Here's the 3rd chapter.
Enjoy reading.
The last two days were hectic doing the packing of needful things : clothes, accessories, books, laptop, important documents... etc.
Finally the day for their departure from Kapurthala arrived.
"Nikki puttar sab samaan le liya haina", Ramesh asked while lifting a trolley bag.
"Ji papaji", Anokhi replied.
"Mumma, nanu-nani aul momo ko bhi bolo na humaale chhaath chale", Mimi said sobbing.
"Mimi, aap good girl hona to aap pehle rona band karo. Dekho, hum abhi jaha jaa rhe haina vha nanu-nani aur momo hume milne aayenge. Aur aapka jab bhi man karega, tab hum unhe call kar lenge", Anokhi said wiping away her tears but she herself was feeling very sad.
"Meri gudiya... aise rote nhi", Rama said taking her in her arms.
"Gulab-jamun aise royegi to momo ko bhi rona ayega", Raja said faking tears but in reality he was feeling bad too.
"Theek hai to fir pinky plomish kalo , mujhe milne aaoge aap chhab ", Mimi said sniffing.
"Pkka pinky promise meri gudiya", Ramesh said assuring her and caressing her face.
Anokhi touched her parents' feet and Mimi also did the same.
Rama and Ramesh blessed both of them. They prayed they get all the happiness which they deserve.
"Nikki... mera aashirvaad bhi le na, kaam aayega", Raja said grinning and putting forth his feet.
Anokhi looked at him with raised eyebrows and was about to bend and touch his feet when Raja stepped back and interrupted, "Arre... tu to bhaavnaao mein beh gayi, main to mazak kar rha tha."
"Aur main bhi Veerji", Anokhi replied smirking.
Everybody including Mimi laughed at their antics.
"Nikki puttar, dhyaan se jaana aur vha pahunchte hi phone zarur kar dena", Ramesh said.
"Ji papaji, aap itni chinta mat karo... pehle bhi to doosre sheher akele jaa chuki hu main", Anokhi replied absent-mindedly while lifting her bags.
Upon hearing this, a sudden guilt feeling emanated in Ramesh.
"Nikki puttar... tere papaji ne jo kiya tha uske liye use maaf kar de. Lekin ab mujhe apni galti ka pachtava hai...", Ramesh said folding his hands expressing his regret.
Anokhi realised what she just said and then lowering his hands she said, "Papaji, ye...yeh aap kya kar rhe ho... please aap aise mat bolo... mera vo matlab nhi tha. Maine aapko pehle bhi kaha haina papaji ki main un baato ko bhool chuki hu. Agar aap firse aise karoge na to main aapse sach mein naraaz ho jaungi. Ab aap mujhe bhi pinky promise karo ki dobara aap aise nhi bologe."
Ramesh smiled through tears seeing her childishness.
Anokhi hugged him and the rest also joined them.
After sharing the group hug Rama said, "Nikki, dabba kitchen mein rakha hai . Mere saath chal mein deti hu."
They both entered the kitchen and Rama gave her the tiffin box.
Anokhi put it in bag and was about to turn and go when Rama held her hand and said giving her a pouch, "Nikki... puttar ise apne paas rakh. Isme kuch paise hai... aur haan, tu is baar agar mana karegi na to mujhe aur tere papaji ko sach mein bohot bura lagega. Main jaanti hu tune papaji ko bohot pehle hi maaf kar diya hain par fir bhi unki madad nhi li kyunki tu khud ki kaabiliyat dekhna chahti hai aur tu nhi chahti ki paiso ko lekar hum koi chinta kare ya hume koi pareshaani ho. Lekin Nikki... hum to tere mummy-papa haina, hume bhi to humari beti ke liye farz nibhane de."
It was truely touching for Anokhi. This time her father was doing something for her from the heart and he would really regret if she refused. She didn't want her father to live in guilt. He had realized his mistake and amended himself. This was all what Anokhi had wanted from the beginning. Consequently, she took the pouch silently and hugged her mother.
No words were spoken. Their hug conveyed their emotions.
"Mumma, aap sab log apna dhyaan rakhna. Papaji aur aap apni BP ki davai time se kha lena aur Veerji ka bhi dhyaan rakhna", Anokhi said releasing from the hug.
"Haan meri maa, hum sab apna khyaal rakhenge. Tu aur Mimi sambhal kar jaana... aur haan khoob mehnat karna. Mujhe poora bharosa hai meri Nikki jo chahti hai vo use zarur milega", Rama said stroking Anokhi's hair.
They both came to the drawing room and Anokhi was about to step out of the door that's when a car halted at the main gate and a person came out of it.
"Aastha mam... aap?", Anokhi said surprised.
"Haan main... meri beti jaa rhi hai aur main na aaun aisa kaise ho skta hai", Aastha said while closing the car's door.
Everyone smiled listening her.
"7 baj gaye hai... train ke aane ka time ho gaya hai. Signal bhi change ho gaye hai vo dekho...Anokhi, vha pahunch kar mujhe call kar dena", Aastha said to her.
"Ji mam", Anokhi replied and felt good seeing her concern for her.
"Aur time se khana bhi kha lena raat ko", Raja said from behind handing her a polythene containing some Bisleri bottles.
"Haan Veerji", Anokhi said putting the polythene inside her bag.
Aastha and Raja had come to drop Anokhi and Mimi there. They were waiting for the arrival of the train at Jalandhar City Railway Station.
Soon, the train arrived and both the mother-daughter duo boarded the train after bidding an emotional good-bye to Aastha and Raja.
Anokhi had done reservation in AC coach and they were given a lower birth seat.
She was setting the seat by adjusting her trolley on one side and putting the other bags above it when she heard Mimi saying, "Mumma mujhe thhandi lag lahi hai."
Anokhi took out a scarf from one of the bags and swaddled it around Mimi.
"Ab theek hai Mimi?", Anokhi asked setting the scarf around her.
"Haan ab thola galam lag laha hai", Mimi said muffling herself in it.
"Mumma aap bhi aao na chunni ke andal , nhi to aapko thand lag jaayegi", Mimi said very lovingly.
Anokhi smiled at her caring nature and said, "Mumma thik hai Mimi, aapko bhookh lagi hai ?Kuch khaoge abhi?"
"Nhi mumma, baad mein khayenge... abhi to choohe shaant hai", Mimi said.
"Theek hai to fir abhi Mimi kya karegi?", Anokhi asked.
Mimi thought for sometime and then said, "Mumma vo colouring book..."
Anokhi got that she was talking about the one gifted by Aastha mam. She took out the book and colors from her bag and gave it to Mimi. After settling Mimi comfortably on the window side, Anokhi took out a book from the bag and kept staring at it for a while. A sense of enthusiasm arose in her and she started reading it with diligence.
An hour passed. In the meantime, they got their ticket checked by the TT (Ticket examiner).
"Mimi chalo ab khaana kha lete hai", Anokhi said taking out the tiffin box.
Mimi closed her coloring book and yawned cutely. Anokhi smiled at her yawning.
She made Mimi sit opposite her and fed her. Mimi also took a small piece of bread and started feeding her mother with her little fingers very lovingly.
Anokhi smiled and thought that inspite of being a child, Mimi pampers her loved ones and takes care of them like elders. She has got such a doting daughter.
"Mumma hum train chhe kab utlenge ?", Mimi asked while eating.
"Mimi, hum kal train se utar jayenge. Aap abhi khana khaakar so jao aur fir kal subah dekhna hum Delhi pahunch jaayenge", Anokhi said while feeding her the last bite.
"Theek hai mumma", Mimi replied.
After dinner, Anokhi called her mother once and informed her that they both are fine and have had their dinner.
Thereupon, Anokhi put her daughter to sleep in her lap and caressed her head and then she started reading the book again as earlier.
Soon, she too dozed off to sleep holding the book in her hand and the book was titled "AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS by Benjamin C.Kuo"
So, how was it ?
Do tell me in comments😊