Chef's Kiss

10. Laughter

                                                                              Vijay

" When did you come home yesterday?" I heard Maa's voice as I entered the dinning area. I was covered in sweat due to my morning workout session. " Around midnight ", I said while taking a sip from my protein shake," Where is Riya ? did she not wake up yet , she will be late for school . Let me go wake her up ". I was about to go when Maa stopped me instead told aunty to go and get Riya ready. I looked at her in surprise for her sudden change in behaviour . 

"For how long will this continue Vijay ?" I was totally clueless about what she was talking about. " what will continue Maa I can't understand anything." Maa left whatever she was doing in the kitchen and came to the dinning table , I could see seriousness all over her face . She took a seat and continued in a serious tone ," Vijay yesterday I caught Riya talking to her soft toys how every classmates of her has a mother and she didn't . Vijay I know you try your level best to do everything but afterall a mother is  a mother  you can't replace them and Riya is not like others she is very sensitive what if it affects her mental health while growing up ."

I waited for my mother to finish , it is not that I don't realise how much Riya needs a mother , I know how a mother's love is important for a child but it's my fear that what if Riya gets treated badly by the person I marry . I have seen many rich families daughter , all fake only runs after money. " So what do you want me do Maa." "Find a mother for Riya and wife for you ", my Maa replied like she knows my answer. 

"Okay fine , do what ever you feel is good but I have two conditions , first if Riya doesn't like her she is rejected and second she will be my daughter's mother first then anything else. I will now get fresh I have to drop Riya  then go to the meeting ." I left my mother in the table still proccessing what happened just now . I heard  'yes ofcourse, don't worry' in my mother's exciting voice while I opened my bedroom's door.

Few days later  

My Maa was quite fast in finding a date for me cause here I am sitting with the daughter of  one of the famous family , Shreya Sharma  . I regreated my choice of coming here within 10 minutes after sitting down. She was going on blabbering about how we used study in the same school until I transffered abroad. She then excused herself to the washroom and I let  a sigh of relief,   I am  never wrong about one's character traits  and the moment I saw her I knew how this night was gonna end , she was just like the other rich heiress out their trying to attract a man's attention with revealing dresses . All these was going on my head when I got distracted by a laughter , it felt familiar to her actually no it was her. The person I waited for and couldnot remove from my heart even after so many years.

I quickly stood up and looked here and there until I caught the glance of the person laughing , she was facing her back towards me , before I realised my feet were moving towards her . 18 years fucking 18 years since I heard this laugh , I searched for you I really did but failed my every attempt . Are you really here? Will you able to recognise me ? Do you even remember me , Riya? , all this questions kept coming to me . I was just few steps away , my heart was pounding like crazy . I was about to call her when somebody tapped on my shoulder, I turned my head to find Shreya.

I quickly again turned towards that girl direction but the seat was empty , I lost the chance to see her face and suddenly a rage came in me . I turned to Shreya and made a direct conversation," Listen Miss Sharma  I don't know what Maa has told you but let me tell you clearly I am not here to find a wife but a mother for my daughter and I don't think you can be one so it's better we end this here, it was amazing meeting you but let's not waste each others time." 

With that I left and got in my car anger was taking over me . She was so close to me but I lost her again , I waited for her 18 years and when there was a chance of getting to see her I let her go. I drove to my house , it was late at night knowing Riya and Maa has slept , I went straight to my study room and looked the door.

can play the song : Phir bhi tum ko chahunga 

 I threw my suit's coat in the chair , lossened the tie and rolled my sleeves , picked my scotch bottle and a glass poured myself a drink . The drink burned my throat , I opened the locker kept in the book shelf and took out my most precious box from it. I sat on the ground kept the glass at side and opened the box and took the half broken necklace out. 

" I heard your laughter Riya  after 18 years , are you near me . I tried to find you but failed , why are you hiding from me . I even named my daughter after you so I could keep your memory close . Why are you doing this to me Riya ? Can't you see how hurt I am , please come back to me. You know I  became a chef just like I promised you , I will feed you delicious meals please come back to me. "

I gulped down glasses after glass till my eyes felt heavy and while hugging the necklace tightly, I laid down in the floor as if the coldness of the floor was easing out the burning of my heart , I dozed off.