16- Puddings

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The moon casted a soft glow over the dark sky, we stepped down from the plane

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The moon casted a soft glow over the dark sky, we stepped down from the plane. Media houses captured the Airport. Our path to the way out was a scrimmage with hurricane as if. Paparazzi captured pictures, recorded videos of the newly wedded couple. We made our way to our home, ropes of golden lights dropped down the five storey building, flowers beaded down in railings of balconies. Gate adorned with pearls and grass, the passage with lights.

Red painted toes, Niharika gently pushed the  metal pitcher, flowed out rice soaked in red turmeric powder. She placed her feet on plate with red turmeric powder mixed with water, after her feet dipped in it, she walked a few steps in to our house. Aunt Mridula did aarti of the newly weds. A small poojan took place.

My sibling left for office, his wife wasn't delighted at the thing. I often saw her staring at me, eyes empty. I did not know what to make out from it, during the wedding as well I could her eyes turning dark at me.

It was the time for her to prepare her first meal as per the ritual. Often sweet meals are cooked to signify only sweet and the good things will be taking place after the bride comes at her new home. She had made rice pudding topped it with nuts and saffron. Family members were seated on the dining table, a house help brought the glass bowl.

Niharika stood from her chair to serve, after the older member were served, she served it to her husband, "that's enough, thank you," her husband raised his palm over the bowl when she refilled the spoon to serve more. She twisted the spoon accidentally, droplets fell on his hand. His wife her hand back quickly, "the hell," She picked up a napkin to wipe it off, I held bunch of paper napkins in my hand, he raised a finger to his wife, "don't," grabbing the tissues from me he cleaned the pudding off his hands.

Niharika's gaze travelled to me, our eyes held a contact, I looked back to my plate. We ate with a few conversations stirring up here and there. End of the meal, a bowl of pudding left untouched. Belonged to her husband.

"Beta, eat it," Aunt Mridula spoke softly, "at least taste it,"

My brother bobbled his head, "I don't eat sweetened food, right?"

Mridula clicked her tongue, "please, it's your wife's first cooking. Don't hurt her-"

"Let Roshni say something, since he always listens to her. Why are you guys even bothering?" Saudamini raised a brow, winking an eye at me."Don't you want your brother to taste his wife's pehli rasoi?"

Niharika's eye on me, so did everyone else's, "Bhai khalein na please," Onyx eyes held mines, expressions unspeakable.

("Please have it.")

He sighed, twirled the spoon in the bowl, "it's good," spoon clanked back in the ceramic dish, he left the table.

He sighed, twirled the spoon in the bowl, "it's good," spoon clanked back in the ceramic dish, he left the table

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