Days passed...

Years slipped by, and the children of the Bhardvaj haveli were growing up together.

Raman was now seven years old.

His little sister, Radhika—whom everyone lovingly called Radha—was two.

And Ekant, Dikshit and Madhu's son, was four.

The haveli was as lively as ever when, one afternoon, a car suddenly came to a stop outside the grand Bhardvaj haveli.

The sound of the car caught everyone's attention.

A couple stepped out.

It was Parmatma Kashyap and his wife, Diti.

Diti carefully held a tiny one-month-old baby in her arms.

Parmatma looked toward the haveli and smiled.

After years, the Kashyap family had arrived at the Bhardvaj haveli once again.

And this time...

they had brought someone very special with them.

Raman and Ekant were playing together in the courtyard when they noticed the unfamiliar couple standing near the entrance.

Raman stopped playing and looked toward them curiously.

"Aap log kaun hai?"

Ekant glanced at the baby in Diti's arms, then quickly looked at Raman.

"B-Bade Bhaiya... mujhe toh lagta hai..."

He lowered his voice dramatically.

"Radha ko  chura kar le jaane ke liye aaye hain!"

Raman's eyes widened.

Ekant immediately grabbed his arm.

"Hamein inhe rokna chahiye! Hamari behen hai!"

Raman nodded seriously.

"Haan! Chalo!"

Raman immediately grabbed a thick wooden stick from nearby and stood firmly in front of the entrance, holding it with both hands.

He gave the couple a very serious look.

"Aap ghar mein nahi ja sakte!"

Ekant quickly stood beside him, trying to look just as brave.

Raman tightened his grip on the stick, completely ready to defend his little sister.

"Pehle bataiye... aap log kaun hain?"

Parmatma looked at the two little boys standing in front of the entrance and calmly asked,

"Raghuvir hai?"

Raman's eyes widened.

"B-Baba?"

He immediately threw the wooden stick aside.

"Am... aap... aap andar chaliye!"

He quickly stepped out of their way, suddenly looking as innocent as possible.
Suddenly, Raman's eyes fell on the tiny baby in Diti's arms.

His expression changed again.

He quickly stepped in front of them, spreading his little arms protectively.

"Aap log meri behen ko churane aaye ho!"

He shook his head firmly.

"Main andar nahi jaane doonga!"

Diti looked at the little boy standing in front of them and couldn't help but smile.

"Arey beta... hum tumhari behen ko churane nahi aaye hain."

Raman still looked suspicious.

"Toh phir... aap log kaun hain?"

Parmatma smiled at his innocence.

"Pehle andar toh jaane do, beta. Raghuvir se milna hai."

Ekant whispered to Raman,

"Bade Bhaiya... shayad sach bol rahe hain."

Raman glanced at him, then back at Diti and the tiny baby in her arms.

"Hmm..."

He remained cautious.

"Par meri behen ko kuch nahi hona chahiye."
Diti smiled at Raman's serious expression.

"Arey, bilkul nahi. Tumhari behen ko hum kyun le jaayenge?"

Raman narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Pakka?"

Diti nodded.

"Pakka."

Parmatma chuckled softly.

"Ab toh humein andar aane doge, chhote zamindar ji?"

Raman thought for a moment, then slowly stepped aside.

"Thik hai... lekin main dekh raha hoon."

Ekant immediately whispered,

"Bade Bhaiya, aap bahut achhe guard ho!"

Raman proudly nodded.

"Haan. Radha ki raksha toh karni hi padegi."
Raghuvir was coming downstairs after yet another playful nok-jhok with his wife when his eyes suddenly fell on someone standing near the entrance.

He stopped mid-step.

His eyes widened in surprise.

He knew that face.

After all these years...

It was his childhood friend.

"Arey... tu?!"

Raghuvir broke into a wide grin.

"Tu toh mujhe bhul hi gaya!"

Parmatma's face immediately lit up when he saw Raghuvir.

"Arey Raghu!"

The two childhood friends walked toward each other, laughing.

Parmatma pulled Raghuvir into a tight hug.

"Kitne saalon baad mil raha hai tu!"

Raghuvir laughed, patting his friend's back.

"Arey, tu toh bilkul badal hi gaya re!"

Parmatma grinned.

"Tu bhi kahaan wahi raha!"

Raghuvir suddenly looked toward Diti and the baby in her arms.

"Achha... aur ye?"

His eyes filled with curiosity.

"Bhabhi ko bhi saath le aaya... aur god mein ye nanhi si gudiya kaun hai?"

Parmatma smiled proudly and looked at the tiny baby in Diti's arms.

"Ek mahine ki hai..."

Raghuvir's eyes widened with delight.

"Arey wah! Toh ye hamri nanhi si mehmaan hai!"

He stepped closer, looking at the baby curiously.

Diti smiled warmly and folded her hands.

"Namaste, Raghu ji."

Raghuvir smiled.

"Arey, arey... itna formal hone ki zarurat nahi hai, Bhabhi ji. Aakhir aap hamre dost ki dharampatni hain."

Parmatma laughed.

"Abhi se Bhabhi ji ko apni taraf kar raha hai?"

Raghuvir chuckled.

"Arey, tu chup kar! Itne saalon baad mila hai aur abhi se jalan shuru?"

Diti smiled at their old-fashioned nok-jhok.

Meanwhile, Raman and Ekant were still standing nearby, watching everything with curious eyes.

Raman looked up at Raghuvir.

"Baba..."

Raghuvir turned toward him.

"Haan, beta?"

Raman pointed toward Parmatma.

"Ye aapke dost hain?"

Raghuvir smiled and nodded.

"Haan beta. Ye mere bachchpan dost hain."

Raman looked at Parmatma with curiosity.

"Aap Baba ke dost ho?"

Parmatma laughed softly.

"Haan, bilkul. Hum dono bachpan se dost hain."

Raman looked at Ekant, then back at Parmatma.

"Achha..."

He seemed satisfied with the answer.

But then his eyes once again went toward the tiny baby in Diti's arms.

Raman's protective expression returned.

"Par... ye kaun hai?"

Parmatma smiled and looked toward the tiny baby in Diti's arms.

"Ye... hamri beti hai."

Raman's eyes widened.

"Aapki beti?"

Parmatma nodded proudly.

"Haan."

Raman immediately looked at Diti and then at the baby again.

"Kitni chhoti hai..."

Ekant bhi paas aakar kar dekh .

"Bade Bhaiya... ye toh bahut nanhi hai."

Raman nodded seriously.

"Haan... bilkul Radha jaisi."

Diti smiled at the two boys watching her little daughter with such curiosity.

Raman looked at the tiny baby for a moment, his eyes widening with innocent curiosity.

"Arey... ye kitni gori hai..."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Doodh ki tarah..."
Diti smiled at Raman's innocent observation.

"Achha? Tumhe itni gori lag rahi hai?"

Raman nodded seriously.

"Haan... bilkul doodh jaisi."

Ekant bhi isko ko dekhkar muskuraya.

"Bade Bhaiya... ye toh bahut pyari hai."

Raman carefully looked at the tiny baby again.

"Iska naam kya hai?"

Diti smiled softly and looked down at the baby in her arms.

"Abhi toh nahi rakha..."

Raman's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Naam nahi rakha?"

Parmatma chuckled.

"Nahi beta. Abhi toh sochna baaki hai."

Raman looked up at his father with hopeful eyes.

"Baba... kya main isko le sakta hoon?"

He pointed toward the tiny baby.

"Main apne paas rakhunga..."

Raman immediately hurried over to the couch and carefully settled himself down, making sure there was enough space for the tiny baby in his arms.

He looked up at Diti with hopeful eyes.

"Main yahin baithunga... aap mujhe de dijiye na."

Diti smiled at his excitement and carefully placed the little baby into Raman's arms.

Raman became completely still.

He looked down at the tiny baby resting against him, his face lighting up with wonder.

"Kitni chhoti hai..."

He carefully supported her, as if he were holding something precious.

Raghuvir watched his son's little face light up as he held the baby so carefully.

He smiled at Raman's sudden obsession.

"Arey... tujhe ye itni pasand aa gayi kya?"

Raman looked up at his father, still carefully holding the tiny baby in his arms.

"Baba... ye bahut sundar hai."

Raghuvir chuckled, looking at the way Raman was completely fascinated by the tiny baby.

"Achha? Itni pasand aa gayi tujhe?"

Raman nodded without taking his eyes off her.

"Haan... main isko apne paas hi rakhunga."

Diti smiled at his innocence.

"Arey beta, ye toh abhi bahut chhoti hai."

Raman carefully looked at the baby again.

"Main iska dhyaan rakhunga."

Savitri smiled warmly as she came closer.

"Namaste, Parmatma Bhaishabh. Sab theek? Kaise hain aap? Aur Diti... tum kaisi ho?"

Diti smiled warmly at Savitri.

"Namaste, Savitri ji. Hum bilkul theek hain. Aap bataiye, aap kaisi hain?"

Savitri smiled.

"Hum bhi bilkul theek hain."

Parmatma chuckled.

"Arey Raghu, dekh... kitne saalon baad aaye hain aur sabse pehle tumhari gharwali se hi haal-chaal ho raha hai."

Raghuvir laughed.

"Arey, tu bhi na... itne saalon baad aaya hai, aur abhi se shuru ho gaya!"

Sab hans pade.

Savitri's eyes then fell on Raman, who was still sitting on the couch with the tiny baby carefully in his arms.

She smiled.

"Arey... Raman ko toh gudiya le kat betha hai "
Savitri looked at Raman's innocent little face and smiled.
"haa maa dekho ye kitni sunder hai or ye meri dost hai ab.."

"Achha? Toh ye tumhari dost hai?"

Raman nodded proudly.

"Haan, Aama!"

He looked down at the tiny baby in his arms again.

"Ab ye mere saath hi rahegi."

Raghuvir chuckled.

"Arey wah! Itni jaldi faisla bhi kar liya?"

Raman immediately looked at him.

"Haan Baba. Ye meri dost hai."

Everyone around them laughed at his seriousness.

And just like that, the Bhardvaj haveli filled with even more joy.

Laughter echoed through the rooms, children ran around the courtyard, and every corner of the haveli seemed to be filled with warmth, happiness, and love.

Raman, however, had become completely obsessed with the tiny baby.

Whenever she was awake, he wanted to sit beside her.

Whenever she slept, he would quietly peek at her.

And whenever someone tried to take her away from him, he would immediately ask,

"Usko kahaan le ja rahe ho?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at his little possessiveness.

Meanwhile, Diti and Parmatma had decided to stay at the Bhardvaj haveli for a while.

After so many years, the old friendship between Raghuvir and Parmatma had come alive again, and the entire family welcomed them with open arms.

The haveli that was already full of life...

now had one more little heart to love.

Stay tuned, guys! 

See you in the next chapter! ♡