Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 67. Birthday Lunch!

The lunch was a blast as far as Shrishti was concerned. She could not stop praising Raghav from start to the end of the lunch. And she was not the only one. Even Arpit and Megha were the same. Raghav seemed smug and proud at the praise he was receiving despite his hesitance when he first began to serve them. Shrishti had to admit though, her favourite dish was the soup that was served as an appetizer.

'Soup? You liked soup? Of all the delicious things served to us, you liked soup?', Arpit asked her as they lounged in the living room after eating almost their weight. Was this what people called food coma? Unable to move from one place, even unable to get up, after eating? Shrishti shrugged mentally and focused on the conversation.

'I liked the pasta. What is it called, Bhaiyya?', Megha turned to Raghav.

'Cacio e pepe.', Raghav replied. He was seated next to his siblings, eyes closed and relaxed. The siblings were on the sofa while she took the chair. All four of them were full and not at all interested in moving.

'I liked the main dish. It was the best.', Arpit declared.

'It was fun idea, Raghav. One dish from one country!', Shrishti commented, 'French onion soup from France! Cacio e pepe from Italy! And from where was the main course? Which country was it? And how is that name pronounced?' She looked to Raghav.

Arpit was the one who replied, 'Paella. Written with L L A but L is pronounced as Y.'

Shrishti nodded. 'But from which country is Paella?'

Arpit had no answer and looked to Raghav. Raghav smiled at them. 'Spain. Although you can find versions of it in South America and even Mexico thanks to Spanish explorers heading into America centuries ago!'

They fell silent and relaxed in their seats.

Raghav just then asked, 'Nobody liked the dessert?'

As if right on cue, three sighs went up before the same three voices said breathily in unison, 'Chocolate cake.....'

Raghav rolled his eyes. 'That was not a chocolate cake! It is called Sacher Torte. It is from Austria. Chocolate cake with apricot jam and whipped cream!'

'But it was a chocolate cake!', Shrishti cried out, 'Just made Austrian way!'

Raghav sighed and gave up on arguing. Shrishti leaned back smugly.

'Why all the countries you chose to cook from, are from Europe?', Megha asked suddenly.

Shrishti's eyes widened as she realised that all the dishes were from European countries. She too looked to Raghav for answers.

Raghav chuckled. 'Finally noticed, did you? For lunch, it was all European dishes. I will take you through Asian dishes in the dinner.'

'Wow! Tour across the world through their food!', Arpit said cheerfully, 'Europe for lunch, Asia for dinner!'

'We would need atleast two meals to wade through America!', Megha commented solemnly, 'There is North and there is South, two continents!'

'If we are doing continents, then one cannot forget Africa or Australia!', Shrishti piped up.

The trio looked to their resident chef who chuckled. 'You gluttons! Fine! Arpit and Megha's birthdays are coming! Pick your continents! I will cook accordingly.'

Loud cheer went up in the room and Shrishti giggled as she watched Megha and Arpit chatter about what would be cooked on whose birthday.

Shrishti's eyes turned to Raghav only to find the man staring at her. He gave her a soft smile and she smiled back. Just then she had an idea and she stood up. 'I am too full. Anyone wants to come and walk with me?' She asked the trio but her eyes were on Raghav.