Aakash looked at Shashi, her eyes widened, her face reflecting an amused expression.
Aakash took her hand in his, still looking at her shocked face.
"Can I kiss your hand, mrs rajput?" he asked, while Shashi blinked her eyes.
"May I?" he asked again.
She nodded after a few seconds.
He kissed her soft wrist.
"Done, now spin the bottle," Aakash said as everyone's eyes widened. They never expected Aakash, who had always been known as a rude person and never used soft words, to speak to his wife with such gentleness in his tone.
The game went on, and Shashi decided to make brownies. She had been craving them, so she started gathering the ingredients in the kitchen.
She turned on the stove, placed a pan on it to boil water, and set a bowl on top to melt the chocolate.
She worked gracefully, but then Adarsh came to disturb her.
He took the chocolate bar and took a bite but scrunched his nose.
"Chocate kadwi hai ye," (This chocolate is bitter) he said, making a face.
"Bro, it's dark chocolate," she laughed, seeing his exaggerated reaction.
"Tu pan ke upar kyun bowl rakhke kaam kar rahi hai? Direct bowl ko gas pe rakhno." (Why are you placing the bowl over the pan? Just put the bowl directly on the gas!) he said.
"Nahi, agar direct gas pe rakhungi to chocolate jal jayega," she said in a calm tone. (No, if I put it directly on the gas, the chocolate will burn.)
"Ohhh," he said, making an exaggerated "o" face.
Just then, Aakash came into the kitchen.
"Tu yahan kya kar raha hoon?" (What are you doing here?) Aakash asked, noticing Adarsh there.
"Apni behen se baat kar raha hoon," Adarsh replied casually. (I'm talking to my sister.)
"Kuch kaam bhi kar le," Shashi remarked, rolling her eyes. (Do something useful too.)
"Bata na toh, kya kaam hai?" Aakash asked. (Tell me, what work is there?)
"Rehne de, tu bigaad dega," she said. (Forget it, you'll just mess it up.)
"Bro, ab mujhe cooking aati hai," Adarsh said proudly. (Bro, I can cook now.)
"Pehle nahi sikhayi, mera kaam halka ho jata na," Shashi teased. (You didn't learn before, it would have made my work easier.)
"Agar tujhe kabhi tere haath ka khana mile, toh main uske liye mehnat karunga," he said. (If I ever get to eat food made by your hands, I'll work hard for it.)
"Alsi kahin ke," she chuckled. (Lazybones.)
"Aakash," she called.
"Hmm," Aakash hummed in response.
"Mere haath busy hain, please yeh stove off kar do," she said. (My hands are busy, please turn off the stove.)
He did so.
"Aur kuch?" he asked. (Anything else?)
"Thank you," she thanked him.
The three of them stood in the kitchen. Shashi was struggling with her hair, trying to keep it behind, but her busy hands weren't helping.
She huffed, and Aakash noticed this. He came up behind her and gently gathered her hair in one hand, clutching it in place. He noticed a loose strand on her face and gently tucked it behind her ear.
"Pehle bol dete na, main baal bandh deta." (You should have told me, I would have tied your hair.) he said softly.
"Thanks," she smiled.
"Shashi," Adarsh called again. She hummed in response.
"Do you still read novels?" he asked.
"Yes," Aakash and Shashi replied together.
"Bro, your addiction is still the same," he said.
"Look, it's better than drugs," Shashi replied.
"And also better than those expensive makeup or heels which others crave," she added. "Books are everything I need, everything I want..."
"By the way, which one is the one you wrote?" he asked.
Shashi choked on air and coughed hard. Aakash quickly came to her side, rubbing her back and offering her a glass of water.
"Fine?" Aakash asked her, and she nodded.
Shashi glared at Adarsh, who made a sheepish face, biting his tongue.
Shashi had finished baking, and the brownies were ready. They left them to set and went to their room.
Shashi emerged from the washroom, having changed into a new outfit-a sandy-colored full-sleeve shirt, baggy denim jeans, and white sneakers. A sleek watch adorned her wrist, and her hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
She stood in front of the closet mirror, applying moisturizer to her face, neck, and hands. She picked up a lip tint from the table, applied it to her lips, and dabbed it with her finger.
Aakash entered the closet.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked.
"Yes, I forgot. I got a call from Janvi. She called me two hours ago," she said. "I'll have to go, but I'll come back soon."
"Should I drop you?" he asked.
"No, it's fine. I'm going on the bike," she replied.
"You sure?" he asked again.
"Yes, Mr. Rajput," she assured him.
"Mr. Rajput, have you seen my clutcher?" she asked.
"This one?" he asked, holding it up.
"Yes, thanks," she said, taking it. "Bye." She disappeared from the room, grabbing her keys and phone.
She went downstairs and told everyone that she would return in two hours.
"Shashi," Sarthak called her back.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Laksha is arriving tomorrow," he said.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"Yeh meri behen hai, par mujhe batane ke liye nahi bola, hamesha toh news mein pata chalega," he said. (This is my sister, but I didn't tell you earlier. You'll always find out the news somewhere else.)
"By the way, thanks for at least informing me," she said, receiving a smile from everyone.
She made her way to the garage, sat on the bike, adjusted her hair, and wore her helmet. She drove off, heading toward the Menta mansion.
She reached the Menta mansion and went inside, meeting the people she considered her own family.
"Hello, Chudail!" Shashi hugged Janvi.
"Hello, Panda," Janvi replied, laughing.
Shashi touched the feet of Janvi's in-laws as a mark of respect.
"Where is your pati parmeshwar?" Shashi asked Janvi, teasing her.
"Just coming... he's in the shower. He just came back from the office," Janvi replied.
"Then why are you here? Go and accompany him!" Shashi said.
"For what?" Janvi asked.
"Shower together, save water, with love," Shashi whispered, earning a playful slap from Janvi.
Everyone in the family greeted Shashi, and she returned their greetings warmly.
"Hello, the busy Mehta ji !" Shashi said to Janvi's husband, Rishi Mehta.
"Hi, Dr. Oberoi," he replied, mirroring her tone.
"Meri behen jada tang toh nahi karti tujhe?" Shashi asked Rishi. (Does my sister bother you?)
"Agar bhabhi unhe tang bhi kare, toh bhi vo bas yehi bolenge: 'Kitna accha tang Krti hai!'" said Rishi's younger brother. (If Bhabhi ever bothers me, he'll just say, how sweetly she bothers )
"Ho toh sach keh rahe ho," his elder brother supported. (They're saying the truth.)
They all spent a nice time together, talking and chatting.
Shashi's POV:
We were sitting in the grand living room of the mansion. Janvi and I talked a lot today, discussing our new lives. She had gotten married many months before me, and I knew everything about her new family. Rishi was like my brother, and a very good friend too. I had known him even before they got married. It's true that we don't get time for each other, but whenever we do, we spend it to the fullest.
Meeting your friend is like therapy sometimes. I feel blessed to have such good friends in my life. They are more than friends-they are my family now.
I went back to the Rajput mansion. We had dinner together, along with my favo
rite dessert-brownies.
___________________________________
Hey lovelies
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