yun hi tu mere saath rehna

Chapter Sixteen

All the cousins had gathered in the living room for a fun day, but Abhira was lost. Armaan had told her he had an important meeting but hadn't given any details other than that, and she couldn't stop thinking about it. Ever since Rohit had taken over the firm, Armaan hadn't had any involvement at work. Rohit hadn't wanted Armaan's guidance at all, deeming it an unnecessary interference. With no cases to work on after the Asha Kiran dispute had been settled, Armaan had been spending all his time at home. Now, all of a sudden, he had a meeting. She was hoping to hear some good news. Maybe Dadi Sa had decided to bring Armaan back on board. Even a single case would suffice. Anything to get Armaan back to work. 

“Abhiruuuuu!” Shreya, Kunal's granddaughter, called. “Kahaan khoyi hui hai jabse?”

“Aur kahaan khoyi hogi, Di!” Dhriti, Atul's daughter, laughed. “Humaare jeeju ke baare mein soch rahi hogi. Right, Abhira Di?” 

“Haan, bhai,” Ketan, Ketki's son, agreed. “Abhira ko humse kya? Usse toh bas Armaan se matlab hai.”

“Aisa nahi hai, bhaiya!” Abhira protested. “Aap log bas bina wajah ched rahe hain! Main bas aise hi kuch soch rahi thi.”

“Armaan ke alawa tu kisi aur ke baare mein sochti bhi hai?” Hrishi, Abir & Mishti's grandson, exclaimed. “I'm surprised. Mujhe laga tu sirf uske aur uski family ke baare mein sochti hai.”

“Bhaiyu,” Abhira warned. “Woh sab meri bhi family hain. Of course, I think about them!”

“Toh matlab tu abhi unke baare mein hi soch rahi thi?” Ramya, Hrishi's sister, questioned. “Main bhi kya hi pooch rahi hoon. Of course, you were thinking about them!”

“Main yeh soch rahi thi ki tum log poora din mujhe pareshaan karne mein nikaal doge toh hum movie kab dekhenge!” Abhira exclaimed. “Bas mauka milna chahiye. Sabke sab ekdum naha-dhoke hi mere aur Armaan ke peeche pade rehte ho! Kuch aur entertainment dhoond lo life mein!”

“But this is the best entertainment,” Raj, Abir & Mishti's other granddaughter, argued. “Tera chehra kaise laal-laal ho jaata hai Jeeju ka naam lete hi.”

“Abhira!!” Armaan called out, entering the house. “Abhira!!”

“Lo!” Shrey, Shreya's brother, cackled. “Aa gaye humaare Jamai Sa. Waise yeh toh maan'na padega. Aag dono taraf barabar ki lagi hai. Kyun, Hrishi?”

“Yeh baat toh bilkul sahi kahi tune,” Hrishi agreed. “Humaare Armaan Sa ko bhi bilkul Abhiru ke bina chalta nahi hai.”

Armaan walked into the living room to the cousins' loud laughter as Abhira glared at all of them. “Hello???” He greeted them, the question visible in his tone.

“Aaiye, aaiye,” Raj laughed. “Aapka hi intezaar ho raha tha. Ab kamse kam Abhira film pe dhyaan degi!”

“Film?” Armaan asked. “Kaunsi film?”

“Koi bhi nahi,” Abhira answered. “Tum inhe chodo. Mujhe yeh batao kya hua tha? Kaisi thi meeting? Kiske saath thi? Sab theek haina?” She fired questions one after the other.

“Haan,” Armaan replied. “Mujhe uske baare mein hi baat karni hai. Chalo mere saath!” He held Abhira's hand, intent on pulling her upstairs.

“Kahaan?” Ramya stopped them. “Tum dono kahin nahi jaoge. Sit here and watch the film with us.”

“Ramya, mujhe Abhira se bohot important baat karni hai. Please, jaane dona,” Armaan requested.

“Tumhe toh hamesha hi Abhira se kuch important baat karni hoti hai,” Shrey commented. “Hum sabko pata hai woh ‘important baat' kya hai. No bahana, Armaan. Aao aur sabke saath baitho.”