It was a regular Saturday morning in Shantivan where everyone was enjoying their breakfast amidst varied plans over the weekend. Varied because, as much variations the assembled Raizadas had in their age groups, their "ideal weekend" plans were as different.
Like Khushi and Payal were going to go for shopping in the evening for Payal's upcoming baby, Manorama mami was going to take Piya to her singing class, Akash, Mamaji and Arnav were mulling over having a quick meeting with their investor who was only available this afternoon for a bit, Kavish had an important match to watch this evening, Pari had a play-date with Teddy and Aru, well, Aru had a lot of plans too! Like some hide-n-seek with Piya, watch her favorite songs on Akash-chachu's phone, talk with Pari and Teddy(Aru would do the talks of course :P), and then she was looking for her own "meeting" with her mamma-dada with lots of cuddles and piggyback-rides on Arnav's back, something he used to do with her and Pari a lot! Right now, seated in her dada's lap, Arnav was feeding her a small bite of butter-toast when she reached for a salt-shaker on the dining table.
"Aru, No! that's salt, baby, that makes food salty. You don't need it for your toast hai na?" Khushi who was in next chair stopped her. They were training the twins about "tastes" these days.
"Anjali bitiya kab aa rahi hain?" Mami ji asked. Anjali was supposed to join them for lunch today.
"Aa rahi hai nai, aa gayi mamiji (she is already here mamiji)." Came Anjali's voice from the background. There stood Anjali, her 4 years old son Pratham, and Anjali's mother in law, Sarita.
Anjali had met her now-husband Navin Sharma more than 5 years ago at an event organized by her NGO. He was a widower and childless. They instantly connected and got married, which brought another celebration in Raizada house shortly after Kavish was born. Anjali's son Pratham came a year later and everyone was happy to see her settled. Her mother-in-law, Saritaji however was a difficult lady. The only good thing was she treated Anjali well. So no one said anything when Saritaji's backhanded comments and taunts offended them.
After a round of hugs and taking blessings from nani, Anjali joined them on the breakfast table. However, she felt bad that Arnav did not even get up from his chair and continued to feed Aru her breakfast.
"Hello mamu, hi Aru." Pratham greeted him and Aru and was about to pull Aru's cheeks but Arnav shielded her. Everyone knew Arnav didn't like anyone pulling his babies' cheeks, he didn't trust anyone (except himself and Khushi of course).
"hey young boy!" Arnav greeted back and Pratham gave a small smile before taking his seat. Anjali once again didn't like her Chote treating her son dismissively.
--*--
After the breakfast, as adults were lounging in the hall, kids were playing around, Kavish with newest fascination, his brand-new car (albeit a toy-version), a shiny black Mercedes S-class!
Arnav had gotten a toy-model of Mercedes S-class for Kavish, from his recent U.S. trip and to everyone's surprise, it had caught Kavish's fancy. Until now they had seen him only giving attention to cricket with this much passion, and when Arnav couldn't get anything cricket from the U.S., he had taken a chance bringing this car. But to his relief and surprise, Kavish had been crazy about it!
"Wow. Its so cool, mujhe bhi chahiye." Pratham said trying to reach out for the car, but Kavish didn't let him touch it. Pratham ran to his dadi, asking for help.
"let him play too beta, he's your brother no?" Saritaji tried to convince Kavish, which got all adults' attention.
"But he breaks my toys. I don't want to give this one to him." Pratham always used to play nasty, break Piya and Kavish's toys and trouble them a lot but everyone kept ignoring it to not get into kids' fights.
"Nahi todega beta, let him play hmm?" Anjali coaxed Kavish, and trusting her Bua, he reluctantly gave the car to Pratham. But just like Kavish had said, as soon as he got it, Pratham lifted the car, ran to his dadi's lap and trying to run the car in air as if it was airplane, and then he dropped it!
As expected, the car broke! There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, making the atmosphere tensed. But Pratham had no sign of guilt on his face.
Kavish was on the verge of tears and Khushi could sense it, so she quickly came to his side, "Chiku, lets make jalebis hmm?" saying so she pulled her son towards the kitchen.
Once they were out of sight, Arnav turned to Anjali, "Pratham should behave, di" making her feel more embarrassed and offended but before she could apologize, her mother-in-law intervened,
"So what Arnav beta? Khilaune tutate rehte Hai (toys keep breaking)" Saritaji arrogantly replied
Arnav shut his laptop with a thud in annoyance and left for his room. He of course would immediately order another one of the same model online, but he didn't like the way Anjali's mother-in-law was spoiling Pratham.
--*--
Khushi had made halwa-puri as a weekend special (and jalebis for her Chiku) and HP had just finished serving, when Pratham snatched a jalebi from Piya's hands and started laughing.
Aru saw this and narrowed her eyes. She had to do something and then her eyes fell on the salt-shaker! Using her recent knowledge, she took the salt-shaker and taking advantage that Pratham was looking at his dadi, she sneakily sprinkled salt in his bowl of halwa. The only one who noticed this was Arnav and he felt amused at his mischievous daughter! She did know how to protect her family!
Pratham took a spoonful of halwa and chewed it and then immediately spit it. Aru started clapping her hands, giving away that she was behind this! Pratham flared his nose in anger and turned to his dadi for help. But this time, Nani spoke, "its ok beta, she is your baby-sister hai na?" leaving no room for any retort from Saritaji!
Pratham looked at Anjali next for some help, but she just gave him an eye blink to say 'let it be'.
--*--
After a while, almost as they were done with lunch, Anjali got a call and left from there. Pratham's attention went to Pari. She was seated in Khushi's lap and HP had just got a bowl of piping hot spinach soup for Pari, as she didn't eat anything else much. Just them Khushi remembered Pari liked croutons in it and thought to get it herself, making Pari seat on the chair by herself but she knew Arnav was there just on the other side.
Pratham looked at the steaming soup and noticed Arnav was engrossed on his phone, so taking advantage Pratham whispered in Pari's ears,
"Pari, see a magic? keep your hands above this bowl, I'll show you a magic." Pratham said pulling Pari's hand above a bowl of piping hot soup and just as she did, he was about to push her hand down into the bowl when Arnav noticed on time and picked her,
"Pratham! ARE YOU MAD? She would have got burnt dammit!" Arnav quickly lifted Pari and shouted at Pratham like he had done never before!
"Kya hua chote?" Anjali who had gone out to attend her husband's called rushed hearing his loud voice.
"Di, Pratham was about to burn Pari's hand, kitna bigdata ja raha hain ye (he is getting spoiled)."
"But nothing happened right?" it was Pratham's dadi making everyone shocked with her stance
"So should I wait till something happens and Pratham hurts her?" Arnav wasn't going to take anymore of this! Enough was enough.
"Toh aap apne baccho pe dhyan de na (so you take care of your kids no). Why don't you pay attention to them? Beta toh bass khelta rehta hain pata nahi padhai karega bhi ki nahi(son is always into cricket, who know if he will even study or not) and daughters are no less either. Ek bighdi hui hai and dusri bolti hi nahi (one is already spoilt and second can't speak and maybe never), who knows if she's deaf-" Sarita had started showing her verbal diarrhea like always
"Enough aunty! I will not hear another word against my kids, especially when it's such a rubbish. Behtar hoga agar aap apne pote pe dhyan de and teach him some manners and how to behave!"
"Chote?" Anjali knew her mother-in-law was always a bit too much but since when her chote started accusing and using that tone for her son?
"Arnav ji please calm down. Its ok, let it go." Khushi tried to calm him down, keeping her hand on his shoulder
"No khushi, not today. This needs to stop now. Sorry Di but Pratham needs to behave. We all have seen how he always creates nuisance and today he was about to burn Pari's hands. I won't tolerate it." Arnav said with a no-nonsense tone.
"He is your nephew chote, how can you say so?" Anjali said in her usual soft-voice
"yes, he is my nephew just like Pari is you niece. I and Khushi have always tried to ignore Pratham's mischiefs but now it is high time to discipline him. So my nephew who is your son is wrong here di and if you can think only as a mother then I have nothing to say." Arnav calmly yet firmly told her and pretty much conveyed this was end of discussion.
Soon after that Sarita insisted on leaving with Pratham, making an excuse of his nap time while Anjali didn't know how to decipher what happened today!
One thing became clear to her, there were 4 more stakeholders in Arnav's list of priorities now (his kids and Khushi) and she probably was not as important anymore!
--*--
Later that night, Khushi and Arnav were seated by the poolside, 2 cups of coffees to bring warmth on the winter night when Khushi broached the subject.
"I wish things didn't come to this, like they did today." she said and heard Arnav sigh. She knew this was difficult for him too. Afterall who other than her knew what Anjali di meant to him?
"hmm. I know sweetheart. But I wish Di understood and saw things for right and wrong instead being biased. I wish she could be my kids' bua too as much as I am Pratham's mamu."
Khushi kept her head on his shoulder, while her hand went to hold his. Maybe Di will understand one day?
--*--
A/N – Had a lot to compress in this chapter. Hope it came out well.
Yes over the years, relations and priorities change and I expect Arnav's would now be Khushi and their kids and he will no longer be a blind-supporter of his Di!
I'll be posting 10 years in future sneak-peek next week, so stay tuned.