FF: Arhi: The way IPK should've been[Ch9/Sc3 pg99] - Page 34

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Writer's note: Thank you all for your lovely comments. It is wonderful to read more than two words (and sometimes big paragraphs too! 😉) Your support means a lot. I'm loving the reactions.

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Ok enough talk.. enjoy the scene.. next one is going to be a funny one *Jalebi ki kasam* 😊

Chapte 7 Scene 2

[Gupta House, next morning]

The courtyard of the house has been converted to a temporary open kitchen. A tent has been erected covering the entire area with a tarpaulin sheet over it. Huge utensils have been set up and there are a two men busy cooking. Khushi is also standing by one continuously stirring a beautiful cream colored sweet dish. The whole atmosphere is effused with a beautiful aroma of the food. Khushi suddenly gets up and walks over to the other cooks, supervising their work. Buaji walks up to her.

"Khusee bitiya! Yii bahut badhiya khusboo aye rahi hai Nandkishore! Kya paka rahi ho?" Buaji sniffs the air appreciatively. Khushi smiles at her.

"Manohar ji, dal bana rahe hain. Shankar ji alu gobi ki sabji, aur hum," she walks back to her utensil where the sweet dish is now simmering, "hum kheer bana rahe hain Buaji." Buaji looks around amazed to see so much of work being done. Suddenly she taps her forehead as if she remembered something important.

"Arre yii khusboo sungh ke to hum kaam ki baat batiayana hi bhul gaye. Tumri jeeji ka phone aaya raha. Tanik usse baat karliyo Parmeswari," Buaji nods towards the house. Khushi nods in understanding.

"Shankar ji, kheer ka pateela utaar dijiyega. Aur haan isme cheeni nahin daali hai humne. Aap bhi mat daliyega," she instructs before walking into the house. Just as she enters, the phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" Khushi picks up. It's Payal on the other side.

"Khushi! Hum tumse bahut naraaz hain!" comes Payal's surprisingly angry voice. Khushi is dumbstruck.

"Jeeji? Kya hua? Humne kya - " but her sisters cuts her short.

"Humein Amma ka phone aaya tha. Unhone humein bauji ke operation ke bare mein bataya. Aur ye bhi kaha ki ilaaj ke paison ka intezaam tum kar rahi ho?" Payal reels off in one go. Khushi hits her forehead with her palm in exasperation.

"Ohho.. ye Amma bhi na." Khushi mutters.

"Amma bhi na matlab? Unhone humse kaha to! Tum to shayad batati bhi nahin humein," Payal sounds hurt now. Khushi immediately relents.

"Arre nahin jeeji aisa nahin hai. Hum tumhe faaltu ki chinta nahin dena chahte the. Aapko pata chalta to jeejaji ko bhi pata chal jata. Aur fir jeejaji kehte ki woh kharcha uthayenge. Achha thodi lagta hai jeeji," Khushi explains carefully. "Aur waise bhi hum paison ki vyavastha kar rahe hain. Humne dabba service fir se shuru kar diya hai," she ends with a note of pride in her voice.

"Sirf dabba service se baat ban jayegi kya? Humein kuch aur bhi karna hoga," Payal replies thoughtfully. "Sabse pehle to tum aaj ka kaam khatam karo. Hum dopahar tak ghar aa rahe hain. Fir aage ke kaam ke bare mein sochenge." Khushi starts to protest but Payal doesn't let her talk.

"Khushi, sab kaam tum akele nahin kar sakti ho. Aur hum tumhare saath honge to shayad paison ka intezaam aur jaldi ho jaye." Khushi shuts up. She realises it is wise not to argue with her sister right now. But one thing is still nagging her.

"Par jeeji tum jeeja ji se to kuch nahin kahogi na?" she asks anxiously. Payal doesn't reply. Khushi understands immediately.

"Tumne jeejaji ko bata diya?!" Khushi exclaims.

"Tum chinta mat karo Khushi. Humne unse kaha hai ki iss bare mein woh kisi se kuch bhi na kahein. Aur paison ke bare mein khaaskar koi madad na karein. Khush?" Khushi smiles smugly.

"Theek hai jeeji. Acha hum chalte hain, dabbon mein khana dalwana hai," Khushi bids her goodbyes and goes back to the open kitchen.

[AR Designs office, later in the afternoon]

Shukla ji can be seen distributing the tiffin boxes to each workstation. The employees notice that he seems to be more cheerful than usual. He is egging people to try the tiffin as the food tastes brilliant courtesy a new cook he has hired. He is left with two more tiffins out of which one he delivers to Aakash and for the last one, he stares up the stairs leading to Arnav's cabin and lets out a gulp of apprehension. Arnav always seemed dismissive to him, especially since Khushi joined his Dabba Business. He mentally reminds himself that Khushi bhabhi had warned him not to spill the beans this time. Bracing himself he slowly makes his way to the cabin.

Knock knock.

"Come in!" commands the voice of Arnav who is busy poring over files in front of him. Shukla quietly walks in and places the tiffin box in front of him. Arnav looks up from the file and glances briefly at the tiffin.

"Shukla. Mujhe kuch complaints aayi hai ki office ka staff tumhare khane se khush nahin hain?" Arnav enquires in a disinterested voice, not looking up from his file. Shukla immediately launches himself into the defensive mode.

"Sir, aaj se aisa nahin hoga. Humne ek naya rasoiya rakha hai. Unke hathon mein maano jaadoo hai jadoo," Shukla says in a reverent tone. Arnav finally looks up incredulously.

"Jadoo? Achha. To abhi dekh lete hain," he puts down his file and picks up the tiffin box. Arnav is surprised to feel the base of the box still warm. Shukla had stopped serving hot food ever since Khushi stopped working with him. As soon as he opens the box, a beautiful aroma hits him. He looks up to see Shukla waiting expectantly for a reaction. Arnav breaks the soft roti with his fingers, dips it into the vegetable dish and puts it in his mouth. It actually tastes very good. He nods appreciatively at Shukla who looks so happy that he can possibly start dancing any minute. Then, Arnav tastes a spoon of the dal and '

HICCUP!

Shukla's smile stops immediately. Arnav looks momentarily surprised.

[Cut to Gupta House]

Khushi is staring horrified at the box of chilly powder which is almost half. The cook named Manohar is standing by her staring sheepishly at her.

"Manohar ji! Jab humne aapse kaha ki dal mein 5 chamach mirchi ka powder daliye to aapne kitne chamach dale?" she asks, trying to keep her anger in check.

"Khushi Bhabhi, humne to 5 chammach hi dale the," Manohar replies defensively.

"To fir ye dabba aadha kaise ho gaya?" Khushi asks pointing to the box. Manohar picks up one of the serving spoons and one tablespoon.

"Woh humein samajh nahin aaya ki inme se kaun se chammach se daalna hai," Manohar's voice trails away into nothingness as Khushi stares at him appalled at his stupidity.

"Aap bawarchi hain ya nahin? Kitne saalon se khana bana rahe hain? Aapko pateela dekh kar andaza nahin hua ki mirchi ka powder chammach se daalna hai ya danki se?!" Khushi shouts in exasperation.

[Cut to AR designs Office; Arnav's cabin]

HICCUP!

The dal is spiked with chillies! And he can't eat very spicy or chilly food. His eyes immediately start watering.

HICCUP!

Arnav finds himself a glass of water and gulps down quickly. His hiccups stop the very next minute but his mouth is on fire. Shukla is perspiring in anxiety now. He meekly points to the lower compartment of the tiffin box.

"Sir, usme kheer hai. Shayad mooh ka swaad badal jaye - " Arnav's glare shuts him up from saying anything further. He angrily grabs a spoon, dunks it in the creamy kheer and puts it in his mouth.

The spoon stops in his mouth. Arnav's eyes widen in recognition. He looks up at Shukla.

"Ye kheer?" he asks. Shukla has obviously misread the look on Arnav's face and thinks Arnav is probably concerned about the sweetness.

"Sir, ye kheer bilkul cheeni mukt hai. Aapki zaroorat ke hisaab se banwai hai," Shukla confirms assuredly.

"Ye kheer kisne banai hai?" Shukla looks surprised for a moment. He hadn't been expecting to be asked this question. He wonders what to do. Agar boss se jhooth bolunga to yahan se naukri jayegi, agar sach bol dunga to Khushi bhabhi ki partnership chali jayegi.

"Sir ye bhi hamare naye rasoiye ne banaya hai," he finally replies, not entirely lying. He waits with bated breath to see what his boss would do. After a long moment of silence, Arnav waves his hand dismissively at Shukla who immediately rushes out of his office.

Arnav looks back to the kheer. That flavour, aroma and taste all without even a tinge of sugar. He had had this kheer several times before and could identify it even blindfolded. He remembered the last time he had force-fed himself in Shantivan because his Di was watching. Only one person could make it this way.

Khushi...

NEXT CHAPTER (click)

Writer's note: Okay ya, I admit the foodie gene in me kicked up a fuss today that I should write about kheer 😃 sugar and spice seems aptly titled eh?

feedback please.. comments/ critiques aane do!!

ENGLISH VERSION

Chapte 7 Scene 2

[Gupta House, next morning]

The courtyard of the house has been converted to a temporary open kitchen. A tent has been erected covering the entire area with a tarpaulin sheet over it. Huge utensils have been set up and there are a two men busy cooking. Khushi is also standing by one continuously stirring a beautiful cream colored sweet dish. The whole atmosphere is effused with a beautiful aroma of the food. Khushi suddenly gets up and walks over to the other cooks, supervising their work. Buaji walks up to her.

"Khusee ! All this smells amazing, Nandkishore! What are you cooking?" Buaji sniffs the air appreciatively. Khushi smiles at her.

"Manohar ji is preparing dal. Shankar ji is making alu gobi, and I," she walks back to her utensil where the sweet dish is now simmering, "I'm preparing kheer, Buaji." Buaji looks around amazed to see so much of work being done. Suddenly she taps her forehead as if she remembered something important.

"Arre in all my attention towards the aroma, I forgot to tell you something important. Your sister called. Please speak to her, Parmeswari," Buaji nods towards the house. Khushi nods in understanding.

"Shankar ji, take down the utensil of kheer. And yeah, I haven't added sugar in it, you too don't add it please," she instructs before walking into the house. Just as she enters, the phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" Khushi picks up. It's Payal on the other side.

"Khushi! I'm really angry with you!" comes Payal's surprisingly angry voice. Khushi is dumbstruck.

"Jeeji? What happened? What did I - " but her sisters cuts her short.

"Amma called me. She told me about Bauji's operation. And she also told me that you are arranging for the money for the operation?" Payal reels off in one go. Khushi hits her forehead with her palm in exasperation.

"Ohho.. Amma." Khushi mutters.

"What do you mean by ohho Amma? At least she told me! You probably wouldn't even have said anything to me," Payal sounds hurt now. Khushi immediately relents.

"Arre no jeeji it's nothing like that. I just didn't want you to worry, that's all. Had you known then, jeejaji would also know. And then he would have insisted on bearing the cost. It doesn't look nice jeeji," Khushi explains carefully. "And in any case, I am taking care of the money. I've started the dabba service again," she ends with a note of pride in her voice.

"Do you think only the dabba service will serve the purpose? We'll have to do more," Payal replies thoughtfully. "First of all you finish up today's work. I'm coming over today afternoon. We'll plan out after that." Khushi starts to protest but Payal doesn't let her talk.

"Khushi, you can't do everything on your own. And if both of us will work on this, we'll probably be able to get the money quicker." Khushi shuts up. She realises it is wise not to argue with her sister right now. But one thing is still nagging her.

"But jeeji I hope you haven't told jeejaji about this?" she asks anxiously. Payal doesn't reply. Khushi understands immediately.

"You have?!" Khushi exclaims.

"Don't worry about it, Khushi. I've told him not to mention about this to anybody. And especially not help us monetarily. Are you happy?" Khushi smiles smugly.

"Alright jeeji. I should go now, we've to pack the food in the lunch boxes," Khushi bids her goodbyes and goes back to the open kitchen.

[AR Designs office, later in the afternoon]

Shukla ji can be seen distributing the tiffin boxes to each workstation. The employees notice that he seems to be more cheerful than usual. He is egging people to try the tiffin as the food tastes brilliant courtesy a new cook he has hired. He is left with two more tiffins out of which one he delivers to Aakash and for the last one, he stares up the stairs leading to Arnav's cabin and lets out a gulp of apprehension. Arnav always seemed dismissive to him, especially since Khushi joined his Dabba Business. He mentally reminds himself that Khushi bhabhi had warned him not to spill the beans this time. Bracing himself he slowly makes his way to the cabin.

Knock knock.

"Come in!" commands the voice of Arnav who is busy poring over files in front of him. Shukla quietly walks in and places the tiffin box in front of him. Arnav looks up from the file and glances briefly at the tiffin.

"Shukla. I've been hearing complaints from the office staff that your food is no longer upto the mark?" Arnav enquires in a disinterested voice, not looking up from his file. Shukla immediately launches himself into the defensive mode.

"Sir, it will change from today onwards. We've hired a new cook who works wonders in the kitchen," Shukla says in a reverent tone. Arnav finally looks up incredulously.

"wonders? Really? Ok, let's check that now itself," he puts down his file and picks up the tiffin box. Arnav is surprised to feel the base of the box still warm. Shukla had stopped serving hot food ever since Khushi stopped working with him. As soon as he opens the box, a beautiful aroma hits him. He looks up to see Shukla waiting expectantly for a reaction. Arnav breaks the soft roti with his fingers, dips it into the vegetable dish and puts it in his mouth. It actually tastes very good. He nods appreciatively at Shukla who looks so happy that he can possibly start dancing any minute. Then, Arnav tastes a spoon of the dal and '

HICCUP!

Shukla's smile stops immediately. Arnav looks momentarily surprised.

[Cut to Gupta House]

Khushi is staring horrified at the box of chilly powder which is almost half. The cook named Manohar is standing by her staring sheepishly at her.

"Manohar ji! When I asked you to put 5 spoons of chilly powder in the dal, how many did you put?" she asks, trying to keep her anger in check.

"Khushi Bhabhi, I put in 5 spoons," Manohar replies defensively.

"Then how come this box of chilly powder is now half empty?" Khushi asks pointing to the box. Manohar picks up one of the serving spoons and one tablespoon.

"Uhm.. I didn't know which spoon did you want me to use," Manohar's voice trails away into nothingness as Khushi stares at him appalled at his stupidity.

"Are you a cook or not? Since how long have you been cooking? Couldn't you figure out from the size of the utensil whether to use a tablespoon or a serving spoon?!" Khushi shouts in exasperation.

[Cut to AR designs Office; Arnav's cabin]

HICCUP!

The dal is spiked with chillies! And he can't eat very spicy or chilly food. His eyes immediately start watering.

HICCUP!

Arnav finds himself a glass of water and gulps down quickly. His hiccups stop the very next minute but his mouth is on fire. Shukla is perspiring in anxiety now. He meekly points to the lower compartment of the tiffin box.

"Sir, there is kheer in there. Maybe it will change the taste of your - " Arnav's glare shuts him up from saying anything further. He angrily grabs a spoon, dunks it in the creamy kheer and puts it in his mouth.

The spoon stops in his mouth. Arnav's eyes widen in recognition. He looks up at Shukla.

"This kheer?" he asks. Shukla has obviously misread the look on Arnav's face and thinks Arnav is probably concerned about the sweetness.

"Sir, this kheer doesn't have sugar in it. It's been prepared keeping in mind your requirements," Shukla confirms assuredly.

"Who has prepared this kheer?" Shukla looks surprised for a moment. He hadn't been expecting to be asked this question. He wonders what to do. If I lie to the boss I'll lose my job, but if I say the truth I'll lose my partnership with Khushi Bhabhi.

"Sir this has also been prepared by our new cook," he finally replies, not entirely lying. He waits with bated breath to see what his boss would do. After a long moment of silence, Arnav waves his hand dismissively at Shukla who immediately rushes out of his office.

Arnav looks back to the kheer. That flavour, aroma and taste all without even a tinge of sugar. He had had this kheer several times before and could identify it even blindfolded. He remembered the last time he had force-fed himself in Shantivan because his Di was watching. Only one person could make it this way.

Khushi...

NEXT CHAPTER (click)

Writer's note: Okay ya, I admit the foodie gene in me kicked up a fuss today that I should write about kheer 😃 sugar and spice seems aptly titled eh?

feedback please.. comments/ critiques aane do!!

Glad payal told Akash and did not hide it from him...so sweet he knew she made the kheer...very nice..thanks for the pm.

What can I say smitzy.. It's midnight and so much work to do... Ur update was such a good break... But reading about food .. You've written so well, i can actually smell and visualize yum food. I wish I had something yummy to dig in to for a midnight feast now :(

So, now Arnav knows who is the new rasoiya. Khushi ...

Arnav ka taste-buds par kar gaya jadoo... what will he do?

WOW...Zabardast update👏👏👏...loved many a things in this update

awesome part!!!!

Can someone please clarify for me why is it that Payal bears absolutely no responsibility for her own father while Khushi is always the one saddled with all the responsibility for her adopted parents?