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CH : 11 - PLANNING

ओ रंगरेज़ तेरे रंग दरिया में
डूबना है बस तेरा बन के हाय
नहीं रहना दूजा बन के
एक भी साँस अलग नहीं लेनी
खैंच लेना प्राण से तन के
हाय नहीं रहना दूजा बन के
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After the group had decided to take a trip, now came the most difficult part.

"Lekin jayenge kaha?” asked Kanay.

“Jaha aap bole………aur jaha sab jana chahe,” Aaryan added with a cough after noticing Yashveer looking at him skeptically.

“Haa haa wahi jayenge jaha sali sahiba chahengi aur baki sab bhi,” Yashveer teased, making Kanay blush while Aaryan scratched the back of his neck, getting shy.

“Hum mudda bhul rahe hai. Rajasthan chale?” Tripti suggested.

“Ya phir kahi bahar bhi chal sakte hai,” Aaryan added.

As the discussion carried on with no conclusion, a quiet voice interrupted the loud chatter, catching everyone’s attention.

“Vrindavan chale?” asked Avyuktta.

A silence followed before an excited Aaryan shouted, “Perfect bhabhi!!”, making Avyuktta smile. As everyone agreed to the suggestion and began planning, Yashveer silently moved his hand and placed it softly over hers.

Startled by the sudden touch, Avyuktta didn’t pull away. Instead, she shyly turned her hand and tangled her fingers with his, not daring to look at him.

“Ab bas bhaiya permission lele,” said Mridul, prompting a chorus of agreement.

“Wo tum log tension mat lo. Mai baat kar lunga,” assured Yashveer.

“Kab jayenge?”

“September almost khatam ho gaya hai toh first week of October mai chalte hai.” With unanimous approval, the group’s topic shifted back to the wedding.

TIME SKIP

After receiving permission from Abhinav and Anuradha—partly because they trusted Yashveer, and partly because they simply couldn’t say no—it was finally the day of departure. The trip would last a week, as they planned to visit Delhi after Vrindavan so Yashveer could introduce Avyuktta to his life and surroundings, soon to become her own.

They chose to travel by car since flights weren’t available and trains weren’t an option. It would take them the whole day via road, with planned breaks to rest and eat.

By 8 a.m., all preparations were complete. Anuradha was busy giving instructions to all three girls about how they should behave and what to avoid. Meanwhile, Abhinav tried to calm her down, knowing his daughters were sensible enough not to get into trouble. This scene was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.

Tripti went to open the door and returned, announcing, “Jiju, Aaryan ji aur Mridul ji aa gaye hai.”

The Singhaniya brothers entered, and all of them had breakfast at the Sharma residence before hitting the road. They had brought two cars. Yashveer was driving the first one, with Avyuktta in the passenger seat. The others left them in peace and settled in the second car—Mridul driving, Aaryan beside him, and the sisters in the back seat.

It had been an hour and a half since they began, and the energy was still high. Mridul’s car was filled with loud music and laughter as everyone enjoyed the scenic beauty and each other's company. In contrast, Yashveer’s car was calm and peaceful, with soft music playing in the background.

Both of them were quiet—Yashveer focused on driving and Avyuktta soaking in the view. Yashveer slowly reached out and gently took Avyuktta’s hand in his, never taking his eyes off the road. Startled, she looked at him and then at their entwined hands on her lap.

Summoning courage, she placed her other hand over his. Yashveer, surprised by her gesture, smiled shyly. He would occasionally pull away to change the gear, but his hand would always return to hers, which she would gently clasp between her own.

After more than four hours on the road, hunger began to set in. They agreed to stop for light snacks since lunch was approaching. Despite looking around, they couldn't find anything suitable until they finally came across a decent-looking dhaba.

That’s where they stopped for lunch.

They entered and walked to a corner, joined two chaukis, and sat down. A light tug on her dupatta made Avyuktta turn around, only to find a little boy—around four, with a red nose, rosy cheeks, and a small white flower in his tiny fist. He shyly held it out toward her. Coaxing a coo from her, Avyuktta pinched his cheeks and reached for the flower. But the boy pulled his hand back, signaling her to bend down. She smiled and leaned forward to meet the little one face to face.

Gently, he tucked the flower behind her ear and said, “Chundarr!! Mere papa aise he mummy ko phool dete hai.” His eyes sparkled with innocence, melting every heart at the table.

“Raghav! Mehmano ko pareshan mat karo beta.” A deep voice startled the little boy, who instantly ran and hid behind Yashveer, who smiled at his cuteness. The man introduced himself as Manav, son of the elderly couple running the dhaba. The little boy, Raghav, was his son.

Manav went behind Yashveer, scooped Raghav up, making him shriek in surprise, followed by peals of laughter. Raghav laid his head on his father's shoulder and gave a wide smile to everyone.

“Byeee,” he said, waving his little hands before being carried away.

Manav returned to take their order and told them it would take some time. Soon, their food arrived. Everyone ate heartily, praising the cook for the delicious meal. The six of them had quickly bonded with the dhaba family, especially Raghav. When it was time to leave, the boy wanted to go with Avyuktta. When told no, his eyes filled with tears, his red cheeks puffed up, and his tiny nose sniffled non-stop.

“Beta aise rote nahi. Chalo ache se bye bye bol do didi aur bhaiya sab ko,” his mother, Gouri, coaxed.

“Bu-bye,” he whimpered, waving, while his eyes brimmed.

Unable to bear his sadness, Avyuktta picked him up and tried to explain.

"Bacha,” she said in the softest voice, capturing not only his attention but also someone else's nearby. “Aap agar humare sath chale jayenge toh mummy papa aur dada dadi ka dhyan kon rakhega? Aap ne kaha na ki aap un sab ko protect karte ho toh yaha nahi rahoge toh unko kon protect karega? Hmm?”

She watched him listen with wide eyes.“Aur abhi toh aap chote bhi ho, aap pehle apna school finish karlo aur jaldi se big boy ban jao tab hum sab sath mai chalenge. Okay bacha?”

A small smile bloomed on his lips as he nodded, but what he said next broke everyone’s heart, “Lekin didi mera toh school he nahi hai toh mai big boy kaise banunga?”

“School nahi hai? Matlab kya bacha?” Avyuktta asked, frowning, assuming his parents were holding him back.

Manav responded instead, “Darasal mai jaha kaam karta tha wo company band ho gayi aur mujhe aur bahut khojne par bhi mujhe aur kahin naukri nahi mili. Humare life mai tab Raghav aaya he tha. Naukri nahi milne ki wajah se paison ki kami shuru ho gayi thi. Apne bache ka pet bharne ke liye humne ye jagah shuru ki. Ab bhi jo sab apne pariwar dena chahta tha wo nahi de sakta lekin unhe bhookha nahi sone deta.” He ended with a small smile, resting his hand on Gouri’s shoulder.

Avyuktta was silent, gently patting Raghav’s head as he played with her hair, his head resting on her shoulder.

There was a moment of stillness before Yashveer, standing behind her, handed a card to Manav. “Ye mera card hai, is mai mera aur mere secretary ka number hai. Chaliye bhaiya aapse kuch baatein karni hai.”

He led Manav outside the dhaba.

After a while, both men returned, faces lit with joy. Manav shared the unexpected news: while they were talking, he received a call from Singhaniya Enterprises, a top-tier company in Delhi. They had offered him a job as the assistant to the secretary of the company owner.

"Par aise achanak kaise?” asked Gouri, her face stunned as tears welled in her eyes.

“Pata nahi par sochon Gouri ye naukri mujhe milne ke baad humara Raghav school jaa payega. Socho Gouri socho.” He burst into laughter, imagining the days when their child would no longer have to suffer.

They went to his parents to touch their feet, but the old couple embraced them in a warm hug.

Avyuktta and Kanay’s eyes glistened with tears as they watched the scene unfold. Smiles lit the faces of the others. Then Manav turned toward the group.

“Aaj mujhe waisi he khushi ho rahi hai jaisi sayad kevat ko hui hogi jab usse Shri Ram ke darshan hue honge. Mujhe naukri mil gayi bhai, mujhe naukri mil gayi. Ab mai apne Raghav ko wo sab de paunga jo ab tak nahi de sakta tha,” he said, tears flowing freely.

“Bhaiya aapko ye naukri sirf aur sirf apne balbute se mili hai, isme maine kuch nahi kiya hai,” Yashveer replied with a warm smile as the family laughed and cried in joy.

After spending some more time, the group finally got back on the road, running slightly behind schedule—but with hearts a little fuller.

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HO GAYA YE BHI!!!!
MILTE HAI AGLE CHAPTER MAI!! MUJHE ABHI BHI NAHI MALUM KI MAI KIS MINDSET MAI THI JAB MAINE YE CHAPTER LIKHA!!! HOPE YOU ENJOY.....BUH-BYEEE LOVES!!!!


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