FF:Love Arranged- Part 53 (Pg99) 3 Aug - Page 56

Part 37

"Seriously Khanak. No one can look at you and say ke you're not Indian. Or that you're from the UK," said Rajesh.

"But of course. I AM Indian, tou why would people think I'm not," replied Khanak.

"Nai but still. You've never been to India before yet you act as if you're Indian," continued Rajesh.

"In fact more Indian than us," chipped in Shaan, who had been quiet through dinner up till now.

"Huh?" Khanak raised her eyebrow, looking directly at him.

"Yeah..you've never been to India yet you act as if you're more Indian than us," reiterated Shaan.

Before Khanak could give him a befitting reply, Rajesh declared his agreement to what Shaan had said: "Exactly yaar! Koi nai keh sakta that you've never been to India before."

Noticing how the edge in Shaan's statement was not apparent to anyone but her, Khanak continued in her own sweet voice, smiling as she replied to the two men sitting in front of her.

"Thanks for the compliment guys, but I really feel ke identity tou insaan ke andar hoti hai. Roots, culture, heritage, shiksha, tarbiyat'ye sab kuch jaga ya zubaan dekh ke nai ati sirf. It's with in us. Agar mein apni cultural values se kareeb hoon tou wo iss liye ke mein inhein sache dil se maanti houn. Aap ki pehchan aap apnatey ho."

"Aur agar aap pe aap ki pehchaan thopp di jae?" asked Shaan, since she was looking directly in his eyes while speaking.

"Tou aap ko identity crisis ho jata hai!" smiled Khanak and excused herself to get dessert.

*****

When Shaantanu came down for breakfast the next morning he felt an unusual air of energy in the house. The whole place felt alive for some odd reason.

And then he found it. The reason why the air seemed full of activity. After what seemed like ages, his family was gathered together for breakfast! And the presence of the Jadejas added to the jovial atmosphere. His dad and Chitresh uncle were immersed in some serious discussion which Akshay seemed very interested in as well. His mom chatted away with Alpana aunty, while Dadi interviewed Manya and Harshit.

But someone seemed to be missing! He looked around the dining room but couldn't see what could possibly be missing.

And then she entered from the kitchen. Holding a plate full of steamy parathas in one hand and achar in another, Khanak rushed to the table and all eyes turned to her as she started filling everyone's plates. The parathas had been cut in half, so that everyone could get to enjoy them while new ones were being made.

After serving everyone, Khanak noticed an empty plate in front of a vacant seat. Deliberating whether or not to put the last half piece of paratha on it, she eventually decided there was nothing to lose if she did put it. Either he'd have it or he wouldn't. If he didn't, she'd have it once everyone was done.

Shaantanu walked up to the table and greeted everyone whilst Khanak went back into the kitchen to make some more parathas. He sat down on the vacant chair and asked Harsh to pass the achar.

"Arrey Shaan. So sorry beta, it totally slipped my mind ke mein Hari Lal ko keh ke tumhara breakfast prepare karwa doun. Just wait five minutes. Abhi I'll tell him," exclaimed Madhvi when she saw Shaantanu was going to have achar with paratha. The only plausible reason, to her, was that there was nothing else prepared for breakfast since Sunil had requested Khanak to make parathas and prove her cooking skills and Chitresh had accepted the challenge on her behalf.

"Nai mom. Breakfast hai tou table pe," said Shaan putting the achar on his plate and making a morsel.

Yes, readers. The next moment saw the Jadejas aloofly carry on with eating their breakfast while the Khandelwals froze mid-motion when they saw Shaantanu eat a morsel of paratha as it was as usual for him as it is for the alarm to ring when we are enjoying a peaceful slumber. Had someone just been awakened?

wowww shaan eating paratha n k family is shocked...😆

sooo finally dey talk ...thoda hi sahi..😉

waiting fr nxt...

Part 38

The second round of parathas came and Khanak was told to eat with everyone once she had served the parathas. During the regular conversation, Madhvi was heard telling Chitresh that "Bhai aap ne mere Shaantanu ko kaam pe hi laga diya hai. Jab se UK se aya hai all he can think of is work!"

Shaantanu and Khanak momentarily stopped chewing and looked up, only to see the other looking directly at them. Khanak's eyes showed surprise whilst Shaantanu simply shrugged and continued eating.

Chitresh laughed, "Bhabhi am I to take that as something good or bad?"

"Arrey good of course!" chimed Sunil, "Ye maaoun (moms) ka kya hai. Duniya in ke bas mein ho tou betey nikammoun ki tarhaan chaubees ghante ghar hi baithe rahein. Mein tou kehta houn London ki hawa Shaan to suit ki hai."

"Haan magar tu ziyada sakht na huwa kar Sunny. Itna mehnti beta hai tera aur tu hai ke har waqt mazak hi karta rehta hai," said Chitresh.

"Mazak nai mashwara. Mashwara de raha houn ke mehnat ke baghair kuch nai hota. Kyun bhe Khanak, sahi kaha na?" Sunil corrected his friend.

"Jee uncle. Bilkul sahi. Mehnat ke baghair kuch kaam aysa nai hota jo kaam kehlane ke layak ho. Bin mehnat ka kaam kisi khuddar aalsi ko bhi raas na aye," said Khanak.

"Khanak beta what are you studying aaj kal?" asked Madhvi.

"Philosophy!" exclaimed Shaantanu, who simply couldn't resist jumping on an opportunity to enter the conversation.

"Oh…I thought you were doing something in Business ya Finance..couldn't remember. But nice, acha hai ke you're getting a degree in philosophy. It's a different subject but very interesting," said Madhvi.

Unaware of the looks Chitresh, Sunil, Alpana, Manya and Harsh were exchanging, Shaantanu continued, "No no mom, she's not getting a degree in philosophy. She already has a degree in philosophy. Abhi tou Economics mein Masters kar rahi."

"Ohhh.." was all Madhvi could manage to say, unsure of the equation his son shared with the girl who had arrived in her house just last night and was making breakfast this morning.

In such situations, it is often a perceptive elder who realized the need to lighten the mood. Thankfully, at the breakfast table that day, we had two such elders- Chitresh and Sunil. They simultaneously erupted into laughter and managed to lessen the awkwardness of the moment.

"Arrey Chitresh, humare bachay bhi humari tarhaan mazahiya nikle…I didn't know sense of humour bhi hereditary hota hai," said Sunil.

"Hereditary hota tou abhi ye dono araam se baithe na hote…shukar hai fully hereditary nai hai," replied Chitresh.

Alas, two people's attention had not been diverted. At least, not substantially diverted because though Shaan and Khanak could hear their respective fathers in the background, their eyes were locked in a trance quite like the sort a potential couple who find themselves in. Where one was mocking the other with his eyes and the other was staring coldly as if to signal disappointment, regret and anger all in one.

"Tum log bhi na. Bachoun ko tang karna choro. Bachay tou bachay rehte hein humaray liye but khud tou inhein bara hona hai aur apni agay ki zindagi ke baray mein sochna hai." Yes, it was Dadi who spoke. Spoke in the typical fashion of grandparents- stating what was obvious, but never openly talked about.

This brought both Shaantanu and Khanak back to the breakfast table. He was made to realize about a pending task whilst she was caught off-guard by a remark of expectation from her. An expectation she believed to be obviously unnecessary and uncalled for.

Shaantanu's grandmother had just brought up a subject both he and she had ignored for months. At such an unpleasant occasion, they both did what was customary to them. He got up at ignored the jibe, while she looked down and continued finishing her breakfast.

The day otherwise was pretty uneventful. Relatives caught up and a few dances were prepared by the girls. Jewelry was finalized and the dresses for the engagement were sent to the dry cleaners. But among all the activity that was normal to any house awaiting an engagement, Khanak found time to do a little research around the house. A research that would help her at night. Tonight, when Shaantanu would come home, have dinner and retire to his room.

Thank you SO much to all those who take out time to comment and/or like my updates. Seriously guys, it does mean a lot! Especially when I literally have to reorganize my schedule to write even a chotu sa update. So thank you so much...it's all really encouraging 😃

Hope you guys liked this new update too...I'm planning to make the story pick up pace now. Somehow, it's easier to do so with smaller updates! 😕

Lots of love,

Nisha! 😊