"Chalo chalo bohot hogayi tum logon ki senti baatein. Nanhihal mein aaj dono baccho ko hamare zamane ki garmiyon ki chutti jaise vibe dikhayenge."
Krish announced, pushing the sofas aside while Karthik and Naksh laid out the mattresses on the floor, the kids immediately jumping on them.
"Dhyaan se Papa, Mamu. Aap dono ki umar hogayi hai." Aarohi said in her strict doctor tone.
Karthik bristled. "Buddha kisko bola? Ham dono toh kaafi young hain. Fit and fine, kyun Naksh?"
"Of course! Buddha hoga tumhara baap." Naksh huffed and then froze. "Ek minute, nahi, mera woh matlab nahi tha."
Karthik threw the cushion at Naksh. "Dhokebaaz!"
"Arrey sorry yaar!"
The family laughed as they settled down, an old stereo playing a cassette of retro songs softly in the background as they ate snacks and exchanging anecdotes.
"Aur ek baar yaad hain Naira, jab hum Cape Town se wapas India pehli baar aaye the? Tujhe toh Holi ka idea hi nahi tha. Pura din kamre mein bandh thi ki koi use rang nahi lagayega."
"Nani, aapko holi pasand nahi?" Abhir asked, Roohi beside him. Both the siblings were lying on their stomachs, chins on their palms as they listened.
"Nahi, nahi, aapki Nani ka favourite festival hain." Karthik chimed in. "Bas jab choti thi toh thodi videshi type thi. NRI thi na." He teased as everyone laughed.
Naira huffed before turning to Naksh. "Haan toh phir? Abroad main badi hui thi, aapki tarah paanch saal India mein nahi thi. Aur aap ne bhi mujhe akele nahi chodha. Gayu Di ke saath milkar mein room main guss kar mere sar par gulaal ki puri thaali palat di. Do hafte hue mere kamre ki safai main."
Naksh laughed heartily. "Mumma ne toh puri safai mujhse aur Gayu se karwai. Washing machine aur vaccum cleaner ko haath thak nahi lagane diya." All while Naira bossed them around with a milkshake in hand that Naitik had got her.
Naira and Naksh shared a bittersweet smile, remembering their mother. Naitik had already gone to bed. He missed his wife dearly, although it had been years since, he still missed his Akshara.
"Aapki Mumma? Matlab meri mumma ki nani?" Abhir asked.
"Haan. Meri mumma ka naam se hi maine apki mumma ka naam rakha." Naira explained. It was her way of honouring her mother. If she had been with them, she would have spoilt all four of her kids and their kids rotten. She would have loved to see them all sit together and laugh like this.
"Mujhe pehli baar Rishikesh main Holi se pyar hua. Wahan ki hawa ek alag tarah ki thi." Naira said fondly. She missed the orphanage she grew up in, a major beneficiary to the orphanage now. She and Karthik visited Rishikesh once every two or three months.
"Lekin Nani...aapko ghar mein holi aachi nahi lagi, par Rikishesh main aachi kyun lagi?" Ruhi asked, stumbling over the words.
YOU ARE READING
Rishton Ki Dor Bandhe- Kaira & Akshnav YRKKH FF
FanfictionA rewrite of 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlatha Hai's third gen track. Karthik and Naira are alive and have four kids-- Kairav, twins- Akshara and Aarohi, and their youngest daughter Kaira. After the tragic death of Neil and Akshara and Abhimayu's second divo...
