'There were always such lovely people around me, but I never noticed.' Ira sighed, mocking herself for her foolishness.
'I was so absorbed in building up my career, that I had no time to look around. Only after the bitter experience of the past, I decided to be good to them.'
The woman who doesn't even get greeted by her rude daughter-in-law. Shouldn't she hate her or, at least, express a general dislike? If she was in Tara's place she wouldn't have seen such an impolite woman again in life.
How can she not dislike her daughter-in-law after saying so many rude words to her? Shouldn't her mother-in-law hate her? Ira always kept a distance from her in the past.
Yet her mother-in-law still welcomed her with open arms with a sweet smile. Her hands subconsciously touched the earrings she was wearing. The stones were very rare and expensive. If it was only a gift she would have only felt mere gratitude towards her mother-in-law.
Whereas, for a designer giving the most popular and expensive design under someone's name was a sign of deep affection. For which Ira felt overwhelming warmth and an unknown sense of deep attachment. And Vivan! He was like naughty kid in front of his mother. So, he had this side of him as well.
They said that one must have saved a country in their previous life to gain such enormous luck. But she was a selfish person in the past. 'What did I do to deserve this love?'
After spending the entire day they returned at midnight. Next morning, she got up early to make breakfast.
When they had lunch box delivery service, Sia Rai made delicious meals for delivery, so she learned to make desserts and cakes to complement it. Though she initially had no talent. With 3 years of hard work, she made a quite delicious dessert.
The smell of freshly baked muffins straight out of oven drifted in the house. There was a basket laden with cupcakes; some was loaded with nuts and others with fresh berries.
When Vivan followed the smell, he saw a smiling woman taking a baking tray from the oven.
"Viv I made some muffins. Do you want to try?" she asked. Vivan looked at Ira and flashed her a sweet smile, "Okay!" he said without hesitation. She didn't wear a formal dress today, just a casual shirt and a beige skirt.
She held a warm muffin laden with blueberries, dipped it in melted butter, sprinkled it with spiced sugar, then she served it and waited for his response.
Vivan ate it unconsciously and it was the first time that she cooked for him, but when he tasted the sweet and spicy but soft and moist muffins, he savored the taste.
After taking a bite, he realized he had been impulsive. Looking at the mouth watering muffins, but being unable to eat them, was torture. He didn't even swallow the last bite and was thinking of an excuse to spit it out, before he heard Ira say: "Don't worry, they are eggless."
She remembered an embarrassing conversation with Tara yesterday...
"Viv makes perfect eggs, especially poached eggs, they are perfect. You are a good cook. He must have learned to make them from you though he doesn't like them. What does he like to eat?" She had asked with the intention to inquire about his favorite food.
Tara said "Eggs? Viv made eggs! Really!" She shook her head. "He has an extreme egg allergy. That's why we never made eggs at home."
Ira was so ashamed and embarrassed that she didn't ask any further. It was, in reality, a 4-year marriage and she didn't even know of her husband's allergies.
Present.
"Don't worry, they are eggless." She saw him swallow the muffin.
"You idiot! What if they did? I would have added normally if I didn't come to know of your allergy from your mom. How can you eat just like that?" Ira was angry not only for his carelessness but also her blamed herself and her ignorance.
"Because it was made by you. You served it to me for the first time. I would at least taste it." Vivan answered honestly.
Ira looked away and filled a platter with muffins. She pushed the platter in front of Vivan. "Eat," she softly said.
He usually didn't eat any desserts. As most of them contain eggs, he didn't take the risk. He had long forgotten what they tasted like…
Amazed by the taste, he obediently emptied the platter. Ira was looking forward to hearing his reviews but she only got his silence. He was too absorbed in eating.
"How was it?" Ira asked.
"It's the best thing I have ever eaten," Vivan answered.
"Really?" Ira said. Vivan was certainly amazed by her skills. Was she always a good cook?
He took her outstretched hand and gently turned her palm downwards, his fingers brushed the back of her hand. He bowed his head and kissed it, "Really, the sweetest thing. Made by these lovely hands."