annapurna sniffs the aroma of the food and a smile appears on her lips, helping her relax.

"The food smells amazing, as always." Annapurna compliments and Parineeta's smile widens, "Thanks Maa." She responds to the compliment given by her mother-in-law, which made her feel proud and happy of herself.

"Maa, have you told Lakshya?" Parineeta questioned and Annapurna's smile vanished, her anxiety came back and she shook her head and replied, "Ji said not to, but I have a very bad feeling about this Parineeta. I don't know why I'm feeling anxious."

Before Parineeta could comfort Annapurna or utter a word, they hear another voice shouting outside the kitchen "Draw the curtains!"

Wasting no more time, the two walk out from the kitchen and enter the main hall, only to witness Ramdeen pulling a rope which was drawing a net curtain, blocking the view of the other side of the line.

Durga Prasad hears footsteps and turns around, facing the staircase. Annapurna and Parineeta, who were earlier shocked, plaster an instant fake small smile as they look at the staircase.

"Come inside. . ." Annapurna welcomed them inside as she walks forward, gesturing them to enter.

Ramdeen, after doing his work bows his head down and ambles towards the kitchen.

"Namaste." They greet with their folded hands. Durga Prasad and Annapurna fold their hands too, nodding at them.

The guest, who are none other than Parvati, Shekhar and Sharmishta, walk down the stairs, as they walk down the stairs, their eyes land on the curtain which had been drawn up and know exactly why.

"Swara! Where are you?" The voice from the other side yells, stiffening nearly everybody's expressions.

"Yes Mom. . . Coming!" She responds back from the other side, Sharmishta clenches onto her Saree, controlling her emotions. Parvati rolls her eyes with anger after hearing her voice.

"Come, take a seat." Durga Prasad utters, grabbing Shekhar, Sharmishta and Parvati's attention and they nod, walking towards the sofa.

. . .

On the other side of the curtain, Swara's mother-in-law Sujata, was standing and waiting for Swara and but her attention was else were, she couldn't resist staring at the curtain, trying to see if she could get a glance of the other side. Swara walked out and the first thing she notices was the curtain, her expressions change and she was left disappointed and surprised.

"Yes. . . Mom?" She glanced at Sujata who looked at her, "go bring tea for Ji and make sure you add sugar this time!" Sujata taunted while telling her what to do, Swara shakes her head positively and turned to go, she slightly frowned at the taunt Sujata had passed.

"And listen." Sujata stops her before she could leave, "get me those fritters you made yesterday." Swara nodded, just like an obedient daughter-in-law who follows her mother-in-law's orders and continued to head towards their half of the kitchen.

. . .

On the other side of the curtain, they were sat on the sofa and Annapurna signals Parineeta and she nods, walking towards the kitchen.

"Where is Ragini?" Durga Prasad asked, wondering why Ragini was not present.

Parvati curls a nervous smile on her lips while she stared at Durga Prasad, ready to answer his question. "She is just coming, she went to the temple to take blessings just before."

Durga Prasad and Annapurna were impressed, Annapurna smiled, thinking about how beautiful, well-mannered and traditional Ragini was.

"That is so good to hear." Annapurna complimented, "she never fails to impress us." She added with a genuine smile over her lips this time.

From the other side of the curtain, Sujata was leaning to listen to their conversation, however she could barely hear.

"Sujata!" Sujata jumped after her name was called out in a stern tone and gulped, instantly turning to the side, finding her husband, Ram Prasad standing on the staircase and glaring at her.

Hearing his voice from the other side, Durga Prasad felt different, he raised his head with pride and stiffened his expressions.

. . .

"Ji. . . I was only..." Sujata stutters, struggling to find words to utter out of her mouth.

"Come." He orders in a stern tone while pointing towards the stairs, indicating her to walk upstairs with him.

Sujata curves a frown, wanting to stay and listen to their conversation but as soon as Ram narrowed his eyes, she swallowed and unwillingly walks towards the stairs.

T o  B e   C o n t i n u e d

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This is not a new story, it is one of my old ones that I wanted to rewrite and republish.

I'm finally done with chapter 1, was it worth rewriting and republishing?

Please drop down your comments below and tap the star button if you enjoyed reading the first chapter! 🫶🏼

Love you all lots! ❤️✨