Chapter 59: Chapter 59

“You can just admit that you guys came to check up on me”

Armaan and Aadesh looked up in shock and horror, seeing their newly found half sister, grinning cheekily at them.

“I was not” Both of them said in unison, a dull shade of red spreading across their cheeks in embarrassment.

“Aww. I am so overwhelmed with this love. I had grown up hearing stories of two elder brothers and I have always dreamed of them telling me bedtime stories and coming in to check on me every now and then. Finally my wish came true” Aaradhya gushed happily and the brothers shot an uncertain look at each other.

Aaradhya dramatically wiped her non-existent tears and pulled both her brothers into a tight embrace.

“What the” Armaan muttered and pulled away from her, feeling extremely uncomfortable with this open sibling affection. Aadesh’s situation was no different.

“I will go lie down? Will you put the blanket over me, like those brothers in the movies do?” Aaru asked, batting her eyelashes innocently at her brothers.

“Listen, you only have one night here. Go and make use of it if you want.” Armaan said sternly and walked away. Aadesh shot a blank look at Aaru and walked away.

Once her brothers were out of earshot, Aaru did a little dance in joy. She hurried to her bedroom and dialled her mother’s number, without minding the time. But it was her father who picked up the call.

“Aaru? What happened? Why are you calling at this time? It’s too late” Gagan Ahuja said sleepily.

“Oh I see. Finally now that I am out of home, you kicked me out of your heart too? Too bad Doctor. Too bad” Aaru said dramatically.

“What is it, Aaru?” Gagan asked once again.

“Where’s momma?” Aaru asked

“She is sleeping.”

“Oh good. She doesn’t have any doubts yet, right papa?” Aaru asked.

“No, darling. I just hope you will be fine there” Gagan said.

“I am. Do you know, they came to check up on me thinking I must be asleep by now. I caught them red handed. It was so cute watching them so embarrassed. They didn’t want me to know they care” Aaru said happily and Gagan chuckled.

“They are Durga’s blood, Aaru. They will have that goodness in them. No matter who raised them” Gagan said with an edge in his voice.

“Okay papa. I will hang up now. I need my sleep, else I will be so tired in the morning to win my brother’s love” Aaru said.

“Okay. Make sure you don’t give it away when you talk to your momma.” Gagan said and hung up the call.

Durga Ahuja was against sending her daughter to a university in Mumbai. She had lost two of her children and she didn’t want to stay away from the third one too. But Aaradhya Ahuja was as stubborn and adamant as her elder brother. She convinced her mother and joined a college in Mumbai. Her main intention was to find her brothers and reunite her beloved momma with them.

And her father, who loves her mother so dearly, is in on the plan. But they didn’t want Durga to know it and build her hopes high.

She will win the brothers back and let him know what really happened all those years ago and take them back to their mother.

****

Next Morning!

Armaan came downstairs and found Aaradhya sitting on the floor and playing with his kids.

“You are still here?” He asked with a frown on his face.

“It’s not time yet, Armaan bhaiyya. I will leave in a while” Aaru said and Armaan sighed.

So, she decided to go? He didn’t know why he was feeling disappointed at that news. He should be happy.

Advi who noticed his dada, toddled over to him on his chubby little feet.

“Aivi up” the little one demanded and Armaan picked him up in his arms and gave a loud kiss on his cheek, making him laugh.

Then he dropped down on his knees and gave his daughter a kiss too.

Much to his surprise and shock, Aaru leaned forwards and placed a kiss on his cheeks.

“Good morning, bhaiyya” She said cheekily and Armaan didn’t know how to react. He hadn’t expected that.

He placed Advi next to Ava and hurried to the kitchen to find his wife.

Janani was wearing a pale pink saree. He had once told her that he loves to see her in saree and from then on, she wears saree on most days. The pallu of her saree, as usual, was tucked in at her waist, giving him a nice view of the creamy skin of her waist.

He walked forwards and hugged her from behind, startling her.

“Armaan, you scared me,” Janani chided.

“I wonder why. This is how I greet you every morning. You should get used to it by now” I said and she rolled her eyes.

“Your black coffee is there in the kettle” She said, pointing at the kettle. I poured it into a cup and sat on the kitchen island, talking to her.

“What are you making now? You already made the coffee, right?” Armaan asked with a frown.

“Aaru doesn’t drink tea or coffee. She likes Horlicks” Janani said and I rolled my eyes.

“Now, don’t go and start mothering her like you do with everyone” Armaan said dryly, earning a glare from her.

“You didn’t mind when I mother you or Aadesh” Janani said

“Well, we grew up without a mother. Aaradhya grew up with a mother. She wouldn’t need another mother” Armaan said.

“Go easy on her, Armaan. She is a child” Janani said

“No need of all that. She said she will be leaving in a while” Armaan said and Janani frowned at that.

“She said that?”

Once the breakfast was done, Armaan got ready for his office. He and Aadesh got into the car after bidding a bye to Janani and the kids. As he started the car, someone opened the back door and got in hurry.

It was Aaradhya.

“What the..”

“Oh, please drop me at the college. It is on the way to your office” Aaru said with a wide smile.

“You said you will be leaving in a while” Armaan reminded her with a frown.

“Yes, I was talking about going to college” Aaru said cheekily.

Damn!!