Bengal, Chatterjee Residence

"Hnn?" Saudamini's eyes raked around Anirban, who's lips curved into a smile. He placed his hand above her head against the pillar and raised his brows, "The choice is yours."

Saudamini sucked in a deep breath and instantly shut her eyes. His spicy sandalwood scent was hitting her nostrils, the soothing yet addictive fragrance was all she could breathe; her heart twanged against her chest, the thought of the unknown consumed her, and the various scenarios that were playing in her mind as result of the romance novels she had read weren't keeping her sane.

What...what if he really kisses her? 

But before she could think further, she heard a tinkling sound and those words, "Now open your eyes..." 

She fluttered her lashes open immediately, her eyes flicking from his face towards his hand; his thumb and index finger was holding a bracelet; a pure gold bracelet, with intricate engravings, and tiny red stones implanted in a circular fashion, reflecting the Sunlight as it dangled from his digit. Her jaw dropped gradually, it was just so—beautiful. 

She repeatedly gazed at him and then at the bracelet, "This is so....from where did you get this?" Saudamini whispered, almost inaudibly.

"Fought a war and got it for you," Anirban smirked, raising a brow.

"Hain?" Saudamini blinked.

"Arrey, of course I brought it from a jewelry store!" 

"But, but this so expensive," Saudamini softly spoke, biting her lip lightly. There was once upon a time she had dreamt of a Prince who would woo her with expensive gifts, buy her jewelries and keep her decked up like a Princess, flatter her with his words and praise her beauty every day. But reality hit her the day she got wedded to Satyakaam. Realizing the fact that the world did not revolve around her, nor it was like what she dreamt of.

And once she had stopped dreaming, there was no beginning to it again. 

Now she was in such a point where expensive gifts didn't matter to her, wooing words couldn't flatter her anymore; but then Anirban entered her life. 

He was exactly what she used to dream about; but the world told her, that her dreams weren't the one she should aim for. 

A man who flattered with flowery words, showered expenses, are never genuine. 

'Be practical, Saudamini. And yes, you must stay away from people who do that,' She heard from most. And there she was, married to a guy, whom everyone warned to stay away from. And she tied the knot forever with him.

She stared into his eyes briefly. His eyes weren't completely dark, it was a mixture of black and light brown, which shone with charm and a sense of sincerity. Deep like ocean, bright like the Sun and wholesome like a forest. 

He loved to flatter her, he loved to shower his expenses on her; just opposite to what people said. 

He was everything what they had warned her about. They are manipulators, and play with hearts. They are thieves.

Yes, Anirban knew how to steal.

Steal hearts. 

She shivered slightly as she felt her wrist in his hand, gently holding it with a smile as he unlocked the hook of the bracelet and slipped it inside hers. Beautiful. 

Saudamini gazed at her wrist. His bracelet appeared the most extravagant amongst all the bangles she was wearing. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He  whispered.

A soft smile touched her lips gradually, "It is...." She nodded. She didn't knew what to say further, how to thank him. The things which she always thought, was now turning into reality. And it happened right when her thoughts had completely died at one point of time; and things which are unbelievable do happen to such individuals, it takes time to comprehend and accept things. 

Her heart was feeling so many things altogether that she didn't knew which one to focus upon.

"By the way, what exactly you thought I was going to do when I asked you to close your eyes?" Anirban raised a brow amusedly, while Saudamini's eyes slightly widened at his words. 

She was caught. 

Her lips twitched as she tried to find an answer but his gaze was burning through her soul, "Hnn?" 

"That I was just taken a bit off guard you know," She tried to claim innocently, and slid away from him, looking away. Anirban tilted his head, breathing deeply in a dramatic manner and nodding, "Whom are you fooling....." He tried to purse his lips from smiling.

"We'll be late for the veneration, you know," She quickly muttered, striding away from there with long steps and pressing her lips together into a smile. 

.

.

.

The kitchen was practically larger than the average of three rooms combined. 

And more than four to five workers engaged at once explained why the Chatterjees were royals once upon a time. Saudamini heard that the kitchen had even much space, and even two three rooms had been there; but now those were locked up. Indeed. There was one room that opened northward, and one which was now behind a cupboard where the utensils were stacked. Still it appeared huge. Only one could imagine what it was when the entire kitchen was actually operated.

There were those huge copper utensils where the daal was getting prepared, one woman constantly busy stirring it. Saudamini went over and to check the spices, her face lighting up at the taste. Being cooked in such a huge utensil under the flame, the food had to be delicious.

"Didi, please cover the lid after a few minutes," Saudamini ushered to the helper who was stirring the daal, and walked over the stove to look after the vegetable curry. The curry had dried to her satisfaction, she rubbed her hands with a cloth and began to stir it with a ladle. On the other hand, the flour dough was already balled into small balls to be fried into puffed breads.

She applied dried flour on a round wooden disc, and placed a ball of dough and pressed it with a heavy and long rod like structure, to flatten it. One by one, she flattened all the doughs, and immersed it in the hot oil on another pan. 

It was difficult. Difficult to cook to in such huge amounts, even though she had help. Normally, there would be around four to five workers who would be cooking for the family, and for themselves as well. But now, it were the family, the guests and all the other servants to feed. 

The daal was ready, and it was shifted into another utensil and was taken to the dining chamber by a worker. 

One by one, the puffed breads were getting ready; when her ears caught the chattering of a few children. Her lips instantly bloomed into a smile, as she noticed a few other kids and Meghmaala's children coming inside, "Aasthe baba aasthe! (Slowly kids, slowly!)"

"Maami, maami!(Aunt)" Meghmaala's two kids, Shubhadeep and Debendra excitedly barged in with their sister Phalguni in their arms, "Tumi ki ranna korcho go? (What are you cooking?)" They gushed with a twinkle in their eyes. Debendra, being a bit smaller in height, tried to peek up at what Saudamini was doing.

"I am cooking Luchis(puffed breads)! Do you want to have one?" Saudamini smilingly asked, while siding a puffed bread on a silver utensil. 

"Ha ha dao dao! (Gladly!)" The children extended their hands, while Phalguni kept blinking innocently. Saudamini chuckled, and went over to where the puffed breads were fried and ready. They were hot, since they were just out-loaded from pan. She touched one and flinched, bringing her fingers to her mouth and blowing air instantly; picking one up finally, she blew air over it allowing it to cool down and handed over it to Shubhadeep who bit into it happily. She did the same with Debendra and the rest of the kids, "Carefully! It's still hot!"

After they were done, she bent down towards Phalguni's who smiled at her shyly, "O Mamuni, tumi ki khabe go? ( Dearest, what would you like to have?)" She gushed in a childish tone, lifting her chin up lovingly, and gathering her up in her arms; chuckling while balancing her. She took the child towards the puffed breads, "Tell me, what would you like to have?" She waggled her brows playfully at her.

Phalguni shyly placed an index finger inside her mouth, covering it with saliva, "Luchi-Payesh....(Puffed bread and payesh )" She softly whispered, staring at Saudamini while smiling sheepishly. 

"Yes yes! We will also have Payesh!" The children looked at Saudamini expectedly, who's face slightly fell at their words.

Payesh?

That was the only item she still didn't learn how to make. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

Ab Mini humari ki karegi? 🌝

Signing off for today!

Nushkie