Intertwined Fates -- An IPKKND FanFic

Two

"Officer Lavanya Kashyup. And you, Mrs. Malik, need to come with me."

"Excuse me?"

"You need to come down to the police station. We have some questions for you regarding the activities of your son, Daksh Malilk."

"I haven't met Daksh since the day I joined the Ashram," Subhadra said indignantly.

"Regardless, you still need to give a statement."

"Do you see this, Arnav?" Subhadra demanded, turning to her beloved grandson.

He did, and seeing her being put on the spot like this was quite satisfying. However, he couldn't tell her that so he said, "Does she really need to go down to the station, Officer? Can't she give her statement here?"

"Why do I need to give a statement at all?" Subhadra interrupted. "I won't be insulted like this."

"Dadiji, please," Arnav said. "Chacha has been causing a lot of trouble for us lately. The police are trying to catch him but they need our help. Can you please cooperate with them, for my sake?"

"Fine," Subhadra relented. "But only for your sake."

"Thank you. Officer Kashyup, you can use that room there."

As Arnav led them away, Anjali rolled her eyes. "I hope Lavanya finds a reason to arrest her."

"What do you think she wanted to talk to us about?" Payal wondered aloud as they all walked up the steps.

"Probably found something to complain about," Anjali predicted.

As it turned out, Anjali was right. Subhadra did in fact have a complaint, and she lodged it as soon as they were all seated at the dinner table.

"Devyani, what kind of household are you running?"

"A very nice one, if I do say so myself. Pass the raita, please, Anjali betiya."

"Here you go, Naniji."

"Why are your bahus sitting with you at the dining room table? Why aren't they serving?"

"As you can see, Subhadra, all of us present here have working hands. We can serve ourselves fine. If you're having a problem, I can call Om Prakash Ji to help you."

Subhadra snarled. "I don't need a servant to serve me. I want my bahu to do it." She turned pointedly to Khushi, who was in a quiet conversation with Akash and Payal about tomorrow's interview. "Bahu!"

Khushi startled. "Yes?"

"Get up and serve me."

Khushi lifted an eyebrow, but nevertheless started getting up. Arnav placed a hand on her arm to stop her. "Stay seated. Dadiji, I'll serve you."

"Arnav beta, that's not your job. It's the bahu's--"

"With all due respect, Dadiji, you're not Khushi's responsibility. If you have a need, then I'll take care of it."

"Forget it," Subhadra said, feeling extraordinarily put out. "I'll serve myself."

"Hello hi, bye bye, what was the point of this drama then?" Manorama whispered to Payal.

Payal snorted, but tried to cover it up with a cough when Subhadra turned her sharp eyes in her direction.

"Where were you all day?"

"Me?"

Akash narrowed his eyes. Did Subhadra think that Payal would be an easy target because Akash wouldn't defend her like Arnav did Khushi? She had another thing coming then.