Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 22 - Thawing

He went to the table sheepishly and found everyone else already seated. No one said a word as he pulled out the lone empty chair next to Khushi and sat down.

She passed him a plate of chapati and plopped some spinach curry on his plate.

"Thanks," he muttered.

She wasn't looking at him, but she picked up the dish of rice—it was pulao, sprinkled with small bits of carrots and peas—and silently put some on his plate.

"Thanks."

Next, she picked up his glass and filled it with water.

"Thanks."

She placed a small bowl of dal next to his plate and another small bowl of yogurt. He leaned back to get out of the way of her relentless ministering.

"Thanks, Khushi."

She spooned out a bit of the mango chutney that he liked and dropped that on his plate, then finally placed a poppadum on top of everything.

"Thank you."

She finally looked at him, a somewhat amused expression in her eyes. He managed a small smile.

As he was about to eat the first bite of spinach he had scooped up with a piece of roti, he noticed Buaji and Garima Aunty looking at them, both women beaming. He quickly looked down and ate with intense concentration.

After dinner, Arnav began picking up the plates, but Buaji stopped him. "No, no, Arnav babua, you don't need to trouble yourself; we will do it," she said, forcefully snatching a plate from his hands.

"It's okay, Buaji—" he started to say when Khushi stuck a plate of jalebi in front of his nose. He stared.

"This doesn't have sugar in it."

"Oh. Er—" he took one. "Thanks."

He took a bite. It was sweet.

"It's sweet," he said.

Khushi rolled her eyes. "I made it sugar-free."

"Oh. I didn't know you had that in the house."

"They were a bit old. But not expired; they were fine," she said briskly as she picked up the glasses still left on the table.

He followed her to the kitchen, still eating the jalebi. It was very good.

Garima Aunty and Buaji were in the kitchen, putting everything into the sink.

"I'll help Khushi with the dishes," he said, looking straight at Garima Aunty. He could have imagined it, but she gave him the tiniest nod and smile.

"Okay, son," she said, elbowing Buaji, who had opened her mouth to protest. Khushi watched them but didn't say a word.

The two women left, Buaji muttering something and Garima Aunty shushing her.

Khushi stood at the sink, leaving no space for him to stand, and began scrubbing the dishes. He walked over to her and gently shoved her to the side with his shoulder. She still didn't say anything.

Mimicking her from yesterday, he took the plate she had finished soaping and rinsed it. She watched him from under her lashes as he wiped the plate dry and put it in the cabinet, then returned to take the next plate she had soaped.

"I think we should go back to Shantivan the day after Preeto's wedding," she said suddenly.

"Huh? Oh, I don't mind if we stay longer."

"Why? Don't you want to win the bet?"

"I think I'm already winning."

She gave him a gentle sideways shove with her shoulder and passed him another plate. Almost playful—that was.