68. Anjali's daughter - part 1

I am going to need you to read this chapter and the next without any prejudices and preconceived notions. And then read notes at the end. Thanks.

--*--

The day Anjali lost her first child 11 years ago, almost into 8th month of her pregnancy, she had felt a part of her die. No matter who was the father of that child, even that despicable ex-husband of hers-Shyam, the child was still hers and when doctors told her it was a girl, she broke down. All those millions of dreams she had woven around that tiny baby of hers, how she will see her baby girl grow, play with her, spend sleepless nights taking care of her and do all those cute mother-daughter things she had dreams of- lay broken! None of those were going to come true.

Eventually, she moved on. When Akash-Payal's baby girl Piya was born, she had showered her suppressed love on that baby girl. Then, when Khushi and Arnav's son Kavish was born, she had felt even more happy and craved motherhood for herself. Fortunately, she met her current husband- Navin around then, got married and soon, got pregnant. Anjali was sure it would be her rajkumari(princess) born to her and she would get to fulfill her incomplete dreams but when her son Pratham was handed over to her instead, those dreams again went on backseat. She decided to try for another baby but since she had Pratham much into her late 30s, she had difficulty conceiving again. And, after trying for some years, her hopes dwindled.

And amidst that, came Chote's twin daughters!!! When Anjali first heard of Khushi delivering twin baby girls, she for a moment felt it was a signal, otherwise how did Chote and Khushi had twins when twins didn't run in their family or Khushi's? However, she kept those thoughts only to herself for the time and satisfied herself with whatever small time she could get to spend with those two rajkumaris(princesses).

It was an absolute joy watching those two angels grow up. Pari was sweet, innocent just like her name (however, her birth name was Shriya, as Nani and Anjali herself had come up with), while Arohi was natkhat(naughty) and super-active! In any case, in any avatar, they were most adorable baby girls Anjali had ever seen and she often used to think her own rajkuamri would have been just the same if she were alive...

--*--

Anjali, her mother-in-law and Anjali's 5-year-old son Pratham were visiting Shantivan that Sunday from morning to evening! Presently, they were about done with their breakfasts but still seating around the huge dining table that Shantivan flaunted!

"Jiji, aapne kal wo jo juti dikhayi thi na online site pe (the kids' belly shoes you showed me on that website), I think we should buy them. Pari will love the colors of those and piya ko bhi pasand ayenge (Piya will love them too)." Khushi was talking with Payal, while just about done feeding Pari a last spoonful of daliya.

Anjali couldn't help heaving a sigh of sadness, for her unfulfilled dreams of doing anything like that for her own baby girl! Sure, she used to buy stuff for Pratham all the time, and rejoice when he loved all that, but he was a 'new dream', and you can't replace a dream with another, especially if it's a baby...

"You both are so lucky, it's so much fun to shop for baby girls. For boys there are so limited options" Anjali said in supposedly lighthearted way, but Arnav caught the sadness in her eyes and felt his heart going out to his di. He had seen it firsthand how much she had loved her first baby, and the cold-blooded murder of that baby had left too many unfulfilled wishes in his di's mind. But apart from praying for her, what else can he do?

.

.

After a heavy breakfast, they all had decided to spend time in chitchatting while kids played around them, running here n there. Arnav and Aakash had gone upstairs to their own rooms, as they could only bear with the 'gupshup' so much!

Soon, Arohi felt tired with all the running and came to her mamma. With her tummy full of heavy breakfast and now a lot of playtime, she was feeling sleepy. And nap times meant sleeping hugging her mamma. Khushi gathered Aru closer to her chest and started caressing her soft hair as Aru started snoring. The noises of her family gathered around her didn't disturb her one bit.

And there Anjali felt it again! She was looking with a longing at Khushi and aru.

"I wish I had my rajkumari with me, too." Anjali said in a mere whisper and wiped a tiny tear that formed in her eyes and this time, her mother-in-law, Saritaji saw it. She knew Anjali and Navin were hoping for a second baby and a daughter but couldn't conceive.

And she thought of something and decided to talk to Anjali right away... They were going to Lucknow for a few days next week, why can't they take one of Arnav-Khushi's daughters with them? This way, even Anjali will get to spend some time with their niece and feel better? Taking care of 3 kids must anyway be tough for Khushi so she imagined Khushi would easily say yes. And why would Arnav say no, if it involved making his di happy? It was only about a week anyway...

--*--

After lunch and little nap, they had decided to go to a nearby park so kids could play. And Khushi had a hard time handling Kavish-who wanted to take his cycle near the main road(!), Arohi who was standing near to a swing and Pari who was running behind their pet dog- Teddy.

Just then, they saw Arohi forcing another kid her age, to get up from the swing, as it was her turn! The kid started crying, not ready to leave yet. And aru being stubborn, kept pulling his hand...Khushi ran to them and took Arohi away,

"Arohi! This is not the way to behave. say sorry to him!" She scolded and Aru's eyes watered.

She whispered a quick 'sorry' but didn't like how it made her feel. Why did her mamma always scold at her? She looked at her bua for some help.

Anjali picked up Aru, kissed her cheeks and took her away to distract her, totally avoiding the 'swing' scene...Khushi didn't like it but couldn't say anything as it would create a scene.

"Khushi bitiya, is this a way to treat your kids? We never scold Pratham for anything. Learn from Anjali. If we had Aru bitiya in our house, we would never scold her." Sarita said and Khushi felt a hard time keeping a check on her manners. She didn't want to insult Anjali's mother-in-law as she was an elder as well as a relative. But she wouldn't take any wrong advice from anyone, least about her kids

"Aunty, please don't mind, but giving into kids' demands is not the only way to love them. In fact, it's the way to spoil them. I am trying to ensure so Aru doesn't-"

"Are you saying that we are spoiling our Pratham?" Sarita said, not letting Khushi complete her sentence. By then, Anjali came there as Aru had gone to play with Pari and pacified for now.

"No- no aunty, I didn't mean like that." Khushi said, even though it was true, but she tried to not get into argument and Anjali came to her side,

"Khushiji, let it be, I know. Maa, she just meant she knows how to handle Aru and besides, she is looking after these 3 very active and different kids, we should give her some break." Anjali said, trying to diffuse the tension. But in a way, gave a perfect opening for Saritaji to pitch in her idea of taking Aru with them...

Meanwhile, Khushi kept wondering if she was indeed doing wrong in being strict with her kids...

--*--

That evening:

Anjali came to talk to Arnav about the Lucknow plan, before leaving, while Khushi was changing Pari's dress and Aru was with Arnav. Kavish, Piya and Pratham were playing outside.

Anjali came near Arnav and took Arohi in her arms, and Aru being a friendly baby, easily went to her Anjali bua. She loved her Anjali bua for always bringing so many chocolates and muffins for her!

"How much will bua's cupcake miss bua?" Anjali asked in a baby language to Aru, and she giggled

"Very, very much!" Aru said making Anjali's heart swell with joy! Arnav and Khushi were used to Anjali showering so much love on their kids, so they stood there admiring the scene. Just then, Sarita ji also came there.

"Chote, kabhi kabhi toh lagta hain, ye hamari Rajkumari hi hain jo tumhare ghar paida ho gayi (Sometimes, I feel she is my rajkumari who is born in your house)." Anjali couldn't stop herself from saying before realizing what she had uttered...and Arnav felt alarmed. He had never expected Anjali to say this. Khushi too halted in her steps listening to it.

"Who bua?" Aru asked hearing her being compared with someone and Anjali kissed aru's chubby cheeks.

"Ek nanhi Rajkumari(a small princess) beta. Agar wo hoti na toh bilkul aap ke jaisi hoti (if she would have been here, she would have been just like you). Yahi laal honth, aise hi wavy baal, aisi hi badi badi aankhe aur aisa hi chaand sa mukhda (same rosy lips, same curly hair, same big eyes and same beautiful face)." Anjali said, with tears in her eyes, thinking about her baby girl...

"Toh le chale isse apne ghar (So, shall we take her with us)? Waise bhi Arnav aur khushi has 2 daughters, ek hum le chalte hain (Khushi and Arnav anyway have 2 daughters, we can take one)! I mean, we are going to Lucknow for some relative's wedding next week, why not take Arohi with us? She also likes travelling and she likes her bua. And Khushi too can take some rest from running behind Arohi bitiya all the time! Kyun khushi bitiya?" Saritaji asked much to Khushi's shock and Arnav's anger! That was it! Arnav was barely able to hold his anger as Saritaji kept saying more n more. He was already agitated when his di mentioned something about his Aru being her princess and then her mother-in-law legit dared to say she would take his daughter away! Like hell he would let it happen! His kids were only his dammit!

Before Khushi could even form a word or refuse, Arnav was already beside Anjali and had literally snatched Arohi from her arms!

"What happened chote?"

"Isske dinner ka time ho gaya hai Di (it's her dinner time Di). I will see you later." He curtly said while everyone looked on shocked as dinner time was good 2 hours away and Arnav literally ran downstairs with Aru in his arms!

To be continued...

Precap - "she is not your rajkumari, Di. She is mine!"

--*--

A/N - Adoption is a blessing when done right. But here, it was thought of/hinted at with all wrong intentions (and in the show too in 'that' track, it did not make any sense). While I think adoption is a noble thing, but taking a child out of his/her parents' arms to raise as your own, it's a little complex(second note below). Anyhow. Anjali and her MIL might have wanted to actually take our Aru in all seriousness, but they will have to face the wrath of ASR even before aru's ma! So, they better back off! What were your thoughts as you read it?

p.s. as a reference, adoptions within family are common, at least from what I have seen and heard. My grandfather's generation had his aunt (bua) adopt one of her brother's daughters as she and her husband were childless and needed an heir/heiress. They were wealthy and her brother was comparatively poor and had 3-4 daughters. I slightly admired that bua's husband for this whole thing as during that time, men would leave their wives if they couldn't give a baby no matter who was at fault, let alone adopt a baby girl. As I know, the girl who was adopted was raised with lot of love and was not told about it until her wedding.

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