The Birlas' - IKSHANA

Chapter- 22: Blast From The Past

At Birla House:

The kids were busy preparing the breakfast as the elders were getting ready to go to their workplaces. They made Poha, vegetable Maggi and were now struggling to get the paranthah right. Vegetable Maggi has always been Roohi's comfort food. Every time she is either upset or super happy, she gravitates towards it. At one point she got so addicted to it that she refused to eat breakfast without that. Abhimanyu had to literally restrict and monitor her Maggi intake to help her get rid of the addiction. 

He had a tough time making her eat her food during that phase and he never complained. He knew that it was hard for Roohi and he almost never scolded her into eating. He was rather patient with her and often coaxed her to finish her meal. Roohi smiled to herself as the memories hit her. She could clearly remember one prominent incident where Maggi played an important cameo. That was much after the whole dealing with the restriction phase. She was clearly over it but some habits die hard.

It so happened that, once when Abhimanyu was out on a medical emergency, she was terribly missing him. She was 13 then and threw a massive fit worrying everyone at home. It was the time COVID was making lives miserable and Abhimanyu being a front-line worker, was almost never off duty. All of them were stuck at home while Abhimanyu was treating some critical cases and trying to save lives. Roohi was worried for her Poppy and to feel better, she needed her vegetable Maggi just the way she liked it.

But Maggis weren't available anywhere near and the situation wasn't such that they could venture out. Abhimanyu strictly instructed them to follow the precautions after giving a detailed reasoning for it. He made sure his family was well versed with the seriousness of the situation and expected them to follow caution. Everyone at home, tried cajoling Roohi into eating something but she flat out refused. It was like she travelled back in time and behaving how she used to once upon a time and only Abhimanyu managed to pacify her back then. She wasn't letting anyone close and her state worried them. 

"Kuch khale na Bacha. Tere Poppy aajayenge. Bahut sari jaan daav pe lagi hai na. Doctor toh bhagwan samaan hote hai Roohi. Aise logon ko lachar chodke thodi aa sakte hai woh" Manjari tried once again. 

"Dida! Main jaanti hoon Poppy nahi aa sakte. He is needed there but mujhe Maggi khani hain. Please na kahi se bhi ladho. Mujhe uske alawa kuch khane ka man nahi hai. I am craving it badly" she was at the verge of crying.

"Princess! We know aapko Maggi kitna pasand hain. Humne itna sara stock karke rakha tha. Aap itne din se bina baat sune wahi khaye jaa rahe ho na...khatam hogayi hai. Kahi aas paas stock nahi hai shayad sabko bhi yahi khana tha aapke jaise. Dur hum jaa nahi sakte. Samjha karo baby" Harsh tried giving the same reason in a different way.

"Gramps! Itna pyaar hai fikar hai meri toh kahi se bhi lao na. Itna kya bada mang liya maine? Aap itna bhi nahi karsakte? Poppy hote toh kabka arrange kardete. Aapse poochna hi bekar hai. Rehne do." Roohi blabbered in irritation but Harsh was hurt.

His karma was coming back with vengeance. Yes, he could never be a good father to Abhimanyu or Neil. He failed badly but he had given his all to be the best Gramps Roohi could ask for but her words made him feel defeated. Also the helplessness everyone was feeling doubled down on him. Neil saw this and almost yelled at Roohi,

"Yeh kya tareeka hai Roohi Dad se baat karne ka? Dad chup hain aur aapki wish poori karne ki try kar rahe hain. Agar yahi aapke Poppy hote toh, woh aapko Maggi ke aas paas bhi bhatakne nahi dete. Watch your words." Neil scowled. 

"Poppy hote toh Maggi chahiye bhi nahi hota. Unhe miss kar rahi hoon, isliye chahiye. Aapko samajh nahi aayega. Chodo." She retorted rudely. Neil got angry at her rude remarks.