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Chapter 20
“When baby come?” Anya asked Aashi for the umpteenth time.
“Aanoo” Anika chided. “How many times are you going to ask that question? Don’t irritate Aachi. ”
“It’s ok bhabhi. I don’t mind answering her questions.” Aashi said hugging Anya.
Anya beamed and got down from Aashi’s lap. “Aachi don’t mind Mumma.” she said throwing Anika a cheeky look that made all the ladies in the room laugh out loud.
” Chalo Bhai. Now Omkaara’s family is complete. Now you should think about settling Rudra too.” Pammi said artfully.
“Arrey Pammi, tumne mere much ki baat bol di. I have been telling them the same.” Pinky said laughing and picking up Anya who had toddled her way to her grandma.
“Oody chachu gone Pammisimmi.” Anya said looking seriously at Pammi who tried to hide her irritation at the odd name the kid had given her.
“Kisine sach kahaa hai. God speaks through children.”
Everyone turned around to find Rudra grinning at Anya. Anya, who had thought that Rudra had left, squealed at the sight of him, wiggled out of Pinky’s lap and ran over to Rudra who picked her up.
“Aanoo is right Choti ma. Oody is gone. Don’t worry about settling me anymore.” Then he looked back at Anya. “Aanoo, I am going to go and help bua and Soma maasi. I’ll see you in the evening.”
” And Sim Run?” Anya asked tilting her head quizzically.
“Yes, Simran too.” Rudra replied patiently.
“Bye for now Aanoo.” he said setting her down on the floor.
“Ok deeyar. Byee.” Anya replied waving at Rudra a little sadly. Then she walked back to Aashi climbing into her lap again.
Aashi sensed a feeling of abandonment in the child. “Aanoo, you want to go shopping with me?” she asked hopefully.
Anya beamed immediately. “Yessss! Lessgo Aachi.”
Aashi grinned looking at Anika. “Let’s take her out for a while Bhabhi. It’s a big change for her too and she is going to feel lonely till Saahil and Rudra come back.”
Anika looked fondly at her sister-in-law. “Ok deeyar. Lessgo.” she said laughing.
At the boutique, Soumya hung a set of clothes on a rack. She recalled that morning when they had arrived at the store. Soumya’s conjecture had been confirmed even further upon seeing Shikhar’s car parked outside the boutique. Inside the boutique Simran and she had found Priyanka and Shikhar side by side, discussing a display of clothes.
They had turned around upon seeing them.
“You guys finally got here.” Shikhar had said.
“Yes bhaiya, the traffic was the worst I have ever seen.” Soumya had said quickly. “Something to do with an accident and road blockage. It was terrible. Good thing you guys left before. At least someone got here on time to get the work started.”
“If only we had known you had left, we would have also started early and not gotten stuck in that horrible traffic.” Simran had said pointedly, resulting in a very awkward silence for a couple of minutes.
“Sorry Simran. It was all my fault. I wanted to discuss something important with Priyanka and gave her little time to inform you guys.”
The matter had ended there followed by Shikhar saying bye to them. Now, as Soumya hung the last piece of clothing on the rack, she remembered the meaningful glance she had exchanged with Priyanka. In her very unique style, Priyanka had silently accepted the truth and in her own unique way, Soumya had expressed her deep happiness with an open grin. Just like that, the two best friends had understood each other without exchanging a single word. Soumya adjusted the last dress, a floor length, crimson and brocade suit with a high waist, full skirt, and sheer long sleeves. She looked at the piece, admiring the dress as well as her best friend’s incredible talent.
“Beautiful!”
Soumya heard the voice behind her followed by a pair of arms encircling her waist. She turned around sharply to find her eyes level with base of Rudra’s throat.
“When did you get here?” She asked feeling very happy to see him there.
“About ten seconds.” Then looking back at the dress, he smiled mischievously. “Let’s put that dress on hold. I’ll ask Prinku to put sold tag on it.”
“Why?” Soumya asked bewildered vaguely conscious that his arms were still around her. She cautiously removed them only to find that he casually placed his right arm around her shoulder again.
“For you! You are quite slow thinking for a scientist. Our engagement is coming up. You’ll look nice in that dress.”
Soumya turned to look at him as they walked towards the other end of the store where Priyanka and Simran were working. ” Why? Have you already told someone?” She asked looking surprised.
“What? No. But clearly, our engagement will come up soon. Seriously! You are too slow.” Rudra said pushing her buttons even more.
Soumya felt very irritated at his constant teasing about her being slow. ” I am slow huh? Ok how about this. Let’s ask Priyanka to put two dresses on hold. Now keep thinking why I said that. Mr.
Fast!”
Rudra looked completely dumbfounded. “Two? I am not wearing a dress for our engagement. Sumo! What did you mean?” He shouted as Priyanka looked up from her work to see them and Soumya walked towards her.
” She couldn’t have meant that I’ll wear that dress. Then why did she say two dresses? Who will wear the second? ” Scratching his head, he walked over to Priyanka.
Back at the mansion Pammi paced in Pinky’s room. Her constant moving finally got to Pinky who was trying to concentrate on her TV show. “Oye Pammi. Kyu pendulam ki tarah hili ja rahi hai. Sit in one place. I am getting hadache because of you.” she said frowning at her friend.
“You are getting a hadache?” Pammi seethed. ” My heart is attacking! Why did Rudra say noone has to settle him. Does he have a girlfriend? Pinky, I came because you said you will get Simmi married to Rudra. Now if Rudra has a girlfriend…after all he is a young rich boy…must be having hobbies of such boys…but he should marry my Simmi…she is…”
Pinky felt an unexpected surge of anger rising in her at Pammi’s words. ” Just stop! What do you mean I said I will get Rudra married to Simmi. I said Simmi is very beautiful, come here, I will talk to Jethani ji, and there is a good chance of their marriage. Now if Rudra has a girlfriend, which you don’t even know, then it is not my fault . And tu hoti kaun hai is ghar ke ladke pe comment karne waali…you know nothing about their hobbies. Shukra manaa teri beti is batter than you in brains…so abhi bhi chance hai…but hogaa wahi jo Rudra chaahega so mera dimaag kharaab na kar. After rolling a lot of paapads I have gained wisdom about how to treat children!”
Looking at Pinky’s angry Avatar, Pammi swallowed back her anger. ” O naraaz na ho Pinky. Wo to main ghabra gayee the. Chal serial dekhein.”
Pinky stared back at her friend, then decided to let it go. They sat down together and started watching their program but Pinky’s mind kept going back to Pammi’s behavior.
It was late afternoon when Anika, Aashi, and Anya came back from their shopping trip. Anya looked radiant in her new pink dress. Once in the big hall she ran to Saahil holding a bag that dragged behind her.
“Baaya! I get you gift!” She said shouting in her excitement. Saahil quickly moved away from his plate getting ready for the body slam. As expected, she ran right into him, hugging him and spilled the contents of her bag. A t-shirt, Saahil’s favorite comic books, a spinning toy he had wanted, and a baby one piece tumbled out. Saahil jumped with joy looking at all the unexpected gifts and gave Anya a tight hug. ” Aanoo, you are the best sister in this world.” Then he stared at the baby clothing. ” Who is this for?” He said with a look of incredulity.
“For baby” Anya replied digging out a chocolate bar from the bottom of the bag. She unwrapped it with Saahil’s help, broke it in half and gave one piece to Saahil. The duo sat on the floor eating their chocolate.
“What baby?” Saahil asked enjoying his treat.
“Aanoo be big sister. Aachi will bring baby.” she said licking the chocolate off her lips.
Saahil stopped eating. He looked at Anya who was still engrossed in her candy. Then he looked straight ahead and saw smiling faces of Aashi and Anika in front of him. He grinned widely, got up, and went and hugged Aashi who hugged him back.
“Aashi di, waise to kuch bhi chalega, but if possible can I please have a younger brother. Since I already have Aanoo.” he said hopefully, sending both Aashi and Anika in fit of laughter.
“Tathaastu.” Rudra said as he walked in with Soumya, Priyanka, and Simran. ” May your wish be granted my child.” he said ruffling Saahil’s hair.
“Arrey! You guys are back early.” Anika asked surprised to see them there.
“You forget bhabhi, who was helping them today. I, me, myself! Of course all the work got wrapped up and everything is set up.”
Soumya rolled her eyes while Priyanka laughed. ” It was mostly because Simran has incredible stamina and also because my youngest bhaiya and bh…best friend helped me today.”
Simran smiled blandly at the happy family scene. “Thanks for giving me so much credit Priyanka but clearly, you are the star of it all. Anyway, I want to lie down for sometime so I’ll catch you later.” Simran said quietly and went towards the stair case.
“Sim Run. I get you choklit.” Anya said running after her making her turn around.
As Simran stopped down to take a golden foil wrapped candy from Anya’s tiny fingers, she suddenly felt all ferocious energy leave her body. She blinked back the sudden moistness in her eyes. “Thanks boss.” She said smiling at the imp. Then she turned around and went up the staircase to go to her room.
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Thanks for reading Everyone. I have tried. Hope it won’t disappoint. Sorry about the delay in posting. It took longer than I thought it would to be completed. By the end I had no patience left for proofreading, so sorry for the typos. Please comment if you can ☺