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Next day

Radhika woke up early because they were going to buy their school uniform and books today. She wore a blue baggy jeans with dark blue color short Kurti, her favorite jhumke, a small black bindi on her forehead, she applied kajal in her eyes, and wore a small nose pin too.At last she hooked simple plain anklets with only two bells around her ankles and walked out of the room.

                       (Her outfit)

She walked downstairs and went straight to Puja area. She touched the ground before entering the mandir. She covered her head with scarf bowed to Lord Krishna and Radha Rani then to Mahadev and Mata Parvati.

She filled the Diya with oil and lit it up. She picked up the Aarti Thali and started the Aarti.

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे

स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे

भक्त जनों के संकट दास जनों के संकट

क्षण में दूर करे

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे......

Her melodious voice filled the Mandir and the whole house. Bringing positivity and a divine energy in the house.

जो ध्यावे फल पावे दुःख बिन से मन का

स्वामी दुख बिन से मन का

सुख सम्पति घर आवे

सुख सम्पति घर आवे

कष्ट मिटे तन का

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे....

She did Aarti of Ganesh Ji first.

मात पिता तुम मेरे

शरण गहूं किसकी

स्वामी शरण गहूं किसकी

तुम बिन और ना दूजा

तुम बिन और ना दूजा

आस करूँ जिसकी

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे....

Then she turned the Thali towards Shivji and Mata Parvati.

तुम पूरण परमात्मा

तुम अंतरियामी

स्वामी तुम अंतरियामी

पार ब्रह्म परमेश्वर

पार ब्रह्म परमेश्वर

तुम सबके स्वामी

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे

Then she turned the Thali towards Radha Rani and Krishna Ji together.

तुम करुणा के सागर

तुम पालन करता

स्वामी तुम पालन करता

मैं मूरख खलकामी

मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी

कृपा करो भर्ता

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे....

She then bent a bit and did Aarti of their tiny Laddu Gopal Ji who is sitting peacefully in the tiny jhula like a small baby.

दीन बन्धु दुःख हर्ता

ठाकुर तुम मेरे

स्वामी रक्षक तुम मेरे

अपने हाथ उठाओ

अपनी शरण लगाओ

द्वार पड़ा तेरे...

She heard footsteps behind her and didn't turned she knew it was her mother and father. They stood their silently their hands folded and eyes closed.

विषय-विकार मिटाओ पाप हरो देवा

स्वामी पाप हरो देवा

श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ

श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ

सन्तन की सेवा

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे....

She heard footsteps again this time with a light tapping sound of a stick on the ground, it was her grandmother. Renuka ji.

ओम जय जगदीश हरे

स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे

भक्त ज़नो के संकट

दास ज़नो के संकट

क्षण में दूर करे

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे...

She felt a presence beside her a small presence she knew it was Samarth.

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे

स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे

भक्त ज़नो के संकट

दास जनो के संकट

क्षण में दूर करे

ॐ जय जगदीश हरे...

She ended the Aarti and said, "Jaikara Maa Bawe Wali ka, Bol Sache darbar ki"

(Bawe Wali Mata is a form of Maa Kali in Jammu people believe in her so much.)

Everyone said together, "JAI."

"Mai meri Sachiya jyota wali Mata teri Sada hi Jai."

When she turned around her whole family was standing there. Hands joined, eyes closed and lips moving showing they are murmuring prayers.

She put tilak on their foreheads, gave them Aarti then placed the Thali back on it's place. Then she knelt infront of Samarth and asked,"Arth baby do you remember the Mantra I taught you?." Samarth nodded his head eagerly, "Yes didu I remember. "

Radhika smiled and stood up,"Recite with me then."

Everyone joined their hands again and Recited with Radhika and Samarth:

॥कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने॥

प्रणतः क्लेशनाशाय गोविंदाय नमो नमः॥

कलि काले नाम रूपे कृष्ण अवतार॥

नाम हइते प्रभु सर्व जगत निस्तार॥

Everyone smiled and Radhika praised Samarth, "Very good Sam."

Suddenly she noticed something or someone missing she looked around and saw. DISHA. Standing outside the Mandir watching the scene with a smile on her face.

(Disha's outfit)

"Bua."Radhika called her name.Disha looked at her and said,"No Radhu."she said firmly.

Everyone in the family felt sad and worried about her condition. She showed that she is fine but everyone knew that from inside she was breaking, she was sad,she was angry, she was broken, she was upset with The God for not listening to her prayers for not giving her the happy life she wanted.

"Ok bua we aren't not forcing you to enter the temple or do prayer but atleast take the Prashad please." Rishabh said softly.

"Haan beta Prashad ko naa nhi krte." Renuka ji said to her daughter.

Yash cupped his sister's cheek affectionately,"Isha Prashad lelo."

Kavita smiled at her and asked Kavya to give her Prashad. Kavya gave Disha Prashad and she didn't argued further and took it.

After Puja everyone went to the living room."I'm going to make breakfast now." Kavita stood up.

"Bhabhi mere liye thoda hi banana mujhe zyada bhookh nhi hai." Disha said.

Kavita nodded and went to kitchen. Rishabh and Kavya went upstairs to get ready for shopping.

Radhika sat down beside her father on the couch,"Papa." She whwhined.

"Bolo meri Laxmi Maiya." Yash said ruffling her hair.

"I can buy everything I want right?".She asked sweetly.

"Yes,beta my princess can buy anything she wants." Yash said with a smile.

"Haan haan bigado bigado apni ladli ko." Renuka ji said with a smile.

Then Rishabh came down adjusting his watch.

(His outfit)

He came down and sat beside Disha chatting with her.

"Papa ye aapki ladli ko samjha lo jab bhi mai padhne baithta hoon mujhe disturb krti rehti hai." Rishabh said with an eye roll.

"To koi baat nhi beta ye tumhari choti behen hai naa." Yash replied.

Rishabh made an face and everyone laughed.

"Mumma dekho aapke pati firse aapki beti ki side le rhe hai." He complained to his mom who is in the kitchen.

"Koi baat nhi beta mai tumhari side hoon naa." Kavita said from the kitchen.

Rishabh smiled mischievously, "See see mumma is on my side."

"But beta you shouldn't tease your younger sister. " Kavita's voice came again from the kitchen.

Radhika sticked her tongue out at Rishabh and He gave her a mocking glare.

"Didu aur bhaiu to mujhse bhi zyada immature behave krte hai."Samarth said suddenly.

"I'm so mature ,more mature than them." He said proudly his little chest puffing out.

Rishabh and Radhika fell silent feeling embarrassed that a 6 yrs old kid compared then to him.

"Bua ye aapka ladka bohot tez ho rha hai." Radhika said.

"Haan Bua bigad raha hai ye, abhi bhi time hai sambhal lo isse." Rishabh added.

"Waah waah ulta chor chawal ko daante." Samarth said his little nose scrunching up.

"It's not chawal it's kotwal beta." Renuka ji corrected him softly.

"Yes yes Nani kotwal. But aapko samajh aa gya naa to bss phir." Samarth said shrugging his shoulders.

Yash laughed and ruffled his hair.

"Bilkul maa par gya hai." He said.

"No mamu mumma mujh par gyi hai." He said

Everyone laughed at his antics and words wondering how a 6 yrs old boy is so mature and intelligent.

Then the doorbell rang. Radhika stood up and walked towards the door.

She opened the door and saw Mahir standing there with a smile on his face a camera in his hand and a bag slung over his shoulder sideways.

(His outfit)

"Radhe Radhe Di." He greeted happily." Radhe Radhe" she greeted back with a smile and stepped aside to let him enter.

Mahir touched Renuka ji and Yash's feet taking their blessings and sat down beside Rishabh greeting him and Disha.

"Mahir bhaiya where is Kaira.?" Samarth asked.

Mahir smiled and responded ,"She said she'll come later, she is getting ready."

Samarth nodded. Then Renuka ji noticed something and asked Mahir, "Mahir beta what happened to your arm? It looks swollen."

Everyone looked at his arm. Mahir stood up and sat beside Renuka ji .

"Kya bataun Dadi meri kismat hi Hitler logo se bhari hai. Ghar pr papa Hitler, yahan par aapki wo choti poti Kavya Hitler aur Academy mei wo bhaiya Hitler. "

"Who beta, kiski baat kar rahe ho?." Yash asked.

"Papa you know their is a Scary Senior bhaiya in Mahir's Academy."Radhika said with a fake scared tone.

"Yes and he is in our school too." Rishabh said.

"Yes, he told us too do 100 push ups yesterday. "Mahir said dramatically.

"Woah he sounds really tough and scary." Yash said.

"Uncle where is Kavya?"Mahir asked.

"Oh she is upstairs getting ready." Yash replied.

"And Where's Aunty?"he asked again.

"Mami is in kitchen." Samarth replied.

"Chalo sab aa jaao khaana ready hai." Kavita called our from the kitchen.

Everyone walked over to the dinning table but Mahir stayed back in the living room waiting for Kavya.

Then he heard footsteps. He looked up his heart skipped a beat unknowingly. There she was walking downstairs wearing a blue baggy jeans and pink loose sweater, her hair opened and slightly wet, a small transparent white bindi resting on her forehead barely visible but still there and visible if someone looks carefully.

(Her outfit)

Kavya noticed Mahir standing there like a statue his mouth slightly opened his eyes wide.

She reached the last step and walked towards him.

"What happened? Aise kyun khade ho jaise koi bhoot dekh liya ho."She asked.

"Bhoot nhi Pari dekh li." He muttered under his breath.

"Kya?" Kavya asked.

"Nothing, chalo sab tumhara wait kr rhe hai khaane ke liye." He said and they both walked to the dinning table where everyone was already sitting waiting for them.

Kavya served Mahir too,"Tumhari mumma ka phone aaya tha Unhone bola ki tum khali pet aaye ho ghar se to yahan khalo." She said sweetly.

"Thank you Auntie." He said gratefully.

They all started eating and chatting occasionally. After dinner Disha , Rishabh, Radhika, Kavya and Mahir were ready to go out for buying their Uniform and books and Mahir was their Guide for the day.

"Where is Samarth?" Disha asked.

"Here mumma."

Everyone turned around and saw Samarth and Kaira standing there......Twinning.

"Dekha Bua bola tha na ladka haath se nikal rha hai." Rishabh said.

Disha elbowed him lightly and chuckled at his son's antics.

Kavya picked Kaira up in her arms and kissed her cheeks."So cuteeee."

Yash and Kavita smiled and looked at Renuka who was laughing at his grandson's act.

"Lagta hai bahu mil gyi hame." Radhika said pulling Kaira's cheek and ruffling Samarth's hair.

Mahir whispered in Kavya's ear,"Kyun na Kaira ko bhi ek pyaari si bhabhi mil jaaye,jo usse god mei uthaye tumhari tarah."

Kavya gave him a death glare and before she could say anything Disha intervened.

"Ok we should go now. " Disha said.

"Bhaiya I'm taking your car." Yash nodded and gave her his car keys.

They all left the house and they all settled in the car with Disha in driver's seat, Rishabh in passenger's seat, Radhika and Mahir in backseat with Kavya between them, Samarth in front with Rishabh in his lap and Kaira inRadhika's lap,Disha started the car and drove away from the house.

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So here is another chapter. Stay tuned because our hero and his family will make their entry in this story in next chapter.Till then bye take care💚