Sharma Ji (putting down the newspaper):
"Lo aa gayi hamari Pari."
(“Well, here comes our Pari.”)
(At home, Malini’s parents lovingly call her “Pari”)
Malini (smiling):
“Good morning, Papa.”
Sharma ji (smiling back):
"Good morning, Pari. Baith jao, tumhari Mumma ne tumhara diet breakfast banaya hai..."
(“Good morning, Pari. Sit down, your Mumma has prepared your diet breakfast…”)
Hearing this, Ketki Ji says:
"Dekho beta, tumhara almond milk bhi yahin rakha hai. Thanda mat hone dena..."
(“Look dear, your almond milk is also kept here. Don’t let it get cold…”)
Cheeku (muttering softly):
"Aisa lagta hai jaise iss ghar mein hum logon ka koi wajood hi nahi..."
(“It’s like we don’t even exist in this house…”)
Sharma Ji (ignoring him):
"Chalo Amma, nashta shuru karte hain."
(“Let’s start breakfast, Amma.”)
Amma Ji responded with a soft “hmm” and started eating. Seeing Amma Ji begin, Ketki Ji and Mrinali also sat down to eat.
While eating, Malini said proudly:
"Mumma, mera rose water banaya na? Purani wali bottle to almost khatam ho gayi hai."
(“Mumma, you made my rose water, right? The old bottle is almost finished.”)
Ketki Ji:
"Arey meri gudiya! Tum kuch maango aur main naa kar doon, yeh ho sakta hai kya? Do bottle bana ke rakhi hai."
(“Oh my doll! If you ask for something and I don’t do it, is that even possible? I’ve prepared two bottles.”)
Malini (happily):
“Thank you, Mumma!”
Seeing Malini happy made her parents happy too, while the rest continued eating quietly.
After breakfast, Amma Ji went to her room, Sharma Ji left on his scooter for school (He’s a mathematics lecturer at a government school), Mrinali and Ketki Ji started cleaning up the kitchen, Prakhar began getting ready for college, and Malini left to meet her friends for a shopping trip.
Once the housework was done, Mrinali returned to her room to study.
Mrinali’s room reflected her simplicity and disciplined lifestyle. The walls were light-colored, with just one or two motivational quotes hanging. Her wooden study table by the window was always tidy—stacked with a few books, a table lamp, and a diary. A nearby rack neatly held subject-wise books, silently speaking of her dedication.
There was little decoration in the room, but everything radiated a peaceful simplicity. The bed was neatly made, and the clothes in the wardrobe were organized. Her room felt like a calm, inspiring library—each corner whispering: “Something big is in the making.”
Her room had transformed into a living study center. The bookshelf displayed works of great Hindi literature authors, while her table was covered with research notes and journals. Motivational quotes related to women’s empowerment adorned the wall. Every corner testified that Mrinali was wholeheartedly preparing for her Ph.D.
(She had completed her M.A. in Hindi Literature six months ago and is now preparing for the UGC NET JRF exam. Since childhood, she’s pursued her studies through scholarships and is now using her saved scholarship money to prepare for this exam, not wanting to burden her father financially.)
By noon, Mrinali came downstairs to help her mother with lunch.
By 1 PM, Prakhar also returned from college (he’s doing an MBA), and Malini came back from her outing with friends, having made plans for evening shopping.
After lunch, everyone rested for a while.
In the evening, Sharma Ji returned home. Amma Ji sat on a cot with a bowl of oil and a comb, while Cheeku sat beside her a bit irritably, as Amma was lovingly massaging his head.
Cheeku (grumbling):
"Amma, roz roz tel kyun lagati ho? Main ab bachcha nahi hoon!"
(“Amma, why do you apply oil every day? I’m not a kid anymore!”)
Amma (smiling):
"Bachcha ho ya na ho… tumhara maatha to abhi bhi hamara hi hai"
(“Whether you’re a kid or not… your forehead is still mine.”)
Cheeku:
"Amma, yeh sab old fashion ho gaya hai ab."
("Amma, all this is old-fashioned now.")
Amma:
"Old fashion na beta, ee to lucky fashion hai — dadi ke haath se pyaar wala tel!"
("Not old-fashioned, son — this is the lucky fashion — your grandma’s loving oil massage!")
Cheeku (smiling softly):
"Aap kabhi nahi maanengi na?"
("You’ll never agree, will you?")
Amma:
("Jab tak saans hai, tel bhi rahega… pyaar bhi.")
("As long as I breathe, there’ll be oil… and love too.")
Cheeku:
"Amma waise sabke saamne Cheekuwa mat bola karo, Cheeku bol liya karo."
(“Also, Amma, stop calling me Cheeku-wa in front of everyone. Just Cheeku is fine.”)
Amma (smiling affectionately):
"Arey Cheekuwa, tu chahe tees baras ka ho ja… humaar to wahi nanha lalla hai."
(“Oh Cheeku-wa, even if you turn thirty… you’ll still be my little baby.”)
Cheeku:
"Tum rehne do Amma."
(“You leave it, Amma…”)
Amma happily continued massaging his head. Sitting nearby, Sharma Ji smiled at their conversation.
Soon, Ketki Ji brought evening tea, gave it to Amma and Sharma Ji, and sat with them.
Just then, Malini entered in full style—wearing sunglasses and talking on the phone.
Malini (in a dramatic, filmy tone):
"Papa… papa… jaldi se teen hazar dijiye, aapki Pari ka shopping mood ban gaya hai! Please… trending cheezein aayi hain!"
(“Papa… Papa… just three thousand please! Your Pari is in a shopping mood! Please… the trending stuff has just arrived!”)
Sharma Ji (smiling, about to take out his wallet when Amma Ji interrupts):
"Arey oh babua! Ee ka roz-roz ke fashion-fushan mein lutaye jaat baad? Ee bitiya ki kharidari to haathi ke pet jaisi ho gayi hai — bharbe nahi hot!"
(“Oh son! Why are you wasting money every day on fashion and show? This girl shopping is like an elephant’s stomach—never full!”)
Sharma Ji (cautiously):
"Amma, bitiya hai… thoda bahut to chalega na?"
(“Amma, she’s our daughter… a little bit is fine, right?”)
Amma Ji (rolling her eyes):
"‘Thoda bahut’? Tu to wahi baap hai jo jhunjhuna maange par sona de deta hai! Dekhna — abhi lipstick maangegi, kal purse le aayegi, parso car le jaayegi!"
(‘A little bit’? You’re the kind of father who gives gold when the child asks for a rattle!
Watch—today she asks for lipstick, tomorrow a purse, the day after a car!”)
Sharma Ji:
"Amma rehne do na, kyun rok rahi ho bitiya ko… Pari tum yeh lo paise…"
(“Amma, let it be… don’t stop her. Here, Pari, take this money…”)
(He gives her money. Malini jumps with joy, and Amma Ji sulks.)
Malini (happily):
“Yay! Love you, Papa!”
Sharma Ji (smiling):
“Love you too, Pari beta!”
Malini:
“Bye Papa! Bye Mumma!”
Sharma Ji and Ketki Ji laugh and wave her goodbye.
Amma Ji:
"Arey babua, ee ka tareeka hai? Roz hi bahar ghoome-fire, ghar ke kaam se matlab hi nahi!"
(“Oh son, what kind of behavior is this? Always going out, no interest in housework!”)
Papa:
"Amma, aajkal ki ladkiyaan thodi modern hoti hain…"
(“Amma, girls these days are a bit modern…”)
Amma Ji:
"Modern ho, lekin ghar ke kaam bhi seekho. Kal shaadi hogi, to isi tareeke se sasural jaayegi? Duniya rang-roop nahi, sanskaar dekhti hai."
(“Let them be modern, but they should learn housework too.When she gets married, will she go to her in-laws like this?The world doesn’t look at beauty, it sees values.”)
Cheeku (who had been quiet till now, chuckles):
"Shaadi aur inki? Koi pagal hi hoga jo inse shaadi karega!"
(“Only a crazy guy would marry her!”)
Ketki Ji (angrily):
"Cheeku! Badi behen hai tumhari, tameez se baat karo!"
(“Cheeku, she’s your elder sister! Speak respectfully.”)
Amma Ji:
Arey bahuriya! Use kyun daant rahi ho? Ab kuch apni bitiya ke baare mein bhi soch lo!"
(“Oh daughter-in-law! Why are you scolding him? Think about your own daughter!”)
Ketki Ji (shocked):
"Amma… hum to sahi sikha rahe the."
(“Amma… I was just teaching him right!”)
Amma Ji (firmly):
"Arey pehle apni bitiya ko sambhal lo mayi! Ghar ka koi kaam sikhaya hai? Bas saj-dhaj ke ghoomne ka shauk hai. Badi aayi hamaar pota ko daante!"
(“First, manage your daughter! Has she learned any housework?All she likes is dressing up and going out. And now you dares scold my grandson!”)
Sharma Ji (interrupting):
"Bas bhi karo, koi kuch nahi bolega. Hum kuch nahi sunna chahte. Aur Amma, Pari ko ghar ke kaam sikhane ki zarurat nahi hai — hum uski shaadi aise ghar mein karenge jahan naukar honge, use kaam karne ki zarurat hi na pade."
(“That’s enough! No one will say anything more. I don’t want to hear another word. And Amma, there’s no need to teach Pari any housework. We’ll marry her into a home where there are servants. She won’t need to do any work.”)
Sharma Ji walks away after saying this. Hearing his words, Ketki Ji smiles and follows him, while Amma Ji falls silent and resumes focusing on her grandson.
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That's all for today. Stay tuned for the next part.
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