Destiny's children-Thread 2- contd in new thread - Page 119

Originally posted by: sailat@PA

Gauri--Opti's sickness proved to be fruitful for her!☺️😆😆 Opti, just kidding!

Originally posted by: angel's life

why?what happen to her after?😆😳

XXX

Three days later

Jai Hind chawl had the tradition of respecting and celebrating all the festivals of the residents. Hence it geared up to celebrate Lohri which is a festival to worship fire. A huge bonfire was started in the middle of the courtyard and people gathered around it, throwing til, puffed rice and popcorns into its flames. Prayers were offered to the bonfire, seeking abundance and prosperity and the residents danced the typical bhangra dance with Mrs. Vandana Kapoor singing traditional Punjabi folk songs.

Before he could respond she whispered to him, "Milind, how long do you want to monopolise Prachi and chew her up like a teething baby? Do let your baby do the chewing."

Milind turned red in embarrassment. Manju never minced words. He told her that he wanted to stabilise a little in his business before they start a family. Mala asked him not to postpone these things for too long. At that moment Venkat arrived there with the two boys who had earlier dragged their father to the nearest store to get them chocolates. "See these two little mischievous brats. They drain us out every day and yet we can't imagine a life without them. Children are the blessing of any marriage." She picked up Anu and kissed his cheek. Milind caressed the little boy's head and assured that they will soon give her the good news she wants. Satisfied with his answer she wished them all the best and after inviting them to her house the next day for Pongal celebration, she left with her husband and children to their house.

The next morning Milind and Prachi visited the Iyer's residence to celebrate Pongal. The entrance of the house was decorated with an elaborate and intricate kolam (rangoli). Prachi asked Manju to teach her to draw such kolams. Manju nodded and said that these things should be child's play for an accomplished artist like her. After the usual puja, Manju mixed rice with finely chopped ginger, cumin seeds, pepper, cashew nuts and ghee in a brass pot and let it boil over as per the custom. This delicious dish was then served to the guests. Prachi asked her what was this dish called.

"This is called ven pongal. We also add jaggery or sugar to make sarkarai pongal which is sweet pongal. Pongal means boiling over. We let the food boil over to indicate abundance and prosperity. Pongal is a harvest festival and is celebrated over four days. Here in the cities we do not have time to observe all the days. Hence we only celebrate it on one day", she explained.

Adi and Anu begged their mother to give them sarkarai pongal. Manju smiled and brought out the sarkarai pongal which disappeared into their little tummies within minutes.

"See, how fast they eat sweet stuff," she remarked to Prachi.

After breakfast, Venkat gave them pieces of sugarcane to bite and chew. He chopped off the hard exterior and gave the softer inner portions to his sons who happily munched them before spitting them out. They later bid goodbye to their parents, Milind uncle and Prachi aunty and ran off to play with their friends.

Prachi looked at her piece of sugarcane, wondering how to bite it. Milind showed her how, by biting into his piece. After trying to rip off the hard skin a couple of times and not succeeding, she gave up. Milind took the piece from her and ripped off the hard exterior with his teeth and gave her the inner portion which she then chewed to a pulp before spitting it out. Some of the sugarcane juice spilled from the corner of her mouth as she chewed on the cane. Milind caught the dripping liquid in his index finger and sucked his finger. Prachi playfully slapped Milind's hand. Manju and Venkat who were watching this, looked at each other and smiled.

Once the sugarcane biting, chewing and sucking were done, Manju requested Prachi to sing for them.

"Tomorrow I can tell my colleagues at school that the new singing sensation sang exclusively for me," she said.

Prachi smiled and sang one of the songs from the album. Both Manju and Venkat rose and gave her a standing ovation when she finished the song. Milind smiled at her proudly.

That evening there was a kite flying competition in the chawl on the occasion of Magar Sankranti which is celebrated on the same day as Pongal. The kids in the chawl got together and flew colourful kites. They offered a kite to Prachi too but she declined saying that she does not know how to fly it. Milind offered to help her. He held the ball of string and asked her to hold the kite facing her and the wind. He then unwound the string for about 30 yards or so and signalled to her to release the kite. When she did, he quickly drew in the string towards himself to launch the kite. Once the kite was in the air, he loosened the string to let it fly higher. He then asked Prachi to hold the string. Standing behind her, he too held the string and helped her move the kite around. Soon the kids brought their kites closer to hers and tried to cut off her kite. Prachi got excited and in trying to avert them, moved backwards, tripped and fell on Milind who, in turn, lost his balance and the two of them went crashing to the ground. Their legs got entangled in the string and their kite came down with a thud. The kids laughed merrily at the spectacle. Mala and Ganpat who had come down to watch the competition could not hide their smile. Ganpat walked up to Milind and lifted him up. Milind then pulled Prachi up.

"Kya, yaar. You are a disgrace to men. You lost to small bachchaas?" he pulled his leg. Milind scratched his head and said that his better half literally brought him down this time. Prachi glared at him and stomped off with a sullen face. Seeing this, Milind excused himself and ran behind her to appease her. Mala and Ganpat laughed loudly.