Sahil's POV

I got up and dragged myself out of my bed.

I had a faint headache so I went to take the medicine. It was quite early. I knew dad won't be there in the dining room so I didn't have to face him.

I was trying to find the medicine and finally got it. So I went to the kitchen to get water. I was surprised to see manu there. She was engrossed in her work.

She was cooking something. I didn't want to disturb her, so I took out a water bottle silently and kept it on slab and was about to pick glass from the utensil rack near her when she startled and moved abruptly and banged into me.

She tried to get away as soon as possible but slipped and was about to fall but I held her.

I felt some kind of strange nice feeling with her in my arms. She pushed me on the shoulder and I released her. But for the first time, I felt something strange, something nice...

" What are you doing here at this time? " she asked in an angry tone. Miss beautiful ice princess...

" I happen to live in this house too. " I smiled.

" I meant by the kitchen...  "

" It happens to be a part of the house."

" What do you want? " she asked rolling her eyes.

" Well interesting question.  there can be many answers to that but the simplest one is that I wanted water. "

" Take and go.. " she said

I took the water in the glass and then started taking out the medicine from its blister pack. When she came closer.

" Are you unwell? She asked looking at the medicine in my hand.

" Yes, some headache... "

" Wait, you can't take it on empty stomach. "

" Doesn't matter... "

" It does... Wait I will get you something to eat. "

She gave me steaming hot idlis with Sambhar and chutney.

I looked at her and smiled.

" No parantha today?? " I smiled at her.

" No... South Indian breakfast. But if you don't like it. I can make it for you. "

" No, I like it. "

" Then go and eat and then take medicine." She said pointing towards the dining table, but I didn't want to go.

" I can't eat if I am alone. I will eat here. " I said and sat down on a table there.

She ignored me and started making vada also. She almost forgot that I was there and kept doing her work.

" Hey, I want that too. "

" What?? " She turned as if she had forgotten me. How can someone forget me? Shit !!! I am losing my charm.

" That doughnut. "

" Doughnuts?? " She looked confused, I pointed at the vadas. I just wanted to keep talking to her.

" Are you cra..... They are not doughnuts... They are vadas. Have you not eaten vada sambhar ??"

" Oh ok.. but I want to have that too." She brought some for me. I took them. I was enjoying irritating her, my headache was gone.

" Swati is not here to learn today? "

" She was feeling sleepy. So I thought I should make them when she will come, I will teach her. "

"  Who taught you to cook? "

" My mom.. "

" This is awesome... '

" Thanks, want more? "

" Later on maybe... " I said and left my plate in the sink and went back to my room with a smile on my lips.

Though she was still rude to me and didn't even look at me. But still, she didn't let me take the medicine on empty stomach. I liked spending some moments with her. I threw the medicine in the trash bin as my headache was gone.

She was like a fresh cold breeze in the morning. But the question remained as it is... Why was she angry with me?

Manyata's POV

Uncle was angry that Sahil didn't even talk to him and he came to know that he went to the club. He told Sagar Ji to go and party at the same place.

Sagarji talked with Samar Ji that he wanted to party. Samar Ji was also excited. Sagar Ji told him to come along with damini.

Swati was so excited she pulled me to room and we both got ready. I wore a pale pink coloured long flowing dress. While Swati wore a wine coloured knee-length dress.

I kept my hair loose. They frame my face well like this. I had not been to a party for long.

We all reached there. Sagar Ji, Swati and I reached there and went inside.

I saw him dancing with a girl in a red dress. They were dancing really close to each other. His arms were around her body. He started nuzzling on her neck. I diverted my eyes from him.

Samar Ji's friend came and meet us he asked me to dance with him but I declined politely. Then he asked Swati and she accepted. They went to the dance floor.

Samar Ji said, " Hey only we are left." And he held my hand and pulled me to the dance floor.

Samar Ji saw Sahil and said, " Oh, it's so good we all are here. "

He introduced everyone to each other. After that Sagar and Damini went dancing.

" How? I mean how all of you are here all of a sudden? " Sahil asked and I know his eyes were on me.

" I don't know Sagar made the program. He asked me to bring Damini here. He said he wanted to party. And this was the best place to dine wine and dance  " Samar Ji said

He pulled me again.  I have always loved dancing. So I left all the inhibitions and started enjoying.

That friend of Samar Ji was dancing nearby with Swati. After some time he asked if he could dance with me and Samar nodded. Samar and Swati were dancing now while I was dancing with that stranger.

" You are very pretty are you some model? "  He said to me and I smiled.

" No, I am not... "

" Studying? " I threw my head back and laughed.

" No, I am a photographer. "

" Work with some newspaper or magazine? "

" I am a fashion photographer. "

" Wow !! Great,  so you are from the glamour world. "

" Yeah... "

" But you are much more beautiful than any of those models... " He said in a flirting mode and I smiled. I was very much used to of that being in that line.

I excused myself and was coming to sit when Sagar Ji asked me to dance.

I looked at Damini with a raised eyebrow. Damini nodded with a smile.

Sagar Ji took me to dance.

" Are you ok? "

" Ji, I am fine... "

" I know my brother is a jerk but please give him a chance. "

" I don't know... "

" Please.... " just then he stopped speaking as he saw Sahil dancing with Damini.

"Hey,  you said, you were tired, love. "  Sagar Ji asked Damini.

" I am, but Sahil dragged me here to dance," she said to him and Sagar Ji looked at Sahil.

" What ?? I wanted to dance... "

" Go and dance with that girl, you came on a date with. " Sagar Ji said.

" She found some friends here. She is with them. I need to dance with someone. "

" Ok, dance with Manu... " Sagar Ji said to us and gave my hand in his and went off taking Damini with his arm around her waist.

" So, can I have a dance with you, ma'am? " He said smiling at me.

" No, I think you should go back to your date. She might be looking for you. " I said looking for that girl.

" It is ok, she can wait. It won't hurt you to dance with me."

" No thanks... "

" Why? "

" I don't want to spoil anyone's date. Enjoy yourself, Mr Sahil Malhotra. " I said and came to our table.

I joined everyone. We all were enjoying when Sagar Ji asked him and his...... friend to join us.

It seemed that he was about to say no to Sagar Ji when his date accepted the invitation.

" Sure why not, I would love to meet your family. I wanted to that for long honey. " He looked annoyed at that but had to join us.

She was sitting very close to him. . The whole thing was getting more and more awkward.

She was trying to show that they were together by talking about their relationship continuously.  It was kind of irritating. She even said that they were planning to go to her place before we came.

I don't know why, but I wanted to kill someone. I composed myself and concentrated on what Samar Ji was saying.

Manyata's POV

I could see the colour of everyone's faces changing.

Even Sahil looked embarrassed as hell. I felt something bad too. I don't know what, but I wanted to slap both of them.

Sagar Ji looked very uncomfortable. He looked at all of us and then at me, he looked tense.

Samar Ji changed the subject to food. We all felt relieved at that and started talking about it.

Samar, Swati and I started our conversation. We planned what I would be teaching Swati, on the next day.

Damini and Sagar Ji were not talking, they just kept toying with the food. I felt bad as I know they didn't want this to happen in front of me and Swati.

The main course was over and Sagar asked everyone about the desserts.  Before Raima could say anything, Sahil refused and excused themselves, though she wanted to stay longer.

She said bye to us and we all gave a faint smile and they left.

Damini took a deep breath. Sagar Ji closed his eyes. Swati shook her head and Samar Ji palmed his face.

I felt bad for them. To change the subject, I said, " I would like to have something sweet. Let's see what are they offering. " And started looking at the menu.

Soon they all were normal. We had our sweets and came back home.

Sahil's car was parked there. Sagar Ji opened the door and we all went inside.

*******

Next day Sahil came out of his room, while everyone was having breakfast.

" Good morning... "  He said to everyone but they just returned it with a polite faint smile. Aunty smiled at him and served breakfast to him.

Uncle was glaring at him. " I need to talk to you Sahil. Finish your food and come with me. "

" Ok. " He said and ate his paneer parantha.

He looked at us but none of us said anything.  Samar Ji came and said good morning to everyone. Everyone smiled at him. Aunty served breakfast to him also. He loved it and thanked her.

She said that I was making Swati learn how to make them, and he smiled.

Tension seemed to lessen with his presence. He kept telling me to give him classes too.

Sahil got up to go to the office. But uncle stopped him. He asked the uncle what did he want to talk about. They went to another room.

There was that heated argument we all heard it, he looked frustrated and he went out.

Samar Ji left after him.

" How dare he behave like that?? Uncle said coming out of the room.

" Dad please, calm down. " Sagar Ji took uncle inside.

I could understand Sahil's point of view. He didn't want to be tied in an unwanted relationship.

I wish I could help him but my hands were tied too.

I could not give stress to my dad while he was fighting with cancer.

I was still angry with Sahil, but I felt bad for him. He was facing the wrath of his own family.

I knocked on the room where uncle and Sagar Ji were. I went inside and said, " Uncle please don't take the stress. He doesn't want to spend his life with me and neither do I. Please let it be. We are two different kind of people... I don't think we are meant for each other. Please don't force him. That kind of relationship will not last anyways. "

" How can I forget? Sahil has to understand. Beta he has to be with you. " uncle said in an angry tone.

" But uncle.... "

" What would I tell your dad? I would never be able to face him. "

" Uncle it is not just him, I also just don't think we have anything common. I also don't want to spend my life with him. "

" But your dad is going under a very critical situation, any kind of stress is not good for him. He would not be able to survive. I can't let that happen and I am sure you don't want that either. "

" I understand uncle, I don't want that either. But I don't want to be a burden on anyone's conscious. I am quite independent even without my dad's property. "

" Listen manu, I know what you are saying. You are right, but can you at least give it a try. We want both of you happy. Trust me you are just like Swati to me. Sahil is a very good man. It is just that he had that stupid thing in his mind that he doesn't want to fall in love or settle down. At least give it a try. " Sagar Ji said.

" But.... "

" Ok, can you please try till your dad is absolutely fine and he comes back here? " he said again.

" But Sagar Ji... "

" Do you know that I have never hidden a single thing from Sahil?  He is like my other side. But I am embarrassed with what he did to you.  I am on your side and I want him to realise that whatever he did to you was wrong. I want him to accept his mistake and rectify it. He is a very good brother and a good human being. Please can you help me? Just think me as your elder brother and just do this favour to us. Please. "

" Please don't say that. You don't have to say, that I should think you as an elder brother. I already think you as my elder brother. You don't have to request me. I will give it a try... For you, uncle and of course my dad. "

Sagar Ji came and gave me a hug and uncle patted me on my shoulder and then placed his hand on my head.

**********

That night Sahil did not come home for dinner. Everyone was tensed and they all went to their room. I was thirsty, so went to get some water when I saw Samar Ji finding something to eat in the fridge

When I asked him he told me that he was taking out food for Sahil he said that Sahil had not had dinner so I told him that I would get it. I got the food and lemonade for Sahil it was evident that he was drunk. After the food Samar Ji took him to his room.

I heard Sahil asking Samar Ji to find Manyata. Why did he want to find me? But I felt very bad for him. Maybe he was not that bad. But he was ignored by his loving family just because of me.

******

In the morning I was cooking South Indian breakfast. I was engrossed in my work when all of a sudden, I felt that someone was right behind me. I moved and bumped into Sahil.

I tried to get away but slipped and was about to fall but he held me. I asked him what was he doing so early in the kitchen and he said he wanted water to take medicine. He just got up so he had not eaten anything. He had not eaten well, last night too.

So I told him to eat something before medicine and gave him idly, vada and Sambhar. He ate in the kitchen itself. He called vada as doughnuts... Seriously??

He finished his breakfast and went away taking water to his room.

Though I was angry with him, I also felt bad for him. I saw how he looked last night. He was hurt and drunk, I couldn't be rude to him in the morning.

I kept doing work and Swati came in 5 mins and so did Samar Ji. I taught them how to prepare all that.

Swati was learning seriously while Samar Ji was smiling most of the time. That day we made Rava Kesri and Payasam for later on.

Both Swati and Samar Ji loved them. They both hugged me.

Everyone came for the breakfast including Satan. He seemed to be in a good mood.

Everyone enjoyed the food and praised Samar Ji, Swati and I. Satan said, " So, Swati and Samar, you made doughnuts?? Can you pass them to me? "  they were confused and I rolled my eyes. He pointed towards Vadas.

Swati and Samar burst out laughing, " Bhai that is Vada as in sambhar vada... What is wrong with you?? Does it look like doughnuts to you?? " He just looked at me and smiled.

Oh God!!! He was too much...

Swati also got Rava Kesri from the kitchen. Everyone was delighted. Satan again looked at me and smiled and I glared at him but he just shook his head.  Swati said that they learnt Payasam too. Well, correction... only Swati learnt. Samar ji... I don't know. Most of the time, he was looking at her. Samar ji was still looking at her while eating and smiling like anything.

Satan ate everything with gusto as of he had not eaten for weeks....

Who was the man who ate an early breakfast in the kitchen??