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Sisters' Tale
The stillness of the corridor was broken by the shrill cry that erupted from the room. She saw her parents heaving a sigh of relief, but she could still trace a spot of worry. She squeezed her Bauji's hands as if to assure him. He looked down at her and smiled. She saw a lady coming out with a baby! Yay her heart leapt out in joy. "A baby girl", her mother whispered joyfully. Her sister had come. Yes, she had secretly prayed that she get a baby sister. But her Bauji had warned her to behave well with the baby, despite its gender.
"Amma, I also want to see her."
"Arrey Payal beta, come." Her Mausa showed her the baby. "She is so cute."
Her Amma grinned at her. "How do you want to call her?" Her mausi asked. "Main? Main bahut kush hoon. So, I will call her Khushi. My teacher told we should always be happy. Agar iska naam hi happiness ho, toh she will remain happy n.a.?"
Young Payal was so immersed in the beautiful baby with hazel eyes that she failed to notice the tears of joy dancing in the elders' eyes'. She lifted her finger and tentatively touched the child's face. She then pressed a kiss to her index finger and transferred it to her little Khushi's cheeks. She flinched back as she saw the baby move, her eyes filled with worry. Had she harmed the baby? But her Mausi's smiling face told otherwise and she relaxed.
"Chal Payal, ghar chalte hain. (Come Payal, we will go home.)"
"Nahi (No), I want to stay with my Khushi."
"Arrey we will come again.
"Sacchi?"
"Muchi."
*
15 year old Payal looked at the girl called Happiness. Her eyes were no close to the meaning her name held. Her slumped shoulders, trembling fingers and pale face screamed of sorrow. She had been like this since the very first day she had come to live with them, permanently, after her parents had passed away. Her saddened form troubled Payal. She had not named her Khushi to be sorrowful. She had made her happy, when she was small. Now it was her turn to make her Khushi, happy.
"Khushi", she softly called out. She turned to look at her. "Haan Jiji. Kya hain? (Yes Jiji. What is it?)" Her usually chirpy voice had lost the enthusiasm. She could find the trail of the salty tears on her once plump cheeks.
"Where are you lost?" She blinked her eyes in confusion, not understanding what her jiji was asking. "You are thinking about your Amma Bauji?" Khushi nodded in a meek yes. "It is okay to cry Khushi." She looked at Payal, bewildered. But maybe those words were required to let the pain and sorrow out. She burst into tears, hugging her Jiji. "I miss them Jiji. Why did they leave me? They could have taken me with them."
Garima and Shashi looked at the two girls. Garima was about to intervene, she was not able to see her little Khushi cry and suffer. Shashi held her hand, urging her to silently watch the duo.
"You want to leave me and go? You know why your Amma and Bauji left you?" At her silent no, Payal continued. "Just so that, you can get another set of Parents." "Jiji?" She gasped, unable to comprehend Payal's words.
"Aaj se meri Amma, teri Amma hain aur meri Bauji, teri Bauji hain. (From today, my Amma is, your Amma and my Bauji is your Bauji.) See how lucky you are, you have two set of Parents."
"Sach main?"
She nodded in a yes and Khushi threw herself on Payal as happy tears escaped her eyes. "You are the best Jiji." "Oh I know that." She winked at her and Khushi laughed, her first laugh since that fateful day. Her Khushi was back, she thought gleefully.
*
"Jiji I am sorry. I really wanted the marriage to happen." As she sobbed her heart out, Payal held the little girl away from her Buaji's taunts. She will protect her always. "Khushi this is not your fault. Rona math."
"You are not angry on me, are you? You are disappointed in me right?" Payal hugged her trembling form. "Why do you always blame yourself Khushi? He does not deserve me. But what happened? You are very sad. Something else happened?"
Khushi's heart beat faster as she remembered those dark chocolate eyes and the anger that it held. "Nahi (No) Jiji. Nothing else." She smiled, yet again hiding the pain. "Liar", and Payal spotted the fake smile again.
*
"How was your first day at work Khushi?" Something told Payal, the day did not go well. "Kya hua? (What happened?)"
"Nothing Jiji, it was very good and you know what..." Khushi launched into a tale of how well the day went. Amma, Buaji and Bauji listened to her rambles.
As they both settled on their beds, ready to retire for the day, Payal pulled Khushi into a hug. "Jiji kya hua?" "Pagal if you give us some nice colorful story, do you think I will believe you?" "Jiji, it is the truth." "Khushi, your eyes conveyed otherwise and I do understand, you don't want me to know. Toh Bolna math. (Then, don't tell me.) Just know that, I will stand by you always and you my dear Khushi can face any storm." Khushi nodded as those traitorous tears made their way.
"You are the best Jiji." Her Jiji's words gave her the courage to go face the lion in his den. She was Khushi Kumari Gupta, after all.
*
Payal looked at the sleeping form of Khushi. Her teakwando act resulting in her leg being thrown on Payal's ankle. She chuckled at her sankhi Khushi. She closed her eyes passing a quick prayer to God. She hoped that her little sister will remain as happy always. After Shyamji's truth came out, Khushi had drawn into a shell again. Her marriage with Akash had cheered her up and nowadays she had been very happy and sad in equal measures. She was glad that Khushi was living up to her name. But now she was afraid, she wouldn't be there for her sister, the very girl who chose to mask her sorrow behind that smile. Her smile held so much of weightage. She wished that Khushi gets her better half which she guessed was Arnavji. Oh she would be a fool to not guess the sparks flying. The first time she met Arnavji was when he came home with an unconscious Khushi in his arms. She had lashed out at him. Now she could see the change in him and her little girl. But she decided to wait, wait for Khushi to tell it herself. She closed her eyes waiting for the sleep to take her in its arms.
Khushi looked at her pretty Jiji, who was completely decked up. The day had come, finally after loads of struggle, and Arnavji had been a part of the struggle. Today her jiji would leave her to go to her new home. A part of her was very happy, but the other part cried out. She would be forced to sleep alone on the bed, her mornings will not start with "Khushi utto na". Her day will not include those usual silly fighting with her jiji for anything and everything under the sun. Their endless gossips will be washed away and the Jiji Special Advice won't be there anymore. Her heart constricted at those thoughts and she hugged her Jiji. "Math Jao. (Don't Go)"
"Akashji se kehdoon? (Shall I tell Akash?)" Khushi nodded in a no and kissed her sister. She then went in search of her Amma to get the Shagun. She sprinted off in that direction as Payal looked at her retreating form. An overwhelming feeling of extreme joy and sadness engulfed her. "Why do I feel something bad is going to happen?" She pondered unaware of the plans, the Destiny held for them.
~~~
This is for you, dear Anu di (Anu567). I am so glad that we met and spoke. I am so sorry for being this late, yet I blame the rains for this and I hope this was at least okay and you like it. I know this didn't turn out as expected. But yes, this is for you and for our bond.
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU Di. May the stars always shine in your favour and may you be happy always.
Iniya pirantha naal vazthukal!!!
Love (!!!) and Hugs 😉
Your Pyaari,
Bachchi ❤️
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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