cooking skills

Ok to aaj free thi to extra chapter... 😅

But don't make it hobbit 🤣🤣

The Next Day

Today was the day of the Mehndi ceremony, so everyone was wearing green clothes. All the women got ready and gathered in the garden, while all the men wore white. At that moment, Anokhi, Preeti, and Shivika brought Riya and Ruhi along. Riya and Ruhi looked really beautiful. Both were wearing lehengas in a combination of green and white, with matching jewelry made from green and white flowers, which Anokhi had crafted.

"You both look stunning," Shobha said as she admired them, and both smiled in response. Anokhi, smiling at them, said, "I will also make similar jewelry for the Haldi and Mehndi ceremonies. And I also made same for Bhabi Maa and Shivika Didi ."

Then they all seated Ruhi and Riya on the sofa, and Bharati and Shobha applied a small Mehndi dot on their hands as a shagun before the Mehndi artist started applying it.

Rohit and Omkar quickly approached them and said in unison, "Make sure you write my name properly." Everyone laughed at their remark. Then Riya and Ruhi told the Mehndi artist, "Yes, write it so well that it never fades, understood?" Hearing this, even the Mehndi artist chuckled.

An assistant who had come along with the Mehndi artists showed a variety of sticker designs to Shobha, Surekha, Shalini, and the others, saying, "Ma'am, I brought all these sticker designs as you requested. Please let me know which one you'd like, and I'll apply it."

"The designs are beautiful, but are there any side effects? Like, will the stickers cause itching or anything? I swear, if we start itching, we'll look like monkeys' mothers," Surekha joked, making Shobha and the assistant laugh.

"No, I guarantee there won't be any side effects," the assistant replied. Then Shobha turned to Anokhi, Shivika, Preeti, Bharati, and Archana and said, "Come on, you all should pick a design too."

Looking at Bharati, Shobha asked, "By the way, Bharati, Shweta hasn't arrived yet? Where are your daughter-in-law and son? Are they on a date or something?"

"No, Shweta said she would bring Swati along, so they went to pick her up," Bharati explained.

"Well, that's good," Shobha said, while Archana was quietly watching them all.

Anokhi showed her two or three designs and said, "Mumma, these designs are lovely, you should pick these."

"No, Anu, you all go ahead, I won't apply anything," Archana said, which made everyone look at her.

Seeing her refusal, Anokhi became a bit serious. She understood why Archana had said no, and the others did too.

Anokhi held Archana's hands and said, "Mumma, why are you letting go of your happiness for those who have left? Stay the way you used to. I want to see you as you were. Ever since I’ve known you, I’ve only seen you on the bed. I’ve only seen you all dressed up in photos. Please, be that way again. And what's all this? I know that after losing a husband, women don’t apply Mehndi or dress up, but your husband wasn’t worth it, Mumma."

"Anu is right, Mumma. If you’re distancing yourself from all this just because you consider yourself a widow, then you're wrong. You weren't at fault for his departure, so why punish yourself? Find your happiness, even if it’s in these Mehndi designs. Apply them. Live however you want. We’re here, no one would dare say a word to you," Omkar added, hugging Archana from the other side.

Archana smiled, placing her hands on their cheeks.

She said, "When you have children like you, there’s no need to fear. And if my Anu wants her mumma to apply this design, then her mumma will apply it." Hearing this, smiles returned to everyone’s faces.

Anokhi hugged her excitedly and said, "Thank you, Mumma. Now come quickly, apply this, and confirm which design I should pick for myself."

Swati's Home,

When Shweta and Abhinav arrived at Swati's home, they found her still lying in bed under a blanket. Seeing her like this, Shweta asked worriedly, "Swati, why are you still lying down like this? Are you feeling unwell?"

As she touched Swati, she realized she had a high fever. Swati, looking around, asked, "Shwet is not here?"

"No, he left earlier, but you’re not well, Swati," Shweta said with concern.

Swati smiled and said, "Oh, it’s just a bit of a fever, nothing much. But why are you two here?"

As Swati started coughing, Abhinav handed her a glass of water and said, "We came to pick you up. Today is Riya and Ruhi’s Mehndi ceremony, and we came to bring you. But did you see a doctor? Did you take any medicine?"

"No, I was just about to call the doctor. But why did you come here? You should go; otherwise, you’ll be late," Swati replied.

Shweta objected, "No, Swati, you’re unwell. I’m not going."

"Don’t be silly, Shweta. Look, this is your first function in your in-laws' home. Ruhi is your sister-in-law. How would it look if you don’t attend her Mehndi ceremony? And don’t worry about me. I was going to call the doctor, take some medicine, and I’ll be fine. Don’t worry; it’s not the first time I’ve fallen sick. I’ve managed alone before," Swati reassured her.

Shweta’s eyes welled up with tears. She said, "I know, you’ve learned to live alone, but now your sister is here, right? So why do you still want to stay alone? I may not be able to do much for you, but at least I can take care of you."

Swati, glancing at Abhinav, teased, "Oh my god, Abhinav, your wife is so emotional. She starts crying over little things."

Abhinav smiled at her comment.

Taking out his phone, he said, "Your sister isn’t wrong. Wait, I’ll call the doctor." And he called the doctor.

Meanwhile, Shweta started placing cold compresses on Swati’s forehead. The doctor arrived a little while later. After checking Swati, he told Abhinav, "Don’t worry, Mr. Abhinav. It’s just fatigue and fever. With some rest, she’ll recover. I’ll prescribe some medicines; make sure she takes them."

After the doctor gave the medicine, he left.

Swati said, "Now that the doctor has checked me, you two should go to the function. You’re already running late."

"But, Swati..." Shweta tried to protest, but Swati interrupted, "The doctor just gave me an injection. I’ll recover soon. Really, I’m just a bit tired, that’s why I have a slight fever. Once I take the medicine, I’ll be fine. This is the first wedding function; how can you miss it? Go, I’m fine."

With Swati insisting, Abhinav and Shweta had to agree.

However, Abhinav said, "Swati, we’re leaving, but if you need anything, just call us immediately. If your condition worsens, don’t hesitate to call, okay. We will come soon. "

"Yes, I know, don’t worry," Swati reassured him.

Then Abhinav and Shweta left.

At Shergill Mansion,

Ruhi and Riya’s Mehndi had been applied, and now the artists were applying it to their feet.

Meanwhile, everyone else had applied their stickers. As a custom, they had written the first letter of their husbands' names on their fingers.

Similarly, all the men had also written their wives' names on their fingers.

Omkar and Rohit had tried hard to spot their names on Riya and Ruhi’s hands, but no one allowed them to get close enough to check.

Everyone else was laughing at their antics.

Bharati said, "Shobha, it’s been a while, and Shweta and Abhinav haven’t brought Swati yet."

"Yes, I called abhinav. He said they left Swati’s house and are on their way."

She had just said this when she noticed Shweta and Abhinav walking in.

She smiled and said, "They’ve arrived."

After greeting everyone and touching the elders' feet, Bharati noticed that Swati was not with them. She asked, "Hey, weren’t you two supposed to bring Swati? Where is she?"

"Maa, she wasn’t feeling well, so she didn’t come," Shweta’s words made everyone a little worried, especially Shwet and Shivaay.

Shwet quickly asked, "Is Maasi Maa sick? Is she seriously unwell?"

"No, she has a fever. The doctor gave her an injection, and she took her medicine," Shweta said softly, her face showing signs of worry.

Ruhi then said, "If Swati wasn’t well, you both should have stayed with her, Bhabhi."

"How could I stay, Ruhi? It’s your first function, and I offered to stay, but she insisted I come. Don’t worry; as soon as the function is over, I’ll head back to her."

"If I tell the truth, I have never seen a girl like Swati. She is very courageous, came alone to Mumbai city, and raised Shwet," Bharti said.

Agreeing with her, Shobha also nodded and said, "You said it right. Swati is like the foundation of the family. She has fulfilled all the responsibilities. The one who has her in his destiny will be very lucky."

While saying this, Shobha's eyes went to Shivaay, and so did everyone else's, as they all knew that Shivaay loved Swati.

Shivaay, however, gave no reaction to their words. His mind was occupied with thoughts of Swati, and he distanced himself a little from everyone.

Shweta had only applied a little bit of mehndi on her fingers as part of the rituals. The mehndi from her wedding was still on her hands.

She noticed that Shivaay was standing far away in a corner, lost in thought. She got up and walked towards him.

She said to Shivaay, "Shivaay, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, yes, go ahead," Shivaay replied.

So Shweta asked, "Do you love my sister?"

Hearing this, Shivaay went silent for a couple of moments. He didn’t know what to say, but after thinking for a while, he nodded and said, "Lying is not in my nature, and I don't like it. And keeping things in my heart, that I absolutely dislike, so yes, I love your sister, very much."

"And Swati? Does she love you too?" Shweta asked again.

At this question, Shivaay became completely silent. He had no answer to give to Shweta's question.

"Tell me, Shivaay, does my sister love you?" Seeing Shivaay not giving a response, Shweta asked again.

This time, Shivaay took a deep breath and said, "Swati is your sister, Shweta. You know her better than I do. You must have seen something in her eyes too because I have seen the feelings in her eyes for me, and that’s the only thing that’s keeping me from giving up.

So, one day she will surely come to me. One day she will realize that she loves me too. But until then, I can’t just sit idle. I will keep trying to show my love and make her realize her own feelings."

Hearing this, Shweta smiled. She said, "Swati is very stubborn, Shivaay, and you are too. If she decides on something, she will do anything to make it happen, without thinking about right or wrong. But there’s one more thing—if she decides to stand by someone or build a relationship, she gives her all to that bond. She can do anything to maintain a relationship. And how much she loves her own people, I, and everyone sitting here, know very well. That’s why I’m telling you, never give up on your determination. I want you to be a part of her life, and I want you to complete her."

"Don't worry, I will never leave her side, and I definitely won't stop pursuing her," Shivaay said and Shweta smiled.

Shweta then said, "Her life just needed a stubborn guy like you. She lives for others too much, Shivaay. Now it's time for her to live for herself. And I trust you to help her with that."

"And I will never break that trust," Shivaay said, and after a brief pause, he asked Shweta, "Tell me something, you two are twins, but why is she such a fiery one while you are so sweet?"

Hearing this, Shweta burst out laughing. She said, "Already tired of Swati? This is only half of what she used to be. Responsibilities have calmed her down. She used to be much more stubborn, mischievous, and carefree. And yes, we may look alike, but our personalities are completely opposite."

Hearing this, Shivaay also smiled. Shweta left.

Then Shivaay said, "No matter what, whether she’s fiery or something else, she belongs only to Shivaay."

Shivaay walked over to Shwet, who was quietly sitting with a donut in his hand, but he wasn’t eating it, just holding it. His face was still sad.

Shivaay sat next to him, gently patting his head, and asked, "What’s wrong? Why are you sitting here so sad?"

Upon being asked, Shwet looked at Shivaay and, in a soft, disappointed voice, said, "Maasi maa is sick. "

"But Abhinav said the doctor checked her, and she’ll be fine. Why are you so tense? And you didn’t tell me how you liked your new family?" Shivaay asked, trying to distract him.

Shwet replied, "They are very nice, and they all love me a lot. But Maasi maa was even best. You know, I really miss Maasi maa."

Tears welled up in Shwet’s eyes. Seeing him so sad and missing Swati so much, Shivaay picked him up in his arms and said, "Okay, let’s go. I’ll take you to her."

Shivaay said to Bharti and Shobha, "Aunty, Shwet is missing Swati a lot. She’s sick, so I’m taking him to meet her."

"Alright, son, take him," Bharti said with a smile.

Then Shweta told Shivaay, "Shivaay, I’ll come over there in a while. You both stay with Swati until I arrive."

"No problem," Shivaay said with a smile and took Shwet with him.

At Swati’s house,

Swati was asleep due to the medication, but when Shivaay and Shwet knocked on the door, she woke up. Gathering her strength, she opened the door, and as soon as she saw Shwet, a big smile appeared on her face. She immediately hugged him tightly.

She didn’t even notice that Shwet was still in Shivaay’s arms, and hugging him this way also brought her very close to Shivaay. But Swati, with her eyes closed in happiness, just kept hugging Shwet.

Smiling, she said, "Shwet, bachha, you’re here?"

Shwet replied, "Yes, Maasi maa, I came to see you. You’re sick, right? That’s why Shivaay uncle brought me to you."

Hearing Shivaay's name, Swati opened her eyes. Her face was very close to Shivaay’s, and since she was still holding Shwet in a hug, Shwet couldn’t see them.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Shivaay smiling at her, and in the next moment, Shivaay gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

Seeing this, Swati’s eyes widened in surprise. She was about to shout at him when Shivaay placed his finger on his lips, signaling her to be quiet, and pointed toward Shwet, which made her unable to say anything or scold him.

She just turned away angrily. In her mind, she thought, "This guy only comes to make me angry."

"since you don’t let me love you, I make you angry instead," Shivaay thought with a smile, as if responding to her unspoken words.

Swati let go of Shwet, but she suddenly felt dizzy. She stumbled, but Shivaay quickly caught her with his other hand.

He brought her and Shwet inside. He gently laid Swati down on the bed and set Shwet next to her.

Shwet climbed onto the bed, hugged Swati, and asked, "How are you feeling now? Did the doctor give you medicine? Are you feeling better, or do you still have a high fever?"

"No, dear, the doctor gave me an injection. I’m feeling a bit better now," Swati said.

"Have you eaten anything?" Shivaay asked.

Swati shook her head. Then she said to Shivaay, "You came to drop off Shwet, right? You can go back to your family function now."

Shivaay rolled up his sleeves, looked at Swati, and said, "I asked you a question. I didn’t say you could ask me questions. So just stay quiet."

Saying this, he walked toward the kitchen, while Swati pouted.

Shwet, covering his mouth, was smiling. Swati glared at him and said, "Why are you laughing?"

"I’m not laughing, I’m not," Shwet replied and then got up and walked over to Shivaay.

He went to Shivaay and asked, "Shivaay uncle, what are you doing?"

"I’m making soup for your Maasi maa, so she gets some energy, and at least while she’s drinking it, she’ll keep quiet," Shivaay replied.

"I’ll help you wash the vegetables," Shwet said, and he took the vegetables to the sink to wash them thoroughly.

Then Shivaay cut all the vegetables into small pieces.

Swati, sitting on the bed, was watching the two of them cook. Shivaay looked very attractive while cooking. With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the veins in his arms were visible, and Swati couldn’t take her eyes off them.

At that moment, she felt something different for Shivaay in her heart, but unfortunately, he wasn’t looking at her eyes then. He was busy making soup for her.

He asked Shwet for a few things, and like a good child, Shwet brought them all to him, while Shivaay was preparing the soup.

Seeing him cook, Swati smiled and thought to herself, "So Shivaay Parimal can cook too! It turns out he knows how to make something other than just conversation. But the two of them look so cute cooking together, just like father and son. I wish I could dream of having a family like this, but I don’t, because I know this dream will never come true."

Saying this, a pain appeared in her eyes. She closed her eyes and lay down.

After some time, Shivaay finished making the soup. He poured it into a bowl and walked over to Swati.

Seeing her lying down, Shivaay placed the soup on the side table and sat on the bed next to her, gently waking her up.

"Swati, wake up," hearing his voice, Swati opened her eyes. Her eyes were slightly red, so Shivaay asked, "What happened? Why are your eyes red? Were you crying?"

"Am I crazy to cry for no reason? My head is just hurting," Swati said, lightly pressing her head.

Shivaay handed her the soup and said, "Drink this, it’ll make your headache better. You’re hungry, that’s why your head is hurting." Saying this, Shivaay took a spoonful of soup, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to her lips.

Swati said, "I can drink it myself."

Shivaay brought the spoon closer to her lips and said, "Swati, no arguments, especially not today. Because when a lioness is sick, she doesn’t argue with the lion but…"

Shivaay paused because Shwet was watching them and listening to their conversation.

Shivaay signaled Swati to lean closer, and as she did, he whispered in her ear, "She doesn’t argue, but instead, finds comfort in the lion’s arms to regain her strength and continue the fight."

"You will never change, Shivaay," Swati said, glaring at him.

Shivaay just smiled.

"Hey, are you both going to keep talking? The soup will get cold. Masi Maa, please drink the soup quickly and tell us how it tastes. Shivaay Uncle and I made it together," Shwet said, who had been watching them talk for a while.

Swati smiled, took the soup from Shivaay's hand, and then gently placing her hand on Shwet's cheek, said, "It’s very good."