POTION OF LOVE

44. 𝐒𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

“Good Evening, Ma’am” I greet, approaching Jasmine's mother carefully. She was seated in the sitting area going through a magazine “Good Evening, beta. Kaiso ho?” She asks, she turns to me realizing the slip up. “I mean how are you?”
[Translation - Good Evening, son. How are you?]

I smile standing behind her “I am doing good” . I haven't had any interactions with her, mostly for meals only. As I was walking by, I thought to greet her.

“Are you enjoying your stay here?” She asks, gesturing to me to sit beside her. “Yes, it's refreshing and a bit tiring too” I reply, sitting beside her feeling a bit out of place

She laughs and nods “Oh I heard about the fitting from yesterday. But these kinds of weddings happen once in a while so you gotta put through it. What about the food and weather?” She questions, her smile filled with warmth and eyes wanting to know my opinion.

I don't wanna be rude nor wanna lie. Something subtle in words should be fine, right? Plus I should be making a good impression on her. “The food is great, I have never experienced such excellent cuisine. The weather is a bit hot for me but I am managing well due to the arrangements made”

Her face softens in relief “Oh I am glad to hear that” She pauses for a second, thinking about something else to ask.

“What about you? I heard from Jasmine you are coming here for the first time. Are you liking it here?”

She nods in response, keeping her magazine aside “Yes, it's relaxing but a bit stressful too? However, Veer and Jasmine are handling everything well so I don't need to worry much.” She says, her expressions a bit conflicted “But these don't take care of their health at all. Especially Jasmine, she will skip meals to complete her work and won't stop until she does”

I blink in surprise taking in her words. I know Jasmine wants herself to complete her work first and fast but skipping meals?

“She didn't eat breakfast or lunch because of the fitting. I tried to make her eat but she just had some snacks and juice” Her mother complained, shaking her head. “Now she and her gang are just chatting instead of eating. Kids these days”

I glance at the clock, there is still some time for dinner and the lunch would’ve already been wrapped up by the staff.

“Don't worry, ma’am. I will make sure she has something” I assure her. Jasmine's mother looks at me with a small smile, patting my arm “You are very responsible towards her, I appreciate that. And please don't call me Ma'am, it's very formal. Just aunty is fine”

I smile “Okay, aunty”

After a few minutes chatting with Jasmine's mother — who mostly talked about Jasmine's responsible behaviour to everyone else but her own health. I understand her mother's frustration because after hearing about her negligence.