Welcomes, Sugar Cookies, and
Condolences…
She
walks through the snow covered sidewalks with him…he is leading the way to the
pent house…the building is structured in a typical uptown Manhattan style…the
top floor is all in Malik's name and it is indicated by the labeled buzzer he
had pressed…
"Watch
out…!" Armaan gets a hold of her upper arm just as she is about to slip off the
step…she squirms under his grip…looks up at him… "Are you okay…?"
"Hmm…"
"Come…the
gate is opened…"
He leads
the way and she follows…the pent house as got a nice ambience and wide stair
case…a huge lobby even that one must walk across to get to the elevators or
other floors…
"Welcome…!
Welcome home…!" Yuvraaj Malik opens up the door before Armaan had the chance to
put in his keys…Khanak is pleasantly surprised…she smiles genuinely.
"Dad…you
are already here…"
"Of
course I am…bahu ghar la rahay ho aur mujhay invite nahi kar rahay thay…"
"Well
you invited yourself…meray kahay bagair he…" Armaan hugs his Dad with warmth…Khanak
finds their bond warming…it is quite the reason to her status as Yuvraaj's
Malik's daughter-in-law.
"Khanak
aao ander aao…hum baap betay toh yunhi…how are you liking it so far…?"
"Sub
bahut acha hain Uncle…"
"Aur
Armaan…?"
Yuvraaj
puts her on the spot…she looks at Armaan and he looks at her…Yuvraaj observes
the silent moment… awaiting an answer from her…he doesn't get any…she is
uncertain herself…
"Dad…way
to be blunt…"
"Just
curious son…"
…………………………
Shaantanu's
Black Lexus pulls up to Sachdev residence…it's a double story suburban style
house in a neighborhood that is quite known for its elite Big Apple residents…the
high standard of living is a luxury both he and Raina can afford…
"Daddy
is home…!" Darya came rushing at the sound of the front door alarm beep going
off upon his entrance…it is the best part of his day…each and every day he
looks forward to coming home.
"Woah…woah..!
Is my cookie monster covered in cookie dough…? Again…" He scoops her up in his
arms from her legs and avoids any contact with her messy hands…he has got a
bouquet of white lilies in his other hand.
"Yes
Again…Daadi Maa's helper today…"
"Hmm I see…so
sugar cookies?"
"Yup! I hate
chocolate chips…"
"I know
princes…you are an odd ball…" He kisses her cheek and then begins to head in
towards the kitchen and the conjoined living room.
"Why
does Mama love chocolate…?"
"Is Daadi
Maa in the kitchen…?"
"No
Daddy…she is in the bathroom…"
"Maama
is upstairs in the room…?"
"Shaantanu
tum aa gaye…?" Madhavi appears in the living room with her own question before
Darya can answer his…he makes a turnabout to face Madhavi.
"Jee Maa…Raina
kamre mein hain…?"
"Raina…nahi…voh
toh abhi ghar nahi aayi…Darya ajaao hum oven se cookies nikaalay…" Madahvi informs
her son in her subtle polite way and then gestures her grand-daughter to come
to her…Shaantanu lets Darya go after she places a quick peck on her Daddy's
cheek.
He
stares at the Bouquet of White Lilies in his hands…places it down on the coffee
table…walks away while loosening his cuffs to his formal shirt…it is not the
first time in the last couple of years…
…………….
"Bhabhi Ji ka sunna maine…I am really sorry beta…" Yuvraaj Malik expresses his concern
and condolences over dinner that he is sharing with his son and daughter-in-law
together for the first time.
"Maa ne
app ke liye aik letter likha tha Uncle…main unpacking kay baad app ko de
doongi…"
"No
problem beta…take your time…"
"I just
wish Bhabhi yahaan treatment ke liye maan jaati…"
Armaan
is noticing her discomfort…he is well aware of the facts... her mother had suffered from
Leukemia and passed away a painful death only three weeks earlier…her wounds are
still fresh and he wishes to be able to empathize with them…
"Dad…"
He mutters conveying the "not now" look…Yuvraaj picks up on the hint.
"Khanak
yeh try karo…Armaan's chef is great at Indian..paneer saag…"
"Jee
Uncle…" She takes the bowl from Yuvraaj's hand and helps herself to its
contents…it is a very westernized "saag paneer"
according to her palate.
Armaan
passes her the bread basket containing Naans
…she tears of a small piece…her second eye contact with her husband today is
shorter than the one they shared she her foot slipped off the stairs at the entrance.
………….
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