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And here you go with the first chapter! Don't forget to leave your feedback!😉
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Chapter 01
Honk honk!
Daadi awoke from her slumber to find themselves stuck in traffic.
She looked to her side to see Aaliyah looking at the towering buildings lost in thoughts as she cuddled a sleeping Aditi in her arms.
Aditi! Barely three years old she had managed to have the entire Mehra clan dance to her tunes from the day she was born. She had quite successfully replaced her Mumma as the Apple of her Mamu, Abhi's eyes. Oh yes, little Aditi had him wrapped around her finger from the day he first held her.
Daadi sighed and rubbed her tired eyes before wearing her spectacles. They were already passing through the city and in no time they would reach their destination. She knew all the tiredness, pains in her tired limbs from sitting in the same posture for hours would vanish when she finally get to see the faces of her dear potha and bahu after months. Few minutes more... Just few minutes...
The mere thought brought a smile on her face.
***
Abhi turned hearing footsteps hurrying down the stairs. Pragya entered the hall wearing a red Anarkali.
"Don't say anything!"
She hissed at him seeing his expression.
"What? I wasn't going to say anything bad! I was going to say you look beautiful."
"Really?" She asked as she adjusted her dupatta.
"Yeah! Just like a typical Bahu from a Saaz Bahu serial!"
"Oh! Shut up!"
Abhi looked around.
"What! What are you searching for?"
Pragya asked looking around.
"Where is your pooja taali Bahu Rani?"
"Okay! You know that's it! I am not going to do this!"
Pragya turned to go only to be stopped by Abhi.
"Okay! Sorry! Sorry! I will behave!"
The door bell rang.
"Well, you better!"
"Ready?"
Abhi asked her.
"No!"
"Very good! Okay here we go!"
Abhi went to open the door.
~~~
The door opened.
There he is. Tall, dark and handsome. Her Abhi.
"Abhi!"
"Daadi!"
He was already by her side, mirroring the wide smile on her face on his. He touched her feet and engulfed her in a hug.
"Daadi!"
"Abhi!"
She lovingly touched his head as they broke the hug.
"Now where is my princess!?"
Abhi moved to the side to quickly hug Aaliyah and took a giggling Aditi in his arms.
Daadi looked past Abhi and there stood her Bahu Pragya.
"Daadi!"
"Bahu!"
A beautiful smile adorned her bahu's face as she quickly bended to touch Daadi's feet dutifully.
"Pragya you look so pretty!"
Daadi said as she placed a kiss on Pragya's forehead.
"Haina Daadi? I was just telling her, but she didn't believe me! See Pragya?"
Abhi asked good-naturedly as he wrapped his arm around Aaliyah guiding her inside.
"And Aaliyah don't you miss me at all? No calls, no messages! What is this?"
"Oh come on Bhai! That is my line! Hello Bhabhi! How are you?"
Aaliyah said as she went to Pragya and hugged her.
Daadi smiled looking at her grandson already busy chatting with Aditi, his niece.
Still in his early 30s, he has already created a niche for himself. He has come a long way from where they were. She had never felt so helpless as she did as on the day she heard the news of her son and daughter in law passing away in an accident leaving behind Abhi and Aaliyah.
Aaliyah has cried her heart out hugging her tight, whereas Abhi stood like a statute away from all of them. All the relatives were surprised by his seeming indifference given how close he was to his parents, but she could see the torment in his soul through his eyes. He had never been the same since.
Soon she took the kids back with her to their village thinking being among their own would help them to get over their pain. It seemed to be working until one fine day Abhi decided he would move back to the city leaving them behind. Of course she has objected they had everything there. But he was adamant and soon she gave in. Through the years he steadily rose up the ladder of success and today is one of the most promising music directors in the country. She was proud of his success.
"Daadi why are you standing here? Come inside na..."
Pragya took Daadi's hand and guided her inside.
When she first met Pragya nearly a year ago it seemed as god has finally listened to all her prayers. An Interior designer by profession she was the perfect match for her Abhi. She left no stone unturned to arrange their marriage.
Of course her friend Balbir Arora has been a great help. Together they matched their horoscopes to find it so compatible, so much so that they knew it was god's way of telling them that Abhi and Pragya are meant to be together.
Then Balbir convinced her Bahu, Sarala for the marriage. They all thought getting Abhi and Pragya to agree for the marriage will be the biggest hurdle. But surprisingly after one lengthy first meeting both agreed to get married.
It all happened so fast, it still surprised her to think that it is almost six months for their marriage now. Oh! How the time flies.
Daadi recollected as she sipped at her tea. She turned to look at her kids.
Aditi was busy explaining something to Abhi as Aaliyah and Pragya watched them laughing.
Yes. Her decision to come here for few days is correct. She would talk to Abhi soon and he will handle it all. Aaliyah always valued his opinion more than anyone else's. He will know what to do.
***
Phew!
It was a long day! But the day is nothing compared to what lies ahead. Sharing a room with Abhishek.
Pragya peeked inside his room. Well, for these few days 'their' room!
Hmmm... He was nowhere to be seen.
Good!
She quickly gathered her stuff and entered the washroom.
After few minutes she opened the door and was greeted with a familiar humming sound.
Oh no!
She heard the humming stop only to be replaced by a whistle.
"Well, hello roomie!"
She turned to him and rolled her eyes.
"Oh stop it!" Abhi said suddenly looking all shy.
"What? I am not doing anything!" Pragya asked bewildered.
"Stop checking me out!" Abhi said smirking as he came to stand in front of her.
"Oh Abhishek! Grow up!"
Pragya gently nudged him as she made her way towards the bed.
He went around and sat on the right side.
"Listen Pragya!"
Pragya turned to him hearing the seriousness behind his voice.
"Pragya please promise me you won't take undue advantage of me!"
Abhi said in all seriousness.
"Urgh Abhishek! You idiot!"
Pragya threw a pillow at him laughing.
"But you don't worry! I know what to do!"
She placed few pillows between them creating a border.
"Hmm! Smart!"
Abhi said as he lay on his side.
"Tell me something I don't know Mr Mehra!"
Pragya replied him as she lay on her side.
"So Pragya... I was just wondering... You know... Err... Daadi... She had no doubt right?"
He finally asked.
"Don't worry Abhishek. She won't know. Everything is going just fine. It's only a matter of few days. It will pass before we know it. Go to sleep now! Good night!"
***
Daadi tossed and turned in her bed unable to sleep.
There was something wrong. But she couldn't quite figure out what. Her kids, Abhi and Pragya were doing alright but her motherly instinct told her that all is not well as it seems with Aaliyah.
She seemed to be her old cheerful self with Abhi and Pragya, but Daadi had seen her pensive moods for the last few weeks. And it somehow made her uneasy...
What is going on? It has to be something related to Neel... Only he had that effect on her. But what?
Daadi laid on the bed waiting for sleep to come to her as unanswered questions roamed in her brain.
Edited by Diahh - 10 years ago
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