Chapter 67: The Flavor of Redemption

(Kiara giggled, picking up her spoon, but she, too, found it odd.

Dadi usually didn't make two types of sweets at once.

Shrugging, both took a spoonful of the halwa and put it in their mouths.)

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(A second later, they paused mid-chew. Their smiles faltered slightly—not because the halwa wasn't delicious, but because it tasted... familiar. Too familiar.

Kiaan frowned, looking at his sister, who seemed equally puzzled.

He took another bite, letting the taste settle on his tongue before his eyes widened slightly.)

Kiaan: (confused) Yeh toh...

Kiara: (slowly) Yeh toh bilkul Mumma ke banaye halwe jaisa lag raha hai...

(Anuradha, who had been watching their reactions closely, finally spoke.)

Anuradha: (softly) Yeh halwa Naina ne hi banaya hai.

(Both Kiaan and Kiara snapped their heads up to look at her, their eyes going even wider.)

Anuradha: Main kal raat uske ghar gayi thi... maafi maangne.

(For a moment, there was complete silence. The only sound was the faint clinking of their spoons against the bowls.)

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(Kiaan was the first to react. He almost choked on his next bite before putting his spoon down in shock.)

Kiaan: (gasping) aap mumma ke ghar gaye thay?!

(Anuradha simply nods, her gaze calm yet brimming with emotion.

Kiara and Kiaan exchange a stunned look, their minds racing with questions. This was something they had never expected.)

Anuradha: (sighing) haan, beta...

(she exhales, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the wooden chair in front of her, as if gathering strength.)

Anuradha: mujhe itne saal lag gaye apni galti ka ehsaas hone mein... par jab ehsaas ho hi gaya, toh phir der nahi karni chahiye. Agar abhi nahi, toh kabhi nahi. Isiliye main kal raat hi Naina ke ghar chali gayi thi, uss se milne.

(Kiaan's throat tightens. His grip on the spoon in his hand slackens slightly.)

Kiaan: (softly) how did you figure out where she lives?

(Anuradha hesitates for a moment, then offers a small smile, tinged with nostalgia and regret.)

Anuradha: tumhaare desk pe Naina ki cheque book mili. I got the address from that...

(Kiaan's eyebrows knit in confusion. He opens his mouth to ask, but Anuradha continues before he can.)

Anuradha: Actually, kal Sheetal tumhaare room mein gayi thi dusting karne... aur usse galti se kuch papers gir gaye. Main wahin thi, toh usne mujhe pakda diye. That is how I noticed the cheque book.

(a charged silence settles over the table. Kiaan exhales slowly, processing everything.

His heart pounds in his chest, emotions he hadn't dared to voice now clamoring to be felt.)

Kiaan: (whispers) dadi... are you serious?

(Anuradha reaches out, cupping Kiaan's face gently, her touch warm and comforting.)

Anuradha: beta, galti sirf bacchon ki nahi hoti. Kabhi-kabhi bado se bhi hoti hai. Hum bacchon ko daant dete hain, unhe maafi maangne ke liye majboor kar dete hain... par jab hum bade ho jaate hain, toh we forget all of that.

(Kiaan stares down at his plate, swallowing hard.

Kiara, ever the one to mask emotions with humor, clears her throat, determined to lighten the moment.)

Kiara: (clearing throat) uhh... toh iska matlab... yeh halwa aur bhi kha sakte hain?

(Anuradha chuckles, ruffling Kiara's hair affectionately. The heaviness in the air lifts just a little.)

Anuradha: haan, bas sabse pehle lunch khatam karo!

(Kiara's eyes twinkle with mischief as she tilts her head, feigning deep contemplation.)

Kiara: dadi, mumma ne aapse exact kya kaha tha? 'ghar ke liye halwa le jaana' ya 'bacchon ke liye le jaana'?

(Anuradha raises an amused eyebrow, thinking back to the moment.)

Anuradha: usne mujhse kaha... 'bacchon ko yeh khila dena.'

(Kiara smirks, her eyes glinting playfully.)

Kiara: bas, yahi confirm karna tha! Papa ke liye, toh bacha ke nahi rakhna hai na!

(a brief silence. Then—laughter. Genuine, warm, breaking through the remnants of past grievances.

The room fills with the sound of happiness, of bonds re-forging over an afternoon meal.)

(Kiaan and Kiara share a knowing smile before digging into their food, still reeling from the unexpected yet beautiful moment.)

later,

(The clinking of cutlery against porcelain filled the air as the three of them sat down for lunch.

The aroma of freshly made dal and roti wafted around them, but Kiara was too excited to focus on food.

Kiara, still buzzing from the revelation about Anuradha visiting Naina, could barely contain herself.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she blurted out, breaking the relative silence.)

Kiara: (grinning) Now, Dadi doesn't hate Mumma anymore... toh— (clapping her hands together excitedly) Oh my god! Matlab ab toh Mumma aur Papa aaraam se shaadi kar sakte hain!

(Anuradha, mid-bite, froze. Her spoon hovered in the air as her wide eyes snapped to Kiara.

For a moment, she blinked, as if unsure she had heard correctly.)

Anuradha: (stunned) Kya?

(Kiaan sighed, rubbing his temples, his face an amusing mix of fondness and exasperation.)

Kiaan: (grumbling) Kiara, tum bhi naa... sab kuch ek dum fast-forward mode pe chalaane lagti ho!!!! have a little patience!!!

(Anuradha set her spoon down, still reeling. Her sharp gaze darted between the two children, her mind racing.)

Anuradha: (seriously) Ruko ek minute... what do you mean by Vikram aur Naina ki shaadi??

(Kiaan exchanged a glance with Kiara before leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. He was calm, measured.)

Kiaan: (calmly) Dadi... woh actually.... (hesitantly) Mumma aur Papa kaafi time se ek doosre ko date kar rahe hain.

(Anuradha's mouth parted slightly in shock.

The words hung in the air, reverberating in her mind.

She looked between her grandchildren, searching for any hint of exaggeration or mischief.)

Anuradha: (in shock) Vikram... aur Naina?

Kiaan: Haan, dadi. In fact, woh dono, ek doosre se pyaar bhi karte hain!!!

Anuradha: (dumbfounded) pyaar???

(Kiara nodded eagerly, her grin growing wider.)

Kiara: Haan, Dadi! Aur pata hai? Papa ne toh Mumma ko propose bhi kiya tha!

(Anuradha's breath caught. She turned to Kiara sharply, heart pounding in anticipation.)

Anuradha: Propose?

(Kiara, suddenly aware of her grandmother's intense gaze, nodded but her voice softened slightly.)

Kiara: (nodding) Lekin Mumma ne mana kar diya...

(A strange heaviness settled in Anuradha's chest.

She felt an unfamiliar tightness, like an ache she hadn't realized existed.)

Anuradha: (hesitantly) Kya... kya yeh meri wajah se tha?

(Kiaan exhaled deeply, his expression serious.

He looked straight into his grandmother's eyes, his voice quieter but firm.)

Kiaan: Haan, Dadi. Woh iss ghar mein waapas nahi aana chahti thi.

(The weight of his words landed like a stone in her heart.

Anuradha felt as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs.

She stared at her grandson, feeling something between guilt and regret tighten around her.

Kiara, a little more hesitant now, added softly.)

Kiara: Haan, Dadi... Papa ne toh suggest bhi kiya tha, ki agar aapko problem hogi, toh hum alag ghar mein shift ho jaayenge...

(Anuradha's lips parted, her expression darkening slightly.

But before she could say anything, Kiara quickly continued.)

Kiara: (matter-of-factly) Lekin Mumma ne saaf mana kar diya. She said ki woh ek maa aur bete ko kabhi alag nahi karengi.

(The room fell into silence.

Anuradha looked away for a moment, blinking back the sudden sting of tears in her eyes.

She had been the one to separate the twins from their mother all those years ago.

Yet, here was Naina, unwilling to do the same—even when given an easy way out.)

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(A lump formed in her throat. Naina was never the kind of woman to break a family. Even after everything.

A weak smile formed on Anuradha's lips. It was bittersweet, an odd mixture of remorse and newfound determination.)

Anuradha: (softly) Tab toh phir, mujhe tayyari karni hogi Naina ko wapas lane ki. Agar Vikram aur Naina sach mein ek doosre ke saath rehna chahte hain... toh I don't want to be a roadblock in their way.

(Kiara's face lit up, but Kiaan remained guarded.

He was still watching his grandmother carefully, his expression unreadable.)

Kiara: Toh aap abhi Papa se baat karne waale ho?

(Anuradha shook her head.)

Anuradha: Nahi beta... main pehle Naina se baat karungi. I want her to feel comfortable with me! Uske baad, main Vikram se baat karungi. (smiles) Un dono ki shaadi ho jaaye... then I will make sure ki Naina ko, ab yahaan koi bhi takleef naa ho.

(Kiara beamed with relief, but Kiaan leaned forward, his tone turning serious.)

Kiaan: (firmly) I hope you really mean it this time, Dadi.

(Anuradha blinked, slightly taken aback by the weight of his words.)

Kiaan: (his voice unwavering) I hope you mean what you said. Kyunki agar iss baar, meri Mumma hurt hui... toh main chup nahi baithunga. And aap khud jaanti hain, ki I am usually the quieter twin.

(Anuradha met his gaze and, for the first time, truly saw the protectiveness in his eyes. It wasn't just a child's concern—it was a vow.

Kiaan, usually reserved, was making it clear-- if his mother suffered again, he wouldn't hesitate to stand against anyone, even his own grandmother.

For a long moment, Anuradha held his gaze before nodding with a small, assuring smile.

Kiaan leaned back, still slightly wary but a flicker of hope in his eyes. Kiara, on the other hand, was already lost in thoughts of wedding decorations and family reunions.

Anuradha inhaled deeply, knowing the real conversation—the one that truly mattered—was still ahead of her. But for the first time in years, she felt... ready.)

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Author's Note 💖✨

Hey, lovely readers! 🤗

I hope this chapter made you feel all the feels—shock, warmth, nostalgia, and maybe even a little laughter at Kiara's antics! 😆💫

Forgiveness isn't easy, especially when wounds run deep, but sometimes, all it takes is a familiar taste, a moment of realization, or the courage to take that first step. Anuradha's journey from guilt to redemption is just beginning, and I can't wait for you to see where this road leads! 🚪❤️

Also, let's take a moment to appreciate Kiaan—the quiet but fierce protector! 🔥 And Kiara? She's all of us when we're ready to skip ahead to the happy ending! 😂💍

What do you think will happen next? Will Naina accept Anuradha's change of heart? Will the family finally reunite? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I LOVE hearing from you! 🥰💬

Until next time, stay amazing! ✨💕