Rab Rakha

Chapter 68

6 Months later:

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over Preeti’s cozy home. The aroma of freshly cooked Indian food wafted through the air as family and friends gathered to celebrate Advait's exciting new internship at Google. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, especially from Rita Ma, who was busy preparing snacks in the kitchen.

"Rita ji, sab kuch ekdum badhiya lag raha hai!" Madhu said, helping her out, her hands skillfully folding samosas. Her grandson's favourites.

"Thank you, Madhu! Aap aayi toh kafi help mil gayi mujhe." Rita replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling.

In the living room, Advait was surrounded by well-wishers. His excitement was palpable as relatives congratulated him.

"Thank you so much, aunty! Even I'm looking forward to London!" he beamed, soaking in the warmth of their support.

Sidharth and Shehnaaz stood a bit apart, sharing quiet smiles and stealing glances at each other. Their hearts were full and though they were surrounded by love and laughter, they had their own little secret to cherish.

"Bhai, can you believe Adi is going to London?" Ajay, Preeti's husband, remarked, his voice filled with admiration as he clapped Advait on the back.

"Absolutely! Din raat mehnat ki hai isne." Sidharth replied, his eyes twinkling with pride.

"Still remember him staying up late at night for the assignments." He added.

Shehnaaz pulled her husband aside and leaned closer to whisper, "Mai washroom se aati hu."

"Tabiyat toh thik hai na teri? Kaisa lag raha hai?" He asked her immediately.

"Ha baba, bas susu laggi hai." She chuckled, rubbing his bicep that she was holding on to.

He nodded. Immediately googling if frequent urinations were healthy in her early stages or not. He was relieved when the internet supported his thoughts.

Let’s wait until later, meri jaan. Mai sabko yeh good news aaj hi dena chahata hu." He thought to himself, watching her disappearing into the corridors.

Madhu joined them, noticing their smiles. "Kya baat hai? Tum dono apas me kya khus-fus kar rahe ho?"

"Bas aise hi, Mummy." Sidharth replied, keeping it light, though his heart raced with the secret they held.

As the evening wore on, the laughter grew louder and the conversations more animated. Advait shared stories about his internship plans, while the women exchanged family gossip and their laughter ringing throughout the house.

"Nani, aapke hath ke samose toh number one hai hi! Maine suna hai aap biryani bhi world class banati ho?" one of Advait's friends joked,

"Bilkul sahi suna hai, aaj maine Adi ke sare favourite dishes banaye hai!" She replied.

Suddenly, Preeti called for attention. "Everyone! Let’s raise a toast for my Adi! Mera baby!"

Glasses clinked, and everyone cheered, "Cheers!" The happiness was infectious, and Advait beamed under the spotlight while everybody except for Shehnaaz and Madhu had some champagne.

As the night progressed, the two celebrations intertwined seamlessly. The food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed their time together. Rita Ma served her famous biryani and the guests couldn’t stop praising it.

As the evening wore on, Sidharth leaned closer to Shehnaaz. "Bata de sabko?" he asked softly, his excitement barely contained.

She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and joy. "Haan, let’s do it." she replied, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.