Chapter 1

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"hi anjali."shilpa answered the call she received stopping her car.Anjali is her friend and neighbour.It was anjali whom she first met after her arrival in mumbai from delhi.She has helped her settle down n has been a great support. She is married to Atul joshi who works as a doctor in Sanjeevani n anjali is a house wife.She actually likes being at home.Her husband always insists her to go out n work for change,n would get more social meeting people but she never listened to him as she says "ghar hi hai meri aashiyana" she likes keeping her house clean,decorating it with every new item piece she loooks in the shops,taking care of their son aryan,waiting for her husband to return from his work.n most importantly she likes watching soaps,she likes all saas bahu serial,not to mention her new freakness for reality shows.Her at present favourite serial is Kis Desh Mai Hai mera dil.She says "woh prem yaar,kya cute dikhta hai,mere atul ke jaise?"Shilpa would often laugh at her freakness on the soaps,she likes none,they all sound too much depressing.the manipulating villains,the leading ladies turning into detectives from house wives,then the extra zoom effects,wasn't the tensions in real life enough that the serials show them more making us remeber our own misery.she likes something that has light emotions,n beautiful story with a lot of comedy.

"hi,shilpa where are you?"anjali asked."anjali,i am on my way back to house.khushi there?"shilpa asked."No,she is not here,may be with aryan,playing"anjali answered."ok,come soon."she added. "ya,i will,well did you get the order?"shilpa asked."ya,i got it,his favourite flavour,i am sure aryan will like it"anjali added excitedly."but keep it away from khushi ok,don't even let her know abt it?"shilpa added."ha,ok you come soon".saying a last bye she put the phone.

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"hey,shilpa what took you so long?"anjali asked as entered their house."traffic" shilpa answered sliding on to the couch. "Have water"she handed shilpa the glass."Khushi kaha hai?"shilpa asked looking for her."Woh,aryan ke saath khel rahi hai"anjali."accha woh parcel toh nahi dekha na khushi ne?"she asked." no she hasn't,n what would happen if she sees it? she's just a small kid,you talk as if she is a great monster." "ha,u will say like that only,u don't know fully abt her,tumhare ghar mei jab hoti hai toh thoda chup rahti hai,tumse darti jho hai lekin humare ghar aake dekho pura ghar sir pe utha leti hai,badi badmaash hai."shilpa said laughing accounting khushi's mischeivous acts."hi aunty"aryan greeted shilpa getting onto her lap."so,how is my prince charming," kissing onto his cheeks she asked affectionately."well,now that my princess has come back so i am full to bindass"he said flickering his eyes."ha,ha good one my boy"shilpa said ruffling his hair. Aryan is very free with shilpa n close too. He flirts with her,something he has learnt from his father,who flirts with his mother. Shilpa too plays along laughing at his innocent acts. Aryan is 5yrs old,2 yrs elder to khushi n has just started his schooling. Aryan is close to shilpa but can't take khushi. She irritates him alot playing pranks all the time. He would cryingly complaint to his mother but khushi would pretend to be innocent with her innocent smile n face that she escapes everytime. n it is something that irritates him even more. Whenever Shilpa goes out for work she would leave khushi at anjali's home. Anjali is a little bit strict to children. So khushi is little bit afraid of her,while shilpa always wants to be strict towards her for her increasing list of mischiefs but culdn't. Her sad face wuld always do the magic,as shilpa cannot see it n she gives up. "where is khushi,aryan?i thought she was with you?" anjali asked looking at him. "Mom,yes she was playing with me but then she said she had to go to washroom n left.When she didn't return after long time i thought she wuld be with you n so came for her."he answered looking tensed from his mother to shilpa. "so where can she be?"anjali wondered. They searched for her every where in all rooms,they were all worried shilpa was shaking with tension. Where can she go? i hope she didn't land up in any trouble. please god.

"Shilpa"anjali shouted. Shilpa along with aryan ran to the kitchen from where they heard her. "what?"shilpa urged panting heavily as she ran out of breath. "look"anjali turned her to see the view before them. Shilpa was shell shocked,she had our mouth opened,a spontaneous act. Khushi was there in the centre of a mess,the chocolate flavoured cake all around her, the cream all over her face n dress. They saw a stool near the fridge which explained how she got it down from such a big sized fridge. Unable to bear the weight she dropped it n sat down to eat it. She smiled innocently at them with her face fully covered with the chocolate. "Hi,momma"she spoke in her broken language waving at her. "Momma,do you want some,"she added offering her some but seeing no response "theek hai mei hi khaa leti hoo"n put it in her mouth. Shilpa looked at her more shocked while anjali couldn't control herself n broke down into laughter.

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"Ok now khushi,behave ur self. Be calm,decent n disciplined."shilpa said setting khushi's dress."Momma,don't they all mean the same"she said with innocent face. "Yes,they mean.Badmaash"she pinched her nose putting her down from the bed. "Now,be here,play with ur doll. i will be ready in a jiffy n then we can go to aryan's birthday.ok"she said walking to the washroom."how would it be if i present a teddy to aryan,momma" she asked combing her doll's hair."Don't worry dear i got the gift for him"shilpa shouted from inside."but momma,i want to give him something myself"she pouted."Ok,then u give the gift dear"she said drying her hair.

"happy birhtday to you."all the children sang the song as aryan cut the cake. Well,anjali has ordered for another after what khushi did to the first one. "Happy birthday aryan" khushi wished him handing the gift from her mother's arm. Thankyou"aryan smiled taking it. "open it now"she demanded as she saw aryan put it down. He obediently followed her n opened the gift to get himself punched."haahaa"khushi laughed from her mother's arm while shilpa was shocked.she hasn't got it ,it was surely khushi's act.She hit her forehead,how she always falls for her acts.thinking of the scene in the bedroom,how she innocently got into changing the gifts. She was sure it wasn't an act done on her own,she surely had an assistance.she glared at her who was still laughing at aryan who had left looking for his mother."Khushi,who helped u in this?"she asked while khushi was looking excitedly at the person who was coming towards them."Armaan uncle"she jumped from his mother to armaan."so how is my princess?"he asked kissing her. "Well,uncle i just gave aryan the gift,u should have seen his face,hahaa"she laughed as they hified. "So armaan is her accomplice in the crime,why didn't i think it before."she sighed. "hi armaan"she greeted him with her warm smile. "hi,shilpa."he greeted her back playing with khushi."yeh dono saath hai toh koyi aur yaad hi nahi rehte"she sighed n went looking for aryan n anjali."poor aryan"she thought.

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"Kya dekh rahi ho shilpa."anjali asked her as shilpa was looking at the naughty duo having fun with other children. They were enacting scenes from pirates of carribean of the funny jack sparrow,from popeye show. She too smiled looking at them.Armaan worked with her as a journalist in the fashion magazine. They had become good friends from the first day they met. Armaan was too close to Khushi,he cared for her. Khushi too liked him .They had so much in common,they were both very naughty,mischeivous,n then loving n caring too. Khushi would always make shilpa laugh when she was in some tension.Khushi would care for her,asking her to eat food,sometimes making her eat. Armaan was also a good friend,made shilpa laugh n cared for her."kuch nahi,bas unn dono ko dekh rahi hu,dono mei kitni banti hai.They have fun together"she said smiling."Haa woh toh hai.Tum iss har pal dekh sakti ho"anjali said eyeing her."what do you mean"shilpa asked confused."You know what i mean.so what have u think abt it."anjali asked."Nothing,please let us not talk abt it.The topic closed"saying so she moved closer to the childrens having fun. "The topic is not closed but has just opened"anjali said to herself n too moved close to the group.

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"So armaan,how are aunty n uncle,they didn't come today?"she asked while walking to their house as the party ended. Khushi is in her arms playing with her hair."they are ok,they had some important business so couldn't come"armaan answered walking with his hands in his pocket."Momma,u promised u will get me a puppy?"Khushi asked entering their conversation suddenly."No i am not getting it.as u didn't behave well tonight"shilpa said sternly."But momma ,please"khushi begged with her innocent face n eyes.Shilpa's heart just melt when she got that look "ya,i got the puppy for you,it's with armaan,n i asked him not to get it till u be a good girl" she said a bit sternly."momma"slipping out of her mother's arms n pounting her lips " i am always a good girl" she said sadly folding her hands." ha,are you? then why did you exchange aryan's gift huh?" she asked lowering to khushi's level."he deserved it,he's always irritating me saying don't do that,don't do this"she said moving away from her. "don't worry princess,i will get the puppy for u whatever ur mother says?"he said picking her up."really uncle.u are so nice"she said excitedly kissing him on his cheek. "Ha,armaan,yahi ek chees ki kami thi,tumhari begadne ka,abhi toh itni begdi hai tum use aur begadne rahe ho.Mere baathe waise bhi nahi sunti n now u?"she said shaking her head."Shilpa,don't be a spoilt sport yarr,choti si bacchi hi to hai"."Ha"shilpa sighed.

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"Momma,story time"khushi asked getting into the bed. Pulling on the blankets shilpa too got into the bed beside her. "ok.There was once a king." "like papa"khushi asked."ha like papa,n there was a queen" she continued patting her slightly."like u momma"khushi asked getting all excited. "They had cute little princess like you,"she said pinching her nose while she giggled.".................................................................nd they lived happily ever after"she ended the story to see her asleep tightly holding her with one hand,n her father's photo with the other. "Goodnight,khushi"she kissed her forehead moving her hair. "Goodnight di,goodnight jiju"she closed her eyes as tears stirred in her eyes.

Thankyou