PriRa OS: CUPCAKE
Celebration, Parties, and extravaganza should be the middle name of Kapoors. They tend to overdo things. But everything attains an extra charm whenever it's about the younger siblings, Shubham and Shivina.
Priya had no qualm about it. In her two months of stay with Kapoors, she had been a witness to worse in the name of unjust and unfairness to their elder son Ram.
But all those times, she couldn't stop her heart from being inflicted with more pain, from feeling awful for that one human being who's mindful of everyone's feelings and needs in this house, including her.
Ram, her husband.
Amidst her musings, she was least expecting a very similar encounter with another such moment right now, right in front of her eyes.
Occupying the center stage, the limelight of the event, Shivina had progressed with the cupcake towards Ram but went ahead to stuff it in Shubham's mouth, ignoring the very brother who is the reason for this event, this party, this smile on her face. The very same cupcake that had been her absolute favorite and brought by none other than the brother who was fated with ignorance. A minor detail about her but know only to the brother who is still standing smiling beside her despite the disgraceful behavior done to him.
Ram, the odd one out of the siblings' clan.
In his quest in trying to settle down his younger siblings, Ram had launched a Fashion House for Shivina. Priya had a fair idea of how horrendous it was for Ram to pull this out, how many sleepless nights he had endured and how many antianxiety pills he had popped in the past month.
But when it came to acknowledgment, smiles, love, and gratitude, it was swiftly whisked away from him and platter served to Shubham. The brother who had only demotivated and passed snide remarks on Shivina's capabilities. He even went ahead to make a fuss about the seating arrangements on the first fashion show under their banner that happened a few hours ago.
Even right now after the cake cutting, Shivina went ahead to feed Shubham and embraced him tightly as if he's the one who had set all this up for her. Priya's closely scrutinizing gaze seized Ram's wavering smile, a very minute dip in it which soon passed away replacing his earlier radiance as if nothing happened. He shook his head and joined the duo after waiting for some time to be individually hugged by his sister. Only to get nothing. She didn't expect Shivina to shower all her love on Ram but a little acknowledgment of his efforts won't bite.
A pained smile passed Priya's face, unknown to her. As if on cue, Ram looked up and met her eyes at the exact moment. She realised, he had been searching for her in the center stage as a part of the family. Family! A sarcastic chuckle left her mouth at the mention of the family that didn't consider Ram as their own, till now. What else she can expect for herself!
It is at moments like these - which are many if she's being true to herself - she could see the invisible lines of separation between Ram and his family getting brighter and more perceptible. But for Ram, those lines never existed. If as an onlooker she could pinpoint this fact then there might be many more close people who might be aware.
She's of the view that somewhere Ram has an inkling too. He knows his family leaves him bereft of genuine affection but he's nowhere near to embrace the fact. He probably lives in denial. A denial that ensures him happiness and peace of mind. But how long?
A loud cheer and clinking of some glasses around broke Priya out of her musings, abruptly. Her soft gaze now rested on a brightly smiling Ram being fed some dessert by her mother. Her siblings had surrounded him like he's born to charm them and be their center of attention. Ram is probably cracking some lame joke as Sandy, Akki, and Sara di flashed a strained obligatory smile and only her mother was smiling wholeheartedly. Maybe, her mother finds his jokes worthy of smiles as well, just like her. She smiled though a little moisture made its place in her eyes.
Ram had been surviving on the bare minimum when in reality he deserves so much more. Some good food and little affection were enough for him. Still, he was being mercilessly denied of it.
She turned her face around to lean her back on a pillar lest her family spots her contorted features and glossy eyes. Least of all, Ram.
'He deserves more. A lot of it,' she concluded, determined.
****
Moments later, in her room, Priya busied herself in arranging the bed neatly. Her hands placed the pillows in a line to make a barrier in the middle of the bed as she mentally thanked her stars for being able to get rid of that party soon. She had expected Ram to stay back but was surprised when he had followed her to the room as she took her leave from the party.
She heard the washroom door open and Ram appeared in a simple tee and joggers. He courteously smiled at her and was about to go to the study table probably for his laptop when Priya suddenly asked, "Aren't you hungry, tonight?"
It was supposed to be a simple question but Ram couldn't pretend to unread the hidden innuendo. That's exactly the reason he had shrieked a 'Whatt?' and now stood with wide opened mouth and rapidly beating heart.
Priya cringed, inwardly. Nevertheless, it served the purpose. Ignoring the awkwardness, she took hurried steps and gently pushed a cupcake in Ram's mouth. She read the mix of shock and surprise on Ram's face and couldn't help smiling at that. It was anyway better than his usual nervous self.
Smiling lightly, he began munching the sweetness fed to him. His eyes brimming with the admiration of his wife's selfless act. He exactly knew what she was trying to do here and he won't lie but it touched his heart. She's way beyond the bitterness and harsh shell she projects.
Seizing the opportunity, he played along, "Did I overnight become more handsome?"
"Excuse me?!" Priya exclaimed, confused.
"Is it just me or you were staring at me in the party?" He teased, knowing too well it could anytime take a wrong turn with this particular woman, now his wife.
"What!?" Priya mimicked the exact reaction Ram sported a few minutes back, too scared to be caught.
At that moment, Ram stuffed her mouth with the remaining cupcake and laughed out loud, joking, "Cupcake Cupcake pe likha hai Khane wale ka naam."
Priya couldn't help the smile that reached her lips and crinkled the sides of her eyes.
*****
Please share your thoughts about it.
I wanted to write it the moment that Cupcake scene happened after the engagement part. Finally, I got the time and here it is.
Chat Clubs
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
