Pooja rang the calling bell.Somebody opened the door.Pooja looked at that person.
It was Sonakshi.
Pooja thought:Is this Sonakshi Maasi?I can’t understand it.
Sona:Who are you beta?
Pooja thought:I can’t tell her who I am without knowing whether it’s Sonakshi maasi or not.If Rohit Maasad is here,it will be a problem also.
Pooja:Rohit uncle is there at home?
Sona:No.Actually Rohit and my in laws have gone for a wedding.
Pooja thought:That means this is Sonakshi maasi.I am so happy that nobody else is there at home.Thank God!
Sona:You did’nt tell me who you are.How do you know Rohit?
Pooja:I…Sonakshi maasi…
Sonakshi was stunned.
Sonakshi:Maasi?
Pooja nodded.
Sonakshi’s lips shivered:Are you my niece?Are you Lakshmi didi’s daughter?
Pooja:Yes Maasi.I am your Lakshmi didi’s daughter Pooja.
Sonakshi became emotional.
Sona:Who else will call me Maasi?
Sonakshi hugged Pooja.Pooja hugged her back.
Sona:You come inside.
They both got inside and Sonakshi closed the door.
Sona:How are Lakshmi didi and Arjun jeeju?
Pooja:They both are happy.It’s just that mom is missing you.She is sad without you.
Sona:Even I miss didi.
Pooja:You both crave to meet each other.And I have come here to meet you both.
Sonakshi:But…
Pooja:You maybe scared of Rohit Maasad and your in laws.But trust me.I will make everything alright.Rohit Maasad himself will unite you both.
Sona:Rohit and his parents won’t change.
Pooja:Maasi…I am telling you that I will make everything alright.Please trust your niece.
Sonakshi nodded with a smile.
Pooja:Do I have any sister or brother?
Sonakshi smiled:Yes.You have a sister named Raavi and a brother named Pulkit.Pulkit is studying in Hyderabad for MD.
Raavi came there calling Sonakshi:Maa!
Raavi and Pooja looked at each other.
Sonakshi:This is your sister Raavi.
Pooja got excited and hugged Raavi:Hi Raavi.
Raavi was confused.
Raavi:Sister?
Sonakshi:Yes.She is my sister Lakshmi’s daughter Pooja.
Raavi was surprised:What?My sister?
Pooja:Yes,we are sisters.
Raavi:I longed to have a sister and finally I got a sister.I am so happy.
Raavi hugged Pooja.
Pooja:I will be staying here for more than a month.
Suddenly Raavi’s face became dull.
Raavi:But how will papa allow it?Papa,dada,dadi,Rani bua..everyone hates your mother.
Pooja:I know that.Don’t let them know that I am your aunt’s daughter.
Sonakshi:I will tell some lie to Rohit.
Raavi:Maa,what if they understand that you are lying?
Sonakshi became upset.
Pooja:We will think about it later.Right now a lie is needed for me to stay here.
Sonakshi and Raavi nodded.
Pooja:Don’t you want to talk to mom?Now no one is there at home.So you can talk to her without any tension.
Sonakshi replied emotionally:Yes beta.
Pooja made a call to Lakshmi.Lakshmi picked up the phone.
Immediately Pooja gave the phone to Sonakshi.
Lakshmi was tensed.
Lakshmi:Pooja!Did you reach there?
Sonakshi:Didi!
For a moment Lakshmi became numb.
Her lips shivered:Sona!
Sona:I am your Sona.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of both the ladies.
Sona:How are you didi?
Lakshmi:I am very happy with Arjun.How are you?How is Rohit to you?
Sona:Rohit…to be frank I could’nt understand him even after living with him for many years.
Lakshmi felt upset.
Lakshmi:He loves you.Right?
Sona:I don’t know didi.
Lakshmi felt sad.
Sona:I am glad that atleast you got your happiness.Do you still dance didi?
Lakshmi:Yes Sona.I take dance classes for children.
Sona:I am happy that jeeju allowed you to do what you like.
Lakshmi smiled:Yes,Arjun is very supportive.You also loved dancing like me.Do you dance now?
Sonakshi became sad.
Sona:After marriage,I stopped dancing.Here everyone thinks that dance is not good for married women of good families.
Lakshmi became dull.
Lakshmi:How are our parents?
Sona:Papa and Maa have changed didi.Seeing my suffocating life and also since they are missing you,they started feeling that they did wrong to you.
Lakshmi was surprised:Really?I am dying to see them.
Pooja took the phone from Sonakshi and told Lakshmi:Mom,chill…after I bring changes in this house,you and papa can come here and meet the whole family.
Lakshmi smiled.
Lakshmi:Did you meet Rohit?Did he allow you to stay there?
Pooja:Not yet mom.He has gone out.But I am sure that he will allow me to stay here.Till then you relax mom.By the way I got a sister here.Sonakshi maasi’s daughter Raavi.
Lakshmi:O!I am dying to see my niece.Like Sona could meet you,I want to hug my niece.
Raavi:Even I am dying to meet my aunt.
Pooja:Be patient guys.Everything will happen.
They smiled.
After the phone call ended,Arjun came home.
Lakshmi went near him.
Lakshmi:Arjun..Pooja met Sona.
Arjun:Thank God that everything is going smoothly.
Lakshmi:Rohit was not there.So I talked to Sonakshi on the phone after years.I feel so happy.
Arjun became very happy.
Arjun:So did you both gossip?
Lakshmi:Gossip?How dare you accuse us of gossiping?
Don’t talk nonsense.
Arjun smiled:Ok sorry baba.
Lakshmi smiled.
Rohit,Naren,Veena and Rani reached home.
They were stunned to see Pooja there.
Naren:Who is this?
All were tensed.
Sonakshi:She is Pooja.My friend Radhika’s daughter from Mumbai.Actually Radhika and her husband have gone abroad for their elder sister’s delivery.They will have to stay there for more than a month to look after their daughter as she had caesarean. Since Pooja was alone,they sent her here.Till her parents return,can Pooja stay here?Please…
Rani:Friend’s daughter?I find it quite fishy.
Sonakshi,Pooja and Raavi got tensed.
Sonakshi:Why is it so fishy Rani di?What is wrong in helping a girl who is alone?Girls are not safe when they stay in a big city like Mumbai.
Rohit:Rani di..Sona is right.Girls are not safe when they stay alone.So let Pooja stay here.
Veena:We are over protective about Raavi.The same way Pooja’s parents will also be protective about her.That’s why they sent her here.
Sonakshi,Raavi and Pooja were relieved.
Rani:But Rohit…how can we make a stranger stay here?
Sonakshi became upset.
Sonakshi:Pooja is not a stranger.She is my friend’s daughter.Radhika and I studied together till she got married and moved to Mumbai.
Rohit held Sonakshi’s hands and said:Sonakshi,you please keep quiet for some time.
Rohit looked at Rani.
Rohit:Sonakshi is right.
Rani:But how can you listen to Sonakshi?Be manly Rohit.
Sonakshi ,Raavi and Pooja got irritated.
Pooja thought:This lady is so irritating.
Rohit:I am not spineless to listen to my wife.
Pooja thought:He thinks that listening to the wife is spineless.How regressive!
Rohit:But Pooja is a young girl like our Raavi.So I support Sonakshi in this.Please Rani di…please don’t oppose it.
Naren:Yes.Rohit is right.
Rani became dull while Sonakshi smiled.
Pooja smiled:Thank you Rohit uncle.You are so sweet.
She hugged him.All were stunned.Rohit did not know how to react.
Naren:A grown up girl is hugging a man?
Pooja:I think in this village,grown up girls do not hug even their father.But in our place,we hug our father also.Rohit uncle is like my own uncle.That’s why I hugged him.I felt a fatherly affection towards him.Sorry if I hurt you all.
Naren:Girls have to stay in limits.Otherwise they will get spoiled.So we have always kept a distance between us and Raavi.
Rohit:Leave it papa.Pooja is from a city.We can’t change her in a day.And she is just a guest here for some days.So just ignore it.
Naren,Veena and Rani became dull while Sonakshi,Raavi and Pooja smiled.Naren,Veena and Rohit walked away.
Pooja whispered to Sonakshi:Rohit Maasad is not such a big kadoos.He has been brainwashed by his family.Otherwise he is good at heart.
Sonakshi smiled.
In the bedroom…
Sonakshi to Rohit:Thank you Rohit for letting Pooja stay here.
Rohit:Why are you thanking me for this?
Sonakshi:You supported my decision against your family member.
Rohit:Not because it was your decision,but because Pooja is a small girl like Raavi.So don’t think that I supported you.
Sonakshi became dull.
Sonakshi:If you had not allowed Pooja to stay here,the poor girl would have been staying alone.So thank you.
Rohit answered roughly:Ok ok.Now you sleep.I feel sleepy.
He lay down on the bed to sleep.Sonakshi smiled slightly.
The next day Pooja met Aarav and told him everything.
Aarav:You fooled Rohit uncle?Poor guy does’nt know who he allowed to stay there and the one he permitted to stay there is going to change his life.
Pooja and Aarav laughed.
Aarav:But what if he catches you red handed and beat me also for supporting you in this game?
Pooja kept his palm on his mouth.
Pooja:You stupid!If you say stupidity,I will seal your mouth.
Aarav showed a sad expression.Seeing that Pooja smiled.
Pooja:You look so cute.
She removed her palm from his mouth.
Aarav:You find me cute when I am sad?I was worried that I could not speak when you closed my mouth.
Pooja:Kiddo…you are pretending to be a kid.You are behaving as if I closed your mouth with fevicol.
Aarav:Yes,i was pretending.I know that though you seem to be cheerful,inside your mind you are tensed about executing your plan.So I pretended to be like that to make you laugh.
Pooja:You read my mind though you just met me one day ago.
Aarav:Maybe because you are an open book to me.
Pooja:I don’t know why.In our first meeting itself you made me so comfortable that I did’nt feel that we just met yesterday.
Aarav:Some friendships are like that.
They smiled at each other.
In college….
Shiva walked after Raavi seeing her.
Shiva:Hey Raavi!
Raavi looked at him.
Shiva:The last day we talked a lot.I mean I talked a lot to you.Still you are not minding me.
Raavi was silent.
Raavi thought:Maa had told me not to ignore Shiva as he helped me.
Raavi:Sorry.
Shiva:Just one word.Why are you so stingy when it comes to talking?
Raavi thought:Even one is too much from me as papa restricted me from talking to boys.
Shiva:Anyways…since we mingled with each other,shall we be friends?
Raavi became nervous.
She thought:Shiva is expecting too much from me.He helped me.So I feel bad to reject his friendship.But I am helpless.
Shiva:Say Raavi.Shall we be friends?
Raavi nodded painfully and walked away.Shiva felt upset.
Shiva:Why she does’nt want my friendship?But why did I feel that she was upset while rejecting my friendship?Maybe because she is not comfortable with me.I have to make her more comfortable so that I will be able to gain her trust.Then she will make friends with me.