I love you. Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever.... ♾️♾️
If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you.
If I were to live a thousand lives,
I would want to make you mine in each one..... Kayamath tak
"You're the moon, he's the sun,
And...
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After everyone had finished breakfast, the clinking of cutlery faded, and the buzz in the dining room slowly died down. The family members began to disperse, some heading toward the living room, others returning to their rooms. Panchi, too, gathered herself to leave the table when Shanti approached her with something in her hand.
“Panchi,” Shanti called softly.
Panchi turned around, only to find a box being gently placed in her hands. She blinked in surprise. The box was wrapped in royal blue velvet, embroidered with elegant golden threads that shimmered under the light. It looked nothing less than regal like something out of an heirloom treasure chest.
Panchi looked up at Shanti, puzzled. “What is this, maa? Aur kyun?” she asked, her voice innocent and confused.
Shanti smiled, her expression full of motherly pride. “Yeh tumhara gift hai beta. Aaj tumne pehli baar kitchen mein kadam rakha hai. Pehli baar sabke liye kuch banaya hai. Yeh usi ki gift hai.” (“This is your gift, child. Today, you stepped into the kitchen for the first time and made something for the family. This is a gift to honor that.”)
Panchi flushed immediately. Her head dropped a little like a child caught sneaking sweets from the kitchen. "Sorry maa... par main yeh nahi le sakti. Mainne toh kuch banaya bhi nahi... mujhe toh chai banana bhi theek se nahi aati. Toh phir main yeh 'pehli rasoi' ka gift kaise le sakti hoon?” ("Sorry Maa... but I can’t accept this. I didn’t really make anything. I don’t even know how to make proper tea. How can I take a gift for my ‘first cooking’?")
Shanti gave her a mock stern look, her voice dipping into playful threat. “Ek thappad maarungi agar naa kaha toh! Itni achhi chai banayi aur keh rahi hai kuch banaya hi nahi? Tumhara poora haq hai is gift pe, samjhi? Gift lo warna... pata hai na mujhe thappad maarna bhi aata hai?” ("I’ll slap you if you say no again! You made such lovely tea and you’re saying you did nothing? You absolutely have the right to this gift, understood? Take it. Or else… you know I can slap too, right?")
Panchi giggled, biting her tongue sheepishly, and did a mock apology gesture by pulling her ear. “Sorry maa…” she mumbled cutely, then shyly took the gift from her hand.
Milind had been watching from a distance. A smile slowly spread across his face as he observed her innocent antics, the way she bit her tongue, the way she looked at his mother with such genuine warmth—it all tugged at something deep inside him.
“Waise maa… chai sach mein acchi bani thi?” Panchi asked, still unsure. (“By the way, Maa… was the tea really good?”)
Shanti nodded, her tone now teasing. “Haan, bilkul acchi thi. Bas agli baar thodi si zyada cheeni daalna, aur bhi acchi lagegi.” (“Yes, it was definitely good. Just add a little more sugar next time, it’ll taste even better.”)
Panchi blinked, suddenly realising why the sweetness was lacking. She mentally smacked her forehead. At Kanika’s house, she was used to making tea for just two people. This was her first time making tea for so many people, and in her hesitation to not overdo it, she’d barely added enough sugar.
