"So you're just going to leave without your gift?"
This soft melodious voice resulted in the faltering footsteps of all the Gupta's.
"Just because it's a late delivery you're not going to take it?" The voice questioned from behind.
A voice... The voice.
The voice that once filled lives with laughter, life, and love.
The voice that always brought a smile to their faces, while always holding one itself.
The voice that fulfilled the roles of a perfect child, a perfect sibling, a perfect friend all at the same time.
That same voice left them two years ago and now has finally returned.
Shashi and Garima turned around to find their daughter standing there, bags laying forgotten beside her.
Her eyes full of unshed tears, her everlasting smile adorning her lips, nodding her head, as if to tell them she was really there.
"Won't you come hug your daughter after so long?" She questioned as her feet carried her forward to her parents.
Shashi and Garima couldn't hold back any longer as the three ran into each others arms.
"Khushi..." Both Shashi and Garima whispered as the pulled out of the hug and looked at their daughter, who smiled back at them, wiping away their tears.
Khushi stepped away from them, walking towards Payal, who had not moved an inch since she had heard her voice.
"Are you that upset with your beloved sister that you won't even spare her a glance?" Khushi questioned as she approached Payal.
As soon as Payal heard those words she turned around and ran straight into Khushi's arms, sobbing as she let out a soft, "Di"
The two sisters held on to each other for who knows how long until Shashi walked up to them and pulled them to him, soon followed by Garima.
Khushi was the first one to pull away, wiping her own tears she asked, "So Payal has graduated high school! At least introduce me to a few friends! Don't tell me your still my little loser and didn't make any friends!?"
"Daddd! Di's teasing me! That to on my graduation day!" Payal complained, causing them all to burst out laughing. They hadn't laughed so freely since Khushi had left.
"Okay! Sorry baba!" Khushi cried holding ears. "But Papa, didn't you say you wanted me to met some family and business friends? You also told me their son studies with Payal."
"Studies with me? Family and business friends...?" Payal wondered to herself.
Shashi was about to answer when Payal shouted, "Oh! Dad's talking about the Raizada family! Their son is in my class! His name's Akash!"
"Yes. And I wanted you to meet them. Amar Raizada was a childhood friend of mine. They moved to Delhi from Mumbai a few months after you went abroad." Shashi explained.
Garima continued, "Their youngest son, Akash, is a good friend of Payal's. Akash and Payal are going to the same college as their other son, Arnav who's the eldest and daughter, Anjali who's the middle child."
Khushi took everything in before asking, "Okay. But why is it important for me to meet them? Why did you say I HAD to meet them today?"
"Because well you've already decided your going to take over the business sooner or later and it's already all under your name. So I would like you to get to know them as business friends." Shashi explained further.
A slight blush crept into his cheeks before he continued, "And also the fact that they've heard so much about you they can't wait to meet you."
"Papa! You're too much! I would love to meet them! You didn't have to bore me with all that talk about the business and being business friends! They're practically family from what I hear! Let's go! Are they still here?" Khushi exclaimed and questioned all in one breath.
"Yes they are." Shashi looked around and spotted them at same table that they all were at earlier. Pointing, he said, "Right over there."
The Guptas walked over to the Raziadas. Shashi went forward and greeted them before turning around and introducing them to Khushi, "This is my eldest daughter, Khushi. And Khushi, this is Nani ji, Amar uncle's wife, Amrita aunty, Akash and Anjali."
Khushi greeted everyone with a sweet yet polite, "Namaste."
Khushi turned to Shashi and quietly questioned him, "Where's Amar uncle? And his eldest son?"
"Amar and Arnav couldn't make it today because they were away on a business trip in London." Shashi clarified, to which Khushi nodded.
The Guptas and the Raizadas talked for a while before Amrita suggested the kids go talk amongst themselves for a while.
As they watched the kids walk off Apsara turned to face Shashi and Garima before saying,
"Khushi...she truly represents her name. Akash was so disappointed that his father and brother couldn't make it to his graduation earlier that he barley smiles as he go his diploma and now his laughing so freely, so happily. She's even captured my heart in the matter of a few minutes! It's as if she carries a bubble of happiness around her wherever she goes. Her nonstop chatter and her beautiful smile could win over anyone's heart." Amrita said while smiling adoringly at Shashi and Garima.
"Yes. Whatever Amrita has said is completely true. Khushi bitiya is one of a kind. Despite living abroad all these years she still upholds all her traditions. I hope she always stay this way." Nani ji added, with the same smile on her face.
Shashi and Garima could do nothing but nod their heads in agreement as tears floated in their eyes. She was their daughter, she was Khushi.