The festival of Teej was in four days. Yukti didn't know what exactly happened on the day but she had seen her mother get ready, apply henna and enjoy with the society ladies on the day and she was looking forward to the festival.

"Yukti! Bhabhi ka phone aaya tha. Wo aur bhaisahab aayenge aaj shaam ko tumhare teej ka sinjara le kar."

Her mother-in-law informed about her parents' arrival. Yukti wasn't very happy with them coming but she couldn't say anything. Never once did they try to talk to her after her marriage.

"Ritvik?"

She heard her mother-in-law call him cautiously. He hummed but continued doing something on his phone.

"Manisha bhabhi ka bhi phone aaya tha. Wo aur bhaisahab bhi aana chah rhe the aaj."

Yukti saw how Ritvik froze. His jaw clenched and he looked somewhat in pain.

"Ritvik?"

His mother prompted and he got up.

"Aate waqt do mithayi ke dabbe le aaunga."

With that he left the house. Yukti was confused. Who was Manisha bhabhi? And why did Ritvik react like that? She looked at her mother-in-law with a questioning gaze making the lady smile sadly.

"Manisha bhabhi Yakshna ki mummy hai."

And Yukti understood why he went like that. Yakshna was still a sore topic among everyone.

They got busy in the preparation for the evening. Yukti had changed into a new saree and had just come out of her room when the doorbell rang.

She opened the door to see her parents. She welcomed them inside with a small forced smile.

"Kaisi hai tu?"

Her mother and she bit her tongue to control herself from speaking something sarcastic. She just nodded considering her mother-in-law was in the same room and was looking at them.

They took their seats on the two seater sofa and her mother-in-law sat with them. Yukti went to the kitchen to make tea and snacks.

She heard the bell ring again and she knew it might be Yakshna's parents this time. Her mother-in-law opened the door.

"Namaste!"

Her mother said and the couple on the other end joined their hands and gave her a sad smile.

They saw Yukti's parents sitting their and thought that they were some other guests.

"Hum jaante nhi the ki mehmaan aa rhe hai. Nhi toh nhi aate."

Yakshna's mother said feeling a little embarrassed. Yukti too came out of the kitchen and touched their feet in blessing.

"Bhabhi ye Yukti hai aur ye uske parents."

Her mother-in-law introduced. Yakshna's mother nodded and smiled.

"Mai pehchani nhi-"

"Umm-bhabhi-Yukti Ritvik ki patni -"

Her mother-in-law didn't even have to complete and Yukti saw the change in the couple's expressions.

Their smiles fell and they looked away with a hard expression. Yukti understood their plight. According to them, she was their daughter's replacement.

"Ye Yakshna ke parents hai."

Her mother-in-law introduced the couple to her parents who too sat unaware of how to react.

"Peechle teen saalon se Yakshna ki teej ka sinjara le kar aa rhe the. Iss saal ajeeb sa lag raha tha. Ki wo hai hi nhi. Phir Yaksh ko dekhne ka mann ho gaya. Ab toh lagbhag 8 mahine ka ho gaya hoga na."

Yakshna's mother said emotionally and her mother-in-law nodded. Her father-in-law had also joined by then.

"Hum bas Yaksh se milke nikal jaayenge. Kaha hai wo?"

"Jee-wo-wo so raha hai abhi."

Yukti said making their eyes turn to her and she nodded with a hard expression again.

"Aap aaram se baithiye na bhabhi. Uth jayega thodi der mai. Aur ab aaye hai toh dinner kiye bina toh mai jaane nhi dungi. Mai chai naashta laati hu. Ritvik bhi aata hi hoga."

Yukti entered the kitchen following her mother-in-law.

"Kya baat hai? Aise chehra kyu utra hua hai tera?"

Her mother-in-law asked her.

"Aunty uncle ka gussa bilkul jayaz hai mummy. Kaunse maa baap ko achha lagega apni beti ko replacement se milna."

Her mother-in-law smiled and said.

"Chal pagal! Kisne kaha tu replacement hai. Ek baat bata ghar mai kisi naye member ke aa jaane se hum purano ko bhul jaate hai kya? Nhi na! Waise hi teri iss ghar mai alag jagah aur Yakshna ki alag. Kisi ne kisi ko replace nhi kra hai aur na koi aisa kr skta. Samjhi. Bas abhi unke dil mai ne dard taza hai. Ek bache se guzarne ka dukh maa baap se jyada kisi ko nhi hota."

Yukti nodded and the doorbell rang again. It would be Ritvik. She went to open the door and he stood there with a solemn expression carrying a bag of sweet boxes.

He gave it to her and entered in. All the pairs of eyes snapped to him. He looked at the two couples sitting in front of each other.

One was his current in-laws and the other were the ones he had been calling his in-laws only till last year. He didn't know what his relationship with them was now.

He was in a dilemma about whom to greet first. Yukti came to his rescue.

"Dekhiye kaun aaya hai aaj? Yakshna didi ke parents. Aap miliye unse mai nashta lagwa rhi hu mummy ke saath."

Ritvik looked at her gratefully and nodded. He touched Yakshna's parents' feet and then Yukti's parents'.

"Mai fresh hokar aata hu."

He saw Yaksh sleeping in his cot and kissed his head. Till the time he went back out, the tea and snacks were served.

After the snack time everybody got into small discussions. Yakshna's parents were quiet all throughout. Yukti went to her room to check upon Yaksh and saw him laying awake in his cot with his toe in his mouth.

He gave her a wide smile and she chuckled.

"Utha gaya mera bacha!"

"Mummaa!"

He squealed and clinged to her. She took him outside.

"Yakshu! Dekho kaun aaya hai!"

Her words grabbed everyone's attention and Yakshna's parents' eyes watered. Their daughter's baby.

"Nani nanu ke paas jaayega Yakshu?"

Their smiles fell. They thought Yukti was talking about her parents. Her mother even started to get up to grab the baby when Yukti walked towards Yakshna's mother and bend down.

"Yakshu nani! Namaste bolo nani ko."

Her mother sat back with an embarrased smile and Yakshna's mother looked at her with teary eyes.

"Nani! Nani!"

Yaksh chanted and she sobbed holding the him in her arms and cradling him to her chest. She smothered his face with kisses.

"Nanu ko bhi namaste kro Yakshu."

Yukti said and the boy now looked at his maternal grandfather.

"Nanu! Nanu!"

He chanted and clapped his hands in a namaste. The man couldn't even get a word out of his mouth. Such were the emotions he was experiencing. The two looked at Yukti with emotional smiles and joined their hands.

"Ye aap kya kr rhe hai? Bade hai aap mujhse. Please aise mat kijiye!"

Ritvik, who was looking at everything, couldn't control his tears anymore and excused himself. Seeing Yaksh busy playing with her nani and nanu, Yukti too went behind him.

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