
I, Devyani Singh Raizaada, have been through a lot of things in my life. I've seen some good times, some bad, and some really bad times too. But, I don't think I can ever forget that night, 15 years ago, that changed all our lives forever...
It was the night of my dear Anjali bitiya's wedding...how happy were we, unaware of the tragedy awaiting us...
Amidst all the fan fare, my 14yr old chottey, my Arnav, witnessed an altercation between his parents...involving another woman...a fight that ultimately led my daughter Ratna & her husband to commit suicide...the night of their daughter Anjali's wedding...
As if that blow was not enough, their chacha threw them out of their home & their dadi, my friend, my samdhan, left them, to go & spend the rest of her life in an ashram...
In the space of a few hours, life as we knew it, had been turned around on it's head. From a happy nani, anticipating the wedding of my grand daughter, I was a bereaved mother, a sad mother-in-law, & the sole guardian of two orphan kids...
Lucknow to Delhi...a journey that changed all of us...
A 14 yr old boy...became a man...
An 18 yr old girl...became a mother...
& me, their nani...became their guide & mentor...
14 yrs on...
We had left the past behind, as the kids had their name...they were no longer Arnav & Anjali Malik, but Mr.Arnav Singh Raizaada, & Mrs.Anjali Shyam Manohar Jha...
Arnav Singh Raizaada, or ASR, a famous business tycoon...a 28 yr old man with money, power, status but sadly, no heart...emotions so deeply buried, that it would take a very brave or a very foolish girl to bring them out...His Di was his world & the rest didn't matter...He had no time for God or rituals, all he believed in was him...
Anjali Shyam Manohar Jha...my darling girl, a happily married woman, living with us, because her husband Shyam, who was a lawyer, was away on cases quiet often...but we didn't mind...she was the apple of everyone's eyes & the only one who chottey ever listened too...
Then a year ago, everything changed again...
She came into our lives & changed everything. She touched us all & we were never the same. She brought into our lives, what even we didn't know was missing...khushi...happiness, fun, laughter...Khushi entered our lives...a girl so innocent, so pure...no artifice, just pure heart...
Incidently, Khushi was also from Lucknow...& I knew, she would be perfect for my chottey. But Arnav had other plans...he had Lavanya, Lavanya Kashyap...his business associate & his girl friend...some one he wanted to live with but not marry...
I didn't like Lavanya. She was too modern for my tastes, so I put a condition for her acceptance in the family...she needed to learn how to be a Raizaada bahu...a task that was successfully completed by Khushi...
She not only changed Lavanya's perspective towards Indian culture & rituals, she changed Chottey's mind too...Alongside this, my other grandson Aakash, my son Manohar & DIL Manorma's son, fell in love & resolved to marry the girl of his choice...who coincidentally turned out to be Khushi's elder sister, Payal.
Arnav & Lavanya, Aakash & Payal, Anjali & Shyam...all my grandchildren happy & settled, about to embark on a new life...what more could a grandmother want...I was content. Khushi was also engaged to her bhuaji's tenant, Shyam.
But, on his engagement day, Arnav called off his relationship with Lavanya...gave no one any explanations, not even Anjali...such an heart wrenching moment. I had accepted Lavanya as my grand daughter...to see her leave, so sad & heart broken...Khushi's engagement had also fallen through...what was happening...
We all immersed ourselves into Payal & Aakash's wedding preparations. Anjali & I began noticing the subtle but slight changes in chottey, especially when Khushi was around. He was smiling more, laughing...becoming...Arnav. We decided that after Aakash's wedding, we'll work on getting this rishta pakka...
Then on the wedding day we got another news...my dear Anjali bitiya was going to be a mother...what a joyous day!!! All my grand children happy & settled & with the people whom they loved & who loved them in return...what more could a grandmother want...
But another shock awaited us...Arnav & Khushi walk in married on Payal & Aakash's wedding day...no amount of anger, tears, or entreaty resulted in any explanations or answers...ASR was back...but why?
And then slowly slowly everything returned to normal...all due to my Khushi bitiya's efforts...
Then chottey went to London for some conference...and I realized the depth of Khushi bitiya's love for him...I thank DM everyday for bringing Khushi bitiya into my chottey's life...
Just when I thought life was going smooth sailing, another big shock awaited all of us...it seems chottey had not been able to go abroad at all, but had been kidnapped & the kidnapper was non other than Anjali bitiya's husband, Shyam...he had wanted to kill chottey for his money & property!!!!
This was not all, he had been cheating on Anjali bitiya all this while...he was the Shyam who had been Khushi bitiya's fiancee & bhuaji's tenant...he had lied to the Gupta family too, about his marital status!!!
Khushi bitiya, NK, & Payal bitiya brought out the entire sordid truth in front of the whole family...
He had wanted what chottey had, his money, his property, his wife...
Chottey threw out Shyam, it was the right thing to do...but Anjali bitiya...what would happen to her now??
DM, how many more tests do we have to give...how many more DM...how many more...??
Where one side there was sadness, despair, angst, in our home...there was also love, trust, sacrifice...
I knew chottey had Khushi bitiya by his side, she would be his strength in this time of need & he would be her anchor...so we all have to be there for Anjali bitiya, who had had one too many shocks, on top of which she was pregnant...such an emotional time for a woman...
Anjali bitiya's behavior was a little off with Khushi bitiya...understandable under the circumstances...but she had chottey by her side & I knew she is strong, she can handel it...but Manorma's behavior...I did stop her from holding Khushi bitiya responsible for all this...but I understand her POV as well...she is a mother first & her child is hurt...what to do??
Then things started looking up...Anjali bitiya was getting better & so were her relations with Khushi bitiya...my chottey was happy, he was smiling more, laughing more...& all because of Khushi bitiya...what a blessing this girl is for this family...& they are not even aware of what all she's been through for them, not even me......Thank you DM, thank you...
One day, after all these years, Arnav & Anjali's dadi, my BFF, my samdhan, Subhadra Malik, came home to Shantivan...I was so happy to see her...but why does she hate Khushi bitiya so...??? Doesn't she understand that by doing so she's alienating her grandson...??
Then another truth hit us...chottey & Khushi bitiya's wedding was not done with proper rituals...but before a issue could be made of this, my chottey stepped forward & decided to go through with all proper rituals to marry Khushi bitiya again...I was so happy...my Arnav was emerging out of his ASR persona & all because of Khushi bitiya...
A celebratory mood took over the entire household...after all it's not everyday event...Arnav Singh Raizaada was getting married...to Khushi bitiya...his life, his wife...
Shagun, Roka, Kul Devi pooja, all these functions happened really well...surprisingly my chottey was whole heartedly involved in all the rasams...only Summi seemed a little peaky...wonder why...???
Then it was decided that alongside Anjali bitiya's Godh Bharai we'll have Khushi bitiya's Mehndi as well...what fun...what with Summi, why does she keep insisting on bringing Shyam back in the house...doesn't she understand what this family, Anjali, Arnav & Khushi have been through because of him...???
But alas, something always goes wrong...& see what happened...Anjali bitiya slipped &...DM...lost her child...
For Summi this is not enough, she started talking about bringing Shyam back again...the woman has no sense of place & timing...
Then chottey brought Anjali bitiya home & we found out it was because Shyam had dared to show his face in the hospital...& all because of Summi...
Summi...
how can she change so much...???
she was in cahoots with Shyam before coming home...
she thinks Shyam is innocent & Khushi bitiya is the reason for all that is happening at Shantivan...
she's comparing what is happening now, to what had happened all those years ago...
she thinks Khushi bitiya is similar to woh aurat that wrecked my daughter & her husband's life...
she's hell bent on getting Shyam back in the house, for Anjali, whatever the cost...
she considers chottey to be stubborn & unreasonable & not ready to listen or understand the truth...but is she...???
So much is happening now...
Anjali bitiya wants Shyam back...
Summi refuses to see or understand the truth...
& my chottey & Khushi...what about them...their marriage...what will happen now...??
All I know is...as the eldest of the family...I am with my chottey & Khushi...no matter what, I'm on their side...along with DM, my blessings are with them...I'm a witness to their love for each other & I will be standing with them, if & when required...they have done so much for this family...it's time the family start doing something for them...I Devyani Singh Raizaada, will not let this family break apart, nor will I let Arnav & Khushi's love bond be broken...I will not let anyone or anything come between them now...
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Edited by paayaal - 13 years ago
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