Forever and Ever

8. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐰

I, alone, descended down the stairs. My heart raced in anticipation, just as all the eyes landed on me. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever would be coming my way.

“Stop,” Delilah, Issac's grandmother's cold voice reached my ears. Just when I was about to sit,  furthermore stopping me in my tracks. I gulped, the lump forming in my throat, raising my brows in confusion.

“You need to prepare breakfast.” The fuck, why would I? What type of weird ritual, or culture type thing is this? My eyes, without my seal of approval, widened as I unknowingly shaked my head.

“Yes, beta it's a ritual here, every daughter in law needs to perform,” ‘sure,’ my sarcastic toned with her ‘beta’ as it might be expected as usual only in my head though.

“Even in Christian household?” I questioned, puzzled. I believed Christians don't do THAT ritual.

She granted me with a great death glare. I gulped, knowing I messed up. I could literally imagine the thumbs up emoji popping up in my head.

I pressed my lips sarcastically, smiling before a servant came and led me to the kitchen area.

“Uhmm-” I dragged the ‘m’, thinking and keeping my thumb and index fingers on my chin, a gesture which is also known to be a thinking one.

In the rear of thinking a lot, I couldn't come up with any idea. The clock is ticking, with every hand movement of the clock, my heart is rising. I don't have much time. I huffed a breath.

Only when I was about to give up, Andrew entered the kitchen. His heels went straight to the fridge. He opened the cap of the cold water bottle, before gulping it in, and a great idea struck in my brain at that moment.

I cleared my throat, “hey,” my voice came out in a croaked tone, in nervousness. I squinted my eyes when he ignored me. I sprinted towards my savior for help.

“Help me” I said in a pleasing tone, later cringing at it, with puppy eyes. Beguile he just  frowned in response.

“I mean help in cooking.” I heard that he cooks very well. oh, wait, let me correct myself. I mean stalked.

“And why will I do that?” He crossed his arms. Making me roll my eyes. Do these brother have to question everything and be alike this much?

“Cus your great, great, great, grandmother made a useless ritual, that the bride should cook. And I don't even know the c of cooking.” i explained, controlling the urge to roll my eyes.

“C'mon, i know you love to cook and a great cook. So, don't play hard to get brother in law.” I sarcastically added brother in law. scoffing mentally.

“Please,” i added, joining my hands. For then he didn't reply and started at me like I'm some alien.

“No!” He said monotonously. He was about to go, when I held his hand glaring.

“You have a husband for a reason Shanaya.” but he's useless. I bit my inside cheek, not able to come up with an excuse as to why I can't ask him for help.

“But-” he cut me off rudely.

“No buts” nonetheless, I came up with a excuse. And an great idea struck my brain or, should I say a foolish one. I'm not sure or certain if it'll work.

“But he's sleeping and-” I opened the lock screen of my phone. Going through pics, all while being a Lil clumsy. I tapped on the photo smirking. “And I'll tell you a secret.”

He uninterested, and apathetic, towards my offer of the secret. which will wreck and give a slight hint of drama to me, and create havoc to his love life, walked away. Anyways, I scoffed. “it's about your wife.” And right as those words left my mouth, he stopped in his tracks.

He raised his brows amused, with a inkling agitation featured on his face. A smugly smile made it's way to my face. “bark” he taunted, I controlled the itch to fleer at him.

“First, you cook for me, and then you'll get the secret of your dear wife.”

“And what if you're lying? What if you don't have any secret, and just pretending?”  I opened my mouth to defend myself. But he cut me off. “why should I believe you?” ugh! What if’s are really annoying. And, why Ain't he gullible?

“Fine, don't believe me, mujhe kya?” Despite my words, I can't help but feel a sense of  nerve-racking feeling sliping in, with him rejecting my offer.

I sat like a queen in the chair, and smiled in victory, looking at him preparing the meal. All along, unwillingly gazing at his tall, manly figure. I mean, he is okAy-ish.

I internally scoffed, knowing well he was not just okAy-ish but hot.

“Do you maybe know some word like ‘helping’?” he mocked, at my aloof of acting.

“What do you need help in? You know everything.” i, oblivious of cooking, questioned. He took a deep breath viz, mollifying himself.

“Help me cut the damn vegetables, moron,” i pushed down the middle finger, which was bursting to make its presence known. Rather i gave him a thumbs up.

I gracefully held the knife in my hand, chopping the vegetables like a pro, or such atleast i thought until he decided to give me a reality check on how to cut vegetable. But I'm not less than a pro though.

“Shanaya, no!” I gulped, at how cold and tired his voice was. For then I was going to add the ingredients in, but he stopped me.

“What?” I asked, annoyed at how he thinks I know nothing.

“That's salt which you were going to add in kheer,” my mouth formed an ‘O’, i nodded, accepting the fact that i really do know nothing.

“But how was i supposed to know they both literally look the same!” In spite of me being wrong, i tried to defend myself.

“What the actual fudge is going on here?” An distinct disbelief voice forced me to turn and peek at him.

“Man, what type of wife do you have?” Andrew scorned, manufacturing my pupils to do it's task of rolling.

“Just the type you don't.” Even with not being affected by me, he took a stand for me. Unless he meant it as rock bottom.

“She doesn't know the difference between salt and sugar!” he stated, disturbed. oh, excuse me but why making a big deal of me not knowing the difference? ugh! So annoying.

“Man, i give up,” he raised both of his hands giving up. “you play the role of your husband and help her, I'm out of this shit.”

“And you!” he pointed at me. I gave him a galre in return. “I need the secret pic, it should not take more than a minute for you to send it!” he is so cold and mean. oh god! It's gonna be hard dealing with this humans.