And your name?

Ch-1 The dinner

"Get the rice also!", ordered mother. Jay rushed to the kitchen counter to fetch a white porcelain dish, well engraved and which bore a mark of excellent craftsmanship. While the aroma of delicious food filled the room and could have made anyone's stomach groan. Indian delicacies are really good delights to the taste-holic tongue.

 
    "Here it is!" said Jay while skillfully placing the bowl in the centre of the square table along with the bowl of curry. The table was full of plates, glasses and bowls. On every edge sat a member of the small family. Jay pulled a chair on his side, kicked his legs beneath the table and pushed himself with the chair back into the position.

 
    A mid-size chandelier hung above them. It flooded the entire room with yellow-orange glow. Though the room was equipped with all the modern necessities which included LED lights yet they loved to dine together under the yellowish ambience of the great chandelier. Everyone started to help each other with food. Serving each other, until all hands tied a knot in air. So, everyone retrieved their hands for the mother to serve then. Usual utters slipped from mouths while each got served. Mainly to cover the spills and titles made by them.

    Hesitation lifted. Father started, "How's theatre? I caught a rumour that famous stars are coming down to act." All looked up from their plates to catch a confirmation from Jay. Jay swallowed the morsel and said, "Yes. Only one of them. P Porter had shown his interest here. Just because he was not getting work up there." Father and brother nodded. Then father broke, "Okay. He is not that liked and famous celebrity. Let see what he have to show." This woke the brother and he also, clearing his throat, shot a question, "Are they casting you?" Jay only shook his head. Brother added, "Then you?" Jay took a moment then said, "I'm producing it." Brother jutted his lower lip forward and nodded in agreement.

 
    All this while mother remained silent though giggled in between the conversations. After the theatre topic, brother and father took up their's profession talks. They both were doctors. In between all the mature talks, brother wriggled his spine and slurped the curry enjoying the taste to the fullest. Licking his fingers brother told ma that the food was mind-blowing and incomparable in taste.

 
    Then he turned his head to the left fixating on his brother said, "You know, I'm going to London next week to attend a doctor's conference. Do you want me to get you any souvenirs?" Jay gave a confusing smile and replied, " What's special you can get from there?" Brother asked in a sardonic tone, " Do you want the queen? I can get her for you." Everyone chuckled while brother stuffed his mouth with rice again.

 
    Jay was sipping water when his mother said, " So did you found someone?" Jay paused, placed the glass back on the table and demanded, "What?" Mother clarified the initial thought and added, "For marriage!" And once again everyone looked up at Jay for confirmation. Jay almost screamed, "No! And why now, there is still time for it." Mother shook her head in false agreement and said, "Don't talk about time, it is flying away real fast. You were this small years before and now here you are standing taller than all of us. Plus, you are ready and if you don't do this now, you'll probably pass the marrying age.", and she placed her hand flat in mid-air marking the height of smaller past of Jay.

    Brother agreed with the mother and added, " Yes, you are getting older day by day it's perfect time for you to get cuffed with someone and plan for future." Father shook his head while Jay felt like they ganged upon him. So, Jay just nodded along. Rest of the diner went the same, with family talking over topics which were tinged with the salt of a tease for Jay.

    At last the teasing extinguished and brother and father again took up their career talks while mother chatted with Jay about their relatives. With this diner was over and Ma and brother along with Jay cleared the table. The stained dishes got dumped in the kitchen basin. Mother turned around and made her way from the shining parts of the kitchen to the isle of people desperately waiting for the dessert, holding a tray which housed four cups each contained a Gulab Jamun heavily smeared with the sugar syrup. This dish made empires bow down and emperors do foul. Nothing such happened just this dessert is incomparable in taste.

 
     Brother hastily gobbled huge chunks of it, while mother and father ate it in a slow and relaxed pace. Jay was moreover tinkering with it than eating it. Everyone seemed pleased with the majestic taste of Gulab Jamun. Minds got relaxed and souls earned heaven. Great food with family counts as one of the most beautiful and memorising moments of life.

 
    The atmosphere lighten up which reflected in form of causal talks among them. Brother said, "Sweet dishes always make the meal great." Everyone sang in chorus, "Yes." Jay remarked, "Thank God for this miraculous sweet." Brother crossed the remark and said, "No, thank our mother for making such savoury dish." Jay could not agree more and gestured yes in pure excitement.

    Dinner's done. Jay asked his brother if he was willing to go for a walk up on the roof. Brother nodded. Father and mother washed their hands and lounged with eternal pleasure on the sofa. Looking at their smartphones, scrolling through the unattended messages they got while dinner. And in between, they whispered to each other the things that remained confidential to their sons. A happy couple with well settled sons and who also had a great dinner.

    While the brothers made their way to the stairs for the roof, closing the door behind them and leaving the room empty than before.