The Birlas' - IKSHANA

Chapter 5: When Nothing Stays The Same, Let Nothing Change You

At Birla House:

Manjari was on a phone call with Roohi and her eyes were constantly looking at the door, waiting for Abhi and Abhir. Neil informed her earlier to not wait up for him and her husband was out with his friends. That left her all alone and she didn't like it a bit. 

Roohi was facing the heat for now. "Dida! Achanak se plan bangaya. Poppy ne pehle mana bhi kardiya but mere friends sab aa rahe the aur meri Presidentship celebrate karne ka plan bana. I couldn't say no. Please aap upset mat ho na" Roohi pleaded innocence. 

"Koi baat nahi beta. Sab ke sab busy hogaye ho. Dida ke liye waqt hi nahi hota kisike paas. Ghar mein sara din akele rehti hoon aur ab shaam hote hote bhi yahin haal hain. Aap sab ke bina ghar katne daudta hai mujhe" Manjari's voice carried her hurt. 

"Woh Abhir aur Abhi bhi ab tak nahi aaye. Aisa hi chalta raha na, main bhi koi teerth yatra pe chali jaungi. Phir pata chalega tum sabko." Manjari warned Roohi and that caught Abhi and Abhir's attention, the minute they walked in. Manjari wasn't facing them. They looked at each other and a mischevious glint found its way. 

"Poppy aur Abhir ab tak nahin aye. Woh toh kabke nikle the Dida. Aap na unko chodna mat. Especially Poppy ko. Mera bina Abhir ko drive pe legaye woh" She almost muttered the last sentence while successfully shifting the Manjari's radar from her to her beloved father and brother. 

Manjari was about to respond when she was startled by her son and grandson. They spooked her out by screaming suddenly. Manjari was terrified and phone almost fell from her hand. Abhir caught it just in time and thanked his luck. Abhimanyu hugged Manjari to calm her down. She was too scared to react. 

"Dida! Dida! Are you fine? Is Everything ok? Dida?" Roohi yelled from the other end.

"Are kuch nahi hua Di! Hum bas masti kar rahe the aur Dida as usual dar gayi. So chill. Aap enjoy karo hum Dida ko sambhal lenge. Bye" A joyous Abhir cut the call and went to hug his Dida. 

"Aap phir se dar gayi Dida! Seriously?" Abhir mocked but Manjari didn't like that. Her fear subsided and anger took over. She grabbed a magazine which she was reading earlier and smacked Abhir with that. 

Abhir ran and she chased him around the hall. Abhir was too fast. He kept mocking her and making her run around. Manjari was tired within no time and then she saw Abhimanyu enjoying the show, sitting on the dining table. He was munching on peanuts leisurely and she immediately shifted her focus from Abhir. She picked up a cushion and aimed at her son who was oblivious. 

Abhir laughed at his father's expression and cheered Manjari on to teach Abhimanyu a lesson. By the time Abhi made a move, it was too late and Manjari pulled him by his ear. She gave Abhir a look and he surrendered. Both the father and son could see the exhaustion.

"Yehi sab sikha raha hai tu Abhir ko? Ek tu kafi nahi hai, use bhi bigad raha hain. Aisa koi darata hain kya? Sach bol. Tera hi faltu idea tha na yeh?" Manjari scolded her son while he struggled to make her loosen the grip on his ear.

"Ma! Lag rahi hai. Chodo aap. Aise hi masti kar rahe the hum." Abhimanyu tried to melt her with his puppy eyes and childish voice. 

"Nahi Dida! Aap mat jane do. Inhi ka plan tha. Maine mana bhi kiya tha...Ouch!" Manjari caught his ear as well.

"Acha beta! Tu bahut masoom hai na. Kisi aur ke saamne nautanki kar. Tere Papa ki maa hoon. Sab samajh mein aata hain mujhe." She scolded Abhir but looking at their innocent faces, she melted and how. 

"Maa!/Dida! Sorry na...Nahi tang karenge phir se. Jane do na please" both of them spoke at once. She couldn't hold back her smile and hugged them both. Abhi and Abhir winked at each other and shared a laugh.