They reached home with lots of luggage and memories flooded in their hearts.

Their house in Rishikesh was locked so were the memories and now standing at the same doorstep where she was born, learnt to walk and laughed seemed like a dream which she wanted to live forever.

Entering the house early from his children, stood their father with a red alta thaal,

"Laxmi ho Mere ghar ki tum teeno toh laxmi ji ki aarti bhi toh untarni padegi na."

"You three are the Lakshmi of my house, so I must perform Lakshmi ji's aarti for you to enter our home."

"Aap bhi na kabhi nhi sudhroge." Said their mother.

"You will never change."

He said gesturing his wife and two daughters who knew their father's behaviour and beside them stood Karthik who agreed with his father as always.

The three women pressed their red feet mark nearby the entrance, marking their arrival.

As they entered the house was cleaned already, the dust gone, the spider web invisible and the air was smelling like jasmine.

"Kutte bhai hamara matlab Karthik bhai tumne kiya sab saaf safai?" Vaidehi asked with mischief clearly with an intent to tease him.

"Brother Dog-I mean Brother Karthik-did you do all this cleaning."

"Haa bass aise hi waqt tha thoda sa toh karliya." He replied.

"Yes, I just had some time, so I did it."

"Kahi tum municipality worker toh nhi ban gaye paiso ki lalach me aakar aur agar hamse paise maang ne ka irada hai tumhara ki safai kiye aur paisa do toh Sara kachra Jo dimag me hai na tumhare vo ham saaf kardenge Didi k sath milk are samjhe!"

"Did you become a municipality worker out of greed for money? And if you're planning to ask us for money for cleaning, then I'll clean all the garbage inside your brain along with Didi, understand?"

"Chudail zyada nhi sonchne lagi ho tum yaar bss aise hi kiye saaf taki maa ko mehnat na karna pade tum toh ho hi alas devi."

"Witch, you've started overthinking too much... I just cleaned so Maa wouldn't have to work hard cause you're the lazy goddess here."

"Kutte tu hoga alaschand ham-"

"You're the lazy one, not me-"

"Vaidehiiiii! Karthikkkk! Chalo abhi senior Rathore bula rahe hai kuch baat karni hai unhe." Said Kritika coming from upstairs.

"Vaidehi! Karthik! Come right now, Senior Rathore is calling-you need to talk to him."

"Ji papa aap bulaye ham sab ko?" Asked Kritika.

"Yes, Papa? You called all of us?"

"Haa baitho baat karni tum teeno se, tum sab toh jante ho ki ab ham yaha zindagi bhar k liye aaye hai. Ham yaha Rishikesh se gaye zarur the kuch waqt k liye par vo waqt guzar gaya. Karthik aur Vaidehi ham padhayi me koi laparwahi nahi bardash karenge koi bahana nhi chalega ki jagah badli hai ya adjust karna samjh me aaya na Vaidehi."

"Yes, sit down. I need to talk to you three. You all know we have come here to stay in Rishikesh for life now. We had left for some time, but that time has passed. Karthik and Vaidehi, I will not tolerate any carelessness in studies. No excuses about change of place or adjustment. Understood, Vaidehi?"

"Ji Baba!" She said being sad thinking that her efforts won't be noticed and her passion won't be supported.

"Yes, Baba!"

The he turned to Kritika, "aur beta tum iss bar mujhe tumhari job par se koi complain nahi aani chahiye jaha tumahri job lagi hai vo Mere dost ka beta hai bohot hi Acha ladka hai toh sambhal kar warna yaad rakhna k tumhara baap mai hu aur kya karsakta hu tab hi pata chal jayega."

"And beta, this time I should not receive any complaint from your workplace. The one where you're working is my friend's son's company-he is a very good boy. So behave properly, or remember that I am your father and you'll find out what I can do."

"Ji papa." Said Kritika, thinking that now she has to make sure that her mischief never comes across her father's doorstep.

"Yes, Papa."

"Aur Karthik tum Vaidehi ko school me dekhte rehna na ki uske sath tum bhi bailbuddhi jaise ladna shuru kardo koi complain nahi aani chahiye. Kal se gi school shuru hai tumahra Vaidehi aur mid join kiya hai toh mehnat achi karo
Ab sab jakar apna apna samaan set karlo aur Vaidehi tumne Jo apne liye paint room manga tha vo tumhe tumahare mid exam marks k basis pe milega shauq ko zindagi nhi banayi jati hai yaad rahe! Jab tak apna Sara paint ka samaan adjust kardo kahi par."

"And Karthik, keep an eye on Vaidehi in school. Don't start fighting like foolish kids along with her. There should be no complaints. School starts from tomorrow, Vaidehi. You've joined mid-session, so work hard. Now go and arrange your luggage. And Vaidehi, the painting room you asked for will be given based on your mid-exam marks. Hobbies are not meant to become life. Until then, adjust your painting things somewhere."

"Ji Baba aur vo Baba ham use store room me rakh denge ache se use tabhi karenge jab aap kehde toh store room ko hi ham painting room banale?" She asked with hopes.

"Yes, Baba. Can I keep it in the store room and only use it when you allow. And Baba Can I turn the store room into a painting room?"

He thought for a while and nodded making Vaidehi grin and run like a maniac.

Now Vaidehi was arranging all her art supplies in the store room. There lay a wooden box, small but noticeable. She took it with a smile that reached her eyes.

She opened the box which had pictures, many many pictures 3 friendship bands.

"Ham wapas aagaye hai surprise denge tum teeno ko maza aayega shakal dekh kar!"

" I am back! We'll surprise you three-it'll be fun to see your faces!"

she clicked the button beneath the box which lead to open another compartment hidden in it. There was a picture of a boy and girl. They both were barely 5-6 years old it was taken in garden. And with it had a chocolate wrapper.

"Kanha....ham toh unhe kabhi nahi bhule kya vo hame yaad karte honge? Bachpan me toh vo aur Karthik bohot ache dost the hamne kabhi uss kutte se pucha toh nahi par kya ab bhi vo dono dost hai ya nahi. Ham nahi Jante ki ye pyaar hai ya nahi par ye tasvir aur ye insaan hamare liye bohot important hai kanha. Hame vo wada bhi yaad hai bss dekhte hai vo itne saal apna vada nibhate aaye hai ya nahi!"

"Kanha... I never forgot him. I wonder if he remembers me. In childhood he and Karthik were very good friends. I never asked that idiot about it, but are they still friends? I don't know whether this is love or not, but this picture and this person are very important to me. I remember the promise too. Let's see if he has kept it all these years."

And she kept it back again locking it.

The night had already begun and the stars were already claiming there shine in the sky the Rathore family were now at dining table having their dinner together after a long time. The chaos was already screaming at the table for who would get the first bowl of Rasmalai kheer their mother made.

"Maa aap waha toh inko roz pehle deti hongi aaj apne bete ko dedo." Said Karthik with fake dramatic tears.

"Maa, you must be giving them kheer first every time there-today give it to your son."

"Maa hamari jab shadi hojaygi tab isse khilate rehna hapshi kahi ka yaha rehkar bhi waha hamare pet dard ki wajah rehta tha."

"Maa, when I get married, keep feeding him. He's such a glutton-even while staying here, he was the reason for my stomach aches there."

"Apne khandaan ki asliyat dikhani hai tun dono ko toh hamesha!" Their mother said with a done expression.

[A/N:aur kiski mumma aisa bolti hai yaar meri toh har do min aisi izzat ki vaat lagti hai obviously Mere bhai behno k sath!]

"You two always have to reveal the true colors of your father's family."

"Maa yaar isme ab aap apni ladayi papa se baad me lad lena yaha hamare haq ki baat hai!" Said Vaidehi as if she is not bickering with her brother but fighting a war.

"Maa, please fight with Papa later. Right now this is about my rights."

And they again started bickering while Kritika already served herself a bowl and their parents also started eating ignoring them.

The realisation was not too far, so they took their seats back quickly and served themselves.

"Maa vo ham subha jaldi mandir jayenge aur phr school k liye hi aayenge thik hai."

"Maa, I'll go to the temple early in the morning and then head straight to school, okay?"

Soon they all went to their rooms and found themselves curled in bed. Karthik in his room was already in deep slumber whereas Kritika and Vaidehi had just started their never ending talks in their room.

"Di tumhe pata hai na ki ham kal subha mandir kyu ja rahe hai. Hame toh bss intezar hi nahi ho raha kab subha hogi kab ham mandir jayenge aur kab-"

"Di, you know why I am going to the temple tomorrow morning. I can't even wait for morning-when will it be moring when will i go to temple and when-"

"Aur kab apne hone wale ko dekhogi pagli pata nahi usse tu yaad hai k bhi nahi aur tune kabhi suna hai karthik ko usme bare me hamse baat bhi karte hue tu hi pagal hai uske peche chup chap soja ye pyar vyar kuch nahi hota samjhi!"

"And when you'll see your so-called future one, you silly girl. Who knows if he even remembers you? Have you ever heard Karthik talk about him? You're the only crazy about him. Now sleep-this love nonsense doesn't exist."

"Tumhe jab pata chalega ki pyaar vyaar sab hota jab tumhe pyar hoga samjhi aayi badi hame Kehne wali ki ham unhe yaad bhi nahi huh!" She said and snuffled in the blanket.

"You'll understand that love does exist when you fall in love yourself. Acting like you know everything! Hhuh!"

"Bss subha jaldi hojaye!" She said with a wide grin.

"Morning come faster!"