Vignette 31. Dil ke Rishte - Last Part Updated - Page 11 - Page 8

Aparna di, these updates are priceless. The more i read such beautiful writings on Arhi , the more i get pissed at the way the CVs messed up the actual show. It could have been such a fabulous show but alas. But i am glad we have writers like you to whet our voracious appetite for all things IPKKND.

Lots of love

pl pl finish this and continue with TKD, pretty please!!

Very emotinal time. Loving it.

Dear All…

Without much ado, presenting the next part in the series… This one is for Sharada, Aruni and Stuti!!!!

Dil ke rishte.. Part 6

A few days later, Payal was discharged and brought back home. Her Amma, Babuji and Buaji had arrived the day after the surgery, frightened and shaking, but reassured by their Arnav Bitwa’s presence. He himself had gone to bring them, knowing how those gentle souls would be affected by a worry-filled train journey. Knowing fully-well how uncomfortable they were in his chopper, he had summoned the company Jet and gone to Lucknow to bring them to their daughter.

The arrival of her Amma was the one and only time that Payal had broken down into uncontrollable cries, weeping away her loss and pain in the presence of the calm, loving Garima. Wrapping her weeping daughter in her arms, she too shed silent tears, even as she reassured Payal that everything would be fine, and that her health was the most important thing anyway.

Standing strong as always, Buaji was consoling both of them, “Arre, tum Maa-beti itni ro kyu rahi hai Nandkisore? Suna naahi tumne kya kaha doctor saab aur Arnv Babua ne? Nandkisore ki kirpa hai ki ye bimaari ki ilaaj itni jaldi ho paayi! Nandkisore aur Devi Maiyya ke shukriya aada karo Garima, ki humri Payalya ek dum theek ho gayi hain!”

Shashi had been standing silent, after stroking his daughter’s head and gently pressing Akash’s shoulder, he came to stand next to Arnav and asked, “Beta, hum nahi bol sakat hai hum kitna shukrguzar hai ki tum sahi waqt par ghar pohonch gaye aur Payal ko aspataal le aaye. Par hume ye batao ki Anjali bitiya kaisan hai?”

Looking up at his Babuji in surprise, Arnav asked, “Kyu? Aise kyu pooch rahe ho, Babuji?”

“Naahi bitwa, Payal aur Akash abhi ek mushkil ghadi ki saamna tor kar hi raahe hain. Lekin hume chinta ho raha hai ki ye sab dekhkar humri Anjali bitiya ko phirse apni purani beeti baatein yaad toh ni aa rahi?”

His heart lifting at the love and concern Khushi’s parents had indiscriminately showered on all members of his family, he took Shashi’s hand in his and replied, “Di theek hai, Babuji. Di aur Payal iss cheez me similar hai ki dono kitne strong hai. Haan, mushkil hai, aur yaadein to sataati rahegi aksar, lekin Di uss sab cheezon se aage badh chuki hai, bohot effort lagake. Actually kal se ghar ke baaki sabko Di hi sambhaal rahi hai.”

At Shashi’s relief, Arnav too smiled, and turned to gaze at his Di, who was now standing with Garima, consoling a softly sobbing Payal.

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

At Akash’s request, Payal’s Amma, Babuji aur Buaji had too accompanied them home from the hospital, and the days that followed where ones that saw the entire household revolving around Payal. Arnav had started going to work, so that Akash could devote his entire time to his wife, and much to everyone’s surprise, Dhruv had requested for leave from work, and taken over Arnav’s role as Akash’s support system.

Ever since his arrival back home, he had naturally been closest to Khushi, but as it was for everyone, Payal had been the rock-steady presence in his life too, and her illness had shaken him up considerably, and he had become her devoted bystander along with Khushi.

As for the rest of the household, it was a testament to Payal’s influence that the entire household staff had to be summoned to her room and consoled by Payal herself before they could start functioning normally. Managing the household quietly since the day she had arrived as the bahu, Payal was the person the staff was closest to. It took them a couple of days to get back to their normal routine, missing her ever-smiling face as she went about supervising them.

Thus progressed the convalescence, and with a couple of weeks, Payal was almost back to normal, managing things around the house, and managing the volatile Raizadas, seated under the vigilant watch of her Maaji and sister.

One evening, Arnav walked in to find the house silent, even though he could see his Mami and Nani watching something on the television up on the TV lounge. As was his habit, he was about to let out his usual call for his wife when he remembered that she had said she would be accompanying Payal and Akash for her check-up.

Walking upstairs, he smiled at the women and declining their offer of fetching him his tea, he went up to change and bathe, deciding to wait for the other three to reach back. Finishing his bath, he walked out and hearing voices from the outside lounge, walked out to investigate.

His gut clenching at seeing a tearful Akash wrapped up in a hug in his much shorter wife’s arms, with Khushi standing nearby, leaning on Dhruv, with tears coursing down her cheeks, he asked urgently, “What happened?! Doctor ne kya kaha? Aur koi problem hai kya?”

Turning around at his voice, Khushi rushed into his arms.

“Nahi, Arnavji, sab theek hai. Ye toh khushi ke aansu hai.”

A mixture of worry and relief on his face, he looked at Akash, who had straightened up and was walking up to his Bhai.

Gently pulling away from Khushi, Arnav turned to his brother and looked at him questioningly, only to have Akash grab him in a tight hug.

“Everythig checked out normal, Bhai. I’m shaken up a bit because doctor ne aaj bataya uss din Payal ki condition actually kya thi. Unhone kaha ki agar aap Payal ko hospital pohonchaate nahi toh not only would have the appendix ruptured and caused complications, but she might have had an ectopic rupture and lost her ovary as well, and might have caused very serious infection.” Almost in tears, Akash looked up and said, “Thanks, Bhai…”

Coming up behind him, Payal could only smile tremulously at her Jethji, who extended a hand to her too and wrapped them both in a hug, just thankful to the powers that be for keeing his family safe, as he looked over and smiled at his wife, standing again wrapped up in Dhruv’s arms, both of shedding tears of joy.

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

Nearly two years later…

“Khushi….”

Arnav’s call rang out, just before he came striding in, hardly 20 minutes after he had left for a busy day at work, albeit reluctantly, as was normal these days, Khushi looked up in surprise from where she was sitting.

Why reluctantly? Well, he had had a tough time leaving for work ever since he got married, but then, who could blame a guy who had such a delectable wife? But now, how was any man of mere flesh-and-blood supposed to leave said wife and the happiest baby on the planet at home daily and go off to work for hours on end?

So, Arnav’s policy these days was to leave as early as possible, without a backward look, in case his resolve got shaken, and return as early as possible. Hence the surprise to his wife.

“Kya hua Arnavji? Kuch bhool gaye kya?”

Spotting her sitting in the family area, unable to get up without waking their sleeping son, Arnav’s face softened into the gentlest of smiles. This was the favourite mental image he carried of her, cuddling their son, her face glowing with love and happiness.

Walking over to them, he leaned down to brush a soft finger against a rose-petal cheek before dropping a kiss on his wife’s head. “Haan, ek file bhool gaya tha. Akash was supposed to bring it, but he decided to take the conference call from home today na, so I was to take when I left. Aur iss janaab ne mere haath pakadke rakha last moment tak toh mai lena bhool gaya.”

“Achcha, toh aap le lenge? Ya mai jaaoon?”

“No Khushi, don’t get up, I’ll take it.” He turned to go upstairs before stopping, “Baaki sab hai kahan? Tum akeli kyu baithi hai?”

Grinning up at him, she replied, “Naniji aur Mamiji toh Di aur Aabha ko milne daud pade, jaise ki roz jaate hai. Dhruv toh paanch minute pehle hi nikle, khel raha tha iss Shehzade se. Jiji thi yahan, shayad Jijaji ko kuch chahiye tha, bula liya aur abhi abhi gayi.”

Smiling as he thought of the first baby of the family, his niece for relation’s sake and as good as his own daughter for all the love he had for that baby, he nodded and walked upstairs, meaning to quickly collect the file from Akash.

Coming back from the study, Payal asked Khushi, “Tum kisse baat kar rahi thi, Khushi, hume laga ki humne Arnavji ke awaaz suna.”

“Haan, Jiji, woh aaye hue hain, koi file lene. Upar gaye hain.”

“Acha..”

Just then, Arnav came striding back down, calling out to Khushi, “Khushi, Akash hai kahan, upar toh nahi hai?”

“Arre, hume kya pata tha aap Jijaji ko dhoondh rahe hai? Woh toh study me hai. Hume laga ki aap bus file lene jaa rahe hai.”

“File toh usske paas hai na, Khushi.”

Looking up at him and seeing how Arnav’s eyes had locked hungrily on his wife and son, even as he strode down the steps, Payal said, “Arnavji, aap idhar udhar mat ghoomiye, yahan baith jaayiye. Hum leke aate hai file. Akash ko pata hoga na?”

Smiling at Payal, he replied, “Thanks, Payal, he knows.”

Sitting down next to his wife, he leaned his head against hers, looking down at a snuffling-in-sleep baby, glad to have these unexpected few moments with them. The weekend was an interminable three days away.

Lost in their own little world, Arnav and Khushi jolted up at Akash’s shout, “Payal!”

They could barely move as Akash came running out, cradling an unconscious Payal, calling for Khushi to get some water.

The events from about two years ago playing eerily in his mind, Arnav leapt up to help Akash lay her down on the diwan while Khushi quickly laid a now crying baby on his cot and rushed off to the kitchen, calling for Hari Prakash to call for the doctor.

Rushing back with the water, she crouched next to her Jiji, “Hey Devi Maiyya! Jiji! Kya hua Jijaji inko?”

Cradling Payal’s head as Khushi sprinkled water on her face, Akash replied, “Payal bus mere table se file leke mudi aur chakkar aake gir padi.”

His face blanching at how he had once been the one to rush Payal to the hospital, Arnav shouted for Hari Prakash to alert the hospital that he was bringing her in immediately, only to turn at Akash’s soft call, “Bhai! Aap itna pareshaan mat huyiye.”

Staring at him incredulously, Arnav snarled, “What the! Akash, the last time I saw Payal like this, she had to get emergency surgery within the hour! Aur tum itne aaram se baithe ho?!”

His own face paling at the memory, Akash replied, “I know, Bhai! Aap nahi hote uss din toh na jaane kya kya ho jaata.”

Looking down at a now-stirring payal, he smiled softly, “Par iss baar aisa kuch nahi hai, Bhai. Hum bas thode der aur wait karna chaahte the, aap sab se bolne se pehle.”

Realisation dawning on her face, Khushi beamed out, before clapping in joy and hugging her now conscious Jiji, who was looking a little shame-faced at her recent fainting episode.

Things clicking in place, and it dawning upon him that Akash’s and Payal’s prayers and patient wait of almost two years was at an end, Arnav too sent up his own thanks. Keeping hope and faith alive after such an experience, and for such a long time had not been easy, and each time they held Anjali’s and his babies, he had noted with a pang the wistful expressions underlying the absolute love on their faces. Unified in this, the family too had been waiting for this news ever since the day of Payal’s surgery.

Grinning wide in his relief and joy, Arnav clapped Akash on his shoulder and pulled him up for a hug, “So this is why you have been taking your morning meetings from home, huh? To keep Payal company during the morning sickness phase?”

At Akash’s and Payal’s sheepish laughs, he quipped, “Payal, by the way, this is the last time I ask you to get a file for me! Har baar kuch aisa hota hai ki meri jaan nikal jaati hai!”

It was to the loud laughter that followed this announcement that Devyani, Manorama and Anjali walked in, carrying Aabha. The happiness in Shantivan was about to increase a hundred-fold!

Author’s Note

Aand..Phinis!

I really loved writing this one.....

Hope you guys liked this one… let me know what you think!

Loved the last part. All's well that ends well.

Thank you for the pm.

Aww beautiful lekin khatam! Di, i can read your writings for forever!, Thanks a lot for this gem . Love

Oh my! This is the first.... umm okay second time any update has been dedicated to me! The first time is you as well, but you are yet to post that OS separately 😉.

It's an absolute honor to have such a splendid update be dedicated to me! Thank you sooooo much ⭐️.

Coming to the update, it was a wonderful finish to this tale.

Arnav bringing Amma, Babuji and Buaji back from Lucknow was sweet. Also the fact that Payal finally broke down and expressed her grief in her mother's arms. Babuji still thought about Anjali in this situation! These two families are so closely knit, it's a wonder they're living separately and not just all together 😆.

Payal is the soft but steady presence in the background, and the importance of such people is only realized when they're no longer present. Dhruv, the hoisehold staff, everyone was shook by her absence for few days. But glad that jumped back soon.

The last part was so good - a complete mixbag of emotions. On one hand I was sure that you would show Payal being pregnant, to bring this arc to completion. But when Akash carried an unconscious Payal down, there was a moment where I was afraid about what was happening. I totally agree with Arnav, no more bringing files for Payal 🤣.

Sad to see this finish but waiting for further glimpses into this family 😳. Bring the next OS / SS soon 😃.

Love,

Stuti

Originally posted by: Arshiaddict_SI

Aww beautiful lekin khatam! Di, i can read your writings for forever!, Thanks a lot for this gem . Love

Thanks so much for the love and support, dearie... 🤗

Originally posted by: Arshiaddict_SI

Aww beautiful lekin khatam! Di, i can read your writings for forever!, Thanks a lot for this gem . Love

❤🤗 look out for a long-pending OS and then Anjali's story

Aparna, I am truly in love.....with your vignettes. They are cute well written, touching, and oh so beautifully written. This one was no exception.

Please do continue to write these and we promise to stalk you very rigorously

Super fantastic story. Looking forward to next OS/SS