20. Cooking Together

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─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ishika and Rudraksh descended the grand staircase together. Ishika’s eyes nervously flickered around the opulent living room, taking in the high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and tastefully arranged furniture.

Her heart beat faster as she saw the entire family gathered, their eyes immediately landing on the newlyweds.

Geeta, Rudraksh’s mother, was the first to approach them, her warm smile instantly making Ishika feel a little at ease.

“Good morning, beta. Did you sleep well?” Geeta asked, her voice gentle and kind.

Ishika nodded, returning the smile. “Yes, Ma, I did.” Her voice was soft, but the sweetness in it made Geeta’s smile widen.

Rukmini, Rudraksh’s aunt, joined them, her gaze affectionate as she placed a hand on Ishika’s shoulder.

“Beta, today is your pehli rasoi,” she said warmly, referring to the traditional ritual where a new bride cooks for the family for the first time. “Do you know how to cook?”

The question made Ishika pause.

She felt a wave of nervousness but quickly reminded herself that she had always enjoyed cooking, even if her past circumstances hadn’t allowed her to do it as often as she’d have liked.

“If you can’t, tell me, beta,” Geeta interjected, her tone reassuring. “I’ll cook for you. It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, bhabhi! I can cook for you too,” Aaryansh, Rudraksh’s younger brother, added with a teasing grin.

His playful demeanor made Ishika smile involuntarily, though she still felt a little shy.

Before anyone could say more, Ishika spoke up, her voice polite but firm. “No, no, Ma. I can cook. Don’t worry.” Her smile was small but confident, her words making Geeta and Rukmini exchange pleased glances.

“Good, beta,” Rukmini said. “It’s a small tradition, but it’s a way of bonding with the family.”

Geeta nodded. “Don’t worry about perfection. Just cook something simple. We’ll all love it.”

Rudraksh, who had been silently observing the conversation, cleared his throat. “If Ishika says she can handle it, let her. Don’t crowd her with advice,” he said, his tone firm yet protective, making Ishika glance at him in surprise.

Aaryansh smirked. “Bhai, looks like you’re already defending bhabhi. So protective, huh?” he teased, earning a glare from Rudraksh and a few chuckles from the others.

“I’ll go start cooking,” Ishika said quickly, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness as she tried to divert attention away from her and Rudraksh.

She turned toward the kitchen, eager to escape the teasing.

But just as she took a step forward, Geeta’s voice stopped her. “Wait, Ishika,” she said with a kind but mischievous smile. “Rudraksh will also join you.”

Ishika froze mid-step, turning back to face her mother-in-law with wide, surprised eyes. “What? Why is he joining me?” she asked, her confusion evident.

Wasn’t the pehli rasoi meant to be a bride’s responsibility?

Rukmini stepped in, her tone playful but firm. “Because it’s a tradition in this house that the husband also cooks with the wife for the pehli rasoi.”

"Really?” Ishika asked, glancing at Rudraksh, who now looked mildly annoyed.

“Yes,” Shravan, added with a hearty laugh. “It’s been our family tradition for centuries.

The first meal a bride cooks in this house must always be made together with her husband. It’s a way of starting your partnership on equal footing.”

Rukmini nodded in agreement. “Cooking together symbolizes unity and teamwork. It’s not just your pehli rasoi, beta; it’s his too.”

Ishika blinked, trying to process this new revelation. Her gaze shifted to Rudraksh, who let out a sigh, clearly reluctant but resigned to his family’s insistence.

“I’ll join her,” Rudraksh said flatly, his voice carrying a hint of irritation, though he quickly masked it.

Ishika, still surprised, nodded slowly. “Okay...” she murmured as she turned toward the kitchen again.

As they entered the spacious kitchen together, Ishika glanced around, her nerves returning.

The silence between her and Rudraksh was palpable, and she hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

“You start,” Rudraksh said, his voice breaking the silence. “What are you planning to make?”

“I was thinking of vegetable pulao and kheer,” Ishika replied softly, her hands instinctively reaching for the ingredients.

Rudraksh leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. “Fine. Tell me what to do.”

Ishika blinked at him, startled. “You… want to help?”

He raised an eyebrow. “It’s a tradition, right? Let’s get it done.”

His words were curt, but Ishika noticed a flicker of softness in his tone.

She nodded and handed him a chopping board and some vegetables. “You can chop these,” she said, keeping her instructions simple.

Rudraksh took the knife and began chopping, his movements precise and efficient.

Ishika couldn’t help but glance at him occasionally, surprised by how comfortable he seemed in the kitchen.

“You’re good at this,” she said, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Rudraksh didn’t look up. “I’ve had to cook for myself before. It’s not that hard.”

They worked side by side, the initial awkwardness slowly giving way to a quiet rhythm.

Ishika stirred the pot of pulao, stealing occasional glances at Rudraksh, who was focused on chopping vegetables with precision.

Finally, summoning her courage, she broke the silence. “Um... I... actually...” she began hesitantly, her voice soft as if unsure of how to proceed.

Rudraksh paused mid-chop, raising an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Aap se maafi maangni chahti hoon,” Ishika said nervously, the words tumbling out as she fiddled with the ladle in her hand.

( I want to apologise to you)

Rudraksh turned to face her fully, his expression one of mild curiosity. “Maafi? Why?”

(Apologise? Why?)

“For yesterday...” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… am sorry…” Her gaze dropped to the counter as she continued, “I didn’t mean to yell at you…”

Rudraksh stared at her for a moment, his expression softening. “It’s alright. I understand,” he said, his voice calm.

Yet, deep down, her nervous, sincere apology tugged at something in his heart—something he wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

Ishika lifted her head and gave him a small, relieved smile. “Also... thank you,” she added, a hint of shyness in her tone.

Rudraksh raised an eyebrow again, this time with a faint smirk. “Thank you? For what now?”

She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “Because… you removed the ornaments from me last night.” Her smile widened, her cheeks tinged with a light blush.

Rudraksh froze. His knife stilled in mid-air as his eyes darted to her face. “Weren't you asleep?” he asked, his surprise evident.

“I was asleep…” Ishika explained, glancing away shyly. “But I realized this morning that I wasn’t wearing any ornaments. I… figured it must have been you.”

He stared at her, momentarily speechless. His mind raced back to the moment when he had gently removed the heavy jewelry from her fragile, tired frame.

He hadn’t expected her to notice—or to thank him for it.

She noticed... The thought brought a rare, genuine smile to his face, though he quickly masked it with his usual neutral expression.

“You’re welcome,” Rudraksh said simply, turning his attention back to the vegetables.

But his focus was shaky; his mind kept drifting back to the memory of his fingers brushing her bare neck, the soft texture of her skin, and the peace that had settled over him in that moment.

He shook his head subtly, trying to shake off the thoughts. He didn’t understand why these little things about Ishika were affecting him so much.

Ishika, meanwhile, turned her attention back to the stove, unaware of the turmoil she had stirred in her husband’s heart.

They continued cooking in a comfortable silence, with Ishika occasionally guiding Rudraksh through small tasks.

He mostly stuck to chopping vegetables, admitting that his knowledge of actual recipes was limited.

An hour later, the food was ready, and the two of them emerged from the kitchen carrying trays of pulao and kheer.

The family was gathered in the dining room, and all eyes turned to the couple as they entered together.

The sight of them side by side, working together, brought wide smiles and a few teasing remarks.

“How perfect they look together,” Aditya said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

“Especially my daughter,” Geeta added proudly, her eyes brimming with affection as she looked at Ishika.

Rudraksh gave Aditya a warning look but didn’t comment. Ishika, on the other hand, blushed at the compliments, lowering her gaze as she placed the tray on the table.

“Let’s see how good this pehli rasoi is,” Aaryansh said, grabbing a plate eagerly.

As the family began serving themselves, the room filled with laughter and chatter.

Compliments poured in for the perfectly cooked pulao and the creamy, delicious kheer.

Ishika’s nervousness faded with each word of praise, and even Rudraksh allowed himself to relax, though he remained his usual quiet self.

“You two did well,” Ishwar said with a warm smile. “This is how it should be—working together, supporting each other.”

Rudraksh glanced at Ishika, his expression unreadable but his gaze softer than usual.

Ishika met his eyes for a brief moment and smiled, feeling a newfound sense of comfort in this unfamiliar household.

For the first time, she began to think that maybe, just maybe, this partnership had the potential to grow into something special.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

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