About Last Night THREAD 4**Part 38-48** - Page 60

Wow so much transpired in the last four parts.

Part 43

If there was a functioning and thriving world beyond the gates of Raizada House, then the inmates of that house showed no awareness or interest in it for forty-eight hours. The Prakash brothers, with guidance from Khushi and Payal, followed the pattern of the household daily routine of meals and chores and errands. Although, everything felt hollow at the centre. Even when they gathered together at the table, their thoughts were interned in the upstairs bedroom with Anjali.

If Arnav was the anchor of the Raizada family, then Anjali had always been its heart. Her disposition, her goodness, her serenity, her faith made her everybody's beloved. Therefore, to witness Anjali's idealism crushed so mercilessly affected them as though a child had been crushed by a lorry in front of their very eyes. And worse--that they had been helpless to prevent it.

Everyone believed they felt what Anjali felt, or at least ought to feel. Everyone tried to mend her, nourish her, and guide her. Everyone except one: Little Khushi had decided independently that Anjali was to be her friend. And, with her four-year old understanding of friendship, she began to immediately make demands. Would she help dress her dolly? Would she put ribbons in her hair? Would she play a board game?

These demands were never rebuffed by Anjali. She was gentle and generous with the child. And as the family soon noted, when Little Khushi was in Anjali's room, Anjali seemed more equipped to moderate her emotions. When she was overcome with sadness, she roused herself out of it before Little Khushi noticed.

On the afternoon of the second day, Anjali made a request to shift to one of the rooms on the main floor, next to Nani's. She said, with poignant honesty, "I can't sleep alone in a room where I once slept as a wife."

The shift was made immediately, and after consulting Nani, Khushi had all of Shyam's belongings packed up and sent down to the storage room to be dealt with later.

Being on the same floor as where the guest rooms were, bit by bit, the child's belongings found their way to Anjali's new quarters. They lunched together amongst the toys and stuffies. And, then they napped together under one blanket.

Later, when Yash came to relieve his patient from the care of his daughter, Anjali requested he let her stay.

"She takes me out of myself," Anjali explained.

Yash nodded with understanding. "Children bring perspective. But, I know she can be a bit of a tyrant. So, please do not hesitate to boot her out of your bed and your room when you've had enough." Anjali smiled at his reply. His eyes dropped to the dominos that his daughter was arranging in a box. "Has she been cheating at dominos?" he asked Anjali.

"Constantly!" Anjali confessed.

Little Khushi heard the word cheat and her guilty conscience took hold.

"Dada!" she protested, leaping at her father, upsetting the dominos and her dollies onto the floor.

Yash caught her in his arms and suppressed her movements with an embrace. Anjali climbed off the bed and began to pick up the toys.

"Don't trouble yourself with that, Mrs...uh...I'm sorry, Anjaliji," he corrected himself. "Khushi knows she has to keep her toys tidy or they go straight in the bin." He released the girl, and she began to organize her things on the bedside table.

"You've done such a beautiful job with her, Dr. Malhotra," Anjali said.

"Yash, please. Don't let your brother's formality with me rub off on you."

"Yashji, then," Anjali laughed.

It was this attractive scene that Arnav and Khushi found themselves intruding upon. The pleasure in seeing his sister laugh was so significant that Arnav failed to see that other something that Khushi immediately saw. And, as was often the case with Khushi, one slight inkling led to an infinite understanding, and within a few minutes, she had an exact picture of how this disastrous story would have its own very happy ending.

Yash was helping his daughter collect the dominos from around the bed, as Arnav asked whether Anjali needed anything else to feel settled in the new room. She said she was fine, but as she sat back upon the bed, she sighed as though there was something.

"Don't be angry, Chotte," she prefaced her statement, "but I want to see him."

"Absolutely not!"

"No!"

Khushi looked between the two men, not quite certain who had said what, but certain that they had both spoken at the same time.

Yash seemed to colour slightly, Khushi thought. He stood and explained, "I mean, as a physician, I would not wish to see you further agitated."

Arnav was not so delicate. "Out of the question, Di," he set his words in granite.

"I don't want my first time of seeing him to be in court," Anjali confessed, not realizing how near her words hit her brother's fears.

Yash stated, "I can ensure that will not happen."

The three in the room turned to face him with dramatic silence.

"I can inform the courts that in your condition, you not be present for the hearing, trial and sentencing. Your written statement can be submitted in court," Yash said.

Arnav nodded his assent, and took Anjali's hands in his. "Failing that, we can send you out of Delhi during the trial. Your testimony is not essential. The evidence is overwhelming."

Anjali's eyes teared. "Of course, everybody we know believed I was his wife. And, now, I am nothing except a victim." Her voice broke and she buried her face in her hands.

Little Khushi, who had been forgotten in this heavy discussion, approached the bed and asked her friend, "do you need a cuddle?"

Anjali looked at her and drew her into her arms. "I need lots of cuddles."

res!!! :D :D

*edited*

Its like I have a sixth sense!!! 😛

You update, and I refresh the "My Posts" Page to find MY FAVORITE FF UPDATED!!! 😆

Yash would make an absolutely adorable partner for Anjali, Maya!
I can totally see that by the protectiveness he feels for Anjali. . .

And I'm sure li'l Khushi would heal Anjali's heart unknowingly, with her own little hands. . .

And then Khushi!! 😆

Making a mountain out of a molehill!! Well. . . . . Even I hope it'll soon BE a mountain!!
Know what I mean?? 😉

Anjali obviously has to get another chance at love, and life!!
Poor thing! Her despair ought to indescribable. . . . 😭

And the last question of li'l Khushi, and Anjali's answer made me go all, "Awww..."

And Maya, Darling!!

Congratulations!!! Your FF is the FF of the week!! 🥳

You should include your prize in your siggy!! Flaunt it well, baby!! 😆

If you need any help with that, you know you can ask me!! 😃

Oh well, Look!! My ranting made my comment so huge!! 😳 😃

this update wants me want to cuddle too :( very touching.

Res

oh, i just checked up on the thread and look ! i found a update!!

Aah...I see romance blossoming between Anjali and Dr, Malhotra...Super! looking forward to that.

They have put Shyam's stuff in storage and not discarded it...Hmmm...is it foreshadowing that Shyam will come back? This is getting interesting!

Thanks for a consistent good read Maya!!

Nancy

so poignant. I loved this, Maya. It's beautiful, the way Anjali's anguish is portrayed. and the love of Yash developing for Anajli.

Such a beautiful & heart touching update loved it

I so enjoy reading all your chapters. Loved the way you describe the functioning of the house as a whole.