25. Taste of Maggie ❤️‍🩹

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Continue with raghavs pov

"Khiye..."

(Say)

Her voice carried a hint of irritation, but this time, her face-completely consumed by anger. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, as if one more word from me and she'd burn me to ashes. The red of her lips seemed even darker, maybe because of anger or perhaps just an illusion of my sight. But one thing was certain-she was in no mood to listen anymore.

"Mante hai, late night kuchh bhi khane se health kharab hoti hai (I agree, eating anything late at night is bad for health)..." I said, letting a playful smirk curl on my lips, my eyes fixed on the steaming bowl in her hands. The rich aroma of masala Maggi filled the air, making my resolve waver even more.

"Magar ab agar humari Rani sa (but now, if my queen)... aap kha sakti hain (you can eat), toh hum kyun nahi (then why can't I)?" I added, tilting my head slightly, my voice dipped in feigned innocence, yet the hunger in my eyes betrayed my act.

I didn't know if I was making a statement, asking for permission, or just pretending to justify my craving. But one thing was certain-every second that passed without tasting that tempting bowl of Maggi felt like pure torture.

"And I don't know after how many years I am feeling this way for food," I muttered, my gaze still fixed on the bowl.

"Damn, she's so small, but the way she cooked this... it's super tasty," I continued, my voice almost in disbelief. "And here I am, someone who eats 36 dishes in a day, and just by the smell of her food... you guys just can't understand."

After that, she didn't reply. She just looked at me with the most bizarre expression anyone could give-like I had just said something totally out of the ordinary.

As we reached our room, I gently made her sit on the bed, then tried to take the tray from her hands, but she denied. Her small hands held onto it firmly, not letting go, as if guarding her treasure.

And she said, "Hath bhi mat lagana, mai khud khilaugi... aap toh 2 minute yeh chat karoge, phir mera yeh bhookha tummy... itni mehnat ke baad bhi bichara bhooka hi reh jayega." (Don't even touch it, I'll feed myself... you'll just finish for 2 minutes, and then my hungry tummy... after all this effort, will still stay hungry.)

She kept talking, clearly annoyed, but I couldn't help but laugh at how seriously she was taking this. It wasn't just food anymore, it was like a battle of wills. I was trying to serve her, but it felt like she was rejecting me, not the food. And here I am, the "king," trying to offer my help, yet she wouldn't allow me. I wouldn't eat it, but the way she was teasing me, calling me bhukkad (greedy), it felt like a challenge. Yrr, ab aisa bhi kya kiya maine? (Dude, what did I do wrong to deserve this teasing?) Was I really that bad? All I wanted was to help her out, but somehow, everything I did was turning into a joke.

She asked-no, ordered me to sit near her. And I sat, unsure of what was going on. I don't know what had come over her today. "Khiii..." (She sounded irritated)... That's when my mind started racing. Maybe she's having her periods? I don't know much about it, but maybe it's PMS. I had read about it, but I was never really interested enough to dive deeper into understanding it or what it could mean. Still, I couldn't shake the thought that something was off.

I was lost in my thoughts, trying to figure out what was going on, when my eyes suddenly landed on her mouth. Her lips were full of Maggi, and she was slurping on one noodle as if savoring every bite. But then, I noticed her eyes-they seemed to be watering. Maybe it was from the hot Maggi, or perhaps something else.

Her lip pout, fully covered with Maggi masalas, attracted me. Without thinking much, I slowly moved toward it. Her expression shifted from "aww" to a confused look, her eyes squinting as if she was unsure of what I was doing. Her mouth was still full of Maggi.

I reached out slowly and gently cleaned her lips with my thumb. I couldn't resist, so I tasted it. My eyes closed instinctively as the Maggi blended with the sweetest thing I could imagine. The touch and taste-it was unexpected, but the moment felt surreal, like a perfect mix of flavors that made everything else fade away.

All of this happened in such a swift motion that I couldn't fully register it in my mind. It was like time had slowed down, and I was lost in the moment. But reality hit me when someone slowly slapped me on my right cheek.

I blinked, opening my eyes, and there she was-holding a spoon in front of me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Drama queen, khao ab..." (Eat now, drama queen...) she teased, and without waiting for a response, she put a spoonful of hot Maggi in my mouth.

The taste hit me instantly, consuming my senses. It was as if everything else stopped for a moment, and all I could focus on was the rich, spicy flavor. But my thoughts didn't stop. I was still processing everything-my other hand instinctively rested on my right cheek, where she had slapped me. The mixture of emotions and flavors was too much to handle at once.

"Mai queen thodi hu... mai king hu. Maana she is queen, par kya kya kar rahi ho aap ek hi din mein rani se..." (I'm not a queen... I'm a king. Okay, she's a queen, but what all is she doing in one day?)

I felt this sudden urge to cry. This tiny 5-foot girl, weighing not more than 40 kilos, had taken me through a whirlwind of emotions. First, she didn't let me sleep, making sure I stayed up longer than I should've. Then, she ordered me to cook, as if I had no choice but to obey. And as if that wasn't enough, she made me prepare a 5-rupee Maggi, but added so many spices to it that it felt like she was turning a simple dish into something extraordinary. I was savoring the best taste of my life-finally, a moment of peace. And then, out of nowhere-slap.

Is there no respect left for me? I thought, feeling both confused and hurt. The entire day, it was one order after another, no moment to breathe, no time to catch up with my own thoughts. She had me running around, doing whatever she asked. And then, after all that... she slapped me. Kya sach mein... koi izzat nahi meri? (Is there no respect for me at all?)

It felt like I had been used as her personal servant. The whole day, she acted like she had the right to command me, as if I was just some tool at her disposal. Yeh sach mein... Maa sahi keh rahi thi. (Mom was right...) Whether it's the commands of a queen or the will of a princess, they have their own way of ruling. And no matter how many rules I make or how I try to stand firm, no one-not even a king-can win without the queen. It's like the universe's unspoken rule: a ruler is nothing without their counterpart, their queen, who balances everything out. Even if she drives me crazy, I can't deny that her presence is what makes everything feel complete.

I was lost in my thoughts, still looking at her, when she continued to feed me-taking the smallest bites she could manage, while keeping the bigger ones reserved for herself. I couldn't help but smile at her way of doing things, putting everyone else first, even when it was something as simple as food.

When I noticed she was done with the meal, I carefully placed the plate on the table. As I turned around, she was already under the duvet, wrapped up comfortably. I smiled at the sight of her, a sense of calm washing over me. My eyes then fell on the time-it was already 4:30 AM.

Just one more hour, I thought to myself, wanting to sleep a little longer before starting the day.

I went back to the bed, trying to rest, but sleep seemed elusive. I couldn't fully fall asleep, but I could feel the warmth of her small hands covering me, like a shield against the world. There was a peace in that touch, a feeling of protection, and for a moment, I simply lay there, savoring the comfort it brought.

As I turned towards her, she came closer, almost instinctively, as if trying to make sure she was holding onto something even in her sleep. She buried her face into my chest, and I couldn't help but smile. She was really a fast sleeper, completely unaware of everything around her now.

Buss pet bhara reh, I thought to myself, quietly amused by her peacefulness as I gently brushed the curly strands of hair away from her face.

Itni badi duniya mein... (In this vast world...) Itni chhoti si ladki... (Such a small girl...) ...mere liye meri puri duniya kaise ban gayi? (...how has she become my whole world?)

I hadn't meant to say it aloud, but the words slipped out before I could stop them. To my shock, she replied, still deep in sleep, her voice soft and dreamy.

Duniya gol hai... (The world is round...)

I blinked in surprise, not sure whether she was still dreaming or if she had heard me. It was a random thing to say, but it felt strangely profound, coming from someone so lost in her own world of dreams.

I smiled softly, hearing her sleepy response.

"Nahi rani sa, meri duniya to aap mein basti hai." (No, my queen, my entire world resides in you.) I said, completely lost in her presence, my heart swelling with warmth.

Her sleepy reply made me chuckle, "Kyu mai kya koi Akashganga lagti hoon... jisme planets hain?" (Why, do I seem like the Milky Way... with planets in it?)

Her words made me pause, and I couldn't help but think: Jab jagti rehti hoon tab itna dimag nahi chalti, par sote hue dekho, kitni baatein aa rahi hain madam ko. (When she's awake, her mind doesn't work this much, but when she's asleep, look at all the things she comes up with!)

I thought for a moment, still smiling at her playful spirit, and then asked softly, my voice filled with curiosity and a hint of teasing:

"Kyu, jaana chahti ho humse door aap?" (Why, do you want to be far from me?)

It was a question, half playful and half sincere, wondering what her response would be, even if she was half asleep.

This time, she didn't reply. I waited for a moment, thinking maybe she was finally deep asleep, no longer even subconsciously awake. I thought I might slip away, but before I could even close my eyes, my hopes were shattered without receiving an answer. But just as I was about to drift off, her sweet voice reached my ears, and I froze, unable to move.

SUkriya ji 😌

Love you all 💓

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