Narmada didn't see her daughter on the steps, she was lingering around the minute which just flushed hot blood inside her and headed to Kitchen to carry the containers to the dining table.
Her in laws were very orthodox who maintained a strict lifestyle. Morning 9am breakfast, lunch at 1, light snacks and tea at 4 followed by dinner at 9 pm. It was 8.15 am. Narmada headed upstairs to check on kids, seeing Punya being statued at steps she teased her "Aren't you out of nightmare, Punya? Punya smiled and walked to Grand mom who embraced her while smirking at daughter in law, "Let her dream, you go get your lazy son" said Granny Gowri.
When Narmada entered Rishi's room, her nine year old son was still in deep sleep. She went in and pulled open the curtains letting in sun rays fall on Rishi's face. He pulled the blanket to close his face and murmured "Mom, its Holidays... Who'll follow rules?" Narmada shook him, brushed her fingers in his hair and whispered that his Grandpa just finished his prayers. Rishi wouldn't care for anyone else in the house, but was scared of his Grandpa Eshwar. Eshwar was ex-military officer, 6ft tall, with a fit body even at his sixties. His voice even today heard like a command on a battle field. He used to wake up at 6 and go for a walk, he had own gang of retired people. Discipline was his only condition for the family unlike other military people who used to be strict in diet, exercise, clothing etc., Eshwar believed that everyone had a right to live as they wish but used to command his family to maintain timetable for food in order to keep them healthy and fit. He was also strict about children study time. Though Rishi was never been punished by grandpa, exaggeration of his punishment types heard through mom made him shiver.
Upon hearing the bell ringing in the pooja room, Rishi got up and went to the bathroom for a quick bath, he knew if he's not at the table by 8.45, Grandpa will give him a big lecture and also would punish him as per mom's stories.
Narmada did his bed and came down to prepare vadas for breakfast. As everyone were at the dining table, Narmada served their plates.
"Nammu, have you added mint leaves to chutney, it tastes yummy. Sambar also is a perfect blend of spices, mmmm" said granny enjoying the soft idlis and crispy vadas with coconut chutney and sambar.
"You also used to prepare very good sambar, Gowri" complimented the Grandpa to his wife. "Varun has got his foodie tongue from her", he said to Narmada who was hushing up Rishi's tantrums.
Night's dinner was the only time, whole family used to sit together. But as it was summer vacation, table was somewhat full. Love in family was at its fullest in all the members of the family.
"Grandpa has planned a picnic for us after breakfast" whispered Narmada to Rishi, which brought enthusiasm in him to eat everything on his plate faster. Narmada always faced difficulty in feeding Rishi, he used to treat food as his enemy. People used to comment to her, "I think you love Punya more than Rishi", "Was he born underweight?", "Does he have any health issues", "Show him to good pediatrician", some went overboard and asked "Is Rishi adopted?"… Rishi was an intelligent boy with height according to the charts but was thin; again the God knew what was wrong with him. Narmada hadn't lied to Rishi, they had planned to visit a resort nearby and return by evening.
A while later, Grandpa took the driving seat, Rishi hopped in next to him. Granny and Narmada took the seat at the middle. Punya though could sit next to them preferred the last row in the car. She knew that she would doze off midway so she sat comfortably at back seat.
The family drove off to the Beach side resort.