04

“Yes, keep it on the table,” Ragini said as all the family members were sitting in the hall for their evening tea.

“Varahi, call your Chachi once and ask if they will come today or tomorrow morning,” Ranvijay said as he took the cup of tea from the tray and handed it to his wife.

A smile made its place on Varahi’s face.

“Okay, Mummy ji, the driver would be here, so I will go get ready,” Varahi said as she looked at the wall clock. Ragini nodded, muttering a small ‘okay’.

“You j–” “Sanjana, won’t kids come for Yuvi’s birthday party?” Dadi said as she noticed Sanjana was about to say something to her granddaughter-in-law.

Varahi and Ranvijay smiled at her attempt to stop Sanjana from saying anything and then getting a sassy reply, which she would complain about later in front of Avyaan.

“They will, Massi ji, probably a day before,” Sanjana said as she took a sip from the cup.

“Bahu, I guess you forgot to add sugar,” Sanjana said as she kept the cup back on the tray and looked at her.

“I did add, Massi ji. Everyone in our house prefers less sweet tea,” Varahi answered, knowing the sugar was perfect, else her mother-in-law would have pointed it out.

“It is less,” Varahi sighed as she heard her mother-in-law taking her sister’s side.

“Aadha cup khatam hone ke baad pata laga, haina Ragini?” Dadi said, looking at her son’s wife, who had been scrolling through her phone until then. (You realized it after drinking half the tea, right Ragini?)

Ranvijay smiled as he looked at his mother.

“Varahi, make Massi another cup of tea,” she heard a voice behind her. Turning around, she found her husband standing at a proper distance, car keys in one hand and his blazer hanging on the other.

“No, it’s okay, I will drink this,” Sanjana said as she reached to hold the cup.

“No, Massi, she will make another. I know you like more sugar in tea,” Avyaan said as he sat near Dadi.

“Make her tea and then get ready, we will get late,” Varahi nodded and went to the kitchen.

“Firse,” Ritika, the house help, said as she saw her picking up the pan to make tea again. (Again?)

“Hmm, she said the sugar wasn’t according to her taste,” Varahi replied. Ritika made an O-shaped mouth and went back to chopping veggies.

“Was it really not sweet?”

“It was perfect the way everyone at home prefers, but she likes tea sweeter,” Varahi said, making a mental note to remember it next time.

Varahi entered, keeping the tray in front of Sanjana, who looked at the cup of tea and took it.

“Now it’s perfect,” Sanjana said while Varahi smiled a little and looked at Avyaan, who was already looking at her.

“Wasn’t the driver coming to pick her up?” Ranvijay said as he looked at his son.

“Yes, Dad, the meeting got over soon, so I came,” Avyaan told his father.

“Go get ready, let’s leave in 10 minutes,” Avyaan said as he stood up and went to the room before Varahi.

Entering the room, Varahi went straight to the wardrobe to get ready. She took her dress out of the cupboard and, after locking the door, started changing.

Sighing, Varahi wore her dress. She mostly preferred to wear a saree, but since it was cold, she chose something warm. Combing her hair, applying lipstick, a small red bindi matching her dress, and filling her hairline with vermillion, she was ready.

Taking her jacket, Varahi walked out of the wardrobe to see her husband scrolling through his phone, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket over a t-shirt.

Avyaan looked up from his phone and checked out his wife, then got up from the bed.

“What happened, do I not look fine?” Varahi said as she looked at herself. Avyaan realized she misunderstood his action.

“No, it’s perfect. Come, let’s go,” Avyaan said as he took the car keys and reached downstairs, followed by his wife.

“Mom, we are leaving,” Avyaan shouted as he stood in the center of the hall. His mother came out of the room.

“Okay, bring something for your Massi too, beta,” Ragini said as she reached her son.

“Also, Varahi, here, take this. Trisha asked to buy these for her; she must have told you,” Ragini said, handing Varahi a list of cosmetics.

“She told me, Mummy ji,” Varahi agreed and slipped the list into her pocket.

“So, let’s go,” Avyaan said, and they walked out of the Singhania Mansion and drove to the mall.

Varahi sat on the passenger seat while Avyaan drove. She felt excited as they were out together after a long time, just the two of them.

“I was thinking of buying two gifts for Yuvi,” Avyaan said, glancing at her briefly before focusing on the road.

“What is it?”

“He told me a few days ago about some sports bike, so I’ve already told Arsh to look after it, and the other we’ll see.”

“Why not three then?” Varahi said, shifting slightly to face him.

“What?”

“A photo frame? New Year is also on the way, so all the happenings of the year in a frame. What do you say?” Varahi said, looking at him as he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, thinking.

“Yeah, okay, three it is then,” Avyaan said, and Varahi smiled, turning her attention back to the road.

Avyaan brushed his fingers over his jaw, thinking about yesterday. He knew he had been a jerk, ignorant toward her, especially as partners.

“Did he even notice that it’s been long since we went shopping alone, just us?” Varahi thought as she stepped out of the car and looked at him locking it.

“Let’s go,” he said and started walking ahead. Varahi made a face before following, muttering under her breath the nickname she gave him: Meanie.

“We were supposed to reach the railway station, no?” Varahi said, trying to match his pace. Avyaan looked at her, brows knitted in confusion.

“Yes, you’ll miss the train, come, run,” Varahi teased, trying to hold his hand but stopping when he looked at her with a weird expression.

“Have you gone mad?” Avyaan said, noticing a group of friends watching them, sipping their coke.

“Then why are you walking so fast?” Varahi said, looking into his eyes and walking forward without waiting.

“You, what are you, Varahi?” Avyaan said as he jogged to catch up with her near the mall entrance.

Varahi smiled at his comment but ignored it as they moved further inside the mall.