1 | ༄ 𝑩𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒂'𝒔 𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 ༄

🙏 Shri Ganeshaya Namah 🙏

May Bappa bless this story and all my readers with happiness and positivity. ❤️

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Happy Reading! 🌸

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A golden morning had embraced the Deshmukh mansion. The sweet chirping of birds blended with the fragrance of incense and fresh sunlight spreading through every corner of the house.

Wani was fast asleep in her room. The soft rays of the sun gently touched her face. Suddenly, a melodious voice reached her ears.

"Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha..."

Wani immediately sat up and rushed toward the bathroom. The sound of the morning aarti echoed throughout the house.

"Sukhkarta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi..."

The voice was soothing enough to calm anyone's heart.

"Kanthi Jhalke Maal Muktafalanchi..."

For a moment, the entire Deshmukh household seemed to pause and immerse itself in the divine atmosphere.

"Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti..."

Wani hurried downstairs and made her way to the temple, where every member of the family was standing with folded hands.

Joining them, she stood before Bappa and closed her eyes in prayer.

"Lambodar Pitambar Phanivar Bandhana..."

A few moments later, she opened her eyes and slightly leaned forward. A soft smile appeared on her lips.

"Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Mangalmurti..."

As soon as the aarti ended, Wani quickly stepped forward.

"Aai..." (Mumma...)

A bright smile spread across her face.

Standing in front of her was Kadambari Deshmukh-her mother.

"Aalay majha baal."(My child is here.)

Wani immediately wrapped her arms around her mother. "Good morning, Aai."

Kadambari lovingly stroked her hair. "Good morning, majhya baalala. Aaj punha ushir uthlis ka?"

(Good morning, my child. Did you wake up late again today?)

Wani pouted dramatically. "Kay karu, Aai? Aaj Sunday aahe na."

(What can I do, Mom? It's Sunday.)

Kadambari chuckled softly. "Sunday asla tari Bappala velavar namaskar karaycha asto."

(Even if it's Sunday, you should greet Bappa on time.)

Wani grinned mischievously. "Ho ho, samajhla mala." (Yes, yes, I understood.)

The mother and daughter shared a warm smile as the peaceful morning continued to fill the Deshmukh house with happiness and devotion.

A sudden sight caught Wani's attention. Her eyes landed on the plate of steaming modaks.

"Ukhadiche modak! Aai, main le lu kya?" (Steamed modaks! Mom, can I have one?)

The moment she saw them, her face lit up with excitement. Ukhadiche modak were her absolute favorite.

Kadambari noticed her eager expression and handed her the aarti thali instead.

"Abhi nahi. Pehle sabko aarti de, uske baad." (Not now. First give aarti to everyone, then you can have it.)

Wani pouted slightly but nodded with a small smile. "Theek hai." (Okay.)

Holding the thali carefully, she moved around the room. One by one, every family member took the aarti.

Just then, her gaze shifted towards the entrance. The next second, her eyes widened with joy.

"Baba!" (Pappa!)

Standing at the doorway was Malhar Deshmukh—her father.

Without wasting a second, Wani ran toward him. "Are baala, halu!" (Hey, child, slowly!)

Malhar laughed as he watched his daughter sprint towards him.

Wani threw her arms around him, her face glowing with happiness. "Baba, mujhe laga aap mujhe chhodne nahi aayenge." (Dad, I thought you wouldn't come to drop me.)

Malhar gently caressed her cheek."Kasa nahi aalo asto? Majhya chakulila sodhayla?" (How could I not come? To drop my little princess?)

Then he smiled and asked, "Achha, ab bata kal kitne baje nikalna hai?" (Alright, tell me, what time do we have to leave tomorrow?)

Wani pretended to think deeply. Then, in a deliberately low voice, she replied, "Jab Aai mujhe chaar laafe na maar de." (Before Mom gives me four slaps.)

The moment she finished, she burst into laughter.

From behind, Kadambari's loud voice echoed through the room. "Chaar nahi, tujhe chaar sau padenge! Kal jaldi nahi uthi na toh samajh lena!"

(Not four, you'll get four hundred! If you don't wake up early tomorrow, you'll see!)

Wani instantly froze. "Aai..." (Mumma...)

Her confident expression vanished in a second.

Malhar shook his head with a chuckle. "Are, tum dono bhi na..." (You two are impossible...)

Kadambari narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. "Kya hum dono?" (What about us?)

Malhar immediately straightened himself. "Ku... kuch nahi. Kuch bhi toh nahi." (N-Nothing. Nothing at all.)

His nervous reply made Wani cover her mouth.

The sight of her fearless father getting scared of her mother was simply too funny.

Unable to control herself, she burst into laughter.

The entire day passed in laughter, teasing, and countless little moments that made the Deshmukh house feel like home.

The morning sunlight filtered through the cream-colored curtains of Wani's room, falling over the pile of clothes scattered on a chair—clothes she had promised to fold three days ago.

Her room looked like the perfect example of "I'll clean it later."

Crooked stacks of books stood beside her study table. Fairy lights hung carelessly above her bed. Polaroid pictures from Mumbai decorated one wall, while an open suitcase lay abandoned on the floor as if it had completely given up on life.

Near her mirror was a small photograph that always caught her attention every morning—a picture of her old school friend group from Mumbai.

Wani was sleeping peacefully when the sunlight gently touched her face.

From downstairs, Kadambari's voice echoed through the entire house. "Wani baala, uth ja. Agar main upar aayi na toh maar padegi!"

Wani heard her perfectly. And completely ignored it.

Turning to the other side, she buried her face deeper into the pillow. "Aale yaar, Aaiii... kya yaar! Last day hai ghar pe. Ek din toh sone do peacefully! Main Mumbai jaa rahi hu, war pe nahi."

A few seconds later Kadambari shouted again. "Drama band kar aur niche aa jaldi!"

Wani sat up on the bed and yelled back. "Aa rahi huu!"

After getting ready, checking her phone, staring emotionally at old Mumbai pictures, and mentally preparing herself for another one of her mother's lectures, Wani finally came downstairs.

The Deshmukh House looked nothing less than a palace.

Warm yellow lights illuminated every corner. Family photographs decorated the walls. Indoor plants stood proudly throughout the house. Plants Kadambari cared for like her own children. The comforting aroma of homemade food floated endlessly through the air.

Outside was a huge courtyard filled with colorful flowers and plants.

The house carried a strange peace.

Almost as if the walls themselves had stories to tell.

A place where anyone who entered once would never want to leave.

That was the Deshmukh House.

A family where everyone lived together, laughed together, and belonged together.

Malhar sat on the sofa reading the newspaper.

The moment he saw Wani approaching, he folded it and placed it aside. "Uth gayi meri chhakuli?" he asked sweetly.

Wani immediately sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Haan Baba."

Malhar adjusted his glasses and looked at her with that classic father expression—half concern, half amusement.

"Baala, packing thik se kar li na? Ek baar fir check kar lena. Dekh, tera yahan mann nahi lag raha tha isliye tujhe wapas Mumbai bhej raha hu. Lekin hostel mein shararat thodi kam karna. Aur kuch bhi zaroorat ho toh Hriday dada ko bolna. Kal train hai na teri?"

Wani grew slightly emotional.

Malhar was often busy with work. But somehow, he always noticed the sadness hidden behind his daughter's cheerful voice. He always did.

Taking a deep breath, Wani looked at him and replied softly. "Haan Baba. Ab main chhoti nahi rahi. Main badi ho gayi hu. Tenth mein hu. Ab thodi mature ho gayi hu."

A smile appeared on her face. Suddenly, the sound of a spoon falling came from the kitchen.

Kadambari walked out. One hand on her waist. The other covering her mouth dramatically. She looked at Malhar and Wani before speaking in complete shock.

"Accha? Mature? Aur tu?" Wani immediately knew she was in danger. "Bata zara, us din freezer mein charger kisne rakha tha?"

Wani looked down in embarrassment. "Woh... woh main..."

"Aai! Ek hi baar hua tha!" Malhar instantly smiled. "Aur TV ka remote washing machine pe?"

Wani groaned. "Baba..."

"Aur maths ki notebook freezer ke paas?" Malhar asks wani

"Baba! Team-up mat karo yaar. Vishwasghaat lag raha hai mujhe."

Kadambari shook her head while trying not to laugh.

She walked toward Wani's half-open backpack and placed several neatly packed snack boxes inside.

Immediately, her expression softened. There it was.

A mother's love. Carefully hidden behind endless instructions.

"Sun. Kal shaam tak pahunch jayegi na? Toh parso subah Siddhivinayak Bappa ke darshan kar lena. Sankashti Chaturthi hai. Aur maine tere doston aur Hriday ke liye snacks banaye hain. Sab mein baant dena. Raste mein akeli mat kha jana."

Wani placed a hand over her heart dramatically.

"Waah. Mujh par bharosa hi nahi hai kya, Aai? Main khane ki itni bhi badi chor nahi hu. Bas thoda quality check karungi... safety ke liye."

"Wani!" Kadambari interrupted.

"Kya? Mumbai ke standards maintain karne padte hain na."

Malhar chuckled softly while Kadambari tried very hard not to smile.

For a moment...

Everything felt normal. Yet somewhere between the laughter and breakfast, silence slowly settled into the room.

Because none of them truly wanted to accept it. They were going to miss her. A lot.

And Wani? She was excited. Far too excited.

But the moment her eyes landed on the packed suitcase resting near the staircase, a strange ache settled inside her chest.

Delhi had never really felt like home.

Not truly.

Home was the chaos of hostel rooms.

Home was the smell of the sea.

Home was Marathi slang, crowded  trains, old school corridors, and the people who knew the real her.

And tomorrow...

Mumbai was finally taking its daughter back home.

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💭 How was the chapter, Readers?

Did you enjoy Wani's fun moments with her Aai and Baba? ❤️

Let me know your favorite scene in the comments!

See you in the next chapter! 🤍✨

Love, TRTRWRITERS 🤍