This did not come out as well as I wanted it. So please forgive me if I bore you.
Read at your own risk 😳
Suman and the girls finished making the parathas. Roshni had taken great pains to make the last paratha as round as possible and as thin as possible. "Let eat" Sameer said rubbing his hands in glee. Everyone took their seats around the table when they heard a sharp cry. Khushi had woken up and was demanding attention. Prithvi who had just seated Damini smiled at Sameer who made a move to get up and Avni who was already on her feet.
Prithvi: Why don't the both of you sit down and eat lunch. I will go bring her here.
Damini: I will go with you.
Prithvi: OK
Avni: But jeej she may need her nappy changed.
Prithvi: I am sure between Damini and me we can figure it out.
Damini: Yes Avni you sit down and eat. How often do you get to eat a meal peacefully? Prithvi and me will watch the angel.
Damini smiles at Prithvi and he smiles back.
Avni: But Di'.
Sameer: Arrey jaane do na Avni (let them go Avni). They need the practice.
Damini blushes and Prithvi starts laughing. Everyone laughs at Sameer's comment.
Prithvi and Damini leave and the rest of the family sits down and starts getting ready to eat. Rosh happily serves her paratha to Varun who smiles.
Prithvi and Damini return with little Khushi who is happily drooling while chewing on a fist. Prithvi is holding her and she is happy as a clam.
Avni: Jeej I will have lunch later.
Damini: Avni why don't you eat? I am not hungry. You did all the work.
Avni: But Di jeej must be hungry
Prithvi: I am not hungry either. I will play with my beautiful niece for a while.
Avni: Ok if you are sure.
Prithvi: Sit down and eat Avni. After you are done we will eat.
Prithvi and Damini sit down with Khushi on the couch and everyone gets started on lunch.
Varun: The paratha is very good Rosh. Thank you.
Rosh (blushing): Thanks.
Sameer: We will make a grihini (housewife) out of you yet.
Suman: Sameer'..tu maar khaaye bina nahin maanega (you will not agree to keep quite unless I hit you).
Sameer (laughing): Sorry ma.
Prithvi and Damini are playing with Khushi who seems happy with them and is laughing and giggling. Damini is playing peek-a-boo with her with her dupatta and Khushi is laughing and playing by burying her nose in her uncle Prithvi's chest. Her laughter resonates in the house. Both the grandmothers smile on hearing that and look at each other.
Prithvi is watching Damini play with Khushi and thinks of what a wonderful mother she will make. He remembers how he thought she was arrogant and uncaring for the first few meetings. He now knew that it was a front that hid the amazingly caring and vulnerable girl beneath. He looked at her laughing and thanked god for her forgiving him. Suddenly Khushi grabbed Damini's injured finger and yanked hard. "ouch" Damini said. Prithvi loosened Khushi's fingers and moved her to the other side.
Prithvi: Is it hurting? I am sorry I was not watching?
Damini: No it is fine. It is all your fault for making it so big. Even she hates it and wants to take it out.
Prithvi: It stays on.
Damini: It is my right hand. How do you suggest I eat?
Prithvi: I will feed you.
Damini: What? No way?
Sameer: Kya idea hai bhaiyya. Varun camera taiyyar rakhna padega. (What an idea. Varun we need to have the camera ready).
Damini turns beet root red and does not know where to look.
Prithvi: Sameer. Chup kar.
Sameer: What bhaiyya? It is a great photo op.
Sameer notices Ila looking at Prithvi and Damini on one side, and Varun and Rosh holding hands under the table on the other side and sees the perfect opening for his revenge.
Sameer (addressing Ila): Mama aap ko pata hai Varun ne aap pe poora poora research kiya tha.
Varun (choking): What??????
Rosh taps him on the head and feeds him water.
Varun: Thanks Rosh. Bhaiyya what are you saying?
Sameer: The truth. Mama Varun told us how wealthy you were. We had no idea.
Varun: I was just looking to see who papa worked for.
Sameer: likely story. He had full details of how large your business was.
Varun: You say it like I had evil intentions'.i was just seeing who papa worked for.
Sameer: And you know Mama bade bhaiyya told us that you had 3 daughters and that we should get married to them.
Prithvi: What. I never said that. I was not even interested in marriage. You liar.
Sameer: Mama I was the only one who was "shareef" and did not involve myself in this discussion.
Prithvi hands Khushi over to Damini and comes to the table.
Prithvi: Jhoota (liar). You are toast today.
Varun (standing up): How can you lie like this, bhaiyya?
Suman: Prithvi. Sameer, Varun. You know the rules, No fighting while eating. They are still the same. Sameer stop talking and eat. Avni beta you need to eat'.here have another paratha. Sameer stop your nautanki and make sure your wife eats. Roshni beta have another paratha. Varun give her one. Ilaji would you like one.
Ila: No Sumanji. I am almost done.
Prithvi returns to the couch fuming. He and varun share a look at says this is not over. Damini touches his shoulder and he turns to see her smiling. Khushi is getting restless and kicking her. Prithvi takes her and starts walking around. She calms down.
Meanwhile everyone else is done with lunch and Avni comes to take Khushi. The baby is happy to see her mother and goes to her.
Avni: Jeej please Di and you must have lunch.
Prithvi: Ok Avni
Suman: Then we will all eat the halwa Rosh made together.
Rosh is very excited to hear this.
Ila: Everything was great. Thank you Sumanji.
Suman: Your daughters made everything. I just helped.
Sameer: Apni toh koyi kadar hi nahin hai chote (we don't have any respect). We made the salad and no one appreciates us.
Varun: Bhaiyya aap bhi na.
Prithvi: Uss salad ki wajah se meri Damini ki haat kati. I refuse to eat that salad.
Sameer: Yeh sarasar naainsaafi hai hamare saath (this is injustice). Varun and me worked so hard on the salad.
Damini: I will eat it even if he does not.
Suman: Prithvi stop fighting with Sameer. Damini must be hungry. Feed her.
Prithvi takes Damini by hand to the dining table. Sameer turns around so that he can look and tease them. Avni decides to reign in her nautankibaaz husband.
Avni: Sameer I need some help with Khushi.
Hearing his baby's name and that Avni needs his help is all Sameer needs and he goes with Avni. As soon as they disappear, Prithvi takes Damini to the table and seats her. Prithvi serves some food onto a plate and offers Damini the first bite. Damini is still feeling shy. Varun notices this and tells Rosh.
Varun: Why don't you and I start cleaning up the kitchen?
Rosh: Sure.
Suman: I will come help too.
Ila: Me too.
Varun: No ma both of you should wait here.
Suman: Varun chup chap chal.
Varun understands that they also want the same as him, to give Prithvi and Damini some privacy and everyone busies themselves in the kitchen.
Prithvi: Ok now open your mouth.
Damini opens her mouth and Prithvi feeds her. He holds out another bite but she guides his hand towards his mouth and he takes the mouthful. They both smile at each other. Prithvi feeds Damini one mouthful and eats the next one himself.
Damini: Prithvi I am done with rotis. I will have some rice later.
Prithvi reaches for the rice.
Damini: Not right now. Later.
Prithvi: Damini you need to eat. Lunch is the only meal that you can enjoy. Have a few more bites.
Damini: Prithvi I need a break. I am going to sit here and keep you company while you eat a few more rotis. I will make sure this stays down before I eat more.
Prithvi: I am almost done.
Damini: No you are not. Here have a couple more rotis. Don't think I didn't notice that you were so busy looking after me that you missed breakfast too.
Prithvi laughs and starts eating the rotis. Damini watches him contentedly. He was so relaxed here that it warmed her heart. She remembered the first time they had met in the stable when he had rescued her from Toofan. She had no idea back then that they would end up together. Infact if anyone had told her that back then she would have probably shot them. How far they had come. She remembered the time he had taken a bullet for her. She had realized then that he had come to mean something to her. Her musing was interrupted by Prithvi waving a hand in front of her face "Damini wake up" he said. Damini smiled at him and ate the rice he offered. "Dreaming about me" he asked slyly grinning. "Not you Mr. Saxena I was dreaming about Toofan" Damini returned. "Oh is that so?" Prithvi asked her winking at her. Damini blushed. She knew she had been caught dreaming. They finished the rice and went into the kitchen with the plate. Avni and Sameer arrived in the meantime, having put Khushi down for another nap. This time Suman shoeed Damini, Ila and Avni out of the kitchen to sit on the couch and she supervised while her three sons cleaned the kitchen and washed up with Rosh's assistance.
Damini: But maaji
Avni: Let me atleast help.
Suman: We cooked so they will clean.
Damini and Avni were surprised at how efficiently the three brothers worked and commented to Ila about that.
Ila (her eyes twinkling): Sumanji has trained her sons well. The four of us should be thankful to her.
Prithvi: Mama aap bhi na.
They get done cleaning and he comes to sit beside Damini.
Suman: Everyone sit down. Rosh will serve her halwa. Roshni beta, serve the halwa.
Roshni brings the halwa and everyone takes a bowl. In the end Rosh herself takes a bowl and sits down next to Varun, anxious for his reaction. Varun is contemplating the halwa and looks up to realize that everyone is waiting for him to start.
Rosh: what are you looking at?
Varun: The halwa looks good.
Sameer: Abe dekh kya raha hai. Khaa na (what are you looking at it for. Eat it).
Avni: Haan Varun. Rosh has made it for you with lot of love. Batao kaisa hai (tell us how it is).
Varun: Aap sab bhi khayiye na (All of you eat too).
Damini: Nahin Varun. Pehle tum khaoge aur Rosh ko bataoge ki halwa kaise bana hai (no Varun. You will eat first and tell Rosh how the halwa is).
Prithvi: Haan Varun jaldhi khaa ke bata. Halwa dekh ke hi mooh mein paani aa raha hai (Yes varun. Eat quickly and tell us. My mouth is watering just looking at the halwa.)
Roshni (blushing): Jeej. Please.
Sameer: Abey kha na. Agar tu khaa ke zinda bacha toh hum sab khayenge (Eat na. If you eat and are alive to tell the tale, we will all eat).
Avni hits Sam with a cushion. Prithvi puts the halwa down and starts towards Sameer to teach him a lesson but Suman beats him to it. She catches hold of Sameer's ear and twists it.
Suman: Besharam. Roshni bechari ne itne mehnat she banaya hai aur tu uska mazzak uda raha hai (Shameless fellow. Poor Roshni has worked so hard to make this halwa and you are making fun of it).
Sameer (yowling in pain): Arrey maa maa I was just trying to lighten the moment. Sorry Rosh. I hope you are not mad at me.
Rosh: it is ok jeej
Sameer: Rosh I don't think this brother of mine intends to eat it. Why don't you feed it to him.
Prithvi: Ye accha idea hai (this is a good idea). Everyone nods their head in agreement.
Rosh: OK. (She sits down next to Varun) Open your mouth.
Varun (weak smile): Sure.
Rosh feeds him to halwa and he closes his eyes and eats it. He opens his eyes and says "Rosh this is really good". Rosh blushes.
Sameer: Chalo it is safe to eat the halwa everyone. But I am still going to test it by feeding my darling wife first. Here you go Avni.
Avni: Sameer tum bhi na. She realizes all eyes are on her and eats it quickly.
Sameer: Now feed me.
Avni: Sameer.
Sameer: Pati hoon tumhara. Haq hai mera (I am your husband. It is my right)
Prithvi (while feeding Damz): Arrey Avni tum is nautanki ko jaanthi ho. Khila bhi do varna natak bandh nahin karega (Avni you know how he likes to be dramatic. Feed him else he will not stop his antics).
Avni: Ok jeej. She feeds Sameer.
Sameer: Wah bhaiyya Wah. Thank you for the recommendation.
Prithvi shakes his head as Damz takes the spoon and starts feeding herself.
Prithvi: Hey madam'.feed me too if you can hold the spoon.
Damz: Here. She feeds Prithvi a spoonful.
Prithvi: what happened suddenly?
Damz: Mera meeta khaane ka bahut mann kar raha hai (I feel like eating something sweet)
Prithvi smiles and tells her "here let me feed you. You just sit back and enjoy".
Coming up next Sameer continues his nautanki and Prithvi and Varun get back at him. Also everyone gets ready for the party.Edited by liv2laugh - 15 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
