Arhi FF: Sunshine and Moonlight - Part 52 - Page 3

Arghh. That snake..bloody creep 😡 ..
But I'm glad that payal clearly predict his vile intensions...

Khushi and Arnav ka mulakaat kab hoga?? 😳

Part 6:

Garima walked in quietly into her girl's room making sure not to touch anything that would make even the slightest noise, she cautiously walked closer to the bed and looked at the face of her sleeping daughter. She tenderly held the offending strands of hair that were tickling her little one's nose and tucked it gently behind her ear.

Garima noticed that the big windows were letting the light fall directly on her daughter's face and she walked to the windows and drew the curtains close, she also increased the ceiling fan speed as it was getting warm outside now and this might cause discomfort and wake her sleeping beauty up. Then she walked to the door as cautiously as she had come in and at the door she turned around and looked back into the room to see if she could make anymore changes to make her baby's sleep more comfortable.

When she was sure she had done it all, she looked lovingly at her baby's face and walked out of the room closing the door firmly behind her, a peaceful expression on her face that can only be seen on a mothers face when she knows that her baby is safe and happy. Garima was a content woman.

She walked towards the living room where her husband and her sister-in-law were sitting and as she walked in both of them looked up to see her.

"Did you close the curtains?" her husband enquired and before she could reply

"You should have woken up Sanka Devi; she can't go too long without food. She could have had breakfast and gone back to bed...it's also her favorite breakfast aloo puri..." started Madhumatiji in her loud booming voice..

"shhh..." said Shashi to his sister putting his index finger to his lips to indicate to her to keep her voice down.

"Little softly, jiji" Garima said in a pleading tone.

Madhumatiji was annoyed with this "Ooh you are asking me to be quite, how will you stop all the noise that's coming from outside? This is Laxminagar not some rich locality in Delhi where it is so quite outside that she would wake up just because I spoke loudly..."

"SHHH jiji" Shashi warned his sister again

Madhumatiji was beyond annoyed now, she glare at her brother, stood up, swung her long plait around her neck and stormed out of the house. Nobody shushes Madhumati, she thought while climbed down the front stairs of the house.

I was only telling for their good, Sanka Devi will wake up and realize she missed breakfast and that silly girl will eat so much lunch to make up for the missed breakfast and then end up rolling in bed saying amma my tummy hurts. Then these two will run around her saying bitiya drink warm water, no bitiya drink gripe water hmph..as if she is a baby... then I will have my say... thought Madhumatiji as she moved towards her favorite neighbors house.

I still can't believe that crazy girl is a doctor..I will never take any medicine that Parameshwari prescribes... she added as an afterthought. But everybody in the neighborhood knew who Madhumatiji's favorite niece was.

Shashi watched his sister storm out of the house and turned to his wife and saw her watching his sister too. Then she turned and their eyes met and held and a conversation was held through the eye lock, a feat which can only be achieved between two people who are two halves of a whole. It went somewhat like this:

"I didn't mean to hurt her" he said

"You know jiji's anger you should have asked her nicely" she gently reprimanded him

"She always throws a tantrum for small things" he became defensive

"Grow up.." she told him and slightly shook her head showing her exasperation at having to deal with the siblings who were not her kids and walked towards the kitchen to start preparations for lunch.

Sashi sat back in his chair and realized his wife was right like always. He just couldn't help it, when his sister talked about his house not being in a better locality, he had to stop her. He didn't like it when people made him feel like he didn't give the best to his daughters.

He was very sensitive with that issue, as he wanted to give his babies THE BEST of everything in this world. And he had worked really hard and sacrificed a lot of things to do just that. But luck was not on his side, yes, he was able to give them a comfortable living and a decent education till higher secondary. But he could never earn enough to give them the extra luxurious life that he wanted them to have; no matter how hard he worked... luck was just not on his side.

The biggest insult to him was when he realized he could not afford Payal's medical education instead of her being a brilliant student and getting a merit seat in a good medical college. He had calculated that may be he could afford the first couple of years but after that he would go into heavy debt. He had to think of the family and also about getting two daughters married, he just couldn't afford it. He had cursed himself for not being able to do even such a simple thing for his daughter.

He had called Payal to his room and explained everything to her. She had told him not to worry and said that she understands and that she will enroll for a B.Sc. in a local college. He just hated himself more after that conversation with her and he had neglected his health and stayed more time at the sweet shop just so that he could avoid facing the people whose dreams he had shattered.

Then one night his little angel had walked in to his room and sat next to him and leaned on to his chest just like she does every time she is worried. He knew he was the reason behind her worry and hated himself more. He put his arms around her to try and erase her worries.

"What is it bitiya?" he had to let her talk it out to lessen her burden.

"Babuji I am your baby right just like jiji?" she had asked and he was stumped. Where is this coming from or where is this going...he thought

"Is there a doubt bitiya?" he wanted her to clarify

"Then please listen to what I have to say before you decide anything..." she looked up at him pleaded with her eyes too

He looked back into her eyes and nodded for her to go on

"Babuji, I know that when my parents passed away that they had left some money for me, don't ask me how Babuji..." she stopped him before he could ask her

"I also know that you had decided to never touch that money and planned to give it to me when I am able to manage it on my own...please don't ask me how I know... Babuji please" she stopped him again when he had opened his mouth to ask her

"Babuji, I appreciate that decision that you took, but now I want to use that money, please let me," she said

He was a total failure, he little angel was asking for money to spend, he had not been able to keep her happy too, but he kept his insecurities to himself and enquired

"What do you want it for bitiya?"

He held his breath her next sentence will confirm his failure in life

"Babuji, I want my jiji to follow her dream, I know she will be an amazing doctor. There is nothing better that that money can buy for me..you can't say no Babuji." she finished.

His angel, his butterfly, his little one had grown up. No, Shashi Gupta was not a failure in life actually he was a success story, his daughters strong characters were reflections of his success. With that thought he had given his consent and said he will look at the money the next day.

For once lady luck had smiled upon him, when he checked into the investments he had made for his daughter, the money had grown with her and he had been able to support both his daughters through their medical degrees.

But once they started earning he had strictly told them that he would not touch their earnings and they were banned from using their money for any household uses. He opened accounts for them in reliable banks and showed them how to invest it. He knew they spent some money on their clothes and jewelry; he didn't stop them, he knew that as respectable doctors they had an image to up hold. He knew that they bought little gifts for their amma and buaji almost every month. They had tried to do that to him too but after he expressed his displeasure they had stopped.

He knew that they made good money and they will be comfortable even if he was to leave this world today and that gave him such peace. Life was good.

One day he had asked his little angel how she knew about the money, she smiled slightly hugged him and said "I overheard you and amma talking one night I was in the kitchen stealing jelabis after bedtime, I was scared to tell you that then, I was scared to get into trouble for stealing jelabis at night..." she had finished and he remembered laughing till his eyes watered.

"Ammaa...Babuji..." the sweet sound coming from the direction of this daughter's bedroom brought him back to present. Ooh time to go...his little angel was wake...

Wow...great . There isn't a single day I missed to check your blog for updates. I really wished to see this story complete...thx

Beautiful story, eagerly waiting for arnav Khushi to meet

Part 7:

"Aakash, please call Anjali, tell her that it's getting late."

"Dadi, I am just coming from there. Di, was just doing last minute packing for Jijaji for his trip. She is ready; she'll be down in a bit." Aakash confirmed coming down the stairs.

"How long will your Jijaji be gone this time? Where is he going to?" Nani enquired

"I think he is off to Lucknow and I think he said 2 weeks.." he said trying to remember properly if this information was about jeejaji's current trip or some trip in future

They looked up to see Shyam, helping Anjali down the stairs, followed by HP who was carrying luggage. They came to a stop near Nani and Askash.

"Naniji, please inform Mamiji that I am really sorry that I could not make it to the event, please tell her I will not miss the wedding."

"Damadji, don't worry, Manorama will surely understand." Nani said moving towards the door

Anjali, Shyam and Aakash followed her. "Bitiya, did you pack all the gifts we are supposed to give the engaged couple?"

"Yes Nani, packed and also put in the car."

They moved out and Shyam said his goodbyes and left in his vehicle. And a teary eyed Anjali and party were moving towards their car when Anjali remembered something "Aakash you did put that bag that I gave you in the evening in the car, right?"

"ooh Di sorry I forgot I will get it in a minute it's my room." He said while moving towards the house.

"Aakash, we would have been in so much trouble. It's got Mami's things in it; she called last night to make sure I didn't miss packing anything."

The kids these days, forgetting things at such a young age what will happen to them when they become as old as I am thought Nani with a sigh and went to the car and sat. She needed to sit, she wasn't feeling too good today. It was Manorama's cousin's daughter's engagement and she knew Manorama will feel bad if she did not attend. She didn't want to put any more stress on the already strained relationship with her daughter-in-law. Manorama had left three days ago to her cousin's house under the pretext of helping her cousin, with three full suitcases filled with her jewelry and the likes. She wanted all her relatives to see her wealth.. "hmmm silly girl when will she learn that wealth alone does not command true respect" she leaned her head back on the seat, she really was not feeling good.

Aakash came back and settled in the front with the driver the car started moving towards the venue.

****************

Payal and Khushi were ready to leave and were waiting for Lavanya to pick them up. As soon as Lavanya's car turned into the lane, the girls stepped out of the house after waving their goodbyes to the elders sitting in the veranda and got in the car.

Lavanaya waved her hi's and bye's to the Guptas, without getting down from the car, as they were already getting late. As the car drove out of these were the thoughts of the three people in the veranda

"My bhatiji's are going to have a lot of admirers today, they both look breathtakingly beautiful...mmm ...err...I hope Sanka Devi behaves herself." Buaji

"They look so grown up, I should really think about Garima's advice on talking to the Panditji about alliances for the girls." Sashi

"God, please keep my children safe from evil eyes." Garima... what she didn't know was that her prayer was a little late in the case of one of her children...

Payal's Attire:

Khushi's look:

Lavanya's Designer wear:

****************

"Payal you look awesome...all the young men are going to lose their hearts and their minds" shrieked Lavanya, startling the old trusted driver, Rammohan, out of his wits.

"hain naa, Lavanya... she looks out of the world today.. I am sure I am going to meet my Jijaji today.. it will be the one that will follow her around like a puppy" with that Khushi and Lavanya started giggling, causing the old driver to frown a little at their craziness.

"Stop it you two, I have wanted to wear this sari since a long time, I picked it up in Chennai when I went there for a conference. I was just waiting for the right occasion and today seemed good." said Payal, catching Rammohan's eye in the rear view mirror and giving him an apologetic smile, asking to excuse the loonies for the crazy talk.

But the giggling didn't stop that soon...Payal kept gazing out of the window and just ignored the murmurs and the giggles as the two continued to talk about silly random topics..."God when will these two grow up!!"

****************

ASR walked into the quite house saw Hari Prakash running towards him, he handed HP his coat and his files and walked towards the living room.

"Where is everyone?"

"Ji Bhaiyya, Jijaji has gone to the railway station, to leave on his trip. Naniji, Anjali Didi and Aakash Bhaiyya have gone to Mamiji's relative's engagement."

"hmmm...When did they say they will be back?"

"I don't know bhaiyya."

"Get some coffee to my room." saying that ASR headed towards his room.

"Why does Jijaji go on so many trips?" They seem to be increasing with time, I have to ask him about it when he is back. Why would a lawyer need to travel so much? I need to know more about a lawyers work related things, will speak to Mr. Chopra(head of legal department at RI) tomorrow and find out. I don't want Jijaji to feel bad I asked him a question like that.

He walked into his room and removed his waist coat and relaxed on the recliner.

He hated it when he returned to an empty house; his loneliness hit him in the face when there was nobody at home. He never understood this feeling of emptiness that surrounded him since his parents had moved on to the next world. He tried to get rid of it by immersing himself in education and then work it did help reduce it a little but the feeling never went away.

He had a family who loved and respected him. He had Di whose world revolved around him, he always had girlfriends who literally worshipped the ground that he walked on but... there was this feeling as if he was incomplete and lonely...his heart said...

"What the!! The heart is just an organ that pumps blood, similar to the kidney that cleans the blood; just like the kidney, the heart can't tell you anything; it's not the brain."

HP walked in with his coffee.. and asked "Bhaiyya, dinner is ready, would you like anything other special dish, if you tell me I will make it now."

"He might as well go out with Sanaa for dinner, the girl was getting on his nerves these days by whining about him not spending time with her... kissing her senseless might calm him." He thought

"I am going out of dinner, will be late. Inform Di, if she comes before me."

He finished his coffee changed into casuals and started dialing Sanaa's number as he walked out.

i have start to read this story ..very interesting

Part 8:

The three girls walked into the room where the bride was getting ready. The people in the room were in two sects. One was the older ladies who were a little far from the bride and in some discussions of their own but kept a watchful eye on the activities near the bride. The second were the younger girls who were around the bride helping her if she needed anything and cracking jokes or giggling but keeping it down so the older women can't catch their discussions. Payal, Khushi and Lavanya moved towards the bride when she looked up and said "you guys are late... I thought you will be here with me from the afternoon."

"Sorry sorry Sarita, we are here now and we promise not to be late for any other ceremony till the wedding is done." Payal replied for all of them

"I don't know about all the ceremonies... but if you want I can be there early for the SuhagRaat." Said Lavanya with a very innocent face but no one could miss the twinkle in her eye.

"LAVANYAAA!!" the bride's reaction.

Khushi burst into fits of giggles. Of the people gathered around there, some felt shy and looked away, some found it funny and joined Khushi and some found it downright shocking and stared at Lavanya. Payal went around and started tucking the flowers in the bride's hair that seemed out of place.

"Payal jiji, these two haven't changed even a little." Sarita complained

"Tell me about it Sarita, I have to deal with this every day." Payal replied with a smile checking to see in the flowers were set properly now "Anyway leave that, I have to tell you that you look very beautiful today, Sharath is a lucky guy."

Just then

"HELLO HI BYE BYE... bhat ijj happening? Ijj bride readych or no?"

Khushi turned and found a lady in shocking pink saree with too much make up and heavy jewelry, "wow could anybody be comfortable dressed like that?" She thought.

The lady moved nearer to the bride and said "Sarita, sasuma is herz to bless you."

Khushi hadn't looked at anybody since she laid eyes on this lady in pink. Now she turned her attention to the other lady who had come in after the lady in pink. The older lady looked like the dowager queen of some land. She wore an off white sari and pearl jewelry that was not too much or too little... it was just right.

The most attractive part were her eyes which shown with intelligence and wisdom. Khushi straightened up to show her instant respect for the older lady, she also noticed that Lavanya did the same. It surprised her as she had never see Lavanya do that for any stranger. Then Khushi realized it was the effect the old lady had on everyone around her. Khushi's respect for the lady grew. The older lady moved closer as Sarita stood up went towards her and started bending to touch her feet. She was stopped by the older lady midway

"That is not how grandchildren are blessed, Sarita Bitiya, they are hugged when they are blessed." she said gently taking Sarita into a hug.

Khushi knew then that her opinion on the old lady was 100% right. She caught Payal's eye and realized that her sister had a similar opinion.

"Where is Anjali di, dadiji?" asked Sarita

"She is waiting down stairs, too many stairs for her to come up bitiya." Said Dadiji

Before anything else could be said Sarita's mom walked in and said groom and most of the guests had arrived and it was time to get the function started. Everybody started walking out of the room with the bride including Khushi.

Sarita's mom walked over to Khushi and held her back and whispered "Khushi bitiya, can you please do me a favor, me and your uncle have planned a surprise for the couple on the rooftop can you go and check to see if everything is ready?"

"Sure aunty, will check on it right away." Khushi replied

"Thank you, bitiya" Sarita's mom said and left

Khushi signaled for Payal and Lavanya who were waiting for her, to go on down. They nodded before they left. Khushi waited for the room to clear out before she headed for the rooftop. She heard the old lady tell the lady in pink "Manorama, you go ahead I will be there in a bit."

Khushi turned around and started to clear up the dressing table a little as the make up things were laying around everywhere. She and Lavanya were no strangers to this house. Sarita, Lavanya and she were practically inseparable till higher secondary when they chose different careers. Sarita wanted to do business management and help her father after graduating. They kept in touch with frequent visits and dinner dates, the familiarity was not lost. But hers and Lavanya's friendship had turned into a bond now, a bond that could stand on par with the bond she had with her family. Khushi was shaken out of her thoughts when she heard something crash to the floor. She turned to find the old lady holding on to the study table for support and she looked ready to lose her conscious.

Her instincts kicked in and Khushi rushed over to her and held the old lady up from collapsing. She kicked the swiveling chair at the study table to face her and turned to the old lady and said "Auntyji please sit in this chair." helped the old lady lower herself into the chair.

When the lady had settled she moved the chair towards the bed she needed to first make sure the lady wouldn't fall even if she becomes unconscious, in this age it could lead to broken bones and long healing times. When they reached the bed side, Khushi helped her lay down on to the bed.

In the meantime Khushi was assessing the situation in her head. It had to either be blood pressure related or due to low glucose. She saw beads of sweat forming on the lady's forehead when she was helping her to lie down. She decided it was blood pressure but she needed to be sure, she said

She rushed to the study table where she had noticed a can of sprite there brought it back and gently helped the lady turn to her side and raise her upper body a little and helped her take a couple of sips and helped her lay back down.

"Auntyji are you diabetic?" the lady nodded in the negative.

"Do you have blood pressure problems?" the lady nodded in the positive.

"Did you take your medication today?" the lady nodded in the negative.

While asking her the questions Khushi was checking her pulse, it was high but not enough to harm the lady fatally. Khushi relaxed a little and said

"Auntyji please take a few more sips of this" and held the sprite can to the lady's lips and after she lay back down.

"Auntyji, please take a few deep breaths and relax. I am a doctor and will be right here beside you till you feel better." It was especially important for hypertension patients to feel relaxed.

She found her clutch on the dresser and fished out her phone and dialed Lavanya's number and when Lavanya answered she said "Lavanya go and get your medical kit from the car and meet me in Sarita's room, make sure not to disturb the function. Make it fast."

She knew Lavanya will be here in no time and turned to check on the lady who had her eyes closed and noticed the color was back in her face. She went and sat beside the lady and took her pulse again, it was still a little high but it was steady and strong and lower than what it was before.

She saw the old lady open her eyes and Khushi smiled at her reassuringly.

"Are you feeling any better auntyji? Your medication will be here soon. Please let me know if you feel uncomfortable." She said steadily looking into the older woman's eyes. The older woman smiled a weak smile and held Khushi's had in hers and closed her eyes again.

She heard a noise and looked at the door to see Payal walk in with a glass of water in her hand and take in the situation in front of her and ask "Blood pressure?" she knew it had to be blood pressure if it was glucose Khushi would have asked Lavanya to bring something sweet before her medical kit. She held out the water to Khushi.

Khushi nodded, took the water and turned to the lady and said

"Auntyji please drink a little water." The old lady smiled and tried to sit up straight. Khushi said "No aunty you need you medication before you sit up straight or stand."

The lady nodded and drank the water in a semi sitting position and lay back down and said "I am feeling much better bitiya"

Khushi and Payal smiled and Payal asked "Auntyji can I call someone for you?"

"haan bitiya please call my grandson, he will be with my granddaughter, don't let her know otherwise she will want to come up here. She can't climb all the stairs, her leg will hurt." The lady gave a pause and saw Payal nodding and continued "His name is Aakash Singh Raizada" she finished with a smile.

As Payal left the room Lavanya walked in with her medical kit. Khushi immediately asked for the BP machine and Lavanya handed it to her and then took her steth and climbed on the bed from the other side and checked the old lady while Khushi measured her BP. The old lady looked at Lavanya questioningly and Khushi explained

"She is also a doctor Auntyji" to put her questions to rest.

They were all coming back to normal but the lady needed medication, so she administered the medication and asked the lady to lie down for some more time.

****************************

Aakash was just hanging around his Di as she talked to the people they knew and make small conversation and looking at the photographer who was clicking away at the couple. His hands itched and his brain started clicking pictures. He was getting annoyed with the photographer who was doing just the routine stuff, he was not even trying to think creatively. He just kept the couple on the dias and took pictures, he could have clicked the couple near the fountain, near that wonderful flower decoration at the entrance, he could have used the wonderfully decorated staircase... and his thoughts came to a dead stop. He didn't know if what he was seeing was real or his brain was just being creative again.

He just kept staring at the beauty coming down the stairs. She was a vision in a kanjevaram sari and the color of the sari was as if it was woven keeping just her in mind. He couldn't move his eyes away from her. His heart wished she would just walk straight to him.

The beauty had reached the bottom of the stairs and walked towards Sarita's mom and asked something. Sarita's mom looked around the hall and then pointed at him and said something in the beauty's ear and them it happened. The beauty turned and looked straight at him and his heart skipped a couple of beats as their eyes met. When she started walking towards him, his peripheral vision blurred and all he could see was her and her radiant beauty. As she got closer to him, a small smile was forming on her lips and even the natural action of breathing was becoming an activity that he had to force his body to do.

She stopped near him and said "Excuse me, are you Aakash Singh Raizada?" questioned his goddess.

Lovely...Thanks for reposting...😃

Part 9:

"Yes , yes, yes that's mee!!" Aakash's brain was yelling with joy.

But no matter how much he tried no words were coming out of his mouth. So he did the next best thing he nodded his head.

"Could I speak to you alone for a moment please?" she enquired

Aakash thought he had just died and gone to heaven and the apsara in front of him was granting his wishes for being a good boy on earth. He nodded again as a reply to her question. She smiled at him, gestured with her head asking him to follow her and then turned and started walking away from him. He just followed her as if she had him on a leash.

She led him towards the stairs and stopped and looked around to see that nobody was too close to hear their conversation and said

"Hi, your grandmother is not feeling very well." When she saw his alarmed look she continued "Nothing to worry about, her BP was a little high and she needed rest. So she is lying down and relaxing. Doctor has checked her and has given her BP medication. She is already feeling much better and I am sure by now the medicine would have kicked in and she should be feeling just fine." She assured the visibly shaken Aakash in front of her without breaking eye contact so that he feels reassured.

"Your grandmother didn't want to worry your sister unnecessarily and that's why I had to tell you this privately. Now if you follow me I will take you to her." Payal started walking up the stairs.

Aakash felt like in a second he was pulled out of his heaven and chucked into hell. He had to see his Dadi was the only thought in his head as he followed her up the stairs.

When they entered the room he had eyes only for his Dadi, he almost ran to her side, she was sitting up in bed and leaning on the pillows behind her back. When he reached her he held both her hands in his and gushed "Dadi, are you ok? What happened? Shall I call the ambulance? I have to inform bhai. "

Dadi just smiled at him and said "I am more than fine, Aakash bitua, nothing to worry; I just forgot my medication last night. There is no need to inform your brother he will turn this function into a circus."

Aakash looked at her more probingly to see if she was just acting to be fine so that he does not get worried. When his heart was reassured that she was indeed feeling ok, he pulled her into a hug and said "Dadi please don't scare me like that ever again. Forgot your medication did you, let's see you try and stop Bhai this time from appointing a nurse to be by your side at all times." and broke away from the hug.

Dadi frowned at his words, Aakash was right when Arnav gets to know about this she will be forced to accept his changes in her life style. She started to mentally prepare herself to face her formidable grandson, she was his Nani and there is no way she will give in without a fight. She looked at her grandson before her who was looking at her as if she was a fragile doll and smiled at him and said " Aakash bitua, I am perfectly alright now. I was taken care by these wonderful doctors, how will I not be fine?"

It was only then that Aakash became aware of the other people in the room. He looked around to see three women standing at the other side of the bed and looking at him and his Dadi quietly. All three of them were beauties in their own right but his heart beat only for one.

"Thank you so much for taking care of her. I am very grateful." he said standing up and facing them.

"Me and my family are indebted to you." he finished conveying his thoughts and then continued after a pause "Does she need to go to the hospital?"

"There is no need Mr.Raizada. She is perfectly fine now, she can even go downstairs now and enjoy the function. But I would suggest you leave early, it will be good for her to get more sleep today. And make sure she doesn't take her BP medication tonight, we have already given her the dosage for today." Payal replied

Khushi saw Nani looking at Payal questioningly and she realized what Nani was thinking and grinned broadly and said "Auntyji she is also a doctor ."

Nani burst into laughter at that, and said between laughs "Bitiya, isn't today my lucky day, first I faint in the arms of a doctor and that too at a place where there is no shortage of doctors."

Everybody else in the room also grinned, happy to see the old lady laughing. Aakash moved towards the girls and held out his hand to Lavanya as she was the nearest to him and said "Hi, I am Aakash Singh Raizada and that is my Dadi Devyani Singh Raizada." Lavanya took his hand and replied "Hi, I am Dr.Lavanya Kashyap." she pointed at Khushi and Payal and said "This is Dr.Khushi Kumari Gupta and that is Dr.Payal Gupta" she introduced the other two. Both Khushi and Payal held their palms together and said "Namaste."

Aakash immediately joined his palms and said "Namaste." Nani who was watching all this said lovingly "Your names are as beautiful as you girls."

"Khushi and Payal are you related?" she asked

"We are sisters." they replied in unison.

"Wonderful just wonderful." Nani expressed her joy.

"Aakash lets go down before your sister starts worrying." And got up from the bed with Aakash's help turned to the girls and said "Come lets go down, I am so sorry that you missed the function because of me."

"Your health is definitely more important than a function Auntyji." replied Khushi

Dadi smiled and nodded and said "God Bless you, bitiya"

They all came down Dadi with Aakash helping her and the girls behind them. When they reached the end of the stairs, the music started and people started dancing, Khushi literally jumped in joy and ran towards the people who were dancing.

Khushi joined in and started dancing. Lavanya and Payal exchanged a knowing smile and excused themselves form Aakash and Dadi as they had spotted a couple of their acquaintances.

Dadi and Aakash reached Anjali. When Anjali asked them where they were Aakash explained everything and Anjali threw a fit. Dadi calmed her down by assuring her multiple times that she was ok.

Not once during all this did Dadi take her eyes of Khushi for longer than required. There was something in that girl, she was beautiful, yes, but there was something more that had most of the people in the hall looking at and enjoying her dance and smile. Whatever it was Dadi wanted more of it around her. If only she could convince her grandson to marry, she would have got them engaged right her and married them off tomorrow. If only...

Read all parts in one go. Love them. Looking forward to reading more...