Chapter 25: Early Risers!!!

A few days later,

At Vikram's house,

In the kitchen:

(The kitchen clock strikes 6:00 AM. Vikram, in a casual T-shirt and track pants, is in the kitchen, chopping onions and whisking eggs.

A pan is already on the stove, sizzling with butter. He flips an omelette with ease, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He hums an old Kishore Kumar tune while working, clearly enjoying the task at hand.)

Vikram: (in a good mood)

🎵 jahaan teri yeh nazar hai,

meri jaan mujhe khabar hai...

Bach na saka koi, Aaye kitne,

Lambe hain mere Haath itne...

Dekh idhar yaar Dhyaan kidhar hai,

Arrey dekh idhar yaar Dhyaan kidhar hai. 🎵

(His voice trails off into a hum as he concentrates on the task at hand, but the joy of the song lingers in the air.

Tanvi walks in and stops at the door. She notices Vikram humming and smiles warmly. Leaning against the doorframe, she decides to tease him.)

Tanvi: (cheerfully) Good morning, bhaiya!

Vikram: (turning to her with a smile) Good morning, Tanvi.

Tanvi: (grinning) Kya baat hai, bhaiya! Aaj kal toh aap gaane bhi gunguna ne lage ho. aapki khushi ka raaz kya hai?

(Vikram glances at her, momentarily caught off guard, but quickly shrugs it off.)

Vikram: (nonchalantly) Aise hi, mood thoda achha tha toh mera gaana chaalu ho gaya.

Tanvi: (raising an eyebrow) Haan, haan. Aise hi. Hum jaante hain, bhaiya, jab aap itne khush lagte ho, toh zaroor kuch special baat hoti hai.

Vikram: (laughing softly) Special kuch nahi, Tanvi. Bas socha ki subah shanti mein kaam kar loon.

(Tanvi chuckles, shaking her head, and steps into the kitchen to stand beside him.)

Tanvi: (smiles) main toh aapka yeh 'Chef mode' toh pehli baar dekh rahi hoon!!!! kya bana rahe hain aap, MasterChef Vikram Sabharwal??

Vikram: (laughs, gesturing to the stove) Bas, breakfast ke liye omelette bana raha hoon. Aur tiffin ke liye paneer cheela. Kabir bhi yeh kha lega na?

Tanvi: (nodding) Haan, bhaiya, bilkul kha lega. Lekin aap kyun bana rahe ho? Main kar deti.

Vikram: (shrugging) Bacchon ka box toh main roz pack karta hoon.... toh aadat si ho gayi hai... Socha Kabir ka bhi pack kar deta hoon.

(Tanvi smiles warmly, appreciating Vikram's effort.)

.

.

Just then,

(Kiara comes down the stairs, dressed in her racing gear—black tights, a bright yellow tank top, and a jacket tied around her waist. Her hair is tied back in a neat ponytail.)

Kiara: (stretching and yawning) Ram- Ram, bhua! Ram- Ram, Papa!

Tanvi: Ram- Ram, beta. Tum toh bilkul ready lag rahi ho.

Kiara: (rolling her eyes dramatically) Kya ready, bhua? Yeh kaisa summer vacation hai!!! Roz subah 5:30 baje uthna padta hai!!!

Vikram: (smiling apologetically) Beta, national championship ke liye ready hona hai. Itna toh karna hi padega.

Kiara: (grinning) Haan, haan, pata hai, Papa. Sacrifice is the key to success, right?

Vikram: Bas, yeh attitude bana ke rakho... and you will definitely get through!!!! Beta, ek baar jaake dekh sakti ho, ki Kabir utha ke nahi?

..

..

As if on cue,

(Kabir stumbled downstairs, rubbing his eyes, dressed in a white T-shirt and track pants.

Gaurav followed him, still in his night T-shirt and pajamas.)

Gaurav: (teasing) Kabir toh ready hai. Bas uska mood ready karna baaki hai.

Kabir: (groaning) Mumma, yeh summer vacation enjoy karne ke liye hota hai.... mujhe laga ki yahaan Delhi mein masti karunga... main aur Kiaan bhaiya late night tak video games khelenge.... But aapne special cricket summer camp mein admission karwaa diya mera!!!!

Gaurav: beta... your coach in Bangalore only suggested this, taaki tumhaara cricket mein break nahi ho!!!!

Kiara: (laughing and hugging him) Kabir... bro!!! you and I are in the same boat!!!!

Tanvi: (patting Kabir's shoulder) Aur waapas aake so jaana. Toh tension mat lo.

Kabir: (scoffing) Jaise nani sone dengi! Woh toh zaroor koi na koi kaam de dengi.

Kiara: (grinning) Jab Kiara didi is here, there is no need to fear! Dadi ko main handle kar loongi.

(The adults laugh at her confidence. Vikram plates omelette and toast for the kids, setting them down on the table.)

Vikram: Chalo, ab dono breakfast kar lo. Phir practice ke liye nikalna hai.

Kiara: Thank you, Papa!

Kabir: thank you Mama.

(As they dug into their breakfast, Vikram placed their tiffin boxes in separate lunch bags.

Gaurav watched him silently, smiling at how efficiently Vikram handled everything.

Just as Vikram took the bhagona of milk out of the fridge to pour for the kids, Tanvi steps in.)

Tanvi: Bhaiya, yeh mujhe karne do. Aap thodi der rest kar lo.

Vikram: (grateful) Theek hai.... bas ek kaam karna... Freezer mein dry fruit powder rakha hai. Woh doodh mein daal dena. Kiara roz wohi leti hai. Kabir ko bhi pilaa ke dekho. See if he likes it or not.

Tanvi: (nodding) Theek hai, bhaiya. Dry fruit powder... woh airtight container mein hain, hai naa?

Vikram: (smiling) Haan, wahi. Kamla didi ne ghar pe hi banaya hai, yeh masala. She, dry roasted some dry fruits and grinded them!!! It is very healthy and gives a lot of energy.

Kiara: (grinning mid-bite) Haan bhua. woh powder toh meri secret energy ka formula hai! Kabir ko zaroor try karna chahiye.

Kabir: (rolling his eyes) chalo theek hai.... I'll try that today. Agar pasand aaya toh mummy can make it in Bangalore also.

Tanvi: (laughing) Haan.... main Kamla didi se recipe le loongi!!!!

Vikram: recipe ki zaroorat nahi hai.... woh tumhaare liye banaa hi degi!!!!

Gaurav: (smirking at Vikram) Vikram Bhaiya, aap toh full dietician ban gaye ho. Dry fruit powder, healthy breakfast, tiffin planning... kab seekha yeh sab?

Vikram: (with a shrug) Seekhna pada, Gaurav ji. Bacchon ke liye achha karna ho toh, insaan sab kuch seekh leta hai.

(Tanvi finishes mixing the dry fruit powder in the warm milk and sets it on the table for the kids. Kiara takes a sip and nods approvingly.)

Kiara: Perfect, bhua. Aapne bilkul waise hi banaya hai, jaise papa banaate hain!!! same taste!!!

Kabir: (tentatively sipping) Hmm... theek hai. not bad!!!! Lekin agar mujhe kal breakfast mein aloo paratha nahi mila na, toh main protest karunga!

(The kitchen fills with laughter again as Vikram shakes his head, amused.)

Vikram: Pehle camp ke first day survive kar lo, phir paratha milega.

(The morning buzz gradually settled as the kids finished their breakfast, energized and ready for their respective practices.

Vikram handed them their lunch bags, watching them head out with a mix of pride and affection.

Tanvi cleaned up the kitchen while Gaurav leaned back, appreciating the calm after the chaos.

The house felt alive, filled with a quiet warmth that lingered as the family embarked on their day.)

___________________________________________

How do you like this new version of Vikram? 😏

What do you think Tanvi and Gaurav’s reactions are to him?

Do you think he’s changed for the better, or is there more to this transformation than meets the eye? Drop your thoughts below—I can’t wait to see what you all think! 💬

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Your comments mean the world to me, and I love reading all of your theories and reactions. Keep them coming!