yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Fourteen

Madhav & Vidya walked towards the outhouse, laughing and talking. It had been a few days since they'd started their day with Abhira and she was being sorely missed. The couple had decided to eat breakfast with her, leaving before the other members of the family came out of their rooms.

Once inside, they greeted Armaan who was sitting on the couch. "Good morning, Armaan! Abhira kahaan hai?"

"Aaplog bhi Abhira se milne chale aaye?" He laughed. "Bhool gaye... Ab woh yahaan nahi rehti," he reminded them.

Madhav smacked his forehead. "Mujhe bilkul yaad hi nahi tha," he chuckled. "Itni aadat ho gayi hai ab uski ki bhool gaya ab woh apna Badi Maa aur Bade Papa ke paas rehti hai."

"Mere bhi dhyaan se utar gaya," Vidya agreed.

"Aur humaare bhi!" A chorus of voices made them all turn to the door where the chorus gang was standing along with Manisha and Manoj.

"Lagta hai aaj sab ek saath hi Abhira ko bohot miss kar rahe hain," Manisha commented. "Tabhi subah-subah sab yahaan aa gaye."

"Haan, lekin kya faayda, Mami Sa!" Krish moaned. "Bhabhi toh nahi hai yahaan."

"Toh kahin door bhi toh nahi hai," Armaan countered. "Chalo chalte hain usse milne!"

"Armaan aise jaana achcha thodi lagta hai," Manoj contradicted. "Subah-subah kisi ke ghar aise jaana."

"Chachu Sa, woh kisi ka nahi, Abhira ka ghar hai," Armaan answered. "Aur hum wahaan kyun nahi jaa sakte? Yahaan bhi toh sab aaye haina usse milne."

"Tu samajh, beta," Vidya tried. "Yeh toh humaare ghar ka hi hissa hai. Hum kabhi bhi aa-jaa sakte hain. Lekin woh toh Samdhi Sa ka ghar hai. Unke ghar hum aise bina nyote nahi jaa sakte."

"Maa, aap bina wajah itna sab soch rahi ho!" Armaan exclaimed. "Aisa kuch nahi hai. Wahaan humein dekhke sab khush hi honge. Aur phir main toh wahaan bina wajah bohot aata-jaata rehta hoon. Koi bura nahi maanta."

"Teri baat alag hai, Armaan," Manisha explained. "Tu toh unka jamai hai. Tujhe munh pe mana kaise karenge? Lekin iska yeh matlab thodi hai woh aisa kuch sochte nahi honge."

"Aap log sach mein bohot zyada sochte ho! Aisa kuch nahi hai," Armaan argued.

"Humein sochna padta hai kyunki tu nahi sochta," Madhav said. "Khud toh ekdum besharam ho gaya hai, lekin hum tere jaise nahi hai!"

"Theek hai, phir," Armaan threw his hands in the air. "Aap log mat aao. Main toh jaa raha hoon, Abhira ke saath breakfast karne!"

"This is not fair!" Aryan complained. "Bhaiya jaayenge toh main bhi jaunga."

"Main bhi," Kiara agreed.

"Aur main," Krish added.

"Haan," Charu reluctantly said. "Hum bhi."

Armaan turned to the elders, smirking. "Theek hai," Madhav gave in. "Sab chalenge. Lekin agar wahaan awkward hua toh waapas bhi aa jaayenge!"

"Done!" The kids cried.

"Ab chalein?" Armaan asked. "Aap log kitna drama karte ho! Pehle hi haan bol dena chahiye tha na!"

"Ab apni vishesh tipanni dena band kar aur chal!" Manisha pushed them all outside the house.

They all crossed the road to the Rajvansh Villa, Armaan taking the lead. He turned the knob of the main door to open it, without bothering with the doorbell, a fact that surprised his family, but no one said anything. As soon as he stepped inside the house, he was greeted by Mehr.

"Arre, Armaan!" Her face lit up and she rushed to him, giving him a hug in greeting.

"Good morning, Mami," Armaan smiled, returning the hug.