Chapter 1
"I can't believe it! Armaan wapas aa raha hai! Thank you, thank you so much, Shivji. Aaj toh main extra bhog laayi hoon aapke liye. Aakhir aapne meri itni badi wish jo poori ki hai. Pata hai, kitne saal ho gaye usse dekhe hue? Ab intezaar bilkul nahi ho raha tha, par finally aaj woh aa raha hai na, toh saara intezaar khatam."
Mannat was blabbering in front of Shivji and Goddess Parvati's idol, wearing a red anarkali suit. Her long hair, reaching her waist, was flowing gently in the autumn breeze. With her eyes closed and her naturally pink lips moving in prayer, she was complaining and thanking Shivji simultaneously.
"Mannat bitiya, aaj hi saari shikayatein kar logi kya Bhole Baba se, ha?" Panditji said, walking into the temple with a thaal of ladoos in his hand.
"Jao, kab se Shanti Devi ji tumhe dhoond rahi hain," he added, placing the prasad in Mannat’s hand.
Eating the prasad, Mannat made her way to where Shanti Devi was waiting for her.
"Hadd hai! Kabse intezaar kar rahe hain tumhara. Sara daan ho gaya aur ab aayi ho tum," Shanti Devi said in her usual sharp tone.
Shanti Devi, a 65-year-old woman, was wearing a red Banarasi saree, a long red bindi on her forehead, and dark kohl-lined eyes. Her sharp voice often commanded silence in any room. A woman of few words, she valued status and image above all else.
"I'm sorry, Dadi sa," Mannat said in a timid voice as they started walking toward the car, where the driver was waiting.
"Main phir keh rahi hoon, Raghu, tum aaj ke liye ruk jao. Itne saalon baad hamara bada pota Armaan wapas aa raha hai. Usse toh mil lo," Shanti Devi said calmly, as the car started moving toward Shanti Bhawan.
Mannat sat next to Shanti Devi, enjoying the autumn breeze while her dadi sa spoke to the driver about Armaan. Hearing his name made Mannat blush shyly.
After about 30 minutes, they arrived at Shanti Bhawan.
The mansion was dazzling with lights and adorned with flowers, looking enchanting.
"Maa ji, aap aa gayi?" Sumitra asked, spotting her mother-in-law in the temple while preparing the aarti thali.
"Bahuu, humein toh do ghante ho gaye aaye hue. Aap kahan se aa rahi hain, yeh batayiye," Shanti Devi asked sharply.
"Kuch nahi, Maa ji. Armaan ke liye uski favorite kheer banani thi. Bhale hi kuch hi der mein yahan badi party ho, par hamara beta hamesha hamare haath ki kheer se shuruwaat karta hai," Sumitra said in her soothing voice before heading to the kitchen.
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Shanti Bhawan
(Dehradun, India) - 7 PM
The villa was abuzz with activity. Wealthy guests, politicians, actresses, and other special invitees filled the grand space. Some were engaged in lively conversations, others sipped wine while admiring the villa's beauty, and many eagerly awaited the arrival of the famous business tycoon, Armaan Singh Raizada.
Despite his young age, Armaan had achieved immense success due to his diligence and sharp business acumen, reaching heights few could dream of.
The male members of the Raizada family were attending to the guests, while the women were busy in the kitchen. The Raizada family was headed by the formidable Akash Singh Raizada, a 70-year-old man whose commanding aura had not dimmed with age. His wife, Shanti Devi, was equally authoritative.
Their eldest son, Vikram Singh Raizada (56), and his wife, Sumitra (52), had one son—Armaan Singh Raizada. The younger son, Raghav Singh Raizada (50), and his wife, Meera (43), had one son, Ayaan Singh Raizada, aged 23.
"Ma, bhai kab aayenge?" Ayaan asked his mother while sipping water in the kitchen, where three maids were assisting the Raizada women.
"Bas aata hi hoga tumhara bhai. Flight land ho chuki hai. Call aaya tha uska," Meera replied while kneading dough in a large bowl.
"Kitni baar bulaya Mannat ko! Yeh ladki upar se neeche aane mein itna time lagati hai kya?" Shanti Devi grumbled, pacing the kitchen.
"Dadi, main bula leta hoon. Shayad woh kisi kaam—arey, yeh lijiye! Aa gayi badi lambi umar hai tumhari. Sau saal jiyogi. Tumhari hi baat ho rahi thi," Ayaan said, spotting Mannat standing at the kitchen entrance.
She was wearing a white lehenga, her hair loose, her face glowing with happiness.
"Kyun nahi? Hamari Mannat ki umar toh humse bhi badi hogi," Sumitra said teasingly, walking over to Mannat to take her balaayen (to ward off the evil eye). "Kisi ki nazar na lage," she added.
"Tumhe pata hai na, hamesha se hume ek ladki chahiye thi. Par Armaan ke hone ke baad meri pregnancy complicated ho gayi," Sumitra said nostalgically.
"Jiji, aap bhi kya purani baat lekar baith gayi. Agar is ghar mein beti hoti bhi, toh woh hamari Mannat se zyada samajhdar na hoti," Meera interrupted gently.
"12 saal ki thi tum jab yahan aayi thi. Tumhare mom-dad, jo hamare itne ache dost the, unke accident ke baad se tum hi ho jisme hum un dono ki chhaavi dekh lete hain," Sumitra said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Stop crying, Badi Maa! Aap bhi na, har baat pe emotional ho jaati ho. Aur jab tak aap hain hamare paas, hume kisi ki zarurat nahi hai," Mannat said, hugging Sumitra. "Ab aapko bhi bulaana padega," she added to Gayatri with puppy eyes, and the three shared a group hug.
"Main bhi hoon bhai! Mujhe kyun bhool jaate ho aap log?" Ayaan said dramatically, joining the group hug.
Shanti Devi stood nearby, admiring the bond between her family members.
"Bhagwan kare, inhe kisi ki nazar na lage," she thought to herself before walking out of the kitchen to join the party.
She was greeting a guest when a voice rang out.
"Dadiii…
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