Keerthi stirred the chicken, her concentration not wavering, as she added the needed spices into it, waiting for it to turn soft.
“I can make it if you want Ma’am”, Lahari, the Rathores’ cook, a middle aged lady offered.
“No, no. It’s alright”, Keerthi smiled, she didn’t want anyone else’s contribution. She wanted to make everything.
Her everything meant Tandoori Chicken , Apollo fish in starters, Chicken Biryani and Lemon Chicken in main course and a Chocolate Sundae in dessert.
“Okay”, Lahari smiled,”But please call me me if you need something”, as she got on with her other works.
Keerthi placed the rice in layers, the rich scent of spices filing the kitchen.
“Smells good. What’s cooking?”Sakshi asked as she entered the kitchen.
“Um.. I was just making Biryani”, Keerthi said shyly.
“Oh. Anything special?”, Sakshi teased.
Keerthi smiled shyly, she didn’t want to say she was making it for her husband.
“Vikram really likes Biryani , you know”, Sakshi continued teasing, as she glanced at the rice pot, her heart swelling at the tiny gesture her daughter in law was making for her son. She was no fool. Keerthi was obviously making it for Vikram.
“Um.. I didn’t know that. I was just making it casually”, Keerthi tried, her face flaming, discomfort written on her face at her mother in law’s teasing remark.
“Of course”, Sakshi humored her, letting Keerthi be as she left the kitchen.
Keerthi felt even more paranoid now. If Vikram liked Biryani a lot, there was a lot of pressure on her to make it well.
“Calm down Keerthi. It’s your signature dish. You won’t mess it up”, she counselled herself.
Keerthi didn’t know why she suddenly wanted to make her husband dinner. She almost laughed thinking of what Vikram’s expression might be if she says she cooked dinner , especially for him.
Truth was , she didn’t know why she was cooking. The fact that she felt she wasn’t being a good wife forced her to do something in return for Vikram, after all the effort he had put in their relationship. Her ever active mind somehow convinced , that her husband wasn’t so bad.
She could even learn to like him, eventually.
But as of now, she would like to think they were somewhere close to more than mere roommates but less than friends. Keerthi’s heart fluttered as she thought of all the times he held her hands, as Keerthi fought unknown feelings, and the single time he had kissed her forehead.
Keerthi’s direction of thoughts scared her, but she wanted to see what would follow. Though she was scared, she was also excited now, what her relationship with her husband would turn out to be, given that she wanted to give hundred percent to their relationship now, losing some of her inhibitions.
Vikram descended from the study room, making his way into the living where his parents were seated.
He looked around. “Where’s Vihan?”
“He is at Jai’s place”, Sakshi replied, as she stood up
“Okay”, Vikram plopped on the recliner.
Vihan and Jai were childhood friends, best mates. Both of them worked for his father’s company. Vikram wouldn’t be surprised if his brother didn’t show up home that night.
Vikram was occupied in his phone when he looked around. He wondered where his wife was, but didn’t give it much thought as he had seen her going into the garden a while back.
“Vinod! Vikram!”, Sakshi announced from the dining ,”Dinner’s ready.”
Keerthi was ready to pass out of tension when Vikram placed a spoonful of Biryani into his mouth. She didn’t like thats she was so tensed about her husband liking her cooking.
She was acting like a typical desi wife.
She looked for any expression of distaste or grimace on his face, relaxing when he maintained a neutral expression and continued to eat.
Keerthi sighed, as she started to eat, serving some Lemon Chicken for herself.
Keerthi nodded to herself as she ate. The food was fine. She sighed in relief.
“So Vikram, how’s the Biryani?”, Sakshi asked.
“It’s good. Tastes a bit different from usual though”, Vikram raised his head.
“What about the Lemon Chicken?”
“Ma, the food is fine. Let me eat now”, Vikram sighed exasperated, finding it odd that his mother was fishing for compliments. She rarely did that.
“So, the food is just fine?”, Vinod added, when he understood what his wife was implying via eye signals. He didn’t want to leave a chance to pull his son’s leg.
“Did you make it?”, Vikram was surprised.
His father wasn’t a frequent visitor to the kitchen.
Vinod rolled his eyes,”The food is excellent Keerthi. We’ll all end up fat if you decide to feed us everyday”, Vinod appreciated his daughter in law.
“Thanks Dad”, Keerthi smiled, not turning to her husband, though she felt his stare.
Vikram stared at his wife in surprise. She had cooked? The food was amazing, soothing his taste buds. He wanted to tell her the food was great, but his wife wouldn’t look at him.
“Ugghh. I am so hungry. Give me some food too”, Vihan loudly plopped on the chair, exhausted.
“Why are you home? Didn’t you eat?”, Vinod asked.
“Wow. You don’t want your own son home? Thanks Dad”, Vihan dramatically clutched his heart.
Vinod gave him a flat look.
“That bastard. Jai ditched me to take Raima out on a date”, Vihan grumbled.
“Vihan!”, Sakshi chided her son for his foul tongue.
“Ah”, Vinod acknowledged,”The food at home is amazing today. Good that you come.”
“Is it?”, Vihan let his mom serve as he started gobbling his food.
“Yeah. It’s good. Why so many dishes though? Anything special?”Vihan asked, as he eyed all the food items on the table. “Actually good that I didn’t eat outside. Food’s great”, Vihan continued.
“Yeah. Keerthi made it all”, Sakshi said proudly, gazing at her daughter in law with a loving smile.
Keerthi felt uncomfortable with all the appreciation she was receiving, but none from the person she was waiting to hear it from.
“Bhabhi, you are a brilliant chef”, Vihan complimented, making Keerthi smile in return.
The Rathores were filled to the brim after the dessert they had, as they dispersed into their respective rooms.
Keerthi felt upset, though she scolded herself for feeling so. It was wrong. She had made it for him because she wanted to. Expecting a compliment was wrong. But what’s so wrong in expecting a compliment from your own husband, Keerthi wondered.
She frowned at her thoughts, since when had she accepted Vikram as her husband, in that sense. Though the concept felt foreign, she seemed she could get used to it.
She sulked as she changed, her mood not changing even after a pep talk.
Vikram watched his wife moisturising her hands as she sat in front of the mirror, pouting.
“Keerthi”, he called.
When she didn’t respond , he walked towards her.
“Keerthi”, Vikram tapped her shoulder.
“What?”, Keerthi grumbled, sounding childish.
“Why did you make dinner?”
“Umm..”
Shit. Unexpected question, Keerthi thought. Divert attention. Now.
“Just. I felt like it”, Keerthi shrugged, making light of it.
“Oh. Is it?”, Vikram folded his hands as he leaned on the wall, smiling.
“Yes. Why? Can’t I make dinner?”, Keerthi was getting irked. Instead of complimenting her, her husband was asking stupid questions, she thought bitterly.
“Of course you can”, Vikram smile widened.
“Goodnight”, Keerthi huffed, getting up.
“The food was great, very tasty”, Vikram commented.
“Really?”, Keerthi turned around.
Finally.
“Um. Yes. Of course it was good. I know that”, she toned it down, when she saw Vikram smirking, as he walked towards her.
Vikram shook his head at his wife’s antics.
“Yes. It was”, Vikram agreed.
“So, since you made an amazing dinner, do you want something in return?”, Vikram rose an eyebrow.
Keerthi looked at him suspiciously.
“You didn’t know I was making food. How could you have gotten anything for me?”, Keerthi narrowed her eyes.
Vikram smirked, one hand in his pocket , as he walked closer. He stopped when their feet touched.
“This”, Vikram said as he leaned in, cupping her jaw with his right hand, as he placed a kiss on Keerthi’s cheek, his lips lingering for longer than necessary.
Keerthi clamped her eyes shut, having not expected Vikram to do that.
Vikram released his wife, who opened her eyes a few seconds later, red tinging her cheeks, as she shyly raised her lashes.
“Goodnight Keerthi”, Vikram wished his wife as they settled in bed, unknown emotions running through their minds.
“Goodnight”, Keerthi whispered into the dark after sometime, surprised to find that she only felt shy and a tad bit uncomfortable, not a tinge of negative feeling, as she let sleep envelop her.