Author's POV:-

'Mumma mujhe na aapse zaruri kuch kehana hain' Priti said to Anjali who is now preparing the bed to sleep..

'Haa toh bol na..sun toh rahi hun..' she said with a smile while she is putting the pillow cover.

She shook her head and drags her, 'Nahi ese nahi ,aapki dhyaan sirf meri taraf honi chahiye mein jab bolungi'

She chuckled, 'Acha bol..mein sun rahi hu teri baat ...aur woh bhi dhyaan se'

'Woh mumma , Sheetal hain na meri college friend..hum dono ne plan ki hain kal restaurant mein khaayenge raat ko ..aur woh bhi apne mummy ko sath lekar k'

Listening to her Anjali's eyes widenes as she get up, 'Haa toh jaa na..par mein waha Jaa k kya karungi?'

She again pull her hand and made her sit, 'Are mummy kya karungi ka kya matlab hain?? Waha sheetal ki mom bhi rahegi ...aap ne toh unn se phone pe baat tak ki hain bohut baar..toh problem kya hain?? Aap jaak unk sath gappe karenge aur mein sheetal se'

Anjali still shaking her head, 'Par beta woh toh meine sirf phone pe baat ki thi..aise samne thodi ki hain kabhi??'

Now priti got slightly angry, 'Aap itna bhi meri baat nahi maan sakti kya mom?? Har samay toh Ghar mein hi kaam karti rahati ho ..mein kya har roz bolti hu?? Sirf kal aur woh bhi sirf raat ko boli?'

She turned away in frustration. A pang of guilt hit Anjali.

She reached out to hold Priti's hand, but Priti pulled it away. "I don't want to talk to you. Go away."

Anjali sighed and tried again, this time managing to take her hand in hers, 'Achaa thikh hain..mein jaungi ok?? Ab toh gussa nahi hain na??'

A bright smile instantly appeared on Priti's face. She turned back to her mother.

"Really? You'll come with me?"

Anjali smiled and nodded.

Priti let out a squeal of excitement before pulling her mother into a tight hug.

She smirked mischievously,

'Plan ban gayi bhaiii!!!! Aap bhi papa ko jaldi se mana lo'

She said in her mind.

On the other side, Piyush was also trying to convince his father.

"Kya yaar, Papa... kal toh waise bhi aap office nahi jaa rahe ho, toh saath jaane se aapko kya problem hain?" he whined like a little kid.

Amit shook his head, adjusting his glasses. "Main tum logon ke friends ke beech jaa kar kya karunga, bhala? Tum log jao, this is your time to enjoy, not mine."

"Arey, uske bhi parents jaa rahe hain movie dekhne, aap kahan akele ho... please chaliye na, Papa," Piyush insisted, dropping to his knees and making puppy eyes.

Amit's lips curved into a smile as he watched his son's dramatic antics. He reached out and lightly tapped Piyush's cheek.

"Acha, theek hai... jaa raha hoon. Ab aise shakal banane ki koi zarurat nahi hai," he finally agreed.

Piyush's eyes widened in excitement, and before Amit could react, he jumped into his arms like he used to do as a child.

Amit groaned as Piyush landed on his lap with full force. "Tujhe dekh ke lagta nahi hai ki tu ek saal baad graduate hone wala hai... aise harkatein shayad Priti bhi nahi karti!"

But Piyush didn't care. He happily kissed his father's cheek, screaming, "Thank you, Papa!"

'Abb ayega na asli maza papa !!' he thought to himself, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Next day,

"Yeh lijiye saree... aur pehan ke aaiye" Priti said, handing Anjali a navy blue silk saree.

Anjali's hands froze for a moment as her eyes fell on the fabric. It was the same saree Amit had gifted her on a special occasion-one she had carefully tucked away, untouched, for years.

"Yeh... sa-saree?" she murmured, glancing up at her daughter.

"Haan, kyun? Achi nahi hai? Toh doosri saree laun?" Priti asked, feigning innocence, though she knew exactly what she was doing.

Anjali blinked, her fingers brushing over the soft silk. "Nahi... bohot hi pyaari saree hai... I will wear this only," she said, finally taking it from her daughter's hands.

Priti beamed, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.

A little while later, when Anjali stepped out, draped in the blue saree, Priti gasped.

"Mumma! Aap toh bohot hi pyaari lag rahi ho... kasam se!" she exclaimed, taking both her mother's palms in hers and kissing them.

Anjali giggled at her daughter's enthusiasm.

"Acha chalo, ab aap yahan baithiye... mein aapka thoda makeup-shakeup kar deti hoon," Priti declared dramatically, guiding her mother to the dressing chair.

"Nahi, mujhe koi makeup ki zarurat nahi... main aise hi theek hoon," Anjali replied, running a comb through her long, smooth hair.

"Aree, toh bahar aise hi plain jaogi kya? Kam se kam kuch matching choodiyan ya haar pehan lijiye," Priti insisted.

Anjali hesitated, looking at her reflection.

"Kuch pehan lijiye na," Priti urged again, her voice gentle but persuasive.

Anjali sighed, still unsure.

"Toh kya pehanne ka mann kar raha hai? Mujhe bataiye, main nikal deti hoon drawer se," Priti said, already pulling the drawer open.

Anjali bit her lip, hesitating. Should she say it? But then again, this was her daughter.

Finally, in a small voice, she said, "Woh... meri laal choodiyan aur mangalsutra nikal degi? Sirf wahi pehnungi."

Her voice was soft, almost shy, as she looked down, playing with her fingers.

If she was already wearing his gifted saree, then why not wear all the things he had given her?

The bangles, the mangalsutra-every piece was gifted by Amit, carrying the warmth of their shared past.

A small sigh escaped her lips as another thought crossed her mind. If only she could wear his gifted payals too. Wearing payals is her favourite obsession.But those anklets had broken a few months ago, and she never got another pair.

Her heart ached a little at the thought, but she pushed it aside. Today, she would wear everything that still remained.

Meanwhile, Priti called Piyush to inform him that she and their mother were all set to leave. On the other hand, he and their father were also ready to head out.

"Haan, Mumma ko lekar wahaan seedha aa jao... main bhi nikal raha hoon," Piyush instructed before they both ended the call.

They finally arrived at the restaurant separately. It was an upscale, luxurious place with a sophisticated ambiance.

As Anjali stepped inside, she took in the elegant interior, admiring the intricate designs. She held her daughter's hand firmly, a habitual gesture of comfort and care.

"Sheetal aur uski mummy pahunch gayi kya?" she asked Priti, her gaze scanning the restaurant.

Priti shook her head and reassured her, "Haan, chaliye andar... Humne pehle se hi table book kar li hai".

On the other side of the restaurant...

"Tu mujhe yahan kyun leke aaya iss restaurant mein? Hum toh movie dekhne jaane wale the na? Aur tere dost kahaan hain?" Amit questioned, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Piyush licked his lips nervously, trying to maintain his composure.

"Haan, jaayenge na movie dekhne... par pehle kuch kha lete hain, phir chalenge. I already booked our table," he said casually, making Amit nod in agreement.

As they walked further inside, both unknowingly approached from opposite directions with their parents.

"Aap baithiye, Dad," Piyush said, politely pulling out a chair for his father.

But before Amit could sit, he suddenly froze. His breath hitched, his heart pounding in his chest as his eyes locked onto a familiar figure standing just a few steps away. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

On the other side, Anjali stood rooted to the spot, her body going rigid as she stared at the same familiar face. The world around her seemed to blur, her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

___________________________

Leave your comments below ❣️