Sheesh Mahal,

Anjali ushered them into the cozy living room of Sheesh Mahal. There, amidst a colorful sprawl of blocks and plush animals, sat a little boy, his attention wholly absorbed by the playthings before him.

The sisters, Khushi and Payal stood for a moment, observing the tranquil scene, their eyes twinkling at the sight of the child's innocent engagement. With a tender smile, Anjali stepped forward, her arms reaching out to envelop the quiet boy in a warm embrace. Anjali's arms were a cradle of love as she held Daruk, the apple of their eyes, settling onto the plush sofa.

Her voice, rich with the pride of an elder sister, broke the silence of the room. "Khushi, he's Daruk, our little brother," she announced, her words wrapping around the infant like a warm blanket.

Khushi leaned forward, her excitement knew no bounds. "Hey, Daruk," she greeted the infant, and continued her rant excitedly, "I'm Khushi. You know you have such a nice name and you are so cute and beautiful!" her fingers gently squeezing his soft chubby cheeks, eliciting a gurgle of delight from Daruk.

Daruk's voice rang out mischievously with a "Kooochi," causing Anjali and Payal to burst into ripples of laughter. Daruk looked at Khushi with twinkling eyes. Khushi's expression morphed into one of mock horror, her face forming perfect O's of shock, much to the amusement of Arnav, who had just descended the stairs and couldn't help but giggle softly to himself.

Inside, Ratna and Samaya were busy preparing snacks, oblivious to the playful drama unfolding. Khushi, trying to correct Daruk, enunciated her name with exaggerated clarity, "Not Kooochi, Daruk. It's Khushi. Khushi! Okay? K.H.U.S.H.I," she spelled out, hoping the little one would catch on.

Arnav settled down next to Anjali with a light scoff, a knowing look in his eyes. He alone was privy to the countless attempts he'd made to coax his little brother into saying 'Arnav' instead of 'Annav.'

As expected, Daruk, in his innocent stubbornness, persisted with "Koooochii," his joyful declaration prompting Payal to giggle at the adorable scene. Payal couldn't resist complimenting the toddler's creative renaming, "Aww! Such an intelligent baby you are. Koochiii is a perfect name you kept for Khushi," she chimed in, her words dripping with affection and tease.

"Jiji," Khushi glared at her sister.

Anjali, ever the mediator, tried to redirect Daruk's attention, "And Daru, she's Payal," pointing towards Payal. Daruk's response was a gleeful "Payyaaalll," which only added to the merriment.

Khushi's eyes widened in disbelief. How could Daruk get Payal's name right but not hers? She voiced her playful indignation, "Haww! Daruk, it is so wrong. You got my Jiji's name and not mine? Not good," she pouted, her feigned disappointment only adding to the charm of the moment as Anjali and Payal continued to laugh, their giggles echoing through the house.

However, Daruk's gaze, innocent and exploring, landed on the cascade of Khushi's hair. His tiny hands shot out, latching onto Khushi's hair with the tenacity of a little warrior. His little mouth opened, and he made a comical attempt to munch on the strands, thinking it perhaps a new type of edible plaything.

"Ouchh!!" Khushi's voice rose in surprise, her eyes wide with the sudden pinch of pain.

Anjali shook her head and attempted to untangle her mischievous little brother Daruk's fingers from Khushi's hair. Each "ouch" from Khushi harmonized with Daruk's innocent giggle. Payal, meanwhile, cautiously kept her own tresses out of the little troublemaker's grasp. As Khushi winced slightly, trying to maintain her composure, Anjali couldn't help but let out a chuckle. She knew this was to happen. Anyone meeting Daruk is disastrous!

This was a familiar scene in their household; Daruk's tiny hands were notorious for latching onto the hair of anyone within reach, turning every encounter into a playful debacle.

Anjali, Arnav, and Dhruv have often found themselves at the mercy of Daruk's playful antics. Time and again, they've been the endearing targets of his playful mischief.

"Huff! Thank god," Khushi sighed in relief after her strands were released from the naughty boy's little fist. "I feel like my hair has finally got its freedom after WW3 with this little army of a boy." She added, poking her fingers on his cheeks emitting a giggle from Daruk. His laughter bubbling up as he grasped her fingers from his cheek, "Kooochiii ichh chooft," he echoed in innocent joy, "like myy bearrr."

(Khushi is soft)

"Aww!" Khushi kissed his adorable cheeks. Little Daruk made a weak protest at the sudden kiss while Anjali and Payal giggled in laughter. Arnav made a face pitying his brother.

The hall resonated with the carefree laughter of children, contrasting sharply with Ratna and Samaya's entrance, as they arrived bearing snacks and warm smiles. Daruk's infectious joy served as a soothing balm to all present.

Samaya's maternal instincts were immediately piqued as she surveyed the room. "Where is Dhruv?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Arnav, always ready with an answer, replied without delay, "He's in his room, Chachi. Bathing."

A crease of confusion formed on Samaya's forehead. "Again? Didn't he freshen up just after you guys got back from school?" she probed, seeking an explanation.

With a touch of amusement in his voice, Arnav narrated the evening's comical mishap. "I was gardening, and he dashed into my room's garden, slipping on the floor and falling into the mud, Chachi," he detailed, evoking the messy scene. After finishing his homework, he was tending to the plants in his room's garden as he usually did. Out of nowhere, Dhruv burst into the garden, tripped on the water can, and tumbled into the wet mud. Splattered with mud and water was Dhruv. Arnav quickly assisted him to his feet and escorted him to his room for a change of clothes and a quick bath. After dropping him off, he headed downstairs instructing Dhruv to inform Dadi about Khushi's arrival. A confused Dhruv nodded at his little brother.

Samaya's frustration was clear as she voiced her exasperation. "Hey, Bhagwan! Not again. How many times have I told him to watch where he's walking, especially when you're gardening?" she scolded her son as if he was listening to her, her voice a blend of concern and admonishment.

Filled with a mother's determination, Samaya climbed the stairs, intent on evaluating the damage Dhruv had inflicted on his clothes and himself during his latest escapade.

"Kooochii!!" Daruk's voice echoed with excitement just as Samaya ascended the stairs, his eyes fixed on Khushi who was delightfully nibbling on the cookies Ratna had brought for them.

Anjali and Payal couldn't help but conceal their giggles behind their hands.

Ratna, puzzled by the sudden outburst, turned to Daruk with a plate of cookies in hand. "Do you want a cookie, Daru?" she asked, her gaze shifting between the cookies and smoothies laid out for the children. It was odd; Daruk had always been able to say 'cookie' correctly. What prompted this change today?

"Noo. Kooochii," Daruk insisted, shaking his head with conviction as he climbed down from Anjali's lap.

Ratna's frown deepened in confusion, prompting Arnav to step in and dissolve the mystery. "Mumma, your Khushi has been bestowed with a new title. Daruk ne naamkaran kiya hai. Kooochiiii," he declared amused, his laughter mingling with the Payal and Anjali's.

Khushi, still engaged with her cookies, managed a pout in response. Ratna's eyebrows arched in amusement as she watched Daruk toddle over to Khushi, his little legs unsteady but determined. He finally reached her and climbed into her lap.

Khushi welcomed Daruk into the small sanctuary of her lap and both of them started munching on the cookies.

She savored another cookie, her fifth one to be precise, while Daruk was still meticulously working his way through his first. "Aunty, these cookies are so tasty. They're just like the ones from the bakery. How did you make them?" she inquired, her voice muffled by the sweet treats.

Ratna looked at Khushi with affectionate eyes and posed a question in return, "Do you want to make them, Khushi?"

Khushi's face lit up with eagerness. "Yesss. I will make them. I ask my Mumma to teach me, but she doesn't allow me in the kitchen," she explained, her words accompanied by a playful pout.

Payal, seizing the moment to tease, joined the conversation with a knowing look. "That's because everyone knows what happens if you enter the kitchen, Khushi." She then turned to Ratna with a mock warning, "Aunty, if you want your kitchen in one piece, I suggest you don't even let Khushi wander around it."

Khushi, feigning indignation, retorted, "Hawww! Jiji, I'm not that clumsy, okay?"

Payal arched an eyebrow, her tone laced with humor. "Yeah, true! It was the cat who spilled the milk from the container today, wasn't it?"

The memory was still fresh. Earlier, amidst their homework session, Khushi's stomach had betrayed her with a rumble, a mere thirty minutes after they had filled up on sandwiches. Unable to resist, she dashed to the kitchen for cookies. Not even letting Buaji register the little butterfly running or flying across the hall. As Khushi reached for the cookie box perched high in the furnished cupboard, her elbow brushed against a bowl of milk resting innocently on the floor. In an instant, the bowl tipped over, sending its contents sprawling across the floor, a testament to Khushi's well-known but endearing clumsiness. And then came the loud exclamation, "Hai Re Nandakishore."

Laughter filled the room as Arnav playfully teased, "So, Khushi has a new nickname again, Cat?" His words came after Payal had just finished recounting the day's mishaps.

Khushi's face scrunched up in mock offense. "Haww! I am not a Cat. I have such a beautiful and cute name. Khushi. Isn't it, Aunty?" she protested, seeking an ally in Ratna.

Ratna bobbed her head in agreement.

Arnav, with a smirk on his face, couldn't resist continuing the jest. "You mean Koochii, right?"

Feeling outnumbered, Khushi turned to Ratna with a dramatic flair. "Aunty, dekho na, Arnav is teasing me," she complained, her voice a blend of amusement and exasperation.

Ratna, who had been watching the exchange with a fond smile, finally stepped in. "Chotte, enough. Stop teasing Khushi. She's so little, na. Aisa nahi karte," she chided Arnav gently, her words wrapped in warmth.

Little and her? Arnav scanned Khushi.

Khushi's grin widened, her eyebrows dancing in triumph at Arnav as Ratna sided with her. The moment, however, was delightfully interrupted by Daruk, who had been attentively watching his Ratna Maa, cousins, and newfound friends. With the unguarded enthusiasm, he proclaimed, "Kooochiii!!" His declaration punctured Khushi's triumphant expression, replacing it with a playful pout.

"Haww! Daruk. It's bad, very bad. Say Khushi. KHUSHI," she gently said, trying to coax the correct pronunciation from him.

But Daruk was undeterred, his tiny voice adamant as he repeated, "Koochiii!!"

Laughter once again filled the room, a symphony of joy and familial warmth. Ratna's laughter joined the chorus, her amusement evident as she watched the playful banter unfold.

Amid the merriment, Dhruv made his entrance, descending the stairs just in time to witness the scene.

Arnav, awaiting his Dadi's arrival along with Dhruv, for her to apologize to Khushi, turned to Dhruv on noticing him alone. "Where's Dadi?" he inquired.

Irritation took over Khushi as she sat there, her eyes sending sharp daggers towards the Gardener. His probing about 'Hitler Dadi' set off alarms in her head. She silently prayed that the old lady would remain in her room, away from the courtyard's tranquility. Memories of being pushed flashed before her, and what if she pushed her again? Khushi decided she wouldn't be a victim again. If faced with scolding or another push, she was ready to stand her ground and push the Hitler Dadi back.

"She's in her room, engrossed in reading the Bhagavad Gita. She didn't even let me enter the room, forget about talking," Dhruv replied. Her room was conveniently on his way.

Arnav sighed in exasperation. He knew his Dadi had no intention of apologizing to Khushi. But if she thinks, she can ignore it and he'd talk to her sooner or later, she's wrong.

He'd only talk to her when she apologized to Khushi.

"Alright, let's play," Anjali suggested, leading everyone outside, including little Daruk. Ratna retreated to the kitchen, and the servants tidied up the dining table. The children scattered to play.

"Hide and Seek? Or Beach Ball Toss?" Anjali proposed.

Khushi's eyes lit up at the mention of "Beach Ball Toss," and they all enthusiastically began the game since it didn't involve any running and Khushi's ankle would be safe.

Amidst the laughter and excitement in the courtyard, no one noticed when Avinash and Arvind quietly arrived home.

Including a woman after a few minutes of their arrival.

Hall,

Ratna's voice echoed gently through the grand staircase as she inquired about the stranger's identity. She had just been attending to domestic comforts; delivering coffee to her husband and gathering his attire for the night ahead.

"I'm here to see Avinash-ji on a matter of business," the woman replied with a purposeful tone, her words carrying the weight of urgency.

Ratna's brow furrowed slightly, her smile tinged with bewilderment. It was unusual for Avinash to mix the sanctity of their home with office affairs, except for his personal assistant. The hallowed halls of Sheesh Mahal rarely entertained such visits unless the matter was of significant importance.

The woman's assurance, accompanied by a knowing smile, hinted at the gravity of the situation. "It's both important and confidential," she insisted.

Understanding the necessity, Ratna offered a warm, accommodating smile and invited the woman to take a seat. "He'll join you shortly. In the meantime, may I offer you some refreshments? Tea or Coffee?"

"Tea," came the simple request from the woman.

With a nod, Ratna retreated to the kitchen, leaving instructions for a servant to fetch Avinash. No sooner had she disappeared from view than the woman seized the moment, ascending the stairs with a swift determination that belied her earlier calm. Her abrupt departure drew the servants' attention, but their calls fell on deaf ears as she encountered Avinash at the top of the stairs.

The servants, sensing the shift in dynamics, withdrew discreetly as Avinash locked eyes with the woman he recognized as his employee, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

After a few minutes, downstairs,

The grand hall of Sheesh Mahal, usually a bastion of tranquility, was now the stage for an unprecedented scene. Samaya's voice, sharp and laden with accusation, cut through the silence.

"What do you mean you don't know what happened?" she demanded, her scream echoing off the walls. It was a spectacle the likes of which the residence had never witnessed — a public quarrel between Samaya and Avinash, their private discord spilling over for all to see.

Ratna, who had been preoccupied with the absence of the visitor when she came back with the tea, was drawn to the commotion by Samaya's outcry. She caught sight of the woman positioned discreetly behind Avinash, her presence adding to the puzzle that Ratna couldn't piece together.

Avinash attempted to quell the rising tide of anger. "I don't know what is happening, Samaya. You are misunderstanding me," he implored, his words struggling against the onslaught of her wrath.

"Misunderstanding?" Samaya's voice was a hiss, her teeth clenched in fury. "I heard what you both were talking about, don't try to fool me," she spat out, her disbelief palpable.

The chaos escalated as Subadhra entered, her own voice rising above the din. "What is even happening here?" she demanded, her scream a testament to her inability to digest the unfolding drama.

Her eyes then narrowed on the woman standing apart, her head bowed as if to avoid the scrutiny. "And who's this woman?" Subadhra's question hung in the air. The woman remained silent, her posture one of deference amidst the tempest of accusations. Samaya narrated what she saw.

Samaya's world came crashing down as she overheard the conversation. The woman's voice, laced with tears, pierced the silence. "I'm pregnant," she confessed, her words heavy with emotion.

Avinash's response was a mix of shock and disbelief, his voice rising in volume. "What?" he exclaimed, staring at the woman as if she were a ghost from a past he couldn't recall.

The woman persisted, her tears a testament to the gravity of her claim. "Yes, the night that happened between us two months ago, it's the result," she insisted, her voice breaking.

Avinash's anger flared, his words coming out like a snarl. "What the hell! Don't you dare lie! Nothing happened between us, what are you even talking about?" he retorted, his certainty unshaken. He knew in his heart he hadn't betrayed his wife.

But the woman was prepared, her next move calculated. She hurled photos at Avinash, her ultimatum clear. "If you don't accept my child, I'll show these photos to everyone. I'll go to the media. I'll ask for my rights. You cannot deny our child."

Samaya, a silent witness until now, felt a surge of heartache. Without a word, she sprang into action, seizing the photos. The images were damning, showing her husband in intimate moments with the woman.

Betrayal etched on her face, Samaya confronted Avinash. "How could you do this?" she demanded, her voice choked with tears. Overwhelmed, she turned away, descending the stairs as she longed for the sanctuary of her parental home.

Avinash, caught in the turmoil, followed her, the accusing woman trailing behind him, as if putting him on trial with every step they took.

The air was thick with tension. Ratna was horrified and was beside Samaya offering comfort. Subadra confronted Avinash, her voice sharp with accusation. "Avinash, are you cheating on Samaya?" she demanded, seeking the truth. As if he'd bob his head.

Avinash, firm in his innocence, replied with equal intensity. "I'm sure I'm not." he asserted.

"What about these photos?" Samaya confronted him. Ratna and Subadra caught the glimpses of photos.

Subadra's disappointment was palpable, her words laced with betrayal. "Is this the way you repay us for adopting you into our Royal Family?" she questioned, her gaze fixed on the incriminating photos.

Before Avinash could plead his case, Subadra cut him off, her decision final. "I'm expelling you from the properties. You will get nothing for the disgrace you brought upon us," she declared, her anger stripping away any familial warmth.

Avinash, now realizing what was happening to him, accused her in return. "Now I get it. Is this your plan to kick me out of the property papers, isn't it?" he challenged, his voice rising in disbelief.

Subadra's fury escalated, her voice booming with indignation. "How dare you accuse your mother of such a thing?" she seethed, her wrath unfurling.

Avinash, undeterred, stood his ground, his retort cold and bitter. "Mother I cannot. Step-mother I can, especially if she didn't like my presence since the start," he countered, his resentment towards Subadra clear. He knew she had never truly accepted him; any affection she showed was merely for appearances.

The confrontation left the room charged with unspoken emotions and unsolved mysteries, as the family grappled with the scandal that threatened to tear them apart.

Oblivious to the turmoil inside, the laughter of kids playing outside floated through the air, a stark contrast to the brewing storm within the walls of the Sheesh Mahal.

Regards, 

Poly, 

21/04/2024

Let me know how was the update.

Any reviews are welcome.