"I'm done. I'm leaving," Aarav announced, pushing his chair back abruptly.
His tone held impatience, his lack of interest in the entire breakfast gathering evident.
Ishaani, who had been munching on a paratha while exchanging glances between Aarav and Vrinda, immediately perked up.
"I'm coming too, Bhai sa!" she chirped, standing up with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Dadisa's gaze narrowed slightly.
"Aarav, beta. Aapki Bhabhi ma ki pehli rasoi hai. Pehle thoda toh khaa lijiye, phir jaiyega."
(Aarav, dear. This is your sister-in-law's first rasoi. Have at least a little before you leave.)
Aarav barely concealed his annoyance.
"Nahi, Dadisa. Hume der ho rahi hai." (No, Dadisa. We're getting late.)
Ishaani, ever the little parrot, instantly echoed,
"Haan haan, Dadisa! Der ho rahi hai!" (Yes, yes, Dadisa! We're getting late!)
Dadisa's lips twitched slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"Bhai sa aur bhai sa ki chammchi. Chup chap baithiye. Chaahe ek chamach hi khao, lekin uske baad hi jaayega."
(Bhai and his little sidekick. Sit down quietly. Even if you take just one bite, you're not leaving until after that.)
Just as Aarav opened his mouth to argue, Advait's deep, steady voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Aarav, sit. Eat first. Then you can go."
It wasn't loud. It wasn't harsh. Yet, the authority in his tone left no room for arguments.
Aarav scowled but didn't push further. With an annoyed huff, plopping back into his seat.Ishaani huffed but followed suit. Vrinda, standing at the edge watched the scene with quiet amusement and felt the weight of Advait's unspoken power. Why does he care so much? She wondered. Balika, par unhone apni Dadi ki baat sun kar bhi toh kaha sakta hai na, my subconscious reasoned, and I agreed.Β
Β ("Girl, but couldn't he have said it just by listening to his grandmother?")
Suppressing any lingering thoughts, she quickly turned and walked toward the kitchen to bring the sweet dish.
Vrinda came back with two containers in her hands, her steps measured as every pair of eyes landed on her.
"Vrinda beta, aapne do cheezein banayi hain?" Dadi sa asked, noticing the two covered dishes. (Vrinda dear, you made two things?)
She nodded. "Woh dadi sa mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha kya banu, isliye socha dono hi bana leti hoon," she added with a small smile. (I couldn't decide what to make, so I thought I'd just make both.)
"Bas kaam se kaam ek khane layak ho," chachi taunted lightly, though a hint of Dis likeness was visible which didn't go unnoticed by everyone (Let's just hope at least one of them is edible.)
"Apna toh sab jala diya tha Neelima ji usse toh acha hi hoga," Pratap, Neelima's husband, added playfully, earning a sharp glare from his wife while others struggled to stifle their laughter. (She burned everything herself, so this must be better.)
Dadi sa smiled and gestured to Vrinda. "Beta, sabko serve kar do." (Dear, serve everyone.)
Vrinda carefully moved toward the table. "Aap kya lenge, dadi saβchawal ki kheer ya halwa?" she asked politely. (What would you like, dadi saβrice pudding or halwa?)
"Ek kaam kariye, dono thoda-thoda de dijiye. Aapne itne pyaar se banaya hai, hum kaise ek bhi chhod sakte hain?" Dadi sa said warmly. (Do one thing, serve me both. You made them with love, how can I leave one out?)
Nodding, Vrinda began serving everyone a bit of both. As she moved down the table, she reached AaravΒ
Thoda hi dijiye mujhe," Aarav said casually, then added with a smirk, "Aur Ishaani ko bhi."
Vrinda, unfazed, simply shrugged and did as asked.
Ishaani, on the other hand, turned to Aarav with a look of sheer betrayal. "Bhai sa, agar aapko nahi khana tha toh mujhe toh khana dete!" she huffed.
Aarav leaned back lazily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "BhulΒ gyi bandariya, tune meri ice cream khai thi. Yeh uska badla hai.Β Aur yaad rakhβ dushman ke ghar ka paani bhi nahi piya jata."
Ishaani frowned, confused. "Par ghar toh hamara hi hai na?"
"Par woh toh dushman hai na or humein pasand bhi nahi," Aarav quipped, giving a pointed glance in Vrinda's direction. "Yaad rakhna."
"Haan haan, yaad rakhungi," Ishaani muttered, rolling her eyes.Β
"Lekin kyun nahi pasand humein?" she asked, curious.
Β "Woh toh mujhe bhi nahi pata." Aarav replied after thinking for some moment and casually shrugged
"Apke is sab ke chakkar mein mera halwa gaya," Ishaani groaned, glaring at him.
The two continued their whispered bickering, oblivious to the rest of the table.
Meanwhile, Vrinda moved to serve Advait. Their dynamic was far from warm, but regardless of their circumstances, he was still her husband. The weight of that truth lingered in her mind as she hesitantly placed a small serving before him, wondering if he even liked sweets.
For a fleeting second, their eyes met. Advait's gaze held hers, intense and unreadable, as if he was seeing her for the first time. He studied her face, his sharp blue eyes searchingβcurious, analyzing, lingering as though he never wanted to look away.
The moment was shattered when Dadisa's warm voice cut through the air.
"Vrinda beta, bohot swadisht bana hai," she praised, her smile filled with genuine warmth. Vrinda's heart swelled, relief and happiness flooding her at the unexpected compliment. Before she could respond, Pratap spoke up.
"Haan, Vrinda betiyaan, aapke haathon mein toh jaadu hai. Hum toh ek aur lenge!"
His declaration made the entire table pause. Every head turned toward himβPratap Singhania, who rarely indulged in such praises, was devouring the sweet dish with evident delight. Vrinda stood frozen, taken aback. Was she hearing correctly? It took her a moment to process his words, but when they sank in, an unexpected emotion welled up in her.
Betiyaan.
The single word, spoken so casually, carried an unfamiliar warmth. A fatherly affection that felt foreign yet strangely comforting. She had spent her life in an indifferent household, growing into a woman who neither sought nor expected affection. She had learned to be her own anchor, refused to be dominated, and convinced herself that solitude was a choice, not a burden. Yet, in that moment, she realizedβno matter how much one embraces being alone, loneliness always finds a way to creep in.
People usually loves to welcome aloneness when they are able to overcome loneliness. No matter how much you enjoy your solitude but family is something even with chaos it brings comfort.Β
And today, in the most unexpected way, a small crack had formed in that loneliness.
Vrinda stood their trying to hide her emotions behind a smile but Advait noticed her, even if it's for a fleeting second but he saw. She stood their with a smile but tears forming at the corner of her eyes.Β
While Neelima passed a glare towards her husband who gulped but maintained his composure.
Meanwhile Rajveer stood up his face void of any emotion handed Vrinda a diamond necklace, and blessed her. Vrinda hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly before they met the cool velvet of the box. She didn't want to take it. It felt heavy, but not because of its worth. But then, Dadi's reassuring voice cut through her reluctance. "It is your right, beta," she said with unwavering warmth. And so, with a hesitant nod, Vrinda accepted.Β
Neelima and Pratap followed, their gifts far more measuredβa simple pair of gold earrings, given with an air of forced civility. No words were exchanged, just a brief moment of strained politeness. Though Pratap's eyes held some warmth but being obligated to his wife he restrained himself from showing any warmth towards her.
Then came Saransh. He stepped forward, his usual reserved demeanor unwavering as he extended a MacBook toward her from all the youngsters side. Saransh being the obedient and silent one was able to see that Vrinda is not someone they all thought but he kept his thought to himself and chooses to observe her more.
Finally, Dadi Sa stepped up, her eyes brimming with unspoken emotions as she placed a set of traditional bangles into Vrinda's hands. The moment felt different. It wasn't just a giftβit was acceptance, a place in the family being gently offered to her. Vrinda's breath hitched.
Neelima's expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. She was clearly offended, but she swallowed her frustration, knowing there was nothing she could do.
Vrinda, however, felt overwhelmed. The weight of everythingβthe gifts, the gestures, the silent messages behind themβsettled deep within her. Her reluctance, her unease, was clear in her eyes. She had never been showered with such expensive gifts, and she wasn't sure how to accept them without feeling out of place.
But as she looked down at the bangles in her hands, she realizedβperhaps for the first timeβthat she wasn't just an outsider standing in this house. She was slowly, cautiously, becoming a part of it.
.
.
.
Advait left for his office with Saransh, his father, and uncle, while Aarav and Ishaani headed to college and school, respectively. Dadi Sa and Chachi retreated to their rooms, leaving the house in a rare moment of quiet.
Vrinda moved to her room, carefully placing the gifts in a separate drawer, ensuring they were safe. Her fingers lingered for a moment before she sighed.
I will return it, she thought.
The wedding is done. The rituals are complete. Now, I should return to work.
But just as she made up her mind, a nagging thought crossed her mindβDoes Mr. Singhania even know that I work for his company?
Balika, you work at a different branch. He doesn't go around knowing his each and every employ and technically, you aren't even directly under him, my subconscious taunted.
Haan haan, theek hai. Waise bhi mujhe kya farq padta hai? (Yeah yeah, fine. Anyway, why should it even matter to me?)
Shaking off the unnecessary thoughts, I decidedβToday, I will inform Dadi and him about rejoining the office.
With that, I got up and began preparing for my return to work.
Later in the early evening, as I made my way to the kitchen to prepare evening tea for Dadi Sa and Chachi ji, I slowed down upon hearing hushed whispers.
"No one should know about this, Bandariya," Aarav murmured.
"Haan, Bandar Bhai Sa," Ishaani whispered back.
Curious, I stepped closer and peeked in. There they were, the little partners in crimeβAarav and Ishaaniβhunched over, their hands sneaking into bowls of kheer and halwa. The very same ones I had prepared in the morning.
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
"Bhai sa, kitna tasty hai na!" Ishaani sighed in pure bliss.
"Haan, accha toh hai," Aarav admitted, though he tried to sound nonchalant.
I smirked. "Woh toh hoga hi! Maine jo banaya hai, Aarav!"
Their heads snapped toward me, eyes wide with horror, like two kids caught red-handed.
I couldn't hold it in anymoreβI burst out laughing.
Their expressions were priceless!
"Woh... woh... I wasβ" Aarav stammered, clearly struggling for an excuse.
"Aap haas kyu rahi hai?" Ishaani asked innocently, her little brows furrowing in confusion.
Her question only made me laugh harder.
They are so cute, I thought, watching them scramble to cover their tracks.
Β Aarav, trying to sound righteous, quickly justified, "We were being kind. We shouldn't waste food, you know." "Haan haan, we shouldn't waste food," Ishaani repeated, nodding earnestly.
I bit back a smile. She really is a little parrot.
Feigning innocence, I asked, "Oh?"
Both nodded again
I decided to push further. "Was it tasty?" I asked deliberately, knowing they would hesitate to admit it. "Very!" Ishaani blurted out without thinking, grinning ear to ear.
Aarav turned to her with a playful glare before quickly schooling his features. "It was okay," he said with forced indifference.
I chuckled. "If you don't like it, you can leave it."
"Nahi, nahi! I don't leave my leftovers," he shot back, his voice firm with mock seriousness.
"Haan, we don't leave leftovers," Ishaani immediately repeated, her tone full of conviction. Before I could tease them more, both quickly jumped off the counter, but not before grabbing the bowl of sweet dish as if their lives depended on it.
I stood there, watching them scamper away, my heart warming at the sight. Oh, Bhagwan ji, these two are absolutely adorable. Ishaani's innocence was pure and untouched, and even Aarav, beneath his playful stubbornness, had an endearing charm. But something about them tugged at my heartβmaybe it was the way they held onto these little joys, as if cherishing them just a bit more than necessary. Maybe I was overthinking it, but I couldn't shake the feeling that behind their playful bickering and laughter, there was a quiet longing... one I wasn't sure I was ready to understand yet.
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