Chapter46

Janani reached the Buns and Beans Cafe, half past eleven, the next morning.
She was shocked to see Shreya too there.
"Uh- Shreya? You are here?" Janani asked
"Oh hey bhabhi. I came to meet a friend" Shreya said nervously
"Oh. Me too" Janani said, chuckling awkwardly.
They both received a text message at the same time.
Janani checked the message from the unknown number.
'Table No, 7. Right corner'
"Okay then, Shreya. Carry on" Janani said and walked towards the above mentioned table.
She was surprised to see Shreya also walking towards the same table.
They both looked at each other in confusion.
"Uh Bhabhi? Did you also receive a message from an unknown number?" Shreya asked
Janani's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. You too?" Janani asked
"Yes bhabhi. The message said, it is related to Aadesh" Shreya said
"Mine said, it is related to Armaan" Janani said
"It was kind of an immature message. It said 'if you love him, come meet me'. Who says like
that" Janani said with a confused look on her face.
"You are right. But it was enough to raise my curiosity" Shreya said
"Mine too," Janani agreed.
When they reached near Table No. 7, they spotted a young girl, sitting there and drinking
some smoothie.
The girl looked up at them and gestured to them to take a seat.
"Hello. You both are very beautiful. No wonder they are madly in love with you" the girl said
cheerfully.
She looked barely out of her teenage years.
"And you are?" Janani asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aaradhya. Aaradhya Ahuja" the girl introduced herself.
"Ahuja?" Janani whispered with a frown.
"Seems like you have heard about Ahujas before?" Aaradhya asked
"Not really. Please do enlighten us" Janani said
"I am your husband's younger sister" Aaradhya said
"What nonsense? They don't have any sisters. It's just the two brothers" Shreya said
"Oh. They don't know they have a sister. Or I think they don't know" Aaradhya said
"Stop beating around the bush. Tell us what the matter is" Janani demanded
"I am the daughter of Durga Ahuja" Aaradhya said
Both Shreya and Janani stiffened hearing the name Durga.
"Durga? The woman who left Aadesh when he was a baby?" Shreya asked furiously.
"She didn't leave them. She was thrown out of the house" Aaradhya defended her mother
strongly
"What story are you building up now? Who would throw her out of her own house" Shreya
asked
"Her evil mother in law. That old woman never liked my mother. She made my mother's life a
living hell. Kept her away from her children. And when she got a chance, she threw her out
of the house" Aaradhya said furiously.
"Oh really? The grandmother passed away long ago. Where was your mother until now? I
know the story that she left her family to marry someone richer" Shreya said
"Richer? My father is a middle class man. A government employed doctor." Aaradhya said
with a scoff.
"What's the point of this? Why are you here now?" Shreya asked
Aaradhya looked at Janani.
"Why? My elder sister in law is so silent?" Aaradhya asked
"Bhabhi. Are you taking her words seriously? Haven't Armaan told you about how his mother
mercilessly left him and his brother when they were little more than babies?" Shreya asked
"There are two sides to a coin, Shreya. Armaan and Aadesh grew up listening to the stories
their grandmother told them. What if there is another side to the story?" Janani asked
"You gotta be kidding me! Even if there is, why now? She could have gotten in touch with
them long back." Shreya said
"She had been trying for a long time now" Janani said softly, remembering the unopened
letters she found in Armaan's desk.
"What?" Shreya asked in surprise.
"Yes. I will tell you in detail after this. First, let's listen to what Aaradhya has to say" Janani
said and turned to see Aaradhya looking at her with teary eyes.
"The first time momma saw your picture with Armaan bhai, she said his life is going to
change for the better. I didn't know how she figured it out with one look. But now I can see
she was right." Aaradhya said, happily
"Tell us. Tell us everything" Janani said
Aaradhya then proceeded to tell them all the things of the past, she had heard their parents
talk about, at various times.
Her mother only shared a few things about her past. Only about the existence of two elder
brothers.
Rest of the things, she had found them herself. Snooping around her parent's bedroom and
her father's laptop for details. She even read a couple of her mother's journals.
"How sure are you about these facts?" Shreya asked
"Hundred percentage" Aaradhya said
Janani and Shreya shot a look at her.
"Okay. 99.98%" Aaradhya said with a shrug, making her sisters in law roll their eyes.
"So, you want to unite your mother with her long lost sons?" Shreya asked with a thoughtful
look on her face.
"Nice thread for a new story, right Shreya bhabhi?" Aaradhya asked cheekily
"Have you read my books?" Shreya asked in surprise.
"Yes. And I am a fan. I want signed copies of all your books." Aaradhya said
"Okay. Let's not get deviated from the matter" Shreya said
"So, what's your plan?" Janani asked
"I am going to crash Verma Mansion" Aaradhya said excitedly
"What?" Both Janani and Shreya exclaimed in unison
"I will be at your home tomorrow. They will recognise me. At least Armaan bhai will. Because
I am a xerox copy of our mother" Aaradhya said
"Wait. Were you there at the jewel shop last week?" Janani asked, remembering Armaan's
pale face after spotting a girl similar looking as his mother.
"Yes. I was following you guys from your home. I loitered around for a while. I left as soon as
he spotted me" Aaradhya said with a shrug.
"There is going to be a big drama. I don't think Armaan will let you stay" Janani said,
worriedly.
"Why do you think I got in touch with you two?" Aaradhya asked in exasperation
"What?"
"Of course, to help me in my plan. You should convince Armaan bhai to let me stay"
Aaradhya said coolly.
"What? Me? How will I do that?" Janani exclaimed in disbelief
"You are his beloved wife. He will listen to everything you say" Aaradhya said stubbornly
"Okay. I will try. Come at night. That way I could appeal to his morality and stop him from
throwing a girl out of the house at night" Janani said
"I know you are smart," Aaradhya said with a grin.
"Stop buttering us" Janani said, though a fond smile appeared on her face.
The girl is cute. She couldn't wait to see the day when Armaan would be pampering his little
sister.
"Okay. So Mission Family is ON" Aaradhya exclaimed, raising her smoothie cup for cheers.