" tum logo ne mere bina aarav ki shadi kaise karva di??"
(How could you all get Aarav married without me?)
Everyone was busy with their own work when suddenly, someone entered and shouted. Naturally, everyone turned to look at the door.
The person who had just arrived and was scolding everyone was none other than Mr. Avinash's mother — Aarav's grandmother.
"You didn't even think it necessary to call me for Aarav's wedding? No one cares about me anymore. You all have forgotten me! Ye mera nalayak beta....ye to jaise bhul hi gaya hai ki iski maa abhi zinda hai !!!! Aur mera laadla pota aarav.. Wo kahan hai?? Kuch dino se to use bhi meri yaad nahi aa rahi, ab to shaadi ho gayi naa to biwi ke aate hi dadi ko bhul gaya 🥺 "
(This ungrateful son of mine... he seems to have forgotten that his mother is still alive. And my beloved grandson, Aarav — where is he? It seems even he has forgotten me ever since he got married. Now that he has a wife, there's no room for his grandmother anymore.)
It hadn't even been five minutes since Grandma had arrived, and she had already said so much that everyone stood silently, listening to her.
"Why are you all just standing there staring? Are itni dur se aayi hun me, koi paani to pila do "
( I've come all the way here. Will no one even offer me a glass of water?)
she snapped while making herself comfortable on the sofa.
Hearing her complaints, Radha ji immediately asked for water, and Avinash handed her luggage to a servant to put away properly.
"Maa, aap nainital se yaha kab aaye?? Aur kaise aaye??
(When did you come from Nainital, and how?)
Radha ji asked, sitting beside her.
" arey kaise chhodo, maa aap ye batao ki aap yahan kyun aayi?? "
(Forget how you came. Just tell me, why you come here?)
Avinash ji questioned directly,
"Kya matlb, 'kyun aayi'? Ab kya me apne ghar bhi nahi aa sakti?? Ye ghar kya mera nahi hai?? Haan haan, ab to maa parayi ho gayi na tum logo ke liye "
( What do you mean, why come?? Am I not allowed in my own house anymore? Is this house not mine? Oh, I see — I've become a stranger to all of you now!)
Grandma said, pretending to be hurt.
"No, Maa, why are you saying such things? This house and everything, we have belongs to you, and always will. Please don't say things like that," Radha ji tried to reassure her.
"Yes, Maa," Avinash ji added, "Radha is right. I only asked because the doctor had advised you to rest and avoid traveling. It's not good for your health. That's why we arranged for you to stay at the Nainital farmhouse, where the air is fresh and pure. But now you've suddenly come back without informing us — of course, we're worried."
"Yes, Maa," Radha agreed.
"You should have called at least once."
"Called? But does anyone even have time to talk to me? And on top of that, the network at that farmhouse is terrible. Ever since the wedding, it feels like everyone has forgotten about me,"
Grandma retorted, clearly prepared with her answers.
"Well, we were just so exhausted from the wedding and caught up with all the remaining work that we couldn't find the time,"
Radha ji explained, trying to brush it off as fatigue but carefully avoiding revealing the real reason.
"Alright, Maa, why don't you rest in your room? I'll call the doctor to come and check on you. It'll be good to ensure everything is fine after such a long journey,"
Avinash ji suggested and immediately started dialing the doctor.
"I'm perfectly healthy! There's no need for a doctor," Grandma dismissed.
"Forget all this and tell me, where is my daughter-in-law? I've come all this way to meet her. But where are the kids?"
At the time, Pia was out shopping with Sakshi, while Aarav and Raj were at the office.
"Maa, Pia and Sakshi have gone shopping, and Aarav is at the office with Raj," Radha ji explained.
"Who is Pia?" Grandma asked, her confusion evident since she hadn't met Pia yet.
"Pia is your daughter-in-law — the one Aarav married," Radha clarified.
"Pia? But I thought the bride's name started with 'M.' And when I spoke to Aarav over the phone, he mentioned a different name. I've never heard of this 'Pia,'" Grandma said, puzzled.
"Maa, Pia is her real name. Everyone used to call her by a nickname out of affection. Aarav, being young and modern, probably mentioned one of those names. You know how kids are these days, calling their partners by all sorts of names," Avinash ji quickly tried to cover up the situation.
Radha ji and Avinash ji exchanged uneasy glances. They both knew it wouldn't be easy to hide the truth from Grandma — that Aarav had married someone else at the last moment.
But they couldn't tell her the truth either. Grandma had been unwell for some time and had already suffered a heart attack. The doctor had strictly advised them to keep her away from any stress.
That was why they had arranged for her to stay in Nainital, where her health could improve in a peaceful environment.
"Alright, whatever her name is. But when will they come home? And until they do, show me the wedding pictures," Grandma demanded.
Radha hesitantly showed her the photos, but since Pia had worn a veil in most of them, her face wasn't clearly visible.
"What's this? I can't even see my granddaughter-in-law's face properly," Grandma complained.
"Alright, forget it. Do one thing — prepare an aarti plate and get ready to welcome them. And call Aarav home immediately. I want to welcome them both together," Grandma ordered.
"But, Maa, Pia's gruhpravesh (homecoming ritual) has already been done. Is this really necessary?" Radha ji asked.
"I know that! But this will be my first time meeting her. Let me at least do this much for my grandson and his wife," Grandma insisted.
Radha ji had no choice but to comply. Smiling, she got to work, while Avinash ji went to call Aarav.
Radha also called Sakshi, asking her to come home quickly. Aarav, however, wasn't picking up, so Avinash called Raj, explained the situation, and told them both to come home immediately.
Hearing about Grandma's arrival, Raj grew nervous. He couldn't help but wonder how Grandma would react upon learning the truth about Piya.
Raj rushed to Aarav's cabin to inform him. Aarav, who was engrossed in some files, looked up curiously as Raj entered in a hurry. After hearing the news, Aarav was initially happy but soon grew anxious when Raj expressed his concerns. Without further delay, both headed home.
Meanwhile, Pia and Sakshi had also returned. Grandma saw them at the door and immediately went to greet them. She stopped them at the entrance, however, refusing to let them enter.
Sakshi, overjoyed to see Grandma, ran to hug her. Pia, standing awkwardly, doesn't know about who she was.
"When did you come, dadimaa? You didn't even tell us! I missed you so much," Sakshi exclaimed.
"Of course, you missed me," Grandma said with mock sarcasm.
"That's why you couldn't even call me once. Now go inside and help your mother with the preparations."
Sakshi obediently went inside, leaving Pia standing there.
After a moment, Pia stepped forward, touched Grandma's feet, and greeted her with a smile. Grandma liked this gesture but...
"Bless you! Stay happy and may you have a long, blissful married life. Lekin tum is ghar me nahi aa sakti. Jao jakar bahar khadi raho "
(But you cannot enter this house right now. Go stand outside,)
Grandma said sharply.
Pia was startled, wondering if she had done something wrong. Nervously, she stood outside, while Grandma went back inside to continue the preparations.
By then, Aarav and Raj had also arrived. Seeing Pia standing in the garden, Aarav went straight to her.
" kya hua??? Ghar se nikaal diya kya??😂 "
(What happened? Did they throw you out of the house already?)
Aarav teased with a laugh.
Pia, already flustered, grew even more worried. Aarav's carefree comment didn't help.
She was troubled, but you know why Grandma asked her to stay outside, right? Or is Grandma really angry about something? What will happen next?
Find out in the next chapter!