Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

134. Anjali bua's visit

Note: a few references to chapters 4, 29, 71 &72 in this one, so please consider revisiting those chapters. Also, the names Navin/Naveen, Akash/Aakash may appear with alternate spellings, please bear with inconsistency.

Long chapter alert.

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Anjali felt nervousness in her heart as she stepped out of the car and stood on the doorway of Shantivan. Her maayka. Many good, bad, worst and happiest memories associated with this place. All her loved ones resided in that place.

Still, in the past 2 years, she had felt a little nervous whenever she came to Shantivan. What she and her mother-in-law had tried to do 2 years ago, hoping for her chote's daughter to be raised by her and Naveen as their own, had strained her relationship with her brother a little. She of course had apologized, and Naveen too had spoken to Arnav, assured him and Khushi that that topic would never be raised again, in fact, he didn't even know his mother and wife were thinking something like that, had helped a lot. Then again, Khushi's maturity and understanding of where Anjali had come from and why she had said what she did also helped. But in all that Khushi also had made it clear that no matter what, neither Aru nor any of her other children would ever live away from her.

Anyhow. So, in the past 2 years, whenever Anjali visited Raizada mansion, she always felt on the fence while talking to Arnav. He still loved her and respected her, she knew. She too loved her chote a lot. But a few things had changed now. And she didn't know how to help that.

Suddenly, she felt Navin hold her hand and she looked at their joint hands and then at his face, he was silently offering her support. She smiled. God had truly compensated her by giving a life partner as supporting and mature as him after that horrible experience with Shyam.

Anjali rang the doorbell and it was mami ji who opened the door and was instantly hugged by her, "Anjali bitiya, I was waitings for you. Oo ka hai, lunchwa ka timings estart ho gaya hai and there ijj tasty foods made for you."

Pratham giggled at her English but instantly stopped when Naveen looked at him in warning. He would behave much better when his dadi- i.e., Sarita wasn't around.

"Sorry mami ji, we actually ran into a lot of traffic. Weekend hai na." Navin said with a polite smile.

Just then Akash and Payal came to greet them "Di! Jijaji. Aayiye na (please come). We were waiting for you." Aakash said.

Payal hugged Anjali and Piya too went to her bua who engulfed her in her arms.

But as they came further into the hall, greeted Nani and Mama ji and sat on the sofa, Anjali's eyes quietly scanned the room. Of course, she was looking for Arnav too. But more than him-

"Buaaa!" came a delighted little voice from the staircase.

Anjali joyously stood up, seeing Aru climb down the stairs with Arnav and Khushi on her either side. Aru left their hands halfway and ran to her bua's waiting arms.

"Aru! Bua ki rajkumaari, bua ka cupcake, kaisa hai (how are you)?"

Aru giggled, "Aru is fine, Bua! It's summer vacation, na so no school! Yay!" she replied, letting Anjali caress her hair lovingly.

Anjali laughed softly and looked up only to meet Arnav's guarded gaze and Khushi's polite, slightly strained smile.

Letting Aru go, Anjali stepped forward towards her brother.

"Kaise ho, Chote?" she asked gently.

"I am fine, di." Arnav replied, his eyes watching his daughter who went to greet her fufaji (Navin) and then went to sit with her Akash chachu who let her grab his latest mobile phone to play games!