Chapter 25

Srusti's POV

Viraj Ji dropped the kids and went away for his meeting.

I loved the kids, they were so cute. Myra was 4 and Viren was 6. Myra was just like Maya and Viren was like Viraj Ji. They became my friends immediately and told me about their cute school stories.

" Mom, it seems they know her since forever. " Maya said to Maa while laughing.

" Mami... You know my friend is very sweet he got gingerbread man cookies for me. " Viren said.

" Wow !!! That's so sweet of him. "

" I gave him my chocolate muffins. "

" Great !! "

" Mumma, I am hungry... " Myra said to her mom.

" Ok, I will tell the cook to make Maggi noodles for you. "

" Di, if you don't mind, shall I make something for them? "

" I don't mind at all, but are you sure?"

" Absolutely... I would love it. "

" Go ahead. but... We were shopping for you. Don't you want to see it? "

" You can get whatever you want for me, Di. But please buy fewer things. I don't need so many things. " She smiled and shook her head.

" Hey, kids, come with me and tell, what would you like to eat? " I said holding their tiny hands and taking them away with me.

" I don't know... You tell me?? " Viren said.

" Ok?? How about pancakes??"

" Yeyyyyyy I want with chocolate syrup. " Myra said.

" With maple syrup or honey... " Viren said.

" Ok... Let's make them. "

" We will make them???

" You can help in mixing and serving. "

" Okay !!!!!! " They shouted out of excitement. We went to the kitchen and asked the helper for the ingredients.

I was feeling guilty so I needed to get away from there. I loved kids and cooking so I took them with me for cooking.

I let them do some small things like mixing essence and sugar into the batter. They were so excited.

I poured them on the skillet and then flipped them. The kids were very excited. They wanted to do it. But I told them they were too young for that. They told me to flip all the pancakes in the air. They were more interested in flipping them than eating.

I applied some butter and Myra poured chocolate syrup on them and Viren poured honey. They were giggling.

Just then we saw Maya di clicking pictures of us.

" Mumma !!! See we made pancakes with Mami. "

" I saw... Can I taste too ?? " She asked and Myra nodded. She tasted them and moaned.

" Umm... Wow !!!! Amazing. Will you teach me, how to make them. " She said to me.

" Mom, I will teach you, I learnt it. " Viren said and we all smiled. Maa was looking at us from the kitchen door.

They all tasted them. Kids made so much noise that even papa Ji came to the kitchen.

" What is going on here?? The whole house is filled with the excited voices of our munchkins. " He said

" We made pancakes with Mami. They are so yummy. Try them nanu. " Viren said.

" Hmmm, yummy yummy in my tummy. " Myra said sweetly. Maa brought daadi Ji too and we all enjoyed ourselves with the kids.

" Kids please do your homework now and Srusti please get ready, we are going shopping now. "

" But we just got so many things.... "

" Are you a girl ?? " Maya said with big round eyes as if she was shocked.

" What ?? "

" Which girl says no to shopping?? It's your wedding... Go I will not listen to anything. "

" But... "

" No buts... "

" Please di... "

" No please, get ready. "

" Can't we go tomorrow? "

" Why ?? " she asked but I was hesitant.

" My... Bag... I forgot it at the penthouse."

" So what?? We are going to get new bags also. "

" No, I mean my credit card... "

" Oh please !! I think you are forgetting that I am your Mohit's elder sister. You don't have to worry, we are his family and he is our baby, being the youngest in the family. I would not have let you spend money even if you were carrying it. Now stop thinking about all that and let's go. " She said pulling me to my room.

" Go and wash your face... some flour is on your face. " She said while laughing.

I looked at my face and then burst out laughing. " The kids were so excited that they must have touched my face. "

" I will take out a dress in the meanwhile. "

" Areee di you just sit, I will take it out myself. "

" No, don't waste time, Viraj would be back in 2 hours, we need to be back by then. "

" Ok, di... " I said and went in to wash my face. I got ready in 10 minutes. We went to a mall and got more than anything I would need.

We reached home at around 7 PM. Viraj ji had just come. Kids told him that they also cooked with me. He kept smiling.

" Tell Mohit to come for dinner here. " Maa said. I tried his number but he didn't pick it up.

" His phone is not reachable. "

" This boy is too much... Try again. " Papa said.

I tried but it was still not reachable. I shook my head.

" he is so irresponsible, he is 29, going to get married in a week. He should be here or at least tell us where he is. "

" He must be busy maa... "

" Oh !! Someone is already worried about someone and still taking his side... Hmmm, impressive. It seems you are missing my stupid brother. " Maya said. I blushed a bit, But I was worried about him.

" It's not like that di, he said he wanted to eat home-cooked food, he was bored with junk food and food from outside. "

" Ok, pack food for him. We will give it to him when we will leave. " Viraj Ji said.

" That is a good idea... I will get the food packed for him. " Maa said. I went to the kitchen with her. We made dinner for everyone. Cook had already prepared, daal and Aaloo Methi. "

" Oh, he doesn't like Aaloo Methi. " Maa said.

" It's ok maa, I will make something else too," I told the cook to cut onions, bell peppers and paneer in cubes. I prepared stir-fried paneer which can be cooked in less than 5 minutes. While the cook made chapati for him.

" Why don't you all eat food here only. See Srusti made such nice stir-fried paneer. "

" Mom, I already prepared lunch today but we had it here. So our food is ready, we will have it now. " Maya di said.

" Shall I pack some paneer for you di? " I asked.

" Ummm... Ok, kids would love it. Viraj also loves paneer. " Maya di said. I went to the kitchen and packed it.

" Shall we take you to meet him?? You both must be missing each other. He will drop you back... " Viraj Ji teased me and I blushed and shook my head. Everyone laughed at that.

But somehow I felt that I wanted to see him.

Shit !! No, I can't miss him. All this is fake. He is not interested in me.

They left and after some time we all had dinner. Maa, papa and daadi were discussing the wedding rituals and they seemed so happy.

I was happy for them, but the guilt was troubling me. They all were so good, I was cheating them. They showered me with their love and blessings. And what was I doing??

I was missing my parents too. They loved me so much, always treated me like a princess. I was lost without them. I had not felt like that since their demise.

But this family was making me feel like that once again. I wish I could have them as my family forever. But all this was temporary. Till I am in this fake, on paper the only marriage.

I just could not control myself and tears started filling my eyes. Before I could stop or hide them, they rolled out of my eyes. Daadi ma saw them.

" What happened beta?? Why are you crying? " She asked me touching my back.

" I am sorry daadi Ji, I was just... "

" Missing your parents? " Maa asked??

" Ji "

" Aww... my poor child. " She came towards me and kissed on my head and I hugged her midriff and cried. She kept caressing my head.

I controlled myself as I didn't want to bother them and we finished dinner. I went to my room and threw myself on my bed and cried till I slept.