#MaAn: A flight of fate

||23|| The Family Reunion

After an unforgettable trip to London, Anupama, Anuj, and the kids returned to India. As the plane descended into the familiar city, Anupama felt a warm sense of comfort wash over her. No matter how wonderful London had been, there was nothing quite like coming back home. She glanced over at Anuj, who was gazing out of the window, a soft smile playing on his lips. Aarav and Anu were fast asleep, their heads resting against each other, worn out from the excitement of their adventure.

"We're home," Anupama whispered, squeezing Anuj's hand.

Anuj turned to her, his smile widening. "Yes, we are. And I can't wait to see everyone."

The thought of reuniting with their parents filled both of them with warmth. During their time in London, they'd kept in touch through video calls, but nothing compared to the feeling of being in the same space, sharing laughter and stories over a cup of chai. Anupama could already picture her mother, Sushma, bustling about the house, preparing snacks while her father, Madhav, would be sitting in his favorite chair, waiting eagerly for their return. Anuj's parents, Meera and Rajesh, were equally excited, having called several times to remind them how much they missed them.

As the plane touched down, the kids began to stir, rubbing their sleepy eyes and yawning.

"Are we home?" Aarav mumbled, blinking up at his parents.

"Yes, sweetheart," Anupama replied, brushing a hand through his tousled hair. "We're home."

Back at the house, the energy was palpable. The moment their car pulled up in the driveway, the front door swung open, and their parents rushed out to greet them. Sushma was the first to reach Anupama, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"My daughter, you're finally back!" Sushma exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. "We missed you so much!"

Anupama laughed, hugging her mother back just as tightly. "We missed you too, Maa. It feels so good to be home."

Madhav, standing a little further back, smiled warmly as he waited his turn to hug his daughter. "You've been gone long enough. It's about time you came back to us," he teased, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

Anuj, meanwhile, was being engulfed in hugs from Meera and Rajesh, both of them beaming with pride.

"We heard all about your success in London, Anuj," Meera said, her face glowing with happiness. "We knew you'd do it!"

"It's all thanks to Anupama's support," Anuj replied, glancing lovingly at his wife.

"And the kids! They must've been such a handful," Rajesh joked, ruffling Aarav's hair as Anu clung to his leg. "Did you have fun in London?"

"Grandpa, it was amazing!" Aarav exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "We saw the Queen's palace, rode a red bus, and even went on the London Eye!"

Anu, still a little shy, nodded enthusiastically. "It was so big, Grandpa!"

As everyone made their way inside, the house instantly filled with chatter. The warmth of home was undeniable, and even though they had only been gone for a few weeks, it felt as though they had been away much longer. Anupama watched as their parents fussed over the children, asking about every detail of the trip. The kids, in turn, were more than happy to oblige, recounting stories of their adventures with wide eyes and animated gestures.

Anupama and Anuj shared a glance, the joy of the moment reflecting in their eyes. It was in these small, seemingly ordinary moments that life felt the richest.

Later that evening, after the excitement had settled and everyone was seated in the living room, the conversation turned to their future plans.

"So, what's next?" Meera asked, sipping her tea. "Will you be going back to London anytime soon?"