Part - 4
Yash held Payal close as they laughed over Pooja's antics in the kitchen. Just then, Paridhi walked in. "Yash Bhaiyya, can I borrow Payal please?" she asked smiling at Payal.
"Of course", said Yash, sending his daughter off with a kiss but with a twinge of pain in his heart. Even after all these years, Yash still found it difficult to share Payal with his Chote and Pari…..
About six months after Pooja's birth, Pratik and Pari had announced her pregnancy. The whole household had been filled with joy at the prospect of another baby and that too, one born to the youngest son of the Scindia household. Yash suspected his mother at least had hoped that this one would be a boy.
But it was not to be. A few weeks later, Pari had collapsed and had been rushed to the hospital. She had miscarried. And as much as that had hurt, what broke their hearts was that Pari could never get pregnant again – the complications through the miscarriage had destroyed her chances of a future pregnancy.
As the entire family rallied around the grieving couple, the 6-year old Payal had seen what the others had not. She sensed the anguished despair and guilt tearing at Paridhi's heart and of her own accord, the young but wise child had reached out to her Chachi. Payal spent hours with Paridhi everyday, prattling on about school and her friends and everything else that fascinates a 6-year old. Slowly but inexorably, her childish innocence and charm had pulled Pari out of her grief and into the real world again. As Pari recovered, Pratik had gained the strength and confidence to face the world as well. The two adults responded by loving Payal as their own daughter. No one had said anything, no words had been exchanged, but all the other family members saw the change.
Over the years as Pratik started his restaurant business and Paridhi became a radio and TV show producer, they continued to treat Payal as their own child. They also did something which the others had found baffling earlier, but were now coming to appreciate. Pratik and Paridhi discussed all their business ideas, issues and problems with Payal. As a young child, she understood nothing – but gave them her undivided attention anyway. The focused attention in turn helped the adults find their own solutions. But as Payal grew, it became obvious that she had picked up a lot of business acumen from these discussions – and perhaps she had it in her genes anyway: she started asking questions, intelligent ones that forced Pratik and Pari to think outside their comfort zone, often leading to remarkable conclusions.
The gentle, artistic Payal had the most keenly developed business sense of all the Scindia children – who would have thought! Yash and Arti adored the girl – and they especially appreciated her innate ability to sense another's pain and reach out to them, intuitively knowing how to provide comfort. A rare gift indeed. As proud as they were of her, Yash still found it difficult to share her with his brother.
And if he had so much trouble sharing Payal with his own brother, what chance did he have of accepting a boyfriend for Palak, thought Yash ruefully. Granting himself a few moments for self-pity, Yash decided it was time to rescue his wife from the kitchen dungeon.
Strolling into the kitchen, Yash's jaw dropped. There were platters of food everywhere – Pooja had not exaggerated. There was enough food to feed over 50 people – and yet they had invited only 10 children!!
"Arti!" exclaimed Yash.
As Arti turned to him, Yash glanced over at Vidhi and immediately felt guilty at the tiredness he saw on her face. Making his mind up, he walked up to Arti, took the spatula from her hand and turned her to face Vidhi.
"Arti – what are you upto? Have you seen how much food you have already prepared? Enough to feed an army!! And look at Bhabhi – she is exhausted!! And you are still making her cook? This is more than enough. Neither one of you, or Pari, are going to step into the kitchen. Whatever food is ready will have to suffice. And no need to serve the kids – they will prefer to serve themselves anyway."
Without giving Arti a chance to speak, Yash continued, "Bhabhi – go. Go and rest. Leave this mess to Ram Dulare and his minions. Arti – you are coming with me", saying this Yash practically pushed the two women out of the kitchen.
As Arti freshened up, Yash walked around the room muttering to himself. When she came out of the bathroom, he turned to her. "What was that all about Arti? What's got into you? Why are you making so much food?"
Arti flushed guiltily. Reading the look on her face, Yash exclaimed "You didn't want to let Palak down!" Reaching out to her, he gathered her into his arms. "Oh Arti, its just a bunch of friends coming over, not a baraat you know!" he teased.
Arti sniffed, leaning into him, rubbing her cheek on the open-V of his chest, "So, I over-reacted this time, huh?"
Yash tightened his hold on her, grinning to himself, "just a tiny bit, just enough to cook for an army!"
Arti smiled sheepishly "I was nervous, and when…"
Yash joined in unison "and when you are nervous, you cook."
"Waise why are you nervous? That idiot Vikram is the one who should be nervous" muttered Yash, his temper rising at the thought of the boy who had dared to look at his daughter.
"I bet he would be if he knew what was in store for him" Arti said smiling, with a glint in her eyes.
"Yes…" Yash said with a malicious satisfaction. "And you ladies have been preparing too, I see."
"Well of course. We have to evaluate him as well, not just you men folk" Arti retorted.
Yash nodded, "Yes. Not that you would give us a choice here. If we could I think all of us, Ansh included, would skip the inquisition all together and just throw him into the pool, then pick him up, roast him alive and send him his merry way" Yash said with a far-away look. He could just visualize the scene….
"I wonder how Priti ever got married…" muttered Arti, referring to Vidhi and Pankaj's daughter who had got married a couple of years ago.
"Hmm…what? Did you say something?" Yash asked absent-mindedly.
"Oh nothing, nothing at all" retorted Arti as she left him gloating over his plans for the inquisition.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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