Abhira ~ Forever and Ever

Tilak ~ 1

"The final meeting got delayed for some reasons, so they will be returning tomorrow," said Ragini.

"How is everyone at home?" asked Suhasini, looking at Ragini.

"They are good, Maa Ji," said Ragini.

Aravind looked at Harsh and asked, "Where are Adi and Princess? I have called them, but they haven't answered my call."

"They will come in a while," said Harsh.

Arohi, who got ready like a bride, came downstairs smiling brightly.

She looked at Birlas and asked Swarna, "Badi Maa, you didn't inform me that they had come."

Goenkas looked at her confused as she got ready like a bride when their Akshi was the one.

"We thought you wouldn't like to come," said Swarna.

"Arey, Swarna Ji. How would this Tilak happen without her presence?" said Manjari.

"Exactly," said Arohi.

"You are looking pretty, Beta," said Manjari, looking at Arohi lovingly.

"Thank you, Aunty," said Aarohi, blushing.

"Arey, why are you calling me Aunty? Call me Maa, just like Abhi," said Manjari.

The elder Birlas, especially Harsh and Mahima, exchanged glances. They felt fishy and like something was going to go wrong.

"Bhabhi, why is your sister being extra sweet to that girl?" whispered Harsh in Mahima's ears, who was sitting beside him.

"Even I'm thinking the same, Harsh. Something is definitely cooking in that brain," whispered Mahima.

"What are you both whispering?" asked Anand, looking at his brother and wife.

"Nothing. Just trying to clear a small doubt," said Harsh.

Anand raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is it clear, then?"

"Not yet," said Mahima.

On the other hand, the Goenkas were confused about how Aarohi and Manjari knew each other and why Manjari was asking Aarohi to call her Maa. Kairav was about to ask the same question but stopped as he heard a voice.

"I hope we have come on time, Papa," said Keerthi, standing at the doorstep.

Behind her stood Naksh, Gayatri, Krish, Kaira, Vatsal, Luv, Kush, and their respective wives.

(Kaira is the elder daughter of Karthik and Naira.)

"Keerthi beta," said Suhasini, smiling brightly.

She was happy as her granddaughter came to the Goenka mansion after twenty years. The other Goenkas, too, felt overwhelmed looking at them. It felt like the old days were back. Luv, Kush, Gayatri, and Vatsal left the Goenka mansion after Sirat stepped inside. Kaira was upset as Karthik married Sirat. She went to live with the Singhanias. After Naira's death, Naksh and Keerthi used to visit once in a while to spend some time with them. But those visits too stopped as Karthik sent Akshara to Singhania's as her health was getting worse because of Aarohi and Sirat.

"Why are you guys here?" asked Aarohi.

She was shocked to see them after such a long time. She saw them when she was a kid. After that, she didn't see them, as they hadn't come here. She knew that her family used to visit them every year. One of them used to stay with her. She never liked them, as they used to love and pamper Kaira, Kairav, and Akshara and hate her and her mother.