Next day
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"I can't believe i have to act as a mediator between the two of you.What are you ,Kids ??" said Pankaj.
"I am sorry Pratik i had no right to be angry with you. Just excuse me this once.I even ruined your anniversary because of it."
"Think nothing of it bhaiya. You are right i should not have interfered.I am sorry."
"No Pratik i am sorry."
"No bhaiya i am sorry."
"OK enough you two.Both are sorry and both are excused chalo lets end it at that.
"Aarti Bahu i heard what happened yesterday" Gayatri spoke to Aarti as she sipped the tea Aarti had got for her.
"It was nothing mummyji, all a goodhearted prank only Yashji did not like it and poor Pratik bhaiya had to face the brunt of his anger"
"Didn't you wonder why he got so angry???" questioned Gayatri.
That question was met with silence.
How can i tell mummyji that i had thought of nothing else.
That when i saw Yashji, enter the hotel yesterday it was as if all my dreams had came true, till he questioned about the sms i sent him.
And just like that,once he realized that i had not sent any sms he became furious.
"I have always wanted to tell you something about Yash,but did not know if it was my place to interfere and Yash had always asked me not to so i kept my distance" said Gayatri which got Aarti out of her reverie.
"But now i think i just have to tell you about it.Yash and Arpita did not have a happy marriage.Oh! they kept an appearance for our sake and for the sake of their kids but there was always something missing.This is my view don't go asking Yash about it though."
That was a shocking revelation for Aarti. She did not know react.But she regrouped quickly and responded,
"Oh! but i always thought he loved Arpitaji. Is that not the reason he did not marry for 4 long years after her demise."
"Hmmm.. I am not saying he did not love her. He did in his way and i do not think even Aarpita knew anything was amiss,but i knew, i just knew. He is my Raja beta after all.I could always tell.
And yes, he did refuse to marry anyone else but that was before we made him have a look at your photo."
That just sent jolt through Aarti.This was something she had no idea about. Why didn't anyone tell her about it.Why didn't Yashji ???
------------------
6 months ago
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"Aartji i got you a present,its nothing much, just a necklace, one of my clients is a jeweler and i had gone to visit him in his shop and this piece caught my eye"
"Yashji i am not comfortable accepting gifts from you. I told you i do not like us to forget the reason for our marriage" said Aarti mildly irritated.
"Aartiji i have forgotten nothing.You are my friend,are you not?
You have adjusted in my home so well.Adopted my girls as yours,taken care of the household and been a dutiful daughter in law.Believe me the effort you have made in doing this, has not gone unnoticed by me.This is just my way of saying thank you" said Yash in a calm tone.
"You don't have to do this Yashji.I love Palak and Payal as my own.I had always wanted daughters of my own and you will not believe how lucky i am to have them in my life. Ansh and girls make my life so fulfilling i cannot put it in words and as for everything else this is my home and this is my family what else do you expect from me."
With a heavy sigh he said "What else, what else indeed ?"
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Debate Mansion
