I have no idea where this is going to go but bear with me.
ENJOY
Chapter 1
Mehek cut her onions, and ignored the bluntness of the knife she held, she used more force than you would need to cleanly chop them and then poured them onto a frying pan, with the pan crackling away she quickly added ginger and all, of her other ingredients. She had done this thousands of times yet, she never grew tired, of the joy she got from cooking. Cooking was the one thing in the world that tied her to her mother, it had been her mother's passion and now it lived on as her own. She smiled and began speeding up soon it would be lunch time. And if food was not served, her family would not be happy, as it was they never were really, happy. Most of the time they all seemed to complain about nothing ever seemed to be enough.
"Mehek you made this oily crap again. You better have made me something else to eat She said picking up a parata and waving it around like it was poison. Nehal was wearing a short tight skirt and a half top, practically half naked. Mehek went around into the corner and brought out some brown roti and boiled vegetables she had made for her. Nehal always fussed for Diet food once every two or three months when she realised her skirts were not fitting once they would fit she would go back to munching on anything that had fat in it.
"This, could you not have made me something better She said, scrunching up her well powdered nose.
"That was the only stuff I could get with the budget for this week Mehek said, she had budgeted with the little money that came for the food as much as possible, she stretched it out, so that they could have their basic three meals.
"I am sorry Mehek said after a minute, Nehal rolled her eyes at her and sat down by the table and began eating. Another thing about Nehal was that whenever she went into one of her ridiculous diets, her moods were awful. Usually Mehek, spent most of her time in the kitchen avoiding her, but she would always find faults in her. Mehek's Kanta Chachi was the female patriarch of the family, everything she said and did was the words of god. Mehek had remembered her never liking her mom when she was alive so her avid dislike for her seemed to have passed down.
"Why did you not clean the bathroom? She asked her, Mehek had cleaned the bathroom, perhaps someone had, went in and had a bath or something late. Yet rather than arguing she just kept her head down.
"I am sorry. I will clean it right now She said, going up onto the terrace.
"Don't eat until you are finished!
Mehek opened the bathroom door, and easily spotted some lotion out. Ever since Mohit hit puberty he had been having odd baths at all, times and stealing lotion from all corners of the house. His sheets were forever being dumped in the washing and today was another day.
It was hot dry day, with every breath she took her nose hurt. Mehek wondered sometimes when she cleaned what it would be like to meet a prince like in fairy tales and have him save you from your fate. Give you a place in his life and live happily ever after. Fairy tales were beautiful, they gave poor, girls with not much of a future hope. Princes did not exist, nor did fairy tales. No matter how beautiful they sounded and not matter how much you wished were true. When she was done she went back downstairs.
"Born in one of the wealthiest families, He was not only intelligent and handsome, he proved himself to be independent, after graduating from college abroad he has opened a chain of hotels, that have made him a name to be reckoned with we bring you live on ONTV Shaurya Khanna
"Thank you for that introduction came a soft-spoken reply. Mehek watched in awe as she peeked at the tv. Mohit always watched celeb interviews. Because he assumed that one day he would be one and then he would need to know how to answer questions.
Mehek adored Shaurya Khanna, he was her favourite judge on ISK, not only was he handsome. He was kind and always put safety first of every contestant. She loved ISK, well she loved any show about cooking.
"So, you are back in India and this time it's not just for ISK, why are you back? The host asked him. He was seated on a blue coach, wearing a dark mahogany suit with light stripes, his ankle was on his knee and his chin rested on his knuckle. He was undeniably handsome, he had beautiful sparkling brown eyes and a naughty smile.
"Papa, this man has so much money, yet he acts as though he is so kind and nice how fake Mohit said laughing.
"Yeah aamir log are very rude to their staff Jeevan Chachu said, Mehek sighed and tried to concentrate on the interview and not them.
"I am opening a new restaurant in old Delhi
"So, are you planning on resettling in India?
"Yes, my mom loves it here. More than anything she wants to get me a daughter in law
"Would you marry a girl your mother chooses or someone you love?
"My mother should choose her, apparently I pick them out all wrong
"Oh why is that?
"According to her two people in a relationship need to be different in order, to work, and all of the girls I have dated were never able to handle the pressure that comes with being mine"
"So is marriage on your cards?
"No, it is not. I don't wish to marry right now
"But if the opportunity rises what kind of girl do you want to have?
"I don't know I will let you know when I myself find out
"So what can we expect from this new restaurant, what will be different about it from others
"Well a lot of owners hire the best of the best, and a lot of raw talent gets misplaced. I want that raw talent in my restaurants
"So when can we expect an opening date for it?
"Next month, I will be having a launch party, for critics and foodies around the area
"Papa, let's get Nehal married to him, we won't have to work for life Jeevan Chacha threw a pillow on Mohits face.
"You already don't work, Kothe
"We will just enjoy life. More than we are now
"I don't mind he is super-hot Nehal chirped in, she smirked at Mehek nastily. She knew. Mehek collected his pictures and articles. Mehek went into the kitchen and noticed the food was finished, she sighed and began washing the dishes, she would have to wait for supper to eat.
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Mehek had a bath and went upstairs. Nehal was sitting on her bed holding a navy blue note book in her hands. Mehek felt her heart almost drop to her stomach. It was her diary. Her personal diary, which she kept hidden from everyone.
"You are like an angel, whenever I see you on TV I find myself imagining what it would be like to be yours completely and I realise it would be no less than a fairy tale...Yuck Mehek I knew you had a crush on him but seriously this is stupid you should not be so delusional it is not healthy for you. There is no way in hell Shaurya Khanna would even look at you, I mean you look like a cabbage patchkin, you are short and stout. Shaurya would probably be better suited for someone like me, someone who can match him in height and looks Nehal said spitefully. Mehek's eyes watered.
"You had no right to read my diary Nehal She said trying to take it away from her.
"Oh my god, this room is mine everything in here is mine, even those clothes you are wearing, are my old clothes. When will you learn your place. You are just the maid here Mehek. Understand this Mehek. Now you will get this back if you do me a favour
"What do you want?
"My friend is having a party tonight, I am going to sneak out. You will get this back, if you cover for me Nehal said opening her drawer and locking it inside.
"It is not safe to go out this late Nehal Mehek said, she had seen the news there were bad people out there that did bad things to girls. And girls as pretty, as Nehal it would be even more dangerous.
"You are not my mother Mehek, Shut up. I don't want to hear a lecture from you now will you do as I say or should I post your personal crush on facebook?
"Nehal please if something bad happens to you...
"Shut up. Do as I say, if not it will go up and not only that I will personally see to it you are never happy here
Mehek went on to her knees. Helplessness washed over her, as Nehal looked at her face, with distaste.
"Please don't do this. Nehal.
"God, you are annoying Nehal said storming towards the door.
"You will stay in this room after dinner and will not leave. I do not care what excuse you make but you will make them until I am back
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Mehek had just finished doing the dishes, she walked slowly to her room, without eating she felt sick. With worry. She hoped Nehal would be safe and that the bad feeling she had about tonight would go away. She could hear the clouds crackling outside, a storm was brewing. She closed the windows so that the cold air would not come into the room.
"Nehal why have you not eaten bacha? She heard her Chachi Mansi call out. Mehek bit her lip.
"Chachi Nehal is not well She said, closing her eyes and grimacing.
"WHAT, open the door let me see her
"Uhm Chachi, she thinks its contagious. She does not want to affect anyone
"Ok I am going to call a doctor
"No chachi don't, Nehal said she has...Taken some medicine by the morning she will be ok
She heard the door rattle again and felt sick with tension. She had a horrible feeling about this. A very horrible feeling.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Anupamaa
