𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 119

Kheer, One of Alias's favorite Indian desserts, had turned out to be a long process. As much as she wanted to taste it, it was still in the process of making, and whenever she tried to take a sneaky bite, it was too hot, and she had already burnt her tongue twice.

"Now, you can put in the dry fruits." Laksha instructed. " make sure to put a few of them aside in a different bowl. You want to top off the individual servings with them. It looks pretty." She sent a cheeky wink to Alia.

Alia nodded slowly, with a small smile at her, where, before slowly, dropping most of the body, finally dumped dry fruits into the utensil. She swirled it a little before Laksha stepped away and handed her the cover.

"Now turn off the heat and place the cover on it. By the time we eat dinner, it's just going to be lukewarm; perfect for consumption."

"Got it." Alia placed the handle with one hand, while with the other she turned off the burner. "Done."

"Well done." Laksha looped her arm into Alia's. "Now come on, let's go and talk together."

"Do you mean gossip?"

"Well, if there is a difference, let me know." She giggled and they both went to the small sitting arrangement in the backyard. Since the weather was slightly cold, the firepit table top wind cast stand was already lit giving the warm feeling the needed.

"Why don't you and Armaan go somewhere for the weekend?" Laksha proposed. " maybe you could go to a hill station or somewhere tropical. Wherever you want to go. I think a long weekend is coming ahead and he could take another day off to spend with you so that you can enjoy your time together."

Alia's protested within a beat. "But Ad—"

"Advik has his nurse and Me. He even has his uncle; my husband and then Mahesh is also there. Everyone knows what kind of medicine he requires and when. The rest will be taken care of by the physiotherapist who comes every other day. There is absolutely nothing you need to worry about." Just the second Laksha finished, Mahesh came with a tray with two steaming cups on it. He had made masala chai.

With thanks, Alia grabbed the cup and wrapped her hands around it, welcoming the warmth.

"He makes good tea." She praised after he was gone. Laksha agreed.

Laksha then smiled, as if remembering something. "Did you know, when I came here after marriage, the very next morning I had prepared tea for everyone and no one said anything. Only my husband praised it. I had actually made an extra cup and I offered it to Mahesh, who took it and he was the only one who told me that I had made a very, very bad cup of tea."

Alia gasped. "He did?"

Her mother-in-law nodded. " the only one. At first I did not believe him. Then I realised that no one except Siddharth praised me and oh my God, I cried in front of him."

"What did he do?"

"He handed me tissues before teaching me how to make a cup of tea." Laksha chuckled. "But even today, after almost 30 years of marriage and me being in this house, I will say he is the one who makes the best tea."

"He does. I have to agree with that." Alia took a sip and sighed. "He has not pointed out my faults though."

Laksha huffed. "You are a decent cook, then I was. I think he appreciates someone knowing what they are doing."

"Haha," Alia cackled for the sake of it. "I am better."

"Shut up," Laksha warned, "you don't want me to be a typical mother or are you ready for the torture?"