EPISODE 64
KALYANI SADAN,
ANISH’S ROOM,
Aniruddh was sleeping on his bed…. He was in lost in his sweet dreams…. She entered the room and saw him sleeping peacefully…. A smile adorned her lips as she saw him…. She slowly walked towards him, careful enough not to make any sound that would disturb his sleep…. She quickly climbed the bed from the other side…. She looked at him debating with herself whether to disturb him or let him sleep in peace…. After a lot of discussion with herself she decided what to do…. She looked at him and then bent towards him…. But before she could do anything to him, he wrapped his hands around her and she was on top of him…. He opened his eyes and looked at her innocent face…. He started laughing while she made a puppy face…. He smiled at her innocence….
Aniruddh: So what did my princess think that she can trick me…. I very well know whenever you enter this room…. So Amaya, you have to think of better ways to trick your chachu….
Amaya: Not fair chachu…. How do you always know it is me…. You always spoil my plans….
The five-year old Amaya instantly made an angry face and looked away from her dear chachu…. Aniruddh knew the trick to pacify her…. Because he very well knew how to handle his princess…. He counted till three and then started tickling her…. Amaya could never resist tickling and burst into laughter…. The entire room filled with her laughter and seeing this smile crept on Aniruddh’s face….
Hearing the laughing sounds…. Some others also came to the room…. They were happy seeing the scene….
Arjun: It is either Amaya or Siya who are the ones who can make him smile….
Ahana: You are right Arjun…. I don’t what would have happened if Amaya and Siya weren’t there….
Amaya and Aniruddh stopped their tickling session and saw Arjun and Ahana standing at the door looking at them….
Amaya: Mumma, see naa chachu again spoiled my plans….
Arjun: Well if you have to trick your chachu, you need to take lessons from your Papa….
Voice: This is not fair Amaya…. You again spoiled my plans…. Why did you come alone without me…?
The four of them turned towards the voice to see the five-year old Siya looking at Amaya with her cute anger….
Aniruddh: Don’t worry princess…. Amaya has failed again….
Siya: What Amu yaar…. When will that day come when I’ll hear something new…?
Saying so Siya hoped onto the bed and took her place on her Aniruddh chachu’s lap…. Seeing both of them sitting with Aniruddh and Aniruddh smiling at their antics, Ahana and Arjun felt happy and relieved….
Anika: Siya…. Amaya….
Anika entered the room and the scene in front of her brought a smile on her face…. She looked at Arjun and Ahana who reciprocated the same looks….
Anika: If you both are done waking up your chachu…. Come and have breakfast…. Everyone is waiting for you both….
Siya: Yes Mumma…. We are coming….
They both kissed on Aniruddh’s cheeks and took hold of each other’s hand and left the room smiling….
Anika: Aniruddh, you also freshen up and come…. We are waiting for you….
Aniruddh: Yes Bhabhi, you all go…. I’ll come….
AFTER SOMETIME,
Everyone had gathered at the dining table…. As like always Amaya and Siya were telling things from their school and the others were listening to the non-stop talks of the two princesses of the family….
Anika: You both keep quiet for some time and finish your breakfast….
Rudra: Rehne do Bhabhi, they won’t until they have told us each and everything that they want to tell us….
Janhvi: Yes Anika, let it be…. This two make the house feel lively….
Shivaay: Well Badi Maa, the house will feel more lively soon…. Om, Gauri, Vikrant and Sakshi are coming back today evening….
All are happy hearing this news….
Shakti: Finally they have wrapped up everything at Shillong….
Sumitra: Now this house will again be filled with laughter and happiness….
Ahana: Haa Maa, after they had gone the house felt so empty….
Pinky: Where is Aniruddh by the way, isn’t he joining us for breakfast….
Aniruddh: Here Choti Maa….
Saying so he took his seat…. His eyes traveled to the empty seat beside him…. He pushed aside all his thoughts and concentrated on the breakfast that lay in front of him…. Everyone noticed this but no one said anything….
Siya: Chachu, you remember naa that you have promised Amu and me that you will take us to the park today….
Aniruddh: Of course princess, how can I forget the promise I made to you both….
Amaya: So we will go after you finish your breakfast…. Siya and I’ll get ready till then….
The family smiled at the two darling daughters of their family….
EVENING,
LIVING ROOM,
All of them were sitting in the living room talking with each other…. When Aniruddh entered with Amaya and Siya…. The two girls were smiling and looking at their smiles the family guessed that something was different….
Shekhar: You both are smiling like this…. Something has happened….
Siya: Dadu, we have brought something for you all….
Soumya: What have you both brought….
Omkara: Us….
Hearing Om’s voice all looked at the entrance to see Rikara and Vikshi…. All were happy seeing the four of them…. They all entered and greeted everyone and took blessings from all elders…. Rudra hugged Om tightly….
Gauri: We missed you all so much…. Everyday felt like ages….
Sakshi: Bhabhi is absolutely right, we were counting days and waiting for this day when we come back home….
Sumitra: Same was the case with all of us…. Even we were waiting for you all….
Vikrant: Now the heart is at peace…. Home is home after all….
Shivaay: Rightly said Vikrant….
Shivaay and Arjun walked in and Om hugged Shivaay while Sakshi hugged Arjun….
Pinky: Now there is some life back in this house….
They all smiled looking at each other…. Aniruddh just walked back to his room…. All noticed this but didn’t say anything…. No one stopped him as he slowly walked upstairs….
Amaya: What has happened to chachu…. Why did he go?
Rudra: He must be tired let him take rest…. You both tell me what you did at the park….
Siya: We had so much fun…. We played so much and then chachu gave us ice-cream treat….
Amaya: And then we watched a movie also later….
Ahana: So in all you both enjoyed your day very much….
Soumya: But did you miss us….
Amaya: Not at all…. When chachu is there, why would we miss you all….
Shivaay: Oh so no one missed us….
Saying so Shivaay took Amaya and Arjun took Siya in their arms and started tickling their daughters…. The girls laughed and the entire family laughed hearing them….
Arjun: Now say that you didn’t miss us….
Siya: Arjun Papa, don’t tickle naa…. My stomach is aching now….
Amaya: Yes Shiv Papa, please leave naa….
Rudra: No Bhaiyas, don’t stop at all…. Next time they’ll definitely miss us….
Omkara: Oh God Rudra, you haven’t changed at all…. Who are kids they or you….
Rudra: O….
All of them laugh hearing Om’s comment…. While poor Rudy made a puppy face….
AT NIGHT,
ANISH’S ROOM,
Aniruddh was standing near the window…. He was looking at the moon…. How it reminded him that he too was alone despite having a family that loved him so much…. How much he missed her being by his side…. Her smiling face flashed in front of him every time he closed his eyes…. How she used to blush when he brushed her cheeks with his…. How her anklets used to fill his life with music whenever she danced…. The joy her face reflected whenever he was near her…. The moments they had spent in each other’s embrace…. How she used to get angry on small matters and how he used to pacify her…. How she always supported him in all his decisions…. She was not only his wife…. But his other half…. His strength…. His lifeline…. His heartbeat…. His everything….
Aniruddh: Come back Ishu…. I miss you a lot…. Please come back….
He kept looking out the night sky….
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