Chapter 1

"Arnav give that back!"

"No way Khushi! You already ate too much! You're not getting anymore."

Everyone watched as the two children ran around the living room. They were perpetually fighting and at first sight it seemed like they hated each other, when actually they were the best of friends.

"Shashi bhaisahab, why don't you try some of the pakodas. Anjali has made them all on her own."

Shashi Gupta nodded and took a piece from the steaming hot plate of pakodas. It was really delicious and he gave Anjali a big smile and an approving nod. Anjali smiled shyly and offered the plate around. She enjoyed these moments the most. When she and her family got together with the Guptas it was always so enjoyable.

"So Anjali beta, where did you learn to cook so well?"

"Mumma taught me how to. She's the world's best cook, Garima aunty."

Asha Raizada hugged her daughter tightly while everyone looked on. She was a lovely woman, with a soft and caring nature. Her long hair flowed down the length of her back and there was a kind of serenity in her face which made you feel at peace whenever you looked at her. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother. She loved her children and her ten year old son Arnav was the apple of her eye. His ever present anger, his intelligent mind filled with mischievous thoughts, his infectious smile, his warm brown eyes which conveyed hundreds of emotions and his heart which was overflowing with love; she loved every single part of him. Her daughter was very different from him. She was more like her. Anjali who was now fifteen, loved cooking and taking care of her family. She helped her father with his things when he returned from work, she knew when her mother was exhausted with household chores and would immediately take care of her. She took special care of her little brother. He was diabetic and Anjali made sure he took all his medicines on time. Asha was very proud of both of her children.

"It'll be wonderful when Anjali beta comes to your house as your bahu, won't it Bhabhi?"

Garima looked up and threw a reprimanding glance at her sister-in-law. Malini Gupta was a lively and vivacious young woman. She believed in living life to the fullest and she enjoyed every moment of it. Her husband Karthik was a man of few words and most people found him to be grim and unapproachable. But Malini knew better. Even though he spoke less, his actions conveyed far more than words ever could. He was the most generous and kind hearted man. His elder brother Shashi was just as good a person but he was much more expressive and people found it easier to get along with him. Malini had gotten married at a very young age and she had found a companion in her sister-in-law Garima who was much more mature and sensible than her. Asha had become a very close friend of hers and everyone knew that Shashi's elder son Satvik had feelings for Anjali.

Malini smiled mischievously and looked towards her nephew.

"What do you think Satvik? Don't you think it'll be nice if Anjali becomes part of our family?"

Satvik looked away hurriedly and the elders laughed as they saw Anjali rush out of the room in embarrassment.

"So when are Manohar and Manorama returning, Asha?"

Asha looked questioningly at her husband who responded for her.

"I think they'll be back sometime next week Karthik. We must all go for a picnic once they're back. By that time Payal beta should also have recovered from her flu. It'll be lots of fun."

Karthik smiled genially at Amit and nodded his head in ascent.

"Babuji! Arnav's not giving me back my box of jalebis! He's so mean!"

Karthik raised his eye brow at his daughter and shook his head.

"Now now Khushi. Is that anyway to behave? You shouldn't always fight with Arnav."

Khushi pouted and looked for a more pliable target. Her eyes made its way across the room and landed on a particular person. She rushed towards that person's lap and started complaining.

"Asha aunty, Arnav's being so mean to me! He's not letting me have any jalebis!"

Asha stared affectionately at the little girl in her arms. She stroked her head softly and looked up at her son who was scowling at them both and holding something behind his back. She motioned him forward.

"Arnav, why aren't you letting Khushi have any jalebis? You know they're her favorite right? So why are you not giving her any?"

She spoke softly, gently trying to make her son comply. Harsh words and angry orders had never worked with him and they only succeeded in pushing him more into his shell.

"Because she forgets to play with me when she eats jalebis."

Everyone desperately tried to suppress their amusement at Arnav's words. Asha slowly took the box from his hands and gave it to Khushi whose eyes widened in joy. She took a jalebi from inside it, bit off a big chunk and stuck out her tongue at Arnav. Soon he was chasing her around the house and finally caught with her when they neared the third floor.

Finding nowhere to run, Khushi stuck out her tongue once again and made a face at him. Arnav couldn't take it anymore and started pulling her short hair. Very soon they were rolling on the floor, kicking, screaming, pushing and generally unaware of the world.

Anjali had come up trying to find them before they got into any kind of trouble. She reached the third floor in time to see Khushi yank her sleeve away from Arnav and run away only to trip over something and fall flat on her face. This sent Arnav into a peel of giggles and Anjali was just about to go and scold her brother for making fun of Khushi. Just then she saw Khushi sit up, the tears threatening to spill out of hers eyes. Before she could do anything, Arnav was by her side and he squatted next to her. He took in her baggy jeans and crushed shirt and finally her face which was full of indignant humiliation. He handed her his handkerchief and she took it hesitantly. Wiping her grimy face, she gave it back to him. A slow grin formed on her face and she looked at Arnav mischievously.

"You have flowers on your handkerchief Arnav."

Arnav reddened and replied grumpily.

"Mumma told me to always carry one with me."

"Yeah but you have one with flowers. So are you saying that you're a girl?"

Khushi giggled at Arnav's appalled expression. He frowned and spoke defiantly.

"No way! I hate girls!"

Anjali came up behind the two of them and patted Arnav's head.

"Chote you hate girls? But what about Mumma and me? We're also girls."

"But you're my Di and she's my Mumma! I don't care about anything else."

"And what about Khushi? You don't like her either?"

Arnav had a confused look on his face and he glanced at Khushi who shrugged her shoulders.

"Khushi? She's not a girl! She's my friend. And she doesn't dress up in that strange way and she likes playing pranks on people just like me. No Di, you've got it all wrong. Khushi's definitely not a girl."

Arnav finished his declaration and looked around triumphantly. Anjali couldn't help bursting into giggles before she made her way downstairs. He was snapped out of his annoyance when he felt Khushi tug his hair. All was forgotten once again as they chased each other around the house.

...

Khushi sighed deeply as memories of that day came back to her. All that had happened ten years ago. She was now twenty years old and almost everything had changed in the past few years. She wondered how everyone would greet them after all that had happened.

...

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven