Both sisters sat in the room, discussing Preeti's impending honeymoon.

Sameer and Naina had gifted honeymoon package to both newly wed couples. They were to leave Ahmedabad together next morning by air and reach Delhi. Pandit and Preeti had to go to Shimla while Munna and Swati were going to Manali. Their arrangements were done after checking a lot of brochures of stay options. Both wanted the best for their friends.

"Jijaji ka gift hai, special hi hoga." Preeti said with glazed eyes, excited about her first air travel and staying in a lavish hotel in Shimla.

Naina smacked her arm, bringing her out of her dream world, "Sirf Sameer ka nahi, mera bhi hai... tune toh mujhe apni zindagi se nikaal hi diya... har baat mein bas jijaji, jijaji karti rehti hai."

"Offo, maar kyon rahi hai? Achha baba, dono ka gift hai, par idea pakka jijaji ka hi raha hoga... tere rukhe sukhe dimaag mein toh aise romantic idea aayenge nahi." Preeti rubbed her arm, rolling her eyes.

Naina bit her lip, thinking how Sameer would have disagreed had he heard it.

Incessant noise from outside made them go out to check. Taiji was back, after changing into fresh clothes. Tauji was seated on the sofa in his usual ankle on another knee style. Bela sat on one of the dining chairs, living the role of one with injured ankle. Anand sat next to her, listening to taiji's rants about the loss of her expensive set. Sameer was nowhere to be seen.

"Chachaji, Sameer... " Naina's question was left incomplete as the answer walked in through the main door, along with Pandit.

They smiled at their wives before Pandit touched everyone's feet.

"Bohot der kar di, beta." Anand smiled fondly at him.

"Haan, thodi der ho gayi, aadhi picture nikal gayi, par aadhi toh baaki hai na." Pandit gave a wide smile.

Bela rounded her eyes, giving a surprised look to Preeti, who lowered her head. Anand realised Pandit was included in the plan too. He hoped things don't slip out of hand. But if Naina had told everything to Sameer, he could understand Sameer's anger. He didn't have the heart to stop him.

"Bela, baithi hi rahegi ya khatir bhi karegi apne damaad ki." Taiji taunted.

"Bela nahi uthegi, bhabhiji... uske pair mein moch aayi hai... agar thoda bhi zor diya toh dard badh jayega." Anand declared.

"O bai, toh fir khana? Khana kaun banayega?" Taiji was panic stricken.

"Khana ban gaya hai, taiji... chachiji ne pehle hi bana liya tha... aur jo reh gaya tha woh maine kar diya... ab bas roti banani rehti hain." Naina informed her.

Taiji took a relieved breath... a little too soon.

"Lekin ab main kitchen mein nahi jaa sakti... woh mera... matlab mera woh time hai... abhi hi hua... toh ab main aur madad nahi kar paungi." Bringing a pained expression on her face, Naina clutched her belly.

Sweat beads again appeared on taiji's forehead... there were far too many people to eat... the number of chapatis she would have to churn out would be huge.

Thankfully, Preeti was there... she had some solace. Her mind started working on how to pass on this tough job to Preeti.

"Naina, beta, khana lagana shuru kar de, fir tum logon ko wapis bhi jaana hai." Bela called out from the chair where she was sitting.

"Chachiji, meri tabiyat zara theek nahi hai... taiji ko hi karna hoga." Naina went closer to Bela, but her voice wasn't low enough.

Nobody reacted to her declaration, taking it to be a part of the act.

"Preeti, chal aaja, zara madad kar meri." Taiji let out a sigh, cornered in this situation.

"Arre nahi taiji, Preeti nahi aayegi... meri mummy ne kaha hai abhi woh kitchen mein nahi jaa sakti." Pandit held his wife's hand.

Taiji was baffled for a moment, then shook her head, "O bai, woh tumhare ghar pe nahi jaa sakti... yahan ke liye aisi koi bandish nahi hai."

"Mummy ne kaha hai uske haathon ki mehendi kharab nahi honi chahiye... Preeti yahan ke kitchen mein bhi nahi jayegi." Pandit said with finality.

Taiji gave an exasperated look to Preeti.

"Saare achhe sanskar aapne hi diye hain, taiji... aapne hi sikhaya tha ki apni saas ki har baat manna... main toh wohi kar rahi hun... agar aap kahengi ki mujhe apni saas ki baat ko nazarandaaz kar dena chahiye, toh chaliye, main aapke saath chalti hun." Preeti made a sad face.

"Nahi Preeti, tum apni saas ki baat ka maan rakhogi... bhabhiji, agar aapse nahi hoga toh main aur bhaisahab dekh lenge kitchen ka kaam, chaliye bhaisahab." Anand stood up, asking tauji to come along.

"Main? Main kya karunga?" Tauji was taken aback.

Anand gave a knowing smile, "Aap sab kuch itni achhi tarah se sambhalte the bhaisahab jab main gaon se aaya tha pehli baar... aap hi toh ghar ka kaam karte the jab bhabhiji maayke jaati thi."

Tauji recalled his unsuccessful attempts at cooking a couple of times for his younger brother. Probably Anand was too naive to notice the burnt dal and half cooked rice. He himself couldn't eat and had to buy food when he went to the court. But he couldn't say all this in front of the family now.

"Bina, itna toh kar hi sakti ho... bas roti hi banani hai... ghar pe bhi banati ho na... Anand, baitho tum, tumhari bhabhiji aaj maayke thodi gayi hain jo humein kitchen dekhna pade." Tauji relaxed on the sofa, resting his arm on the back.

Having no option, taiji reluctantly entered the kitchen,  muttering to herself, "O bai, yeh Bela ko bhi aaj hi moch lagani thi... aur Naina ko bhi aaj hi... upar se Preeti ki saas ka farmaan... ye saase bahu ke saath saath uske maayke walon ka jeena bhi haraam kar deti hain."

When the food was finally laid on the table, Bela squirmed in her chair. She was not happy the way everything was presented. This being the first time one son in law was having a full meal in the house, she wanted the dishes to look good as well.

"Preeti, zara langdate hue jaa ke theek se laga dun khana? Dekh na damaadji ko pehli baar bulaya hai aur bhabhiji ne na dhaniya daala hai daal sabji ke upar na paneer pe malai daali hai." She whispered to her daughter.

Preeti held her hand tight, hissing, "Aap hilogi nahi yahan se... Pandit ki khatirdaari kar lena zindagi bhar... aaj toh sabko maze lene do... jo yeh ho raha hai na, yeh dhaniye malai se kahin zyada mast bana raha hai khane ko."

Bela had to agree... she was enjoying the flustered look on taiji's face.

When they all sat down at the table, six chairs were filled up by three couples. Since tauji lazily got up in the end, there was no vacant chair left for him.

"Oho, bhaisahab, aap yahan baith jaiye... main uth jaata hun." Anand shifted his chair back.

"Nahi papa, aap apne damaad ke saath pehli baar khana bhi nahi khayenge? Aap baithiye, main uth jaati hun." Preeti stopped him.

Bela immediately chipped in, "Preeti, tujhe aur Pandit ko saath hi khana hai aaj... tu baith main bhaisahab ke liye kursi khaali kar deti hun."

"Nahi chachiji, aapke pair mein itna dard hai, aapka uthna theek nahi hai... tauji, aap yahan aa jaiye." Naina offered her seat.

"Naina, tumhari tabiyat theek nahi hai na, tum yahin baitho aaram se, main uth jaata hun." Sameer quickly stood up, stepping aside to offer his chair.

Tauji had been moving like a ping pong ball from one person to another as each one made the offer.

"Sameer, tum hamare damaad ho, tum sabse alag kaise baith sakte ho, tum yahin ruko main hi uth jaati hun." Chachiji again tried to get up, and collapsed on the chair, wincing in pain.

"Mujhe aisa lag raha hai mere saath koi khana hi nahi chahta... sabko yahan se uthne ki jaldi hai... aisa hai toh main hi uth jaata hun... Preeti, chalo, hum ghar jaake khana kha lenge... aap sab ek saath yahan baithiye." Pandit pushed his chair back with a stern look on his face.

"Kaisi baat kar rahe hain aap, damaadji? Aaj pagphere ki rasm hai... aap khana khaye bina chale gaye toh apshagun hoga." Bela was in tears.

"Bhaisahab, aaj ek din aap Pralay ke saath wahan baith ke kha lijiye... aakhir ghar ke damaad ko naraaz toh nahi kar sakte na." Anand pointed at the sofa where Pralay was sitting with his plate on the center table.

Tauji  was shocked beyond belief... but no one from the table looked up at his face. Burning in indignation, he went and sat down next to Pralay.

"Bina, meri plate lao." His voice left no doubt about his anger.

Taiji quickly set a plate with a couple of bowls in front of him.

"Khali plate khaunga kya? Sabji bhi lao." He snapped, making her run to the dining table again.

Once she had made several rounds to give her husband everything he needed, she wiped her face with the pallu.

"Taiji, dahi wade mein jeera kam hai... mujhe zyada jeere wala pasand hai, zara thoda laa dijiye." Pandit demanded without looking up.

Once the demand was fulfilled, he picked up the plate of salad, showing it to Preeti, "Tumne bataya nahi tha mujhe tamatar achhe nahi lagte... saare salad pe tamatar lag gaye, ab kaise khaun main?"

"Oh sorry, bhool gayi batana... taiji, zara ek plate mein bina tamatar ka salad laa dijiye." Preeti smiled at taiji.

The moment she came back with salad, tauji called out, "Bina, daal aur laake do."

Taiji picked up the bowl, and kept it back on the table, holding onto her elbow.

"Kya hua bhabhiji?" Bela was concerned.

"Iss haath mein bada dard ho raha hai pata nahi kyon... roti banate hue bhi dukh raha tha." She pressed near the elbow.

Pralay looked up in alarm, his eyes darting to Sameer, who gave him a knowing smile. It was their little secret.

"Aap dijiye, main khila deta hun tauji ko. " Getting up, he offered to help.

"Nahi nahi, main de deti hun." Taiji held the bowl with both hands, worried about the fate of another glass bowl.

These dishes were not a part of the set but they were from her collection as well. She couldn't risk Sameer handling more of her breakable things.

"Suniye, aapko aur kuch chahiye hoga toh uthke lijiye na... mere pair dard kar rahe hain." She pleaded with her husband.

A sudden coughing sound made everyone look at Pandit.

"Oho, fir se atak gaya... paani, paani do jaldi se." Preeti rubbed Pandit's back as he coughed intermittently.

"Ye lo beta." Anand held out a glass.

"Papa, thanda paani... taiji, jaldi se fridge se laiye... Pandit, bas aa raha hai tumhara thanda paani... taiji, jaldi." Preeti was frantic.

Dragging herself to the kitchen, taiji brought a bottle of cold water. Anand quickly poured it into a glass. After gulping down in one go, Pandit breathed in relief.

"Jaldi jaldi khaa liya shayad... mummyji, aapne itna achha banaya hai ki mujhse ruka hi nahi jaa raha tha." He smiled in praise at Bela.

Taiji fumed internally. After all the toil, her effort wasn't even acknowledged.

"Taiji, aap bhi kha lijiye... yahan aaiye... mera ho gaya hai." Sameer stood up, pointing at the vacant chair.

Naina got up too, "Main aapke liye plate lagati hun."

Taiji slumped on the chair, her tired feet thanking her, "O bai, zara achhi tarah daalna sab kuch... aaj toh shaam ko ilaichi wali chai tak nahi pilayi Bela ne."

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho, Naina? Taiji ki sehat ka kuch toh khyal karo." Sameer snatched the plate from Naina's hand as she started to put paneer in it.

She gave him a perplexed look as he placed some pieces of salad and filled up a small bowl with plain curd.

"Taiji, aap yeh khaiye... aap behosh ho gayi thi isliye aapko kuch bhari hazm nahi hoga." He placed the plate in front of taiji.

Stunned, she stared at the few raw pieces of vegetables. Her eyes hungrily drifted over the spread laid out on the table... dum aloo, kofta curry, masala gobhi, stuffed bhindi, kesar paneer, shahi daal, matar pulao, dahi wade, and kheer with gulab jamun... everything looked exceptionally appetizing and delicious. And she was famished.

"O bai, aaj toh itna kaam kiya hai... thak gayi hun... kuch bhi hazm ho jayega." She extended her hand towards the bowl of kofta.

Sameer shifted it away from her reach, "Tauji theek keh rahe the... aap bas kaam mein lagi rehti hain aur khud pe bilkul dhyan nahi deti... main theek keh raha hun na, tauji? Inko apni sehat ke baare mein sochna chahiye aisa hi chahte hain na aap bhi?"

Tauji was taken by surprise. He had not eaten properly as his wife had asked him to get up and take more helpings on his own, which his ego didn't allow. Already irritated with the events unfolding since evening, he just nodded in affirmation.

"Dekh lijiye, tauji ka bhi yehi manna hai... ab unki baat toh aap taal nahi sakti... isliye aaj yehi khana hai aapko... balki abse roz raat ko bas yehi khana... aapko pata hai motape se bohot saari bimariyan ho jaati hain... ab aap Mumbai mein bimar pad gayi toh kaun sewa karega." Sameer slowly shifted all bowls away from her reach.

"Main kal se khyal rakh lungi... aaj bohot zor se bhook lagi hai... ek roti toh khane do." Taiji almost begged.

Sameer's mouth pressed into a grim line as his face hardened.

"Poore din ki thakan aadhi roti se mit sakti hai taiji toh aapne toh sirf do ghante kaam kiya hai." His voice was ice cold.

Though she didn't get the reference, his tone gave her shivers, reminding him of one call she received long back... from someone who called himself Krishna.

"Bina, kuch khane ko bana do, aaj toh dhang se pet hi nahi bhara." Tauji ordered the moment he reached back home with his wife after everyone had left.

"O bai, aapne toh achhi tarah se khaya hai." Taiji was agitated at his demand.

"Kahan khaya? Baar baar uth ke lene thodi jaata table tak... bas thoda sa kha ke reh gaya." He lamented.

"Achha... aur main? Mujhe toh chakhne tak ko nahi mila... aur saari shaam mehnat ki woh alag... mere pet mein kitne chuhe daud rahe hain pata bhi hai aapko?" She rubbed a hand over her ample belly.

"Ab aisi bhi kya mehnat kar li... roti hi toh banayi thi... Bela ne itna saara khana akele banaya tha... hamesha ki tarah baaki bhi wohi karti agar usse moch nahi aayi hoti... uske kaamon ke liye toh tum hamesha kehti ho ki hai hi kitna sa... aaj uska ek hissa karne pe hi itni thak gayi tum." Tauji took out his frustration as well.

"Achha, aapko lagta hai Bela hi kaam karti hai, main kuch nahi karti?" She retorted angrily.

"Karti ho na... nuksaan karti ho... parson chashma toda, aaj itna keemti kaanch ka set tod diya." Tauji was equally angry now.

"Lekin woh set maine nahi Sameer ne..." Taiji again started to explain.

Tauji roared, "Sameer ne bilkul theek kaha tha... motapa badh gaya hai itna ki tumhare dimaag pe chadhne laga hai... sachmuch tumhe kam khana khane ki zaroorat hai."

Anand had come upto their door to return the vessels... but hearing the heated exchange, he went back without knocking.

"Aap ye wapas kyon le aaye? So gaye kya woh log?" Bela gave a puzzled look to the dishes kept on kitchen counter.

"Aaj bhaisahab aur bhabhiji mein jhagda ho raha hai." Anand stated, telling her about what he heard.

Bela's mouth rounded in surprise. This was probably the first time they were having a fight.

All because of Sameer.

A contended smile played on her lips.

Karma had finally hit them.

Next update tomorrow evening