Sahil's POV

We all walked towards the dining table for having breakfast. Mom came out of the kitchen wiping her hands.

" Mom, I am very hungry, what's in the breakfast? " I asked.

" Wait for two minutes... it's ready. "

Swati and Manu also came out of the kitchen with lots of food. Samar was so happy all of a sudden. But he is a certified foodie.

They placed all the things on the table. I checked, there were stuffed paranthas, sweet lassi, Upma and  Shahi Zafrani sevaiyaan ( a sweet dish prepared with vermicelli flavoured with cardamom, saffron and dry fruits).

My mood lifted up. I pulled a chair and sat down.

" Wow !! Aunty, It is a feast... Thank God I came here at this time and that I have not had my breakfast. "  Samar said rubbing his hands.

" You should not go to the office without eating beta." Mom said.

" Aunty, my dad eats a very light breakfast. Just milk and cereals. I find that very boring so I usually eat out. Some times my cook make breakfast for me but I prefer eating lots of variety. It is of no use to make elaborate breakfast for just one person. So I usually eat out. Nowadays Damini's parents are also at our place so the cook makes more food but I had some work in my office before the court opened at 10 AM so I left early and my work got finished early so thought of coming here. " Samar said.

" No need to eat out, eat with us. We have to make many things like all these people love to eat different things. So come here for the food. " Said, mom.

" Thanks, aunty, I would love to... Hmm... everything smells so good. "

" Which parantha is it mom? " Sagar asked.

"We have stuffed Gobhi parantha and Aaloo Parantha. " Sagar looked happy he liked Aaloo Parantha and I liked Gobhi. So mom made both types for both of us.

We started having food. It was a bit different than how mom usually makes them, but they were equally good,  actually, they were awesome.

" Oh my god Aunty, paranthas are awesome. Very delicious... I have not had such paranthas, since my mom.." He got a bit serious. I know it was a touchy subject for him.

Mom touched his head lovingly.

" Hey !! Try this Samar, this lassi. " I said and he smiled and tried that.

" Swati and Manu, why are you eating Upma? Have Parantha... They are awesome? " Sagar asked and I saw that both of them were eating only Upma.

" No bhai we are on diet. "  She said making a face while Manu smiled.

" What?? why?? " Sagar and Samar asked together.

" We need to look good at the wedding. " Swati said.

" What ?? But you look so good already. " Samar said and Sagar and I  glared at him. He bent his head and started eating very fast.

" What is this nonsense? Stop this right now... " Sagar said.

" Bhai, even Damini bhabhi is following the same diet plan. " Swati said.

" What?? Have you all gone mad? I will talk to her. "  Sagar said.

" No Bhai..."

" Shut up and eat properly... " I said scolding her.

" Bhai... "

" Eat this " I extended the parantha plate towards them. But Swati shook her head. I glared at her.

Swati and Manu exchanged the looks and then Manu nodded.  Swati picked the aaloo parantha and cut it in two. And they both took half.

" Swati and Manu, eat properly or I am going to make you eat." Sagar was glaring at them.

" Bhai we are eating na.... "

" Half a parantha? Like seriously? I can eat 4 like this?" Samar said and both the girls looked shocked.

" Take more... " I said.

" No Bhai... Why are you all fussing over us? "

" Shut up and eat. They are amazing... Try Gobhi parantha, it is awesome.  " I said and they smiled at each another again they took 1 parantha and shared it.

" Silly girls..  why diet when you have so many good things in the world, which you could enjoy. You should eat more. " Samar said enjoying his food.

" Silly girls... hnh... Samar Ji?" Swati said while both the girls narrowed their eyes at him.

" Oh, I mean... The other girls who diet... " he said with a smile.

Idiot...

" Wow !! This sweet dish is really awesome. Amazing way of starting the day. Try Sahil. Aunty this is really very tasty. You are too good. Can I hug you, please?    " Samar said and mom just smiled. Samar hugged her and she patted his back.

I took some of it in a bowl and so did Sagar. We tried and we both moaned at the same time.

" Wow!! Mom, why did you never make this before? " Sagar asked.

" Because I didn't make it today also. Everything was prepared by Manu and Swati helped her."

" What?? Sagar and Samar said together and we all were shocked and looking at mom and Manu.

Did she make all these things? She smiled very faintly. A very light blush was creeping up into her face.

" Seriously?? " Samar asked and Swati nodded.

" Wow, Manu !! Everything was just awesome... But please, can I make a request?  Please don't tell all this to Damini... " Sagar said very seriously and I could see that scared expression on his face.

" Why ?? " Samar and Swati asked. Mom and Manu looked confused and I burst out laughing.

" What?? It is not funny Sahil..." Sagar said to me.

" It is... You know last time Sagar praised Maurvi's cooking so much that Damini also tried cooking some pasta for him and almost burnt the kitchen. " I was grinning while telling all that and Samar was laughing holding his stomach. Mom and Manu were smiling while Swati was also laughing.

She looked very pretty whenever she smiled...

We finished our breakfast and went to my room to get ready. I got ready and left for the office.

But Sagar was being very adamant. He said he would talk to dad and dad would not be angry at me but I knew exactly what was going to happen. He would ask me about the girl and I would not have any answer.

Sagar literally dragged me home. Dad came around 2 PM. There was so much excitement in mom and Swati. Swati ran into his arms. He hugged her very tightly. They had always been very close.

Dad hugged mom and then embraced Sagar and congratulated him and said,

" Sagar you are going to get married very soon, that means you are going to start a family of yours. So your wife is now your responsibility. You have to protect her, take care of her and give her unconditional love. You need to be more responsible. She must always be happy. Marriage comes with responsibility and you can't run away from it. I hope you will understand that and will take very good care of her and treasure her for the rest of your life. "

" Yes, dad... I will, I promise. Sagar said. Dad looked at me but I could not look into his eyes. As I knew I did not know the answers to those questions he wanted to ask. I didn't know what would I say. But mercifully he didn't say anything just embraced me for a few seconds.

Though he didn't say anything but the tension was so thick that it could easily be cut with a knife.

****

Manyata's POV

I made breakfast with Swati. We enjoyed cooking together.  I was really happy that everyone loved the food.

Swati kept laughing and said,

" These men are so funny asking us to try the food prepared by us only. " We laughed again.

I and Swati helped aunty in making uncle's favourite food. We all were waiting for him to come.

Sagar Ji called me up to say that he has already talked to uncle. He would not tell anything to Sahil. I was also supposed to behave as If I was meeting him for the first time.

Manyata's POV

Uncle came just before lunch. We all greeted him. He nodded at me with a smile. Aunty asked him about my dad and he said that the treatment was working very well. He would be absolutely fine in no time.

I released the breath I was holding. I was feeling much better now. When Sagar Ji and Satan went back to the office,  I went to meet the uncle.

I touched his feet and he hugged me. I burst into tears. He kept patting at my back.

" Don't cry beta your dad is absolutely fine... He is getting better dad by day. He will be fine in no time and then he will be here with all of us. You need to be strong and happy. All he is concerned about is your happiness. "  He said And I nodded.

" I got to know what my stupid son did. I am really ashamed of it. I am sorry beta.... "

"  No uncle please don't say that you are just like my dad to me. "

" But still... Sagar made me promise him that I would not scold Sahil. But we need to teach him a lesson. He is a very good boy, it's just that he is not on the right track. I wanted Sagar to marry you but at that time I didn't know that he was madly in love with Damini for the last 10 years."

" Sagar Ji and Damini both are very nice... They are madly in love with each other. " I said with a smile.

" Trust me beta, even Sahil is very nice, it's just that he is a bit flirt. But we can make him like you as you are such an amazing girl that anyone would fall in love with you. "

" Uncle can we please let it be... I was disgusted with him when I got those papers. I mean I know that he doesn't want to be associated with me in any manner. But this was too harsh. So... I also don't want to be with him... "

" Beta trust me, as far as I know, your dad would be really disappointed and it might affect his health. I also think that you both should be together... Please at least give this a chance. I know he needs a strong and beautiful girl just like you to get him on the right track. Beta please for your dad and my sake, just do what Sagar says. We all want you and Sahil together. "

" But have you read those papers? "

" I have... I am disgusted too. I am really sorry that you had to face that but, I am going to put everything right. Please beta help us do that. Your parents are happy, please don't give stress to your dad, he can't afford it at this time. "

" I know and understand uncle but I am so angry that I don't even want to look at him. "

" Well, he deserves that... But please beta, it is a request.... at least give it a try. I trust Sagar. He knows Sahil very well. Please do as he says. Everything will be fine. Be angry with Sahil if you want. If you don't want to talk to him then don't. But please give it a try at least till your dad is absolutely fine. We can't give him stress. Right? " Uncle said and I nodded.

I came out of his room.

Sahil's POV

Dad was very excited about the wedding. It seemed that Sagar talked with him. Dad was not very angry with me as I assumed but I was very conscious of his eyes asking me that question. He seemed very happy that Sagar was getting married. But was seriously disappointed with me.

So I decided to find that silly girl,  Manyata Singh Rathore.  I tried calling at her home but she was not there. I did not even have her mobile number.

Where the hell was she?? I swear if I found that girl, I will kill her.

*******

It was evening and I came home got ready and went out to party. I went on a date with Mitali. She was looking hot and we went to a club.

We had a few drinks and danced. She was trying to get very close to me, which I never mind till now. In fact, I always enjoyed that but today something was bothering me.

All the things dad said to Sagar and how happy he was while his eyes held disappointment for me, were bothering me.

I was trying to recall the face of that Manyata but could not remember anything. I had not even bothered to give her a look.

Mitali was dancing extremely close to me almost rubbing her body against mine. In normal conditions, I would have loved that and I would have done the same and taken her somewhere private.

  But today it surprisingly bothered me. I went to the bar and ordered another drink.

Mitali asked me If I would like to go somewhere where we could be alone but I felt repulsed with what she said. Maybe I was not well.

" I am sorry Mitali, but I am not feeling very well. Sorry that I spoilt your date but I am not feeling too well. " I said and gulped down the drink.

" If you are not well, then why are you drinking? Why don't you go home? " she asked with a fake concern maybe she wanted to have fun with someone else.

" Hmmm," I said and again said sorry and kissed on her cheek and came back home.

I went to my room and changed into my nightwear. I tried to sleep but felt hungry I had not eaten much in lunch and skipped my dinner altogether.

I went to the kitchen to get something to eat. I took out the food from the fridge and was about to serve it in my plate when I heard footsteps. I turned to see that it was Manu.

" What are you doing? "

" Playing cricket... Can't you see? " I snapped at her and then felt bad.

She took the plate from me and reheated the food for me.

" I didn't want to intrude on your privacy, but it is not good to eat cold food. "

She served everything for me and placed the plate on the dining table and then got a glass of cold water for me.

" I was making a green tea for myself, do you want some? " She asked and I shook my head.

" Ok, let me know if you need anything. "

" Sorry, I snapped at you... I was irritated at someone... else." I said to her but she just nodded.

I started eating, I had not realised that I was so hungry. I finished the whole food in minutes. The food was delicious.

" Do you want more?? " She asked and I nodded. She was about to heat more food when I said, " Is there anything sweet? "

" Kheer? "

" Yes... Ok. What about that sweet from the breakfast? Is it there? "

" Yes, I will get both," she said and went into the kitchen.

She got both the sweets for me. I ate the sweet which I ate in the morning first. It was so amazing that I could have eaten the whole bowl.

Then I tried the kheer, it was also very different but out of the world.

" Wow !!!  It is not a normal kheer... What is there in it? It is amazing. "

" It is paneer kheer ( kheer made with cottage cheese instead of rice). "

"  Awesome.. who made this? "

"  Swati and I... "

" Are you a professional chef ?? "

" No, I am a photographer. "

" But you could have been a chef easily. Can I have more? " I asked and she nodded and served me more.

" Amazing... " I said with a smile and she just gave me a small curt nod and a very faint smile.

I don't know why, but I was feeling good now.  All that feeling of restlessness which I was feeling earlier was gone.

I wanted to talk to her but she never even looked into my eyes. Her response to the conversation I started with her was very to the point and monosyllabic.

" Do you need anything else? " She said without even looking into my eyes. I shook my head and said thanks.

She just nodded and said,

" That's ok, good night. " And she went away before I could say anything.

I picked up my plate and kept it in the sink and went to my room.