"तुम हसीन हो, गुलाब जैसी हो,
बड़ी नाजुक हो, ख्वाब जैसी हो!"

Delhi:-

Goenka निवास!!

On the dining table, in the utter silence, the Goenka's were having their breakfast. With the head of the family, Mr. Prithviraj Goenka sitting on the head chair. To his left was sitting his son, Suraj with Anita next to her. And on his right side were sitting, Shivay, Omkara and Rudra who were just staring at the food with their wives looking at them and sighing!

Prithviraj:(looking at Suraj) Suraj, What about The Patrios deal???

Suraj:(nodding) Ji Dad, we will get the deal, anyway!

Anita:(softly) Papa Ji, Suraj! Please, no talks about business here.

Prithviraj:(raising both hands) Sorry beta!

Anita smiled and looked at her front to saw her sons looking at each other, and not eating, to which she frowned.

Anita: Bachon! Why aren't you eating your food?

Shivay:(plainly) We are not hungry, Maa.

Suraj:(sternly) And why is that so?And you three together aren't hungry, haa?

Anita:(to her daughter-in-laws)) Anika, bache serve them!

They three nodded and Anika was about to serve Shivay when He stopped her showing his hand.

Shivaya: I said na, I am not hungry, Anika!

Same happened with Om and Rudra too as they also denied their wives to serve them. Elders were watching all this with blank face.

Prithvi: May I Know what is the matter? If you are not hungry then why are you on the table?

The three looked at each other and sighed.

Suraj:(sternly) Dad is asking something from you three, will you guys open your mouth?

Shivay:(with sad face) You don't remember dad?

Suraj:(blank face) What?

Om: You seriously forgot, or hou don't want to remember dad?

Anita:(sadly) No bacho, please!

Rudra: Why Not Mom?

Prithvi:(sternly) Stop talking in riddles, come to the point.

Shivay: Dadu, its first of July! Four years ago...

Prithvi:(intruppting him) So? This date comes every year, nothing new! Have you food.

The three looked at each other and fisted their hands, and the atmosphere became ackward and cold.

Anika:(trying to fix) Shivay, see I made kheer too, have some na please!

Rudra:(chuckled) Really dadu? If it is normal day then why your eyes look gloomy? And yours too Maa - Dad?

Suraj and Prithvi face hardened and Anita's eyes welled up with tears.

Prithvi:(standing up) I am done.

He was leaving the dining area when stopped in mid.

Prithvi:(blankly) I have already made myself very much clear, that I don't want this topic discussing in my Home! And if anyone have so much problem with the decision I took, then they're free to leave too!

And with this he left from there followed by Suraj who glared his sons. Shivay punched the table making it shake and went from there, followed by Anika. Soon Om and Rudra too left from there And Anita signalled the girls to go with them. She too stood up and moved towards the small temple in the mansion and sat in from of God Krishna's idol!

Anita:(crying) Please bring back the happiness of this house Krishna ji, Please!

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Mumbai-

Mansion Love-

Everyone were sitting in the living area. Fab Five were back from college an hour ago and now were sitting in the living area with everyone else. Manik was laying on the couch with his head in his mother's lap and she was caressing his hairs lovingly. They all were talking randomly.

Mrunal: Hey! It's Janmashtami (God Krishna's birthday) naa, god! Time passed so soon, no?

Nyo:(chuckled) That's true though! Well we have to do lots of preparations, then!

Manik:(exclaiy) Woho! Janmashtami! Maa, Dadi This year too we will celebrate janmashtami like everytime naa?

Damini: Haa Ofcourse meri Rasmalai! Nyonika, beta call all the relatives tomorrow only, hmm? Otherwise at end moment, someone or other is left out!

Nyonika nodded her head with a smile.

Manish: I'll call my best friend by myself!

Yash: No! I'll call them myself.

Manish: Dad!! You ca yours, I'll call mine, naa!

Damini:(sighing) You both let it be, Nyo beta you call Everyone only, otherwise like last time they both will forgot to call and then will blame each other.

Everyone chuckled while both men made bad faces.

Navya:(excitedly) Waise, It's Janmashtami guys, what about the shopping?

Boys rolled their eyes while Mukti and Mrunal beamed with excitement.

Mukti: Arre!! That's the first thing and most important, too!

Nyo: Haa shopping, Maa We will go to the market tomorrow haa!

Abhi:(acting smartly) Haa so You girls go na for shopping tomorrow with Nyo maa and dadi!

Mukti:(sarcastically smiling) Haha! Don't act over smart, got that? You guys are coming with us!

Navya: Exactly..

Mrunal: And Mr. Arijit Malhotra, tomorrow I don't want your any excuses, samjhe? You aren't going to office and if you went na, then no need of stepping in My Room for a week!

Arijit opened his mouth in an 'O' shape making other chuckle.

Arijit:(joining hands) As you say Devi. I'll Not Go to office. Happy?

Mrunal:(grinned) Very!!

All smiled seeing them when Nyo bent to whisper in Manik's ears.

Nyo: Aap Chalenge Janab?

(Will you come Mister?)

Manik:(opening one eye) Ofcourse!

Nyo chuckled and patted his head after pinching his cheeks.

Nyo: My Rasgulla!!

He smiled and kissed her hand.

Manik: My Chashni!!

Nyo chuckled at her silly kid and ruffled his hairs and soon Everyone drifted to sleep to welcome a new day!!

Next day at Phoenix Mall-

The Malhotra clan except Manish and Yash along with Fab four came in the mall for the Janmashtami shopping. Right now the scene was like, Nyo and Damini were in Jewellery section to buy some jewellery, while the girls were dragging their respective husband slash boyfriend with them making Manik chuckle and pout at the same time as he doesn't have anyone who would drag him!Anyway, he chose to be dragged by His two sweeties that is Damini and Nyo. All were busy in shopping. And about jalf an hour later Manik got call from Cabir who was asking him to come in the food court as now Navya, Mukti and Mrunal gave some rest to their partners and started helping each other. So Manik informing Nyo and Damini moved out of the shop to got to second floor where food court was, as he was on 4th floor.

He was moving towards the food court when he heard some sniffing sound, to which he frowned and moved in the direction where the sound was coming from. He moved to the corner and there he saw a girl Child of around three- four years standing there, facing her back and crying. He looked here and there to saw if she was with someone but there was no one making him frown. He moved forward and Sitting on his knees tapped the baby's shoulder making her turn and as soon as she turned he was all aww! As She was looking So cute and adorable with her cute chubby cheeks and red nose.

He picked her up in his arms and immediately she stopped crying and looked at him with her big wide eyes making him go all aww on her. He pinched her cheeks cutely.

Manik: Hi Princess!

The girl was none other but Anahita Murthy who came to the Mall with Ishita but now lost her. After some few seconds her chin again wobbled making Manik panic.

Manik: Hey! Hey! What happen Princess? Don't cry naa please..

But she was still wobbling her lips and tears were coming out of her eyes, and Manik was wiping them again and again.

Anahita:(in meek voice) Mimi!!

Finding no other way Manik patted her back softly and started humming. Tears still coming out of her eyes, but she was now looking at him her big doe shaped eyes wide open, blinking them cutely making him smile.

Aa leke chalun tujhko
Ik aise desh me
Aa leke chalun tujhko
Ik aise desh me
Milti hai jahan khushiya
Pariyon ke bhesh me
Milti hai jahan khushiya
Pariyon ke bhesh me
Pariyon ke bhesh me...
Aa leke chalu tujhko...

He was singing all the while roaming here and there patting Anahita's head lovingly just like a father doesi while making his daughter sleep. He didn't realised that Anahita has now stopped crying. She was listening to his soft voice and a small smile appeared on her face

He was singing with closed eyes and he stopped singing listening giggles which were music to him. He smiled and looked at her face to saw her giggling Softly making him smile widely without him even realising.

Anahita: (clapping her hands) Loktal!! Ye!! Loktal.

[Rockstar]

First Manik didn't understood but soon ge got why she was saying and smiled widely. He was head over heels on her Cuteness. And he kissed her cheeks lovingly making her giggle more.

Manik: What's your name Princess?

And before Anahita could reply him in her toddler voice, they heard a scared voice from behind.

Ishita: Anahita!!

They both looked in the direction with Anahita still in his arms. Manik frowned seeing the lady while she moved forward and was about to take Anahita in her arms when Manik backed off making Anahita giggle as she was finding everything funny. The lady frowned.

Manik:(politely) Am Sorry Mam, but who are you? Do you know her?

Ishita:(politely) Am Ishita Kapoor, she is My grandkid!

Manik made an oh face but soon frowned again.

Manik:(softly) I am sorry again mam, but do you have any proof that she is with you only? Don't mind, but just to avoid anything bad.

Ishita smiled at his concern for an unknown child. But Anahita is the reason he felt so protected, He felt a connection with her in a single meet only. Ishita fetched out her mobile from her handbag and showed a pic of her with Anahita making him feel embrassed.

Manik: Am sorry Mam!!

Ishita:(Patting his head) No my child, it's ok! Relax! Infact I am happy that you found her, actually she is really naughty! We were moving to a shop and I had an important call so she being the mischievous girl made me hold some other kid's hand standing there and ran from there. I was so scared!

All this while Anahita was giggling and Manik chuckled listening her naughtiness and pinched her cheeks softly.

Manik: Naughty Princess!!

Anahita showed her milky white teeth making both chuckle and then Ishita Took Anahita in her arms..

Manik:(caressing her cheeks) Bye Princess!!

Anahita smiled and did some gestures with her hands to him to come close. He frowned and came closer and Anahita kissed his cheek making him smile and Ishita shocked, and what shocked her more that Manik too kissed her cheeks lovingly and she was still smiling which is so not Anahita! Soon bidding bye to him Ishita and Anahita moved from there leaving a smiling Manik behind.

Manik:(whispered) Anahita!! Such a pyara name, just like her!

And he then moved to the food court smiling all this while remembering her cuteness!!

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1884 words!

♡︎A