Chapter 19
"Papa can I please sleep with you and mama for the night?" asked a visibly frightened Payal who stood at the door of the bedroom with her trusted teddy bear in her hand.
Yash jerked back into the present at his daughter's plea. He took a second to reorient himself and gave himself a mental shake to come out of his thoughts.
Thank God! I was stopped just in time, I do not want to think about that day ever again. Bless you Payal for saving me from torturing myself further.
"Come on over sweet heart, the thunder woke you up? Don't worry its nothing to be scared of, God sometimes checks if his ears are working fine or not by making such loud noise" Yash said as he got up and went towards her.
"It was so loud...everyone could hear that Papa ...I surely hope God is not deaf to need such a loud noise to check his ears" said Payal innocently forgetting her fear and getting distracted just as Yash had intended.
"I hope so too else how can he listen to all your wishes and fulfill them" said Yash as he bent and scooped her up and turned back towards the bed.
Payal nodded agreeing with Yash as he settled her in the bed between him and Aarti who was still, sound asleep.
"Now that your here sweetheart you can give this Papa of yours company. I seem to be very scared of your Mumma" Yash further played along.
"Really, but she is so nice...what makes you scared of her?" questioned a disbelieving Payal.
"Well she snores louder than the thunder" Yash said in mock horror and closed his ears with his hands.
Payal laughed and said "Don't worry papa I will sleep with you here tonight and give you strength so that you will be sleep without fear from tomorrow night"
She took his hand in hers and fell asleep almost instantly along with her father.
Aarti had woken up when Payal had come in yet had pretended to be asleep, she tried to suppress her laughter at the interaction that took place between father and daughter.
Yash was so good at this, his demeanor put even a frightened child at ease. He could pacify anyone effortlessly. Her love for him made such moments special.
Just as sleep claimed her too she wondered if she really did snore as Yash had claimed.
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"Aarti you have to read this new cook-book it's fantastic. The author has so cleverly made all tough dishes seem easy to make" said Vidhi who was busy cooking holding the book she referred to in one hand.
"Let me have a look Bhabhi...Chote Nawab's kitchen. Interesting." Aarti said as she took the book from Vidhi's hands and browsed through it.
Aarti had forced herself to return to her normal self just as Yash has requested. She had adopted her old principle of placing a "No entry" board to things that were upsetting her and proceeded to do her daily chores as if nothing was wrong. Yet she was not all together successful as the unresolved issue of Pratik and Paridhi was never that far from her thoughts.
"I think we should gift it to our kitchen-shy Pari. When she returns that is... I am sure she will like it too. Anyway I was wondering how Auntyji might be? Did Pari tell you what exactly was wrong with her mother? Do you think we should go and visit her or call and enquire at the least? I and mummyji were discussing this sometime back" said Vidhi stirring the pot placed on the stove.
All valid questions but Aarti had no answers to give. She became nervous.
"Ankle sprain...yes ankle sprain and I think it is something minor. Pari wanted to visit her mom so she used it as an excuse" fibbed Aarti.
Vidhi laughed.
"So typical of Pari. Is she scared that Buaji will have her for lunch if she gets to know she has gone to her "maika" for no particular reason?"
"Anyway I will inform Mummyji about this. But when is Pari going to return? I tell you that girl has to learn that you just don't disappear like that and as always no calls from her either"
Vidhi asked just as she was about to leave the kitchen as Aarti took over finishing the dish.
"I don't know bhabhi...I seriously don't know" replied Aarti staying close to truth this time. She had tried calling Pari's cell but her call was getting rejected all the time. She even tried the land-line but no one picked it up. She had no clue what was happening with Pari at the moment.
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"This just won't do. I am going to call and speak to your in-laws as I can see you are not going to make any effort in that direction" Pari's mom got up from the sofa and picked up the cordless phone angrily.
"Mumma, please there is going to be no use even if you do. By now everyone would have got to know that I have left the house for good. You know how they are...they will all obviously blame only me for it. I doubt they will have me back after this. But that is besides the point... I myself have no intention of ever going back" Pari said as she snatched the phone from her mother's hand.
"Are you out of your mind? I was patient with you so far. You were too distraught when you came in and I knew you did not need any advice at that stage but now I can't help but speak out. I cannot allow you to destroy your life this over something that could be resolved by talking things over with a cool head" Pari's mom tried to make Pari see sense.
"You and Pratik had a love marriage. I know for a fact that both of you love each other. Just because you had a fight and said a lot of things in the heat of the moment will not end a more than a year old marriage" she continued.
"The fight was just the end of it mom our differences were always present right from the start. You know how much I wanted to continue working yet I got no support from Pratik. He could not even do anything about his own career...so where was any chance of him bothering about mine" Pari said getting frustrated.
"So? Just because of that you left him" Pari's mom could not bring herself to rationalize this move from her daughter no matter what she said, as supporting it was beyond her at the moment.
"And what is this...you going back to work that I heard?... I know as I heard you speak with someone over the phone" her mother questioned further.
"I have to do this Mumma. The more time I am left with nothing to do the crazier I would become. With me back to work at least my mind would be occupied. Anyway this is the life I always wanted. So please I beg of you not to interfere. But if you still do... I will move out. I am dead serious. And if you think I am such a burden just say so there are other places I could go to"
"Don't talk such non-sense Paridhi. This is your house. You are welcome to stay for as long as you want" Pari's mom knew about the stubborn streak in Pari and knew when not to press so she left things at that for the moment.
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Yash was having a tough time at work. The charity event he was planning was having one road block after the other. The venue was at a remote place at the outskirts of the city. Getting the logistics ready was proving to be challenging as the road leading up to it was in a terrible condition. But being the experienced events management company that they were they had done that part splendidly. However the head chef who was doing it as charitable work and who was supposed to cook at the venue itself had pulled out at the last minute citing personal problems. Yash knew it was very unprofessional on the chef's part but he did not waste time lamenting on this last minute ditching.
How he going to find a replacement at this 11th hour was what was worrying him the most. The guest would start arriving and if they did not start the kitchen soon he knew they would be late. As this was a charitable event he did not have a luxury to overspend to cover-up for this eventuality. They themselves were in it for the cause and not for the profit. Construction of a school in this area would benefit the children of the nearby village a lot. The panchayat had approached their father for help and this event was in an effort to raise funds through donations after the lunch. Hence everything depended on the lunch. As a few big-wigs were expected he did not like to keep them waiting.
"Bhaiya... I will take up the kitchen's responsibility. I know that the staff is untrained volunteers but if they are capable of following my instructions I can make do with what we have just as the chef would have" Pratik approached Yash and said in a calm voice.
Yash did not know what to say. Since morning Pratik had been avoiding him. Every time he tried to approach Pratik something or the other happened. But as work commitments did not permit Yash to take time off to have a heart to heart with Pratik so he was forced to bide his time. But this was something out of the blue. He knew Pratik was an excellent cook. He had a diploma in hotel management for god's sake. But he had never let his passion for cooking progress beyond the kitchen at home. Yash always thought Pratik to be very talented but had assumed that for Pratik cooking was just a hobby and nothing serious.
"Are you sure Pratik? This is not what you usually do at home. Cooking for family is easier than cooking for 500 people. I hope you have thought it through" questioned Yash as he cautioned Pratik at the same time.
"Bhaiya trust me on this. I know what I am doing. Besides you do not have any better option that me right now. I promise I will not let you down" Pratik accepted the challenge looking straight into Yash's eyes.
Yash knew Pratik was right. The urgency of the situation needed this drastic step. He hopped that event finished without a hitch. So he reluctantly accepted Pratik's offer. Both brother shook hands, Pratik withdrew first and started to go towards the make-shift kitchen.
"And Bhaiya... I do not need baby-sitting or hand holding. Stay away from the kitchen till I am done. I will call you for tasting if you insist at the end" Pratik said one last thing over his shoulder as he walked off with determination etched in every step he took.
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"Mr Yash Scindia that has got to be the best, finger licking food I have ever tasted. I did not know bitter-gaud could taste that good" said one of the guests.
Yash was yet to taste the food himself, but hearing the praise being showered by one and all made him so proud of Pratik. Today he had made sure that the men from the Panchayat were saved from the blushes. He also had a lopsided smile when he realized Pratik had made his favourite dish ' bitter-gaud curry as the part of the main course.
"I will donate some more for this cause. My stomach is so satisfied right now that I am feeling very very generous" joked another guest.
Yash smiled some more. He had to find Pratik. He had to share all this feedback with him, had to thank him, had to talk about so many other things too. Yash excused himself and went in search of Pratik. He could have a word before the donations were to be collected.
After a frantic search he was unable to trace Pratik. He checked with Mohan about Pratik's whereabouts.
"He is not here. Once he saw the last guest had had a plateful he just kept his apron and and cap aside and left. He did not tell us anything else" replied Mohan.
Yash was left standing trying to figure out what Pratik must be going through right now and why he had left without even having a word with him. He knew Pratik's mobile would be switched off so did not even try calling him.
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That night when the kids were having dinner Pratik joined them.
"Hello there, P-cube-A club members. Hope you are eating well as you are going to need all the energy you can get for tomorrow. As tomorrow I have planned for something big" he paused intentionally wanting to see the effect of his words on the kids and was thrilled that he had their total attention and they were looking at him expectantly.
"How does a movie and later fun in the park sound?" Pratik propositioned knowing full well the kids could not resist such an offer and also looked at Aarti seeking her acceptance for the outing which Aarti readily agreed to.
"Hurray !!!" the three children shouted together.
"Chahu you are the best" Ansh said.
"But you have to sleep soon and get ready early too as we head out first thing tomorrow morning. Can you do that for me?" Pratik asked them.
"Anything you say Chahu" said Palak with others nodding along. This was a great way to spend their holiday.
Aarti was perplexed to see Pratik in such a cheerful mood. She did not understand how he could be so jovial with the kids when only till recently he was walking around like a zombie. Yet she did not want to upset him by questioning too much about it.
She was always amazed by Pratik and his ease with the kids. He became a kid himself when interacting with them. He was more of a friend figure for the kids than an uncle. But that did not take away how cautious he was with them. Always ensuring their safety when they played outdoor games or went for outings just like the one he mentioned now.
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To Aarti it looked like Vidhi bhabhi had updated Mummyji. So no one spoke of Pari, much to Aarti's relief when all were having dinner.
Once she got Yash alone she asked if he had spoken to Pratik. Yash answered in the negative and went on to narrate the day's events to her.
It was then Aarti could understand why Pratik was in a buoyant mood in spite the personal turmoil he must be under and Aarti got a faint inkling of the troubles that must be plaguing Pratik and Paridhi's marriage.
TO BE CONTINUED...
PS: This was one LOOONG Update sorry for boring you guys.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Debate Mansion
