■□ 6 YEARS LATER □■

☆•. Sahiba .•☆

                         Even with my eyes closed I can feel the rays of light falling on my face and can hear someone shouting in the distance.

The words are indistinct, I can understand the tone, anger.

I moved my eyeballs and furrowed my brow.

I'm awake!

I pulled the bed sheet and covered my face so that the light wouldn't ruin my sleep. The darkness gave me a slight peace.

"She's done everything she wanted, I'm not going to let her do anything she wants anymore..." Mom screams from the kitchen, her last words barely audible over the whistle from the pressure cooker.

I feigned sleep to myself.

When the whistle stopped I realized that she had prepared an entire seminar for today.

"Are you worried about her? Your pampering is making her so stubborn Ashok. I'm worried about her, that's why I'm saying this. No, now I have to shout at both of you. She never listens to me, she has all the traits of your genes. No one in this house considers me as a human. How can you hear... I am just a puppet for you father and daughter."

Likewise her complaints change from one to the other in each sentence.

Pushing the blanket away from my face, I pulled my body up to sit up straight on my bed.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw a large photo frame of my parents hanging on my wall.

My day starts with seeing their beautiful smile.

The owners of this smile are now having a debate in the living room with stubborn faces.

Today I feel something special, don't know what happened, suddenly I felt it.

I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom.

I opened the tap and splashed cold water on my face. After wiping off the water, I squeezed some toothpaste onto the brush.

After getting fresh I stood in front of the dressing table.

My thirty inches of hair was slowly undone.

"She's not awake?" Mom asked Dad, her tone still unchanged.

I quickly combed my hair and decided to give my attendance to my mom.

A sudden silence made me wonder, had she finished all her complaints?

I raised my eyebrows in confusion and poked my head out of the door halfway open.

Slowly I took each step down.

"Sahiba."

Her sudden call startled me and my heart did a somersault inside me. My foot slipped from the stair reflexively I held the steel bar firmly.

I looked into the living room. No one.

I went to check the dining room, where my father was reading a finance magazine, completely ignoring her words.

In fact, it has become a routine in the last few months.

Next to him, I saw an innocent human eating dosa with complete dedication, Amshika!

Both sensed my presence and shifted their gaze towards me.

"Is this morning good?" I asked my father as my eyes wandered to the kitchen.

"No." He said under his breath with a smile.

"Please tell her to stop." Amshika begged softly because she need complete silence while eating.

I walked into the kitchen and saw my mother cleaning the dishes.

"Mom.. aren't you tired of saying it all the time?" I asked her hiding my fear.

She threw the robe into the sink, "Here comes the Queen."

I turned around quickly, unable to look into her angry eyes. Not only me but no one in this house can look into her eyes. Not even Inspector Devaraj, the father of my twin buddies!

Poured the tea into the cup and sipped it.

"Sai, do you understand my pain and anguish?" she asked in a shaky voice.

God!

Now I have to listen to the seminar until I leave home!

I walked towards her drinking tea. "Mom please. Everyone understands your worry and pain. You don't understand mine. I'm only 23 years old. I have more to learn in my life." I tried to make her understand.

"Learn what?" She continued to wash the vessels one by one.

"You completed your studies three years back. When Amshu asked you to do Masters, you said you have other plans. Want to open a restaurant, we all agreed. With that you paid off all our loans. It's been three years now. You are earning well and settled well. Now why you don't listen to us Sai?"

I shook my head no.

"Not us. You. Only you Sumitra." Dad rephrased her sentence from dining hall.

She dropped the bowl and went to have a look at him angrily.

"Yes. Just me. She's a girl, and you can't keep your princess with you for the rest of your life. We need to find someone, no one will come for her." She let every word sink into his heart.

I saw my dad keeping his mouth shut, unable to say anything back to her.

"I don't want to get married. Give me a few more months." I requested.

"A few more months, a few more months. You've been saying the same thing for the last three years. I can't stand it." She put the dishes properly on the rack. I drank the whole tea in one go and washed the cup.

"I'm going to call Suresh to get someone for you."

No no no!

She can't make these terrible decisions.

"Never mind, mom. I will not marry now. Even if my marriage is fixed, I will run away from it. With dad's help." I added.

I took a carrot from the kitchen and walked out and she started bragging behind me.

"I'm getting old Sai. I want to see my grandchildren before I close my eyes."

What the hell!

I asked, turning back with my lips parted.

"You're only two score twelve. ​​There's still plenty of time to close your eyes. I can't marry anyone just because you want to see your grandkids. We don't get a child for free with marriage... It's a long process of ten months."

I sat down in one of the chairs in the dining hall, telling the truth like pouring oil on a burning fire.

Amshika poured some coconut chutney on her plate.

"Do you know how long a ceremony has been held in this house?" She gave another reason.

Dad shook his head as if he was not interested in this conversation.

"These walls and bricks will not be happy after seeing my wedding. If your problem is that no ceremony is held in this house then let's find a groom for Amshu."

"Hey!" Amshika choked loudly with food in her mouth.

I winked at her.

"She's younger than you." Mom said, placing one hand on the dining table and the other on the chair I was sitting on, literally blocking my way of escape.

"Two weeks younger than me." I reminded her.

"Sahiba, just one wedding. Do it. And don't pass this marriage pressure on my head" Amshika said pleadingly.

"Never." I banged on the table and said loudly.

"I recently brought a pink lehenga. I will wear it for your wedding."

"Amshu I won't marry anyone just so you can wear the lehenga you bought. You wore it for your wedding." I turned my face away from her dramatically chewing the carrot.

She showed her tongue out at me in protest and continued to eat.

"Have mercy that I carried you in my womb for ten months." Mom said in a low voice.

A typical blackmailing dialogue of every mother in this world!

"Mother India, you do one thing. Sit inside a basket, and I'll carry you for ten months and with two months interest. When that's done, will you give up this thought of my marriage." I raised my hand in the air.

Dad and Amshu laughed out loud.

"Sai, I won't think twice. I will find you a groom soon. You marry him." She ordered.

She won't stop!

"I can't. I already told you I have gamophobia." I tried to stop the conversation.

"Sahiba, stay within your bounds. You will marry the man I choose for you." She raised her voice making all of us deaf.

"Come on Sumitra." Dad lost his temper. He put the magazine on the table. "Why are you forcing her? She is 23 now. You married me at 25, give her two more years. Stop ordering to our child."

"Yes dad." As if agreeing with his thought, I looked at him and took another bite of carrot.

"Yes. Dad is right." Amshika also agreed with him.

"What yes- yes- yes?" Mom looked at the three of us and raised her hands in the air in confusion.

She is helpless because no one will stand with her in this house.

If Amshith was here he would definitely stand up for her but his absence made her weak to fight against us.

In all disputes, Amshu, dad and I are one team, Ami and mom are the opposite team and Devaraj uncle is the umpire.

"Give me two more years as he said. When Amshu and Ami turn twenty-five, all three of us can get married on the same day." I told a hypothetical plan.

But I always want it to happen, even if it's just my imagination. All three of us shared the same life, shared sorrows and joys.

When Sudha aunty died in the labor room after giving birth to the two children, mom and dad took care of them. Devaraj uncle was a busy policeman and could not spend much time with them.

Amshika and Amshith were brought up by my parents, who also call them dad and mom.

Whatever was given to me was equally given to them.

It is difficult to look after three children at the same time. Ashok and Sumitra never once considered them a burden and turned their faces.

I don't think any other couple would do this or not.

After finishing the carrots, I took a plate and served the food myself.

Mom did not shy away from the subject.

I sped up eating as my eyes fell on the clock on the wall. Meanwhile, Amshu got up and went to wash the plate.

My mother said the same thing and came behind me. I answered her, argued, screamed, pleaded.

I quickly got ready and took the side bag along with the wrist watch Mahi had gifted me with.

I walked downstairs and signaled Amshu to come.

Dad is still engrossed in the magazine.

I put on my sandals and went to the porch. Amshika stopped on the way to sit out and said to mom.

"Mom I have brought the salwar to be stitched." she said aloud to mom.

"Where is it?" Mom asked from inside.

"Put it on top of the TV." Amshu replied putting on her shoes.

"You girl! Where are you putting this." Mom yelled at her.

Amshika closed her eyes and ears tightly not wanting to hear nice words from her.

"I felt something incomplete, and now it's complete." Amshu said sitting behind me on my scooty.

I put the helmet on and strap it on properly.

"Did Ami call you?" I asked.

"No. He called dad yesterday." She replied adjusting her dress.

"Which one?" I doubted.

"Inspector." she said.

☆ ☆ ☆

As I approached the restaurant, I realized that it was not busy. During the holidays, the number of people is so high that we can't even turn back and forth.

I am trying to bring in some more workers to make my and Mahi's job easier. I parked in a small parking lot that was already occupied by a few vehicles.

Before entering my restaurant I looked at its name board, SAHIBA'Z.

I wanted to do something so that no one in the world would forget me, so I gave my name to my restaurant as well. Even though I have been seeing this board for the past three years, I feel proud every day when I look up at it.

Amshika and I went inside. Amshika walked to her usual seat, the table by the wooden window.

I looked around to check and saw an old couple, some school boys and a little girl with a lady.

Hmm... Not bad!

I graded.

The counter space is empty, Mahi is not there.

Placing my side bag on the counter, I went into the kitchen and the smell of sambar penetrated my nose.

Mahi is stirring it in a big vessel. The kitchen is full of smoke and darkness.

"Mahi dear, open the windows." I said that and went to open the right side windows. Mahi put down the big spoon and opened the left side windows.

Putting on gloves and an apron, I asked her, "What happened to the marriage order?"

"They didn't call again, like they found a big catering company." She laughed.

"Big company." I grumbled.

Mahi took some hot boiling sambar and poured it into the glass bowl.

My eyes widened at that and before I could say stop, the glass jar broke into pieces and the hot sambar trickled down through the cracks.

"Mahi.... take care." I screamed.

She backed away, fearing that the hot sambar might splash on her.

Mahima Srinivasa Venkateswara Lakshminatha Iyyer, Queen of Clumsiness.

Her face pale with grief, she stood there staring, wondering what had gone wrong this time.

I went to her and shook her by the shoulders,
"Go to the counter and tell Amshika to come. I'll clean up this mess." I tried to say in a calm voice, hiding the distress that came with the loss of the one hundred and fifty-third glass bowl.

She feels bad if I raise my voice, she's clumsy, I know, but that doesn't mean I have to say harsh words and certify her actions.

Without taking her eyes off the mess, she slowly pulled her out of the kitchen.

I cleaned up the mess, carefully picking up the shards of broken glass and tossing them into the trash can kept behind the restaurant.

I told her to come, it's been fifteen minutes, what is Amshu doing there?

I poured the sambar till it filled the steel container.

In between I looked towards the kitchen doorway for Amshu.

I went to the hall and saw her killing the laptop keyboard. The typing sound disturbs the other customers and they all look at her uneasily, but she doesn't gave any heed.

I know what she's up to, she's immersed in his world.

Amshika claims that she is the biggest fan in the world of Actor Chris.

Out of nowhere someone snapped a picture of him walking down the street with his wife Rishma and fans are all celebrating with that picture.

I don't know suddenly from where this Chris sprout out!

"Amshika what are you doing? The customers couldn't eat peacefully and your tapping sound is bothering everyone." I leaned down to her and said in a low voice.

"Uffo! Please Sahiba not now. I am more busy than anyone else." She didn't even glanced at my face.

I tried to close the laptop but she grabbed my hand and pushed me back.

"No Sahiba." She put the laptop on her lap from the table.

"Amshu you are annoying my customers. Please don't make a fuss." I requested.

"Okay fine. I won't bother." She said without changing her gaze away from the screen.

Chris crosses the road holding his wife's hand.

Wah wah wah ! Today's breaking news.

Wonderful!

I am sure that Amshika did not raise her head from the screen today. She won't let go if she gets one, now she's got both and doesn't seem like she's coming to help me.

☆ ☆ ☆

After a quick lunch I julienned the carrots to make carrot halwa.

One of the special desserts in my restaurant. Sahib's Carrot Halwa is very famous throughout this Chaitra Nagar.

Many students ask for this carrot halwa after school and I charge five rupees for a bowl. Because it is sweet, they like it a lot but they don't eat much or more than three bowls.

After that went to make chicken roll and Mahi is frying Chilli Chicken.

"Mahi care dear. It's hot oil." I reminded her.

"Yes Sahiba."

She turned off the stove and slowly took out the fry and put it in the container.

Suddenly my phone rang, I put the stove on sim and answered the call.

"Sahiba'z here." I said.

"Can I have some fried rice, chicken tikka and chocolate ice cream." Someone from the other side asked for the order.

"Sure sir, please tell me your address."

I wrote the address on my notepad.

"You will have your order in twenty minutes sir. Thank you for your order." I said with a smile.

I cut the call.

I tore the paper and gave it to Mahi.

"Mahi, home delivery today. Fried rice, chicken tikka and chocolate ice cream."

"Is it all one?"

"Yes."

She took the paper and read the address. "Okay I'm going." She said and I took the strainer from her and took out all the remaining fries in the oil.

"Where are your scooty keys?" Mahi came back and asked.

"It... it's in my bag." I pointed out.

"Okay."

"I will send his number on WhatsApp. If you have any doubt about his address, call him."

"Okay." She walked out.

A few minutes later I heard the sound of my scooty, which meant she had left the restaurant.

I took off my gloves and copied the recent number and sent it to Mahi's number.

I heard a pop-up sound from the shelf.

I turned and looked at the shelf where the plates were kept. Mahi keeps her phone inside a bowl.

Clumsy girl!

I slapped on my forehead.

Even after an hour, Mahi is nowhere to be seen. It is not known which hill she went to.

School students started coming.

"Sahiba chechi, a plate of chilli chicken." Two boys ran into my restaurant and asked.

"One plate? But there are two of you?" I looked at them confused.

"If we overeat, mother will know we ate something just by the smell." One of the boys said with a laugh.

"Okay kiddos, just a minute." I went to the kitchen and got a plate of chilli chicken.

I came back and gave it to one of the boys while the other dug his hands inside his school bag.

Some rupee notes are kept on the counter.

He looked at the second boy with a dull face.

"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Sahiba chechi we have only twenty two rupees." He said and before the first one could finish his words the second boy placed the plate on the counter.

"Achoo!! What will you do then?" I put my hand on my chin as if worried.

"We'll come the next day." Saying that, both of them started taking back the rupee notes.

"Hey... don't worry. Get it. Just give me twenty rupees. Never say no to food." I stopped them and they looked at me in disbelief.

"Really?" asked the second boy.

"Really." I said holding out the plate to them.

Their faces showed happiness and they took the plate from me.

I took only twenty rupees from the money they gave me. The boy bought the balance and they sat at one of the tables and enjoyed the meal.

Seeing them eating brought a smile to my face.

"So you started charity too?" Amshika finally decided to raise her head.

She came towards me looking at the two boys.

"They're kids, they must be hungry." I smiled at her.

"One day this charity of yours will give you trouble." She said taking a tissue paper and started to make a boat.

"Sahiba Chechi." Another student jogged in from school.

Akash, plus two student, one of my daily customers.

"Here comes the carrot halwa." Amshika mocked him. "Where's your halwa da?" she asked, leaning against the counter where she stood with folded hands.

Amshika's words made him blush. Shyly, his hands stroked his hair.

"Amshu chechi....don't make fun of me please..." he said in an extremely shy pleading tone.

"I'm not teasing da. I asked where is your girlfriend" Amshu further embarrassed him.

All three of us laughed. For a moment he felt as if the skin was peeling off his body.

So cute to see boys blushing.

"She's standing outside." His feet not fixed on floor, they are dancing.

"Carrot halwa right?" I asked to confirm.

"Yes yes. Of course. And what else." Amshika said with a loud laugh.

Akash is shy to stand in front of us. Before Amshika could ask him anything I brought two bowls of carrot halwa.

He gave ten rupees in Amshu's hand and took the bowls full of halwa.

"Bye Sahiba chechi. Bye Amshu Chechi." He told us and walked out.

"Look Sahiba, even 17 year old kids have partners. I think we are the only ones in school without a crush on anyone."

"Yeah. You're right, we never need the company of a fourth person to make us happy." I explained the reason to her why we don't have a partner.

"You have option. Please agree with your mother. I want to wear my lehenga." she said childishly placing the paper boat on the counter.

Her words really bothered me. "No Amshu. I am not getting married."

I said as if the matter was closed. Amshika went to the kitchen without saying a word.

I looked at the wall clock and it was two hours since Mahi left. I can't even call her and ask where she is.

Amshika brought the container in which the carrot halwa was kept. I took the paper bowls and served them happily.

Other school students came and bought chicken rolls, samosas, vada and burgers.

In the rush, I saw Mahi's brother Madhav coming tired from school. He always comes to the restaurant after his school, but today he is very upset.

Madhav took off his school bag and laid his head on the table.

I went to him. "Madhav... what is it, dear?"

The little boy slowly raised his head and looked at me.

"I feel out of sorts." he said sadly.

I touched his forehead to see if he was okay, I quickly withdrew my hand, he was feverish.

"Oh my god.. you have fever. Come on let's go to the hospital." I said as I took him in my arms. He wrapped his arms around my neck and lay on my shoulder with his eyes closed.

"Amshu, Madhav is not feeling well, I am taking him to the hospital, inform Mahi when she returns." I said hastily.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything." she said.

"Yes." I took the side bag and walked out.

I had to call an auto rickshaw to take Madhav to the hospital as Mahi took my scooty to deliver the food.

☆ ☆ ☆

As I was leaning against the hospital wall waiting for Mahima, I heard footsteps coming towards me from a distance.

"Sahiba... how is Madhav? What happened?" Mahima asked me in a hoarse voice.

"He wasn't feeling well when he came home from school, he had a fever, and I took him to the hospital right away. The doctor arrived and she's checking." I comforted her.

Her eyes are wet and her feet are unsteady on the floor. "I want to see him."

As she began to enter into the cabin we heard the door open.

Doctor and Madhav came out of the cabin.

"Madhav." Mahi ran and hugged him.

I slowly walked towards them.

"Is he all right, Doctor?" I asked.

"Yes.. I gave an injection. He will be fine if he take two days rest." The doctor patted Madhav's head and said.

I opened my side bag and gave her the amount. After taking the money, she walked forward without looking back.

"Madhav... how do you feel?" I crouched down.

"I am tired Sahiba chechi." He said in a low voice.

"Mahi. Take him to home. I will send you his school bag tomorrow. Here is your phone." I said to her and handed over her phone.

☆ ☆ ☆

When I reached the restaurant, I saw Amshika serving food to people.

I am very tired and I really need a good sleep.

"Is there anything else, sir?" Amshika asked the customer.

"No." He replied.

Turning to her right, she saw me. "Is he alright?" she asked as she walked towards me.

"Yes. There's nothing to worry about. Just a fever. The doctor asked him to rest for two days. Then he'll be fine."

I said everything the doctor said while tilting my head left and right.

"Where's his bag?" I looked at every table.

"I kept it on the counter." Amshika pointed towards the counter.

I went to the counter and took his bag. He opened the zip and took his lunch box and water bottle.

I washed his lunch box and water bottle.

"Sahiba, it's getting late now. Shall we go?" Amshika asked leaning on the kitchen door step.

She is also tired and had to stay here for three hours straight.

"Yes. Turn off the lights after the last customer leaves." I said in a tired voice.

I put the lunch box and the bottle back in his bag.

The customer paid the amount and left. Amshika turned off the lights one by one.

Before she could turn off the last light, the restaurant's telephone rang!

With zero energy I answered the call and pressed the phone to my ear, "Sahiba'z here. May I get your order."

"Can I have some rice and rasam?" asked the person on the other end.

"Of course sir. Want anything else?" I asked.

"No. Just what I said." He replied.

"Okay. Give me your address sir." I took out my notepad from the drawer.

Without taking her finger off the switch, Amshika anxiously waits to turn off the light

I scribbled down the address.
"Okay sir. Thank you." I hung up the phone.

"Who's calling at this hour?" Amshika asked angrily.

"The customer." I said. I took the kitchen key and started opening the door.

"Sahiba... are you going to cook again? It's late dear, tell them we don't have the food the custmer ordered. Just repeal the order." Amshika's patience is gone and whatever she said is not right.

"No Amshu. We can't say that, I started this to feed the hungry. We shouldn't tell anyone that we don't have food. It's my duty." I went inside.

I prepared the rasam in thirty minutes and packed it properly with the rice. I put my restaurant's notice and a menu card inside the paper bag.

I closed the kitchen, put the key in the drawer and took out the paper on which I had written the address.

Amshika turned off the last light and we left the restaurant. I closed the main gate properly.

"Leave me home first, then go deliver the food." She said impatiently sitting behind me.

"Okay. Tell mom and dad I'll be home late." I put on my helmet.

"Why? Where are you going to deliver the food?" she asked confused.

Inserted the key and started the scooty, switched on the head light and pressed the accelerator and I said,

"Sujatha Enterprises".

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Hey all,

Posted the first chapter of this story.
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Keep supporting me with all your lovely comments and votes.

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Yours Ammu 🤍