"Listen, everybody! Biwi, bache... chale gaye hain mujhe yaha chod ke," Ranvijay announced, plopping onto the couch beside his mother, who laughed, shaking her head at her son's drama.
"Chachuuuu... mekko jaana tha Avu ke saath..." Aarvi muttered, her lower lip wobbling as she was on the verge of tears.
"Nooo, my princess, rona nahi hai... otherwise Chachu will cry too..." Ranvijay said, gathering her in his arms.
"We'll enjoy ourselves here and go there after two days. Abhi hum logo ko new clothes bhi chahiye. How about we go shopping tomorrow and get you the Cinderella gown you love the most?" Ranvijay asked, making her grin instantly.
"Crownnnn... clip, and sandallll..." Aarvi asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Of course, whatever you want, meri jaan," Ranvijay said, kissing her palm as she clung to his neck.
"How about Dadi makes your favorite pasta for both of us?" Ranvijay suggested, and Aarvi squealed with joy, looking at her Dadi, Pushpa.
Pushpa nodded at them, and the duo high-fived in excitement.
"Biwi ki yaad toh nahi aa rahi kahi?" Indira teased her grandson, who snickered in response.
"Yaad kyu aayegi? Mujhe toh bachelor life wali feeling aa rahi hai, Induuuu. I'm breathing in free air again," Ranvijay said cockily, making Indira Devi laugh.
"Acha ji... freedom and all, huh? Let me inform Sanyukta, then," Anjali quipped, sitting beside him.
"You won't. I know how much you love me, Bhabhi," Ranvijay said, making Anjali laugh.
"Biwi ka dar toh hai," Anjali commented, patting his head, and he rolled his eyes in response.
"Fear and Ranvijay don't fit in a sentence together, Bhabhi," Ranvijay replied sassily, making both Anjali and Indira Devi chuckle.
He helped Aarvi with her coloring while enjoying the pasta his mother made. Indira Devi watched her serials, enjoying the pasta as well.
Ranveer and Pratap joined everyone in the hall after sometime.
"Vicky Rawat wala kya raha?" Pratap inquired about the case.
"Nothing much. They filed a case against me," Ranvijay said with a shrug, still focused on coloring, as though it was a very normal thing.
"Aur kab batane wale the tum hum sab ko? Hearing wale din?" Pratap hissed, frustrated by his son's casual attitude.
"Main handle kar lunga, Papa. Ab toh agar woh case wapas lena chahein, toh bhi main nahi lene dunga," Ranvijay said, feeding a spoonful of pasta to Aarvi, who was too engrossed in her work to notice.
"Ranveer, I want you to give me every detail regarding this and keep a close watch on everything," Pratap instructed Ranveer, who nodded, while Ranvijay sat there, unbothered.
"Dadi, yeh jo serial mein hai... hero ka Papa... don't you think he's going off track?" Ranvijay asked casually.
"Aadat se majboor hai... footage ke liye karta hai yeh," Dadi commented, and both burst out laughing while Pushpa glared at Ranvijay, who gave his mother a "What did I do?" look.
"Jab bachhe nalayak ho, toh baap ko off track hona hi padta hai," Pratap said, sipping his tea, making both Ranvijay and Dadi look at each other.
"Aaj dinner mein kya hai, Maa?" Ranveer asked, attempting to change the topic as he sensed the tension rising.
"Dopahar mein bohot kuch banaya tha maine aur Sanyukta ne... wahi sab dinner mein khaa lenge," Anjali replied, making Ranveer nod.
After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms, while Ranvijay headed to his office to finish some important work before leaving for Jaipur to attend the wedding.
He was going through the case file when his phone rang, and he immediately answered on the first ring after seeing the caller ID.
"Kaisi ho, Biwi?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Where's my boy?" Ranvijay asked, his voice gentle.
"Abhi soya hai. Pehle toh bohot excited tha, but naye jagah, naye log... He got cranky and started crying. 'Ghar jaana hai... Daddy ke paas jaana hai.' He didn't even let me have food peacefully," she explained.
"Isse better toh aati hi nahi yaha... Anu ke paas bhi nahi jaa raha," Sanyukta added, her voice tinged with fatigue.
Ranvijay frowned, concerned for his little boy. "Will you be able to manage him for the next two days?" he asked.
"2 din ki hi toh baat hai... Uske baad toh aap sab aa jaayenge," she tried to reassure him, and perhaps herself too.
"Go and have something first. Hum baad mein baat karenge," Ranvijay said firmly.
"Nahi, don't cut the call. Bua ji has sent the food to my room," Sanyukta replied, making him chuckle.
After a moment of silence, she hesitated before asking, "Video call karu?"
He smiled to himself. "Hmmm," he hummed in agreement.
"Kya hua hai... aisa kyun muh banaya hua hai? Avu ke saath-saath tumhara bhi mann nahi lag raha kya?" Ranvijay asked, observing her closely.
She shook her head, looking down at her lap, suddenly feeling emotional.
"Thappad lagega agar royi toh. Maine poocha tha na jaane se pehle?" Ranvijay scolded gently as a lone tear escaped her eye.
Sanyukta wiped her cheek, but more tears followed, and she began sobbing bitterly. Ranvijay groaned, feeling helpless.
"I swear, next time kahin nahi jaane dunga agar chup nahi hui toh," he warned, trying to calm her down, but she continued to cry.
"Acha, calm down. I won't say anything... just stop crying," he said softly, attempting to console her. Finally, her sobs subsided.
"Kisi ne kuch kaha toh nahi wahan? Itna jaldi rone waalon mein se toh nahi hai meri biwi," he asked, narrowing his eyes as she looked up, surprised.
"Sab aapke jaise nahi hote... aap bohot acche hain," she replied, her voice hoarse, blinking back tears.
"That's not what I asked. Mujhe bata, kisi ne kuch bola hai?" Ranvijay pressed, his tone firm but concerned.
"Bolna hi sab nahi hota hai... the way they were looking at me after knowing about Avu... mujhe acha nahi laga. I felt uncomfortable. Aur upar se Avu was being cranky and crying continuously," Sanyukta explained, her voice heavy with frustration.
Ranvijay sighed. "Let them be. Humein koi farak nahi padta. What matters is our own people. Agar vo kuch bole toh mujhe batana... mai dekh lunga. Baaki sab ko bhokne de."
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. "If they make you uncomfortable, irritate them more. Ye itni badi-badi aankhein hain... glare at them and scare those oldies away," he added, making her laugh despite herself.
"Tujhe enjoy karne ke liye bheja hai maine udhar, samjhi? Achhe kapde pehn, tayar ho, acha khana khaa, dance kar... Avu ka aur apna dhyan rakh," he instructed warmly, bringing a smile to her face.
Sanyukta looked at him lovingly. "Aap itne ache kaise hain?" she asked softly.
Ranvijay smirked. "Subah tak toh ladayi khatam nahi ho rahi thi teri... ab acha lag raha hoon?"
"Aap door se hi ache lagte hain," she teased, making him huff in mock annoyance, which only made her chuckle.
"Haan toh aap bhi abhi pyaar se baat kar rahe hain. Jab mai aapke paas hoti hoon, toh bas mujhe pareshan karte hain," Sanyukta said, munching on her food.
Ranvijay leaned closer to the screen. "Hmmm... chal mil mujhe iss baar, teri saari shikayat dur kar dunga. But ready rehna uss sab ke liye," he said with a playful wink, making her cough.
She quickly gulped some water, her eyes wide, while he smirked triumphantly.
"Besharam insaan!" Sanyukta muttered, her cheeks flushing, making him laugh heartily.
A small smile lingered on her lips as she realized, once again, how effortlessly he managed to uplift her mood, no matter where she was.
"Aap office mein hain?" Sanyukta finally noticed his surroundings, her brows knitting slightly.
Ranvijay nodded. "Ab tu toh thi nahi... toh mujhe laga kaam hi kar leta hoon," he replied casually, making her giggle.
"Suniye na..." Sanyukta called out softly, blinking her eyes at him hopefully.
"Sunn hi toh raha hoon... hukum karo, Biwi," he teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips, making her grin.
"Aap kal aa jaye na... please. Do din mujhe nahi rehna... court hearing bhi nahi hai aapki, mujhe pata hai. Please, please... mana mat karna," she pleaded in a single breath, her voice filled with urgency.
"Main saari baatein manungi aapki. I know mujhe nahi aana chahiye tha, but mai aa gayi sabka soch ke. Please, aa jao..." she finished, her tone almost childlike, leaving him both amused and endeared.
Ranvijay shook his head slightly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Okay!" he agreed simply, his heart melting at her antics.
"Sachiii? Aap kal hi aa rahe hain?" Sanyukta asked again, her voice laced with excitement.
Ranvijay nodded with a chuckle, and she squealed in delight, causing Avu to stir in his sleep.
"Abeyyy pagal... uthegi kya bache ko?" Ranvijay scolded her playfully. Sanyukta bit her tongue guiltily and gently patted Avu back to sleep.
"Kab tak aa jaoge?" she asked curiously.
Ranvijay sighed. "Ab flight timing ke hisaab se hi pata lagega na," he said matter-of-factly.
"I'll book your flight now. Aap jaldi se packing kar lijiye... maine shopping bhi nahi ki hai. Yahi se saath mein kar lenge. Aap bas aa jaaiye," Sanyukta said impatiently, making him shake his head in amusement.
"Paanch ghante mein itna? Mujhe lagta hai do din ruk ke aata toh tujhe aur acchhe se pata lagta meri value ka," he teased.
"Nahi, mujhe bohot acchhe se pata lag gaya hai. Aap bas aa jaaiye... main bilkul bhi ladai nahi karungi. I'll be a good wife... kasam se," she said, making him laugh.
"Nautanki kahin ki... chal, ab acchhe se khana khaa aur proper rest le," Ranvijay said, and she nodded obediently.
They hung up after wishing each other good night. Ranvijay got back to his work, a smile lingering on his face as he thought about her.
After half an hour, Ranvijay's phone pinged, and he chuckled as he checked the flight details.
Without wasting a moment, he called Sanyukta, and she picked up almost immediately.
"Early morning 7 baje ki flight kaun book karta hai? Tujhe pata hai na, main itna jaldi nahi uth sakta," he complained.
"Ek din ke liye adjust kar lo. Aap 9 baje tak mere paas aa jaoge... phir hume shopping ke liye bhi toh jaana hai," she said, her excitement palpable.
He sighed. "Aage se tera har jagah jaana cancel hai. Is baar kar le apni manmaani," he said, making her laugh.
"Main khud hi nahi jaaungi kahi aapke bina... but please be on time," she said, and he hummed in response.
"Chal, so ja ab," he said before hanging up.
Ranvijay wrapped up his work, emailed the necessary details to Satyam, and headed home.
Knowing he wouldn't have time in the morning, he packed his bags before going to bed and set an alarm ⏰ for early morning.
Next morning...
Ranvijay's phone rang at 5 AM, and he groaned as he answered it.
"Uth jaa... it's 5 AM already... 7 baje ki flight hai," Sanyukta's voice came through, waking him fully.
"I would have killed you... agar mere saamne hoti tu," Ranvijay grumbled, still groggy from sleep.
"Sorry... but mujhe pata hai aap alarm se nahi uthege," she said, knowing him too well, making him sigh in frustration.
"Ranvijayyyyyy... don't sleep again... uth jaa ab... get up from the bed and go to the washroom now only," she insisted, her voice firm. He groaned but finally dragged himself out of bed, rubbing his face.
"Phone rakh ab... uth gaya hu main," he muttered before hanging up, exhausted but resigned.
By 5:40 AM, he chuckled as he checked the time. It was the first time he was getting ready this early.
With his luggage in tow, he made his way downstairs.
"Good morning, beautiful ladies..." he greeted his mother and grandmother, catching them by surprise.
"Itni jaldi uth gaya aaj?" Pushpa Ji asked, her amusement clear.
"Uth hi nahi gaya... kahi jaa bhi raha hai," Indira Devi teased as he kissed her cheek.
"Yup... going to Jaipur... 7 baje ki flight book ki hai aapki pyari bahu ne," he said with a playful smirk.
"Kal tak toh azadi mana raha tha... ab biwi ke bina 2 din nahi ruka jaa raha," Pupha Ji quipped, raising her brows at him.
"Roo rahi thi raat ko phone pe... and it's your mistake, maa... usko bhejna nahi chahiye tha bua ke saath... you know she's new to everything," he said, trying to defend himself.
"Mujhe laga enjoy kar legi sab ke saath... aur jaane se hi toh jaan pehchan hoti hai," Pushpa Ji said, smiling.
"Jaan pehchan 2 din baad ho jaati... ab Avu ka bhi mann nahi lag raha... kisi ke paas nahi jaa raha vo... Sanyukta ke liye mushkil ho raha hai usse handle karna," he sighed, concerned for both Sanyukta and their son.
"Chala jaa tu... teri bua aur baaki sab bhi khush ho jaayenge tujhe dekh ke," Dadi said, making him nod in agreement.
He had his coffee and left for the airport, heading to Jaipur.
"Aa raha hoon..." he said, answering Sanyukta's call after reaching the airport, and she was finally satisfied, knowing he hadn't missed the flight.
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