Welcomes, Sugar Cookies, and Condolences…
She walks through the snow covered sidewalks with him…he is leading the way to the pent house…the building is structured in a typical uptown Manhattan style…the top floor is all in Malik's name and it is indicated by the labeled buzzer he had pressed…
"Watch out…!" Armaan gets a hold of her upper arm just as she is about to slip off the step…she squirms under his grip…looks up at him… "Are you okay…?"
"Hmm…"
"Come…the gate is opened…"
He leads the way and she follows…the pent house as got a nice ambience and wide stair case…a huge lobby even that one must walk across to get to the elevators or other floors…
"Welcome…! Welcome home…!" Yuvraaj Malik opens up the door before Armaan had the chance to put in his keys…Khanak is pleasantly surprised…she smiles genuinely.
"Dad…you are already here…"
"Of course I am…bahu ghar la rahay ho aur mujhay invite nahi kar rahay thay…"
"Well you invited yourself…meray kahay bagair he…" Armaan hugs his Dad with warmth…Khanak finds their bond warming…it is quite the reason to her status as Yuvraaj's Malik's daughter-in-law.
"Khanak aao ander aao…hum baap betay toh yunhi…how are you liking it so far…?"
"Sub bahut acha hain Uncle…"
"Aur Armaan…?"
Yuvraaj puts her on the spot…she looks at Armaan and he looks at her…Yuvraaj observes the silent moment… awaiting an answer from her…he doesn't get any…she is uncertain herself…
"Dad…way to be blunt…"
"Just curious son…"
…………………………
Shaantanu's Black Lexus pulls up to Sachdev residence…it's a double story suburban style house in a neighborhood that is quite known for its elite Big Apple residents…the high standard of living is a luxury both he and Raina can afford…
"Daddy is home…!" Darya came rushing at the sound of the front door alarm beep going off upon his entrance…it is the best part of his day…each and every day he looks forward to coming home.
"Woah…woah..! Is my cookie monster covered in cookie dough…? Again…" He scoops her up in his arms from her legs and avoids any contact with her messy hands…he has got a bouquet of white lilies in his other hand.
"Yes Again…Daadi Maa's helper today…"
"Hmm I see…so sugar cookies?"
"Yup! I hate chocolate chips…"
"I know princes…you are an odd ball…" He kisses her cheek and then begins to head in towards the kitchen and the conjoined living room.
"Why does Mama love chocolate…?"
"Is Daadi Maa in the kitchen…?"
"No Daddy…she is in the bathroom…"
"Maama is upstairs in the room…?"
"Shaantanu tum aa gaye…?" Madhavi appears in the living room with her own question before Darya can answer his…he makes a turnabout to face Madhavi.
"Jee Maa…Raina kamre mein hain…?"
"Raina…nahi…voh toh abhi ghar nahi aayi…Darya ajaao hum oven se cookies nikaalay…" Madahvi informs her son in her subtle polite way and then gestures her grand-daughter to come to her…Shaantanu lets Darya go after she places a quick peck on her Daddy's cheek.
He stares at the Bouquet of White Lilies in his hands…places it down on the coffee table…walks away while loosening his cuffs to his formal shirt…it is not the first time in the last couple of years…
…………….
"Bhabhi Ji ka sunna maine…I am really sorry beta…" Yuvraaj Malik expresses his concern and condolences over dinner that he is sharing with his son and daughter-in-law together for the first time.
"Maa ne app ke liye aik letter likha tha Uncle…main unpacking kay baad app ko de doongi…"
"No problem beta…take your time…"
"I just wish Bhabhi yahaan treatment ke liye maan jaati…"
Armaan is noticing her discomfort…he is well aware of the facts... her mother had suffered from Leukemia and passed away a painful death only three weeks earlier…her wounds are still fresh and he wishes to be able to empathize with them…
"Dad…" He mutters conveying the "not now" look…Yuvraaj picks up on the hint.
"Khanak yeh try karo…Armaan's chef is great at Indian..paneer saag…"
"Jee Uncle…" She takes the bowl from Yuvraaj's hand and helps herself to its contents…it is a very westernized "saag paneer" according to her palate.
Armaan passes her the bread basket containing Naans …she tears of a small piece…her second eye contact with her husband today is shorter than the one they shared she her foot slipped off the stairs at the entrance.
………….
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