The weighing scale revealed the unimaginable.
Pakhiâs eyes widened in horror as she moved her gown to get a better view. No, there was no mistaking here. She had put on weight. Her mother, in fact had not minced any words while commenting upon it last evening.
You look so happy these days..truly married. I am sure Samrat and you have settled down! And it shows. The marriage glow, the love handles..
Pakhi opened her mouth to say something and thought the better about it. Her mother had continued, unmindful of the turmoil going on in her daughterâs mind.
So, can we expect a grandchild sometime next year? OK, OkâŚyou are blushing about it already! Be sure to involve us in the childcare plans, OK?I think itâs time to leave now..
Samrat had coughed somewhere behind.
Come, letâs drop your mom off at her place!
She had tailed behind him like a eager puppy. The drive had been uneventful with her Mom being silent most of the time. Pakhi thanked her stars for that. Now she could think about the urgent issue that remained. Had she put on weight? Only the scale could tell.
Next day she got up early, brought out the weighing scale and crossed her fingers, scrunching her eyes tight. The scale confirmed her worst fears and she just stopped herself from screaming out aloud. How would Samrat react? That taunting indifferent smileâŚbetter not tell him at all. She then decided to take things a bit seriously, listing a few to do things with priority. No sugar in tea. Ok, done. No ghee, oily or fried items. OK, done. Join a gym. Yet to be done.
The Chavan household got their first inkling of the decisions a few minutes later.
âPatralekha, did you forget to put sugar in the tea?â Kaku twitched her nose in distaste. Sonali was the next person to react.
âHo NaâŚAt first I thought maybe it was the junglee mulgi who made the tea. Patralekha never misses things like that..â
âBut Sai has already left for her college!â Ashwini was quick to defend.
âThen I think something is wrong. See, Patralekha is staring into space. Lost in her own thoughtsâŚâ
âthinking about someone else! Dado sutto!â Karishma muttered under her own breath. It was audible enough to earn her a glare from Sonali.
Similar scenes were repeated at breakfast.
âHey whatâs this!â
âJust boiled food. Is this a hospital or what?â
âPatralekha is just not her usual self today. Is something wrong, Samrat? Did you people have a fight or something?â
Samrat shrugged his indifference. But soon he was cornering his wife in the kitchen.
âWhatâs wrong today? You are lost!â
âNothing. I was just thinkingâŚâ
âAbout what? Or whom?â
âAbout what Aai said yesterdayâŚâ
âAbout grandkids?â Samrat couldnât believe his lady luck would shine so brightly and so soon. Patralekha did a mental facepalm. Did this person ever think of something else?
âNo. Its about me putting on weight. I think I need to join a gym..â
So that was the reason behind the sugarless tea and bland breakfast. If this continuedâŚhe shook himself off the morbid thoughts. Better options were available.
âBut you do Yoga regularly. Isnât that enough? And you are the same..â he tried to gather her in his arms. She turned away.
âIts not workingâŚâ
âOk, so what do you have in mind?â
Patralekha fished out her mobile. âI have shortlisted a gym nearby, the closest one The only problem being, someone has to drop me. Itâs about 2 kilometers away!â
âNo problem. I will drop you. What time?â
âTomorrow morning 6 am. The session will end at 8 am. Butsomeone has to make tea and breakfast at home then!â
âNo problem. Ashwini Mami will do the honours. And I have a better idea..!â
Patralekha looked at him curiously.
âKaku may not agree to you going out at such odd hours. But I can arrange a trainer for you at home. That way, the breakfast schedule doesnât get upset!
âFine then. The equipment whatever he needs..â
âNo problem!â
There was a bounce in his step as he climbed the stairs to his own room. Problem solved? Or was it the beginning of a bigger one?
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Cricket
Anupamaa
