Anaya Kapoor, her bright green eyes full of excitement, tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mama, can we go to the temple today?"
Anushka, working diligently at her home office desk, looked up and smiled at her daughter's innocent request. "I'm really busy today, sweetheart. But how about you go with Grandpa?"
Anaya's face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. Anushka called out to her father, Raj, who was reading in the living room. "Dad, could you take Anaya to the temple? She really wants to go."
Raj put down his book and smiled warmly. "Of course, I'd love to take her."
Anushka took a break from her work to help Anaya get ready. She dressed her in a lovely pink dress and tied her curly brown hair into two neat ponytails. "There you go, my love. You look beautiful," Anushka said, kissing her on the forehead.
Holding her grandfather's hand, Anaya skipped out of the house, ready for their temple visit. The drive was short, and soon they arrived at the serene temple, its white marble gleaming under the sun.
Inside the temple, the air was filled with the scent of incense and the soft murmurs of prayers. As they walked towards the sanctum, they noticed Viraj and Aarohi Singhania performing a pooja. Raj and Anaya quietly approached to pay their respects.
Anaya, captivated by the rituals, didn't notice Aarohi standing close by and accidentally bumped into her. Startled, she looked up at Aarohi with wide, frightened eyes. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her small voice trembling.
Aarohi, seeing the scared little girl, immediately knelt down to her level, her expression softening. "It's okay, dear. No need to be scared."
Viraj, who had turned to see what was happening, also offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, little one. You're fine."
Raj, witnessing the interaction, stepped forward with a gentle smile. "I'm really sorry about that. She's just a bit excited."
Aarohi and Viraj both looked at Anaya with warmth and affection. "She's adorable," Aarohi said, reaching out to gently touch Anaya's cheek. "You have a beautiful granddaughter."
Raj nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "Thank you. She's our little angel."
With smiles and nods, Aarohi and Viraj turned back to their pooja, while Raj and Anaya continued their visit, offering their prayers. Anaya felt much better, holding her grandfather's hand tightly as they walked around the temple.
After they finished, they headed back home, the peacefulness of the temple visit lingering with them. Anaya chattered happily about her experience, and Raj listened with a contented smile, grateful for the precious moments spent with his beloved granddaughter.
~~~~~~
As soon as Anaya and Raj returned home, Anaya ran excitedly to find her mother. "Mama, we're back! And I want to bake cookies!"
Anushka looked up from her work, her face lighting up at the sight of her enthusiastic daughter. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, sweetie! Let's bake some cookies."
They headed to the kitchen together, and Anushka helped Anaya put on a little apron that was almost too big for her. "There you go, my little chef," Anushka said, tying the apron strings with a playful tug.
Anaya giggled, standing on her tiptoes to see over the kitchen counter. "What do we need first, Mama?"
Anushka gathered the ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and chocolate chips. "First, we need to mix the butter and sugar," she explained, handing Anaya a small wooden spoon.
