What if - Rishmi FF

Part 31

Rishmi were back from their honeymoon. The whole family was excited for their return. Neelam was frantically getting things arranged at home and getting the best dishes cooked only this time she was more focused on Lakshmi's favorite dishes than Rishi's.
Aayush went to receive them at the airport along with Shalu. He just wanted an excuse to spend time with her. Rishi and Lakshmi made their way out of the arrival gate and saw Shayush standing there with a bouquet. They looked at each other and smiled. Soon there were hugs and welcomes done. They went to the car to get home as Lakshmi was eager to reach back asap. They dropped Shalu on their way home. On the door Neelam greeted them with aarti and they made their way in.
Neelam went and hugged Lakshmi even before Rishi could hug her. Rishi pouted and Lakshmi smiled. Her heart was full. She finally got her mother back in the form of Neelam.
Rishi: Mom ye kya hua. Ab tak to isne dad ko apne side kar rakha tha but ab aap bhi. Mujhse pehle aap uske paas gye. Not fair.
Neelam: Arre but tum bhi to hamari Bahu ki hi side ho na. Uski side matlab tumhari side.
She hugged him and Rishi smiled too. Slowly they met everyone. Ahana and gang were excited to hear all about the trip and Lakshmi was equally excited to tell them.
Dadi: Acha chalo tum dono pehle fresh ho jao. Sab log lunch karte hai. Baatein to chalti rahengi.
Rishmi went to their room. Lakshmi was going to the washroom to change when Rishi pulled her in his arms.
Lakshmi: Mr. Rishi Oberoi honeymoon khatam ho chuka. Ab normalcy me wapas aaiye.
Rishi: Aise kaise. Honeymoon khatam hua hai honeymoon period thodi. Wo to chalta rahega abhi.
Lakshmi: Rishi chhodo na. Sab lunch ke lie wait kar rhe honge.
Rishi: Acha ek shart pe jaane dunga. Jaldi se ek kiss do.
Lakshmi: Bilkul nai. Tum chhodo mujhe.
Rishi: Fir to nai jaane de rha hai main aur chhodunga to kabhi nai
Rishi gets closer to her but then
Aayush: Oh sorry sorry. Kya Rishi bhai darwaza to band kar lete ye sab karne pehle
Lakshmi gets shy and quickly gets herself free and runs to the washroom.
Rishi: Aa gya kebab me haddi. Tu kabhi timing dekh ke kyu nai aata.
Aayush: Sorry Rishi bhai. Galti aapki bhi hai par. Door band kar lo na fir karo romance.
Rishi: Acha theek hai theek hai gyaan mat de. Ye bata yaha kyu aaya
Aayush: Actually main wo aapse ek projects ke baare me baat karna chahta tha. To lunch ke baad kya hum baith sakte hai?
Rishi: Haan haan kyu nai. Ye wo project hai jo dad ne tujhe lead karne dia hai?
Aayush: Haan bhai. Aur ye mera first time hai, main koi mistake nai karna chahta.
Rishi: Aree chill kar. Sab sahi hi hoga. Aur main hoon na tere peeche hamesha
Aayush: Thanks Rishi bhai. Chalo aaplog aao lunch ke lie..
On the dining table, Lakshmi goes to serve everyone food.
Neelam: Lakshmi tum baitho, sudeep sabko serve kar dega.
Lakshmi: Aree nai mummy ji main karti hoon mujhe acha lagta hai sabko apne haatho se khana padosna.
Neelam: Theek hai but tum bhi sabke saath baith ke khaogi, baad me nai.
Lakshmi nodded and started removing the covers from the vessels. She was surprised to see her favourite dishes.
Rishi: Waah mom waah. Matlab welcome bhi uska pehle aur khana bhi uski hi pasand ka. Ye kya baat Hui. Ab meri to koi importance hi nai rhi hai.
Neelam: Chup kar. Tera favourite bhi bana hai. Aur tujhe to hamesha Tera favourite milta hai but humne kabhi Lakshmi ki pasand ka khayal nai rakha hai. Ab uski baari hai pampering ki
Lakshmi is in tears. She goes and hugs Neelam..
Lakshmi: Thank you mummy ji mujhe meri maa wapas Dene ke lie..
Soon everyone is eating lunch.
Aayush and Rishi are sitting in the study discussing the project. Rishi solves all Aayush's doubts.
Rishi: Very impressive Aayush. Bahot acha kaam kia hai tune. Finally tu serious lag rha hai apne kaam ko leke.
Aayush: Thank you Rishi bhai. Main bas aapko aur mama ko proud feel karana chahta hoon. Aap logo ne jitna kia hai mere lie utna to mere baap ne nai kia mere lie, infact wo kar bhi nai paate shayad kabhi. Itne ehsaan hai Aaplogo ke mujh pe. Aur aapne to mujhe sage bhai se bhi jyada pyaar dia hai. Aapke bagair to main kuch bhi nai hota.
Rishi hits him on his head.
Rishi: Ye kya faltu saga sautela baatein kar rha hai. Tu Bhai hai mera chota aur hamesha mera favorite rahega. Aur fufaji ke saath jo bhi hua usme tumlogo ki koi galti nai thi. To itna mat soch. Aur haan Aaj ke baad agar ye ehsaan bola na to itna pitunga na
Lakshmi came in with coffees.
Lakshmi: Arre kyu peetne ki baat kar rhe ho mere pyaare se devar ko. Soch lo ise haath bhi lagane ka socha na to pehle mujhse guzarna hoga
Rishi: Tumhe to baat pata bhi nai hai aur tum already iski side le rhi. Jab baat pata chalegi na tum bhi meri tarah hi react karogi
Lakshmi: Aisa kya kar dia aayush ne
Rishi: Aapke devar ji mujhe thanks bol rhe hai. Ye bol rhe hai ki maine aur dad ne inke upar bahot ehsaan kie hai aur main inke lie sage bhai se jyada karta hoon
Lakshmi: Ab Aayush ye to sach me tumne pitne wali baat ki hai. Isme to sach me main bhi nai bachaungi tumhe. Ye sab kya bol rhe tum. Hum sab ek parivaar hai. Aur parivaar me ehsaan nai hota..
Rishi: Ab to teri bhabhi ne bhi bol dia. Ab to kabhi ye sab sochna bhi mat.
Lakshmi: Acha tum dono coffee pi lo. Thodi der me Gautam aur uski family aane wali hai shaadi ke functions discuss karne. Aur kal ke baad diwali bhi hai uski bhi taiyari karni hai.
She goes from there to prepare snacks for Gujrals.
In the living area, Gujrals have arrived alongwith pandit ji and Neelam and Karishma are finalising the functions while the younger generation is sitting on the other side teasing Ahana and Gautam.
Sunaina: Haan to final hai. Agle mahine ki 26th ki date fixed hai shaadi ke lie.
Karishma: Bilkul behenji. Vishwas hi nai ho rha itni jaldi Ahana ki bidai ka time aa gya hai..
Sunaina: Arre Karishma behenji aap chinta mat kariye aapki Ahana hamare paas bhi beti ki tarah hi rahegi aur jab aapka man kare aap aa jaiyega ya use bula lijiyega.
Gautam's dad: But haan shart ye hai ki uske saath hum bhi aaenge afterall Lakshmi ke haath ka khana khane milega.
Everyone laughs and later they finalize dates for other functions too, like Mehendi, Sangeet, Haldi etc. Ahana and others had also joined them and all were super excited for the wedding festivities.
Dadi: Chalo ab ye sab final ho gya to ek aur jaroori baat. Parso diwali hai aur aap logo ko yaha aana hai hamare saath tyohaar manane..
Sunaina: Arre bilkul biji bas Ghar ki pooja karke hum log aa jaenge. Aaplogo ke saath to hamara bhi bahot man lag jata hai.
After dinner, the Gujrals take a leave and everyone goes to their room. Lakshmi has called a small meeting in her room with Rishi, Aayush, Ahana, Devika and Sonia.
Lakshmi: To maine tumlogo ko yaha diwali ki preparations ki ideas ke lie bulaya hai.
Soon they decide the details and Lakshmi assigns some work to everyone. After the discussion, she takes out the gifts they brought from Australia for everyone and gives them.
All are very happy at the perfectly curated gifts. Sonia is most suprised at how much Lakshmi knew her. She got her a perfect dress and a memento that she loved. She thinks to herself at how wrongly she treated her and she still always took an interest and knew her choice so well. She hugs Lakshmi and Lakshmi is pleasantly surprised. Even Rishi is left surprised because Sonia hasn't really shown too much affection for Lakshmi before. After everyone goes to their room, Lakshmi takes the gifts for the elders to their rooms. Everyone loves their gifts.
Once Lakshmi is back to her room, she sees Rishi lying in bed half asleep. He doesn't have his blanket on him. She changes and comes back and makes him sleep properly and lies beside him. Rishi wakes up a little feeling her warmth beside him. He looks at her and pulls her to him holding her in his arms and sleeps again. Lakshmi too relaxes and dozes off.