Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 11

• P a l a k •

The following day when I woke up I was hailed by Trisha Masi and Diya. Trisha Masi rejoiced that the Maheshwari family was coming again and was more enthralled that she would introduce Diya to them, properly.

"I would present my Diya in such a way that they will put forward the idea of making her their daughter-in-law themselves." Masi had said and Diya had slapped her forehead head with her hands. Ragini and I laughed at her misery and Atharv was not at all happy about this. He had made a face since he heard about it.

"Yaar Palak, ab teri shadi ho ya na ho lekin Diya ki toh hoke rahegi." (Palak whether you get married or not but Diya is getting married for sure) Ragini snickered poking fun at Diya and oiling the fire that was flaring inside Atharv. By now it was too obvious that he liked Diya and Diya liked him too but none of them directly told us anything.

"Palak beta, make your best sweet dish today." Trisha Masi poked my arm and I silently rolled my eyes. "After all they are your in-laws." I wanted to scream and tell her that they were not my in-laws but decided against it. I knew better than to argue with this hypocrite. Even though she was my mother's sister they had nothing in common, they were poles apart.

I was currently in the kitchen with Diya by my side. We were cooking and Ragini was sitting on a stool near us and was busy with her phone. Mumma and Chachi went to the jewelry shop to get something. My marriage wasn't even fixed yet and they had already begun jewellery making. Everybody was acting as if this marriage was already fixed. Bhabi had gone to the hospital with Bhaiya because she had been feeling nauseous since morning and Atharv went back home because Aunty needed him for something.

"Ragini!" I yelled and she flinched. She looked at me with big eyes.

"What happened? Did you burn your hand or something?" She ran towards me and I shook my head negatively.

"I want you to wash and cut these potatoes for me." I grinned and she looked at me in utter disbelief.

"Good grief woman! Why did you scream then?"

"Because you were just sitting doing nothing," I told her and she huffed angrily. Ragini cut the potatoes, Diya made the curry meanwhile I made kheer for the sweet dish. Then Mumma and Chachi entered the kitchen.

"Girls you are not ready yet? They are already here." Chachi told us.

"What's the big deal? They have already met Palak yesterday." Ragini replied and both Mumma and Chachi glared at her.

"Watch that mouth of yours, young lady. I have taught you better than that." Mumma scolded her and honestly, she had it coming she said anything anywhere anytime.

"Girls off to your rooms now! Go and get ready." Mumma ordered and all of us nodded obediently.

"And Diya you better apply a red lipstick this time and that too properly." Trisha Masi said sternly and all three of us made a disgusted face.

We went upstairs and got ready which was mostly just me. Ragini and Diya sat on the bed and gossiped. I wore a red Pakistani kind of suit paired it with a blue dupatta, put on a pair of big earrings, and a thin necklace, did a little make-up, curled the ends of my hair, and then I was all set to go.

"Hey, you guys get ready!" I said to my two sisters and they completely ignored me.

"Nah, we are fine," Ragini replied. They were not fine at all Ragini was in her pajamas and Diya wore a simple white kurti with trousers.