Prelude- The Dark Home
The Mansion was silent as it was usually ever since past three years. An old Mrs. Kalyani Singh Oberoi sat in the living hall unusually silent, curves of worries drawn on forehead.
Prinku got the servant to on a few bulbs of the corridors and walked to where her Daadi sat. A lot had changed in past three years. So had Prinku, she was now a confident young woman, the wife of a brave police officer. She had learnt a lot from her husband.
"Daadi aap itne andhere mein kyun baithi hai?"
She sat by her.
"Iss ghar ke chirag toh teen saal pehle chale gaye thee, ab andhere ki aadat si ho gayi hai"
"Daadi aap phir se... Yeh kaisi baatein kar rahi hai... "
"Aur kyaa kahoon? Teen Diwali aayi aur chali gayi, lekin roshni nahi aayi iss garh mein. Iss paivaar ko bhi saath nahi rak paayi!" the lady cried holding her granddaughter's arm.
"Daadi...maine bhaiya, bhai, Rudra teen ko bulaya hai iss baar, dekhna wo aayenge aur iss baar hum waise hi Diwali manayenge jaise manaya karte thee."
Daadi feebly smiled at Prinku. She was like the little angel in their house. When she was born a new color of happiness had taken over the Mansion. Tej and Jaanvi were so overjoyed to have a daughter. But, Shakti & Pinky were no behind, perhaps she was one reason that the two couples had good relation at times. Everytime Prinku would be ill, Jaanvi & Pinky would work more like sisters, if one would take care of her during the day, the other would be awake through the night. She was not just their daughter, she was the daughter of the entire family. Including the three brothers. Oh ever since she had come the three brothers had become mature young lads taking small duties on their heads and making sure she was the happiest. Daadi smiled remembering the various memories and scenes of life she had witnessed Prinku share with her brothers.
"Ab Diwali ki tayaari nahi karengi kya, aap?"
Daadi looked at her frowning. How couldbthere be Diwali without the lamp bearers of the house.
"They will come, I know my brothers. "
Daadi patted her cheek gently, wishing that her fears were wrong and the young woman's hopes right.
An hour had passed and Daadi still sat on the sofa of the living hall, her old eyes, drooping more because of losing hope than age.
"Daadi"
An immediate smile lit up on her face enough bright to illuminate the dull room.
But, the voice echoed? No, it came from different sources at different distances from each other. Each of them looked up at the other.
Daadi smiled switching her gaze back and froth. Her three grandsons had come back this Diwali. While Shivaay had entered from the North gate, Om came in from the west entrance while Rudra entered from the east door. Daadi dint know to be happy or sad. Those gates were made to show that how three different angles could lead to a single. Yes, they were made at the younger boys births. When Omkara was born the west gate had been made because Omkara loved the setting suns as a baby and also Jaanvi used to use it to take him for strolls in the west garden where the setting sun would die down. Rudra was quite opposite he loved the renewed energy of the rising sun, as a child and still did. These small things from the childhood were the reason why, Shivaay was given the room at the top and Om got the west wing room, looking over at the garden with the rarest plants. Rudra was given the east phase room which opened to the park by the side which he had converted into his open sky gym.
But...
They hadn't come together as they always used to once upon a time.
Health and Fitness
