27 - When life meets major crisis(S1)

|AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE|

As the meal was being served, Rajmata and Bua Sa entered and took their seats.

They were the only ones present at home right now. Niharika stood beside the table, facing them with her hands joined together.

One of the maids served their plates. As they were about to start eating, Bua Sa eyed the food and asked, "Who made the breakfast? It looks different from the other day," addressing the maid.

"I...I m..made it," Niharika said, looking down.

"What?" Bua Sa exclaimed.

"Why? Who let you enter the kitchen?" she questioned.

Niharika, still looking down, heard the sound of someone getting up from a chair.

Bua Sa shouted, "Suman Sa, who let her enter the kitchen?"

Suman came forward and explained, "Hukum asked for it. It's her first rasoi."

Rajmata listened to everything silently.

Bua Sa, in anger as if Niharika had ruined her day, commanded, "Suman Sa, ap hamara breakfast humare room mein fir se apne hatho se bana kr bheja dijyega."

"Ji Ashwini," Suman said with an old, weary sigh, eyeing Niharika.

Bua Sa left the table, leaving only Rajmata. She, too, got up without touching the food made by Niharika and said to Suman, "Suman, we are not feeling hungry. Send this food to charity."

She left the table without looking at Niharika, seemingly unaware of how she had hurt her. Niharika's feelings went unnoticed by Rajmata.

A tear escaped from Niharika's eyes as she saw both Rajmata and Bua Sa abruptly leaving the table.

She quickly wiped it away before anyone could notice, but Prithvi, coming downstairs, seemed to have already noticed.

"I'll call you later, after confirming." Prithvi said, ending the call, his gaze fixed in her direction.

she started taking the food she had prepared back inside.

Prithvi, seemingly having witnessed her being left alone and her food abandoned, marched toward her.

Just as she was about to turn, Prithvi intentionally took quick, calculated steps towards her, almost causing her to bump into him.

She flinched at first, but then their eyes met, exchanging a glance. Realizing that she was on the verge of falling, he placed his hand on her waist to prevent any fall.

They stood like that for a moment, their eyes locked.

Then she broke eye contact, looking down, as she felt her eyes on the verge of giving up, as if they were about to get watery once again.

Prithvi took his hand back from her waist, adjusted his blazer, and cleared his throat before speaking.

"Are you okay?" Her looking down again, composing herself, she nodded silently, feeling a rush of emotions she couldn't quite understand.

She took a step back, returned to what she was doing, and started taking back her food.

He asked her, standing there looking at her, "Where are you taking all this food?" he said, white-lying as if he hadn't seen, as if he hadn't witnessed everything through his own eyes.

Still busy with her task, she didn't reply.

"Back to the kitchen?" he asked again, trying to get her attention, which was more focused on the table.She nodded in agreement but didn't say anything. She took her food back in a bowl.

In another attempt to engage her, Prithvi took his seat, acting impatiently. "I'm feeling hungry and getting late too," he said, looking at her while pretending to check his watch.

"Serve me," he said.

"And where is everyone? They're already done eating. Anyway, let it be," he continued, acting unbothered about the absence of others.

However, she continued taking her food back in the bowl.

"Y..you do..on't ne..eed to h..have t..this," she said.

"Why?" he asked.

"I..t's n..not really u..upto y..your l..liking, an...d they A-a-are ma..king so...omething el....se. T..t.they w..will serve you. I'll ta..k..k.ke this ba..ck-"

Prithvi, now getting impatient seeing her unaffected and behaving stubborn, sticking to her words, grabbed one corner of her dupatta without her awareness.

Without her knowing, he gently pulled her toward him, and she looked shocked, grabbing her dupatta in response, her hand on her neck.

She then turned toward him, looking into his eyes questioningly.

He didn't explain his actions but simply said, "Just give me. I said," putting his hand on hers. She flinched, then removed her hands from the bowl, and he served himself.

As he started eating, breaking eye contact, she looked at him, holding silence, hoping for some response.

He took the first bite without replying.Taking another, he remained silent.

"Could Pass that dish to me," he said, pointing towards the dessert.

She passed it to him.

He took the first bite, and his expression changed.

As he swallowed, he asked, pointing his hand, "Did you add any kind of dairy product to that?" She looked at him in shock, wondering how he knew she made the food. "I mean, did they add?" he corrected himself, almost getting caught.

She shook her head in denial

"I..s ther..e A..a-any pr....o..oblem?" she asked, concerned.

He remained silent."Y..you do....o..n't ne...e.ed to h..have it if y...you're not c...comfortable," she said in a sad tone, reaching to take back his plate.

Composing himself, he said, "No, it's actually delicious," removing her hand from his plate.

Faking his previous normal self, he continued eating.

She looked at him doubtfully, not entirely convinced that he wasn't lying to her. "R..r...really?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in question.

"Yes," he said, taking another bite of the dessert while eyeing her. There was a discomfort he was starting to feel, which he hid behind his fake expression as he swallowed another bite.

"It's absolutely delicious, which maid cooked today," he said, gulping another bite without a second thought. Again, without waiting for her reply, he continued, "Anyway, compliment her from my side," taking the last bite and getting up.

"Gift her something from my side, don't think about the price," he added, looking into her eyes, which were now innocent and filled with complete hope.

That was enough for her. He complimented her food, and now she didn't need any gift or think-

But Again, discomfort started covering his face.

Her eyes were down, faking another peaceful smile; he said, "You have my back," in assurance.

She looked up, "H..huh!" she said.

"I mean, don't think about the price. Reward her with a hefty bonus. That was what I was repeating," he clarified.

Then he turned around to leave. Her face smiled back, capturing, making its way back to her lips.

As he exited the palace, his face started turning pale, all colors draining away.

***

"Vanshi, here," Dadi Sa said, wearing a questioning look on her face as she noticed the absence of other family members, except Prithvi and Niharika.

"Ji, Thakuryaan," Vanshi replied.

"Where is everyone? Where is the whole family? Did they leave so soon? I called everyone; it was her first rasoi," Dadi Sa inquired.

"Ji, Thakuryaan, everyone is out, As you know. Dada Sa is out for a walk," Vanshi explained.

"And those two, where are they?" Dadi Sa asked, referring to the absence of Rajmata and Bua Sa.

"They left the table after knowing Yuvrani made breakfast," Vanshi stated.

Dadi Sa signaled her to go, standing there with a different, interested glance at Prithvi and Niharika, with a smile.

She couldn't help but comment, "Toh aag puri tarah se nahi bhuji, kuch baki hai," as she saw Prithvi leaving and Niharika going inside with a smile.

Then she stopped Suman as she saw her walking toward Ashwini's room with a food tray and asked, "Where are you taking this?"

"Ashwini's room," Suman replied.

Dadi Sa paused as Suman stood there, waiting for Dadi Sa's reply. Then she spoke, "Tell her to make something tonight," Dadi ordered.

"Hukum, but everyone refused to have food made by her," Suman said.

"No, tell her again, and I'll see for myself after that," Dadi Sa ordered.

***

|IN THE OFFICE|

As Prithvi entered his cabin, he immediately felt discomfort.

He loosened his tie with his hands and called Amar inside. At this moment, his face turned pale, drained of all color.

"Call the doctor," he hurriedly instructed Amar, throwing his blazer and tie on the floor feeling suffocated.

Concerned, Amar asked, "What happened, boss?"Prithvi's face was drenched in sweat, and he was experiencing breathing difficulties.

"I need you to call a doctor now; I think I triggered my allergy," he managed to say, taking the AC remote and adjusting the temperature to the highest setting, but still feeling uncomfortable.

"Call the doctor NOW. I think I had something made with milk," he said, unbuttoning his shirt, unable to find relief.

Amar watched Prithvi's actions with worry and shock.

"What?" he exclaimed in disbelief.

Prithvi continued to struggle with his breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he closed his eyes.

"Should I call Abhi bhai first?" Amar suggested, concerned for his boss's well-being.

"Why Abhi? Is he a general surgeon? Huh! Call a regular doctor, and don't tell him," Prithvi shouted at Amar, his voice strained as he struggled to breathe.

After an hour, the doctor informed Prithvi about the severity of his condition. "Mr. Prithvi, this could be dangerous; it could have landed you in the hospital for days. You should avoid things that you are intolerant to. You need to know what you are eating beforehand; it could have been life-threatening if you had consumed even a little more lactose," the doctor warned after running tests and ensuring Prithvi was out of immediate risk.

Prithvi felt relieved compared to what he experienced an hour ago.

Deep in thought while the doctor spoke, Prithvi asked, "Can I get back to normal by tonight?"

The doctor looked at him in disbelief.

"My family, My wife won't know, right?" Prithvi added, hoping to keep his condition private.

"Yes, you can, but only if you take good rest and avoid anything containing lactose," the doctor assured him, adding a sarcastic comment at the end.

"Okay," Prithvi nodded, deeply contemplative.

Frustrated, the doctor couldn't help but make a comment before leaving. "Mr. Prithvi Chauhan, being serious and committed to my profession, I'm suggesting you. This is your one last time getting rid of me without being admitted. You are lactose intolerant. That means you can't repeat the same mistake again, right? You got my point," the doctor emphasized and left, while Amar went to see him out.

While prithvi rest.

In the background, Abhi's voice resonated, "Where is he?" as he marched inside, discussing with Amar.

Prithvi heard their murmurs in the background before their voices faded.

"Why did he do that?" Abhi asked, entering the room.

"I don't know, Bhai," Amar replied. "You should ask him."

Prithvi removed his hand from his head, stood up, and sat back down as Amar stood at a distance, and Abhi approached him.

"What is he doing here?" Prithvi asked in frustration, not wanting to deal with any disruptions after warning Amar not to call Abhi.

Ignoring Prithvi's question, Abhi moved toward him and said, "Show me your nerve," holding out his hand with the other on his hip.

"Why?" Prithvi responded rudely.

"Just show me," Abhi insisted, taking Prithvi's hand.

"It's normal," Abhi muttered after checking his nerve.

"Yes, it is," Prithvi agreed, removing his hand from Abhi's.

In frustration, Prithvi looked toward Amar in disbelief, and Amar avoided eye contact, scanning the room but avoiding Prithvi's gaze.

"Now, tell me why?" Abhi asked, taking a seat next to Prithvi.

"Why what?" Prithvi replied, pretending ignorance.

Abhi stared at him, prompting Prithvi to pause before blurting out in frustration and anger, "Just leave from here, out of my sight. I have nothing to explain to you," showing no inclination to justify his actions.

"And Amar, why is he here? Didn't I specify that you should not inform him?" Prithvi questioned Amar.

"Well-" Amar began, hesitant to respond.

"Answer, Amar. It seems like you're taking matters into your own hands now. I might need to find your replacement," Prithvi threatened, forgetting that Abhi was his friend and had his own way of extracting answers.

"Okay, don't tell me," Abhi said, contemplating something.

"I will call home and ask your mother directly," he threatened, dialing the number.

"Abhi, stop-" Prithvi finally acknowledged Abhi's presence.

"Don't make the call," he said, taking Abhi's phone.

"Then tell me! What the hell are you doing with your life these days?" Abhi demanded.

Prithvi glanced at Amar, knowing this confrontation was coming if Abhi found out.

"It was nothing. I just ingested something I wasn't supposed to," he explained.

"Oh, please! Am I a child? Don't tell me next you can't differentiate from the first bite what you were having. By smell, you could differentiate if it had lactose or not, right?" Abhi countered.

"No, I couldn't," Prithvi replied.

"Stop here. I'm over your excuses. Give me a damn answer," Abhi insisted.

"No, I said what I said," Prithvi insisted, still concealing the truth.

"Give me a damn answer, Prithvi," Abhi persisted.

"Okay, fine. I did it for her," Prithvi confessed, closing his eyes, admitting that he knowingly risked his life for her.

"What for her? You mean that girl? Your wife?" Abhi clarified.

"Yes," Prithvi affirmed.

"Why? Wait, why do you need to have something? Is there a new tradition introduced in your family or hers? Like an agni pariksha?" Abhi asked, perplexed.

Prithvi looked at the floor and began speaking, "Because she made it."

Amar also stepped forward, intrigued by the conversation.

"I knew it from the moment I took the first bite that it had milk. But then I asked her, and her expression started changing to a sad one," Prithvi recalled, remembering the moment.

"And I couldn't bear to see her sad. Her expression didn't let me find peace. So, I devoured that dessert in one go. I don't know why I did it, knowing it would risk my well-being, but something inside me knew it was right," Prithvi explained, lost in his narrative.

"And she was happy, so I felt it was right," Prithvi admitted, justifying his actions.

"Wait, what are you saying?" Abhi asked, and Prithvi snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Abhi.

"Why do you need to do that? I mean, I can't believe it, Prithvi. I'm not letting you go without an explanation," Abhi warned Prithvi.

Prithvi took a weary sigh and began explaining, "She made something at home with effort, and my family leaves her food untouched, leaving her alone. She was silently crying, wiping tears from her eyes. I noticed her sadness, and I couldn't control myself. Seeing her tears stirred something in me, something beyond what I called 'hatred.' Yes, I took that risk knowing well for her. Risking my life was worth seeing her smile."

The room fell silent, and Abhi finally spoke, "Prithvi, you still like her," he commented and Prithvi looked up from the floor, shocked, but not angry, as if admitting defeat.

"Wait, what, Prithvi? You've messed up big this time," Abhi said, getting up and pacing around the cabin.

Prithvi appeared troubled as Abhi spoke.

"Prithvi, you are in a major crisis," Abhi stated.

Prithvi looked confused at first, but shock filled his expression as he realized the weight in Abhi's words. He looked up at Abhi, and Abhi nodded in confirmation. Prithvi shook his head subconsciously, denying what Abhi was suggesting.

"No, it's not true," Prithvi insisted, rejecting Abhi's statement.

"Listen to me. You've unknowingly started falling for her," Abhi stated.

"No," Prithvi reiterated, rejecting the idea, but Abhi continued.

"You can't stand to see tears in her eyes. You can go to any length for her. After holding onto that feeling you called 'hatred,' you risked your life just to see her smile. You could have told her about being lactose intolerant with a single sentence, preventing the whole situation. You drove here in that state; anything could have happened. You could have fainted, or worse, and still, you chose to hide," Abhi explained.

Amar, in shock, interjected, "That means boss is already in love with her."

Prithvi, looking up in shock, showed defeat on his face rather than anger.

"Now see why I was saying you will hurt yourself in this process. I told you many times to let her go, run away, but you wanted revenge. Revenge for her playing with your reputation, kissing her lover on her wedding day," Abhi pointed out, throwing the truth at Prithvi, who took in the information piece by piece.

Prithvi finally spoke, defending himself and his feelings, "Or maybe not. It could be out of humanity, right? I was helping because I was in the power to do so. I could help if I still chose not to. It would have damaged my peace, right?"

Abhi expressed disbelief, "Yeah, make things in your mind. Maybe the next sentence of yours is that you were showing empathy towards her."

"I was," Prithvi claimed.

Abhi said in disbelief, "You are a pathetic person, do you know that?"

"Maybe I'm the one thinking wrong here," Abhi retorted.

"You might be doing all this facade because somewhere, even you don't realize she became part of your ecosystem. How your power dynamic works. Now, if she gets weakened, your brain subconsciously makes a comment that you are losing your power, which you can't tolerate. You're just obsessed with power," Abhi stated, pointing out some other facts.

He paused again and said, "Okay, now I'll explain. You have a guilt trip for what happened yesterday."

"How do you know?" Prithvi asked, and Abhi turned his hand toward Amar.

Nervously, Amar explained, "Vanshi called me and told me, then Abhi called me."

"You are unbelievable. I am starting to have thoughts about your replacement," Prithvi said.

He then blurted out, "Now please leave, both of you," and lay down again on the sofa, saying, "I need to rest," closing his eyes.

When they both left, he got up again, deep in thought.

Maybe thinking to himself :

" DOES HE REALLY START FALLING FOR HER ?"

***

On the following night of the same day, Niharika served the food she had prepared as instructed by the head maid.

Prithvi entered the hall, took his seat, and Niharika began serving him. At first, he seemed hesitant, perhaps having second thoughts, but eventually decided to eat.

Tension lined his face as he took the first bite, but his facial muscles relaxed as he realized the food was safe for him.

He ate in silence.

As other family members entered the hall and took their seats, a familiar pattern repeated itself when Bua Sa exhibited the same behavior.

She abruptly got up, and her daughter Vaishali, who had arrived the same day from her trip, questioned her, "Why? What's wrong with the food?"

Bua Sa insisted, "No, don't eat that," and called out to the maid, instructing her to make something else and send it to their room.

Vaishali, had no choice but to follow her mother without questioning, she followed her lead, her mother, bua sa made comment "Let's go. You're not eating this food made by her. By her hands."

Prithvi remained indifferent, continuing to eat quietly as if he didn't care.

His mother informed Niharika, "Don't serve me; I'm fasting today," and then got up to return to her room.

When Dadi Sa's voice echoed in the hall, instructing everyone to return to the table, both Bua Sa and Rajmata halted in their positions.

Vaishali casually took back her seat, saying, " Could you Serve me too," as if she had managed to evade her mother's unwanted request.

Niharika served her, and Vaishali thanked her.

Dadi Sa stepped forward and declared, "Everyone sitting here & will have the food made by her. Ashwini, if you take a single step toward your room, you'll sleep hungry. No food for you, and no maid will make anything else. You'll have what everyone else is having."

"Maa Sa-"

Dadi Sa ignored Ashwini's protests and turned to her daughter-in-law, saying, "And Rachita, what fast are you having on such an uneven day? Sit back and fulfill your duty as the elder and head of this household. Complete the tradition." Rajmata silently returned to her seat.

"Bhabhi Sa? you too?" Bua Sa questioned, seeing Rajmata return back to her seat.

"Enough, sit back or sleep hungry. Make your choice," Dadi Sa said sternly, giving them a clear ultimatum. She continued, "You have 10 seconds left to decide, Ashwini. After that, your only choice will be to go hungry. Suman, And I don't see you in the kitchen."

Niharika observed everything in silence.

Bua Sa reluctantly took back her seat in anger, realizing that she couldn't confront her mother, who knew her too well. Dada Sa also joined everyone, asking, "Am I not too late?"

After they finished eating, Dadi Sa spoke again, "Now that you've all finished eating, give her shagun. It was her first rasoi."

Niharika looked at her in shock, and Dada Sa began searching his pocket for his wallet.

Dadi Sa continued, "Let's start from Ashwini," addressing her while she was still eating as if she hadn't complained about the food.

Prithvi smiled quietly, and Niharika looked nervous.

"Bhai, why are you smiling?" Vaishali asked.

Prithvi, trying to compose himself, responded, "Was I? No."

"You were-"Dadi Sa intervened, "Prithvi, give her a gift. You prepare something for her."

To which Prithvi commented while looking at Niharika, "What about giving gift Dadi Sa, jo bhi humara tha! ab sab inka hein." He then got up, took out his 'Amex card,' and extended it toward Niharika, who looked shocked,nervous.

She moved backward, he followed her, taking her hand and placing the card in it. "Sorry, I wasn't aware; otherwise, I would have prepared something. The food was good," he said, looking into her eyes.

Then, looking toward Dadi Sa, he added, "Is that okay, Dadi Sa?" She nodded in approval.

"Rachita?" Dadi Sa said.

Prithvi's mother called Niharika over. She took off her bangles and offered them to Niharika, who initially refused but accepted them when insisted upon.

She said, "The food was really good. Meet me in my room; I'll give you shagun. I wasn't prepared."

Following Dadi Sa's lead, she called Niharika over and then called Suman with a box, placing it in Niharika's hands.

"Maa Sa, you don't even let us choose this necklace, " Bua Sa commented.

"Hold on, and give girl her shagun," Dadi Sa replied, ignoring her. Prithvi started getting up after wiping his hands, but Dadi Sa stopped him, instructing him to meet her in her room.