I was just about to fry the 'puris' for breakfast when Khushi ji entered.
"Shubh prabhat Di," she gave a small smile which I returned as we continued to work in companionable silence. You'd think after our chat last night we'd be awkward around each other, but her sharing her story had made our bond stronger; I was her Di not just because I was her husband's sister, but because I was now her sister too.
Soon we were setting the table when everyone arrived.
"Hello hi bye bye," Mami said in her usual manner as she took her seat, "Diwali main bahut hi maza aaya, haina?" she asked chirpily.
"Haan Maasi ji," NK Bhai replied, "Laash hum aaj bhi Diwali mana pate," he said dreamily.
"Laash nahin Nanhe ji, kaash," Khushi ji corrected him as everyone laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, that one, laash nahin kaash," he corrected himself laughing.
"NK Babua, hum aaj bhi Diwali ek shart pe manaenge, agar 'Phati Saree' aaj bhi oo sari mithaian banaigi," Mami ji smiled at Khushi ji but my smile had disappeared.
"Phati Saree nahin, Khushi, unka naam Khushi hai," I said glaring at Mami ji.
"Anjali biyta?" Mami ji looked shocked.
"Di," Khushi ji whispered, "Hume iss se koi takleef nahin hoti," she looked at Mami ji and I with wide eyes.
"Leken hume pardta hai Khushi ji," I said sternly, "Mami ji, aaj ke baad aap Khushi ji ko uss naam se nahin balki izzat se bulaengi, voh Raizada parivar ki badi bahu hai," I took a seat with a poker face as I saw everyone look at me shocked, "Aur haan Khushi ji, aaj ke baad aap hum sab ke saath bethain gi, sab ke khud ke haath hain toh voh apne aap ko khana paros sakte hain," I ignored the gasps that escaped Nani and Mami as I indicated Khushi ji to take a seat.
Slowly, she took a seat next to me when Nani asked, "Anjali bitya, eh aapko ka hui gawa hai aaj?"
"Kyoun Nani, maine kuch galat kiya?" I asked with fake politeness.
"Nahin bitya, leken iss tarah se..." Nani left the sentence hanging.
"Nani, hum vohi kar rahi hain jo aapko karna chahiye tha, leken aap toh sirf apni Laxmi ko sambhaal ne main mashroof hain, aapko kya farq padta hai ke aapki bahu sey naukroon ki tarah peesh aya jaata hai?" I looked around to see everyone gawking at me, "Kya hua? Maine kuch galat kaha kya?" I asked nonchalantly lifting my eyebrows.
Nani and Mami shook their head in embarrassment and served themselves quietly. NK Bhai looked at me questioningly, so I just gave him a small nod, reassuring him that I was okay and that I would explain everything soon. Khushi ji just sat beside me looking at her plate and pushing her food around. I knew she felt awkward, but if she wasn't going to fight, then I would.
"Kya hua Di?" Chote appeared at the dining table then, "Aaj itni khamoshi ?" he asked teasingly with a smile on his face. He looked so cute smiling, it really was a shame that I was going to wipe it off in a minute.
"Chote," I exclaimed with fake enthusiasm, "Aap aa gaye, kab aye? Humne toh aapko aate hue dekha hi nahin! Bataye, aapki raat kaisi beeti?" I placed my elbow on the dining table and leaned my head against it, waiting for him to answer my question.
I saw his gaze flicker to Khushi ji, who was still looking at her plate, and then back to me, "Absolutely fine Di," he answered quickly as he took his seat.
"Where's Aarav?" he questioned before I could speak again.
"I am here dad!" Aarav came bouncing into the room in his night clothes.
YOU ARE READING
An Unexpected Companion (IPKKND fanfiction)
FanficI knew Khushi ji and Chote would be at each other's throats because of how different their personalities were but I also knew how much they loved each other. I had thought that their love would overcome the all differences in their personality, and...
