TO THE STARS THAT LISTEN

CHAPTER 25: A Gift

Ahaan

Not even 24 hours had passed and my own mother was throwing me out of my own room. All because of that Dr. McGenius. Who the hell gets up after 3 hours of sleep. On top of that gets ready in a saree and prepare an entire meal?

"What's happening? Where is everyone? And why do you look so gross?" Chachu frowned as I descended the stairs to their floor.

"Because I didn't get time to ready while my mother was throwing me out of my own room." I pretended to ignore him and kept moving down the stairs and much to my dismay he joined me.

"Oh boy, this is interesting. Not even 24 hours have passed to your marriage and you are already being thrown out of your room." He smirked and kept a hand on my shoulder. "So, junior Jindal, what did you do?"

"Seriously? That's what you think, that I did something wrong?" He gave me a side eye. Oh, who was I kidding. "Fine. I might have played some prank on Ira and mumma might have taken that seriously."

"Huhh." We had reached the kitchen. I took out a water bottle from the fridge and took a gulp. "What'd you do?"

"I told her that she had to getup at sunrise, make a meal for everyone and uh oh, wear a saree." I could smell the dishes actually. "And that you all are very serious about the rituals and your food preferences."

"So, that's why it smells so delicious in here?" He took a wiff of the air in here.

"Yeah I guess so." I passed him the water bottle. "But I was just messing with her. I didn't think she'd actually do it. Who gets up at 5:30 after going to bed at 2?"

"A surgeon." He looked as if I was some kind of moron. "Who has been training to work for 24 hours continuously after a 30 minutes nap." Oh, crap. Ofcourse. Why didn't I think like that. "How stupid are you?" he grinned.

"Don't ask me. I am the man who was thrown out of his own room within 24 hours of being married." He laughed so hard the water spilled out. Gross.

"If it's any consolation, my wife was throwing things at me right after my marriage. I just happened to last for more than 24 hours." He winked. This time I was the one who was laughing.

"You messed up. Real bad" Karan came laughing in the kitchen.

"Shutup you doofus." I was frustated as hell and my baby brother was the british monarchy. If you couldn't understand yet, I hate british monarchy. It's stupid and annoying. "What are you doing here anyways?" I asked.

"Badi mumma asked me to get cereals for bhabhi." He pulled out a box of cereal from the cabinet. "She also asked Reet to not let you in your room whatever happens." They both laughed. Again. What is wrong with us Jindal men?

"Can I use your washroom? I need to wash off this weariness. And also use your clothes." I asked Karan but didn't wait for him to reply.

This is the worst day ever. I got up to mumma yelling at me, bua pulling my ear while everyone laughed. And if that was not enough I had to wear clothes of a man who rarely washes himself let alone his clothes. Even his cleanest of clothes smelled. Gross.

I walked down to the common floor where everyone sat on the dining table now all dressed. Ofcourse except Karan who's room I was using and my dear dharmpatni who was sleeping so peacefully, in my room.

"Toh kya banaya hai humari nayi bahu ne?" dadu asked giving me a side eye. Okay, so 'all india radio' Reet had spread the news.

"Dal makhani, tawa vegetable, pulao, chapati and kheer. But we will eat it only when Ira comes down." She too gave me a side eye. What was with my family and side eye. "Till then, Mona has prepared pancakes." I hate pancakes. Mumma turned to me and spoke again. "And omlette for those who don't like pancakes." I could feel her anger from almost 2 metres away. 

I'm so dead.

"Mumma, I was just messing with her. I didn't think it would cause her so much trouble." I went close to her and hugged her from the back.

"Don't butter me. Make up to her." She turned to face me. "Aaj pehali rasoi hai uski. So reward her with a gift for the prank you played on her. And apologise to her or else you won't go to work."

"Mumma, that's not done. What if she doesn't like my gift? I can't stay away from work." I didn't work for our family publishing but Aastha Jindal had enough power to stop me from doing something, and I loved and respected her too much to say no.

"Then get her something she will like. She is your wife now. Start practising for the future." She ordered and went into the study with a plate of pancakes.

What the heck? 

Rest everyone started giggling.

"Don't laugh you all. Help me. I can't stay away from work."

"Arrey beta, yeh toh bas shuruat hai. Hum toh pichle 33 saal se apni-apni biwiyo ko mana rahe hai. Tu abhi naya hai, seekh jayega." Dad patted my back and went back to eating his breakfast.

(Son, this is just the beginning. We have been wheedling our respective wives for 33years. You are new at, this, you will learn.)

"Don't listen to these people Ahaan. Even after 30 years they keep repeating the same mistake. Think about what Ira will love the most and give that to her." Bua said.

"Your bua is right Ahaan. Trust me, a real woman isn't interested in materialistic pleasures." Chachi added.

"Truer words were never said. My sons are both foolish Ahaan. Learn from your grandfather. He is the best husband in the world. I have been married to him for 57 years and not once did he make me feel unworthy. Even when we had fights, he used to make up to me so genuinely, I couldn't help myself but get convinced." Dadi looked at Dadu with love-filled eyes and he returned the same. Even after 57 years of marriage, their love was intact.

Love birds.

That's when a thought struck my mind. When we were going on dates, Ira told me something. I could try that.

"Thank you dadi, bua, chachi. I need to go somewhere." I kissed their foreheads and called the lift. I heard them calling me to have breakfast but I had to be quick.

Please forgive me, Ira. It's the first time I am actually thinking about someone's gift.

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What gift does Ahaan have in mind?

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