AWADH

Lalitha is over seeing the night's dinner with the kitchen staff.

Kabir is in the main hall, freshened up after work & is joined by Advik later,

"Evening Pa", Advik greets perching on the divan.

He just came back after having a video call with his team.

"Evening Adi.Done for the day?", his father enquires languidly watching the wall size Plasma.

"One more meet after dinner & it's a night for me"

Kabir smiles at his 27 year old hard working son. At his age, he just entered into this business sphere which deprived him of all his fatherhood.

He didn't wanted Karan to go through the same so he started training him since he's 12 years old.After school, Advik used to spend 2 hours with his dad in the office helping him in typing letters, posting them to respective addresses, arranging files, analysing old projects etc. With age, the standard of work he did also grew. It also helped Kabir to spend time with his son so it was a win win situation.

Now he's so proud for the person he's or he made him. Wish it had been same with his daughter also.

He come out of his thoughts hearing Advik,

"Nandu abhi tak ayi nai hein?", there's still time but he wants her to come down asap.

She visits once in 3 months & sometimes it might be more so their every minute is precious.

"They are girls", Kabir states as a matter of fact.

"Who are always late", Advik finishes his father's line.

They share a chuckle when footsteps & bare whispers are heard by them.

Kabir fondly smiles at the bare giggles & hurried foot falls.

Advik turns his head to see the girls descending the steps & quickly ambling to them.

Nandu is in a nice cotton pink wear as she has to meet Dadi ma while Teja is in a peach tee set looking bubbly.

"Bache aagayi?",Lalitha calls out reaching the father & sun duo.

"Right...Yeh bachi hi hein",he sighs to himself.

Just when they are gather, the clock strikes 8:30 PM & inner elevator doors open from where a woman steps out with grace & her aide beside.

She's at 5'8", wearing a simple elegant saree with a shawl in hand, hair in a nice braid & the striking feature is the tilak she adorns like a crescent between her eyebrows. With an elegant poise, she looked no less than an Empress.

They stand up with due respect for the woman of the establishment,Janaki Devi.

She is informed of Nandu's arrival and she said to meet her at the dining time.

Nervously, Nandu goes first & take blessings from her. Janaki soothes her hair & takes her into her embrace.

While hugging, she takes a look around to find Teja who simply nods at her with respect & she just acknowledges that.

"How are you Nandana?", Janaki asks in her calm voice coming out of hug.

There's an aura of ascendancy & experience surrounding Janaki which makes Nandu nervous & a bit scared.

"Achi hu Dadi ma. Aap kaise ho?", Nandu replies respectfully.

"Bilkul theek hu.Holidays kitne din tak hein?"

"1 week hein par... mein 10 days rehna chahti hu. Meine aap logon ko bahut miss kiya hein",she answers looking down while her family softly smile at her.

"Now,do you understand why I say you should have studied here, in IIT Delhi? You lost a golden opportunity for something else" Dadi ma rebukes glancing at Teja once.

Right ...they both secured seats for engineering in IIT Delhi but Nandu didn't wanted to study there or go abroad like her brother. She needed fresh breath of air far from her home but not too much distant.

She expressed Teja the same who's more than ready to explore a new & individual life.

Their parents would never agree but Advik convinced them.

Bombay isn't an option so they opted Dehradun as it's near to Delhi and also far from her home.

Nandana feels vulnerable for being questioned for her decision every time when her saviour brother jumps into the situation,

"IIT ho ya DIT padai tho ek hi hotha hein & Nandu aces anywhere Dadi ma", he supports his sister cheerfully coming near them.

"Aapne pichle semester ka marks dekha?", he immediately shows her the mark list in his phone surprising Nandu but not Teja.

Nandu thought he didn't had the time to know all this but her brother is aware of everything.

"She's 1st in the campus", he reveals proudly to his family.

Her father,mother with wide smiles congratulate her while Dadi ma hugs forgetting her own rebukes.

"Kiski poti ho thum? Ha!", Dadi ma beams with pride.

"Apki hein", Karan asserts as Dadi soothes his cheek holding Nandu while he looks at his sister with a smile & assurance.

Nandu smiles heartily at him & mouths "Thank you".

Understanding what he has done, Teja rolls her eyes but smiles.

Adhvik not standing by his sister? Impossible!

"Let's move for dinner", Lalitha suggests gently.

They move onto the dining area with Dadi ma at the top chair, Karan & Kabir at either side of her, Teja & Nandu beside Kabir opposite to Karan.

The serving team serves food & they dig into the plates with nobody speaking anything.

It's a rule in the Dehwars that nobody talks while dining & whole family must be present for breakfast & dinner unless they are out of town.

And Teja hates silence especially during eating as she enjoys food the most.

Unable to bear it, Teja whispers to Nandu,"Yaar ham dining table pe hein ya grave yard mein?"

Nandu suppresses her chortle and glares Teja warning her to zip her mouth.

Teja depicts zipping it & eats her food quietly planning to get away soon.

"Jaldi khalo.Ham bahar jayenge",she whispers again to Nandu.

"Bahar? Abhi tho aye ham ma nai bhejegi",Nandu didn't get what Teja meant.

"Meri ma! Bahar matlab lawn mein.",Teja stresses out signing her the huge lawn in the balcony of 18th floor through her eyes.

"Oo! Mujhe ghar ke bahar laga",Nandu admits sheepishly.

"Hehe! Ab kha jaldi aur...",

Teja's voice gets stopped by the stern voice of Janaki.

"Aapko kuch chahiye Tejasswi?"

There's a halt in everybody's movements while Nandu gets scared. Even Teja's eyes widen but she buckles up & turns to look at her.

"Nai Dadi ma." Teja answers confidently. She owns up her mistakes & doesn't fear to anyone.

Janaki humms before saying,"Aap hamari mehman ho isiliye apko pata nai hoga ki iss Ghar mein khane ke wakth baath nai karthe"

Once she's convinced that Teja is listening to her keenly,she gives a final touch,"Umed yeh ki apko yeh baath yaad rahega"

Teja lightly nods at her & the men resume after few seconds.

Nandu not at all liked her grandmother's barb for Teja.

More than that she felt bad for her helplessness & angrily looks at the plate when Teja holds her hand.

Nandu looks at her only to see a comforting smile on her face.

It should be her who must be doing this but she just can't talk to her grandmother.

Not wanting Teja to get worried, Nandu smiles & grips her palm with her's. That's enough to bring a smile on both their faces.

Lalitha looks at Teja with concern & again she smiles at her assuring her that she is fine.

As everyone indulges in food, she too  resumes silently, remembering Dadi ma's words.

"Aap hamare mehmaan ho"

Mehmaan..? Really?

She chuckles to herself.

Nandu's her best friend since she's in her mumma's tummy.

She knew Dehwars since she came into this world.

Every other member treats her well but Dadi ma...she can't put a reason.

She doesn't know why Dadi ma is averse to her. Is it because of her behavior or because of her status?

While this is all going with her, she unknowingly looks up to see Advik staring at her.

"Yeh mujhe aise kyun dekh rai?"she frowns but doesn't mind.

Leaving him to his thoughts, "Iss ladki nai sudregi? Bachapan se rules janthe hein fir bhi Dadi ma ke saamne break karthi rehthi hein?(he shakes his head) Jaroor iski dimaag mein screw deela hogaya? Nai nai deela hone keliye dimag bhi tho hona chahiye.Huh!"

He brushes off & finishing their dinner everybody retire to their suits.

Picture abhi baki hein mera dosth!