I am posting this before receiving a satisfactory response because @paianjalir requested me to update.
Please be a little considerate and respond a little better. It is just a request.
I will respond to the comments asap.
Best
Manisha Krishna
In Abhimanyu's room:
Abhir and Roohi were both very happy as things between them got sorted. Abhir looked at the sticky note on Roohi's side and checked for the note his Dad might have left for him. He found it almost immediately and his face was adorned with a beautiful smile as he read through it.
It said - "Good morning Beta! Sorry! I had to rush but jaldi aane ki try karunga. Khake medicines le lena please. Anu bhi nahi hain yaad dilane keliye. Rest karo. You need it. Love you Bacha! - Papa"
Abhir took the sticky note and rushed to his room. Roohi followed him only to see him sticking them in a diary he maintained from when he was a child. Abhir had almost all the sticky notes or letters their father left for him ever since he was a kid, stacked safely in a diary.
He is extremely careful about its maintenance and equally possessive about it. Even though he hated when Abhimanyu left without meeting them, the sticky notes kind of worked on him. Their father is too smart to not notice that and put it to use.
Roohi felt too stupid for not thinking of them while she was trying to pacify Abhir. May be he would have given in much sooner and she could have atleast, effectively gotten her point across. Because Abhir was hell bent on not giving her any attention.
She hugged Abhir from back and placed her chin on his right shoulder.
"Kya soch rahi ho Di?" He observed her body language and asked her.
"Kuch nahi yaar! Bas yeh soch rahi thi ki maine kitna pareshan kardiya sabko. Bina baat ke dara diya. Sabne maaf toh kardiya per mujhe lagta hain ki kahi na kahi woh trust mujhpe itni asani se wapis nahi ayega."
Roohi sadly stated her thought process.
"Di! Ab galti hui hain, aapne sorry bola. Aapko maafi mili. First stage toh khatam hogaya na..." Abhir tried to cheer her.
"I know. But agar mujhe Poppy punish karte na, toh kam bura lagta. Lekin mujhe pata hain woh aisa kuch nahi karenge." Roohi sadly said.
"Kyun? Aap aisa kyun bol rahi ho?" Abhir enquired.
"Kyunki unhe pata hain mujhe meri punishment mil chuki hain. Sab ka MISTRUST. Us se badi punishment mereliye nahi ho sakti."
Abhir cut her off by saying, "Papa ne socha toh sahi hi na Di. Aap already regret kar rahe ho. Woh aapko kuch aur kyun karne bolenge?
Woh toh jaise hi humein galti realise hojati hain ache se, tabhi hamara punishment rukwa dete hain. He never wants us to get hurt. Nor he lets us." Abhir spoke proudly.
"Wahin toh! Poppy bahut jaldi maaf kardete hain. He has a big heart but baki sab nahin karenge na aisa. Sab Poppy jaise softie thodi hote hain." Roohi whined making Abhir chuckle.
"Aapne Chachu ko meanie bola na? Toh seedha seedha bolo na. Kya lapet ke bol rahe ho?" Abhir taunted. Roohi paled.
"Tujhe aisa kyun lagta hain. Maine aise thodi bola tha. Chup kar tu." Roohi tried to shut him up.
"Acha! Zara socho, Maasi ne toh aapka side pehle hi le liya. Rohan Chachu bilkul coconut hain. Boldenge aur phir move on karlenge. Papa aur main toh nahi karenge aisa kuch bhi.
Dida aur Gramps zyada hi softies hain. Kuch bol hi nahi pate. Chachu hi bache hain na phir?" Abhir gave her a detailed breakdown and Roohi shrugged.
"Ab bol bhi do kyun sulk kar rahe the aap?" Abhir asked curiously.
"Chachu ne mere phone mein tracking app dala hua hain. Actually 3 days baad koi watch aayegi, jo woh mujhe gift karenge." Abhir didn't let Roohi complete,
"Aur usse woh aapko track karpayenge. He is a genius. Aise idea mujhe kyun nahi aate." Abhir praised Neil and earned a whack from Roohi.
"Abhir! Pata hain yeh sochke bhi ajeeb lag raha hain mujhe. He promised to not interfere much but still..." Roohi stomped her foot and whined again.
"Sorry Di. I am with Chachu on this. He single handedly reduced all our worries and itne se consequences toh aapka jhelna banta hain." Abhir announced.
Roohi squinted her eyes and chased Abhir with a pillow in her hand. They ended up entering Neil's room and Roohi, involuntarily pounced on Neil's bed in a bid to catch Abhir. Abhir chickened out but Neil was woken unceremoniously by Roohi's jump.
"Kya chal raha hain? Nikalo yahan se. Subah subah aatank macha rakha hain. Tum donon ka toh bhagna bhi ban karadena chahiye. Koi control nahi hain. Jab dekho girte padte rehte ho donon ke donon." Neil yelled out in irritation.
He was still sleepy, and it was his sleep that was talking but that didn't earn him any sympathy from the kids. They were offended by his words and decided to instantly avenge their insult by wrestling Neil out of his bed. Neil struggled but Abhir and Roohi together were stronger.
So, they pushed him off the bed and he yelped in pain. The grown-up children enjoyed his plight and high fived each other. But his ordeal woke Neil up completely and grabbed the water jug and splashed it on them both. Abhir ducked but Roohi was drenched.
Abhir and Neil laughed at her, and Roohi chased them down all the way to Manjari who looked concerned for her drenched self.
"Kya hain yeh? Roohi tu kyun bheegi hui hain? Chalke change kar le jaa. Baad mein nipatle inse. Thand lag jayegi Beta!" Manjari voiced out her concern.
"Dida! Chachu ne bhigadiya mujhe. Aap inhe daanto." Roohi demanded.
"Acha! Jo aapne mujhe itne gande tareeke se uthaya aur bed se neeche phenka. Woh?" Neil hit back.
"Hum donon Chachu. Hum donon ne kiya aur aapne sirf mujhe bhigaya." Roohi cried foul.
"Oye madam! Maine pani ko specially instruct nahi kiya tha ki sirf Roohi ko hi bhigana. Woh toh yeh sahi time pe duck kar gaya." Neil explained.
"Toh aap ise abhi ke abhi bhigao" Roohi put forth a demand.
Abhir gave her a betrayed look which she royally ignored. He had flipped sides after she was drenched. So she was just being practical about it.
"Chachu! Dekho mujhe patti lagi hui hain. Mujhe bhigaoge aap?" Abhir asked in a sad tone and his best puppy eyes. Neil was charmed and Roohi rolled her eyes at it.
She was about to say something when Manjari spoke firmly,
"Bas karo tum teenon. Koi kisiko kuch nahi bolega. Sab apne apne rooms mein jayenge. Fresh up honge aur neeche ayenge breakfast karne. Koi discussion nahi chahiye mujhe. Jao abhi ke abhi. Go"
Manjari ushered them to their rooms and smiled at their antics. She was just happy that happiness returned to the household. She couldn't thank her Kanhaji enough.
Within 20 odd minutes, all three of them were at the dining table. Manjari served them freshly made Pooris are they literally hogged on them much to Manjari's delight. None of them had eaten properly ever since Roohi's stunt came to light. They just couldn't but now that everyone is at peace, they were back to relishing their favourite food and even their demands made her smile more.
She stealthily moved her hands in a way to evade negativity, something she has been believing for ages. The sight at the dining table forced her to click a picture and send her son. If there was someone who missed this scene the most, it has to be Abhimanyu.
And she didn't want him to miss out on those smiles. She was sure that her son would have a smile mile wide when he will see the picture. All three of them finished their food and before they left, Neil asked Manjari,
"Maa! Aapne khaliya na?"
He was confirming just in case because he believed that she had already had food. But when Manjari didn't respond in a Yes, all three of them glared her.
"Kya hain yeh Dida? Bolna chahiye tha na pehle. Sab saath khalete. Bina khaye aap hamein khila rahi thi. Hum bhi kitne budhu hain"
Roohi was ranting and setting a plate for Manjari while Abhir pointedly looked at his Dida. She avoided his gaze.
"Nahi khayengi woh Di. Unka koi vrat hain aaj, ya something like that. Am I right Dida?" He sarcastically questioned Manjari attracting Neil and Roohi's attention.
"Seriously Maa! Aapko yeh sab allowed nahin hain. Bala Kumari nahi ho aap. You can't take such stupid risks." Neil scolded her while Roohi reached for her phone.
"Nahin Chachu. Main abhi Poppy ko call karti hoon. Aaj woh jaldi chale gaye na, isliye Dida ne yeh kiya. Aapko jo bolna hain aap Poppy ko bolo Dida." Roohi threatened Manjari.
Manjari gave Neil her puppy eyes and Neil stopped Roohi. He gentled his tone and asked,
"Kyun kiya Maa aisa? Jaante ho na tabiyat kharab hojayegi aapki. Aapko medicines bhi leni hogi na." Manjari sighed and started speaking.
"Maine Kanhaji se prarthana ki thi ki Roohi ek baar sahi salamat aajaye ghar wapis toh yeh pooja karungi. Ab unhone meri baat sunli na...... Mujhe bhi apna vachan nibhana tha."
Manjari's tone wasn't apologetic at all. Roohi's eyes brimmed with tears,
"Mere liye kiya aapne Dida yeh?
I am sorry maine aapko itna daradiya. I am really sorry. Main kabhi nahi karungi aisa. Kabhi aisa pareshan nahi karungi. But please apni tabiyat aap kharab mat karo."
Roohi apologized heartfully and coaxed her. Abhir silently served food in her plate and brought the morsel to her mouth.
"Khalijiye Dida. Papa ko pata chalega toh woh waise bhi aapko zabardasti khiladenge. Khana bhi aur daant bhi.
Aapne pooja karli aur itni der bhooki bhi rahi. Utna kafi hain. Aapke Kanhaji bhi samjhenge. Toh chup chap khalijiye aap."
Abhir's voice was devoid of any emotion but everything he said was factual. Manjari helplessly looked at Neil. Abhir and Roohi followed her gaze and glared their Chachu. Neil raised his hands in surrender.
"Sorry Maa! Aapki tabiyat zyada important hain. Aur yeh donon aapko Bhai se bacha rahe hain. So cut your losses. Unko dukhi karne se acha hain, aap khalo. Aur yeh donon Bhai ko complain nahi karenge.
Deal guys?"
Neil asked looking at both the kids and they nodded. Manjari had no option but to eat and Abhir fed her everything he served for her. Even if Manjari was disheartened a bit that she couldn't complete the task, her heart was overwhelmed by all the love that was showered on her.
As soon as she finished eating, she pulled Abhir and Roohi closer. "Khaliya na maine. Ab muskurado donon." Manjari requested. Roohi forced a smile, but Abhir didn't even try.
"Are tum dono kya itna bada bana rahe ho isko. Hogayi galti Dida se. Maaf karo. Mitti dalo. Main bhi toh karti hoon na." She tried to coax them. Abhir and Roohi shared a look. They both looked troubled.
"Acha! Sorry Bachon! Nahin karungi aise dubara."
Manjari held her ears and apologized making a cute face. Abhir cracked up. So did Roohi but Manjari made a face and looked away. The kids hugged her and said,
"Sorry Dida. Aap itne cute lag rahe the. Hum kya karte. Bolo." Roohi said.
"Aapko bhi mere jaise Papa se daant padengi aise karengi toh. Last time ka bhool gayi aap?" Abhir mentioned playfully.
"Na baba na. Woh tere Papa na mujhe phir se REPORTING DUTY pe laga dega. Mujhe nahi karna woh sab phir se." Manjari cringed at the thought of it. All of them laughed to their hearts full at Manjari's expense.
"Bhai na sahi mein pichle janam mein TEACHER honge..........
Unhe sabak sikhana aur darana dono bahut ache se aate hain. Har umar ke logon ko woh effectively handle kar hi lete hain."
Neil remarked dramatically and all of them agreed. Just then Manjari got a message from Abhimanyu - Mera kaam khatam hogaya. Main ghar aa raha hoon. Lunch wahin karunga."
He highlighted the picture Manjari sent and commented -
"Nazar na lage Maa. Aise hi rahe yeh sab."
To Be Continued.......