Silver Linings

Blessings

"Chote.. aap kahan jaa rahe hai? aaj tho aap dono ne office se chutti liya tha na??" (Chote.. where are you off to? Today the two of you'll had taken leave from the office right?) Anjali asked, when she saw Arnav descending down the stairs, all dressed to go out.. He looked at the seating area, everyone was looking at him, waiting for an answer.. Great! 

"aahhmm... mai Mandir jaa raha hu" (aahhmm.. I am going to the temple) everyone gasped out loud... Anjali blinked her eyes, Payal and Akash looked at each other, Devyani gaped at her grandson.. Shubadra who was walking towards the dining area from her room, heard Arnav and stopped in her tracks to see what was going on..

"Hello Hi Bye Bye... saasu maa.. aaj suraj paschim se rise hui kaa?" (Mother in law.. did the sun rise from the west today?) Manorama asked, dramatically raising her hands.. The rest of them chuckled and Arnav rolled his eyes "Ohh come on guys... Khushi aaj mandir jaa rahi thi.. keh rahi thi ke koi pooja hai.. so mai usse wahan milne jaa raha hu.. there is no need to over react.." (Khushi is going to the temple today.. she said there is some Pooja.. so I am going there to meet her..) he shook his head "So dramatic" he muttered, "Okay.. mai jaa raha hu.." (I am leaving) he walked a few steps, Shubadra came in front of him so he stopped abruptly, side stepped her and was about to walk 

"Arnav... hum bhi aap ke saat aayenge" (Arnav.. I am coming along with you) Arnav turned around and raised his eye brows "Excuse me?" Shubadra took a deep breath "Hume mandir jaana tha.. aur aap wahin jaa rahe hai.. tho hume bhi leke jaiye" (I wanted to go to the temple, and you are going there... so I take me along with you) Arnav gave her a look that said he clearly did not buy her excuse, he was about to refuse her "Ab hume mandir jaane se bhi mana kar denge kya aap?" (Are you going to restrict me from going to the temple as well?) Arnav shut his mouth and looked at his grandmother, she blinked her eyes reassuringly

Devyani looked at the rest of her family, she gestured them to get up, they obliged "Hum sab bhi chalte hai Chote.. hume bhi bohot din hogaye hai sab saat ma Mandir jaake" (We will all come along as well Chote.. it has been a while since we have all been to the temple together) Arnav's nerves calmed down considerably, he knew his family would take care of any issue Shubadra might try to cause at the temple.. he was not happy to take her along, but it was not like he could refuse to let her come to the temple

The whole Raizada clan and Shubadra reached the temple in 2 vehicles.. Arnav helped Anjali and Devyani get off his SUV, everyone else alighted the vehicles, "Hum pooja ke liye thaal leke aate hai" (I will go get the platter for the pooja) Payal excused herself, Devyani said that they would all wait for Payal to come back. Shubadra let her eyes scan the place, it was a beautiful temple.. she walked ahead not paying attention to the surrounding and collided with someone.. the person quickly apologized to her and walked away... Shubadra looked in their wake with distaste..

She was about to continue on her exploration when she head the excited voice of Devyani "Khushi bitiyaa" She whipped her head around to get a look of the girl who, in her opinion, had ensnared Arnav.. she only saw the girl's cascading locks before the rest of the family surrounded her. Shubadra walked towards the family, her main purpose to accompany Arnav to the temple was to meet this girl. Once she got close enough, she was shocked to see it was the same person she had just collided with.. She shook her head in disappointment.

She was about to step forward and introduce herself, because she knew no one else would do her the honors, "Khushiiii" Payal called out in delight when she re-joined the group "Jijiiiii" Khushi squealed pulling Payal into a tight hug. "Tho yeh dono behne hai" (So these two are sisters) Shubadra tutted