A beautifully decorated flat was witnessing lots of hustle and bustle this morning. The walls were having orange and yellow marigold garlands hanging from top to bottom, at some places where the garlands couldn't be fixed had strings of fairy lights hanging. The main door opens up to a beautifully set up hall, having a sofa set in the middle behind the sofa there were some photo frames of the family members, infront of the sofa set a small centre table was placed contrasting to the sofa set. A wall mounted TV was set up in the wall which had the main door and a TV table mounted under it. The space beside the sofa was used in keeping a small bookshelf having various genres of books. The dining area had the dinner table and a small corner wash basin, adjacent to the simple modular kitchen. A small passage took to 5 rooms, in one of the rooms a young girl in a powder blue straight kurta with light pink palazzo and matching accessories, was setting up the room when she heard the voice of a lady who was clad up in a navy blue handloom saree with red and golden thread worked embroidery and had jaipuri print on the body. She was wearing gold earrings, her mangalasutra with a small pendant of gold, her wrists had a pair of gold kadha and red bangles. Her face was devoid of any make up, it had just sindoor and bindi. Her face was depicting the subtleness and motherliness, and some wrinkles had started to appear indicating the start of her ageing process.

Lady: Preeti kab se iss kamre mein ghusi hai aur saja rahi hai. Jaldi kar beta! Tujhe meri aur teri Mummy ki madad bhi karni hai. Dekh abhi Pralay aur Pranati Naina ko leke aate hi honge...

Yes the house was of the Agrawals, and the girl was none other than Preeti and the lady was no one else but Taiji aka Beena Agrawal.

Preeti: Ji Taiji! Woh iss kurti ke saath wale churidar nahi mil rahe the isliye thoda time lag gaya. Bas khatam hi hogaya hai, aap chaliye main aati hun.

Beena: Thik hai, waise bahar jyaada kuch hai nahi. Tu ek kaam kar beta, tujhe kuch project khatam karna tha na. Tu usse khatam kar le, phir Naina aa jayegi toh tu uske saath hi rahegi pura time aur tujhe samay nahi milega....

Preeti: Koi baat nahi Taiji 😊. Main help kar deti hun aur Naina didi ke jaane ke baad project khatam kar lungi. Mere hote huye aap aur Mummy sab akele kyun karoge???

Beena: Thik hai meri Maa. Ek baar jo tu shuru ho gayi toh tera drama khatam hone wala nahi hai 😂.
Tu aa aaram se aur jo crockery teri mummy nikal kar rakhi hogi usse thoda sa kapde se wipe kar dena...

Preeti: Okay Taiji 😊

Beena left the room and went to check upon the cooking done by her sister in law, Bela. In the kitchen, a middle aged woman dressed up in a orange and yellow bandhani saree, having few gold bangles around her wrist and her mangalasutra around her neck. She had some light make-up put on her face with a red bindi on forehead and hairline filled with sindoor.

Beena: Bela, khana ban gaya kya?

Bela: Ji bhabhi. Khana ban gaya hai aur maine subah hi Pralay ko bolke Damadji ke liye unki favorite rasmalai mangwa li thi...😊

Beena: Thik hai toh phir. Main jaake hall mein dekhti hun sab kuch sahi jagah par hai ki nahi.

Bela: Ji thik hai bhabhi.

Beena: Arrey tumne humari rajkumari ke saare favorite dishes banayi hai na??

Bela: Ji bhabhi. Agar nahi banati toh kuch kehti toh nahi par dil dukhta uska...

Beena: Sahi keh rahi ho. Jab se Rama gayi hai tabse sehem si gayi hai Naina. Jitna khulke woh Rakesh ke saath rehti hai utna hum sab ke saath nahi rehti.

Bela: Kabhi kabhi aissa lagta hai bhabhi, ki shayad hum usse Rama bhabhi jaisa pyaar de nahi paaye. Isliye hum dono ko ek maa ke nazariye se dekh nahi payi aaj tak Naina 😥😔

A man: Aissi baat nahi hai Bhabhji, Bela!

Both sister in-laws turned back and saw a middle aged man in turquoise kurta and cream pyjamas with his glasses on his nose standing there.

Bela: Rakesh bhaiya, hum....

Rakesh: Bela, Naina ne bachpan mein jab Rama ko khoya tab woh sirf 14 saal ki thi, Rama ka jaana uske liye ek turning point tha. Usse lagna laga ki shayad uske wajah se hi usse brain cancer hua aur uske wajah se hi Rama humare beech nahi hai.
Woh aap dono se bahut pyaar karti hai par usse dikhane daarti hai....

Beena: Daar kis baat ka Rakesh?

Rakesh: Aapko aur apno khone ka daar. Issi wajah se toh woh shaadi bhi karna chahti thi par maine samjha diya tha. Phir bhi meri gudiya ke dil ek chote kone mein uska yeh daar abhi bhi hai...

Bela: Par bhaiya, kya Naina kabhi bhi uss daar bahar nahi aa payegi?

Rakesh: Aayegi na. Aur usse bahar humare damadji yaani Sameer karenge. Maine Sameer ko yeh baat bahut pehle bata di thi taaki agar kabhi bhavishya mein Naina ki taraf se kuch hichkichat ho toh Sameer usse galat na samjh aur uske daar ko dur kar de...

Beena: Yeh toh bahut kiya aapne. Ek patni apne pati se koi baat chupa nahi sakti, aur mujhe pura bharosa hai Sameer aur Naina par ki dono apna dampatya jeevan bahut khushi se nibhayenge aur safal bhi honge 😊.

Bela: Waise bhaiya aap yahan aaye kyun the?

Rakesh: Haan woh main Naina ke liye apne haathon se uska favorite cake banana chahta tha. Bahut dino se usne khaya nahi na, aur aaj toh uske jeevan ke bahut bada din bhi hai. Aaj jab woh iss ghar mein aayegi toh ek ghar ki bahu aur ek patni banke aayegi....

Naresh: Aur bhai humari laado ka koi bada din ho aur Rakesh uske liye cake na banaye aissa hote huye maine pichle 24 saal mein nahi dekha 😃
Kyun Anand?

Anand: Bilkul thik keh rahe hai aap bade bhaiya 😁

The other Agrawal brothers stood near the open window like wall, looking at their brother in great affection claded up in grey kurta pyjama and light brown kurta pyjama respectively.

Rakesh: Haan toh aap sab jayiye aur baaki taiyyari kijiye. Main tab tak meri beti ke liye cake banata hun ❤️
Mujhe please koi bhi disturb nahi karenge thik hai??

Everyone: Thik hai 😂😂

Rakesh had just finished baking the cake, Bela and Beena were checking the decorations and the other two Agrawal brothers were busy making the list of the expenditures when a chirpy voice was heard.

Ppppppppaaaaaaaapppppppppppaaaaaaaa!!!!

Rakesh chuckled in the kitchen as he recognized the voice of his princess, his laado. He came out of the kitchen and engulfed his doll in his arms who came running to him. He kissed her head and forehead.

Naina: Papa! Aap kaise ho? Yeh kya kal hi toh main gayi aur aap itne doble dikh rahe ho 😥. Thik se khana khaya karo na, dekha issi liye main keh rahi thi ki mujhe shaadi nahi karni aur apne Papa ke paas rehna hai 😔😔

Rakesh: Ohho meri rajkumari! Yeh haal na har uss baap ka hota hai jo apni beti vidda karta hai. Akhir betiyan hi toh hum papaon ka jeevan khushi se bhar deti hai 😘😘😘

Pralay: Bade chachaji, puchiye maat! Pura raste mujhe jaldi chalne ko bol rahi thi. Iska bas chale toh hawai jahaz se yahan aa jati 😁😂

Naresh: Arrey toh kya hogaya uss mein? Agar humari beti ko jaldi aana tha toh usse jaldi le aata na tu!

Naina realised that she didn't greet her uncles and aunts. So she touched their feet and took their blessings.

Naina: Woh...woh Papa se milne ki excitement mein aap sab se mil nahi payi 😅😅

Beena: Arrey koi baat nahi. Ek beti ke liye apne Maa Baap se ek pal bhi kisi anjaan ghar mein rehna kitna muskil hota hai pata hai hume. Aur tu toh humari baachi hai, sabse pehle jisse bhi mile hai toh humare hi paas na ❤️

Naresh: Haan aur Rakesh ka toh haq hai tujhse sabse pehle milne ka 😊😊

Naina: Maine aap sab ko bahut miss kiya. Pata hai Taiji Chachiji, jab aaj subah main nashta aur mitha banane gayi toh mujhe aap dono ki bahut yaad aayi thi. Aur kal jab sone gayi thi tab Tauji aur Papa ki bahut yaad aayi, Tauji jaise haar din sone se pehle mere saath ek game taash ka khelte the aur jis tarah se Papa roz mere baalon mein ungliyan ghumakar mujhe sulate the...in sab ki bahut yaad aayi mujhe 😥😥

Preeti: Mujhe aap bhul gayi Jiji 😲😲

Naina smiled seeing her sulking younger sister. She pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead.

Naina: Tujhe kaise bhulu? Tu sabse jyaada yaad aayi mujhe kal....

Bela: Naina, baaki baatein baad mein hongi. Tu pehle baith aur thoda sharbat pe le...

Rakesh: Arrey beta, Sameer nahi aaye?

Naina: Papa woh Sameer ji ko office mein kuch kaam tha, toh usse niptane gaye hai. Woh kal mujhe Sameer ji kahin ghumane le ja rahe hai, isliye....

Anand: Yeh toh accha hai. Tum dono bacche thoda khulke baat kar paoge finally 😊❤️.

Naina smiled. Deep down she really wanted Sameer to come with her here but it was not possible sadly. She was lost in her thoughts when Preeti noticed it.

Preeti( whispering in her ears ): Sameer jiju ke baare mein soch rahi ho jiji??

Naina (Lost in his thoughts and their conversation since yesterday till today morning): Haan....

Preeti giggled and signed everyone that Naina is lost in the thoughts of her Pati Parmeshwar Sameer Maheshwari ❤️. Naina's chain of thoughts broke when Pranati poked her shoulder and gave her phone to her which was ringing from sometime.

Pranati: Jinke khayalon mein khoyi thi unka call aaya hai 😁😁 Ja baat karle unse 😊

Naina rushed into her previous room and closed the door. Her hands trembled seeing his name in the caller ID.

Naina: He...hel..hello

Sameer: Hello Naina! Kya hua? Kuch pareshan lag rahi ho?

Naina: Pare... Pareshaan? Na...nahi toh main kyun bhala pareshan hungi?

Sameer: Toh haklake kyun baat kar rahi ho??

Naina: Woh...Sameer ji...

Sameer: Batao Naina. Accha apne Pati Sameer ji ko maat batao par apne dost dost Sameer ji ko toh bata sakti ho na?

Naina smiled and said: Hmm apne dost ko bata sakti hun.
Wo... woh k.... kya hai na apne pehli baar call kiya hai toh.....

Sameer: Toh?

Naina: To... toh aapka call dekhke daar gayi main. Kuch sujha nahi ki uthakar kya bolun aur kya nahi...

Sameer laughed out loud in the phone and clutched his stomach sitting on his chair, whereas Naina had reddened cheeks in fluster.

Sameer: Oh god Naina! Tum na bahut cute ho ❤️
Kounsi Patni apne Pati ka call dekhke daar jati hai? Aur kya bolun kya matlab hai? Wohi bolti jo man mein hota ya jo mere puche sawaal ka jawab hota...
Maine kal bhi tumse kaha tha Naina ki mujhe sabse pehle apna dost samjho. Jaise tum apni saheliyon ke saath baat karti thi waise hi mujhse baat karna aur apne secrets bhi share karna (whispering) Main kisise nahi kahunga 😁😁

Naina chuckled and replied: Sameer Ji, cute main nahi aap hai aur bahut acche bhi ❤️

Sameer: Ab Sameer Ji ko cute aur accha banna hi padega na, jab uski friend itni cute hai 😁😊.

Naina: Accha yeh toh bataiye ki aapne call kyun kiya tha?

Sameer: Kyun bina wajah tumhe call nahi kar sakta?

Naina: Maine aissa kab kaha? Aap subah Dadaji ko bolke aaye the ki bahut kaam hai, isliye mujhe laga aap busy honge...

Sameer: Haan kaam toh almost khatam hogaya hai. Maine yeh batane ke liye call kiya tha ki main shaam ko aaunga tumhe lene. Kaam jaldi hogaya na isliye par agar tum chaho toh raat tak reh sakti ho apne ghar mein.

Naina: Aap kaam khatam karke yahan aa jana, yahin dinner kar lijiyega. Taiji aur Chachiji thodi dukhi thi jaan ke ki aap lunch par nahi aaye....

Sameer: Thik hai phir...Shaam ko milta hun tumse. Apna khayal rakhna 😊

Naina: Ji aap bhi apna khyal rakhna aur lunch kar lijiyega. Kaam mein aap akshar khana khane ke baare mein bhul jaate hai...

Sameer: Tumhe kaise pata meri iss adat ke baare mein??

Naina: Woh Bua dadi ji ne bataya tha mujhe humari sangeet wale din. Jab aap beech mein kuch der ke liye chale gaye the aur wapas aaye toh maine aapko khana diya tha....

Sameer: Oh! Isliye itna insist kar rahi thi mujhe khana khane ke liye uss din 😂😂

Naina: Haan....

Naina wanted to say something more but didn't say as she wanted to have this conversation with him face to face.

Sameer: Thik hai main abhi lunch kha lunga aur jaldi aaunga tumhare paas. Bye

Naina: Bye

Naina declined the call and turned to see her sister and sister in law standing near the door with crossed arms and smirk on their faces.

Preeti: Dekha Bhabhi aapne kaise gaal laal hogaye hai jiji ke 😉😏

Pranati: Haan wohi dekh rahi hun Preeti. Sameer ji se 10 min phone par baat karke yeh haal hai toh jab saath hote hai tab toh kya hi baat hoti hogi 😏😏
Kyun Naina?

They rushed to her and made Naina sit in the middle of them. Wounding their arms around her they started their questionnaire.

Preeti: Jiji, sabse pehle yeh batao ki Jiju kaise hai? Aapko koi taklif toh nahi huyi na kal?

Naina: Nahi Preeti. Sameer ji bahut suljhe huye aur nek dil insaan hai. Un hone mera bahut khayal rakha hai...

Pranati: Woh toh dikhta hai Naina. Jis tarah woh tujhe dekhte issi se pata lagta hai ki unke nazar mein teri kya jagah hai 😊

Preeti: Ammm, yeh batao ki Jiju romantic hai ki nahi? Matlab kal raat....

Naina: Chup kar! Bhabhi yeh sab kya bole ja rahi hai yeh???

Naina's cheeks heated with just the mere thought of having Sameer so close to her. Her heartbeats fastened and sweat trickled down her back.

Pranati: Preeti! Yeh sawaal aaj nahi 6-8 mahine baad puchna. Pehle Naina aur Sameer ko ghul ne toh do.....

Rakesh: Agar aap dono ki anumati ho toh kya main andar aakar apni beti se baatein kar sakta hun???

Pranati: Bade chachaji, aayiye na....aapko permission ki bhala kya jaroorat???

Preeti: Haan Tauji....Aap dono baatein kijiye hum Mummy aur Taiji ki help kar dete hai.

Preeti and Pranati left the father daughter duo alone to have their bestie talks. Ever since Rama left them, Rakesh turned Naina's mother and their bond got stronger. He decided to cut down his office working hours to spend time with his princess. Naina shared everything with Rakesh since her childhood and shared very details after her mother's demise.

Rakesh: Hmmm toh meri gudiya ko uska gudda kaisa laga?

Naina: Woh acche hai Papa! Bahut acche ❤️

Rakesh: Aur parivaar wale?

Naina: Meri mummyji aur Mamaji Mamiji se kuch khas baat nahi huyi hai, par Dadaji, Papaji aur Bua dadiji bahut acche hai. Aur Poonam bhabhi mein jaise Pranati bhabhi mil gayi mujhe ❤️

Rakesh: Hmmm yeh toh acchi baat hai ki meri laado ko uska naya parivaar pasand aaya 😊

Naina: Papa woh....

Rakesh: Bolna beta! Kya baat hai???

Naina: Papa woh....aapko pata hai kya ki Sameer ji Mummyji ko aunty kyun bulate hai??? Shaadi ke rasmon mein suna tha pehli baar, tab puch nahi paayi....

Rakesh: Beta mujhe bas itna pata hai ki Vishakha ji Sameer ki sauteli Maa hai. Ab woh unhe Aunty kyun bulate hai uska jawab tujhe sirf Sameer de sakte hai.

Naina: Par Papa, main kaise unse puch sakti hun??

Rakesh: Kaise ka kya matlab hai? Apne muh se puchogi. Naina, ek Patni aapne Pati se kuch bhi puch sakti hai kyunki jo jagah uski hoti hai na uske pati ke jeevan mein woh kisi aur ki nahi hoti. Tu bejijak Sameer se puch sakti hai kuch bhi, uska jawab dena na dena unpar nirbhar karta hai....

Naina: Papa, aisse kaise kisike puchne par woh apne zindagi ke itne bade cheez ko mujhse share karenge???

Rakesh: Kyun nahi karenge??? Tu unki biwi hai, apni zindagi unke saath share karne wali hai toh apne atith, vartaman aur bhavishya teeno ek dusre ke saath share karne ka haq tum dono ka hai!
Ek baat bata, kya Sameer se tu kuch puchegi toh kya woh maana kar denge tujhe batane se???

Naina: Nahi....

Rakesh: Toh apne maan mein aane wale har sawaal ka jawab unse puch jaise mujhse puchti hai. Main janta hun, tum dono ki shaadi arranged hai aur jyaada waqt nahi mila tum dono ko ek saath bitane ke liye, par bacche iss baat ko apne rishte pe haavi nahi hone dena. Roz ek nayi cheez jaanna ek dusre ke baare mein. Phir dekhna jo yeh jhijhak hai na dil mein woh gayab ho jayegi 😊😊

Naina: Aap sahi keh rahe hai Papa. Aur Sameer ji toh mujhe apna dost maante hai toh unse koi bhi baat share karna asaan hoga mere liye 😊😊

Rakesh: Hmm, ab chal. Teri chachi aur Taiji ne tera maan pasand khana banake tujhe khilane ka plan banaya hai. Lunch ke baad, hum sab ek ek game ludo ka khelenge 😊😊

The father daughter duo joined the other Agrawals and had a great lunchtime together.

Pralay: Ohho! Mummy Chachi, aissa khana khane ke baad na mera toh maan karta hai ki aap dono ka haath chum lun....

Bela: Accha 😂.

Pralay: Haan chachi! Nahi toh Pranati ke haathon ka khana khake main bore hogaya tha. Aap dono na hafte mein 2-3 baar mere liye tiffin bana liya karo...

Pranati: Mummy dekhiye na! Aapka beta na bahut dal badlu ban gaya hai. Roz subah kehte hai, waah Pranati tumhare haathon mein jadoo hai aur abhi keh rahe hai ki bore hogaye hai 😡

Naresh: Meri bahu ke baare mein aisse bol kaise sakta hai tu! Pranati beta, kal se tum apne teen sasur ke liye khana banana.

Anand: Haan, kal se humara dabba tum banake bhejna ❤️❤️

Preeti: Bhaiya! Aap humesha Bhabhi ko aissa kyun bolte ho?? Bhabhi kitni acchi hai 😘😘

Pralay: Arrey arrey! Aap log kahan ki baat kahan leke ja rahe hai? Pehle toh Prani maine yeh toh nahi kaha ki tum bura khana banati ho. Maine itna kaha ki kabhi kabhi tum Mummy aur Chachi ko mera tiffin banane de dena...Maa ke haath ka khana toh Maa ke haath ka khana hi hota hai na.

Seeing Pralay's flustered face, all of them busted out in laughter. Pralay sulked to know that they were just pulling his leg. After lunch, the Agrawal clan played Ludo and Monopoly.

It was around 5PM when the doorbell rang and Preeti opened the door. She smiled seeing the person who was.......

Hey guys. I'm back with another update.
Hope you will like it and don't forget to vote and comment.

And don't miss my new work "Tu Jo Mila ❤️".

See you in the next update.

With love ❤️
Kiara