I hope you enjoy the song...😇❤

Welcome Sonarocks9 .This chapter is for you.

Ambar Deol

I open my eyes, my hand reaching for the warmth of the body beside me and finding the bed.. empty?

I got up with a shock and reached for my phone looking at the time.

7:45 am

Oh.. fuck.. I overslept.

I get out of the sheets and look in the restroom. She wasn't here.

I quickly brush my teeth, and wash my face before sliding on a tshirt and pair of sweatpants. I was about to run down and remembered Grandma's no breakfast before shower rule. I pick up my deodorant spraying it a little on my underarms, neck and one wrist smudging it with the other and set my hair a little, making them look wet.

I run down the stairs as I hear the clattering of Samayra's bangles from the kitchen. I make my way inside to find her. She removed her apron and then the cover from her hair and stepped back opening her hair. I looked at her and my heart just thumped louder.

A fuckin red Indian anarkali suit in what I thought was red color but any woman who knows the 100 different shades of red, would say something else. Maroon.. I guess..

Her ivory bangles creating a melody with her every step.

She moved around the kitchen carefully and yet effortlessly, stirring a pot and then turning the side of pancake before moving to the third stove where the dosa was, wrapping it around the filling and keeping the ready one down and switching off that stove. She put the pancake in a tray and put another circle of batter on the pan as I stand there mesmerized.

"Ahhmm.." I hear someone clearing throat and turn to see my mom standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Good Morning.. Mom.." I say trying to look normal, as If I wasn't creepily standing here watching Ayra.

My mom directly goes to hold my ear and twisting it.

"What are you doing here?" she says and I scream in pain.

"Mom.. ah.. I was.. here.. to.."

"To disturb my sweet daughter-in-law ..."

"Noooo... NO.. Ahh.. Mom.. I was here to see if she needed help." I say and she lets my ear go, and I cover it with my hand massaging it gently to sooth the stinging pain.

"I see....but you never came almost 10 minutes before breakfast to help your mom." She says raising her left eyebrow.

"Umm.. mom.." I was trying to find words as I hear someone giggle. Ofcourse , my wife would find it funny.

"And you were so excited to see her that you didn't even see me setting the table, no good morning.. nothing.. just.. running straight to her." She says and the giggle turns into a bust of hardly controlled laugher...

To be precise.. It was my wife enjoying as I stood there my head hanging low. I hear another pair of quick footsteps ascending down the stairs and I knew it was my younger brother.

"Let him be, mom.. he loves his wife more than he loves you.." Chetan says.

"Is that right, Ambi ?" mom asks.

"No.. Mom.. You'll always be my number one.." I was saying when he interrupted.

"Remember how you said on his wedding day that dad is your favorite child.. he's trying to become Bhabi's favorite child.." he says entering and going to the dishes, as if in a trance from the wonderful spicy aroma.. He picks up the lid from one.

"Poha? But last night.." he was about to say and uncover our planning as we heard a voice behind us.

(Grandma's dialogue in Ambar POV will be translated as it is, since he understands her, but they'll be separately translated for Samayra, because you should understand it completely even though she doesn't.)

"Is the princess awake or she's still sleeping and we'll have to remain hungry today?" Grandma says and walking from the other side of the living room towards us.

She sits on the dining table's head chair leaving three chairs on each side, sitting opposite to Dad's empty chair.

"Should she bring the food, right now or will you wait for Dr. Saheb to join us, Mummy ji?" my mother asked in hindi referring to my father as 'Dr. Saheb' infront of Grandma as a sign of respect since Indian wives shouldn't say their husband's name. my mom usually calls him by his name, but not infront of Grandma,

"She already made the food? It's not 8 yet, does she want to feed us cold stale food?" grandma says and I look up at wall clock.

It was 3 minutes to 8. I wanted to retort, but I didn't.

"It won't be cold Grandma, I've wrapped the dosa's in aluminum foil and the Sambhar is still on heat." She says elegantly walking out in the heavy suit, carrying two dishes, one with Dosa's wrapped in aluminium foil and the other with coconut chutney. She sets them on the table as mom goes to help her.

"Don't you dare Reena.. let the new daughter-in-law do it herself.." Grandma says as Samayra looks up at me puzzled. Grandma spoke fast, so she wouldn't have understood.

Mom nods and looks at Samayra. I walk to her and pick up the hot pan of sambhar from the stove, carefully.

"Tu kya karese, chore.. Chulha chaunka auraton ka kaam hove se.." Grandma says

(What are you doing boy, kitchen is a place for women. )

I pay no attention to her as Samayra comes to my side and pours it in a melamine dish. I go to pick up the bottle of maple syrup and gesture for Chetan to take a seat as I carry the pancakes.

She brings out poha in one hand and Vada's in the other. I go back inside and pick up the hot sambhar and carefully bring it using both hands while Samayra brings orange juice and condiments.

Grandma sat on one side with Mom sitting next to her. I skipped a chair for Samayra to sit with Mom, and then sat opposite Chetan. We were both on each side of dad's empty chair.

"Joron ka gulaam ban gya hai.. mard ban chore.. ye koi kaam hai tere karn layak.." grandma says

(You've become your wife's slave.. Be a man, boy.. This type of household work isn't appropriate for you..)

"Toh agar mein baahr ja kr kaam krni laggi, toh kya mein mard ban gyi dadi?" I heard Ayra say as she brings a pot of coffee, and a can of whipped cream keeping it along with maple syrup for our pancakes and sits between me and mom.

(If I go out and work, does that make me a man , Grandma?)

Chetan looks shocked, his mouth hanging open as Mom averted her gaze, I know she shouldn't have said it.. but it's not wrong..

"Agar chaar paise kmma liye toh kya chora ban gyi ?" grandma retorts.

(just because you earn a little does not make you a man..)

"Aur agar unhone mera haath bta diya, toh unki mardangi kya kam hogyi ?" Ayra says.

(And just because he helped me a little does not make him any less of a man.)

I have a feeling this isn't ending well.

"Hamse zubaan na ladhave shori.." Grandma says.

(Don't argue with me, girl.)

But before Ayra could reply I hear dad clear his throat. I put my hand on Ayra's thigh under the table and subtly shake my head.

"Good morning, dad.." Chetan says first as Ayra slides her chair getting up to touch his feet.

"Good morning, dad.." I say as Dad blesses Ayra and then she goes to the kitchen, maybe to wash her hands and comes back .

"Good morning, both of you, Namaste Ma." He says and takes a seat as Grandma sits there a little perplexed.

"You didn't touch her feet ?" I whisper, gesturing towards grandma, in english as Dad gesture for everyone to start eating.

"Mom said, it's sign of respect for your elders.. and I'm not respecting your grandmother after what she said about my mother last night.."she whispers back.. Um.. Actually.. she doesn't know how to whisper, so I'm sure everyone heard it, but Grandma wouldn't understand it.

THANKFULLY.

Dad tried to stop himself from laughing as Chetan had a sly grin on his face and mom sat tight lipped.

Grandma was obviously shocked by now, but she didn't say anything, except for four of us praising the food and breakfast was a quiet affair. We were almost done with breakfast as the house help Lily came running apologizing for being late. She started picking up the utensils to wash as Ayra finished the last sip of coffee and dad was done with his orange juice, as he gets up.

Ayra was about to leave her chair when he spoke.

"Wait a minute child, me and your mom have something for you.." he says as Mom gets up and goes to her room. Ayra looks at me puzzled, wanting answers, but I was as clueless as her. I just shrugged my shoulders.

Mom appeared a minute later, with a blue velvet covered box like that of jewelry and stands by dad's side giving it to him.

"This is for your first day in the kitchen.. " Mom says as Ayra elbows me in the stomach.

"Ouchh.. what the.. I am full.." I say confused as she gets up from her chair and gestures me to get up.

I get up confused and follow her, where mom stood beside dad's chair, both of them with raised eyebrows.

She bends to touch both their feet and mom clears her throat, looking at me and then looking down.

"Bhai.. you are supposed to touch their feet and take the blessings for this ritual together.." Chetan says and I realize what they were trying to do for a while. I bend down and touch their feet. They keep their hand first on my head and than Ayra's before handing her the box.

"Thank you..." she says with a smile.

"Open it and tell us if you like it.." mom says and Ayra opens it, her jaw dropping open.

"Mom.. I can't take this.. It's too much.." she says turning it towards me and I look at it.

"You can only return it, if you don't like it.. Too much or too expensive is not a valid excuse.." mom says

"But mom.."

"Wear it on one of your reception functions.." mom says with a genuine smile.

"Aur chdalo is shori ko sir pe.." Grandma says getting up from the chair and walking away as we look at each other's faces.

(Allow her to dance over your heads even more..)

"I'll talk to her..." Dad says and gets up of the table. I turn to look at Samayra, as she looked a little guilty.

Before I could say something mom notices the tension and speaks..

"Ambi.. beta (son).. Take Samayra to her parent's today.. Her Mom called last night, asking for my permission.. They are planning a reception for this Sunday.."

"What.. But I didn't even know.." Samayra says looking a little shocked.

"It's okay bhabhi.. Atleast I'll get to invite some of my friends this time.. Everything was so hurried the last time.." Chetan says going to take the last sip of his orange juice.

"I know who you mean by 'FRIENDS'." Ayra speaks slowly.

"Oh.. So you are inviting Aisha?" Mom says a little too excited, and Samayra looks a little shocked.

"Yeah.. It's good.. Like she can meet the family.." Chetan says with a shrug.

I bend down to Ayra's height and whisper, "Mom knows about his girlfriend.. But how do you know?"

I speak as Chetan looks at me, shocked.

"Umm... that.. I.." Chetan says getting flustered and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Cat got your tongue?" I ask him, teasingly as Ayra chuckles.

"Ofcourse, she knows.. She should know how you were pressured to get married, because the family rule says that Elder should get married first." Chetan retorts back teasing as I cuss under my breath,

Is he trying to get me and Ayra to fight?

"Husshh.. Chetan.. You'll be late for college and Ambi.. I know by your deodorant that you haven't showered.. Go bath.." Mom sternly says giving a little push and I turn to see Ayra, mustering up a fake smile, as If reminded of something unpleasant.

"Go.. I need to discuss some things with your wife.." Mom says as I nod and climb up the stairs.

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Author's note
Do you think she spoke a little too much ?
Was it disrespectful or was it deserved ?
Do share your views and vote for the chapter. ❤
Love
Reet