Rishtey (Meaning of Relationships) Chapter 57

“Here comes the special dedication from my Nittu to My Ragu maa” announced Manny.
The lights on the stage went off and a spot light fixed on someone. Nitin turned smiling. He was dressed like Prem of Maine Pyar Kiya
Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate
Socha tha maine man mai kahi baar
Wo pehli nazar halka sa asar karta hai kyu iss dil ko bekaraar
Ruk ke chalna…. Chal ke rukna……..
Na jaane tumhe hai kiska intezar
Tera wo Yakeen Kahi mai tho nahi
Lagta hai yehi kyu mujhko baar baar
Yehi sach shayad maine pyar kiya
Ha ha tumse maine pyar kiya

Ragini stood dumb struck as Nitin danced to the song and knelt in front of her
Mere Rang me Rangne wali
Pari Ho ya ho Pariyo ki raani Ya ho meri prem kahani
Mere sawalo ka jawab do….. dona…….

“Yeh thoda zyada hogaya” said Manny chuckling. He got glares from Nitin. “I’m sorry but this much drama doesn’t suit you.” said he and burst out laughing. “Shut up Manny” everyone said in chorus. He stopped laughing and pouted. “Awww senior Ji you look so cute. But whatever you said was right only” said Ragini and gave high five to him. “Ragu maa don’t call me that.” said he. Ragini chuckled looking at him. “Kamal hai. First of all I have to get into this sick look for you and you are only making fun of me” said Nitin pouting and walked from there.

Pal bhar tehel jaavo dil yeh sambhal jaaye Kaise tumhe roka karu
Meri taraf aatha har gham phisal jaaye aankho me tumko bharu
Bin bole baate tumse karu agar tum saath ho
Agar tum saath ho
Behti rehti leher nadiya si teri duniya me meri duniya hai
teri chahato me mai dhal jaati hu teri aadato me
Agar tum saath ho
Ragini placed her head on his shoulder and Nitin held her hand smiling
Tu meri adhur adhuri pyas pyas….
Kabeer forwarded his hand to Rachna and she held it smiling
Tu aagayi man ko raas raas ab to
Ab to tu aaja paas paas hai guzarish
Hai haal tho dil ka tang tang
Tu rang ja mere rang rang
Bass Chalna mere sang sang hai guzarish
Kehde tu ha to zindagi jharno se choot ke hasegi
Moti honge moti raho me
He twirled Rachna and hugged her from back.
The gathering filled with claps

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“Just one more day to go” said Rachna hugging Ragini when they were sleeping in Rachna’s room. “Can we join?” asked Suhani and Radhika. “No….” said both Rachna and Ragini at a time. “Why?” asked Suhani pouting. “Because we are still unmarried and you both are out of the team” said Rachna. “Oh madam. Tomorrow you are gonna join our group forgot that?” asked Radhika. “That is tomorrow na Radhu maa. Today we are unmarried and we will celebrate last day of of bachelorhood” said Ragini holding her teddy. “Gini still with that teddy. I’m warning you dare you take it to your Sasural” said Radhika glaring her. “His name is Golu. And I cannot sleep without him Radhu maa” said she pouting. “You have to learn now” said Suhani.

“Why?” asked Ragini. “Hey Bhagwan. Now who will answer to this why?” asked Rachna glaring Radhika and Suhani. “Wo na Gini you ask Nittu tomorrow ok? Now sleep. You both have to get up early morning na tomorrow?” said Radhika cupping her face. “Okay. Good night” said she smiling and lied on the bed. Radhika, Rachna and Suhani looked at each other. “You have to keep it out of her luggage” said Radhika to Suhani. “Done” whispered Suhani showing thumbs up. All three of them had a group hug and looked at Ragini who was sleeping smiling holding her teddy.
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“I hate you Arjun. You did not take me to Sangeet function” said Shruthi pouting sleeping. “Sweetheart see even I missed my sister’s Sangeet function. You were feeling uneasy from morning. Luckily we attended their mehendi na. In that noises you will feel more uneasy. So my sissi ordered me not to take you there” said he and hugged her. “That’s not fair” she cried. “Now sleep na. Tomorrow don’t you want to attend the marriage?” asked he and she nodded her head pouting. He smiled and patted her head and she dozed off and he kissed her forehead.

“Maa Papa” said Aniket standing at Janaki and Shekar’s room. “Arrey Kethu come” said Janaki calling him inside. He entered the room pouting sadly. “Kya hua bacha?” asked Janaki caressing his cheek. “RD will go from here tomorrow forever na?” asked he with cracking voice. Janaki wiped his tears and kissed his forehead. “Awww mela kethu. She has to go someday na bacha. She is meant to fill Nittu’s home with happiness now” said she cupping his face. He hugged her sad. “I will miss her. Always” said he. “Even me too” said Janaki as tears dropped from her eyes. “You saw Papa?” asked she. “Haa he is RD’s room” said he. She made him sleep on the bed and caressed his hair till he slept. She kissed his forehead and headed to Ragini’s room.

“Shekar” said Janaki. Shekar who was holding Ragini’s baby shoes wiped his tears and smiled looking at her. “This is why you sent her to stay in Rachu’s house so that you can cry here holding her old things?” asked Janaki and sat beside him. “I can’t live without her Janaki. Can’t she stay with us forever?” asked he hugging her. She dragged him out of the hug and cupped his face. “This was bound to happen. I had told you don’t get attached to her so much also. You never listen to me” said she with painful eyes. “I know. But what to do.

She is really a bad addiction. Just like you” said he and smiled through his tears. She smiled a bit. “You remember how she used to jump whenever she wore this shoes. I felt my world was filled of happiness whenever she used to show her first teeth smiling” said he and hugged the little shoes. His phone buzzed. Janaki looked at it and received the call. “Hello ha Nittu” said she controlling her cry. “Janaki maa are you crying?” asked he from the other side. “Na why will I cry?” asked she. “Maa the way I can sense Ragu’s emotions I can sense your and Papa’s emotions. I’m sure he might have flooded your house by this time” said he complaining. Janaki smiled through her tears. “True” said she. “Can I talk to Papa?” asked he. “Sure” said she and handed the phone to Shekar.

“Paapa. Are you crying?” asked Nitin from the other. “No Nittu why will I cry?” asked he. “You are crying don’t lie to me at least” said he. “Okay fine leave all that. You did not sleep yet?” asked Shekar. “No Papa I thought you need me. As I know you might have sent Ragu to Rachu’s home as you don’t want to cry in front of her. Hai na?” asked Nitin. Shekar smiled at his words. “Hmmm” said he. “Papa can I ask you something?” asked he. “I have given my life to you. Now I don’t have anything to give you” said Shekar. “I want something else also” said Nitin. “Ask” said Shekar. “Will you consider me as your son?” asked he. “You are already my son” said Shekar. “Then why are you thinking that your Gini will go away from you? Think you will have one more son in your life. I promise I will never separate Ragu from you people. You only will be her first preference always” said he. Shekar felt proud of him. “I don’t know in which birth I have done what good deed that God sent you in my Gini’s life” said he. “You have given Ragu the personality she is now. You have given her the values she lives by now. You have given her the innocence I love in her. You have given me my life that is the best thing ever” said Nitin.

“Can I talk to my Jamai now?” asked Janaki taking the phone from Shekar. “Oye Nittu dare you join their team” said she warning. Shekar smiled nodding his head. “Janaki maa you think I have a choice in front of your Gini” said he pouting. “Wo tho hai” chuckled Janaki.

Yashodha smiled looking at Nitin. He smiled back at her. “Vishal. Today I feel my son is living his life” said she looking up and smiled through her tears.

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“Today you will not sleep hai na uncle” said Suhani sitting beside Rajinder on the sofa. “Tomorrow Rachu will go away to her Sasural na so not getting sleep hai na uncle?” asked Radhika sitting on his other side. “You will not understand dad’s pain” said he caressing her cheek. “Why won’t we. We do understand our dad’s pain. But more than that we want our dad to realize something” said Suhani. He turned to her. She wiped his tears. “That girls are not parayi. They are always be your daughter may what come. Dad is the first hero of every girl. And it’s an universal truth. Moms will be prepared from the day we are born to send us away. But dads. They will grow us like we are their one half of heart. And we will always be that” said she. He dragged her to a hug and covered Radhika from other side and kissed their foreheads and smiled.