After talking for a while and finishing the cup of tea, Vaidehi softly asked, "Mausi, aapko pata hai? Aakhir bacche Raaghav se itna naraaz kyu hai? "

"Nahi beta! Aisa kyu keh rahi ho! Raaghav toh abhi tak baccho se mila bhi nahi hai na! ", the old lady asked.

Vaidehi turned to face Raaghav, it was clear that mausi had no idea of all.

" Nahi mausi, mei kaal unse mila tha, and it seems that unko mei kuch khaas pasand nahi hu! ", Raaghav replied.

" Toh phir toh, jaroor uss Kamble ne unko daraya hoga! ", the old lady said.

" Aab unka dar dur kare? ", Vaidehi asked looking towards Raaghav who just nodded.

Later, all three of them went towards the area where all the children were present.

Looking at Raaghav coming, the children started panicking again like yesterday.

But just when they were near, Vaidehi scooted to their level, and said softly, " Hello baccho! Mei Vaidehi. "

The children stopped their stares from Raaghav for a while and looked towards the beautiful lady, who had scooted to their level and had opened arms, welcoming them into a hug.

But then, they again moved their focus to Raaghav, they started shouting the same incoherent phrases towards him.

Raaghav wanted to leave, but Vaidehi who stood up by now, held his hand.

Just then a child said, " Asha mausi, isse dur raho, yeh bure hai, yeh aapko humse dur kar denge.! "

Hearing that child, Raaghav somewhere got the idea about what the children were fed with.

It wasn't the children who were hating him right know, but just their love for mausi overpowering, the fear that the new owner will remove their most favorite person away from them.

Raaghav understood it clearly.

This time, he scooted down to their levels, " Nahi baccho! "He said in the softest of his tone.

The children were shocked to see him behave like this, after all they thought he was a devil, a monster who came to take their mausi away. Him talking so slowly and softly came out of the box for them.

They stopped their choas and listened to what Raaghav wanted to say.

" Aap logo ko agar aisa lagta hai ki mei Asha mausi ko yaha se, aap logo se dur karunga toh aisa bilkul bhi nahi hai. I know woh aap logo ke liye kitni important hai. Aur pata hai, usse bhi jyaada I know Asha mausi ke liye aap sab log, yeh ghar kitna important hai. "He said softly .

" Toh aap sach mei mausi ko nahi nikaloge? ", one child asked.

" Bilkul bhi nahi! Ha, but if aap log mausi ko jyada tang karte ho, toh toh phir sochna padega! ", Raaghav said pretending to think.

" Nahi! Hum mausi ko tang nahi karte hai! "All the children said in a go.

" Haat! Bohot pareshan karte ho tum log mhuje.. "Asha mausi said naughtily.

" Nahi.. "The children shouted with that rushed towards her and hugged her.

Raaghav and Vaidehi were just witnessing the pure bond, that was not connected by blood but by hearts.

" Aacha achha.. Par mei tum sab se bohot naraz hu! "Asha mausi said.

"Kyu, kyu mausi? " The children began asking.

Asha mausi got out from their hold and moved towards Raaghav pulling him up and side hugging him a bit she said, "Tum logo ne mere Raaghu ke sath badtameezi ki! "

"Aapka Raaghu? " The children began asking .

"Raaghu? " Vaidehi too said with a sly smile.

"Yaar mausi.. Raaghu nahi yaar.. ", Raaghav chided.

" Atleast biwi ke samne nahi na mausi.. "He continued.

All laughed seeing the muscular hulk like man cribbing.

Asha mausi too laughed slightly hitting him kn his chest.

After that, Vaidehi again asked the children, " Now we too deserve a hug na? Pretty please? "

The children rushed towards them both and hugged them tightly.

Raaghav was overwhelmed. His Vaidehi had made things right, in the most civil way possible.

Though he had already made ways to keep the NGO occupied by digging out their past and future, that the case of the orphanage would be the last thing on their mind.

_________________ _______________ __________

After that, the couple spent their entire day with the children.

Most shocking of all was, it wasn't Vaidehi, but rather Raaghav who became the children's favourite.

They played lots of games, watched a slight showcase of talents, where they, specifically Raaghav made Vaidehi dance for them as well.

They had their lunch together where the children fed Raaghav from their own plates and he too enthusiastically ate, while Vaidehi pouted to him, indicating the lack of attention that she was getting.

______________ ________________ ___________

It was nearly evening, Vaidehi was sitting in the lawn, totally admiring her husband who was busing in the football match, that the children were playing, while a lot many were hooting Raaghav.

Asha mausi came and sat near Vaidehi handling her a cup of tea, as she herself sipped her own.

"Kitna khush lag raha hai na Raaghav? " Mausi asked.

"Ha! " Vaidehi replied without removing her gaze from Raaghav.

"Baccho ko bhi kabhi itna khush nahi dekha meine! "Mausi said.

" Raaghav ek bohot hi accha pita banega dekhna! "Mausi said, staring at the crowd, which was now celebrating their victory as one child sat across Raaghav's shoulder around his neck, while another one was hanging holding his biceps as the group performed their little victory dance.

" Ha.. He'll be the best father ever! ", Vaidehi said chuckling as she observed how good Raaghav was with the children.

__________ ____________________ ____________

After spending some more time with the children, and distributing the gifts that Vaidehi had arranged with the help of Bhaskar, the couple bided bye to the children promising them that they'll return soon to meet them, to spend time with them.

_____________ __________________ __________

While walking towards the car, Raaghav was blooming, his Vaidehi was totally right when she said that, "Baccho ke sath time spend karne se sab awkwardness dur ho jati hai! "

He loved children more than any other age group of human species, he realised it today, all thanks to Vaidehi.

Moreover, the orphanage case would totally turn out in his favour he was cent percent sure of it now, though he had his ways ready but his Vaidehi handled it in the most civil manner.

Coming near the car, Raaghav asked, " Should I drive? "

"No it's fine, aap thak gaye honge! "Vaidehi replied promptly.

" Naah! I have never felt this active and alive. Moreover mera stamina bohot hai, you know na! ", he said as he took the keys and sat on the drivers seat.

Vaidehi stood there rooted, the casual sentence of his sounded double meaningful to her.

" Ab tak toh pata nahi aapka stamina kya hai, but looking at you I don't know if I'll be able to handle you or no! ", she thought as she bit her tongue.

" Chalo Vaidehi! "Raaghav said as he lowered the window.

The ride back home was filled with Raaghav thanking Vaidehi for the day.

" Uff.. Bas kijiye Raaghav kitna thank you bolenge! ", Vaidehi said for the nth time.

" Par..

"Okay you are grateful na? " She asked to which he moved his head in a affirmation.

"Treat me with an ice cream.! "

"Huh? "

"Yeah.. Two icecreams! "

" Okay fine..! "

After having icecreams, they returned back to the palace and called it a day.

__________ __________________ _____________

Time was passes in bliss. It was nearly five months for their wedding.

~One fine day~

Raaghav had gone to his office. Vaidehi was at home as it was her day off. She was helping Bela Kaki in cooking, just then the bell rang.

Vaidehi opened the door, to see that it was Aanisha and Nandini. Pushing Vaidehi aside they both entered inside.

"Aap dono yaha, achanak? ", Vaidehi asked being surprised.

" Kyu tumhe puchke aana tha? ", Aanisha retorted.

" Nahi..

"Yeh ladki, ja juice- wuice leke aahe, kitni garmi hai! '", Nandini commanded.

" Mei abhi lekar aayi! ", saying this Bela kaki rushed inside.

She knew that Aanisha was Rutvendra's wife.

" Maa yaha    ke flowers se decorations accha lagega na! ", Aanisha said totally ignoring Vaidehi's presence.

" Nahi Aanisha, koi royal phool choono! ", Nandini replied.

" Aap dono mahal ko sajane ki baat kyu kar rahe hai! Koi function hai kya? Raaghav ko pata hai? "Vaidehi questioned.

Aanisha got furious on seeing Vaidehi interrupt.

" Tu bich mei choch mat daal!  Raaghav ko kyu batayenge bhala! Woh kai ka raja hai kya! ", Aanisha chided.

" Par..

"Yeh ladki, mana tere pati ne chalaki se yeh mahal hatiya liya hai, par ispar aaj bhi rajgharane ka ki hukum chalta hai! Samji! ", Nandini said.

" Aap please mere Raaghav ke bare mei kuch anab- shanab maat kahiye! ", Vaidehi quickly retorted.

Nandini got up and walked towards Vaidehi. " 'Tera Raaghav', yeh kab huwa bhala? "

With this the mother- daughter duo began laughing.

"Tu usse pyaar- vyaar karne lagi hai kya? "Asking this the duo continued laughing.

By now Bela Kaki had returned

" Tu.. Tu soch bhi kaise sakti hai ki tuje kisika pyaar mil sakta hai ha? "Nandini asked.

" Aap log please! Jis kaam ke liye aaye the woh kijiye aur...

"Aur kya? Aur kya? Bol.. " With this Nandini held Vaidehi face tightly .

"Arey, Tu usse pyaar karti bhi hai na, toh woh tuj jaise se kabhi pyaar nahi karega! ", nandini said.

" Aap dono, bahurani ko yeh sab nahi keh sakti! ", Bela kaki said furiously.

" Aur kon rokhega hume? Tum! Naukrani? ", Aanisha asked hautily.

" Aur waise bhi sach toh sach hota hai na! Koi baddal nahi sakta, jaise ki yeh sach hai, ki Raaghav Vaidehi se kabhi pyaar nahi kar sakta, akhir ek ladka khud par thopi gayi majbooti se pyaar karega bhi kyu? "Nandini said.

" Majboori nahi maa! Deal kaho deal! "

"Aanisha! " Vaidehi had had it enough now..

"Kyu sach bardaasht nahi ho raha? , Raaghav ke liye ek deal hi thi tum, Mere baby se sab kuch chinne ki deal! Iss so called " Tumhare Raaghav "ne sauda kiya tha tumhara, pata to hoga hi tumhe! "Aanisha said.

" Tum yeh sab kyu keh rahi ho Aanisha? ", Vaidehi asked. She now had tears forming in her eyes. She could not even think of Raaghav considering her as a deal.

" Arey, arey arey arey! Bataya nahi "Tumhare Raaghav " ne tumhe? ", Aanisha again asked.

"Tum dono chup karo! ", Bela kaki shouted.

" Yeh naukrani, tum chup reh ha! ", Nandini retorted.

" Meri pyaari behen ka haq banta hai na jaana ki iski keemat kya lagayi thi iske pati ne?, kyu maa? ", Aanisha asked.

" Bilkul! "Nandini affirmed.

" Toh sun! Tujse shadi ke baddale me " Tere Raaghav "ne yeh mahal aur koi orphanage.. Kya naam tha uska.. Ha.. " Shantidhara! Aapne naam karaaya tha! "

"Nahi..! " Vaidehi said in low voice, her eyes we're filled with tears now.

"Arey ha! Mei jhoot kyu bolungi bhala! " Aanisha again said.

"Yaakin na hota ho toh Abhi bhai se puch! ", Aanisha said pointing towards Abhishek who entered with some more people.

" Bhai! Aap hi batao, Raaghav ne Vaidehi se shadi karne ke liya kya manga tha? ", Aanisha herself asked encircling her hand with Abhishek's.

Abhishek looked towards Vaidehi for a minute or two. He then remembered how she didn't turn up on the pagphera day, while he waited for her.

Though looking her with tears in her eyes did seem bad to him, but the urge to hurt her over the fact that she hurted him too, overpowered.

"Yeh mahal aur " Shantidhara " orphanage ke legal rights! "Abhishek replied nonchalantly.

Vaidehi stood their rooted. Not preventing the tears that were running down her cheeks.

After brief seconds of pause, Vaidehi rushed upstairs to her room.

_______ __________________ _________________

Thank you all for waiting! ✨

And sorry for taking so long! 😌

Hope the chapter's good enough! 🥰

It's unedited so👉👈

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