Here's the 2nd chapter.
Enjoy reading.
The morning rays fell on Anokhi's face. She felt a cool breeze and slowly, she opened her eyes.
She looked at the clock and saw that it was seven.
She glanced at Mimi who was sleeping so peacefully. She pecked Mimi's forehead, took her clothes from almirah and then went to the bathroom to freshen up.
After a pleasant bath, she was combing her hair in front of the dressing table when she saw in the mirror that Mimi was getting up yawning and rubbing her eyes cutely.
"Good molning Rashgulla mumma", Mimi said innocently.
"Meri Mimi ki ninni poori ho gayi ?", Anokhi said taking her in her arms.
"Haan... Mimi ki ninni poori ho gayi mumma...", Mimi replied.
"Chalo to ab good girl ki tarah brush karke naha lete hai", Anokhi said taking her towards the bathroom.
After bathing Mimi, Anokhi made her stand on the bed and started wiping her hair softly with a towel.
"Mumma aaj main frock pehenungi jo meleko nani ne kal diya tha", Mimi cutely ordered her mother.
"Achcha, thik hai meri pyaari Gulab-jamun", Anokhi said rubbing her nose softly with that of Mimi's.
Anokhi got the blue coloured frock from almirah that her mother had sewn for Mimi herself. She does sewing work in her free time which also earns her some income. She had stitched this dress very lovingly for her.
She made her wear that frock and said, "Meri Mimi to ekdum princess lag rhi hai."
"Mumma main to Cimbrella jaichhi lag lahi hu ", Mimi said with joy.
"Cimbrella nhi Cindrella", Anokhi laughed and said.
"Chalo ab baalo ko kangi kr lete hai", Anokhi tied her hair into a fluffy bun.
"Alle mumma powdel (powder) lagana bhool gaye mujhe", Mimi said with a pout.
"Awww, abhi laga deti hu meri Gulab-jamun ko powdel", Anokhi said caressing her head.
She took some ponds powder and poured it on Mimi's neck and rubbed softly.
"Lo ho gyi meri princess ready", Anokhi said kissing her cheeks.
Rama was setting the table for breakfast when Ramesh came with a newspaper and on seeing the empty chairs, he said, "Nikki abhi tak uthi nhi ?"
Rama looked at the clock and said, "8 baj rhe hai. Aa jayegi thodi der mein... kal to vaise bhi bohot der se soyi thi."
"Aaj to usne Aastha madam se milne bhi jaana haina ?", Ramesh asked.
"Haanji... jaane se pehle aakhri baar ke liye milne jayegi Nikki", Rama replied.
"Kal ke baad ye ghar soona-soona ho jaayega... meri Nikki aur Gulab-jamun chale jaayenge...", Ramesh said being a little bit emotional.
"Dekhiye... bura to mujhe bhi lag rha hai. Lekin aap ye bhi to sochiye, humari Nikki kitni badi ho gyi. Vo apna sapna poora karne akele Delhi jaa rhi hai. Aur is baar uske papaji bhi uske saath hai", Rama said with a faint smile.
Ramesh got reminded of an incident and said expressing displeasure with himself, "Pichli baar to use meri vajah se apne hi ghar se..."
Before he could complete Rama said calming him, "Ji dekhiye, ab purani baato ko yaad karke koi faayda nhi. Aapko aapki galti ka ehsaas hai, yeh hi bohot badi baat hai aur Nikki ne bhi to aapko maaf kardiya haina."
Ramesh looked towards her and said, "Maine tere saath bhi to bohot bura vyavhaar kiya tha. Mujhe to kabhi-kabhi aisa lagta hai ki maine jo kiya uske baad main maafi ke layak hi nhi hu. Apni hi beti ki shaadi zabardasti...aur...aur doosri b..."
"Bhalla ji... chodiye na in baato ko. Aap ye sochiye ki humari Nikki firse ek nayi shuruat krne jaa rhi hai. Use hum sabka saath chahiye. Aur use Mimi ko bhi to sambhaalna hai. Vo kabhi kisiko samajhne nhi deti pr main jaanti hu... use Mimi ki sabse zyaada chinta hai. Nikki uske liye kuch bhi kr skti hai", Rama said controlling her tears.
"Haan Rama, main...main bhi jaanta hu, Nikki Mimi se bohot pyaar karti hain k...kyunki...", words chocked in his throat.
"Sambhaaliye khud ko Bhalla ji, Nikki abhi aati hi hogi... vo aapko aise dekhegi to uska dil dukhega.", Rama said sopping up her own tears.
"Good molning Naanu-Naani", a voice came from the stairs.
Ramesh wiped off his tears and then composing himself, he looked towards the stairs. There, Mimi was standing with her teddy bear.
"Meri Gulab-jamun uth gayi ?", Ramesh said walking towards her and taking her in his arms.
"Haan meli ninni poori ho gyi, ab mele pet mein choohe daul lahe hain ", Mimi whined.
"Chalo fir jaldi se naashta kar lete hai, fir choohe shaant ho jayenge", Ramesh said settling himself on chair and Mimi on his lap.
Rama smiled seeing them.
"Mumma aaj naashte mein kya bana hai", Anokhi asked while descending down the last stair.
"Aaj to aaloo ke paraanthe banaye hai", Rama replied.
"Alle vaah palaanthe", Mimi clapped gleefully.
"Veerji chale gaye ?", Anokhi asked while sitting on the chair.
"Haan Raja to aaj jaldi chala gya office. Uski meeting haina aaj manager ke saath", Rama replied while serving the paraanthas.
"Achcha...", Anokhi replied.
"Naanu meleko jaldi se khilao palaanthe. Choohe abhi bhi daul lahe hain", Mimi ordered.
"Achcha ji... yeh lijiye memsaab", Ramesh said while he took a morsel out of parantha and put it in Mimi's mouth lovingly.
Anokhi and Rama were looking at them with great affection.
Everybody ate their breakfast and then went to their respective work.
"Mumma... mumma ye wala lena hai", Mimi said pointing towards a pink bottle of powder while pulling the hem of Anokhi's kurta.
"Pond's dreamflower", Anokhi read what was written on the sticker of the bottle.
"Achcha to yahi wala lete hai Mimi ke liye", Anokhi said putting the bottle in her basket.
Anokhi put some more essentials inside her basket like toothpaste, sanitary pads, soap... etc.
After that, she went to the counter and paid the bill.
"Meri Gulab-jamun kaisi hai ?", the woman asked taking Mimi in her arms.
"Main bohot achchi hu. Aap kaichhe ho Kulfi?", Mimi said wrapping her small hands around her.
She left out a chuckle and said, "Anokhi, Mimi na tumhari hi tarah anokhi hai. Uske paas ek anokha gun hai, jisse bhi milti hai usko kisi sweet dish ka naam de deti hai."
"Aapko to pata hi hai Aastha mam, Mimi ko mithai bohot pasand hai isiliye to sabhi Mimi ko pyaar se Gulab-jamun bulate hai. Ye uski favourite mithai hai", Anokhi said smiling.
"Mujhe ye Kulfi naam na bohot pasand hai... jab Mimi ne pehli baar mujhe is naam se pukaara tha tab mujhe bohot achcha laga tha. Isse pehle... kisine mujhe aisa naam nhi diya sivaaye u... a...achcha batao kal meri Mimi ne birthday par kya-kya kiya?", Aastha was about to say something due to slip of tongue but managed to cover up.
"Aap kal mele chhe milne nhi aaye . Gulab-jamun ab Kulfi chhe katti hai", Mimi cutely complained with a pout.
"Awww, meri pyaari bachchi. Kulfi ko kal kuch zaruri kaam aa gya tha isliye vo nhi aa paayi bachcha. Please aap Kulfi ko maaf kar do nhi to use bohot bura lagega", Aastha requested sweetly.
"Thik hai, Gulab-jamun ab Kulfi se abba hai", Mimi said hugging her beloved Kulfi.
Anokhi smiled seeing the exchange between the two.
Aastha placed a soft kiss on her forehead and asked, "To batao Gulab-jamun ko Kulfi se kya gift chahiye?"
"Mujhe to kissi chahiye thi, aul vo to mil gayi", Mimi replied happily.
"Meri Gulab-jamun na itni pyaari hai ki man karta hai humesha ke liye apne paas rakh loo", Aastha said cuddling her.
"Par mere paas to Gulab-jamun ko kuch dene ke liye hai", Aastha said taking Mimi towards the table.
She opened the drawer and took out two books and a box.
"Yeh meri Mimi ke liye hai", Aastha said showing them to Mimi.
"Wowwww... kalals !!! (colours)...", Mimi said beaming with joy.
"Thank you Kulfi. Meleko ye bohot achcha laga", Mimi said kissing Aastha's cheeks.
"Haan, ye dekho Mimi... in pictures ko tum colour karna inse", Aastha said while turning some pages of one of the books.
"Yeh to colouring book haina mam ?", Anokhi went to them and said.
"Haan Anokhi... yeh colouring book hai aur yeh wala picture book hai", Aastha said showing them to Anokhi.
"Thank you mam, yeh bohot hi pyaara gift hai. Mimi ko drawing karna bohot pasand hai", Anokhi said thanking her.
Aastha made Mimi sit on the bed and she started colouring one of the pictures excitedly.
Then they both sat on the sofa and started their conversation.
"Achcha Anokhi, tumhari packing vagerah ho gyi?", Aastha said on a serious note.
"Nhi mam, abhi tak nhi hui. Kuch zaruri samaan kharidna tha. Abhi main market hi gyi thi. Ghar jaakar shuru kar dungi packing", Anokhi replied.
"Achcha", Aastha replied.
She looked at Anokhi and from her expression she realized that there must be a turmoil of emotions going on inside her.
"Anokhi beta... dekho main jaanti hu tumhare andar abhi kya chal rha hai. Main bas itna hi kahungi ki tum bohot bahadur ho. Jis tarah tumne pichli baar himmat nhi haari thi vaise hi is baar bhi tum himmat mat haarna. Aur sabse badi baat is baar to tumhare papaji bhi tumhare saath hai", Aastha said cupping her face and encouraging her.
Anokhi hugged her mam tightly and said, "Mujhe bohot dar lag rha hai Aastha mam. Main... main Delhi jaa to rhi hu bohot sapne lekar lekin pta nhi unhe poora kar paungi ya nhi..."
"Aur Aastha mam, main...main Mimi ki parvarish achche se kar paungi na?", Anokhi asked hesitantly.
Aastha broke the hug and looked directly at her eyes and said, "Anokhi, nothing is impossible in this world. We can do all that we can think and we can think all that we haven't thought of till date. Don't be afraid, always give your best. Mujhe pta hai... tumhe abhi Mimi ki hi sabse zyaada chinta hai. Lekin dekhna, mujhe poora bharosa hai Mimi ka future bohot achcha hoga kyunki uski mumma jo itna pyaar karti hai usse."
Anokhi smiled through tears and hugged her mam again. Her Aastha mam is the source of strength for her. She always motivates her.
"Thank you mam, mujhe humesha aise motivate karte rehne ke liye", Anokhi said breaking the hug.
Aastha pulled her pallu and gently wiped Anokhi's tears and then said, "Good girl aise rote nhi."
With that both left out a chuckle.
"Aastha mam, main jaane se pehle Nanu-Nanu se nhi mil paayi. Ab kitne dino baad main yha aayu pta nhi... mujhe unki bohot yaad ayegi", Anokhi expressed her sadness.
"Anokhi... maine unko bataya tha tumhaare Delhi jaane ke baare mein. Unhe bhi tumse milne ka bohot man tha... lekin kya kare vo Haridwaar gaye hue haina..."
Soon, after talking for an hour, Anokhi bid good-bye to Aastha by giving her a tight hug and she left for her home.
So, how was it ?
Do tell me in comments 😊