Love and Respect

Chap 20 - Family Dinner 2

Hetal's POV

The purpose of their arrival was pretty obvious. Since dadaji and Moni just got here, I didn't want them to be disturbed.

But I very well knew what might happen next. I had no option but to face it.

After Rudra left me alone, I completed cooking untied the apron and walked out of the kitchen.
Ruda and Dadaji were sitting on the couch. They were telling mom that she had raised her daughter very well. Though mom put on a smile on her face, I could tell the smile wasn't from the heart.

Since Rudra had given some days off to the servants, Moni went to serve the tea for everyone. I walked up to Moni. I tried to take the pot from her hand and said,"Let me help you."

"No, I can do it by myself," said Moni. She had noticed that I was tired, so she led me to the living room and said, "You have some rest first. The tea will be ready soon."

I understood Moni's desire to help, so I went into the living room reluctantly. Mom and dad were sitting next to each other on the same couch. Rudra stood up and let me sit beside him.

"Mom, dad, thank you for coming," I said with my head bowed down. I was in no mood to talk to them. But have to pretend in from of my lovely family. Yes, the family who gave me love and respect whole heartily.

Then mom turned to Rudra and continued,"Mr. Oberoi, I'm very glad to see that you two are getting along with each other. As Mittali's parents, we are more than relieved."

"Mother, Mittali and I are a family now. Stop calling me Mr. Oberoi please. You can call me Rudra," Rudra placed his hand on my shoulder and continued, "Mittali is a great wife. I must thank you for raising her so well. I am glad you let her marry me. I am a very lucky man."

I knew that Rudra was only acting, but his flattering words still made me blush a bit.

Dadaji said with a smile. "Since you are here now, let's have dinner together, shall we?"

"Great!" mom said without any hesitation.

The reason why she came here today was to remind Rudra to handle the crisis for Mehra Group. Since she couldn't convey that to him yet, she didn't want to leave.

Hearing what dadaji said, I went back to the kitchen to bring the dishes out. I hadn't spoken much ever since my parents were here. Even Moni noticed that there was something wrong with me. So she came to the kitchen with me and tried to find out if anything was wrong. "bhabhi, is there anything wrong? Do you feel sick?" asked Moni.

"No, I'm fine," I answered. I was touched by Moni's concern for me. Now, there was someone else in this world that cared about me. My eyes got wet with emotions.

Though Vasundra Mehra was my own mother, she treated me even worse than a stranger.

"Are you really fine?" Moni was confused, "If you do feel sick, you must tell me. Don't try to tough it out all by yourself."

"Okay, I will," I nodded my head and answered. After I placed all the dishes on the table, I sat next to Rudra and ladled out a bowl of soup for dadaji.

Mom was watching me with silent contempt, I could see it. 

Though I was her daughter, she never showed any concern to me. She was not pleased with me no matter what I did. If Mittali hadn't run away from the wedding, I would never have the chance to marry someone like Rudra.

"Are you okay?" Rudra turned his head to me and asked, "If you are not feeling fine, you can go upstairs and get some rest first. It's okay. I'm here."

These simple words warmed my heart. I never felt the same concern from my family members.

I answered him with a smile to show him that I was okay.

Mom's heart was filled with hatred when she saw that Rudra treated me well. And it was visible on her face. 

Rudra was nothing like the man we heard of from the public and the media. He was a true gentleman. Mom felt uncomfortable knowing that I was married to such a nice man and that was reveling on her face. Her face had all the mix emotions of hatred, anger... 

"Mother, why don't you take something to eat?" Rudra raised his head and looked right into mom's eyes. There was a look of resentment in her eyes. Rudra narrowed his eyebrows a bit. Mom stopped staring when she realized that Rudra was looking at her. She smiled at him and said,"You should get yourself something to eat too." She acted as nothing had happened.

After the dinner, Mom and dad were about to leave as they were successful in doing what they wanted. I was clearing away the plates and bowls. Mom said rather loudly while at the door,"Mittali, we are leaving. Come here, I have something to tell you."

"Go bhabhi." Moni told me that she would complete the chores.

I then put the bowls down onto the table and walked towards Mom. Mom held my arm in a friendly way and said,"Let's go."

We walked out of the house. When no one was watching, I shook off Mom's hand and asked in a rather cold tone, "Mom, you can have what you want tomorrow. Anything else?"

Rudra's POV

I was confused and glanced at Mom – in – law again. 'Are they really mother and daughter? Why would mother – in - law look at her daughter so resentfully? It seemed as if she was looking at her enemy, ' I wondered.

"Mother, why don't you take something to eat?" I  raised my head and looked right into mom's eyes. There was a look of resentment in her eyes. I narrowed my eyebrows a bit. Mom stopped staring when she realized that I was looking at her. She smiled at him and said,"You should get yourself something to eat too." She acted like nothing had happened.

Since dadaji and Moni had been in America for a long time, they missed having a lavish home-cooked meal. This was why they liked the dishes prepared by Mittali even more. They were focused on eating so failed to notice anything odd.

I could easily make out they were not here for dinner, I knew they wanted to talk about the crises and the help. But I never wanted the contract to be disclosed to dadaji so,

"Mom you never called your daughter for "pag fera rasam." why don't you call her and I will be able to come and enjoy your hospitality, and will also have a chat with father about the company affairs. " 

Mom - in - law quickly accepted it and I was happy that at least dadaji won't come to know. It was a hint for them also that I will definitely talk to them regarding crises and not to open this topic here. 

So it was finalized that we were meeting them tomorrow and then they left.

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इस प्यारी सी दुनिया में एक छोटा सा मेरा परिवार है,
खुशियाँ मुझे इतनी मिलती है जैसे रोज कोई त्यौहार है.

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जहाँ सूर्य की किरण हो वहीं प्रकाश होता है,
और जहाँ प्रेम की भाषा हो वहीं परिवार होता है.