Kiara walks next to Yuvika and hugs her tightly; ' I am sorry, my child. Don't be afraid of me. Okay! It's just that I have got two ungrateful brats in my house, who only know how to get on my nerves.
Otherwise, I am a good mother. Very good one. Seriously!' Kiara said while patting Yuvika gently, who for god knows why felt happy after a long day.
She hugged Kiara back tightly. Not saying anything, just enjoying the motherly embrace.
' Well, it seems like you love bearhugs. Don't you, sweetheart?' Ashutosh teased her, earning a death glare from Kiara and a slap on the arm from Sidharth, who motioned him to turn silent.
Everyone can see, Yuvika was different from them. Shy, anxious, introvert type. Unlike them, open, extroverted, loud types.
~~
In the dining table;
Ashutosh and Preeti kept exchanging glances at each other and Yuvika's plate, who for sure was getting the treatment of the chief guest.
No matter whether she wanted it or not, Kiara would ensure that Yuvika would taste each and every dish cooked by her. Sidharth was playing with the food on his plate while staring at such a unique mother and daughter-in-law concept.
' Ma, I came back after months here and you are only focusing on her.' Ashutosh whined loudly, making Yuvika finally remove her eyes from the plate where the food was piling like a mountain every now and then, to the whining child.
' Months! I came back after years. Yet, I am invisible. You really have the guts to ask, bro.' Preeti teased him, making Sidharth chuckle out.
'Oh my dear children, you got your baba here. Just tell me, who wants to eat what?' Sidharth said with an ironic smile on his face, making the siblings roll their eyes.
' See, my dear wife. You are irreplaceable, here. Besides, I have been with you through thick and thin, every single day. Shouldn't you focus on me?' Sidharth said cutely, making Preeti choke on her water, while Ashutosh coughed profusely.
Daeng, the old ginger, indeed is the spiciest.
What kind of father competes with his own children for his wife's attention? Oh, the answer would be, Their.
' Who wants to eat from your hands? Baba, last time you made me finish a plate full of bitter-guards.' Preeti whined.
' For me it was brinjals.' Ashutosh added, still feeling the chill remembering those old memories.
' Alright, enough all of you. I am busy. Serve yourself.' Kiara said with her lazy voice, as her complete focus was on the new person in the house, who was too sweet and obedient for her own bad.
Only if she has such an obedient, sweet, cute daughter. God knows where things go wrong and these ungrateful brats were born in her house.
Sigh!
~~~
Yuvika felt her tummy will burst in any near moment, while Ashutosh, Preeti and Sidharth were controlling their laughter, staring at the poor, ideal definition of daughter in front of them.
She really ate it all, without complaining. Kiara was carrying that gentle, sweet motherly smile, as if she finally found the daughter she longed for.
Everyone has forgotten about the fight. Now, everyone was lazing around on the sofas. While Yuvika was still sitting upright, maintaining her 90 degree sitting posture, listening to whatever Kiara was spouting with utmost seriousness and concentration, as if her life depended on it.
~~
Soon, the twilight period came and the duo bid their farewell to their family. Ashutosh was all good, while Yuvika felt a bit reluctant to leave them.
No matter, however they are, at the very least they are a great family. The original one. They don't pretend to be good or okay for someone else.
She hugged the trio tightly and then sat back in the car. Leaving this new family far behind on her way back to company.
~~
'Thank you.' Ashutosh finally said, his eyes fixed on the road.
Making Yuvika frown.
' You did well there. They already like you alot. And my Ma has already become a fan of yours. So, thank you.' Ashutosh said, while patting her head gently.
Bringing a sweet smile on her face.
'They are really friendly.' She said with a sweet smile plastered on her face.
'Really! Trust me, you are the only one to say so. Otherwise 9.5/10 people classify us as crazy.
You see, it's just our ages-old feud. When my friend visited, my mother embarrassed me by scolding me in front of them. So, one day I decided to do the same.
And from that day on,it became a norm. Whenever we have guests, it's the other person's duty to give the reality check to the guest by irking the person up.' Ashutosh explained, making Yuvika to widen her eyes in realization.
Do such things exist on this Earth?
' Ah! I understand it must have been a huge shock for you. But I hope next time you will keep today's memories as a foundation and act accordingly.' Ashutosh said while laughing out loud.
Gosh, she was so cute, like an obedient, little, innocent kitten.
'But, why didn't you tell her that I work? You even lie about cooking. Besides, you irritate her purposefully. Don't you?' Yuvika asked with confusion all over her face.
' Smart girl.' Ashutosh complimented her, but she kept staring at him with her doe shaped eyes, wanting to know the answer.
' Alright! My mum is like other moms out there. Typical traditional Indian woman. She wants my happiness. According to her, you have sacrificed your life, your individuality, your identity, yourself for me.
According to her, you don't have a job, you are a housewife. You deal with society for me, you do the house chores. You cook, you clean, you take care of me and try everything to make me happy and satisfy me.
For her, you are an ideal wife who looks for her husband in everything. You see the typical Indian concept of treating a husband like god and his family like your own, while forgetting your family and yourself.
You are sweet, cute, innocent, naive and you do whatever is being asked of you which makes you the subject of her love, praise and warmth.
I know it's wrong. I know, you aren't like that. I don't even want you to be like that. I love you the way you are. I love the fact, you are unbeatable in your field.
But, I can't explain all this to the person, who wants nothing more than my happiness, who wants someone to be my care-taker. So, she doesn't have to worry about me.
I know, you can't and won't lie. But the truth is something she must not know. If a distraction can help it, then so be it.' Ashutosh explained, while entwining their fingers together.
She kept staring at him, not knowing what to say or how to respond.
' It's alright. I will take care of everything, my love. You don't have to worry about it, okay!' Ashutosh said, making her stare at him with a complicated look.
'Okay!' Ashutosh asked her again.
'But..' Yuvika wanted to say, but she was cut in between.
' You are not leaving your job and that's final, Yuvika. Be it right or wrong. You won't lose yourself for me or my family.
Miss Chauhan was, is and forever will be the backbone of The Raj. Nothing and no one can change that fact.
Is it clear?' Ashutosh asked, while maintaining eye-contact with her, all-thanks to the red light.
Her eyes welled up with tears, but she smiled sweetly and nodded. She doesn't need to know why she loves this man so much. For her, it has to be him.
Ashutosh smiled and then returned his gaze back to the road, when the signal turned green again.
~~
Soon, they return back to the company, where they went to their room, and get changed . When he returned to her room, he didn't find her, making him worried.
He checked everywhere, when he was about to take lift, then he heard the ding showcasing the coming of someone. There she was, dressed in cartoon pjs, carrying two food-containers.
He hugged her tightly. Only he knows how worried he has been just now. He snatched the food bags from her hand and started walking towards the room, letting her sigh and follow him.
He can be really strange at times.
Soon, they placed the warm, mouth-watering food on the table. He thought she might be hungry. So, he didn't say anything and served the food.
~~
Next day ;
Again in their hectic life, something happened. Miss Chauhan made sure that he wouldn't skip his meals.
~~
Next week;
In the company, everything was going the same. Except for some changes in Ashutosh's office, who was trying hard to comply with Yuvika's changed behavior.
It's like, she would ensure his meals, she would have his water, juice ready, while his coffee has been banned on him.
'Miss Chauhan, can we talk?' When Ashutosh couldn't take any further, after watching the juice bottle in her hand, he call her out.
' Yes, Mr. Pratihast.' She said, while not completely getting his hint.
' Everyone please give us 5 minutes.' Ashutosh couldn't help but call out, letting the duo to finally be alone.
She just gave a confused look.