Shakhi TS Oui, Chef

Part II | C |

Anokhi glared at Shaurya as her fingers itched to grab his collar and strangle his neck. That was her mood ever since Shaurya called her last night and told her that he told his mother that she's, his girlfriend.

For starters, Anokhi asked Shaurya to do one thing and he did another. She wasn't even bothered about the girlfriend tag but was bothered because she was unprepared to meet her idol, Aastha Kashyap. In her view, she wasn't prepared enough to meet her idol and would fail to make a good impression.

"If they ask me to cook a dish and I mess it up, toh mein yeh bhi nahi dekhungi ki aap head chef ho!" Anokhi gritted her teeth and whisper threatened Shaurya who rolled his eyes at her and shrugged.

They both were seated on the couch in Shaurya's living room waiting for Aastha Kashyap.

"Why would you cook? Voh mere liye ladki dekh rahi hai, cook nahi" Shaurya said leaning slightly towards Anokhi.

"She's a very prestigious chef. Kya voh yeh nahi dekhe gi ki unke bahu ko khane banana aathi hai ki nahi? What if she asks me to cook? What if I mess up? What if she ends up doesn't liking me?" Anokhi blasted back-to-back question.

"Yeh sab toh unke hone wali bahu ki problems hai. Tu kyun chintha kar rahi ho?"

"Kya patha, shayad mein unke bahu ban gaye toh kya karen?" Anokhi shrugged coolly.

"What! Tujhe yeh sab kayaal bhi hai kya!" Shaurya lowered his voice that was audible enough for Anokhi.

"Kal rath sapne mein hi humhare shadhi ho ke, mein toh Astha mam se best bahu ka award hi jeet chuki hoon" Anokhi said with a grin.

Shaurya was dumbfounded on hearing Anokhi's words. He looked at her stunned and then noticed her teasing smile.

'Mazak kar rahi thi! Hey bhagwan, yeh bina jaane mere kayaal toh kahan tak poonch gaya! Cheh' Shaurya thought with a sigh.

"If you lie to my mother or mess cooking in front of my mother then tu toh gayi. She's such a hothead" Shaurya fake threatened Anokhi to tease her.

"Haye Matharani! What if I mess up? You yourself has scolded me too much for messing up. What if Mam too...." Anokhi trailed her words, tensed.

"I would have told the truth yesterday itself. Tu ne mujhe kuch kehne nahi diya, na mere Maa. Mein kya karun?" Shaurya whispered back, "Ab bhi kuch bigda nahi hai. Hum unhe sach batha denge"

"Kyunn?! You want her to develop a hatred against me whenever she sees me in future?" Anokhi scoffed, "I want to leave a good impression when I meet her! If I have to be your girlfriend then so be it"

"Toh tu apni good impression kudh hi create karlo" Shaurya chuckled on seeing Anokhi's dramatic expressions, "Jo story humne yeh fake love story ke liye decide kiya hai yaadh hai?"

"Haan, we met at a cooking workshop at Bangalore. You said something along the lines of long-distance relationship, right?" Anokhi asked casually making Shaurya roll his eyes at her.

"Huh, wahi. Jo kuch bhi mein ne kaha, sirf wahi bathana. Kuch bhi extra math keh dena. Phir Maa ko sambal na bahat tough hoga" Shaurya warned.

"Teek hai, teek hai, kuch aur nahi kahungi...wait, why can't I say anything extra?" Anokhi asked looking at Shaurya raised an eyebrow at her.

"Ab tak jo kuch bhi tu ne kaha voh sab toh extra hai. Aur kya kehne wali ho?" Shaurya looked at Anokhi in disbelief, "I don't know what I'll do with you in kitchen!"

"Hey, mein toh...wait, wait, wait, kal aapne mujhe kitchen pe sab ke saam ne chilaya na" Anokhi looked at Shaurya with an evil smile.

"Hey! Tu ne already us ke liye ithna sab kuch kar liya na, aur kya baaki hai?"

"Par mein yeh kaise maan lu ki jo kuch bhi kal hua voh dhubara nahi hoga?"

"That depends on your cooking skills" Shaurya said with a shrug.

"Hello Mr. It was an honest mistake, okay?" Anokhi scoffed, "To be honest, yeh gadbad ka reason bhi aap hai"

"Hein? Matlab kuch bhi! Mein ne kya kiya?" Shaurya asked trying to mask his curiosity of how he came into the scene.

"Haan, jab-" Anokhi started but paused when they heard a voice.

"Sheela, Pallipalayam chicken bana ne ke liye saare cheez thayar haina?" Aastha hollered as she walked out of her room.

Aastha paused on her tracks on seeing her son and a woman in the living room. They both stood up on seeing her.

"Are you Anokhi?" Aastha asked in a stern tone making Anokhi gulp.

"Mam" Anokhi managed to say as she fidgeted with her dupatta, "Ye-yes, Mam"

Shaurya mentally laughed on seeing Anokhi's obedient and polite form.

"Shaurya mentioned about you" Aastha said walking towards them and sat on the couch opposite to them, "Beitiyeh"

Anokhi hesitated but Aastha gestured her to sit down and so, she sat down. She mustered her best innocent look on her face and held her breath when she realized that Aastha is keenly looking at her.

"Will you have something to eat?" Aastha asked Anokhi.

"No, mam. I'm fine" Anokhi said with a small smile as she toyed with her fingers in nervousness.

"Hmmm, Shaurya ne kaha ki tum chef ho. Kitne saal se cook kar rahe ho? You are strong in which cuisine?" Aastha asked.

Anokhi looked sideways at Shaurya who bit his lower lip and averted his gaze. She took a deep breath, composing herself to face her idol and impress her.

"Mam, pichle paanch saal se cook kar rahi hoon. FIKA mein last two years se kaam kar rahi hoon. Uske pehle ek saal ek Italian café pe kaam kar rahi thi, Mam"

"Uske pehle?" Aastha pressed, listening carefully.

"Before that I was at Ajmer. I got placed there at The Meredian through campus selection and worked there for a year. The Meredian mein. In between because of family issue I took a year off and then working here at Chandigarh. Then the café happened and then FIKA happened, Mam"

"Kis cuisine mein strong ho tum?"

"Rajastani aur South Indian, especially Tamil Nadu, thanks to a Tamil friend who inspired me to learn more of it. Italian cuisine is tough to master but now I want to do it Mam"

Aastha looked slightly impressed.

"Interesting" Aastha said and a smile bloomed on Anokhi's face. She was on cloud nine to even hear a simple word from her idol.

"Maa, ab aap isse interview kyun le rahi ho? Humhe FIK-" Shaurya started.

Aastha ignored Shaurya and turned her gaze to Anokhi,

"Mein kitchen jaa rahi hoon. Mere sath chalo" Aastha said standing up.

Anokhi nodded like an obedient child and stood up but Shaurya held her hand stopping her.

"Maa, yeh kya karegi? Hum dhono ko FIKA jaana hai. Chalthe hain" Shaurya said.

Before Aastha could say anything,

"Shaurya ji, Mam keh rahe hain na. Mein saath chalthi hoon" Anokhi said sweetly as she removed Shaurya's hand from her wrist and eyed him to let go.

Aastha smiled watching them and walked ahead.

'Ji? Kya performance kar rahi hai yeh' Shaurya thought as he watched Anokhi following behind Aastha and quickly hold her hand again.

"Tu unke piche piche kyun jaa rahi ho?" Shaurya asked.

"Hath chodo na. I'm very excited to share the kitchen with the Aastha Kashyap. Mein aap ko aake deal karungi boyfriendd" Anokhi wriggled her hand out of Shaurya's hold and hopped towards the kitchen.

"Rabba! Ab aur kya karne wali hai! Bachao mereko!!" Shaurya mumbled to himself and walked towards the kitchen.

Once Anokhi stepped inside the kitchen, she was amazed to see the vast kitchen. There were lot of kitchen equipment, utensils and stuffs. It looked like a mini five-star kitchen itself. She looked at everything in awe and then saw Aastha staring at her.

"You like the kitchen?" Aastha asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I love it, Mam. Every Chef's dream kitchen" Anokhi said with an awe smile.

"Hmmm, tu ne kaha na ki tujhe South Indian khaana bana ne mein interest hai. I'm working on a Tamil Nadu cuisine cook book. Aaj Pallipalayam chicken, which is very famous in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu aur pepper rasam bana ne wali thi. Tujhe yeh sab bana sakthi ho?" Aastha asked in a stern tone and added, "Yeh dish bana ne aathi hai tujhe?"

"Yes, Mam" Anokhi said with a confident smile and nod, "I have visited Coimbatore once and learned from a friend of mine on how to prepare it. So, I'm well aware"

"I like my food very authentic. Let's see tum kaise bana thi ho" Aastha said siting on the chair in the kitchen and turned towards the servant, "Sheela, yeh Anokhi hai. Jo kuch bhi yeh maange gi, de dhe" and then turned to Anokhi, "Yeh Sheela hai. Yeh tum he help karegi. Ingredients saare leke degi par cooking tum he karni hai"

"Yes, Mam" Anokhi listened carefully and nodded.

As Anokhi put on an apron, Shaurya, who watched everything from outside walked in.

"Yehan kya ho raha hai, Maa? Yeh khana kyun bana rahi hai?" Shaurya asked as he took a seat next to Aastha.

"Kyun matlab? Aastha Kashyap ki bahu ko khana bana ne aana chahiyeh na. I have to taste her food, Shaurya" Aastha said slightly leaning towards her son as they spoke in hushed voice.

"Maa, aap ne hi kaha ki aap ko Chef Bahu nahi chahiyeh" Shaurya raised an eyebrow at her.

"Voh toh before I got to know that you love a girl who's Chef, beta. Pallipalayam chicken um milagu rasam um seiya soliruken. Papom ava yepdi samaikura nu"

There Anokhi gathered ingredients for Pallipalayam kitchen. She looked around the kitchen and chose a stone grinder. She deseeded seeds from dry red chillies and tore it into pieces using hands. Then she cut coconut into small pieces before putting garlic and ginger into small stone grinder and smashed it into a paste using the rod shape stone.

Once done Anokhi saw the unevenly cut large chicken pieces. Sheela told her that its 1 kg chicken. She nodded and cut the chicken pieces into the shape required for Pallipalayam chicken and washed it.

When choosing the utensil for cooking, Anokhi chose a clay mud pot used for traditional village cooking. She heated gingerly oil, put a spoon of mustard and once that heated up, she added curry leaves, dried deseeded red chillies, crushed ginger garlic paste before sautéing it and added small onions.

Once Anokhi done sauteing everything she added chicken pieces to the cooking kadaai and keeping the stove on sim, she gave it a mix and put on a lip. After couple of minutes, she stirred the dish and added turmeric powder and salt. Adding a small glass of water, she gave it a stir and closed the lid so that chicken gets cooked.

Side by side, Anokhi prepared pepper rasam while Sheela prepared rice for everyone. She opened the kadaai and found that the dish is almost done. She added coconut pieces and gave it a stir.

Delicious aroma filled the kitchen in the whole time and to say both Aastha and Shaurya were impressed would be an understatement. They both didn't think Anokhi could cook this good for their own reasons and discussed between themselves.

Anokhi didn't taste the dish and asked Sheela to taste the dish. Satisfied on seeing the appreciative glow on Sheela's face, Anokhi switched off the stove and turned towards Aastha.

"Mam, I'm done mam" Anokhi said with a smile and stood stiff as if she's standing in front of her examiner.

"Hmmm" Aastha said walking towards the kitchen counter followed by Shaurya.

Aastha smelled the dish and her face changed into an impressed one. She tasted a bit and went quiet.

"Sheela, take food to dining table" Aastha said and walked out of the kitchen.

Anokhi left the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She walked closer to Shaurya.

"Yeh bina kuch keh ke chale gaye hein? Is it not up to her standard? Unhe accha nahi laga kya?" Anokhi asked tensed.

"Hey, it tastes delicious. Tu tension math ho. Chalo, dining table chale. Maa wait kar rahi hogi" Shaurya knows how important his mother's approval is for Anokhi and decided to calm her down.

"Aap aage jaayiyeh. Mein khana leke aati hoon"

Shaurya gave a nod and left. Anokhi helped Sheela in taking the food to dining table and set everything on the table. She served Aastha.

"Bas. Usse serve karo" Aastha said and Anokhi gave a nod.

Anokhi served for Shaurya and waited for Aastha to taste the food she prepared.

"Teri plate kaha pe hai?" Aastha asked Anokhi.

"Mam, voh I'm a vegetarian. So, mujhe chicken nahi chahiye" Anokhi confessed.

"Oh" Aastha said impressed with the way Anokhi got the flavour of the dish correctly despite having it. She knows lot of chefs who are vegetarian and cooks NV but Anokhi's Pallipalayam chicken tasted amazing.

"Yese kaise chalega? Kuch toh khana chahiyeh tumhe" Shaurya said and added, "Koi aur khana bana ke dhu?"

"Hareey, nahi nahi. It's okay"

"It's not okay for you to not eat while we are eating." Aastha said in her stern tone.

"Phir toh mein curd rice khathi hoon. Voh toh meri favourite hai" Anokhi said and soon Sheela served curd rice for her.

Anokhi waited impatiently for Aastha to taste her food. Her eyes were fixed at Aastha's face when Aastha took a bite of her food. On seeing an appreciative gesture on Aastha's face, Anokhi took a sharp intake of breath.

Aastha looked up at Anokhi before taking another bite and then at Anokhi.

"It tastes just like the dish I had at Coimbatore" Aastha said impressed.

A wide smile appeared on Anokhi's lips. She couldn't believe it. Her idol appreciating the food made by her! She went straight to cloud nine.

"It tastes amazing. You haven't tasted it at all yet seasoning's perfect" Shaurya commented giving an impressed nod.

"Thank you, Mam. Thank you, si-Shaurya" Anokhi said with a wide smile. She was thrilled, excited and overwhelmed.

Aastha gave few more remarks and appreciated Anokhi's cooking before they proceeded to eat. Once done, Shaurya excused to get his stuff from his room while Aastha and Anokhi were seated side by side and conversed about the dish.

"Anokhi, you know I never expected my daughter-in-law to be a chef. When I had your food, I don't feel like eating good cooked by a professional chef but homely. I'm impressed!" Aastha appreciated wholeheartedly.

"Mam, in culinary field you are my idol. Your appreciation would stay with me till the very end. Meinnu aur kya chahiyeh!" Anokhi was overwhelmed. She teared up a little.

"Hareey, ab ro kyun rahi ho? Math ho. Phir toh mere beta toh mujh pe gussa karega ki mein uske hone wali patni ko rula diya" Aastha said with a smile.

Anokhi was taken aback for a moment as she heard Aastha's words.

"Mam?!"

"Tu mujhe Maa bula sakthi ho, Bahu rani" Aastha said with a bright smile.

To say Anokhi was shocked would be an understatement.

'Bahu rani? Hayee Matharani, humhare joot ko yeh maan ke beiti hai! Shall I just say the truth right away?' Anokhi thought to herself.

"Nahi Mam, vo-"

"Ab se tujhe jo bhi guidance chahiyeh ya mujhe dekhna chathi ho toh tum mujhe milne aa sakthi ho. Shadhi ke pehle, you can come here whenever you want. Teek hai?" Aastha said caressing Anokhi's cheek.

Anokhi thought for a brief moment before nodding her head at Aastha with a smile.

"Anokhi chale?" Shaurya asked walking down the stairs.

"Ji Shaurya ji"

Anokhi bid her bye to Aastha and touched her feet. Aastha blessed Anokhi and asked her to visit anytime she want.

Shaurya and Anokhi walked out side by side.

"Mere saamne toh teri bholthi kabhi bandh nahi hoti aur undher mera Maa ke saamne chup chap thi" Shaurya chuckled.

"That's out of respect and admiration" Anokhi replied with a smile.

As they reached Shaurya's car, Anokhi filled what happened to him making him frown.

"Voh tujhe apni Bahu maan gayi?" Shaurya was shocked.

"Haan. I felt like saying the truth right away but then she said I can come to her for guidance, meet her any time. Toh mujhe unhe dukh nahi dena toh. Isliye nahi bataya" Anokhi said.

"Agar mein kal hi sach ke diya hota toh yeh sab nahi hota. Ab kya kare?" Shaurya huffed.

"Kya kare matlab? Kuch dino ke liye meri Boyfriend ban ke hi rahiyeh. Phir jo aayega usse dekh lete hain" Anokhi said and on seeing Shaurya opening his mouth, she quickly added with a teasing smile, "Kya patha, we might end up liking each other and Aastha mam will be my mother-in-law"

"Tujhe pati nahi chahiyeh, you just want my mother as your mother-in-law, right?" Shaurya scoffed.

"If she ends up as my mother-in-law then it's awesome. You look handsome as well. I won't mind having you as a husband either. I'll adjust" Anokhi giggled.

"Huh, pehle jo musibath mein pasaya voh ab tak katham nahi hua aur ab ek aur musibath ke bare mein bath kar rahi hai" Shaurya scoffed.

"Hehehe sab kuch ek flow mein aa rahi hai. I didn't plan anything at all. Sab toh meri Matharani ki kriba hai" Anokhi said pointing both hands up.

"Kuch bhi bolthi hai tu! Aur kya tha voh, meri wajase tum ne sauce ko karab kiya, aese kyun bol rahi thi? Mein ne kya kiya" Shaurya asked remembering their conversation earlier.

"Haan, aap ki hi galthi thi. Yaadh hai we bumped into each other in chef locker room?" Anokhi asked with a grin.

"Haan?" Shaurya dragged the word, perfectly remembering the moment.

"I had a crush on you right after meeting you. When we met for the second time, I was so dazed that I mixed up with the seasoning. Toh galti toh aap ki hui na" Anokhi confessed honestly.

To say Shaurya was stunned would be an understatement. When he saw Anokhi yesterday, he was interested in her. To hear her tag him as crush, to know that she was interested in him as well was surprising and strangely made him feel good.

"Crush?!" That was all Shaurya could manage to say.

"Before you shouted at me, Yes, aap meri crush the" Anokhi said and scoffed, "Par aap ne mujhe chilaya na! Aarghh! That was too much! Sab feelings ke aese ki teze ho gayi thi! God! I got so drunk"

"Kyaa!!" Shaurya's eyes widen, "Drunk?"

"On milkshake!" Anokhi quickly added.

"Milkshake?" Shaurya asked in a relived tone.

"Accha, FIKA pe milthe hai. Mein chalthi hoon boyfrienddd" Anokhi patted Shaurya's arm and left from there in her scooty while he stood at the same place trying to process whatever she said.

"She came, busted like a cracker and went!" Shaurya wondered aloud and a smile bloomed on his face as he mumbled, "She's saying I'm her crush...firecracker"

Shaking his head, Shaurya got inside his car and drove towards FIKA.

~ * ~

Hey guys, I know I haven't updated in months. Academically and mentally it was a stressful year for me. I had hard time balancing with stories and failed. Apologies for that. Here's the update. I'll try to update as much as I can. 

Thank you.

Nan ~