aurore - an unusual love story √

part sixty two

Maya pressed her lips and plastering a smile on her face said, " Take chicken, Ashish! It's been specially prepared for you. We don't have non veg at home, aren't allowed to actually! "

Sonara watched Jai through the corner of her eyes. He stared at his plate, doing nothing at all.

" But both Jai and I eat non veg outside home. Thank god Jai didn't follow father blindly in this case at least. " , Maya rolled her eyes.

Ashish smiled, looking at Jai. He frowned but didn't look up from the plate.

" That's great. Sometimes we gotta follow our own taste rather than believing in other's. " , Ashish replied.

Sonara felt awkward. He knew Jai hated being at the dining table, and more than that, hated being mocked upon his ideals. The ideals, the responsibilities which are hurting him a lot these days. She wondered if she could do something to ease him, but Maya would be displeased if she talked now. So she remained silent.

Jai coughed a bit. And nudged the nun on his plate.

" But Sonara likes chicken. She won't disappoint your taste buds. " , Maya added, looking at Ashish.
" Even though she eats very less... "

Sonara looked at Maya. Unsure if she should talk. But then did.
" Yes, for a major part of my life, I hardly had money to buy chicken and stuffs. Vegetables ran my day. "

An awkward silence struck the table, embarrassing Sonara. She looked at Jai, who was now staring at her. She didn't know what he was thinking exactly, but her mind drifted back to the first day they met, on Dhara Road. She was cooking her usual boiled vegetables. And Jai looked sick, stuck in there with her.

" Even I'm not a voracious chicken eater anyway. I like non veg, that's all. " , Ashish broke the silence.

" You're not eating, Jai. " , Maya exclaimed.

Jai frowned again, tearing a small bit of a nun.

" Take chicken Jai, won't you? " , Ashish asked.

" No, he doesn't eat non veg at home. " , Maya interrupted.

Sonara kept staring at Jai.

He suddenly raised his head, and with all disgust, pulled the bowl of chicken towards himself.

" He was talking to me I guess. You ain't my spokesperson, Maya Raichand! I'll have chicken and whatever stuffs I want, wherever I wish. "
He took in a big piece on his plate and pushed away the bowl.

Another fit of silence hit the table.
Sonara felt like she was sitting on a furnace. She looked at Ashish, who seemed equally awkward. However, Maya began eating indifferently, as if she did not even hear a thing just spoken to her.

" Yucckk! It's pathetic! " , Jai spitted out the chicken on a side plate. " Who even prepared this shit? "

Maya looked coldly at him.
" Behave yourself Jai, there's a guest. "

" Ohh please! Don't try being my moral science teacher always. Ashish, don't even try that! I warn you. The cooks need to be changed ASAP! " , Jai made a horrified gesture.

Sonara slowly tasted a bit.
It did not taste unpalatable. Jai was definitely overreacting, mostly because he hated everything about this dinner.

Ashish half smiled.
" No, I mean, I had some.. Jai! It felt good.."

" Really? Then I hardly have a say on your taste. It's awful it seems. " , Jai looked at Sonara and back at his plate.

Sonara felt her ears reddening up. He was overdoing things, but she hardly had a say now. She stared at the table with a loathing slowly appearing on her face.