"Aul jab aapki chhutti hone vaali hoti hai Mumma... Uchh chhe pehle Laddoo muje dobaala Pinny Aunty ke paachh chhol (chod) aate hai..."

"Lekin main aapko yeh baat btaana bhool gayi Mumma..."

"Chholly Mumma...", Mimi felt so sorry that she hadn't told Anumaa about it.

Anokhi caressed her face and said, "Kya hua Mimi Shona..."

"Aap sorry kyu bol rhe ho ?...", she asked gently.

"Mumma..."

"Aapne muje kitchen chhe baahal jaane chhe mana kiya tha naa... Lekin main Laddo ke chhaath unke ghal jaati thi... Aul aapko yeh baat btaana bhi bhool gayi Mumma... Ichhliye bala (bada) vaala chholly Mumma...", she said, her face sad.

Anokhi's heart melted as she listened, and she cupped her face, saying, "Mimi..."

"Aapko pta haina..."

"Mumma aapse bohot pyaar karti hai... Isliye maine aapko mana kiya tha ki aap kahi baahar mat jaana... Kyunki agar Shona ko kuch ho gaya toh Mumma ka kya hoga beta...", she said, cradling her face.

"Main dobaala fil kabhi aichha nhi kalungi Mumma..."

"Pkka vaala pinky vaala plomish Mumma...", Mimi said as she hugged Anumaa, sincerely promising her.

Anokhi smiled and stroked her back that her little girl understood what she meant to say.

"Achcha Mimi..."

"Aap ek aur baat btaao..."

"Aap Laddoo se dher saari baatein karte the... Toh aap Anumaa ko bhi thoda sa btaaoge ki aap dono kya baatein karte the ?...", she was wondering as to why Shaurya Sir was so attached to her Shona.

"Laddoo ke chhaath toh bohot chhaali baatein hoti thi Mumma..."

"Maine unko aapke bale mein bhi btaaya tha... Aap muj chhe bohot pyaal kalte ho... Aul main bhi aap chhe bohot pyaal kalti hoon..."

Anokhi sat quietly and listened to her. She thought it was strange that she and Shaurya Sir both knew each other but were still unknown to each other.

"Aul aapko yaad hai Mumma..."

"Ek baal (baar) maine aap chhe poochha tha unke Mumma ke baale mein... "

"Laddoo ne muje btaaya tha ki unki Mumma unke chhaath nhi lehti... Un chhe dool (door) lehti hai... Aul ichhliye Laddoo ko lgta tha ki chhaayad unki Mumma un chhe pyaal nayi kalti..."

"Lekin fil aapne muje btaaya tha naa Mumma... Jo hum chhe pyaal kalte hai vo kitne bhi dool ho... Unka pyaal kabhi kam nhi hota..."

"Maine bhi yeh baat Laddoo ko btaaya tha Mumma..."

"Vo bhi apni Mumma chhe bohot pyaal kalte hai Mumma jaichhe main aap chhe kalti hoon..."

"Aul aapko pta hai... Unko uchh din unki Mumma ki bohot yaad aa lahi thi... Aul fil vo lo (ro) bhi lahe the..."

Anokhi, who had been quietly listening to Shona's every word until now, felt her heart sink as she heard Shaurya Sir cry in front of her Mimi, that too remembering Aastha Mam

She was thinking how strange it was that Mimi had no idea that her Laddoo's mother was none other than her beloved "Kulfi", but her attention had now shifted to Shaurya Sir after hearing from Mimi that he had cried in front of her. It started to dawn on her that what he showcased on the outside was the "contrary" of what Mimi had said.

FF : Dil Ibaadatजहाँ कहानियाँ रहती हैं। अभी खोजें