Be Mine

64. Epilogue 💖

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A D I T Y A

"Why aren't you eating?" Akriti asked softly, settling beside me. Her voice was filled with curiosity, and I could sense the slight worry behind her words.

Everyone around the table was ready to dig in, their plates filled with the matar paneer she had prepared. I, on the other hand, was hesitating. I couldn’t help but observe everyone else first, trying to gauge their reactions before I dared to take a bite.

Dad, ever the enthusiastic eater, had filled his plate generously. He scooped up a large bite of paneer with gravy and popped it into his mouth. I watched him carefully, my heart racing. He closed his eyes, letting out a satisfied moan. "Mmm, this is delicious!" he declared.

Wait... does that mean it’s good?

Next to him, Abhi took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. His face remained neutral for a moment before a small smile spread across his lips. "Not bad at all," he said, nodding in approval.

My stomach twisted in anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be a disaster after all.

Finally, I reached for a piece of chapati, tearing off a small bite and dipping it into the paneer and gravy. The smell was inviting, rich and spicy, but I still felt cautious. I glanced around the table and saw everyone watching me, waiting for my reaction. With no escape, I took a deep breath and brought the bite to my mouth.

A K R I T I

I was thrilled to have finally cooked something for my family. Watching them taste the dish filled me with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Dad and Abhi’s expressions were encouraging; both seemed to genuinely enjoy the matar paneer. Their approval made me feel accomplished, a warm glow of happiness spreading through me.

Mom was busy in the kitchen, preparing a salad for Dad, so the only one left to taste my dish was Aditya. He had been acting a bit odd since Mom mentioned that I had cooked the meal. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something was definitely up with him.

I watched closely as he finally tore off a piece of chapati, scooped up some paneer, and brought it to his mouth. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for his reaction. The moment he smiled at me, I felt a wave of relief.

“This is so tasty!” he said, grinning. “I’m going to eat all of it. Don’t even think about getting a bite.” With a playful smirk, he pulled the entire dish closer to him, guarding it like a treasure.

“Yes, Bhai, I loved it too!” Abhi chimed in, leaning over to take another bite. “Come on, Bhai, let’s eat it together.”

Their enthusiasm made me feel a rush of pride. I couldn’t believe I had made something so good that they didn’t want to share it with me.

“At least let me have a taste!” I protested, reaching out for the dish.

Before I could grab it, Dad interrupted with a chuckle. “No, beta, this is ours now. You’ll have to make do with something else. By the way, I was wondering when you’ll be joining the office. You don’t need to cook every day; we have cooks for that.”

“I know, Dad, but I really want to learn how to cook. I thought I could do it daily,” I said, excited about my newfound interest in the kitchen.

Before Dad could respond, Aditya chimed in. “Nope. You’ll be coming to the office tomorrow. I can’t handle everything on my own.”

“But—” I began, only to be cut off by Mom’s gentle voice.

“Let them have their share,” she said, holding up a small bowl she had set aside. “We can eat from this.”