Dear Readers,

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This is an unedited draft of the book, meaning there will be several grammatical errors, name mismatches, plot discrepancies, and other sematic errors. If that is something you find offence, please do not proceed further.

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Swati Sandeep

Regret always left a bitter taste and Dhriti felt the full impact of that regret. Dhruv had walked out of the house without giving her a chance to explain anything. When her twin became upset he fell silent, and he absolutely hated that about him. One could deal with anger but the barrier of silence was hard to break though.

It did not help that Dev was upset and he wanted to talk to Dhruv. When the boy was low he only needed Dhruv. It did not matter if it was Dhruv who was the reason for the pain, the boy only took comfort from him. She tried her best to calm him down but like her twin the boy retreated to silence.

She was hoping Dhruv would come back to pick up the food, but he arranged for Dheer to transport the food to the restaurant. Dhriti was frustrated. Dhruv was not even taking her calls and yet calling a perfect stranger. She was going back to her room when she saw Dheer instructing the staff who had come to help him load the food in their food truck.

The casual way in which he was joking with her twin's staff did not sit well with him. Dheer had only been with them for four days and yet he was getting deeply involved. She had observed the way Dheer interacted with Dhruv and that worried her. The boy was playing with everyone. He was there for a motive and did not care about anyone. For all he knew he was the one trying to create problems for them.

She recalled what Dhruv had told her about Raghav. Since the day Dheer came into their lives their problems did not seem to end.

"Aur kuch load karna hai, Dheer? (Is there anything else to laid, Dheer?)" One of the assistant chefs who had come to help asked Dheer. She was standing right there and yet they all looked up to Dheer for instructions. It never happened before.

"Nahi (No), Bhai. All good." Dheer reached for a napkin to wipe off his dirty hands. He had spilt the curry on himself by mistake.

"Theek hai, phir hum chalte hai. Tum aram se aa jao. Aaj ka shift do baje se hai. Thoda aram karlo. Saturday bohot zyada kaam hota hai. (Okay, then we will leave. The shift starts at 2 today. Make sure you rest. Saturdays are hectic around here.) We will be stuck until midnight." The elderly man gave his back a gentle pat and walked away.

Dhriti's hand fisted by her side. Raman was their chef helper. The fifty year old man did not interact with anyone and preferred to keep to himself. She was furious that Dheer had enticed him so quickly. The boy was dangerous. She had not let herself think about the contract but now she could not stop thinking about it. If the boy one she would be in trouble. Dhruv's reaction to the lie rattled her. If he was furious with Dev for hiding about the phone, he would never forgive her for keeping him in the dark about the boy and she had to also worry about Dev's music.

Dhriti was frustrated and needed to vent out. She wanted him gone and gone fast. For now she had to calm herself before she let loose on the boy.

Once the staff left Dheer came back to the kitchen and grabbed the ice-cream from the refrigerator. He was still upset with what happened in the morning and needed a little comfort. The ice-cream was the only thing that could make him feel better.

He sat down to eat but Dhriri grabbed the tub right from his hands. She was about to reach for it when he bet her. "That is mine." She hissed in annoyance. Her irritation only increased when she found the tub half finished.

"Yeh khatam kaise ho gaya? (How did this finish so fast?)"

Dheer shrugged his shoulders. He could easily read her dark mood. He was wise enough to keep his mouth shut as it was he who had finished the ice-cream. Despite Dhruv's warning he still helped himself to the late night snack, only he avoided being caught.

Dhriti marched back to the refrigerator. If there was none left in the freezer she would have the boy's head. She had seen the boy hogging ice-cream the night before. She knew exactly who finished it. Thankfully Dhruv kept a full stock. She was surprised to see five tubs of ice-cream. Dhruv only ever stocked up two at a time. She shot Dheer a dirty look, sure that he was the one for whom the extra tubs were stocked. Nothing ever escaped her twin's attention.

When she came back to the kitchen table she saw Dheer helping himself to the tub she had discarded. It was half full but Dhriti wanted more. "Kitna khayega, kal raat hey toh khaya tha? (How much can you eat? You were hogging yesterday night.)"

Dheer was surprised that she knew. "Are you stalking me now?"

"You live right under my roof, kid. Not to mention that it is my ice-cream you are stealing. I don't take kindly to thieves."

"Bhaiya said I could eat as much as I wanted." Dhruv shot back, not the one to take taunts. "If you want to take out your frustration on someone, find a punching bag. I give back as good as I get."

Dheer had a big scoop of ice-cream to emphasise his point. He knew his Bhaiya restocked for him, he was not giving up his right.

"He said you could hog ice-cream in the middle of the night?" Dhriti played with her spoon. She was in the mood for a fight and he was the only option she had.

"Rooting for a fight are we?" Dheer leaned against the chair and flashed her a wicked smile. He could actually read her every emotion. She behaved the way he did and that made her extremely predictable.

Dhriti's eyes glinted. The kid always knew what was going on in her mind. She absolutely hated that about him. "Next time you hog my ice cream I will tell Dhruv about your crazy habits."

"Our ice-cream, sister. Like I said, Bhaiya said I could have as much as I want."

"Bhaiya, Haan? (So it's Bhaiya now?)"

Dheer stiffened; he did not realize what he was saying.

"Dhruv se sedhe Bhaiya pe aa gaye? (You came straight to Bhaiya from Dhruv.) What brought the change?"

Dheer's phone buzzed, saving him from answering the question. He saw his grandmother's name and a big smile bloomed on his face as he answered the video call.

"Girlfriend, how are you doing? Planned everything for the trip?"

"Kaisa hai, bachcha? (How are you bachcha?)" Sheetal's soothing voice filled the kitchen. Dhriti inhaled a sharp breath. A decade had passed by since she heard the familiar voice. For a second her eyes filled up but she blinked them away. The woman turned her back to them in times of their need. She could never forgive her or her husband, no matter how much they grovelled. The loss Dhriti and her family suffered was too great to be forgiven.

"Cool, girlfriend. Aap batao, trip ke leye packing hogaye? (You tell me, how is your packing coming along?)"

"I don't want to go on any trips, Dheer. Tu ghar aja, beta. (You come back home.) I am already missing you."

"Come on, girlfriend. You always wanted to revisit Greece"

"With you, not alone."

"Dadu is far better company than me. Take a break, Girlfriend. Spend some time with your husband. The old man is overworking himself. You two need a break. Greece is the best place to unwind....."

"But..."

"Apne leye nahi to mere leye jao aap. (If you can't go for yourself, do it for me.) I spent so much time planning the trip. Don't disappoint me."

Sheetal let out a deep sigh. "Blackmail?"

"Is it working?" Dheer flashed his dimples.

"I miss you, bacha. Tere bina ghar ghar nahi laga. (The house feels empty without you.) Come back soon."

Dheer eyes misted but he quickly blinked them away. He knew his tears would upset his grandmother. "I will be back in a month. Enjoy your trip, by the time you will be back I will have a surprise waiting for you."

"Surprise, kaisa surprise? (What kind of surprise.)"

Dheer smiled but did not answer. "It won't be a surprise if I tell you now. So don't ask. Now I want you to go and start packing. You have to leave in three days. Make sure you pack for daadu as well. That man has no clue what to take along on a trip. I am sure he is packing all his tailored suits."

Sheetal let out a throaty chuckle. "That is so like, Yash. Don't worry I will pack for him. Now tell me how India is treating you? Is everything okay? Are you comfortable?"

Dheer bobbed his head, not willing to lie to her face.

"Do you need anything? Is everything per your liking? If you need...."

"Dadi relax, yaar. I am doing great here. I made new friends. I love this place. Stop worrying about me and go pack your bags. No more arguments."

Sheetal nodded her head. Dheer blew her a kiss and disconnected the call. Everytime she called he was tempted to give up everything and go back to her. He missed her terribly but then he had to remind himself that he was there to fulfil her wish. He could not give in to his weakness. Dheer reached for the ice-cream again, feeling low. He found the tub empty and sighed. He had not realized that he had finished it.

Dhriti nudged her tub towards him and rose to her feet. Hearing her grandmother's voice revived bittersweet memories. The woman had been a part of her life for seventeen years. Turning away from her was not easy. No matter what she did Sheetal Randhwa would always have a soft corner in her heart and Dhriti hated the weakness.

"Puchoge nahi kaise hai woh? (Won't you ask me about her health?)" Dheer could not stop the question. He had taken the call before her with a purpose. He wanted to see if she would react, and he was disappointed that she showed no emotion.

"What is there to ask, Dheeren?" Dhriti did not look at him. "A woman who is planning to go to Greece must be healthy as a horse." She turned around and looked at him. "It looks like she misses the only grandchild she has. If you really care about her as you claim, I suggest you go back. Tumhare leye yaha kuch nahi rakha hai. (There is nothing for you here.) We will not come to New York no matter what you do."

"That is not what we agreed on, Dhriti" Dheer rose, unsettled by her statement.

"I know what the contract says, Dheer. You need to survive 60 days. Are you sure you can do it?"

"I am surviving now, am I now?"

"Because Dhruv has your back. If he finds out about you, what do you think will happen? Did you see his reaction in the morning? Dhuv raised the boy as his own child. If he cannot forgive Dev's lies do you think he will forgive your deception? Dev is his child, Dheer. You are a stranger. He has even less reason to forgive you. Cut your losses and leave. That is the best for you."

"Maybe you should take your own advice, Dhriti." Dheer shot back, "If Bhaiya's reaction is anything to count by, then you are in deep trouble. After all I am not the only one deceiving him"

Dhriti stiffened. Dheer walked out before she could say anymore. He was too upset to take the conversation further. If he stayed there they would hurl abuses at each other and that would do no one good. It was best they took a break from each other's presence.

Dheer got to the restaurant an hour before his shift. Dev had not eaten lunch and that troubled him. Dhriti had tried her best but could not succeed. The boy was as stubborn as them. He refused to eat until he sorted things with Dhruv, and their Bhaiya on the other hand was not taking anyone's calls.

He could see the kitchen was buzzing with activity. A business organization had booked the entire dining hall for a staff dinner. The guests would start pouring in soon. They had their work cut out for them. Raman handed him an apron as soon as he saw him. They could use all the extra help.

"Bhaiya kahan hai? (Where is Bhaiya?)" Dheer asked as he reached for the vegetables. He was no good with cooking so he only did the bare minimum like putting the vegetables though a professional food processor or plating dessert dishes that needed to be frozen. Those were some of the works that needed a professional touch.

"We ran short of ingredients." Raman shook his head, recalling Dhruv's anger. He was furious when he realized the pantry was empty. It was Dheer who updated the inventory list but the day before he was stuck before the computer whole day that created the confusion.

"What did we run out of?"

"Olives and Red Wine. Chef uses them in the Dessert. He wanted only the best so he went to get it. He should be back in a few minutes."

Raman had only said that when Dhruv rushed into the kitchen with the ingredients. Dheer hurried to take a bag from him. He was juggling too many bags.

"I am sorry I forgot to do the inventory yesterday." Dheer apologized before Dhruv could say anything. "I..."

"It's okay, Dheer. Get back to work. Service starts at 6 today. We have more than 400 guests coming. We never had such a huge crowd before, There should be no mistakes. I want you to oversee the service."

Dheer was taken aback. He had no clue how to do it. Dhruv placed the ingredients on the counter and looked at him.

"Tonight we are not running a commercial service. All you have to do is make sure that the dishes are refilled on time and the guests are comfortable. The waiters would be around. You need to give them instructions and make sure everyone is satisfied. Can you do that?"

Dheer bobbed his head. He could manage that. Anything that did not involve him sweating in the kitchen was a big yes for him. Dhruv handed him a cork opener and motioned for him to uncap the wine bottles.

"This will help you understand the customer service aspect of the food business. Great food will not sell without customer service. We have to make sure that the customer is always satisfied. If someone tells you the dish is undercooked, apologize and take the dish back. It may be perfectly done but the customer is always right. Never forget that. An unsatisfied customer will not return and do everything in his power to discourage his friends and family from visiting our palace. We don't want that to happen."

Dheer bobbed his head. He had returned several dishes he did not like. As a customer he never understood the struggle that went behind plating every dish. He only wished to be served the best, he understood Dhruv' perspective well. It was always important to keep the client satisfied. Dhruv continued with his advice as they worked together. Dheer could not help but admire the skill. The man could multitask brilliantly.

"Once you are done with the wine, help me peel the carrots for dessert."

Dheer bobbed his head again and did as he was told. By four thirty he could feel his hands hurting. He had peeled and grated more than a hundred carrots and they were nowhere done.

"Go take your fifteen minutes break" Dhruv noticed his fatigue and grabbed the grater from his hand. "Have some coffee. You will need it for the service."

"What about you? Don't you need a break?"

Dhruv shook his head. "I am fine, Dheer..."

"You have been working all day, Sir. A five minute break will not hurt. Let's go for the coffee."

"I don't need the coffee, Dheer. You go."

Dheer did not argue but grabbed the grater back and got back to his work. Dhruv stopped him again. "Take the break, Dheer. You will not get a chance until the guests leave."

Dheer shook his head. "I don't need the break. I will finish this."

"Dheer..."

"You are the one who was working all day. If you don't need it, I don't need it either. I can do this."

Dhruv shook his head in disbelief. One moment the boy acted all mature and the next he sulked like a child. Dhruv wished he could shrug it off but he did not have the heart to let him suffer. With a sigh he removed his apron and called for a fifteen minute break. If he took a break the entire staff deserved to take a break. Fifteen minutes would not hurt anyone.

"Let's go for the coffee."

Dheer was surprised that Dhruv gave in so easily but he was happy. As his bhaiya said they could all do with a little break. 

Dhruv was very silent and the silence grated at Dheer. In the kitchen he did not feel the difference, but now that they were alone Dheer could feel Dhruv's sadness. When he bugged him with questions, Dheer did not appreciate it, but the silence bugged him more. He knew what troubled Dhruv and he wanted to address it.

"Can I say something?" Dheer set his coffee aside and looked at Dhruv. A silent nod was his only acknowledgement.

"Dev wanted to tell you about the phone."

Dhruv stiffened. He did not wish to discuss his family with others. No matter how much he liked Dheer, the boy was an outsider. Dhruv wanted to leave but Dheer grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"Woh kal raat he aapko sab bataney wala tha, Bhaiya. Akshu ke samne woh kuch nahi keh saka aur phir aapko restaurant jana pada. Woh subah aapko batane he wala tha. (He wanted to tell you about the phone yesterday but he could not say anything before Akshu. He was planning on telling you everything in the morning.)"

Dhruv gently removed Dheer's hand from his wrist and stepped back. "Let's go back."

"Woh bahut upset hai, Bahiya. Sach me wob kuch chupana nahi wala tha. (He is very upset, Bhaiya. He had no intention of keeping anything from you.)"

Dhruv tried to walk away.

"Usne lunch bhi nahi kiya. (He did not have lunch)" Dheer called in desperation. He wanted Dhruv to stop being upset. Dev did not deserve the anger. Dhruv stopped and looked at him. Dheer knew he had hit a nerve.

"He refused to eat until he clarified everything with you. Dhriti ma'am tried but he did not listen. He will not eat until you go home and resolve everything with him. Give him a chance to tell you what happened. I know I have no right to talk about family matters." Dheer let out a tired sigh. "But I wanted you to know that Dev was not trying to deceive you. He respects you a lot Bhaiya. He will never deceive you. I am sorry If I am overstepping my boundaries, but I know how much silence can hurt. I know what it feels when you are waiting for someone to call back and the person doesn't call. It cuts deep. Ho sake toh usse ek baar baat karlo. (Talk to him if you can.) That is all I wanted to say."

Dheer did not press further and walked away. He did what he could rest was up to the brothers. 

By 8 the service was in full swing. The guests were delighted with the food. They were all praises about the dishes and the service. Dheer made sure every guest received a personal welcome. Dhruv was impressed by the way Dheer was handling everyone. He showed that Dheer was a performer. Either he was used to large gatherings or he was a pro, either way he was doing an excellent job.

Dhruv had made the customary entrance, delighting the guests with his special dessert. He made it a point to make a personal appearance and greet the guests before he called it day. Usually he would go back home after that, but now that he did not have a second in command, he still had to run the kitchen.

Dheer walked back into the kitchen to grab some water. Everything was going smoothly. He was proud of himself. When he walked in he heard Raman and Dhruv talking. The elderly man was encouraging him to go back home.

"Aap ghar jao, Chef. Main rukh jata hoon aapke jagah. (Go home Chef. I will stay back to close the restaurant.) You have been here the whole day. You deserve a break."

Dhruv was tempted. Since the moment he learned that Dev had not eaten his lunch he was restless. He needed to talk to Dev but the service kept him occupied. Now that everything was going well he could feel the pinch.

"But you stay an hour away. If you stay back you cannot reach home before one in the morning"

"It's okay Dhruv...."

"I can stay back to lock the restaurant." Dheer volunteered. The elderly man had been slogging all day. He did not want him staying back so late. The man had always treated him fairly, Dheer wanted to repay the favor.

Dhruv shook his head. "You have been on your feet the whole evening...."

"I have a day off tomorrow, Bhaiya. An hour more today will not hurt." Dheer did not let him argue. He was being paid very well for a work that he did not do well. If he could pull his weight he could.

"You are new...."

"But I saw you doing it yesterday." Dheer argued. He had accompanied Dhruv back to the restaurant to give him company. Closing was not a big ordeal. All he had to do was make sure the leftovers were placed in the freezer and lock everything. "If you can trust me, I can do it."

"It's not about trust" Dhruv sighed but he did not argue much. As they were not running a commercial service Dheer would not have to spend time on tallying the balance. All he had to do was lock the place and heed back home. "Are you sure you will not mind it?"

"I won't," Dheer assured him. "Aap please ghar jao. (Go home, now.)" Dev would be waiting for you. He did not voice it but Dhruv could hear it and gave in. Even, he wanted to go back home and talk to Dev. He could be at peace with himself until he resolved the matter with his child.

Dev waited until nine for his Bhaiya to come back home, when he still did not return he decided to go to the restaurant. If Dhriti were there he would have asked her to come along, but she had to go attend an emergency call. He was getting restless at home. He was desperate to talk to his Bhaiya and the only way he could do it was if he went to the restaurant.

He took the metro and headed straight to the restaurant. Once he reached he realized that there was a business party going on. Usually he would have waited in Dhruv's office, but he did not wish to upset his Bhaiya when he was dealing with important clients. So he stayed outside until he saw the guests leaving. At eleven the party ended. By 11.45 the staff left. Dev stepped inside from the back door knowing his Bhaiya would be there tallying figures. He was surprised to see the office empty. He walked back to the kitchen to look for his Bhaiya but the place was empty. The only other place he could think of was the freezer and made his way into the giant walk-in freezer. The blast of cold air greeted him, making him shiver. He had left his jacket in the office and regretted it already. The freezer was his least favourite place.

"Bhaiya." Dev called out starling Dheer. He closed the inventory book and walked back to the fruit counter. The freezer was huge. It was almost impossible to see everything at one attempt.

"Dev?" He saw the boy and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Bhaiya kaha hai? (Where is Bhaiya?)"

"He went home two hours ago. Tu yhaan kya kar raha hai? (What are you doing here?)"

"I came to meet Bhaiya." Dev let out a sigh feeling like a complete idiot. Now his Bhaiya would scold him more for going out of the house after curfew. Before Dheer could say anything the freezer lights flickered. Dev and Dheer looked up at the lights in confusion. Before they could figure out anything the lights went out plunging them in darkness.

"What is happening?" Dev panicked. Dheer grabbed his hand on instinct. The darkness unsettled him.

"I don't know, let's get out of here."

Dev did not argue. Dheer grabbed his phone and turned on the flashlight. Together they made their way to the freezer door. The freezer was designed to close automatically to keep the unit in proper working condition. Dheer grabbed the handle from the inside and turned it around to unlock it. He frowned when it did not budge. He tried it again but there was no luck.

"Kya hua Bhai? (What happened, Bhai?)" Dev was equally confused. Dheer passed him the phone and tried again with both his hands. The door refused to budge. Dheer tried hard but with no success.

"There must be an override button somewhere." He muttered to himself, not willing to give in. They could not be locked in the oversized fridge. It was not possible.

"There is one outside," Dev told him. "Call someone and ask them to open it."

Dheer grabbed his phone ready to make the call only to realize that there was no network. They were locked in the restaurant with no soul to come to their rescue and out of all options. Dheer felt restless. What would he do now?

1- Best part of the episode

2- Based on today's episode only what is your take on

a- Dhriti

b- Dhruv

c- Dheer

d-Dev

3- Who will recue the brothers from the freezer?