Chapter 8

 

Vijay took the Devyani's warm hands in between his cold ones. He did not know what to tell her..

"Nani... Its not what you think.. We did not hide anything purposely from you.."

    Out of all those possibilities he imagined , this had to happen.. When he came in the morning to pick up Anjali, Nani ask him to meet her after coming back from the meeting. After coming back he told Anjali he will meet Nani before leaving.He was shocked when Devyani told him she knows about Arnav and Khushi's daughter's existence before few minutes. 

"Vijay.. I did not ask anything to Anjali bitiya or Akash.. I know they have their own reasons to hide it from me. And I am not angry at any of you bitwa.. My heart goes to that poor girl who went through all these alone.. poor child..." Devyani wept.

"It was not purely your mistake nani.. All were responsible.. Arnav, Shyam, dadiji,  Garimaji, and even Anjali...But it is all in the past now..And we cannot change it.. Please don't cry.. You will fall sick again.. "

Vijay tried to console her. He knew one day Nani will come to know about her great grand daughter. But he did not expect it this way.

"How did you come to know Nani? And When?" 

Devyani lifted her eyes and looked at Vijay. 

"I saw pictures last week.. Hari Prakash inserted the pendrive he got from Anjali bitiya's room mistaking it as a pendrive with satsang videos. . Many pictures were there... the time when she was pregnant , the time of godbharai , pictures of her with your family and you.." 

    Shit...that's why suddenly Nani got heart attack.. He knows very well about that pendrive.. He only gave that to Anjali when she asked about Muskaan before making her meet Khushi. It was a collection of Khushi's pictures throughout her stay in Kerala. her pregnancy stages, Godbharai, her delivery, Muskaan's naming ceremony.. and many more.. 

"Nani... Khushi did not want anyone to know. She was afraid that her baby will be taken away... Muskaan is her life.. Anjali came to know about her last year only.. I did not tell her also.. "

"Bacchi ka naam Muskaan hai?" Devyani asked.. her voice was filled with fondness.

"Yes.. She is 2 years old now. "

"Beta I saw in pictures your family were there with Khushi throughout.. I am very much grateful to you and your family for being there for her when we all who claimed as her family never really supported her."

"Nani Khushi is like my little sister. you don't have to thank me. "

"Can you please make me talk to her through once?"

He looked at Devyani with questioning eyes. He was expecting Nani to request Khushi to come to Shantivan. 

"I know what you are thinking bitwa. I am not going to use my sickness to force Khushi bitiya. Especially when Chote being here I am not going to request her to come here. I just want to talk to her. "

"Let me talk to her first Nani.. I am sure she wont refuse to talk to you. Now you please take rest.. Don't take too much stress .. Its not good for your health.. "

He made her lie on the bed,   covered her with the quilt and left the room. . When he entered Anjali's room he saw Akash and Payal were also there and they were having some serious conversation.

"What's wrong?" Anjali asked seeing him coming inside with a worried expression.

"Nani know about Muskaan"

"What?? but how??" Anjali asked 

Then Vijay sat on the bed and narrated what transpired between him and Nani before few minutes. Anjali and Akash agreed with him about talking to Khushi as Nani is very much vulnerable in her current state. 

"We were discussing about chote when you came "  Anjali told Vijay

"We feel its better if they meet once Vijay.. Bhai was repeatedly asking about her to us. Now when nani is already aware of Muskaan Bhai will also come to know soon." Akash added.

Vijay looked at them and sighed. 

"I just talked to Khushi before coming here. She said she will talk to Nani today. But about meeting Arnav, I am not going to ask her that. Moreover I think Arnav will reach her within a day or two. He already started digging out details about me and Khushi". 

"How do you know that?" Anjali asked curiously

"He hired some detective through Aman and they collected my details. Maybe he is making sure I am not a threat to you. "

"Then he should have asked me instead of putting a detective behind you.. "

"Its ok Anjali .. As a brother he is worried about you. He did not want to repeat the mistake he did with Shyam.  And please don't confront him about this. Let him do the things in his way. And  if he genuinely feels sorry and want to win Khushi back then let him do that. If they need any support at any point we will be there. "

"He is right Di. If he genuinely wants to win her back then let him do that. We all know that Khushi is still waiting for him to come back . She is very angry on him, but she did not hate him. Maybe it is time to get things back to normal for their lives"      Payal told Anjali. 

They sat there few more minutes talking then Vijay left for his apartment. Akash and Payal went to their room.  

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    Khushi was light after talking to nani. When Vijay told her about Nani's wish to talk to her , she was worried about nani 's reaction to Muskaan's existence. She thought Nani will be angry for hiding it from her. But she apologized to her since she had to go through all these alone. Naniji blamed herself for not standing up for the right thing. 

    She calmly told nani that she never blamed her elders.  She know they were also helpless at that time. She assured Naniji that she will come and meet her with Muskaan before going back to Dubai. It is better not to keep any grudges against anyone. She decided she will talk to buaji and will sort things with her also. 

    She was aware that Arnav is back from London. When Payal told her he is back, strangely she felt her heart beat rising. That man sill have that effect on her. But she did not want to admit that. He was back because his nani was not well. He was not back for her. Deep inside her heart she still had a small hope that he will come back to her, but the past 3 years proved her wrong. He did not even try to know about her whereabouts. Maybe he found another girlfriend. He might have moved on accepting her as a phase of his life.  " Bas kar Khushi.. stop being foolish again. "She told herself.

"There you are... " Vivek's voice made her turn back.

She smiled at him as he came and stood beside her in the backside of the courtyard. 

"Kya hua.. Why are you gloomy?"

"Was talking to Naniji.. "

"Hmmm.. Vijay told me she was discharged last week. How is she now?"

"She is much better now..   Why were you searching for me? "

"Areey.. you only asked me to take you to the carnival.. You forgot?"

"Oopss sorry .. I will just freshen up and come.. Give me 15 minutes"

"Ok.. no worries.. Mom also getting ready .. "

She smiled and left in hurry to get ready.

Love,

ST