Chapter 11

What’s cooking?

Arnav came downstairs from the terrace and called out to Aman.

“Good work Aman. You have made perfect arrangements upstairs.”

Aman sighed, “Sir, something is going on here. Downstairs, I saw Khushi...”

“Ma’am.” Arnav reprimanded him.

“Yes, Khushi ma’am! She is all decked up for meeting some people and is making tons of food while Indrani is ordering her around.”

Arnav‘s eyes darkened when he heard that Indrani was making his Khushi work a lot. He pushed Aman aside and rushed downstairs towards the kitchen. He was about to say something when he saw her, the most beautiful damsel on earth.

Slowly winds blew across her long silky black hair. Her long earrings started dangling. She had her hands on the kitchen slab, mixing something carefully, trying  not to stain her saree. She lifted one of her bangle clad hands to wipe off the sweat from her forehead.

He gazed at her, mesmerized by how  extremely heavenly she looked. His heart started beating fast. An unfamiliar tune played in the background

Sensing someone’s gaze on her Khushi turned her face towards Arnav.
She felt pleasantly intimidated by him and looked down remembering the kisses, blushingly. He came forward and kept his right hand on the side table beside her hand. He blocked her way with his second hand as she tried to move away from him shyly. He slowly bent forward making Khushi close her eyes tightly, wondering what he might be going to do now.

He bent and took in the aroma of all the food stuff on the stove. After taking in the smell of rich roasted spices, he turned towards Khushi.

“You made all of this?” He said pointing towards the utensils filled with delicious food placed on the gas stove and the table top.

Khushi opened her eyes wide. She narrowed her eyes and scrunched her eyebrows, what did she make? Then she remembered the food she has been preparing since the morning.

“Y…yes ...”she stammered.

“Umhh... It smells good and I know it shall taste good too.”

“How do you know?”Khushi looked at him, mesmerized by his eyes.

“Somehow.”  He winked and went away confusing her even more about what he said.

“Kitna ajeeb aur uljha hua aadmi hai!”she whispered to herself letting out a sigh of relief.
( What a weird and tangled man he is!)

Little did she notice what he had sprinkled into her hard work.
***********

Indrani joined her hands and welcomed Mrs Jha and her son, Shyam.

“Come, welcome to our  humble home.”

“Hello hi bye bye, welcome! Please come in.” Manorama greeted them and led them through the hall.

Shyam and his mother greeted them with a Namaste. Manohar, Indrani’s brother escorted them inside towards the hall.

Ira and Esha brought forward water, juice and other refreshments. Arnav stood near the staircase, keenly observing how the huge eyed joker was eyeing the whole house and it’s women. He chuckled to himself noticing his weirdly bright coloured suit. Where has his sense of fashion gone?

“We can find time time for all these formalities later. I would like to meet your daughter first, Indrani ji,"demanded Mrs Jha, showing her palm.

“Sure, I will ask her to come. Khushi bitiya! Bitiya come fast!”Indrani called out.

Arnav straightened his collar and came forward.

Seeing Arnav coming ahead, Shyam spit out the juice from his mouth as if he was demonstrating projectile motion. Ira and Esha stared in horror.Where did their mother pick this guy up from? This joker shall judge their pitch perfect sister as marriage material? Is this some joke going on?

“What! This is Kusi? Ma, you are getting me married to a boy. So, what if it’s my second marriage, I am not gay!”Shyam  shrieked in horror. His mother made an angry expression signalled  him to stay quiet.

Arnav chuckled to himself -Where did you bring this monkey from, Indrani?

“No, Shyam ji. He is not Khushi.”
Indrani nervously laughed trying to make it seem like Shyam was joking.

“We know. My son has a habit of joking, Indrani ji. I hope you don’t mind.”Mrs Jha tried to cover up for her idiotic son.

“Of course not. Such a nice sense of humour!” sighed Indrani.

"Then who is this guy?" Shyam opened his mouth again.

"I am ASR. Nice to meet you mister…" Arnav came forward and extended his hand.

" Shya...wow!" Shyam spoke dreamily ignoring Arnav's extended hand as he noticed a beautiful maiden, coming down the stairs like if coming down to earth from heaven.

Noticing Shyam’s attention to have diverted somewhere else he turned behind. His eyes witnessed the beautiful sight of Khushi, looking heavenly in her blue net saree .

"Namaste!"Khushi spoke gracefully as she joined both her hands in front of the guests.

Shyam eyed her from head to toe and gazed sinfully at her navel. Noticing Shyam's eyes wandering over Khushi' s petite body, Arnav cursed her in his mind for wearing such a material which showed off herself. Thank god, atleast her saree border was thick enough to cover her chest. Arnav suddenly felt devilously possessive of her, in all the wrong ways. He wanted to pinch out Shyam's eyes for looking at Khushi with bad intentions.

Oblivious to Arnav' s thoughts, Khushi just continued looking towards Shyam. After the kiss she shared with Arnav, she didn’t want to even look at another man but she had to look at Shyam. Her mother had stated that Shyam was her future husband. But Arnav has called her to the terrace tonight? Her mind pondered, Should I go? What does he want to say?

Khushi was interrupted from her  array of thoughts by Indrani.

“Khushi, serve out the food. We will have dinner and  then we  can discuss with Mrs Jha and Shyam ji about this alliance.”

Everybody proceeded towards the the dining table and took a seat. Shyam was yet not able to remove his eyes from Khushi who was searching for a sering spoon on the table.

“ I am ready to marry her, Maa.“ he said aloud.

Khushi turned towards him and looked at him confusedly.

Mrs Jha smiled “First let’s see how worthy she is?”

Khushi looked towards Mrs Jha What did she mean? Worthy in what aspect? Was she going to be judged? On what basis?

“  So tell us, dear. What have you made for your future in laws?“ Mrs Jha smirked towards Khushi.

“ Yes, Aunty ji. I have prepared Hari bhari tikki for starters, Pulao, Bhindi ki sabzi, Paneer pasanda and Rotis with raita for main course.  Dahi wada to accompany your meal and Kheer and Jalebi for dessert. We also have  spiced buttermilk for refreshment.” Khushi smiled, quite confident and content with her cooking skills.

“Only this much?”Mrs Jha asked her, making a sour face.

"Yes...” Khushi looked at her in confusion. It had taken her the whole day to prepare so many dishes and the woman asked ~ only this much?

“Arre! Don’t you have manners? " Mrs Jha stood up.  "Your future in laws are here. Firstly, you made only this much food when you knew you had to cater so many people and then you are back answering me. Indrani ji, are these your daughter’s manners? You said she is gold, looks more like brass to me…”

“Khushi, apologise!”commanded Indrani.

“But Maa, this food is enough for 8 – 9 people. Wasting food is not a  good thing to do.” Khushi turned towards Indrani and took her stand.

“ I said apologise!” Indrani roared scaring Khushi.

“Sorry!” Khushi closed her eyes, scared when Indrani screamed aloud.
Mrs Jha smirked  and thought Perfect ~she is a cow, a puppet. Not rebellious like my previous bahu. Now everything shall be in my control.

Arnav saw this all in horror. Whom does Mrs Jha want to feed this food that she thinks the food is so less, elephants? Surely this lady has something  else in mind, I have to find out.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SHYAM AND MRS JHA’S MOTIVES ?