Vrishali felt nervous as she looked at the guests. Naina stood beside her as they welcomed the aunts and uncles. Vrishali wore a Rajputi Poshak, a royal attire worn by women in Rajasthan. She smiled and greeted the guests.

Rajmatha Falguni Singh looked at Diya Kumari with annoyance. She had explicitly told her not to invite any guests, but Diya didn't listen and went ahead with the invitations.

As per tradition, Vrishali is supposed to cook for the family members for the first time today. Sawai Bhawani Singh held his wife back.

They both know Diya Kumari wants to humiliate Vrishali in front of everyone. They need to find out if Vrishali can cook. Not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable, they didn't invite their close relatives.

"I need to use the restroom," Vrishali whispered to Naina before rushing to the private suite. She needed to call her mother or someone. She had never prepared anything for special occasions.

She can only make quick sandwiches and tea. That's all, it was always her mother who cooked. Now she is sweating just looking at Naina's aunts and uncles.

She pulled out her phone and dialled her mother. "Hello?"

"Ma, my Hitler mother-in-law called all the aunts and uncles. Now there are about twenty people! I never cooked for myself, Mum! How am I going to cook for twenty?" Vrishali exclaimed, pacing back and forth.

"Baby, calm down. Everything is going to be okay. First, take deep breaths." Vrishali took deep breaths before her mother started talking.

"Now listen, when you go to the kitchen. You call me, and I will instruct you on the recipe. Don't worry about it." Vrishali felt a little peace slip in.

Her gaze shifted to the note placed on the table. Naina handed her this note, saying Padmanabh had left it for her. Vrishali opened the handwritten note to read,

Vrishali,

This is my number 9********1. Send me a message or dial the number if it's an emergency.

Padmanabh.

She chuckled, reading the note; she saved his number and decided to go back. But for the safe side, she sent Padmanabh a message.

Hello, I'm Vrishali. Where are you? Your uncles and aunts are here.—V

When his phone rang, Padmanabh talked with his assistant and friend Tarun about the resort files. His grandfather, Sawai Bhawani Singh, asked him to stay home, but he had to sign some important papers.

He read the message and saved her contact as Vrishali Singh. "Send me the email and call me if needed." Padmanabh decided to go home.

Diya Kumari turned to Vrishali, smiling too sweetly. "Vrishali, why don't you go and start preparing something sweet? They all are here to taste your food."

Vrishali smiled bunglingly, looking at the people in the room. Naina squeezed her hand in comfort.

"Oh, before you go to the kitchen. Leave your phone with Naina. We don't take phones to our kitchen." Vrishali visibly froze. She looked at Naina, who nodded her head in confirmation.

She immediately texted Padmanabh—the only one who would save her now.

Where are you? I need your help... I'm going to the kitchen. I seriously need to see you.-V

Vrishali gave her phone to Naina, who gave her a sad smile in return. Naina knows Vrishali doesn't know how to cook. She wanted to help her, but she couldn't. Vrishali started walking to the grand kitchen. She never went to the grand kitchen. Naina said the city palace has over 80 rooms and 17 kitchens.

She isn't the girl who would cry over simple things, but now she is on the verge of crying. Just thinking about the humiliation which would happen, her hands started sweating.

Padmanabh reached the palace and saw all his aunts and uncles. His grandparents didn't seem pleased with the guests. "Padmanabh, come here. See who came to meet you." Diya Kumari said calling her son.

Padmanabh wore a blank face as he greeted his uncles and aunts respectfully before glancing at his mother's side. He saw Radhika and her parents. His phone vibrated in his pocket, indicating a message. He pulled his phone out and read the message. He didn't type back but glanced at his sister. She was already looking at him. She looked nervous.

"Khamma Ghani(Hello)", Padmanabh greeted Radhika's parents. Simrita and Om Prakash beamed at Padmanabh. They only wish Radhika, their daughter, to marry Padmanabh.

"Ghani Khamma," they greeted back. He didn't smile or glance at Radhika. Radhika scowled as she tried to get his attention, but he wasn't looking.

Diya expected Padmanabh to sit beside her and talk to Radhika "Maasa(mother), I must finish some important work. Please do not disturb." Padmanabh spoke without giving Diya Kumari a chance to speak.

Padmanabh left the grand hall and headed towards the grand kitchen. He stopped at the entrance as two guards guided the hallway, not allowing anyone into the kitchen. He reluctantly took the other way, the back door, to enter the kitchen from the window.

Vrishali looks at the kitchen with wide eyes, twice the kitchen of Samode Palace. It has huge traditional mud stoves and a modern renovated kitchen island in the middle. She stood there, not understanding what to do.

She cringed in fear when she heard a noise coming from the window. She is surprised to see Padmanabh entering the kitchen. "What happened?" He asked, walking towards her.

"I cannot cook." She spoke as he frowned in confusion.

"What? You don't know what to prepare, or you don't know cooking?" Padmanabh is now thinking about his relatives.

"Ugh! I don't know how to cook. I only made sandwiches for myself twice."

"Why didn't you learn cooking? You are a college student. You should've known basic recipes." Vrishali scoffed, not liking the words.

"Why? Is it mandatory for a girl to learn cooking? Is it a sin not to learn cooking?" Vrishali whispered and yelled at him. She was becoming angry, and he stared at her with hard eyes, not saying anything. It was clear he didn't appreciate her tone.

Padmanabh went to the cupboards, pulled a pan, and then laced it on the stove. He went to where the dry ingredients were stored. He brought all the ingredients he needed. He turned on the gas, lit the furnace, and placed the pan.

Vrishali watches in curiosity, not knowing what he is preparing. He measured the wheat flour and sieved it before roasting it in the pan on medium flame. He started preparing an Indian sweet without muttering a word. Vrishali wished she had her phone to take a video of him.

"Cooking is a basic necessity that everyone needs to learn. There comes a time when you have to feed yourself. Learning basic recipes doesn't hurt. Irrespective of gender, it's better to learn a few recipes than depend on others," Padmanabh said softly.

Vrishali's cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment, but thanks to her brown skin, he couldn't see the blush. She felt stupid for yelling at him when all he did was help her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered back. Vrishali's eyes widened when she heard the footsteps. Without thinking, she pushed Padmanabh onto the floor. He scowled but crunched down to hide. He leaned against the kitchen island as Vrishali stood in front of him.

Diya Kumari stood at the entrance of the kitchen and saw Vrishali. She was there to check if anyone was there to help her. Radhika informed her that Vrishali cannot cook. Diya Kumari knows her son doesn't like tidy people or people who can't know basic things.

"Vrishali, is your food done? They can't wait for some more time," Diya Kumari spoke.

"Yes, it's done sasu-ma," Vrishali whispered. She turned off the stove and served the halwa in small bowls. Diya Kumari went back to the grand hall. Padmanabh stood up and left the kitchen before the staff entered.

Radhika looked at her mother, Simrita, smirking evilly, knowing what would happen next. Everyone is going to complain and humiliate Vrishali.

The kitchen staff served the bowls to everyone as Vrishali sat beside Rajmatha Falguni. Radhika's smirk went away when she sniffed the sweet aroma. She looked at the sweet and knew it was going to taste good.

"Wah, Vrishali, this is good." Sawai Bhawani Singh praised taking the first bite. Padmanabh entered the hall like he wasn't the one who prepared it. "Pacho, come here and eat the sweet your wife made. She prepared it so well," Rajmatha Falguni said.

Vrishali smiled awkwardly as everyone praised her; Padmanabh sat beside Vrishali, taking the small bowl. He ate it, and Vrishali eagerly took a spoonful of halwa in her mouth. She controlled herself from moaning.

It was that good. She always had a particular spot for sweets, and she quickly finished hers. "Pacho, aren't you going to gift her something for making such delightful halwa for us?" Sawai Bhawani Singh spoke.

Padmanabh pulled a small gift wrapper from his pocket and handed it to Vrishali. He was prepared as he knew about gifting something to his wife. Vrishali accepted it with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She is feeling guilty because she was not the one who prepared it.

Padmanabh didn't know how to respond to a happy Vrishali, nor did he know how to respond to her in any way. He nodded his head. "Oh. . . Oh. . . Pacho, they are beautiful." Naina spoke.

Diya Kumari, Radhika and her parents grunted their teeth in annoyance. They weren't expecting this. Diya Kumari looked at Radhika. They either lied to her about Vrishali's cooking or Vrishali is a quick learner.

"Don't ever feel guilty. You are my wife and my responsibility. My pride is within your pride. I won't allow anyone to laugh at you or your pride." Padmanabh whispered in Vrishali's ear, making her insides churn in excitement. 

A weird sense of peace calmed her nerves, knowing he would be there to help her out and take care of things.

*

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Fun fact: There's an actual Jaipur Royal whose name is Padmanabh Singh and his Instagram handle is pachojaipur.

As I mentioned before, I was inspired to write this story when I was exploring Rajasthan. I fell in love with the state and decided to use my wild imagination. I wrote the first 3 chapters on my phone while I was staying in a backpacking hostel in Udaipur.