Kitni Mohabbat Hai!

Chapter 0: before first

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the Raichand family breakfast table. The aroma of freshly cooked Aloo Paranthas wafted through the air as Amrita skillfully flipped them on the griddle. The family was gathered around the table, ready to share a hearty meal.

Anirudh sat close to his Dadi- Dadaji ,who sat at the head of the table, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the day ahead. His badi chachi, Ragini, beamed with affection as she approached with a plate full of hot paranthas. "Ani Bache, dekh kitna kamzor ho gaya hai. Ruk mai tujhe apne haathon se khilati hun" she insisted.

His Vaanar Sena couldn't resist jumping into the banter. Nairit, the next in age after Anirudh complained "Bhaiya, you're lucky. No one ever feeds us like this. We have to fend for ourselves. Koi kadar hi nahi hai hamari its ghar me "

Naksh chimed in, "Yeah, it's a feast for the chosen one. I wish someone would feed us too."

Reyansh added with a mischievous grin, "Ab toh bas Bhabhi hi hamara khyaal rakhengi"

Hearing this, Anirudh chokes on his food while Nandini & Yashvardhan exchange a knowing look mixed with smiles.

Laughter erupted around the table, but it was Raghav who took it a step further. "Anirudh bhaiya, get ready for a lifetime of being jealous like you have made us throughout life. I bet Bhabhi hamse zyaada pyaar karengi ."

Nirav, the most outspoken of the brothers, couldn't resist teasing, "Bilkul ab Badi Maa(Amrita), Taiji( Ragini), Maa (Pallavi) toh bhaiya ko chhodengi nahi, sabke laadle jo hai. But Bhabhi, Bhabhi will love and pamper us"

Anirudh decides to stay quiet and rolls his eyes wondering who is this girl that's wrapped his entire family around her finger.

Pallavi enters the dining area with a bowl of Moong Dal Halwa, beaming with exciting ready to feed Anirudh and cuts the conversation: "Didi, paranthe aap khila dijiye par Halwa Maine banaya hai aur mai hi khilaungi apne Ani ko." Saying the she pulls Anirudh's cheeks and plants a kiss on his forehead.

Amidst the banter, Neev, Nirav's twin, looked up with innocent eyes and asked, "Mai pehle hi Bol raha hu, sabse pehle bhabhi mujhe apne haath se khaana khileyangi"

This prompted a round of exaggerated sighs and dramatic responses from the brothers. Nairit dramatically slumped in his chair, saying, "Kyu bhai? Mai Bhabhi ka sabse bada aur favourite devar hun. Sabse pehle Bhabhi mujhe khilayengi khaana."

Seeing this playful banter between the kids, Nandini & Yashvardhan take a moment for themselves to thank the almighty for filling their home with this kind of love and warmth. They pray that Vasudha blends into their home, their family and finds the love she's been looking for.

Anirudh, caught in the middle of his brothers' antics, chuckled nervously. "Ho gaya tum sab ka? Vasudha and I haven't even had our first official meeting yet. Aur tum log Bhabhi Bhabhi kar rahe ho"

Naksh raised an eyebrow, "Dadaji, dekhiye kaise Marr rahe Anirudh Raichand api kiwi se Milne ke liye. Photo Dekhi bhai waise aapne Bhabhi ki."

Anirudh mutters only audible to Nandini: "Kisi dikhayi hi nahi."

Taking the cue, Nandini picks her phones, shushes everyone on the dining table and calls Vasudha.

Nandini: "Vasudha bache, good morning!"

Vasudha: " Radhey Krishna, Auntie!"

Nandini: "Radhey Krishna Bache, par auntie nahi Dadi"

Vasudha: " Radhey Krishna,Dadi!"

Nandini: "That's like my good girl! Acha Ani kal hi waapas char gaya hai. Agar aah tum free ho toh Anirudh se mil lo beta. Ek dusre se milo aur baatein karo. Tum dono ko puri life saath me rehna hai."

Vasudha blushes a little and softly says: " Ji Dadi, jaisa aapko theek lage."

Nandini: "Bache, lunch time ke around bhej dun Ani ko? 1 PM? "

Vasudha: "Ji Dadi!"

Nandini: " Theek hai bache, aur mai tumhare liye khud lunch banakar bhejungi Anirudh ke saath. Mujhe batana kaisa laga. Okay?"

Vasudha touched by this gesture has tears in her eyes: "Ji Dadi," She manages to say.

Vasudha: "Dadi, kya mai aapse kuch puch sakti hu"

Nandini: "Bilkul Bache, batao"

Vasudha: "Dadi, kya mai shaadi ke baad phi Aangan ko sambhal sakti hu. I promise mai ghar par bhi pura dhyaan dungi. Aapko koi shikayat ka mauna nahi milega. Yahan sab mere parivaar jaise hai. Mai inhe akela nahi chhod paungi."

Nandini: "Ofcourse Bache! Yeh bhi koi puchne ki baat hai! Aur waise bhi ab tum meri bachi ho, jaise mera Ani hai. Tum mujhse Farmaayish Kiya karo, request nahi."

Anirudh who is keenly listening to the conversation is taken by surprise yet again to see how everyone already loves his to-be-wife. Wait to-be-wife? He hasn't even met her yet and neither has seen her picture and is thinking of her as his future wife.

Nandini continues the conversation asking: "Beta, tumhara favourite colour kaunsa hai? Mai ani ko uses colour ki shirt me bhejungi."

Anirudh's eyes shot up with shock as to how his dadi is making all decisions. He mouths "No way" to her but she's too engrossed to pay to attention.

Vasudha: "Nahi nahi Dadi, aap please pareshaan mat hoiyega"
Nandini: "Abai maine kya samjhaaya? Mujhe bata na kaunsa colour pasand hai tujhe!"

Vasudha: "Dadi, jo inhe acha lage."

Nandini: "Inhe Matlab? Anirudh ko?"

This earns a loud round of hooting from the Vaanar Sena followed by teasings directed towards their Bade Bhaiya.

Naksh: Inhe and all haan.

Anirudh: Chup ho jaao sab please!

When Vasudha doesn't say anything, Nandini says: "Acha mat bata par jab shaadi ki shopping ke liye jaayenge, tab toh batayegi na?"

Vasudha: "Ji Dadi!"

Nandini: "Jo bhi baat mann me ho, Ani se puch lena beta varna kabhi mujhe, amrita ya apni chachi's ko phone kar lena. Theek hai? Rakhti hu. Take care bache. Jalde Milte hai.

Vasudha: "Ji Dadi, Radhey Krishna!"

Nandini: "Radhey Krishna Bache, par auntie nahi Dadi"

Nandini cuts the phone and turns towards Anirudh, saying: "Lijiye ho gayi aapki first date fixed. Taiyyar ho Jana time se. Mai tiffin pack Kar ke rakhungi."

Anirudh: "Theek hai Dadi"

Saying that, he leaves for his room to find an outfit for his lunch date. Wait date, is it?