Chapter 29 – A Bhaiduj special but will it be A Happy Diwali??
As days pass the Maheshwari Mansion slowly starts to move on, things seem to be getting not good but atleast normal for them.
“It’s Diwali next week Maa. And we didn’t get to even celebrate the navratri’s here, not fair for my Bhanja please lets celebrate this festival atleast.”
“Chori! We had celebrated Navratri at the Badi na, and who’s saying no to celebrating Diwali? We will but not grandly, a little less this year.”
“Why so? No we will have a grand celebration this year, I had promised Lav to send the pictures please don’t say like that Badimaa… ”
Annapurna smiles, “Fine, this year the daughters of this house will do all the preparations. You see we have become old and can’t do any more work.”
Uttara beams, “I love you Badimaa, give some lessons to your Devrani also!” she taunts Sujatha who rolls her eyes. “So bhabhi’s I’ll make a list and assign you all your work okay?” Both Pari and Swara nod in a yes while Ragini sneaks out of the discussion.
“Good Morning Patidev!” she hugs Sanskar from behind. He smiles turning to her, “No!”
“No?”
“No Ragini, no means no!”
“But No for what Sanskar?”
He fake smiles at her, “Don’t play with me wify, I know Diwali is coming and you want to spend it with Maa Baba but sorry even I want to spend Diwali with my wify this year. It’s our first Diwali and besides you have already been in Baadi for 15days 6hours and 43minutes Ragini.”
“You really kept the record of it or are you just bluffing?”
“Obviously I recorded it”
“Why?”
“Because I missed you so much!” He holds her from behind and she chuckles, “No, Because you are stupid and who said I want to go to Baadi for Diwali?”
“You don’t?” He asks her happily, “No Sanskar, I won’t plus this time Diwali celebrations will happen here in Maheshwari Mansion. Badimaa gave us the responsibilities and I was here to inform you about that. Huh! and look at you always so selfish!” she turns her face away angrily.
Sanskar pouts cutely and holds his ears, “Sorry” she giggles. “Aww! My babu is so cute!” she kisses his cheek and runs outside. Sanskar turns all red and caresses his cheek, “And yeah, come early from work today Uttara is dividing the responsibilities. If you be late I’ll tell her to pair you up with Laksh and take care of Ruhaan.”
“I won’t be late promise!” he keeps his hand on his head and she laughs. “You better keep your promise” and goes.
“Hey sunshine!”
“Haww, don’t call me that or people will think you’re having an affair.”
“Let people think, I toh love you and that too more than Ragini.” She giggles, “I heard saali’s were addi ghar wali (Sister in law as Half wife) but here the case is completely different.” Sanskar brushes his hair, “Can’t a married man love his sister more than his wife?”
Lavanya pouts, “He can but than what about that married man’s wife? Won’t she mind?”
“Ragini would never mind infact I should be jealous. She’s always talking with you on the phone and see now when we are talking that too about her.”
“Because she is awesome and the bestest you know that kheer turned out so awesome last night. Dad loved it and said Ragini’s a good influence on me brother.” Sanskar smiles, “Brother?”
“How about Bhai?”
“Everything that you call me sounds cute Lav… ” she chuckles, “Thank you, wish that Lucky thought the same way.” He shakes his head, “I know this isn’t fair but can’t you even come for sometime here Lav? Please? I’ll talk to uncle, I mean Mausaji and take his permission also and…”
“Lav!” Harsh screams rushing to her as she falls back in his arms unconscious. He pats her cheek, “Lavanya… Lav… ” he sprinkles some water on her face but she doesn’t wake up, “Hello Lavanya! Lav say something”
“Sanskar, Harsh here. I’ll call you later okay… ” The call cuts and Sanskar gets worried, he picks his coat from the armchair and rushes downstairs, “Maa, Badimaa I’m going to the Malhotra Mansion, something is really wrong.”
He leaves as Annapurna gets worried Swara and Pari console her, “Even Laksh was feeling something weird from few days Maa, he also had left in the morning only to see her.”
“She’s fine now” the doctor says smiling at the trio (Adarsh, Laksh and Sanskar )
“I’ll leave you till outside doc” Harsh takes the doctor out as Adarsh, Laksh and Sanskar rush inside Lavanya’s room, “What the hell happened here Lav?” Laksh yells at her and she closes her eyes afraid.
“You’ll make me deaf one day Brother, calm down or I’ll punch you straight on your nose.”
“I’m serious!”
“Actually, was having a fast for my future husband and fainted due to weakness so stupid na?” she makes an excuse. Laksh stares at her unbelievably, “You’re fasting for someone you don’t even know and risking your health like this, how careless Lav?”
“Exactly, what’s the need to fast you want a good husband, I’ll find one for you but don’t ever do these stupid fasts” Sanskar warns her.
“Laksh, Sanskar enough” Adarsh says sitting next to Lavanya and caressing her face lovingly, “Laksh, inform mausaji about Lavanya and tell him not to worry she’s fine now.” Laksh nods and goes outside. “Sanskar get something for her from the kitchen… ”
Lavanya starts laughing hilariously, “What?” they ask her in unison.
She tries holding her breath, “Actually, Harsh tried getting something from the kitchen for me and I ended up fainting and his soup ended up there next to you.” She points at the soup spilled on the floor and pouts at him, “Raghu Kaka’s daughter wasn’t feeling well so I gave him a holiday and dad doesn’t allow me to cook when he isn’t at home so… ”
“We’ll cook” Laksh says entering the room, “What?”
“Anything! You just say what you want!” seeing Laksh so confident Sanskar joins him, “Yeah, wish what you want Lavanya Malhotra, your Genies will fulfill your every wish today.” He holds Laksh’s hand and they bow infront of her making her chuckle.
“Count it as three!” Adarsh gets up, “Three genies just at your service Ma’am!” Suddenly her phone beeps, “Uh… Fine my genies, cut the vegetables and prepare the basic things I’ll be assisting you today!”
As the trio leave she takes her cellphone and dials a number, “I can’t lie to them Lavanya I’m sorry… ”
She smiles, “You don’t need be Harsh, its me who should say Thank you. Atleast I got some time to spend with them and that’s all I need.”
“Till when Lav? One day they’ll know the truth and then… ”
“Lets just wait till then Harsh, you know I can’t let down Dad. He’s my hero and will do everything for me so just wait I know he’ll get a solution for sure.”
“But… ”
“I love you bye!!” the call cuts and he sits back on the garden bench staring at the sky, “Are you still there? First her Mom dad, her family everyone that she had you made them away, now when she was living just for her Dad you’re taking that life also away from her?”
“Maa, hmm smells so good but for whom?” Annapurna smiles at Swara, “You really think those three idiots will cook something edible for her?” Pari taunts, “Till now Adarsh didn’t even bring a glass of water for me properly, cooking food is like an out of syllabus question for him Devrani ji.”
Ragini comes there giggling, “Shh!” she keeps finger on her lips and nods at her phone, “You should see this Bhabhi, our husbands are so talented I bet you never knew!”
She keeps her phone on the kitchen platform and they watch, Lavanya is shooting her brother’s first attempt to cooking. And they look so adorable trust me when I say that just imagine having brothers who know not even C of cooking but do it just for you…
Sanskar is sitting infront of the cooker waiting for his dal (Lentils) to cook it seems, while Adarsh is trying to make rotis which look like maps of different countries. Laksh is all teary eyed as he wipes his tears cutting the onions in between, both Adarsh and Sanskar start laughing at him.
“Aww look bhai this is how Ruhaan cries when Ragini and Swara torture him with their new new recipes of baby food.” Sanskar and Adarsh share a Hi5 as Laksh frowns at them, “Huh! you are just so jealous of my cutting skills, look at your poor rotis and bhai guess your Dal has done suicide inside the cooker only!”
The Ladies laugh at the other side just then they hear a sound. Lavanya closes her eyes in fear and as she opens the sight in front of her makes her laugh like a maniac. Seems like something went seriously wrong with Sanskar’s Dal, so much so that it jumped out of the cooker and landed straight on the trios faces.
“Happy Daal wali Holi!” Lavanya chirps and the ladies burst out into laughter at the other side. The whole kitchen seems to have become a mess and the boys disheartened as they completely clean it Lavanya consoles them with her cute blabber of how horrible she was when she made tea for the first time and ended up burning the whole container.
The main door bell rings just then and as Lavanya opens it a huge smile comes on her face, “Surprise!” Pari winks at her as they enter with homemade food. “Maa thought to reward her cute little chefs with their favorite food.”
“More of her daughter’s favorite food” Ragini states side hugging Lavanya who smiles at her, “Must say you all do a great job handling my Big brothers.”
The trio’s face lits up with the word Brother, “Finally, you agreed that I’m your BIG Brother.” Laksh emphasizes with a smirk, Lavanya sticks out her tongue at him, “Don’t have high hope’s Brother, Big was for them not for you!”
“But I am elder to you ask Maa if you want where is she?”
“Uh.. Actually Maa said she would stay with Chachiji to look after Ruhaan he was sleeping no so… ” Lavanya’s face falls, “Okay enough if we leave them they’ll go on forever Ragini, Bhabhi lets serve the food even I’m hungry now.” Swara says dragging Lavanya with her to the dinner table, “Must say to drag someone like me you are a really strong woman Bhabhi.”
“This is nothing, I even drag your Brother in the morning till the bathroom and trust me he’s really heavy.”
“I never complain when I practically lift you up at times Swara, not fair!” Swara flushes and hits his arm, “Eat!”
He looks down at the plate, “I don’t eat plates Swara!” Everyone burst out into laughter seems like a happy family at the end not so soon :p
Shireesh rushes inside the mansion and gives his car keys to the watchman as he hears the noises he asks the watchman who replies, “The maheshwari’s have come to meet Lavanya beti.”
He enters the house with his set of keys annoyed but the sight in front of him makes his heart melt. Swara is shown feeding Lavanya lovingly as Laksh shows fake jealousy, the others have a good talk and seeing Lavanya so happy brings a smile on his face which soon changes into a look of worry, “Am I doing something wrong?” he asks himself.
Days pass and Lavanya’s condition seems to get worse, “It’s enough there’s no other way Lavanya beta, why don’t you and your stupid Father understand?” Asha says frustrated. Asha is Shireesh’s Mother, Lavanya’s Dadi (Paternal Grandmother)
“Dadi, don’t call my papa stupid. You know na it’s difficult then why are you not understanding give him sometime he’ll do something.”
“Time? That’s what we specially you don’t have, the cancer is spreading my child.” Shireesh winces at her statement and hides behind the door. “I don’t want to live a life making him guilty and angry. I would rather die thinking my hero did what he can and trust me Dadi, dad would do something for sure.”
Dadi’s eyes are moist as she caresses her granddaughters face lovingly, her head starts stirring the vision gets blurry. She tries to hold on but faints on the bed as Dadi panics, “Lavanya!”
“Laksh!” Shireesh comes yelling inside the Maheshwari Mansion which is by now fully decorated with lights for the occassion of Diwali.
“Laksh!”
Laksh and Swara come down to the hall with others, “Please… Please save my daughter I beg you.”
“Jiju, what happened to Lavanya?” He holds annapurna’s hands and pleads, “I’ll explain you everything first send him with me please. Her life is in danger and only he can save her. Please annu, I beg you…” Annapurna nods staring at Laksh who rushes with him instantly.
“Our speculations were right Mr. Malhotra! Laksh and Lavanya’s bone marrow’s match now we need to do the surgery as soon as possible.”
“She’ll be fine won’t she?”
He stares at Shireesh briefly, “I’ll do the best from my side Sir, at the same time I advice you to pray. Prayers have a lot of power Mr. Malhotra” Doctor pats on Shireesh’s shoulder and leaves.
As the Maheshwari’s start Laxmi pooja at the mansion, here Laksh is being shifted to the OT next to the Lavanya. A tear trips down his cheek as he watches her lying unconscious on the hospital bed. As the operation starts in the hospital, the family members are seen praying. Ragini along with Ruhaan at the Baadi gets to know about Lavanya and rushes to the hospital instantly.
Sanskar is walking infront of the OT restless a hand comes on his shoulder and pats. Sanskar turns back to see a distraught Shireesh smiling at him weakly, “Thank you and Sorry would not be enough to say today, I feel ashamed of myself that I became so selfish and brought her to this…”
“Uncle, Its not your fault you forgot your her hero. And our Lavanya is a brave girl she’ll never let her hero fall weak. She’ll fight and come back like she always does.” Shireesh nods as Sanskar him.
“Sanskar… ” Sanskar walks towards her and is taken by a hug. He smiles through his tears as she buries her head in his chest. “Shh… She’ll be fine Ragini nothing has happened” he takes her face in his hands and caresses it.
“See your scaring him Badimaa.” Sanskar points towards Ruhaan who is in Raginis arms staring at her wide eyed. His eyes too have turned moist seing her thus, “Badimaa is such a crybaby come here Ruh we’ll go to ganu ji and pray for Bua to be fine soon.” He takes Ruhaan into his arms who still has his eyes on Ragini making her smile and nod at him. Ruhaan smiles in reply and staresback at Sanskar who nudges him.
As the pooja comes to an end at the Maheshwari Mansion the phone starts ringing Sujatha rushes to pick it up, “How is she?”
“Sorry Ma’am but isn’t this supposed to be Maheshwari Mansion?”
Sujatha frowns, “No! This is a zoo.”
“Ohh but Sir said this was Mr. Maheshwari’s number”
“No I said know its a zoo”
“Okay and you?”
“What do you want?”
“Give the phone to the ringmaster Mom”
“Oh god…. Wait Sanskar is that you??”
Lavanya and Laksh burst out into laughter as Sanskar pouts at them, “You cant even recognize your own son’s voice so bad.”
The cellphone is on speaker and as Sujatha hears Lavanya laugh a smile spreads on her face, “Ouch!”
“What happened?”
“After coming home you would pull my ears no so I’ giving advanced reaction to that.” Sujatha shakes her head and is about to speak Uttara snatches it from her.
“Dii, How are you now??”
Lavanya smiles as the phone again goes to another hand. “Choti, your family has started to miss you already especially your Adarsh bhai and Papa ji. They are crying like small babies here” Adarsh turns his face to the opposite side and wipes his tears. Durgaprasad laughs heartily, this time Swara snatches the phone from Pari, “We are missing your and my hubby’s stupid fights Lav when are you coming back?”
A sudden silence spreads at both the places, Annapurna comes forward with a smile and takes the phone from Swara, “How are you my child?”
Lavanya is about to speak Shireesh takes the cellphone from Sanskars hand and walks out of the room. Laksh keeps a hand on her shoulder, “Don’t be a spoilt sport If you want I can call Maa again when Mausaji isn’t here.” He winks at her and she smiles.
“Ragini, is this our Lucky only?”
Ragini stares at him confused, “He is talking like a matured person so calmly that too with Lavanya” he turns towards the nurse, “Did doctor hit him on his head? Will my brother be ever fine?”
Laksh stares at him bluntly, “And what happened to you Mr. Maheshwari who hit your head so hard?”
Ragini chuckles, “The brothers are just over emotional Lav… ”
“Emotional and Laksh Maheshwari don’t sound good togather” she makes a sad face. Laksh pulls her hair lightly making her yelp and she tries to hit him back but he runs far from her.
“Sanskar!” she cries like a baby and Sanskar holds Laksh before he could go any farther and pulls him.
“Sorry Sisters order” he makes a puppy face and shrugs his shoulders.
Lavanya makes a happy baby face hitting Laksh lightly and sticks out her tongue at him. Ragini shakes her head smiling at the trio’s childish behaviour.
“It’s too late I think you kids should leave now” Shireesh hands back Sanskar’s cellphone.
Laksh is about to say something Sanskar stops him, “Sure Uncle take care and call us if you want anything.”
Shireesh nods as the trio leave from the room he smiles and sits next to Lav who hugs him happily.
Next chapter would be infact next few chapters would be filled of celebrations and joy, a few big good news to come. So guess the good news and let me tell you there are more than one okay? 😉
Dont forget to do the comments and Keep Reading 🙂