BEWITCHED

Chapter 10th

Descending the stairs, I heard the faint chants of bhajans.
Moving further toward the voice, I saw dadaji, dadi and Bhavna aunty in temple doing aarti.
Of course my chuda and anklets let them know that I saw here. I joined them doing the aarti and then having prasad.

We were now in the living room, not getting views of other I asked them where were the others.

"Dhriti asked not to wake her up early today. Aarav must be also sleeping, he is not a early person and Athrav... He should be in gym.
And aapke paati dev roj toh present rehte the... Sayad kal thak gye hoge."

Bhavna Aunty whispered the last part quietly in my ears so only I can hear her.
I knew that I will get teased, but from aunty... This is so embarrassing.
She giggled moving towards kitchen, me being hot on her tail.

"Aunt-"

"Choti Maa, Maa, mummy ji, maa ji, mom ye sab bolo, aunty nhi."
She turned towards me, patting my head she commanded gently yet firmly.

"Maa."
My stomach gives me a weird feeling, my heart warming at the word.
After years calling someone maa was weird for my tongue, it felt foreign but gave me a warm comfortable feeling inside.

"Bolo?"
She questioned moving again towards the kitchen.

"Aaj pehli rasoi h, kya banau?"

"Tumne kya socha hai?"

"Basundi... Kisi ko nahi pasand ho toh bata de, mai kheer bana du gi."
We were at the now standing at the a open lavish kitchen. A few workers already making breakfast for the members.

"Oh, Aarav ko bhoot pasand hai basundi. Or nahi, sab khaate hai basundi."
She left after informing me to check on the breakfast.

I started making basundi, one of the reasons I choose basundi was that it was easy to make and was also tasty.
So it was a win win.

When I completed making it, I put it on the refrigerator to cool it down as it was tastier when it was cold.
I then helped the workers to carry the dishes to dinning table.

Coming to dinning table I saw that Aarav was wearing his night suit and was furiously tying in his laptop. Dhriti was well dressed and was trying hard to cut an apple. Athrav moved towards his seat taking the knife and apple away from her, he then cut it neatly and passed to her making her smile eye to eye.

The elders were already present in their seats reading newspapers.
Just when I set the toasts at the table, he came into the dinning whistle setting his tie.
He sat at the large round dinning table gesturing me to sit in his left as his right was already preoccupied by Aarav-who was now looking at the food, ready to fill his empty stomach.

I greeted everyone morning and moved towards the chair.
We ate our breakfast whislte chatting a little with each other.

Now it was time for dessert and I can feel my nervousness from my sweaty palms.

"Wow, is this basundi?"
Aarav was already shoving it in his mouth.

"mmmm~~ did you order it maa?"
Dhriti was also devouring it making me smile that they like it.

"No, Aarna made this."
Maa let them know, making them look at me with wide eyes.
One things I noticed Athrav, who haven't touched it yet, took a small little sip of it. Then put the spoon down not lifting it again, I guess he doesn't liked it.

Feeling my intense gaze on him, he turned towards me.

"I don't like sweets."
I nodded my head and turned towards Daksh whose bowl was now empty.