Sparkle in a Speck - Page 27

I waiting for them be alone in a room next time. I want to see desperate Pankaja this time.

I am sure Indraneel would absolutely love that.

Nisha, will you be sending both of them to Goa???

I wish you do.

Hope we are not made waiting longer

Half full

She was wearing a high waisted tribal print skirt in brick red and navy, paired with a blue puff sleeve cotton blouse and some chunky art jewelry, and a neon pink scarf around her neck

If he didn’t know better he would have assumed she was some goan hippie, the kids created a racket in the back, he turned and roared in Marathi

Quickly turned to the door to admire her

“Hello” he tried to calm his nerves down

“Bache hai na ghar pe?” her voice was hoarse, almost inaudible

“Oooh” he looked at her throat “Was it a fun concert?” (Is that where you lost your voice?”)

She looked like she could kill him

“No?”

“Tumhe lagta hai I was at a concert?”

“The outfit gave me a hint”

“Sorry agli baar saree pehnoongi” she grit her teeth

“Black?” he offered huskily

THE NERVE!!! She thought

I was SICK” she bit out

“I am sorry” he muttered with satisfaction

“Is Mrs Deshmukh home?” she was primly

“NO she is not”

“Oh? Umm” she took a step back”

“Is ur Dad home?”

“Nope”

Kruti peeked from the opening

“PUNKEEE” she giggled

Punky tapped her head

“I can wait” she lingered out side the door”

“I am not aboust to attack you Pankaja come in” he growled

“Umm.. we are bound by rules, we can go in if”

“I know the mother has to be home” he rolled his eyes

“My safety is overrated?” she bit

“NO YOUR safety is NOT in jeopardy, do you want me to leave home?”

“Umm…”

“Come in” he ordered

Kunal looked distressed “I thought you were sick” he groaned

“Well I booked an overseas vacay with your tuition fee, and I am not allowed convalescence time” she muttered under her breath

Indraneel heard that

“Kru” he muttered, dragging his niece and hoisting her in his arm as she squealed

Kunal obediently brought his back pack to the living room

Suhasini called her to thank her

She apologized cursorily

This family, her Tinder date, were all complications she didn’t really need

He sat Kruti down with a kid’s show in her parents room and made chai for himself and her

He wondered why he felt the urge

He brought it out in a tall mug

She looked astonished

“Thanks” she nodded huskily

“Are you taking anything for that throat?”

“Umm… it’s the after effects of a flu, time lagega” she spoke inaudibly

“How are you teaching?”

“Well… I need the pay check so IAM” she muttered miserably

“Cheeni aur dogey?” she stood up and followed him into the kitchen

He turned to find her right there

“Was your sis in law upset?” she muttered

He was not prepped to receive that conspiratorial question

“About?” he preteneded to not know

“That I was missing?”

“Did you not inform her?” he asked silkily not giving anything away

Just sipping his tea with satisfaction

“I DID. I ALWAYS DO” she growled in her hoarse voice

“Then?”

She realized he was irritating her for no reason when she looked at his face

“Tum, mere ko irritate kar rahe ho?” she accused

“Am I?” he looked fake shocked

“I should have never asked

He smiled slowly, he was looking at her half full mug

“I like her, I should never conspire with you” she said bluntly

“Ah” she turned to leave

“She has been open and honest about her struggles woth Kunal and appreciated me a lot” she growled

“Has she?”

“You don’t like that some one likes her?” she mocked

“Creating a rift in the family Pankaja?”

“Don’t call me that” she bristled turning red

“WHY NOT?”

“No”

“stop insinuating that I don’t get along with my Bhabhi”

“You don’t” she whispered leaving the kitchen

“You shouldn’t believe everything she says”

She paused and turned “I don’t… I can see…” she mocked (I saw you yell at them)

“I should have let them break the vase her friend bought for her yesterday” she smiled acidic

There was no winning with him

He hated these kids she realized

Suhasini returned 30 minutes later and fussed she would make dinner for her

She excused herself and got ready to leave

Indraneel was not home for a few minutes, he returned as she was leaving

“Thank you Indra for letting her in and having her start the coaching” Suhasini was very formal with him

Pankaja was confused why so

Indraneel had a look of warning in his eyes as he looked at Pankaja

“I am glad I could be of help” he responded mockingly to his Bhabhi

She realized this family was quite dysfunctional indeed

“Oooh” he looked at her throat “Was it a fun concert?” (Is that where you lost your voice?”)

She looked like she could kill him 😂😂😂

The is going to torture her one or the other 🤣.

“Tumhe lagta hai I was at a concert?”

“The outfit gave me a hint”

“Sorry agli baar saree pehnoongi” she grit her teeth

“Black?” he offered...

Pankaja, he remembers what you wore last time ❤️. The guy thinks about you more than you think about him 😉.

“I can wait” she lingered out side the door”

“I am not aboust to attack you Pankaja come in” he growled

if only Pankaja knew he hasn’t moved out just to see her 🤣.

“My safety is overrated?” she bit

“NO YOUR safety is NOT in jeopardy, do you want me to leave home?”

“Umm…”

“Come in” he ordered

Indraneel, more than you I guess she doesn’t trust herself.

She might just give in her urge is what she might be more concerned about 😂.

Nisha, is it holiday for you?

If yes, can we have few bonanza’s???

She realized this family was quite dysfunctional indeed!!!

One quality Pankaja wants in the man she can be with forever is for him to value her family. This one doesn’t even value his own. So how will she trust him with hers?

Waiting to see how Nisha takes this one forward.