One Shot series: Sugar, Spice and Sweet Paradise #ReadersChoiceAwards Completed G

Celebrating you

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#10: Celebrating you

Priya was working on an order when Sara and Brinda dashed into the kitchen. She looked at them, bewildered and confused as they two started speaking so fast and over each other that Priya couldn't fathom what they were going on about.

"Guys, stop!" she yelled. They stopped and looked at her like wounded puppies. "What is going on?"

"Ram just won the most successful businessman in Asia by Times Now!" said Brinda in breathless excitement.

Priya looked at her in surprise. She wasn't even aware such an award existed or that her husband was nominated. She felt a vague discontent that he hadn’t told her, nonetheless she was happy for him.

"That is such great news!" Priya exclaimed in delight and hugged Brinda, her eyes alight with joy.

"Aditya called. They will be here in a few hours. We should throw him a surprise party!" suggested Brinda.

"Yes, but I think I'll check with Mom first, in case she has planned something. I know how much Mr. Kapoor loves those galas and similar types of parties, and Maa loves hosting them," Priya said and picked up her phone, but Brinda held her hand, and shook her head in disappointment indicating that Nandini hadn’t planned anything for Ram.

"I don't think Ram cares what type of party it is, Priya. He will be thrilled no matter what, " Sara said, to change the topic. But the two women didn't miss how Priya had flinched.

"But Ram is her son," she whispered in a wounded tone.

"And you are his wife," Brinda said softly, squeezing her hand.

"And I am his sister-in-law. Now get out of my kitchen, I need to bake him his favorite chocolate lava cake." Sara said, trying to infuse some light-heartedness into the conversation to steer Priya's mind away from Nandini's indifference to her oldest son’s achievements.

"I called her Priya, but she said Shubham needed help with something, so they couldn't make it today or even help us with the organizing," Brinda went on, the venom in her voice slowly increasing.Priya felt her anger and disappointment rising. She was about to respond when her mother interrupted her.

"Priya, Sandy is decorating the bakery and I am going to make Ram's favorite halwa. Do you think you can continue with the order?"

Priya sighed and nodded. Whether or not her mother-in-law cared about Ram’s success, she sure did and she was going to make sure he knew how proud she and her family were of him.

Ram headed to the bakery straight from the airport, stopping outside to find it ominously dark and quiet. His heart seized with a sudden panic. He knew the Sood women would never close the bakery on a weekday evening without good reason. His gut feeling at once told him something was amiss. He peered in through the small window and saw no one - everything was still and not a sound was to be heard. Panic began rising up in his heart. Without a second thought, he pushed open the front door and walked in, calling out Priya’s name insistently. He was just about to barge into the kitchen, when there was a huge shout and suddenly, people began springing up from behind the chairs, tables, walls and the counter.

"Surprise!"

Ram jumped in shock and fear and then took in his surroundings. The bakery was decorated with balloons and festoons of every shape and colour. The menu had a small caricature drawing of Ram with writing that looked vaguely like Maitri’s that said “Congrats Businessman of Asia!" In the center he could see a table beautifully decorated with a lavish cake sitting atop it adorned with candles. People were clapping and smiling at him and a few came up to hug him and shake his hand.

He was genuinely floored and touched.

"This is indeed a surprise! Thank you so much, you guys!" He hugged Sandy, who was standing next to him and then everyone came up to him one by one to wish him. Brinda, being Brinda, stuck firmly by his side like a fierce protective mother hen.

"May I have your attention!" Sandy said, standing up on the counter.

"This is a big day for my boss and my dearest brother-in-law, so, to celebrate, muffins are on the house, courtesy me and my other boss, Adi Sir!"

Everyone started hooting and cheering.

"You didn't have to do that," Ram said, a little worried at their extravagance he knew they could ill-afford, but Sara just brushed him off.

"Don't worry about that, worry about all the halwa Maa has made for you and expects you to finish all by yourself, " she smiled.

As Ram was being smothered by Meera, he realized that Priya was nowhere to be seen. Immediately, his eyes began scanning the room in desperation, wanting to see her.

"I think she is in the kitchen getting more snacks," Meera replied with a knowing smile, reading his mind without Ram having to ask about Priya’s whereabouts.

He scratched his head with a sheepish look, and then excused himself in a hurry to go find his wife.

"Hi," he said, announcing himself, and she visibly jumped. As usual his wife was knee-deep in making sure everyone was well taken care of at the cost of her own enjoyment. He was yet to meet a more selfless person.

"Everyone is out there, but you are here as usual missing out on all the fun, and by that look on your face I assume I’m getting an earful from you!” he ended with a dry chuckle, stopping when Priya gave him an offended look.

"Why do you think I like yelling at you?" She raised her hand to her hip.

He shrugged. "You have your reasons to be upset or dislike me. Our marriage was by no means conventional, nor did we consent wholeheartedly to it, so, perhaps this is how you express your discontent at this, umm, at our -" he waved his hand helplessly, ‘“-umm, arrangement,” he concluded, lamely.

Priya blinked at him in surprise. Ram wasn't the kind to be insecure or lack confidence. He could be attention-seeking at times, but he was never insecure. Especially now, at a time when her family and his friends were out there, celebrating him for his triumph.

“Arrangement? Is that what you call our marriage?” she said, flinging her apron aside, and folding her hands across her chest, looking straight into his eyes.

He sighed and ran a tired hand through his hair. "Sorry. That was stupid of me,” he admitted quietly.

At once she knew something was bothering him. Her tone softened as she walked closer to where he stood.

"Is there something you want to share, Mr. Kapoor?" she asked gently as if talking to a child. She hadn't seen him have mood swings like this, unless it was about his dad, or his ex.

He was quiet for a long moment. "I guess I am just missing dad and when I miss him, I can't express it healthily. I end up saying or doing something stupid."

She only sighed and looked at him, her eyes brimming with understanding. She had guessed correctly. It was about his dad. Today was an important day for him and not having his dad - the one person that he knew had loved him unconditionally - to celebrate it with him must hurt. She must choose her next words carefully.

"You know, I have been thinking and I realized that our marriage? It's not healthy. We keep hiding stuff from each other, we lie to each other and although it's so that we don't hurt each other, I realize that’s not how a strong relationship is built. I know I’m to blame too in this, we are alike in this aspect. I hide my feelings because I have been hurt, and it's my defense mechanism to protect myself from further hurt. I only open up to my family who I’ve always been close to. But now - “ she stopped and looked at him, hesitating to say anything further. To bare open her heart to him. But someone had to make that move and it had to be her.

“Now I feel close to you. I, I can say things to you too.” She took a deep breath. “Your insecurity about your family clouds your judgment and I don't blame you for it. I understand."

Ram looked at her, eyes widened in surprise. How did she know what he felt? He had always felt that Shivina, Shubham and Mom were obligated to love him, and Priya understood that thought. He had never felt loved for himself, except by his friends. And now her family.

"I cannot speak for your family, but my family, especially Meera Maa love you, as much as I might hate that," she chuckled dryly.

Something warm spread over his heart and flooded his insides.

"Because we know we can rely on you, trust you and I ask you to do the same with us. Trust us, please. I hope you will open up a bit more. Your dad would want that. He would want you to be happy. I was really upset that you didn't tell any of us about the award, but I also understand why. You’ve always downplayed your achievements, you didn’t think it was worth making a big deal about. Because that’s how you’re accustomed to feeling. But rest assured, Mr. Kapoor, my family will not have you feeling that way. We will celebrate you just the way you deserve to be celebrated!"

Ram was overwhelmed. With warmth and joy and love.

"You guys made the moment what it is, so thank you. To be honest, these awards don't matter to me, but Brinda, Aditya, Kunal and Vikrant just make a big deal of every little thing."

Ram shrugged, his old habit of downplaying his successes coming into play, but he couldn’t deny his heart was filled with gratitude for his friends, family and his wife.

"And rightfully so. Can I trust you to make me a part of your every moment, at least as a friend?"

"Of course, Priya. You are a part of my life. Not as a friend but as my wife," he said with complete honesty.

Priya involuntarily held his hand and brushed her thumb against his it. He reveled in the softness of her touch, feeling like he had returned home after a long, long journey.