Sweet Revenge

9. Morning Shenanigans

Anupama palmed the shimmery blue gift wrap and twirled it between her fingers, wondering when she should give it to him.

The previous day, as soon as Vanraj Shah had stormed off, baa had left her table too and so had everyone else, save for her and Anuj.

The nonchalance with which he had continued to eat had baffled her, but that constant small smile on his lips had conveyed the satisfaction he had derived from driving Vanraj Shah away.

Well, she didn't appreciate drama really. Funny though, that was one constant in her life. But this time, there had been no unnecessary shouting and taunting thrown her way, and so she did not particularly hate the cold war that had gone at the lunch table. For the first time in a while, her day at Shah House had been peaceful, and she was not complaining in the least.

She had pondered giving Anuj his gift while they would discuss her travels as he had stated, but the yawn that had escaped her mouth had changed the plans and Anuj had ordered her to take it easy for the day, while he had retired to his room, citing work.

"Should I give it now, or wait till we get to office?" She pondered loudly. It was 8.30 now and they had to reach office by 9.30.

Anupama decided to go with the office route, and was sliding the box into her tote when her hands paused and she bit her lips in thought.

That was her workplace! And if she were to just simply hand over the surprise, how would she get his feedback, which she wanted ASAP. And if he were to get into opening it, she had an inkling that it was going to take longer, and she had tons of things to report to him, on the work front too.

"Ughhh!!" She groaned irritated, before perching herself on the bed, worry lines crinkling her forehead.

"Abhi de doon?" She asked herself, before shaking her head in negative instantly. If baa were to see her giving Anuj a gift, her peace would go to hell.

"Shaam ko, office se aane ke baad?" She deliberated, yet again before rolling her eyes. Dinner ke saath saath, baa mujhe bhi khaa jayengi!

She picked herself from the bed then and proceeded towards the doorway. Pausing, she sent out a quick prayer to kanhaji and walked out of her room, a robotic smile pasted on her lips as she made beeline for Anuj's room, which was across the hall, and to reach where she had to cross the kitchen.

She started ahead, casually scanning the hall before finding Bapuji's head buried in the paper. She turned towards the kitchen then, and her soul was scared out of her body as she crashed into Baa.

"Uthi nahi kya dhang se!" Baa barked as Anupama smiled blankly and waited, while Baa ranted to Kanhaji and shook her head.

Taking a break from her complaints Baa focused on Anupama yet again, and swiftly, Anu clamped her right hand over her ear and started looking here and there.

"Ye idhar udhar kya dekh rahi hai?" Baa asked and Anupama pretended to notice her then only, faking ignorance with all her might.

"Baa, I think my ear stud fell here, somewhere".

Another smile and Baa stomped off pissed. Because for the first time in her life, she was forced to control her tongue. Lashings at the tip of her tongue had to be forced down her throat because her son had warned her against it. She recalled Vanraj's words then and felt her BP shoot up some more, if her temper wasn't sky high already.

"Baa, from now on none of you will fight with Anupama, or taunt her, or shout at her. Not a thing against her, baa. Don't ask me why and just please do as I say!" It had been her, kavya and Paritosh with Vanraj in her room, a day before that Anuj Kapadia had crashed into their house.