chapter 23

New members from offshore joined the team. These days, Mita was very busy giving them training and managing her own work. Rather, everyone was busy with their own work. Days were passing really fast. Mita and Prachi used to sit next to each other in the office but still they were so busy that they couldn’t even talk to each other.Evening at home, Mita and Jay were talking to each other.“Kanna, I am feeling so tired these days and suffering from severe backpain too” Mita.“You are working so hard my love. Plus managing wedding preparation online also. It is all because of stress. You need to calm down,” Jay.“hmmm,”Amma called Jay,“Kanna, I want to talk to Mita but don’t know how I should communicate?”“Tell me Amma, what happened?” Jay.“I want to know her favourite colours and what type of sarees she wears. Will she like traditional silk sarees??”“Let me ask her,” Jay told Mita about Amma’s call. She asked him to put the phone on speaker.“Hi Amma, How are you?”“I am fine thank you. How are you dear?” Amma“Good. Tell me Amma,” Mita.“Saree shopping for you. Your choice??” Amma asked her in broken English.“Amma, anything is fine with me. Buy whatever you like,” Mita.Amma understood and smiled.“Ok…but &^%$^^*&*@^%&” Amma.Mita looked at Jay for the translation.“Ok but still if you have any specific choice or like designer sarees, she can buy that too,” Jay translated what Amma said.“Mom and Pihu already bought such sarees, so it’s ok if Amma buys traditional silk sarees. I would love that,” Mita.“Are you sure??” Jay.“Yes,” Mita.Jay translated what Mita said and told it to Amma.“Good, ^&^(%*^$&^#&$**&,” Amma.“Mita, Amma is asking for your home address??” Jay.“My home address? Why??” Mita was surprised.“After buying sarees, she will courier the blouse pieces to your home , so that Pihu can give it to your tailor for stitching as per your measurement,” Jay explained.“Ohh wow, Amma is so thoughtful. Looks like except me, everybody is thinking about my wedding shopping. I am so lucky. I will message her the address,” Mita.Jay informed Amma and happily disconnected the call. After a tiresome day, Jay, Mita, Prachi, Nitin came back home. After freshening up, Mita came to the kitchen. She was feeling very hungry and there was nothing to eat. She was thinking what to prepare?Jay came out and lied down on sofa checking his phone.“Kanna, I am so hungry. What should I make?” Mita.“Anything,” Jay.“What anything? Every time you give the same answer, suggest something na,” Mita.“Mita, what can I suggest? Whatever you and Prachi decide, I eat, that’s fine,” Jay.“That’s not fine. See, sometimes Nitin tells us, ``Palak Panner banao, Rajma banao…you also say something na, you don’t know, it is so difficult to decide the menu every day,” Mita was irritated.Jay just smiled and opened his laptop. Mita was angry to see that, “Kanna, every day you do the same.”Jay ignored her. Mita came towards him and expressed her anger.“See, now only you started ignoring me,” Mita.“Now, what have I done?” Jay.“That’s what I am trying to tell you. You are not doing anything,” Mita.“What do you mean?” Jay looked at her.“Kanna, you have changed now. Earlier, you used to come to the kitchen and spend time with me,”“But now I also do that. Isn’t it? Don’t we sit together on the sofa and talk every day after dinner?” Jay was unable to understand Mita’s point.“Exactly. Earlier you used to stay here with me in the kitchen. Used to help me in cooking. But now a days, you don’t enter kitchen at all and just watch movies after coming back from office,” Mita.“What??” Jay.“Yes, absolutely. Now I understand, why I feel so tired these days. Because earlier you used to help me, help us. You used to prepare at least one dish either it is Sambar or Upama, or any curry. But now a days, you do nothing… Jay you don’t even prepare tea these days….yes, now I got the answer,” Mita. “Mita, don’t shout. I don’t like that. Do you think only you are working for this house?” Jay was getting angry now.“No, I did not say that. Everyone is contributing in their own way. But these days your contribution I don’t see. Even Prachi and Nitin might have noticed it. I mean, I like to do things for you, for you all but I too have some limitations. You see naa, these days we have too much work and I need your help. Otherwise after marriage also same thing will happen,” Mita.“What do you mean? What will happen?” Jay.“That, I will keep working in kitchen and you will sit on sofa, watching movies, and I will not like that,” Mita.“Even I am not liking this conversation, looks like you need rest and that’s why you are so irritated now,” Jay went inside his room.Prachi came out and asked Mita about what happened. She said nothing. Both prepared dinner. Everybody had their food quietly. Nitin cleaned the vessels. Mita didn’t stay with Jay after dinner and went to sleep.Jay too didn’t bother and opened his laptop. He was angry too.Mita thought, Jay would message her or call her. But he did not. She was too tired and slept off.Here in the living room, Jay thought that Mita would come out after sometime and talk to him. But she didn’t. He was feeling sad. To change his mood, he started watching a movie, “The Great Indian Kitchen….”. The movie was about how Indian women dedicate their whole life into the kitchen but they never get appreciated. Rather it is considered as working in the kitchen is women’s duty. The movie was an eye opener for Jay and he realised Mita’s point, she was trying to convey. He was so angry at himself for behaving in a typical way with Mita.“I am so sorry my dear Mita. From tomorrow you will see different Kanna,” he said to himself and slept off. Next morning, Jay woke up, got ready and came to the kitchen. Prachi was wrapping up the kitchen.“Where is Mita??” Jay asked.“She left already. She didn’t tell you??” Prachi.“What?” Jay was surprised.“That two more new joiners coming today and Mita will be guiding them to do the formalities? That’s why she left. But how come you don’t know this? Did you guys fight again?” Prachi.“Ohh no no. No fights. I forgot. Thanks for reminding me,” Jay.“Ok then we will also leave in the next 15 minutes. Ok?” Prachi.In Office:As usual everybody was really busy. They rarely get time to talk to each other. They couldn’t even have lunch together. These days their tea breaks had completely stopped. To save time, everybody used to get their tea coffee at their desks. After finishing work, they all came together to go back home. Mita was still upset with Jay. She did not talk to him. Jay also did not bother much.They reached home. Everybody went to their rooms to freshen up and take some rest. Mita lied down on bed and started reading a book to detox from work-stress. Prachi also was listening to the music on her phone.After some chit chat,“Prach, I will go out and start dinner preparation,” Mita.“Ok, I will join you in a while,” Prachi.“No problem,” Mita came out and was totally shocked to see the scene in the kitchen.Jay was kneading the dough by watching a tube video. Mita was pleasantly surprised to see that. She hid in the corner and was observing Jay.Jay poured more water than needed and the dough became too loose to roll. His hands were messy. He was trying hard to get rid of that sticky dough on his hands. Mita was secretly watching his failed attempt of kneading the dough. The she came forward and hugged Jay from behind,“Ohh Kanna, I love you so much,” She kissed him on his cheeks.“Mita, I am so sorry for yesterday’s behaviour,” He kissed her back.“hmmm… I can see that,”“So, if you have forgiven me, can you please help me to clean up this mess??” Jay had spread the flour all over the place.“Ohh my God, are you helping me or increasing my work?”“I am so sorry, I will clean this up..” Jay.Mita started laughing seeing Jay’s innocent face.“Ok No problem, let me teach you,” She added some more dry flour and kneaded the dough nicely.“Wow, it has become so smooth and soft, just like your cheeks,” He pulled Mita’s cheeks.“Aaauuch, now let me teach you how to make rotis,”Mita started rolling the rotis. Jay was observing,“Wow Mita, you are making perfect circles…that too so fast…amazing,”“You know, Practice makes a man woman perfect. Mommy taught me cooking. Ofcourse I was always interested and used to help her in the kitchen. That’s how I learnt,” Mita started telling her childhood stories. She taught Jay how to roast a roti. He had kept one hand on her shoulder and was roasting a roti with another hand. Both were laughing, enjoying the roti making process.“You know Kanna, this is how I wanted to spend quality time with you. Now I am really enjoying it, Thank you..!!”“Ahem ahem… Mita, I think you do not need my help today, should I go,” Prachi winked her eyes.“Yes, please come, who will make sabzi????”                                                                           “hahahahahhaha,” The kitchen was shining like before with happiness. To be continued…..