CHAPTER 13
"Tu kabhi kuch bhi nahin bhoolti na Neeti?"
"Aapse related? Kabhi nahin"
Both looked at each other for a minute, reminiscing all the mischiefs and adventures they shared as children. Happiness tinged by a shade of grief. Grief for all the time lost due to a simple mistake. Snapping out of her thoughts, she asked excitedly "khana khayenge aap?"
It took Swayam a couple of seconds to respond to the sudden change in topic.
Haan? Abhi? Tu abhi toh aayi hai. Pehle fresh hoja..."
She cut him mid-sentence with impatience lacing her voice. "What I mean to ask was Bajre ki roti aur Besan ghatte ki sabji khayenge kya aap?"
This time Swayam really froze. It was his favourite dish and he was exceptionally partial to the way his sister prepared it. Niyati's enquiry began a tug of war between his two opposite facets. One that was always selfless, who put his loved ones and their needs above his own. The other, who wanted to be selfish for once, demand love and affection that rightly belonged to him, knowing that his family wouldn't think of him any differently if he did.
Putting him out of his misery, Niyati said, "Bajre ki rotiyaan main ghar se banwa kar laayi hoon. Gatte ki sabzi banne mein lagenge maximum 30 minutes. Aur Hari dada bhi toh hai na mere saath, woh bhi meri help kardenge. Jaldi hojayega sab."
Swayam was still unsure. Niyati huffed dramatically. "Thik hai bahi jaane dete hain. Phir kabhi mood banta hai toh dekha jayega... waise bhi baad mein time milega ke nahin... kya pata?" On hearing this Swayam promptly gave in. After all it was food! Every man's weakness!
Niyati turned around and addressing everyone said, "Hope you all will be staying for dinner. Hum donon ko bohot acha lagega."
"Arre! There's no need for this formality", Kria replied. She had been watching the exchange between both siblings closely and realized there must be a lot they would want to talk about. "Hum toh yahan bas tumse milne aaye the". Looking back at everyone she added, "Ab hum sabko chalna chahiye. Family time mein kuch zyada hi intrusion hogaya."
"Bhai considers you all his family" Niyati interjected softly. There was a sad melancholy in her voice that struck their hearts. "You all have been his family outside his home. Sometimes even more than his real one. Please never consider yourself as outsiders."
The next instant she was back to her normal self and pretty much commanded everyone to not move even a muscle or face the consequences.
Ajeeb ladki hai, kabhi sweet hoti hai toh kabhi hitler. Samajh hi nahin aata agle minute kya karegi. Lagta hai Shekhawat khaandaan ke khoon mein hi unpredictability daudti hai. Niyati bhi apne bhai aur behen...Rey mentally growled in frustration Please God! Help me stop thinking about her! Ek din mein aur kitna torture sehna padega!!
************
Niyati and Hari dada started arranging the dishes in the hall itself as the dining area was too small to accommodate everyone.
"Please koi formality mat kijiyega. Ye aapka bhi ghar hai. And I would prefer aap log pet bhar kar khaayein. Ye na sochein ke hum kya sochenge." With this she started doling out the dishes onto everyone's plate. When she reached Swayam she put extra spoonfuls of everything. All the gang went Ooo
"Bhai ke liye extra!! Phir abhi tak toh bol rahi thi ke hum bhi family hai. Uska kya hua?? "Vicky teased.
"Haan bhai.. ab toh hum sab padosi hogaye hain... sirf bolne ke liye bhai hain." Bharat chimed in.
"C'mon guys!! Bas karo chedna use. Pehle ye sab kha kar batao. Uske baad baat karna" Swayam challenged.
Amar who was more interested in the conversation than in his plate, swallowed a mouthful of chilli.
"Aaah!! Milti lagi!! Milti lagi!!! Aaahhh!!"
Everybody rushed to give him water and when he was appeased, both brother-sister burst out laughing.
"Ab dekha? Neeti ko pata tha tum log kitna kha paoge. SIrf mujhe hi teekhi cheezon ko sambhaalne ki aadat hai." Sharon stopped the morsel of food held in her hand mid-way and looked at him. Swayam hadn't realized the double implications of his words hastily diverted the talk elsewhere.
Dinner proceeded uneventfully until the end. Sharon was out of curry and was about to pour her some more.
"Ruko Sharon! Woh mat khana!", both Swayam and Niyati shouted out in unison and then looked at each other surprised. Everybody else had stopped eating too.
"Woh bohot teekha hai. Aapko acha nahin lagega. Aap ye Dal tadka try kijiye instead," Niyati explained. Sharon was momentarily stunned by the concern of both siblings. Taking the alternative offered by Niyati, she decided not to be too hasty in passing judgement on her. She is definitely more than meets the eye she thought.
Precap: Niyati's first day at St. Louis
[NOCOPY]
[MEMBERSONLY]
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