Part 14 Khushi's Gift

I came to the living room and didn't find Khushi there. I ran my eyes all over but she was not there. I noticed Diya and Jiya were also missing. Khushi must be in their room I supposed. I didn't know what was her condition. When my father scolded me, I saw her facial expression change.

I saw my mother smiling at me awkwardly.

"Where is Khushi?" I asked.

"Diya and Jiya took her to their room"

I sighed.

"Chotte, don't mistake Dad. Khushi had been pampered at her home by her parents and brother. Making her do things for us is not seeming nice" My mother repented.

I didn't think their intention was wrong. Yet, I wanted to know how Khushi was doing. Without wasting time in the living room, I galloped to Diya and Jiya's room. I stood outside their room not letting them know my arrival because I knew Khushi would not share anything with me. Of course, I didn't know what she would share with the kids. Yet, I waited outside.

"We are sorry, Mami, we made you cook cake," Diya said sadly.

"Haan, Mami, Nanu ordered a big size cake for us. That's why he got angry with us..." Jiya said.

I didn't hear Khushi saying anything.

"Are you a Princess?" Diya asked.

"I WAS a Princess," Khushi said.

"Means?"

"I got married to your Mama. He is not a Prince. Then how could I be a Princess?" She questioned the kids.

I was taken aback because that was the same question she asked my mother when she refused to give Khushi the recipe for Sheermal and Malaipan. I sensed a huge difference between them even though those were the same sentence.

"Oh... you became a commoner because you married Mama?"

"I thought so..." Khushi left it incomplete.

"Is your brother also no more a Prince?" Diya asked.

"He is a Prince only"

"He got married to Payal Maasi. Then how could he be still a Prince?"

"He is still a Prince because he is a MAN. Your Payal Maasi became a Prince now because she married the Prince"

"Haaannnn..." Diya and Jiya were confused.

"You will understand the RULES of marriage when you become big girls. Ok?"

"Mmm"

"If you are not a Princess, then why does Nanu not want you to cook?" Jiya asked.

"You can't understand..." Khushi said.

"Won't Payal Massi come to our Birthday party?" Jiya asked.

"I don't know," Khushi said.

I frowned. Didn't Di say she didn't need to invite Payal because being their Maasi, she should come to the party without invitation? Then why did Khushi say she didn't know?

"Shall we go downstairs?" Diya asked.

"We will go later," Said Khushi. I understood her mood was off.

I silently headed to the kitchen and found the oven being off. The time Khushi had set to back the cake was over it seemed.

"Hariprkash, remove the cake from the oven," I said.

"Jee" Hariprakash removed the cake and kept it on the kitchen slab.

"Cut it into pieces," I said.

HP cut them into pieces. I tasted the HOT cake for the first time and I wondered. How tasty the cake was! I could not believe Khushi was so expert in cake making. I brought it out and the flavor of the cake dragged all of their attention towards me. without giving them heed, I walked to Diya and Jiya's room. Khushi looked at me and then at the tray. I extended the tray to Diya and Jiya.

"Is this the same cake Mami prepared?" They asked.

I nodded yes. Khushi didn't react. I could see she was highly upset.

The kids took the pieces and tasted them.

"Wow... Mami, it's too tasty" They became excited.

Khushi spilled a voluntary slime.

"I gave the tray to them"

"Go and give it to everyone," I said.

Diya and Jiya rushed to take the plate. Khushi stood up, looking at somewhere else.

"The cake was too tasty," I said.

Khushi looked at me plainly.

"I can't believe you could have such talent"

"You could not believe many things," She said.

"Are you upset?" I asked even though I knew she was upset.

She spilled the same voluntary smile and walked out. I sighed and followed her.

Raizadas praised her cake-making skill but it did nothing with Khushi. She didn't react to any of their flatter. I could not understand how a girl could be so rigid while receiving flatters. I saw her getting ready to RM so cheerfully in the morning. Now, she looked extremely opposite to it. I was highly disappointed with my father. I didn't think he was right. If Khushi felt cooking as hell, why did she be upset? Or, was she upset because my father shouted at the children and at me? Of course, anyone in her place would feel insulted. After all, she had been pampered a lot in her family. How could she take it easy then?

I walked to my father's room. He looked at me sharply.

"I appreciate your intention of not making Khushi feel low by making her do things that she never did at her home. But, you didn't realize what you had done"

My father frowned.

"What did I do?"

"You shouted at children and me for something she had done. What would she feel now? You insulted her indirectly. Do you know how upset she is? Is this how would you make her feel special in our family?" I snapped him.

I could see my father getting horrified.

"Is she upset?"

"Like hell... do you know how happily she got ready to come here this morning? You made her upset. Go and see how distressed she is"

In no time, my father ran out of his room, searching for Khushi. He saw her sitting alone sadly. He went to Khushi and clutched her hand.

"I'm sorry beta" Khushi stood up with shocking expression.

"I didn't intend to upset you. I should not have shouted at children in front of you. I'm sorry for making you upset. This is your family. You should be happy... always. That's why I became tense seeing you in the kitchen. Please don't take me wrong. In the tension, I failed to understand that I'm hurting you. I'm sorry. But, please don't think of cooking. It's my humble request. Raizada and Gupta families have a good bond. I don't want it to break at any cause. That's what I want. I hope you understand" My father said emotionally, making everyone awestruck, including me. we never saw Mr. Arvind Singh Raizada like that ever before. I saw my mother blinking her eyes slowly with an unbelievable expression. She didn't even know my father too would have emotions.

I felt proud to see my father doing something he had never done. But, I felt odd as Khushi didn't feel it good. She was standing like a statue and her face carried disappointment. I didn't know why. I thought she would feel content after my father's apology but nope. She became more distressed after his apology. What was wrong with her? I could not figure it out.

Of course, she smiled... correction, only her lips smiled... the smile was utterly artificial. Didn't I know how her smile would be? I had seen her REAL smile when she was drenched in the rain. I felt bad for her. She was a Princess. There were many people waiting for her orders to fulfill her wish. But she was restricted to do things at her in-laws. I felt helpless. Khushi looked upset for the entire day.

Evening

Everyone started arranging for the cake-cutting ceremony. Of course, Khushi was not allowed to do any work.

I came to Khushi and said,

"You can go to OUR room and get ready"

"That's ok... I will get ready in the kids' room" She walked to their room. I went to my room to get fresh. Within a few minutes, I came downstairs, getting ready. I received a call from Khushi. I attended it.

"Khushiii?"

"Could you bring the bags from the car?" she asked.

"Yeah, sure"

She disconnected the call. I went to my car and brought the bags. I gave it to Khushi. Taking them, she gave them to Diya and Jiya.

"Happy Birthday," She said.

"Is this for us?" They asked.

Khushi nodded yes and sat on the bed.

They opened the bag with excitement... of course, I too was excited to see what her gift was.

I was speechless, seeing the same sleeveless turquoise blue Cinderella gown with neon blue stonework. A blue diamond necklace with matching eardrops. The same gown Khushi was wearing on the pag phera day. Diya and Jiya liked it very much. I was perplexed. Was Khushi so concerned about other's likes and dislikes? She didn't seem a Princess material to me.

Diya and Jiya looked at Khushi with wide-open mouths. They hugged Khushi happily.

"Thank you so much, Mami..."

They kissed Khushi and she smiled. My lips curved into a smile, seeing her smile because it didn't seem fake.

To be continued...