Prachi and Ranbir were walking towards the dinning table when Prachi suddenly remembers something and says, “Ranbir I just remembered I needed to something important I’ll be right back.” Ranbir nods and replies, “come back quickly or else I..mom and dad will get worried.” Ranbir thinks, I hope she didn’t figure out I was about to say or else I’ll get worried for her, then she might get a hint about my love for her and she will definitely distance herself from me. Prachi nods and quickly goes off, heading towards the kitchen. Ranbir breathes a sigh of relief and thinks, she didn’t suspect anything.
Prachi is walking to the kitchen and thinks, why did I feel like Ranbir was about say that if I didn’t come back quickly he’d be worried? Well maybe he was going to say that as he’s my friend now. But then why didn’t he say it? Maybe I’m just over thinking it and he meant to say what he said. But why do I feel so sad that he didn’t say he would be worried if I didn’t came back? Am I in lo…? No, no, no I’m just simply overthinking things as I got married to him.
Prachi reaches the kitchen and sees Shahana there busily chit-chatting with Aryan. Prachi stands at the door and sees Shahana and Aryan looking at each other sweetly, which quite odd considering how they always fought with each other. Prachi also see something, that she thought was a rose in Shahana’s hand. Aryan heads towards the kitchen door glowing with joy but stops dead his tracks on seeing Prachi there while she was giving both him and Shahana teasing looks. Aryan nervously says, hoping Prachi had not heard any of the conversation between him and Shahana, “Pra..Prachi h..hi I w..was in he..here to dr..drink s..some w..water a..and definitely not in here to tell Shahana how much I love her.” Shahana glares at Aryan while Prachi smirks and calmly says, “but when did I say you came here to propose Shahana, I didn’t even ask you why you were in here and you, yourself have admitted my Bhabhi is to be Shahana.” “Prachi how am I your Bhabhi, if anything it’s this idiot who will be your Jiju,” Shahana replies, signing towards Aryan and confused on why Prachi was calling her Bhabhi. “Wrong, my dear friend, Aryan is my cousin by blood so you relation with me will be one of a sister-in-law but don’t worry you will always be like my little sister to me,” Prachi says with a smile. “Leave me and Aryan, you and Jiju had your first night yesterday na, so was it enjoyable?” Shahana says with a teasing smirk. “Who is Jiju?” Prachi asked, genuinely confused. “Ranbir of course, after all the both of you did get married,” Shahana replies. “Shahana, me and Ranbir obviously didn’t do anything people would normally do on a suhagraat, in fact we didn’t even share the same bed, ” Prachi replies. “Oh,” Shahana says, upset that she had lost the perfect opportunity to tease Prachi back. “Okay now both of you leave and let me make something sweet,” says Prachi. “Okay, okay we’ll leave let’s go Aryan,” Shahana says and drags Aryan along with him. Prachi starts making gajar ka halva for her pheli rasoi.
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“I feel like its been a millennia why isn’t Prachi back yet? Should I go and check her, to see if she’s alright?” Ranbir says, looking ready to get off his seat at any time. “Calm down Ranbir, she will obviously take some time to come as she is making her pheli rasoi,” says Aryan. “Maybe, I could just go and check on her once,” Ranbir replies. “Ranbir I know your in love with her and worried but I am more than certain my cousin sister is capable of taking of herself,” Aryan says. “Aryan don’t say that I’m love with Prachi that loudly especially when Prachi is home and she could hear you at any time!” Ranbir says in whisper-yell. Pallavi is about to say something when they hear a loud noise and all turn to look at the noise of the sound. “Prachi when did you come?” Ranbir asks nervously and thinks, please god, please let me know that Prachi did not hear any of mine and Aryan’s conversation and I promise I’ll do your aarti every single day and never ask for anything from you.
“I just came now, to serve everyone gajar ka halva,” Prachi says kneeling down to pick up a spoon which she had dropped. “Prachi I’ll go and put the spoon in the sink you can serve the food,” says Ranbir. “Wow, aren’t you being a little too helpful today?” Prachi says teasingly. “Wo kya hai na, if I go and put this the sink then I will get the food quicker, ” Ranbir replies in the same teasing manner and leaves to put the spoon in the sink while Abhi, Pragya and Riya are silently thanking god for giving Prachi such a loving and caring life partner and the Kholi’s are silently thanking god for making Prachi and Ranbir’s relationship so beautiful. Prachi starts serving everyone the food and thinks, Ranbir loves me. But what should I do, I don’t think I love him but I don’t want break his heart either, by avoiding him. Please god help me get out of this mess quickly, maybe you could bring someone else in Ranbir’s life. Wait no, I don’t want anyone else in Ranbir’s life he is only mine. What, since when is he mine, I’m probably thinking all this as Ranbir is in love with me and Shahana’s teasing is really getting to me now. But god please I do not care what you do, but just help me find a solution to this problem.
Prachi is done serving all the elders and is about go and serve Aryan some halva but Ranbir comes out and grabs her attention and she ends up staring at him with some unknown emotions in her eyes. “Prachi!” Aryan yells for the fifth time and Prachi comes out of her trance and quickly shakes her head and says, “yes?” “Where were you lost?” Shahana says teasingly. “No where and definitely not where you think I was lost,” Prachi replies instantly. “Don’t lie to me, I know you were lost exactly where you thought I was lost,” Shahana replies. “No I was not lost anywhere and definitely not in Ra..,” Prachi stops mid sentence. “What were you about say, Ranbir na?” Shahana asks with a teasing smirk. “No, I was about say Rajma,” Prachi replies and thinks, what kind of excuse was that? There’s no way she’s going to believe me. But what else could I have said? Rebellion? Rabbit? Raita? Well, Rebellion would’ve made the most sense, I suppose as there is a rebellion going on right now.
“Ya, ya sure you were lost in Rajma,” Shahana says sarcastically. “Well, that is possible as Rajma have been made,” Ranbir says but silently hoping that Shahana was actually right. “Okay I think that’s enough discussion and you guys should Prachi serve the remaining people, some food,” says a hungry Aryan. Prachi serves the others food as well and once she is finished serving everyone she is about to go and sit next to Shahana but Shahana purposefully spills water on the seat and Prachi is about go and get a cloth to clean it but Pallavi says, “Prachi go and sit next to Ranbir and eat first I’ll clean this up later.” Seeing Prachi about refuse, Pallavi quickly adds, “please don’t refuse.” Prachi sighs and heads over to Ranbir with a smile.
Everyone finishes eating and Pallavi says, “Wah, this was amazing man tu karta ha ki roj-roj kha khau.” “Accha tu hoyga na after all Riya Mehra ki bhen hai,” says Riya. Prachi smiles but after hearing bhen she gets reminded of her nightmare and as does Riya and both them start wondering why they dreamt that as there was no way it was a normal nightmare. “Wa, Prachi kamaal ka halva tha,” says Vikram. “Aaj mujhe lagta hai ki mere bete ne pheli baar kuch sahi kha hogya paar hai Prachi puttar khanna utt tha,” says Dida. “Kam se kam bahu ke samne tu mat bazti karo,” Vikram whines. “Wo Prachi I remember eating halva like this in Hoshipur also reveal what you used to do in Hoshipur warna I will do it myself,” Shahana says.
(1400+ words)
What could Shahana possibly be talking about?
Will Prachi realise her love in time or will it be too late?
Until Next Time!
~Riya Sharma