Two weeks later, Little millennium school,
The PTA meeting is going on. The head teacher was telling the parents about some new extra curricular activities which will help in the all-round development of the students. This meeting goes on for a while. When the meeting is over, all the parents leaves .

Kids were allowed to play in playground so all parents were walking towards ground from hall. Two ladies were talking with eachother as they were going to pick their kids . While talking other lady realize that she was walking alone so she turned around only to find her friend standing in middle of ground frozen " Why did you  stop like this in middle Ritsy " questioned Devisha turning towards Ritika only to find her staring in a particular direction. So following Ritika's gaze Devisha saw another lady on their opposite side who was also frozen and staring at them. After clearly looking Devisha got to know that lady is none other than Radhika Rahane.

And before Devisha could say anything Dhruv yelled " Mumma , Badi Maa come here look we are here ".

Listening this Ritika came out of her shock and still looking at Radhika, she walked towards where the kids were playing.

Sammy seeing her mumma, ran and hugged her and said " come mumma i want you to meet Aru , remember I told you about that new friend 2 weeks back " dragging her towards swing where Dhruv and Arya were playing.

Flashback:

Ritika was sitting in living room working on her laptop when she felt two small hands covering her eyes. Knowing well who it is , still she pretended not knowing and asked " Who is it ?  Ro is it you ?"

She heard some giggles and pause as if she was thinking then said " aah my cookie monster is home"

Still giggling Sammy removed her hands and came in front of Ritsy and said " Mumma how did you  know...it was me "

Laughing Ritsy said " I just knew it was my cookie monster , so baby how was your day , did you have fun with Dhruv and Dishu chachi "

" Yes mumma I enjoyed so much with chachi and dhruv and about my day it was good and I made a new friend also " said Sammy excitedly.

" That's great baby and who is this new friend of yours , is she your new classmate ?" Asked Ritsy.

" No mummy she is not my classmates and she is even younger than me so she is in the lower grade and I saved her from falling during break time that's how we became friends " explained Sammy in one breath.

" Wow baby , my baby girl is so grown-up that's she is saving others, vese what's her name baby " asked Ritsy feeling proud of her little girl.

" Yes Mumma I'm big girl now and her name is Arya , but she said to call her Aru " said Sammy which kind of gave Ritika  a mini shock but she brushed it aside thinking there can be so many Aru's , this Aru can't be the daughter of one of her Bestie whom she haven't seen in long time and whom she just treated like her Sammy boo, this Aru can't be Sammy's Bestie Aaaru.

" What are my girls talking about " she heard coming out of her thoughts and said " Nothing Ro , just talking about our day , so how was your day "

End of flashback

" Mumma Mumma common I want you to meet her" Sammy yelled bringing Ritika out of her thoughts. And dragged Ritika towards swing.

" Aru meet my mumma and mumma meet Aru " said Sammy introducing both.

" Hi aunty " said Arya smiling.

" Hi baby , how are you " Ritsy stroking her hands on Arya's cheek. Remembering how she use to hold her close when Arya was baby, how she used to pamper baby Arya , she remembered the innumerable times Arya and Sammy had their playdates when they were little babies. She remembered all the moments this two kids spent with each other..all those moments she spent with her . In a way she was special to her, she was her besties daughter and she and Radhu always used to say ' Dekhna yeh dono bhi besties honge and hamari friendship and hamari legacy ko continue karenge.'

" I'm fine aunty , why do I feel like I know you from somewhere " Arya asked frowning.

This made Ritsy a bit teary eyed and she thought ' You know me baby because once our family were so close that every weekend we had picnics, our mornings used to start either at your dad's  lonavla farmhouse or your chachu's Alibaug farmhouse, Woh bhi Kiya din the, we were always together ... infact we were neighbours too , now so much has changed that I can't even tell you that I'm your chachi and you are my cookie monster's AaaRu" and she turned to wipe a tear which had escaped her eyes quickly so kids don't  noticed it but Devisha saw it and keep her hand on Ritsy's  shoulder.

They both turned when they heard Arya's yell saying " Mummy come here , I want you to meet Sammy Di "

Radhika smiled a bit and walked towards her daughter only to be greeted by Sammy saying " Hello aunty , I'm Samaira " .

" Hi Sammy " said Radhika ruffling Sammy's hairs and when Sammy stare at her she added " Arya told me you said her to call you Sammy "

Laughing Sammy said " That's fine aunty , everyone calls me Sammy or Sam , I don't remember anyone calls me Samaira now and anyway meet my mom and chachi and this kiddo is Dhruv " pointing towards Dhruv who was hiding behind Sammy.

Smiling Radhika said " Hi Dhruv , why are you hiding behind Sammy though"

Sammy smiled and brought Dhruv forward and said " he is  a bit shy with people he meet for first time."

Devisha from behind said " Dhruv aunty is saying hi then why aren't you reply her , you know na it's bad manners not to reply back "

" Sush Divu don't scold him , you know he is shy , common baby say hello to aunty " said Ritika calmly.

" Hello aunty " said Dhruv.

" That's like my good boy " said Ritika and Dhruv hugged her and said " Badi Maa you promised us ice cream "

Hearing ice-cream even Arya and Sammy jumped saying " we want ice cream "

Devisha jumped in between saying " okay kids how about I take you to ice cream shop while your mummas can wait for us in that cafe" said pointing towards the cafe on the opposite side of the road.

Ritika was looking at Devisha with 'what are you trying look' and Devisha just shrugged and whispered " Talk to your bestfriend for now and thank me later " and walked away saying " chalo kids let's get ice-cream"

Ritika and Radhika were standing there awkwardly and a  few moments just passed like that and that is when Ritsy decided to break the awkwardness between them  and she made a move towards Radhika and  she just hugged  her tightly saying " I missed you so much . Inspite of being in the same city we couldn't meet after you guys shifted from your former home."

(PS: in case you are wandering, Jinks and Ro used to live in the same building same floor according to ICT siblings by Mahiro457 )

Radhika patting her back and trying to hold back her tears which were just flowing up after seeing her bestie after such a long time,  said " I missed you too Rii , this few years without meeting you or talking to you were so.....I can't even say how much it pained me."

"Sshhh....no more tears...first Let's us go and  seat in that cafe and talk , I don't want anyone to see us like this..it will be a big mess up  " said Ritsy composing herself and Radhika too.

They went in the cafe and were just sitting when Ritika's  phone started ringing making her look around in worry and after as if she confirmed there's no one she received the call saying " ha Ro "

"------"

" We are still near school , kids wanted ice cream so Devisha is getting them ice-cream but why did you call at this time weren't you going to be busy in some meeting" she asked.

" Ha I was busy in meeting it's actually we got break for 15 mins and I called to inform you that he is coming in evening "  said Ro on call.

" What he is coming in evening " squealed Ritika in excitement forgetting where she was for seconds.

"Ritsy calm down , it's just him coming , why are you squealing like you won some lottery." Said Ro.

' You will be Yourself again once he comes ' Ritsy wanted to say but said " I'm just happy house will be cheerful again and not to mention Sammy will stop her nagging "

Radhika was confused about whom Ritika is talking but she kept quiet knowing they have to hide about their meeting from their hubby's.

" Ya talk to you later Ro , and don't forget to bring his favourite ice-cream packs if you don't want to go out at midnight for drive around city " Radhika heard Ritika saying before she hangup.

Ritika smiled and said " sorry it was Ro and thanks for being quiet I know we can't tell them about us meeting today "

" Ha , we can't , Dekh Ritsy Kitna Kuch badal gya , jo dost Kabhi ek dusre ki Jaan huwa karte the , Jo dost Kabhi sapne me bhi ek dusre se alag hone Ka nhi Soch sakte the, aaj waqt ne unhe ek dusre se Kitna dur Kar Diya , ek dusre ki presence toh Kiya naam tak bardash nhi hota, itni nafrate kiu, nhi samaj aata " Radhika replied with unshed tears in her eyes.

" USS din exactly Kiya huwa yeh toh mujhe bhi nhi pata but haa Mene Ro ko tadapte dekha h , jab bhi Jinks Ka b'day hota tha ya fir koi occasion, I have seen him many times...just looking at the contact , wanting to call him but something was stopping him...I'm have seen him feeling helpless, I have seen guilt in his eyes." Ritika said ." Yeh Sab chodo Ajju Kaisa h " she added.

" Ajju Ka bhi yhi haal h , par guilt ki jagah uski aankho me nafrat h , he can't even bear his presence now b/w you become so excited who is coming " she asked remembering Ritsy was excited.

" Ohh..Woh Rishu aa Raha h , isliye I'm happy" Ritika said smilingly to which Radhika raised an eyebrow, seeing it Ritsy replied " Ro too has changed...he has become so cold with everyone, only whenever Rishu comes he becomes his oldself the Ro which we earlier used to know , warna toh he is just cold off"

" Mumma , hum aa gye " Sammy exclaimed coming from behind.

" We need to meet again...very soon " Ritsy said getting up.

" But our hubby's shouldn't know otherwise....." Radhika added and stopped but Ritsy understand her unsaid words and said " Don't worry everything will be alright"

And they left the cafe, but unknown to them, someone heard all their conversation , siting on  next table to them , hiding his face from a newspaper.

" Jaan, tum Coffee Lene Aaye the aur itna time laga Diya " said a girl coming from behind. But seeing that he was not responding she added " kya huwa is everything alright, why are you hiding your face, I know you are a celebrity but no one will anyway recognise you in this hoodie." She said chuckling but stopped seeing his sad face.

" Okay now I know something is seriously wrong, kya huwa " she asked.

" Not here, car me chalte h , it's not safe to talk here" he said and taking Coffee both left from there.

A/n:

Tadaa, we are back with the chapter. Sorry for taking forever to update.So enjoy and do vote and comment.

Questions for today:
• What happened that changes the bond of AjjuRo?
• Who heard the conversation?