NEVER FORGOT. chapter 22 on pg 42. - Page 3

CHAPTER 2

Same night in delhi,

A lady rang the doorbell waiting for an answer. She did'nt want to do this but she had no choice. The door opens relieving an old lady. The lady sleepy expression changes into surprise seeing the lady standing in front of her. she says "lavanya bitiya. You here at this time. Is everything okay?" a man comes down with a lady following him. they both stop seeing the lavanya in front of her. khushi comes and hugs lavanya. She sees that an 8 year old girl is standing behind lavanya. The girl seems nervous, hesitant to meet her eyes. She asks "lavanyaji, aap yahaan? Sab thik toh hai na ( lavanji you here? Everything is okay right.?)" arnav comes and says "khushi, usse andar toh aane do. Bahar saare sawaal ka jawab kaise degi ( khushi, let her come inside. How she will answer all the questions when she is outside)". Lavanya turns and forwards her hand to the girl. The girl seems hesitant to take her hand. Lavanya bend down and says "darne ki jaroorat nahi hai. tumhe yahaan kuch nahi hoga (you don't need to be scared. Nothing will happen to you)". the girl's eyes suddenly blazed and she said "mujhe kissi se dar nahi lagta. Samjhi tum? ( I am not scared of anyone. Understood?)" everyone is shocked hearing the tone of her voice while lavanya just smiles. Both of them came inside. Lavanya says "mujhe maaf karna ki maine aapko itni raat ko disturb kiya ( I am sorry that I disturbed you so late in the night)" but nani says "aisa kono baat nahi lavanya bitiya. Tum is ghar ke hissa hamesha rahungi. Khushi zara lavanya ko kamra do taaki voh freshen up ho jaye. (nothing like that lavanya. You are always a part of this house. Khushi, take lavanya to the room so that she can freshen up)". But lavanya says "actually nani, mujhe aapse kuch baat karni. Anjali tum kamre me chali jao.( actually nani, I want to speak to you. anjali, you go to the room)." anjali clutches her bag tightly and follows khushi. When they reach the room, khushi cheerfully says "aapko kuch chahiye kya? Bhook lagi hai? ( do you want something? Are you hungry?)" but anjali said sarcastically "abhi toh puch rahi. Sachai ka pata chala gaya toh hume ghar se bahar nikalne ke liye tuli hogi ( right now you are asking. When you find out the truth, you will want us to get out of the house fast.)" khushi feels sad hearing this. but before she could say anything mamiji who had now woken up says "phatti sari, kahe ko itni raat ko bell bajaya. Hamara beauty sleep kharab ho gaya ( phatti sari, why the bell rang so late at night. My beauty sleep got spoiled)" and khushi goes to explain to mamiji. As soon as the door closes, anjali slumps on the bed and tears start falling silently from her eyes.

Everyone gathers in the living room. lavanya is nervous and looks at everyone. ASR, the person who inspite of being in relationship with her never knew her. yet lavanya was relieved that he found the right life partner in khushi. She had come to love him at the time but looking back she could now tell that it was just admiration and nothing else. Khushi, the person who taught her the value of family. Who taught the value of culture, of love and of friendship. Mamiji, nani, anjali, mamaji, akash and payal and now khushi's and arnav's son aarav, she did'nt know when but she began to consider them as an important part of her life. That is why inspite of her sadness of letting them know the truth she knows that it is the right thing to do. She takes a deep breath and tells.

After 1 hour,

Khushi's eyes could'nt help but be filled with tears while arnav hands were intercrossed with each other so that they don't smash anything. Everyone's eyes were filled with tears. Lavanya looks at them and says " mai samjh sakti hu agar aaplog chahte ki mai yahaan na ruku. Sirf aaj raat ke liye hume yahaan rahne do. Hum kal savere nikal jayenge (I can understand if you don't want us to stay here.Just let us stay for this night. We will be gone by tomorrow.)" lavanya was going to get up when nani stopped her. nani wiped her tears and said "nahi, tum yahaan se kahi nahi jaogi. (no, you are not going anywhere)" lavanya says "nani, mujhe kissi khi sahanubhooti yah sahara nahi chahiye ( nani, I don't want anyone's sympathy or help)" nani made lavanya face her and pulls her face up. She said "hum tumhe sahanubhooti ya sahara nahi de rahe hai lavanya. Hum sirf use ladki ko apni beti banana chahante hai jo kabhki humari beti ban chuki hai ( we are not showing any sympathy or giving help. We are just making that person as our daughter who long ago we had accepted as our daughter)". Arnav comes and makes lavanya face him. he said "hum dono ache dost haina. (we are good friends. Right?)" lavanya nods her head. Khushi then said "toh aap yahi par rukegi. Koi bahes nahi. ( you will stay here. No arguments)". Lavanya smiled with tears in her eyes and nodded her head. All 3 of them hugged each other as everyone got a smile on their face. lavanya wipes tears off her face and khushi's face. nani comes and says "abhi tum jao or sojao (now you go and sleep)." Lavanya said "ek aur baat hai nani. Mera naam lavanya nahi, riya hai. ( one more thing is there nani. My name is not lavanya but riya)" mamiji then said "hello, hi, bye, bye toh aaj se kis naam se pukare tumhe ( hello, hi, bye, bye, then what we should call you?)". lavanya thought for a moment and said "riya."

Precap: 8 months leap.