Manik stared at Priya – no, at Naina – his gaze filled with raw emotion. But Naina met his eyes with an unreadable, calm detachment. He lunged forward, embracing her tightly, desperately. "Where were you?" he murmured, his voice hoarse. "Where have you been all this time?" He pulled back, and Jaya, Anjali, and Kavita rushed forward, questions spilling from their lips.
Before they could even speak, a sweet voice cut through the air. "Mom, please! Aryan's teasing me!" It was Naina's daughter, Aditi. Manik, Anjali, Jaya, and Kavita froze, dumbfounded. Aditi ran to Naina, and close behind her, Aryan and Vihaan appeared, looking startlingly like miniature versions of Manik. Mrs. Malhotra's eyes widened, fixated on the children. Naina knelt, gently touching Aditi's cheek. "What happened, princess?"
"Mom, look! Aryan always teases and troubles me!" Aditi complained.
Naina looked at Aryan. "Aryan, why do you tease your sister? That's not a good habit."
"Sorry, Mom," Aryan mumbled. Naina smiled, kissing Aditi's forehead, then Vihaan's, before standing straight.
Manik stood, frozen, his mind reeling. Priya (Naina) was married. She had children.
Jaya, Anjali, and Kavita were equally stunned. How was Priya (Naina) alive? Where had she been for six years? She was married? She had children? Jaya and Anjali felt a mix of sorrow for Manik and a confusing joy for Priya (Naina) that she was alive. Just as they were about to speak, Vikram emerged from the doorway, calling Naina.
"N, Badi Mom is calling you for lunch. Let's go inside." Vikram came closer, standing beside Naina. The sight of Vikram, clearly her husband, beside Naina, sent another shockwave through Manik, Anjali, Jaya, and Kavita.
Before Naina could move, a voice called, "Naina Madam!" She turned to see three people standing there: a distinguished man, Mr. Singh, his wife, Mrs. Singh, and their daughter, Mira, who appeared to be Naina's age. "Hello," Naina replied, surprised. "What brings you here?"
"We're here for our daughter," Mr. Singh explained. "She's meeting a prospective groom and his family." Mira, Mr. Singh's daughter, then asked, "Dad, who is she?"
"That's Naina Suryavanshi," her father proudly replied. "The owner of Aegis Global, an international company that develops cutting-edge software and security systems." Mira nodded, impressed.
Just then, Riya, visibly annoyed, stormed out of the doorway. "Vikram!" she shouted, pointing at their son. "Handle your kid! He's troubling me!"
Vikram gulped, clearly intimidated by his pregnant wife. Naina watched Riya scolding Vikram. Riya then turned to Naina. "N, do something with Dev, or you'll lose your best friend and my dearest husband, V (Vikram)!" Naina looked at Vikram, a surprising glint in her eye, while Vikram gave his wife a sheepish, baby-like look. Aditi and Aryan giggled. Vihaan and Dev merely smiled calmly.
Naina, amused, asked Riya, "What happened? What did Dev do?"
"Dev won't let me eat food!" Riya complained.
Dev, the culprit, spoke up. "Mansi, Mom almost ate the whole cake, and all the sweet dishes! Junk food isn't healthy for Mom!"
"Riya," Naina admonished softly, "why are you eating junk food? Please eat healthy food." Riya pouted like a child. "No! I'll eat whatever I want!" The family's lively banter continued, completely ignoring the stunned Manik and his family, Anjali, Jaya, and Kavita, who stood silently, watching the impossible scene unfold.
Just as Naina was smiling at Vikram and Riya's playful argument, she heard another voice behind her. It was Sai, accompanied by his wife, Meera, and their two daughters, Mehak and Muskan, who were one year apart in age and close to Naina's triplets in age.