UNROMANTIC

Chapter8:The dinner night

Kaveri Iyer
14th April 2024
Veer has already left for work and the same goes for Akash and Nandhini.The two of them will be joining for the dinner party today but Veer won't be able to attend as he's gonna come home late.Aunty and I go for shopping in the morning to buy food for dinner.We've also bought some gifts.Then I do some makeover to the house by cleaning and decorating it.Aunty has started to prepare for the meal when the sun sets which is joined by Nandhini and Akash.I wash some fruits to put it in the living room so that quests can enjoy it when they reach here.I heard that the friend of Aunty's sister which is also the co-founder of the college is also coming today.So there will be four people in total(Aunty's sister-Janu Bhatti,her husband -Indra Bhatti,their daughter-Niva Bhatti and the co-founder of their college-Tania Sinha) .Earlier Aunty talked about the good relation between Aunt Janu and Aunt Tania since their college days.They had been friends for more than twenty years.They even founded a college together as a token of their friendship.Aunty has mentioned that Aunt Tania has a son who has the same age with Niva and they attend the same college which their parents co-founded and also the one I'm joining tomorrow.But Aunt Tania won't be accompanied by her son and husband as they are not available at the moment.
So in total there will be nine people at the dinner party tonight including me.Actually ,Aunty has wished to see my parents today at the party but unfortunately they can't attend the party as they are away on a trip to my maternal grandma's place which is somewhat far from the city.It's not even a month since I get married but I'm already missing them.

At 7p.m. all the quests arrive and we give them a warm welcome.I can see the luxuriours lives of those people from the time when they first stop there cars at our yard.The cars they bring today is not some normal ones,only the millionaires and billionares can afford them.But the real show starts from the moment they come out of the car.They bring a bunch of bags with them as our present.We have no idea what's inside them though.The girl who wears a white shirt and a black skirt with a high pony tail must be that Niva Bhatti Aunty has mentioned.She's tall and pretty with big eyes with a thick mascara,high nose and a heart-shaped lips with pink lipstick.It feels like she's popping out of movie.Honestly the whole thing seems like a movie to me.The two aunts have their make-ups on which make them look younger than me.I heard Uncle Indra is a retired army major.That may be the reason he looks so smart and fit with neat short hair even though it becomes white due to old age.Then we invite them in the living room to take some rest.I peel the fruits place it at the middle so that everyone can have it.We sit all together and introduce each other.
'I've only seen you on your wedding day and I didn't get a chance to chit-chat with you as it was a hectic day.Your name is Kaveri,right?'Aunt Janu starts the conversation.
I reply yes and she continues 'This is my daughter, Niva.This must be the first time you meer each other as she couldn't attend your wedding.At that time she was away on a study tour for her college.And this is your Tania Aunty,my best friend.And that is your Uncle,Indra.' After finishing to introduce each other the two uncles have gone to the rooftop to have their chat.Aunty has gone to prepare the meal.I tell her to let me tag along for the preparation but she tell me to sit here and talk with the guests.Nandhini also sits beside me.As soon as Aunty has left,Aunt Janu starts to talk looking at Nandhini,'Why don't you go to make the preparation?Seems like you forget who you really are, because of the good treatment my sister has given you.Why is my sister so dumb,still keeping this ungrateful person around her?'

'Mummy(Mom),why are you bringing up that right now?Don't try to break the mood' Niva replies swiftly.

Yes,I can feel a bad atmosphere here.I can see Aunt Janu is not fond of Nandhini.Judging from the words she just said,it's about Nandhini's poor family background and I heard from Nandhini how she comes here.Even though our family treats her like our family member,I think Aunt Janu can't accept it.She still sees her as a maid which can all be known from the speech she just uses.But I can see that Niva doesn't seem to agree with her mother's way of treating Nandhini like that.And I can see Nandhini seems to be feard of Aunt Janu.She looks down with her face turns all red and tearing up out of embarrassment.Aunt Tania also nods her head as a sign of agreement with Aunt Janu's words.Honestly,my mind is embroiled with frustation at seeing them treating Nandhini like that but if I confront with them now,it'll be an immature act,I think.So I just want to dedend them with good words.
'Janu Aunt,Have you not still known about that?'I ask in a surprised tone.
She replies curiously,'About what?'
Everyone's looking at me with curiosity to hear my answer.
'When Nandhini first came here,her performance was so nice that Aunty became frustated and punished her to become her sworn daughter.I thought you've known about this but it doesn't seem like' I reply jokingly.
When she tries to talk Aunty comes and calls us to have dinner.
While having dinner,Aunt Janu becomes fond of one dish and starts to give compliment about it,'This is very tasty.My sister is so lucky to have Kaveri as her daughter-in-law.I heard she helps to cook the meal today.I guess this may be her work as I never have had such kind of dish at this place.And I heard her father is a collector and her mother a is gynaecologist .She's just a perfect person as expected from a perfect family.'

Then Aunty replies,'You're right,I'm very lucky to have her as my daughter-in-law and she's a very good person but that dish is not cooked by her,Nandhini have cooked it.She said it's a special dish of their village.My beloved daughter has grown up so soon.'

Aunt Janu stands up and stops eating saying she's full.Then she walks away from the kitchen.After sometime we all finish to have dinner;Nandhini,Niva and I go to Nandhini's room and have a good chat.They seem to be very close.Amidst the happy vibes,I can notice something that's so out of tune from the current vibe.It's Niva's expressions.Even though she laughs at Nandhini's jokes,it seems so fake to me.It seems like her mind and expression are not coordinated.She smiles only with her lips but not with her eyes.At first I don't notice the dark circles she has due to her makeups but I come to know about that after she washes her face.She asks Nandhini to help her put her make-up on again.Even Nandhini asks about her dark circles but she replies it may be because she's been busy with college assignments these days so she can't get enough sleep.Then I conclude maybe the college is very strict and I plan to do more research on it after I start attending it.I'll be in charge of counselling the students to keep their mental health safe and sound and she's one of the student there so I'm a little carried away while seeing her like that.But for now I think it's not a big issue as she says it's from the workload from studies.Then when I'm sitting there looking at them,Janu Aunt comes and calls me out to have a chat with her.She talks all bad things about Nandhini and warns me not to be too close with her.I can see through her intention and plays along with her asking the reason why I shouldn't become close with her.She says Nandhini's trying to snatch away our property by acting nice.I just answer I get it and says no further.

We've presented the gifts that Aunty and I bought to them.As it's getting late they bid us goodbye and gone back.After they have left I ask Nandhini about the relationship between she and Niva.She says they've been close for so many years and Niva treats her like her own sister.She also says that she's not that lively today comparing to her pastself and she's changed a lot.She used to like to wear tradinal dress very much and used to come here often.But in the past months she's stopped coming here.Nandhini says she's very surprised today seeing her dress up like that and says she hardly recognises her.When I'm ready to go back to my room Nandhini thanks me for speaking up for her today but I just say it's my responsibility to do it as a big sister and I'll always be there for her.She smiles and wishes me goodnight.

It's already 11 when Veer comes back home.As usual I sit on my bed and read a book.I can't concentrate on the book as I'm bothering by the evil intentions of that bad woman,Janu Aunt.While I'm lost at my thought Veer starts asking,'What are you thinking?Since I come back you're zoning out.Aren't you feeling sleepy?Is something bothering you?'
Then I reply,'You know that Janu Aunt,I don't really like her.She talks bad thing about Nandhini and tries to separate our tie.'

He replies,'Ah,that woman!It's good that I'm not present at the dinner party otherwise the party won't go well.She's always like that and I always fight with her about that.Don't mind her,she's just crazy about money and status.Just go to sleep instead of thinking about that trash.'

It seems like he also hates her a lot and even have issues with her.I calm myself down and try to sleep.He seems so tired today as he falls asleep so fast.Usually I'm always the first one to fall asleep but today is an exception I wonder how's his case is going on.I heard that the case he's been working on has been closed as the accused has comitted suicide.Wish I could help a bit to make his worries lesser.