Chapter 30

PART-23

When Arnav, Akash and NK came down, the whole family after checking on Shyam were sitting in the living room having their evening tea.

Arnav: "Di, I am going for shopping. Do you need anything?"

The biscuit from Mami's hand slipped and Nani looked at him with wide eyes.

Mamaji: "Bitwa, aapki tabiyat to thik hai na?"

Arnav: "What has happened to me?"

Anjali came to him and checking his forehead said: "Chote, are you having fever?"

Arnav: "What the!! Why do you all think that I am sick?"

Nani: "I guess, we heard wrong... Chote, did you say that you are going for shopping?"

Arnav: "Yes, I did... did I say anything wrong?"

Anjali: "yes... no... I mean you and shopping?"

Akash: "Yes, Di... Bhai, NK Bhai and I are going to get gifts for Muskaan... we wanted to decorate a room for her, but it won't be possible in a night... so thought atleast to get some gifts..."

Khusi: "You all wanted to decorate a room for Muskaan... then let's get it done... if we all work together, then it can be done in a night."

NK: "Khusi Bhabi... it can't be... it will take time... we need to clean it... polish it... paint it..."

Nani: "I think we should start decorating her room; till her room is ready she will stay in my room with me."

Khusi: "Arnavji, if you are going for shopping then get teddies for her... and dolls too..."

Mamiji: "And dresses too... lots of... designer ones... I want my grand-daughter to look like a princess."

Akash: "Of course Ma... after all she is the princess of our family... Di, I have talked to Mr. Roy, he will be here tomorrow with the adoption papers, you and Jijaji only need to sign it... rest will be taken care by him."

Anajli getting emotional: "Thanks a lot Akash... it means a lot to me..."

Akash: "You don't need to thank Di; after all she is my niece too..."

NK: "Guys, I think we should get going or else we will be late..."

In the Kitchen

Khusi and Payal were in kitchen, when Anjali came in.

Anjali: "What are you doing Khusiji?"

Khusi: "I am preparing batter for making jalebis. I will make a lot of special jalebis for Muskaan. Even Naniji has kept a puja for her; I will keep some jalebis for Prasad also."

Anajli: "Khusiji, puja is tomorrow and Muskaan will also be coming tomorrow. So why now?"

Khusi: "Oh ho Di, aap ko na kuch bhi nehi pata... pehele se ghol banake use bethne denge, to jalebi baot hi jyada swadist benega."

Anjali smiled: "Acha acha thik hai... what are you making for dinner."

Payal: "Di, I am cutting cabbage, will make cabbage and potato curry along with chapattis."

Anjali ignoring her said: "Khusiji, I was thinking of making okra, chote and Akash love it. You make rotis, I will make the curry."

Payal knew Anjali is angry on her and she needs to pacify her to get into the good books of family or else she will be in trouble.

Payal: "Di, I am sorry... I didn't know that the paste would react in such a way... Buaji's home treatment always works... don't know what went wrong this time, probably I made it in a wrong way... forgive me Di, it is for me only that Jijaji is in so much pain... I am sorry Di..."

Anjali: "It is okay Payalji... I hope you learn from your mistakes."

Payal: "Thanks for forgiving me Di... in future..."

She was cut off by Mamiji who made her typical entry into the kitchen and looking around said: "You Phatee-saree what are you making? Jalebis...? You all get side, I will make special motichur-ke-ladoo for my grand-daughter... she should know that her young Nani is a great cook... gets aside all of you..."

Anjali: "Mamiji... you go and rest, we will prepare it..."

Mami: "Why?? You want to show my grand-daughter that I am an old lady who can't work... Hello Hi Bye Bye..."

The rest of the evening and whole night all the Raizadas were busy in getting things ready for their new member. Arnav, Akash and NK came home will lot many toys and dresses as suggested by Khusi and Mami and a surprise gift each, while still continuing their argument of who will be her favourite Mama and whose gift will she like the best. Mamaji decorated the whole of the hall with balloons with help from HP. Khusi and Mami got busy in cooking dishes for the apple of their eyes, who they were yet to meet. Payal though was being sidelined still got something to do in the form of helping others. Only person who was unaware of all the developments was Shyam Jha, who was blissfully sleeping under the effects of medicines unaware of what is going to happen in his life soon.

In the morning when Shyam woke up after the effects of medicines were off, he saw Anjali getting ready for the day and seemed extraordinarily cheerful. Seeing him awake, Anjali sat near him and said: "Good Morning Shyamji, how are you feeling now?"

Shyam: "Better... you seem so happy... What is the matter?"

Anjali hugged Shyam from side and resting her head on his shoulders said: "Yes Shyamji, I am very happy. Our daughter... our Rajkumari is coming home today."

Shyam was really shocked: "What...!! What are you saying Rani-saheeba... how can our rajkumari come so early?"

Anjali: "Oh... I haven't informed you yet... have I? I met her some days before at (she was about to tell about Nirmala's home but stopped remembering that Arnav has asked her not to mention it before Shyam too) ... at a destitute home. She was abused by her employer and ran away to save herself. After that she is staying at the destitute home... when I met her, I don't know when and how, but my heart made a connection with her... to me she feels like my own child... just like my chote and like the one in my womb... I decided to adopt her and everyone in the family supported me... Today I and Nani are going to bring her home... you know everyone is so excited about her home coming... Mami and Khusiji have cooked loads of delicious items for her, Nani and Mamaji have decorated the whole house and the most surprising part is Chote along with Akash and NK bhai had gone shopping and got loads of gifts for her and the funniest part is they are arguing like kids about who will be her favourite Mama." (She giggled remembering the way they were arguing about being her favourite last night)

To say that Shyam was shocked at the moment would have been an under statement... he was confused at first... after processing in his brain what Anjali had said he was frustrated, irritated and angry beyond limit. Before he only had to deal with Anjali, then this unwanted burden of the unborn child was there and now one more person is going to be added. What the mess he has landed in?? Nothing is going right for him in the past few days. Out of the blue he got the news about Anjali being pregnant and then suddenly his Khusiji got married to that Arnav and then he got bed ridden because of those idiotic boils and now this good for nothing Anjali is adopting a child... But he has to keep the image of a good husband intact, so that he can make some changes in his plan and carry out them when he gets well. But now he can't do anything so smilingly said: "That was so nice of you Rani Saheba... We will now have two rajkumaris... what is the name of our daughter?"

Anjali who was lost in the memory of muskaan said: "Muskaan... isn't it sweet?"

Shyam: "Yes, very sweet indeed... but rani saheba, to adopt her, we need to go through some legal formalities..."

Anjali: "Oh..ho... Shyamji, did you forget whom I have for my brother? The ASR. Akash told me that their lawyer will be here today with the adoption papers. We just need to sign it, rest they will take care."

Shyam: "But rani-saheba..."

Anjali: "You don't worry. Chote will look after everything... Now let me help you in finishing your daily chores... after that I have to go and bring Muskaan home... then Nani has kept a puja for her... lot of work you know..."

Arnav-Khusi's room

Khusi was getting ready for the day when Arnav came back from jogging.

Khusi: "Kya baat hai Aranvji, aaj aap jaldi aa gaye?"

Arnav: "Yeah... I need to get ready soon, will be going with Di to get Muskaan home."

Khusi: "You are going? But I thought only Di and Naniji are going."

Arnav: "No ways... I will go to get my niece home. After all I am going to be her favourite Mama."

Khusi muttered under her breadth: "Only time will tell." But Arnav's sharp ears caught it: "What did you say?"

Khusi: "Kuch bhi to nehi..."

Arnav: "Suna maine... tumne kuch kaha..."

Khusi: "Nothing Arnavji..."

Arnav: "Khusi, are you still thinking that I won't love Muskaan as much I will love Di's unborn baby."

Khusi: "When did I say that?"

Arnav: "Then why did you say that only time will tell..."

Khusi laughed out loud and said: "Goodness Arnavji... I meant that you have got stiff competition from Akashji and Nanheji... they are so cool, never get angry and on the other side it is you... laad governor... who always breathes fire and searches for reasons to shout at everyone... so isn't it obvious that she will like them more than you..."

Arnav: "I don't shout at everyone... I get irritated when someone does any mistake... (thinking for sometime) ...Khusi, do you really think Muskaan won't like me?" He asked with a cute pout on his face. Khusi not being able to control herself kissed him lightly on his lips and said: "Don't worry Aranvji, our Muskaan will love you a lot... ...Arnavji, she has faced a lot in such a small age, worked as a house-maid, faced humiliation in the hands of her employer... so, I just want to tell you... please don't lose your cool before her... don't shout before her and keep calm or else she would panic and that won't be good."

Arnav: "Trust me Khusi, I will never shout at her..."

Khusi: "And also don't shout at others before her, okay?"

Arnav nodded his head like a child. "If I don't shout at anyone, then she would love me more than Akash and NK; isn't it?"

Khusi: "Chinta mat kijiye, Arnavji. Woh sabse jyada pyaar aapse hi karengi. Kyunki unka aapke saath dohra rista haina."

Arnav: "Dohra rista matlab?"

Khusi: "Means, you are Di's brother, hence her Mamaji and remember Di had said that you are her first child, so you are her elder brother too... you have go to fulfil two two responsibilities towards her."

Arnav got too emotional listening to Khusi and controlling his tears hugged Khusi. "Yes, Khusi... I have got double relations with Muskaan... She is very important to us... to Di..."

Khusi understood his feelings and hugged him back and after some minutes said: "So, Mamaji go and have a bath soon... I hope you don't want to meet your niece in this nasty condition..."

Arnav: "What the!!"

Khusi: "Not What the... go and bath... I need to go downstairs and prepare for the pooja. We all will have food only after Muskaan is at home and pooja is completed."

Arnav took the towel and went to bath and Khusi looking at his back and with a small smile said to herself: "Aap duniya ke samne chahe jitney bhi bade laad governor kyun na ho... lekin dilse se aaj bhi aap ek bache hi hain Arnavji..."

After lot of argument about who will go to get Muskaan home, Nani put her hands down and said that only she and Anjali will go to get her home. Mamaji too became adamant and Nani had to agree that he can accompany them. So, Anjali along with Nani and Mamaji went to get their Muskaan home.

At the destitute home everyone was glad about Anjali adopting Muskaan. NK had before hand informed Nirmala about this and she was over whelmed about it. Having met with Arnav, Anjali and NK she knew Muskaan would be at the right place and she had herself seen the beautiful bond which had instantly developed between Anjali and Muskaan and hence she was sure that the latter's future was safe and above all the family in which Khusi is there she needs to worry about nothing.

Anjali informed Muskaan that she would leave this house and will be going to her home with her to stay their permanently but was answered by a blank look from her. When Nani met her introducing herself as her badi nani she was given a questioning look from her because she was not able to understand how come she got so many relations all of a sudden. Understanding her trouble, Anjali took her in her arms and kissing her cheeks said: "Muskaan... dear... from now on you are my daughter... my child... I am your mother... from now on we will stay together... with our family... you will have three Mama's who are arguing like kids about becoming your favourite, two Mami's, badi Nani, Nani, Nanaji and a father... from now you don't need to worry about anything... you will have a good life."

After wondering for some moments that whatever she is listening is whether a dream or not she looked at both the ladies and then hugged Anjali tightly. "I... I... will be... staying with... you... ... ... why?"

Anjali: "Because you are my daughter and I am your mother... do you think a child should stay away from her mother?"

Muskaan: "But... but... my mother is dead... they said... my mother left... left... me..."

Nani took her in her arms and lovingly said: "Bitiya... devi maiya took that mother from you but has send this mother to you... she loves you a lot... more than anything..."

Muskaan looked from Nani to Anjali and back to Nani. "She is my mother?"

Nani: "Yes... she is..."

Muskaan looked at Anjali and said accusingly but sadness evident in it: "You came here before... then why didn't you tell me that you are my mother...? I was thinking that you too will leave me..."

Anjali getting emotional took Muskaan on her lap and hugging her tightly said: "I am sorry beta... very sorry... sorry because every day I left you making you think that I would leave you... but now I promise your mother will never leave you... we will always stay together..."

Muskaan: "You will never leave me..."

Anjali: "Never."

Muskaan: "We will always stay together?"

Anjali: "Forever."

Muskaan: "We will stay here together?"

Anjali: "No beta... we will go to our house... our home, where the whole family is waiting for you."

Muskaan: "Family?"

Anjali: "Yes... your family... our family... you know your Nanaji is waiting outside to meet you... you want to meet him?"

Getting a nod from Muskaan, Anjali called for Mamaji, who instantly came in to have the first look at his grand-daughter. But Muskaan as a reflex action of her fear for men hugged Anjali tight.

Anjali: "Beta... don't worry... he is my Mamaji, your Nanaji... he loves you as much I love you... don't get scared."

Muskaan: "He won't hurt me? He will not beat me?"

Anjali was about to answer but Mamaji showed his hand to stop Anjali and sitting beside Muskaan said: "Bitiya... how can I hurt you? You are a part of our soul... Do I look like a beast to you that I will hurt such an innocent flower like you?"

Muskaan shook her head and Mamaji forwarding his hand said: "So, Bitiya I am Manohar Singh Raizada... your Nanaji... will you be my friend?"

Muskaan looked at Anjali who smilingly gave an encouraging nod and she with her hands shivering forwarded towards Mamaji who lovingly it and kissed her forehead lightly.

Mamaji: "Amma, Anjali Bitiya... subh kaam mein deri kaisi? Chalo apni bitiya ko jaldi ghar le jate hain... Manorama 10 baar phone karke poochchuki hai ki hum ghar ka baa rahe hain?"

The intimates of the house bid a tearful farewell to Muskaan but were really happy because she was the first one who is leaving this house that too for a beautiful future ahead.

At Raizada Mansion, the door bell rang and everyone were at their feet thinking that it is Muskaan and Khusi ran to open the door but was shocked to see the people standing there and could only mouth "AAAPP..."