Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

123. Guptas in Shantivan - part1 (Karwa chauth special)

Q/N: This one is dedicated to a new reader of CSD who binge-read the entire book last week! s_reader6 this one's for you and your sweet reviews throughout 💗

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It had been a busy few days for Khushi and today seemed busier. Her amma, babuji and buaji had come to stay with them at Raizada mansion, one of the rarest times in her married life, and she was constantly on her toes to ensure they were comfortable in her sasural. It was quite a funny feeling actually. This was her home, she had been living here for the past 12-13 years with her husband and kids, yet the moment she had her amma-babuji around her, the mention of "home" would only remind her of Gomti Sadan, the house she grew up in the heart of Lucknow. Would the same happen with her daughters too when they grow up? Would "home" only always remind them of Shantivan, even when they had their new nest? But then the thought of her daughters going away from her itself was disturbing so she would brush it off...

Ever since the Guptas arrived at Shantivan, the happiest were the Raizada kids! The ever-mischievous Chiku and his sister Aru had taken their mother's place in teasing buaji. Chiku would perfectly mimic her in saying 'Hai re nandkishor' with the forehead-slap and all, while Aru had found amusement in pulling buaji's long, ribbon-tied braid! Buaji, who often mock-complained about her parmeshwari's (one of the names she had used for Khushi) kids being equally mischievous but adored them like she adored her Nandkishor's (Krishna's) stories of his childhood antics! Palash was mostly with his nanaji – Shashi, while Piya and Pari were found around their dearest Nani, Garima. However, owing to garima's ongoing health issues, Khushi and Payal tried to keep the kids away from her so she could rest. But she herself often insisted on letting them be around her, as their company worked better than the medicine for her!

But today was busier than the other days for Khushi because it was one day before Karwa Chauth, and she had so many preparations yet to be done! Payal had taken the responsibility of buying the things needed from the market so that was one worry less, but not everything was to be bought from outside. Some things were re-used each year, and she had to ensure they were kept ready in advance. Like silver diyas (oil-lamps), channi (sieve), kalash (pot filled with water) and so on.

By evening, she had done most of the preparation, yet she couldn't help but worry if something was still forgotten this time.

Karwa Chauth wasn't celebrated in her maayka, which meant she hadn't seen her amma keep this vrat and didn't have a firsthand knowledge of how it was celebrated. But after her wedding, as she became a part of the Raizada family, this was one tradition that was introduced to her and her jiji and they both had religiously followed it each year. Except during their pregnancies and the time they were nursing, of course.

"Khushi bitiya, sab taiyyari ho gayi (Is everything ready)?" Nani asked her, walking into the kitchen, as Khushi was just finishing instructing one of the kitchen staff about boiling extra milk for tomorrow morning.

Nani would make special kheer early on the morning of Karwa Chauth and all the daughters-in-law of Raizadas would eat it before sunrise, their only meal throughout that day until the moon rose. This kheer was their equivalent to 'sargi' – a traditional pre-Karwa Chauth meal in many other families.

"Ji Nani. Bass kheer ka saman check kar rahe the (Yes nani, I was just ensuring everything is ready for kheer). Aap kheer banayengi na kal subah (You will make it tomorrow, right)?"

"Bilkul banayenge, jaise har saal banate aaye hai (I will surely make it, like I do every year)." Nani said, with an affectionate smile, and pride. A tradition that was passed on to her from her mother-in-law, now she was passing onto not just her daughter-in-law but even to the granddaughters-in-law!